The University

One of the worst kept secrets of Argent, the University is a convention of bard colleges; loose organizations of likeminded performers, scholars, and writers. Held every five years in a different Seddenese country, the University is comprised of two events: A two-week long celebration of the arts called the Exposition, and a two-week long invitation-only conference called the Forum.

History

Founded in 1682 AF by a small group of bards from various colleges, the University started as a fraternal organization. They would meet monthly to discuss and share various tips, tricks, and stories they’d accumulated since their last meeting. The University was founded in Sear, and was kept under wraps in order to avoid the ire of the Archons. While none of the founding members even remotely approached an Archon in power, they were capable enough and secretive enough to make chasing them to the ends of the shell too much trouble for the Archons to divert their attention to.
Shortly after the establishment of the Sterling Fox, the founding members of the fledgling University moved to Sedden to avoid any future issues with the Wards. With its newfound freedom, the University soon became a quasi-public event.

Execution

The University is divided into two events, with each part further divided by day. The first event is called the Exposition. The Exposition is entirely open to the public, and is akin to a fair. Each of the 7 days of the first week is dedicated to one of the ‘fundamental’ arts: architecture, song, dance, sculpture, painting, theatre, and literature. The second week is comparatively free-form; in addition to the 7 fundamental arts, new and interdisciplinary arts such as artifice, artistic expression of magic, and all manner of other forms are put proudly on display.
All throughout the Exposition, gourmet cuisine is on offer, exemplifying the culinary world of the hosting country. Games, shows, concerts, and other activities related to the day’s theme are hosted daily as well.
After the Exposition is the private Forum. While the Exposition is a celebration of art in all of its forms, the Forum harkens back to the olden days of the University; the sharing of knowledge. Though the specifics of what happens during the Forum isn’t common knowledge, representatives of different bardic colleges – either experts of their field or genuine representatives for colleges with a more formal structure – typically all go, and share what they learned with fellow likeminded members.

Participants

Anyone can participate in the Exposition; an audition is held a month prior to the event, and anyone with a sufficiently refined or novel art form is allowed to present, whether that art be a fundamental art, a physical craft such as tailoring, or anything else that captures the imagination of the judges and the essence of creativity. Securing a spot in the Forum is trickier. As a nod to the Searan University, all who wish to be permitted to attend must prove their value.

Observance

Such an international event can never entirely free itself from geopolitics. While the University has never publicly affiliated itself with any political ideology or movement, the last 5 hosting countries have all been members of the Unitian Ally Aggressor Guideline, the most recent being Kurai in 1770.