02 - Iron Kingdoms W.. - Captain Spud Is Amazing

116 Iron Kingdoms
108.1.141.197
The university occupies a cramped cluster of
buildings in northern Ceryl, wedged between a
malodorous fishmonger and a noisy steam engine
repair shop. Despite the less than ideal surroundings,
the university has survived on the patronage of a
number of upper crust city families. Their penchant
for dismissing inadequate students has made such
patronage essential, for they cannot support teachers
on tuition alone.
Ceryl University does not offer any courses in
arcane studies other than what relates to history,
alchemy, and theology. Chancellor Lionel Wellingford
(male Caspian Exp4/Ari2) and his senior professors
disapprove of the Fraternal Order, or any other wizardly
order for that matter, and gladly leave arcane matters
to those “unsavory cabals.” They have exceptional
courses in mathematics, engineering, botany, zoology,
history, and alchemy and Letters of Achievement from
Ceryl University are universally respected.
Corvis University
Perhaps the single best-known university in the
Iron Kingdoms, Corvis University is a strange mix
of glamour and decrepitude. It boasts famous and
respected academics such as the infamous Professor
Viktor Pendrake (MN1, pp. 216–218) or its highly
respected vice chancellor, Davyd Derroman (male
Caspian Wiz7/Lor6). However, it is housed in a massive
and run-down estate in the south of the city. The estate
was bequeathed to the University some four centuries
ago by an eccentric noblewoman who died a spinster,
and it has seen little in the way of renovation since.
The building consists of four wings that form a wall
around a central quadrangle. The entrance hall, which
once had two swooping staircases, has been converted
into a public lecture hall large enough to seat well
over a hundred and accommodate scores more on a
standing-only balcony. Similarly, some of the rooms on
the ground floor have been converted into classrooms,
and the entire southern wing has been given over to the
library. The University’s collection of proscribed texts
is securely locked away in the South Cellar, and the
only key is worn at all times by the librarian who is also
a Chaplain of Morrow. Academics have their studies
on the second to fourth floors along the Eastside
and Westside. Most of the fifth floor and attic have
been abandoned due to leaks in the roof, although
some scholars in need of space for experiments have
reclaimed portions of this area.
The University also owns land outside the walls,
including a bunker and some land southeast of
Corvis. This is where the Departments of Military
Studies and Natural Sciences have their engineering
and alchemical laboratories. The site is guarded well,
and visitors are strongly discouraged. Unbeknownst
to most, there are secret tunnels running from the
mansion to this bunker. When Vinter Raelthorne IV
returned to Corvis (see SOTE), his Inquisitors were
quick to hunt down ‘subversives’ in the University.
Many perished, and scores of scholarly treatises were
burnt. Many of those who survived owe their lives to
this hidden route leading out of the city.
Corvis University is currently trying to re-appoint
scholars to the posts of deceased colleagues and is also
appealing for donations to re-stock the library (and
repair its roof!).
training and eduCation during
doWntime
at the gm’s option, “doWntime” betWeen adventures may
alloW CharaCters to learn skills in addition to the points
they reCeive as they advanCe in levels. this requires speCifiC
university instruCtion or mentorship under a master of the
Craft in question, and training is expensive and restriCted to
Certain skills. rates for tutoring are higher than tuition
Charged for regular students enrolled in an ongoing Course
of eduCation.
gms should only alloW the purChase of the folloWing
skills for doWntime tutoring: appraise, Craft (any),
diplomaCy, knoWledge (any), profession (any), perform,
or speak language (any living, non-obsCure). merely
the fundamentals of these skills Can be learned through
doWntime training, so CharaCters may train only up to 5
ranks total in this Way.
all skills are not equally easy to learn, and the gm Can
require varied lengths of time spent in training. generally
at least one Week is required per rank attained, during
WhiCh the CharaCter must spend at least five hours per day
in instruCtion, praCtiCe, and study. knoWledge skills and
neW languages require one month per rank and attendanCe
at a reputable university. priCes for this tutoring vary
Considerably depending on the university or mentor hired, but
it generally Costs upWards of 100 gold per Week for Craft and
knoWledge skills, 50 gold per Week for training in soCial skills
(diplomaCy, perform, speak language), and 25 gold per Week
for more Common skills (appraise and profession).
at the end of eaCh training period (one Week or one month),
the CharaCter rolls a CheCk against the skill being trained
to see if his knoWledge of the skill has improved. failure