Strixhaven - A Curriculum of Chaos

Cr e d it s Strixhaven World Designers: Doug Beyer (creative lead), Taylor
Ingvarsson (art director), Jess Lanzillo (creative director), Mens
Lead Designer Amanda Hamon Mullaley (creative producer), Fox Allison, Annie Sardelis, Emily
Assistant Lead Designers: Jeremy Crawford, James Wyatt Teng, Andrew Valias, James Wyatt, Ari Zirulmk
Art Director: Emi Tanji
Project Engineer: Cynda Callaway
Designers: Bill Benham, Makenzie De Armas, Dan Dillon, Steve Imaging Technicians: Kevin Yee
Kenson, T. Alexander Stangroom Prepress Specialist: Jefferson Dunlap

Assistant Designers: Sydney Adams, Taymoor Rehman D&D St u d io
Rules Developers: Jeremy Crawford, Ben Petrisor
Editors: Judy Bauer, Michele Carter, Scott Fitzgerald Cray, lanara Executive Producer: Ray Winninger
Came Design Architects: Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins
Natividad, Christopher Perkins, F. Wesley Schneider Design Manager: Steve Scott
Design Department: Sydney Adams, Judy Bauer, Makenzie De
Graphic Designers: Trystan Falcone, Emi Tanji, Trish Yochum
Cover Illustrators: Hydro74, Magali Villeneuve Armas, Dan Dillon, Amanda Hamon, Ari Levitch, Ben Petrisor,
Cartographers: Francesca Baerald, Sean Macdonald, Mike Schley Taymoor Rehman, F. Wesley Schneider, James Wyatt
Additional Art Directors: Ovidio Cartagena, Taylor Ingvarsson, Kate Art Department Manager: Richard Whitters
Principal Art Director: Kate Irwin
Irwin, Thomas Jenkot, Zack Stella, Sarah Wassell Art Department: Trystan Falcone, Emi Tanji, Shawn Wood,
Interior Illustrators: Steve Argyle, Jinho Bae, Cristi Balanescu, Mike Trish Yochum
Senior Producer: Dan Tovar
Bierek, Zoltan Boros, Alex Brock, Filip Burburan, Dmitry Burmak, Producers: Bill Benham, Robert Hawkey, Lea Heleotis
Ekaterina Burmak, Paul Scott Canavan, Manuel Castanon, Jehan Director of Product Management: Liz Schuh
Choo, Billy Christian, Chris Cold, Justine Cruz, Alayna Danner, Product Managers: Natalie Egan, Chris Lindsay, Hilary Ross,
Jonas De Ro, Olga Drebas, Piotr Dura, Jesper Ejsing, Anna Fehr, Chris Tulach
Tony Foti, Caroline Gariba, Use Gort, Johan Grenier, Yeong-
Hao Han, Josh Hass, Hydro74, Izzy, Tomasz Jedruszek, Jihun, Ma r k e t in g
Jason Kang, Igor Kieryluk, Mathias Kollros, Yigit Koroglu, Kekai
Kotaki, Andrey Kuzinskiy, Luiza Laffitte, Lius Lasahido, Ryan Director of Global Brand Marketing: Brian Perry
Alexander Lee, Lie Setiawan, Daniel Ljunggren, Lindsey Look, Global Brand Manager: Shelly Mazzanoble
Titus Lunter, Howard Lyon, Slawomir Maniak, Antonio Jose Senior Marketing Communications Manager: Greg Tito
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YW Tang, Viktor Titov, Jokubas Uogintas, Randy Vargas, Svetlin
Velinov, Raoul Vitale, Johannes Voss, Sara Winters, Bayard Wu,
Kieran Yanner, Andreas Zafiratos

On t h e Co v e r On t h e Al t -Co v e r

Three Strixhaven students find distractions from their studies Hydro74 shows off the Strixhaven star, a symbol of unity and
in Magali Villeneuve's cover illustration. On the back, a harried magical fellowship. The sigils of each of Strixhaven’s five colleges
Biblioplex assistant tries to tidy the mess. adorn the back cover.

620D0148000001 EN CUOK __ Disclaimer: A degreefrom Strixhaven University does not provide
ISBN: 978-0-78 69-6745-2 [■I protectionfrom magic missiles, fireballs, freezing spheres, or any
First Printing: November 2021
•Of- other deleterious effects spellcasters might generate Ifyou create
987654321 deleterious effects, Strixhaven kindly requests you refrainfrom mvok-

rJ< ing any names, symbols, or other references to the university should
■JK you find yourselfin a confrontation. Strixhaven University does

not take responsibilityfor any injury ofany nature sustained in the
course ofanything, magical or otherwise

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Co n t e n t s

Welcome to Strixhaven 4 Shuvadri Glintmantle..... 58 Ch. 6: A Reckoning in Ruins.............. 156

About This Book............ 5 Tilana Kapule.................. 58 Running This Adventure..................... 157

Orientation...................... 5 Urzmaktok Grojsh.......... 59 A Sinister Shadow................................. 157

Strixhaven’s World......... 6 Zanther Bowen............... 59 A Brief Distraction................................ 158

Ch. 1: Life on Campus........... ..8 Campus Kerfuffle............... 60 Arcane Herbology
Magical Study.......................... Running This Adventure
Campus Overview.................. . ..9 First Day on Campus..... 60 Exam: Vegetation Identification........ 159
Lorchold College.................... 11 Orientation Challenge.... 61 Clue in the Bayou................................... 160
Prismari College..................... Frog’s the Word.............. 66 Advance to 9th Level!........................... 165
Quandrix College................... 13 Magical Physiologies 70 No Time to Lose.................................... 165
Silverquill College.................. 16 Exam: Slaadi...................
Witherbloom College............. 19 Into the Badlands.................................. 166
22 Advance to 2nd Level!.... 72 This Is Surreal, Isn't It?....................... 172
Work Hard, Play Harder 74 Ruins of Caerdoon................................. 173
25 74 Advance to 10th Level!......................... 178

Ch. 2: Character Options..... 28 Magical Physiologies Confronting Murgaxor......................... 178

Race Option: Owlin................ 29 Exam: Owibcars............. 78 Ch. 7: Friends and Foes..................... 182
Choosing a College................ 30 Campus Daredevils....... 78 Archaic................................................... 184
Strixhaven Backgrounds....... 86
31 Advance to 3rd Level!.... Art Elemental Mascot.......................... 185
Lorchold Student................ Magical Physiologies 86 Beledros Witherbloom........................ 186
Prismari Student................ 31 Exam: Otyughs.............. 86 Brackish Trudge................................... 187
Quandrix Student............... 32 All the World’s a Stage- 92
Silverquill Student.............. Secrets in Sedgemoor... 95 Cogwork Archivist................................ 188
Witherbloom Student......... .33 Advance to 4th Level!.... Daemogoth............................................. 189
Feats......................................... .35
Strixhaven Initiate............. . Ch. 4: Hunt for Mage Tower 96 Daemogoth Titan.................................. 190
Strixhaven Mascot............. .36 First-Year Student................................ .191
Spells........................................ Running This Adventure...... 97 Fractal Mascot...................................... .192
Borrowed Knowledge........ .36 Galazeth Prismari................................ .193
Kinetic Jaunt........................ Back in Session...................... 98 Groff........................................................ .194
Silvery Barbs....................... .36
Vortex Warp......................... .37 Mascots Everywhere!............ 99 Inkling Mascot..................................... ..195
Witherand Bloom.............. .37 Lorehold Apprentice........................... .197
Magic Items............................. Scrivening and Symbology Lorehold Pledgemage........................ .197
Bottle of Boundless Coffee .37
Cuddly Strixhaven Mascot Exam: Glyph of Warding.... 106 Lorehold Professor of Chaos............. .198
Lorehold Primer................. .37 Lorehold Professor of Order.............. .198
Prismari Primer................. Advance to 5th Level!............ 107 Mage Hunter......................................... .199
.38 Oracle of Strixhaven........................... 200
Quandrix Primer................ .38 Party at the Rose Stage........ 108 Oriq Blood Mage.................................. .201
Oriq Recruiter...................................... .202
Silverquill Primer.............. .38 Practice Makes Perfect......... 111 Pest Mascot........................................... ..203
Strixhaven Pennant..........
Witherbloom Primer......... .38 Scrivening and Symbology Prismari Apprentice........................... ..205
Prismari Pledgemage........................ ..205
.38 Exam: Symbol Glyphs...... 113 Prismari Professor of Expression.... .206
.38 Prismari Professor of Perfection..... .206
.39 Getting Some Air................. . 114

.39 Dangerous Knowledge......... 116

..39 Scrivening and Symbology

..39 Exam: Augury..................1..18
..39
..39 Tell Us in Song!..................... 119

Battle of Strixhaven............. 121

Ch. 3: School Is in Session............... 40 Advance to 6th Level!........... 123
Running the Adventures..................... 41
Strixhaven Tracking Sheet................ 43 Ch. 5: The Magister's Masquerade... 124 Quandrix Apprentice.......................... ...208
44 Quandrix Pledgemage...................... ...208
Extracurriculars................................... 46 Running This Adventure......................125 Quandrix Professor of Substance... ...209
.47 Quandrix Professor of Theory........ ...209
Jobs..................................................... Cordially Invited.................................... 126 Relic Sloth........................................... ...210
.48 Ruin Grinder....................................... ...211
Exams..................................................... .50 Reception at Bow’s End........................ 127 Shadrix Silverquill............................. ...212
Relationships........................................ .51 Silverquill Apprentice........................ ...214
Fellow Students................................... .51 Fate at Furygale..................................... 130 Silverquill Pledgemage..................... ....214
.52 Silverquill Professor of Radiance ... ....215
Aurora Luna Wynterstarr.............. . .52 Advanced Arcane History Silverquill Professor of Shadow.... ....215
Bhedum Sooviij................................. .53 Spirit Statue Mascot......................... ....216
Cadoras Damellawar...................... .53 Exam: Relics...................... 134 Strixhaven Campus Guide.............. ....217
Drazhomir Yarnask......................... .54 Tanazir Quandrix.............................. ....218
Grayson Wildemere......................... .54 Dressing for Success........... 135 Velomachus Lorehold....................... . 219
Witherbloom Apprentice.................. . 221
Greta Gorunn.................................... .55 Party Preparations............... 138 Witherbloom Pledgemage............... . 222
Javenesh Stoutclaw.......................... .55 Witherbloom Professor of Decay... . 223
Larine Arneza................................... .56 Advanced Arcane History Witherbloom Professor of Growth . 223
Melwythorne..................................... .56
Mina Lee............................................ ..57 Exam: Devices.................. 139 Appendix: Campus Map................ 224
Nora Ann Wu.................................... ..57
Quentillius Antiphiun Mclentor 111 Suspicions............................ 140
Rosimyffenbip Wuzfeddlims.........
Rubina Larkingdale......................... Fancying Up Footwork........ 140

Preparing the Hall.............. 141

Advance to 7th Level!........... 145

Advanced Arcane History

Exam: Unearthed Arcana 145

A Starlit Night...................... 146
149
Midnight at Lorehold..........

Aftermath............................. 154

Advance to 8th Level!......... 155

HE MISSION OF STRIXHAVEN UNIVERSITY IS TO As a Strixhaven student, you start with a well-
rounded education in a rigorous first-year program.
discover and preserve magical knowledge, to
In your second year, you choose your preferred
disseminate that knowledgefrom one generation specialty at one of the five colleges. You can also
partake in a vibrant campus life, with plenty of clubs
to the next, to promotefree and open study of
and other activities. You might even play on one of
magic in all itsforms, and to enhance the lives ofpeople Strixhaven’s prestigious Mage Tower teams and
bask in the adoration of cheering crowds!
throughout the world through the use of magic.
Co l l e g e s o f St r ix h a v e n
—Strixhaven mission statement
College Description
A magical world boasts many places where students
can study magic and many sages who take eager Lorehold Explores the past and preserves its lessons
learners under their wings. But being accepted to for future generations. Also called the Col-
Strixhaven University is a special honor, the dream
of many young students. Strixhaven is a place of lege of Archaeomancy.
enlightenment and learning, and both its graduates
and its delegates are typically welcomed and re- Prismari Uses the elements to practice the arts.
spected wherever they go.
Also called the College of Elemental Arts.
Founded seven centuries ago by five ancient drag-
ons, Strixhaven is the premier institution of magical Quandrix Focuses on the mathematics of nature.
learning, drawing promising young mages from all
over. Each equipped with its own campus and fac- Also called the College of Numeromancy.
ulty, Strixhaven’s five colleges—summarized in the
Colleges of Strixhaven table-cover a vast array of Silverquill Teaches the magic of rhetoric, poetry, ora-
academic and magical specialties. tion, and writing. Also called the College of

Eloquence. !

Witherbloom Harnesses the forces of life and death. i

Also called the College of Essence Studies.

4 WELCOME TO STRIXHAVEN

Ab o u t Th is Bo o k Finally, student characters are part of a school
community. They live in university housing, eat in
This book is your guide to life at Strixhaven in Du n - dining halls, and spend the majority of their time on
g e o n s & Dr a g o n s —an introduction to the univer- campus. They eat, sleep, study, socialize, and adven-
sity, a guide to creating student characters there, a ture as part of a community of students, faculty, and
campaign, and a collection of friends and foes. staff. The school is like a town, where a relatively
small cast of characters can play significant roles
Chapter 1 gives an overview of life and study at over the course of the campaign.
Strixhaven. It introduces the main features of the
central campus and each of the five colleges. It ’s a n Ac a d e m y o f Ma g e s

Chapter 2 is your guide to creating a student Study at Strixhaven isn’t about learning to be a wiz-
character. It introduces the owlin race and five back- ard but about learning to be a historian, an artist, an
grounds—one for each college—as well as a collec- orator, a scientist, or some other profession—while
tion of feats, spells, and magic items. using magic to enhance one’s studies. The univer-
sity’s understanding of magic is expansive. Charac-
Chapters 3-6 provide a campaign meant to ad- ters of any class can study at Strixhaven, whether
vance characters from 1st to 10th level as they prog- they’re full-fledged spellcasters like wizards, clerics,
ress through their magical studies. Each chapter and druids; they manage a spell or two thanks to a
covers a year’s worth of adventure, so characters subclass or feat; or they manifest magical abilities
begin chapter 3 as Ist-level characters and first-year that aren’t even spells. (For example, a barbarian
students and begin chapter 6 at the start of their who follows the Path of the Ancestral Guardian, de-
fourth year of studies (at around 8th level). Chapter scribed in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, can excel
3 includes an overview of the adventures and the in studying history at Lorehold College by virtue of
overall campaign arc as well as special rules for their connection to an ancestral spirit.)
aspects of campus life: exams, relationships, extra-
curriculars, and jobs. Magic is everywhere on campus. The campus
culture encourages finding magical solutions to the
Chapter 7 is a collection of stat blocks for stu- most mundane problems, and if characters need
dents, faculty, and various creatures on and around access to a spell they can’t cast, they have a strong
the Strixhaven campus. Whether student adventur- chance of finding someone who can cast it.
ers get caught up in a duel with their rivals or face a
dreaded mage hunter, the stat blocks in this chapter It ’s Co s m o po l it a n
give you the information you need to resolve the
situation. Strixhaven draws students and faculty from across
the world and from other realms in the multiverse.
Or ie n t a t io n The university’s students and faculty are united by a
desire to learn and include humans, elves, dwarves,
The following subsections present three important owlin (described in chapter 2), orcs, trolls, vampires,
facts to keep in mind as you explore these pages and and studious folk of many other origins.
prepare to play or run the book’s campaign.
In practical terms, for player characters, you can
St r ix h a v e n Is a Un iv e r s it y use the rules found in any D&D book to select a
character’s race, if the DM approves. For nonplayer
This book’s campaign assumes that the player characters, you’re as likely to meet a pixie, a dryad,
characters are students at Strixhaven University. a giant, a treant, or another fantastical creature on
Even as they get caught up in the adventures, the campus as you are to meet a Humanoid. The faculty
characters have to continue going to class, doing members mentioned in chapter 1 include genasi, tri-
homework, and studying for exams. Optional rules tons, and even a bipedal brown bear.
in chapter 3 reinforce the importance of study in the
adventures. To the faculty and students of Strixhaven, it is un-
remarkable to meet someone who hails from a far-
The characters are also subject to the authority off land, since almost everyone on campus is from
of the university’s faculty and staff members. Cir- somewhere else. Strixhaven has a place for anyone
cumstances will at times cause player characters who is dedicated to magic-enhanced study.
to defy faculty authority—and even deans—during
their adventures, and the threat of detention or even
expulsion might hang over their head.

