It had been a whirlwind day.  Whisked through the keep with naught but a small bag of personal effects, the small cadre of young students had seen much, been explained little, and understood less of the new world they had just been hurled into like an unwanted newborn cast into the night.  The one thing they had learned, if only because every man in white robes had said near the same words, was "Excel at your studies, follow God's laws and the rules of this keep.  Both the indolent and rogues are punished."  Though what was to learn, and what the rules were to follow seemed an uncatchable wisp ever escaping ahead as the young adults trundled along behind.

In fact, perhaps the only useful information gained so far in the day had been a few names and stories of the cohorts as they tromped around the castle grounds.  Now, they were being lead by another of the white robed men, brother Loke, who seemed both self important and impatient, leading to the same lack of any real teaching or learning they had experienced through the whole day.  Instead, Judoc, one of the handful, had spent a few precious moments above the sounds and scuffle of leather on stone introducing himself to the others.  On one side was a Goblin, Grobbik, who had worked his way on a merchant ship to the port, and on the other Marianna, the one girl in their midst who had lived in the south of Dyecastle Island her whole life.  Probably has rich friends he thought to himself, In any case, there's no chance of her becoming a Templar.  All told, Juroc counted twelve in their midst, a decidedly lucky number foretelling good fortune in the days ahead.  As the hurried mass broke forth from the castle Judoc managed his first real glimpse glance of the grounds.  The keep itself sat atop a sloping hill, backed to the northeast by the high cliffs overlooking the Megelan Ocean.  Though the island itself was known for it's lush forests to the south, this particular stretch of miles supported only a few short and gnarled trees, which did little to quell the harsh sea winds as they smacked against the cliff faces and tumbled over the hillsides, shouting the taste of brine.  A few miles to the southwest, the bustling city of Azer crawled out of the plains, boasting first Orilou Manor and St. Luke Cathedral before the hills rolled down into the heart of the city, the marketplace and port.

The group was not going to the city however.  They marched together to the southeast, parallel to the cliff face just a stone's throw from the castle, where nature had long ago carved out a basin from the hillside which had filled to a lake, perhaps a few hundred yards on its longest side.  As they approached Juroc could make out the silhouettes of four more robed men down in the water,  perhaps waist deep, and it seems like one of them was teaching, or perhaps sermonizing to the others.

A respectful distance away, the group stopped short, and brother Loke turned around, speaking for the first time with a mollified, almost patient tone.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:53, Tue 01 May 2018.

"These men ahead in the lake that you see have finished their course of study here at the college.  Indeed, they have excelled, for they go from this lake not as mages for the Emperor's army.  From this point on they will be known as Templars, as knights of God.  This, my students," he raises his single hand, gesturing at the entire scene, "Is what you should aspire to...  You see them now being baptized into the knighthood."  Even at that moment one of the white figures was dipped backwards into the lake.  "Each of our sacraments has a strong tie to the elements of this world.  Here you see baptism, which is borne from the water, letting the water fill us and wash over us, cleaning us of our old life and instilling us with the new."

Loke shifts his gaze throughout the small contingent of students, for the briefest of moments his eyes cut like daggers into the burrows of each soul.  "Most of you will never see this sacrament again, so learn this lesson well:  many things are not entirely as they seem, and water is no exception.  On its surface it is the foundation of everything -- without it life is impossible."  Loke extends his arm, his hand palm down over the earth in a waving motion.  At first it is difficult to determine if anything has actually happened, though the brother's tone and momentary pause leads the small group to look below and they notice a small, trickling fount emerging from the ground.  The water pools at first, then trickles outward, winding it's way slowly down to the lake.

"However just as water is the bearer of life, it can snuff that same life out with ease."  Loke takes a step forward, brushing his hand against Judoc's cheek before the youth has a chance to understand what is going on...

