Fantasy The Academy of Lyrithna - Lore

[Arrt Saunders]

Welcome to the Academy of Lyrithna Chancellor Paraph

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Founded by the Circus in 1792, the Academy of Lyrithna is a secret university and the finest magical institution in the world. The Academy’s motto is “In Magicae Speramus”, which, translated from Latin, means “In magic we trust.”

The precise location of Lyrithna is not known, and can never be determined because the Academy is behind the Mirror. Like the Grandstand of the Circus, the shroud of secrecy is intended to protect the students, and the Academy itself, from any harm. The university is only accessible by glassing. Students, faculty and distinguished guests are provided glasspoints at the discretion of the Council of Sorcery; however, Academy glasspoints are supervised and officiated by the Chancellor of Lyrithna. Unauthorised glassing is strictly disallowed at the Academy.

The Academy, a castle of ivory and gold, sits at the heart of the Isridil Forest. From time to time, the trees of the Isridil change color. Usually they are naturally green, but depending on the emotional disposition of the students and faculty, the forest will turn red, yellow, purple, blue, or even, on rare occasions, pitch black. Home to a variety of magical beasts, it is forbidden to venture into the Isirdil, particularly at night. Many dangers lurk in the distant mountains, and no sorcerer who has entered has ever returned.

The grand castle was restored at the turn of the 18th century, and its several towers and turrets hold countless wonders. The seven colleges of the Academy, which provide living and learning communities for the students, proudly overlook the Lake of Lament and the Snarling Sea:

Salix House

Founded: 1792.​

Motto: "Harmony, above all."​

Colours: White and yellow.​

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History: Salix House is one of the oldest colleges of the Academy. The college has long historical associations with the teaching of amelioration, stretching back as far as the inauguration of Lyrithna. The first Master of Salix House was Jonathan Keystack, a prominent ameliorator and the founder of the Sorcerous Hospital in the Citadel. Keystack was an important pioneer in advancing the treatment of dragon-borne infections in sorcerers: his work led to the eradication of draconian fyrevirus in 1814, which had caused one of the most devastating epidemics in sorcerous history.​

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Alnus House

Founded: 1792.​

Motto: "Protect and preserve."​

Colours: White and red.​

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History: Alnus House, alongside Salix House, was the first college to be built at Lyrithna. It is the largest college and accepts all sorcerers regardless of discipline. Alnus House is considered one of the most traditional Academy colleges and is one of the few colleges that still seeks to insist that its sorcerers attend formal dinners once a month, which consist of candlelit feasts that sorcerers must attended in traditional robes.​

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Pallas House

Founded: 1801​

Motto: "Learn or leave."​

Colours: Purple and gold.​

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History: Pallas House was founded in 1801 by the Supreme Master of the Circus, Victoria Marblegate. Marblegate recognised the need to expand the Academy of Lyrithna in order to accommodate a greater number of sorcerers, and she personally funded the construction of Pallas House and the expansion of Alnus House. After Marblegate retired from office in 1817, the Academy erected a statue in her honour. Sorcerers of Pallas House believe that kissing the feet of the statue brings good luck and prosperity.​

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Malum House

Founded: 1843.​

Motto: "Always conquering."​

Colours: Black and grey.​

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History: Malum House is buried deep in an orchard of apple trees, and is one of the more mysterious colleges. The once ivory bricks are putridly blackened, decorated with mottled ivy and the scars of time. In the central courtyard there is a beautiful Malmalia tree, whose branches weigh heavy with black fruit. The fruit is poisonous if ingested; however, it is an essential ingredient in several rare potions. Malmalia are a very old order of tree and the tree at Lyrithna may be the very last of its kind. Malum House is often home to elemental and natural sorcerers.​

Cardus House

Founded: 1874​

Motto: "Grow without limits."​

Colours: Green and red.​

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History: Cardus House has the highest astronomy tower of all the colleges of the Academy. It has a primary focus on astrology, cartomancy, catoptromancy, divination, ovomancy, and tessomancy but still retains a strong interest in martial magic and alchemy.​

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Lilium House

Founded: 1962​

Motto: "Eternally vigilant."​

Colours: Pink and orange.​

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History: Lilium House was the first college at the Academy of Lyrithna to accept mortal sorcerers. The college continues to promote ideals of access, openness, and inclusivity. One of the key figures in Lilium's short history is Justice Amelia, who was one of the first mortal sorcerers to graduate from the Academy. In her year, she obtained the highest honour of the Academy and was elected to the Grandstand of the Circus for several terms. ​

Vitis House:

Founded: 1970​

Motto: "Tomorrow will be bright."​

Colour: Blue and white.​

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History: Vitus House is the smallest college of the Academy. Situated in the middle of the Lake of Lament, Vitus House was built after a donation from Lord Rudberg Kellock, an alumnus of Cardus House who prophesied the end of the world in 1988. Lord Kellock believed that a new generation of sorcerers would be required to save the Citadel. However, although his donation was substantial, it led to the smallest college at the Academy. No one is entirely sure if the entire donation was spent on Vitis House. Nevertheless, Vitis House is the most modern college. ​

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[Arrt Saunders]

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The Mirror is an arcane force that partitions sorcery from the mortal plane. Created by the original Supreme Master of the Circus, and the Sorcerers of the Grandstand, hundreds of years ago, the Mirror manipulates reality; the powerful conjuration normalises supernatural occurrences as comprehendible mundanity.

