Vinguard Academy

"Those bells you hear ringing, the students call 'em Hell's Bells. If you've ever met Headmaster Bell, well, imagine her catching you late to a class.. " - Harris Hale, Barkeep at The House.
Vinguard Academy was a learning institute inside the city of Vinguard. It serves primarily as a military training facility, though does offer common academic subjects as well. However, a free education is provided for those enrolling in the Academy with the express purpose of future military service.
Being located in the same city has Astoran High Command has made the transfer of military graduates into the army as seamless as possible, and at the same time, provides current students with invaluable experience of living inside a militarized settlement.

History

Founded in AoR 452, the Vinguard Academy was created on the ideal of keeping Astora with a functioning military of young and able-bodied individuals. The Ironwood War had left Astora's military depleted, and without a draft during the fifty wars of combat, primarily contained older soldiers. Construction on the Academy broke ground only a year after plans were drawn up, and it's construction expanded Vinguard in size and population greatly.
Now in AoR 607, Vinguard Academy sits as Astora's second largest learning institution, slightly larger than Vinheim College, yet smaller than Veth Monra. The institute is run by the fiery Headmaster Bell, a leader truly passionate about keeping the Academy's military stock at the highest possible level of physical and intellectual prowess.

Campus Grounds

Vinguard Academy has an expansive campus that encompasses almost a quarter of Vinguard's total walled area. Among the campus grounds are lecture halls, student housing and several amenities such as shops and taverns. The most popular drinking hole is known as The House, a rowdy and unmistakable tavern situated near the entrance to the Academy grounds. The entire campus is contained behind a low wall, an attempt by the city to separate the Traveler's Ward from the general chaos of a college campus.
The southern portion of the Academy grounds contains a large coliseum, the facility being used daily for physical training and military drills. When not in use by the Academy, these training grounds are used for sporting events and fighting matches by the city. These events are always popular and heavily attended by students and residents alike. Unfortunately, the Vinguard Academy has had issues in the past and present with students engaging in underground fight rings. Headmaster Bell has remained ever vigilant in putting a halt to such activities.

Notable Inhabitants

• Headmaster Bell: Vinguard Academy's stern principal, Headmaster Bell is concerned with keeping the students of the institution in line and up to the high expectations of the Astoran Military.

• Amadeus Shortstone: This older hill dwarf serves as the Academy's head combat instructor. Amadeus himself is a veteran of the Ironwood War, having served under the direct charge of Thaddeus Amberfoot.

• Tormund Faust: The owner and barkeep at The House, Tormund has lived in Vinguard for almost his entire life. He attended the Academy as a young man, though never graduated due to his party-first lifestyle. Instead, he'd open his own tavern, eventually growing it into the immensely popular drinking hole it is today.

General Information

Type: University/Military Academy
Location: Vinguard
Founded: AoR 452

People

Inhabitants: Students, Faculty
Headmaster: Headmaster Bell