An excerpt from The Crystalwind, a well known tabloid newspaper in the kingdom of Wendival. 1473 E.D.
STARFALL UNIVERSITY: ARE THE HALLS OF THIS PRESTIGIOUS ACADEMY ACTUALLY AS THEY SEEM?
By Petre Eddinright
Founded long ago at the dawn of the Arcane Era, Starfall University is a home to advanced education within the world of magic. Under the direction of it’s current headmistress Dr. Eleisha Weidenwell, Starfall has risen to become one of the world’s most prestigious magical universities, managing to produce some of our time’s most powerful wizards, innovative artificers, and groundbreaking artists.
Of course, to most of our readers, this is already very much well known.
Perhaps you might even hope your precious child be accepted into such hallowed halls, so that they may become a part of the amazing House of the Weave just like the amazing artist Valeri Rosvela.
Or perhaps, seeing the many politicians that came from the powerful House of the Storm, you might want them to follow that route, lest they be swayed into the chaotic and unpredictable House of the Eclipse. (They claim the House of the Eclipse to be for so-called “free thinkers” and experimenters, but we know the truth, don’t we folks)
Maybe you see your child as more of a pragmatist, willing to help those in need and look directly into the dark jaws of this world, and that is why you have pressed upon them the importance of them joining the House of the Land.
No matter who you are or where you come from, most likely you or someone you know has heard of the greatness that awaits prospective students of Starfall University. After all, how else would they justify the exorbitantly high tuition prices or the absolute secrecy of what goes on behind those magical barriers? The end product is what matters after all, is it not? Well, as it turns out, there is a far more sinister side of this star than originally thought.
Occasionally, there sprouts a small story regarding a Starfall student that has gone mad through strange magical experimentation. These students all end up incapacitated for weeks on end and, when they awaken, they are entirely magically mundane, unable to produce even the slightest spark of magical current. Usually, this is ignored or brushed under the rug by the authorities but, occasionally, further investigations begin only to be abruptly closed and their findings never revealed to the public, until now that is…
From a source who wishes to remain anonymous, small remnants of a burnt investigative journal have been donated to The Crystalwind and, within, details of a certain “examination” are outlined.
“But Petre,” You may ask, “examinations happen all the time at a school, do they not? Surely someone as handsome and amazing as you have something more to say on the matter?” and you would be entirely correct in such a statement. The details of this “examination” prove it to be no mere test, but something far more sinister. Here is a copy of what was found:
███ take students ████ ███ ██████ if ██ ██ injury during █████ ████ ████ █████ kill ████ ████ ████ trash.
-Weidenwell
I find this evidence to be entirely conclusive, showcasing the abhorrent treatment students endure at the hands of Starfall professors. Perhaps this is some sort of hazing? Or even evidence of strange, cultic activities? Rumors of a cult in the kingdom have been increasing in recent months, perhaps the two are connected? It is too early to say, but know that we at The Crystalwind will always deliver the most accurate and up to date information directly to you readers!
Dr. Eleisha Weidenwell has not returned a comment at the time of this article’s publishing.