Turn 0: A Series Of TubesElora Wildbeast (ziizo) is in!Wylmir Wysendra (Xvareon) is in!Celine Valeheart (Hotfire) is in!Felidardinia Aslorvinaorvinia (ER) is in!Solanum Tuberosum (Dev) is in!Cieri Gardenplanter (Naturegirl) is in!Aelfi Aelvenguard (TricMagic) is in!Auric Argentum (Glass) is in!Totally Not A Dwarf (The Canadian Kitten) has been added to the waitlist!Alena Silvertouch (darkwarlock) has been added to the waitlist!Aigre Aldora Ameiranafil (Aigre) has been added to the waitlist!Eldrin Lairo (spazyak) has been added to the waitlist!You and fifteen other elves are gathered in the central gate of the Academy, a vast cylindrical hall stretching up into nebulous lighting and bordered by giant arches in various colors and styles. In the very center stands the gate itself, a wispy column of swirling energies that can transport you both throughout the academy and to other parts of the city.
Also with you stands a giant hulking suit of mirror-like jet-black armor.
"I am Headmistress Irongilt," it rumbles in an ominous, echoing voice.
"It is I who shall measure your fates and find you... wanting. Mwahahahaha!"It wiggles its fingers excitedly as it says this, and it occurs to you that you're not actually sure if this is somebody's monster or if there's an elf in there.
"To graduate from this academy, you will need to, among other things, gain impressive credentials in at least two chosen classes- you know, Warlock, Necromancer, Death Knight... um... whatever non-evil people do for a living, you get the idea.
To start with, you'll have access to the Eight Arches, the centers for mastery and indulgence in Precepts at the Academy. To gain access to the Thousand Halls- where Particulars are studied- select and acquire credentials in two Precepts to embody this class, and thus serve as measures of your talent. Then you'll do the same with Particulars, then Precipitations, and thus have established enough competence to bother mentioning your credentials in one class!
This will also make it easier to classify any products made from your low, low-value corpse should you fail."The behemoth claps its gauntlets together, producing an oddly musical sound.
"Now then, off to each Arch in order. There you'll meet your instructors in their proper environments, starting with Life, and they will inform you what must be done to gain a baseline credential in their Precept. Begone!"It raises one hand into a snapping motion before pausing and staring at said gauntlet, as though remembering the last time it tried this trick and suffering doubts about a repeat. You take this opportunity to dash into the portal before it puppets your bones in there without you or summons demons who take you to the stewpot instead of the classroom. Also before your classmates steal all the best seats.
Arch of LifeYour first stop is the Arch of Life, a massive complex devoted to aspects of the Precept of Life- living things, growing things, healing, flesh vats, and so on. The central portal is an arch of vibrant green shoots and leaves which automatically shunts you to the appropriate classroom. Perhaps not surprisingly, it's made of plants.
Your professor sits splayed out on some grass, wobbling slightly. She's adorned in very bright, multicolored petals arranged in a crude and, on closer inspection, ever-shifting dress. Her hair appears to be made of vines, and her eyes are misted over with some kind of ever-changing iridescent sheen.
"Whoaaaaaaa, you all must be the stuuuuudents... Like, I'm Professor, uh... well, anyway, it's like, you know? The Precept of Life can be used for, like, all kinds of, like, life-stuff, you knoooooooow? But like, it can also be used for, like, really good drugs, you know? So like, you can get my, like, that thing you need if you bring me some, like, reeeeeeeeally good drugs, you know?"She doesn't appear to do anything, but shortly after she finishes speaking the portal... well, just sucks you all back in. Apparently you're going somewhere else now.
Arch of DeathYour second stop looks a lot like a crypt, very tasteful. There's a sheet-white man in flowing crimson finery holding a glass goblet of red substance in one hand. His eyes glow an unnatural,
hungry crimson.
"Ah yes... my honored guests have arrived. I am Professor Nightbane, at your service. Before we begin-"His eyes glow impossibly bright, an all-encompassing glare that overwhelms every sense you have.