Again, the effect of the spell is not at once apparent, but it takes little more than patience to see the first horrifying effects.  Outwardly, little seems to happen but Judoc's eyes snap open in anguish, his mouth wrested apart in a scream that dies before it hits his lips.  He staggers forward, swaying dangerously then falling forward on one knee and his wrists hit the ground, his shoulders heaving.  The man wretches.  Intermittently he coughs and vomits for the next few moments, the trickle of a stream from the small found mixing with the outed contents of Judoc's stomach.
The brother takes a knee beside Judoc, putting his hand on the student's shoulder.  A few words are murmured, though it is difficult for any of the rest of the class to hear them.

Loke stands after just a moment, and again addresses the class while Judoc remains gasping for air.  "Some of you will find magic to be a devilishly tricky affair, perhaps others of you will find a knack.  Undoubtedly there will be those who find their own talent in magic disastrous at first.  I urge caution in its use for all of you.  While some endeavors may lead to success, failures can often be catastrophic especially when one is unpracticed.  You would not be the first youngster class with a student to summon a demon from the netherworlds, nor to maim one of your own from explosion or fire..."  Loke looks around for a moment, making sure the seriousness of his statements sink in.  "Now, that is all for your lessons for this day.  You are allowed to stay here at the lake to watch the rest of the baptism, or to do as you will until nightfall, no later.  I would not test the limits of our patience, nor the firmness of our rules."  Loke throws a quick glance at Judoc, then turns about and starts his own slow pace back towards the Keep.

[Private to Judoc the Obscure:  Brother Loke whispers to you, "Do not talk while lectures are being given."

You have no idea what spell has been cast on you, but the real effects seem to be over in only a moment.  At first you feel your lungs and chest swell, and though you are mid-breath, the mere act of pulling in air to your lungs seems impossible.  After just that moment, the effects of the spell are over, and you begin a natural recovery, coughing fluid out of your lungs and vomiting from your stomach what you can only assume was put there by Loke.  While you don't expect that you've suffered any lasting physical damage, the whole process has exhausted you, and you have no doubt that if Loke had desired it, you would have drowned even standing in open air.]

OOC:  Welcome to the intro thread!  The main point of this thread is to set the tone for the rest of this module, to introduce the characters to each other, and to strike up any conversation you see pertinent to the days events.  As soon as the group is ready to move forward, I'll open up a new thread to continue the story line.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:43, Tue 14 July 2020.

Judoc was completely exasperated.  The entire day had been filled with ridiculous close-mouthedness and a decided lack of any kind of explanation.  No doubt becoming a Templar was a difficult travail, but Judoc had never been the purest of men, and he had little desire to join an organization so closely allied with the church, though he suspected the Templars had their own corruption, hidden away behind locked doors.  Still, the Academy's tutelage was first-rate, and those who couldn't meet the strict requirements for the Templars often still went on to become high-ranking battle mages in the Megalan army, which suited Judoc admirably.   He'd show his father that he was good for more than living his life as some ridiculous apothecary.  Judoc knew that he was twice the man his older brother Jeric was.  He'd show them all how wrong they'd been.

He couldn't help smiling condescendingly when he'd met Marianna.  Why did females continue to apply when the Templars did not accept women?  She was probably here to train what little talent she had before she was married off to some lord.  It's sad, really.  Grobbik, of course, had better prospects, though the Templars were usually nobles, and the goblin didn't seem like a young lordling to Judoc, though of course, neither was he.

Now, he watches the baptism curiously.  Though the ceremony was merely a symbolic affair, the emphasis on water was not lost on him.  Judoc favored fire personally, but water could be a powerful weapon besides its obvious connections to life and rebirth.

He listens keenly to Brother Loke's words.  Was the man holding something back?   Judoc is eager to pierce the mysteries here, to discover their hidden heart, and in doing so, grow in strength.  He is sure he will excel in his studies and qualify for the Templars, for is he not blessed with natural talent?   He will be an extraordinary battle mage, the best in a generation.  The Templars will be astounded when he rejects their offer to join.

