The Northern Lords could request adepts or scholars to take a vow of celibacy upon entering their service, but that was mainly done for the position of the physician, if at all. Sending their own retainers or sponsoring children of loyal servants to learn skills in ravenry, administration, or rocks and landscaping became commonplace, and many Northern Keeps had at least one scholar, along with multiple adepts serving in various positions instead of a single maester.