Info/Lore

[dagger [ain't that a kick in the head], Oh noes]

Introduction

Dear Mr/Ms/Mx [Name],

I suggest you read this letter somewhere private, where nobody can look over your shoulder, as this is a matter for your eyes only.

Are you alone now?

Good.

We here at the Taipan Academy of Dark Magic are proud to inform you that you have been accepted into the curriculum. As you may or may not know, Taipan Academy is a very exclusive school, and you have been chosen from among hundreds of potential students. The staff has been watching your skills from afar and has chosen to share with you this delightful opportunity.

If you wish to attend the Academy, there is a form included in the envelope. Sign it and give it back to the raven. They'll know where to go. Also enclosed is your train ticket. You will receive your supplies at the station. If you, unfortunately, do not wish to enroll, then hand this letter and the rest of the envelope to the raven. Again, they'll know where to go.

Good Luck.

Headmistress Voronin
Taipan Academy Of Dark Magic

At midnight, two nights ago, you may have been asleep or you may have been awake. That's not important. What is important, however, is that no matter where you were, you heard - and perhaps were awoken by - a loud thump on a nearby window.

Getting up and walking over to check what it was, you saw a large raven with a purple envelope tied to its neck with a black ribbon. It eyed you through the window, and you had the urge to let it inside.

So you did.

It hopped into the room, landing on the windowsill in front of you. It tugged at the ribbon around its neck, and the envelope fell down into your hands.

Opening it, you find a mysterious letter, scrawled in flourishing black letters on old, brown parchment that feels like it might turn to dust in your grasp.

Maybe you gasped with excitement or danced around the room, overjoyed that your application had been accepted. Maybe you stared at the letter with a sigh, as you had been hoping that you wouldn't get in. Maybe you even had no idea what it was talking about, had never even heard of the school.

Again, that's not important.

What is important is that you signed the form, possibly out of pure curiosity, and gave it back to the Raven, and watched it fly off into the night. That you took your train ticket and went to the station, and someone pushed a heavy trunk towards you and wished you luck.

Welcome to Taipan Academy Of Dark Magic.

[dagger [ain't that a kick in the head], Oh noes]

The Academy



Taipan Academy of Dark Magic stands at the top of a large, forest-covered mountain. A dirt path winds up through the woods, leading to the courtyard. Once you've reached the courtyard, you're faced with a large set of heavy wooden doors that will open magically when you knock on them. Step inside the castle, and you're in the Academy. Welcome.

The Forest
The forest surrounds the Academy on all sides, with a path weaving through it up to the courtyard. The trees are tall and dense, and it's pretty easy to get lost, but most of the forest is safe. Most. If you stray too far from the school or the path, you'll end up in a part of the forest where there's barely any sunlight, and deadly creatures lurk in the shadows everywhere. This area is strictly forbidden, and almost all students who have ventured out there before have died or disappeared.
In a clearing not far from the school, there's a large barn full of tamed ravens and other creatures. This is the Creature Training class, where you'll learn how to tame all sorts of magical and nonmagical animals.
The East Wing
A long hallway branching off from the main building leads to the classrooms for nine of the classes, not including Creature Training (which is in the forest) and Nonmagical Combat (which is in the West wing). There's not really much to say about it.
The West Wing
Another long hallway from the main building leads to both the Nonmagical Combat classroom - which is also called the gym - and the auditorium, where there will be various assemblies and performances. Another hallway, stemming to the north, leads to the Library, which is full of thousands of books for students to read.
The Main Building
The main building is right between the two wings. Coming through the front door, the first thing you see is the Entrance Hall. The Headmaster's Office, although not shown on the map, is to the right of the Entrance Hall. Beyond that is the Dining Hall, where a hallway on each side leads to the wings. There's also a door in the back, which leads to the dorms.
Dorms
The Dorms are where students stay. They're all connected by one hallway. Three students live together in each dorm, which has a small kitchen, bathroom, and three bedrooms. Students can decorate their dorms however they wish, but students who they aren't dorming with aren't allowed inside.

[dagger [ain't that a kick in the head], Oh noes]

Magics

There are four different types of magic - Dark, Light, Natural, and Artistic. Each has a different academy. None of them are necessarily good or bad, just all different.

