university_of_planar_studies
Differences
This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.
| Both sides previous revision Previous revision Next revision | Previous revision | ||
|
university_of_planar_studies [2015/12/12 04:54] grim |
university_of_planar_studies [2018/01/02 00:24] (current) |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Line 9: | Line 9: | ||
| The University has a constant need of specimens for research and practice, and ambitious Planewalkers can make good money by restocking their inventory with dead creatures, as long as the bodies are in relatively good condition. In addition, all students must do at least one period of field study during their studies, traveling the Planes and observing the objects of their study in action. This usually means partnering with Planewalking teams, sometimes for pay, and sometimes in exchange for services. Their connection to the Sigilian community, the Factions, and Planewalkers in general have ensured that the University has both the financial and social capital to stay afloat in the notoriously cutthroat City of Doors. | The University has a constant need of specimens for research and practice, and ambitious Planewalkers can make good money by restocking their inventory with dead creatures, as long as the bodies are in relatively good condition. In addition, all students must do at least one period of field study during their studies, traveling the Planes and observing the objects of their study in action. This usually means partnering with Planewalking teams, sometimes for pay, and sometimes in exchange for services. Their connection to the Sigilian community, the Factions, and Planewalkers in general have ensured that the University has both the financial and social capital to stay afloat in the notoriously cutthroat City of Doors. | ||
| - | ===== ARCHIVISTS AND THE UNIVERSITY OF PLANAR STUDIES ===== | ||
| - | The University of Planar studies has a long history in Sigil, and has attracted students from all walks of life. Scholars and sages study the intricate inner workings of Planar creatures, along with warriors and tacticians who favor brain as well as brawn. Morticians from the Dustmen often seek knowledge of the inner workings of Planar beings to make easy their work of preparing the dead. | + | === ARCHIVISTS AND THE UNIVERSITY OF PLANAR STUDIES === |
| - | But though it is no particular secret, many overlook the fact that the University teaches its students not just how to dissect the flesh and bone of Planar creatures, but also to dissect the nature and mechanics of the Planes themselves, and to seek true sources of power that eclipse the gods themselves. The most diligent students train to be Archivists, studying the mechanics of divine magic behind the blind faith of priests as well as the biology of their servants and creations. Those Archivists who excel at their studies are permitted to join the elite Department of Paragnostic Studies, a post-graduate research fellowship who plumb the depths of the multiverse for its most forbidden secrets. | + | The University of Planar studies has a long history in Sigil, and has attracted students from all walks of life. But though it is no particular secret, many overlook the fact that the University teaches its students not just how to dissect the flesh and bone of Planar creatures, but also to dissect the nature and mechanics of the Planes themselves, and to seek true sources of power that eclipse the gods themselves. The most diligent students train to be Archivists, studying the mechanics of divine magic behind the blind faith of priests as well as the biology of their servants and creations. Those Archivists who excel at their studies are permitted to join the elite Department of Paragnostic Studies, a post-graduate research fellowship who plumb the depths of the multiverse for its most forbidden secrets. |
| The Department of Paragnostic Studies has a small number of students, and even fewer of them have truly reached the heights of their power. But the few who have never hesitate to share their knowledge and research with their fellows. Many donate copies of their spellbooks to the University library to assist their juniors in the quest for knowledge, in a tradition that dates back to the founder of the University of Planar Studies, Randalph Carter. | The Department of Paragnostic Studies has a small number of students, and even fewer of them have truly reached the heights of their power. But the few who have never hesitate to share their knowledge and research with their fellows. Many donate copies of their spellbooks to the University library to assist their juniors in the quest for knowledge, in a tradition that dates back to the founder of the University of Planar Studies, Randalph Carter. | ||
| - | ==== RANDALPH CARTER ==== | + | |
| + | === RANDALPH CARTER === | ||
| Carter was born a son of a clergyman on a Prime Material world dominated by humans, in a culture dominated by a monotheistic religion. Trained as a clergyman himself, he became a missionary and explorer, seeking to bring his god's light to the dark corners of his world. But a random portal on one of his journeys in the wild whisked him permanently to the City of Doors, where all his faith and belief was tested and, ultimately, broken. | Carter was born a son of a clergyman on a Prime Material world dominated by humans, in a culture dominated by a monotheistic religion. Trained as a clergyman himself, he became a missionary and explorer, seeking to bring his god's light to the dark corners of his world. But a random portal on one of his journeys in the wild whisked him permanently to the City of Doors, where all his faith and belief was tested and, ultimately, broken. | ||
| Line 28: | Line 28: | ||
