College of Wintrow

The college of Wintrow is one of the oldest and most reputable institutions in Gand. Being in the farthest corner of Gand the school is relatively secluded with the nearest city of Wintrow a two hour walk away. The college is known as a place for the more wealthy of Gand to send their children. Where it produces board and accomodation along with education. Culturally the role of student typically falls to the second or third born, or to the child who is not needed to manage business or land. Previously attending the college was seen as a great honour that grows respectable young citizens but more recently has been used as a place for the wealthy to have a reprieve from their ‘problem children’. Without the commitment or permanence of sending them to join the The Church of Tarn which may see them perusing a career with the church or fosaking their ability to have children, own land or wed. The college also become a good solution as the school is relatively isolated from the outside world and strict with its study practices, students are unable to leave campus during the school term.   This is the school that was historically attended by Princess Mauricia Rainier who was sent by her late father when she was a teenager. The school put a lot of attention into her education under the belief that she would be named as heir presumptive to rule upon the passing of her father King Halric Rainier. Many describe her as a model student.   The school boasts a wide range of topics to learn from with a varied staff of professional faculty, the school has created a large number of politicians, engineeers, civil servants and representatives of various guilds. The graduates are presented to Gand once a year during the month of Humility at a ceremony that takes place firstly in Wintrow itself in the Wintrow Ampitheater, and then at the King’s court in Zentawen where they are presented to many of the nobles of the land and poached for work opportunities. Not everyone is given the opportunity to study and for many it is far more practical to enlist in a local guild or to study beneath a trades person, particularly as tuition is expected to be paid up front and can cost as much as a prized steed. Historically the college has been attended by kith students but prior to the eleven sealing a number of elves would work closely with and colloaborate with the school, elves like orcs had their own education institutions, but there has been a collaboration between the races.   The college keeps a tight reign on their students; they are required to wear specific robes that distinguish what their area of study is and they are expected to live in the board loadings and are not permitted to leave the campus during the term unless they have sought exception from the administration. This however frequently doesn’t not deter students from sneaking out at night attempting to reach Wintrow in search of ale and bad decisions. An occurrence to frequent that the school employs a rotating staff of guards to find the students, stop them from freezing to death and return them to safety.   As the college is known for teaching a wide array of academic subjects, students can determine a major and minor focus in their field of interest. What is also unique about the college is that it once also taught magic, and through this practice centuries ago would help to cultivate new sorcerers. The college is credited with helping train sorcerers who were able to affect victory during The Kitham-Elven Conflict turning the tides of the battle. It is even have said to have been the birth place of developing the Rules of Magic, the school at this time had an extensive library and catalogue of magic theory and practices. Which has now been destroyed and lost.   The school is led by a singular headmaster who operated on terms of five year intervals, and is supported by a board of faculty a number of whom are members of the order of the golden snow a panel of locals who are responsible for the municipality of both Wintrow and the college, every five years the faculty and the order choose to either extend the headmasters term or elect someone else. The current headmaster has been running on four consecutive terms.   The Seige Under the guide of the Brotherhood of Tarn's spiritual leader Godkin Hossencroft, a squadron of paladins descended upon the school and began their seige- They began to round up any texts of magic teachings of history and burned them, they destroyed elven artifacts magic in nature or not. And went so far as to kill a number of high-ranking and prominent professors and a handful of students. The killing blow to the professor of magic himself was landed by a young Sister Esther, Martinet and was the inciting incident to her becoming a martinet. Hossencroft, a former student of the school himself, faced national backlash from the event, a move he ultimately defended by stating he was attempting o keep the people of Gand safe from the Elven Plague. He would pledge his own resources and money int his sect to create the alchemists, a titles within the church dedicated to research and experiementation. The results of which would be shared with the public. It was the current king of the time King Halric Rainier who stood in support of the action and was a key milestone in the Brotherhood carving out their power.    Marcestra De Deir The college was the final resting place of renowned folk hero Marcestra De Deir, who in 497 EoE stood against the king and rallied soldiers to fight off agressive elven forces. She ultimately brokered peace between the two races but when the conflict was over king Daelin Vos would order her execution despite the ourcry of the public and the elves themselves. She would be executed at Wintrow Ampitheater and her bones would be held and displayed at the college until the seige where they would go missing, presumed to be destroyed by the brotherhood's forces.   Arcitecture and landmarks The college is made from weathered grey stone with granite accents the exterior of the building is simple and in imposing despite its large size blotting the landscape. In the interior there are vaulted high ceilings decorated with hand-painted frescos of natural motifs, the main hall is lines with marble bust and paintings of important events, alumni and benefactors. The wing where the seige took place   Symbolism The schools main colours are red, grey and brown which makes up most of their banners, blazons and even their uniforms. The crest of the school features these colours on a coat of arms flanked by creatures of wisdom. Two stoic bears sit on either side rearing up and ready for action as a raven sits steadfast on the top ovservign its sorrounding- the raven is sandiwiched in between two sexton flowers- a not to the trees prominent on the Wintrow crest. On the inside of the coat of arms are a series of instrument for the inquisitive mind; a compass, a feathered quill, a book, and a lit candle. The crest is framed with a banner and motto for the school- 'With wisdom we conquer'