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== Background ==
== Background ==
The academy has existed for thousands of years. It was founded at a time when many nations were at war and mages desired a place to learn and teach in peace. In all those millennia, Wistram has always been independent. No nation has managed to control it. It possesses its own army and only a truly grand fleet could make it to its shores with weather spells raised against them.<ref name="Pt.3">[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/11/11/wistram-days-pt-3/ Wistram Days (Pt. 3)]</ref>
The academy has existed for thousands of years. It was founded at a time when many nations were at war and mages desired a place to learn and teach in peace. In all those millennia, Wistram has always been independent. No nation has managed to control it. It possesses its own army and only a truly grand fleet could make it to its shores with weather spells raised against them.<ref name="Pt.3">[https://wanderinginn.wordpress.com/2017/11/11/wistram-days-pt-3/ Wistram Days (Pt. 3)]</ref>


During Wistram's construction a variety of architects had been employed, each implementing their own style. As a result, one would rarely come across a room designed in the same way. That also extends to the security of said rooms; while some have traditional, non-magical locks, requiring a stone key to unlock, others need the occupier to speak their names into it.<ref name="Pt. 1">[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/06/30/s03-wistram-days-pt-1/ S03 – Wistram Days (Pt. 1)]</ref>  
During Wistram's construction a variety of architects had been employed, each implementing their own style. As a result, one would rarely come across a room designed in the same way. That also extends to the security of said rooms; while some have traditional, non-magical locks, requiring a stone key to unlock, others need the occupier to speak their names into it.<ref name="Pt. 1">[https://wanderinginn.wordpress.com/2017/06/30/s03-wistram-days-pt-1/ S03 – Wistram Days (Pt. 1)]</ref>  


Over 200 years ago, Wistram was ruled by the [Archmages], one of them being [[Zelkyr]]. At some point, Zelkyr, famous for his skills in the Golem creation, managed to create Cognita, his greatest achievement. Together with her and the rest of his Golem army, Zelkyr felt confident enough to challenge the higher floors of the citadel, those that were even lethal for the [Archmages], containing spells and traps of the most powerful mages that have ever lived in Wistram. Zelkyr ''did'' succeed in conquering these floors, and with it its secrets. However, he decided to keep the possessions of those legendary mages to himself and even declared the school as his. To ensure that, he ordered his Golems to guard the entrances to the upper levels and seal it off. Outraged by this, the [Archmages] attacked him, though none managed to get past his Golems. Those who managed to survive were forced to submit to his rule.[[File: Wistram by Enuryn.jpg|thumb|350px|Wistram Academy, Bay View by [[Fanworks/Enuryn|Enuryn]]<br/>(Commissioned by [[Pirateaba]]) ]]One day, Cognita came down from the upper floors and announced that Archmage Zelkyr was deceased. Ever since then, she and the other Golems have been maintaining Wistram. They help the mages by taking care of the academy, fighting off intruders and so forth, but they still obey Zelkyr's will above all, barring everyone from venturing above. So while Wistram is safe, the higher magics are off-limits.<ref name="Pt.3" />
Over 200 years ago, Wistram was ruled by the [Archmages], one of them being [[Zelkyr]]. At some point, Zelkyr, famous for his skills in the Golem creation, managed to create Cognita, his greatest achievement. Together with her and the rest of his Golem army, Zelkyr felt confident enough to challenge the higher floors of the citadel, those that were even lethal for the [Archmages], containing spells and traps of the most powerful mages that have ever lived in Wistram. Zelkyr ''did'' succeed in conquering these floors, and with it its secrets. However, he decided to keep the possessions of those legendary mages to himself and even declared the school as his. To ensure that, he ordered his Golems to guard the entrances to the upper levels and seal it off. Outraged by this, the [Archmages] attacked him, though none managed to get past his Golems. Those who managed to survive were forced to submit to his rule.[[File: Wistram by Enuryn.jpg|thumb|350px|Wistram Academy, Bay View by [[Fanworks/Enuryn|Enuryn]]<br/>(Commissioned by [[Pirateaba]]) ]]One day, Cognita came down from the upper floors and announced that Archmage Zelkyr was deceased. Ever since then, she and the other Golems have been maintaining Wistram. They help the mages by taking care of the academy, fighting off intruders and so forth, but they still obey Zelkyr's will above all, barring everyone from venturing above. So while Wistram is safe, the higher magics are off-limits.<ref name="Pt.3" />
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Aside from their military prowess, so do they stand out with their wealth. Trade was only a part of the mage’s economy, and that by itself would not allow mages to live in such splendor. No, it was the unparalleled quality of their education, at least compared to the standards of the current era as the education has actually quite fallen over the last centuries. A mage may be made of any fool with a basic grasp of magic, but of Wistram mages, it was said that the weakest of them was a match for any Silver-rank adventurer. And that was broadly correct. A mage passed by Wistram was almost always a studied graduate of at least six years, capable of casting many spells and studied in a wide variety of fields. They owed it all to the rigorous training given to them by their teachers, older mages who imparted their knowledge to the new students.
Aside from their military prowess, so do they stand out with their wealth. Trade was only a part of the mage’s economy, and that by itself would not allow mages to live in such splendor. No, it was the unparalleled quality of their education, at least compared to the standards of the current era as the education has actually quite fallen over the last centuries. A mage may be made of any fool with a basic grasp of magic, but of Wistram mages, it was said that the weakest of them was a match for any Silver-rank adventurer. And that was broadly correct. A mage passed by Wistram was almost always a studied graduate of at least six years, capable of casting many spells and studied in a wide variety of fields. They owed it all to the rigorous training given to them by their teachers, older mages who imparted their knowledge to the new students.