The spell intrigues Judoc, and he watches the water flow towards the lake.  Magic.  Is there anything it cannot do?  But he frowns as Brother Loke touches him on the cheek, and a moment later - Gaaaaah!  What had the bastard done to him?  Judoc collapses forward, his whole body convulsing.  Judoc finds himself in too much pain to even analyze what is happening to him.  This shouldn't happen, not to him!   The other students - God almighty, the pain!  "H- help me," he gasps out, emptying the contents of his stomach, and Brother Loke bends down and reverse his incantation.

Judoc remains on his hands and knees, struggling to regain control.  He half-hears Loke's words and thinks, I'll maim you, you bastard, but wisely keeps his thoughts to himself.  He settles for glaring furiously at a patch of ground in front of him as Loke concludes the day's "lecture."  What was Judoc supposed to learn from the Brother's display?  That Loke is a sadist?  Well, lesson learned.

On his knees, humiliated, Judoc swears that one day, soon, he'll have his revenge on the arrogant monk.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:35, Sun 22 Dec 2013.

What a day it was for Grobbik.  What a day indeed!  Several weeks ago he had been accepted to the school, but it was the middle of the semester.  They hadn't had anywhere to put him, so Grobbik had been content with sitting in on a couple classes here and there.  For a young goblin eager to begin his studies, the time just didn't pass fast enough.  When finals rolled around it was easier for him to spend a couple weeks out at sea with his father Yezzik than it was waiting around the house with Pilyx.  He would only have gotten in trouble there as he practiced his new magic.  No, it was better to put those skills into motion on board the ship.

Now, here he was, joining the new class at school with his fellow students.  Grobbik could feel his heart beating in his chest excitedly.  He was so very thrilled to be here, considering his poor upbringing as the son of a sailor.  Money was always short, and this was the best opportunity he would see in his lifetime.  Even better, he was here on merit, and not because of political maneuvering or financial bribes.  That gave him a better chance to succeed than some of the other students who were here for the prestige or other reasons.  This was the best thing that had ever happened to Grobbik, and he intended to work very hard at his studies here.  He would make the very most out of his talent that he could, because there was nothing else for him to do.

Being on cloud 9 like he was, Grobbik was not at all bored at all with the orientation that they were receiving today.  He had not had any opportunity to see the school proper, so the ability to traverse the grounds and meet a bunch of the people was still exciting to him.  He was a student here!  Grobbik almost had to pinch himself as he listened to people's stories and rubbed elbows with a few of the teachers.  They all had advise for the new students, and Grobbik payed attention to their wisdom.  However, he also filed that information away for another day.  Today was the first day of the rest of his life, and he planned to enjoy it.  Tomorrow there would be plenty of time to dig into their suggestions and think about what they really meant.

When Brother Loke starts speaking at the lake, Grobbik pays close attention.  While the man was something of a boor, he was also important enough that their first day at the college was spent with him.  He wouldn't probably be too significant in the giant scheme of things, but he was probably a shrewd judge of talent and character if they handed him all of the new recruits.  That meant what he had to say was important, and Grobbik needed to pay attention, of only because the man was measuring him up as well.

Grobbik payed attention as Brother Loke described the graduation ceremonies, and he watched the activities down at the lake.  Only 4 people out of how many that started? he wondered to himself.  How many of them would make it out of the 12 who were grouped here?  It was important to consider these people his friends, because they would probably spend a lot of time together.  However, they were also his competition, and he would have to outperform them to be considered a strong candidate.  Grobbik kept that in the back of his mind as he watched the proceedings unfold.

When Brother Loke started working magic, well that grabbed Grobbik's attention.  The man created a small spring in the ground, and the whole spell was fascinating to Grobbik.  Water was near and dear to his heart after many days out at sea.  He could feel the way the magic flowed through him, like he was pouring a kind of ethereal water out of his body.  It came easily to him, and so far that was all he had studied.  Closing his eyes for a second, Grobbik tried to picture the exact movements Brother Loke had made with his hands.  Grobbik wanted to learn that spell someday, and he wondered if he might have their guide as a professor at that time.  It was a possibility.

