Item from House of the Dragon by George R.R. Martin
A chain of interlocking links of different metals worn by maesters of the Citadel. Each link represents mastery of a different field of study.
The maester's chain is the badge of office and symbol of learning worn by every maester trained at the Citadel in Oldtown. Each link is forged from a different metal, and each metal represents a different subject of study — black iron for ravenry, gold for economics, silver for healing, Valyrian steel for the higher mysteries (and the rarest link of all). A maester wears his chain for life, and it is never removed. The chain simultaneously represents service and bondage — maesters forswear lands, titles, and family, chaining themselves to the castle they are assigned to serve. During the Dance, maesters serve on both sides, and their role as the realm's only reliable communication network (through trained ravens) makes them quietly powerful players.
Chain of interlinked metal links worn by maesters of the Citadel. Each link is a different metal representing mastery of a discipline — black iron for ravenry, silver for medicine, gold for economics.
Also known as: the chain, maester chain, chains of the Citadel