Threefold Trial

The Threefold Trial was a process used by the Jar-Kahni School of Arcane Knowledge to test the candidates for dean at each of their nine academies. As the name implies, this test was in three parts. The first was a demonstration of abstract knowledge, of which there were two sections: an oral or written examination of classical arcane knowledge, and a written thesis demonstrating a grasp of the same, but applied to some new magical theory. The second was a practical demonstration, also in two parts: successful castings of the traditional spells of the philosophy to which the applicant aspired to become dean, and the demonstration of a new spell, researched entirely by the applicant. The final part was a demonstration of leadership skills, demonstrated by leading a band of adventurers on a mission chosen by the executive board.

The Threefold Trial existed from the time of the school's founding until the ascension of Jhessail to the position of President. The last ones were the trials of Laeral and Tasirin, which involved a combined third section for the only time in the recorded history of the school. At the time, a purge of many of the existing deans was carried out, and new deans were needed in short order, necessitating the elimination of the Trial. Jhessail has said that this was a temporary solution only, but it has become another bone of contention between the president and many of the longer-tenured faculty.