Collegiate of Mages

The **Collegiate of Mages** was the world's foremost pioneer in education and research, arcane or otherwise. The school was influential in countless technological, philisophical, and arcane advancements through the years, and once held the largest collection of magical items and books. The Collegiate of Mages was founded in the year 5,873 DC in Flower Falls, Arania in Midland. It has since opened an additional school in Elwynd, Estoria in Westaranis.

## History

The Collegiate was organized by the King’s Archmage Yulsidore Einlight. Einlight was frightened by the potential magic had on the stability of the civilized world, and sought to control magic through education and regulation. Along with twelve of his closest apprentices and colleagues, Einlight was given permission and the funding to create the Collegiate’s first campus in 5,873 DC.

## Academics

The Collegiate hosts a number of schools and areas of study that range beyond just magics. The philosophy the college upholds is summarized in a quote by one of the Collegiate founders, Archmage Varam:

> “If one wishes to wield a power as such [magic], one must know precisely what one is doing or risk complete disaster in the face of the unknown. Ignorance is equal to death.”
>
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The Collegiate requires all of its students to learn about the world in order to further their comprehension of magic, as the act of magic is a direct manipulation of the world. Additionally, the Collegiate believes that an intellectually sound individual will always steer progress in the right direction. There are multiple schools under the collegiate, each with its own curriculum. A graduate must complete all the courses within their school to satisfactory marks by their tutors and professors.

### Academic Progression

As students progress through their studies, they earn titles at the School level, then the College level. If they wish to proceed, they may earn faculty titles as they hold key positions within the collegiate. Students use their the title that reflects their highest level of achievement.

When students are first admitted to a college within the Collegiate of Mages, they gain the title Lesser Apprentice. This is a student who has not yet completed an exam in any of the schools within a college. Once a student completes their first exam in a school, they are raised to the title of Apprentice for their school (ex. Apprentice of Illusion).

If a student has been found competent to continue unguided study, they are raised to the title of Scholar within that school. Once they have made their first academic contribution to their field of study, they are raised to Advanced Scholar within that school. Advanced Scholars are the only ones permitted to take a graduation exam for their respective school. Once they pass, they are granted the title Graduate of the respective school they completed. A student that has graduated all schools of study within a college is given permission to graduate from that college.

The number of students that hold Graduate titles is a fraction of the number of Apprentices under that school, and even more pronounced when looking at the number of Graduates of a college.

### College of Magic

The Collegiate of Mages College of Magic is the most well known school due to the subject matter. Despite its popularity, the College of Magic is a highly selective and secretive school, and one must graduate from at least two other schools in order to qualify for an interview.

The College of Magic features six schools of magic: Abjuration, Transmutation, Summoning, Divination, Enchantment, and Illusion.

#### **School of Abjuration**

The School of Abjuration focuses on spells that protect and shield against other spells. Abjuration is a particularly difficult subject to master, as it requires an in depth knowledge of magic in order to manipulate other flows of magic.

#### **School of Transmutation**

The School of Transmutation focuses on the incredible ability of a magic user to reform one form of matter in to another.

#### **School of Summoning**

The School of Summoning focuses on the transportation of living or nonliving forms of matter from one place to another. Due to the delicate nature of this type of magic when dealing with living creatures, the students of the School of Summoning are held under higher scrutiny and progress the slowest of all the schools.

#### **School of Divination**

The School of Divination is a staple to any competent mage, and is therefore the most well understood and popular school. Divination focuses on the acquisition of information via magic. This includes the detection of magic, identification of magical objects, and translation of languages. Divination graduates often can find lucrative work using their skills for nobles and merchants who can afford the services of a mage.

#### **School of Enchantment**

The School of Enchantment is another popular avenue for students. Enchanters can manipulate the minds of others, planting thoughts, feelings, and ideas in order to influence their decisions. Despite its popularity, the implications of teaching techniques that could pose great security risks means this school is highly controlled and monitored, and those who are in question by the college are barred from the subject matter entirely.

#### **School of Illusion**

The School of Illusion focuses on the conjuration of non-real images and sensations. While still an important subject matter, it is not uncommon for students to disregard this school once they have completed satisfactory marks.

### College of Science

The College of Science deals with studies of the mechanics of the world. Students of the College of Science study Alchemy, Mathematics, and Astronomy. These are studies that seek to explain and create rules in a world of chaos. Advancements in this field have led to better weaponry, more accurate timekeeping, and more clever forms of handling money.

#### **School of Alchemy**

The School of Alchemy deals with the interactions between physical objects in the absence of external magical influence. Students of Alchemy learn how to combine simple physical matter without magic to create new forms of matter with new properties. Within the College of Science, Alchemy is the subject that is most closely related to the College of Magic.

#### **School of Mathematics**

The School of Mathematics deals with the "language of numbers", as described by Klyss Marque, Graduate of the College of Science. The School of Mathematics is a crucial subject for all Collegiate students, and is one of the larger schools overall. Much of the concepts and knowledge from this school is used in other schools and colleges to explain concepts and ideas correctly. Not many manage to become Advanced Apprentices in any subject without some level of progress through the School of Mathematics.

#### **School of Astronomy**

The School of Astronomy seeks to study the celestial bodies and the nature of the material world. As the knowledge body of the School progresses, a debate has formed on whether or not to rename the School with a more general term that encompasses the physical and material studies that have become popular in explaining general motion.

### College of Arts

The College of Art focuses on subjects that take more than logic to become successful in. The College of Art has often prided itself on being the vehicle that bridges the College of Science with the College of Magic. The College of Arts features the schools of History, Calligraphy, Music, Forging, and Visual Art.

#### **School of History**

The School of History focuses on the study of the recorded past, as well as artifacts and relics of older civilizations. Students of History were in high demand following the War for Westaranis as an intense demand for Elden relics

#### **School of Calligraphy**

The school of calligraphy teaches students how to write and trains them to become certified scribes. Many students come from all over specifically for the art itself, as even a student of the school of calligraphy is able to find work all across Midland.

#### **School of Music**

The school of music is a prestigious school that requires a successful audition to move past the first exam. Once a student of the school of music, one becomes a part of the Einlight Orchestra. These musicians are considered some of the best in the world, and have played and written over one hundred classic pieces, each one more popular than the last. Some students of the College of Mages find their way here, as sound has been known to be one medium at which spells can be cast, and music is a potent method.

#### **School of Visual Arts**

The School of Visual focuses on painting, drawing, and sculpting. Students learn a wide variety of styles and techniques, and promising students are often offered commission for their works and expertise in art.