The true value of Wistram is its teachers. Each one defined the experience the students would go through year to year, and so it was small wonder the students quickly learned which teachers could be appeased, which ones were competent and which were barely able to convey their subject matter and of course, which ones were to be feared. However, few teachers are happy, especially those ones that are obligated to teach magic to the newest students that had just passed their entrance exams, as the salary provided by the council is meager. As such, teaching is a task that Wistram mages fought to avoid.<ref name="Pt.6">[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/11/18/wistram-days-pt-6/ Wistram Days (Pt. 6)]</ref>
The true value of Wistram is its teachers. Each one defined the experience the students would go through year to year, and so it was small wonder the students quickly learned which teachers could be appeased, which ones were competent and which were barely able to convey their subject matter and of course, which ones were to be feared. However, few teachers are happy, especially those ones that are obligated to teach magic to the newest students that had just passed their entrance exams, as the salary provided by the council is meager. As such, teaching is a task that Wistram mages fought to avoid.<ref name="Pt.6">[https://wanderinginn.wordpress.com/2017/11/18/wistram-days-pt-6/ Wistram Days (Pt. 6)]</ref>


== Layout==
== Layout==
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Most magic-based classes require the [Mage] to be Level 10; a lot of them even need the person too be Level 20. That’s the reason why most classes in Wistram just teach the basics early on— the teachers wait for the students to have a high [Mage] level before they attempt to specialize them.
Most magic-based classes require the [Mage] to be Level 10; a lot of them even need the person too be Level 20. That’s the reason why most classes in Wistram just teach the basics early on— the teachers wait for the students to have a high [Mage] level before they attempt to specialize them.


Old books left behind by students are being collected and given to new students. However, before they are being handed out to them they are being carefully inspected to make sure they don't contain any powerful spells. As a result, one will never find anything beyond a Tier 2 spell in said spellbooks. The more useful books are only available when one rises in status. That's not to say that it's impossible to gain access to said books without having first gained a powerful position. A few of such high quality books can be found in the libraries. Unfortunately, the exact location of them is viewed as one of the biggest secrets in Wistram, making it very unlikely for one to actually find them. Moreover, even with the knowledge of its position, it might still remain inaccessible as the tomes could be heavily protected.<ref name="Pt.2">[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/08/31/s03-wistram-days-pt-2/ S03 – Wistram Days (Pt. 2)]</ref>
Old books left behind by students are being collected and given to new students. However, before they are being handed out to them they are being carefully inspected to make sure they don't contain any powerful spells. As a result, one will never find anything beyond a Tier 2 spell in said spellbooks. The more useful books are only available when one rises in status. That's not to say that it's impossible to gain access to said books without having first gained a powerful position. A few of such high quality books can be found in the libraries. Unfortunately, the exact location of them is viewed as one of the biggest secrets in Wistram, making it very unlikely for one to actually find them. Moreover, even with the knowledge of its position, it might still remain inaccessible as the tomes could be heavily protected.<ref name="Pt.2">[https://wanderinginn.wordpress.com/2017/08/31/s03-wistram-days-pt-2/ S03 – Wistram Days (Pt. 2)]</ref>


==Exam==
==Exam==
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Said obstacles constitute of, for instance, [Fireballs], albeit fake ones to prevent them from seriously harming the students. Spells aren't the only dangers the examinee have to watch out for, however. They are also attacked by various monsters, though also magically created ones. That is noticeable by their shimmering bodies that make the impression as though they consist of light. As a result, when they are being destroyed, they simply dissipate into fragments and fade away. If the creatures hit the students they won't leave behind an injury, but a shining mark instead of it.
Said obstacles constitute of, for instance, [Fireballs], albeit fake ones to prevent them from seriously harming the students. Spells aren't the only dangers the examinee have to watch out for, however. They are also attacked by various monsters, though also magically created ones. That is noticeable by their shimmering bodies that make the impression as though they consist of light. As a result, when they are being destroyed, they simply dissipate into fragments and fade away. If the creatures hit the students they won't leave behind an injury, but a shining mark instead of it.


