Vinheim Dragon Academy


 * The Academy was founded right after the fall of the Old Empire. A mage escaped the catastrophe that brought the Empire down by traveling inland. He eventually met an ancient and powerful dragon matriarch. She adopted him as one of her own. He learned from the dragon and in exchange swore to protect her and her brood.
 * He eventually started teaching apprentices. The mage and his cadre of apprentices devised the set of teachings which now form the core of the Academy's magic. Later masters eventually built the Academy building itself, which stands to this day. It lies over the entrance to the dragons's caves. Academy mages guard the dragons to this day.
 * The dragons in the caves under the academy are of a special breed: they're Storm Dragons. These dragons have glossy black scales, and instead of breathing fire, they can breathe out dark storm clouds. By circling around in the sky and using their breath power, they can create vast storms. From these storms they may call down lightning with a mighty roar.
 * Although all apprentices are eventually taught the necessary rites to wake the dragons from slumber, only a few are ever able to actually perform the rites successfully. These few successful mages are then able to form a bond with their dragon companion, which normally remains awake for the remainder of the mage's life.