WELCOME TO STRIXHAVEN 5

St r ix h a v e n ’s Wo r l d a place of great magic, such as the site of a great
mage’s birth or the location of a time-lost spell.
Strixhaven bills itself as "the premier institution of Other folk believe these arches are connected with
magical learning in the world,” but the question that the archaics in some way (see "Archaics and the Or-
raises for your campaign is this—which world? acle” below). Some students have even seen an arch
come to life with magic in an archaic’s presence.
In the multiverse of the Ma g ic : Th e Ga t h e r in g
Trading Card Game, Strixhaven is located on a Both snarls and star arches are subjects of magi-
world called Arcavios, which (according to legend) cal research for students and faculty at Strixhaven,
formed from the collision or merging of two other who also study wild and dead magic zones, floating
worlds. It is situated in the northeastern portion of earth motes, and other weird locales.
a continent called Orrithia, also known as the Vast-
lands, which is populated by a tremendous variety Fo u n d e r Dr a g o n s ___
of peoples.
Strixhaven University was founded by five ancient
For the purposes of D&D, though, you can place dragons who, according to legend, hatched from the
Strixhaven wherever it best fits the needs of your magical energy of the newborn world of Arcavios.
campaign. It could be in a world of your own cre- These Founder Dragons were among the first to
ation, in a published D&D setting (such as the For- master magic, and they realized that only through
gotten Realms or Eberron), in the planar Cosmopo- disciplined study would magic be safe in the hands
lis of Sigil, or in an interplanar nexus that allows it of other peoples. They founded Strixhaven to fa-
to draw students from across the Material Plane or cilitate that study and established the five colleges
the entire multiverse. based on the magic that each dragon mastered, as
summarized in the Founder Dragons table.
Whatever world you decide to place Strixhaven in,
three elements of the wider world of Arcavios might To this day, the Founder Dragons roam the world.
have some impact on adventures in the school. They no longer associate directly with Strixhaven.
preferring to let the deans of the colleges speak in
Sn a r l s a n d St a r Ar c h e s their stead. The dragons’ knowledge is vast, but
their tempers can prove short. Mages seek them out
As described in the Player’s Handbook, magic only to learn the most elusive secrets. The dragons’
suffuses all existence in the worlds of D&D. In the stat blocks are presented in chapter 7.
Forgotten Realms, scholars describe the fabric of
magic as a Weave that allows spellcasters to inter- Fo u n d e r Dr a g o n s
act with the world’s underlying magical reality. In
Arcavios, that fabric is knotted and tangled in some College Founder
locations, creating a phenomenon called snarls. At Lorehold Velomachus Lorehold
these places, spells can be amplified or distorted
in unpredictable ways. This phenomenon matters Prismari Galazeth Prismari
for Strixhaven because a luminous snarl is situated
at the very heart of campus, located in the Hall of Quandrix Tanazir Quandrix
Oracles in the university’s monumental library, the
Biblioplex. Silverquill Shadrix Silverquill
Similarly, gravity-defying arch shapes appear
throughout the world of Arcavios and, in particular, Witherbloom Beledros Witherbloom
tower over the Biblioplex. These star arches are
made from spokes of natural materials that float Ar c h a ic s a n d t h e Or a c l e
in an arch shape, with a precise inner curve and
a rough and irregular outer arch. They can stand The Oracle of Strixhaven is the wisest and most ac-
straight or lie at an angle, and they can be small or complished mage in the world of Arcavios, selected
enormous, whole or broken, grown over or mysteri- by the Founder Dragons. The Oracle’s lifelong task
ously clean. Their irregular spokes evoke the radiat- is to ensure that magic is used to help people and
ing lines of a shining star. not twisted to evil ends. To be the Oracle, one must
The star arches are a mystery left over from the understand fundamental truths about the nature of
birth of the world. In most cases, the arches simply magic, know and wield hundreds of spells, and pos-
float inexplicably—silent, immovable, and inert. But sess impeccable judgment and virtue.
many people report seeing an arch appear to them
at a critical juncture in their lives, helping them un- Mysteriously linked to the Oracle, archaics are
derstand a lesson or answer a burning question in wise, giant, long-lived beings with an innate talent
their mind. Some scholars believe each arch marks for magic. They can be seen striding through the
wilds, exploring sources of magic with their many
arms or contemplating existence through their
“eye,” which functions as a magical focus of some

6 WELCOME TO STRIXHAVEN

St r ix h a v e n Un iv e r s it y , w it h t h e (Ce n t e r ) Bib l io p l e x Su r r o u n d e d b y (To p )

SlLVERQUILL ANO (GOING Cl OCKWISE) Qu ANDRIX, WlTHERBLOOM, PRISMARI, ANO LOREHOLO

kind. Scholars seek out archaics for their vast soul and its fragmented memories coalesce into a

knowledge of history and magic, but archaics tend creature—a newborn archaic. Every archaic alive

to communicate in obscure allusions and cryptic today was born at the dawn of time from the mind

metaphors. of someone who has lived and died (or who will

Few know that archaics’ existence is linked to a one day live and die) as an Oracle. Archaics speak

time-warping phenomenon involving the Oracle. in cryptic allegories not only to tease and test the

When an Oracle dies, their mind and spirit is swept eager minds of young mages, but also to cleverly

off to the distant past, drawn backward through sidestep time paradoxes.

£ time toward the intense magical power that brought Stat blocks for archaics appear in chapter 7, along-

the world into being. Splinters of that Oracle’s side that of the current Oracle, whose name isjadzi.

5

WELCOME TO STRIXHAVEN 7

Du r in g a d u e l in t h e Ha l l o f Or a c l e s ,

STUDENT TRANSFORMS HER OPPONENT INTO A
GOAT, WHO IS HELD BACK BY A FRIEND

CHAPTER I

Lif e a t St r ix h a v e n

< £ t r ix h a v e n Un iv e r s it y s pa r k l e s w it h Fa c u l t y

the enthusiasm of its students and faculty, The faculty members of Strixhaven are mages and
p* j as they study, debate about, and experi- scholars—experts in their various fields and in the
use of magic to enhance their studies. They are
menl with magic in its varied forms. This dedicated to their research and to educating genera-
chapter offers an overview of life and studies on the tions of mage-students who follow in their footsteps.
university’s campus, as well as a look at each of the Some faculty members value research more than
five colleges where students explore different modes teaching, while others make education their highest
of magical study.

Ma g ic a l St u d y priority. But all find some balance between the two.

The fundamental work of Strixhaven University In s t r u c t o r s

is the application of magic to academic study. Stu- Strixhaven’s faculty begin their careers as instruc-
dents and faculty aren’t limited to magical topics tors, focusing primarily on teaching classes and
alone: they pursue studies in every facet of exis- crafting curriculum, while the school administration
tence-magical or otherwise—applying magic to evaluates their performance. At the end of a provi-
whatever they study. At Strixhaven, historians call sional period, which can last from one to several

the spirits of the dead to aid their lessons about the years, an instructor is elevated to the rank of profes-
past, and arcano-biologists use necromancy to pull sor or let go.

at life and coax out death when teaching about the Pr o f e s s o r s
natural world. Simultaneously, mage-artists sculpt
elemental energy to create animate art, and arcane Professors who have distinguished themselves
over the course of a long career—typically at least
symbologists teach students how to recognize and twenty years—hope to be recognized with the title
understand the magical glyphs they encounter. of esteemed professor. This honor is bestowed in

PRin c ipl e s a n d Po l a r it ie s ________ recognition of groundbreaking research as well as

The colleges and curriculum at Strixhaven are or- exceptional teaching. -
ganized around the idea of philosophical principles
joined in concordant opposition. Each school em- Upon retiring, a professor receives the title of
braces the paradoxical unity of two polar principles:
mage emeritus. Mages emeriti are held in high es-

teem and welcomed to campus as guest lecturers.

life and death, order and chaos, reason and emotion, St u d e n t s

and so on. The five Founder Dragons are thought to Students at Strixhaven spend their first year in a
embody the coexistence of these principles, while course of general studies, which lays the foundation
the ten deans of the colleges stand for the individual for the more specialized work to follow. During this
principles distinguished from their opposites.
year, they wear a uniform of black, white, and gray.
A student’s course of learning at Strixhaven in-
volves exploring the tension between these oppos- They’re encouraged to study broadly so that they be-
ing principles, which typically involves late-night come acquainted with a wide range of disciplines.
arguments in residence halls and study rooms. The
First-year students live in dormitories located on

university’s teaching philosophy is built on the idea the central campus and often form close friendships

that exploring opposites leads to an understanding there that last throughout their educational careers,

of a greater whole. Most people believe that only a even when members of tight-knit groups of friends

being with the wisdom (and long life) of the Founder join different colleges in their second year. A few

Dragons or the archaics can truly master both students continue to live on central campus after

halves of a school’s dichotomy, but a mage must choosing a college, particularly if they pursue exten-

learn at least the rudiments of those halves. A Strix- sive studies in multiple colleges or work as resident

haven graduate is expected to leave the university advisers to first-year students. But most students

prepared to argue the fundamental issues of their move to dormitories located on their chosen col-
! school's philosophies.
lege’s campus in their second year.

i

CHAPTER 1 | LIFE AT STRIXHAVEN 9

Ch o o s in g a Co l l e g e Ad m in is t r a t io n

Before starting their second year of studies, stu- The day-to-day functioning of Strixhaven relies on
dents choose one of the five colleges—Lorehold, hundreds of laborers, clerks, coaches, administra-
Prismari, Quandrix, Silverquill, or Witherbloom—to tors, and others. These personnel include folk like
be their academic home for the remainder of their Mavinda Sharpbeak, the kindly owlin guidance
education. From this point, students wear uniforms counselor who takes first-year students under her
featuring the colors of their college, though these wing, and Gyome, the troll chef of Witherbloom
outfits aren’t as unvarying as the first-year garb. College. In addition to legions of people who devote
their lives to the university’s operations, numerous
Two Counselors. Upon choosing a college, a automatons and artificial life-forms—various kinds
student is assigned two professors to serve as coun- of Constructs—serve in various roles, including
selors to help the student plan a course of studies. campus guides and library assistants.
The two deans of the college assign these two coun-
selors, who represent the poles of the college’s phil- All these operations are managed by an admin-
osophical opposition. By design, the two counselors istration overseen by the ten deans, two in each
tend to offer conflicting advice, forcing the student college. Each dean is an esteemed professor who
to navigate opposing principles. For example, a embraces one side of their school’s philosophical
student pursuing historical studies in Lorehold Col- dichotomy. The deans, like the professors who serve
lege might have one counselor who focuses on the as counselors to students, view it as their role to dis-
unpredictable, war-filled chaos of historical reality agree with each other and guide the college by way
and another who dwells on the idea of an orderly
progression toward an ideal. The former might the deans only exacerbate this combative attitude.
encourage the student to choose courses based on When the argumentative deans fail to chart a co-
gut feeling, to delve into the military aspects of an
issue, and to supplement their academic studies herent course for Strixhaven, the Founder Dragons
with some practical martial training. The other are occasionally forced to intervene. They don't
counselor, meanwhile, might offer several ordered, step in directly, but a director known as the Voice of
rational proposals for course selection, focus on the the Founders—currently an imposing man named
political and human aspects of historical issues, and Taiva—speaks on the dragons’ behalf.
place less emphasis on martial prowess. The stu-
dent must then navigate this conflicting advice and Ma s c o t s
chart their own course.
Course ofStudy. Some students, having chosen Each of Strixhaven’s five colleges has a mascot—a
a college, spend virtually all their remaining school small creature associated with the magic of the
years on that campus and study with those profes- school and often found wandering their respec-
sors, diving into their preferred area of study and tive campuses. Witherbloom’s mascots, pests, are
related fields. Other students take as many as a naturally found in the world around the campus.
third of their classes in other colleges, continuing The other colleges’ mascots are brought into being
the breadth of their first-year education and looking through magic. The Strixhaven Mascots table lists
for places where the perspectives of other disci- the mascots by college. Each of these mascots is de-
plines can bring new insight to their studies. Both tailed in chapter 7.
approaches are encouraged at the university.
STRIXHAVEN MASCOTS
Af t e r St r ix h a v e n
College Mascot
A student’s course of study at Strixhaven lasts at
least four years but allows for advanced study for Lorehold Spirit Statue Mascot
several years beyond that time frame. Most stu-
dents eventually graduate, though, and they walk a Prismari Art Elemental Mascot
variety of paths after leaving the university. Many
return to whatever home they came from, putting Quandrix Fractal Mascot
what they have learned to use in their communities.
Some mages travel the multiverse in search of ev- Silverquill Inkling Mascot
er-greater magic, continuing their research in some
form beyond the confines of an academic program. Witherbloom Pest Mascot
A few alumni return to Strixhaven, sooner or later,
as instructors themselves, and a small, select num- The five kinds of mascots act as companions for
berjoin the Dragonsguard, an elite force of mages students and faculty, sometimes serving as willing
who work with the Founder Dragons. subjects for experiments or demonstrations, and
occasionally even helping out in a duel or a more

serious combat situation. Most notably, mascots
are also playing pieces of sorts in the Strixhaven
sport of Mage Tower, described in more detail in
chapter 4.

IO CHAPTER ] | LIFE AT STRIXHAVEN

<(7 dictable: they aren’t necessarily open all the time,
they don’t always lead to the same places, and some
Ca m pu s Ov e r v ie w require complicated conditions or keys to open.

Strixhaven occupies hundreds of acres, spread out Ce n t r a l Ca m pu s __________________
over six campuses. Each of the university’s five col-
leges has its own campus, and the central campus, The central campus—shown on map 1.1—is the
home to the Biblioplex and Strixhaven Stadium, heart of Strixhaven. Its extensive grounds include
serves as a hub for university life. See the appendix residence halls for first-year students, dining halls,
or the poster map for a view of the entire university. administration buildings, classrooms and laborato-
ries (mostly used for first-year classes and interdisci-
Well-maintained roads connect the six campuses, plinary studies), and space for social gatherings.
and walking from one to another can take a half-
hour or more. Regular shuttles—large carriages Two of the sites on map 1.1 are described else-
drawn by horselike automata—run on an hourly where in the book: Aerojaunt Field (see chapter 4)
schedule between a station near the Biblioplex and and Captain Dapplewing’s Manor (see chapter 3).
each of the satellite campuses, making the journey
in about 15 minutes. In addition, each campus has Th e Bib l io pl e x
multiple permanent teleportation circles, which fac- The center of Strixhaven is the Biblioplex, the uni-
ulty and more advanced students can use when they
require instantaneous travel, and several magical versity’s main library. At the heart of the library is
portals exist as well. These portals can be unpre- a snarl, a tangle in the fabric of magic, that glows
like a miniature sun in the grand Hall of Oracles. A
star arch called the Dawnbow curves across the sky
above the library, marking its location as a center of
mystic learning.

Ar c h w a y Co mmo n s is a f a v o r it e s p o t

FOR STUDENTS TO GATHER.

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Ma p 1.1: Ce n t r a l Ca mp u s

Arches welcome inquisitive minds into the library. Fir e j o l t Ca f e e
Inside, almost every surface from the floor to the At the edge of Archway Commons and just outside
high ceiling is jammed with stacks of books. The the Biblioplex stands the cozy Firejolt Cafe, where 5B
interior of the Biblioplex is vast, with long hall- students cram both information and caffeine into
ways, archive chambers tall enough to have their themselves before exams. The cafe’s name comes 3
own weather, and even pools and moat-passages from its trademark beverage, which the manager, an
crossable only by boat. elf mage named Ellina, brews with her fire magic. -j.
The Firejolt has a reputation as a hangout for first-
Five lines of beacon-towers radiate from the Bib- year students, but older students from all five col- Io
lioplex like enormous spokes. These Torches of leges can be seen inside at all hours. IJ
Enlightenment stretch out to the five college cam-
puses and beyond, more than a hundred miles into Bow’s En d Ta v e r n
the surrounding countryside. They burn perpetually At the western end of the Dawnbow, where it meets
with magical flame, symbolizing the path toward the ground, stands a smaller university landmark:
learning and an escape from ignorance. Bow’s End Tavern, which serves as a hangout for
older students. Most patrons come for the live mu-
Ar c h w a y Co m m o n s sic, deliciously greasy food, and various potions and
beverages. Others come to settle their differences in
Just south of the Biblioplex, a star arch curves over- wild duels in the lot behind the tavern. The tavern’s
head like a smaller echo of the Dawnbow, and a manager is a kind but strict orc named Tulk “the
lush park, Archway Commons, marks the site. More Bulk” Tusktooth.
familiarly called the Commons, the park is a favorite
spot for students—especially first-years—to gather in St r ix h a v e n St a d iu m
fair weather or to wander through on dates. Some of The stadium where thousands gather to watch
the university’s clubs also use the park to host social students play Mage Tower (and sometimes other
gatherings and games, including live-action roleplay- sports) is located near Bow’s End Tavern. Chapter 4
ing games and casual sports. offers more information about Mage Tower.

