Page 8: The Maesters

Maesters are an order of scholars, healers and learned men in the Seven Kingdoms also known as the Knights of the Mind. It is not a religious order but it is all-male. 

Almost every castle or noble family has its own Maester to give counsel, teach children, attend to medical needs and to send messages via ravens.

Maesters are associated to the place where they are and have no political affiliations. They are loyal to whatever family lives in the castle or house. Maesters give up their right to inherit and must remain celibate. 

The headquarters of the Order of Maesters is the Citadel located in Oldtown in the Reach. New recruits are trained there and when they graduate are assigned to a castle or town. 

The entire order is ruled by the Conclave, the council of Archmaesters who reside in the Citadel. The Grand Maester is the most senior member of the order and he serves the Iron Throne and is a member of the Small Council.

The Conclave predicts the weather and the change of seasons. In season 2, they agree that summer has ended and that fall has started. They send this news across Westeros by white ravens. 

Knowns Maesters are:

Grand Maester Pycelle of the Red Keep at King's Landing.

Maester Aemon of Castle Black (at the Wall). At the end of the third season he sends a message to all the lords of the Seven Kingdoms saying that help is needed to fight off the White Walkers.

Qyburn, an ex-Maester who was expelled for conducting unethical human experiments. He fell into service at Harrenhal and then followed Jaime Lannister to King's Landing tending his wound.