Universities of the Core

[Jeremy16]

Hi All,

I was thinking of putting together an article about the various universities that can be found in the Core. Currently, I've skimmed over all the Gazetteers for canon ones. I was wondering if there were any fan developed one out there, or ones that were mentioned in passing that others have developed.

For instance, I read about Darkon having a lot of good universities, but found reference only to the University of Il Aluk (now no longer in existence), and the University of Karg. Where are all the other ones? Anyone have suggestions where I could look?

Thanks,
Jeremy

[Nathan of the FoS]

In Darkon there's the Brautslava Institute, which is university-like. There's the Academe of Richemulot, and the University of Dementlieu, and the Art Colegiu in Invidia. There's also the University of Tvashtri in Sri Raji.

Those are all canon places I'm sure of. The Paridon Gazetteer in the works has a university situated there, and the Fraternity of Shadows NPCs were based at a non-canon University of Richemulot; I don't think we ever bothered to clarify whether this was a different name/incarnation of the Academe de Richemulot, or a different establishment entirely. (I've always assumed the latter.)

[Lord Cyclohexane]

Only one other one came to the top of my head: there's an unnamed college in Armeikos, Liffe. It's only mentioned on the map of Armeikos. You can find it in Book of Crypts (a 2nd Ed canon resource), page 31. If you need a name, I'd suggest a simple "University of Liffe" as the island is unlikely to have a second one.


In Darkon, though, there are three colleges mentioned in the Education section of GazII's Darkon entry (p27). There's the above-mentioned Brautslava Institute ("on the shores of Stagnus Lake", likely not far from Viaki), Clangor Asylum's medical college (outside Maykle), and the Collegium Caelestis outside Sidnar (focusing on natural sciences).


Hope these help. (I haven't yet read through the QtRs, USSs or even the Book of S_ series, so I can't help you with the fan-made stuff... So sorry about ignoring your actual question)

[Pamela]

IN QotR 2 there is a Missaconic University in Mordent. Article's by ScS, pp 105-110

[Jeremy16]

Okay, thanks for all the input. I guess I should give you what I already put together so things don't get too redundant. I've also incorporated your suggestions...

Gaz I

Grand Hall of Song and Dance – Skald, Kartakass, music
Harmonic Hall – Harmonia, Kartakass, music
Red Academy – Ramulai, Hazlan, magic
??? – various lesser magical academies in Toyalis and Sly-Var

Gaz II

Brautslava Institute – Viaki, Darkon
Clangor Asylum Medical College – Maykle, Darkon
College Pharmacolagae – Nevuchar Springs, Darkon
Collegium Caelestis – Sidnar, Darkon
Stanengrad Military Academy – Stanengrad, Falkovnia, military

Gaz III

House of 100 Moths – Mortigny, Richemulot, magical
L’Academe de Richemulot – Pont-A-Museau, Richemulot
University of Dementlieu – Port-A-Lucine, Dementlieu

Gaz IV

Art Colegiu – Karina, Invidia, art

Gaz V

Kantora College – Kantora, Nova Vaasa, small and ill-regarded

Misc

University of Tvashti – Tavashti, Sri Raji (from Web of Illusion)
Missaconic University – Mordent (QtR #2, pg.105-110)
University of Liffe – Liffe (BoC, pg.31)
University of Blessed Zhakata – Zhukar, G’Henna, religious (Circle of Darkness)

Any more? I'm gonna be looking throught the Book of S series as well as Quoth the Raven soon. Any help on that front would be appreciated.

[X]

The University of Il Aluk (Gaz II, p. 27, 58, 61, 64).

I know you already mentioned this, but IMHO a DM should not forget that this building still stands. Limited knowledge, of the PC variety, can still be gained through wearing a fresh bloom of Necropolitan Amaranth. Assuming that one can avoid the Slain...

[Gemathustra]

The University of Il Aluk (Gaz II, p. 27, 58, 61, 64).

