How much should a witch charge for her magic? [on hold]











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I am writing a medieval fantasy novel. In my world, magic exists, but there are not a lot of people with magical powers. If a witch can summon rain and heal people, how much should she charge people for her magic?



Also, in a semi-realistic way, how would she gain political power from it?



Edit: Thank you guys for the great answers.










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put on hold as primarily opinion-based by Mołot, Ash, Elmy, Frostfyre, nzaman 15 hours ago


Many good questions generate some degree of opinion based on expert experience, but answers to this question will tend to be almost entirely based on opinions, rather than facts, references, or specific expertise. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.











  • 2




    Well in Terry Pratchetts Disc World novels the witches charge food and old clothes. The question is: Is it a nice witch? A greedy witch? Does she want to be rich and powerful? If she wants to be rich the question is how many other witches are there what would do it for less money?
    – Fels
    17 hours ago






  • 1




    What does it cost her to perform magic? That's a minimum. What would it cost people in alternatives if she doesn't? (Lost labour, doctors' fees, importing food, etc) That's a maximum. Both of those are based on various rules you set for your story regarding Magic and the economy. Once you decide that, you can start to home in on an answer for this question
    – Chronocidal
    16 hours ago












  • Welcome to the site, Nguyen. Please note that the Worldbuilding SE is dedicated to providing detailed answers to specific questions you have while developing your fictional world. However, we do not handle issues of stories or characters existing within that world; both the questions you've posed here (character's price preferences and character's path forward) fall into this category, likely leading to close for being primarily story-based. Additionally, asking more than one question may result in a too broad close reason.
    – Frostfyre
    15 hours ago










  • If you haven't already, feel free to take the tour and check out our site culture to get a better understanding of the site.
    – Frostfyre
    15 hours ago










  • @ close voters: the question cannot be answered with a number because any number would be based on opinions, but it can still be answered explaining why a number cannot be given.
    – L.Dutch
    14 hours ago















up vote
3
down vote

favorite












I am writing a medieval fantasy novel. In my world, magic exists, but there are not a lot of people with magical powers. If a witch can summon rain and heal people, how much should she charge people for her magic?



Also, in a semi-realistic way, how would she gain political power from it?



Edit: Thank you guys for the great answers.










share|improve this question









New contributor




Nguyen Thanh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











put on hold as primarily opinion-based by Mołot, Ash, Elmy, Frostfyre, nzaman 15 hours ago


Many good questions generate some degree of opinion based on expert experience, but answers to this question will tend to be almost entirely based on opinions, rather than facts, references, or specific expertise. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.











  • 2




    Well in Terry Pratchetts Disc World novels the witches charge food and old clothes. The question is: Is it a nice witch? A greedy witch? Does she want to be rich and powerful? If she wants to be rich the question is how many other witches are there what would do it for less money?
    – Fels
    17 hours ago






  • 1




    What does it cost her to perform magic? That's a minimum. What would it cost people in alternatives if she doesn't? (Lost labour, doctors' fees, importing food, etc) That's a maximum. Both of those are based on various rules you set for your story regarding Magic and the economy. Once you decide that, you can start to home in on an answer for this question
    – Chronocidal
    16 hours ago












  • Welcome to the site, Nguyen. Please note that the Worldbuilding SE is dedicated to providing detailed answers to specific questions you have while developing your fictional world. However, we do not handle issues of stories or characters existing within that world; both the questions you've posed here (character's price preferences and character's path forward) fall into this category, likely leading to close for being primarily story-based. Additionally, asking more than one question may result in a too broad close reason.
    – Frostfyre
    15 hours ago










  • If you haven't already, feel free to take the tour and check out our site culture to get a better understanding of the site.
    – Frostfyre
    15 hours ago










  • @ close voters: the question cannot be answered with a number because any number would be based on opinions, but it can still be answered explaining why a number cannot be given.
    – L.Dutch
    14 hours ago













up vote
3
down vote

favorite









up vote
3
down vote

favorite











I am writing a medieval fantasy novel. In my world, magic exists, but there are not a lot of people with magical powers. If a witch can summon rain and heal people, how much should she charge people for her magic?



Also, in a semi-realistic way, how would she gain political power from it?



Edit: Thank you guys for the great answers.










share|improve this question









New contributor




Nguyen Thanh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











I am writing a medieval fantasy novel. In my world, magic exists, but there are not a lot of people with magical powers. If a witch can summon rain and heal people, how much should she charge people for her magic?



Also, in a semi-realistic way, how would she gain political power from it?



Edit: Thank you guys for the great answers.







magic medieval






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New contributor




Nguyen Thanh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|improve this question









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Nguyen Thanh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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edited 5 hours ago





















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asked 17 hours ago









Nguyen Thanh

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185




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Nguyen Thanh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






Nguyen Thanh is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.




put on hold as primarily opinion-based by Mołot, Ash, Elmy, Frostfyre, nzaman 15 hours ago


Many good questions generate some degree of opinion based on expert experience, but answers to this question will tend to be almost entirely based on opinions, rather than facts, references, or specific expertise. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.






put on hold as primarily opinion-based by Mołot, Ash, Elmy, Frostfyre, nzaman 15 hours ago


Many good questions generate some degree of opinion based on expert experience, but answers to this question will tend to be almost entirely based on opinions, rather than facts, references, or specific expertise. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.










  • 2




    Well in Terry Pratchetts Disc World novels the witches charge food and old clothes. The question is: Is it a nice witch? A greedy witch? Does she want to be rich and powerful? If she wants to be rich the question is how many other witches are there what would do it for less money?
    – Fels
    17 hours ago






  • 1




    What does it cost her to perform magic? That's a minimum. What would it cost people in alternatives if she doesn't? (Lost labour, doctors' fees, importing food, etc) That's a maximum. Both of those are based on various rules you set for your story regarding Magic and the economy. Once you decide that, you can start to home in on an answer for this question
    – Chronocidal
    16 hours ago












  • Welcome to the site, Nguyen. Please note that the Worldbuilding SE is dedicated to providing detailed answers to specific questions you have while developing your fictional world. However, we do not handle issues of stories or characters existing within that world; both the questions you've posed here (character's price preferences and character's path forward) fall into this category, likely leading to close for being primarily story-based. Additionally, asking more than one question may result in a too broad close reason.
    – Frostfyre
    15 hours ago










  • If you haven't already, feel free to take the tour and check out our site culture to get a better understanding of the site.
    – Frostfyre
    15 hours ago










  • @ close voters: the question cannot be answered with a number because any number would be based on opinions, but it can still be answered explaining why a number cannot be given.
    – L.Dutch
    14 hours ago














  • 2




    Well in Terry Pratchetts Disc World novels the witches charge food and old clothes. The question is: Is it a nice witch? A greedy witch? Does she want to be rich and powerful? If she wants to be rich the question is how many other witches are there what would do it for less money?
    – Fels
    17 hours ago






  • 1




    What does it cost her to perform magic? That's a minimum. What would it cost people in alternatives if she doesn't? (Lost labour, doctors' fees, importing food, etc) That's a maximum. Both of those are based on various rules you set for your story regarding Magic and the economy. Once you decide that, you can start to home in on an answer for this question
    – Chronocidal
    16 hours ago












  • Welcome to the site, Nguyen. Please note that the Worldbuilding SE is dedicated to providing detailed answers to specific questions you have while developing your fictional world. However, we do not handle issues of stories or characters existing within that world; both the questions you've posed here (character's price preferences and character's path forward) fall into this category, likely leading to close for being primarily story-based. Additionally, asking more than one question may result in a too broad close reason.
    – Frostfyre
    15 hours ago










  • If you haven't already, feel free to take the tour and check out our site culture to get a better understanding of the site.
    – Frostfyre
    15 hours ago










  • @ close voters: the question cannot be answered with a number because any number would be based on opinions, but it can still be answered explaining why a number cannot be given.
    – L.Dutch
    14 hours ago








2




2




Well in Terry Pratchetts Disc World novels the witches charge food and old clothes. The question is: Is it a nice witch? A greedy witch? Does she want to be rich and powerful? If she wants to be rich the question is how many other witches are there what would do it for less money?
– Fels
17 hours ago




Well in Terry Pratchetts Disc World novels the witches charge food and old clothes. The question is: Is it a nice witch? A greedy witch? Does she want to be rich and powerful? If she wants to be rich the question is how many other witches are there what would do it for less money?
– Fels
17 hours ago




1




1




What does it cost her to perform magic? That's a minimum. What would it cost people in alternatives if she doesn't? (Lost labour, doctors' fees, importing food, etc) That's a maximum. Both of those are based on various rules you set for your story regarding Magic and the economy. Once you decide that, you can start to home in on an answer for this question
– Chronocidal
16 hours ago






What does it cost her to perform magic? That's a minimum. What would it cost people in alternatives if she doesn't? (Lost labour, doctors' fees, importing food, etc) That's a maximum. Both of those are based on various rules you set for your story regarding Magic and the economy. Once you decide that, you can start to home in on an answer for this question
– Chronocidal
16 hours ago














Welcome to the site, Nguyen. Please note that the Worldbuilding SE is dedicated to providing detailed answers to specific questions you have while developing your fictional world. However, we do not handle issues of stories or characters existing within that world; both the questions you've posed here (character's price preferences and character's path forward) fall into this category, likely leading to close for being primarily story-based. Additionally, asking more than one question may result in a too broad close reason.
– Frostfyre
15 hours ago




Welcome to the site, Nguyen. Please note that the Worldbuilding SE is dedicated to providing detailed answers to specific questions you have while developing your fictional world. However, we do not handle issues of stories or characters existing within that world; both the questions you've posed here (character's price preferences and character's path forward) fall into this category, likely leading to close for being primarily story-based. Additionally, asking more than one question may result in a too broad close reason.
– Frostfyre
15 hours ago












If you haven't already, feel free to take the tour and check out our site culture to get a better understanding of the site.
– Frostfyre
15 hours ago




If you haven't already, feel free to take the tour and check out our site culture to get a better understanding of the site.
– Frostfyre
15 hours ago












@ close voters: the question cannot be answered with a number because any number would be based on opinions, but it can still be answered explaining why a number cannot be given.
– L.Dutch
14 hours ago




@ close voters: the question cannot be answered with a number because any number would be based on opinions, but it can still be answered explaining why a number cannot be given.
– L.Dutch
14 hours ago










6 Answers
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up vote
5
down vote



accepted










If your witch is going to make her living calling rain and healing, she needs to charge enough to live on; otherwise, "witch" is a sideline or hobby and she'll have to make her living doing something else (innkeeper, brewer, seamstress, potter, etc.).



That means she needs to earn (roughly) at least what a farmer, shopkeeper, or blacksmith does. Once you know that, and how many times she can use her magic in a day, you can calculate what she needs to charge. Then, of course, you need to know if her neighbors can afford (and are willing) to pay that for her services. I'd expect healing to pay better than calling rain, since nature produces enough rain in most places, most of the time.



Also, as noted in comments, there's the question of operating costs. Just as the blacksmith must price in the iron or steel that goes into the horseshoes, nails, and other goods he makes, or the farmer must price in feed for the animals that pull his plow, if the witch's materials are more expensive, her services also must be, or she must accept a lower margin.



Political power, in its basic form, comes from loyalty. Heal a close family member of a powerful person, and you're likely to gain loyalty from that person or others in their household. Put rain in one county and keep it from another, and the county that has what they want (whether it's the end of a drought, or protection from flooding) and knows who gave it to them will tend to appreciate it. In the end, a witch would gain political power the same way anyone else does -- by being popular and doing favors for those who can repay them in a political way.






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  • 1




    Plus costs! If she needs to source eye of newt, she must charge the end user or pay out of her own pocket
    – nzaman
    16 hours ago


















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Prices are set by meeting request and offer.



Everyone can charge as much as others are willing to pay for their product/service.



I can charge as much as Cristiano Ronaldo does for kicking a ball while wearing shorts, but I am sure I would find nobody willing to pay that amount, while Ronaldo does.



Regarding the political influence, a medieval kingdom is highly sensitive to weather: drought or flooding by rain can easily knock a kingdom down. The witch just needs to show she can control her power, and any one would understand she cannot be left disgruntled.






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  • You make a good point. I think the asker still wants an estimated charge, based on the abilities of making rain and healing people
    – Jannis
    17 hours ago












  • There is no way to answer that in a meaningful way.
    – L.Dutch
    17 hours ago










  • @Jannis> depending on her power, the balance point can shift from “noone cares and she won't ever get a dime” to “she totally owns the kingdom and all of its inhabitants - the concept of charging money is moot since everyone goes out of their way to obey her anyway”.
    – spectras
    16 hours ago












  • @Jannis There is not enough information in the question to answer that. Magic may be dime a dozen (Harry Potter), or it may be fairly uncommon (Game of Thrones show). If magic is easy to perform but hard to learn, the price will be more for the expert knowledge and not the act of magic itself. If magic requires expensive materials, the cost of said materials is included (unless provided by the client). If performing magic is in some way dangerous, prices may be higher, and so on...
    – Flater
    15 hours ago










  • "The witch just needs to show she can control her power, and any one would understand she cannot be left disgruntled." Or left alive. It might be safer to kill the witch than risk somebody else paying more money to cause your country a draught.
    – Theik
    15 hours ago


















up vote
3
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It depends on the service, costs for the witch and social standing of the witch.



Say that creating rain takes three days of doing a variety of chants. There's no material cost so the only factors are how difficult it is to the chants and the time it takes to do them. The time could ofcourse increase if the chant affects only a limited area.



