Judgment
A judgment is a test that one takes by entering through a gate of judgment in a soaring spire. Judgments typically consist of a number of challenges, including fighting with monsters, puzzles, and dexterity-based challenges, many of which have the potential to be lethal. Additionally, the spire disallows you to bring weapons and armor into a judgement. Memories of the judgment rapidly fade upon exiting the spire[1].
A judgment ends in one of three ways:
- The candidate passes the judgment and gains an attunement
- The candidate fails the judgment and never exits the tower, presumed dead.
- The candidate ends the judgment by leaving the tower early, using a return bell or similar item. Note that you may not bring enchanted items, such as return bells, into a first judgment[2].
One can only enter a gate of judgment if they have not already passed a judgment in that spire, although those who have escaped a judgment without exiting a gate of judgement (for example, by using a return bell) are not affected. However, it is possible for an attuned to take an additional judgment at any of the other spires. Each additional judgments is much more difficult and takes longer than the previous one, with second judgments taking anywhere from days to weeks. It is highly discouraged to take a second judgment until you are at least sunstone level in your existing attunement[2].
Political Restrictions
Access to the gate of judgment is typically restricted by the government of the land containing the spire.
Each country has a limit on how old a child must be before taking their first judgment, with Valia and Caelford starting at age 17[3], and Dalenos and Edria at 12 or 13[1][4].
Each country also has some form of required service, typically military service. Valia requires two years of academy education followed by two years of military service. Caelford requires only one year of university training, after which students are typically given an apprenticeship focused on attunement-augmented manufacturing. Edrians are immediately sent to the military, serving for a minimum of 6 years, which is often increased. Finally, in Dalenos, attuned are sent to serve the church, which also typically involves the military due to Dalenos's status as a theocracy[5].
Additionally, each country charges a large amount of money to take a judgment, placing it out of reach of those other than nobles and those with rich families[6].
Notes
References: