Adelaide's rebuke was sharp but Johann took it in stride. Better a woman to keep her wits about her than to fluff herself up and say nothing of true substance. He supposed there was the odd chance his father could have arranged such a situation for him to warm up his bride-to-be, but the much more likely explanation was that whoever was in charge thought it just made sense. And if it really was the work of his father, then he'd be disappointed.
He would wait for Rudolf to act before he as he had arrived first, but he had to admit the lack of grace was...confusing. Surely, the boy was taking the whole thing in jest. He wasn't sure if the Bergliez was awkward or nervous--personally, he would bet on both--and he kept his expression neutral. Less asset and more burden, this one would be. If he struggled kissing the air above a woman's hand then he was likely of little use in other areas.
"Maybe so, but I believe that skepticism is just fate's way of keeping us on our toes. Perhaps it enjoys a good debate as much as we do, orchestrating circumstances to keep us questioning and pondering its mysterious ways," He made an attempt to steer the attention away from the lad, demonstrating the proper way--no nose nor lips would grace Adelaide's hand as was proper and he didn't linger--and gave Widolaic a respectful bow.
"Opportunity seems to be the theme of the year; a unit system instead of the traditional House structure to unify the various students is begging for inter-country relations, isn't it?" He agreed with her statement wholeheartedly. "Many of the future Roundtable heirs, as well as Olivier of House Gaspard and Auberon of House Galatea, are in attendance. You'd have to be blind to not see the networking possibilities. Although with both the Gloucester heir and the remnant of House Ordelia attending, I'd think harmony among the Deer would be rare."
Every minute that passed felt like someone was subtly and slowly pushing down on Isolde’s chest. It was all so overwhelming; the statues felt like they were staring into her soul, the odd glance her way feeding into her anxiety in a way that made her wish she hadn’t bothered coming. The benefits had initially outweighed any negatives and her mother had a point; she had to show her face in public at one point or another.
She prayed silently to the Goddess for strength, hoping in some way that making it through the first day would mean she could survive the rest of the year. Her naive hope was that it had been so long since she had been seen that she wouldn’t be recognized, that the feeling of being watched was just her own paranoia. Everything passed her in a blur, and it wasn’t until a paper was in her hands that she woke up, so to speak.
Unfortunately, said paper sent her into such a spiral that she was sure she was going to throw up.
The mingling of students from different Houses had actually piqued her interest, if only because it meant a fresh start. She was shocked to see many noble–and even a royal!–name on the sheet, but her inner dread came out in full force when her eyes landed on one name: Nathanael Gloucester. Why? Why had they been put together? Surely the news of the late Duke Gloucester’s murder was widely known!
She noticed she was trembling and laid the paper down flat, taking a look around. To her absolute horror, she spotted the young man in question looking directly at her. Shame swept her quickly and she tore her gaze away, heart beating in her throat. She wasn’t ready for this. She wasn’t prepared to face him.
Isolde stood without realizing it and made a beeline for the door, stopping only when another arm hooked through hers. She was spun around in place and pulled along, and it took her much too long to realize it was Oskar Goneril doing so. There was no escape, much to her dismay, the older boy dragging her along even when she dug her feet in. Why was he so strong?!
He stopped before the trio and released Isolde, not noticing when she immediately hid behind him. “Alright, if we’re going to be showing these people a sincere Alliance party, then you just tell me where and when so I can tell people,” He boasted with a dazzling grin.
A startled, almost sickly look crossed Jorah’s face like a shadow as she approached, but he lit back up immediately when he saw Oskar, matching his enthusiasm. “Hm, that would help, wouldn't it?” He replied, holding his chin in thought. After a second, he snapped his fingers, eyes sparkling with excitement. “The Reception Hall! After the last bell. Tell people to bring their dancing shoes!”
Oskar clapped his hands together before pointing at each person with both hands. “Reception Hall after the last bell. Bring your dancing shoes. Be there. I’m doing my part!” He announced, nearly bowling Isolde over as he darted out of the classroom, repeating himself to every person he saw on the way out.
