Miskatonic University
Few places can match the scale, power, or influence that exists on the campus that is Miskatonic University. This school of learning is overseen by the Guild Arcanum as well as the Crown, and teach both the arcane and mundane. While many believe the university only teaches wizards, this is far from the whole truth. While both the schools of evocation and war magic are located here; there are also mundane classes in alchemy, law, mathematics, and natural philosophy, among others. Additionally, the Royal Army maintains a school for teaching and training special and elite troops.
The campus itself sits very nearly in the center of the outer section of the Arcane Quadrant (northeast quadrant) in Croshothar, and is surrounded by a ten foot stone wall topped with a five foot wrought picket. The main entrance is due south of the Great Library, with another five spaced very roughly equidistant from one another.
A band of trees meanders throughout the campus, creating a continuous ribbon of forest. This stand of trees is called the Weald, and is assiduously maintained. Intentionally damaging the Weald is an offence punishable by drawing & quartering (and is the only crime at the college punishable in this way). Minor offences against the Weald are commonly punished by a period of up to two hours in the pillory, the stocks, or both.
History
At the beginning of the Third Era, the grounds of what is now Miskatonic University sat outside the walls of Croshother. This land was kept as a training ground and armory for the King's castle guard. By the middle of the third century, the outer wall of the Capitol had been completed, but much of the land it enclosed was still devoted to the same uses as had been used historically. As the northeast quadrant of Croshother had already begun to be referred to at the Arcane, certain leaders of the Mages of Power began to insist to the King that his military training grounds be moved, These leaders requested that they be allowed to move Croshother College (at the time the largest institution of magical training in Ardrigh) to this site. While the King initially agreed with this plan, many of his Court felt it was improper to give such a grant to an outside entity.
Notable amongst the opposition was a young Court Wizard named Louis Miskaton, Archbaron of Devonaire. He felt that the Crown should establish a school of magic under it's own control, rather than allow a powerful external organization to train mages within the Capitol. Even though no firm decision of who would administer such a school was made, grounds were set aside for construction of a general library, and the Mages of Power were allowed to erect it. The cornerstone of the Octamid was placed in 378 3E, and was completed a year or two later.
Over the next decade, the the King had given charge to his Court Wizard in establishing an order for the education and fellowship of wizards and other mages. The Mages of Power continued to press the Crown for permission to establish an arcane university in the capitol, but growing tensions and mistrust of their order gave rise to many delays of such talks. The Royal Army continued to train in the area, and Croshother College was eventually relocated to the area. The college incorporated the military training grounds to the mundane schools, and added a few wizard professors (wizards who were members of the Mages of Power).
Official incorporation of the Guild Arcanum occurred in 392 3E, and was made the official sanctioning body for teaching and licensing Court Wizards throughout Ardrigh. The schools of magic throughout Ardrigh (until this point administered by the Mages of Power) were turned over to Guild authority. The School of Evocation was moved from Carvadin later that year. Although some records indicate otherwise, it is commonly believed the name was changed from Croshother College to Miskatonic University at this time (other records state the name was not changed until shortly after the death of the Guild's first Dean, Louis Miskaton a dozen years later).
Deterioration of ties between the Crown and the Mages of Power continued to progress, and many believe that is what caused Dean Miskaton to begin crafting the program which became the School of War Mages.
Few reliable records of the Universities' history are known to exist for the next century, but it is evident that the school of War Magic was officially established, as was the formation of the Proctors. It is also believed that a tenant Baron was placed as the head of the Mundane Department sometime during the Reformation.
The Stadium was erected in 490 3E (although the cornerstone lists 475 3E). Many believe the cornerstone gives the date the physical structure was begun, and the later date was when it's magical nature was enspelled. Whether the building existed before magic was incorporated, or whether there was some disruption during construction is unknown. Most agree that The Stadium was intended from it's conception as a magic structure.
The separation of the schools of Evocation and War Magic finally occurred in 500 3E. Before that time, there was but one Advisor over both schools.
The Grand Librarian was made an official member of the the Presiding Council, with full voting and veto rights, in 541 3E. Before that point, the Grand Librarian had only an advisory role. In addition, the administrators were given equal power to the Department Heads in voting and veto power. Various minor changes were made to the nature and roles of the Presiding Council, clarifying and simplifing many of the rules changes that had arisen since its conception.
In 686 3E, the Weald's Woodward was given official standing as an advisor to the Presiding Council.