Dark Magic
Group: Taipan Academy Of Dark Magic
Dark magic is not, contrary to popular belief, evil, and very few of its practitioners are bad people. Dark magic is simply oriented around playing the offense, dabbling in Death’s corner of the world. Dark Magic is taught at Taipan Academy, which is in the west of Taramagiel. The school colors are deep purple and black.
Light Magic
Group: Unmade
Light magic, like Dark magic, is not good or evil, just neutral. Light magic is centered around defense and healing, It is taught at Bristlefront Academy, in the east of Taramagiel. The school colors are gold and white.
Natural Magic
Group: Unmade
Natural Magic revolves around nature and the elements. Fire, plants, wind, etc. Its practitioners are firm protectors of the environment. It’s taught at Riverblade Academy, in the south of Taramagiel. The school colors are green and a pale pink.
Artistic Magic
Group: Unmade
Artistic magic is mainly centered around the arts, obviously. Spells can be cast through the form of a song, and if you draw a scene, other people can visualize the whole thing in their minds. Stuff like that. It’s taught at Gazania Academy, in the north of Taramagiel, and the school colors are blue and silver.

[dagger [ain't that a kick in the head], Oh noes]

Classes

Taipan Academy has eleven different classes to offer.

Nonmagical Combat
Basically the PE of Taipan, students learn how to fight without using spells or potions. Sometimes this can be with weapons, sometimes they'll be training in hand-to-hand. While the school does not get attacked frequently, this class's training can come in useful for other situations as well, especially in the few towns that consider magic unnatural.
Verbal Spells
Students are taught various incantations and spoken spells, starting with the basics and going into more advanced spells towards the end of the year. You don't need a wand to do verbal spells, but it's better for beginners to have one to help them get started.
Potions and Alchemy
Students are taught various recipes for different potions, poisons, and antidotes, as well as how to turn one thing into another using alchemy. Safety goggles are recommended because things tend to explode when students get just a bit too careless.
Demon Studies
Students will learn about different types of demons and how to summon them. There are also various lessons on capturing or killing demons, as some of them will wreak havoc if they get loose.
Creature Training
Students will learn how to tame and train different types of magical and nonmagical creatures. Be careful, because this class has the highest rate of student injuries. Some of these creatures are dangerous.
Runes
Students are taught how to use rune spells. The first few weeks of the class will mainly focus on learning the meanings of different tunes and the students carving their owns sets of runestones, and then after that will focus on how to cast them.
Necromancy
Students will learn how to communicate with ghosts and reanimate bones and corpses. This does not mean that they will be “bringing back the dead”, because that’s impossible. It’s jist reanimating and communication.
Magical History
Students are taught the magical side of Taramagiel’s history, starting with the beginnings of magic and how it has evolved over time.
Foresight
Students will learn how to predict and see the future. Foresight is possibly one of the toughest classes at Taipan, and many of the students barely get a few snatches the future, but there are a few who naturally excel at it.
Nonmagical History
Students are taught about the nonmagical side of Taramagiel’s history, like the Three Great Wars. This class can be easy to mix up with Magical History, so be careful to keep your notes separated.
Ancient Dialects
Students will learn various languages that were spoken at different periods in magical history, which can help them to create new verbal spells and runestones. Students are, in fact, encouraged to be creative and come up with new things, as long as it isn’t harming them or anyone else.

[dagger [ain't that a kick in the head], Oh noes]

Taramagiel

Taramagiel is a large island country separated from the rest of the world. Unknown to everywhere else, it’s hidden from the outside - and the only place in the world where magic is real.

There are four different types of magic on Taramagiel, each taught in a different school. The four schools are placed at the far edges of the island, in the north, south, east, and west.

Taramagiel’s technology is just as advanced as the rest of the world. In fact, the country is indeed aware of the outside world. The world just isn’t aware of it. However, once you’ve started your way up the path, all “smart” technology stops working. Laptops, iPhones, etc, just shut down completely until you’ve left the area. Other kinds of technology, like record players and cars, will continue working, though.

Magic was not always accepted in Taramagiel. It used to be illegal up until 407 years ago exactly. There are still a few towns where it’s considered unnatural and dangerous, though.

Not everyone on the island is a magic user. Some people decide not to be, others just don’t have the gift for it. They are still just as valuable to society, though. Plenty - most, actually - of the island’s businesses are run by nonmagical people.

[dagger [ain't that a kick in the head], Oh noes]

Other

Other miscellaneous things you should know before making your character

- There are six years at the Academy. You get your letter in September when you're either 12 or 13, depending on your birthday. Thus, student age range is 12-19.
- The Taipan School uniform is a long, dark purple robe with a white dress shirt tucked into black pants, as well as a black tie. Students can style their uniforms however they wish, within reason.
- Teachers actually don't have to wear a uniform, just somewhat formal clothing