Wizards of the Arcane Tower

Established centuries ago by Master Arlen the Constructor, the Arcane Tower is the only wizard academy in the kingdom. There are smaller schools or individual masters in the realm. Still, anyone who seeks to truly master the arcane arts and is accepted for their acute understanding must relocate to the secluded tower, located far from the capital. Applicants must be trained wizards, thoroughly tested before being judged and accepted by the archmage. They then must serve the Arcane Tower as apprentices for a minimum period of twelve years, when they can take additional tests to become academicians. Wizards of the Arcane Tower must pledge to protect the kingdom and be available for summons to serve as part of the Royal Army anytime in Aglarion. The wizards are trained in all forms of magic within the academy’s walls and are taken on dangerous, exotic, and sometimes even planar excursions to prove their mettle.
The current archmage of the tower is Master Zaophas, a morose middle-aged human evoker who excels in spell combat and coaches his students to withstand all hardships. The somewhat militaristic approach and the spartan conditions of the wizard school are not fit for everyone, so from time to time, apprentices are expelled from the institution for misbehavior or for not advancing quickly enough.