Academy of Ondizhor

Magic is not unknown in Alkeria. The rich and well to do are able to purchase magical trinkets that serve useful functions around an estate. For the most part though, magic is something out of sight to most. But it is not unknown, especially for those who live in the Southeast district of the southlands, where life revolves around the Mage Academy of Ondizhor.
Ondizhor was a mage that traveled to Alkeria following the defeat of Xandu. The reported purpose was to study the ley lines and nodes that Xandu had discovered. Ondizhor discovered one and placed his tower there. Over the years, Ondizhor grew in knowledge, and began attracting scholars, and other mages who pleaded with him to share. He resisted, enjoying the solitude of his studies. That didn't prevent people from flocking to him regardless. Giving the tower a wide space, a town began to emerge. At first, a couple of adventurers set up camp to bequeath his help in some magical manor. Then, a trader began stopping by regularly and setup a temporary trading post. Other mages began showing up hoping he'd show himself and they could become his apprentices. A representative from a fledgling southland distrct (TBD) showed up. The inn was built, some temporary people became permanent, and on and on... It only took a few years before a full fledged town had developed around the tower.
And only a select few had even seen his face.
Then, one evening, the fledgling mages decided it was time to learn SOMETHING so they decided to try training themselves. They began small learning a little bit until one of them decided to play with fire. Now fire is a funny thing. As long it can breathe and has can be fueled, it will burn. MAGICAL fire on the other hand, will seek its own fuel far longer than a normal fire would. Well, one of the fledgling mages had discovered a flame spark, and decided to expand on it. He was elated when the spark ignited into a small flame. He was not so excited when that small flame set him on fire and turned him into a small inferno. Before the screams ended he had run straight into the inn looking for water. The inn burst into flames shortly thereafter, and the small magical fire had turned into a blazing inferno. The town had quickly started in on a bucket brigade, but it made no dent in the burning.
This close to a magic node, the fire had begun to take form, a large fire beast, head as large as the inn roared at the bucket brigade who did the correct thing and scattered.
It was at this point that Ondizhor appeared. He quickly took stock of the situation and literally brought the fire beast to heel. Those who were there report he actually had the beast whimpering as the mage scolded it for getting out of control. He gave it a quick pat on the head before absorbing its essence into some kind of rock.
And thus, the College of Ondizhor was born.
Today, the Academy of Ondizhor is THE place for magical knowledge.  While the hallmark tower of Ondizhor towers over the academy itself, the variety of buildings and parks that surround it are no less impressive.  Here, pupils can learn anything from the basics of controlling magical elements to the alchemical elements required to brew death potions.  The college sprawls across almost an acre of land, and the parks that surround it (mostly voluntarily) provide a safety barrier for sometimes dangerous situations that appear periodically.
The entire Academy is surrounded by extremely thick hedges.  There is a central entrance into the academy from the town, and it's rumored many different service entrances if you know where to be and what to say.  Apparently the hedges don't open for everybody.  Those that have attempted entrance without authorization simply disappear.

Type

College / Academy