Academia

As a relatively small country, consisting of eight islands, with little wealth available from with minerals or natural resources, Academia makes the most of its many colleges to justify its membership in the Empire.

Each of the islands is home to one of the bard colleges and almost all the citizens of Academia live in or around a college and so the average education level is much higher than the surrounding nations. On the downside there is practically no other industry above subsistence farming. Academia also has the smallest army retinue of any Imperial nation at just 4 permanent legions (the 29th, 38th, 40th and 71st).

The native people are collectively known as “Academians” (not 'Aademics') but in truth there is really no such thing as a typical Academian, as the populace is made up of immigrants from across the Empire. Academia does not have it’s own language, instead using “High Merebian” as it’s adopted tongue.

Bard colleges

The eight Bard colleges are:

• 1. Fochlucan
• 2. Mac-Fuiridh
• 3. Doss
• 4. Canaith
• 5. Cli
• 6. Anstruth
• 7. Ollamh
• 8. Magna Alumnae

Each of the first seven colleges is named after a 'patron' Bard, whereas the last is funded entirely by the Empire. Each Bard college charges a 'study fee' of various extortionate amounts. The most 'exclusive' (expensive) being Canaith. The exception to this being Magna Alumnae which has a student body made up of 50% 'scholarships' bequeathed by the Empire. As such Magna Alumnae is looked down on a little by the somewhat elitist 'private' Bard colleges.