The Collegium
The Collegium is a joint venture between a small group of Scions of the Seventh Dawn, the Adventurer’s Guild as a whole, and the Temple Knights, set up to gather together adventures of certain talents under one roof in order to learn and flourish under the guidance of seasoned adventurers. Though those who enter do not owe any allegiance to any of these orders, save perhaps the Adventurer’s Guild by default, much of their ‘on the field’ training can come from any of these sources. And while under the Collegium’s roof, a student is to lay their prejudices to one side for the good of all.
The Collegium itself is based in the Lavender Beds for the time being, with plans to move it elsewhere one day, likely into the area of Idyllshire. There is room and board provided, and classrooms and workshops and practice areas aplenty.
Merle herself is both the dean and a teacher, and those who study the more war-like aspects of things at the Collegium are called ‘Herald trainees’ in her honor. Those who stay with the Collegium after training are considered full-fledged ‘Heralds’. [PLD/GLA, WAR/MRD, DRK, GNB, DRG/LNC, MNK/PGL, BLM/THM, NIN/ROG, SMN/ACN, SAM, and RDM fall under this.]
Those who train under Kikuya and others like her are known as ‘Bard trainees’, and learn how to uplift and support, how to become a voice to inspire. Those who remain after training are considered full-fledged ‘Bards’. [BRD/ARC, DNC, and MCH fall under this.]
Those trained by Fleurelle and others like her are considered ‘Healer trainees’, and learn how to heal not only the body but the soul as well. For on the field, some of the worst injuries are to the psyche and to the aether itself. Those who remain with the Collegium after training are full-fledged ‘Healers’. [WHM/CNJ, SCH, and AST fall under this.]
The Collegium is also home to those referred to as the ‘Unaffiliated’ or ‘the Blues’. They’re the crafters and gatherers seeking to widen their knowledge of the world and learn how to deal with their Echo [for those that have it], they’re the younglings who have caught the eye of a Collegium member and have been sponsored in to ensure they have have a fighting chance at an education and a roof over their heads and three square meals a day.
Full-fledged Heralds, Bards, and Healers can remain on as teachers, remain in the Collegium until called upon, or ‘make the rounds’ [go adventuring] until called upon. Because of the nature of things, they can sometimes be found as far out as Othard and Thavnair. The easiest way to ascertain if someone is part of the Collegium, aside from the crest of the group, is their mode of dress: Heralds tend towards white, Bards tend towards red, and healers tend towards green, with exceptions, of course. [The most notable exceptions at current are Bard Kikuya, who tends to wear whatever she wants and she’s too damn cute for anyone to say otherwise towards it, and Merle when she is trying to lay low or wielding a katana.]
Every member of the Collegium receives a linkpearl if they don’t already have one, even the young members [though the linkpearls of younger members are adjusted so they can’t be bothered by creeps and unsavories].
Current Staff Merle Darkchild - Dean/Herald/Teacher - The original Herald of Hydaelyn, this free paladin [and the last student of the samurai Musosai] has her office door always open to the students. Fleurelle Lanverlais - Director/Healer/Teacher - Merle’s ‘sister in all but birth’, and wife of Haurchefant/Herve [depending on verse], she is the Fussiest Big Sister of a Healer, and mother of the Collegium’s ‘toddling mascot’, Haurchemont. Kikuya Hattori - Director/Bard/Teacher - No one’s quite sure whether she hails from Doma or Hingashi, although she has obvious ties to both. Kikuya has traveled Eorzea extensively, and brings this experience to her teaching methods. She’s very hands on and it isn’t uncommon for her to take her students on trips so they can learn in the field. While currently married, she and her wife have an open relationship and commonly invite others to share their bed. Robin de Fortemps - Director/Herald - A ward of House Fortemps, and a different sort of Dragoon, Robin’s true origins are shrouded in mystery. But if you want to know about dragons and Ishgard before the Dragonsong War, she’s your history teacher of choice! Lidoiret de Dzemael - Bard-trainee - Fiancee of Robin and one of the youngest sons of House Dzemael, Lidoiret is a studious sort, and became one of the first noble Machinists. He’s joined the Collegium in an attempt to widen his views before taking to the world outside. *Haurchefant de Fortemps - Director/Herald/Teacher [in default/settings with @knightofthesilverfuller] - Retired from command of Dragonhead after nearly dying [and his wife nearly dying trying to heal him], he’s joined the ranks of the Collegium. *Herve Bonheur - Director/Herald/Teacher [in settings where @knightofthesilverfuller is not the Haurchefant in RP] - A former knight of House Fortemps serving at Dragonhead, Herve has chosen to throw his lot in with the Collegium and his wife Fleurelle.
[*This distinction is made because RPland is mutable and we want the group to be open to all sorts, in-game and on Tumblr!]
//Made small updates to reflect the job additions!














