Al-Bidir Sallah
The "Home of the Seekers of Knowledge" is the largest university in Zakhara. Students from all cities and all walks of life come here for training in skills ranging from magic and combat to business and barbering. Founded more than 50 years ago, the university is now home to over 20,000 students and hundreds of instructors.
Admission is open to all, and classes are priced according to the subject matter and instructor. Those who revere the enlightened gods are admitted for normal prices; they may also opt for a work contract with the university, performing some task in exchange for their education. Jobs at the university range from food preparation to instruction, and most are filled by enlightened students.
Outland barbarians and other unenlightened folks are also allowed to become students. In fact, the university is an excellent place for ajami to learn some of the customs and etiquette of Zakhara. Admission is usually not a problem, except for the College of Magic (see later), but ajami must pay double normal fees, and they are not allowed to pay through a work contract.
Government
Administration
The university consists of six colleges: Alchemy, Barbering, Combat Technique, Fine Arts, Magic, and the Sciences. Each college has a dean, and the six of them meet once a month to discuss university business. The dean of the College of Magic is also the Headmaster of the university, Akyid al-Neti. The third person since its founding to oversee the university as a whole, Akyid also teaches a class in magic. Technically, all deans answer to Akyid. Though he meets with each one individually each week, he generally allows them free rein in their particular college.
Instructors are hired as need arises. Individual deans do the hiring for their own colleges, but most consult with Akyid before making a final decision, because the Headmaster has a keen insight regarding a prospective instructor's ability to teach.
Infrastructure
Room and Board
There is housing available at the university for six dirham per month, which gets the student a spartan dormitory room. Housing for wealthier students is available for 30 dinars per month; this includes meals brought to the room, as well as cleaning and laundry services. Student cottages are also available for 50 dinars per month. These come with a personal servant for the student. It is these housing fees that enable to the university to turn a profit, and rich students are often given preferential treatment. Most students bring a packed lunch; the wealthier students eat at the cafes of the university. In line with the tastes of students, most cafes provide cheap food, and plenty of it. Those with expensive tastes must take the ferry to the main city.
Districts
The Colleges
The structures used for classes range from small tents capable of holding 10 students and an instructor, to the large classrooms of the magic and history lectures, the arena for weapons practice, and the smithies of the metalworking classes. Specific information on each of the colleges in the university follows.
The College of Alchemy
is headed by Sofir Naj-kri, who has discovered a love of chemicals. She and her apprentice are the only instructors. The classes meet but two days a week, and students are expected to provide their own materials (hence the high cost per week).The college teaches three types of courses. One is a General Survey, which teaches students a little about a large number of potions; at the DM's option, this course can provide a PC with "potion lore," a nonweapon proficiency based on Intelligence. The second type of class is a nine-month course open only to wizards of 8th level or higher; this teaches them the basics of potionmaking, and allows them to learn several potion recipes.
The third type of course takes only a month and teaches students how to create a single, specific potion. Most potions are made available, but not at the same time; a student may have to wait more than a year for the desired course to appear on the schedule. Students must provide their own ingredients and must also provide Sofir with enough ingredients to create another potion of the same type.
Sofir does not have the formulae for rare potions, such as a potion of longevity or an elixir of youth. Such a formula would certainly grant a student free admission to any or all of her courses.
The Barbering College
is where aspiring barbers are taught their trade. Other student are given free services by the young barbers, but the results may be less than pleasing. The dean of this college is the highest ranking barber serving as an instructor at the time. This makes the classes a bit chaotic, as a new administrator may drastically change the curriculum.Classes in specific skills are available. These classes are usually full, and there is a waiting period of two months, although a bribe of ten dinars secures immediate entrance from most deans. Barbers needing training to advance a level can pay by serving as instructors. Such training takes two months to complete, but it costs the barber nothing.
The College of Combat Technique
, also called the Warrior's College, offers classes dealing with the less noble arts, such as weapon skills, smithing, leather working, and so forth. The dean of the college is Narim Sandir, who is an accomplished smith. The high cost of these classes keeps the numbers down, for the demand for instruction always outstrips the supply of fighters willing to provide it.This college has some of the largest buildings at the university, so the costs of instruction are correspondingly high. Goods produced by the students may be sold privately at the bazaar; otherwise the school purchases all such equipment for half the normal price.
Fighters needing training to advance a level can obtain it in only two weeks; this requires hiring a personal instructor of higher level than the PC.
The College of Fine Arts
offers classes such as Court Customs, Etiquette, History, and Languages. This is the largest college at the university, with more than 5,000 students participating in its classes. Thirty buildings are available for instruction.The dean of this college is Nari al-Farif, niece of the noted spice merchant. She is a grueling taskmaster, frequently sitting in on lectures to determine the fitness of her instructors. Those who do not measure up are summarily dismissed.
Students admitted to the College of Fine Arts start with a two-week course in court customs, then take classes in Zakharan history, etiquette, and at least one other language. Only advanced students or those with special needs bother to take the courses on exotic (nonzakharan) history and languages. Instructors for these courses are are usually foreigners who don't have the proper attitude about the Land of Fate.
Nari herself speaks all of the offered languages fluently. She has had to step in and teach classes on more than one occasion. There is no waiting list for this college; classes of 20-40 students begin every two weeks and continue throughout the year. Most students are the youths of the upper class, here to learn the history and customs expected of a truly enlightened being.
The College of Magic
is the second largest at the university. Many nonmages take classes here, for it is the boast of the Headmaster, Akyid al-Neti, that anyone of average intelligence can be taught the basics of magic. He has been proven right, for many rich merchants now send their daughters and sons to learn about spells.Akyid teaches but one class per week, a lecture of two hours on the finer points of magic. No one who is not at least 7th level is admitted to his classes, which are the most expensive on the curriculum. No one has ever finished his course, as it seems to go on forever. In fact, as Akyid learns more about magic, so do his students.
Mages can also learn new spells through personal instruction rather than by reading dusty tomes. Classes in new spells require one week per spell level. Working in a study group helps, and the instructors are very rigorous, so students willing to spend the time and money have a 95% chance to learn the spell they study.
Other classes include Magic Theory, Recognizing Spells (spellcraft proficiency), and Genie Lore. Each of these is a six-week course.
Instructors are frequently mages who need training to advance in level but lack the funds. Training to advance a level can be gained by serving as an instructor for at least two months, or by taking a class for a number of weeks equal to the character's new level.
Ajami wizards who wish to study at the College of Magic must pass an interview by Akyid himself. The student is questioned about his past, his loyalties, and his intentions. The prospective student must be respectful and honest. Akyid conducts these interviews while wearing a ring of truth, and liars are quickly dismissed. Akyid is mostly concerned with spies from other lands, attempting to learn Zakharan magic as a prelude to invasion or a power grab. Thus, the severity of the interview also depends on the level of the ajami mage. A 2nd- or 3rd-level mage is too weak to be a threat no matter what he is taught, but someone of higher level may pose a real threat if exposed to too much knowledge.
The College of the Sciences
offers courses in zoology (animal lore), botany (plant lore), healing, and religion, taught by ethical and pragmatic Zannite priests, appointed by High Priest Imam Renn from among the clerical brethren at the great mosque of Zann. Most priests of Zann in Huzuz serve as instructors for at least one course at some time in their career.Priests desiring training must worship one of the approved deities (any Zakharan Great God) and must devote two months of time instructing laymen for such training. It is possible to purchase individual training in only two weeks, but such attention costs extra. Characters can acquire the mentioned proficiencies in two months of classwork for each.
Classes offered at Al-Bidir Sallah
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