That left Isolde with nothing to hide behind, her expression, ironically, akin to a deer getting caught in the open. She tried not to panic as she found herself nearly face-to-face with a confrontation she wasn’t ready for, head dipped down as her brain tried to organize some words.
She failed, trembling in place for a few seconds before turning around and making an attempt to flee.
The Cathedral at Garreg Mach was famous through all of Fódlan and with good reason. A testament to centuries of history, faith, and architectural prowess, it was not just a place of worship, but a beacon of spirituality. The close distance from it to the Officer's Academy was surely a sign to the students gathered that the Goddess would watch their actions this year. Fortunately, he had absolutely nothing to fear, for every action, spoken word, and decision Johann von Aegir made was always calculated and with the dash of eloquence expected from a man of his pedigree. Any doubt he may have had was but a fleeting shadow in the radiance of his ambition.
He let himself follow the crowd of students from sermon to classroom, finding the setting one he liked very much. The blend of knights, the clergy, and students was something that piqued his interest; resisting the urge to flag down a genuine Knight of Seiros and grill him on the happenings of Garreg Mach were strong, but that was a life now left behind. That the Goddess had deemed his desire to come to the monastery one way or another was enough to make him chuckle, though he never would have guessed it would be to get a proper education.
With his elder brother set to inherit his father's position, it made Johann the obvious candidate for his father to offer to the Emperor for his heir's hand in marriage. Johann was neither reluctant nor was he exhilarated; it was simply a matter of fact and an inevitability. He was surprised by the news and had no shortage of theories on what his father had to do for it to happen--the head of the von Aegir family was notorious for not only getting what he wanted but his willingness to do what he needed to get it--but there was something unsteady about the entire affair that bothered him. Granted, the plague had ravaged the Adrestian Empire and seeing the princess wed would surely revitalize the people, but he couldn't shake the feeling.
For now, Johann focused on the famed Professor Malathice and held back a chuckle. He had heard that said professor's only public appearance in the noble circle had resulted in a flurry of ruffled feathers as the man's apathy had rubbed many the wrong way. It was a strange comfort to see he was as the rumors said he was, even if it would lead to some trouble down the line. He hoped there wouldn't be a need to seek the professor out for help, but he hoped at minimum any serious issues would be listened to, at least.
One exit and dismissal later and Johann found himself played spectator to a spirited conversation between the radiant Fiona von Varley and the prickly Veronica von Gerth. Both sang praise to the monastery, something he hadn't expected; Veronica in particular was notorious for always finding something to complain about so her being positive was a refreshing change. But a speck of white in his peripheral caught his attention and he watched as the heiress to the empire broke a hug from another he recognized but couldn't match a name to her face. It was innocuous enough but he didn't like it. He couldn't explain why, either, but whatever the case was, he had pardoned himself from the pair of ladies and found himself walking up to the duo--no, trio, where in the world did their third come from?
He didn't head over just yet, however. First, he checked the board, looking for both his name and the princess'. Fortunately, they were both in the same unit, and so he had the perfect excuse to walk on over and join the conversation. "Pardon the interruption, ladies and gent," He flashed a grin and a slight bow, eyes flickering between the Bergliez and the woman before landing on Princess Adelaide. "Johann von Aegir, at your service. Forgive my boldness, but I noticed we have the luck of being in the same unit this year. How fortuitous!"
Stories always paled in comparison to the real thing, this much Derec knew. Even still, Garreg Mach had a serenity that no tale could ever do justice; from the grand cathedral to the bustling marketplace, it was almost everything he had hoped for. Here the borders between lands were nonexistent and both commoner and noble walked side by side. In a sense, it was the perfect escape for anyone looking to hide from the world. Not that he was hiding from anyone in particular, but at the very least he could probably sleep better at night not worrying about any possible assassins sneaking into his room past the guards.
The Archbishop's speech was nice, but Derec found it hard to concentrate when the words were coming out of a child half his height. At least he looked like he was having a nice time. Speaking of which, their professor was certainly a character. He had heard of a Knight of Seiros joining the ranks of the Officers Academy, but he figured it would have been as a combat advisor. The fact that he was going to be the one in charge of the Blue Lion House was...not worrying, but not really comforting, either. His last name sounded familiar to Derec, too, but he couldn't place it. It must not have been any major noble house of Faerghus. Maybe it was a lesser known branch?
