Ghearan College
Ghearan College is one of the three original magickal colleges in World's Mouth.
Description
The Ghearan College stood tall and proud in its strict regality. Every inch of it practically buzzed with serene and confident power - the many stained glass faces standing from its tall and expansive surfaces like multicoloured eyes, proclaiming their famed mages to the entire world. The tallest spire glittered its gilded welcoming beacon toward any who might have strayed down this road on this particular morning. Overall, though, the streets were frightening and intimidating - especially to strangers - even though this was one of the better portions of the city.
Within, the marble floor of the entrance hall leading into Ghearan College is white almost to the point of luminescence. The light from the stained glass windows lining the left side of the hall reflects onto of the sheer surface of the floor, producing an almost exact copy of the depictions within the windows. The image cast upon the floor as surely as if it were painted.
Magnificent portraits of all the great mages of World's Mouth are shown, elaborate whirls surrounding them, symbols of power and wealth. The depictions are set in stained glass, giving an impression of grim luminosity and eternity. Markus de Glorifyl stands solid amid the torrents of fire that would eventually claim his life, and perhaps that dark silhouette is that of Ivero, his sightless eyes ever watchful.
At the far end, the hallway opens into a large circular room, with a glass ceiling letting the light in. The walls are plain and unadorned, perfectly smooth as they stretch up to the arched glass ceiling. In the very center of the space there is a dark wooden desk, upon which numerous papers are arranged into neat stacks. It is clear that the desk is arranged so that he can see any approachers long before they see him. A very secure arrangement, no doubt.
Behind the desk sits a very muscular young man dressed in what appears at first to be a thin hoodless robe of the lightest blue. The garment is tied about his waist, slightly open at the neck. The man seems to be preoccupied with something, although from his feline posture it is clear that his reflexes could quickly change that fact.
Behind him, a series of doors lead into the interior of the college, behind which the echo of voices can be heard, and perhaps the whisper of an arcane tongue, and the ever present sound of bodies in motion.
Background
Ghearan College is the youngest and smallest of the three Colleges of Magic in World's Mouth. Teaching mastery of magic through perfection of self, other mages see Ghearans as eccentric at best, utterly batty at worst. Ghearan philosophy states that a perfected soul may be used to weave more powerful spells, and a perfect body as a tool to attain the perfect soul. In order to reach this, pupils are taught several skills of self-focus and self-perfection, and are given hours of physical exercise as well as mental. It is this last trait of Ghearan education that keeps many mages from seeking schooling with the college, even though Ghearan teaches a few magic skills not easily available elsewhere in the city. They have close ties with the Prodesse and the Castigus Institute.
