They'll have their next session in the new year, so I wanted to have a better idea about how the Morgrave University is laid out and what kind of faculties or departments there are. Are there any maps or fluff articles that deal with the Morgrave University specifically?
I already came up with my own 'top level' of the University, according to a map I found on Google. It only details the outside of Lareth Hall, the Bridge, the Temple of Aureon and the Commons. So I added some other interesting looking buildings and connections and came up with some designations for them. Just wanted to know if there already was some more material.
Hmm... that looks pretty comprehensive, which could be fun. Currently I have a top level based on this map:
Of which I made the following (please excuse the poor scan quality, I have to kick the university devices again it seems).
I'm wondering how I should see Lareth hall. It's rather obvious that it's on top of Dalannan tower from the Wizard image above, but the ground floor map doesn't seem to reflect this. Perhaps it's a free floating tower? But that doesn't make sense with Mark of Prophecy, where the bad guy tries to blow up Dalanan tower in of the lowel level apartments of it.
That does seem to be rather conflicting.
If you take the upper levels map, nudge Dalannan tower to the right a bit to make room for the courtyard (Or assume it's upper levels form an overhang) it does just about look like it'd make some measure of sense. You can even see the little spur-passage to the bottom right. Even then, from the side it's going to look pretty crazy.
(Goodness knows those trees in the courtyard aren't getting any natural light though. I envision some sort of ghastly artist's folly hanging from the bridge which glows with daylight from dawn to dusk. When the PCs have a climactic battle which culminates in it's destruction the student body may very well cheer.)
I'm somewhat reminded of the London School of Economics.
Not that it's got much in the way of old-school Ivy League architecture, but it is instead formed of lots of buildings from a variety of recent ages. All twisty passages, bridges, ramps, stairways and rooms not build for their current use.
Out of the windows, one generally sees the windows of the building opposite or a fascinating tangle of rooftops and fire escapes which speaks to every former child's instinct for high-risk parkour.
Goodness knows those trees in the courtyard aren't getting any natural light though. I envision some sort of ghastly artist's folly hanging from the bridge which glows with daylight from dawn to dusk. When the PCs have a climactic battle which culminates in it's destruction the student body may very well cheer.
This one I like. It gives just the right amount of administrative distance between the university administration and the students to completely hit home to my players :P Good thing.
So, what kind of faculties would one see in the university? So far I have Esoteric Engineering (constructs, automatons, mechanical arcane science) as a definite (that's where my player comes from) and I have to check what the Eberron Guides provide for departments. Any ideas?
Expect:
-Libraries of lore for specific areas/eras
-Artefact storage, possibly resembling Warehouse 23/The Indiana Jones warehouse
-Museum galleries of varying grandeur and security
-Archeology labs
-Magical artefact study/containment facilities
-Dealerships for antique goods
Currently, most of the commissioned research going on there is about improving procedures on making shield guardians, expanding on current lightning research and developing a variety of practicual use arcane automatons.
NPC's so far:
Professor Nidhug Samora, the dean of the Esoteric Engineering faculty. The only professor having his office down at the workplaces, because he tends to tinker a lot of experiments himself. Has a preference (or obsession) with lightning and played a big part on Warforged research for House Cannith, as well as researching the improvement of energy containment within crystals.
A rather tall-looking human with brown spike hair and a thin twirly moustache, usually found wearing a leather coat with metal-looking stubs on it, which flash electricity between each other at random intervals.
Kilik is the kobold aid of the professor, who hates everyone but the professor himself intensely and makes no secret of this. Scouted due to his uncharacteristic tinkering skills, he helps the professor with his research and takes care of fetching and delivering documents and equipment or parts.
Orange-tinted scales cover his body and he is usually found wearing a lab coat with burn marks on them. Carries an assortment of tools with him and nearly always has a maniacal gleem in his eyes.
Senseo is a Warforged PhD of the faculty, who's expertise is arcane household appliances and who has a passion for brewing strange contoctions. Currently he's got half the faculty hooked on a weird hot liquid which tastes incredibly bitter, but tends to keep you awake incredibly well during long working nights. The other half of the faculty tends to avoid the contoction, due to the unexpected side effects that still tend to pop up. When asked why he enjoys creating the drink, he just says, 'I like the smell.'
Daisy is the incredibly ditzy, incredibly blond and cute human receptionist of the Esoteric Engineering faculty (or at least one of them). Unable to keep together two coherent thought processes for more than thirty seconds, students wonder if the only reason that she was hired was due to her ability to lie with a straight face that there absolutely was no explosion just now in the faculty.
Hopefully some of these characters will also be of use to others
Also, who would get a Morgrave University t-shirt or hoodie? I think I would, as it would be hella cool.
Also, who would get a Morgrave University t-shirt or hoodie? I think I would, as it would be hella cool.
I would buy one.
I can just imagine some kind of big sports playoff with Morgrave/Wynarn fans shouting at each other.
"Woohoo! Go Wynarn U Dragonhawks! Beat Morgrave! Aundair rules, Breland drools!"
Wonder what Morgrave's mascot would be...
Wonder what Morgrave's mascot would be...
A sphinx?
If we go with patriotic-linked images, Wynarn would be a dragonhawk, and Breland some sort of bear.
I did just get the mental image of a dragon (hording knowledge) as a mascot....that'd be Korranberg. A sphinx for Morgrave (hee), and Wynarn......hahaha. A Lich? Is Wynarn reknowned for magical study? If so, an Archmage....
Rekkenmark would probably be the Knights or some such.
Unless the University's original mascot was a sphinx, and Flamewind coming was just an.....odd coincidence......
A sphynx would make a good mascot for an institute of higher learning, though. Sphynx's are symbols of knowledge in some cultures.
I'm somewhat reminded of the London School of Economics.
Not that it's got much in the way of old-school Ivy League architecture, but it is instead formed of lots of buildings from a variety of recent ages. All twisty passages, bridges, ramps, stairways and rooms not build for their current use.
Out of the windows, one generally sees the windows of the building opposite or a fascinating tangle of rooftops and fire escapes which speaks to every former child's instinct for high-risk parkour.
that sounds fantastic. (thought in the voice of chris ecleston as the 9th doctor, for some reason. seemed appropriate.)
Morgrave's primary focus is history and archeology, since they're just across the sea from Xen'Drik and right on top of the ancient ruins of Sharn.
Expect:
-Libraries of lore for specific areas/eras
-Artefact storage, possibly resembling Warehouse 23/The Indiana Jones warehouse
-Museum galleries of varying grandeur and security
-Archeology labs
-Magical artefact study/containment facilities
-Dealerships for antique goods
For some reason this makes me think of the Jeffersonian, and the show Bones. I could see a team of various scholars working with local Inquisitives to solve crimes/mysteries/murders.
Maybe I'm just wonky in the brainparts, though.
I would also include some small attention given to comparitive theology, with a focus on ancient civilizations, sociology, anthropology(including the forensic variety) and of course languages.
there would surely be even more than that, but those seem like the most likely to be attracted to such an institution.
For some reason this makes me think of the Jeffersonian, and the show Bones. I could see a team of various scholars working with local Inquisitives to solve crimes/mysteries/murders.
Maybe I'm just wonky in the brainparts, though.
No, you're not! That's a friggin' awesome idea! Now I have two Morgrave-centered character ideas: a student of Artifice, and a forensic anthropology student/Inquisitive! AND the idea of using Morgrave as a crime lab? Total win!
but, yeah, Morgrave as crime lab just sounds really fun.
btw, the angella character would totally be a ritual caster, whatever else she might be. all the reconstruction stuff she does, would be great as various rituals.