Furthermore, the Mirror protects the Circus, the Citadel, and the Academy. Distortion of reality by the Mirror created inflationary zones, into which the contemporary Circus and Citadel were constructed after the separation of magic from mortals. The power of the Mirror safeguards those living within its shield. Lyrithna is believed to be inside one of these magical, inflationary pockets, which is why no sorcerer can confidently determine where the Academy is located.

Glassing is the term used by sorcerers to describe magical transportation via the Mirror. Sorcerers can use enchanted surfaces, known as glasspoints, to vanish and appear at another place almost instantly. Most glasspoints are authorised by the Ring of the Circus, and connect two or more known locations. However, sorcerers can create their own glasspoints through bewitchment of reflective surfaces. Technically, unauthorised glasspoints are illegal, but no one really enforces the law.

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If you have ever passed by a window or a mirror and stopped suddenly, believing that you saw something in the polished glass. Then, you, my dear friend, have seen a sorcerer in transit. People are often taken aback by such trivial things. In fact, those rare glimpses of sorcery are enough to boggle the mortal mind; I shudder at the thought of what a knowingness of magic would do to their sanities. Abernatty Periwinkle, Sorcerer of the Stand

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[Arrt Saunders]

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The Circus is the magical body in charge of governing the global practice of sorcery. Founded in 1533, following the conjuration of the Mirror, the Circus was created to police and protect mortals and sorcerers, and govern the lawful affairs of the Citadel.

The current Supreme Master of the Circus is Alexandrine Emersyn, an Academy sorceress who took office in 2014. The International Constitution of Sorcery, written in 1657, vests absolute authority in the Supreme Master of the Circus; however, the Circus is divided into tiers, each with separate and independent powers and areas of responsibility.

The Grandstand

- Sorcerers of the Grandstand are the judiciary of the Circus, charged with interpretation and application of the law.​

The Stand

- Sorcerers of the Stand are the legislators and executers of the Circus, charged with both the writing and enforcing of law.​

The Stage

- Sorcerers of the Stage are civil servants of the Circus, who are involved in the governance of the Citadel.​

As a branch of the Grandstand, the Council of Magic was founded in 1792. The purpose of the Council was to establish the Academy of Lyrithna and select the worthy sorcerers to whom offers would be made. Although the Academy is currently stewarded by the Chancellor of Lyrithna, the Council still plays an active role in the provision of Academy scholarships.

 

[Arrt Saunders]

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Behind the Mirror, magic is universal. Technically, every sorcerer is capable of casting every spell. However, some sorcerers are innately better are casting certain disciplines of magic.

Examples of common disciplines, taken from ‘Edward Mocasick’s Guide to Sorcery for the Young’, include:

- Martial Magic​

“Combat magic is broadly divided into offensive and defensive spells. A very common spell used by playful sorcerers during the winter months is ‘lancirus’, an incantation which can hurl a snowball at an enemy over a very great distance.“​

- Amelioration​

“Ameliorative magic is mending and healing magic. Sorcery is generally superior to mortal medicine, but frankly not a panacea. Amelioraters are also ironically skilled with casting physiological curses. You have been warned, dear reader.”​

- Divination​

“Masters of divination are capable of peering into the future, the present, and the past. The validity of predications and prophecies is forever disputed, and there will likely never be a straight answer as to whether divination is accurate. Scrying on others is not forbidden per se, just frowned upon. If you are caught looking, at least.”​

- Conjuration​

“Conjuration is a difficult form of magic that creates from nothingness. The simplest conjuring spell is ‘pludaforme’, which conjures fresh water. However, there are a surprising number of hospitalisations each year owing to water-borne infections and disease simply because this simple conjuration can go awry.”​

- Decoction​

“The brewing of potions has always been a crowd favourite. Nothing beats standing over a bubbling cauldron and watching the ooze turn from dark green to bright red and, in turn, the purest gold with a burst of smoke. Decoction is my personal favourite discipline. Although, I am biased.”​

- Transformation​

“A transformation spell once changed the statue of the Supreme Master of the Circus into a walking-talking teddy bear that repeatedly said ‘I love you.’ Needless to say, the Circus was not amused, and the culprit was punished severely.”​

- Enchantment​

“Enchanted objects are imbued with magic so that their properties are altered. The ‘autonomous quill’ enchantment is banned by all schools and colleges during end periods. Please do not attempt to cheat in your exams.”​

- Alchemy​

“Alchemy is a poorly understood branch of magic. It is considered very scientific, a field requiring precision and accuracy. If performed correctly, an alchemist could breakdown a tree, atom by atom, and buildup a tower of glass.”​

Sorcery does have limitations. There are sorcerous rules which govern the natural laws. For example, the Law of Rest states that magic cannot influence the dead. Necromancy, despite what some sorcerers may claim, is entirely factitious.

