Adapted From- The Star Tide
If a character is interested in learning more about the history or magic lore surrounding their discoveries in the Monastery of the Arched Sky, they will find them among the sages and scholars who live in the city. While crackpots and charlatans abound, the most reliable and acclaimed source of knowledge in the entire realm maintains the Astral Academy in Villum - the wizards of the Cyrillian Academy.
Inside the Astral Academy, visitors are greeted by an expansive atrium with a magnificent celestial-themed mosaic adorning the floor. The air is filled with an ambiance of intellectual curiosity and the faint scent of aged parchment. Scholars, sages, and aspiring mages can be seen studying, researching, and engaging in spirited debates throughout the various chambers and reading rooms.
The Academy house an extensive collection of rare and ancient texts, grimoires, and scrolls, covering a wide range of magical and mystical disciplines. It is renowned for its vast repository of knowledge on the planes of existence, cosmology, and the arcane arts. The librarians and scribes, adorned in scholarly robes, assist visitors in navigating the vast collection and provide guidance in their pursuit of magical understanding.
The Astral Academy also serves as a meeting place for learned individuals, hosting lectures, seminars, and discussions on various magical subjects. It is not uncommon to find renowned wizards, planar scholars, and members of the Astrological Symposium exchanging ideas and sharing their latest discoveries.
Overall, the Astral Academy acts as a beacon of magical knowledge and a gateway to the arcane world within the district of Umbral Veil. It is both a place of learning and a hub for research and exploration, attracting scholars, adventurers, and seekers of arcane wisdom from all corners of the realm.
Recall Knowledge - (Society ) DC 25; Unspecific Lore DC 23; Specific Lore DC 20
Astral Academy University 15
The Astral Academy is an impressive structure, resembling an ancient library with towering shelves filled with countless tomes and scrolls. The exterior is adorned with intricate carvings depicting celestial motifs and arcane symbols, hinting at the vast knowledge contained within. The building is constructed of a mix of dark stone and shimmering blue-tinted glass, giving it an ethereal and otherworldly appearance.
Structure Bonus +3 bonus to Creative Solution
Effects Creatures gain a +3 item bonus to Lore checks made to Recall Knowledge while Investigating, as well as to Research checks and to Decipher Writing checks.
Academia: The Astral Academy is renowned for its academic excellence and attracts scholars and students from far and wide. It provides education and training in various fields, including arcane magic, history, anthropology, and more. The academy offers courses, lectures, and workshops that grant knowledge within the chosen field of study.
Arcane Conduit: The Astral Archive is a nexus of magical energy. Arcane spellcasters find it easier to tap into the ley lines of magic while within the library's premises. Arcane spellcasters receive a +2 bonus to spell attack rolls and spell DCs while researching within The Astral Archive.
University: As a university, the Astral Academy offers specialized training and mentorship to aspiring scholars and adventurers. It provides access to unique spells or rituals, allowing characters to learn these magical abilities during their stay at the academy. The university also provides opportunities for networking and finding mentors or contacts within academic circles.
Scholarly Faculty: The Astral Academy is staffed by a group of esteemed scholars and wizards from the Cyrillian Academy. These notable NPCs include professors, researchers, and librarians with deep knowledge in various fields. They can provide guidance, mentorship, and even quests related to research or academic pursuits.
The Astral Academy houses a vast collection of knowledge, rare tomes, and ancient manuscripts.
Astral Archive
The heart of the Astral Academy is the Astral Archive, a vast repository of knowledge. This section of the university contains shelves upon shelves of books, scrolls, and ancient manuscripts. Characters can spend time researching within the Astral Archive, utilizing the Research subsystem and making various skill checks to uncover hidden secrets, gain new knowledge, or unlock special abilities tied to the lore of the world.
Academy Stacks
Description: The Academy Stacks are a vast collection of books, scrolls, and manuscripts that cover a wide range of subjects, from history and philosophy to arcane arts and magical theories. The shelves are lined with countless tomes, organized meticulously for easy access.
Maximum Knowledge: 10
Research Checks: DC 15 Academia Lore or Library Lore, DC 18 Arcana, DC 18 Society
Knowledge Thresholds:
5 Knowledge: The PCs discover ancient texts that provide insight into the history of the Cyrillian Academy and its founding members. They learn about notable wizards and their contributions to magical research. Through careful research, the PCs stumble upon a hidden collection of trade records and correspondence within the archive. This reveals the intricate web of alliances, rivalries, and power struggles among the Merchant Princes and the Concordance.
7 Knowledge: The PCs discover The Planar Papyri, a hidden section within The Astral Archive dedicated to the study of planar magic. They learn about the Planar Projection ritual that allows temporary planar travel and gain knowledge of a specific planar destination of their choosing.
10 Knowledge: The PCs uncover ancient texts that detail the history and origins of the much sought-after Fallen Star. Various sources reported observing the Star’s descent; by piecing these clues together, the party determines the Star fell somewhere in the great sea south of Freeport, East of Villum, and West of Zhaz. They also gain insight into its potential uses.
Philosophers' Pergamum
Prerequisite: only characters with a Liked reputation or better with the Cyrillian Academy are granted access to the Philosophers’ Pergamum
Description: The Philosophers' Pergamum is a compilation of profound philosophical treatises, scholarly debates, and intellectual discourse. It houses a vast collection of texts exploring a wide range of topics, including ethics, metaphysics, and the nature of reality. Scholars and philosophers frequent this section of the Astral Archive, seeking enlightenment and intellectual stimulation.
