Zagis Institute of Magical Sciences

Pronounced “Zims”
The Zagis Institute of Magical Sciences is the Nexus’ premiere magical research/education organization. Their curriculum is heavily focused on wizardry in particular and the school operates with the Wizard ideals of obtaining knowledge for one’s personal benefit and celebrating the accomplishments of individuals. The school has separate departments for each of the 11 arcane traditions. They also have departments for Alchemists, Bards, Clerics, Druids, Sorcerers, and Warlocks. The school is constantly seeking to expand the types of magics they can teach and research. The ZIMS is closely tied to the Theurgic Knights of Yamen and many students in more combat-focused curricula, such as Blade Singers, are generally required to spend some amount of time amongst their ranks.

Aged Architecture
The ZIMS campus takes up a significant portion of Zagis’ habitable territory, and could be considered a city in and of itself. It consists of towering buildings from various ages, the oldest of which are made up of crumbling bricks held together either by The Magister or the residual magic that permeates the campus.

Controversial College
Many people outside of Zagis regard the ZIMS with deep contempt. Many are disgusted by their practice of Necromancy and other taboo experiments. They are the primary cause of the Twisted Woods’ corruption, which is a persistent threat for neighboring settlements. Because of their role in the War of Unification Yamen and Tekk were ravaged by fiends, forced to submit to the empire, and thrown into an economic depression which they still haven’t fully recovered from. And some Kippelians vilify the ZIMS for not using their magic abilities or Yugoloths to solve the empire’s problems, such as the current Thalassic blockade preventing trade with Calinem.

Peculiar Professors
The faculty of the ZIMS, especially the department heads, are notoriously eccentric. They generally approach the study of magic in a wholly unique way which can often be disorienting for students. It’s no coincidence that much of the faculty use oddball methods. The Magister intentionally hires such magicians, even if they do not follow the Wizdraic Principles. He believes unconventional methods are the most effective means of making new discoveries.

As Teachers
The head of each department create an outline all the courses must comply with, but these outlines intentionally leave plenty of room for professors to make the material their own. Because of how much freedom teachers are given, two students in the same department can end up with wildly different experiences and understandings of their craft by the end of their education.

As Researchers
The research and development aspect of the ZIMS is its top priority. The Magister only opened it up as a school in order to adequately prepare newer generations of thinkers. Every professor is working on one or two groundbreaking projects at any given time, taking ample advantage of the ZIMS nigh unlimited resources.

Zagian Applicants
Residents of Zagis who wish to enroll in ZIMS must get a recommendation from one of the professors before even beginning the application process, generally by displaying their magical gifts. Then they must pass a series of written and practical exams to prove they have the level of knowledge and talent expected of a ZIMS freshman.

Out-of-state Enrollment
For those not lucky enough to be born within the Zagis city limits, the first roadblock to enrolling in ZIMS is the expansive magically-corrupted woods that surrounds the area. Crossing the woods is such a perilous endeavor that making it through is enough to have one’s application reviewed. Though it is not required to use one’s own magical talents to make it through the woods, without a promising magical talent applicants will be rejected. ZIMS will not supply failed applicants an escort back through the woods, it is up to the rejects to either make it back on their own or start a new life in the city.

The typical route for outsiders to make it into ZIMS is to make a name for themselves at their sister school in Yamen, East of Zagis University. Particularly talented and diligent students from EZU can be accepted to ZIMS through recommendation, and be escorted by the Theurgic Knights through the Twisted Woods. The rarest path to enrollment is developing a magical talent so potent or unique that ZIMS sends a recruiter to find the promising caster.

Crushing Curriculum
Once enrolled a student can expect to have their magical abilities pushed to the absolute limits. ZIMS aims to bring their students to their maximum potential as quickly as possible. The exact nature of the curriculum varies greatly from teacher to teacher, but sleepless nights and throbbing heads are common occurrences. Students used to employ energizing potions to compensate for their lack of sleep, but with the Thalassic blockade preventing trade with Calinem such potions are both less potent and harder to come by.

Peregrination
Students are required to spend time away from the school focusing on their field. An evocation mage may be expected to slay some beasts, a scribe mage might go on an anthropology expedition to uncover some old knowledge. Whatever they end up doing, students are expected to accomplish something impressive while heightening their abilities and understanding, and they are to do so without the assistance of the school or any other teachers. Making their way through the Twisted Woods with the help of their peers is also a notable part of this endeavor.

Casting Capstone
The final test for most students is to develop an original spell in their chosen field. Talented wizards can spend years working on this one task. Many of these spells are tested deep within the Twisted Woods, further increasing its corruption.