The Academie

What is the Academie

The Academie is the premier learning institution in the Tower, hosting a single batch of students per year. It is the [Bastion of Learning], and this prestigious campus holds [all the information anyone will need], regardless of topic, depth of knowledge and origin of information.

It is the student's responsibility to learn what they can, using the resources provided.

The origins of the Academie, such as its construction, its purpose and its functionality remains unknown.

The upper Tower looks forward to the graduates of the Academie, and offer all kinds of opportunities and rewards to those who graduate at the best rankings. But it is rumored that there’s a secret in the walls of the Academie itself, that once its students perform admirably, it is possible that the Academie can fulfill a wish -- any wish at all.

Institute of Self-Learning

Within this school, there are no educators or professors. In fact, there is a notable dearth of visible adult and authority figures in school. Education here is purely self-learning. All of the facilities and resources within the school grounds are for the students' learning.

Everything the student learns as well as their performances will be assessed periodically, but ultimately, what determines the students' skills are their rank on the Points Board.

Oftentimes, there will be assignments and tasks set for the students to do in order to increase their points or for them to acquire items.

It must be noted that while there is no overseer to overlook student conduct does not mean that there are no rules in effect.

1) No leaving of the school grounds.

2) There is a curfew at 12 midnight.

3) Wearing of uniforms during “school times” [9 AM-9 PM]

4) Entry to the watchtowers are forbidden

Failure to observe these rules can result in debits. Credit and debits can be seen on the Points Board.

Ranking Board

The ranking board is a self-updating reference list of the students and their ranking among each other. Everyone’s rank is visible to each other, and the ranking board can be accessed either through the multiple announcement boards within campus or through the pocket watches the students are provided with.

There are different factors that determine one’s gaining of credit or debit. Participating in Duels and winning them can earn students credit. Studying, experimenting and doing assignments/tasks can also gain one credits. What causes debits can be more obscure, however.

Those who gain a certain number of credits will be given privileges or benefits, such as visits outside of the Academie, or access to more information. They say that those who reach the top of the ranking board can even acquire a benefit that they could only dream of.

Locations

Watchtowers

There are five watchtowers in the Academia, four of which can be found at the walls of the school, positioned in the four cardinal directions. The fifth is positioned at the center of the campus, notable in that it can be seen from any point in the school.

There are no notable entrances to these watchtowers. However, there seem to be windows at the very top, all of them sealed except for one, which has a barely-discernible rune inscriptions on its surface that seems to be holding it shut. Entering these watchtowers are forbidden to students.

(Please notify the group before trying to gain access to the towers.)

School Gates

The one and only access point to the campus. During enrollment period, a book is placed on a pedestal at the doorway. This is where students with names are determined. At the end of the application period, the book disappears, and the gates remain closed until the next enrollment intake.

Attempting to fly over/destroy the Academie walls will only cause a forceful expulsion from the grounds (the first time). Similarly, attempting to leave will have the same effect. It’s said that multiple attempts have cumulative and worsening results.

Study Halls

There is a number of areas where students can opt to study. While there are gardens and the forest for most students to study at while it’s sunny, there are a number of indoor locations for experimentation, quiet and/or group studying in any avenue.

Ateliers - There are five ateliers in campus, and usage of these areas may be first-come-first-serve or, if you ask nicely, you may share.

Reading Rooms - If the Library is too musty for you, there are five reading rooms spread in campus to emulate a cushy living room, plus fireplace. These reading rooms are full of desks and chairs, armchairs and sofas for you to read from. If that’s not your cup of tea, there’s always the plush rugs and the throws littered around.  

Magic Halls - Magic can be a tricky, finicky thing, and surely, you really don’t want to practice it in any place where collateral damage can happen. Or, you know, you want to practice it where you can damage things, just not your own. That’s what the Magic Halls are for! There are, surprise, surprise, five magic halls for your use. No magic books here, just a lot of things for you to experiment on.  

Auditorium - When we said that this was a self-study school, we really meant it. Feel up to studying music? There is one auditorium with instruments to pick from.

Crafts Shed - Located at the edges of the woods, the crafts shed is the to-go place for your tinkering, crafting and forging practice. Here, those are interested in the fine arts can also pick their material of choice.

Examination Hall - A hall dedicated for... surprise! Examinations. It’s often locked.

Library

What is a school without a library? The library in the Academie is the best in the Tower, holding information that even those at the exclusive Aleph are not privy to. This structure is five floors tall, with shelves and walls (and floors) stacked to the brim with books and journals, rare and mundane. However grand the collection and its location, it has little to boast about in terms of organization. It’s said that it had become too huge a collection to sort properly that a previous student had to create an autonomous book to reference and keep track of the books here.

This Book of References can be found upon entering the library. Simply speak to it of a topic or a book title and it will provide directions. You’ll have to search for the book yourself, though.

Removal of books from the library is allowed.It can be noted, however, that the books found in the library are in an impeccable, undamaged state, and all damages, such as spills, rips, burning, etc, are self-repairing. However, the act of damaging them will still cause debits.

It is said that there is a much less used library in the school with books that are in delicate conditions.

Medical Bay

The school has anticipated that its students will acquire injuries in one form or another and even more so due to the presence of Duels. The medical bay is fully equipped and self-replenishing -- however, it is noted that there are no healers or doctors in attendance.

Following the school’s mandate of self-learning, those who are afflicted or injured are encouraged to learn to heal themselves, or have a fellow student who is more inclined to do so. Along with the equipment and resources for their use, the medical bay is also filled with medical books and journals for students to learn from. For simpler injuries, there is always the Index Book, a large tome that would be the equivalent of the Idiot’s Guide to Medicine. The Index Book can be found on the check-in desk of the med bay.
Dining Hall

Too lazy or perhaps too busy to make your own meal? Never fear, there’s the dining hall that’s stocked with foodstuffs and food for your meals. No one knows who makes the food at the buffet line, but it’s good anyway.

For the more enterprising students, they can appropriate the kitchen and make their own meals. Making a mess of the kitchen, however, causes demerits.

Gardens

Yes, we have gardens.

Forest

Of course we have a forest. What self-respecting, magical school doesn’t have a forest?