Veth Monra

"I heard they've even got flying ships hidden up there among the spires, I ain't ever seen any, it's just what I heard." - Marvin Kess, Astoran Postal Service
Veth Monra is a prodigious academy of magic and academic purpose, located on the north edge of the Vinheim Peninsula. The Academy is one of the most prestigious institutions in all of Naneth and contains perhaps the largest collection of brilliant minds to be found anywhere in the world. Acclaimed wizard Orvion Aelfwynd resides within Veth Monra, serving as the institute's Headmaster.
Scholars and students at Veth Monra are permitted to and do, study a wide variety of subjects, including every known school of magic in Naneth. Even Necromancy is permitted, though students of that particular school are thoroughly assessed before partaking and heavily supervised whilst practicing. Graduates of Veth Monra leave the academy as true adepts at the mystical arts and quickly find themselves among Naneth's elite advisors, healers, and scholars.

History

Veth Monra was founded in AoR 331 by a collection of Astora and Atmora's brightest minds. Originally driven to the region by the discovery of The Spell Forge, this group of scholars and wizards decided to put down roots in the area, seeing as Naneth did not yet have a primary magical institute. For the first several decades, Veth Monra was overseen by the wizards closest to the Spellforge project, as studying this mysterious site was the institute's primary purpose in these early years.
The Academy grounds were quickly erected by wizard magic craft and dwarven stonework, with the first spires of Veth Monra coming into use after a year of construction. The bulk of construction would continue for another 50 years, though even today, Academy grounds are being expanded.

A Beacon of Learning

In AoR 373 Veth Monra attracted the attention of Monobraz Cindance, a wizard of considerable esteem from Atmora. Monbraz travelled to Veth Monra on invitation from the wizards there. Accompanying Monobraz was his then apprentice, a young Orvion Aelfwynd. Veth Monra, and the work it had already completed on various schools of magic, impressed Monobraz to such a degree that the wizard decided to make the Academy his permanent residence. By AoR 378, Monobraz was named the first Headmaster in Veth Monra's history.
News of Monobraz's arrival and subsequent promotion to Headmaster spread through the magical community quickly and made Veth Monra the premiere destination for any that wished to learn the magic arts, even more so than it already was. Potential students and scholars flocked from all over Naneth to join this esteemed conclave of academics. Because of this, Astora became a primary destination for many of Naneth's brightest minds, including the aforementioned wizards, but also artists, merchants, and other folks looking to capitalize on a fast-growing and inclusive community.

Tragedy on Captial Peninsula

In AoR 385, the area around Veth Monra and the Whiterock Bluffs experienced a massive earthquake, the effects of which were also reported as far as Vinheim and Vinguard. Parts of the Capital Peninsula, specifically the area of cliffs at the foothills of the bluffs and Veth Monra would experience vast landslides, with portions of the rockface falling far into the ocean below.
Veth Monra was initially believed to be safe from the worst of the effects, though a day later, that would prove to be untrue. An entire area of land, hundreds of feet wide, collapsed into the blue abyss below. Veth Monra had become separated from the main landmass, with many losing their lives during the ordeal. In the aftermath, many were of the opinion that Veth Monra should be abandoned, and its knowledge and history moved elsewhere. However, that notion was dispelled by many of the academy's higher-up mages. Instead, a vast bridge made of stone and magic was constructed, forever connecting Veth Monra back to the Capital Peninsula.

Activity During the Ironwood War

By AoR 399, The Ironwood War would command the attention and affect the entirety of Astora. Veth Monra was not exempt from this fact. The magic community had been on relatively good terms with the elves of the Ironwood Kingdom, even making several forays into the extraordinary forest itself. But with war raging, all expeditions were put to a halt, Veth Monra unwilling to risk the lives of professors or students. However, an exemption to this rule was made for the Spellforge.
The Spellforge was viewed by Astora as an invaluable resource, as the magic within had the potential to create powerful magic items, weapons or otherwise, that may be used to shape the fortune of Astora in the ongoing conflict. As the stewards of the forge, Veth Monra mages were commanded by the Astoran Military to continue the production of such items. Veth Monra and Monobraz obliged, always eager to put new magic capabilities to the test.