I know you already mentioned this, but IMHO a DM should not forget that this building still stands. Limited knowledge, of the PC variety, can still be gained through wearing a fresh bloom of Necropolitan Amaranth. Assuming that one can avoid the Slain...

One could also, theoretically, attempt to negotiate with one of the Slain to get materials from the University Library and laboratories.

[midnightcat]

even though GAZ3 doesn't mention a university in Mordent. I think thier is one in cannon, in an old van richten guide, and in van richten arsenal. I find the exact books and page later.

[Jeremy16]

Here's what I've found in the Book of S_ series:

Mordentshire University – Mordentshire, Mordent (BoSouls, pg.7)
University of Karg – Karg, Darkon (BoSouls, pg46 – possible reference?)
University of Ludendorf – Ludendorf, Lamordia (BoSouls, pg. 69 – unnamed reference)

[wolfgang_fener]

Talking about universities, How is it possible that some part of the core is still at an early medieval devlopment while other parts are almost past renaissance ? Knowledgeable people do not travel or what ?

IF I was a gun merchant form dementlieu, I would certainly think about starting a commercial empire selling guns everywhere, forming specialist in every part of the core to act as representatives and so on...

Then who wouldn't like to own a simple innocent pocketwatch ?

Is there something I missed which explain this problem ?

[Rotipher of the FoS]

Aside from many darklords' resistance to having foreign influences in their lands, the more medieval lands of the Core are held back in the same way that large parts of IRL Europe lagged far behind the rest, technologically and socially. If you look at the history of Russia, for example, it didn't even begin to catch up until a czar made a deliberate decision to modernize his realm; even today, there are plenty of places on Earth where people make do without running water, electricity, etc.

Setting out to sell guns to pre-Renaissance domains would meet with a lot of opposition from the advanced domains (which enjoy having an edge over the yokels) and would be impeded by the slow rate as which such goods are manufactured by hand. As for the "who wouldn't want a pocket watch?" question, the answer is: "Whoever can't afford one", which likely describes 99.9% of the inhabitants of backwater domains like Barovia.

The medieval lands of the Core are the Third World countries of Ravenloft, with all the disdain and disinterest from more-developed lands that this entails. Trying to sell pocket watches in Barovia would be like trying to sell laptops to tent-nomads in a Darfur refugee camp.

[Lord Cyclohexane]

Talking about universities, How is it possible that some part of the core is still at an early medieval devlopment while other parts are almost past renaissance ? Knowledgeable people do not travel or what ?

To quote the Ravenloft Campaign Setting, p21, "Just as Jonathan Harker in Bram's Stokers Dracula journeys from a modern Victorian London to a Transylvania still chained by medieval fears, those who travel through the Realm of Dread can wander between lands of enlightenment and domains that progress does not touch."

Also, to follow up on Rotipher's point above, 1850's Japan still found the gun to be weird. The Bakumatsu (between 1855-1870, give or take a few years either way) basically no gun battles at all, as it was still seen as dishonorable to fight with anything other than swords and the like.

Then who wouldn't like to own a simple innocent pocketwatch ?

"Ha ha, stupid Dementlieuse fops. They don't even know how to read the sky. Have to use 'pocket watches'; well, if they'd stop watching their pockets and look at the sky, perhaps they'd know what time it is!"

[midnightcat]

page146 in the van tichten's Arsenal mentions the University of Mordent. look on the right bottom of the page.

[Charney]

And even if less technologically advanced domains started using modern technologies, it would start with the elites and slowly reach the lower and poorer classes. If you look at the 1867 Austro-Prussian war, Austrians still had guns loaded from the top (like muskets) while the Prussian had guns loaded from the back (like a winchester).
That's just one of many examples.

[Garudos Celestar]

That's just one of many examples.

Like, say, some Polish troops in WWII entering into battle against Hitler's army on horseback.

Or the Ethiopians using spears to fight against the 1930s Italian invasion.