About Us
The Mission
Founded by Sharlayan native Otto Valtin, the Valtin Institute of Research and Dissemination is an organization that believes in the discovery and development of knowledge, with results and benefits universally shared with all peoples across the world. Through a mixture of ups and downs in relations with Old Sharlayan's Forum, VIRD stands as an independent research wing of the Department of Worldly Affairs and act as the curators of the Great Gubal Library in the Dravanian Hinterlands where the primary company building now resides. Scholars and adventurers of all kinds are welcomed to assist VIRD with in-house research and projects, or go on daring expeditions to reclaim lost and forgotten knowledge.
The Founding
Chapter 1
The Valtin Institute was founded in the wake of Otto Valtin’s departure from a mercenary company of privateers known as Black Garden. He had been operating as a contracted medical doctor until their final fateful mission which saw the destruction of their vessel and many lives. Otto, however, contacted a few old friends, namely Xam Jeulerand and Einarr Bjornsson, and along with a few others started a research institute. This was to be the realization of Otto’s ideology that once aligned him with the fringe group in Old Sharlayan known as Prometheus. That of the proliferation of free and accessible knowledge to the general public of the world.
RP Hooks
VIRD is a place of self-guided learning and research with a growing collection of resources from across the world. Come visit our campus for the opportunity to collaborate and learn as you research new projects and develop yourself as a scholar! While there are no strict class schedules given that VIRD is not a traditional school, students are offered the chance to participate in staff-given lectures as well as follow individually tailored internship programs while gaining access to VIRD's extensive library.
VIRD also hosts open library access to the wider public and is currently in the process of cataloguing and moving excess tomes from the Gubal Library proper into its private collection for upkeep and dissemination. While entering the Gubal Library is not recommended for visitors, guests may acquire books on the subject of their interests through Institute staff, retrieved via the mammets and bound voidsent which operate the library depths.
Looking for something specific? Local staff of the Institute includes experts in Engineering, Magitechnologies, Aetherology, Thaumaturgical Theory, Anthropology, Political Science, Medicinal Studies, Literature, Agriculture, Husbandry, and Alchemy. If we don't have an expert to speak with, we'll do our best to guide you to the correct resource!
Adventure and Purpose
An extension of the desire to explore and learn, the Institute heads out into the world more often than before on expeditions. The world of Etheirys can be a dangerous place on the best of days, and those with skills as adventurers or mercenaries are always welcome alongside our scholars.
Sharlayan Influences
Old Sharlayan is the original home of VIRD's founder as well as many of its members. Along with being welcoming to Sharlayan characters of all stripes, VIRD regularly hosts events within Sharlayan itself where its members can explore the many facets of the scholarly society, including exploring access to its academic resources.
Bleeding Hearts
Otto Valtin, founder and first Praeceptor of VIRD, is a man loathe to turn away anyone in need. The current Praeceptress has unintentionally followed his footsteps, having a soft spot for those looking to turn a new leaf and wishing to give them the self-same opportunities that changed her own life, be they lost or determined.
Worldly Influences
The Institute has worked to establish many outposts and personal connections across the centers of civilizations and cultures of the world, providing better access of resources via means of residence for its staff. These locations keep members connected to the outer world while still retaining stability in our Dravanian home base.
Our Outposts
- A medical clinic in Tuliyollal
- An inn and tavern south of the Dalmscan Westersand
- A small house in Old Sharlayan
- A rented office in Shirogane
- A refurbished rental in Yedlihmad
- An old wine warehouse in Aleport
- A rented apartment in Alexandria