FrivYeti/EmeraldAcademy
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The Emerald Academy
While nowhere can contend with the prestige of the Heptagram or the Lookshy Sorcerer-Technicians, the Emerald Academy considers itself the best school for sorcery in the South. Sitting a half-day's ride west of Harbourhead, the Academy is situated on a tall bluff overlooking the Inner Sea; the Academy itself is a large, walled village, peopled by both sorcerer-trainees and the various mortal and elemental servants that serve them. At any given time, there are not more than a dozen students, along with two to three times that many mortals. A handful of elementals (most of whom rotate service) rounds out the staff.
The Academy itself is a tall pyramid, shaped from marble, with a door in each side and steps leading to the top; each step is outlined with strange sigils and designs meant to evoke the primal power of Craetion, and the location is situation atop a convergence of dragon lines. On top of the pyramid, a strange five-sided altar sits, each of its points holding a curving piece of ivory that touches at the hearthstone holder in the centre. Within, there are rows of old books collected tirelessly throughout the years, and the faint feeling of power emanating from the walls. Outside the Academy are a half-dozen theory buildings, where students can safely shape new spells and study sorcerous theory without worrying about accidentally blowing themselves up. Finally, set off a quarter-mile from the other buildings is the Demonstration Grounds, where students may engage in sorcerous duels, demonstrate their abilities in exam, or undergo summonings.
Game Mechanics
Manse Level 3.
Drawbacks: None.
Powers:
Zone of Influence (3 pts): The power of the Academy extends out over the entire town, covering both dwellings and practice areas in its other major capability.
Emerald Circle Feedback (3 pts): No Terrestrial Circle sorcery may be cast successfully in or near the Manse; the entire town is covered by this effect, with the exception of the Demonstration Grounds. This may have once been meant as a safeguard, but the Manse's current master prefers to use it as a training mechanism, ensuring that students will not cast spells before they are fully complete with their training.
Hearthstone: The Hearthstone of the Emerald Academy is called the Pattern Firming stone. Its user may cast all Countermagic spells at a cost of one less Willpower than usual. This effect does not stack with any other effect that might reduce the Willpower cost of sorcery.