The Battle for the Forge

In AoR 408, Marklund was attacked by Ironwood forces. It would later be revealed as a diversionary attack, as the Ironwood had moved, in secret, against Wave Echo Cave and The Spellforge, looking to knock out one of Astora's most valuable resources. A terrible battle between Ironwood Elves, Marklund Dwarves and Veth Monra Wizards commenced in the hills and caves around the Spellforge. Many of Veth Monra's scholars had not been trained to use magic in a combat situation, which in turn, led to several deaths in the academy's community.
By the end of the battle, the caves leading to The Spellforge collapsed, trapping its combatants within. It is unknown whether these cave-ins were intentional or not, as many believe there was an attempt to keep The Spellforge out of Ironwood control. Regardless of the reason, The Spellforge was lost to Veth Monra, its true location buried under mountains of rock.

Creation of Alchemist Fire

In response to the tragedy at The Spellforge, Headmaster Monobraz increased Veth Monra's participation in the war effort. Astoran forces would soon find themselves accompanied by battle mages, or operating on information attained only by magical means. In AoR 438, with the assassination of one of Astora's top military minds, Operation Torchwood was put into the planning phase and Veth Monra would be contacted to work on several aspects of the plan. Headmaster Monobraz himself would contribute the most dangerous aspect of the operation; Alchemist Fire.
Using Alchemist Fire, Astoran forces were easily able to burn a path through the vast trees of the Ironwood, eventually progressing to the hidden capital of the elves; Arnad-Ang. The city would soon burn under the use of Monobraz's invention, with hundreds, perhaps thousands, of elves, meeting their fate in the fiery blaze. Though his production of the fire had been intentional, the manifestation of Monobraz's actions met a conclusion of the Headmaster could not manage. Monobraz became consumed by guilt, the deaths of hundreds of innocents weighing heavily upon him.
By AoR 449, Headmaster Monobraz Cinedance stepped from his post, removed himself from the public eye, and fled east, back to Atmora. Monobraz has not been seen since. For several subsequent years, Veth Monra would be overseen by a small council of wizards, with these figures responsible for the direction of Veth Monra post-war and post-Spellforge. In AoR 456, Orvion Aelfwynd was named Headmaster, the former apprentice of Monobraz.

Rediscovery of The Spellforge

In AoR 599, The Spellforge was uncovered by a group of dwarven miners working under the White Rock Mining Company. However, these workers would be killed, and the Spellforge fell into the hands of a Remnant fanatic. Only after the actions of The Marklund Five, was the Spellforge returned to the hands of Astora. Veth Monra, after a long legal battle with the White Rock Company, would attain primary use of the Spellforge once again. After almost two hundred years, scholars from Veth Monra would once again begin study at the ancient magic site.

The Plague

In the years of AoR 606 and 607, Astora and Naneth had been brought to their knees under the pressure of a new sickness, an effect that would be called The Plague. Veth Monra found itself at the forefront of the battle against this sickness. The scholars of the Academy had been charged with putting an end to global suffering. Through months of research and testing, Veth Monra would be the first to begin calling the sickness by a new name; The Death Curse.
In Redfall of AoR 606, an expedition was sent to the island nation of Chult, the setting of which Veth Monra believed to be the source of this curse. Under the charge of esteemed wizard Syndra Silvane, the expedition was successful and The Death Curse was ended.
The true nature of The Plague was kept under wraps by Veth Monra, as they wished to alleviate fears from the public that this could happen again, and at the same time, not allow the information that powerful magic of that level existed and was potentially attainable. So it was that the true nature of The Death Curse went essentially unknown to most of Naneth's general population, a decision ultimately made by Orvion himself.

Structure

Exterior

Veth Monra is built directly into the rocky foundation of one of the many high plateaus and cliffs overlooking Royal's Bay from the Vinheim Peninsula. Three-quarters of Veth Monra is surrounded by water, with the institute itself connected via a land bridge. The mouth of the Glade River opens directly beside Veth Monra. This is the main shipping route between Vinheim and Aramoor, which causes the waterways around the Academy to be constantly busy with large ships and other vessels.
Veth Monra is a collection of dozens of tall spires and towers, all built with the same white rock that lies beneath the ground at Vinheim. During the day it shimmers across the peninsula, easily visible from the Capital. On especially clear nights, when the moon is full, Veth Monra can be seen for miles across the waters of Royals Bay. Apart from the towers, Veth Monra displays an inner courtyard which is connected to most of the major complexes in the academy and a sizeable marketplace, where merchants aligned with scholarly pursuits are allowed access.
Connecting Veth Monra to the peninsula is a sweeping, natural land bridge, made safe and passable by years of architectural design. At the far end of the bridge lies The Bright Gate of Veth Monra. The gate is a prime example of the cohesiveness between dwarven infrastructure and Veth Monra's magical capabilities. The Bright Gate is known to be impenetrable by neither physical nor magical means, should the gate doors close.

