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The University

location · importance 88 · 7 theories

“The seat of arcane learning where Kvothe studies sympathy, naming, and the Arcanum”

also known as Uni, the Uni

Appearance§

The University is a sprawling campus of stone buildings. Above ground it includes the great windowless stone bulk of the Archives, the Medica, and the smoke and clamor of the Fishery workshops where artificers work metal, fire, and iron. The Mains and the wider grounds have a confusing, irrational layout, with corridors that lead nowhere and walled-off courtyards. Below runs the Underthing, a labyrinth of old tunnels, canals, a water wheel, and rotting machinery, lit in places by a soft blue-green glow. An ancient stone bridge stands among the oldest and most distinctly arcane landmarks nearby. The Archives and other buildings are lit by ever-burning lamps.

Description§

The University is the great seat of arcane learning in the Four Corners, where Kvothe travels after his years in Tarbean to join the Arcanum and study sympathy, artificing, and naming. It lies in the province of Belenay-Barren, near the town of Imre across the river, and is governed by a Chancellor and a table of nine masters who each head a discipline: Kilvin in Artificery, Elxa Dal in Sympathy, Elodin in Naming, Lorren over the Archives, and Hemme among them. Above ground the campus holds the windowless stone bulk of the Archives, the Medica, and the Fishery workshops, while beneath it runs the Underthing, a sprawling network of old tunnels where Auri lives hidden. It is an institution devoted to open inquiry, where Chronicler once wrote a treatise on the existence of dragons, and where each master keeps a private collection holding the most dangerous knowledge of his discipline. The current University was raised on the dead ruins of an older one, which housed perhaps fifty people whose knowledge went beyond mathematics, grammar, and rhetoric. Students continue an education begun elsewhere, may leave and return, and rise through Arcanum ranks beginning with E'lir, meaning 'see-er.' Formal discipline includes whipping. Most students who enroll across its many disciplines have no aptitude for naming.

Relationships§

  • Student Kvothe — Kvothe joins the Arcanum here after Tarbean
  • Master Elodin — Elodin holds the chair of Master Namer
  • Contains The Archives — Holds the Archives, protected against fire
  • Contains The Underthing — Extensive underground network beneath the campus
  • Hidden Resident Auri — Auri lives hidden in the Underthing beneath it
  • Near Imre — Located near the town of Imre across the river
  • Master Master Lorren — Lorren governs the Archives
  • Master Master Kilvin — Kilvin heads Artificery
  • Master Elxa Dal — Elxa Dal heads Sympathy
  • Located In Belenay-Barren — Lies in the province of Belenay-Barren

Established facts§

  • The University is the great center of arcane learning in the Four Corners, where Kvothe goes to study and join the Arcanum after his years in Tarbean.
  • It lies in the province of Belenay-Barren and is located near the town of Imre across the river.
  • It is governed by a Chancellor and a table of nine masters, each heading a discipline, including Kilvin in Artificery, Elxa Dal in Sympathy, Elodin in Naming, Lorren over the Archives, and Hemme.
  • Elodin holds the chair of Master Namer and is newly re-seated, having previously been confined at Haven.
  • The University contains the Archives, the Medica, the Fishery workshops, and an extensive underground network called the Underthing.
  • Students rise through Arcanum ranks beginning with E'lir, meaning 'see-er.'
  • Students can receive formal whippings as punishment, which Kvothe undergoes.
  • Auri lives hidden in the Underthing beneath the University, where Kvothe befriends her.
  • The current University was built in the dead ruins of an older University, which housed perhaps fifty people whose knowledge went beyond mathematics, grammar, and rhetoric.
  • Each master maintains a private collection holding the most dangerous knowledge of his discipline.
  • The University is devoted to open inquiry; Chronicler wrote a treatise on the existence of dragons there.
  • The University is meant as a place to continue an education begun elsewhere, and graduates may leave and return.
  • Most students enrolled across its many disciplines have no aptitude for naming.
  • The Mains building and grounds have a confusing, irrational layout with corridors leading nowhere and walled-off courtyards.
  • An ancient stone bridge stands among the oldest and most distinctly arcane landmarks near the University.
  • The Archives and other University buildings are lit by ever-burning lamps.
  • The Archives are protected by stringent measures against fire.
  • Kvothe leaves the University before completing his studies, his time there including notable failures such as learning Yllish.
  • The Underthing holds old tunnels, canals, a water wheel, and rotting machinery.

Theories§

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