Rayhaven Dragonguard Academy

Rayhaven is home to one of the most prestigious Dragonguard military academies in the western hemisphere. The academy boasts a sprawling training ground along the picturesque coast, providing diverse terrains for training with numerous species of dragonkin of all sizes. The campus is split between to separate areas, one side for the public, and the other side for the Dragonguard.
Towering cliffs flank both sides of the city, serving not only as natural barriers for protection but also as integral elements for cliffside rescue practices and other specialized training activities. Furthermore, the proximity of the western sea enables comprehensive naval training, making Rayhaven's Dragonguard military academy a truly formidable institution.
The Rayhaven Dragonguard Academy was established as the first academy of the Dragonguard a few years before the Alliance was formed. At that time, the academy technically served as the headquarters for the primitive Dragonguard. After Draco Null formed the Dragonguard Alliance with a few other organizations, the headquarters of the coalition was relocated to Eldrya.

Culture

The academy has a diverse mix of individuals, encompassing a wide array of students, faculty, Dragonguardians, and staff members. The student body, faculty, and staff mainly consist of residents from Rayhaven, while Dragonguard personnel hail from various locales across the western hemisphere to partake in advanced training classes.
Valen Blackthorn is the current Chancellor of the academy. He grew up in Rayhaven, and attended the academy himself when he joined the Dragonguard.

Hall of Fame

The academy established a hall of fame to honor graduates who distinguished themselves from their peers. It started a couple years after the academy was open, during the Draconian War. There are two separate lists for Dragonguard personnel and civilians.
While technically not students of the academy, there are a few individuals listed for special intentions:

Draco Null, founder of the Dragonguard Alliance and the Rayhaven Dragonguard Academy.

Lyra Jovain, the first Air Marshal, helped establish the academy.

Evander Sterling, the first Field Commander to oversee Dragonguard operations on Ardenfell, and subsequently the first Chancellor for the academy.

Zella Solara, exceptional biomechanical engineer, former Mechanical Engineering instructor, created first prosthetics for a flying dragonkin.

Dragonguard

Sören Whitmore, honor student.

Azier Solara, honor student.

Civilian

Ryan Laker, pulled off a ridiculous prank shortly after the academy opened. Their prank resulted in new techniques being implemented into the academy's curriculum.

Aidan Lowe, honor student.

Founding Date

895

Type

Educational, School/Academy

Training Level

Elite

Leader

Valen Blackthorn

Founders

• Draco Null
• Lyra Jovain

Currency

Glimmer

Parent Organization

Dragonguard

Location

Rayhaven

Education

The Rayhaven Dragonguard Academy offers a wide range of academic courses, covering various subjects along with essential mandatory classes. While the fundamental courses are open to the public, the academy's militaristic classes are exclusively designed for the Dragonguard personnel. Specialized training involving dragonkin is also limited to the Dragonguard, although they collaborate with the local fire and rescue department to offer certain specialized classes.
Moreover, the academy provides A-school type classes tailored for individuals aspiring to become officers within the Dragonguard. However, those seeking officer positions must complete their training at the Dragonguard Headquarters in Eldrya.
It's important to note that while civilians are not required to take a Physical Education class, members of the Dragonguard undergo Physical Training as part of their military duties. In addition to offering traditional academic courses, the academy's expansive campus also features specialized training facilities for the Dragonguard.

Central Fields

Before Dragonguardians can embark on more advanced or specialized classes, they must complete a series of prerequisite courses. The specific prerequisite classes vary based on the academic track chosen by the individual. However, the following classes are open to all, including the public. The courses are divided into three main categories known as fields, each of which contains various specific classes.

Advanced Mathematics

The advanced mathematics field encompasses a range of courses, including algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus, which are typically offered at the college level. Although while some are not inherently advanced on their own, these subjects are crucial for a wide array of career paths. Algebra serves as a foundational component for most other classes, while trigonometry, geometry, and calculus are prerequisites for specific courses.

Instructors

Algebra 1 & 2 Laura Hall More Info She grew up in Rayhaven and saw an opportunity to be an instructor at the academy. "No running in the Hallway "

Geometry Jess Atkins More Info She loved the architecture of the city and moved in. "The Hexagon is the bestagon! "

Trigonometry Salvatore Flemming More Info After an injury, he wasn't fit for the Dragonguard, so he decided to be an instructor instead. "There's always a skewed angle of the law. "

Calculus Chester Feld More Info He was one of the few in Rayhaven who was qualified to teach calculus, and took the job. "Calculus is the one course that your parents will understand if you decide to drop it. "

Geoscience

The field of geography shares many similarities with geology, as it utilizes a wide range of tools and techniques commonly found in technical geography. Geoscience is an interdisciplinary field that incorporates elements of geology, physical geography, and technical geography. This field also has strong connections to certain courses within the engineering discipline. Some of the classes offered in this field encompass a diverse range of subjects, including oceanography, hydrology, hydrography, cartography, geological engineering, and environmental geology.

Instructors

Geology Fundamentals Elys Walker More Info Born in Emberland, she traveled the world as a geologist, and has now settled in Rayhaven. "I've walked around the planet more times than a dragon will fly in its lifetime. "

Cartography & Oceanography Atlas Hemlock More Info He grew up in Eldrya and worked as a oceanographer for the Dragonguard. After retiring, he become an instructor for them and moved to Rayhaven. "Those who have a fear of flying high have never seen the depths of the oceans. "

Hydrography & Hydrology Brooke Hawthorne More Info After a disaster in her hometown, she studied hydrology then eventually became an instructor at the academy. "The power of water is always underestimated. "

Environmental Geology Asher Flint More Info After moving from her hometown, she decided to teach others to solve problems associated with pollution, waste management, urbanization, and natural hazards. "Civilization has as much as an impact on the environment as nature itself. "

Engineering

The field of engineering encompasses a wide range of specialized disciplines, however, the academy focuses on only a handful of them. These disciplines include architectural, civil, mechanical, and geological engineering, among others. Additionally, engineering has strong connections with the geosciences field, highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of the subject.

Instructors

Engineering Fundamentals Leonard Bray More Info His mentor was an engineer and he took an interest in the field. When he saw an opportunity, he took it. "The ideal engineer is a composite of many different disciplines. "

Architectural & Urban Engineering Eli Apogee More Info He designed many of the buildings in Rayhaven and several other cities. He is friends with Jarrod Irwin. "Architecture is like the music of buildings. "

Civil & Structural Engineering Jarrod Irwin More Info He was the civil and structural engineer of many of the buildings in Rayhaven, and is friends with Eli Apogee. "Architects are the bane of my existance. "

Mechanical Engineering Casey Li More Info She took over after Zella joined the Dragonguard. "Mechanical engineering is a never ending chase for the solution with changing variables. "

Geological Engineering Ilja Brooks More Info When learning about civil engineering disasters because of a lack of knowledge of geology, she pledged to educate future generations. "A fish swam into a wall and said, "Dam!" "

Advanced & Specialized Courses

Advanced and specialized classes and training are exclusively designed for Dragonguard individuals and are predominantly focused on military applications. Many of these classes have prerequisite requirements that must be fulfilled in the earlier years of a student's education. Additionally, some classes involve training with dragonkin as well as collaborative work with the local fire and rescue departments. All instructors of these classes are from the Dragonguard.
Examples of advanced classes and training include, but are not limited to:

Mountain/Cliffside Rescue

Water Rescue

Advanced Aerobatics

Military Engineering

Officer Training School