Blessed Isis Temple of Spells
Blessed Isis Temple of Spells
has been a place for folks to learn magic since the early days of the
Egyptian Gods, but was only made an official school of magic in the past
900 years or so. Isis was the ancient goddess of magic; and though she
is not revered as so important in modern times, she is the reason the
school was developed, so that students may practice their talents in
testament to the goddess herself.
Like most schools, students
at Blessed Isis begin schooling at age 11, however the term does not
start until September 11, the first day of the month of Thout, which
coincides with the season of Akhet. Students spend the fourth month of
Akhet (Koaik) on break, from December 10 to January 8, and resume
lessons on the first day of the month of Tobi, which is the first month
of the season Peret. School lets out for a summer break over the season
of Shemu, beginning on June 9, which is the season of the harvest.
Curriculum
The lessons taught in the temple focus on more ancient magic,
although some traditional courses are also offered. Students are allowed
to study any combination of eight classes through fifth year, and may
choose to focus on only four more intensive courses in their sixth and
seventh year. Students who are accepted into the House of the Sun in
their final years may instead pick a single course of study to focus on,
attending lessons, an apprenticeship, and up to two optional elective
courses.
- Arithmancy
- Astronomy
- Basic Crafting (Wands, Staves)
- Basic Runes & Glyphs
- Charms
- Defense Against the Dark Arts
- Herbology
- History of Magic
- Pantheon Studies
- Potions
- Transfiguration
Intermediate courses are available to 6th and 7th year students
only. Each of the courses listed as intermediate can also be taken at
Advanced level for those students in House of the Sun.
- Intermediate Wandcrafting
- Intermediate Carving (Staves)
- Intermediate Runes
- Intermediate Glyphs
- Intermediate Potions
- Intermediate Transfiguration
Extracurriculars
- Quidditch Club - This club gathers to practice their skills and play against each other, and occasionally play against other schools.
- Crafter's Allegiance
- Students in higher years of schooling may participate in this club
for aspiring crafters of magical artifacts, such as wands and staves.
- Keepers of the Oasis
- An elite club comprising of students with exemplary grades in year
three and above. These students are prospective members of House of the
Sun, and in exchange for helping to keep the oasis area clean and
patrolling the area at night (similar to prefect patrols at Hogwarts,)
they are permitted to have an extra study session each day instead of
taking a full roster of classes, in order to focus more on their studies
and not be overloaded with coursework.
Enrollment
Many of the students attending Blessed Isis come from a long line of
magical relatives who also attended the school. Students enroll at age
11 and may attend only if a member of their family tree had been
enrolled in the past. Each year, a limited number of students from
outside the usual family lines are accepted on application only if they
can exhibit sufficient magical prowess. A select number of sixth and
seventh year students are also accepted on transfer each year if they
wish to pursue an apprenticeship or focus studies in crafting or
rune/glyph work.
Arrival at the school happens by way of
caravan from the nearby city of Cairo - boarding into carriages and on
camelback where they will ride out to the temple in the cover of night.
This trip is referred to as the Journey of a Thousand Stars, and while
upper-grade students are given the option of arriving by broom or
apparation to the front gate, many choose to take the Journey due to the
excitement of it all.
Students are placed in one of two houses upon their arrival at the school, the
House of the Sea or the
House of the Desert.
While no one is entirely positive what the values are for each house,
due to the ancient nature of their founding, they are selected at
midnight following the Journey of a Thousand Stars, as new students are
led to the grand staircase before their peers - at least, those who
choose to watch a ritual held so late at night. Students are requested
to put their hands on either side of a sun dial engraved with runes,
that in the dark of night will illuminate in either a shade of blue with
the shadow pointing towards the east, or a shade of green with the
shadow pointing towards the west.
After achieving an
exemplary score on their exams in the fifth year, students are invited
to the sun dial once more. As the exam results arrive during harvest
season, those students who scored high enough may be invited back to the
school in mid-July for the Sun Ceremony, at which point they place
their hands on the dial once more at the height of the sun's movement
for the day. If the runes on the dial begin to glow, the student has
been accepted by the gods and may continue their studies into more
advanced magic in the House of the Sun. If not, they must continue at
intermediate level in their original houses. Students who do not make it
prior to their sixth year may try again at the Sun Ceremony preceding
their seventh year.
Uniform
Students
uniforms consist of loose white or ivory robes, wrapped similar to
togas, secured by a navy colored silk cord at the waist. Houses are
denoted by a pure silver cartouche pin above the left breast, and are
tinted an earthy green for Desert students, wtih a sky blue for those of
the house of the Sea. Each cartouche pin also has the name of the house
engraved in heiroglyphics. Hats are not permitted during lessons, but
students are welcome to wear jewelry and other adornments if they so
choose.
Those who are accepted into the House of the Sun are
given a cartouche pin that is golden instead of the silvery-green or
silvery-blue of the other houses. Seventh year students, who have
senority over the rest, are given a golden cord in their final year at
the school to denote their status.
Sandals are required only
in the dining area, greenhouses, and while playing Quidditch, with bare
feet being acceptable elsewhere. Professors may choose to require
footwear in their classrooms if they so desire.
Professors
uniforms are identical to students, except that they are required to
wear wine colored robes instead of white or ivory. Professors are
traditionally given a silver cord, however those that are alumni of
Blessed Isis are permitted to wear their golden cord given to them in
their seventh year. Professors who were previously in the House of the
Sun are also permitted to wear their golden cartouche pin, as it is
considered a great honor to have studied in that house.
More information on
http://vault713.com/bb/page.php?p=blessed-isis
xcx
