Alabaster Lyceum


The Alabaster Lyceum is a place of higher learning in Erudite Quarter of Emon (Tal'Dorei), serving as an arcane college and research facility for magical and divine artifacts.

The scholars of the Alabaster Lyceum, alongside the scholars of the Cobalt Soul, were the one to compile the convoluted accounts of the history of Tal'Dorei continent and assemble them into a coherent, but sometimes debatable, timeline of events. They also research the accounts of the history of Exandria,[1] as well as the geographical and societal characteristics of Tal'Dorei.[2]

Building description[edit | edit source]

The building appears to be built out of white marble, with very high ceilings, stretching up in some areas as high as 80 feet. Much of the building appears to be lit by magical orbs that are either set into the walls or into chandeliers. Some of the rooms have carved pillars depicting battles between devas and demons that spiral up the pillars. The building has guards near the entrances adorned with silver and gold armor wearing elven-like helmets.[3] The lyceum also has several elaborate gardens on its territory.[4]

Traverse Junction[edit | edit source]

Within the Lyceum grounds is the Traverse Junction, a large pyramidal structure sapphire pyramid that houses many teleportation circles, connecting to other permanent teleportation circles set in almost every major cities across Exandria (Westruun, Syngorn, Kraghammer, Whitestone, Port Damali, Rexxentrum, Ank'Harel, Vasselheim) Only limited group of people has access to these circles: "approved mages, world leaders, or other who are renowned enough in Emon or honored by the Alabaster Lyceum".[4][5]

The circles are curated by "telemagi". They are ready to "pay a handsome sum" to expand their collection of teleportation sigils connected to the new locations.[4]

Society[edit | edit source]

The tuition at the Lyceum is rather expensive, so most of its students come from money or a family of high station. Students come to study, refine their skills, or research the local libraries on such subjects as history, politics, economics, alchemy, art, and arcane.[6] Students at the Lyceum have access to any set of tools necessary, though said tools cannot leave the college grounds. Additionally, spellcasting services have a 25% discounted price to Lyceum members.[7]

The Lorekeeper Society is one of the divisions of the Lyceum.[8]

The Master of Arcana of the Council of Tal'Dorei sometimes collaborates with the Headmaster of the lyceum.[9]

History[edit | edit source]

Campaign 1: Vox Machina[edit | edit source]

Vox Machina used the Circle of Teleportation at the Lyceum to escape from the illithid in Yug'Voril.[10] The Horn of Orcus was temporarily placed in the Lyceum while the trip to Vasselheim was prepared.[11]

During the Chroma Crisis in late 810 PD, in which the dragons of the Chroma Conclave attacked Emon and was taken under the rule of Thordak, the Lyceum was damaged and many of the magical items owned by the college were looted and added to Thordak's hoard. Following the Conclave's defeat, members of the Lyceum reconstructed the collage and the rest of the Erudite Quarter, doing so themselves rather than enlist the newly formed League of Miracles out of distrust for their motivations.[12]

After already attending the College of the Savvy, Scanlan's daughter Kaylie attended the Alabaster Lyceum, where she lorded her humble origins over the children of the various nobles.[13]

After Campaign 1[edit | edit source]

In 836 PD, scholars of the lyceum supervise the research and the excavation in the ruins of an ancient civilization in the Ivyheart Thicket.[14]

Around 836 PD, as a part of A Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Waste adventure hook from Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, a group of four researchers from the Alabaster Lyceum have vanished in Yug'Voril. These incident was investigated for several months to no avail. The local mind flayers hungered for a "specific morsel of powerful knowledge" within their brains. Kraghammer dwarves saw four figures that resembled the missing scholars, who were entering the lower passages of the Keenstone Quarry.[15]

Notable people[edit | edit source]

Depiction of Alabaster Lyceum scholar, by Claudia Ianniciello from Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 184.[art 1]

Staff[edit | edit source]

Students[edit | edit source]

Background option[edit | edit source]

The Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting and Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn sourcebooks offer the Lyceum Student character background with skill proficiencies in Arcana, History, or Persuasion (pick two), knowledge of two languages, and equipment befitting a relatively well-to-do scholar.[18]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, Chapter 1: "Welcome to Tal'Dorei", p. 12.
  2. Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, Chapter 3: "Tal'Dorei Gazetteer", p. 65.
  3. "Escape from the Underdark" (1x13) at 2:16:29.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, Chapter 3: "Tal'Dorei Gazetteer", p. 136.
  5. "Escape from the Underdark" (1x13) at 2:15:02. It is revealed that Vox Machina arrived in the Lyceum.
  6. Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, Chapter 3: "Tal'Dorei Gazetteer", pp. 136–137.
  7. Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, Chapter 4: "Character Options", p. 184.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, Chapter 3: "Tal'Dorei Gazetteer", p. 68.
  9. Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, Chapter 2: "Allegiances of Tal'Dorei", p. 44.
  10. "Escape from the Underdark" (1x13) at 2:06:24.
  11. "Shopping and Shipping" (1x14) at 1:12:41.
  12. Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, Chapter 3: "Tal'Dorei Gazetteer", p. 134.
  13. 13.0 13.1 "The Chapter Closes" (1x115) at 3:48:02.
  14. Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, Chapter 3: "Tal'Dorei Gazetteer", p. 83.
  15. Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, Chapter 3: "Tal'Dorei Gazetteer", p. 101.
  16. "Talks Machina Special #3: Critical Role Campaign 1 Wrap-up" (TMSx03) at 47:35.
  17. Vox Machina Origins II #3.
  18. Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 105.

Art:

  1. Depiction of Alabaster Lyceum scholar, by Claudia Ianniciello from Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 184. This file is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Wizards of the Coast Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.