The Royal Wizarding Academy

ocated at the heart of Sage's Rest along the lower banks of the Dancing River lies the the Royal Academy - the pinnacle of learning within the Dawning Empire.
This institution was founding in the early years of the Empire, some 300 years ago now. The then Davistan Emperor saw merit in the active training and recruitment of powerful mages within the Empire, to combat the rampaging spawn from the abyss of The Maw. The Davistan Emperor's continued their investment into the Academy with the appearance of The Orodani Federation on Empire shores, and the continued resurgence of conflict with this continent's neighbour.
It was the first Emperor who saw fit to enact the strict regulations around arcane spellcasting, which are still somewhat upheld today. Where once a transgression would have meant severe punishment, the study of these 'lesser' schools of magic is more commonly frowned upon these days, but is not inadmissible.
500 students reside here at any one time, plying themselves in the art of magical studies in all its various forms. These students are separated into 5 distinct 'Virtues', or areas of study that reflect a teaching of the Avanís Pantheon, each comprised of exactly 100 students. These are:

• Creation - drawing on the essence of this world to create something new
• Change - manipulating something's form using the fibre of our being
• Protection - defending the innocent from harm
• Might - the power to break the barriers that lie before you
• Foresight - observing the threads of fate to bestow wisdom

Reinforced with all students who attend the Academy across the different schools of Virtue, there are three core tenets that ring true in all of the lessons that are conducted here:

1. Mastery - become the best at what you do
2. Purpose - ensure your efforts align with a purpose which will benefit the world
3. Participation - discovery and understanding comes from cooperation

There is no set duration of tutelage at the Academy. Students might study here for 3 years or 30 years, depending how quickly they take to their studies and complete the set milestones within the course material.
Ser Archimedazaen III, when he was Archmage of the Academy some 60 years ago, integrated the rule that limited the number of Academy students to no more than 500. This was to ensure that the development of students always remained the primary focus of the institution, and not to garner its own wealth or power. After this event, many of the “old guard” of the wizarding world left the Academy.
Ever since this event, the curriculum of the school has had a large shift in focus, beginning its strong focus on pushing the bounds of discovery in the magical world through new techniques and innovation, rather than studying the great spellcasters of yore.