Fantasy Chivalry: Academy for Future Knights

[Nozzivix]

"And that is what I expect of you, Jakob. You are a man of duty. And I respect that. But I have faith that this war you fear will not break." Torath smiled his grandfatherly smile. "I've watched hundreds of knights pass through these halls Jakob. Knights that remained in Gallace, and those that went beyond the furthest borders. You are the one I've chosen for this task, and the gods tell me that you are the correct choice. Of course, if you think the Gods are wrong..."

 

[Sgt Grunt]

"The gods...?" Jakob started to protest his accusation of gods being incorrect, but saw the small smile on Torath's lips and exhaled a laugh. It was rare that he smiled but he flashed one now. "I understand, Mein Herr. I will do as you ask." With another salute of fist to chest, Jakob bowed deeply. "I shall prepare the students as best I can."

 

[Auren]

Lureana didn't say anything as Aristaeus seemed a little to quick to smile, but she nodded. "That's alright. I'm sure we will have plenty of time later," she said and smiled. She had reached out a had to help Aristeaus stand again after he was knocked down, but he seemed to have it handled on his own. And she knew that men had pride over such matters.


She glanced at Heinrich, remembering him to be the impatient fighter from a few days earlier. True to his nature, he started to pace in front of the door. She clasped her hands behind her back and stood at a relaxed attention. She looked from the two boys and then she heard the murmured voices from beyond the door. This was something serious. She looked back at Aristaeus.


"It's unfortunate, what happened to that small dragon. Do you think there will be another sent here?" she said.

 

[King Of Imagination]

Aristaeus nodded solemnly to Lureana.


"Yes, they will send another. There are meant to be three dragons, one from each priciple element. While common sense says they really shouldn't, dragons, like men, will not be rules by fear. They will put their own pride above the safety of this next young dragon, sending him or her along. I, however, will not let something like this happen again. I will keep a steady watch over the new dragon. Over all of the dragons." He looked at her, a determined fire in his eyes, as he recalled a time, just after his village had been invaded and destroyed.


Aristaeus had gone back to salvage anything he could of his old life, and to search for survivors. While he was searching he was ambushed by close to a dozen Foresworn. He was resigned to his death. Suddenly, a great darkness fell over them, the shadow of a descending beast. A dragon. It landed and tore the Foresworn apart. As it turned on him, Aristaeus was scared witless. The dragon, sensing this, turned human. A beautiful young woman with green hair now stood before him. She reassured him, and she returned him to his home.





Aristaeus was still searching for this dragon who saved his life. He wished to learn her name, and to properly thank her. He had petitioned the Ancients, but they would not grant him access. He hoped a dragon might vouch for him one day. But he felt as though he owed a debt to the dragons, and would repay it with his life if he must.

 

[JellyFish]

She sat on her windowsill, both legs hanging over the edge in a manner most would be hesitant about. She watched the white puffs of cloud breeze overhead and she sighed. That dragon boy had been wronged and she couldn't help but feel sorry for him. A villain was running about the academy and no one could be put to ease. She felt though as if she should have been pleased by what had occurred.


But she couldn't. She recalled the events of that night, some memories blurred while others were not. The sun's rays did not help in the process either. If anything they swayed in a dance of light, making her believe it had all been a dream. Bells had woken her. Hard, crashing bells that could have woken the demons pitted in the depths of the earth. And somehow it seemed as if they were awoken, because chaos is what kept the school alive that night.


She rubbed her eyes, looking to the ground beneath her. A steady fall that would crush her bones and have her laying in a pool of blood, she noted to herself. She was exhausted. As Cordeila could recall, she also was pulled from bed like so many too see what had happened. A dragon poisoned, some missing, and what did she do? She watched from the sidelines. It was a rueful task but it had to be done. Events such as that had to be sent to her uncle. She was after all the messenger.


So after a long night of writing and watching, she finally sent a servant to give her report. The man was bothersome and one day she would rid herself of him. She had tumbled to her bed, when once more she was disturbed from slumber to go to the gathering. So she dragged herself and listened with the other students, keeping herself hidden in the back of the crowds. Mostly because she was toppling over in her derived state. And then her name was called.


She didn't go directly to the headmaster, no, she went straight back into her room. If the man wanted a decent conversation from her, he would have to wait for her to refresh herself. But even after washing her face, putting on new clothes, she didn't want to move. However, she pulled herself away from the window and closed it. "If I had enough courage to put myself in coma, I swear by the gods I would do it", she mumbled as she left her room and headed down to the headmaster's office. She wasn't surprised to see she was the last to be there. Three of the other students were waiting, two chattered together while one stood afar. And she was in a terrible mood, and made no effort to join the talk. So she left to her own corner and sat on the ground.

