The University of Scholara
Rising above the skyline at the very heart of University City, The University of Scholara is a towering symbol of magical excellence, academic prestige, and ancient tradition. Surrounded by bustling marketplaces, artisan quarters, and the ever-present hum of arcane energy, the University is both a center of learning and the soul of the city that bears its name. For centuries, its spires of enchanted stone and crystal have drawn students, scholars, and seekers of truth from across the realms.
Founded nearly a thousand years ago, the University was established by an alliance of archmages, divine scholars, and planar theorists seeking to create a place where all forms of magical inquiry could flourish. Unlike other institutions scattered across Aurelia, The University of Scholara embraced both arcane and divine disciplines, believing that the Weave, in all its forms, should be studied holistically rather than divided by dogma. Its early charter was co-signed by wizards, clerics, druids, and even a paladin order, ensuring a place for every kind of magical mind.
Its campus spans the central district of University City. The nearby Arcana Library, with its surrounding grounds, is said to house tomes so old their authors predate the written word. Adjacent are the Hall of Elements, the Temple of the Divine Concord, and the ever-changing Labyrinth of Applied Thaumaturgy—each offering a unique approach to learning and experimentation.
For centuries, the University maintained a proud tradition of academic neutrality and rigor. It was a haven for discovery, free from the political tides that often swept through the continent. That neutrality, however, was shattered with the rise of Naxene DuLac, the current Head of the University.
Naxene’s ascent was no accident. Brilliant, charismatic, and ruthlessly ambitious, she maneuvered her way into power through a subtle but calculated campaign of political intrigue. Her predecessor, Amara Faithkeeper, a devout cleric and staunch traditionalist, had long resisted reforms and outside influence. She believed the University must remain a sanctuary of discipline, reflection, and sacred scholarship. But Naxene painted her as outmoded and rigid—an obstacle to progress in a world demanding bold new solutions.
Through whispered promises and carefully placed allies, Naxene won over influential members of the faculty council, student leaders, and key donors from the city’s elite. She promised greater influence in city governance, access to restricted magics, and a more aggressive posture toward the magical threats facing the world. Her vision was seductive—and, for some, dangerous.
Once in power, Naxene acted quickly. Amara’s most loyal scholars were reassigned to far-flung "research missions" to places from which few return. Within weeks, much of the old faculty had vanished, replaced by younger, hungrier mages who owed their careers to Naxene’s favor. The University's curriculum began to shift—less emphasis on tradition, more on innovation, planar manipulation, and high-level spellcraft with military applications.
What was once a temple of truth has become a crucible of ambition. The University still gleams, still dazzles newcomers with its splendor, but its halls echo now with whispers, secrets, and agendas. Those who remember the old ways tread lightly, for Naxene's reach stretches through every tower, every scroll, and every whispered conversation in the darkened corners of the campus.
To the outside world, The University of Scholara remains a crown jewel in the heart of University City. But those within know that its light is dimmed by the shadow of a sorceress who sees knowledge not as a gift—but as power to be wielded.
The symbol of The University of Scholara