12 CHAPTER 1 | LIFE AT STRIXHAVEN

4C V Or d e r a n d Ch a o s

GA. Lorehold’s two deans carry the titles Dean of Order
and Dean of Chaos, as order versus chaos encapsu-
Lo r e h o l d Co l l e g e lates the fundamental conflict at the heart of Lore-
hold’s philosophy. This conflict revolves around the
Lorehold is the College of Archaeomancy—a term forces that underlie and drive history. Is the course
that describes the exploration of ancient things of time driving toward a well-ordered ideal state
through magic. Its mages explore the past by poring or slowly devolving into chaos? Are deep patterns
over archaeological sites, calling forth magical en- hidden in historical texts, or is time a series of coin-
ergy from old tomes, and summoning the spirits of cidence and happenstance?
long-dead historical figures. Lorehold mages travel
far and wide across the world, gathering relics of The perspective of order emphasizes the struc-
bygone ages and learning dead languages to unpack tures that pull people together—-law, religion, eco-
the secrets of history. nomics, education, social class, and so on—and how
those structures drive historical events. Order fo-
St u d ie s a n d Ph il o s o ph y cuses on systemic changes and the actions of people
collectively.
Lorehold College is devoted to the study of history,
broadly understood to include the various aspects The perspective of chaos, by contrast, emphasizes
of culture, behavior, and social relationships that individual actions, personal bonds of families and
shape historical events. Its studies include various friends, and the disruptive force of lone, passionate
subdivisions of history (military history, social his- people in history. Scholars of chaos gravitate toward
tory, cultural history), archaeology, anthropology, reckless discovery and the spirit of adventure in
psychology, sociology, religion, and economics. It their research of the past—the essence and emotion
overlaps with Prismari College in the field of art of history over precision or procedure.
history, with some students splitting their studies
between the two colleges. Lorehold mages use their Sc h o l a r s o f Lo r e h o l d
magic to unearth secrets and share illumination.
The Lorehold Scholars table offers examples of
the scholars in Lorehold College. You may use the
table to randomly determine the scholarly focus of a
Lorehold student or faculty member. The Principle
column notes which side of the order-chaos conflict

Lo r e h o l d Sc h o l a r s Plargg believes that history is full of unpredict-
able, war-filled chaos and that his students must
dlO Scholar Principle be ready for anything. He teaches that no rewards
1 Archaeoscribe, chronicling historical Order come without risk, and his excursions typically end
with students heading to the infirmary. He pays lit-
truths for posterity Order tle attention to Dean Tullus's work, usually dismiss-
ing her attempts to find order in chaos as foolhardy.
2 Battle medium, strengthening sum-
Ho f r i Gh o s t f o r g e
moned spirits for use in battles When Hofri (neutral good dwarf Lorehold pro-
fessor of order) first enrolled in Strixhaven. he
3 Chaos scholar, chasing down historical Chaos
believed his future lay with Prismari. A diligent
anecdotes as a litany of happenstance student, he quickly mastered the technical skills of
art, but his magic left something to be desired. After
4 Conservator, preserving ancient spell Order talking with the school’s counselor, Mavinda, Hofri
decided to try his luck with Lorehold. It turned out
knowledge and other relics of the past he had a natural talent for Lorehold’s spirit magic.

5 Dustspeaker, conversing with spirits Chaos His time at Prismari was hardly wasted, however.
Combining his artistic skill with his keen spiritu. I
of the past to learn their storiess sense, Hofri could visualize a spirit's mortal app<
ance and construct a viable statue form for them
6 Pastraiser, binding spirits into the Order inhabit. No one in Lorehold's history had previous:
created a spirit statue from scratch, and Hofri w;
monuments that bear their likeness to offered a professorial position after graduation,
which he happily accepted.
learn about their inspiring deeds
Os g ir , t h e Re c o n s t r u c t o r
7 Relic reader, divining wisdom from the Order Even by Lorehold standards, Osgir (neutral stone
giant) is obsessed with relics of the past. A profes-
past from the context of ruin sites sor of order, he treasures every connection to old
civilizations, whether it’s a magnificent jeweled
8 Ruin shaman, wielding magic that Chaos crown or an old shovel. As a student, he constantly-
spent time in detention for hoarding the best finds
helps delve into ancient sites from Lorehold dig sites in his room; he lost count
of how many times he was sternly told. "History be-
9 Tomewielder, summoning fiery magic Chaos longs to us all!’’

from the words in old writings So, naturally, he mastered the magical art of dupli-
cative restoration. Not only can he perfectly recreate
10 Warsinger, studying the magic used in Chaos an ancient object or device from the smallest scrap,
but he can also produce a second, identical version
ancient wars for his personal collection. He displays something
different every week in his Lorehold office, from a
Lo r e h o l d Fa c u l t y mighty sword of demon-slaying to a delicate elven
music box.
This section describes noteworthy members of the
Lorehold faculty. Some of them use a Lorehold- Go l w a n d a t h e Bl o o d s p il l e r
specific stat block from chapter 7.
“Have you met Golwanda yet?” is a question that older
Au g u s t a Tu l l u s , De a n o f Or d e r
Augusta Tullus (lawful neutral human Lorehold Lorehold students love to ask second-year students,
professor of order) is the current Dean of Order. A new to the college. Sooner or later, one professor or
professor of spirit studies, she has been called the
college’s most talented pastraiser. She can conjure another summons this spirit of a notorious stone giant
entire legions of ghostly apparitions to reenact his-
torical events for her lectures. warmonger, ostensibly as a cautionary tale about the
dire fate that befalls a society that loses control of its
Augusta believes that history repeats itself as an
orderly progression toward an ideal. In her view, the aggressive impulses. Golwanda plays her role with
mistakes of the past can inform the choices of the relish, doing her best to strike terror into the students
present, creating a world of peace and order. She with her bloodcurdling screams and howls of rage.
plays things by the book and frowns on students
who embark on Dean Plargg’s dangerous field trips.

Characters have ample opportunity to meet Dean
Tullus in the adventure presented in chapter 5.

Pl a r g g , De a n o f Ch a o s
Plargg (chaotic good orc Lorehold professor of
chaos) is the current Dean of Chaos. Specializing in
military history, Plargg is known for his perfect re-
call of historical stories, as well as his potent scroll
magic. Blind himself, he invented a form of magical
embossing called heat lettering, which provides a
tactile way to read texts.

14 CHAPTER 1 | LIFE AT STRIXHAVEN

Lo s h e e l , Cl o c k w o r k Sc h o l a r to another, often directly passing the enormous
Losheel (chaotic good loxodon Lorehold profes- stone faces of old statues. Every Lorehold class has
sor of chaos) is a Humanoid resembling a bipedal a story of some careless student making a misstep
elephant. She proudly admits that she is willing to on one of these bridges or in some particularly
crumbling section of the ruins, sometimes with
work hard to be as lazy as possible. She turns her disastrous consequences—and sometimes finding
brilliant mind to constructing increasingly efficient deliverance when a spirit statue appears from no-
mechanical helpers, with the goal of one day being where to catch the hapless student before they suffer
able to do anything she wants without standing up. serious harm.

Lo r e h o l d Ca m pu s Ef f ig y Ro w

The Lorehold campus—shown on map 1.2—is situ- The heart of the Lorehold campus surrounds a
ated northwest of the central campus in a region of soaring bridge that crosses the chasm of Pillardrop.
stark vertical relief. Rugged mesas and steep hills The bridge and surrounding pathways are lined
rise from a wide plain, and a great chasm holds the with monuments depicting historic figures, includ-
excavated ruins of an ancient settlement. Several ing past professors and prominent mage-students,
star arches encircle rocky peaks and outcroppings, as well as war heroes and heads of state from
testifying to the powerful magical energy in the vi- ages past.
cinity-energy once harnessed by the ancients who
used to inhabit this area. Ko l l e m a Ha l l
Kollema Hall is a grand, multitiered gallery built
Pil l a r d r o p into a large outcrop at the end of Effigy Row. Here,
Part natural chasm, part archaeological excavation, Lorehold mages gather for large lectures. At the
and part new construction, Pillardrop is a series center of the hall towers a magnificent statue of
of buildings excavated out of cliffs on the Lorehold Kollema, a wise monastic who was one of the first
campus. Ruins and upgraded halls together are now
used for research, classwork, and housing. Precar- Lorehold professors.
ious bridges link one neighborhood of Pillardrop Chapter 5 includes a partial map of Kollema Hall.

Ma p i ,2: Lo r e h o l d Ca mp u s

<m

u

CHAPTER I | LIFE AT STRIXHAVEN 15

Pr is m a r i Co l l e g e The perspective of perfection focuses on tech-
nique, analysis, theory, aesthetics, and universal
Prismari. the College of Elemental Arts, is devoted principles. It embraces intellect over emotion,
to the study and practice of art intertwined with strives to be thought-provoking and reflective, and
magic. The mage-students of Prismari wield magic aspires to mastery. Its mages tend to use elemental
in spectacles of creativity: masterpieces of showy, forces of cold, water, and wind.
over-the-top magic. They use elemental magic to
express who they are and how they see the world, The perspective of expression instead empha-
often combining different types of energy—fire, sizes the portrayal of personal emotional truths.
water, air, earth, lightning, heat, cold—in powerful Its mages value improvisation, innovation, and
expressions of conflict and harmony. rule-breaking, and they often favor elemental magic
using fire, lightning, and earth.
St u d ie s a n d Ph il o s o ph y
Sc h o l a r s o f Pr is m a r i
Prismari College is dedicated to the arts. Its schol-
ars view art as the fundamental form of self-ex- The Prismari Scholars table offers examples of the
pression and magic as a tool, a medium, and an scholars in Prismari College. You may use the table
inspiration. Prismari studies focus on visual arts to randomly determine the scholarly focus of a Pris
(including architecture, painting, and sculpture) and mari student or faculty member. The Principle col
performing arts (such as dance, music, and theater). umn notes which side of the perfection-expressk>:i
The curriculum overlaps with Lorehold in the field conflict a scholar more likely aligns with.
of art history and with Silverquill in the literary arts,
and some students divide their time between Pris- Pr is ma r i Sc h o l a r s
mari and one of those other schools to pursue these
interdisciplinary fields. Prismari mages use magic d!2 Scholar Principle
to weave the elements into their creations; they
might juxtapose fire alongside paint, ceramics, or 1 Aesthemancer, studying abstract prin- Perfecti’ :
fabric, or they might choreograph elaborate works
that unite a dancer's movements with gusts and ed- ciples of beauty for insight into the
dies of air.
workings of the multiverse
Pe r f e c t io n a n d Ex pr e s s io n
Prismari's two deans carry the titles Dean of Per- 2 Electrovisionary, wielding the forms of Expression
fection and Dean of Expression, and they often
express the fundamental conflict of their philosophy lightning as a paintbrush
as perfection versus expression—or, sometimes, as
intellect versus emotion. What is the purpose of art? 3 Flamesinger, combining fire and music Expression
Is it to make people think things or make people feel
things? Is it supposed to be carefully thought out or 4 Geosculptor, using earth and lava in Expression
raw and spontaneous? Is mastery of art a matter of
honing precise techniques to a point of perfection or volatile emotional displays
of perfectly expressing a raw emotional state? Does
art aspire to express universal truths or intensely 5 Heartrager, turning inner creative fire Expression
personal ones?
into personal strength
Oc t a v ia , t h e Liv in g Th e s is
6 Ice sculptor, crafting ice and cold into Perfection
Crafted as a graduate's final project many years ago,
Octavia (a water elemental that looks like an enormous immersive experiences Perfection
octopus) took up residence on campus and never left.
After all, in its humble opinion, every student deserves 7 Mistmage, shaping cloud, fog, and

incoherent, but really, Octavia is just a very concep- mist into lasting sculptures Expression
tual thinker.
w-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 Muse channeler, projecting blasts of

inspiration toward others

9 Opusmancer, creating magical effects Perfection

on a monumental scale

10 Spectacle mage, hurling stormy dis- Expression

plays into the sky

11 Waterbinder, shaping water into ani- Perfection

mated elemental forms

12 Zephyrist, weaving wind with dance Perfection

Pr is m a r i Fa c u l t y

This section describes noteworthy members of the
Prismari faculty. Some of them use a Prismari-spe-
cific stat block from chapter 7. Several of them are
genasi, who are Humanoids touched by the Elemen-
tal Planes.

i6 CHAPTER 1 | LIFE AT STRIXHAVEN

Uv il d a Mis t c o il e r , De a n o f Pe r f e c t io n Nassari believes that true expression comes from
the heart. They encourage their students to treat the
Uvilda Mistcoiler (neutral good genasi Prismari entire world as a canvas on which to spread emotion
professor of perfection) is the current Dean of Per- and excitement. Nassari takes little heed of Dean
fection. A master of artistic technique, Uvilda trains Mistcoiler's quiet masterpieces and often feigns for-
with a range of elements whenever she isn’t focused getfulness about Dean Mistcoiler’s very existence.
on her teaching. She is known for giving students
profoundly insightful feedback, which she tailors Ve y r a n , Vo ic e o f Du a l it y
to each individual. After a review, she often offers a
small piece of advice that alters the student’s point In addition to being an accomplished elementalist,
of view and work forever—for the better. Veyran (chaotic good genasi Prismari professor of
perfection) serves as a mentor to many Prismari
Uvilda believes that good art comes from the pledgemages. She advocates enthusiastically for
head. To her, carefully measured strokes and delib- the importance of both passion and disciplined
erate object placement make the difference between technique in any artistic pursuit. If a new student
fully realized art and a total mess. If Dean Nassari is upset or overwhelmed, she eagerly calls forth
interrupts her careful work with bombastic expres- playful, beautiful elemental creatures to cheer up
sions one more time, Uvilda is prepared to enroll in the student.
Quandrix to learn how to shrink Nassari.

Na s s a r i, De a n o f Ex pr e s s io n Za f f a i, Th u n d e r Co n d u c t o r

Nassari (chaotic good genasi Prismari professor As soon as Zaffai (chaotic neutral human Prismari

of expression) is the current Dean of Expression. professor of expression) came of age, his parents

Nazzari always want to see art that is bigger, more sent him to Strixhaven, assuring him his budding

radical in concept, and more emotionally powerful. musical genius deserved the finest instruction in the

For their final project as a mage-student, Nassari world. (In truth, though he did possess prodigious

famously “turned in” an earthquake, which almost talent, they were also growing tired of their house

t destroyed three campus buildings. The piece re- being randomly struck by lightning or engulfed in
o ceived a standing ovation from the mage-student cyclones whenever he practiced.) Even as he flour-

a. body—and a grumpy thumbs down from the campus ished as both mage and musician, he discovered a

Q construction golems. new aptitude: conducting.

CHAPTER 1 | LIFE AT STRIXHAVEN 17

In addition to teaching, he serves as Grand Co n j u r o t Ha l l
Maestro of Strixhaven's Orchestra of the Arcane, The center of the Prismari campus is Conjurot Hall,
an elite extracurricular activity for top Prismari a towering structure with a glassed-in observation
students. They practice only outdoors, and their area at the top. Constantly changing strands of ele-
concerts fill the sky with beautiful explosions of ele- mental energy encircle the structure. Artist-mages
mental magic. can see for miles from Conjurot’s main turret, and
the view has inspired many artistic creations.
Ar k in Min e x e s , Pe ppy In s t r u c t o r
Arkin (lawful good human Prismari professor of Opu s Wa l k
expression) is a newly hired instructor teaching a Hundreds of Prismari creations arc displayed along
few courses in choreography and dance ensembles. a path that winds through the central campus build-
He recently graduated from Strixhaven himself, ings, giving the path its name: Opus Walk. Some
and he bubbles with excitement at the prospect of famous pieces of magical art have been displayed
guiding a new generation of students on the course along Opus Walk for centuries, while other transit nt
of study he so greatly enjoyed. He particularly de- bursts of creativity last only a few moments.
lights in finding new ways to help students work
collaboratively to unlock the heights of their creative Fu r y g a l e
potential. At the outskirts of the Prismari campus, the ab
doned creations of thousands of past artist-ma*
Characters might encounter Instructor Minexes in have coalesced over the years into the notoriou
chapter 6. region of Furygale. Roped off by magical wards
and warning signs. Furygale is several acres <>l
Pr is m a r i Ca m pu s ever-changing magical energy, gales of ice and v
and fire, and elementals gone rogue. While dan
Southwest of the central campus, the Prismari ous, it also provides a source of wild inspiration,
campus—shown on map 1.3—is situated in a region and it remains a popular spot for students who w
ofjagged rocks, rugged spires, and intense geother- to duel without being interrupted by faculty.
mal activity.

Ma p 1.3: Pr is ma r i Ca mp u s

18 CHAPTER 1 I LIFE AT STRIXHAVEN

Qu a n d r ix Co l l e g e Sc h o l a r s o f Qu a n d r ix

Quandrix is the College of Numeromancy—a term The Quandrix Scholars table offers examples of
that encompasses the study of patterns, fractals, the scholars in Quandrix College. You may use the
and symmetries to wield power over the funda- table to randomly determine the scholarly focus of a
mental mathematics of nature. Quandrix mages Quandrix student or faculty member. The Principle
can summon creatures made of fractals or turn column notes which side of the substance-theory
abstract theories into towering, spiraling patterns. conflict a scholar more likely aligns with.
They love to expand and multiply; they can increase
their knowledge or size by bending numbers. They Qu a n d r ix Sc h o l a r s Principle
dwell in the overlap between the theoretical and the d8 Scholar Theory
natural—from the fabric of their robes to the nature 1 Abstractor, using magic to stretch the Substance
of their spells, they make use of repeated elements, Theory
clever symmetries, and surprising geometry to ex- possibilities of space
press the complex truths they study. Substance
2 Augmenter, making creatures and
St u d ie s a n d Ph il o s o ph y things larger Theory
Substance
The studies undertaken within Quandrix College 3 Fractalologist, creating beautiful illu- Theory
include mathematics, physics, logic, statistics, meta- sory patterns Substance
physics, and various fields of theoretical magic. Stu-
dents from the other colleges occasionally delve into 4 Mana scholar, studying snarls, ley-
Quandrix courses to bolster the theoretical under-
pinnings of their studies, and Quandrix’s studies of lines, and star arches
nature and Witherbloom’s explorations of practical
biology have some significant overlap. 5 Metamancer, studying metaphysics to
alter reality
Su b s t a n c e a n d Th e o r y
Quandrix’s two deans carry the titles Dean of Sub- 6 Scale druid, manipulating the size of
stance and Dean of Theory, reflecting the philosoph-
ical division within the college. Is mathematics a plants and animals
natural force that exists in the universe independent
of the constructs of intelligent minds, or is it a the- 7 Sequence prophet, studying repeating
oretical framework created by those who study it? patterns that bend the mind

Is the work of the scholar to discover what is or to 8 Vivifier, conjuring fractal creatures
define what could be?
based on biological life
The perspective of substance emphasizes physical
reality. In this view, math is embodied in the natural Qu a n d r ix Fa c u l t y __________ __
forces of the multiverse, waiting to be discovered
by those with the intellectual fortitude to delve into This section describes noteworthy members of
those secrets. Quandrix mages who embrace this the Quandrix faculty. Some of them use a Quan-
view use magic to bring numerical concepts to life, drix-specific stat block from chapter 7.
creating or altering physical reality out of mathe-
matical possibility. Kia n n e , De a n o f Su b s t a n c e
Brilliant and eccentric, Dean Kianne (neutral elf
The perspective of theory focuses on the abstract Quandrix professor of substance) is one of the pre-
realms of conjecture and possibility. Its scholars eminent mana scholars of the world. She has visited
view math as a lens through which a mind can un- and studied countless bizarre magical phenomena,
derstand the cosmos, not something that exists in- from snarls to star arches to ancient shrines. She
dependently in the world. Mages who embrace this loves to share her wild theories with anyone who
perspective use their spells to weave illusions and
manipulate the fabric of magic itself. will listen.
Kianne believes in using mathematics to better

understand nature. She places an emphasis on prac-
tical magic that improves daily life through applied
calculations. She rolls her eyes at Dean Imbraham’s
theories, dismissing them as evidence that her fel-
low dean lives in an imaginary world.