 

[Sgt Grunt]

Heinrich's growing frown disappated near instantly as the doors to the headmaster's study opened to admit magister Jakob. He had some respect for the man, but not much. Anyone who believed in mystical ghost men/gods speaking to them didn't deserve positions of power.


Stepping aside to let the magister pass, Heinrich took a quick look into the study behind him and briefly saw the headmaster sitting in his chair. He had no chance to see more before Jakob closed the doors behind him and cleared his throat for those who stood waiting.


"Remain here until the headmaster is ready for you. I would suggest you use your best behavior."

 

[Nozzivix]

When Jakob left, the High Magister's could see the students gathered outside. "Enter!" he called through the closed doors.

 

[Terragon]

"Well this is certainly an interesting chain of events." Arr’Muhil thought to himself with a nervous grin. He always wanted to be one of the lucky few who were acting as ambassadors to the humans. Finally, he was able to see more of the world, even if it had a cost! Though the news of a fellow wind dragon being poisoned and him being sent as the best candidate happened so abruptly and quickly that he was still rather shell shocked. He didn’t get enough of an explanation on how to introduce himself or what certain human customs were and so on and so forth.


"Ah what the hell. I’ll just wing it." He thought to himself out loud.


He looked over to one of his human ‘escorts’. The mere thought of him needing human escorts was rather amusing given that his true form is a winged beast that is a size of a two story loride building with the elemental powers of wind on his side. But like usual, he decided to just roll with it.


“Oi, mister whatsyourface.” He spoke to human escort on his right hand side.


“I have a name, dragon.” The rather annoyed looking human responded.


“Well, is it so much to ask for just a simple name?”


“It is none of your concern.”


“Ah, so your name is ‘None –of- your -concern’? Fairly long and unusual name for human. It’s usually like Sir Bob or Mary or something like that.” The human growls in annoyance as a response. Arr’Muhil turned to the other guard.


“What a charming fellow he is, eh?”


“He is my brother, dragon.” The other human guard growled in response.


“Huh, must run in the family then.”


After a few minutes of galloping they arrived at the foot of a rather large hill, with the Academy sitting at its peak. There, a new chapter of adventures will begin for him. He pondered about the letters that the elders gave him. Two were supposed to be given to his fellow dragons and the other to some other loride in secret. He thought about reading them, but he kept procrastinating of it. "Oh well." He thought to himself. "It’s not like I haven’t been able to catch onto secrets before."


“Oi, is that our destination up yonder? What an interesting structure you loride built!”


“Aigh, you better treat it with respect dragon. This place will be your new home for the time being.” The human guard on the right responded.


“Aw come on. You really think I look like the type to crash someone else’s place for the sheer hell of it?”


“Yes.” Both of them responded at once.


“Well then. I guess I should keep a note on how humans interact with someone of high and noble status.” Both of the humans became eerily silent after that. Arr’Muhil slightly grinned to himself.


"Oi….they didn’t tell these poor saps that I was more than just some random dragon?" He amused himself with the thought as they began to make their climb up the hill.

 

[Auren]

Lureana nodded to Aristaeus, understanding. Of course they would bring another dragon of air. She wondered if the new dragon would hold a hard tongue towards the students, bitter at his colleague's poisoning. She did not recongnize the new academ that approached, but the lot of them, all together, seemed like an odd group. When the Magister came out of the doorway, she felt her brow raised. She was always on her best, but maybe he had meant that towards one of the other academ.


When the headmaster becomes them inside, Lureana stepped inside while she blinked away her tiredness. She stopped when she stood in front of his desk. She stood at a relaxed attention with her hands clasped behind her desk. She nodded to him. "Good morning, High Magister," she greeted.

 

[Sgt Grunt]

Heinrich eyed the magister suspiciously until the headmaster called for them to enter. Giving Jakob one last glare for the perceived insult, he stepped inside the office alongside Lureana and saluted.


"Heil, Headmaster."

 

[JellyFish]

Cordelia stood from her place and brushed the dust from off her being. She paid no mind to the Magister who passed briskly and strolled into the opened office. Taking her place next to the girl, whom she was sure she never met. But that was of no matter. Her arms were crossed over her chest and a dull gleam in her eyes.


"Good morning, sir."

