Terminus High University - The Tower of Progress
Terminus High University (THU) was built in the Capital City of Terminus, and is almost as old as the settlement, existing prior to it being named a city.
The University is located entirely within a Tower, which was built before the Univeristy itself formed. While always made for study, the Tower was initially a meeting area for the 3 founders (Rasel, Lyra and Tairan) who each had their own areas of study but refused entry to the others for fear of them stealing their work.
While each of the three were progressing in their own fields, they were well aware that cross-over regularly occured, and they developed a need to pick the other's brains for information, or else waste potentailly years finding out what the others already knew.
The Tower was therefore built as an area for information to be shared. The initial build was a simple common area, where the three founders would converse. However when they realised that they had no-one's word but one another as to who made a discovery, they worked together to design a method of informing the public. This led to the three building the forum. This was an open area in the courtyard of the building with a raised platform running the rim of the area. Here, complete projects would be brought and presented to the public, whether this was the physical project or a lecture on the material, where each founder could make it known that this was their work.
Now the three were in direct competition. This led to their research developing even faster than it had previously, to the point even they couldn't keep track of all their discoveries. Combined with the, ever growing, need to still share with one another, they began to pool their older notebooks into a collective library.
As their work built on previous discoveries, they found members of the public may lack key knowledge the three founders had. Therefore, the library was opened to the public, so all would be able to read/understand their work.
The founders competetive streaks wouldn't end though, when one presented their work the others would retaliate with their own days later. This came to be a public show, with the three being somewhat local celebrities. Driven by this and in a desire to maximise their efficiency, walking from their studies to the Tower was wasting research time after all, the three built their own areas of study within the grounds. Though due to the limited space available, they extended upwards rather than out.
Over time, the founders began to spend longer at the actual Tower, with their old studies becoming all but abandoned (a famous case where Lyra, not having left the Tower for 6 months, resulted in the Tower being sieged by the Town Guards to ensure she payed the backed up rent on her old study space).
This only led to further escalation of their works, to the point of the "Day of Invention" where all three founders spent a collective 18 hours displaying multitudes of research. One would show their work, only for another to exit their studies with something new to present. It is said that, by the end, the three had run out of actual research and were infact making new discoveries to add onto one anothers work as the others were presenting them. This day was famous among the city, and to the modern day is still a city wide holiday where the University hosts lectures, presentations and demonstrations to reveal their new work to the world.
As the three were practically living inside the Tower at this point, they began to add more facilities (kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms and more). Again this resulted in extension upwards.
Authors note: I like the idea that the three end up doing little bits and pieces that help the other two. For example, maybe only one of them can (or remembers to) cook, another may partially maintain the building/fix what the others break, etc. This results in them ultimatly becoming something of a "family" - though the three probably still see each other as rivals first and foremost.
Eventaully the three took on apprentices, keen researchers with their own ambitions. Some of these would branch out into their own fields (this may be an offshoot of the core 3, or their own that are seperate). This results in extra rooms/layers being added for their specialities.
Sometime after the 3 founders took on apprentices, they each end up going their own ways. One of the three stays behind in the Tower and eventually becomes the first Headmaster, as they formed the Tower into an actual University.
NOTE: Throughout the process, where logical, they began hiring staff to maintain different areas they themselves did not want to work. Originally, part of the apprentices jobs was to maintain and run different areas (such as the library, or cook food. Though this may be less of a specific job and more something the apprentices took up when they realised their mentors are woefully bad at this).
Structure:
Railway station in the bottom - allows delivery of goods for research. This is the University's personal station, with some public train access.
Levels 0-3: Public access areas. Contains the public (original) library and various facilities such as cafes, rentable rooms, etc. Notably has the original builds still present from the founders age, though these are historical now and have been preserved for display, so are otherwise out of use.
Levels 4-6: Student areas. Becoming a student of THU gives you access to the next three floors. This includes Student rooms, research labs, lecturing/teaching spaces and other facilities for student use. These floors were gradually built when the Tower changed from being the 3 founders research space, to actually being a University.
Levels 6+: Parts of Level 6, and anything above, are closely guarded. This is only accessible to associates of the Tower who're given higher access. Contains reams of research material.