The Domen
While not confined to Miskatonic University, any discussion of it would be incomplete without some mention of the Domen. The Domen are a "family" of servants who are often fanaticlly loyal to the King and the Crown. Most Domen can trace their lineage to the very beginning of the Third Era, and with few exceptions, all members of this household have lived their entire lives in service in one way or another to King and Crown. At the university, they often work as butlers, stewards, grooms, and housemen.
Domen are largely human, although it is generally believed they share at least some elven blood. They tend to be tall, slender, and fair-complected. They rarely express full magical potential, although they often appear as sorcerers under magical scrutiny. Innate magic is no more or less common within the Domen than the rest of society.
The Departments
Miskatonic University has four major divisions. These areas are:
Magical Education
The most well-known portion of the campus is devoted to the teaching of magical and other arcane subjects. The Arcana contains the School of Evocation, the School of War Magic, and the Proctors. The Arcana lies west of a line running due north from the Grand Library.
Most arcane students are housed in The Residence. The Residence is a rectangular stone building that has three floors plus a basement. The layout (from west to east) of each floor is as follows: communal privies, resident rooms, cafeteria & kitchen, common baths, permanent residents, and communal privies. Neophytes are housed in the basement, those up to Prentice grade are commonly assigned to the first floor, those of Thaumaturge and below live on the second level, and those of higher level live on the top floor. Each floor has its own kitchen & dining hall located in the center of the building. Special permanent residents of the school live at the eastern end of the building. The various permanent "tokken residents" are on the first floor (mostly regardless of grade), with permanent wizard residents and "special residents" residing on the upper two levels. Notice boards are located outside the eastern privies on each floor.
Many of the Arcana's professors live (or at least maintain a residence) at The Professorship. The Evocation Advisor has a private residence (The Evoker), as does the Court Advisor (Crown House).
While proctors are largely taught in (and recruited from) the War College, they also have a small stronghold bordering the arcane and military sections due North from the Grand Library. This stronghold (named the Protectorate) houses administrative offices, apartments for both permanent and transient proctors, and several rooms devoted to various uses. These rooms are commonly used for proctor-specific classes, briefings, and other functions as deemed necessary.
Although the schools of evocation and war magic are located here, it would be a mistake to assume that only students of those schools attend classes here. As a rule, students pursuing schools other than those of evocation or war magic do so through individual instruction or self study.
Mundane Education
Containing much of the non-arcane, non-martial sections of the university, the mundane sector is most likely to have students from other departments studying, worshiping, or relaxing here. This section contains the Baths, the Holy House, and the Warehouses; which are of of import to all students.
Mundane academics share teaching space with both the arcane and the military students, but also have dedicated classrooms and other spaces. The mundane area of campus lays to the south of the Arcana & military sections, as well as the Grand Library. Of special note are The Court, which is a dedicated space devoted to students of the law, where mock trials are held for students of law; and The Astra, which is a small celestial observatory.
The southwestern end of the mundane section is where the Conservatory is located. The playing of many common as well as several unusual musical instruments are taught here, and many a famous bard have been educated here.
The titular head of the mundane section is held by a tenant Baron who lives at The Baronage. The Baronage and the Court share a single building, although they are treated as completely separate entities.
The WarehousesSitting at the southwest edge of campus, the Warehouses (despite the name, it is a single building) are the source of all material goods that come into and depart from the university. A general goods store may be found here, and they carry most items that students of any department may need; be that blank books, trade weapons and armor, or even soap. They also have a limited store of materials necessary for the construction of magic items, potions, and scrolls. The chief stockmen maintain contacts all over Croshothar (and beyond), and if goods can be had in the Capitol, the Warehouses will have it or know where to get it. Costs of most goods is somewhat higher (as much as 25%, but generally no more than 10%) than can be had elsewhere,
Military Education
The martial section of campus lies to the east of a line running from the Grand Library north, bordering the Arcana. The Royal Army maintains a full armory, spaces for housing and training animals (mostly warhorses & dogs, as well as a mews (for falconry)), a tiltyard (where jousting practice and tourneys are held), as well as a number of smaller arenas. All military units (students, instructors, trainers, etc.) reside in The Barracks, a massive wooden structure capable of housing more than three full companies, which includes rooms and spaces to house a full company of the King's Personal Guard. The Barracks also contains its own chapel, which is commonly used by the armies rather than The Holy House, although clerics from there administrate all official services. The Stadium is a large walled arena just north of the Protectorate where magically-aided combat to the death (without permanent injury) is possible.
The martial section is headed by a noble, and is referred to simply as the Marshal.