Now she needs to heal which requires some ingredients that are expendes during the magic. Expensive ingredients? Expensive spell. You could allow people to bring the ingredients and reduce the cost in some cases.



Social standing is also important. Imagine if the witch healed someone's pigs and got paid. Later the pigs get sick again, is the witch making the pigs sick on purpose to get more work and pay? You dont know, and a witch with a low social standing will sooner be getting less pay (its your fault so you dont get much of my money), or she get's ousted or killed for sickness, disasters and problems that could be attributed to her magic. Whatever she does, she must always be clear to her customers and her neighbours about what she can do for them and when/how she punishes people using magic.






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    up vote
    2
    down vote













    Whatever the Lord allows her to charge.



    If magic is rare and effective, chances are your witch already works for the lord and is paid very well. She generally wouldn't charge for a particular service but would receive a periodical allowance. She offers her services only to the people the Lord allows.



    She might live in a lands lent by the lord, or even offered, in which case the witch is herself a noble. She commands everyone in her lands.
    This is what medieval means.



    Can she have a shop in the city and act as a regular shop owner? Maybe if she only does practical tricks, divination etc. spells that can't be seen as dangerous and doesn't step on other guild's feet (maybe you have physicians, apothecaries, or even entertainers that don't appreciate what they might see as unfair competition). She might need to negotiate what spells she can perform and charge for.
    Or, she could have an arrangement with the mayor that gives her a certain amount of authority to use her power.



    If she lives isolated (like in typical cabin hidden in the woods) she can charge whatever she wants as far as she can defend herself. One important thing is if magic allows her to survive (can she grow vegetables or obtain water by magic?). In that case she can charge whatever she wants, probably would try to base the price on the client's wealth.






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    • I dont thin kalowance is the main price, I think it's to be turned a blind eye. "We won't bother you with small thinks like rules, if you prepared to do a favour once per X", or something in that direction
      – Martijn
      15 hours ago


















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    1
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    how would she gain political power from it?




    Tomás has already laid the basis for my answer.



    Work your way up to the top



    For someone who is not noble by birth, you have to work your way up the social ladder from the bottom. News of a valuable resource travels upwards in a medieval society. Provided witches are not condemned for their abilities, you first ingratiate yourself with the local mayor, doing favours and giving advice and not asking too much in return except for exemptions from local taxes and so on. Soon the local lord will hear of this and will appropriate your services from the mayor. Of course he will offer you blandishments like good food and a fine room to live in to persuade you to move.



    Sooner or later the news of your value will percolate up to the queen. She will order whoever you are with to release yo to her service. It is now your job to become her most trusted personal adviser and licensed purveyor of spells.



    Despite your lack of noble birth you are immensely powerful. The queen does what you suggest but of course she takes the credit if it goes well. Your magic makes sure it does go well. Because of the combination of your magical powers coupled with the Queen's protection, all the other courtiers are respectful towards you and eager to do little favours in return for your help with a head cold or case of indigestion.






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      up vote
      1
      down vote













      Medieval times weren't great at supply & demand vs working at swordpoint.



      These are all fairly relevant to the question:



      How easily can her services be forced?



      What sort of kingdom is she in, socially?



      Does it have any kind of legal system or concept of rights of peasants?



      Can the king throw her in a cell and force her to heal his best soldiers under threat of death for her and everyone she cares about, North Korea style?



      If she has no powerful friends, that could be her fate: to find herself locked up and used as a resource of the state.



      On the other hand, if she either has the favor of some nobles such that she can't just disappear, or if the kingdom has some kind of trader class and a legal system that has some kind of respect for individual rights of commoners... then she could become fantastically wealthy.



      Rain.... rain is worth something, particularly if she can call enough rain for thousands of square miles, but it's nothing compared to healing if she can heal serious things.



      How many nobles are there within reasonable travel distance from her? Thousands? In medieval times commoners saw child mortality rates of 30-50%. Nobles weren't much better off.



      A few thousand nobles will include hundreds of people with dying kids, wives facing non-trivial risk of death during childbirth, lots of people occasionally facing possible death from what would now be treatable infections and lots of elderly counts and barons facing all the horrors of old age.



      If her magic can clear a chest infection from a dying child or save a prince dying from sepsis from an infected wound.... saying that she would be highly in demand puts it lightly. She would be worth her weight in gold, literally.



      If she found herself attached to a noble household we'd expect to see the rich and powerful making journeys to her with sick family members, and access to her would be used as a political bargaining coin.



      If magic users were more common then you'd expect it to be routine for any noble house to have a mage associated with them.



      The more common you make them the lower down the social hierarchy access to mages goes.






      share|improve this answer






























        6 Answers
        6






        active

        oldest

        votes








        6 Answers
        6






        active

        oldest

        votes









        active

        oldest

        votes






        active

        oldest

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        up vote
        5
        down vote



        accepted










        If your witch is going to make her living calling rain and healing, she needs to charge enough to live on; otherwise, "witch" is a sideline or hobby and she'll have to make her living doing something else (innkeeper, brewer, seamstress, potter, etc.).



        That means she needs to earn (roughly) at least what a farmer, shopkeeper, or blacksmith does. Once you know that, and how many times she can use her magic in a day, you can calculate what she needs to charge. Then, of course, you need to know if her neighbors can afford (and are willing) to pay that for her services. I'd expect healing to pay better than calling rain, since nature produces enough rain in most places, most of the time.



        Also, as noted in comments, there's the question of operating costs. Just as the blacksmith must price in the iron or steel that goes into the horseshoes, nails, and other goods he makes, or the farmer must price in feed for the animals that pull his plow, if the witch's materials are more expensive, her services also must be, or she must accept a lower margin.



        Political power, in its basic form, comes from loyalty. Heal a close family member of a powerful person, and you're likely to gain loyalty from that person or others in their household. Put rain in one county and keep it from another, and the county that has what they want (whether it's the end of a drought, or protection from flooding) and knows who gave it to them will tend to appreciate it. In the end, a witch would gain political power the same way anyone else does -- by being popular and doing favors for those who can repay them in a political way.






        share|improve this answer



















        • 1




          Plus costs! If she needs to source eye of newt, she must charge the end user or pay out of her own pocket
          – nzaman
          16 hours ago















        up vote
        5
        down vote



        accepted










        If your witch is going to make her living calling rain and healing, she needs to charge enough to live on; otherwise, "witch" is a sideline or hobby and she'll have to make her living doing something else (innkeeper, brewer, seamstress, potter, etc.).



        That means she needs to earn (roughly) at least what a farmer, shopkeeper, or blacksmith does. Once you know that, and how many times she can use her magic in a day, you can calculate what she needs to charge. Then, of course, you need to know if her neighbors can afford (and are willing) to pay that for her services. I'd expect healing to pay better than calling rain, since nature produces enough rain in most places, most of the time.



