Magic Training in the USA

[Kenneth New]

Home Schooling

Of the roughly 1800 magelings between the ages of 11 and 18, about 200 of them are trained at home. The remainder attend of three magical academies in the continental United States.

Batons de Sagesse Academy

Located in the swamps of Southern Louisiana, Batons de Sagesse is an obfuscated school sitting on several square kilometers. Batons de Sagesse Academy has 525 students, 75 in each grade level. The school was founded in 1721 by French mages in the Louisiana Colony. It has remained the preferred school of magic for Cajun and Creole mages throughout the southern USA. The school has adapted many rituals from African mages.

Pythian Academy

The Pythian Academy is located on Mandragora Island, which sits off the west coast of Washington State near Puget Sound. The island is 20 km long and 8 km wide, and is obfuscated from mundane sight. The school holds 420 students, 60 in each grade level. This school has a reputation for extremely rigorous academics. It has been collecting Native American rituals and powers. The school has been growing steadily. Californian mages typically attend this academy.

Tyana Academy

Located in an obfuscated valley in the Appalachian mountains, the Town of Tyana is the largest all magical community in the United States. The academy holds 700 students, 100 in each grade level.

[Kenneth New]

Houses of Magic

The mages in the USA use a system of houses based loosely on the classical elements of the Hermetic Tradition. These houses are similar to fraternity/sorority organizations or possibly professional organizations. Not all mages belong to one of these organizations, but it is considered prestigious to be a member. It costs 1-5 points of status to be part of one of these organizations, as there are some benefits (mostly the support of fellow members). 1 point indicates membership, while 5 would imply you were one of the national leaders of the organization.

At Tyana Academy, about half of the students join one of these organizations. Competition is stiff, but it is one of the very few places where social and blood status (in theory) doesn't determine your membership or status. It's all about magical affinity and talent.

At Pithian Academy, the numbers are roughly the same. But at Batons de Sagesse, almost all students belong to one of these houses.

[Kenneth New]

The House of Air

Symbol: Loose spiral triskele
Motto: Wisdom and Knowledge
Other Names: Sky House, House of the Eye, House of Stars

Spheres of Magic

• Air
  
• Communication
  
• Divination
  
• Knowledge
  
• Scrying
  
• Sound
  
• Weather
  

Notes

• Members of the House of Air are widely respected as scholars and wise councilors.
  
• Every person to have held the position of First Seer in the Magical Government of the USA has been a member of this house.
  
• Mindstrike (INT Drain), Steal the Breath (NND Indirect Blast), Sussuratio (Hearing Penalty Levels), Thunderclap (Hearing Flash + Sonic Attack) and Ululatio (Sonic fear based Mind Control) are common attack spells.
  

[Kenneth New]

The House of Earth

Symbol: Square
Motto: Strength and Perseverance
Other Names: House of Stone

Spheres of Magic

• Earth
  
• Matter (creating, manipulating and shaping)
  
• Petrification
  
• Cold
  

Notes

• Members of the House of Earth are widely respected as builders and makers.
  
• Animatio (Summon with special effect requiring solid object), Earth Bond (Entangle Attack that imprisons opponent in stone), Jactatio (TK stone, metal or crystal only, whole object only), Petrifico Actualis (Physical Transform to Stone), Rain of Stones (Area effect indirect physical blast), Reductio (q.v. Spell Examples), and Stone Cold (NND indirect blast) are common attack spells.
  

[Kenneth New]

The House of Fire

Symbol: Equilateral Triangle
Motto: Courage and Quickness
Other Names: House of the Sun, House of Ra

Spheres of Magic

• Fire
  
• Light
  
• Electricity
  
• Energy
  

Notes

• Members of the House of Fire are widely respected as warriors.
  
• Front line magical law enforcement and Concilium Agents are typically members of this house.
  
• Fireblast, Lightning Bolt, Stunning Hex and most other energy based attacks are common attack spells.
  

[Kenneth New]

The House of Water

Symbol: Three Horizontal Bars
Motto: Compassion and Endurance
Other Names: House of the Moon

Spheres of Magic

• Water
  
• Healing
  
• Plants
  
• Animals
  
• Abjuration
  
• Create Food & Water
  

Notes

• Members of the House of Water are widely respected as healers.
  
• The best healers are members of this house.
  
• Icewall, Drowning (NND Indirect Blast), Ice Prison, Water Whip are common attack spells.
  

[Kenneth New]

The House of the Mind

Symbol: A Circle
Motto: Will and Power
Other Names: House of Quintessemce, The Fifth House

Spheres of Magic

• Telepathy
  
• ESP
  
• Telekinesis
  
• Domination
  

Notes

• Members of the House of Water are often feared because they can read minds.
  
• Many interrogators and investigators are members of this house.
  
• Crucio, Mind Thrust, Mind Probe, Cloud the Mind, Aura Alteration and Imperio are common attack spells.
  

[Kenneth New]

The House of Shadow

Symbol: Darkened Circle
Motto: Stealth and Wit
Other Names: House of Darkness, House of Illusion, House of Death

Spheres of Magic

• Illusion
  
• Darkness
  
• Cold
  
• Glamors
  
• Necromancy
  
• Planar Movement
  

Notes

• Members of the House of Shadows are feared and mistrusted. Trickery and death magic are their calling.
  
• The Concilium uses agents of the House of Shadow for special missions.
  
• Images, Invisibility, Death Strike (Penetrating RKA), Phantom Servant (Summon) are common attack spells.
  
• Those who build the Nexi and the portals are typically associated with the House of Shadows.
  
• In the USA this House is hidden (i.e. members do not acknowledge its existence) except at the Batons de Sagesse Academy.