I AM NOT A VAMPIRE"Now then," the not-vampire says in a very not-vampire tone,
"To gain credentials in the Precept of Death, turn a hated foe into a shackled undead slave. You may need to create an enemy first; this is a common problem! Do not be discouraged! You will find much of being a truly superior being consists of handcrafting mortal nemeses to crush.
Also, if you murder your classmates you'll have a... well, a relatively valuable servant as well as remove a potential rival. Think about it!"With that, you're sucked out of the not-vampire room to somewhere more vampire-y almost by definition.
Arch of OrderYour next classroom is pristine white trimmed with gold. A very prim-looking woman stands at perfect attention, her severe white hair pulled into a severe white bun. She glares at you all, even you, who hasn't even done anything yet!
"Professor Tulip Tinetone, current Arbiter of the Precept of Order," she introduces herself with a rather harsh tone.
"This will not be a theoretical class. You will earn my commendations by cleansing the world of filth. That is all."Back into the portal.
Arch of ChaosThe classroom of Chaos looks like some kind of melting wax fever dream. It's not even properly shaped; you'll all standing on an incline. A normal-looking elf in long flowing teal robes stares at you all, wide smile plastered on his face.
After a moment too long, he speaks.
"Greetings! So nice to see so many healthy elves in here. This is good. Yes. To keep you healthy, I will give out commendations in Chaos for free. Have a nice day, and please consider nesting here when in doubt."Off you go, though you float
upwards a bit before being sucked back into the portal. Odd.
Arch of FireThe room of fire looks like a forge of some kind, with grates over lava and heavy tools hanging from solid metal walls.
The professor is a wiry woman with unruly red-and-orange hair.
"Ahahaha! There you wusses are! Oh this is gonna be SO fun! Irith Flamebane, or BY FAR the best elf here!
You want MY commendation, you're gonna have to melt lead. Not hard if you've got talent."She shrugs apologetically with a smug grin on her face, then waves as you're sucked back through the portal.
Arch of WaterThe Precept of Water's classroom is made of glass, and appropriately enough located underwater. A man with long blonde flowing hair and long light blue flowing finery leans against one such wall with a blue rose held between his teeth.
"Adorius Dewsong at your service," he says with a flourish and perfectly through the flower in his mouth.
"To gain a commendation in this class requires being an attractive female and sleeping with your professor. If you have difficulty with that, not my problem. Off with you now, wear something nice on your way back."Back through the portal. You wonder idly if that guy's a vampire.
Arch of EarthThe classroom of Earth appears to be made of gigantic fossilized bones.
"Aeran Skulldust," the grey-haired man in front sneers, dressed in practical yet elegant black clothing.
"None of you are worthy to come here, but life is often imperfect. It is our duty to correct these flaws where they appear."He glares appraisingly at each of you in turn. For sixteen elves, that's actually a fair amount of staring.
"If you wish to be known as a Practitioner of Earth, you will need to display great resilience. Applicants will be crushed in a cage of bone. Those that withstand these pressures will be recognized for their resolve. Those who fail will be put to good use by vermin. There is no need to speculate on the quality of those who avoid such a test; materials are considered trash until proven otherwise."Arch of AirThe classroom of Air is... well, it's a box of clouds. Digging through the clouds reveals that yes, you're rather high up from the nearest visible ground.
"Hmph," the woman floating at the top of the room sneers. Her bright yellow locks float buoyantly just like she does.
"What's that?" she asks smugly.
"Can't fly? Hmph! That's what I thought... so sad, so sad! Ahahahahaha!"She laughs smugly and rolls around in midair for about five solid minutes while you wonder if maybe there's something you can read, light on fire, or animate with demonic forces.
"Oh right, the credentials," she finally says, as though genuinely just remembering it.
"Well obviously elves who can fly are waaaaaaay better than those who can't. Of course, I can't expect you poor souls to fly like I do. So... just levitate or something, and you'll have proven yourself better than the rest of these peasants here. No offense to any actual peasants down there, but you guys really should have been ground up for food."Back through the portal you go.