The professor left the room so quickly that Derec almost wanted to follow suit, but it was probably a good idea to find out which students he would be spending the year with. He stood from his seat and approached the chalkboard, towering over most of the other students. Finding his name wasn't too hard, but he did raise his eyebrow at only seeing 'Ballard'. Well, the Royal family had yet to formally recognize him, so maybe he had been expecting too much. Then again, Lord Leon had said he was free to use the Blaiddyd name, and he had the crest to quiet anyone who thought he was unworthy.
The house leader decided to introduce himself, and Derec watched with great interest. Galatea, now that was a name he did recognize. At least he sounded like a leader! He finished with such a flourish that Derec couldn't help but clap, though he realized his mistake shortly afterwards as he was the only one. "Oh--okay," Derec stopped clapping, turning back to the board. In theory, the best thing to do was to avoid the nobility--no doubt he wasn't exactly popular with those who would stick to the original heir--so he figured he should stick to his classmates.
And of course that meant he was placed in a unit with not only Faerghus nobility but Alliance nobility and even the Imperial Princess from the looks of the Black Eagles. "Great," Derec mumbled, scratching the back of his head. Galatea and Fraldarius? Really? Why not add in Gautier and Dominic while they were at it? How was he supposed to lay low?
He figured he may as well try to bring about a good first impression. But where would he start? House Leader Galatea? It certainly seemed like the obvious answer, but Derec would rather know his enemy first and foremost and the Galatea seemed problematic. He approached the blond somewhat reluctantly, running a hand through his red hair to smooth it out.
"Well said," Derec decided a little compliment to hopefully butter the guy up would help. "And well met, I'm Derec Ballard. Looks like we'll be in the same class unit for the year."
Not a single ray of sunshine fell on Fódlan that day. The funeral was brief as this was the life of a mercenary, after all. But his life had ended much too soon, taken from him before he could truly live. And all for nothing; the girl he had died saving would never again see the light of day. It was a tragedy of unspoken proportions, the effects calamitous. It would take much good will to prevent Fódlan from cracking further.
Letting out a sigh, the woman looked up at the sky. So much had gone wrong in so little time. It was clear now that no one could be trusted. For Sothis to return among the living, stricter measures needed to be put in place. Yes, that was the way. Next time, she would make sure that the child would be protected. No harm would come to it--she must take things into her own hands. She would not make the same mistake twice.
Before taking her leave, she would gaze upon the gravestone that bore one name: Byleth Eisner.
The opening ceremony of the Officers Academy took place in the cathedral of the church. An assortment of knights and members of the Church had decorated the place with a multitude of red, blue, and yellow ribbons, celebrating the arrival of the students. Although the seats weren’t filled, it was clear the number of students didn’t matter; each one was welcomed whether they were noble or commoner.
Among the clergy was a young boy who stood out among the rest. The garb seemed to swallow the child whole, but he stood proud nonetheless, as if channeling the spirits of the previous archbishops before him. His stature did little to impede him as he strode over to the center of the floor, a small smile on his face as he looked over the many faces before him.
“Welcome, one and all,” The volume in his voice betrayed his size, easily carried over the entirety of the hall with ease. “The goddess blesses us with another group of hopefuls! It warms my heart to see so many new faces here at Garreg Mach. I am Archbishop Ioannis, and I am humbled that I have the opportunity to accompany you all through your year at the Officers Academy.”
Taking a small pause, Ioannis continued, “This is but a final step for many of you before taking your place in the world, and all of us are eager and willing to ensure that this year is a smooth one. We here at Garreg Mach implore you to lean on your neighbor, to support those who may need it. While the world will always present challenge after challenge, we hope to supply you with the knowledge and wisdom to take hold of your future; no man is a nation, and we must all work together for the sake of Fódlan and the people.”
He looked over to his left side, gesturing to a taller man with silver hair. “My right hand, Sirius, will be supporting the school faculty in addition to his usual duties of overlooking the Knights of Seiros,” He introduced the man. “He, as well as Lady Arianthe, have been vital during the transition from one archbishop to the next.”
