Arcane Academy

The Arcane Academy is the only place in Daly where magic users can take the exams to prove their mastery of their arts past a certain level.

Those are the only arcanists that are allowed to take up positions of political power or responsibility. As such, places at the Academy are in high demand for those interested in such things.

There are three ways to get into the Academy- a sponsor from among the staff or alumni of the Academy who will vouch for them, individuals who have shown incredible potential, or those who have sufficient loose gold to buy their way in.

Arcane Academy

Open full size

The most prestigious place for those with magic to study in Daly, entry to the academy typically requires either a sponsor, an exceptional talent, or an obscene amount of money. Magic users wishing to progress in power and use spells of third level or higher must pass examinations at the academy, both to prove their mastery of their magic and to prove they well not use their magic to the detriment of Daly.

Structure

The headmaster has oversight of the Academy, and is supported by several dozen senior teachers and an administrative staff. Each year except first also has three prefects who are responsible for managing discipline in the dormitories.

Culture

There are two distinct levels of student at the Academy- in general, students in years one to three are eager to learn and keen to help each other, all banding together to pass their exams at the end of third year and prove their ability to take up a wide range of roles around the kingdom.  This is the standard level for magic users wishing to take up roles like temple priest, transport mage for the merchants alliance, etc. The second tier of students are those who stay on past third year- there are examination points at the end of fifth year as at the end of seventh year, and ambitious arcanists wishing to take up roles like court mages or hierophants typically need to take these exams. Obviously those positions are limited and competition is fierce, so students at this level tend to be a lot less trusting or collegial.
The only place where magic can be used against other students is in the Arcana Practicum or the Training Grounds.  If any student is found to break this rule, it is automatic detention, if not expulsion.  Serious abuses of magic can result in trial and imprisonment- the staff are more than capable of determining what is malicious and what is genuine accident.
First year is the only year in which students have a set timetable, having to take in some of every subject.  From second year on, students can choose their own study options on a daily basis- teachers are allocated to a year and time, and will be available nine days out of ten for classes.  This does mean that some days, students might be in a class of dozens, and on others they may get an individual tutorial.
On an evening, students in years 4 to 7 are expected to take one day per tenday to be available to help guide lower level students in extra study. There are usually two to three staff also available each evening for higher level students to access tutorials and to cover emergencies.

History

The Founding

Founded in 475 during the initial construction of West Bour, the Arcane Academy was originally just a small school of magic perched atop one of the three hills of the town. However, when West Bour became capital of Daly, it rapidly gained in prestige, becoming the preferred place to study for magic users wishing to maintain proximity to the throne or search for a rich patron.
It grew in size accordingly, eventually encircling the hilltop with an elegant wall to allow for future expansion. An increasingly large and talented set of graduates settled in the city, which in turn began adapting more and more to the needs of the magic users resident.

The Ruining

In 503, however, the prestigious institution nearly fell. A malicious act destroyed at least half of the new city, not only flattening the hills to the south east, but sinking the land enough to allow the lake to flood into the disaster zone, nearly quadrupling it's size. The outcry against the magic users was instant, and fierce, and the survivors in the city were petitioning the court daily to close down the school, which was one of the few buildings to escape unscathed.
It took a few years, but eventually in 508 a group of hunters and fighters from Prince Lovil found and defeated the mage responsible for the tragedy- a mage called Hardin The Red, who had deliberately caused the implosion in an act of sabotage against the royals of Daly.

The Rise

Over the next 300 years, the mages settling in West Bour after studying at the Academy began amassing significant political power, especially after the royal court moved to Grantshawk and they escaped the direct oversight of the throne- in effect leaving them as the main faction in the capital.
As the Academy continued growing, in prestige as well as size, sending off powerful magic users who had studied here to take up positions of power around the kingdom, they seemed untouchable.
So much so, that in 806 the king sent his sister to the region to build a competing city to reclaim some political control of the region- North Byshirom. This was followed in 824 by the formal relocation of the capital to Grantshawk, removing another layer of political power from the mages who now controlled the region.

The Recognition

In 890, one of the mages working in North Byshirom, having studied at the academy and coasting on reputation rather than ability, managed to destroy half of the city by attempting a spell beyond their capacity.
The politically savvy King Godric III saw his chance to adjust the relationship between magic and politics, and called an enormous conference between all magic schools, the temple council, the remaining nobles, the adventurers society and merchants alliance representatives.
The outcome of that was twofold. On one hand, the Academy was required to submit to a headmaster and key others selected directly by the ruling king or queen of Daly. On the other, the Academy became recognised as the only place in Daly that was allowed to train magic users past a certain level, and a system was put in place to distinguish those levels and formally recognise users who were capable and trusted to use magic of higher levels.

Magicae crescit cognitio

Founding Date

475

Type

Educational, School/Academy

Location

West Bour

Related Historical Events

• 890 PS
  Arcane Academy Examined