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Structure
Head Researcher/Master: Messiar Ptolemy
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Specialist Researchers/Lecturers
Notable Specialists:- Runa Valira (Researcher of Oceanic Occurences) - Best known for her research on the species Dreadnautilus - "The Natural Warship" Kaus Borea (Researcher of Human History) - Kaus' focus is on the different paths humanity has taken, tracking them to their place of origin within Var Nexa. Fond of Tea, almost always has some on hand. Rival to Antar Lugal when students.
Students:
Altair: A student of geography and cartography. Aims to study the areas of Var Nexa and be the first to map them. Has a particular interest in rivers, notably Nontec's Falls and River. Dating Vega. Rigel and Betel: Siblings who joined at the same time. Betel is older, Rigel is younger. Betel studies constellations, Rigel aims to become a Seeker and studies Zoology. Vega: A creative, heads the art and music society at THU. Is a student of crafting, encompassing art, carpentry, engineering, etc. Plays the lyre. Dating Altair. Deneb: Aims to be a Custodian (those who study and care for specific areas/locations of the world - primarily in Var Nexa). Wants to specialise his study into Sulbashira - The Forest of Swaying Pillars. Forms a trio with Vega and Altair. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Seeker Teams:
A common outcomes of The Tower is the formation of Seeker Teams. As a Seekers main goal, and method of earning a living, is the exploration of Var Nexa this greatly benefits The Tower, who are keen for any information, resources and experiences Seekers gain from their journeys. As such, The Tower encourages the formation of Seeker Teams in their students. Though not mandatory, the formation of these offers multiple benefits, such as easier/greater access to higher levels, funding towards expeditions and Seeker Trains, and maps that are otherwise unavailable. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------General Staff:
Gear Stewards: The Tower has been at the forefront of technology since the founders established it. One of the first technologies invented there were the Gear Stewards, wooden creatures and devices that are automated, moving through the use of gears and a wind up mechanism. These are built to carry out general care tasks around the tower. Each has a specific role that it carrys out like clockwork, always returning to a hub to be re-wound and carry out the task again. The number of these in the Tower ensures that when one is being re-wound, another is filling out its role. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Clerks, Guards, Engineers:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Alumni:
Not everyone who studies at The Tower stays there forever, however many will still be associates. Whether this is as researchers who are hired on a case-by-case basis, Seekers who share their findings with the Tower, or lone scientists who attend the "Day of Invention." The commonality is that they must be providing new information to The Tower. This offers numerous benefits, most notably is earlier and more in depth access to information and research that is being carried out by the Tower, as well as some of their facilities. Notable Alumni include:- Vaitar (Scholar of the Langbast Seeker Team) - best known for his studies on the Western Gate of Zeph-Nexa
Culture
Competition is the basis of the Tower's origin, and this hasn't changed into modern day. Rivalries and competetiveness are seen as key to helping students grow, after all aiming to surpass one another gives them reason to push further.
This is reflected in advancement through the Tower's levels. While the lower levels of the Tower are open to most, the right to access the higher levels must be earnt. This can be done on the back of merit, earned in various ways but typically through contribution of information, completion of tasks, or advancement of education.
This being said, sharing knowledge is key, so they are encouraged to work together in this. In particular, forming teams is common as it allows pooling of information and greater advancement. This can also allow individuals to reach higher levels of the Tower than they would alone.
The Tower is prestigious, and well aware of it. While the lower, base, levels are open to the public, anything above the third floor is exclusive to associates of the University. Having access to higher levels is something of a social boon, as it automatically grants higher status in several circles.
A game/tradition among students, especially new ones, is to attempt to climb the outside of the Tower and reach the upper floors that aren't accessible to them. This is because the inside is too well protected and difficult to reach (some students do try to climb inside, but none are sucessful and most were caught). If they are sucessful, they can find information, technologies, and other boons to help them advance quicker. However, it is extremly dangerous, and they have to be doubly careful not to get caught as it would result in immediate expulsion.
This tradition is "not known" by the staff. Primarily because most of the staff were once students, and also partcipated in the tradition. While technically banned, this holds little weight as students attempt it anyway. As such there is something of an arms race between students finding new routes, methods and tricks to climbing the tower, and the staff trying to stop them.
Climbing the Tower of Progress
Type
Educational, University
Alternative Names
THU, Progress, The Tower of Learning
Demonym
Knowledge Seekers
Location
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