Şolomanţă

LAST UPDATED: 20 January 2019

A private academy of black magic sanctioned by the Devil himself, the Scholomance was founded in 666 BC. The school enrolls 7, 10, or 13 pupils each year to become the Solomonari. Students are selected from a global pool of applicants. Admission is very difficult to achieve. There is not a more selective school for wizardry and dark arts anywhere in the world.

• Course taught to primary students include alchemy, demonology (demonic study, summoning, and language mastery), Dovahzul (language of the Dragons), Latin, magical naturalism, maleficium (magic intended to cause harm or death to people or property), necromancy (death magic), occultism (rituals and rites), Runic, sanguine scientiem (blood magic), theurgy (god study, rites and rituals), Vila (languages of the Veela), and weather witching. Mastery of basic practical magics including charms, potionology, and transfiguration is required by fifth year.
• The duration of primary study is 7 years or 9 years, and the final assignment for graduation requires the copying of one's entire knowledge of humanity into a "Solomonar's book". Students are required to remain underground without any sunlight for the 7-year duration of their training.
• Each year, the best student of the graduating class is chosen by the Devil or his Chancellor (the Headmaster of the school) to be the Weather-maker. While this title remains with the recipient for all of his or her life, the duty of serving as weather-maker lasts for one year. During this year, the weather-maker resides within the Sanctuary. He or she has no contact with the outside world.
• The entrance to the school is found in a massive graveyard in Transylvania. Appearing as a family crypt, the entrance is guarded on all sided by five gargoyles positioned at the points of a pentagram. Each gargoyle is unique and representative of an element: air, earth, fire, spirit, and water. Mastery and manipulation of these elements are taught within the school.
• When entering the school, a long staircase takes you past a great number of tombs encased in black marble. These are chancellors and weathermakers. To pass from the crypt into the school itself, you must cross a narrow bridge. The journey is harrowing. There is nothing to keep you from falling off either side. Apparition and all magic is suppressed here. Inferi charmed by the devil himself await in the darkness below you. Only faith and dedication to the one true Dark Lord will grant you safe passage across this entryway.
• Two demons stand guard silent and still as gargoyles at a menacing wrought metal black door. If you safely traverse the bridge, the door will open to you. A grand black marble staircase leads you down into The Reliquary. The wide and deep chamber acts as library and museum. Filled with dark artifacts and texts, this is where all student research takes place. Double doors on either side of the room give access to staircases that will take the students down further into the depths of the earth.
• The second floor is known as the Upper Sanctums. This contains the Hall of Illusions (used for practicals), Chamber of Summoning (used for both god and demon summoning lessons), the Viewing Room (used for lectures), the Necromancers's Sanctum (used for necromancy lessons and experimentation), the Laboratory (used for alchemy and potionology lessons and experimentation).
• The third floor is referred to as the Lower Sanctums. Here a large circular common area acts as a focal point for socialization and collaboration. A pentagram is formed on the floor, each point directed at a hall way. Each hallway contains classrooms suitable to the small class sizes the school is known for. Each hallway contains exactly seven chambers: six classrooms and one dormitory. These dormitories are unisex. Students remain in the same dormitory for the first five years of their studies.
• In their sixth year, students are finally permitted to descend to the fourth floor of the school. Here, as above, the stairwells lead you to the open circular common area. However here, only three hallways exit the space. A runic symbol marks each hallway. The first bears the mark for blood. This is the Odal rune (ᛟ). Students who reside in this hall are Master Necromancers, Alchemists, and Potioneers. The second bears the mark for water. This is the Laguz rune (ᛚ), Students who reside in this hall seek mastery over the weather and the elements. The third bears the mark for chaos. This is the Halglaz rune (ᚻ). Students who reside in this hall are theurgists and demonologists eager to commune with gods and demons alike.
• Students attending the Scholomance after completing their primary education elsewhere also reside in these halls. Each student--be they primary or secondary--receives a private residence comprised of two rooms: bedroom and study. Private lessons are also provisioned weekly for students in their study chambers to ensure they are able to achieve the mastery of knowledge they seek at the Scholomance.
• There is one more level of to the school. It is visited only by the Chancellor and the Weather-Maker. This is known only as the Sanctuary. It is said this is where those chosen are able to commune with the Devil.

