The Academy of Nightingale

The Academy of Nightingale is an ancient school established originally by a cloister of priests determined to maintain their knowledge of the gods and history and pass them on to the next generations of the priesthood. Over the years the nobility of the Valesmen began to have their children educated by the Academy until it became not only a cultural norm, but a requirement for many government and religious offices. In that time the direct influence of the priesthood over the Academy has lessened as its attendees became more and more secular in nature. However, the Academy's governing body, The Council of the Learned, is still headed by priest selected by the Chief Priest of the Grand Temple in Nightingale from among the eligible candidates selected by the rest of the council and many of the professors are also priests.
In the Academy, the sons and daugters of the nobility learned the skills that would be necessary for them to adequatly manage their estates and fiefs, wage war, plan works of engineering, make alliances and friendships with their peers, study the history of the world, or any other pursuit which could be covered. Though the children of the nobility make up the majority of the students peasants are also accepted as both students and professors and the Academy maintains schools for the children of most Valen villages to teach them mathematics, reading and writing skills, history and even the basics of economics and engineering.
The Academy is famed on a global scale for its extensive libraries which contain some of the oldest preserved works from the early ages of the world, such as one of only three complete copies of "The Fall of Hrennon", the single most important literary work in world history, believed to be penned by the original author. With an extensive network of offices and campuses across the world The Academy frequently acts as both a branch of the Valen Embassy, protecting and acting as a familiar anchor and local connection for travellers and merchants, but also as a research centers for the local area.
The Academy is largely a civilian organization, and despite its close relationship, and frequent cooperation with the government of the Vale it is fiercly independant from it even to the point of having its own armed branch of guards and agents. These mostly men, are responsible for the defense of the Academy's grounds, its important personages and more vitally its knowledge. Apart from its regular researchers the Academy has in the past had no qualms about sending its less reputable members to lie, bribe, kidnap, and outright steal to obtain information, intellectuals and artifacts it considers useful or of significant interest.

Public Agenda

To educate and prepare the next generations of Valesmen to better serve their people, their kingdom and the gods by any means necessary.

Alternative Names

The Academy

Ruling Organization

The Council of the Learned

Leader Title

Headmaster

Location

Nightingale