The magic academies in the Pact Worlds, Near Space, and the Vast take many forms, and each has a distinct culture. Some, like the Arcanamirium or the Eclipse Academy, emphasize time-honored traditions that have lasted for centuries or even millennia. Others, like the Preita Institute of Technology, are quicker to embrace new ways to teach, learn, and work magic. A prospective student of one of these schools has a hard decision to make: they might choose a campus based on family history and connections, the chance to work with a famous faculty member, job placement rates after graduation, or the financial scholarship help an academy can offer. Some students, of course, throw all academic qualifications out the window and just pick a school where they can have a good time—like SENOT or Nerundel Halls.
An academy student must balance the demands of classroom instruction and homework with the need for a personal life. There are always new books to read, new assignments to complete, and a new round of examinations. But for many students, this is the first opportunity they’ve had to live on their own, apart from family, and the temptation to ignore all rules and regulations can be difficult to resist. They’re assisted by academy staff, who watch over and nurture students, ensuring that day-to-day operations of the academy run smoothly, and by faculty, who challenge students every day and prepare them for an unpredictable future. At a good magic academy, even the most wayward student is exposed to a galaxy’s worth of new ideas, experiences, and methods.
The career of an academy student ends relatively quickly; some programs last less than a year, though most continue for two or four. Typically, a student authors a final thesis that leads to graduation. Some alumni, however, choose to continue their research even after graduation.
Prerequisites
Only characters who have the spells class feature can take this archetype.