College of Mysteries
Absalom’s oldest school of magic dates back to the earliest pilgrims invited to the Isle of Kortos himself. The order—then known as the House of Secrets—was established by advanced practitioners of arcane and occult traditions drawn from the many different cultures flocking to the nascent city. These adepts shared their secrets with one another, pooling their knowledge and expertise to strengthen Absalom and attract more like-minded initiates from the lands of the Inner Sea and beyond.
The organization’s ruling board, the Assembly of Enigmas, transformed the school from an esoteric confederacy to a formal educational institution as a reaction to the foundation of the Arcanamirium by the Arclords of Nex in the era following the disastrous Pirate Siege of Absalom. Re-establishing the organization as the College of Mysteries, the Enigmas invited the sons and daughters of Absalom’s elite to enroll in formal magical instruction, casting them as the ultimate inheritors of the arcane and occult traditions of the Age of Destiny. To this day, tuition remains torturously high, the domain of only the wealthiest apprentices—or the most promising, who receive free education scholarships at the decree of the Assembly.
Instructors at the College of Mysteries are known as curators, as they see themselves as custodians of hidden knowledge. They are well paid and well regarded in Absalomian society. All must sign loyalty oaths to the Assembly of Enigmas that extend far beyond the end of their tenures. Many are former students, which has led to some criticism that the school has become insular and tradition bound. Although the college boasts a widespread campus, most daily courses take place under a giant dome of arcane-fused gemstones and glass called the Lens.
Each subject taught by the college is referred to as a “course of mystery.” Each course is divided into four stages of mastery, designed to take 2 to 3 years to complete. Students are called “riddles” until they complete at least one stage of mystery, at which point they are considered professionals worthy of being employed with their knowledge. Every stage completed grants a new title: “shadow,” “charade,” and “labyrinth.” After completing the fourth stage of study—always conducted one-on-one with a senior curator—the student is considered a grand master, and gains the title of “enigma.” The new master thereafter qualifies for admission into the Assembly of Enigmas, though few receive an actual invitation to do so.
Students who achieve the rank of enigma also qualify to don the irezoko, a complex pattern of indelible arcane marks worn upon the face. These marks descend from the Varisian tradition, but no longer have the same type of sorcerous power as true Varisian arcane tattoos. A student with a new irezoko can be sure to be invited to at least a few major fetes in the Petal District in the following weeks, as curious minor nobles make a game of trying to discern the mark’s meaning, and more experienced trademasters and overseers seek to make contact with a powerful potential agent.
The organization’s ruling board, the Assembly of Enigmas, transformed the school from an esoteric confederacy to a formal educational institution as a reaction to the foundation of the Arcanamirium by the Arclords of Nex in the era following the disastrous Pirate Siege of Absalom. Re-establishing the organization as the College of Mysteries, the Enigmas invited the sons and daughters of Absalom’s elite to enroll in formal magical instruction, casting them as the ultimate inheritors of the arcane and occult traditions of the Age of Destiny. To this day, tuition remains torturously high, the domain of only the wealthiest apprentices—or the most promising, who receive free education scholarships at the decree of the Assembly.
Instructors at the College of Mysteries are known as curators, as they see themselves as custodians of hidden knowledge. They are well paid and well regarded in Absalomian society. All must sign loyalty oaths to the Assembly of Enigmas that extend far beyond the end of their tenures. Many are former students, which has led to some criticism that the school has become insular and tradition bound. Although the college boasts a widespread campus, most daily courses take place under a giant dome of arcane-fused gemstones and glass called the Lens.
Each subject taught by the college is referred to as a “course of mystery.” Each course is divided into four stages of mastery, designed to take 2 to 3 years to complete. Students are called “riddles” until they complete at least one stage of mystery, at which point they are considered professionals worthy of being employed with their knowledge. Every stage completed grants a new title: “shadow,” “charade,” and “labyrinth.” After completing the fourth stage of study—always conducted one-on-one with a senior curator—the student is considered a grand master, and gains the title of “enigma.” The new master thereafter qualifies for admission into the Assembly of Enigmas, though few receive an actual invitation to do so.
Students who achieve the rank of enigma also qualify to don the irezoko, a complex pattern of indelible arcane marks worn upon the face. These marks descend from the Varisian tradition, but no longer have the same type of sorcerous power as true Varisian arcane tattoos. A student with a new irezoko can be sure to be invited to at least a few major fetes in the Petal District in the following weeks, as curious minor nobles make a game of trying to discern the mark’s meaning, and more experienced trademasters and overseers seek to make contact with a powerful potential agent.
Type
College / Academy
Parent Location
Owner
Owning Organization
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