The man motioned to the boy’s right. Remembering something, Ioannis sheepishly looked to that side, clearing his throat. “This year’s faculty is a little more varied than in previous years. With Lady Geraldine’s return to Adrestia, we decided to better assist the students with more professors to lead classes. Professor Lysander Roland oversees much of the school’s curriculum and is the liaison between the school and church--that said, he has a generous open-door policy and is one of the kindest souls you’ll likely meet. Assisting him will be a nurse who serves both school and church by the name of Kaira Simeon--their offices are located on the second floor.” The dark haired man’s jaw dropped, his gaze following as his face flushed with color, quietly shaking his head as he avoided looking anyone in the eye. A green haired girl nudged him, clearly trying not to laugh as she gave the students a small wave.
Ioannis looked like he had more to say, but after a moment decided against it, once again giving the students a warm smile. “Your professors await you in your homerooms. May the goddess watch over you all.”
“Welcome, Black Eagles. My name is Tomai Malathice and I've been graced with the chance to educate you all this year,” The dark haired man stated, clearly disinterested in the students as he stood in front of his desk. “Like you, I’m from the Empire. I've authored several books on both the study of magic theory and crest research. Unfortunately, I am obligated to assist any that come to my door after class hours. You can come to me for any serious issues you may have, but I'm not going to mediate any petty arguments or complaints you may have.”
He turned and messed with the stack of papers in behind him, getting them into a neat pile before taking one and rapidly writing down a list of names on the chalkboard. “Professor Lysander has decided on a new initiative in an effort to ‘encourage inter-country relations’. Because people don’t mingle enough or something, I don’t know, I stopped listening halfway through the explanation,” He admitted with a slight shrug, squinting at the page in front of him. “While you’ll still belong to one house and should come to me first, on a day-to-day basis you’ll all gather here for homeroom, and at the first bell will be joining a smaller class with mixed members.”
He paused, looking up at the ceiling as he tried to remember something. “...eh, you don’t really need much more information than that. If I call your name at the end of this--oh, one thing, right,” He snapped his fingers, laying out several pages on his desk and snatching up his book. He seemed to notice something on the back cover, his expression souring. “This year, your class leader will be Her Highness, who has graced us with her presence for whatever reason. With that out of the way, you’re free for the rest of the day to talk or mingle or get to know your fellow students. As for me, I need to have a word with Professor Michail. Dismissed.”
He outright ignored any raised hands as he stood from his desk, a scowl discouraging anyone from asking anything as he walked out of the room.
A blond knight finished writing his name on the board, turning to face the classroom with a dazzling smile. “What a first day, am I right?” He asked the students at large, placing the chalk down as he chose to remain standing. “My name is Michail Kalonic. I’m a Knight of Seiros--it’s basically my first time here, too. From guard to professor! Who would’ve thought?” He chuckled. “Like you guys, I’m also from the Kingdom of Faerghus. Aside from that, I share Professor Lysander’s approach--my door is always open even after hours. Of course, you’re more likely to find me in the Arena than any classroom, but you know what I’m getting at.” He paused for a moment, scratching his head. “...Hm, I don’t really know what else to say. I guess I should get to the technical stuff?”
He figured he may as well wing it, walking over to his desk. “So things are getting changed up a little from my understanding. The school decided to go off a plan Professor Lysander came up with; instead of your classmates only consisting of those in the same house they’re breaking you guys up into different groups called Units. Of course, I’m still the person you should come to if you have any problems--I mean it, I’m here for you guys--but otherwise your classmates are going to be people from all three houses. It’ll be interesting for sure, at least!”
Taking a hold of the stack, he started scribbling names onto the board, diving the students into their units. “You can come over here and take a look, I suggest getting to know who’ll be in your class--I believe there’s a master list on the bulletin boards outside the classrooms, too,” He wrote surprisingly quickly, his handwriting neat and efficient. “Your House Leader is Auberon of House Galatea--that means you’ll have a few more responsibilities. See me later and I’ll let you know what that entails.”
