East Point

East Point may have a notoriously strict reputation (some of its alumni have compared the conditions inside to those found within The Paul and Peter Fortress ) but it is the premier military academy of magic within the country of Vallermoore. From the outside it looks like an ornate country house, with flat roofs and timber beams. There is only one doorway in and out, of oak lined with bronze and manned by the East Point Proctors, who act as the internal police force of the academy.

And a spell has been cast that has placed an invisible line around the building, so if anybody sneaks out or creeps in the Proctors will know about it. This is both to stop spies and assassins getting in, and lazy students from secretly going to the pub in the nearby town. Once per term a fire drill is held, in which the students that are too far from the door, fly out of the windows on their broomsticks and assemble in the quadrangle.

Cadets are permitted their wand and broomstick, their spell books, two changes of uniform, a robe to wear at night, a water bottle, the East Point Rulebook and two books of their own choice that they can read in what little free time they are given. Anything else that the Proctors find in their rooms will earn them demerits, ranging from one to ten demerits per item depending on what the forbidden item is.

From Monday to Saturday, at six oclock the Proctors on night duty wake up the students, and the students get dressed and march to the dining hall. With one or two notable exceptions, the food for the students is enough to live on, but generally foul. Food for the Proctors and even the Masters, whilst better in taste then those of the students, is not luxurious either. After prayers are said the cadets eat their food in silence and half an hour later are escorted to the Master Healers classroom, where from six-thirty to eight-thirty they study healing magic.

At eight-thirty they are marched to the Master of Magical Combat, who teaches them the basics of magical combat, such as the casting of fireballs, lightning bolts and balls of ice. One hour later they are taught unarmed combat for an hour, such as basic judo and karate at first, moving to more advanced moves the more the students learn. At ten thirty they spend two long dull hours with the Master Namer learning the true names, which are vital for complex spells to work.

After half an hour for lunch, they spend two hours with the Master Windkey, learning such things as weather magic, flying in formation, and how to survive in aerial combat on broomsticks. At three oclock they spend an hour with the Master Changer learning how to change shape and just as importantly, the dangers of doing so. Then they spend an hour with the Master Pattener: what he teaches is a strict military secret. After spending another hour with the Master of Strategy being taught the details of ancient battles and more modern strategy, they have half an hour for supper, an hour for homework, half an hour for themselves and then Taps is blown and it is time to sleep.

The Proctors and Masters like it when they catch someone breaking the rules. The typical punishment is from one to ten demerits and an hour marching on Sunday. Anyone who gets more then a hundred demerits per term is publicly expelled in front of everybody. The ArchChancellor publicly breaks both their wand and broomstick and they are turned out in disgrace. At the end of a three month term everyones demerits are set back to zero.

The ArchChancellor is rarely seen by the students or indeed the Proctors unless it is the beginning or the end of term or they are in serious trouble.

After three years (assuming they have not been expelled or resigned) the cadets graduate and take their place in Queen Yocastas forces as war wizards. Some become doctors after their military career is over. They know that their fellow graduates will help them gain promotions and cover up for them when necessary.

Whilst the discipline is very strict in East Point, the cadets are constantly told that they are useful and honoured members of society and that they are a credit to their country.

On New Years Eve, the discipline is relaxed. Unauthorized arial acrobatics are acceptable. There is a feast with proper and tasty food for everybody. Spells that do not harm people or property can be freely cast, there is a magical fireworks display set off by the Masters and then everyone, cadets and Masters and support staff and civilians, linked arms and sings the New Year Song. Teaching does not begin again until late afternoon on New Years Day as even the Masters have often drunk a little too much the night before.

East Point is over two centuries old and has turned out many people who ended up rising to general rank and winning battles for Valermoore.