When Brother Loke mentions the ability of water to hurt people, Grobbik was intrigued again.  He didn't know exactly what offensive and defensive spells the water college had to offer, so he was again excited to see what the mage would do.  Instead, he was shocked to see Brother Loke cast a spell from a different college.  The movements were alien to him, and they seemed somehow unnatural.  Then Judoc lurched to the ground and started retching.  Grobbik's eyes grew large as the magic turned the man into little more than a sick dog on the ground.  That brother Loke would so callously sicken a new student like that mortified him, even as it underscored the seriousness of what they were doing.  Judoc could just as easily have been dead.  It was an important lesson.  Although Grobbik felt for the man humbled in front of them, he also assumed there was some political reason for it that he was unaware of.  Mostly he was just glad he hadn't gotten the pleasure of the demonstration.

And then came the mention of the fireball.  How did they know!?!? Grobbik thought to himself as he shuddered on the inside.  Fire was the death of a sailor, and everyone knew that.  All it took on board a ship was one mistake, and everyone went down with her keel.  In fact, one of the most serious rules on board a ship was how fire was handled.  Everything was checked 3x, and lanterns were double-rigged so they wouldn't fall or dump out their oil in a squall.  Like every other sailor, Grobbik didn't much care for fire, especially after the accident that had put the scars on his arms.  By comparison, a demon didn't seem so bad.

As Brother Loke finished his demonstration and walked away, Grobbik took a couple minutes to really examine the class.  He was one of the smallest people there as a goblin, so he would probably have to take some sort of a melee class to beef up his hand-to-hand skills.  Absently he reaches back to touch the 2 hilts poking above his shoulders.  Knives were one of the preferred weapons on board a ship, since so much of the fighting was in close.  They gave him his start on the last voyage.  There was also a woman, and Grobbik wondered how that would work out.  There was a rumor that females were not allowed to graduate as a Templar, but he didn't actually know the rule.  Finally, the other noteworthy person was Judoc.  Grobbik wondered what was going on that made him the first choise for Loke's demonstration.  It had to be political in some way.

Before the silence hung awkwardly over the group, Grobbik decides he will break the ice.

"My name is Grobbik Feezle.  I hail from Azer, where my father is the first mate on a ship.  By trade I am a sailor, although my ability with magic has brought me here.  I am pleased to make your acquaintance."

It didn't take long for Giles to develop a keen dislike of their instructor. His manner was slow, cold and vaguely pompous. The way he spoke to them, like they were children to be awed by magic tricks and threatened into obedience didn't sit well with the noble-born acolyte.

That said, Giles was not displeased to be in the academy of magic. It was intriguing and something which his curiosity pulled him towards. It was something that he could use to become better, like his father wanted.


The baptising of the new Templars was a sight which was indeed rare but it really didn't stir the young man's ambition or personal drive. They were foolish to be so closely tied to religious dogma - a length of time living in the real world helped one to cultivate a strong sense of personal dependence without the necessity to rely on some supernatural entity that told people how to live. Some would want that life, though and they would be seeking to prove themselves in the eyes of their peers and mentors, perhaps some to watch out for.


The dislike of Loke developed further as he demonstrated upon the student. It was a harsh introduction to a complex subject that was entirely unnecessary. Everyone there knew the power of magic; it was for that reason that each of the students had come to the academy. To simply affect someone like that was, at best showboating founded in humiliation.

After the brother had taken his leave, Giles lowered himself beside the man and offered him a hand to his feet. "Are you okay? he asked with a gentle tone.

After rising, the goblin creature introduced himself to the group, Giles nodded and shot the student a wide grin before speaking. "Pleasure to meet you Grobbik Feezle, I am Giles Hind. Magic would seem to be the common denominator between us all but I am sure that we all have far more in common than first appears.

