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The University (Ezida) |
Grand Temple of Nabu (Ezida)
The only one of the major temples of the Gods of Babel to spurn a place on the Concourse of Temples, this towering edifice is one of the focal points of the University area. A monolithic domed temple built from rare and costly gold veined marble, its towers and palatial outer buildings are roofed with alabaster scintillating the reflected sunlight in all directions. On bright days in the dry season, the structure is blinding to look upon in its glory as the "Great Repository of All Knowledge". Nabu as the god of writing and learning is the main diefic patron of the arts and sciences and it is his clergy who began the schools of ancient times that have now blossomed into the modern university. It is the Church of Nabu that owns and operates the Great Library itself and operates much of the administration that powers this enormous organization. Most students and an overwhelming majority of faculty are practising members of this faith. In fact it is wise for those who hope to climb in the ranks to make at least weekly appearances at the Temple to profess devotion during the consant rites and services.
Every recognized student is required to pay homage (and a whole lot of shekels) to the Temple of Nabu on a yearly basis. This complex ritual requires thousands of students to stand in the hot summer sun in endless line after line to complete seemingly pointless forms and papers, only to at last come before a bored panel of Preists. The student then pays a brief obeisance to a representation of Nabu in his aspect of receiver of sacrifices, and then to present the completed forms for inspection and to turn over the fees for the next years teachings. Due to ancient tradition all applicants must perform the ordeal in person and may not send legal representatives, servants, or slaves to wait in line. In many ways this ordeal informs all supplicants that they are equal in the eyes of Nabu dispenser of Wisdom. It is only the experienced or the lucky students who can complete this task on the first attempt due to the subtle intricacies of the bureaucratic process. This has the effect of making the Temple of Nabu one of the most wealthy organizations in Ashur as it will accept tremendous sums from the affluent students to avoid this chore. Some canny and older students sell their services as advisors to the newcomers during this confusing process. Street vendors and ubiquitous water peddlars make an unscrupulous fortune on these days from unprepared students who fear to give up their place in line. At the end of this three days of torment the area is known for racous parties, celebrations, and other forms of civil disturbance performed by the relieved students.
A strong tasting beverage made from boiling the charrred roots of an imported herb in water for seemingly exceedingly long periods of time. (At least 4 hrs) The drink is popular due to its happy side effect of leaving the imbiber with an uncommon state of wakefulness. In order to cover the strong taste it is generally supplemented with large quantities of rice or fruit sugars and many students consider the creation and the sweetening of this drink to be an artform. Strangely, the name "Gilbul" is derived from an archaic usage of the Godname Gerra, in his aspect of the Fires of Consciousness or the spark of life.
Undoubtedly the largest Library in the modern world, it is said to rival even the libraries of ancient times, even unto the Time of A Thousand Magics. This sprawling labyrinthine structure of crumbling clay brick is vast indeed and it is said that no one man may know the entirety of its measureless network of shelves. Armies of librarians drawn from the clergy of Nabu find the task of keeping the shelves organized and the scrolls, books and ancient tablets properly cataloged an almost impossible one. Each individual who is allowed to enter is required to swear great and terrible oaths to Nabu in a solemn ceremony headed by the sternest of Priests before being granted permission. Breakers of these oaths are subjected to draconian punishment.
Fire in any form shall never be brought into the library. (The library is thus a fairly dark place for windows are few and candles and lanterns of all sorts are forbidden)No books, scrolls, or tablets are ever to leave the premises. (It is rumored by historians that the great emporer Lugalbanda once ordered that books be sent to him at his palace. His royal messenger was found headless and the imperail edict was claimed never to have been presented to the Chief Librarian. What makes this piece of history so interesting is that the heads of enemies are a traditional burnt offering to Bel Nabu and Lugalbanda did not repeat the request)
The Library has several areas of note:
The Main buildings contain the majority of books, few scrolls or tablets. Access is granted to all who can afford the yearly tribute of 12 times 12 times 12 shekels.
Administration is a vast network of offices, auditoriums filled with scribes, and vast warehouses piled with stacks of books and rolls of parchments waiting for processing. Access is granted to all clergy of Nabu and anyone with a good reason for being there.
There are various wings (about 30 or so) of widely varying sizes referred to as "houses of decree" which contain specific collections of books donated by historical personages of importance. Sadly, each of these wings contain their own system of organization which make the job of a good scholar quite difficult.
The Domicile of Precious Jewels is the rare books wing . Tribute of 144 times 144 shekels per year are required for application for entrance. Entrance is only granted to recognized Masters, Sages, Apprentices with letters of reccommendation, Nobility with similar letters, and members of the League of Magi.
The Tunnels conatin endless racks of crumbling scrolls in a complex ordering system that perhaps no living man remembers how to use. Scrolls were the common means of holding information before the idea of bookbinding was invented. A rumor or legend amongst the students tells of a single book of bound papyrus that holds the key to the organization of this immense mess.
The Under-cellars are rooms filled with endless stacks of clay tablets. Before the invention of papyrus and then paper, the clay tablet was the common means of recording information.
