The Dreaming Spires

Languard’s Dreaming Spires—or sometime simply “the Spires”—is the greatest seat of learning in the Duchy and its only university. Sprawling over the Alina’s Isle, the Dreaming Spires stands in splendid isolation from the stink and clamour of the city. Only reachable by boat, it is here those desirous of learning come.

 

Merchants and nobles alike send their children to the Spires to learn their letters and numbers as well as a vast number of other learned subjects. Commoners are rarely found among the students, for their parents cannot afford the near-ruinous fees require to secure a place at the school.

The Dreaming Spires maintains an impressive library—the so-called Sequestered Hall—for use by its students and teachers. The only library of greater extent in Ashlar is held by the Sagacious Masters of the Eldritch Nexus behind the Black Tower’s vitrified walls. The Sequestered Hall is a hard place for outsiders to reach. A gift of a rare book or handsome donation to the running of the Spires is, however, normally enough to secure a brief perusal of its stacks.

Notable Folk

Many of the folk encountered in the Dreaming Spires are nothing more than students, minor members of staff and so on. A few, however, are notable:

  • Master of Tomes (LN old male human wizard 3): Responsible for safeguarding the Sequestered Hall, the Master of Tomes is almost sixty years old. He oversees a small staff and cares little for anything happened beyond his small empire. In truth, he resents letting anyone into the Sequestered Hall—including the students.
  • Mistress of the Spires (NG old female wizard 6): The Mistress has dedicated her life to the pursuit of knowledge. A powerful wizard in her own right, she has not left the Dreaming Spires in years. In truth she is tired—very tired—but a near-fanatical devotion to her duty keeps her going.

Hooks

The PCs are approached by Kanbrar Nuninrae (NE male half-elf thief 3). Kanbrar has been hired to steal a certain book from the Sequestered Hall, but knows he needs help. He lies to the PCs, spinning a tale of forbidden love between himself and Eeva Laitnen—daughter of a wealthy merchant. He begs the PCs to help him break into the Spire so he might steal some tender moments with his love.

Languard

Languard is the capital city of Ashlar and closest settlement of note to Gloamhold’s benighted halls. This is a first look at the location, which will appear in its final form in Town Backdrop: Languard which will be published by Raging Swan Press in early 2018.

For more Languard, check out the city’s main page!

 

Published by

Creighton

Creighton is the publisher at Raging Swan Press and the designer of the award winning adventure Madness at Gardmore Abbey. He has designed many critically acclaimed modules such as Retribution and Shadowed Keep on the Borderlands and worked with Wizards of the Coast, Paizo, Expeditious Retreat Press, Rite Publishing and Kobold Press.

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