At the end of the corridor, a massive Troll appears, attacking everyone that stands in his way.<ref name="Pt.4">[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/11/12/wistram-days-pt-4/ Wistram Days Pt. 4]</ref>
At the end of the corridor, a massive Troll appears, attacking everyone that stands in his way.<ref name="Pt.4">[https://wanderinginn.wordpress.com/2017/11/12/wistram-days-pt-4/ Wistram Days Pt. 4]</ref>


The initiates aren't the only ones required to proof themselves, though. Students from the 2nd to the 6th year have to pass an exam every time at the end of each year. It is being left to the students how they want to show they are worth keeping. It can be anything from a spell they’ve learned to reciting something they’ve studied or presenting something they’ve made. Otherwise they might be forced to pay to stay.<ref name="Pt.5">[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/11/14/wistram-days-pt-5/ Wistram Days (Pt. 5)]</ref>
The initiates aren't the only ones required to proof themselves, though. Students from the 2nd to the 6th year have to pass an exam every time at the end of each year. It is being left to the students how they want to show they are worth keeping. It can be anything from a spell they’ve learned to reciting something they’ve studied or presenting something they’ve made. Otherwise they might be forced to pay to stay.<ref name="Pt.5">[https://wanderinginn.wordpress.com/2017/11/14/wistram-days-pt-5/ Wistram Days (Pt. 5)]</ref>


==Graduation==
==Graduation==
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*Prospective students need to pay a fee of twenty gold coins to attend Wistram Academy for a month.
*Prospective students need to pay a fee of twenty gold coins to attend Wistram Academy for a month.
*The Wistram mages are the only known group whose spells can reach across the world.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/03/07/interlude-2/ Interlude-2]</ref>
*The Wistram mages are the only known group whose spells can reach across the world.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.wordpress.com/2017/03/07/interlude-2/ Interlude-2]</ref>
* Only a few people actually end their studies and leave. Usually, they consist of adventurers. Some of them don't like being told that the magic they had practiced for years is inefficient; among those are even Gold-rank adventurers who are too prideful to accept that.<ref name="Pt.3" />
* Only a few people actually end their studies and leave. Usually, they consist of adventurers. Some of them don't like being told that the magic they had practiced for years is inefficient; among those are even Gold-rank adventurers who are too prideful to accept that.<ref name="Pt.3" />
*Many races that are usually rare on most continents, such as Selphids, Dullahans, Centaurs, can be found at Wistram. The reason is that usually all good spellcasters living on Baleros get sent to the school. Minotaurs, however, are in the minority, as few are magically gifted and a generally dislike towards magic exists.<ref name="Pt.3" />
*Many races that are usually rare on most continents, such as Selphids, Dullahans, Centaurs, can be found at Wistram. The reason is that usually all good spellcasters living on Baleros get sent to the school. Minotaurs, however, are in the minority, as few are magically gifted and a generally dislike towards magic exists.<ref name="Pt.3" />
*Around two decades ago, the Gnolls sent one of their [Shamans] to learn at Wistram. The mages denied him entry, though, declaring all Gnolls to be magic-deficient. As a result, even after 20 years no Gnoll agrees to trade with Wistram, not even through middlemen.<ref name="1.35">[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/01/08/1-35/ Chapter 1.35]</ref>
*Around two decades ago, the Gnolls sent one of their [Shamans] to learn at Wistram. The mages denied him entry, though, declaring all Gnolls to be magic-deficient. As a result, even after 20 years no Gnoll agrees to trade with Wistram, not even through middlemen.<ref name="1.35">[https://wanderinginn.wordpress.com/2017/01/08/1-35/ Chapter 1.35]</ref>
*One way Wistram earns money is by offering enchantments for weaponry and various artifacts. Their services are especially demanded by adventurers that want improved gear or like to have something analyzed.<ref name="Pt.3" />
*One way Wistram earns money is by offering enchantments for weaponry and various artifacts. Their services are especially demanded by adventurers that want improved gear or like to have something analyzed.<ref name="Pt.3" />
* All the mages inclined towards combat get up early to train. Especially the rocks around the academy are a favorite spot for all mages to practice, as there would be less bodies to hit if their aim’s off.<ref name="Pt.4" />
* All the mages inclined towards combat get up early to train. Especially the rocks around the academy are a favorite spot for all mages to practice, as there would be less bodies to hit if their aim’s off.<ref name="Pt.4" />
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