University of Magical Arts
| University of Magical Arts | |
|---|---|
 The University of Magical Arts as illustrated in The Adventure Begins, p97, by David Roach (1998). | |
| General information | |
| Alt. names: | Wizards' School, Wizards' College |
| Type: | School |
| Location: | Free City of Greyhawk |
| Architecture: | Triangular pyramid with walled courtyard |
| Floors: | 9 |
| Demographics | |
| Staff: | Instructors, Porters, students |
| Occupants: | 250+ |
| Organizations: | Guild of Wizards |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Services: | Arcane education |
| Price: | 100gp+ |
| University of Magical Arts | |
|---|---|
| Alignment: | Neutral (typically) |
| Type: | School |
| Leader: | Kieren Jalucian |
| Members: | Arcane spellcasters (wizards and sorcerors) |
| Headquarters: | Free City of Greyhawk |
| Allies: | Greyhawk Guild of Wizardry, Society of Magi |
The University of Magical Arts, also called the School of Wizardry,[1] Wizard School[2], or College of Magic[3] is a college sponsored by the Guild of Wizardry in the Free City of Greyhawk.
Description
"One of the most architecturally striking buildings in the City' of Greyhawk is the University of Magical Arts, a dramatic three-sided pyramid with no apparent entrances. Inside, the pyramid contains working and living space for hundreds of students of wizardry and their instructors. At any time, a number of students are off adventuring, since the school encourages people to gain experience in this way."[4]
The wall surrounding the college (6ft tall)[5] creates a courtyard, but doesn't have any apparent gates or other entrances, just like the pyramid itself.
The pyramid itself has been given different measurements: 100' long on each side and 90' tall[5], or each side being 222'x181'[6] (making the building 170' tall). It is detailed as having either 15 floors[2] or 9 floors,[5][6] although it has been also been characterized as "having many more floors than expected" due to teleportation magic or extradimensional spaces.[5] The first set results in a smaller, though a more steeply angled pyramid, while the second results in a pyramid which is taller overall but with walls angled a few degrees less steep.
The first floor is full of applicants, apprentices, and 0-level casters and as they grow in spellcasting ability, they advance to new and higher floors of the University.
History
Geography
The University of Magical Arts is noted on maps of the Free City as area C6.
Situated in Clerkburg, the grounds of the University take up an entire city block. It is between the parallel College Road and University Street, across from the Millstream, just south of the Free City Arena. There are gardens, trees, a large fountain, and a large pond.[7]
People
Members
Students at the university are drawn from most all walks of life, from serfs to nobility, and from all across the Flanaess. "The university accepts applicants based on merit and potential magical aptitude, paying little heed to such meaningless trifles as social class, race, or familial connections. Both wizards and sorcerers are accepted, though many of the more traditional instructors favor wizardly hopefuls."[6] Much like its sponsor, the Greyhawk Guild of Wizardry applicants aren't turned away for philosophical or moral reasons. All applicants must come with a recommendation from a senior wizard, who often is sponsoring a new student who will be their apprentice. Each applicant must also be approved by a board of tutors and there is an admission fee of 100gp,[5][8] though this is often covered by senior spellcasters sponsoring the new student.
"Members of all the common races can be found in the university, though by far the bulk of students come from Greyhawk or the surrounding region (the tutors tend to favor “home grown” magical talent during the approval of potential apprentices). Most students and tutors are of Neutral alignment, and all at least pay lip service to Boccob the Uncaring."[8]
Languages
Resources
Some students who've studied at the University are known for having learned and embraced the "Greyhawk Method" which emphasizes both research and field work. This method is noted for resulting in students' spell research being more successful and their learning more spells (i.e. more spells per level).[1] This method of instruction is viewed by its detractors as creating "base mercenaries" who are characterized by "intellectual pursuit tainted by commercial or foolhardy concerns".[8]
Rumors and legends
"The students of the University of Magical Arts are fond of testing their powers on unsuspecting citizens, making them the victims of numerous practical jokes. (This practice is strictly forbidden by the University; students caught in such activities are expelled.)"[9]
In 584 CY, an experiment involving "extremely powerful magic" and "a delicate incantation" was miscast by a member of the University of Magical Arts on the uppermost level of the pyramid. It caused a slight out-of-phase planar shift, and apparitions of people from an alternate Material Plane began appearing in the pyramid. Later, in Spring of 590 CY, an "elderly human wizard with an all-too-familiar face appeared ... claiming to have come from a world known as Yarth. ... [The Senior Tutor Abrazaldin] Hosk caught the archmage unawares and imprisoned him upon his private demiplane, but not before the strange visitor had a chance to introduce himself as Xagig Yragurne, Lord Mayor of the City of Greyhawk."[10] (as opposed to "Zagig Yragerne" of Oerth.)