        Also, as noted in comments, there's the question of operating costs. Just as the blacksmith must price in the iron or steel that goes into the horseshoes, nails, and other goods he makes, or the farmer must price in feed for the animals that pull his plow, if the witch's materials are more expensive, her services also must be, or she must accept a lower margin.



        Political power, in its basic form, comes from loyalty. Heal a close family member of a powerful person, and you're likely to gain loyalty from that person or others in their household. Put rain in one county and keep it from another, and the county that has what they want (whether it's the end of a drought, or protection from flooding) and knows who gave it to them will tend to appreciate it. In the end, a witch would gain political power the same way anyone else does -- by being popular and doing favors for those who can repay them in a political way.






        share|improve this answer



















        • 1




          Plus costs! If she needs to source eye of newt, she must charge the end user or pay out of her own pocket
          – nzaman
          16 hours ago













        up vote
        5
        down vote



        accepted







        up vote
        5
        down vote



        accepted






        If your witch is going to make her living calling rain and healing, she needs to charge enough to live on; otherwise, "witch" is a sideline or hobby and she'll have to make her living doing something else (innkeeper, brewer, seamstress, potter, etc.).



        That means she needs to earn (roughly) at least what a farmer, shopkeeper, or blacksmith does. Once you know that, and how many times she can use her magic in a day, you can calculate what she needs to charge. Then, of course, you need to know if her neighbors can afford (and are willing) to pay that for her services. I'd expect healing to pay better than calling rain, since nature produces enough rain in most places, most of the time.



        Also, as noted in comments, there's the question of operating costs. Just as the blacksmith must price in the iron or steel that goes into the horseshoes, nails, and other goods he makes, or the farmer must price in feed for the animals that pull his plow, if the witch's materials are more expensive, her services also must be, or she must accept a lower margin.



        Political power, in its basic form, comes from loyalty. Heal a close family member of a powerful person, and you're likely to gain loyalty from that person or others in their household. Put rain in one county and keep it from another, and the county that has what they want (whether it's the end of a drought, or protection from flooding) and knows who gave it to them will tend to appreciate it. In the end, a witch would gain political power the same way anyone else does -- by being popular and doing favors for those who can repay them in a political way.






        share|improve this answer














        If your witch is going to make her living calling rain and healing, she needs to charge enough to live on; otherwise, "witch" is a sideline or hobby and she'll have to make her living doing something else (innkeeper, brewer, seamstress, potter, etc.).



        That means she needs to earn (roughly) at least what a farmer, shopkeeper, or blacksmith does. Once you know that, and how many times she can use her magic in a day, you can calculate what she needs to charge. Then, of course, you need to know if her neighbors can afford (and are willing) to pay that for her services. I'd expect healing to pay better than calling rain, since nature produces enough rain in most places, most of the time.



        Also, as noted in comments, there's the question of operating costs. Just as the blacksmith must price in the iron or steel that goes into the horseshoes, nails, and other goods he makes, or the farmer must price in feed for the animals that pull his plow, if the witch's materials are more expensive, her services also must be, or she must accept a lower margin.



        Political power, in its basic form, comes from loyalty. Heal a close family member of a powerful person, and you're likely to gain loyalty from that person or others in their household. Put rain in one county and keep it from another, and the county that has what they want (whether it's the end of a drought, or protection from flooding) and knows who gave it to them will tend to appreciate it. In the end, a witch would gain political power the same way anyone else does -- by being popular and doing favors for those who can repay them in a political way.







        share|improve this answer














        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer








        edited 16 hours ago

























        answered 17 hours ago









        Zeiss Ikon

        73918




        73918








        • 1




          Plus costs! If she needs to source eye of newt, she must charge the end user or pay out of her own pocket
          – nzaman
          16 hours ago














        • 1




          Plus costs! If she needs to source eye of newt, she must charge the end user or pay out of her own pocket
          – nzaman
          16 hours ago








        1




        1




        Plus costs! If she needs to source eye of newt, she must charge the end user or pay out of her own pocket
        – nzaman
        16 hours ago




        Plus costs! If she needs to source eye of newt, she must charge the end user or pay out of her own pocket
        – nzaman
        16 hours ago










        up vote
        6
        down vote













        Prices are set by meeting request and offer.



        Everyone can charge as much as others are willing to pay for their product/service.



        I can charge as much as Cristiano Ronaldo does for kicking a ball while wearing shorts, but I am sure I would find nobody willing to pay that amount, while Ronaldo does.



        Regarding the political influence, a medieval kingdom is highly sensitive to weather: drought or flooding by rain can easily knock a kingdom down. The witch just needs to show she can control her power, and any one would understand she cannot be left disgruntled.






        share|improve this answer























        • You make a good point. I think the asker still wants an estimated charge, based on the abilities of making rain and healing people
          – Jannis
          17 hours ago












        • There is no way to answer that in a meaningful way.
          – L.Dutch
          17 hours ago










        • @Jannis> depending on her power, the balance point can shift from “noone cares and she won't ever get a dime” to “she totally owns the kingdom and all of its inhabitants - the concept of charging money is moot since everyone goes out of their way to obey her anyway”.
          – spectras
          16 hours ago












        • @Jannis There is not enough information in the question to answer that. Magic may be dime a dozen (Harry Potter), or it may be fairly uncommon (Game of Thrones show). If magic is easy to perform but hard to learn, the price will be more for the expert knowledge and not the act of magic itself. If magic requires expensive materials, the cost of said materials is included (unless provided by the client). If performing magic is in some way dangerous, prices may be higher, and so on...
          – Flater
          15 hours ago










        • "The witch just needs to show she can control her power, and any one would understand she cannot be left disgruntled." Or left alive. It might be safer to kill the witch than risk somebody else paying more money to cause your country a draught.
          – Theik
          15 hours ago















        up vote
        6
        down vote













        Prices are set by meeting request and offer.



        Everyone can charge as much as others are willing to pay for their product/service.



        I can charge as much as Cristiano Ronaldo does for kicking a ball while wearing shorts, but I am sure I would find nobody willing to pay that amount, while Ronaldo does.



        Regarding the political influence, a medieval kingdom is highly sensitive to weather: drought or flooding by rain can easily knock a kingdom down. The witch just needs to show she can control her power, and any one would understand she cannot be left disgruntled.






        share|improve this answer























        • You make a good point. I think the asker still wants an estimated charge, based on the abilities of making rain and healing people
          – Jannis
          17 hours ago












        • There is no way to answer that in a meaningful way.
          – L.Dutch
          17 hours ago










        • @Jannis> depending on her power, the balance point can shift from “noone cares and she won't ever get a dime” to “she totally owns the kingdom and all of its inhabitants - the concept of charging money is moot since everyone goes out of their way to obey her anyway”.
          – spectras
          16 hours ago












        • @Jannis There is not enough information in the question to answer that. Magic may be dime a dozen (Harry Potter), or it may be fairly uncommon (Game of Thrones show). If magic is easy to perform but hard to learn, the price will be more for the expert knowledge and not the act of magic itself. If magic requires expensive materials, the cost of said materials is included (unless provided by the client). If performing magic is in some way dangerous, prices may be higher, and so on...
          – Flater
          15 hours ago










        • "The witch just needs to show she can control her power, and any one would understand she cannot be left disgruntled." Or left alive. It might be safer to kill the witch than risk somebody else paying more money to cause your country a draught.
          – Theik
          15 hours ago













        up vote
        6
        down vote










        up vote
        6
        down vote









        Prices are set by meeting request and offer.



