THE ARCANE ACADEMY
The Arcane Academy was established some four hundred years before the present date, by the great god Arcanus, after whom they were named. It forms the most established and largest single concentration of magecraft in the known world, due to the manner in which it is organised. The Academy has two main levels - the Apprentices, containing all the yyoungest members of the Academy until they graduate into being mages in their own right, and those who have graduated but remain at the Academy to make further studies into their chosen discipline, known as the Convocation.
The Academy is organised into a number of different colleges, each teaching a different area of magical expertise. It has the reputation and prestige to be able to entice many of the most talented members of the magical community to teach there, and does not restrict it's faculty to races which some might consider most usual, but has also, in it's history, welcomed creatures from several other planes, various forms of the living dead, and even a few that would be classified as 'monsters' by those outside the magical community.
One of the most impressive sets of structures ever created, the Academy is constructed from obsidian stone, magically tinted to reflect the function of each building. It has extensive laboratories, lecture theatres, small classrooms and a significant tract of ground to call it's own, all enclosed within the walls. It is quite difficult to get to grips with the layout to begin with, as centuries of magical use have altered it beyond it's original design. Amazingly, despite the size of the Academy, various mages have felt the need to expand the dimensions beyond their original scope through the use of sorcery, so that there is even more room on the inside than would be supposed from outside.
The Academy is famous for it's impartiality, refusing to take sides in any conflict out of principle on an official level, although students and faculty are allowed to participate if they feel strongly enough - although it is something which seems to attract far more students during the various periods of examination that occur than at other times. It is rumoured to not even have a fixed location - it was established on an island just off the coast of modern day Lunarol, but several prominent members of it's faculty have stated, over the years, that it would be quite possible to relocate it if necessary using ancient magics built into the facility by Arcanus on it's inception.
There are several organisations affiliated with the Academy which fulfil auxiliary roles (see below). These are partially how the Academy is funded, with extra funding being raised from taking students in. The Academy takes a substantial cut from the profits of these organisations, in exchange for occasional grants for new projects as well as support in matters beyond the scope of the organisation involved.
The Colleges
Alchemy
& Artificers
Alteration
Abjuration
Conjuration
Divination
Elementalism
Enchantment
Evocation
Illusion
Necromancy
Runemancy
Varied
Magics
Joining the Academy & Curriculum (First Year)
The Convocation
The Concept of Familiars
Notable Academy Locations
The Great Hall
The Library
The Weather Dome
The Pool of Viditian
The Challenge Hall
The Cavern of Soddepyg Setalitum
Associated Organisations
Brotherhood of Sages
Divination, Advice and Suggestions Inc.
Monsters Inc.
Necrophiliacs Anonymous
Potions, Powders, Oils and Lotions Ltd.
The Sorcerer's Club
The Spell Seekers