A sailor you say? I've only travelled by ship a few times, and mostly by oar-boat. I've always wanted to take a voyage on one of the large vessels that people speak of, you're very lucky I think.
""

After replying he turned and smiled to the other members of the group, prompting their introductions. propriety wins the day he thought.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:49, Sat 21 Dec 2013.

At the moment the class is dismissed, a large portion of the youth disperse, apparently more enticed by the prospect of a few free moments than with making introductions that could be accomplished later.  However, a few kinder souls remain, among them the goblin Grobik and Giles.  Mariana, the girl Judoc had been speaking with earlier also steps forward with the desire to help, though unsure exactly with what to do she simply hangs a few feet back and adds her support verbally.

"Oh, how awful!"  She begins, "I hate being sick, it's positively maddening.  Though I think perhaps the brother might have been overselling it.  I mean, you might want to die feeling like that but..."  She pauses for a moment, an expectant look on her face, as if asking for Judoc to validate that she didn't really have to be that sorry for him.

[Private to Judoc the Obscure: I realize I spelled your name wrong on a private in Brother Loke's post, please check back there for amplifying information on the spell that was cast and it's effects.  Let me know if you still can't read it.]

Brother Loke had made Judoc look weak, the young would-be mage realizes furiously.  After today, whenever these people see him, they'd remember this moment, Judoc down on all fours whilst Loke tortured him. Judoc would have a long way to go to scrub this image from their minds, but after he publicly humiliates Loke, the tables will be forever turned.  Yes.  Loke will burn for what he has done here.

"I'm fine.  Now," Judoc spits out, waving off Giles and Mariana.  "He could have killed me," he hisses with anger.  "What kind of teacher proves a point by nearly killing a student?"  A lesson had been learned, though perhaps not the lesson Loke had intended.  Was Judoc a dog to be brought to heel whenever the monks wished it?  In the name of God, he had only been trying to get to know his fellow students!  What had been the harm in introducing himself to the others, of talking with Grobbik and Mariana?

"I felt like I was drowning," he says to Mariana.  Why is this young woman at this school?  Shouldn't she be getting married to a young lordling and birthing an heir?   "I couldn't breathe.  And you know what he said?"  Judoc laughs bitterly.  "'Don't talk while lectures are being given.'  I suppose I was an object lesson for the rest of you.  Don't piss off the monks, or they'll think nothing of killing you."  He shakes his head and grimaces.

Frowning, he crosses his arms and says, "So, I'm Judoc, as I told you before.  There's not much to tell.  I've picked up a few spells so far, nothing too dangerous yet, but they'll be begging me to join the Templars before I'm through, Loke loudest of all."

[Private to Judoc:  Wait, so Loke was water-boarding Judoc?  =)  I guessed wrong.  I thought Loke had used Dehydrate.

I have trouble remembering his name, too.  Think "Hey, Jude."]

Grobbik smiles at Giles response, answering "Aye, I do consider myself lucky.  This town is known for it's ships, and i can tell ye that they are well done here and the sailing is good.  I shall take you out sometime."

Mariana was more of an enigma, since there were only 5 women in the whole college.  As he was unsure how to act around her, Grobbik merely nods and acknowledges her presence with a polite response, saying "Ma'am".

Then, turning to Judoc, Grobbik responds "Well, the lesson was harsh, and I do not know why you were chosen above the rest of us.  I was sorry to see it.  However, we should take heed of the message.  Respect is expected, and the punishment for ignoring the rules is harsh.  Already you brag that you will be the best of us before the work has even been done.  I would mind your betters Judoc, and I mean that with no malice at all.  It would seem that your habits have been marked."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:37, Sun 22 Dec 2013.