        Everyone can charge as much as others are willing to pay for their product/service.



        I can charge as much as Cristiano Ronaldo does for kicking a ball while wearing shorts, but I am sure I would find nobody willing to pay that amount, while Ronaldo does.



        Regarding the political influence, a medieval kingdom is highly sensitive to weather: drought or flooding by rain can easily knock a kingdom down. The witch just needs to show she can control her power, and any one would understand she cannot be left disgruntled.






        share|improve this answer














        Prices are set by meeting request and offer.



        Everyone can charge as much as others are willing to pay for their product/service.



        I can charge as much as Cristiano Ronaldo does for kicking a ball while wearing shorts, but I am sure I would find nobody willing to pay that amount, while Ronaldo does.



        Regarding the political influence, a medieval kingdom is highly sensitive to weather: drought or flooding by rain can easily knock a kingdom down. The witch just needs to show she can control her power, and any one would understand she cannot be left disgruntled.







        share|improve this answer














        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer








        edited 15 hours ago









        Separatrix

        74.6k30174295




        74.6k30174295










        answered 17 hours ago









        L.Dutch

        73.3k23178355




        73.3k23178355












        • You make a good point. I think the asker still wants an estimated charge, based on the abilities of making rain and healing people
          – Jannis
          17 hours ago












        • There is no way to answer that in a meaningful way.
          – L.Dutch
          17 hours ago










        • @Jannis> depending on her power, the balance point can shift from “noone cares and she won't ever get a dime” to “she totally owns the kingdom and all of its inhabitants - the concept of charging money is moot since everyone goes out of their way to obey her anyway”.
          – spectras
          16 hours ago












        • @Jannis There is not enough information in the question to answer that. Magic may be dime a dozen (Harry Potter), or it may be fairly uncommon (Game of Thrones show). If magic is easy to perform but hard to learn, the price will be more for the expert knowledge and not the act of magic itself. If magic requires expensive materials, the cost of said materials is included (unless provided by the client). If performing magic is in some way dangerous, prices may be higher, and so on...
          – Flater
          15 hours ago










        • "The witch just needs to show she can control her power, and any one would understand she cannot be left disgruntled." Or left alive. It might be safer to kill the witch than risk somebody else paying more money to cause your country a draught.
          – Theik
          15 hours ago


















        • You make a good point. I think the asker still wants an estimated charge, based on the abilities of making rain and healing people
          – Jannis
          17 hours ago












        • There is no way to answer that in a meaningful way.
          – L.Dutch
          17 hours ago










        • @Jannis> depending on her power, the balance point can shift from “noone cares and she won't ever get a dime” to “she totally owns the kingdom and all of its inhabitants - the concept of charging money is moot since everyone goes out of their way to obey her anyway”.
          – spectras
          16 hours ago












        • @Jannis There is not enough information in the question to answer that. Magic may be dime a dozen (Harry Potter), or it may be fairly uncommon (Game of Thrones show). If magic is easy to perform but hard to learn, the price will be more for the expert knowledge and not the act of magic itself. If magic requires expensive materials, the cost of said materials is included (unless provided by the client). If performing magic is in some way dangerous, prices may be higher, and so on...
          – Flater
          15 hours ago










        • "The witch just needs to show she can control her power, and any one would understand she cannot be left disgruntled." Or left alive. It might be safer to kill the witch than risk somebody else paying more money to cause your country a draught.
          – Theik
          15 hours ago
















        You make a good point. I think the asker still wants an estimated charge, based on the abilities of making rain and healing people
        – Jannis
        17 hours ago






        You make a good point. I think the asker still wants an estimated charge, based on the abilities of making rain and healing people
        – Jannis
        17 hours ago














        There is no way to answer that in a meaningful way.
        – L.Dutch
        17 hours ago




        There is no way to answer that in a meaningful way.
        – L.Dutch
        17 hours ago












        @Jannis> depending on her power, the balance point can shift from “noone cares and she won't ever get a dime” to “she totally owns the kingdom and all of its inhabitants - the concept of charging money is moot since everyone goes out of their way to obey her anyway”.
        – spectras
        16 hours ago






        @Jannis> depending on her power, the balance point can shift from “noone cares and she won't ever get a dime” to “she totally owns the kingdom and all of its inhabitants - the concept of charging money is moot since everyone goes out of their way to obey her anyway”.
        – spectras
        16 hours ago














        @Jannis There is not enough information in the question to answer that. Magic may be dime a dozen (Harry Potter), or it may be fairly uncommon (Game of Thrones show). If magic is easy to perform but hard to learn, the price will be more for the expert knowledge and not the act of magic itself. If magic requires expensive materials, the cost of said materials is included (unless provided by the client). If performing magic is in some way dangerous, prices may be higher, and so on...
        – Flater
        15 hours ago




        @Jannis There is not enough information in the question to answer that. Magic may be dime a dozen (Harry Potter), or it may be fairly uncommon (Game of Thrones show). If magic is easy to perform but hard to learn, the price will be more for the expert knowledge and not the act of magic itself. If magic requires expensive materials, the cost of said materials is included (unless provided by the client). If performing magic is in some way dangerous, prices may be higher, and so on...
        – Flater
        15 hours ago












        "The witch just needs to show she can control her power, and any one would understand she cannot be left disgruntled." Or left alive. It might be safer to kill the witch than risk somebody else paying more money to cause your country a draught.
        – Theik
        15 hours ago




        "The witch just needs to show she can control her power, and any one would understand she cannot be left disgruntled." Or left alive. It might be safer to kill the witch than risk somebody else paying more money to cause your country a draught.
        – Theik
        15 hours ago










        up vote
        3
        down vote













        It depends on the service, costs for the witch and social standing of the witch.



        Say that creating rain takes three days of doing a variety of chants. There's no material cost so the only factors are how difficult it is to the chants and the time it takes to do them. The time could ofcourse increase if the chant affects only a limited area.



        Now she needs to heal which requires some ingredients that are expendes during the magic. Expensive ingredients? Expensive spell. You could allow people to bring the ingredients and reduce the cost in some cases.