Finishing his writing, Michail dusted his hands off as he grinned. “That’s everything from me. You have the rest of today off--we start bright and early tomorrow. If you need me, I’ll be right outside the classroom, possibly getting yelled at. Dismissed!” He gave the class a wave, practically giggling to himself as he walked out.
“Hello, hello! Settle down, settle down,” The woman’s blonde hair bounced after her as she scuttled into the classroom, heels clicking along the floors. She stopped before her desk, picking up a rod and whacking the chalkboard and underlining the name written there. “I am Euphemia Kalonic, and I’ll be leading the Golden Deer this year. Don’t worry, even though I normally teach the Blue Lions, this isn’t my first year with the Leicester Alliance. I’ll make sure to take good care of you!”
Walking down the aisle, she continued with, “As students of the Officers Academy, you are here to learn the ways of warfare. Your fellow professors and myself have made it our goal to educate you on that count and more. While you’re here, I recommend you take advantage of this opportunity to meet people from all walks of life; I don’t doubt some of you may know one another due to the Alliance's Roundtable, but this academy is notable for accepting noble and commoner alike.”
“Normally, you stick with your fellow Deer during your classes, but this year you’ll all have a chance to experience something new. Professor Lysander Roland made a suggestion that Archbishop Ioannis approved of--he thought that to encourage a positive future for Fódlan, it would be nice if the classes were more varied instead of sticking with the same house. Of course, once a Deer, always a Deer, so you don’t have to worry about alternate room assignments and I am still responsible for your well being! But now you’ll be joined by Black Eagles and Blue Lions, too. I believe the class sizes are around nine to twelve people, though how many of each class join varies. And of course, you all still have your House Leader for this year: and the lucky one--” She checked her papers. “--is future Duke Jorah Riegan! See me after and I’ll be happy to explain what that entails, okay?”
“Now, as for where you’ll be fitting in for these new class assignments…” Euphemia flipped the chalkboard to the other side but froze. Instead of an organized list of students that she had spent nearly half an hour writing in cute handwriting, instead was a (admittedly good) sketch of a blond knight on a horse--most students would notice that it looked an awful lot like one of the knights that had been in the church earlier.
Euphemia’s smile never left her face, but her eyes became decidedly icy. She slowly turned to look at her students, clearing her throat as she turned flipped the chalkboard back and approached her desk. “...will be on these papers. I’ll...go ahead and lay them all out here.” Her tone was sugary sweet still, even if she looked like she was ready to choke someone.
Once all the pages were laid out, she held her rod tightly. “Now, you’ll have the rest of today to yourselves. If you’ll excuse me, I have to speak with Professor Michail,” She dismissed the students, her smile betraying her body language as she practically stomped out of the room.
Outside of the classrooms stood Lysander and Kaira, the pair in a spirited conversation. The two stopped long enough to to watch Michail run out of the Blue Lions classroom, a giant grin on his face. Said grin turned into a howl as he was promptly thwacked by a furious Euphemia, though it was Tomai stopping him in his tracks that really caused the knight distress. Lysander and Kaira looked at one another briefly before deciding to run interference, briefly catching the tail end of an accusation of sabotage.
"Have you any idea how humiliated I was?!" Euphemia kept her voice low as she cracked the rod on the back of Michail's head.
"Stop--how do you manage to hit my unarmored spots--it's just a harmless prank!" He defended himself as he tried to duck another blow and hid behind Kaira.
"This book is centuries old and you decided to scribble all over it," Tomai said flatly, showing the group an identical sketch to the one in the Golden Deer's classroom etched onto the back of Tomai's book.
"Oh, Michail, we talked about how you should be acting in a position of authority..." Lysander sighed, shaking his head.
Across the courtyard, Ioannis watched the professors and students as they began to leave the classrooms, a sparkle in his eye. In truth, he knew it was best that he should head back to the church, but the boy was eager to interact with the students--even if they were all older than he was. A pair of knights--easily recognizable as the captain and the Archbishop's right hand man introduced earlier--stood a short distance away.
Marketplace - A market in front of the monastery, through which merchants come to exchange goods.
Entrance Hall - The entrance of the monastery, which connects to the dining hall and other notable locations in Garreg Mach.