The Grand Library
Sitting at the center of campus, the Grand Library is the most recognizable structure of Miskatonic University. The building is an octagonal structure seven levels and 100 feet high, and 300 feet across at the base (wall to wall). The top level is 150 foot across. A 50 foot diameter atrium in the center of the library rises from the first floor to the top of the building, and is covered by a permanent shimmering pyramid of force energy. Objects thrown into the atrium are subject to the feather fall spell (although it is a common rumor that the librarians know a spell to disrupt this). Driftglobes float about throughout the structure, and if touched by a creature, the globe will float above it's head for up to ten minutes, or until it leaves the library or goes to a different floor. Some say the globes contain the remnants of souls of librarians who have died in the service of the Library, although none who work in the library will confirm or deny this rumor. Each floor has a small apartment (generally hidden) used for resident librarians, although not every apartment contains such a person. The top floor contains the apartment of the Grand Librarian.
The building that houses the Grand Library is called the Octamid.
Types of Instruction
While instruction varies widely across departments, the three dominate types of instruction are group classes, individual instruction, and self-study. Group classes generally consist of classes comprised of five to a dozen students (at least in the arcane and mundane departments), with all members of the group receiving the same teaching together. Individuals may receive some individual (or remedial) instruction, but the majority of teaching is done as a group. Class groups (generally up to Practioner Grade) are started generally once a year, although Arcane Tradition (Aspirant grade) groups are commenced more frequently. These groups often have a one year schedule, with four one week breaks throughout the year.
Group instruction in the martial section are commonly trained in groups of twenty (one vintain), as well as groups of one hundred (a company). Annual exercises of the entire martial department are held during the summer, occasionally with one or more companies of the Royal Army.
Individual instruction involves a student being assigned a professor, senior mentor, or other qualified person who directs that student in what they should study, giving assistance as required. Individual instruction students may sit in on some classes (of a group), but often have a more free-form schedule. Depending upon a student's grade level, they may receive significant amounts of individual tutoring.
Self-study is often the method of choice for high-level individuals. In general, a self-study student has no fixed schedule, although they may often be tasked to teach at least one class per week. These students often have no mentors, and may seek guidance from the professors (or even the Advisor) when matters arise that would normally be taken to a mentor.
The Presiding Council
While each section of the college has a Head (with the Arcana having two), there is no overarching President. Rather, the university as a whole is run and administrated by the Presiding Council, made up of: the Evocation and Court Advisors, the Baron, the Marshal, the Grand Librarian, and Chief Administrators for each Department (the Evocation and Court Advisors having a sole administrator). These nine meet periodically (The official charter proscribes that they hold council on the fourth day of every month, following sunset, although these meetings seldom occur.)
Campus Life
While life at Miskatonic University can be called many things, boring is not among them. While students and staff generally stay within their own departments, several things bring everyone together.
The Baths
A large communal bathhouse sits in the southeast part of campus, and all are considered equal within. Whether military or mundane, student or professor, all persons are expected to conduct themselves without consideration to status, title, department, or religion. There are male, female, and communal baths and steam-rooms, as well as a communal swim area. Rooms where massage can be purchased sit between the hot and cool sections of the baths.
Holy House
Every evening, the priests hold worship services, and all day on Adeen. The priests will regularly teach on various aspects of the House throughout the month.
Night Watch
All students and staff are expected to take their regular turn on night watch. From an hour before sundown to an hour after sunrise, there are regular patrols around and about campus. Four watches are held each night, and are staffed by members of each department. Those from the military department stand watch at least once each week, with personnel from the other departments generally standing less frequently. While frowned upon, it is not completely uncommon for professors to assign their night watch to one of their students, and others have been known to pay others to take their watch for them. Missing a watch assignment is not treated lightly, and is often punished by having the guilty party march the campus perimeter wearing a heavy pack. Leniency may be shown for a first offence, but often the offender is expected to march from the time night watch is secured until the next one is convened.
Watchstanders muster at the gatehouse before their assigned shift, and muster there again at its conclusion. Patrols often consist of two or three persons, and will be assigned whatever equipment is necessary.
Fetes
The last day of every month is reserved for a minor festival. Attendance is not generally required, but is encouraged. Each fete has a theme, although adherence to that theme varies. Most fete activities occur out-of-doors (depending on the weather). There is often a dance in the evening, and the fetes are somewhat open to those outside the University. Often, young women (and even a few men) from Croshother will attend the dances, often in the hopes of securing a spouse.
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