Arcane Academy Primer
Dec 18, 2022 0:52:06 GMT -5
Post by Admin: Otto on Dec 18, 2022 0:52:06 GMT -5
The Arcane Academy
The Arcane Academy is a respectable institution that has, for many centuries, shaped the sharp minds of the most prominent young mages across Charon - or at least the ones that were able to pay for it. Although the Academy is prestigious, some older, elven mages that come from an era of one-on-one kind of tutoring often think the institution to be too pompous and glamourized - a thought that has passed on to their Apprentices and the Apprentices of their Apprentices and so on. Despite that, because of the Academy's help of the Crown, it is still the easiest way to learn magic and has consistently graduated several brilliant minds over the course of its existence.
It is located at the Maazeric Island. Despite numerous actions to counter it, it's still known the schoolgrounds are heavily haunted.
History
While Malaki Maazeric documented the birth of magic, it became his son's dream, Faelerion Maazeric to spread it. And as most things that were born before the Collapse, the organization of the institution envisioned by Faelerion was lost, as well as most of books and artifacts that it held. Legends say that the Gods themselves had struck down the walls of the Academy when they caught wind of the way magic was being used, and how the Academy gathered some of the great minds and intellectuals that thought the Gods were not needed anymore. Some legends speak of a lightning storm, others of a flood, but whatever was the case, the Academy was destroyed, its walls tore down and the soil rendered sterile.
For a few thousand years it remained that way. There have been stories of ships lost in storms washing over the shores, only to be scared away by the apparitions that were said to be haunting the island. Although much calmer now, it is said the spirits of the mages struck down by the Gods still roam the place.
It was during the Age of Renewal that a powerful mage whose name was curiously lost to time dreamed of rebuilding the Academy and making mages a respected and prideful lot again, leaving behind the shadow of the happenings of the Collapse. As he started to pour his riches on the rebuilding of the Academy, a terrible revelation was brought to light: the mage was a powerful necromancer who envisioned helping dozens of apprentices gather more power, only so he could steal it for himself. There are those who say it was all a set up to use the mage's riches to start the rebuilding of the Academy and then take him out of power, but most agree the story is true due to some suspicious tunnels found underground the Academy, and the fact the very name of the necromancer seems to be cursed and erased from time itself.
Acceptance
The path is rough and littered with difficulties for a young aspiring mage, and the acceptance into the academy is merely the first one. The honor of being accepted into it is for the few who either pass a test of proficiency, or for those who find themselves graced by a sponsor, an older mage who vouches for their magical gifts, often going as far as paying for their tuition.
It is fairly known that the grueling process of acceptance is feared, for the academy only accepts those who have proven they were graced by the Gods with magic. The young aspiring mage must prove to have already some basic skills like reading, writing and basic mathematics, as well as stand in front of a jury composed of some of the leading teachers of the academy and the Dean and perform an act of magic. It can be anything since the goal of this exposition is to merely prove the youngling to have some and any connection to magic. But what was meant to be just a formality among the acceptance process became the most feared step of them all: many competent young apprentices have shivered and failed to show their skills under the judging eyes of the jury of Archmages.
Other than that, some aspiring mages can skip this process entirely when being recommended by an older mage with enough influence. While this process is considered secondary, it is the most popular. The Sun King himself vouches for orphans from time to time, paying for their scholarship until they can walk on their own feet. While it is mandatory for every youngling to have magical abilities upon acceptance, there has been instances where a sponsor was able to plant into the academy people with no magical abilities in the past, but this rarely ever happen - supposedly. At the same time the sponsor will vouch for the apprentice, it is understood the apprentice must honor the name of their sponsor.
Some people speculate that with the right amount of influence and money, some might've been able to skip the entire admission process altogether.
Although there is no age restriction upon joining the academy, the bulk of the apprentices comprise an age gap between 11 to 24 years old. The too young or too old usually require private tutoring when there is enough money involved.
Tuition and Support
The Crown openly supports the Arcane Academy in most ways, but specially by financing it, making for the academy's resources abundant, its teachers well paid and compliant to the views and needs of the monarchy.
But unless the young aspiring apprentice is born into wealth or has their prowess earn the attention of a sponsor, things are often dire: the tuition is very expensive, not only on account of the yearly taxation, but also because of the bare minimum of materials and books the apprentices must purchase upon arrival for their studies. It is very unlikely that an apprentice of humble beginnings and no sponsor is set to finish their studies at the Academy, unfortunately. There have been cases where fees were swept under the rug to help students - and for students that show themselves as especially brilliant, the teachers themselves can forward a few of their own signatures to the Crown in hopes the King will sponsor the most prominent in need. This process is usually kept very quiet, as it can - and has already in the past - caused jealousy and intrigue among the students (and their parents).
Classes
Spatial Geometry: The most sought-after subject - and the one that most fail at.
Quantum Chromodynamics: There is no current teacher on this subject. The last one proved to be problematic.
Photonic Energy: The teacher is usually appointed by either the Crown or the Temple of Solaria.
Hydrodynamics: The teacher is a former pirate somehow redeemed. No one knows the full story.
Aerospace Transference: 90% of students at the infirmary comes from this class.
Geological Calculus: Taught by a dwarf that loves to punch and break things waaaay too much.
Alchemy: The teacher is member of the Golden Consortium that scour the students for prospects to join the guild.
Magic Runes: Insanely difficult subject.
Astrology: Few people take an interest in it.
Crystals and Magic Components: The favorite of the losers.
Scientific Method: This is that subject no one thinks they need it...until they need it.
The Academy and the Guild
While the Academy and the Mage's Guild are two separate entities, there is a lot of information exchange between them, especially among their libraries. A member of the Mage's Guild may have full access to the dependencies of the Academy and may even be called in for lectures or private tutoring. It is not required that a teacher at the Academy may also be a member of the Mage's Guild, but very few tutors were not also linked with the Guild in any way.
As the Academy takes its role of shaping the apprentice's minds very seriously, the Mage's Guild is more focused on making groundbreaking discoveries and keeping and studying artifacts. It is often considered the next step that a prominent student at the Academy would become a member of the Guild in the future.
It is completely unprecedented that the Dean of the Academy and the Leader of the Mage's Guild to be the same person, which only speaks to Sor' Adien's will and cunning. At the head of both of the most powerful Magic institutions on Charon, that makes Sor' Adien the most influential mage in a very long time.
protect him at all cost. (can’t use discord anymore so making use of this here)
