Toresta Polyarcana Academy

The Headmaster of the school, Ian Salbuldir, an archmage of renown across the planes, has led the Academy of the last 75 years. He directs a the deans of the five colleges. The faculty includes professors, associate professors, visiting professors, and arcane researchers.

Each college is organized into a house. Houses are monitored, and directed by two house deans whose job it is to aid students in both academic and non-academic matters.

The houses are Lorehold, Prismari, Qaundrix, Silverquill, and Witherbloom.

Lorehold explores the past and preserves its lessons for future generations. They are the custodians of the academy's renown Lenner Library. Also sometimes called the house is sometimes called the House of Archaeomancy.

Prismari uses the elements to practice the arts. Also called the House of Elemental Arts. These include the elements of time and gravity. As such most of the study of leyline magic occurs in this house.

Quandrix focuses on the mathematics of nature and its arcane mechanical application. Also called the House of Arcane Artificing. Quandrix is fundamental in the training of artificers and magewrights.

Silverquill teaches the magic of rhetoric, poetry, oration and writing. It should come as no surprise this House of Eloquence produces as many well known bards as it does mages.

Witherbloom harnesses the forces or life and death. Also called the House of Essence Studies.

Study at TPA is not marked by course years. Curricula are student dependent and the amount of time a student spends at the academy is dependent on arcane talent, intelligence and ability.

The houses and curriculum at TPA are organized around the principles embodied in the Twins, a pair joined in concordant opposition. Each house embodies the paradoxical unity of two polar principles: life and death, order and chaos, reason and emotion, and so on. The twins embody these principles while the ten deans of the houses stand for the individual principles distinguished from their opposites.

TPA draws students from across the world, even from places far from the sea and the city. Individuals of many species, some not seen otherwise in Toresta. There is a cadre of students from the city itself spread throughout the Houses. They typically are divided into two groups. The Introspiciunt who are only interested and friendly with members of their own group and the Exterius, who are welcoming and interested in all of the students who are visiting the city and the academy.

TPA is well known for its Lenner Library, one of the greatest collections extant of volumes on arcane and magical engineering. Grendrey's Tower, the schools main instruction facility is the tallest structure in Toresta, routine access to its upper floors only made possible through the use of arcane devices.

Each house is a separate building joined to the others by large aerial bridges. These structures are located around Grendrey's Tower, and though smaller, are still some of the tallest buildings in the city. Each contains a teleportation circle, usable by professors and advanced students.

There are various other smaller structures on the campus including the Firejolt Cafe and the Bow's End Tavern.

Of course one of the most important assets of the Academy is its present and emeritus teaching staff, mages and artificers of impressive arcane talents, deep magical knowledge and world renown reputation.

Instructors

TPA's faculty begin their careers as instructors. Instructors give lectures and plan curricula. Most instructors lecture for several years and then move on. A small number are elevated to the rank of professor. Instructors are expected to investigate and research magical phenomena and it is based on their publication of their research that they are elevated to professor.

Professors

Professors who have distinguished themselves over the course of a long career, typically at least twenty years, hope to be recognized as esteemed professor. This honor is bestowed in recognition of groundbreaking research as well as exceptional teaching. Academy professors often travel outside Toresta in their research to lands near and far, so it is not unusual for a professor to be on a sabbatical of several years in pursuit of magical knowledge, an arcane artifact, or the formula of a mystic potion.

Upon retiring a professor receives the title of mage emeritus. Mages emeriti are held in high esteem and often welcomed back to the campus as guest lecturers.

Deans

Each house is directed by a pair of deans. The deans are ultimately responsible for the conduct and well being of the students belonging to the house. Instructors and professors hold professorships in one of the two aspects of the particular House. Deans are authorized to call on professors to serve as counselors to students.

Each of the five houses has a mascot, a small creature associated the the magic of the school and often found wandering the halls of their respective towers.