CHAPTER 1 | LIFE AT STRIXHAVEN 19

Im b r a h a m , De a n o f Th e o r y Adrix and Nev now teach as a duo, blending mas-
Dean Imbraham (neutral owlin Quandrix profes- tery of both of Quandrix’s philosophical perspec-
sor of theory) is stern and shrewd, with a mind as tives. They constantly debate the merits of various
piercing as his curved beak. He is known for the esoteric mathematical principles, but if one of their
unnerving habit of fully rotating his head around to students is in danger, they leap into action in per-
address his students, while still rapidly chalking up fect harmony.

complex theorems and equations on a chalkboard. De e k a h , Fr a c t a l Th e o r is t
Imbraham loves numbers more than people or the Deekah (lawful neutral human Quandrix professor
out-of-doors; some say he hasn’t gone outside cer- of theory) sees the world as an endless sequence
tain chambers of the Quandrix campus in years. of interconnected equations, which to her is the

Imbraham wants nothing more than to crack the most beautiful thing imaginable. She explores new
mysteries of the world through dauntingly complex theorems by giving them physical form, and her
theories. He offers his students standing bounties exquisite geometric creations are thrilling sights
on any of his unsolved equations. on campus.

Ad r ix a n d Ne v , Tw in c a s t e r s Ru x a , Pa t ie n t Pr o f e s s o r
The twins Adrix (neutral good triton Quandrix Ruxa (neutral good Quandrix professor of sub-
professor of substance) and Nev (neutral good stance) looks like a bipedal brown bear and knows
triton Quandrix professor of theory) grew up that wild new theories, though exciting, are worth-
literally swimming in magic, in an ocean region less without a deep understanding of the basics.
near a powerful magical snarl. At an early age, they He teaches students of all levels, and even his most
experienced pupils benefit from a much deeper un-
began to see patterns in the tides and currents that derstanding of the fundamental building blocks of
eluded even the most esteemed scholars of their
society. Once, they saved a hundred lives by pre- the world.
dicting the sudden arrival of a tsunami, despite the
deceptively calm seas—washing away any doubts in

their prowess.

20 CHAPTER 1 I LIFE AT STRIXHAVEN

Qu a n d r ix Ca m pu s Esix, Fr a c t a l Bl o o m

The Quandrix campus—shown on map 1.4—is situ- Tasked with devising an infinite equation, a group
ated in a coastal area to the northeast of the central of Quandrix students accidentally created Esix, a liv-
campus, surrounded by lush woodland and abun- ing theorem obsessed with infinity. Over the years,
dant rivers and streams. a few professors have tried to deactivate it, but all
their formulas somehow end up dividing by zero
To r u s Ha l l and fizzling out. Esix never seems to register these
The central hall of Quandrix campus lies at the would-be threats, as it remains consumed by its own
end of a geometric series of walkways, terminat- calculations.
ing at ascending ramps to the towering building.
Inside. Torus Hall’s architecture is mapped to an inner expanse called the Arithmodrome. From the
ever-changing three-dimensional grid, which slowly outside, the Arithmodrome looks like a large cube
evolves. Some Quandrix faculty members insist that of water, ten feet on each side. The inside is an ap-
mage-students shouldn’t linger too long inside the parently boundless theory-space that suspends the
hall, lest its geometry eventually turn itself inside rules of reality. Mages use this space to explore the-
out while students are still within it. oretical numerical possibilities.

Th e Ar it h m o d r o m e Th e Cu l t iv a r iu m
The Quandrix campus is alive with dynamic The Cultivarium is an eye-popping, sun-drenched
sculptures made of water behaving in odd ways: garden of spiraling, cyclical plants and fractalized
cube-shaped fountains, arching aqueducts that animals. Quandrix faculty members have repeatedly
flow through the air, towers of solid-seeming water. taught growth spells in this part of campus, and
One water structure holds a secret: a mysterious over the centuries, the area has come to intensify
any growth magic cast within it.

Ma p i .4: Qu a n d r ix Ca mp u s

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5

CHAPTER I | LIFE AT STRIXHAVEN 21

Sil v e r q u il l Co l l e g e Sc h o l a r s o f Sil v e r q u il l

Silverquill is the College of Eloquence, and its The Silverquill Scholars table offers examples of
mages—stylish, intimidating, and driven—are the scholars in Silverquill College. You may use the
masters of the magic of words. They create spells table to randomly determine the scholarly focus of a
from spoken-word battle poetry or magical mani- Silverquill student or faculty member. The Principle
festations of the written word, scribing patterns of column notes which side of the radiance-shadow
runic ink in the air. These mages make for natural conflict a scholar more likely aligns with.
leaders, fiercely competitive, with a piercing wit and
a never-second-place attitude. Sil v e r q u il l Sc h o l a r s Principle
d8 Scholar Shadow
St u d ie s a n d Ph il o s o ph y 1 Bantermage, using incisive observa- Shadow
Shadow
The curriculum of Silverquill College revolves tion to pierce rivals' confidence Radiance
around words, encompassing literature (including
fiction, essays, drama, and poetry), languages, 2 Duskmage, conjuring inky voids of Shadow
linguistics, oratory, rhetoric, and dramatic perfor- shadow magic Radiance
mance. Students from other colleges often take Radiance
Silverquill courses to improve their communication 3 Inkcaster, summoning living inklings
skills, learning to speak and write more effectively Radiance
about their primary field of study. Silverquill and to service
Prismari see overlap in the area of performing arts,
with Silverquill emphasizing verbal performance 4 Lumimancer, bringing light to bear on
and Prismari focusing more on dance and other shameful situations and holding cor-
forms of movement. rupt institutions to account

Ra d ia n c e a n d Sh a d o w 5 Shadewing, forming weapons from
The two deans of Silverquill are called the Dean darkness to slice and stab at foes
of Radiance and the Dean of Shadow, highlighting
the college’s use of metaphor in describing its philo- 6 Silvertongue, bathing others in the
sophical differences. The metaphor of radiance and
shadow takes concrete form in Silverquill magic, light of inspiring words
as students learn to manifest brilliant light or inky
darkness with their spells. The fundamental argu- 7 Vainglory, wielding the power of a per-
ment among Silverquill’s scholars centers on the fectly crafted compliment to enhance
purpose of communication. Is it to help others or a person’s best qualities
further a personal agenda? Does literature selflessly
better society or selfishly advance one’s own goals? 8 Warsinger, stirring hearts through po-

The college’s perspective of radiance envisions etic performance and song
language as sunlight emanating from the speaker
or writer to illuminate others and make the world Sil v e r q u il l Fa c u l t y
a brighter place. Mages who embrace this view use
their language skills—and their magic—to uplift and This section describes noteworthy members of the
empower others, to shine light on the evils of soci- Silverquill faculty. Some of them use a Silverquill-
ety, and to inspire the best in those around them. specific stat block from chapter 7.

The college’s perspective of shadow focuses on Sh a il e Ta l o n r o o k , De a n o f Ra d ia n c e
the power of language to stab, to expose stinging Dean Shaile Talonrook (lawful good owlin Silver-
truths, and to obfuscate secrets. The magic of quill professor of radiance) is a perennially op-
shadow mages often manifests as bolts or blades of timistic orator. A master of literature, she often
darkness or blotches of flowing ink, and its effects quotes obscure passages from famous texts. Her
range from a sting of shame to an assault on the tar- soul-filling advice and educated references have
been known to make people literally glow.
get’s 1’fe energy.
Shaile believes that all people have the potential
for good and wishes to teach her students how to
make the world a better place. She and Dean Lu
often clash over Silverquill’s curriculum, but the bal-
ance found between them is far more eloquent than
even their words can describe.

41*1 <2222 CHAPTER 1 | LIFE AT STRIXHAVEN

Dean Embrose Lu (lawful neutral human Silver- cruit her, threatening her students’ lives if she didn’t
quill professor of shadow) is a master poet whose comply. Within an hour, she convinced him to free
ink magic is merciless. Scant with praise and quick her, abandon his wicked ways, and seek wisdom
with a cutting remark, Dean Lu has seen many from the archaics.
mage-students scrub out of Strixhaven and has
nothing good to say about those who can’t hack it. Nil s , Dis c ipl in e En f o r c e r
Nils (lawful neutral human Silverquill professor of
A cynic, Embrose believes that most people are radiance) is an optimist, as he believes in every stu-
in it for themselves. He demands his students learn dent’s potential for greatness. However, this outlook
how to use language-based magic to “get what they also means he’s constantly disappointed by their
deserve.” While he often argues with Dean Talon- suboptimal choices, and he is well known for his
rook, he holds a deep (if begrudging) respect for strictness and abrupt scoldings.
the owlin.

Br e e n a , t h e De m a g o g u e Br e n n e t h Bl a c k s t o n e , Sc r ipt o l o g y St a r

Breena (neutral good owlin Silverquill profes- Brenneth Blackstone (neutral good dhampir Silver-
sor of shadow) has a talent for getting her way. If quill professor of shadow) is a rising star in the
she wants you to do something, you won’t just do study of magical writing and symbols. With a
it—you’ll be sure it was your idea all along. Her dynamic lecturing style, this dhampir—a partial
students and colleagues alike hang on her every vampire—attracts students from across Strixhaven
word, and in front of a crowd, she’s a powerhouse purely for his lessons’ value as performance art. He
of charisma, enhancing her speeches with elegant teaches a course in scrivening and scriptology that
swirls of ink magic. Though she’s an elite mage who characters take over the course of chapter 4.

Ia: can easily hold her own in a fight, Breena prefers to
defeat her foes with words alone.
2s

CHAPTER 1 | LIFE AT STRIXHAVEN 23

Fa in , t h e Br o k e r Th e Ro s e St a g e
Lost an important textbook? Craving some rare del- The Rose Stage is a rotating circular platform on
icacy from home? Need something inconveniently the Silverquill campus. It has a backdrop of roses
forbidden? Enter Fain (neutral human Silverquill made of magical ink (tributes left by spectators of
professor of shadow). He has an extensive network past performances), which creates excellent acous-
of connections on and off campus, and he can pro- tics. Mage-students meet at the Rose Stage to prac-
cure just about anything—so long as you can afford tice performances, spar, or engage in honor duels.
his price. Faculty members often observe performances at the
Rose Stage, coaching the students in their magical
Sil v e r q u il l Ca m pu s ______________ and rhetorical displays.

The Silverquill campus—shown on map 1.5—is Th e Dr a m a r iu m
located due north of the central Strixhaven campus The Dramarium is a facility where Silverquill stu-
and looks much like an extension of it. Silverquill is dents train in fitness, dance, martial arts, and other
the most urban of the five colleges, with a campus acts of physical performance. Students can avail
that features buildings of stately elegance. themselves of the preparation space called the Gray
Room (actually a chain of rooms), which has hair
Gr a n d l o f t Ha l l and makeup salons, voice rehearsal booths, mir-
The main Silverquill building is Grandloft Hall, a rored rehearsal spaces, and spa facilities. The back
vast space with shafts of light streaking in from of the Dramarium has a special sensory deprivation
the enchanted windowpanes far above. Grandloft chamber for mage-students who want complete si-
teems with balconies, loges, booths, daises, and lence in which to meditate.
other spaces where orators can perform their craft.
Inklings, the college’s mascots, flit around the high
ceiling, and enchanted spotlights automatically fo-
cus on any mage who uses powerful magic.

Ma p 1.5: Sil v e r q u il l Ca mp u s

1 XSC

11

I5

24 CHAPTER 1 I LIFE AT STRIXHAVEN

Wit h e r b l o o m Co l l e g e Sc h o l a r s o f Wit h e r b l o o m

At Witherbloom, the College of Essence Studies, The Witherbloom Scholars table offers examples of
mages draw power from the opposing forces of the scholars in Witherbloom College. You may use
life and death. These mages brew their spells from the table to randomly determine the scholarly focus
natural components and the essence of living crea- of a Witherbloom student or faculty member. The
tures, using that power to heal or harm the living or Principle column notes which side of the growth-de-
to raise or entreat the dead. They can cause entire cay conflict a scholar more likely aligns with.
forests to blossom out of nowhere or call down
old curses that scourge flesh from bone. Some Wit h e r b l o o m Sc h o l a r s Principle
Witherbloom mages defend ecosystems from pollu- d8 Scholar Decay
tion. while others revel in the power of corruption. 1 Banelock, using concoctions of nox- Decay
They’re at home riding zombie crocodiles down a Growth
languid river, picking herbs for a potion to treat a ious ingredients for withering magic Growth
disease, brooding over a chorus of swamp frogs, or
summoning fearsome avatars of nature. 2 Bleed doctor, drain the essence of liv- Decay

St u d ie s a n d Ph il o s o ph y _ ____ ing creatures to fuel sinister spells Growth
Growth
The curriculum of Witherbloom College focuses on 3 Boon witch, brewing drafts to em- Decay
various sciences, revolving around the life sciences. power the living
Biology, ecology, botany, chemistry, and related
sciences combine with the study and manipulation 4 Boughcaller, summoning creatures
of the magical energy of the Positive Plane and the
Negative Plane, the primal forces of life and death. from bogs
Witherbloom’s curriculum shares some overlap with
Quandrix’s analysis of the mathematical patterns 5 Dreadbones, infusing dead tissue with
in nature. magic to create Undead servants

Gr o w t h a n d De c a y 6 Earthcroucher, connecting directly
The two deans of Witherbloom are traditionally
called the Dean of the Root and the Dean of the with the land to power nature magic
Vein. These titles are a somewhat abstract way of
framing the core division in the college’s philoso- 7 Leafbinder, using medicinal herbs to
phy: is growth or decay the driving force in nature? soothe wounds

The philosophy of the root (growth) focuses on 8 Pestcatcher, harvesting life energy
life and its irrepressible drive to thrive. This view
celebrates the diversity and adaptability of life- from the pests of the bayou
forms, from the tiniest cells to the most complex
networks of living things. The growth philosophy Wit h e r b l o o m Fa c u l t y
asserts that the urge to survive and reproduce is the
most essential principle in the cosmos. Mages who This section describes noteworthy members of
adopt this view wield positive energy and practice the Witherbloom faculty. Some of them use a
healing magic. Witherbloom-specific stat block from chapter 7.

The philosophy of the vein (decay) focuses on the Lis e t t e , De a n o f t h e Ro o t
inevitability of death and decay. Its traditional name Dean Lissette (neutral good human Witherbloom
comes from the prominence of vampires within the professor of growth) is a world-class healer and
college, whose conceptions of draining life through herbalist; it’s even said she once cured the Lorehold
the vein have long proven an important counter- founder dragon of a secret illness. Lisette’s classes
weight to the growth philosophy of Witherbloom. lean more toward demonstration and hands-on ex-
The decay philosophy sees life energy as a resource perience than lectures. When Lisette speaks, her
to be consumed, rather than a good to be nourished words are soft and full of colorful metaphors.
for its own sake. Mages who adopt this view wield
negative energy and practice necromancy. Lisette believes in preserving nature and life, and
she instills in her students a respect for all living
things. While Dean Valentin’s exploitation of living
creatures disgusts her, she also knows she can use
the results of his cruelty to help future lives.

Va l e n t in , De a n o f t h e Ve in
Dean Valentin (neutral vampire) is ancient and
drinks the blood of living creatures throughout the
bayou. Valentin is a kind of sangromancer—he re-
ceives visions from the blood he consumes, which
he uses to learn things about a creature or place.
He has no qualms about exploiting the bayou’s crea-
tures for personal gain.

