Torloch Observatory (tor-lock)
Located on an island in the middle of Lake Sildar, the Torloch Observatory was originally a celestial observatory that has grown into a general arcane college over time. The original observatory - which still exists and is in heavy use - is dedicated to the moon and night goddess Gaela, still serving as one of the main temples of this deity. Most scholarship done at this location is focused on the heavens and other planes - making it the premier location for divination mages.
Naturally, a small town has arisen around the university to support the scholars and provide housing and sustenance. Coming from the docks, one first encounters a large courtyard with the single large inn that houses travelers and temporary scholars who are not eligible for housing in the university's grounds, as well as other non-university buildings. From this courtyard, one must pass through the Entrance Hall to be admitted into the university grounds. Those who have the proper credentials are admitted easily, but all other travelers who wish to see the university or its impressive library must either provide a tome that is not already in the library's collection (spellbooks are also acceptable) or be able to demonstrate an ability to create magical effects without the aid of items or scrolls. From the Entrance Hall, one passes into another courtyard, around which are arrayed the university's various buildings and dormitories, and across this courtyard is the massive tower that houses the temple, library, and observatory. For all functional purposes, this university can be substituted for Candlekeep or other large university/library.
Between staff, scholars, support staff, and various other travelers the island usually has a total population around 5,000. The island maintains a small fleet of boats that fish to provide food for the island, as well as ferrying people between the island and the various mainland towns on the lakefront. Despite their best efforts at neutrality and peace, these fishing boats occasionally get pulled into the territorial violence that characterizes Lake Sildar, so many have begun to take skilled warriors as guards on their journeys.
Architecture
The main temple and observatory tower is in a traditionally elven style: tall and sleek stone and metal with conical roofs on the various levels. The rest of the buildings are a mix of neoclassical and Tudor/Elizabethan designs, with a lot of marble and granite on the facades. Every building - from the docks and port facilities, to the various gates and courtyards, to the university buildings themselves - is impressive and awe-inspiring externally, but warm and welcoming inside (unlike the stuffy scholars who spend most or all of their adult lives at the university). The island is a bit larger than the space the university and its buildings currently occupy, so it is not uncommon to see additions and annexes on the backside of buildings, which travelers rarely get to see. This is where mages practice all manner of architectural innovation and arcane-aided construction techniques, and the results are sometimes hilarious and impractical.
Founding Date
27 1A
Alternative Names
Torloch University
Type
University / Educational complex
Owning Organization
Comments