PS; if an orangetang is sighted in the library, it is to be left alone unless it approaches you. Comply with any request it makes as though it came from a staff member. Do not refer to it as a 'monkey'.
The responseAs Headmaster of another fine institute of learning, I am delighted to hear of the creatrion of Cestova Keep. My own humble school of Scholomance would like to heartily welcome the expansion of the study of the Arte, and good, sportsmanship rivalry with Cestova Keep should serve our institutions well.
I recognize that, as a small school just starting out, there is a limited number of applicants, but I am suprised to see how balanced they all are. Typically, arcane energies tend to focus a student on one development path, such as 'physically weak, but a mental powerhouse' or 'italian plumber'.
I found myself suprised to have been lobbied about whether I would take a particular interest in one of your undoubtebly fine students, a young Ms Hanna Owens, however I find my eye being drawn instead to Ms Ines Garza, though the self restraint is worrying. When teaching students to bend the laws of natural reality to your mercurial whims, I find it best to see what they uncover for themselves, rather than stifleing them with things like 'cautions' and 'OSHA compliance'.
What is your curriculum like? About how many deaths per year do you expect to average? Do you have, perchance, horrid monsters wandering the halls at all hours of the day? If you find you lack some (and 'too many' is never enough, gentlebeings) some of our more distinguished alumni are willing to introduce you to some of their more successful creations, such as the "Owlbear Mk 2", pygmy rancor, ducksnake (now with the black mamba genome stabilized!), and Shadow Mastiffs.
Dearest Headmaster,
While this may be the first you have heard of Cestova Keep, it is a well established institution to which I am the ninth Headmistress. Your own ignorance aside, I thank you for your gracious letter. I cannot explain quite why we seem to have more balanced students in attendance than your institution, but it is our goal to help our graduates to be the most well rounded and all around skilled witches and wizards they can be.
Our curriculum focuses on teaching younger students the basics of magic theory and spell creation, along with, of course, a basic knowledge of common low to mid-level spells. As the students progress, we allow them to cut down on classes in order to have more time for developing their own spells. At this time many are also allowed to leave the dormitories in favor of their own rooms. Students must demonstrate an ability to defend themselves from the intrinsic dangers of a magic environment before being allowed to live on their own. Our oldest students attend almost no classes, instead focusing their energy on a thesis that will be presented in order for their graduation from Cestova Keep. In addition to magical studies, physical education and the arts are taught. A multitude of extra-curricular activities are also offered for students.
I am somewhat baffled by your question of 'deaths per year', Cestova Keep typically averages one or two, much to our dismay. Students wandering off without the skills to handle themselves is the main cause. Our staff does its best to protect the students, but some always manage to slip through the cracks.
Of course there are etheric creatures that wander the halls, that's the reason for most of our precautions regarding safety. I find it disturbing that you would wish to offer more. I find that you rather reaffirm the stereotype that Scholomance is a sadist's playground. As such, I am regretfully forced to reject your offer of rivalry. It strikes me as rather like setting a class of University students against a mob of high security prison inmates who were instructed to go wild.
I would not be opposed to further communications between our schools, however. Perhaps in time we will be able to re-evaluate intramural activities.
Sincerely,
Headmistress Delia Pentaghast
"Failed to meet expectations" has been causa mortis for more than one apprentice at Scholomance.Headmistress, I object to your assertation that we are Sadists! Many of our faculty have taught the young Marquis, and assure you that he is not representative of the school as a whole (although he was kind enough to donate several amusing artifacts to the school after his execution). I find this accusation libelous, and strongly request that you retract your previous statement!
When I extended the offer to expand your school's ecology, it was with the same students you coddle in mind! Our graduates are capable of anything they set their mind to, and can (astrological effects permitting) [redacted due to potential sanity blasting effects]. We've tried the 'nothing trying to kill you' education plan, and found that the mages produced tend to be of inferior quality; mental dullards, feeble arcanists, and generally failed to meet expectations. It is for this reason that we have returned to the traditional methods of instruction, hoping to continue to produce only the finest possible masters of the Arte.
With regards to your reasons for refusal of a rivalry, I am sure that your "prison inmates" as you call them would be kept on a short enough to be trusted near students. If you insist, I am willing to aquiece to a neutral third party (to be ageed upon later) abjudicating any intramural event, within reason.
Headmaster
We also have some students jumping shi- er, abandoning their alma mater
We can vouch for this, she's still an incomplete psychopath.Dear Headmistress
Does your school accept transfer students? Permanent ones?
Please, please, please, please, please, please, please?
I promise I'm not a complete psychopath.
Yours sincerely,
Shannon Robinson
Dear Shannon Robinson,
We would, of course, be delighted to accept transfer students. Before you can transfer, however, you will have to go through the proper venues in your school administration. Also be aware that you may be put in beginning classes again, depending on how you perform on a standardized placement test.
Sincerely,
Headmistress Delia Pentaghast
Clearly not a form letter. Honest.Dear Mr/Ms Robinson
It has come to our attention that you desire to get out while the going is good/wish to extend your studies to other institutions of learning, in this case one Cestova Keep. We have yet to recieve your formal application for dual enrollment, as wel as other prerequisates. Until such things have been provided, your application must regrettfully be accepted/denied.
Professor Rupart L Cuthbart, Dean of Intercollegiate Studies
43387 Twisting Neather
Third red door on the left
(we really need some 'strikethrough' font for things like this)