| Returning to Sigil, he founded the University of Planar studies, taking up once again his original path as a missionary, only this time preaching Science and Knowledge rather than faith. His prayerbooks, a trio of heavy tomes bound in red dragon hide and gold, went on the shelves of the library's Special Collection, where they have remained throughout his tenure as Dean as beyond, to this very day. Their pages are filled with cramped, narrow notes in Celestial, Infernal, Elemental languages, and even the secret glyphs of the Druidic language. all outlining obscure magic gleaned from Druidic sources as well as many obscure and forgotten religions. | Returning to Sigil, he founded the University of Planar studies, taking up once again his original path as a missionary, only this time preaching Science and Knowledge rather than faith. His prayerbooks, a trio of heavy tomes bound in red dragon hide and gold, went on the shelves of the library's Special Collection, where they have remained throughout his tenure as Dean as beyond, to this very day. Their pages are filled with cramped, narrow notes in Celestial, Infernal, Elemental languages, and even the secret glyphs of the Druidic language. all outlining obscure magic gleaned from Druidic sources as well as many obscure and forgotten religions. | ||
| + | |||
| === ZEYNA AND REVOLIO GEARBERG JR. === | === ZEYNA AND REVOLIO GEARBERG JR. === | ||
| Line 39: | Line 40: | ||
| The pair only ever returned to Sigil once since then, for Randolph Carter's funeral. In honor of his memory, they both donated their prayerbooks to the library, a pair of platinum-plated volumes etched with Terran runes, filled with divine spells gleaned from Planar philosophy and Celestial magic. | The pair only ever returned to Sigil once since then, for Randolph Carter's funeral. In honor of his memory, they both donated their prayerbooks to the library, a pair of platinum-plated volumes etched with Terran runes, filled with divine spells gleaned from Planar philosophy and Celestial magic. | ||
| - | == VIKTORIA GOODWYFE == | + | |
| + | === VIKTORIA GOODWYFE === | ||
| Students of the Department of Paragnostic Research usually come to see each other as extended family. But every family has its black sheep, and Viktoria Goodwyfe remains an uncomfortable topic for students and teachers alike. Her story lives on, however in whispered rumors told by candlelight to scare novice students, or over mugs of ale in the quiet corners of taverns near the University grounds. | Students of the Department of Paragnostic Research usually come to see each other as extended family. But every family has its black sheep, and Viktoria Goodwyfe remains an uncomfortable topic for students and teachers alike. Her story lives on, however in whispered rumors told by candlelight to scare novice students, or over mugs of ale in the quiet corners of taverns near the University grounds. | ||
| Line 55: | Line 57: | ||
| Viktoria's prayerbook remains on the Special Collection shelves, a simple book bound in black leather. Despite the best efforts of the faculty, none have ascertained exactly what creature's skin the leather came from. Those pages not marred by bloodstains contain a mixture of research notes in Common, spell notation in Infernal, and diagrams of creatures as-yet unidentified by the University. Later pages devolve into rambling diary entries, bizarre poetry, and ever more illegible drawings more akin to the scribbling of a disturbed child than a researcher. Still, what few spells that can be gleaned from its pages are unique and powerful enough to earn them the distiction of being in the Special Collection. | Viktoria's prayerbook remains on the Special Collection shelves, a simple book bound in black leather. Despite the best efforts of the faculty, none have ascertained exactly what creature's skin the leather came from. Those pages not marred by bloodstains contain a mixture of research notes in Common, spell notation in Infernal, and diagrams of creatures as-yet unidentified by the University. Later pages devolve into rambling diary entries, bizarre poetry, and ever more illegible drawings more akin to the scribbling of a disturbed child than a researcher. Still, what few spells that can be gleaned from its pages are unique and powerful enough to earn them the distiction of being in the Special Collection. | ||
| - | == THE SPECIAL COLLECTION == | + | |
| + | === THE SPECIAL COLLECTION === | ||
| The University Librarian is familiar with all the books in the Special Collection, having understood the magical script of each book's writer. Students are welcome to borrow prayerbooks for study and scribing, but to help keep all but the most serious researchers away, there is a small fee for scribing spells (25gp x spell level). Students who are willing double the fee can buy the attention of the Librarian for a day, who can assist them in understanding the magical notation when scribing the spell (50gp x spell level, automatically decipher spell writing). Proceeds from scribing fees typically go to maintenance and upkeep for the books in the Special Collection, some of which are quite old. | The University Librarian is familiar with all the books in the Special Collection, having understood the magical script of each book's writer. Students are welcome to borrow prayerbooks for study and scribing, but to help keep all but the most serious researchers away, there is a small fee for scribing spells (25gp x spell level). Students who are willing double the fee can buy the attention of the Librarian for a day, who can assist them in understanding the magical notation when scribing the spell (50gp x spell level, automatically decipher spell writing). Proceeds from scribing fees typically go to maintenance and upkeep for the books in the Special Collection, some of which are quite old. | ||
university_of_planar_studies.1449917680.txt.gz · Last modified: 2018/01/02 00:24 (external edit)
Page Tools
