Lark'Hal Institute of Magic & the Arts
One of the larger, more prominent universities on the continent of Dremora, the Lark'Hal Institute of Magic & the Arts (LIMA) is the oldest of the "Big Three", but didn't rise to prominence among them until after the Dread King's War. The institution is wedged between the Temple of Lark and the sprawling estates and palaces of the Royal Genasi families in the Heart of the Desert. When expansion was needed, the institution began expanding along the wall that divides the royal palace and estates from the rest of the city. The shape of the campus now almost resembles that of a musical note, with the dot at the central, original campus near the Temple of Lark and the stem extending up to the North along the edge of the estates. In the older days, funding for LIMA came from the City of Fortune, but now it relies on the good will of the Royal Genasi families and grants obtained from the capital city of Eredet. Per tradition of the city as a whole, as bits and pieces of the old fall away, it is filled in with the new. The entire campus is a patchwork of old buildings, partially refurbished buildings, and a mixture of art styles from across the years.
General Information
While the University of Eredet covers all subjects and the Nacheevi Technical Institute leads the arcane and technical revolution, LIMA specializes in the past and the present: magic, archaeology, history, and the arts, primarily. The study of more technical fields is present only in as much as it helps in the pursuit of its primary fields of study. About half of the campus, faculty, staff, and student body are dedicated to the performing arts and more than half of the remaining campus population participates in the arts still in some way shape or form.
Given Lark’s belief that creativity and expression should be shared with all, LIMA is generally easy to access for the general populace. Student performances and exhibitions are often opened to the public or hosted at other locations throughout the city such as one of the Three Market Squares, the gardens near the Oasis, or at the Temple of Lark. Often, it is part of a student’s curriculum to perform in the streets of Lark’Hal or to move out into the city in some other way. Artistic expression should not be confined to a specific place. The institution seeks to foster the growth of their students, faculty, and staff… not to confine them to the institution’s premises.
There are, however, some who would prefer that the institute be a bit stricter on public access to certain buildings. Those who particularly focus on archaeology and history through a more research rather than teaching lens often voice their complaints on how the presence of the public makes their jobs significantly more difficult. As a primarily performing arts school, their complaints are only ever slightly addressed… never fully. Still, despite the annoyances, LIMA is perfectly positioned to research not only the rich history of Lark’Hal, but to research the biggest blank in history: The Era of the Dread King’s War and the Fall of the City of Fortune. For the opportunity to make headway in that field, most professors will deal with the petty annoyances.
Wasteland Research – Magic & Archaeology
Academia can be a cutthroat field with intellectuals competing with one another to make that breakthrough discovery and publish it first. Within academia, the most cutthroat field of them all is the field of Wasteland & Dread King Era historical research. Those who have the audacity to specialize in both are almost asking to lead the most stressful academic life possible.
The few academics that have entered the field of Wasteland research reside forced together in one building… to their pleasure and frustration. Some delight in the opportunity to keep a close eye on their “collaborators” (or competition), but others had the sensation of someone always staring over their shoulder. Thus, every office is locked via multiple means, important results and theories are carefully hidden away, and some have gotten creative by writing their notes in code or obscuring them so others cannot see them. Some of the most notable members of this field include:
- Professor Marcella Dunebrook & her current TA, Tatya
- Dr. Apophis Khalil & his current TA, Tsolmona
The "Sarcophagus" – The Sarkani Library
Formally called the Sarkani Library (funded by the Fire Genasi family), the student body generally refers to it as the Sarcophagus. Just as a Sarcophagus is meant to contain a mummified and preserved body, this library is meant to contain often the only preservation of pieces of art that have been donated to the Sea of Moving Art. That, of course, is only one portion of its collection. The library also contains a vast selection of historical books, including a preserved collection of scrolls that document historical trade between the City of Fortune and the Heart of the Desert.
Contrary to its nickname, the Library building itself is arranged like a ring, with hanging gardens in the middle and ample sitting spaces for students, faculty, and staff to sit. The library is three stories with only the top-level being a mandated quiet space.
Type
University / Educational complex
Parent Location
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
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