^{References: Wikipedia, Jason Colavito (2011),
building description is of Jade's own creation though the first levels
are heavily inspired by the World of Warcraft Scholomance dungeon.}

Agastya School of Magic

Last Updated: 22 May 2019

Agastya School of Magic is located on an island off of the coast of Mahabalipuram, a town on a strip of land between the Bay of Bengal and the Great Salt Lake. Mahabalipuram is known for its temples and its monuments built in the 7th and 8th centuries. Legend has it that there were six other temples once standing with the Shore Temple, though none of them have been found today.

At least, they have not been found by anyone without magical ability. Those with magic, however, know that the other six temples can be found on an island just off the coast of Shore Temple. This island was not one of natural origin. Quite the opposite in fact. No witch or wizard knows for sure how the temples found their way underwater. A local myth is that the god Indra sank the city during a great storm, and only the Shore Temple was left above water. Non-magic people in the area, especially fisherman, claim they can see the temples glittering beneath the waves…

But that is a trick of magic, used to keep the wizard-made island safe from exposure. Hundreds of years ago, a wizard by the name of Agastya was gifted with the power of water and earth, one of the most powerful elementals to come out of India in history. He raised the earth and the temples from the sea and on the island that formed, created Agastya School of Magic.

Since then, Agastya School of Magic has been the largest school of magic in India, though there are smaller schools in different states in the country that vary in popularity. There are four houses in the school, a concept necessary for grouping the students of the school as it grew bigger. The school’s coat of arms is a padma, a Kaumodaki gada, a Panchajanya shanka, and a Sudarshana Chakra, as those are what are held in Vishnu’s four hands.

The sorting ceremony at Agastya School of Magic takes place on its shores, overlooking Mahabalipuram and the Shore Temple — the seventh temple that does not have its place on the island. The student needs only to hold the Panchajanya shakha (conch shell) in their hands, and step into the shallows of the water. The shell will change colors to reflect your house — and some have said that they can see the reflection of Vishnu in the water, in the avatar of their house.

The four houses of Agastya School of Magic are named after four of the primary avatars of Vishnu, the Hindu god of preservation.

• Matsya - The Fish. Those who are guided by their instincts will find their way to Matsya House. Their perceptions about other people and situations are usually correct and they are good at getting a feel for someone’s intentions just by observing. Emotions can sometimes overcome those in Matsya like a tidal wave, and they can often be found lost in thought. The color of their house is blue.
• Kurma - The Giant Tortoise. Generally very intelligent, those in Kurma House want to change the world. They are revolutionaries, and they excel well in careers that make use of their mental muscles. Those in Kurma House are hard to read at times, and can be considered swift and elusive. They tend to make decisions with their heads, not their hearts, and are masters of critical thinking. The color for their house is green.
• Varaha - The Boar. Those in Varaha House care greatly about safety and security for those they care about. They tend to be more conservative and cautious, and feel a strong sense of duty. They are not afraid to get their hands dirty and are considered the builders among the houses. They are a house full of resourceful individuals, though they can also be stubborn and wary of change. The color of their house is orange.
• Narasimha - The Half-Man/Half Lion. Those in Narasimha have an enormous passion for life, and sometimes their personalities can seem larger than life. They are often those seeking enlightenment, and are masters at seizing opportunities. They tend to have a compassionate and caring side that those closest to them would know well, but seeing them at their worst, they could come off arrogant or rude. They are action-oriented and independent, loving freedom, and will pull away from anyone trying to control them or get in their way. Their house color is red.

Although the subjects taught at Agastya School of Magic are similar to other magical schools across the world, this school has a close relationship with religion as well, as many of its names are taken directly from Hinduism. As such, a class on religion is offered at the school — both for Hinduism and for other religions practiced in India and elsewhere. World Religion is a relatively popular class presently, though it is an elective and not a required class.

The school is named for the founder of the school, the one who used their gifts in elemental magic to lift the temples and the island from the waters to create the land the school rests on. They teach the following subjects:

Core Subjects: 
Herbology, Potions, Transfiguration, Charms, History of Magic, History of Magical India, Astronomy

Available Electives
Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, Divination, Alchemy, Purification (Healing) Magic, Chakra Magic, Dream Magic, Inscription Casting, Lunar Magic, Ritual Magic, Meditation, Hinduism, World Religion

Member Name:     Santo + Steph + Mya :--)
School:     Koldovstovretz
Canons: 

KOLDOVSTVORETZ (Колдовствoрец), called KOLDOVSTORETZ (колдовсторец). The true name is known only to those who attended, and those who teach there. Those who leave the country or send their scions elsewhere to be educated give their children the false name, as those who have not invested themselves in the school cannot know the true name. To know a name is to have power, after all.