Eziduum: Nabu's Chosen
These rare individuals are deemed by the Temple to have been "touched" by Nabu. They are accorded great respect despite the fact that almost noone ever knows what they are talking about. They run the gamut of absent-minded scholars who forget to eat for 9 weeks while studying (and feel little effect) to raving prophets of erudite dooms. There is a "uniform" of grey robes and sandals, which makes it easier for them to decide what to wear or even to remember to wear clothes. The Chosen are allowed free access to all University premises and many times a student has been surprised to find himself kicked out of his dorm room for a semester or two while an Eziduum has taken up residence.
Magistrate
The Magistrates are a strange blend of judge, jury and exectutioner that deal with all "legal" cases of concern to the University. Everything from expelling students for practical jokes gone awray or public drunkeness to trials for murder. The University has its own legal system that may be superseded by the governments under some circumstances.
Warden
Wardens are students and former students who have elected to pay their way in academia by taking on the slightly hazardous task of policing the district. With no real training these individuals operate out of "kiosks" set up at strategic locations and nearby coffee shops. Quite capable of breaking heads when they substantially outnumber their opponents, they tend to travel in groups for safety. The wardens who have served the longest have learned who is who on the streets of Northgate and have informed the others which people to let alone. Officially they have have little authority and can expect even less support. Don't expect them to risk their lives. How efficient are they at protecting others and stopping crimes? The unfortuneate truth is that they are better than nothing and really only serve to keep other students in line.
Supplicant (Student): Earth. May wear ceremonial robes of citrine, brown or black as well as a strange square headress.
Disciple (Apprentice level Student): Water May wear robes of blue and black as well as a headress with a moon symbol.
Master: Air. May wear robes of white and a round floppy headress.
Grandmaster: Fire. May wear robes of red and orange with a triangular peaked cap. The title in Western in Talku which translates as "Grandmaster" or "Sage".
Discovered by accident inscribed on an ancient clay tablet used as a doorstop in the Great Library. This inscription in Ancient Western is believed to be over 3000 years old and proves that some things never change. It rhymes in the ancient tongue, though the meter could use some work.
I am thirsty, give me drink;
I am hungry, give me food;
Wash my feet, make my bed, I want to sleep.
Rouse me early in the morning;
I musn't be late or my Master will beat me!
This is the much smaller text appearing on the reverse of the clay tablet above. Obviously it is the comments of the Master scholar upon the poem assignment. Amazingly this too rhymes, and the meter is perfect.
O massive intelligence! Prime member of the Ezida!
In the scribal art, conceit destroys a Master/Student relationship.
Your hand may be skillful; but it is a hand not very skillful at using a stylus on a tablet!
O man without praise amongst the scribes...
What are you skillful at?
From H.W.F. Saggs "The Greatness that was Babylon" Mentor Books, 1962.
The Bureacracy: Here is an abrieviated list of some of the more important bureacratic sites that regulate the flow of paperwork at the University. There are a great number of other offices and institutions, many with duplicated and conflicting responsibilities and paperwork. This labyrinthine network of offices, officials, departments, records, paperwork and hopeless drudgery by poorly paid student workers has grown up over millenia of organization, reorganization, politics and patronage. The university has never had efficiency or profit as a goal and it is a skill all on its own to navigate the uncharted waters of these offices. Motivating the officials (who are often appointed for life and not reviewed) requires an understanding of the inner workings of sick, twisted and extremely bored minds or a well placed bribe.
The Office of the Commisioner of the Register: If there an orderly division of responsibility existed, this office might be responsible for student records and files.
Hall of Records: If each individual college, institution, and Master, did not also keep their own records, this would be the main repository for university files.
University Archives: This is the location where the accumulated records of a Master goes upon their death. If the Master kept a logical filing system then they are easy to go through. (with permission) If not, then imagine a 750 year old elf scholar dying young (having thus no chance to prepare memoirs) and all of his papers are haphazardly removed from his 3 offices and stacked in trunks. Too bad that his personal filing system was done by date with the oldest material at the bottom of each pile. Imagine this repeated over 5 or 6 thousand years and you get the idea.
Department of Orderly Administration: The only department that processes all the day to day paperwork of the University administration. Located conveniently 7 and a half miles from the Hall of Methodic Administration.
Worshipful Department of Legalists: Imagine a legal department, where the filing system has evolved through several hundred administrations. Imagine if this was complicted by an eternally evolving legal/governmental system based on precedent and custom. Imagine many overpaid, self important, (did I mention overpaid?), lawyers whose main goal in life is a big lunch on an expense account.
The Office of Lucid Administration: In the reign of a forgotten god-king with an interest in education, a law was passed and this office was formed to create effiecncy in the Temple and University bureacracy. If only he had followed up on his goal and made certain that this office had the authority to enforce changes in other administrations. Now long known as a sinecure for the organizationally incompetent with influential families, this Office might be better named as the Office of Wasted Effort and Duplicated paperworks.
The Hall of Methodic Administration: The only department that processes all the day to day paperwork of the University administration. Located conveniently 7 and a half miles from the Department of Orderly Administration.