CHAPTER 1 | LIFE AT STR1XHAVEN 25

He and Dean Lisette often clash over his cavalier It’s tough to study the secrets of life and death with-
treatment of animals, but that hasn’t stopped her out getting your hands dirty—which is the first thing
from using his discoveries for her research. Tivash (neutral human Witherbloom professor of
decay) teaches Witherbloom students. Some call
Wil l o w d u s k , Es s e n c e Se e r the forces he manipulates evil, but he asserts that
No one knows how old Willowdusk (neutral good power is only as good or evil as how you use it.
treant) really is. This professor of growth claims to
be older than Strixhaven itself, and although many Ve r e l d a La n g , Ar c a n o -Bio l o g is t
suspect that she exaggerates, no one else who has Verelda Lang (chaotic neutral dryad) is a respected
lived long enough to refute her cares to do so. Many Witherbloom professor of growth who teaches in-
years ago, a group of rebellious students got lost in troductory courses in magical physiologies, helping
Detention Bog and took shelter in what turned out students in every college learn about the many un-
to be Willowdusk’s roots. She protected them from usual creatures they’re likely to encounter, whatever
a pack of hungry groffs and shepherded them back the students’ field of study. Her research extends
to Widdershins Hall, offering a lecture on proper to the vital functions of fractal creatures and other
herb-gathering practices during the journey. artificial life-forms, leading her to teach courses at
Her lessons proved so effective that she was asked Quandrix College as well.
to stay as a professor. She loves passing on her
knowledge of medicinal herbs, pest mascot culti- Characters have multiple opportunities to study
vation, and dissection techniques to generations of with Professor Lang in chapters 3 and 6.
new students, and she almost always has a pot of
i
tea brewing.
5

26 CHAPTER 1 I LIFE AT STRIXHAVEN

Ye d o r a , Gr a v e Ga r d e n e r swamp creatures: bats, crocodilian monsters, zom-
Ycdora (neutral treant) is the head groundskeeper bified animals, lumbering beasts called brackish
and unofficial undertaker of Strixhaven. Students trudges, and canine creatures called groffs (brack-
ish trudges and groffs are described in chapter 7).
and graduates often wish to spend their afterlife at Sedgemoor is an excellent place to find pest mas-
their beloved university, and she honors that wish. cots, herbs, spider silk, fungi, and other ingredients
Each tree she plants represents the essence of a for potions and spells.
fallen mage, and she remembers them all by name.
Characters have the opportunity to explore
Gy o m e , Ma s t e r Ch e f Sedgemoor in chapter 3.
Anyone who thinks a troll can't be a great chef has
never met Gyome (neutral troll). He combines local WlDDERSHINS HALL
ingredients with flavors from his homeland into an
ever-changing menu of delicacies. Students from The center of the Witherbloom campus is Widdersh-
ins Hall, a bog mansion that looks like it grew out of
every college trek through Sedgemoor in droves for Sedgemoor itself. Widdershins is a network of inter-
his food. The only complaint he ever receives is that connected wooden pods, with planked walkways
he gives out unreasonably large portions. leading out of it like tendrils. The hall has a cozy
inner chamber where students gather for classwork.
Wit h e r b l o o m Ca m pu s
De t e n t io n Bo g
Withcrbloom’s campus—shown on map 1.6—is A stinking, thoroughly unpleasant marshland lies
tucked away in a wide bayou to the southeast of
Strixhaven’s central campus. Wiltroot Hall is de- adjacent to Sedgemoor: the Detention Bog. Wither-
scribed in chapter 4. bloom faculty members send misbehaving students
to this bog as punishment, but it’s also an excellent
Se d g e m o o r place to gather herbs for certain cures and curses.
Sedgemoor, the bayou area that encompasses
the Withcrbloom campus, is known for a range of The adventure presented in chapter 6 offers char-
acters the opportunity to enter this bog.

Ma p i .6- Wit h e r b l o o m Ca mp u s

I

i

is

Is

CHAPTER 1 | LIFE AT STRIXHAVEN 27

A GROUP o f St r ix h a v e n s t u d e n t s —e a c h f r o m
a d if f e r e n t c o l l e g e —d e s c e n d INTO THE
DEPTHS BELOW AN ANCIENT RUIN.

G n A P IE 1< 2

Ch a r a c t e r Opt io n s

^-^=3=* HE CAMPUS OF STRIXHAVEN DRAWS A Cr e a t u r e Ty pe
2 I student body from across the world—or
Every creature in D&D, including every player char-
many worlds. With your DM’s permission, acter, has a special tag in the rules that identifies the
you can create just about any Strixhaven type of creature they are. Most player characters,
character you can imagine, drawing on player char- including owlin, are of the Humanoid type. Creature
acter rules from the Player's Handbook and other types don’t have rules themselves, but some rules in
D&D books. This chapter adds to that wealth of op- the game affect creatures of certain types in differ-
tions with the material in the following sections: ent ways. For example, the text of the cure wounds
spell specifies that the spell doesn’t work on a crea-
“Race Option” presents the owlin, a character race ture that has the Construct type.
option perfect for playing an owl-like student.
Lif e Spa n
“Choosing a College” gives advice on building a
character for adventuring in Strixhaven. The typical life span of a player character in D&D
is about a century, assuming the character doesn’t
“Strixhaven Backgrounds” presents a background meet a violent end on an adventure.
option for each Strixhaven college, linking a char-
acter to one of the five colleges. He ig h t a n d We ig h t

“Feats” offers Strixhaven-thcmed feats for use with Player characters, including owlin, typically fall into
A Curriculum of Chaos and other adventures. the same ranges of height and weight that humans
have in our world. If you’d like to determine your
“Spells” reveals some spells that were developed at character's height or weight randomly, consult the
the university. Random Height and Weight table in the Player's
Handbook, and choose the row in the table that best
“Magic Items” collects magic items that Strixhaven represents the build you imagine for your character.
students might acquire on their adventures.

Ra c e Opt io n

The owlin is a race option for player characters in OWLIN______________________________
Strixhaven and other D&D settings.
Distant kin of giant owls from the Feywild, owlin
Cr e a t in g Yo u r Ch a r a c t e r come in many shapes and sizes, from petite and

If you create an owlin character, follow these addi- fluffy to wide-winged and majestic. Owlin have arms
tional rules during character creation. and legs like other Humanoids, as well as wings
that extend from their back and shoulders.
Ab il it y Sc o r e In c r e a s e s
Like owls, owlin are graced with feathers that

When determining your character’s ability scores, make no sound when they move or fly, making it

increase one of those scores by 2 and increase a dif- easy for them to sneak up on you in the library.

ferent score by 1, or increase three different scores Your owlin character might be nocturnal. Or per-

by 1. Follow this rule regardless of the method haps your character is simply prone to rise later,

you use to determine the scores, such as rolling or embodying the common nickname of night owl.

point buy. Ow l in Tr a it s
The “Quick Build” section for your character’s
You have the following racial traits.
class offers suggestions on which scores to in-
Creature Type. You are a Humanoid.
crease. You’re free to follow those suggestions or
Size. You are Medium or Small. You choose the
to ignore them. Whichever scores you decide to in-
size when you select this race.
crease, none of the scores can be raised above 20.
Speed. Your walking speed is 30 feet.
La n g u a g e s
Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 120
Your character can speak, read, and write Common
feet of yourself as if it were bright light and in dark-
and one other language that you and your DM agree
ness as if it were dim light. You discern colors in
is appropriate for the character. The Player's Hand-
that darkness only as shades of gray.
og book offers a list of widespread languages to choose

s5CD from. The DM is free to add or remove languages
from that list for a particular campaign.
5

CHAPTER 2 | CHARACTER OPTIONS 29

Flight. Thanks to your wings, you have a flying A St r ix h a v e n Pa r t y
speed equal to your walking speed. You can't use
this flying speed if you’re wearing medium or If you’re starting a Strixhaven campaign with the intro-
heavy armor. ductory adventure in chapter 3, that adventure gives all
the advice you need to bring a party of characters to-
Silent Feathers. You have proficiency in the gether. The adventure assumes that the characters are
Stealth skill. first-year students who are participating in orientation
activities together.
Ch o o s in g a Co l l e g e
If you start the campaign at higher level, using one of
At Strixhaven, students choose their colleges at the the adventures in later chapters of this book (or an ad-
start of their second year. But even during a charac- venture of your DM’s creation), give some thought to
ter’s first year, you make college-related decisions what has brought your characters together as a group.
for your character, such as a background choice. The easiest explanation is that you met as first-year
From the start, your character is making decisions students, perhaps living in the same residence hall or
that will lead to their eventual college choice. taking the same classes, or united by a common extra-
curricular interest.
Chapter 1 describes each of the colleges. How do
you decide which of these colleges is right for your It’s also possible that your characters are just meet-
character? Consider these approaches: ing for the first time. The events of the adventure
might throw you together more or less at random. You
• Read the college descriptions in chapter 1, and could all be taking the same class, you might be work-
choose the college that appeals to you. ing the same campus job, or you could be introduced
by mutual friends.
• Read the descriptions of backgrounds and feats
in this chapter. If one of them catches your eye, II
choose that college.

. If you have access to Ma g ic : Th e Ga t h e r in g
cards from the Strixhaven set, find a card that ap-
peals to you and build that character.

30 CHAPTER 2 | CHARACTER OPTIONS

V . ■ t Mai
■’U %

St r ix h a v e n Ba c k g r o u n d s Bu il d in g a Lo r e h o l d Ch a r a c t e r

This section presents five backgrounds that you can Any class or subclass that deals with knowledge of
choose to reflect your character’s studies preparing the past can be a good fit in Lorehold. Bards thrive
to enter one of Strixhaven’s colleges. You aren’t in Lorehold, and wizards (particularly those of the
limited to these backgrounds in a Strixhaven cam- School of Divination) are numerous among its stu-
paign; they’re just one way you can choose to dive dents. Clerics (often with the Knowledge or Light
deeply into your character’s college affiliation. domains) are also quite common.

If you do choose one of these backgrounds, you For a more unusual take on a Lorehold student,
can assume that your life to this point has been con- you could consider playing a barbarian with a pri-
sumed by the education that has made enrolling at mal connection to the past (perhaps adopting the
Strixhaven possible for you, and you might not have Path of the Ancestral Guardian from Xanathar’s
much experience of the world beyond that prepara- Guide to Everything) or a paladin whose Oath of the
tory work. You’re ready to excel as a student—and Ancients gives a concrete link to history.
that, in turn, will prepare you to excel at whatever
path comes after graduation. Suggested Characteristics. Methodical histo-
rians and daring adventurers alike can be found
Lo r e h o l d St u d e n t among the ranks of Lorehold college. The Lorehold
Personality Traits table suggests a variety of traits
You have spent your youth preparing to be a student you might adopt for your character.
of Lorehold College, reading every book on the col-
lege's recommended reading list for prospective stu- Lo r e h o l d Pe r s o n a l it y Tr a it s
dents. Your academic passions are in the broad field
of history. You might dream of using magic to con- d6 Personality Trait
tact great historical figures or your own ancestors or 1 I thrive on esoteric lore. The more obscure the his-
of recreating the mighty magic of a distant age.
torical references I can include in everyday conver-
Skill Proficiencies: History, Religion
Languages: Two of your choice sation, the better.
Equipment: A bottle of black ink, an ink pen, a
2 By searching for these lost artifacts, I hope to find
hammer, a hooded lantern, a tinderbox, a tome
of history, a school uniform, and a pouch con- who I really am along the way.
taining 15 gp
3 I can barely go a minute without talking about my
Fe a t u r e : Lo r e h o l d In it ia t e
You gain the Strixhaven Initiate feat (presented later research. I have so much knowledge in my head,
in the chapter) and must choose Lorehold within it.
and it needs to be let out somewhere!
In addition, if you have the Spellcasting or Pact
Magic feature, the spells on the Lorehold Spells 4 The spirits of the dead are so much more interest-
table are added to the spell list of your spellcasting
class. (If you are a multiclass character with multi- ing to talk with than living classmates.
ple spell lists, these spells are added to all of them.)
5 I can speak eloquently about the historical ramifica-
Lo r e h o l d Sp e l l s
tions of an ancient war. But ask me to add two-digit
Spell Level Spells
numbers together, and I’m a mess.
1st Comprehend Languages, Identify
6 In the end, it’s all just entropy. Everything falls
2nd Borrowed Knowledge (in this book),
apart someday.
Locate Object
Lorehold Trinkets. When you make your char-
3rd Speak with Dead, Spirit Guardians acter, you may roll once on the Lorehold Trinkets
table, instead of on the Trinkets table in the Player’s
4th Arcane Eye, Stone Shape Handbook, for your starting trinket.

5th Flame Strike, Legend Lore Lo r e h o l d Tr in k e t s

Consider customizing how your spells look when d6 Trinket
you cast them. Your Lorehold spells might create
displays of golden light. You might use a tome or a 1 A map made of concentric circles that can be ro-
scroll as a spellcasting focus, and your spell effects
might reflect the appearance of the reference books tated around the page
you study.
2 A puzzle box bedecked with amber
3 A dented brass compass with a red needle
4 The head of a broken statue that houses the con-

sciousness of a snarky sage

5 A sheet of parchment embossed with tactile letter-

ing, glowing red

6 A broken dagger with a wavy blade and a serpen-

tine hilt

CHAPTER 2 | CHARACTER OPTIONS 31

Pr ism a r i St u d e n t Pr is ma r i Spe l l s MJ
X
You are an artist, and you have been preparing to Spell Level Spells
hone your craft according to the traditions of Pris- K—
mari College. Whatever your medium—sculpture, 1st Chromatic Orb, Thunderwave
dance, paint, music, drama, architecture, or any IM
other field—you have grand visions of bringing your 2nd Flaming Sphere, KineticJaunt (in this book) iz>
art to life in a fusion of magic and creativity. -z
3rd Haste, Water Walk
Skill Proficiencies: Acrobatics, Performance IM
Tool Proficiencies: One type of musical instrument 4th Freedom of Movement, Wall of Fire U’

or artisan’s tools 5th Cone ofCold, Conjure Elemental
Languages: One of your choice
Equipment: A bottle of black ink, an ink pen, a set Consider customizing how your spells look when
you cast them. You might wield your Prismari spells
of artisan’s tools or a musical instrument (one of with dynamic, gestural movement—as much dance
your choice), a school uniform, and a pouch con- as somatic component. Even a blast of fire in your
taining 10 gp hands is a sculpted work of art; elemental forces
make grand designs as you hurl spells. These forces
Fe a t u r e : Pr is m a r i In it ia t e might linger on your body or in your clothes as dec-
You gain the Strixhaven Initiate feat (presented later orative elements after your spells are dissipated,
in the chapter) and must choose Prismari within it. as sparks dance in your hair and your touch leaves
tracings of frost on whatever you touch.
In addition, if you have the Spellcasting or Pact
Magic feature, the spells on the Prismari Spells Bu il d in g a Pr is m a r i Ch a r a c t e r
table are added to the spell list of your spellcasting Any class or subclass that wields elemental forces
class. (If you are a multiclass character with multi- of cold, fire, lightning, and wind can be a good fit in
ple spell lists, these spells are added to all of them.) Prismari. Druids and sorcerers are common in Pris-
mari, and wizards who study the Schools of Evo-
cation or Transmutation are also well represented.

32 CHAPTER 2 I CHARACTER OPTIONS

Clerics aren't very common in this school, but some Qu a n d r ix St u d e n t _ _______
with the Tempest domain end up here.
In preparation to become a student of Quandrix Col-
Beyond the ranks of traditional spellcasters, Lo- lege, you have spent years working through the col-
rehold students also include monks who follow the lege’s math problems for prospective students. Your
Way of the Four Elements. Some acrobatic rogues interests concentrate on the mathematical princi-
and fighters (including those who emulate the ar- ples and patterns found in the natural world. You
chetype of the Eldritch Knight) also delight in the might lean more toward mathematics or physics, or
athleticism of Prismari performance. you delve into more abstract studies of metaphysics,
arcana, or logic.
Suggested Characteristics. Though the curric-
ulum of Prismari College attracts many outgoing Skill Proficiencies: Arcana, Nature
and driven artists, the school has no shortage of Tool Proficiencies: One type of artisan’s tools
shy scholars and lackadaisical blowhards among Languages: One of your choice
its ranks. The Prismari Personality Traits table Equipment: A bottle of black ink, an ink pen, an
suggests a variety of traits you might adopt for your
character. abacus, a book of arcane theory, a school uniform,
and a pouch containing 15 gp
Pr is ma r i Pe r s o n a l it y Tr a it s
d6 Personality Trait Fe a t u r e : Qu a n d r ix In it ia t e
1 I'm the life of the party, and I expect everyone's at-
You gain the Strixhaven Initiate feat (presented later
tention when I walk into a room. in the chapter) and must choose Quandrix within it.