Koldovstvoretz was founded by a witch that had once been turned away from Durmstrang for her impure bloodline. Frustrated, she studied elsewhere and began to make a name for herself there. After seeing and learning all that she felt the need to see and learn, she returned to her homeland and founded Koldovstvoretz in spite, where young mages were all welcomed regardless of their bloodline or background.

Koldovstovretz is set in the City of Kitezh, in Lake Svetloyar. The Quidditch field is far less noticeable than any others, as it is reconstructed on the shores of the lake for each and every match. Yes, each and every match. Both Kitezh and Koldovstvoretz are shrouded in layers of Muggle-repelling charms so thick that they do not seem to exist to the Muggle eye, and only water is seen (and perhaps a ruined building, if one has recent magical ancestry). While this has led to undersea accidents in the recent past, Kitezh has at least three Oblivators stationed in the city at all times. Unlike the castles, palaces or fortresses that great schools tend to be, Koldovstvoretz is formed out of an abbey. Thanks to this, Volkhvs (Headmasters), Vedunyas (Seeress Headmistresses), and Soznaniyes (one who is neither a woman seeress nor a man gifted in Divination) tend to be elected from the zhrets and zhritsas (professors), rather than simply taking up the post based on seniority or their predecessor’s say-so. There is always one Volkhv, one Vedunya, and one Soznaniye leading the school, and all three serve the school for life, unless they are deposed in an election. The school accepts students from all over Eastern Europe and Central Asia, as well as the Eastern Muggleborns Durmstrang does not.

At Koldovstvoretz there are three houses to service the large population of students. These houses are based off of the gods and birds of Slavic Folklore. During the opening banquet at the beginning of each school year, first-year students are lined up and called by their names in alphabetical order. Each of them crosses the Great Hall, under the watchful eyes of many witches, wizards, professors, and other students, to stand on a small podium. An intricately embroidered headdress presents itself to the entirety of the Great Hall, floating and awaiting the next student. When the student reaches the front podium, they must reach up inside the hat and pull out a branch that will correspond with one of the three houses. Depending on each student, the size and kind of branch differs. There was one year where a younger Valentina Mecheslav, a notable potions professor, pulled an entire Willow Tree Sapling out of the Floating Headdress! Surely she could not be confused for anything else other than the House of Veles! Below are the three houses of Koldovstvoretz.

    Veles, the house of the Wise. The brilliant, the creative, the witty find their way here. This house has a true dedication to planning, supporting others and learning. People in this house tend to be intelligent, rational, and grounding. Their house sigil is a bronze owl against a green background. Their house tree is a Willow tree.

    Perun, the house of the Brave. The courageous, the determined, the honorable. This house has a deep dedication towards nobility. People in this house tend to be strong, confident, and valiant. Their house sigil is a silver eagle against a stormy blue background. Their house tree is an Oak tree.

    Raróg, the house of the Honest. The trustworthy, the lawful, the givers. This house has a true dedication to justice and teamwork. People in this house tend to be creative, hardworking, patient and loyal. Their sigil is a golden falcon set against a dark russet background. Their house tree is an Elm tree.

Koldovstovretz has unique traditions following the sorting ceremony. As many of the older families in Russia have been known to harbor anti-Muggleborn sentiment, it is the school’s most unofficial tradition that the first night is full of fighting. First-night students are strongly encouraged to get into fights with each other to show off strength, and to learn respect for one another. While older students step in if the fighting turns dangerous, new students are able to air out prejudices or defend themselves fully. In nearly all cases, purists who participate in the first night fights come out with a higher tolerance for Muggleborns, and Muggleborns with a better understanding of their new culture. It is far more common that strong friendships are forged that night, rather than rivalries born. This is, of course, officially forbidden, but rarely is the rule enforced. Dessert is sent up to the students “coincidentally” after the last fight has ended, as a special treat for getting all the fighting out of their system.

This school also plays their own version of Quidditch where they fly on entire, uprooted trees instead of broomsticks. This practice started in a Quidditch match against Durmstrang some centuries ago: the tale goes that all Koldovstvoretz’s brooms were shattered, and new broomsticks could not be found. Rather than surrendering the game, students enchanted nearby trees to fly. Koldovstvoretz won the match, the story goes, though how accurate it is. . . no one’s quite certain. Students fly with their assigned house tree.