Central Academy GateThe Headmistress- or whatever the armor is- is still waiting when you return.
"Alright, that probably means you've met all your Precept Instructors and know what to do for each of them. Remember- two commendations and a class name. Then you get access to the upper levels and can pick Particulars to qualify yourselves in, then you get access to the highest levels and can do the same with Precipitations. Once you're rated in an entire class, we'll be able to judge your suitability for elven society or some kind of grinding mill appropriately."Elora Wildbeast (ziizo)
Failure (no friends)
+1 Novice Precept of Earth (0/4)
+1 Novice Particular of Flesh (0/4)
+1 Novice Precipitation of Unarmed Combat (0/4)
Wylmir Wysendra (Xvareon)
Fake (no house)
+1 Novice Precept of Water (0/4)
+1 Novice Particular of Serenity (0/4)
+1 Novice Precipitation of Flattery (0/4)
Celine Valeheart (Hotfire)
Failure (no friends)
+1 Novice Precept of Air (0/4)
+1 Novice Particular of Hate (0/4)
+1 Novice Precipitation of Archery (0/4)
Felidardinia Aslorvinaorvinia (ER)
Fake (no house)
+1 Novice Precept of Life (0/4)
+1 Novice Particular of Instinct (0/4)
+1 Novice Precipitation of Arguing (0/4)
Solanum Tuberosum (Dev)
Commoner (no freebies)
+1 Novice Precept of Fire (0/4)
+1 Novice Particular of Joy (0/4)
+1 Novice Precipitation of Toymaking (0/4)
Cieri Gardenplanter (Naturegirl)
Commoner (no freebies)
+1 Novice Precept of Life (0/4)
+1 Novice Particular of Plants (0/4)
+1 Novice Precipitation of Gardening (0/4)
Aelfi Aelvenguard (TricMagic)
Failure (no friends)
+1 Novice Precept of Death (0/4)
+1 Novice Particular of Time (0/4)
+1 Novice Precipitation of Knowledge of Ancients (0/4)
Auric Argentum (Glass)
Fake (no house)
+1 Novice Precept of Life (0/4)
+1 Novice Particular of Metal (0/4)
+1 Novice Precipitation of Robotics (0/4)
Lyrica the Impassioned
Failure (no friends)
+1 Novice Precept of Life (0/4)
+1 Novice Particular of Plants (0/4)
+1 Novice Precipitation of Sleeping (0/4)
Para Wormtongue
Commoner (no freebies)
+1 Novice Precept of Death (0/4)
+1 Novice Particular of Bone (0/4)
+1 Novice Precipitation of Democratic Governance (0/4)
Cerennic of Cin
Failure (no friends)
+1 Novice Precept of Order (0/4)
+1 Novice Particular of Arcane (0/4)
+1 Novice Precipitation of Research (0/4)
Arkaras the Harbinger
Fake (no house)
+1 Novice Precept of Chaos (0/4)
+1 Novice Particular of Destruction (0/4)
+1 Novice Precipitation of Maces (0/4)
Maeric Thornmantle
Bastard (no freedom)
+1 Novice Precept of Fire (0/4)
+1 Novice Particular of Fire (0/4)
+1 Novice Precipitation of Smug (0/4)
Maerith Thornmantle
Bastard (no freedom)
+1 Novice Precept of Water (0/4)
+1 Novice Particular of Ice (0/4)
+1 Novice Precipitation of Smug (0/4)
Ythra Moltentongue
Fake (no house)
+1 Novice Precept of Earth (0/4)
+1 Novice Particular of Horror (0/4)
+1 Novice Precipitation of Treason (0/4)
Daelyn Fangsong
Commoner (no freebies)
+1 Novice Precept of Air (0/4)
+1 Novice Particular of Song (0/4)
+1 Novice Precipitation of Hunting (0/4)