Willwright
Founding
Before the school was founded, it existed only as an unnamed group of Volitionists who gathered in what is now the laboratory building. It began as an informal meeting of friends, but as the group grew in size the members decided to form a proper school. The school was officially established in the year 47, under the name of Willwright. The founding members were: Cyprian Edris, Sybil Wren, Claudia Kalpana, Penelope Edris, and Peregrine Flint.
Cyprian served as the school’s first headmaster, Sybil as the record keeper, and Claudia as the first librarian. Penelope oversaw instruction and experimentation, and Peregrine was responsible for caring for the school grounds. The only founder still present is Claudia, who has retained the title of Head Librarian even after her ‘death’, though other people have now taken on the responsibilities requiring mobility.
Campus Operation
At the time of the founding, the only campus buildings were: the main office, the Library, the classroom and lab, and the agriculture areas. Before the Necromaniac Tragedy in the year 93, attendees lived in the city and gathered at the school for instruction. Following the Tragedy the dormitories were added, along with the installment of a Hand of Justice Supervisor, and ‘sentries’ for each building.
The Institute of Justice requires that everyone associated with the school reside within the dormitories, where their movement and activity can be more easily tracked. In modern times Volitionists aren’t suffered to live inside the city. While there is no law preventing it, the majority of innkeepers and housing letters would not admit a Volitionist.
The complications around reporting the presence of a Volitionist, as well as the social dislike for Volitionists and anyone who would associate with them, are primarily to blame. A handful of less reputable establishments in the Outer Sector may be willing to house patrons without regard to their personage.
The livestock and gardens are tended to by the students as part of the agreement for enrollment. They serve two purposes: providing the school with food, as it’s hard for Volitionists to procure from reputable sources; and providing the school with a source of income to pay the barony taxes and the faculty.
The school doesn’t need funding for anything else; students provide their own clothing and furnishings. Since anything not alive-this excludes creatures that are sentient/conscious, and live plants-can be Constructed via Volition, supplies necessary for school activities are provided by the staff.
Faculty & Staff
Behind the school's success is a dedicated team working together to ensure that everything runs smoothly.
There's no better pursuit than that of knowledge.
As Headmaster, Jivika oversees administrative concerns and instruction of students. While most lectures take place in the classroom, some lessons are best given on the job. Jivika has devoted his life to leading Willwright and its students the best that he can.
Our equipment is rightly state-of-the-art, if I say so myself—which I do.
Antonia takes her position as Director very seriously. While a little uptight, she loves her work, and can answer any question about Voligenetics. She is proud of her contribution to the school, and to her field.
How large is the school? Given the stigma attached to Volitionists, has it had trouble with enrollment?
I haven't yet decided on concrete numbers, but it is quite small. Enrollment has definitely decreased over time though, and the current batch of students (about ten individuals) is the smallest they've ever had.