Dining Hall - The dining hall is directly adjacent to the entrance hall, through which residents of the monastery regularly eat meals at any time.
Greenhouse - A greenhouse through which plants for cooking and gifts are raised.
Fishing Pond - A pond through which residents can fish utilizing bait. Fish from many locations in Fódlan are gathered here: sometimes, extremely rare fish can be caught, or at times large amounts of fish can be caught at once.
Dormitory - A two-floor facility that functions as a residence for students of the Officers Academy. While the staff of the academy tries to reduce discrimination between nobles and commoners, such prejudice still exists, and as such, the nobles almost always take up the second floor while commoners are relegated to the first floor rooms.
Sauna - A building located between the dormitory and the training ground that functions as a relaxation facility, where residents can refresh in a steam room.
Training Grounds - A place where knights and students alike come to hone their combat skills. Every month, a tournament is held where the winners can achieve both money and a prize as a result.
Stables - Horses wyverns are raised here. Sometimes, students of the Officers Academy are assigned to group tasks involving taking care of the horses, pegasi, and wyverns here.
Knights Hall - The Knights of Seiros gather and socialize in this hall. There are targets for practice as well as books and a lounge here.
Graveyard - Behind the Knights' Hall is a graveyard where notable people who are now deceased are laid to rest.
Cathedral - At the most rear point of the monastery, connected to the remainder of Garreg Mach via a bridge, is a cathedral where devout believers worship the goddess Sothis and the saints. Statues of the Four Saints are located here. Choir practice is held here. An advice box is also located here where students can ask for advice.
Central Building - The most central building of Garreg Mach, it is a three-floor facility that harbors multiple locations:
Reception Hall - On the first floor of the main building is the reception hall, where social events such as the Ball during the Ethereal Moon are held.
Second Floor The second floor is home to several different facilities:
Audience Chamber - This is where the archbishop often stands during their work. The professors of Garreg Mach regularly report here at the start of each month to obtain their missions.
Advisory Room - The archbishop's advisor works here to speak with the archibishop.
Kalonic's Office - This room is shared between the two siblings and is often where students meet with either of them for one-to-one time.
Captain's Quarters - A room where the current captain of the Knights of Seiros--Kalliope--resides.
Crest Scholar's Office - An office where Professor Tomai conducts his research on Crests.
Infirmary - A facility run by Professor Kaira where the injured and the sick are taken care of.
Library - Numerous books and historical texts are here for reading. It is also used as a study space for members of the Officers Academy. It is run by Lysander, who doubles as its librarian.
Cardinal's Room - The main room for the cardinals of the Church of Seiros. The professors usually gather here once a week to discuss and compare lesson plans.
Third Floor The third floor is only accessible to the members of the Church but can be reached with permission:
Archbishop's Room - The archbishop takes residence in this room.
Star Terrace - A balcony atop which a view of the monastery can be attained.
The Black Eagles' Professor. A graduate of Adrestia's top magic college, Tomai made a small name for himself refining Crest-discovery devices for the masses. His knowledge is only second to his wit, and while he would much rather be alone studying, he assures his students that he keeps an open door policy. Oddly enough, he does not seem to worship Seiros, having little interest in the Goddess and her teachings.
The Blue Lions' Professor. A Knight of Seiros who is tasked with protecting the students, the only thing he likes more than a good fight is a beautiful person at his side. He's extremely easy going and loves to socialize, always up for a quick chat or spar even with a pile of paperwork waiting on his desk. Despite his flaws, he has a good sense of justice for all and became a professor to make a difference in the world.
The Golden Deer's Professor. Formerly a renowned socialite in Faerghus society, she is a charming woman with an apparent sweet-and-spicy deposition. It has some merit; she is as sweet as she is hot headed, quick to jump to someone's aide but just as fast to start up an argument. Either way she usually insists on keeping up the nicer side of her, perky and peppy most of the time. She cherishes her students and friends and seeks to keep everyone on good terms.
The Academy's nurse. She was formerly a cleric, having an extraordinary talent in healing from a young age. She has been with the church her whole life and yearns to explore Fódlan, but says she is needed at Garreg Mach. Not much is known about her otherwise as she has a tendency to keep people at arms' length.