        Social standing is also important. Imagine if the witch healed someone's pigs and got paid. Later the pigs get sick again, is the witch making the pigs sick on purpose to get more work and pay? You dont know, and a witch with a low social standing will sooner be getting less pay (its your fault so you dont get much of my money), or she get's ousted or killed for sickness, disasters and problems that could be attributed to her magic. Whatever she does, she must always be clear to her customers and her neighbours about what she can do for them and when/how she punishes people using magic.






        share|improve this answer

























          up vote
          3
          down vote













          It depends on the service, costs for the witch and social standing of the witch.



          Say that creating rain takes three days of doing a variety of chants. There's no material cost so the only factors are how difficult it is to the chants and the time it takes to do them. The time could ofcourse increase if the chant affects only a limited area.



          Now she needs to heal which requires some ingredients that are expendes during the magic. Expensive ingredients? Expensive spell. You could allow people to bring the ingredients and reduce the cost in some cases.



          Social standing is also important. Imagine if the witch healed someone's pigs and got paid. Later the pigs get sick again, is the witch making the pigs sick on purpose to get more work and pay? You dont know, and a witch with a low social standing will sooner be getting less pay (its your fault so you dont get much of my money), or she get's ousted or killed for sickness, disasters and problems that could be attributed to her magic. Whatever she does, she must always be clear to her customers and her neighbours about what she can do for them and when/how she punishes people using magic.






          share|improve this answer























            up vote
            3
            down vote










            up vote
            3
            down vote









            It depends on the service, costs for the witch and social standing of the witch.



            Say that creating rain takes three days of doing a variety of chants. There's no material cost so the only factors are how difficult it is to the chants and the time it takes to do them. The time could ofcourse increase if the chant affects only a limited area.



            Now she needs to heal which requires some ingredients that are expendes during the magic. Expensive ingredients? Expensive spell. You could allow people to bring the ingredients and reduce the cost in some cases.



            Social standing is also important. Imagine if the witch healed someone's pigs and got paid. Later the pigs get sick again, is the witch making the pigs sick on purpose to get more work and pay? You dont know, and a witch with a low social standing will sooner be getting less pay (its your fault so you dont get much of my money), or she get's ousted or killed for sickness, disasters and problems that could be attributed to her magic. Whatever she does, she must always be clear to her customers and her neighbours about what she can do for them and when/how she punishes people using magic.






            share|improve this answer












            It depends on the service, costs for the witch and social standing of the witch.



            Say that creating rain takes three days of doing a variety of chants. There's no material cost so the only factors are how difficult it is to the chants and the time it takes to do them. The time could ofcourse increase if the chant affects only a limited area.



            Now she needs to heal which requires some ingredients that are expendes during the magic. Expensive ingredients? Expensive spell. You could allow people to bring the ingredients and reduce the cost in some cases.



            Social standing is also important. Imagine if the witch healed someone's pigs and got paid. Later the pigs get sick again, is the witch making the pigs sick on purpose to get more work and pay? You dont know, and a witch with a low social standing will sooner be getting less pay (its your fault so you dont get much of my money), or she get's ousted or killed for sickness, disasters and problems that could be attributed to her magic. Whatever she does, she must always be clear to her customers and her neighbours about what she can do for them and when/how she punishes people using magic.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered 16 hours ago









            Demigan

            6,4761434




            6,4761434






















                up vote
                2
                down vote













                Whatever the Lord allows her to charge.



                If magic is rare and effective, chances are your witch already works for the lord and is paid very well. She generally wouldn't charge for a particular service but would receive a periodical allowance. She offers her services only to the people the Lord allows.



                She might live in a lands lent by the lord, or even offered, in which case the witch is herself a noble. She commands everyone in her lands.
                This is what medieval means.



                Can she have a shop in the city and act as a regular shop owner? Maybe if she only does practical tricks, divination etc. spells that can't be seen as dangerous and doesn't step on other guild's feet (maybe you have physicians, apothecaries, or even entertainers that don't appreciate what they might see as unfair competition). She might need to negotiate what spells she can perform and charge for.
                Or, she could have an arrangement with the mayor that gives her a certain amount of authority to use her power.



                If she lives isolated (like in typical cabin hidden in the woods) she can charge whatever she wants as far as she can defend herself. One important thing is if magic allows her to survive (can she grow vegetables or obtain water by magic?). In that case she can charge whatever she wants, probably would try to base the price on the client's wealth.






                share|improve this answer










                New contributor




                Tomás is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.


















                • I dont thin kalowance is the main price, I think it's to be turned a blind eye. "We won't bother you with small thinks like rules, if you prepared to do a favour once per X", or something in that direction
                  – Martijn
                  15 hours ago















                up vote
                2
                down vote













                Whatever the Lord allows her to charge.



                If magic is rare and effective, chances are your witch already works for the lord and is paid very well. She generally wouldn't charge for a particular service but would receive a periodical allowance. She offers her services only to the people the Lord allows.



                She might live in a lands lent by the lord, or even offered, in which case the witch is herself a noble. She commands everyone in her lands.
                This is what medieval means.



                Can she have a shop in the city and act as a regular shop owner? Maybe if she only does practical tricks, divination etc. spells that can't be seen as dangerous and doesn't step on other guild's feet (maybe you have physicians, apothecaries, or even entertainers that don't appreciate what they might see as unfair competition). She might need to negotiate what spells she can perform and charge for.
                Or, she could have an arrangement with the mayor that gives her a certain amount of authority to use her power.



                If she lives isolated (like in typical cabin hidden in the woods) she can charge whatever she wants as far as she can defend herself. One important thing is if magic allows her to survive (can she grow vegetables or obtain water by magic?). In that case she can charge whatever she wants, probably would try to base the price on the client's wealth.






                share|improve this answer










                New contributor




                Tomás is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.


















                • I dont thin kalowance is the main price, I think it's to be turned a blind eye. "We won't bother you with small thinks like rules, if you prepared to do a favour once per X", or something in that direction
                  – Martijn
                  15 hours ago













                up vote
                2
                down vote










                up vote
                2
                down vote









                Whatever the Lord allows her to charge.



                If magic is rare and effective, chances are your witch already works for the lord and is paid very well. She generally wouldn't charge for a particular service but would receive a periodical allowance. She offers her services only to the people the Lord allows.



                She might live in a lands lent by the lord, or even offered, in which case the witch is herself a noble. She commands everyone in her lands.
                This is what medieval means.



                Can she have a shop in the city and act as a regular shop owner? Maybe if she only does practical tricks, divination etc. spells that can't be seen as dangerous and doesn't step on other guild's feet (maybe you have physicians, apothecaries, or even entertainers that don't appreciate what they might see as unfair competition). She might need to negotiate what spells she can perform and charge for.
                Or, she could have an arrangement with the mayor that gives her a certain amount of authority to use her power.



                If she lives isolated (like in typical cabin hidden in the woods) she can charge whatever she wants as far as she can defend herself. One important thing is if magic allows her to survive (can she grow vegetables or obtain water by magic?). In that case she can charge whatever she wants, probably would try to base the price on the client's wealth.






                share|improve this answer










                New contributor




                Tomás is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.









