Vurden

Mage School

The Vurden Mage school is comprised of an elaborate main campus, with several individual buildings surrounded and connected by a series of man-made canals. Mages who have already achieved mastery are permitted to come and go, visiting or studying as they see fit. 
Apprentices are magical students who have not yet learned to control their abilities. These students are housed in large dormitories near the school center, though they report individually to whichever Master has taken them on. Once an apprentice has proven control, they are promoted to Journeyman. Some choose to stop here and are considered 'Journeyman-content,' meaning that they return to their former life and do no pursue mastery. 
Journeymen are those who have proven they can control their gifts but wish to continue studying in order to become a full Mage. They may continue under their original Master or transfer to a more specialized Master if that is their wish. They may also come and go but must always report to their Master. They are responsible for their own housing and end up scattered across the city of Vurden, blending the border between the school and the town. 

Magic & Impact

The magic worked by Vurdish Mages has been described as 'poetry in motion.' Kinetic motion is a key factor in the working of Vurdish magic, either through the use of finger-signs, hand motions, or body movements. Individuals with the talent for kinetic magic travel to the eastern island of Vurden, in the hopes that a Master will apprentice them and teach them how to wield their gift.
Vurdish Mages have a strong affinity with water, healing, and the psychic arts. Visitors come to Vurden seeking healing for a disease or knowledge of the future. Battle magicks can involve ice or boiling water, and Vurdish Mages are invaluable on sailing vessels. One major invention to come from Vurden was the Mage Wheel, a large paddle wheel imbued with Vurdish magic which can be mounted on the rear of a boat for propulsion.
Visitors to Vurden are often shocked to see people 'walking on water' or 'dancing in the waves' in Vurden Cove. That is also why it is advised for foreign vessels to display their colors boldly, as apprentices have been known to use sturdy Vurdish fishing vessels for target practice.

Structure

Mage-talented individuals who wish to study at Vurden are required to find a Master. This Master is a Vurdish-trained Mage who then takes the student on as an apprentice. The Master is entirely responsible for the education of the student at all levels, from apprentice to journeyman. Mage students become trained Mages only when their Master says they have completed their training. At which point they may then take on their own apprentices. Masters may have as many, or as few, apprentices as they wish. Some Masters refuse to take on more than one apprentice, while others take on dozens at a time. Students who wish to specialize in a branch of magic which their Master does not may request to be transferred to another Master. Students who have maintained control of their mage-talents may choose to quit training at any point, whether they have achieved mastery or not.

Culture

Ceremonial Dance 

Because of the kinetic nature of Vurdish magic, dance is an integral part of society. Most celebrations include dancing, and major events often include choregraphed performances by talented dancers. The highlight of a Vurdish wedding is when the bride and groom perform an elaborate ceremonial dance, and it is a mark of affluence if the family can provide multiple accompanying performers. It is also not uncommon to see large crowds watching street performers in the courtyards and markets of Vurden.

Sign Language

While most Vurdish people do speak the Common Tongue of Llyris, the vast majority of them are bilingual, with their second primary language being sign language. Conversations are usually held in both languages simultaneously, with one person both speaking and signing in tandem. For this reason, Vurds are often referred to as 'hand-talkers' by outsiders and it's a crude joke that if you were to tie their hands together, they would be unable to speak. 
It is unsurprising then, that a large percentage of Vurdish people are deaf. It is uncertain whether the collective use of sign attracted deaf immigrants, or if sign language became common due to a high indigenous deaf population, but the fact remains that over a quarter of all Vurds are hearing impaired. If a person who did not speak sign wants to visit Vurden, it is recommended that they hire an interpreter for the duration of their stay, just in case someone speaks using only sign.

Location

The Mage school at Vurden is located on an island in the middle of Vurden Cove. This rather large section of water is a gulf, situated between the Marai Sea and the Kuraga Marsh, and the island on which it sits is technically considered part of the eastern continent.

Vurden Island

Surrounded on all sides by the salt waters of Vurden Cove, the shores of the island are gently sloping and sandy. The interior of the island is mostly rolling grasslands broken only by outcroppings of bare bedrock. The primary source of freshwater on the island comes from underwater springs or wells, as there are no rivers, streams, or lakes. There are a few solitary dwellings scattered around the island, but the vast majority of people live in the city surrounding the Vurden Mage school.

Type

Education, Magic

Demonym

Vurdish or Vurd

Parent Organization

The Four Schools

Location

Vurden

Kelpies

While the island is considered a desolate place for people, it is paradise for kelpies. This water-dwelling equine species does not require freshwater, though they do seem to enjoy the tough, reedy grasses found in the island plains. Wild herds of kelpies can be seen racing across the hills, leaving sprays of mist in their wake.
While on land their speed is comparable to that of a terrestrial horse, however they are even swifter in the water. At walking speeds, they appear to be swimming, with only their head and neck exposed above the surface. As they increase to a trot or a canter, more of their lower body becomes visible. At full gallop, their entire body seems to glide across the top of the water, with only their fin-shaped hooves touching the waves.

Tulladar Aquariot Race

The most notable event hosted by Vurden is the annual Tulladar Aquariot Race. 
Aquariots are small, one or two-manned vessels drawn by teams of trained, racing kelpies. 
The Tulladar is a test of speed, agility, and human endurance as racers stand atop these floating craft and are pulled along at impossible speeds through a series of buoys. Event organizers set a different course every year and racers are only given a few days to memorize and practice the route before the main event. The first few days of competition are filled with qualifiers - individually timed laps which rank the racers into heats. Racers must then win their five-lap heat in order to advance to the Tulladar Final.  The Tulladar Final is a grueling, 25-lap race with the top competitors from every heat battling for position. Leaving the course disqualifies the racer and kelpies can be injured due to collisions with other racers or with buoys. The winner of the race earns a sizable monetary prize, as well as notoriety. Winning teams of kelpies usually fetch high breeding prices for their owners.