Most High Academe

The Most High Academe, sometimes shortened to simply High Academe, was the foremost scholar of Sanctaphrax and, hundreds of years later, of any federation of learning institutions, most notably the Great Glade Academy[citation needed] and the Sumpwood Bridge Academy[citation needed].

Linius Pallitax, Most High Academe of Sanctaphrax during The Curse of the Gloamglozer

History

The earliest Most High Academe in the Edge to be described in detail was Linius Pallitax, father of Maris. He died from wounds caused by a fire, started by the Gloamglozer he created in the Ancient Laboratory. After he died, the Professors of Light and Darkness, who were the Next-Most High Academes when Linius was alive shared the title of Most High Academe.[citation needed] They were later replaced by Vilnix Pompolnius, the Professor of Darknesses's former protege.[citation needed] He was a Raintaster and introduced the world to Phraxdust, a water-purifying substance. However, Vilnix's crooked ties to the League of Free Merchants and desecration of the stormphrax nearly destroyed Sanctaphrax. When Twig returned with stormphrax and the truth about Vilnix came to light, he tried to flee from an angry mob, but ran right into a trap set by the Leagues and plummeted off Sanctaphrax, falling to his death.[citation needed]

The Professor of Darkness then resumed his old position of Most High Academe (the Professor of Light had died in the Mire[citation needed]) but when the great rock of Sanctaphrax flew away to clear the path of the Mother Storm, he grabbed onto the Anchor Chain in desperation and sailed into Open Sky along with the great floating city. Moments before, however, the Professor had given the Great Seal of Office to Cowlquape Pentephraxis, Twig's apprentice, making him the new Most High Academe.[citation needed] However, Vox Verlix imprisoned Cowlquape in the Tower of Night on the New Sanctaphrax rock, and usurped the title of Most High Academe, with Amberfuce as his Chancellor. Vox Verlix was later exiled from New Sanctaphrax, and his title held no real power.[citation needed] Orbix Xaxis held the title of Most High Guardian of Night, a perversion of the High Academe's duties of office. Cowlquape later was rescued by Twig and Rook. Later on, Vox died during the Dark Maelstrom he created, which also destroyed Undertown, New Sanctaphrax, and the surrounding area. With both Sanctaphrax gone and New Sanctaphrax destroyed, Cowlquape became Most High Academe of the Free Glades.[citation needed]

Duties

The Most High Academe was the head of state and government in Sanctaphrax. Elected by the more powerful professors, the Most High Academe had the power to both make and enforce laws in the floating city.[citation needed] The Most High Academe also fulfilled the role of Sanctaphrax's ceremonial leader, although it was the Next-Most High Academe who performed the Treasury Day ceremonies, for historical reasons.[citation needed]

Symbols of Office

The Most High Academe of Sanctaphrax was marked out by the Great Seal of Office he wore on a chain around his neck. The seal took the form of an eleven-pointed star engraved with a pattern of circles and lightning bolts,[citation needed] a design which appeared frequently in the iconography of Sanctaphrax.

Residence

Traditionally, the Most High Academe lived in the Palace of Lights, a magnificent building with coloured glass windows.[citation needed] However, during the time of the Great Purges, as Sky-Scholarship took over Sanctaphrax, larger, more magnificent buildings were constructed. Since the Palace of Lights was eclipsed by the College of Cloud nextdoor, each successive Most High Academe opted to live in the school of his own faculty.[citation needed] Eventually, Linius Pallitax decided to return to the traditional residence when he was appointed Most High Academe.[1] By this time, the Palace of Lights was known as the Palace of Shadows, since all the taller buildings around it cut out almost all of its light.[citation needed]

Succession

The title of Most High Academe could be passed down in three ways:[citation needed]

  • Before dying, the High Academe could decide to hold an election, in which prominent Sanctaphrax academics would vote for a successor
  • The previous High Academe could personally choose a successor by bestowing them with the Great Seal of Office. This was how both the Professors of Light and Darkness and Cowlquape Pentephraxis received the position.
  • If the High Academe died unexpectedly, he could be succeeded by a member of his school. First in line would be the Dean or High Professor of the school, and the Sub-Dean was second in this order; this was how Seftus Leprix hoped to usurp the position from Linius Pallitax after assassinating him. (Both were members of the School of Mist.)

There are several cases where the rules of succession have been ignored, and the High Academe has been usurped through violence or treachery; for example, Vox Verlix and Vilnix Pompolnius.

Notable Most High Academes

References

  1. ↑ The Curse of the Gloamglozer, Chapter 1: The Palace of Shadows
This article is issued from Theedgechronicles. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.