Bureau of Replicatory and Unreasonable Administrational Tasks: Strangely named, this office is where students file complaints against the bureacracy and try to have the University cut back on the duplicated effort of paperwork. To those in the know however, it is the office that acts on complaints by requistioning the paperwork in question (ie the paperwork that the student has filed elsewhere with the department he or she complained about) and places it at the bottom of a large stack of papers requiring investigation. This has the undoubted effect of delaying indefinetly any request the student had in the process. (No they don't tell you this) Although the student may win satisfaction, they might not live long enough to see it. Even elven students find this department annoying.
Financial Aid: The bureacracy that gives lots of money to those judged in need by arbitrary principles concocted by a council of raving lunatics. Very helpful to the children of the nobility, left-handed daughters of Red Hook prostitutes, and gnomes. Not very helpful to students or scholars who need help with projects.
Apply and roll some dice:
- 01 Templars of Ezida arrive in the middle of night and turn you over to the Inquistion
- 02-05 Templars of Ezida arrive during a class and drag you off for questioning and a much deserved beating
- 06-10 8 Wardens arrive at an inconvenient time and demand that you redo your forms in triplicate while they wait, drink your beer, and go through your possessions. (What's a warrant?)
- 11-20 They charge you lots of money for processing and deny you any aid without ever informing you.
- 21-30 They charge you a small amount and never let you know that your request has been denied.
- 31-40 They deny your request after 6 months.
- 41-50 They give you a very large sum and then contact you 1d6 months later demanding its return immediately.
- 51-60 They give you a small but helpful sum only to demand its return with 7 years of accumulated interest 2d6 weeks later.
- 61-70 You are denied on grounds of race.
- 71-75 You are denied on grounds of poor omen.
- 76-80 You are denied because you are too poor
- 81-83 You are denied because you are too wealthy
- 84-85 You are denied because of religious conflicts.
- 86-90 You are denied because your parents did not provide a declaration. (Even if you know they did, after all the office never looses anything)
- 91 You are denied because you sent in the wrong paperwork (which of course is the paperwork they gave you and is required by the explanation)
- 93 They mix up your file with someone else's and legally charge you with that individual's default (in the amount of 6d6 X 100 shekels) It is tied up in the courts for the next 4d4 months.
- 93 You are denied with no explanation and no appeal.
- 94 You are denied because you missed the deadline that no one else was held too.
- 95 You are denied. Nah Nah Nah!
- 96-98 Political upheaval in the office messes everything up.The rules change retroactively and you are uncategorically denied. If a punk like you ever reapplies, we'll send the Templars calling. Get it, boy....?
- 99 Reapply at a later date.
- 00 Success of some sort. Roll on next table.
Authors note: Is it really this bad? Well I based it on my personal experience with the American financial aid system. I figure Ashur has got to do a little better than that.
Hall of the Supplicants: This Temple is one of great importance. Once a year every student must come here in person and perform obesiance to a idol of Lord Nabu and make a supplication for another year's study. The culmination of this ancient ceremony is a sacrifice to Lord Nabu in the form of a great deal of money. The Temple priests are grateful to accept this in his stead. Students have come to refer to this as "tuition".
High Council of Orderly Administration: A council of administrators who meet regularily and get really big free lunches.
Coming Soon:Accounting
The Provost's Office
The Provost's Office
The Office of the Council of Magistrates
Temple Hall
Library Administration
Sethlans Dormitories
Templars of Nabu
Temple of Nabu (Ezida)
Student Wardens
Provost's Council
Ezida Magistrate's Office
Master's Council
Grandmaster's Council
Grandmaster Schem: A kindly and doddering old man who has become one of the few Grandmasters ever to be appointed in this generation. His contribution to the sciences of astrology, ancient languages, and cryptographic symbology are peerless. Surprisingly he is not a magician. In his own words he has never had time to study that sort of "ephemera."
Master Saalmanhazer: Venerable old scholar of antiquities at the university. His reputation for exceptional scholarship and professionalism is exceeded only by his reputation for being a harsh taskmaster and ruthless critic. He pitilessly plays his apprentice students off against each other pushing them to tremendous levels of hard work. having taken decades to recommend his first student to the Masters position, the lucky candidate Loraan will be successor and an heir to a a great deal of prestige in the academic community.
Master Librarian
Arch Prelete Maluum
Provost
Disciple Amaziah: Another apprentice scholar he works for a Master Shezeraab. He is extremely arrogant, ambitious and without moral compunctions, he stops at nothing to achieve his goals. Amaziah is rumored to have studied the forbidden arts of Summoning and to have minor demons at his beck and call.
Magistrate
Magus Zakir: A pompous and self important Magician who has found a niche at the University teaching a few classes on Mysticism and spending the majority of his time in researchMost students dislike his egotistical nature but grudgingly admit his talent and advanced learning. He is known to have spells that help to identify artifacts. Warden
Disciple Lara: A stunningly attractive apprentice scholar who serves Master Saalmanazer. She comes from a wealthy merchant family and never has to waste time finding funds.
Grandmaster of the Templars
Master of Archives
Master of the Broken Tablet
Master of Library Archealogy
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