The Academia of All

"No truth shall be hidden, no magic forbidden” – Slogan of the Academia of All

The Academia of All is an independent research institute in the center of in the Lawless Lands. Even though it welcomes all kinds of research, the Academia of All has become most renowned for its studies on that which is forbidden. History, science, religion or magic...no matter the field, the Academia of All provides shelter and means to those wishing to further their studies. As the Academia has no rules on what may or may not be researched, it attracts many scientists and magicians who have been ostracized or exiled from their institutes or even countries for their curiosity into those things that may not be known.

History

Founding

The Academia of All was founded in 1308 RC by Alear Aritz, a warrior mage from Eborya who researched the magic of the ‘forbidden forces’ of chaos and destruction during the Third Central War. After the peace treaty of Esterran, his research was deemed too dangerous and ultimately, without purpose. This however didn’t stop Alear and his followers in their search and development of magic spells using these forbidden forces.After their secret research had been discovered, Alear and his followers fled westwards to the Lawless Lands. Traveling as hirelings, while researching the forbidden forces, Alear and his followers soon were contacted by powerful factions in the Lawless Lands that wished to use their knowledge and magical powers to further their goals.

Alear Aritz by Kip97 Through Artbreeder

Due to his research of the forces of chaos and destruction, Alear became an extremely powerful and feared mage. Ultimately it was not power that he sought however. After gaining enough political power and influence in the center region of the Lawless Lands, Alear Aritz founded the Academia of All to continue his studies in the forbidden and to offer a place for those like him, who had been excluded for their desire of knowledge.

Historical influence

The academia has played a role in many conflicts and events throughout history. A place for research that has no place elsewhere, is both desired and despised. The Academia of All faced many attacks of different fractions, wishing to put an end to their exploration into what should not be explored or desiring to obtain the results of said explorations. Even from within the academia faces backlash, resulting in numerous student strikes and faculties or schools splitting off from and even attacking their alma mater.

Organization and funding

The Academia of All is organized into different faculties, that are further divided into different schools, all coordinated by an overarching directorate and bein lead by the Head Administrator. The academia is not only a place to research and learn, but actually a city-like community united by their desire or admiration for learning.
As the academia has no political alliance, it usually stays out of the political mingling of the Lawless Lands. Some Head Administrators opted to fund the academia by selling its research to the highest bidder, a policy that is not welcomed by everyone and that is usually stopped after the necessary money is obtained. Other than that, the Academia of All is mainly funded by gifts of (ex-)students or other people wanting to aid their cause.

Curiosities

Since its existence, the Academia of All had some curious ‘happenstances’:

Gortash “the Mad” was a sorcerer from Fodyr, who followed the School of Chaos and thus studied the corresponding force. As commonly known, tapping into the forces of chaos is a dangerous undertaking. Gortash, in his zealous research and desire of developing spells to control the chaos, accidentally let his magic take control, resulting in a large explosion that not only took his life, but also the entire west-wing of the academia. Since then, research on the force of chaos has been moved to a separate building at a (hopefully) safe distance from the main one.

Will alignment between a person and an animal usually results in the taming of the animal. The stronger the Will of the animal, the more likely it is to instead tame its owner instead. In a foolish, and perhaps drunken spurt of curiosity, an unnamed student aligned their Will to the local faculty cat Dorry and allowed it to control the student instead. Dorry had been a surprisingly good student and the switch of personalities only came out after Dorry, in the body of the student, started to lick not further specified parts of its body during class. The student, when regaining control of their body had an allergy against cats since then.

Type

Educational, School/Academy