 

[Nozzivix]

The group before him was small. These mere four students had shown not only a lack of hateful zealotry, but a willingness to stand for peace. They had a strength that would not only be tempered as hostilities converged, but, Torath had predicted, would emerge more pointed and defined than before. He had high hopes for all of them, and this hope was not without a long time's accumulation of confirming evidence.


His wizened old eyes hovered on each of theirs, slow in its consideration one after another.


Each of their eyes were familiar. Older, grown, but known. They had changed only in slight over the years, but Torath had never forgotten their youth.


He remained the longest on the newest. The young girl sent here by a Lionhart Duke. The least known and the least trusted. A low harrumph sounded out the small space.


Torath stood, his hand trailing across his desk's oaken surface, and he strode past the high, pearl-white shield situated on the wall above.


He came around to meet them, each of them, an old-man's crooked smile and blurred eyes shining out past his wrinkles and his extensive white beard.


"Hello, students." He regarded only one of them first--the foreign, Cordelia the hapless Lionhart. "Tell me, how do you feel about dragons?"


His gaze snapped to Aristaeus. "What good does it do to tolerate devilry?"


And to Lureana, "Why should we desire dragonfolk among us?"


"And who are you," He met Heinrich's proud gaze. "To decide what course to take in such matters?"

 

[Sgt Grunt]

Heinrich knew instantly what he wanted to say in answer, but felt that wasn't quite the response that Torath sought. He glanced uneasily at the others before resuming his gaze to a few inches above the headmaster's forehead.


"We are the strongest. The strongest must guide the masses to safety, as we are the only ones who can. Dragons would make Gallace as a whole stronger should we be allied, Headmaster."

 

[JellyFish]

Cordeila's expression held no emotions nor any hints to give. The old man wanted an answer and the truth was a dangerous thing to be twisted. Whatever she said next, whatever passes her lips, would be the code she would have to thrive by until the opportune moment.


But then she remembered an old saying, "Never tell a lie unless you know the truth." She kept this saying well in her mind, because when people lie and know not the whole truth, things of pride and biased ideas could be said and proven to be used against you.


With a sigh, Cordelia spoke. "Dragons can be looked to be many things. But my feelings for them is curiousity. They and ourselves are so different and yet we both have emotions and see the same things around us. We call them monsters, but who can judge one without judging yourself? You ask for my feelings and I given you my thoughts. I can only judge them based on their future actions and then my reply will be clear and my own actions clearer."

 

[Auren]

Lureana thought for a moment, glancing at the other academ as they answered. She couldn't find another way to say what she meant, and she felt that what she was going to say wouldn't be the most diplomatic. Then she met the High Magister's gaze with her own level one. "We should desire equality and fairness for all. We should not blame the children of the wicked for their parent's deeds. I have seen no ill-will from the dragons, so why should we ostracize them?"


Her gaze did not falter. She would hold true to what she said, be that it damned her or not.

 

[King Of Imagination]

Aristaeus stood firm, his eyes never leaving High Magister Torath's. His feelings about dragons must have spread throughout the entire academy by now.


"By what have the dragons commited devilry? Shall we hold them to the past, as the sins of the father pass on to the sons and daughters? Are we not past such archaic belief systems? No, the dragons have broken no law, nor harmed any of our race. They have been nothing but kind, if wary. The only devilry they commit is written on paper, in books written by men claiming to have been guided by the Gods. These dragons are free of sin, free of devilry, until they commit such. So we are not tolerating devilry, for all are innocent until proven guilty, and the sins of the father must not pass on to the son."

 

[Killigrew]

((Taking over for Nozzie since he's bein' busy))


"Ho, boy." Torath held up a hand at Aristaeus, calling peace. "Do not be so quick to say what is or is not sinful. Rather than label all comings and goings as good or bad, remain objective. Hold all things to a standard of your choosing, and warily watch, guarding yourself against iniquity, preparing for the coming of evil and for the coming of good."


He surveyed the rest of them, hairy brows raised over fading sight, earlobes wobbling at the motion. His voice was stumbling, a mumur trickling out his heavy white beard. "Though they say 'Peace, peace,' know in your hearts that they desire war." He cleared his throat, and blinked. With a straightening of his curved back, he continued. "If you choose to take up this task, know that your sword must not only protect yourselves, but the devils that this place so reviles."


"At any rate, I digress." He walked back around the desk, pulling out a drawer and slapping four yellowed scrolls on the oaken surface. Then he raised his head, eyes twinkling.


