Tour Strixhaven's Biblioplex and the Chaotic Snarl Found in Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos!

In Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos, characters from across the multiverse journey to Strixhaven University, a prestigious school of magic. There, they study magic, its applications, and how it shapes the world around them. You don't need to be a spellcaster to attend Strixhaven, but a natural curiosity and smarts (or cunning) will help in your studies. Though Strixhaven is best known for its five unique colleges — Lorehold, Prismari, Quandrix, Silverquill, and Witherbloom — it is also known for the Biblioplex, a grand library that acts as a central hub for students and is home to all manner of magical secrets.

Among its mysteries is a snarl, an immense tangle of raw magic, found in the Biblioplex's Hall of Oracles. Here's a closer look at the Biblioplex, its snarl, and how you can introduce them to your home game.

Readers beware: This article contains spoilers on the first adventure found in Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos.

The Biblioplex is a library of epic proportions

Biblioplex artwork

 

Strixhaven University was founded by five ancient dragons that were among the first beings in Arcavios to master magic. It was through them that Arcavios' people first safely learned to wield the magical arts. Though the Founder Dragons no longer associate with Strixhaven, their influence extends far beyond the reaches of the school.

Serving as a central hub of information on Strixhaven's campus is a massive library known as the Biblioplex. Filled from floor to high ceiling with books, this library is so vast that some of its chambers are large enough to have their own weather, and students occasionally need to take boats to cross pools and moats within it. Pray that the book you need isn't on the top shelf!

Taking Strixhaven to your realm

Strixhaven University can be easily dropped into just about any setting. Perhaps your version of Strixhaven exists in the famed city of Waterdeep or in a demiplane that characters can freely access. The university could even serve as a group patron and offer one or more of the academy perks found in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything

Your magical education begins here

For characters new to Strixhaven, the Biblioplex will be your first stop on campus. There, you'll have the opportunity to explore the library and meet with fellow students, such as the studious orc Urzmatok Grojsh and the pompous human Quentillius Antiphiun Melentor III. Afterward, you'll be tasked with undertaking a challenge that kicks off your orientation. 

If you're interested in watching an actual play of the first adventure found in the book, check out this video from RunawayRobot's YouTube channel. That actual play revealed this map of the Biblioplex:

Biblioplex player mapSnarls are a tangle of pure magic

Found on the first floor of the Biblioplex is the Hall of Oracles, which is filled with statues of, well, oracles. Characters will have their first encounter with a snarl here. In Arcavios, snarls are a phenomenon where the Weave, the fabric of magic in D&D lore, becomes knotted and tangled. Such a source of raw magical energy can have impressive albeit unpredictable effects on spellcasting. 

The snarl on Strixhaven's campus shines like a small sun in the Biblioplex and feeds into a small pool of energy. Characters that interact with this pool will be surprised by what follows.

Homebrew snarl effects for your D&D campaign 

Snarl artwork from Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos

The introduction of snarls to D&D lore creates opportunities for Dungeon Masters to toy with magic in their campaigns, whether to the benefit or detriment of spellcasters at their table. Here are some homebrew ideas for how their presence could affect spells cast nearby:*

  • Magical surge: Wild Magic sorcerers are no strangers to the whims of untamed magic, but you might decide that any spellcaster who casts a spell of 1st level or higher within 1 mile of a snarl has a 10 percent chance of triggering a wild magic surge.
  • Magical replenishment: Spellcasters need only finish a short rest instead of a long rest to regain their spell slots. (Warlocks regain their spell slots after 10 minutes of rest instead of after a short rest.)
  • Maximized spell: While near a snarl, any damaging spell cast during combat deals the maximum amount of damage. After combat, any spellcaster that benefitted from this effect takes 1 point of exhaustion.
  • Casting strain: Casting a spell near a snarl requires an incredible amount of effort. A spellcaster who attempts to cast a spell must make a Constitution saving throw or lose the spell. The DC is equal to 8 + the spell level. Spells cast through a wand or similar magic items consume double the number of charges.
  • No components required: Spells cast near the snarl do not require material components. Imagine how your world would change and what conflicts would arise if spellcasters could cast resurrection and teleportation circle in a small area without monetary cost!

* For Dungeon Masters that run the adventures found in Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos, I recommend keeping the radius of a snarl's effect small, lest the school be thrown into utter magical chaos!

This will be on the exam

Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos has everything you need to run a campaign set in a school of magic. Players will enjoy new character creations options, including the owlin race and new feats and spells. Dungeon Masters will discover a bestiary containing over 40 new friends and foes, including the very dragons that founded the colleges of Strixhaven University. Stay tuned for more previews as we near the release of the book on December 7!

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Michael Galvis (@michaelgalvis) is a tabletop content producer for D&D Beyond. He is a longtime Dungeon Master who enjoys horror films and all things fantasy and sci-fi. When he isn’t in the DM’s seat or rolling dice as his anxious halfling sorcerer, he’s playing League of Legends and Magic: The Gathering with his husband. They live together in Los Angeles with their adorable dog, Quentin.

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