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The School's Surroundings

The Forest

The forest is a place of mystery and adventure. One never knows where a path may lead them or what they may find on it. Some paths open up to a cliff while others may open up to a small clearing. Some people have traversed the forests to find themselves among a company of elves, while others find themselves hunted by a pack of wolves. Circled around the school are twenty unusual trees. These trees, called Elderwoods, form a protective barrier around the school. They absorb malign magic and use the energy to magically fortify the school buildings, making them extremely resilient to even the most strongest kinetic forces. These Elderwood trees are probably the oldest things near the school, taking a millennium to mature and ten more to die.

The Lake

The lake was formed by the pooled runoff from the nearby mountains into a meteorite crater. Many students enjoy to take a swim as a break from their studies. The majority of the lake's surface freezes over during the winter months allowing ice skating. Reports have been made in previous years of a lake monster dwelling in the depths of the lake. After thorough exploration, this rumor has been declared false.

The Fort

Deep in the woods to the southwest of the school sits a ruined wooden fort. Comparable in size to the courtyard, the fort once housed a small community. Not much is known about the fate of its occupants, although broken spear and arrow heads have been found in the ruins. The artifacts range from stone to early versions of steel, suggesting that the occupants were desperate to obtain any kind of weapon possible.

The Hot Springs

In the forest to the north of the school lies a set underground springs heated by the nearby mountains' fiery cores. A wall has been erected to separate the springs into a men's half and a women's half. Students caught sneaking peaks into the other gender's springs will be punished at the teacher's discretion.

The Chapel

Several years ago, a pack of nomadic elves gave the school a gift. They formed a building out of several trees a short walk east of the school. The trees fused together into one structure about the size of a small house. After a few modifications to allow for windows, doors, and a bell tower, the elves left us with our present and carried on their way. Here we invite our students to pray to whichever god or gods they worship. Weddings, as our school has seen its share of, can be booked here as long as the staff is given at least one week's notice.

The Catacombs

The catacombs are an expansive network of underground tunnels originally found upon the installation of running water. They out date the school by many eons and thus have not been completely discovered. The foul magics, sheer darkness, potent monsters, and winding tunnels have claimed even the most gifted students and teachers. Due to its danger, all known entrances have been sealed off for the safety of the students. One entry point remains accessible, though only the Council and the most trusted faculty members know where it is or even how to open it. Should any student stumble across a previously unknown entrance, report it to the nearest faculty member immediately. DO NOT, under any circumstances, attempt to explore the catacombs unless you wish to die a painful death or worse.

The School Building

The Courtyard

The courtyard is the primary hang out spot. At any given time one can find any activity from a friendly spar to a hostile game of chess. Roughly 13,000 square yards, the courtyard is about the size of two adjacent football fields. Most school-sponsored events will take place here, whether it be a scavenger hunt, tournament, or an outdoor dance. Although entirely surrounded by the school, the staff still manages to freely place and remove anything too large to fit through the doors. In the past, weddings were also held here.

The Roof

It's the roof. Not much else to say other than it has never been on fire. One can spot the lake, the main gate, and miles of the forest canopy depending on where he or she stands. In the school's golden days it was often off-limits to all but the most trusted individuals. Now access will usually be granted when requested.

The Library

The library houses one of the most expansive collections of tomes, scrolls, books, and manuscripts in the world. Despite that fact, it is hardly larger than a tavern's main room. The books seem to appear and disappear as they please. If you can't find the book you're looking for today, it might be on the shelves tomorrow. Likewise, if you see a book you want, check it out quickly or else you may not see it again.

The Hallways

The hallways connect the various parts of the school. Though they seem to be static, occasionally one will find themselves in a different part of the school than they intended or right back where they came from. The hallways are somewhat winding, though they become easier to navigate the more you use them.

The Infirmary

No matter how safe the school is, there is always someone who will get hurt for some reason. The school has normal healers available around the clock with highly-skilled healers a short notice away. The infirmary has a unique set of beds for those whose bodies resist treatments. The beds can completely block one's abilities, leaving the patient essentially human.

The Dormitories

Being in such an isolated location, students need to have a place to reside. Each room comes with a bed, desk, and chest of drawers. Arrangements can be made for those who need other accommodations. Students' dorm rooms are respected with privacy and will not be searched without reasonable cause. The men's dormitories are located on the west wing of the school while the women's dormitories are on the east wing. 'Co-ed slumber parties' are not against the rules, although they are strongly discouraged.

The Cafeteria

Pretty self-explanatory. The cafeteria is open all hours of the day with a wide array of food to please even the pickiest of eaters.

The Ballroom

On the ground floor of the school sits the ballroom. It remains in good upkeep despite its general lack of usage. The ballroom is large enough to accommodate one student for each of its dorm rooms. The school has the capabilities to hold balls for charity, and even fancy dress. But when they're held for pleasure, they're the balls that we like best.

The Gym and Training Rooms

The school has a fully-equipped gym. Treadmills, weight sets, punching bags, fighting rings, you name it. A series of private training rooms, similar in size to racquetball courts, branch off the back of the gym. They can be used if a student doesn't feel comfortable training around others or if the main gym is simply too crowded.