"I have not chosen you because I trust you; very few of you do I even imagine like dragons even a little, but I have chosen you because I think you best and most truly represent what Gallace is. And I think you have proven me correct. You all value something. You are all driven by something. Whether it be strength, curiosity, peace, and justice." He nodded to each of them in turn. Heinrich first, and down the line to Aristeaus. "This is, I believe, the good of humanity."


The waxen red stamp lay wet and waiting at the end of every paper, one for each of them, and a signet ring beside. The words were in bold, clear and defined manuscript which read, "I STAND NOT AGAINST THESE DRAGONS THREE." And the names, scrawled in an unfamiliar tongue, were one charred, one frozen, and the third cut.


"You may walk away, if you wish it." A quirk of a smile pulled at Torath's lips, lit his sunken cheeks. "I demand this of none of you."


"But should you take up this ring, if you should press down on these papers with resolution and purpose, you will make an enemy of many, but a friend to a few. It is your choice to decide where you would place yourself."


The bearded man took his seat, steepled his fingers, and watched their next movement.

 

[Auren]

Lureana blinked, but her face was calm. She was to be one of the first impressions the dragons had of humans? It seemed-- questionable. Though she would not question the High Magister openly. He didn't trust her, granted he did not know her either, but knew they could do the job he needed. Pride caught her heart for a moment until she realized how it would be received by other academ. The Lionharts did love the appearances, she considered. Though, the dragons deserved to know that the poisoning was not approved by all humans. They would need allies. She chewed her bottom lip a little as she thought. This situation went far beyond that of keeping the secrets of her family. At last, she resolved, she didn't really keep it a secret that she was out for the best of all, including the dragons. She would do this, as she felt it her duty to ensure that they be treated in a fairness that seemed adequate.


"I never hand many friends to begin with," she said modestly. She stepped forward, pressing her stamp into the wax on the paper, finalizing her words.

 

[Sgt Grunt]

Heinrich stepped forward quickly, grabbing the stamp without hesitation and slapping it onto the paper. He pulled the seal off to admire his handy work, nodding in approval at the symbolism behind it. He couldn't have cared less what the other academ thought on such matters, as any single one of these dragons as a friend was worth more than all of them combined. The brief image of him kneeling before the Hochmeister to be knighted flashed across his mind, drawing a long, devious smile across his face.


"May glory come to we, their sword and armor."

 

[King Of Imagination]

Aristaeus hesitated for the first time in this entire meeting. He had become an enemy of the Templars by his words and actions against the Gods last night. However, there was chance for redemption. If he took this, he would truly be cast out, and alone. They would go after him as if he were a dragon himself. But the thought of the dragon woman that had saved his life flashed in his mind, and he knew what was right. He raised his stamp and placed it into the wax. This was it.


"The dragons as myself, sir."

 

[JellyFish]

Cordelia looked at the offending paper, her teeth grinding in a rising irritation. She came here for her own answers to her own problems. The dragons be damned, all of them! But as her lungs shook in fury, her steps were light hearted and carefree as she came up to take the stamp. Grasping it, she looked at the scarlet wax, that dripped from it's place. Hold your peace and your tongue. You are not your own here, so wear your mask well. Cordelia's eyes held a dark fire behind them as she pressed the seal down on the scroll, an agreement set. No words were spoken from her, just a chilled silence. Any who stood against her would fall by her blade, let blood soak the ground that she stood, the coast no longer mattered. She would take upon the curse passed down by her family.

 

[Killigrew]

Torath pulled one earwax-laden pinkie from his right ear as the last child took on the contract, the stamping sinking in for the binding act. He nodded, and gathered the four contracts up, placing them against the wall, just below the pure white shield. Rubbing the bracelet that covered his left wrist, Torath's brow creased deep, the long lines of age accentuated as focus overtook him. The contracts crinkled, and then shone, a rigid covering of ice crackling over them, binding them to the wall, and encasing them in a protective film.


"Very good, very good." Torath muttered, turning back towards the four. "That's settled, then."


Torath tapped the bell beside his desk, and bid Jakob return to the room's interior. "Ser Jakob," Torath motioned to the assortment of Academ bodies; fit, regal, their gazes sharp. "Your new students. You may have met them prior, but there will be time for re-introductions soon enough. If you please, take them to the courtyard. Our guest should be arriving soon and I've a confoundedly dull celebration to prepare for."

 

[Sgt Grunt]

Jakob heard the small tinkling of the bell from inside Torath's office and cracked the door enough to look inside. When he heard Torath speak, he strode in fully to salute.


