Academy of Heroism

The school crest

## Description

A small, unassuming building in the docks houses a school for training future heroes. The school itself is said to be entirely funded by the four founders who run the school. Prospective students are split into one of four "houses" which each represent a different specialty taught by one of the four founding members. Students are taught combat skills, morality and honor skills, leadership skills, as well as problem solving skills to allow them to be fully rounded heroes. Admission is tough, with only a handful of students being admitted every year. The curriculum is even tougher as only 10% of their students make it through the 5-year long program. However, those that do make it through go on to be incredibly successful heroes.

## Houses

The four houses are each named after an animal that represents the ethos of that house's founding member. They are Lion, Bear, Owl, and Raven.

### Lion House

Founder: Kaisa Awolowo

Motto: "If you help one person, you help everyone."

The Lion house trains heroes who are chosen by righteous gods to do good in the world. Its members typically become clerics or paladins. Members of the other houses view the Lion house as arrogant and self-righteous, but then when you are literally chosen by a god to do their good works, it is hard not to be at least a little prideful. Despite their reputation, they are taught to be humble and support others because it is believed that supporting other people allows those other people to eventually support others in turn.

### Bear House

Founder: Garug Lightbringer

Motto: "It is the duty of the strong to protect the weak."

The Bear house trains heroes who tend to be more physical and direct in their heroism. Physical strength and stamina are prized as much as moral strength and strength of character. Other houses tend to view them as idiots who charge headfirst into trouble, but the bears see themselves as the strongest of all houses and thus it is their responsibility to focus danger on themselves to allow the other, weaker houses to shine without coming to harm.

### Owl House

Founder: Rasha Zana

Motto: "Prepare for every eventuality."

Members of the Owl house are all spellcasters. Wizards are the most common, followed by sorcerers, though the occasional bard, warlock, or even druid might find themselves in the house. Owls see themselves a strategists and planners who use their spells not only to defeat evil, but to also ensure that it is done with the least harm to allies. Other houses see them as stuck-up know-it-alls. Still, everyone acknowledges the power of magic and how quickly it can turn the tide of what might have otherwise been an impossible battle.

### Raven House

Founder: Eliza VonTrapp

Motto: "Glory is for the dead."

The Raven house trains the underdogs. They aren't strong like Bears, smart like Owls, or chosen by a god like Lions. Yet, they are just as capable of feats of heroism as any of the other houses. Ravens rely more on stealth, traps and finding weaknesses in opponents who would otherwise be impossible for them to defeat in a direct conflict. The other houses see them as somewhat underhanded at best, downright crooks who don't belong at the school at worst. They are thus treated with a certain level of caution and wariness. The Ravens view themselves as pragmatists who will ultimately live to see another day, unlike other heroes who might instead choose to sacrifice themselves for the greater good.