Koldovstvoretz is known for their strength in Potions, Healing, Transfiguration, Care of Magical Creatures, Spirit Summoning, Martial Magic, and Divination.

For Koldovstvoretz students who are dancers, practices are at one of the nearby dance schools in Kitezh, and classroom schedules are adjusted so that the students can both dance and study several hours a day. Koldovstvoretz takes this venture as seriously as Quidditch, and there is no minimum age requirement to travel. Koldovstvoretz (and the schools of Kitezh) turn out many dancers who go on to achieve fame in ballet. For the students who wish to study systema and swordsmanship, dance classes are required, though not to the same extent as those becoming professionals.


Koldovstvoretz Terminology
    Volkhv: Headmaster. Literal meaning: wiseman, wizard, shaman
    Vedunya: Seeress Headmistresses. Literal meaning: seeress.
    Soznaniye: Head Professor who is neither a woman seeress nor a man gifted in Divination. Literal meaning: Consciousness
    Systema: Traditional fighting styles of the Cossack and East Slavic peoples
    Zhrets/Zhritsas: Professors.

KOLDOVSTVORETZ (Колдовствoрец), called KOLDOVSTORETZ (колдовсторец). The true name is known only to those who attended, and those who teach there. Those who leave the country or send their scions elsewhere to be educated give their children the false name, as those who have not invested themselves in the school cannot know the true name. To know a name is to have power, after all.

Denied; I don't see a reason for there to be a fake name given to other people.

Koldovstvoretz was founded by a witch that had once been turned away from Durmstrang for her impure bloodline. Frustrated, she studied elsewhere and began to make a name for herself there. After seeing and learning all that she felt the need to see and learn, she returned to her homeland and founded Koldovstvoretz in spite, where young mages were all welcomed regardless of their bloodline or background.

Approved!

Koldovstovretz is set in the City of Kitezh, in Lake Svetloyar.

Approved!

The Quidditch field is far less noticeable than any others, as it is reconstructed on the shores of the lake for each and every match. Yes, each and every match.

Pending; Can it be explained to me why that is necessary? It seems terribly imprudent to me after all this time!

Both Kitezh and Koldovstvoretz are shrouded in layers of Muggle-repelling charms so thick that they do not seem to exist to the Muggle eye, and only water is seen (and perhaps a ruined building, if one has recent magical ancestry). While this has led to undersea accidents in the recent past, Kitezh has at least three Oblivators stationed in the city at all times. Unlike the castles, palaces or fortresses that great schools tend to be, Koldovstvoretz is formed out of an abbey. Thanks to this, Volkhvs (Headmasters), Vedunyas (Seeress Headmistresses), and Soznaniyes (one who is neither a woman seeress nor a man gifted in Divination) tend to be elected from the zhrets and zhritsas (professors), rather than simply taking up the post based on seniority or their predecessor’s say-so. There is always one Volkhv, one Vedunya, and one Soznaniye leading the school, and all three serve the school for life, unless they are deposed in an election.

Approved!

The school accepts students from all over Eastern Europe and Central Asia, as well as the Eastern Muggleborns Durmstrang does not.

Denied; With the size of Russia, it seems unrealistic to take Central Asian students as well! Culture-wise, I'm not sure they would mesh up either! Makes total sense that they would take the Muggleborns that Durmstrang wouldn't, though!

At Koldovstvoretz there are three houses to service the large population of students. These houses are based off of the gods and birds of Slavic Folklore. During the opening banquet at the beginning of each school year, first-year students are lined up and called by their names in alphabetical order. Each of them crosses the Great Hall, under the watchful eyes of many witches, wizards, professors, and other students, to stand on a small podium. An intricately embroidered headdress presents itself to the entirety of the Great Hall, floating and awaiting the next student. When the student reaches the front podium, they must reach up inside the hat and pull out a branch that will correspond with one of the three houses. Depending on each student, the size and kind of branch differs. There was one year where a younger Valentina Mecheslav, a notable potions professor, pulled an entire Willow Tree Sapling out of the Floating Headdress! Surely she could not be confused for anything else other than the House of Veles! Below are the three houses of Koldovstvoretz.

Veles, the house of the Wise. The brilliant, the creative, the witty find their way here. This house has a true dedication to planning, supporting others and learning. People in this house tend to be intelligent, rational, and grounding. Their house sigil is a bronze owl against a green background. Their house tree is a Willow tree.