2 Two weeks ago, I was enthralled with my latest In addition, if you have the Spellcasting or Pact
project. Now, I think it’s garbage and deserves to Magic feature, the spells on the Quandrix Spells
be destroyed. table are added to the spell list of your spellcasting
class. (If you are a multiclass character with multi-
3 I believe everyone has the ability to express their ple spell lists, these spells are added to all of them.)

truest selves through art, and I’m happy to quietly Qu a n d r ix Sp e l l s
push them in the right direction.
Spell Level Spells
4 Everyone is a critic, and I work to win them all over.
1st Entangle, Cuiding Bolt
5 I’m beset with such an overwhelming sense of
ennui regarding my art. Nothing quite captures my 2nd Enlarge/Reduce, Vortex Warp (in this book)
attention anymore.
3rd Aura of Vitality, Haste
6 Instead of confronting my negative emotions, I
channel them into explosive artistic displays. 4th Control Water, Freedom of Movement

Prismari Trinkets. When you make your char- 5th Circle of Power, Passwall
acter, you may roll once on the Prismari Trinkets
table, instead of on the Trinkets table in the Player’s Consider customizing how your spells look when
Handbook, for your starting trinket. you cast them. Your Quandrix spells might manifest
amid kaleidoscopic swirls of fractal patterns, ampli-
Pr is ma r i Tr in k e t s fying the tiniest movements of your somatic compo-
nents. When your magic creates or alters creatures,
d6 Trinket it might briefly surround the targets with shimmer-
ing fractal designs or tessellated patterns.
1 A pair of rose-tinted glasses with glittery frames
Bu il d in g a Qu a n d r ix Ch a r a c t e r
2 A stoppered glass bottle that, when opened, plays
a brassy orchestral piece Any spellcasting class or subclass can work well
for a Quandrix character. Both the scholarly focus
3 A quartet of hovering water motes in a vial of wizards (especially those who study the Schools
4 A bandolier of watercolor paints of Abjuration, Illusion, or Transmutation) and the
5 A tiara capped with a crystal that crackles with metamagic manipulations of sorcerers are welcome
in Quandrix, and many druids explore the patterns
harmless lightning of nature in Quandrix as well. A few clerics, particu-
larly those with the Knowledge or Nature domains,
6 An iridescent quill study in Quandrix as well.

Aside from traditional spellcasters, a few charac-
ters of other classes find homes in Quandrix. Some
fighters, monks, rangers, and rogues study here,
using Quandrix principles to train their minds.

CHAPTER 2 | CHARACTER OPTIONS 33

Suggested Characteristics. With subjects rang- Quandrix Trinkets. When you make your char- 3
ing from the physical and tangible to the paradox- acter, you may roll once on the Quandrix Trinkets
ical and strange, the student body of Quandrix table, instead of on the Trinkets table in the Player’s I
College includes an eclectic mix of individuals. The Handbook, for your starting trinket.
Quandrix Personality Traits table suggests a variety I
of traits you might adopt for your character. Qu a n d r ix Tr in k e t s

Qu a n d r ix Pe r s o n a l it y Tr a it s d6 Trinket
d6 Personality Trait 1 A small succulent in a dodecahedral clay pot
1 When I find a subject I’m interested in, I won’t stop 2 A blue knit hat that looks a bit like a bottle folding

studying until I know everything about it. It keeps in on itself

me up at night. 3 A model hypercube carved from green crystal,
showcasing the fourth dimension
2 I hope this all makes sense to me one day. Until
4 A crumpled test on the theory of gravity manipula-
then, I'm going to keep faking it.
tion, with a failing grade on the front and the name
3 Equations and patterns come naturally to my mind. of a famous Quandrix professor
I wish friendship came just as easily.
5 A blue tetrahedron that, when tapped twice, proj-
4 I believe I’m always the smartest person in the ects a recording of an old mathematics lecture
room. And I’ll prove it, even if no one asks me to.
6 A round bread roll cut so that someone could
5 If these classes have taught me anything, it’s that spread butter on both halves without ever lifting
reality is a lie, and nothing matters. So why bother? the knife

6 Before I graduate, I want to achieve something
mathematically impossible. I must leave a legacy!

34 CHAPTER 2 I CHARACTER OPTIONS

SlLVERQUILL STUDENT_________________ A number of both paladins and rogues attend Sil-
verquill College as well, highlighting the diversity of
You have spent years practicing your writing and the student body.
oration in the hope of becoming a student of Sil-
verquill College. Your studies focus on language, Suggested Characteristics. With the college’s
literature, and the power of words, both magical and intense standards looming over them, Silverquill
otherwise. The metaphorical power of words to illu- students range from cocky and cutthroat to over-
minate or conceal is joined with the literal ability of whelmed perfectionists. The Silverquill Personality
magic to do the same in your academic pursuits. Traits table suggests a variety of traits you might
adopt for your character.
Skill Proficiencies: Intimidation, Persuasion
Languages: Two of your choice Personality Trait
Equipment: A bottle of black ink, an ink pen, a
high social status.
book of poetry, a school uniform, and a pouch con- 2 I prefer saying the blunt truth over a pretty lie, and
taining 15 gp
I don’t particularly care whose feelings I hurt.
Fe a t u r e : Sil v e r q u il l In it ia t e 3 I believe that uplifting my peers is the best way to
You gain the Strixhaven Initiate feat (presented later
succeed.
In addition, if you have the Spellcasting or Pact
Magic feature, the spells on the Silverquill Spells 4 I’ve mastered the art of using humor as a defense,
table are added to the spell list of your spellcasting
class. (If you are a multiclass character with multi- and I always have a charming joke ready.
ple spell lists, these spells are added to all of them.) 5 I always wait before speaking, analyzing the situa-

Sil v e r q u il l Spe l l s tion for whichever angle is most advantageous to
my goals.
Spell Level Spells 6 No one knows about the all-nighters I've pulled to
keep my magic looking effortless, and I’m going to
1st Dissonant Whispers, keep it that way.

Silvery Barbs (in this book) Silverquill Trinkets. When you make your char-
acter, you may roll once on the Silverquill Trinkets
2nd Calm Emotions, Darkness table, instead of on the Trinkets table in the Player’s
Handbook, for your starting trinket.
3rd Beacon of Hope, Daylight
Trinket
4th Compulsion, Confusion A black leather notebook filled with half-finished
poems
5th Dominate Person, Rary's Telepathic Bond 2 A set of flashcards detailing different colloquial-
isms and their meanings
Consider customizing how your spells look when 3 A canteen that makes any liquid drunk from it taste
you cast them. Your Silverquill spells might be ac- sweet
companied by visual effects resembling splotches of
ink or radiating ripples of golden light. Any auditory 4 A forged permission slip granting access to the
effects of your spells often sound like amplified
echoes of your own voice speaking the spells’ verbal special archives of Strixhaven’s libraries
components—even amid the crash of lightning or a 5 A stylish silver pin that references a famous series
fiery eruption.
of novels about warlocks
Bu il d in g a Sil v e r q u il l Ch a r a c t e r 6 A stack of small pieces of parchment, each en-

Many bards find a home in Silverquill, putting the chanted to stick to whatever surface it's pressed
power of their voices to use with Silverquill magic. against and peel off easily
Wizards (especially those who study the Schools of
Illusion and Enchantment) are common in Silver-
quill, as are warlocks. Clerics with the Divine Do-
mains of Light and Trickery also fit in well among
the mages of Silverquill.

CHAPTER 2 | CHARACTER OPTIONS 35

Wit h e r b l o o m St u d e n t Suggested Characteristics. Students of Wither-
bloom College are equally likely to be found picking
You filled your childhood with rudimentary alchem- herbs for a healing tincture or riding zombified
ical experiments, all in the hope of becoming a stu- swamp beasts through the bayou. The Witherbloom
dent of Witherbloom College. The life sciences are Personality Traits table suggests a variety of traits
the focus of your reading, which include biology and you might adopt for your character.
necromancy. Brewing strange concoctions with me-
dicinal properties, exploring the anatomies of mon- Wit h e r b l o o m Pe r s o n a l it y Tr a it s
sters, and cataloging swamp flora are the kinds of d6 Personality Trait
studies you might pursue at Witherbloom College. 1 I love brewing up a new recipe, even if some might

Skill Proficiencies: Nature, Survival be repulsed by my choice of ingredients. Or the
Tool Proficiencies: Herbalism kit final product. Or both.
Languages: One of your choice
Equipment: A bottle of black ink, an ink pen, a 2 My fashion sense is like my garden: withered,
black, and weird.
book about plant identification, an iron pot, an
herbalism kit. a school uniform, and a pouch con- 3 I’m going to befriend every single monster in this
taining 15 gp swamp if it's the last thing I do.

Fe a t u r e : Wit h e r b l o o m In it ia t e 4 Everything in this world dies eventually. The ques-
You gain the Strixhaven Initiate feat (presented tion is, what will you do with the time you have left?
later in the chapter) and must choose Witherbloom
within it. 5 I know we just met, but when you die, may I have

In addition, if you have the Spellcasting or Pact your bones? For research.
Magic feature, the spells on the Witherbloom Spells
table are added to the spell list of your spellcasting 6 Don’t interrupt me; I’m brooding.
class. (If you are a multiclass character with multi-
ple spell lists, these spells are added to all of them.) Witherbloom Trinkets. When you make your
character, you may roll once on the Witherbloom
Wit h e r b l o o m Sp e l l s Trinkets table, instead of on the Trinkets table in the
Player's Handbook, for your starting trinket.
Spell Level Spells
Wit h e r b l o o m Tr in k e t s
1st Cure Wounds, Inflict Wounds
d6 Trinket
2nd Lesser Restoration,
1 A black bird-shaped mask, trimmed with glowing
Wither and Bloom (in this book) green thread

3rd Revivify, Vampiric Touch 2 A set of rabbit bones
3 A pair of thick knee-high waders, stained with muck
4th Blight, Death Ward
and moss
5th Antilife Shell, Greater Restoration
4 A slimy green tentacle, which occasionally wriggles
Consider customizing how your spells look when 5 A notebook containing waterproof paper
you cast them. Your Witherbloom spells might rely 6 A necklace of five small vials, each filled with lumi-
on material components or a spellcasting focus
drawn from the swamp environment of Wither- nescent white liquid
bloom, and your spells might take on an appearance
suggesting those natural elements. Spectral shapes Fe a t s
of swamp animals or plants might form amid your
spell effects. This section introduces feats that give your char-
acter benefits associated with the colleges of Strix-
Bu il d in g a Wit h e r b l o o m Ch a r a c t e r haven. These feats are available to you whenever
Druids and warlocks make up most of Wither- you normally choose a feat, and they follow the feat
bloom’s student body. A few wizards (mostly those rules in the Player’s Handbook.
who study the School of Necromancy) and clerics
(including those with the Divine Domains of Life or Fe a t De s c r ipt io n s
Nature) also find their home in Witherbloom.
These feats are presented in alphabetical order.
A number of rangers and barbarians study at
Witherbloom as well, and some rogues learn how St r ix h a v e n In it ia t e
to create and use poisons during their studies at You have studied some magical theory and have
this college. learned a few spells associated with Strixhaven
University.

36 CHAPTER 2 I CHARACTER OPTIONS

Choose one of Strixhaven’s colleges: Lorehold, Spe l l s
Prismari, Quandrix, Silverquill, or Witherbloom.
Created at Strixhaven, the spells presented in this
You learn two cantrips and one lst-level spell based section are available to the backgrounds offered in
on the college you choose, as specified in the Strix- this chapter. The spells also appear on the class
haven Spells table. spell lists indicated in the Spells table below.

You can cast the chosen lst-level spell without a Sp e l l s School Class
spell slot, and you must finish a long rest before you
can cast it in this way again. You can also cast the Level Spell Enchantment Bard, Sorcerer,
spell using any spell slots you have. 1st Silvery Barbs
Wizard
Your spellcasting ability for this feat’s spells is In- 2nd Borrowed
telligence, Wisdom, or Charisma (choose when you Knowledge Divination Bard, Cleric,
select this feat).
2nd KineticJaunt
St r ix h a v e n Sp e l l s Warlock, Wizard
2nd Vortex Warp
College Cantrips Ist-Level Spell Transmutation Artificer* Bard,
2nd Wither and
Lorehold Choose two from Bloom Sorcerer, Wizard
light, sacredfame, and
thaumaturgy. Choose one 1st- Conjuration Artificer*
level cleric or wizard
spell. Sorcerer, Wizard

Prismari Choose two from fre Choose one 1st- Necromancy Druid, Sorcerer,
bolt, prestidigitation, level bard or sor-
and ray offrost. cerer spell. Wizard

Quandrix Choose two from druid- Choose one 1st- *The artificer class appears in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything
craft, guidance, and level druid or wizard and Eberron: Risingfrom the Last War.
mage hand. spell.
Spe l l De s c r ipt io n s
Silverquill Choose two from sacred Choose one 1st-
fame, thaumaturgy, level bard or cleric These spells are presented in alphabetical order.
and vicious mockery. spell.
Bo r r o w e d Kn o w l e d g e
Wither- Choose two from chill Choose one 1st-
bloom touch, druidcraft, and level druid or wizard 2nd-Level Divination
spare the dying. spell.
Casting Time: 1 action
St r ix h a v e n Ma s c o t Range: Self
Components: V, S, M (a book worth at least 25 gp)
Prerequisite: 4th Level, Strixhaven Initiate Feat Duration: 1 hour

You have learned how to summon a Strixhaven You draw on knowledge from spirits of the past.
mascot to assist you, granting you these benefits: Choose one skill in which you lack proficiency. For
the spell’s duration, you have proficiency in the cho-
• You can cast the find familiar spell as a ritual. sen skill. The spell ends early if you cast it again.
Your familiar can take the form of the mascot
associated with the college you chose for the Kin e t ic Ja u n t
Strixhaven Initiate feat: a spirit statue mascot
(Lorehold), an art elemental mascot (Prismari), 2nd-Level Transmutation
a fractal mascot (Quandrix), an inkling mascot
(Silverquill), or a pest mascot (Witherbloom). Stat Casting Time: 1 bonus action
blocks for these creatures appear in chapter 7. Range: Self
Components: S
• When you take the Attack action on your turn, you Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
can forgo one attack to allow your mascot familiar
to make one attack of its own with its reaction. You magically empower your movement with dance-
like steps, giving yourself the following benefits for
• If your mascot familiar is within 60 feet of you, the duration:
you can teleport as an action, swapping places
with the familiar. If your destination space is too • Your walking speed increases by 10 feet.
small for you to occupy, the teleportation fails and • You don’t provoke opportunity attacks.
is wasted. Once you teleport in this way, you can’t • You can move through the space of another crea-
do so again until you finish a long rest, unless
you expend a spell slot of 2nd level or higher to ture, and it doesn’t count as difficult terrain. If you
do it again. end your turn in another creature’s space, you are
shunted to the last unoccupied space you occu-
pied, and you take ld8 force damage.

CHAPTER 2 | CHARACTER OPTIONS 37

Sil v e r y Ba r b s and regain a number of hit points equal to the roll
Ist-Level Enchantment plus your spellcasting ability modifier.

Casting Time: 1 reaction, which you take when a At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell us-
creature you can see within 60 feet of yourself ing a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the damage
succeeds on an attack roll, an ability check, or a increases by 1 d6 for each slot above 2nd, and the
saving throw number of Hit Dice that can be spent and added
to the healing roll increases by one for each slot
Range: 60 feet above 2nd.
Components: V
Duration: Instantaneous Ma g ic It e m s

You magically distract the triggering creature and This section presents some magic items that are
turn its momentary uncertainty into encouragement created at Strixhaven. These items, along with a few
for another creature. The triggering creature must
reroll the d20 and use the lower roll. from the Dungeon Master's Guide (DMG), can be
purchased on campus using the prices in the Magic
You can then choose a different creature you can
see within range (you can choose yourself). The Items for Sale table.
chosen creature has advantage on the next attack
roll, ability check, or saving throw it makes within 1 Ma g ic It e ms f o r Sa l e Rarity Cost
minute. A creature can be empowered by only one Common 100 gp
use of this spell at a time. Item Common 100 gp
Bottle of Boundless Coffee Uncommon 300 gp
Vo r t e x Wa r p Cuddly Strixhaven Mascot Uncommon 300 gp
Lorehold Primer Uncommon 300 gp
2nd-Level Conjuration Prismari Primer Uncommon 300 gp
Quandrix Primer Common
Casting Time: 1 action Silverquill Primer Common 50 gp
Range: 90 feet Spell Scroll (Ist-Level Spell; DMG) Uncommon 100 gp
Components: V, S Strixhaven Pennant Uncommon 300 gp
Duration: Instantaneous Weapon, +1 (DMC) 300 gp
Witherbloom Primer
You magically twist space around another creature
you can see within range. The target must succeed Ma g ic It e m De s c r ipt io n s
on a Constitution saving throw (the target can
choose to fail), or the target is teleported to an unoc- These items are presented in alphabetical order.
cupied space of your choice that you can see within
range. The chosen space must be on a surface or in Bo t t l e o f Bo u n d l e s s Co f f e e
a liquid that can support the target without the tar-
get having to squeeze. Wondrous Item, Common

At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell us- This metal bottle carries delicious, warm coffee.
ing a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the range of The bottle comes with a stopper, which is attached
the spell increases by 30 feet for each slot level to the bottle by a little chain. Even when open, the
above 2nd. bottle won’t accept any liquid other than the coffee
it produces. The coffee inside is always comfortably
Wit h e r a n d Bl o o m warm, and none of the heat can be felt through
the bottle.
2nd-Level Necromancy
Each time you drink the coffee, roll a d20. On a
Casting Time: 1 action 1, the bottle refuses to dispense coffee for the next
Range: 60 feet hour. If you pour coffee from the bottle, rather than
Components: V, S, M (a withered vine twisted drinking from it, the coffee vanishes the moment it
leaves the bottle.
into a loop)
Duration: Instantaneous Cu d d l y St r ix h a v e n Ma s c o t

You invoke both death and life upon a 10-foot-radius Wondrous Item, Common
sphere centered on a point within range. Each crea-
ture of your choice in that area must make a Consti- Representing one of the mascots of Strixhaven, this
tution saving throw, taking 2d6 necrotic damage on soft, Tiny, magic toy is perfect for cuddling. If you
a failed save, or half as much damage on a success- press it to your arm, shoulder, or leg as an action,
ful one. Nonmagical vegetation in that area withers. the toy stays attached there for 1 hour or until you
use an action to remove it.
In addition, one creature of your choice in that
area can spend and roll one of its unspent Hit Dice

38 CHAPTER 2 I CHARACTER OPTIONS

This toy can also be used to fight off fear. When In addition, if you study the primer at the end of
you make a saving throw to avoid or end the fright- a long rest, you can choose one lst-level spell from
ened condition on yourself, you can give yourself the druid or wizard spell list. Before you finish your
advantage on the roll if the toy is on your person. next long rest, you can cast the chosen spell once
You must decide to do so before rolling the d20. If without a spell slot if you are holding the primer.
the save succeeds, you can’t use the toy in this way Your spellcasting ability for this spell is your choice
again until you finish a long rest. of Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma.