Interior

The interior of Veth Monra consists of several vast complexes, each one with specific purposes. Each complex rises into several towers, which are connected via a system of portals and raised rail carts. These upper limits are restricted to all but Veth Monra faculty and veteran students.

• Hall of the Scholar: This wing of Veth Monra is the largest of the entire academy. Lecture halls and study rooms occupy much of the space here, though the largest expanse belongs to the Library of Oghma. This is one of Astora's largest libraries outside the confines of Vinheim and stands as Naneth's primary collection of magical theory.

• Hall of Repose: This complex houses the majority of Veth Monra's student population, and contains the main dining hall, student amenities and other peer-run institutions.

• Hall of Arcana: Perhaps Veth Monra's most exciting wing, the Hall of Arcana is where most magical schools are taught and practiced. A protective barrier of magic lies upon this complex, providing a measure of security should any spells fail in a catastrophic sense. It also serves as a barrier to outside sources, preventing access by magical means or otherwise. The Hall of Arcana houses much of Veth Monra's spell book and scroll supply.

• Hall of The Twins: Named after Naneth's twin moons; Talyeh and Vespura, this building houses Veth Monra's accomplished faculty and permanent scholars. The Headmaster's quarters are located in an offshoot spire of this complex. The tallest tower in the Hall of The Twins belongs to Veth Monra's Observatory, the first of any such complex found in Naneth.

• The Underkeep: The Underkeep is Veth Monra's storage area and housing for groundskeepers and others with positions of that nature. However, the Underkeep extends further into Naneth than Veth Monra will care to admit. Most of the information about the Underkeep's true depths is based on heresy and rumour, though most sources agree that the area is full of lost dungeons and artifacts that Veth Monra has forgotten over the years, intentionally or not.

Notable Inhabitants

• Orvion Aelfwynd: Veth Monra's Headmaster since AoR 456; Orvion, at over three hundred years old, is a Half-Elf, a fact that has likely led itself to his long life, though magic is certainly involved as well. Orvion quietly oversees the direction of Veth Monra, though he is rarely seen by anyone other than his most trusted confidants.

• Kezro the Curious: Though one of Veth Monra's most experienced wizards, Kezro is not often found at the Academy. Instead, he lives a life of travel and exploration. Intentionally or not, Kezro tends to disappear for months at a time, leading many to assume his death on multiple occasions. Though exceedingly eccentric, there's no doubt Kezro is one of Veth Monra's more powerful magic wielders.

• Syndra Silvane: One of Orvion's most trusted associates, Syndra Silvane is a retired adventurer and mainstay wizard of Veth Monra. Syndra does not reside at the Academy however, instead choosing to live at an estate in Vinheim, perhaps in an attempt to keep a closer watch on the country's politics. Syndra is often credited as the wizard responsible for enabling the end of the Death Curse, though details on exact events are undisclosed.

• Thames Garland: Veth Monra's battle-mage specialist, Thames works within the Hall of Arcana teaching students to master their control over elemental and defensive spells. Thames himself sees occasional action alongside Astoran military forces and is an honorary member of The Vigil.

• Ash Gladehill: Veth Monra's specialist on natural and druidic magic. Ash is an Elf of the Ironwood and lived through the assault on Arnad-Ang in her younger years. She teaches the same forest magic at Veth Monra that used to be known only to those within the Ironwood Kingdom. This is a point of contention within Veth Monra, as many elves feel as though those ways should be forgotten, or at least restricted to only those that grew up amongst the trees.

General Information

Type: Magic Academy/University
Other Names: The Academy, School of Wizardry
Location: Eastern Astora, Vinheim
Founded: AoR 331

People

Inhabitants: Hundreds of Students, Teachers, Wizards, Sorcerers, Artificers and other Professions of Magic
Headmaster: Orvion Aelfwynd (Current), Monobraz Cindance (AoR 378-418)