Perun, the house of the Brave. The courageous, the determined, the honorable. This house has a deep dedication towards nobility. People in this house tend to be strong, confident, and valiant. Their house sigil is a silver eagle against a stormy blue background. Their house tree is an Oak tree.

Raróg, the house of the Honest. The trustworthy, the lawful, the givers. This house has a true dedication to justice and teamwork. People in this house tend to be creative, hardworking, patient and loyal. Their sigil is a golden falcon set against a dark russet background. Their house tree is an Elm tree.

Very approved! Good job on houses, guys!!

Koldovstovretz has unique traditions following the sorting ceremony. As many of the older families in Russia have been known to harbor anti-Muggleborn sentiment, it is the school’s most unofficial tradition that the first night is full of fighting. First-night students are strongly encouraged to get into fights with each other to show off strength, and to learn respect for one another. While older students step in if the fighting turns dangerous, new students are able to air out prejudices or defend themselves fully. In nearly all cases, purists who participate in the first night fights come out with a higher tolerance for Muggleborns, and Muggleborns with a better understanding of their new culture. It is far more common that strong friendships are forged that night, rather than rivalries born. This is, of course, officially forbidden, but rarely is the rule enforced. Dessert is sent up to the students “coincidentally” after the last fight has ended, as a special treat for getting all the fighting out of their system.

Approved! Seems like just the sort of thing they would do at this school hahah.

This school also plays their own version of Quidditch where they fly on entire, uprooted trees instead of broomsticks. This practice started in a Quidditch match against Durmstrang some centuries ago: the tale goes that all Koldovstvoretz’s brooms were shattered, and new broomsticks could not be found. Rather than surrendering the game, students enchanted nearby trees to fly. Koldovstvoretz won the match, the story goes, though how accurate it is. . . no one’s quite certain. Students fly with their assigned house tree.

Approved; hahaha this is so silly to me but I know it's canon.

Koldovstvoretz is known for their strength in Potions, Healing, Transfiguration, Care of Magical Creatures, Spirit Summoning, Martial Magic, and Divination.

Approved!

For Koldovstvoretz students who are dancers, practices are at one of the nearby dance schools in Kitezh, and classroom schedules are adjusted so that the students can both dance and study several hours a day. Koldovstvoretz takes this venture as seriously as Quidditch, and there is no minimum age requirement to travel. Koldovstvoretz (and the schools of Kitezh) turn out many dancers who go on to achieve fame in ballet. For the students who wish to study systema and swordsmanship, dance classes are required, though not to the same extent as those becoming professionals.

Approved; yasssss!


Koldovstvoretz Terminology
Volkhv: Headmaster. Literal meaning: wiseman, wizard, shaman
Vedunya: Seeress Headmistresses. Literal meaning: seeress.
Soznaniye: Head Professor who is neither a woman seeress nor a man gifted in Divination. Literal meaning: Consciousness
Systema: Traditional fighting styles of the Cossack and East Slavic peoples
Zhrets/Zhritsas: Professors.

HELLO we’re sorry getting back took so long!

THE NAME: Russians online said the name (Koldovstvoretz) we submitted would be more accurate than Koldovstoretz, and work better in Russian. We thought the different name would bring a nice sort of parallel to Durmstrang (where the location is extremely hidden), as well as as its own worldbuilding flair, what with cultures hesitating to give out their True Names, with the potential for harm fae and/or demons can do with them.

QUIDDITCH FIELD: with Koldovst(v)oretz being under a lake, and Quidditch played on the shores said lake of well-known location, we thought it easier that the field be rebuilt and remade to attract less Muggle attention. Rather than Muggles being aware that a large fuzzing area be strange to their minds and risk the water washing the enchantments away, the area is only temporarily Muggle-repelling, and the enchantments hold only for the game.

ACCEPTING STUDENTS: By “Central Asia”, we had meant the former Soviet republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Russian is the lingua franca of those republics, and three of them list Russian as an official language! More than a few of our Russians on-site speak the national language of those countries, which also implies strong links. While of course those countries may very well have smaller schools of their own, we wanted to make it official that they did have the chance to attend Koldovst(v)oretz. If we were on the same page, and we did not accidentally imply students living in the Middle East/South Asia attend the school, great!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this!

Updated

The Name: If Russians say that Koldovstvoretz is more accurate, we can just use that and say to heck with the incorrect spelling. I prefer that to the fake name thing.

Quidditch Field: Okay, that makes sense!

Accepting Students: Okay, former Soviet republics, that seems fair!