Where Would You Build?

Our Epic Level adventure ended, and a couple of the characters have
been given some post-adventure assignments. Both are worshippers of
Torm. The Cleric has been told to build a new temple for Torm - a
magnificent one, a showpiece. The Wizard has been told to found a new
School Of Magic.

The characters got along well in the adventure and are considering
doing these project jointly. That would make a tremendous amount of
magic (both Arcane and Divine) available for the construction projects
which ought to reduce costs and also allow magic protections to be
incorporated.

My own knowledge of Faerun is not up to date. I have the FRCS, PGtF
and some area books (Shining South, Lost Empires, Unapproachable East,
Waterdeep) but I haven't been buying the novels that describe recent
events in Faerun. So there might have been events that make one area
less desireable than another. Maybe some of you have suggestions.

Here are the general lines of my thinking based on the products I
have.

It would be relatively easy to choose a city like Silverymoon (The Gem
of the North) as being a marvelous city to live in, one that shouldn't
have a problem with a new Lawful Good temple, has plenty of highly
skilled craftsmen/elves/dwarves and so on. But a new Wonderful
Construction there wouldn't stand out so much against the older
Wonderful Contructions there, and of course they already have a
world-famous School Of Magic. The Wizard is from Tantras, and while
locating a School of Magic there is feasible they already have THE
major temple of Torm there.

Based mainly on the info in the FRCS, it would seem to me that Tethyr
might be a good area to build both. They are rebuilding after a civil
war, the new rulers could probably use a showcase rebuilding project
or two. The worship of Torm is already well established but I don't
see references to major temples. On the magic side, it seems that
many Wizards in that part of the world head to Calimsham for
relatively cushy jobs, leaving shortages among the nearby nations. A
School Of Magic with a heavy dose of Duty might produce mages that
stick around and help out with their home areas.

Scardale also came to mind. Devastated by plague and at half the
previous population, a major healing center and source of funds/jobs
might be a major factor in rebuilding the area.

But as I said, my information is pretty old. There might be events
that make Tethyr or Scardale less desireable choices or make some
other area more intriging. So if you have suggestions about where and
why a new Temple of Torm and School of Magic should be located
somewhere (especially with references to events/books that make for
interesting reading), tell me. (While the two don't HAVE to be built
in the same area, it's a bonus if one area would be suitable for
both.)

Meanwhile - are there books (or even better, articles on the web) that
might give good info on costs, time and such for building major
structures?

Also - there is time for a tour of existing temples and schools. This
would allow time to gather info on why one structure works well and
another doesn't, or how one style of administration works well while
another doesn't. (A High Level Wizard may know a lot of spells and be
good in combat, but that doesn't mean she is an expert on how to
structure or run a school.) So while I'm planning visits to known
academies (from the books I have), there might be suggestions people
have on places to go, NPCs to consult/hire and so on. This could
include other worlds. If Greyhawk (for example) has a fabulous
architect that ought to be consulted, that's useful info.