The new Archbishop and Ascelpius' former apprentice, Ioannis has been with the church his whole life. He was abandoned as an infant on the church's steps and taken in, and at the age of five had heard a revelation from the Goddess. Despite his young age of only twelve summers, he is dedicated to the people and will do everything he can to help those in need.
The Academy's counselor. A kind, caring soul, he leans into his position with enthusiasm and considers it a personal point of pride to ensure the students have a peaceful year. He is flustered easily and a little on the quiet side at times, but always makes sure he's available when needed. When he's ahead of his work, he sometimes helps the professors with their classes.
The Academy's battle instructor. A Knight of Seiros tasked with educating students of every class in combat, Lavender is a skilled tactician with many victories in the recent war between the Empire and Dagda. She developed a love for teaching after being called to lead a class and has stayed at the academy ever since. She isn't pleased about a prevailing rumor going around that says she's hopelessly in love with Mikhail, less so when she found out he was the one that spread it.
Former second-in-command to Archbishop Ascelpius, Arianthe had planned on retiring before his death, but chose to stay and help the transition. At his request she has stayed by his side and offers her guidance to all; without her organization it would have taken much longer to get things to normal. A quiet, gentle woman, Arianthe is something of a recluse and seems to have a hard time trusting people. Still, her wisdom is indispensable and she is always open to those who seek her out.
Stepping in as the Church's second-in-command, Sirius is a former Knight of Seiros who stepped into an administrative role. He is stern but means well and goes out of his way to ensure order is kept at all times. He works closely with all the professors in an effort to have everything running smoothly and goes out of his way to learn each student's name. His decision to leave the battlefield came as a shock to many, but rumor has it that Ascelpius himself had asked him.
Head of the Knights of Seiros, Kalliope is one of the fiercest warriors of the land. She was transferred from the Southern Church to Central recently, though has no qualms about it. That said, she certainly doesn't have the personality to match her title of 'Lightning Strike of Fódlan'; loud, rude, and full of herself, if people aren't intimidated by her skill, they're certain to steer away anytime she has a drink in her hand. Of course, she is a different beast on the battlefield, so one can't help but have curiosity.
A recent graduate of the Officers Academy and new inductee into the Knights of Seiros, Theo specializes in working in the shadows. Despite his age he is widely respected and has pulled his weight. Even before he became a knight, he knew how to form a network to keep himself informed of all the whispers and ongoings of Garreg Mach. He was also known for having sneaky hands, but was reigned in by his older brother, Sirius. He's somewhat dry-witted but usually well meaning--so long as you have nothing to hide, of course.
A mild-mannered Knight of Seiros who would rather speak to animals than people, Chionne is an odd one. She is known to outright walk away from conversations she isn't a fan of participating in and seemingly has no regards for the feelings of others. Her talent at taming animals is outmatched by even trainers with decades more experience than she. She can control anything on four legs with one exception: cats seem to hate her.
First up is relevant to anyone wanting spells for any reason--this is not limited to mages, but to anyone that decides to take up Faith or Reason. For each rank (from D to A) a spell is learned. Your character can pick any from each column as they rank up.
Black Magic is the typical elemental-based spell. For this rp there's a elemental square where each element triumphs over the other (in the order of Fire -> Blizzard -> Thunder -> Wind -> Fire) but that doesn't mean having only fire spells means running into a mage with wind is gonna be a bad time.
Dark Magic requires reason but for RP purposes will be considered a separate parameter; it requires lessons from the resident Dark Bishop Tomai. Dark magic has a variety of effects and are all non-elemental compared to their elemental counterparts.
White Magic has an assortment of spells, most of them recovery based. Some of the higher tiers also have unique effects against enemies.
Anyone that starts out as a Mage will be on Rank D at the start of the RP so they have some way to defend themselves in battle. Anyone that does not have either Faith or Reason as a Strength will have to build their magic from Rank E.
Izurich
AlteredTundra
Mcmolly
Kronshi
Asura
ThatCharacter
Obscene Symphony
Pyrrhic
webboysurf
Hillan
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