Students come to the Academy from all over Elumia; sometimes even beyond! The sounds of many languages can be heard in its Halls, and the libraries are full of books written in every corner of the world.
The first page of Character Background asks:
Where do you come from?
Astrology[]
Astrology: Dawn[]
+1 Birds, +1 Confidence, +1 Flowers, +1 Phemes, +1 Running, +1 Willpower
Astrology: Midnight[]
A Random Skill Level in each of the 6 Magical Arts
Astrology: Noon[]
+2 Observation, +2 Perception, +2 Reason
Astrology: The Comet[]
+1% Chance of Success to all Actions, +1 Luck, +1 Pure Luck
Astrology: The Eclipse[]
+2 Conceal, +2 Hide, +2 Infiltration
The above choices are mutually exclusive except for The Comet, i.e. a character can only have one of Dawn/Midnight/Noon/The Eclipse, but may take The Comet as well. (You may, of course, take none of them.)
Heritage[]
Heritage: Auncish[]
+1 Competition, +2 Administration, +3 Wit
Heritage: Merilien[]
+1 Courtly Fasion, +2 Romance, +3 Passion
Heritage: Renaglian[]
+1 Recipes, +2 Negotiate, +3 Intrigue
Heritage: Staadan[]
+1 Leadership, +2 Artisan, +3 Composure
Heritage: Strozzan[]
+1 Willpower, +2 Debate, +3 Observation
As you'd (sort of) expect, the choices of Heritage are mutually exclusive, i.e. a character can only have one Heritage (but is not required to choose any of them).
Omen[]
Omen: Blood Moon[]
+1 Fitness, +1 Archery, +1 Wrestling, +1 Command
Omen: Flight of Birds[]
+2 Voice, +2 Conversation, +2 Composure
Omen: Island Lights[]
+1 Strength, +1 Brute Strength, +1 Courage
Omen: Islandquake[]
+1 Insight, +2 Theory of Negation
Omen: Shattered Mirrors[]
+1% Chance of Success, +1 Intelligence, +2 Leadership, +1 Oratory
Omen: The Storm[]
+1 Bonus on Hostile Actions, +1 Competition, +1 Intimidation, +1 Random Duel Subskill
Omen: Three Suns[]
+1 Finesse, +1 Acrobatics, +1 Composure, +1 Conceal