Eredor's Peak
Eredor's Peak is the most selective magical academy in The Crescent, accepting perhaps a dozen students every few years from hundreds of applicants. Built into the eastern peaks of the River Crowns and accessible only by treacherous mountain paths or skyship, this remote institution produces exceptionally skilled mages—and has developed an increasingly troubling reputation.
The Elite Academy
Specialization: Comprehensive magical education across all schools
The academy's rigorous selection process remains deliberately opaque. Prospective students undergo mysterious evaluations that test not just magical aptitude but qualities the faculty refuse to specify publicly. Those who graduate possess magical abilities that far exceed typical regional wizards—capable of long-distance scrying, advanced enchantments, and combat magic that could handle groups of trained soldiers.
The academy uses natural mountain caverns for spell practice where magical failures won't endanger populated areas. Ancient enchantments maintain floating gardens that provide reagents and meditation spaces. Tall towers carved into the peaks serve as classrooms and laboratories with panoramic views used for astronomical observations and weather magic.
Notable Faculty:
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Archmage Elowen: The academy's enigmatic leader who rarely appears in public
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Master Thalindra: Teaches advanced healing and restoration techniques
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Scholar Aldric: Handles theoretical magical research and ancient texts
Academy Statistics
- Acceptance Rate: 3% of applicants
- Faculty: 47 masters across 12 disciplines
- Specializations: All
- Annual Graduates: 15-20 students
The Price of Elite Power
Graduates quickly discover that exceptional magical ability comes with unwanted attention. The Concord tracks them for potential contracts, the Five Councils monitor them for security threats, local authorities keep careful records of their movements, and the Ordo Sera maintains files on their activities. Most learn to register their research officially and maintain public profiles to avoid the suspicion that follows powerful, unaccounted-for mages.
Elias of Stonebridge, Recent Graduate
"They watch us everywhere we go. Every spell cast, every research topic, every conversation."
An alarming number of recent alumni have simply vanished from public life within their first few years after graduation. Some left notes about "pursuing advanced research" or "extended sabbaticals." Others disappeared without explanation, leaving behind belongings and ongoing projects. The pattern has accelerated in recent years, creating significant mistrust toward both the academy and its current graduates.
Current Reputation
Other magical institutions publicly question Eredor's Peak's selection criteria and teaching methods, suggesting the academy's elitist approach breeds dangerous arrogance. Current students find themselves facing scrutiny and suspicion before establishing any professional reputation. Cities that once competed to hire Peak graduates now approach them with caution, if at all.
Faculty maintain that elite magical education naturally produces independent thinkers who may choose unconventional career paths. They refuse to accept responsibility for alumni decisions made years after graduation, insisting the disappearances are coincidental rather than systematic.
Anonymous, Academy Instructor
"Independence, they call it. I've taught here twelve years. My students don't just go quiet—they argue with me, they question everything, they write furious letters about their research. I have two recent pupils who've gone quiet now."
Regional Impact
Despite growing suspicions, Eredor's Peak graduates remain among the most magically capable individuals in The Crescent. Those who maintain public visibility often serve as court wizards, diplomatic advisors, or independent researchers. The academy's political neutrality—accepting students regardless of origin or allegiance—means its alumni can be found throughout the region's various factions and settlements.
The ongoing mystery of the disappeared graduates has become a topic of concern in diplomatic circles, with various factions quietly investigating what has become of some of The Crescent's most promising magical talents.