The Academy of Lore
Download Cert Version 2.40 (Year 4 Update)
Members of the Academy of Lore (or Dustdigger College) are scientists, archaeologists, and treasure hunters who serve the Yeomanry League in an official capacity. Members are charged with exploring, mapping, and bringing back artifacts from the extensive number of Suel (and other) ruins that dot the Yeoman countryside. As a secondary task, they are expected to protect these same sites from those who would exploit those treasures for personal gain and without permission of the Academy or the Yeoman government.
Prerequisites
A character must have the Yeomanry listed as her home region. In addition, entrance into the Academy of Lore requires a minimum of 1 year's study (real time) at the University at Loftwick. Switching regions from the Yeomanry results in expulsion from the group and all the benefits that come with it.
A prospective student must be of good repute (never convicted of a major crime, for instance) and have a certain number Influence points with Yeoman institutions - 3 from the Dustdigger College and 1 from a member of the Council of Common Grosspokesmen.
In order to be considered for entrance, a PC must have at least 10 ranks in any combination of these Knowledge skills: Arcana, Architecture, Geography, History, Local, Nature, Religion. In addition, at least 5 of those ranks must be concentrated in one particular area.
An Academy student must also be able to speak and read / write one of the following languages: Ancient Suloise, Old Oeridian, Flan, or Ancient Baklunish.
Requirements
Students must pay a tuition of 500 gp per year and spend 10 Time Units (TUs) per year for TWO years to graduate from the Academy. It is possible for students to reduce their tuition on a gp-for-gp basis in exchange for bringing archaeological artifacts to the College while a student (instead of gaining Influence for them as below); however, time units may NOT be reduced. TUs, gold, or artifacts spent towards graduation should be recorded by the DM both on the PC's log sheet AND the back of their Academy certificate. Once these prerequisites are achieved, the PC is considered to have graduated from the Academy of Arcane Lore and becomes a full-fledged Dustdigger. At this time, contact the regional Triad for further instructions.
Abuse of Academy membership or actions unbefitting of a member of the Academy can result in the expulsion of the student in question.
Benefits
Any treasure considered to have archaeological or historical significance (as determined by the DM) may be given to the Academy and not sold for profit by the PC. The PC gains one Dustdigger Influence point for each 500 gp of "finds" submitted. Items acquired outside of the Yeomanry also may be applied in this manner if the DM approves, as per above. These donations should be tracked on the PC's Adventure Certificate for that particular module and on the back of their Academy certificate.
Dustdigger-related Yeomanry adventures may be put towards the TU cost required for graduation. Whether or not a regional adventure counts towards this will be clearly indicated in the module.
Students and alumni have free access to the Library of the Academy of Arcane Lore in Loftwick. To represent this, once per regional adventure a PC may add a +5 circumstance bonus to any Knowledge check related to Arcana, Architecture, Geography, History, Local, or Religion if they are willing to spend 1 TU to make the trip to Loftwick and circumstances dictate their ability to make the trip.
Any Dustdigger influence points used or redeemed by an Academy student count as double. Here are some examples of what Influence Points can grant a PC:
IPs |
Example of Use |
1 |
|
2 |
For two IPs, a member of the Academy can receive a Luxury Lifestyle for one regional or metaregional adventure. |
3 |
For three IPs, a member of the Academy agrees to teach the PC access to one of the following Builder Book feats:
An empty feat slot must be available, however. |
- Available Prestige Classes
- Arcane Trickster (DMG)
Dungeon Delver (S&S)
Dustdigger (Regional--pending)
Horizon Walker (DMG)
Lasher (S&F)
Loremaster (DMG). - Available Feats
- Alluring (S&S)
Charlatan (S&S)
Jack of all Trades (S&S)
Multicultural (S&S)
Obscure Lore (S&S)
Resist Disease (MotW)
Resist Poison (MotW)
Throw Anything (S&F). - Available Spells
- Corpse Candle (T&B)
Feign Death (T&B)
Filter (T&B)
Listening Coin (S&S) - Available Mundane and Magical Items
- Arcane library (T&B)
Crossbow (covered hand and grapple-firing) (S&S)
Expandable Pole (S&S)
Longreach Tongs (S&S)
Portable Writing Desk (T&B)
Bag of Holding (any)
Chime of Opening
Everburning Torch
Ring of Feather Falling
Immovable Rod
Periapt of Proof Against Poison
Rope of Climbing
Rod of Metal and Mineral Detection
Background and Description
The Academy of Lore (known as the Dustdigger College by students, alumni, and local residents) was founded in 541 CY by the Council of High Magic. The Academy was originally intended to teach students the skills necessary to explore ancient ruins with care and respect while still bringing back treasures. It selected students thought to be trustworthy enough to return from sites with knowledge and materials for the wizards to study. The Academy worked in relative anonymity until 576 CY, when a long tunnel was discovered under the Hellfurnaces - a cavern which shoots for hundreds of miles, intersecting huge caverns and tunnels hundreds of feet below the surface. Early explorers of the tunnel believed that it was the legendary Passage of Slerotin that was said to link Yeoman territory to the Sea of Dust, the old Suel Empire, all the way on the other side of the Hellfurnaces. The College's mission of Suel archaeology had an exciting new field for study, and with the assistance of Theodain and other prominent Yeomen, funding was received and work began on a permanent home for the Academy. The natural threats of the Underdark made the College's first excursions short and limited in scope.
In 590 CY, however, a group of Yeoman adventurers known as the Defenders of the Spear emerged from the tunnel with strange weapons, armor, and other treasure that disintegrated upon contact with sunlight. They also returned with tales of great riches and wondrous magic located inside the tunnel.
Despite the huge effort of defending the Yeomanry from invading giants, the Council of Common Grosspokesmen and then-Freeholder Crispin Redwell took a true interest in the Passage shortly after the return of the Defenders of the Spear. They gave new Headmaster Lillith Sedgewick the charge of exploring, mapping, and recording any findings from the Passage of Slerotin. In exchange, The Academy of Lore was decreed an official state institution, was given an annual budget by the Council of Grosspokemen, and was given sole authority to explore the extensive archaeological sites on Yeoman soil. Exploration of the tunnel continues to this day, and knowledge about it and its denizens has grown tremendously since the Academy of Arcane Lore has become involved.
Though the Academy is not entirely happy with the glut of adventurers trooping through the Passage from Dark Gate, it acknowledges that the area is entirely too dangerous to explore without significant resources dedicated to clearing it of threats and sealing off many of the side passages. There is a substantial Academy presence in Dark Gate - some go on expeditions themselves and others try to harness, regulate, and recover important artifacts from the many other treasure hunters venturing into the region.
As the Academy is relatively new, it has difficulty keeping adventurers and poachers from plundering sites, but official permission from the Academy of Arcane Lore is required to search historical sites in the Yeomanry.