I want to make it a search for mysterious thief who supposedly will reside in the academy and pull of a big heist.
I intent it to be for use in both 15th century and 14th century realms campaigns, as an elven academy who doesn't practise "higher" magic would likely have been hit less hard by the Spellplagues effects. Post your blademasters and adepts descriptions in abbreviated form, with only bare data such as level and alignment but with his personality and likes and dislikes.
The Academy the Art and the Blade is situated in the newly cleared Myth Drannor and has spartanlike conditions that are only gradually being alleved by the constant rebuilding in and around the complex by artificer wizards. Its a circular marble and wooden towerstructure with an huge round green pasture in its center, with many decrepid statues of old heroes of Cormanthor, dwarf, halfling, gnome elf and human alike.
In 15th century campaigns the building will eventually look like this but situated in a green field next to Cormanthors Palace.
The building was chosen as it has several towerfloors where the cities mythals matrix is strongly woven through the structure and more complex illusions can be used for training while not spending ones daily arcane energies. Duels are done under strict supervision with adherence to the lore of the ancient masters of old, but its promoted to train against as many opponents as possible with varying tactics. Lots of diferent fighters from across the realms are trained against, so dwarven battleragers, Lantan navy rangers, Purple Dragon Knights all are a common sight on the towerfloors.
The academy is run in the open manner of the old Cormanthyr, so all races are allowed to learn the spellsong if they are able. No non elf has mastered advanced spelldances though. But the news has spread the last year and adepts from all along the world are attending. The academies mascot animal is a (dire)fox.
I'll start by revealing The Headmaster.
Dothemean Ulondarr (level 16 N/unaligned male moon elf, 277 years old)
A contemplative and gloomy moon elf of small stature teaches bladeforms to seniors and is the schools first hilt. His excellent songvoice is loved by many in Cormanthor but he rarely raises it since his wifes death after a freak magic accident with Myth Drannors wards. He likes to play the yarting and walk his cooshee. Dislikes loud and hasty conduct, and demands absolute silence during his classes.
Next a sample student (or thief?)
Kylian Branchfletcher (level 10 CN/unaligned male moon elf, 94 years old)
Kylian is an exitable and wiley second year adept who always wears a smile. His presence is usually heralded by his feylike laughter. He dislikes tradition and is usually reprimanded often by his comments during classes. He has a knack for the dual bladed sworddance and tricky magic plays. Is known to like tales about the gods, especially erevan and tymorra.
Sorindastra Arriel (Level 8 CG/Good Female Gold Elf, 93 years old) - Sorindastra is a lively and inquisitive second year whose fascination with magic started at an early age. She stands barely over five feet, with a thick mane of golden blond hair and a lithe figure. Her emerald green eyes are dazzling, and her face is usually set in a grin. The daughter of the respected (and feared) mentor, Rourin Arriel, Sorindastra is the polar opposite of her father. Possessing the vigor and drive of youth, Sorindastra is enthusiastic in all her endeavors. She is known amongst her peers as a paragon of endurance, diligently studying and practicing until any obstacles in her path to greater skill are overcome. Her greatest strength lies in the field of exploitation, for her knack with a blade is geared towards seizing advantage of the vulnerabilities in her opponent's defense, striking swiftly and surely after allowing her opponent to overexert himself. Having been groomed by the esteemed ladies of the Arriel family, Sorindastra is always polite and composed, showing both her elders and her peers respect. This is not to say Sorindastra is beloved by all, however. Several practitioners, both her senior and junior, resent Sorindastra's presence in the academy. They claim her abilities are overexaggerated, her charming appearance a deception, and her status as one of the more gifted spellcasters aided by nepotism. These people are few, however, and are usually wise enough to keep their opinions to themselves, knowing that they have not only Sorindastra's friends to fear, but also the possibility of displeasing Rourin.
Rourin Arriel (Level 14 TN/Unaligned Male Gold Elf, 249 years old) - Known by his colleagues as "The Watcher", Rourin is an introverted man, having never had an interest in pursuing relationships with others besides being forced to work with his colleagues and students. His marriage to Arzarie, mother of Sorindastra, was perhaps the only truly voluntary bond he ever forged. Standing close to six feet, quite tall for an elf, Rourin commands an imposing figure, usually dressed in robes of dark gray and black, with one of his many swords hanging at his waist. Grim and silent, Rourin's power is great, but his desire to impart his wisdom to newcomers dwindles with each passing decade. An expert with almost any blade, Rourin's only true passion seems to arise when an upstart begins causing trouble. The only time most people see him smile is when he's just defeated a reckless practitioner who was overconfident in her abilities. His nature has earned him criticism from many of the other mentors, who claim his hesitation to teach the inexperienced is a disservice. Some, however, believe that Rourin is most suited for handling those students with the greatest potential.
Heres some more students. This is going to be a wild bunch!
Lehara Woodheart (level 10 CN/CE Female Half-Elf, 25 years old) - With her tall and muscular figure and her love for heavier robes and hoods Lehara is often mistaken for a human man during training. Her copper hair is cropped short and she usually has a not yet fully healed cut or two somewhere on her tattoed body. Her bladeforms are rough but she has the drive and the stamina to train and perfect their aplication every moment she can. This third form student has a natural talent for the humanmade one and a half sword she wields and is practised in many transmutation spells. Her obsession with attaining reverie makes her look ragged and exhausted most of the time (once a week she needs to sleep nearly a 16 hours because her "reverie" doesn't rest her fully). She has a dislike for most "cityfolk and thier lies". Lehara has a close relation ship with her wood elven mother that lives nearby the academy (but who never new Lehara's father: wood elf dances can get wild).
