The Scholomance was founded by the devil, and has been Europe's premier school of magic for millennia. The school teaches through attrition. The only way to fail is to
die, and the only way to graduate is to be the sole survivor (although
you can withdraw by fleeing). Even in class death is possible, although
the professors have a low tolerance for interruptions.
Classes are practical. Each class focuses on a secret technique. Most
professors will sprinkle in theory, philosophy, or history as the mood
strikes them. You may take as few or as many classes as you think you can handle.
Its campus is a hidden valley in the southern Carpathian Mountains,
containing a town, several villages, small farms, a lake, and thick
forest. The valley is littered with dangers, from monsters to artifacts to mysterious phenomena, not to mention the students.
Cannibalism
An old but youthful woman who lives in a hollow log deep in the forest teaches students to take the strengths of those they eat. Her students are feared for their habit of literally poaching talent.
Breeding
Taught by a sphinx, an ancient hybrid created by the originator of the method. Students are taught to breed in strength, speed, and cunning, to combine species, and finally to mix and match traits as they please. Students of the sphinx often build sanctums are usually at the center of labyrinths, patrolled by their pet monsters.
Runes
Both living and non-living things can be augmented by inscribing special signs into them. Taught by a heavily tattooed man who doesn't always bother to dress. This is a popular class, as use of runes is an in-demand skill with many applications.
Dreaming
Students of this man will learn to sneak into the minds of others through dreams. There are few ways to defend yourself from this technique, and its practitioners are distrusted. If you have potential, you will find the teacher in your dreams.
Skinchanging
A talking owl demonstrates the means of becoming animals by wearing ritually prepared skins. As useful for spying as for combat.
Languages
An old, soft-spoken woman teaches the principles of universal language that will allow them to speak to all things. They make good diplomats, although their intense anthropomorphising is off-putting to many.
Possession
Taught by a man in the garb of a monk, covered in prison tattoos. Students allow themselves to be possessed, granting them uncanny powers and exaggerated personalities. Practitioners tend to be unpredictable.
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