Dragon's Gate Academy

From Absit Omen Lexicon

The Dragon's Gate Academy is China's biggest magical school and one of the most reputable magical schools in Asia.

This school only exists within Absit Omen canon.

Dragon's Gate Academy

Based on the symbolism of a carp gracefully leaping over a gate to become a dragon, the academy was built in ancient times as a hidden school of magic where only a select exclusive few could train. In the wake of most of China's magical history being destroyed during the Cultural Revolution the school opened up to those who chose to immerse themselves into the country's magical side with an explicit mission to restore magical knowledge to the populace.

The academy is known throughout East Asia for its high standards of discipline, academic excellence and focus on familial values. It is open to students from East Asia, Southwest Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia. It does not accept Japanese students due to longstanding feuds between China and Japan.

The majority of lessons are conducted in Chinese. Chinese language evening classes are held for those who need the lessons. English is a mandatory second language taught at the Academy.

The school is famous for producing innovative inventors and spellmakers, tactically-minded well-rounded individuals and excellent builders and craftsmen. In addition some of the most talented magical combatants have hailed from the academy. It has a reputation for focusing on critical thinking and disincentivising rote memorisation.

Location

The Academy is located deep within the Guilin Mountains in Guangxi. Upon a great karst stone mountain is the grand hall greeting visitors much like the immense gateway that the carp must leap over in the legend, before they descend to ground level to the main buildings.

The school consists of its main buildings built in a forest, with all student accommodations in underground karst caves. This structure prioritises the protection of the students using the earth while also providing open air classes to enable them to be closer to the world.

Course of Study

Basic education begins at the age of 11, Grade 1. Students spend 6 years with the Chinese National Curriculum, which is mandatory for all schools in China.

Grade 6

At the end of Grade 6 students choose their Domain to begin specialising in subjects and skills.

Grade 9

At the end of Grade 9, students sit for the zhongkao (senior secondary) exams. The exams are scored based on points per subject; if a student does not meet the standard requirement in points for a subject they cannot take up any of the advanced branches of the subject.

Grade 10-12

Grades 10-12 are the most focused on building for careers. Here students look into taking apprenticeships or internships to see if their skills suit the careers they have had in mind. Subjects branch out into specialisations at this point. The final two years are also for preparation for the gaokao and career choices. All exams comprise written, oral and practical sections.

Tertiary Education

The final exam is the huikao (senior graduation). Successful graduates are known as Dragon Scholars, having accomplished the difficult leap over the dragon's gate as symbolised by the tale. The Academy offers further education as a highly prestigious research centre, but will also recommend qualified students to the Sages' Institute in Taiwan. Those who wish to continue their tertiary education in China must sit for the gaokao, the college entrance exam.

Professors

Professors are known as Sages, and are explicitly not only teachers but magical researchers. They can teach both general and specialised subjects. The headmaster, bearing the title of Grand Sage, also teaches classes.

The Domains

The Academy does not use a house system. Instead it groups its students into Domains, named after the Four Auspicious Beasts and settled in their respective cardinal direction. Students choose a Domain at the end of Grade 6.

Students join and leave Domains based on their skillsets and interests changing so as to find the direction most auspicious to them. Each Domain houses a faculty that specialises in the traits most relevant to the Domain, including a library with the relevant subjects. None of the Domains are off limits to anyone not of their Domain; it is encouraged to visit these Domains as much as possible for what they offer to expand their horizons.

A student who has swapped to every Domain at least once in their magical education is usually seen as indecisive but open-minded, though this is relatively uncommon and most students only really change Domains once or twice at most.

The Four Domains and their Beasts are:

The Domain of Fire (Vermilion Bird, South)

This domain hosts classes on humanities, specifically Chinese Studies, Arts & Craftsmanship and Music. Classes in this domain celebrate creativity and preserving Chinese culture. The Vermilion Bird values happiness and luck.
Subjects in this domain include magic in all of their curriculum, such as the breakdown of the use of Mandarin in magic or using Chinese magic to create.

The Domain of Wood (Azure Dragon, East)

This domain hosts classes on social sciences, specifically Economics, Geography and Political Sciences. The Azure Dragon symbolises leadership, thus all subjects within lend to awareness of the world.
Subjects in this domain will also include magical techniques such as Numerology, but this is the most grounded Domain relative to the others.

The Domain of Metal (White Tiger, West)

This domain prizes innovation, harmony and balance within the world, and keeping oneself fit. Students who graduate from this domain are known to be practical and technically-minded. The White Tiger represents protection, including that of the future.
Subjects within this domain will encourage construction with magic, using magic in tandem with martial arts and focusing on careers based on defensive magic.

The Domain of Water (Black Tortoise, North)

Valuing wisdom and knowledge, this domain houses classes and libraries dedicated to ancient Chinese history and magic as well as divination. Military history is also found here and is recommended for those who are more tactical.
Subjects within this domain will touch on religion, rituals and divining, but will also include vast collections of military tactics used within magical context. This is the most magically inclined Domain.


The fifth Domain, Earth under the Yellow Dragon, represents the centre of the school itself. The underlying principle is that all things have come from the earth, and one day all things will return to the earth - so every time students attend classes, they are within the embrace of the earth.

School Uniforms

Students wear simple hanfu of neutral tones and colours in monochrome, and dine in one gigantic room. Dining tables follow the four Domains. Senior students will still wear monochrome, but with brighter colours. Sages wear hanfu of varying colours and elaborate embroidery, but very often gold thread is part of the embroidery.

School Culture

As Chinese society is a mixture of both magical and non-magical users, the Academy does not discriminate between those who can or cannot use magic. Due to the erasure of much of China's old magic during the Cultural Revolution, the Academy prioritises preservation and education of Chinese magic and culture to all who wish to learn.

Dragon's Gate graduates are noted to be humble and diligent, preferring collectivism over individualism, well-spoken with a worldly air about them. Those who excelled in magical subjects wield their magic with discipline, restraint and purpose. They are strongly nationalist and patriotic, putting China and her people above all else - a common criticism that the Academy produces biased individuals who do not take criticism towards their country well. Many of them favour competition and ambition, and are more likely to look down on those who do not attempt to rise above their station without good reason.

Sport

The Academy does not encourage or promote Quidditch. Instead it hosts an Annual Duelling Championship where students can demonstrate their prowess with combat magic either in the performative sense (Performance Duelling) or in the battle sense (Competitive Duelling).

On a friendly level it also hosts flying sword races, where students in teams of three compete to innovate spells that allow them to fly on swords quicker, faster and more efficiently.

Absit Omen Dragon's Gate Alumni

  • Shaozu Gan, Chief Magical and Occult Enforcer of the Realm, National Realm Defence Commission

NPCs

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