Academia Alchemia

A Quest of Guidance and Inspiration

Owing to being the only established cities and towns actually within the borders of the Wyrd Wood, The Queendom has long enjoyed an abundance of alchemists, herbalists, and those with a proclivity for the arcane experimentation. They were also, however, particularly reclusive, fearing the prying eyes of others and desperately clinging to their own research and secrets.
Somewhere in the later years of the 400s of the 3rd Age, this began to change. A mysterious benefactor began on what was only described as a personal quest to bring knowledge and safety to the people of the Queendom. Previously ramshackle family owned herbalist shops were upgraded to fully functioning businesses with employees of their own and research labs. Eventually a network of communication and research was established between the members of this collective.
It was in 488 that the then leaders of this collective, headed by the original benefactor, unanimously agreed that all locations would adopt a single name representing their new mission statement and purpose: "Curiosity is Knowledge, Knowledge is Gold". Thus was Academia Alchemia born.
Curiositas Scientiam Est, Scientia Aurum Est

An Era of Prosperity

Having already established the shops themselves as invaluable resources throughout the Queendom (save for the Red Pines), the transition to the new name was easy enough for the citizens to adapt, now only needed to ask for a single establishment in any town for their needs. This familiarity allowed for word of mouth to spread even faster.
A secondary function was rapidly established as aspiring alchemists, herbalists, and arcane practicioners unaffiliated with the Coven flocked to the locations for education, experimentation, supplies, and use of their facilities. The Alchemist's Academy was founded as an additional element of Academia Alchemia in 495, offering training courses, internships, and more.

Gold to Rust

For a period of almost 60 years, Academia Alchemia enjoyed a thriving reputation, more applicants than it could handle, and a booming business. However, following the tragedy of Lake Mortvia in 538, the general public view of Alchemist's began to shift slowly. At first it was only knee jerk reactionary wariness and side-eyes, but as time went on and answers weren't found for who was truly to blame, things turned aggressive.
The first Academia Alchemia in the new capital, Lykofos, was ransacked and burned down in a plume of noxious fumes. The town guard had to evacuate the entire merchant block for a full week before it was safe to re-enter. Two more smaller establishments outside of the cities themselves followed suit before a combination of the Legates, town guards, and in some cases The Blessed, had to step in to stop the violence.
The largest intact locations held fast, believing they could win back the people's loyalty and trust with the good work done in their name. The more isolated locations, bereft of the safety of town guards, quickly closed up and abandoned their associations. Eventually, with their previous unity shattered and many alchemists afraid to make their practices known, their leaders vanished or murdered, the remaining locations dropped the name of the organization entirely.
The final known Academia Alchemia changed its name and then closed down entirely in 568.

Disbandment

3A Y568 - Combination of abandonment and destruction.

DISBANDED/DISSOLVED

Curiosity is Knowledge; Knowledge is Gold

3A Y488 - 3A Y568

Type

Guild, Merchant

Capital

Lykofos, Capital City of The Queendom of Night

Alternative Names

The Alchemist's Academy

Location

Circe's Queendom of Night