Aerbor University

While not the oldest institution of learning, Aerbor University is second to none among its peers. Nestled at the heart of the Kallistrati Empire, Aerbor University stands as the most prestigious and comprehensive institution of learning and Rynn, and serves as the anchor of Kallistrati power.
Composed of nearly two dozen colleges and academies, Aerbor University is a complex organization that has attained a grandeur matched in scale by some, but surpassed by none. While other academic institutions may lay claim to superior expertise in a single domain of inquiry or study, Aerbor University is renown for its breadth of options, thus attracting would be students from vast distances. The possession of the 'Aerbor Gates' also serve to give the University a powerful advantage in luring powerful and connected people from far away, ignoring the constraints suffered by other institutions.
With its wide array of disciplines and educators, the influence of its student body is second to none. Attracting the sons (and daughters) of powerful lords, merchants, and politicians from around the world has allowed the University to extend its influence beyond its borders, and allow itself, as well as its unofficial masters, the Fraternity, to secure immense power for the Kingdom. The Fraternity work to keep at least a semblance of neutrality between the workings of the country, and the University.

Structure

The University, at present, was last known to count 21 colleges among its group, with a smattering of lesser schools or fellowships vying for the status as well. Among these varied organizations, a handful of colleges stand above the rest, and serve as the foundation of the University's authority. Unlike previous academies, most Aerbor University Colleges do not generally practice a single discipline or interest, but instead most offer a well-rounded education.
College specialties are defined more by the faculty and graduates in residence, and less by their overt mission statements. Each college has roughly between 100 and 700 students at a given time, not counting graduate assistants and faculty. The following colleges represent the most prestigious institutions, and account for the lionshare of influence and power wielded by the University. They are listed in order of founding.

Avveus College

Avveus College, also known as University College, was founded along with Aerbor University. With departments in Law, Grammer, Communications, Moral Philosophy and Debate, Avveus College attracts many would be nobles, ambassadors, and other political figures. The student body of this college encompasses decendents of some of the most influential persons in the world, allowing the College to exert considerable influence despite hosting only a couple hundred students annually.

Mihr College

Founded less than three years after Avveus College, Mihr College hosts students and faculty interested in the deeper pursuits of the Arts, including writing, rhetoric, and theatre. Within Kallistratos, Bards are often synonymous its graduates, increasing the status of that title far beyond its traditional overtones.

Syttos College

Syttos College boasts the largest body of both students and faculty dedicated to the study of arcane arts in the known world. Most graduates of Syttos College attend to learn a small bit of magic such that they can pursue new occupations, or enhance previous skills. While Union college has recently attracted more would be prospective Magewrights, Syttos College still boasts the largest variety of Arcane instructors, and with one of the largest student bodies in the University, commands an extensive network of trained magicians. Many graduates of Syttos College often find private employment as court magi or apprentices.

Exarch's College

Founded in the third generation of Kallistratos, Exarch's college attracts an array of students selected or appointed by both wealthy merchant families as well more prosperous (or popular) community leaders. With departments in commerce, accounting, civil planning and archiving, the college is the premier institution for the education of the world's growing set of bureaucrats and public servants.

Pargothi College

While most of the Empire's most valuable records remained in the Bael Lyceum, a still great number of records were scattered throughout the empire. More importantly, scholars interested in the finer points of the rise and fall of the empire were none-to-keen to join themselves to an institution still considered a part of the empire. Faculty and students of Pargothi College are often valued for their methods of historical research, and archeological investigations. Their fierce rivalry with the Lyceum is a topic of legendary gossip among students, and the institution often petitions for additional resources or privileges in order to remain competitive.

Astral College

Despite the disagreements among devout worshippers and conduits of the divine, there remain topics of inquiry and discussion that are common among different faiths and traditions. Astral College was founded on the belief that different faiths and theologians might uncover new truths about the nature of divine power; the nature of its manifestation in mortals, and how to best commune with spirits and consciousness beyond the mortal realm.

Terminus College

Terminus College was formed after the secession of Milon, and in response to greater diplomatic correspondence among the increasing conflicts in the world. While offering many similar classes as Avveus College, Terminus had a mission of investigating more non-violent resolutions and mitigating treaties between foreign nations. Despite several investments and notable educators from joining the college, the institution had no major conflict resolutions to lay claim to directly. Nonetheless, the college seems to be oddly supported by a myriad of outside benefactors who are committed to the college’s ideals.

Union College

Union College represents the first internationally supported college in Kallistratos, and a monument to the growing cooperation between Kallistratos and Muscova. Named after the Federated Union, Union College is dedicated to the development of technical expertise and progress in the fields of Engineering, Artificing, and Production. The In exchange for access to the Universities resources, as well as their student population, Muscova provides a large grant to fund the College. This funding has caused the college to seemingly grow a reputation much larger than it’s otherwise meager student body, creating several opportunities for intra-university conflict.

Vallis College

While Vallis College was established early in the history of the Kingdom, it failed to rise to promininse until only recently. Dedicated to the general science and experimentation of the natural world, excluding the study of magic, it was regarded as a black sheep of the University, one that was tolerated due to a bizarre mix of tradition and luck. The recovery and research involved around a group of semi-historical explorers to the continent of Nabare propelled the College from relative obscurity to one of the great academic (and financial interest), and outside of Svain, as become the premier institution for would be explorers and treasure hunters, often couched in a variety of natural scientific study of flora and fauna.

Katarakta College

Katarakta College is the second major college to be formed due to international support, though this one is a bit closer to home. Funded in large part by grants from Ikaros, Katarakta College serves as a prestigious training academcy for Naval officers. With Ikaros’s merchant fleets struggling to compete with Svain Shipping & Holding, several wealthy merchants elected to tap Kallistratos education resources. In exchange for a large grant, and special trade relations, Kallistratos offered to centralize and streamline the education of Naval Commanders to augment Ikaros growing fleet. The result has been a tentative cooling of tensions between the otherwise quarrelous states, each preferring trade and prosperity over conflict, at least for the time being.

Assets

Aerbor University consists of nearly two dozen separate colleges, each with their own offices and housing, spread over the capital city of Syttos, with minor holdings and assets littered across the remainder of the country. It is hard to comprehend the extend of the Universities assets, but given their involvement in disciplines ranging from engineering, warfare, biology, history, and of course magic - it is safe to presume that there is very little the Universities senior administrators cannot access given time and determination.
Perhaps the most unique asset to the University, however, is the the control of the Aerbor gates. Nestled around a peculiar ring of large Azurewood Trees (standing over a 100 feet tall), lies a small teleportation dais. Touted as anchored to a powerful leyline, this circle is able to power instantaneous travel to and from the university from points across the world. Despite several attempts by merchants aiming to purchase rights or charters to use the Arbor gates for commercial activity, the Fraternity has reserved its use purely for the transport of University business; namely the transport of new students and faculty.
Ironically, having been barred from official use of the gates for commercial purposes, many guilds and merchant charters have taken to employing new and current students as 'mules', using them to ferry around exotic or rare goods across vast distances. In turn, the University takes some pains to police the transport of goods by students through the gates, but often results in fining students (and their benefactors) exorbant amounts if caught.

Type

Educational, University

Alternative Names

"The University", "The Spoke"

Parent Organization

Kallistratos