Homebrew Academy of the Arcane Species Details

There is no place that channels the mysterious power of the arcane like the city of Mythhaven. Magic seems to flow through the very streets that weave through the ancient buildings and towns. And at the center of it all is the Academy of the Arcane.

The Academy is said to predate the Valaryns, the Lost People, and (if the stories are to be believed) even the First Kin. It is an ancient stronghold of magic built before the Cataclysm by the First Children. It was here that magic first entered this plane. And it is here that those imbued with powers beyond comprehension come to harness their abilities.

The Academy of the Arcane is its own fortified stronghold within the sprawling city of Mythhaven. Tall stone walls surround a central keep and eight massive towers, one for each school of magic. The Academy was built to be self-sufficient, with methods of supplying food, water, and services.

For many millennia, the Academy remained isolated. The First Invasion brought humans to Valheim and the Rock. They found the Academy brimming with life. Humans, elves, tieflings, and more were brought from all over Terai by the Elder Mages to learn at the Academy. Each generation, a select few were chosen to study.

But the discovery of the Academy by humans changed things. People began to travel to the north of the Rock to beg for a chance to learn from the Elder Mages. Most were turned away. But the few who were accepted into the school experienced hardship and peril like no other.

At the end of that long road are many paths. For thousands of years, those who came to the Academy stayed until their dying day. They studied, learned, and explored the arcane arts to further the knowledge of all magic users. The First Invasion changed that.

Today, many graduates go on to serve as Mages for the Lords of Valheim and beyond. These Mages act as advisors, instructors, and researchers, among other things. In addition, they act as the eyes and ears of the Academy, keeping tabs on the political landscape of Terai.

But to become a Mage, one must first pass through the Academy.

Moving Through the Academy

It is said that only 1 in 10 students survive the first year at the Academy, and even fewer graduate. Students are forced to learn quickly or die horribly. But the allure of power and magic continues to bring new pupils.

There are three levels to training at the Academy. The first is based around study and instruction. Students will spend years behind books, practicing with instructors, and testing each other. The hours are long and the exams are deadly. By the end of the first level, students must travel to complete a quest for the Academy. Most of the time, this involves retrieving a relic that the Elder Mages have been searching for. If the student returns alive, they graduate to the second level.

The Second Level of the school involves gaining world experience. After years behind a book, the realities of the world are distant memories to some students. Therefore, the Elder Mages decreed that their pupils should go out into the world to become adventurers. They must complete quests, explore distant ruins, and assist the realm. Only when the Elder Mages decree that they have gained the experience necessary shall they move on to the last level.

The Third Level of the Academy is one of becoming an apprentice. Most graduates of the Academy of the Arcane become Mages for the Lords of Valheim. The final level involves apprenticing to one of those Mages to truly learn how they will perform their role in the future. Once their master deems their training complete, the student will be able to graduate from the Academy and become a full-fledged Mage.

Goals

The Academy itself attempts to stay out of the political squabbles of the realms. However, if the world at large is threatened, the Mages will step in to restore balance. The Mages of the Academy are dedicated to the stability of Terai and the maintenance of the fragile balance of the arcane.

Should a threat arise to destabilize the world, the Academy may step in to end the threat. But, for the most part, the Mages work from the shadows to attempt to manipulate stability amongst the realms.

Relationships

The relationship between the Academy of the Arcane and the Lords of Valheim are thought to be a symbiotic one. The lords help protect the Academy from mortal threats, while the Mages advise and guide the lords as they govern their realm.

Other factions within Valheim share some tension with the Academy. The Order of Bahamut is another group that traces their roots to before the Cataclysm. Though both factions stand on the side of order and balance, their methods and plans can clash. There has been more than one time that blood has been shed between these two ancient groups.

The Cult of Shadows, on the other hand, has always been in direct conflict with the Academy. It is said to have been founded by a banished student who perverted the ways of the arcane to disrupt order. Since it’s founding, the Cult of Shadows and the Academy of the Arcane have waged an unending war that has seen casualties on both sides.

Figures of Interest

Life at the Academy of the Arcane can prove quite deadly. However, those that manage to survive their years there come out the other side with great power, and great influence.

Naldri, Arch-Mage

True neutral, female of the first children

It is said that Naldri was the original founder of the Academy of the Arcane. There is some credence to this claim as she appears to be the last member of the race known as the First Children. But though she has lived for thousands of years, Naldri still appears to be youthful. She leads the Academy through the turmoil of Valheim and even finds time to instruct her students in the ancient ways of the First Children.

Luucesh, Elder Mage of Evocation

Chaotic neutral, male dragonborn

Luucesh is one of the most esteemed instructors at the Academy of the Arnane. The dragonborn has been a part of the Academy for nearly his entire life after he was taken from his clan at only three years old. Though his teaching methods are… unorthodox, and can cause the occasional fatality, any student who passes beneath his tutelage, and survives, can count themselves amongst the foremost magic users in the realm.

Vorskar, Elder Mage of Divination

Neutral good, male cloud giant

There is no Elder Mage more unique than Vorskar. He is one of the only giants to have ever been admitted to the Academy, much less risen to such a high rank. Vorskar is constantly at the top of the Tower of Divination, prying into the future of Terai and striving to understand its past. He is a strange mage, left distant by his constant connection with times past, present, and future.

Natwala, Elder Mage of Illusion

Chaotic neutral, female tiefling

It was never expected that Natwala would ascend to the rank of Elder Mage within the Academy. As a student, she was known for her trickery and deceptive use of magic. Ever the trouble maker, it always seemed that she was one mistake away from expulsion. But the years led to some level of maturity and her affinity for magic was strong, pushing the tiefling all the way to the top of the Academy.