Graz of the Three Moons (level 11 CN/CE male Wood Elf, 100 years old) - Graz is a raven haired and loud woodwarriormage from the Wealdath, capable of great cynisism. He usually wears his unworked leathers and fur cloak. This last term adept's intent is to leave the school as soon as he finished his last forms and start tutoring blade dances himself " in the proper locales". He loves to debate about practical magic use, and has a clinical no nonsense style during duels. Tries to raise funds and support amongst other wood elves for his plans to leave.
Dima Korinin (Level 11 LN/Lawful Good Male Half-Elf, 30 years old) - Dima stands at about 5'9'', with a sleek yet strong build. He wears his long black hair tied back, showing off his ears, which display a number of unusual earrings and piercings. His skin is dusky and tanned from work and play out in the beating sun. Constantly clean-shaven, Dima appears slightly younger than his thirty winters; his eyes, in particular, radiate a fire that usually only the young or the foolish have. He prefers to dress in greens and blacks, and he always sports a pair of bracers with his father's bow-and-deer-skull sigil on them. A proud and forceful man, Dima rose from humble origins to become a well-respected spellcaster at the Academy. His father a moon elven archer and his mother a human poet, Dima was raised with knowledge with both the bow and the quill. His father, a loyal warrior in service to the Coronal, taught his son to use a bow with deadly efficiency, believing that it would one day fall to his son to protect Myth Drannor. His mother, a pacifist by nature, hoped that Dima would put aside weapons and seek a way of life that would promote happiness and peace. Unfortunately, her wishes were turned aside, for while Dima did eventually cast aside his bow, he did it in exchange for a blade. Taking his father's creed of constant vigilance and steadfast resolve in the face of danger to heart, Dima enrolled in the Academy, hoping to stoke the embers of magic that had surfaced over the course of his life.
His dedication helped him rise quickly through the ranks; though still a student, there have been a few whispers going around hinting that Dima will stay on as a mentor after he completes his studies. Their logic is that by preparing the young, he would be contributing to Myth Drannor's safety. Dima has yet to say a word, though. In his mind, magic is useful for one thing - protecting the people. Those who would use magic for their own benefit, in his mind, are vain and foolish; only the just should be able to wield spells. He also believes that necromancy is so foul and vile that it is not "true magic"; those who study such spells would do well to avoid Dima's notice, for the man does not trust those who dabble in the darker magic. For his part, Dima prefers a nice balance of defensive and offensive spells. Versatility is practically his middle name; Dima is constantly studying new spells and testing new swordplay techniques in order to hone his already impressive repertoire.
Aletrece "Tressym" Bellvandi (Level 6 NG/Good Female Human, 16 years old) - A novice to the Academy, Aletrece is still fresh in her studies and has found adapting to the Academy to be rather difficult. A young woman with a calm and composed personality, Aletrece is known amongst her peers for her signature dyed hair - though originally black, Aletrece dyed it a mixture of green and violet some years ago; whether intentionally or accidentally is still unknown by all but Aletrece. Either way, this incident earned her the nickname, Tressym, given to her by her mother, who claimed that her inquisitive and often odd nature was just like that of a tressym. Standing at about 5'2'', Aletrece's physical traits, besides her hair, are nothing extraordinary. Her skin is smooth alabaster, and her dark brown eyes hold a warmth that the haughty deem naive and the amicable deem good-natured. She prefers to wear robes of simple browns or dark reds, and she prefers to avoid jewelry of any kind. Despite her unusual hair but otherwise modest appearance, she is not unattractive; though her charms may pale in comparison to the fey grace of her elven peers, Aletrece has found herself surrounded by a small circle of close and trusting friends who were drawn by her genuinely compassionate nature and simple charm.
Though Aletrece is perhaps one of the most pleasant people to be found amongst her peers, she is not highly considered by most others, including her mentors. While her studies are progressing nicely and she is displaying a knack for abjuration in particular, her skills are not considered above average. Indeed, her lessons in swordplay have actually been mediocre at best. Not graced by the dexterity of most other students, Aletrece has always felt clumsy with a blade in her hand, and has admitted to her friends that she wishes her swordplay exercises would simply cease, so she could concentrate on other things. Though not special in the eyes of the instructors, Aletrece is in little danger of being asked to leave the Academy. Still, aware of her moderate standing, Aletrece has vowed to work harder to improve her spellcraft, hoping she can make up for poor bladework with a special focus in abjuring.
This huge and magnificent marble and blueleaf towercomplex was made by a joint effort of elven and human engineers in the span of 50 years. All its main gates and several doors to towers on the upper levels are wizardlocked by casters of high (14th to 16th) level. Most of the towersstructure is enchanted with wards against scrying and magical travel, with the exception of the room of conjuration, the permanent teleportation circles located in the eastern and western parts, and all training dojoes scattered through complex. All rooms and hallways have ample sunlight by day and are brightly illuminated by glowglobes and luminous walls from dusk till midnight.
A huge symbol of insanity on the immense weirwood doors protects the highest cathedral-like tower in the eastern part of the towercomplex, which is used to honor the gods or hold main events such as the dole out of graduations. In its center resides a blue green semi-crystalline pillar that works as the schools library. Most of the schools spells are stored as wisps of light. These additionally contain illusory data such as great college oratories or depictions of genious applications of a combat spell.