"Rumors swirl around the streets of Greyhawk that a few [lifelike stone statues, set in natural everyday poses ... from the Choking City were] transported at the dead of night in heavily guarded, sealed wagons to the University of Magical Arts for further experimentation."[11]
See Also
Gallery
Maps
-
The City of Greyhawk boxed set, art by Diesel, 1989. -
LGJ #3, art by Denis Tetreault, 2001. -
EttRoG, art by Mike Schley, 2007.
References
Citations
- ↑ a b Dragon #315 (Jan 2004), p.53.
- ↑ a b The City of Greyhawk (1989), p.68, Gem of the Flanaess.
- ↑ The City of Greyhawk (1989), p.69, Gem of the Flanaess.
- ↑ Player's Guide (1998), p.29.
- ↑ a b c d e The Adventure Begins (1998), p.95.
- ↑ a b c Living Greyhawk Journal #5 (Jul 2001, published March 2002), p.5.
- ↑ The City of Greyhawk poster maps.
- ↑ a b c Living Greyhawk Journal #5 (Jul 2001, published March 2002), p.6.
- ↑ WGA1 Falcon's Revenge (1990), p.64, Appendix 4: Rumors.
- ↑ "Gem of the Flanaess: Clerkberg, pt2.". Living Greyhawk Journal #5 (Jul 2001, published March 2002), p.6.
- ↑ Broadhurst, Creighton; Paul Looby. The Choking City. Living Greyyhawk: Mysterious Places. WotC, 23 January 2007. Archived from the original on 04 June 2009. Retrieved on 15 September 2022.
Bibliography
- Brown, Anne. Player's Guide. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1998.
- Brown, Anne and Richard W. Brown. Falcon's Revenge. Lake Geneva, SI: TSR, 1990.
- Moore, Roger E. The Adventure Begins. Renton, WA: TSR, 1998.
- Niles, Douglas, Rik Rose, and Carl Sargent. The City of Greyhawk. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1989.
Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index
The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.
| Topic | Type | Description | Product | Page/Card/Image
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magical Arts, University of {The Wizards School} (City of Greyhawk) | Building | College or School, | Dragon magazine #268 | 70 |
| Magical Arts, University of {The Wizards School} (City of Greyhawk) | Building | College or School, | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 52 |
| Magical Arts, University of {The Wizards School} (City of Greyhawk) | Building | College or School, | Living Greyhawk Journal #2 | 4 |
| Magical Arts, University of {The Wizards School} (City of Greyhawk) | Building | College or School, | Living Greyhawk Journal #4 | 5, 6, 9 |
| Magical Arts, University of {The Wizards School} (City of Greyhawk) | Building | College or School, | Living Greyhawk Journal #5 | 5, IBC |
| Magical Arts, University of {The Wizards School} (City of Greyhawk) | Building | College or School, | Player's Guide to Greyhawk | 28, 29, 31-33, 53, 58, 59 |
| Magical Arts, University of {The Wizards School} (City of Greyhawk) | Building | College or School, | Restless Nights, D&D 3.5e Web Article | Web |
| Magical Arts, University of {The Wizards School} (City of Greyhawk) | Building | College or School, | The Adventure Begins | 6, 7, 40, 63, 87, 92, 94-98 |
| Magical Arts, University of {The Wizards School} (City of Greyhawk) | Building | College or School, | WGA1 Falcon's Revenge | 64 |
| Magical Arts, University of {The Wizards School} (City of Greyhawk) | Building | College or School, | WGA2 Falconmaster | 11, 13, 15 |