The Astrellarium

Purpose / Function

To teach the art of starbindingto prospective students and to act as both a repository of celestial lore and a hub for the studies of astronomy and astrology.

Architecture

The Astrellarium is built in accordance with the Narcellan style- built from bricks, lots of arches and stained glass windows. Its most notable feature is the enormous tower around which the rest of the academy is built. The tower is almost 400 feet tall, and a person can see the entirety of Narcella from the top floor. On said floor is an enormous telescope through which one can gaze deep into space.
The Astrellarium also hosts a massive library, filled with the various findings of past starbinders who had made contact with the strange intellects of the cosmos and recorded what they learned. The library's sorting system is rather atypical. Instead of a neatly organized grid of bookshelves, the floor of the library is patterned to resemble the night sky and all its constellations. Each star is represented with a cylindrical-shaped bookshelf that contains all texts pertaining to the star that the bookshelf represents. After the library are a number of chambers in which professors can demonstrate and lecture on the core concepts and advanced theories of starbinding.
Interior design throughout the Astrellarium has an emphasis on stellar iconography, with lots of dark blues and golds used throughout. Prominently displayed in the Astrellarium's Great Hall is a ten foot tall bronze statue of King Jaciano Vanchora the First, depicting him at the end of the Founding War making a pact with the Sun and destroying the armies of the Raider King.

History

The construction of the Astrellarium was personally overseen by King Jaciano the First, who saw the study of starbinding as a keystone in keeping the kingdom prosperous and safe. Its construction was one of the king's last acts before he mysteriously disappeared. Since then, many members of the Royal Family have at least briefly studied at the Astrellarium, if not graduated fully from it. One member of the family, Ysabella Vanchora, joined the Astrellarium as an instructor from 1218 until her death in 1263.

Founding Date

743

Type

College / Academy

Parent Location

Narcella