Grand Hearth Academy

Levels 10–15

Built by Kextra, Aelyn, Darkbuilder

While most humanoid races; even such savage creatures as orcs prefer to cook their food, for much of the time, the art remained primitive. For many farmers or hunters, cooking remained simply a method of sustenance for their families, and even amongst nobles or the wealthy, rarely was cookery considered anything more than a pleasant diversion. It's said that things truly changed thanks to the wives of several elven alchemists, notably Gordonia, and Jerimmia. In direct protest to the foul smelling, and frequently explosive cauldrons their husbands worked over, these two elf ladies sought to create ever more pleasant, nourishing, and delicious meals in their kitchens, meals which eventually took on miraculously restorative qualities. To be fair, Jerimmia and Gordonia's husbands both claimed that at least part of the miracle of their wives' culinary creations came from the fact that they also borrowed their husbands' manuals on restorative alchemy and healing, a claim which might hold some truth. Even though neither lady sought fame, as frequent dinner guests were replaced by recovering patients in need of strengthening seeking out the ladies' cooking, fame grew, along with those eager to learn, turning the once humble practice of cookery into a true art and business of study, and the names of Gordonia and Jerimmia drew much praise and acclaim. Yet, for all the fame of their creations, neither elf lady considered their work as anything beyond perfecting the art of spreading food and cheer to those around them. When asked by a prospective student what they called their organization, Gordonia replied tartly: "folks round the hearth," and "Hearthfolk," they remain to this day, even though by now the organization has grown into an important academy, teaching the culinary arts to all who would learn them, from a king's chief cook to any man or woman who wants to better improve their family's meals, or even an adventurer who looks to sustain themselves with recipes created from what may be gathered in the wild.