Maximum Knowledge: 10
Research Checks: DC 18 Academia Lore, DC 20 Occultism, DC 20 Philosophy Lore
Knowledge Thresholds
5 Knowledge: The PCs discover an ancient philosophical manuscript that sheds new light on their investigating philosophical dilemma. They gain a deeper understanding of the topic, granting them a +2 circumstance bonus on future checks or discussions related to that dilemma.
7 Knowledge: The Philosophers' Pergamum reveals a hidden debate recorded centuries ago. This break gives among the earliest record of the five factions of Gedan. The PCs gain insight into the Academy’s rival factions, The Free Guild and the Conclave of the Seed. Researching the Free Guild in the Astral Archive yields historical accounts and biographies of renowned adventurers who have been associated with the guild. The PCs learn about famous quests, daring escapades, and the heroes who have shaped the guild's history. They may also find information on the guild's current leaders, influential members, or hidden bases of operation
10 Knowledge: The PCs unearth a rare and elusive treatise that holds profound insights into the nature of reality. This treatise imparts wisdom and clarity, granting the PCs a permanent +1 bonus to a mental ability score of their choice.
Planar Papyri
Prerequisite: The Planar Papyri remains hidden until Player Characters discover the collection during their research in the Academy Stacks
Description: The Planar Papyri is a specialized collection within the Astral Archive that delves deep into the intricacies of the planes of existence. Its shelves are adorned with scrolls and portfolios filled with information about cosmology, planar creatures, and the mysteries of planar travel.
Maximum Knowledge: 15
Research Checks: DC 20 Occultism, DC 20 Planes Lore, DC 23 Arcana
Knowledge Thresholds
7 Research Points: The PCs uncover ancient texts that reveal the existence of hidden portals to the elemental planes scattered throughout the material world. They learn about the locations of two such portals, potentially leading to new adventures or opportunities for planar exploration.
10 Research Points: The Planar Papari provides the PCs with detailed information about a specific extraplanar creature or entity they are researching. They gain an advantage on any checks or interactions related to that specific creature or entity.
15 Research Points: The PCs discover a rare grimoire containing a powerful ritual known as "Planar Projection." This ritual allows the temporary shif of the party to a chosen plane of existence, enabling planar travel for a limited time. The PCs can use this ritual to access the chosen plane and explore its wonders or confront its challenges.
Astral Vault
Prerequisite: Only characters with an Admired reputation with the Cyrillian Academy are granted access to the Astral Vault
Description: The Astral Vault is a highly secure and restricted section within the Astral Archive. It houses works and secrets that the academy deems too valuable or dangerous to be accessed freely. Protected by powerful wards and guarded by elite scholars, the Astral Vault contains rare tomes, ancient artifacts, and forbidden knowledge.
Maximum Knowledge: 15
Research Checks: DC 25 Arcana, DC 28 Occultism, DC 30 Society
Knowledge Thresholds
5 Research Points Within the depths of the Astral Archive, the PCs discover dusty tomes and manuscripts that shed light on the inner workings and secret projects of the Cyrillian Academy. They learn about the academy's experiments, forbidden research, or controversial magical theories. They may uncover information about powerful artifacts or rituals guarded by the academy or even the existence of hidden academies or rival factions within the organization.
10 Research Points The Astral Vault grants the PCs access to a collection of ancient artifacts with significant magical properties. Each PC can choose one artifact to borrow temporarily, granting them a powerful boon or ability until the end of their current adventure or quest.
15 Research Points: Deep within the Astral Vault, the PCs discover a secret chamber containing a legendary tome. This tome holds the key to unlocking a long-lost ritual or forbidden magic. The PCs can learn this ritual, gaining the ability to perform a powerful and unique magical effect.
The Astral Vault represents the pinnacle of knowledge and secrecy within the Astral Archive. It holds tantalizing secrets and powerful artifacts, providing opportunities for significant rewards and advancements in magical understanding.
Academy Encounters
In the depths of The Astral Archive, hidden chambers and ancient guardians may await intrepid explorers. These special encounters may involve puzzles, traps, or magical guardians protecting long-lost secrets or artifacts. Overcoming these encounters may yield additional rewards or unlock new avenues of research. In addition to Members of the Academy, the following creatures help defend the Astral Academy.
Basic Creatures
Expert Creatures
Master Creatures
Lore Keepers
The librarians of The Astral Archive, known as the Lore Keepers, possess vast knowledge and expertise. PCs can seek guidance and information from the Lore Keepers, receiving hints or clues related to their research topic.
Knowledge Quests
The Astral Academy offers knowledge-based quests and tasks to adventurers and scholars. These quests may involve retrieving rare books or artifacts, assisting with research expeditions, or solving puzzles and riddles to unlock hidden knowledge. Completing these quests can grant unique rewards, such as access to restricted sections of the library, the acquisition of rare spells or rituals, or even the mentorship of a renowned scholar.
Rewards of Discovery
Upon successfully uncovering new knowledge or completing significant research tasks, PCs may receive rewards such as unique spells, rare artifacts, or access to exclusive sections of the library. The Astral Archive's librarians may also offer quests or missions that lead to further discoveries.
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