Ology

City Description

Population: ~1200

Founded: 2262 (128 years ago)

In any civilized nation where great power is kept in check by great rulers, Ology would have ceased to exist long ago. But in Core Vandal, where the only limitation to power is the opposition that confronts it, Ology thrives as a tremendous force with zero opposition. No one in the world cares to oppose a place dedicated to the pursuit and spread of knowledge and understanding.

The foundation, and the books say the genesis,  of Ology is the force known as the Benefactor. History tells of Quill, a centaur of the Duskmaker Plains who self-exiled from her tribe to avoid their marauding ways, wishing to study the stars but lacking the mental aptitude to do so. A force came upon her and provided her the books, equipment, and space to pursue her studies.

So it has been in Ology ever since. Those who come seeking knowledge are given the means by which to attain it, but never the knowledge itself. Whatever force provides for these seekers only enables to study and crafting of intelligence. There are no shortcuts in Ology, only a community of those who wish to learn. This force is known as the Benefactor.

Those who do not wish to learn cannot pretend. The Benefactor seems able to deem when someone truly wishes to learn and when someone is after selfish gain. The Benefactor also never acts as a librarian. Many have come seeking specific answers to questions, but that is not the Benefactor's way. The questions "Who was the first elven king?" is met with silence, while the desire of "I wish I knew how to tend a garden" is met with a spade, an herbology book, and a few seeds to get started.

Over the years, the Benefactor has come to be worshipped by some, which has created a schism in Ology. The Beneficiaries consider themselves disciples of the Benefactor, worshipping it as a god. They believe spreading its influence across the world could result in the end to war and maybe even the end to death. Those who believe this mysterious force should be respected and used as means to a better world call themselves Erudians. They believe the Benefactor wants to be inconspicuous and unobtrusive, dedicated to simple learning and not lofty ideals.

The two sides often bicker and the bickering has created heated division. Ology has become a more dangerous place in recent history, but the fundamentals remain the same: those who wish to learn will find ways to do so in Ology.

City Landmarks

All of the city landmarks in Ology are spaces created by the Benefactor for individuals over the years that have grown in size and importance - these do not represent all spaces in Ology

Quill's Observatory: the first and greatest institution in Ology, this observatory is at the very top of the city where it has an unobstructed view of the cosmos. Though Quill passed away some time ago, the Observatory is held in high regard by all of Ology's denizens. Many carry on the studies of Quill to understand the stars and their place among them.

Robot and Mecha Workshop: begun after a gnome wished to find a way to automatically clean his room, the Workshop, as it is known, specializes in the crafting of automatons. Whatever the task or desire, the Ology Workshop is known for building something to complete it. It has also had its share of controversy both in the building of weapons and the debate of what separates Warforged from advanced automatons.

Slumber Yard: the study of sleep and dreams has ever been a pursuit of the curious, and there is no space wasted in Ology. So the place where most people take a night's rest is also where others study the effects of various forms of sleep. It's not uncommon to awaken with someone poking one's head with instruments, or coming out of a peaceful sleep to the clashing of drums for various studies. 

Bio-Dome: while it resembles a garden, the citizens of Ology are warned to steer clear of the Bio-Dome. Filled with carnivorous flowers, venomous vines, and disease-ridden shrubberies, it's claimed more than its fair share of hapless passerby. 

Orchestralia:  it may not be the most pleasant music in Vault but it certainly may count among the most interesting. Those wishing to learn more about the undiscovered sounds between the notes and unexplored territories outside the norm can find all manner of instrument and melody in the wing of Ology known as Orchestralia.

Rooms of Anatomy: of all the places in Ology, the Rooms of Anatomy have been threatened with expulsion the most. Not due to any illicit activity but due to the nature of this wing. Cadavers hang upon walls, stripped of skin, organs exposed, and displayed for inspection. Bones are broken open and studied under a magnifying glass. Everything from toenails to eyeballs sit in jars lining blood-soaked shelves. Many rumors abound on the source of the bodies that end up in the Rooms of Anatomy, but they're mostly false. Mostly.

Arcanarium: most people who wish to study magic do not come to Core Vandal, but those who must make do do so in the Arcanarium. It's a place of cooperation, with those who wish to learn doing so from each other even more than the provided materials. Those no great mage has ever been produced from Ology, its loved for the nurturing environment it provides for those seeking to wield magic.

People of Note

Gus 23/K: Male Warforged, the sole security guard in Ology with eyes and ears literally throughout the city and the ability to show up wherever needed almost instantaneously.

Quintin Bar: Male Human, High Priest of the Beneficiaries, has been attempting to establish temples to the Benefactor in Trine and Lyr'Lowain with frustratingly little success

Juls Oppo: Female Dwarf, an up and coming sorcerer in the Arcanium that has people talking about her representing Ology as a great mage

Pauly Seymour: Sentient Plant, sort of a mascot for the Bio-Dome, likes to eat people

Demeter: Male Centaur, the primary target for those who wish to shut down the Rooms of Anatomy, heedless of others, a slave to his work

Sweetness Everslaughter: Non-Binary Goliath, creator of all baked things that are good, they spend their time delivering sweets to the people of Ology and confusing people with their last name

Form Beyond Grace: Male Tabaxi, a master dancer studying how body modifications can improve his abilities

Fbhlthyl: Female Loxodon, stargazer who has been making people uncomfortable with her supposed discoveries

Tezzero Sham'dizzero: Male Gnome, master artificer who need to have his hand in everything happening in the Workshop