Mataga is the Goddess of learning, music, and all beautiful arts, and her land is dominated by the nine great Universities devoted to the study of all things, as well as the cultivation of all arts. Scholars, wizards, bards who graduate from the universities of Mataga are reknowned throught the queendoms and always in demand.

The Goddess herself is beautiful, fierce, and paradoxical. Although she is goddess of arts and learning, she requires her followers to perform rituals of drunkenness and to perform acts such as eating rotten foods and garbage. She sometimes calls for blood sacrifices and her appearance can be one of laughter, song, dance, and revelry—or it can be an occasion of terror.

The Goddess rarely makes a formal appearance, but it is widely thought that she moves in disguise through her realm, or even all the realms. In the land of Mataga any woman who appears to be mad or homeless is treated with utmost respect and care, lest it turn out to be the Goddess or one of her designated circle of divine beings.

The Goddess Mataga has nine divine servants in her service, and innumerable spirit beings.

The land itself is lush and largely rural or wild. There is little in the way of a rule of law in the land, other than that to ensure that the nine cities are well provided for.

The universities offer rigorous training in all branches of study, theoretical and practical, although the most highly regarded areas of study are the arcane arts and music.

With regard to wizards and bards, "University-trained" is not always a compliment, as it can also connote academic and impractical. You may want a university trained bard composing for court, but you may prefer someone a little more home-grown for your roadside tavern.

Still, the scholars, wizards, bards, and artists of Mataga are prized and welcomed throughout the Queendoms, and many prefer to set up schools in backwaters than navigate the intrigues of court. Of course, these many scattered schools are primarily created to seek out the next great minds and funnel them toward Mataga.

All races are welcome in Mataga. Skill, accomplishment, talent, and perseverance are generally regarded above all things. Those from races and lineages less typically inclined toward higher education are especially welcomed.

However, the leadership of Mataga is generally dominated by Vedalken and Drow.

The Queen is elected by the nine provosts, often (but not always) from among their number, and usually (but not always) a Vedalkan.

The nine universities:

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The University of Vaisnava