Lo r e h o l d Pr im e r SILVERQUILL PRIMER

Wondrous Item, Uncommon (Requires Attunement Wondrous Item, Uncommon (Requires Attunement
by a Spellcaster)
by a Spellcaster)
The Silverquill Primer is a magic textbook created
The Lorehold Primer is a magic textbook created at Strixhaven’s Silverquill College. The primer has
at Strixhaven’s Lorehold College. The primer has 3 3 charges, and it regains ld3 expended charges
charges, and it regains 1 d3 expended charges daily daily at dawn. If you make a Charisma (Intimi-
at dawn. If you make an Intelligence (History) or dation) or a Charisma (Persuasion) check while
an Intelligence (Religion) check while holding the holding the primer, you can expend 1 charge to give
primer, you can expend 1 charge to give yourself yourself a ld4 bonus to the check, immediately after
a ld4 bonus to the check, immediately after you you roll the d20.
roll the d20.
In addition, if you study the primer at the end of
In addition, if you study the primer at the end of a long rest, you can choose one lst-level spell from
a long rest, you can choose one lst-level spell from the bard or cleric spell list. Before you finish your
the cleric or wizard spell list. Before you finish your next long rest, you can cast the chosen spell once
next long rest, you can cast the chosen spell once without a spell slot if you are holding the primer.
without a spell slot if you are holding the primer. Your spellcasting ability for this spell is your choice
Your spellcasting ability for this spell is your choice of Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma.
of Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma.
St r ix h a v e n Pe n n a n t
Pr is m a r i Pr im e r
Wondrous Item, Uncommon (Requires Attunement Wondrous Item, Common
by a Spellcaster)
This magic pennant bears the symbol of Strixhaven
The Prismari Primer is a magic textbook created or one of its colleges: Lorehold, Prismari, Quandrix,
at Strixhaven’s Prismari College. The primer has 3 Silverquill, or Witherbloom. While you wave the
charges, and it regains ld3 expended charges daily pennant, the symbol on it glitters, and the pennant
at dawn. If you make a Dexterity (Acrobatics) or a sheds bright light in a 10-foot radius and dim light
Charisma (Performance) check while holding the for an additional 10 feet.
primer, you can expend 1 charge to give yourself
a ld4 bonus to the check, immediately after you Wit h e r b l o o m Pr im e r
roll the d20. Wondrous Item, Uncommon (Requires Attunement
by a Spellcaster)
In addition, if you study the primer at the end of
a long rest, you can choose one lst-level spell from The Witherbloom Primer is a magic textbook cre-
the bard or sorcerer spell list. Before you finish your ated at Strixhaven’s Witherbloom College. The
next long rest, you can cast the chosen spell once primer has 3 charges, and it regains ld3 expended
without a spell slot if you are holding the primer. charges daily at dawn. If you make an Intelligence
Your spellcasting ability for this spell is your choice (Nature) or Wisdom (Survival) check while holding
of Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma. the primer, you can expend 1 charge to give yourself
a ld4 bonus to the check, immediately after you
Qu a n d r ix Pr im e r roll the d20.
Wondrous Item, Uncommon (Requires Attunement
by a Spellcaster) In addition, if you study the primer at the end of
a long rest, you can choose one lst-level spell from
The Quandrix Primer is a magic textbook created the druid or wizard spell list. Before you finish your
at Strixhaven’s Quandrix College. The primer has next long rest, you can cast the chosen spell once
3 charges, and it regains ld3 expended charges without a spell slot if you are holding the primer.
daily at dawn. If you make an Intelligence (Arcana) Your spellcasting ability for this spell is your choice
or an Intelligence (Nature) check while holding the of Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma.
primer, you can expend 1 charge to give yourself
a ld4 bonus to the check, immediately after you
roll the d20.

CHAPTER 2 | CHARACTER OPTIONS 39



CHAPTER 3

Sc h o o l Is in Se s s io n

HE FOLLOWING FOUR CHAPTERS PRESENT A St r ix h a v e n Ca m pa ig n _

• I a series of Du n g e o n s & Dr a g o n s adven- If you run these adventures as a campaign, one
tures optimized for four to six characters. villain is behind the chaos on campus: the bul-
lywug Murgaxor Grenshel, a disgruntled former
—L- Each adventure takes place on and around student who attended Strixhaven centuries ago.
the Strixhaven campus. In these adventures, the Murgaxor—who uses evil magic to sustain his life
player characters are students attending the univer- force—focuses his all-consuming desire for revenge
sity, and they become heroes in their own right as on destroying Strixhaven University.
they navigate plots, overcome monsters, and thwart
dangers that arise in each adventure. The adventures assume you’re playing a Strix-
haven campaign, and each adventure provides in-
Chapters 1 and 2 contain all the information the formation about how Murgaxor’s influence corrupts
players need to play Strixhaven students. Each ad- and warps creatures and places on campus. The
venture takes place over the course of one academic end of each adventure provides information that
year. For instance, “Campus Kerfuffle,” the adven- foreshadows or sets up the events of the next adven-
ture in this chapter, takes place during the char- ture. The characters ultimately confront Murgaxor
acters’ first year at the university. “Hunt for Mage in chapter 6, where the villain is described in detail.
Tower," in chapter 4, takes place during the charac-
ters’ second year at the university, and so on. The Ch a r a c t e r Cr e a t io n
adventures can be run consecutively as a campaign
or individually, as described below. Before starting any of this book's adventures, con-
sult chapter 2 for guidance on making Strixhaven
Ru n n in g t h e Ad v e n t u r e s characters and uniting those characters in a group.

To run these adventures, you need the fifth edition Ch a r a c t e r Ad v a n c e m e n t
core rulebooks: the Player’s Handbook, the Dun-
geon Master’s Guide, and the Monster Manual. In these adventures, the characters receive experi-
ence points for achieving story milestones, rather
Text that appears in a box like this is meant to be than for defeating monsters. Each adventure tells
you when the characters advance to the next level.
read aloud or paraphrased for the players when their
St a n d a l o n e Ad v e n t u r e s
characters first arrive at a location or under a specific
Rather than playing the four adventures as a cam-
circumstance, as described in the text. paign, you can run them as standalone adventures.
A section near the start of each adventure tells you
When a creature’s name appears in bold type, how to use the adventure in this way.
that’s a visual cue pointing you to its stat block. In
other words, when you see a name in bold type, you If you run any of these adventures separately, you
should get the creature’s stat block ready because should ask the players to create characters of the ap-
you’re going to need it soon. If the stat block appears propriate starting level for the adventure, as shown
in chapter 7, the text tells you. Otherwise, you can in the Adventure Levels table.
find the stat block in the Monster Manual.
Ad v e n t u r e Le v e l s Starting Level Chapter
Spells and equipment mentioned in these adven- 1st 3
tures are described in the Player’s Handbook. If an Adventure 4th 4
adventure doesn’t describe a magic item, you can Campus Kerfuffle 6th 5
find the magic item’s description in the Dungeon Hunt for Mage Tower 6
Master’s Guide. The Magister’s Masquerade 8th
A Reckoning in Ruins

a

a

vu

O

5

CHAPTER 3 | SCHOOL IS IN SESSION 41

Re l a t io n s h ips Po s t e r Ma p

If you run chapter 4, 5, or 6 as a standalone adven- ers. One side shows the Strixhaven University cam-
ture, you should ask each player to choose at least pus, with a focus on the central campus and the five
one student to be a Friend, a Beloved, or a Rival, surrounding colleges. The other side of the poster
as described in the Relationship rules later in this shows detailed maps of key campus locations, some
chapter. The Starting Relationship Points table lists of which the characters visit in multiple adventures.
the number of points a character has at the start
with the chosen Friend, Beloved, or Rival. Th e Pa s s a g e o f Tim e

St a r t in g Re l a t io n s h ip Po in t s Each adventure in this book takes place over the
course of an academic year, which is no longer than
Person Relationship Points a calendar year. The adventures include events, but
those events aren’t the entire extent of the charac-
Friend 2 ters’ experience on campus that year. Unless explic-
itly stated, assume that anywhere from a few days
Beloved 3 to a few weeks passes between the events of an ad-
venture. You can decide how quickly the year passes
Rival -2 and work with your players to decide what else they
get up to. You can conduct roleplaying scenes with
Us in g t h e Ma ps the characters’ fellow students, taking into account z
their Friends, Rivals, and Beloveds. You might also
This book contains a number of interior maps and is narratively describe developments in their courses z2
accompanied by a poster map, all of which will aid to help the academic year feel varied and robust.
you as you run these adventures. o
Finally, as the characters are completing tasks
In t e r io r Ma ps together for their courses or hanging out with their £
Maps in the book primarily depict areas for the fellow students, consider challenging them with
characters to explore or areas where combat is random monster encounters that crop up on cam-
pus. These encounters might be truly random, or
likely to occur. These maps are designed to be eas- they could be unexpected side-effects of the more
ily reproduced on graph paper, a wet-erase mat, or significant events unfolding in the adventure. Each
some other surface to help the players visualize lo- chapter includes a table tailored for that adventure.
cations and devise combat strategies. You can alter
a map’s features as you see fit.

On interior maps, an arrow on a slope or staircase
points in the ascending direction. When elevation
numbers appear on a map, a plus sign indicates a
rise of the indicated number of feet, while a minus
sign indicates a depression.

42 CHAPTER 3 I SCHOOL IS IN SESSION

Fi. v

i

St r ix h a v e n Op t in g Ou t o f Th e s e Ru l e s
Tr a c k in g Sh e e t
The rules for Extracurriculars, Jobs, Exams, and Rela-
The sections on the following pages give special tionships combine with the adventures in this book to
rules for ceriain aspects of university life. Players enhance the flavor of life at a university of magic.
can use the sheet below to keep track of the effects
of those rules on their characters. Each player If you find these rules aren't the best fit for your
should have a copy to use during the course of the group, you can run this book's adventures without
adventures. The tracking sheet includes the fol- those rules, simply narrating the effects of related en-
lowing parts:
counters without using rules to resolve them.
Relationships. The player notes here the names of
each student NPC with whom their character has character participates in an Extracurricular, they
a Relationship. The player should track how many gain a positive or negative Relationship Point with
Relationship Points their character has with each its associated student NPC.
N PC; whether that N PC is a Friend, a Rival, or a Job. The player should note their character’s job, if
Beloved; whether that NPC confers Beloved Inspi- any. Remind the player that while their charac-
ration; and that NPC’s Bond Boon or Bond Bane, ter holds a job, the character gains a positive or
whichever is applicable. negative Relationship Point with its associated
student coworker, whom they should also note on
Report Cards. This section includes places to track this sheet.
the results of each Exam. Student Dice. The player should track the Student
Dice their character has from passing Exams and
Extracurriculars. The player notes the Extracur- from Extracurriculars. They should also note the
riculars in which their character is participating. skills their character can expend the Student Dice
The player should also note each Extracurricular’s on. They should check the “d4" box whenever they
NPC member. Remind players that while their gain a Student Die, and they should erase the
check mark when they expend the die.

STRIXHAVEN MEMORIES
------------------------- —
RELATIONSHIPS

I

Name j______ Relationship Inspiration Boon/Bane

Points

REPORT CARDS EXTRACURRICULARS

Ye a r 1 Ye a r 2 iI

#1 □□ □□ #1 □□ □□ .1

it2 □□ #2 □□

#3 □□ □□ #3 □□ □□□ Name d4 Skills Member

I Rerolls d4s Skills Rerolls d4s Skills

Ye a r 3 Ye a r 4 JOB

#1 □□ □□ #1 □□ □□

□□ NO TIME! D Perception, Nature

#3 □□ □□ Rerolls d4s Skills Employer

Rerolls d4s Skills GRADUATION Job Coworker

»**• *»■

CHAPTER 3 | SCHOOL IS IN SESSION

Ex t r a c u r r ic u l a r s new adventure. Typically, joining an Extracurricular o
in between academic years isn’t eventful. Players
Extracurriculars—the campus clubs and societies should note the changes on their tracking sheet. tl
students can join—are a key part of student life at
Strixhaven. Using the rules that follow, characters Ex t r a c u r r ic u l a r Be n e f it s o
can join Extracurriculars to add flavor to the book’s
adventures, gain minor rules benefits, and perhaps While a student participates in an Extracurricular, 5I
more easily befriend—or irritate—their classmates. they gain a Student Die and a Relationship Point, as
explained below.
Jo in in g a n Ex t r a c u r r ic u l a r
St u d e n t Dic e
At any point during the book’s adventures, a charac- Each character gains one Student Die for each Ex-
ter can gain the benefit of two of the Extracurricu-
lars noted below, as described later in this section. tracurricular they are participating in. A Student
If a student character also works on campus using Die is a d4 the player can roll and add to an ability
the Job rules, the character can benefit from only check that the character makes, provided the check
uses one of the skills listed in the Extracurricular’s
one Extracurricular. description. The player can wait until after rolling
Characters can gain the benefit from a new Ex- the d20 before rolling the Student Die, but must do
so before you say whether the check succeeds or
tracurricular only by joining it at the start of an aca- fails. No more than one Student Die can be rolled
demic year, which corresponds to the beginning of a per check. After rolling a Student Die, a player can't
roll it again until the character finishes a long rest.

Re l a t io n s h ip Po in t
While a student participates in an Extracurricular,
the student gains either a positive or a negative Rela-
tionship Point (the player’s choice) with one student
NPC who is also a member of the Extracurricular
(see the Relationship rules later in this chapter).

Qu it t in g a n Ex t r a c u r r ic u l a r

Characters can quit an Extracurricular at any time,
updating their tracking sheet accordingly. When a
student quits an Extracurricular, they immediately
lose its benefits. If a character quits during an ad-
venture, you might want to roleplay the situation,
since NPCs are likely to take an interest in why the
student is leaving.

Ex t r a c u r r i c u l a r Opt i o n s ________

Student characters can join any of the following Ex-
tracurriculars.

De a d La n g u a g e s So c ie t y
Skills: Athletics, History
Member: Drazhomir Yarnask, Quentillius A.

Melentor III

These linguistics lovers take advantage of Strixhav-
en’s deep repository of tomes written in ancient and
near-extinct languages, teaching themselves these
tongues and often translating their favorite works.

Dis t in g u is h e d So c ie t y o f Fin e Ar t is t s
Skills: Performance or Sleight of Hand

Member: Cadoras Damellawar, Nora Ann Wu

These painters, sculptors, printmakers, and mosaic
artists gather to create fine works and to discuss the
latest techniques and trends in the world of art.

44 CHAPTER 3 I SCHOOL IS IN SESSION

Dr a g o n c h e s s Cl u b Liv e -Ac t io n Ro l e pl a y in g Gu il d
Skills: Animal Handling, Performance
Skills: Deception. Investigation Member: Cadoras Damellawar, Rosimyffenbip
Member: Bhedum “Rampart” Sooviij,
“Rosie” Wuzfeddlims
Tilana Kapule
These storytelling enthusiasts engage in a mix of
These experts in the game of dragonchess discuss strategy and playacting—often involving mascots—
the latest in strategy, compete against one another, when they enact fantastical narratives that they re-
and test out homemade variations of game rules. solve with special rules.

