Zoria Falls Academy

Zoria Falls is a Malen Academy and is one of the world's most prestigious and famous educational institutes. While not the largest, it is a massive academy with thousands of students and faculty. Many famous Malen, Yldar, and even some famous Humans have attended Zoria falls.

Place

Zoria Falls is located in the lower Urneqi Mountains. Sitting on top of the Zoria waterfalls on the Methuas River, the main Zoria Falls Academy building is a landmark visible from kilometers away. It is nestled on the edge of the waterfall close to the town of Menaso. The closest big city is Salmoth. Since the university is built on a small cliff in the middle of a waterfall, water erosion could break down the foundations of the building in centuries. This is why the academy has the Fount-dation guild. These volunteer fount mages ward the banks and rocks of the river to keep them stable and protect them from erosion.

The climate is standard for the surrounding mountains. A bit colder and more temperate than the subtropical climate of the surrounding areas. Animals are mostly restricted to the fauna that is found in the Urneqi Mountains, but so far south some of the animals like Listo Monkeys or various reptiles make their way up to the falls. Especially interesting is the Palsto bird that nests around the Falls area every summer.

Menaso

Menaso is a small river town located in the middle of the Methuas river. The town is built partially on a small island in the middle of the river, but as the town grew, more houses were built on stilts anchored on the river floor. This makes the town a maze of small canals and docksides that serve as an easy way to take a boat commute through the town. Although not a very large town, it has an unusually high percentage of bars, cafes, clubs, and taverns. Well, maybe unusual for a non-academy town, but I guess it is normal for a place like this.

The Academy

The main academy building has many of the amenities that a grand academy like this needs. There is the great hall, where most of the big events happen. The building it is located in also has some lecture halls and other amenities. It is attached to the big tower and the small tower. These two towers have a ton of classrooms and lectures halls while the top has mostly housing for the faculty. The bottom of the large tower also holds the atrium which is a big hall that connects most of the Academy parts to each other. Other important details are the cellars, which are the underground halls that house some classrooms, the Academy library, and of course my archive. This is also where two of the houses have their dormitory. Then there is the astronomy tower, which is a whole building dedicated to stars and Fount. While most of the bottom floors are used for Fount and fount-related subjects, while the top two floors house the astronomy labs and lecture halls. The Grand Zoria Falls telescope is also here as well as the weather labs and weather science rooms.

Zoria Falls Main Building

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The Kushian building houses 3 other dormitories as well as tons of lecture halls. While the last dormitory is on the far side of the Great Hall building, next to the river. The Koto bridge runs along the small part of the river and leads to more University buildings, outside sporting facilities/Arenas, and of course the academy woods. The long bridge runs along the waterfall and leads to the Salmoth road as well as some smaller Academy buildings. The inner courtyard is a big open space that houses a ton of outside activities, as well as one of the big greenhouses for botany and alchemy and of course the stables.

Houses

The students of Zoria Falls are split up among 6 different houses or dormitories. First and foremost this is just the place they live, but the dormitories also each have their own culture and traditions up to such a point that there is genuine rivalry between the houses. Each dorm has its own sporting teams, parties, and signature drinks. In fact, there is a big competition held every year where each house will compete against the others in sports, grades, and other activities. The whole year the points are collected by the houses through various means and activities. At the end of each year, there is a final competition and then a festival to crown the winning house. The "House governing council" keeps track of all of this and organizes plenty of activities for students to take part in.

The Archive

So yeah, the place you're standing in right now is the Zoria Falls Archive. Here I document everything from the history of Mithra, to the people, to the nations, to the animals. Even things like Fount or the Wells are described here, just in case someone who has never seen them wants to know about them. I have maps, timelines, schematics, and drawings. And I or any of the stewards here will be ready to help you find what you're looking for.

Rivalry

Other than intraschool competitions, the academy also plays in sports and competitions between the various academies of Mithra. This means there are school teams for most of the sports that are played who recruit from the best players among the house teams. Especially between Zoria Falls and Crested Moon Academy there is a big rivalry. This school, also located in the lower Urneqi Mountains has been in constant contest with the falls almost since their inceptions. It has come to a point where every 4 years, the streets of Salmoth are filled with students from both academies cheering for their school on neutral ground. It is a big festival with lots of drinking, partying, hangovers, and competitions.

Faculty

Zoria Falls Academy boasts an impressive faculty. The best teachers from all over the world teach courses here and the researchers that come to the Falls to use our state-of-the-art facilities are numerous. It is not for nothing that the cure for the Mesantian Plague was made here in the Academy.

Founding Date

13631 1E

Type

Educational, School/Academy

Location

Urneqi Mountains

Notable Members

• Tyrkashiin At Matii

Related Species

• Malen

Related Historical Events

• 13631
  Founding of Zoria Falls Academy

The Archivist

Barros apparently thought it was awkward to write something about himself so he asked me to do it. Since he is the archivist here at Zoria falls, everything else you're reading is written by him as you probably know. Barros Endol is an interesting person I guess. He usually buys me a drink when he is in a good mood so that's nice. Also, his sense of humor is kind of funny sometimes? He was born somewhere in the 2nd era. He grew up in Triana, a son to a merchant family he started studying at a young age and never stopped. He became a lecturer here at Zoria Falls after touring the world for a bit and then not much later became the archivist when he realized he could get paid by just sitting in his basement and writing about things he knew. Good thing that he has to go out to do some research once in a while too at this point, or he would never leave the cellars. I'm messing with him a bit but the truth is that he is a great guy and we all like him. Stay writing Barros.

Notable Alumni

Many great scholars and researchers have attended Zoria Falls. People like Tyrkashiin At Matii, Debis Aldermon, and Felucious. Many others have done courses here as well. Many senators of the Republic, many nobles across Mithra, southern kings, Sun-Malen scholars and many more. Every currently ruling Warchief of the clans has attended courses at either the Falls or Crested Moon Academy, and many members of their Circle as well.

History

The academy was founded in the later days of the first era. It started off as a small private educational institute for noble children under the Empire of the Sun. But as it grew, it grew more and more into an academy. In fact, it was one of the earliest adopters of the modern style of Academy. It grew and grew, and later when the Empire fell, it became more independent along with the High-Malen of the Urneqi Mountains. It became one of the most important educational institutes of the region and stayed that way all throughout the four eras. Now it is a point of pride for the High-Malen and a landmark of great importance.

Melotto

Melotto is the Master of affairs here at Zoria Falls. She makes sure that everything runs smoothly. Daily operations, budgeting, security, and rules, are all her responsibilities. This strict WoodMal is not exactly loved by everyone. However, although she is strict, she is fair, and her efforts make sure that the Academy keeps running.

Desam Varoni

Our great headmaster Varoni has been the headmaster for as long as I can remember. He is one of the oldest living Malen still alive, and he might even be considered Hearth-Malen at this point. He was born in the First era and has been the headmaster of the Academy for almost since its inception. Because of his wisdom and knowledge, he is greatly respected and because of his kindness and gentle heart, he is also greatly loved by everyone who knows him.

Kharotto Kessal

This Yldar is the Master of Teaching. He is basically in charge of the teachers and other teaching faculty. His efforts in running the Academy are pivotal to its success as he brings in the best teachers and guest lecturers to keep up the school's reputation and teaching quality.