Nestled within Riverfall’s gates in the largest structure first noticeable in the city, lies the Valkalah Academy. It is the physical and scholarly heart of the city of Riverfall. Large gleaming golden stone form the facade of the building with an extensive underground section hidden from view. The entrance is etched in stone and peppered with minerals which flash and glisten golden with the sun’s beaming rays. Resting on the cliffs roughly one thousand feet above the Suvan Sea, the name of the school is engraved along the top of the heavy wooden front doors in large, stoic block letters.
The institution is usually bustling with young Akalak taking breaks from their daily weapon and combat training in order to become versed in a variety of topics. The academy is the principle place of learning for growing Akalak and all cultural and history classes are taught here as well as other academic courses fundamental to a youth’s development. Young Akalak are not the only visitors of the Valkalah Academy, however. The doors are open to anybody residing in Riverfall or here on an extended visitation. Along with the few Human and Konti students found on occasion, older Akalak frequent the school for additional instruction toward their own intellectual advancement or to brush up on forgotten or rusty areas of study. The teaching staff is on a mostly volunteer basis with only a few core professors being solely committed to a full time job here.
Upon entering the Valkalah Academy, a round reception desk confronts each visitor as it is the central fixture of the large cavernous foyer. An Akalak mans the desk at all times the academy is open which is most all day and has full information on who is taking students in what subjects. Many torches line the walls at various heights and seem to burn bright eternally as one follows another around the entire circumference of the reception area. The academy’s general structure is one which follows any natural cave design by having larger rooms toward the front and slowly tapering as the main hall extends further into the cliffs. Down this main corridor several rooms on each side can be found and serve as classrooms. There are no more offices or other faculty rooms as most of the staff are either temporary volunteers or do other work in their homes or some other location. To the left of the front foyer are several more doors, most standing open, where the staff offices and desks reside.
The Academy is made up of two large community rooms used for talks, lectures, and any public meetings the city of Riverfall needs to hold. The primary school that all Akalak children attend for their basic education are housed within this facility as well. And the majority of the rest of the space is taken up with smaller offices, private labs, and workshops as well. Within the basement, which is divided into two stories, the Valkalah Library is housed. Office and lab space within the Valkalah Academy is often for lease. One needs to see the Director of the Academy to acquire one.
Behind the Valkalah Academy, but still part of the facility, lies four major halls.
Academy Director Parnell
Name: Parnell/Conto
Race: Akalak
DoB: 312 (200 YO)
PoB: Riverfall
Title: Academy Director
Skills: Teaching 85, Philosophy 66, Math 64, Logic 60, Writing 59, Business Management 55,
Gnosis: Eyris 2, Qalaya 2, Xhyvas 1
Parnell and his family have always been involved in the Academy. HIs great great grandfather was the founder of the Valkalah Academy and convinced the Council to fund the building of the facility. Several of Parnell's sons and daughters teach or have offices and labs within the facility. Parnell still occasional takes on Philosophy students, though this is a rare occurrence. His office is always open to deal with people who have questions or concerns. He also likes an occasional conversation or debate. Conto, Parnell's dark brother, is fascinated by current events and often knows exactly whats going on in and around Riverfall politically.
Core Instructor Parnell
Name: Felaris/Dysothae Kalgotha
Race: Akalak
DoB: 405 AV (115 YO)
PoB: Riverfall
Title: Core Instructor
Skills: 26 Unarmed, 26 Lakan, 26 Copying, 26 Meditation, 26 Organization, 26 Anthropology, 51 Mathematics, 51 Writing, 26 Arcanology, 51 Teaching, 51 History
Gnosis:
The Kalgothas have been a part of the Academy since its founding, and take great pride in their instruction of the youngest generation. Their purview has always been covering the basics for the students, educating them about the world outside of Riverfall, and preparing them for their first trial.
Felaris has a reputation for being a kind, fatherly time to the students he likes. An he likes students who pay attention in class and take their studies as seriously as they do their martial practice. He often makes himself available after regular academy hours to help students that are struggling with a subject.
Core Instructor Parnell
Name: Tavareth/Raheth
Race: Akalak
DoB: 390 AV (130 YO)
PoB: Riverfall
Title: Core Instructor
Skills: 26 Unarmed, 26 Lakan, 26 Short Bow, 26 Meditation, 26 Trapping, 51 Biology, 51 Hunting, 51 Tracking, 51 Teaching
Gnosis:
It is part of Tavareth's job as an instructor of the common core to help prepare young Akalak's for their first trial. While not the most pleasant man to be around, none of his students can say he has been overly harsh with them, just distant in a cold way. He takes his job seriously, and goes through great pains to instruct his students in all that they will need to know for their first solo adventure onto the plains.
Mind Instructor Parnell
Name: Resvie/Ysatel
Race: Akalak
DoB: 421 AV (99 YO)
PoB: Riverfall
Title: Mind Instructor
Skills: 26 Unarmed, 26 Lute, 40 Rhetoric, 40 Persuasion, 51 Meditation, 51 Teaching, 51 Lakan, 76 Psychology
Gnosis:
Resvie wears many hats. Politico, musician, and currently serving as a meditation mentor at the academy. He also offers a mentorship in psychology, with a focus on helping Akalak come to terms with their twin souls. When he is not found in the academy, he can be found supplementing his income with musical satire at the White Crane.
The Specialty Halls
Four smaller buildings line the back side of the Academy representing the halls of learning. The Halls are as follows:
The Core Hall: This Hall is the central gathering point for what the Akalak people consider the basics. Language - Reading, Writing (spelling, grammar, punctuation) both Tukant and Others, Mathematics (both basic and advanced), and History. Very austere, this Hall is decorated to focus its students on the seriousness of their topics.
The Arts Hall: This Hall is about as opposite of the Core Hall as can be. Bright color coats its walls and its interior is designed to enhance the pursuit of all things art. Drawing, painting, pottery and ceramics are taught here. The occasional class on weaving is also taught if a student's interest drifts this way. The Arts Hall is constantly seen as 'smoking' because of a large outdoor kiln built into the ground behind it.
The Mind Hall: This Hall is dedicated to the pursuit of social and mind sciences. Psychology, philosophy, logic and a small host of other things are the specialty of these professors. This building provides a place to study cultural information on other species besides the Akalak.
The Arcane Hall: By far the smallest of the Halls, The Arcane Hall is a cozy little building that is home to three mages that routinely take apprentices who focus on glyphing, flux, and some other rarer magics that compliment the Akalak. This Hall is also dedicated to the pursuit of lost disciplines and inventing new forms of magic.
Becoming A Student
Unlike some of the more formal educational systems on Mizahar, The Valkalah Academy has its own system for admission. First and foremost a prospective student needs to find a mentor. Mentors and Instructors within the Academy are not supported by the Academy (which is supported by the government of Riverfall) but rather by the students they support. Anyone can become an instructor, but they need to lease lab or workshop space and attract students to keep their position. Because of this situation, instructors come and go, changing almost seasonally and fluidly as need demands. There is never more than a couple of dozen instructors at any given point.
The one exception to this is the youngling teachers who are fairly fixed and paid a salary by the Council rather than being supported by their students.
Each instructor charges different and various fees. Often services can be exchanged or apprentices taken and taught on the go so long as they work for the instructor. Every situation is different. Some are quite fair, some are hugely unfair. It simply depends on the individuals and the arrangements which are not regulated by the Council.
by Dex on June 16th, 2012, 6:12 pm 
