"To Mr/Ms [Insert Name Here]
- Secretary of Non-Academic Affairs, Germaine Gilliane, The Night Witch."
"If you are reading this, your application for the Breakfast University of Magic (B.U.M.) has been reviewed and accepted. Congratulations and thank you for choosing us! We here at B.U.M. pride ourselves with having the best instructors, top-of-the-line facilities, and a curriculum truly worth of being called 'the best!' and it has ever been our mission to guide potential mages, witches, warlocks, shamans, wizards, necromancers, the occasional changeling, hermit, etc., towards the becoming of their ideal self!
"Attached to this letter is the university handbook with map, your student I.D. so you don't get disintegrated by the school wards (that was a joke!) directions on how to get there from your location. Also attached are your room numbers and complementary lunch tickets!
"The term begins on the Spring Equinox (That's March 20 in mundane terms; see you're learning already!), please take care to arrive by 12:30 AM - yes you read that right, AM, as in, Ante Merediem, as in before midday, as in, before dawn! It doesn't matter what timezone you're in, just get there by 12 AM!
"Once again, thank you for choosing B.U.M., and may you live in interesting times!
"Attached to this letter is the university handbook with map, your student I.D. so you don't get disintegrated by the school wards (that was a joke!) directions on how to get there from your location. Also attached are your room numbers and complementary lunch tickets!
"The term begins on the Spring Equinox (That's March 20 in mundane terms; see you're learning already!), please take care to arrive by 12:30 AM - yes you read that right, AM, as in, Ante Merediem, as in before midday, as in, before dawn! It doesn't matter what timezone you're in, just get there by 12 AM!
"Once again, thank you for choosing B.U.M., and may you live in interesting times!
- Secretary of Non-Academic Affairs, Germaine Gilliane, The Night Witch."
Magic exists. Magic is mysterious. Magic is attractive. Magic is powerful. Magic is all of this, and more.
But above everything, however, magic can be studied.
And that is where the Breakfast University of Magic comes into play. It is one of hundreds of secret schools scattered throughout the globe, and also among the foremost, perhaps even the best. It's Founder and current Headmaster, at least, is unrivaled among mages, and among the archmages, known as first among peers, and he has been for seven hundred years.
The University is an alliance of different schools of magic, all dedicated to fostering the potential of the magic users who walk through its hallowed halls. Although, rather than a conventional school, it is more akin to a huge research laboratory with occasional lectures. Fights are also more common and accepted than what would be permissible at mundane universities - it has to be, otherwise combat oriented magic users would wreck the place going mad from boredom!
Anyone can be accepted here, but not everyone; the standards for acceptance into the University mean that at the very least, some measure of control has been attained. It does not accept complete novices.
O O C
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Magic System - Magic here follows a "branch" system, in that all magic is descended from one of five (5) sources or "Aeon's". The further from the source the less potent the magic. Once a magic - any magic - has reached its absolute pinnacle, it is said to evolve into an Aeon, and the mage in question is said to have "attained" it. Those that have attained an Aeon move above even the revered "Archemages" in rank, and become revered "Archetypes"
Magic Ranks - Mages are classified according to power, control, and their singularity - that is, the percentage of people that can replicate their magic.
Examinations - An Examination in B.U.M. is the method by which one can prove they've advanced in rank. Examinations are generally held in the presence of at least 3 Masters who have no relation to the examinee(s), and consist of seven tasks. In order for a student enrolled in B.U.M. to graduate they must reach the rank of "Master", regardless of age or number of years in the school; the graduation exam is known as "The Full Circle Exam" and is done in the presence of 7 Masters, 1 Grandmaster, and the Headmaster. Generally, most mages do not pass or attempt the Full Circle, so they opt to stay in the school longer or drop out entirely and seek independent study. On average there are 3 graduates every 11 years.
School Locations
Field Trips - Only Novices and above can go on school field trips. Some locations may require you to be at least Journeyman rank, and sometimes with a Masters permission or presence. Field Trips are usually undertaken for the purpose of gathering materials, study, or experience. Locations include the likes of the realm of the Fae, Atlantis, and Tartarus. Requests for a field trip must be submitted through the Department of Academic Affairs with at the signatures of at least three participants - you are not allowed to go on a field trip alone!
I.D. - the all important Information Document! Each faculty and student is issued their own, unique ID upon acceptance to the school. Don't mistake them for just an average piece of plastic, however. The ID's contain powerful identification magic that not only allows you pass through most of the schools natural defenses unharmed, but also access its facilities. Without an ID, good luck being able to do things like take the train, receive letters from outside the school, or even go shopping!
although I will need someon who can critique character sheets and can move the story (particularly by herding characters along) forward when I'm not around.