"Ja, mein Herr. It shall be as you say." Jakob stepped back to allow them through the door and motioned them outside with one outstretched arm. "You heard the headmaster. Outside, all of you."

 

[Terragon]

As the three finally galloped at the very top of the hill, he was able to see the Gallace Academy, with its high rising castle towers clawing at the morning sky, in all its glory. His dark blue hood has almost covered his face just below his hairline. The cool air breeze flew gracefully past him. All three of them paused for a moment. Arr’Muhil knew of the danger and the risks of partaking this task, the risks of leaving his home and entering potentially dangerous territory. Yet, as he gazed off at the incredibly reflective structure some part of him felt at ease. As if even though he is at risk of being poisoned like the last poor child that was rushed back to his homeland, there is a good chance that he can call this place home. He noticed that there was a bit of a crowd that gathered just beyond the Academy Gates.


What was that Loride expression? Home-sweet-home, I guess. He thought to himself as he began approaching the gates.


They opened at their mutual ascent, spreading wide to allow the small group entrance and vision into the expanse of green fields and crowded populace. The gates, thick metal-coated wood, spiked in mounted defense, gave way to an interior crowd standing on earthen ground, dust clouding up as the doors scraped across the ground. As the dirt settled, the crowd of mixing faces emerged, stark in Arr’Muhil’s narrow eyes. Humans, all gathered, aged young to old, peeking over the armored guards that held them back. And there, at the forefront, stood two curious dragons, constrained in human form, one red as a rose, the other blue as the morning sky.


"Well, didn’t expect myself to be the center of attention that quickly." The white haired dragon pondered to himself as he curiously gazed back at everyone else. "Well, I practiced my introduction for about three days now. Time to give it a whirl."


He slowly raised his right hand as a greeting, prompting calm yet glorious breeze to overcome them, and utter silence.


“Greetings, Loride.” He began speaking in low and powerful tone, as if he was trying to intimidate everyone. “It is I, Arr’muh-oh plough it this isn’t going to work.” He stopped himself mid-sentence, and the breeze he caused halted along with it. “Oh dear, what a great start this was. Come on you idiot, think think!” He rubbed his forehead with his right hand as if he seemed embarrassed. “Oy, here goes nothing.” He cleared his voice and pulled down his hood, revealing his glistening white hair and a friendly grin.


“Oy, top of the morning to you everyone.” He said in a more sing-songy and natural voice.


“I’m the new dragon around these parts, sent as a replacement for the last one. Quite a terrible shame what happened to him, but that’s for a later discussion. My name is Arr’Muhil. If that is to hard to pronounce you can just call me “Armel”. I’ve also heard someone call me “Arrrrrrr” before, but I think that was a drunkard with a head injury. Anyways! It is a pleasure to meet you all and have this great opportunity to be a student here. I look forward to being your ally. And uh, also please refrain from poisoning me. It wasn’t really funny the first time, if you uh…if you don’t do that again I’m sure we’ll all have a jolly good time together, and most likely avoid a war that nobody wants...” The dragon finished with a awkward and nervous grin.


Oy vey I am rambling again. He thought to himself. If father caught wind of this he would probably start swinging me around by the tail and launch me over a hill. Heh….caught wind. I should keep that one.

 

[Killigrew]

Jakob guided the students down the winding staircase, through the straight hallway and out into the green courtyard where the crowd of Academ awaited, guided there from morning prayer. The Templar knight pushed a line past the children, making a path for these Academ behind him, tarrying to the opening beyond the wall of guards and bodies to where the two once missing dragons stood and stared at the closed walls before them. The blue one's eyes were closed, her head raised as she sniffed the air, like an animal.


The gates gave way, stretching out to give room as the horses trotted into the academy, one white haired lad, all grins, jumping down from his as his guards walked theirs away towards the stable.


His speech addressed the crowd in its entirety, and he practically spun, body rotating to make eye contact with every Academ, every guard, as his words were delivered. Though it would be customary to welcome the newcomer with cheers and a feast, the crowd eyed the strange dragon in uncertain silence. While a clear third of the group, clothed in Templar green, spat, folded their arms, physically manifested their hostility, the Lionharts and the Teutons seemed now more welcoming, even ashamed, of the way the other dragon had parted from them. The Lionharts first clasped their fist over their heart, and bowed a welcome. The Teutons did not move, but, their mentors first, gave a nod of welcome, which, for their proud Order, was a great act in and of itself.