Shurevaire (Nation)
Southeast off the southernmost curve of Aqualonde's holdings the isle of Shurevaire represents the culmination of the elves' racial histories and of course their indulgence in grandoise experiments. Shurevaire is at once town and college and nation, an odd but successful experiment for a society to willingly keep itself so small and yet so devoted in purpose. Shurevaire is not merely dedicated to wizardry, though of course they have a dedicated wing to the practice of magic; Shurevaire's stated mission is the understanding and preservation of Aspiria's flora and fauna; study of its natural phenomena; and cataloguing of the world's peoples' histories and cultures.
Two years ago in game time, Shurevaire announced a strict policy of neutrality amongst ALL nations. After the devastation of the most recent Cataclysm and the ongoing cold hostilities between Vociterra and the kingdoms of Halinor, Shurevaire openly took to the side of scholarly research after many long years of uncertainty.
Shurevaire is the natural consequence of Aqualonde's French and distant German heritage, but while their elven influence is strong, they are not nearly the plurality they are in Aqualonde or Carinthia.
Structure
Despite having the individual pieces of a working town and nation, each piece of Shurevarian infrastructure comes under the guidance of the various Colleges in its University structure. For example, farmlands are overseen by the College of Flora and Fauna (subdivided, of course, beneath the Table of Fauna and further specified via the Chairyn of Agriculture and managed within the budget of the Sustainability Development Programme).
If the depth of structure and complexity of the structures governing such commonplace occurences as farms were any clue, any with the experience will confirm that just because Shurevaire models itself as a university does not mean that the politics are not fierce and the struggles great. The ranks of study are plentiful and the steps required to progress varied and intense.
At the top of the heirarchy sits the Ur-dean, a seat elected from the members of the Council of Deans. It is largely a financial position, which of course means it is the most politically influential position in Shurevaire. The Deans themselves are sent by the various Colleges, themselves akin to large guild consortiums that are in turn made up a collection of tables headed by Chairyns. Once more below these, Programmes owe their fealty and channel power and authority upward.
Culture
Shurevaire's culture circles like water in a drain around the University. Citizens born there inevitably dream of attending the school and putting their years of work as essentially public servants to benefit. Students' spend an incredibly long portion of their lives to become the respected Sages and Scholars and so often find themselves in unshakeable admiration for the entire practice.
Most prominently, the Houses that would elsewhere make up royalty play an interesting role here. Houses (meaning families and not necessarily the structures) are associations of blood members (known as Legacies) and adopted or "found" members from across Aspiria. Life in these Houses revolves as much around one's Brothers and Sisters there as it does the school, and many are the Students that have lost progress in their scholarly pursuits for their House.
It is inescapable, however, that Shurevaire is small and its share of authority, revels, and curiosities is tightly gatekept to the various ranks of the University. People born to Shurevaire and those that take up study there invariably find the desire to get off the island and see more of what Aspiria has to offer.
Assets
Fortunately the finances required to study at Shurevaire are not so crippling as to disbar non-wealthy students. The university's halls are ever in need of new supplies, and while it may slow their progress through the ranks, many are the students finding themselves adventuring through Halinor or beyond in search for various samples, reagents, or animals for professors or scholars.
This does not mean that Shurevaire is poor. Indeed the University has made itself wealthy beyond its size thanks to the services it is able to provide nations great and villages small. It enjoys patronage from most of Halinor's kingdoms; even far-off Carinthia sends gifts.
History
During the reign of terror of the Arch De Soleil, scholarship in Aqualonde found itself in great peril. The sages there were forced into hiding, sharing their lessons no longer within the salons as they had openly before but instead only operating in trusted sects and hidden cloisters--if at all. The shedding of blood and the tightening noose chased them further south, but the press of the Carinthian Knights left them little choice but to seek their chances off the coast.
Fortunately Avosan allies were able to lend aid that, to this day, is honored as a warm bond between University and piratelords. Using their knowledge of a small island chain southeast of Aqualonde, the fleeing scholars in time brought civilization and prosperity to an otherwise unsettled area, setting up the basis of what would, hundreds of years later, become the finest educational establishment in Halinor.
Our feet on the ground, our eyes starward
Founding Date
Fifth Radiant Age
Type
Educational, University
Demonym
Shurevarian
Location
Notable Members
Comments