                Whatever the Lord allows her to charge.



                If magic is rare and effective, chances are your witch already works for the lord and is paid very well. She generally wouldn't charge for a particular service but would receive a periodical allowance. She offers her services only to the people the Lord allows.



                She might live in a lands lent by the lord, or even offered, in which case the witch is herself a noble. She commands everyone in her lands.
                This is what medieval means.



                Can she have a shop in the city and act as a regular shop owner? Maybe if she only does practical tricks, divination etc. spells that can't be seen as dangerous and doesn't step on other guild's feet (maybe you have physicians, apothecaries, or even entertainers that don't appreciate what they might see as unfair competition). She might need to negotiate what spells she can perform and charge for.
                Or, she could have an arrangement with the mayor that gives her a certain amount of authority to use her power.



                If she lives isolated (like in typical cabin hidden in the woods) she can charge whatever she wants as far as she can defend herself. One important thing is if magic allows her to survive (can she grow vegetables or obtain water by magic?). In that case she can charge whatever she wants, probably would try to base the price on the client's wealth.







                share|improve this answer










                New contributor




                Tomás is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.









                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer








                edited 15 hours ago









                K. Price

                2,6441823




                2,6441823






                New contributor




                Tomás is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.









                answered 15 hours ago









                Tomás

                3079




                3079




                New contributor




                Tomás is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.





                New contributor





                Tomás is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.






                Tomás is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.












                • I dont thin kalowance is the main price, I think it's to be turned a blind eye. "We won't bother you with small thinks like rules, if you prepared to do a favour once per X", or something in that direction
                  – Martijn
                  15 hours ago


















                • I dont thin kalowance is the main price, I think it's to be turned a blind eye. "We won't bother you with small thinks like rules, if you prepared to do a favour once per X", or something in that direction
                  – Martijn
                  15 hours ago
















                I dont thin kalowance is the main price, I think it's to be turned a blind eye. "We won't bother you with small thinks like rules, if you prepared to do a favour once per X", or something in that direction
                – Martijn
                15 hours ago




                I dont thin kalowance is the main price, I think it's to be turned a blind eye. "We won't bother you with small thinks like rules, if you prepared to do a favour once per X", or something in that direction
                – Martijn
                15 hours ago










                up vote
                1
                down vote














                how would she gain political power from it?




                Tomás has already laid the basis for my answer.



                Work your way up to the top



                For someone who is not noble by birth, you have to work your way up the social ladder from the bottom. News of a valuable resource travels upwards in a medieval society. Provided witches are not condemned for their abilities, you first ingratiate yourself with the local mayor, doing favours and giving advice and not asking too much in return except for exemptions from local taxes and so on. Soon the local lord will hear of this and will appropriate your services from the mayor. Of course he will offer you blandishments like good food and a fine room to live in to persuade you to move.



                Sooner or later the news of your value will percolate up to the queen. She will order whoever you are with to release yo to her service. It is now your job to become her most trusted personal adviser and licensed purveyor of spells.



                Despite your lack of noble birth you are immensely powerful. The queen does what you suggest but of course she takes the credit if it goes well. Your magic makes sure it does go well. Because of the combination of your magical powers coupled with the Queen's protection, all the other courtiers are respectful towards you and eager to do little favours in return for your help with a head cold or case of indigestion.






                share|improve this answer



























                  up vote
                  1
                  down vote














                  how would she gain political power from it?




                  Tomás has already laid the basis for my answer.



                  Work your way up to the top



                  For someone who is not noble by birth, you have to work your way up the social ladder from the bottom. News of a valuable resource travels upwards in a medieval society. Provided witches are not condemned for their abilities, you first ingratiate yourself with the local mayor, doing favours and giving advice and not asking too much in return except for exemptions from local taxes and so on. Soon the local lord will hear of this and will appropriate your services from the mayor. Of course he will offer you blandishments like good food and a fine room to live in to persuade you to move.



                  Sooner or later the news of your value will percolate up to the queen. She will order whoever you are with to release yo to her service. It is now your job to become her most trusted personal adviser and licensed purveyor of spells.



                  Despite your lack of noble birth you are immensely powerful. The queen does what you suggest but of course she takes the credit if it goes well. Your magic makes sure it does go well. Because of the combination of your magical powers coupled with the Queen's protection, all the other courtiers are respectful towards you and eager to do little favours in return for your help with a head cold or case of indigestion.






                  share|improve this answer

























                    up vote
                    1
                    down vote










                    up vote
                    1
                    down vote










                    how would she gain political power from it?




                    Tomás has already laid the basis for my answer.



                    Work your way up to the top



                    For someone who is not noble by birth, you have to work your way up the social ladder from the bottom. News of a valuable resource travels upwards in a medieval society. Provided witches are not condemned for their abilities, you first ingratiate yourself with the local mayor, doing favours and giving advice and not asking too much in return except for exemptions from local taxes and so on. Soon the local lord will hear of this and will appropriate your services from the mayor. Of course he will offer you blandishments like good food and a fine room to live in to persuade you to move.



                    Sooner or later the news of your value will percolate up to the queen. She will order whoever you are with to release yo to her service. It is now your job to become her most trusted personal adviser and licensed purveyor of spells.



                    Despite your lack of noble birth you are immensely powerful. The queen does what you suggest but of course she takes the credit if it goes well. Your magic makes sure it does go well. Because of the combination of your magical powers coupled with the Queen's protection, all the other courtiers are respectful towards you and eager to do little favours in return for your help with a head cold or case of indigestion.






                    share|improve this answer















                    how would she gain political power from it?




                    Tomás has already laid the basis for my answer.



                    Work your way up to the top



                    For someone who is not noble by birth, you have to work your way up the social ladder from the bottom. News of a valuable resource travels upwards in a medieval society. Provided witches are not condemned for their abilities, you first ingratiate yourself with the local mayor, doing favours and giving advice and not asking too much in return except for exemptions from local taxes and so on. Soon the local lord will hear of this and will appropriate your services from the mayor. Of course he will offer you blandishments like good food and a fine room to live in to persuade you to move.



                    Sooner or later the news of your value will percolate up to the queen. She will order whoever you are with to release yo to her service. It is now your job to become her most trusted personal adviser and licensed purveyor of spells.



                    Despite your lack of noble birth you are immensely powerful. The queen does what you suggest but of course she takes the credit if it goes well. Your magic makes sure it does go well. Because of the combination of your magical powers coupled with the Queen's protection, all the other courtiers are respectful towards you and eager to do little favours in return for your help with a head cold or case of indigestion.







                    share|improve this answer














                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer








                    edited 15 hours ago

























                    answered 15 hours ago









                    chasly from UK

                    10.3k347101




                    10.3k347101






















                        up vote
                        1
                        down vote













                        Medieval times weren't great at supply & demand vs working at swordpoint.



                        These are all fairly relevant to the question:



                        How easily can her services be forced?