Sorcery primarily involves the use of speech and hand gestures. Some disciplines may possess other mechanisms of casting spells, such as the enchantment of objects with runic symbols. Young sorcerers will often use wands as an aid to focus their spells. When their sorcerous control develops, their reliance on aids typically disappears. Certain sorcerous keep using wands and swear by their effectiveness in spellcasting.

Sorcery itself is inheritable. Students of the Academy who have a close blood-connection to previous attendees are known as legacies. It is not uncommon to find mortals capable of seeing beyond the Mirror. Most mortal sorcerers will live their lives unaware of their latent abilities; some will learn to control magic at the Citadel; and, a very small percentage will be offered scholarships to the Academy. Prejudices against mortal sorcerers are seldom seen, particularly as more and more Citadel sorcerers move to the more technologically advanced mortal realm.

 

[Arrt Saunders]

The Citadel is a sovereign country of sorcerers existing beyond the Mirror, situated protectively within the first inflationary pocket that formed after the separation of magic from mortals. The Citadel includes the Tower Islands and the Fort Islands, which are situated in the surrounding Great Sea. The Citadel spans an area of approximately 230,000 square kilometres, and, according the Statistical Office of Citadel, there approximately 61 million inhabitants.

The Citadel has a temperate oceanic climate. Temperature extremes range from 43°C down to -21°C. Summers are typically warm, pleasant, and occasionally exceptional arid. Winters are generally cool with little temperature variation. Heavy snow is common, and snow usually happens at least thrice each winter. Spring and autumn are very pleasant.

The Citadel's capital and largest city is Lumaria, often referred to as the City of Illumination because of its leading role in the Enlightenment of the Sorcerers. Lumaria has a extraordinarly diverse range of sorcerers and cultures, and more than 300 languages are spoken, some of which are ancient, and rare, languages. The city is the pivotal heart of the Citadel, home to the Circus, esteemed institutes like the School of Arcanis, the Shimmering Library, and the Floating Gardens, and several popular landmarks, include the Museum of Sorcery, the Cathedral of the Fallen, and the Palace of the Mirror. Other major cites in the Citadel include Ignaria, Silex and Irroroto.

The Tower Islands and the Fort Islands are the Citadel's megadiverse regions, which harbour the majority of the Citadel's biodiversity and high numbers of endemic species: 17 species of dragon are found only on the Tower Islands, and the Fort Islands are home to unique types of chimera found no where else in the sorcerous realm.​

 

[Arrt Saunders]

Welcome to Academy. I pray our faith in you has not been misplaced. Chancellor Augustina Paraph

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Chancellor Augustina Paraph is the current Excellency of the Academy. She is charged with the protection of Lyrithna and its students, and has served the Council of Magic faithful for twelve years. Since her inauguration, the Academy has flourished and the number of attending sorcerers has increased steadily each new term. Many say that without the guidance of Augustina Paraph, the Academy would not be as successful an institution. However, rumours have sprouted about the safety of the Academy in recent months - speculations Paraph has venomously denied.

Initially employed as a Professor of Enchantment, with a peculiar speciality in immuration, Paraph was promoted after the mysterious disappearance of Chancellor Idrino Palotina. Paraph studied enchantment at the Academy, and went on to work as a Cursebreaker for the Circus for several years. Her unique skillset was highly favoured at the Academy and she was, and remains, the youngest sorcerer to be awarded tenure at Lyrithna.

Chancellor Paraph is the sole person capable of creating glasspoints for students, faculty and distinguished guests; without her approval, there is no way to enter or exit Lyrithna.

In addition to the Chancellor, several staff members have returned to the Academy:

Professor of Martial Magic​

- Armistice Caius​

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Professor of Amelioration​

- Lucinda Sweetham ​

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Professor of Divination​

-Vera Hubbleton​

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Professor of Conjuration​

- Reynold Shields​

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Professor of Decoction​

- Hemlock Contin​

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Professor of Transformation​

- Illoria Meadowbank​

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Professor of Enchantment​

- Maximilian Burstbrooke​

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Professor of Alchemy​

- Anushka Hirama​

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Professor of Illusionism​

- Gregory Spectre ​

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Professor of Runic Symbols and Magical Linguistics​

- Luxor Frikt​

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Professor of Magical History ​

- Ajax Odipitus​

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Professor of Magical Affairs ​

- Serenity Common​

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Professor of Magical Creatures​

- Powell Zipp​