Neldath Campus
This prestigious institution is housed in several small buildings with one central administration building. The largest buildings on campus lie near the Processional; these are Neldath Hall (the administration building), Timber Hall (where most classrooms are), College Hall (holding faculty offices and meeting rooms), the Grand Library (the largest building on campus), and the Hall of the Dean (containing classrooms, lecture halls, laboratories, and storerooms). The Hall of the Dean is one of the oldest buildings, with a dining hall below ground. Smaller buildings are scattered along the northern curve of University Street. An observatory stands to the west, outside of the city. Many of the buildings are still in their original form, but Neldath Hall has recently been rebuilt concurrent with the dedication of the University. It now features a white marble atrium that shines with the midday sun thanks to the many windows along the walls and ceiling. A grand fountain adorns the middle of the atrium. This was a gift to the University from dwarven craftsmen of Angbadur.
The granite facade of the Great Library, with its columns, stairs, and statues, is far grander than the rest of the building, which is not ornate. Many claim this is the largest repository of books and scrolls in Brineven, and this is likely true. The Great Library has collected volumes and papers on nearly every topic imaginable, though evaluating this wealth of knowledge for its veracity is a challenge for anyone. The Great Library is open every day from dawn to dusk unless the staff is ill. There is no admission fee. Magical lights are hung throughout the building, remaining lit at all hours.
Purpose / Function
Neldath College has 400-450 students each term. A basic degree can be earned in two to eight years, depending on the courses. Class sizes vary but are generally small, with 20 students at most. Students are almost exclusively upper or middle class, as tuition starts at roughly 50 gp per year and doubles every year thereafter, although prospective students who show promise can work at the college or earn grants that can cover many of the expenses. About three out of ten students are not from Brineven; costs increase for these students by another 50%. Economics, finance, and accounting classes are the largest; these students tend to go into mercantile businesses (often family owned) as managers. Many graduates become teachers, but some later become wizards, explorers, and independent sages. Neldath University is sometimes called the University of Brineven.
Architecture
The Great Library of Brineven
The library has six wings, each devoted to a different topic: History, Geography, Artistic Studies, Poetry and Literature, Science and Engineering, and "General," a catch-all title for materials that don't fit other categories. Books and stacks of papers line the walls of each wing, with the center of each room filled with tables and chairs. Thousands of books are in each wing. New books are being created all the time by a staff of writers employed by the library. There are no editors, so the quality of the writing varies greatly. Visitors can read any books and copy them, but they cannot take any home. Private reading rooms can be rented by the day or week, and a librarian will gather the works requested in the room. The library's chief administrator is also its chief researcher, a reclusive wizard/sage named Iquander. Iquander came to Brineven from the Elteare long ago to research a few questions, but he never left the city afterward. Before Gratius Saghast died, he passed his position to the able Iquander, who has an astounding memory and excellent organizational skills. He is happy to share his knowledge with visitors, and he gives dear directions as to how the library can be used best. Iquander lives in the library basement, where a number of private study rooms are available for a fee to sages and researchers who need a place to study and work. Iquander is assisted by Brethil, an older sage who has been one of the head librarians for as long as people can remember. Brethil worked for the previous chief Gratius, and Iquander relies on Brethil's intimate knowledge of the library's contents. Brethil supervises the students and staff who work in the Grand Library, while Iquander spends much of his time on acquiring new tomes and working with the library's benefactors.History
Neldath College has been in existence since the founding of Brineven, a place for scholars to gather and share information and resources as well as tutor the next generation of scholars. For most of its existence, Neldath College has been an excellent institution of learning that offers classes and degrees in many fields, including alchemy, astrology and astronomy, architecture and engineering, healing, geography, economics and finance, the fine arts, accounting and mathematics, and history. A small group of powerful mages on campus provided mentoring and tutoring to those who wished to pursue the arcane arts without joining either the Prismatic Order or the Arcanum. Recently that has changed. Upon taking the throne, King Alaric Brunwin has pressured the colleges in Brineven to merge their institutions. Now Neldath College is Neldath University, and has agreements with the Maddaford College (of the Arcanum) and Archewood Hall (of the Prismatic Order) to share students and resources.
Headmaster Vilareen Nimrale at first resisted the change to his college, but now that he has worked with High Mage Etchells of Archewood Hall and the Master of the Arcane Graland Sefton, he sees the benefit of the former King's plan. For their part, neither Graland nor Etchells like working with each other, but both appreciate that working with Neldath gives them the freedom to focus only on the magical education of their students, leaving the mundane education to the main college.
Dean of Students Gillian McFinan, screens all prospective students and meets with each personally to make sure that they are capable of meeting college expectations. Gillian has now been paired with Niall Caddock, a Mage of Archewood Hall who tests prospective students for magical ability. While Niall obviously favors Archewood Hall, it is Gillian who makes the recommendation as to which "college" if any, a magical student should be assigned.
The only hold-out in the King's plan is the Bardic Mac-Fuirmidh College in Highhaven. Mac-Fuirmidh refuses to join with Neldath and continues to train new bards and Jendarri skalds as a separate entity.
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