                        What sort of kingdom is she in, socially?



                        Does it have any kind of legal system or concept of rights of peasants?



                        Can the king throw her in a cell and force her to heal his best soldiers under threat of death for her and everyone she cares about, North Korea style?



                        If she has no powerful friends, that could be her fate: to find herself locked up and used as a resource of the state.



                        On the other hand, if she either has the favor of some nobles such that she can't just disappear, or if the kingdom has some kind of trader class and a legal system that has some kind of respect for individual rights of commoners... then she could become fantastically wealthy.



                        Rain.... rain is worth something, particularly if she can call enough rain for thousands of square miles, but it's nothing compared to healing if she can heal serious things.



                        How many nobles are there within reasonable travel distance from her? Thousands? In medieval times commoners saw child mortality rates of 30-50%. Nobles weren't much better off.



                        A few thousand nobles will include hundreds of people with dying kids, wives facing non-trivial risk of death during childbirth, lots of people occasionally facing possible death from what would now be treatable infections and lots of elderly counts and barons facing all the horrors of old age.



                        If her magic can clear a chest infection from a dying child or save a prince dying from sepsis from an infected wound.... saying that she would be highly in demand puts it lightly. She would be worth her weight in gold, literally.



                        If she found herself attached to a noble household we'd expect to see the rich and powerful making journeys to her with sick family members, and access to her would be used as a political bargaining coin.



                        If magic users were more common then you'd expect it to be routine for any noble house to have a mage associated with them.



                        The more common you make them the lower down the social hierarchy access to mages goes.






                        share|improve this answer



























                          up vote
                          1
                          down vote













                          Medieval times weren't great at supply & demand vs working at swordpoint.



                          These are all fairly relevant to the question:



                          How easily can her services be forced?



                          What sort of kingdom is she in, socially?



                          Does it have any kind of legal system or concept of rights of peasants?



                          Can the king throw her in a cell and force her to heal his best soldiers under threat of death for her and everyone she cares about, North Korea style?



                          If she has no powerful friends, that could be her fate: to find herself locked up and used as a resource of the state.



                          On the other hand, if she either has the favor of some nobles such that she can't just disappear, or if the kingdom has some kind of trader class and a legal system that has some kind of respect for individual rights of commoners... then she could become fantastically wealthy.



                          Rain.... rain is worth something, particularly if she can call enough rain for thousands of square miles, but it's nothing compared to healing if she can heal serious things.



                          How many nobles are there within reasonable travel distance from her? Thousands? In medieval times commoners saw child mortality rates of 30-50%. Nobles weren't much better off.



                          A few thousand nobles will include hundreds of people with dying kids, wives facing non-trivial risk of death during childbirth, lots of people occasionally facing possible death from what would now be treatable infections and lots of elderly counts and barons facing all the horrors of old age.



                          If her magic can clear a chest infection from a dying child or save a prince dying from sepsis from an infected wound.... saying that she would be highly in demand puts it lightly. She would be worth her weight in gold, literally.



                          If she found herself attached to a noble household we'd expect to see the rich and powerful making journeys to her with sick family members, and access to her would be used as a political bargaining coin.



                          If magic users were more common then you'd expect it to be routine for any noble house to have a mage associated with them.



                          The more common you make them the lower down the social hierarchy access to mages goes.






                          share|improve this answer

























                            up vote
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                            up vote
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                            Medieval times weren't great at supply & demand vs working at swordpoint.



                            These are all fairly relevant to the question:



                            How easily can her services be forced?



                            What sort of kingdom is she in, socially?



                            Does it have any kind of legal system or concept of rights of peasants?



                            Can the king throw her in a cell and force her to heal his best soldiers under threat of death for her and everyone she cares about, North Korea style?



                            If she has no powerful friends, that could be her fate: to find herself locked up and used as a resource of the state.



                            On the other hand, if she either has the favor of some nobles such that she can't just disappear, or if the kingdom has some kind of trader class and a legal system that has some kind of respect for individual rights of commoners... then she could become fantastically wealthy.



                            Rain.... rain is worth something, particularly if she can call enough rain for thousands of square miles, but it's nothing compared to healing if she can heal serious things.



                            How many nobles are there within reasonable travel distance from her? Thousands? In medieval times commoners saw child mortality rates of 30-50%. Nobles weren't much better off.



                            A few thousand nobles will include hundreds of people with dying kids, wives facing non-trivial risk of death during childbirth, lots of people occasionally facing possible death from what would now be treatable infections and lots of elderly counts and barons facing all the horrors of old age.



                            If her magic can clear a chest infection from a dying child or save a prince dying from sepsis from an infected wound.... saying that she would be highly in demand puts it lightly. She would be worth her weight in gold, literally.



                            If she found herself attached to a noble household we'd expect to see the rich and powerful making journeys to her with sick family members, and access to her would be used as a political bargaining coin.



                            If magic users were more common then you'd expect it to be routine for any noble house to have a mage associated with them.



                            The more common you make them the lower down the social hierarchy access to mages goes.






                            share|improve this answer














                            Medieval times weren't great at supply & demand vs working at swordpoint.



                            These are all fairly relevant to the question:



                            How easily can her services be forced?



                            What sort of kingdom is she in, socially?



                            Does it have any kind of legal system or concept of rights of peasants?



                            Can the king throw her in a cell and force her to heal his best soldiers under threat of death for her and everyone she cares about, North Korea style?



                            If she has no powerful friends, that could be her fate: to find herself locked up and used as a resource of the state.



                            On the other hand, if she either has the favor of some nobles such that she can't just disappear, or if the kingdom has some kind of trader class and a legal system that has some kind of respect for individual rights of commoners... then she could become fantastically wealthy.



                            Rain.... rain is worth something, particularly if she can call enough rain for thousands of square miles, but it's nothing compared to healing if she can heal serious things.



                            How many nobles are there within reasonable travel distance from her? Thousands? In medieval times commoners saw child mortality rates of 30-50%. Nobles weren't much better off.



                            A few thousand nobles will include hundreds of people with dying kids, wives facing non-trivial risk of death during childbirth, lots of people occasionally facing possible death from what would now be treatable infections and lots of elderly counts and barons facing all the horrors of old age.



                            If her magic can clear a chest infection from a dying child or save a prince dying from sepsis from an infected wound.... saying that she would be highly in demand puts it lightly. She would be worth her weight in gold, literally.



                            If she found herself attached to a noble household we'd expect to see the rich and powerful making journeys to her with sick family members, and access to her would be used as a political bargaining coin.



                            If magic users were more common then you'd expect it to be routine for any noble house to have a mage associated with them.



                            The more common you make them the lower down the social hierarchy access to mages goes.







                            share|improve this answer














                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer








                            edited 15 hours ago









                            K. Price

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                            2,6441823










                            answered 15 hours ago









                            Murphy

                            23.8k14687




                            23.8k14687















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