The great universities of Ravenloft

[Rock of the Fraternity]

Which universities and other assorted centers of learning worthy of note are there in the Demiplane of Dread, all told? What curriculae are they each famous for, and which scholarly titles do they grant to their alumni and staff? Has anyone ever compiled a list of this subject?

[DocBeard]

Actually I was working on one. It's in a notebook somewhere in my room, but it's been months since I've seen it. I was thinking of proposing an article on adding a Nova Vaasan military-flavored academy and a few others to the Core.

'Academic' Domains include all of the Mordentish-speaking Domains, Hazlan, most of Darkon, Lamordia, Falkovnia, Dominia, Pardon and most of the Nocturnal Sea(With the sizable exception of Velchor.). Other Domains are too close to the dark ages to be considered possessed of proper schooling; Rokushuma is set in a period of civil strife in Japan not unlike Europe's Dark Ages, though it might once have had proper academies or schooling systems.

[Isabella]

I think Shri Raji might have had one dedicated to Tvashtri, I can't recall clearly if that was a game specific thing we made up, though.

[Gonzoron of the FoS]

nope, the Great University of Tvashti is canon. (From RLMCIII, according to the kargatane catalogue).

Other canon ones off the top of my head University of Port-a-Lucine, University of Liffe, the Brautslava Institute, and the late University of Il Aluk.

Previous thread on the subject here:
http://www.fraternityofshadows.com/foru ... php?t=3448

[Rotipher of the FoS]

'Academic' Domains include all of the Mordentish-speaking Domains, Hazlan, most of Darkon, Lamordia, Falkovnia, Dominia, Pardon and most of the Nocturnal Sea (with the sizable exception of Velchor.).

I'd take Dominia and Nebligtode off that list. Dominia doesn't have any native population, so the only education there would be on-the-job medical training which Heinfroth's assistants receive. Likewise, while Meredoth himself is well-educated, the Grabenites are simple rustics with no time to squander on "book learning".

Ghastria, like Dominia, has some well-educated inhabitants. However, its resident population is so tiny that it couldn't possibly support a college, so people from East Riding who want their kids educated probably send them to school in Dementlieu or Lamordia.

[High Priest Mikhal]

'Academic' Domains include all of the Mordentish-speaking Domains, Hazlan, most of Darkon, Lamordia, Falkovnia, Dominia, Pardon and most of the Nocturnal Sea (with the sizable exception of Velchor.).

Also remove Verbrek, which is technically a (Low) Mordentish-speaking domain. They outright distrust so-called "education" and "book learning."

[Rock of the Fraternity]

If the Kantora college is so poorly thought of ... that suggests all sorts of nifty little possibilities.

[NeoTiamat]

I'm quite certain that Richemulot had an Academy of Sciences (or the French-named version thereof).

Likewise, the Red Academy of Hazlan is the only dedicated mage's college in the Demiplane.

[Rotipher of the FoS]

You're forgetting the Radiant Tower in Falkovnia. A military college is still a college, so a military magical academy also ought to count.

[DocBeard]

That's why I said 'educated' instead of 'possessing a university', though I did indeed forget about Verbrek, which has an attitude towards learning much more in line with the Balok speaking domains.

Honestly I dunno if Lamordia is centralized enough to support its own university. They probably go to Lucine or have sort of a scientific master and apprentice sort of deal.

I'm surprised that Darkon has yet to build a new center of learning, honestly. How can Azalin stand Hazlik and Drakov's domains being considered better educated than his?

[Rotipher of the FoS]

Darkon's still got the University of Karg. With a significant fraction of the urban population killed in the Requiem and Shrouded Years, Darkon may not actually have enough students around to need a new university.

[Yaoi Huntress Earth]

Doesn't Richemulot also have a finishing school for girls as well?

[DasSoviet]

After reading this thread, I remembered stumbling across a mention of a questionably-cannon University that I wanted to use in my home game... took me a bit of digging, but I found it again

From the Mordent Cartographic Society's Lamordia page:

Leidenheim, appeared in the novel "Mordenheim" as the town where Victor Mordenheim started his carreer.
While it was the epitome of science, and supported a lot of highstanding scientists, it's university and hospital now lie almost abandoned - thus depriving doctor Mordenheim from the peers whose respect he would so gladly gain, while still reminding him from his past.
Leidenheim is surrounded by the marsh of the Musarde Delta, which originated when Lamordia was drawn into Ravenloft. Most of it's inhabitants suffer from fever attracted from these marshes. There is a cure for this illness, but since no medical expertise (or money for training) is available to procure it, all that can be done is to care for the sick.
Leidenheim is also mentioned in the updated version of the Guide to Ghosts in van Richten's Monster Hunter Compendium II.

Likely the University of Leidenheim still functions, though it's fallen from cutting edge to 'that place where you send your kids if you're not willing to spend the money'. Loss of prestige, cutting edge research, many abandoned or decaying annexes and dormitories. Could prove interesting

[The Giamarga]

Previous thread on the subject here:
http://www.fraternityofshadows.com/foru ... php?t=3448

That thread has a very thourough list of Universities of the Core.