Dr a g o n s g u a r d His t o r ic a l So c ie t y Ma g e To w e r Ch e e r Sq u a d
Skills: Arcana. History Skills: Perception, Persuasion
Member: Bhedum “Rampart” Sooviij
Member: Zanther Bowen
These historians are fascinated by all time periods,
and they regularly meet to discuss, debate, and deep With their coordinated cheers, outfits, and school
dive into members’ favorite topics. spirit, these cheerleaders inspire pride in the official
Strixhaven University Mage Tower teams.
Fa n t a s t ic a l FIo r t ic u l t u r e Cl u b
Skills: Nature, Survival Pl a y a c t o r s Dr a m a Gu il d
Member: Urzmaktok Grojsh Skills: Arcana, Deception
Member: Quentillius A. Melentor III, Rubina
These green-thumbed experts love mixing magic
and gardening to create new strains of vegetation, Larkingdale
many of which they cultivate on campus.
These actors work together to create productions of
Fu t u r e En t r e pr e n e u r s o f St r ix h a v e n brilliant stagecraft, often involving new spins on old
Skills: Insight, Persuasion classics as well as displays of magic and music.
Member: Grayson Wildemere
St r ix h a v e n Ir o n -Lif t e r s So c ie t y
These enterprising students discuss business theo- Skills: Athletics, Medicine
ries. They often create small start-ups to sell wares Member: Greta Gorunn
and services appealing to students. The funds they
generate fuel the club’s activities. These bodybuilders support each other in develop-
ing strong muscles and even stronger friendships.
In t r a m u r a l Gy m n a s t ic s Cl u b
Skills: Acrobatics, Performance St r ix h a v e n Sh o w Ba n d As s o c ia t io n
Member: Zanther Bowen Skills: Sleight of Hand, Performance
Member: Aurora Luna Wynterstarr, Rubina
These graceful gymnasts work to hone their craft,
and they compete against each other in dazzling Larkingdale
floor routines.
These music enthusiasts play instruments such as
In t r a m u r a l Sil k b a l l Cl u b hurdy-gurdies, bagpipes, flutes, and drums, and they
Skills: Athletics, Intimidation regularly perform rousing concerts.
Member: Javenesh Stoutclaw, Melwythorne, Ti-
St r ix h a v e n St a r
lana Kapule Skills: Investigation, Insight
Member: Grayson Wildemere, Mina Lee
These hardy athletes train together and compete in
the rough-and-tumble Strixhaven game of silkball, These truth seekers and wordsmiths report on cam-
which is played in muddy fields with balls made of pus news, regularly interviewing important figures
spider silk. and producing the monthly Strixhaven Star newspa-
per, which is distributed across the campus.
In t r a m u r a l Wa t e r -Da n c in g Cl u b
Skills: Athletics, Performance St u d e n t -Ma g e s o f Fa it h
Member: Larine Arneza Skills: Insight, Religion
Member: Melwythorne, Shuvadri Glintmantle
These swimming enthusiasts combine their athletic
skills with the finesse of artists as they choreograph These pious students of many faiths gather to share
water dances to the latest popular songs. prayers and theological debates and to celebrate one
another’s high holidays.

CHAPTER 3 | SCHOOL IS IN SESSION 45

Jo b s Do r m it o r ie s
Jobs: Cleanup crew member, events assistant, front-
Working in gainful employment while at school can
provide a character with a modicum of cash and desk worker, resident assistant
help forge connections with student coworkers. Coworker: Nora Ann Wu

Ge t t in g o r Lo s in g a Jo b Fir e j o l t Ca f e
Jobs: Barista, cashier, cleanup crew member, server
A character can hold one Job at a time, and they can Coworker: Mina Lee
participate in only one Extracurricular while they
have a Job. A student can switch Jobs whenever they In t r a m u r a l Fie l d s
wish, even in the middle of the academic year, as Jobs: Cleanup crew member, crowd manager, equip-
long as they don’t work more than one Job at a time.
At your discretion, switching Jobs in the middle of ment assistant, groundskeeper, referee
the year might lead to a roleplaying scenario. Coworker: Rosimyffenbip “Rosie” Wuzfeddlims

Jo b Be n e f i t s St r ix h a v e n Pe r f o r m in g Ar t s So c ie t y
Jobs: Cleanup crew member, general assistant, re-
While a student has a Job, they earn a wage and a
Relationship Point, as explained below. freshments expert, stagehand, ticket taker, usher
Coworker: Larine Arneza
Wa g e
A student who works a Job gains 5 gp at the start of St r ix h a v e n St a d iu m
each week that they hold the Job. If a student quits
during the academic year, they stop earning this Jobs: Cleanup crew member, entertainment assis-
money at the end of the week in which they quit. tant, equipment assistant, groundskeeper, refresh-
ments expert, ticket taker, usher
Re l a t io n s h ip Po in t
While a character works a Job, they gain a positive Coworker: Aurora Luna Wynterstarr, Greta Gorunn
or negative Relationship Point (the player’s choice)
with one student NPC at that Job. This represents a r
coworker with whom the character is often sched- o
uled and with whom they can easily form a connec-
tion (see the Relationship rules later in this chapter). a

Jo b Opt io n s .u

Student characters can find work at the places be- L*
low. A number of possible positions are noted for
each place, along with NPC coworkers.

Bib l io pl e x
Jobs: Book clerk, book shelver, cafe worker, cleanup

crew member, garden tender, store worker
Coworker: Drazhomir Yarnask

Bow’s En d Ta v e r n

Jobs: Assistant manager, cleanup crew member,
cook, host, server

Coworker: Javenesh Stoutclaw

Ca m pu s Gr o u n d s

Jobs: Graffiti eraser, lawn manicurist, litter re-
triever, sidewalk sweeper, statuary repairer,
trash collector

Coworker: Shuvadri Glintmantle

Ca m pu s Ma g ic La b s

Jobs: Cleanup crew member, specimen preparer,
volunteer lab partner

Coworker: Urzmaktok Grojsh

46 CHAPTER 3 I SCHOOL IS IN SESSION

Ex a m s Pu l l in g a n Al l -Nig h t e r
After pulling an all-nighter, a character gains two
The characters’ years at Strixhaven are covered by rerolls to use during the next Testing phase if the
each of this book’s adventures, which focus on the character succeeds on the ability check. Doing so
notable and even shocking events that take place at imposes a cost: the character gains 1 level of ex-
the university. Even though the characters’ studies haustion that takes effect at the start of the day of
include the trappings of academic life—attending the Exam. This level of exhaustion can’t be removed
lectures, participating in labs, reading textbooks— until after the Exam.
those everyday academic activities mostly take place
in the background. The exam rules presented here St u d y in g To g e t h e r
are thus designed to help the players keep their If two or more characters engage in a group study
characters’ studies part of the game. session, each participating character has advantage
on their ability check during the Studying phase.
Us in g Th e s e Ru l e s
Sk ippin g St u d y in g
Each of the book’s adventures includes Exams. A character can skip the Studying phase if they
Though each character might be a member of a dif- wish, forgoing the chance of gaining these rerolls.
ferent college at Strixhaven, the adventures assume
that the characters take at least one general educa- Te s t in g Ph a s e
tion or interdisciplinary course together each year.
It is this course that the Exam rules represent. Once the Studying phase of an Exam is over, have
the players record any rerolls their characters re-
Each Exam encounter has a Studying phase fol- ceive, then begin the Testing phase.
lowed by a Testing phase. In general, a character
can approach Studying in any way they desire, with Ab il it y Ch e c k s
that phase then culminating in a single ability check Each Exam’s Testing phase consists of two ability
of their choice. In contrast, Testing requires ability checks, with specifics (including the DC) noted
checks using specific skills. in the encounter. If a character gained any rerolls
during the Studying phase, the character can use
In each phase, resolve the outcome of one char- one reroll when making a Testing ability check, re-
acter’s ability checks before moving on to another rolling the check’s d20 and using the new roll.
character. (If any characters are studying together,
however, resolve their ability checks at the same Each character’s Testing phase has three possi-
time. See below for more information.) ble results:

Don’t forget to have each player mark the results Failed. No successful ability checks means a char-
of an Exam on their tracking sheet! acter failed, having gotten fewer than half the
questions correct.
St u d y in g Ph a s e
Passed. One successful ability check means a char-
The Studying phase of an Exam represents the acter passed, having gotten half or more of the
characters brushing up on their coursework, questions correct, but not all the questions. The
prompting sparks of insight when faced with diffi- character gains one Student Die, explained below.
cult questions, or using mnemonics or other memo-
rization techniques to absorb academic material. Aced. Two successful ability checks mean the char-
acter aced the Exam, having gotten all the ques-
During the Studying phase, each character must tions correct. The character gains two Student
succeed on an ability check against a DC noted in Dice, explained below.
the encounter. They can use any ability and skill
they wish when making this check, but they can Ch e a t in g
make it only once. An unscrupulous character can cheat on an Exam.
Doing so requires a successful Charisma (Decep-
For example, one student might make an Intel- tion) check and a successful Dexterity (Sleight of
ligence (History) check to pore over their books, Hand) check, both using the DC set for the Exam.
while another student makes a Charisma (Perfor- If a character cheats, they can’t use any rerolls from
mance) check to create a series of spoken mne- their Studying phase.
monic devices. A third student might make a Dex-
terity (Sleight of Hand) check to create reminding If the character fails either of these checks, a proc-
gestures or practice any physical components that tor or other authority figure notices the cheating,
are part of a course, such as the somatic gestures and the student fails the exam.
involved in spellcasting.
If the Charisma (Deception) and Dexterity (Sleight
On a successful check, the character gains one re- of Hand) checks are both successful, the character
roll to use during the character’s next Testing phase. successfully cheats and aces the Exam.

CHAPTER 3 | SCHOOL IS IN SESSION 47

Fa il e d Ex a m Re l a t io n s h ips ■5

If a character fails an Exam, Strixhaven’s bylaws As students, the characters have the opportunity 5
require them to attend tutoring with a junior faculty to cement friendships, establish rivalries, deepen 3
member until they achieve at least a passed Exam bonds, and otherwise develop relationships with
in a different Exams encounter. This tutoring can be student NPCs in this book’s adventures. Although s
narrated through roleplaying, or you might simply these pursuits could be played out entirely with
inform the player of this result. roleplaying, you can use the following Relationship
rules to reinforce this aspect of the adventures.
A student who must attend tutoring can’t take part
in any Extracurriculars or Jobs until they achieve at These rules provide characters with benefits—or
least a passed Exam during one of that academic drawbacks!—based on their social endeavors, infus-
year’s Exam encounters. The character thus loses ing their interactions with other students with rules
any benefits from Extracurriculars or Jobs, and weight, and making this integral part of student life
their player should indicate this suspension on their a more significant part of the game.
tracking sheet.
The rules encompass only interactions with stu-
St u d e n t Dic e dent NPCs. Professors, administrators, and other
older adults aren’t part of the Relationship rules.
A Student Die gained from an Exam is a d4 the
player can roll and add to an ability check that the Se s s io n Ze r o
character makes, provided the check uses one of the
two skills featured in the Exam. The player can wait If you’re interested in using these rules in your
until after rolling the d20 before rolling the Student game, consider holding a session zero to introduce
Die, but must do so before you say whether the the rules to the players. Such a session zero allows
check succeeds or fails. No more than one Student you to ascertain players’ comfort with these rules.
Die can be rolled per check. After rolling a Student
Die, a player can’t roll it again until the character If some players want to use these rules and other
players don’t, using these rules only for some char-
finishes a long rest. acters, or not using them at all, doesn’t unbalance
Players should note any Student Dice they gain these adventures. Similarly, if you are uncomfort-
able engaging with the roleplaying encounters these
and the skills those dice can apply to on their rules describe, we recommend you don’t use them.

tracking sheet. If any players exhibit trepidation, err on the side
At the end of each academic year, players lose of caution and don’t use these rules for some or all
of the characters. Characters who use these rules
any Student Dice their characters have earned

from an Exam.

48 CHAPTER 3 I SCHOOL IS IN SESSION

will have more focused roleplaying time than those Friendly Response. A friendly response earns 1
who don't, so you might want to compensate for that Relationship Point. A friendly response is posi-
lack of "on-screen” time with additional roleplaying tive; it might take the form of showing warmth
encounters for the other characters. or providing affirmation and camaraderie, as the
encounter dictates.
Us in g Th e s e Ru l e s ______
Rivalrous Response. A rivalrous response earns
The book’s adventures include Relationship encoun- -1 Relationship Point. A rivalrous response is
ters, featuring events during which characters can negative, and might take the form of being rude to
interact with one or more of the student NPCs in the the NPC, antagonizing the NPC, or taking similar
“Fellow Students" section. When such an encounter unkind actions.
begins, use the adventure’s read-aloud text to de-
scribe the scene. Then work with the characters one Each time a character’s number of Relationship
at a lime until each has had a turn to interact with Points changes for an NPC, the player should note
the student NPCs. that on their tracking sheet. The sheet can also be
used to track other details about the Relationship.
The character of each participating player gains
1 Relationship Point or more with student NPCs Ma k in g Fr ie n d s a n d Riv a l s
during Relationship encounters. A character's num-
ber of Relationship Points with a specific NPC de- While a character has 2 Relationship Points or more
termines their status with that NPC. with a student NPC, that NPC becomes a Friend,
and the character receives a Bond Boon from that
In t r o d u c in g t h e NPCs ____ person as long as the NPC is a Friend.

Use the entries in the “Fellow Students” section While a character has -2 Relationship Points or
to populate Strixhaven as the characters explore less with a student NPC, that NPC becomes a Rival,
it. both during and between adventures. Highlight and the character receives a Bond Bane from that
person as long as the NPC is a Rival.
those NPCs when the characters are at a Job or par-
ticipating in an Extracurricular, and draw from the Bond Boons and Bond Banes are noted in each
entries whenever you want to roleplay an NPC in a NPC entry in the "Fellow Students” section. When
classroom setting. a character makes a Friend or a Rival, the player
should note it on their tracking sheet.
When it comes time for a Relationship encounter,
you might ask a player whether a specific NPC has At any time during the adventures in this book,
intrigued them. If so, make sure that NPC interacts a character can end their friendship with an NPC,
with them during the encounter. Alternatively, char- effective immediately. When they do so, that charac-
acters who have joined an Extracurricular or taken ter’s Relationship Points with the NPC reset to 0.
on a Job might encounter an NPC associated with
De e pe n in g Re l a t io n s h ips ________
that endeavor.
You may also allow your players to browse Once a student NPC has become a character’s
Friend, the character has the option of deepening
the "Fellow Students” section to learn more the Relationship. The next time a Relationship en-
counter happens with the Friend, the character can
about the NPCs. express a wish for a deeper connection with that
NPC. This might be a romantic pairing, a deeper
Re l a t io n s h ip Po in t s platonic camaraderie, or a sibling-like bond. Before
this encounter takes place, talk to the player to en-
The characters have opportunities throughout the sure a clear understanding of what sort of Relation-
adventures in this book to gain Relationship Points ship they seek with the NPC.
with student NPCs. At your discretion, in addition to
Relationship encounters, other roleplaying encoun- Be c o m in g Be l o v e d s
ters might also provide Relationship Points. If a player wants a deeper Relationship between
their character and a Friend, the Friend can become
A character’s total number of Relationship Points the character’s Beloved if the character has 2 Rela-
with an NPC determines their status with that NPC, tionship Points or more with the NPC. During the
as described below. Relationship Points start at 0 next Relationship encounter, they can deepen their
and increase or decrease by 1 each time a char- Relationship and become Beloveds, in addition to
acter interacts with one of the NPCs covered by the normal interaction the Relationship encoun-
these rules, whether in a Relationship encounter or ter allows.
during another roleplaying scene.

When a character interacts with a student NPC,
that character’s player decides which of the follow-
ing categories they wish their response to fall under:

CHAPTER 3 | SCHOOL IS IN SESSION 49

Be l o v e d In s pir a t io n If you’re playing the adventures in later chapters,
When a character has a Beloved, the character gains the NPCs noted as first-year students have advanced
Beloved Inspiration at the end of each long rest. Be- to be the same year as the player characters, and
loved Inspiration functions like regular Inspiration have officially joined their colleges. NPCs noted as
(as described in the Player’s Handbook), except a second-year students arc always a year ahead of the
character regains a number of uses of Beloved In- characters. During “A Reckoning in Ruins" in chap-
spiration after each long rest equal to the number of ter 6, student NPCs who were in higher years when
Beloveds they have, not to exceed a number equal to the characters started at Strixhaven are still around
their proficiency bonus. on campus as continuing students or recent alumni.

En d in g Be l o v e d Re l a t io n s h ips St a t Bl o c k s
A character can end a Beloved Relationship at any
time. When that Relationship ends, the NPC no lon- The student NPCs are meant to interact with the
ger provides Beloved Inspiration to the character. characters primarily in roleplaying situations and
to help create the flavor of attending a university.
If the character’s Relationship Points with the They aren’t intended to wade into combat—or even
NPC ever drop below 1, the Beloved Relationship venture off campus—when the characters embark
ends immediately. on adventures.

Fe l l o w St u d e n t s In general, avoid putting these student NPCs
in danger with the characters. In situations when
The student NPCs are described on the next few you need stat blocks for these NPCs, use the stat
pages. Each NPC entry includes personal details block indicated for them in the Student NPC Stat
and a short biography, along with the Extracurricu- Blocks table, where the stat blocks depend on the
lar and Job the character is involved in, if any. If an student’s year during the current adventure. These
NPC becomes a character's Friend, the character stat blocks can be found in chapter 7, and in the
receives the Bond Boon noted in the NPC’s entry. If table, “[College]” refers to the name of the NPC’s
the NPC becomes a Rival, the character suffers the college: Lorehold, Prismari, Quandrix, Silverquill,
noted Bond Bane instead. or Witherbloom.

Co l l e g e a n d Ye a r Student NPC Stat Blocks

The academic year noted for an NPC is during the Year Stat Block
“Campus Kerfuffle” adventure in this chapter. Col- First First-Year Student
lege affiliations for first-year students are provided
for flavor and for their subsequent years (students Second [College] Apprentice
don't join a college until their second year).
Third or Later [College] Pledgemage

50 CHAPTER 3 I SCHOOL IS IN SESSION