Mariana recoils slightly as Judoc spits out a vicious response to Loke's spellcasting in all directions.  "I'm not sure that attitude is going to help you here much Judoc.  I'm not sure what you know of the Templars, but there is a wide swing of personalities and not much oversight from the Church.  Loke doesn't seem the type to tolerate much of anything and I think getting mad at him might just incite him further."

She smiles at Grobbik, though she laughs like a tingling bell at the single word he says to her.  "Oh there's no need for formalities, I'm hardly a ma'am even to my father's employees.  Mariana is fine."  She smiles.

She turns her attention back to Judoc, who has continued again, now describing the spell that was cast.  "Drowning?"  She asks, "That hardly seems something the school would authorize even as punishment, let alone as a lesson...  Talking while lectures were being given?"  She thinks back over the previous hour.  "You don't think he means while we were walking do you?  If so he could have picked just about any of us...  In any case,"  She continues.  "It's not worth starting a vendetta against him, he'd wipe the floor with this whole class even if we ganged up on him...  He's wearing the diamonds you know..."

Giles listened to the back and forth and chose to avoid antagonising the pride of Judoc any further; he was going to be a very sore loser it appeared. Either way, Giles empathised with his feelings given the events that had just recently occurred.

"I shall certainly take that offer Grobbik!" he said with enthusiasm. The prospect of having a journey on one of the ships he'd heard about was something that excited the young man considerably. His mother had never been fond of the waters, or indeed him crossing it, but his father's men had only employed the type of fast-moving, small long boats that had people tugging on oars sticking from the side. According to the more accomplished seafarers amongst the men he'd been with the two types of water vessel were worlds apart.


Turning his attention towards Mariana, Giles listened and considered her words.
" Diamonds, what is their signifiance? You'll forgive my ignorance, I hope, but other than the pursuit of magic, I know little about this place. " he asked.

<green>"Anyway, I think we'll all be successful students. You all seem to have an aptitude and strong affinity for these arcane arts..." he continued, remembering his old master using the word arcane to describe the magical.

He offered the group an easy smile.

"Kindly do not misrepresent my words, Grobbik," Judoc says, frowning.  Where had the goblin gotten the idea that Judoc thought himself the greatest of the students?  Judoc has no doubt that he will be a powerful mage one day, and even now, he was growing in power, but others of these students no doubt have great promise as well.  "One day, if Loke does not kill me before I begin my studies, I will be a powerful mage.  But I am not so foolish as to think I will be the only one."

Still brooding from Loke's callous illustration earlier, Judoc says, "I suppose I fail to see how getting to know my fellow students constitutes some kind of disrespect.  Loke hadn't even spoken yet when I was getting to know you and Marianna.  I suppose in this college, we must anticipate rules like Do not be friendly to your fellow students before our wise teachers half-drown us."

He grinds his teeth, but he knows he's already said too much.  If Brother Loke hears of the enmity he's engendered, the monk could make things very difficult for Judoc.   But his better?  Ha!  Insufferable lout!  The only way Loke is better than Judoc is in the former's arcane knowledge, and that will not always be the case.   For now, Judoc must wait, but he will have his revenge for the humiliation done to him.

"Perhaps I got the wrong impression from your comments then. I interpreted your words as believing you would be our better. "

Mariana nods along at Grobbik's comments, and though she seems slightly mollified by Judoc's explanation, his initial snippy remarks and tone seem to irk her still.  Instead of getting too involved in the conversation, she turns towards Giles and a flash of laughter crosses her eyes.

"The diamonds, on his knight's cross.  You know."  She waves a hand as if the answer is a few dozen paces ahead.  "It's the templar's awards system of sorts.  He's basically a hero of the Templars, the diamonds are really rare.  I bet he knows more magic than half the mages corp of the army put together, I just can't imagine how he ended up here as a professor though."

As she is talking, Mariana looks out over the cliffs and the reddening sun casts evening hue on her face.  "It's not long before the sun sets, and I can't remember for the life of me where the women's rooms are."  Mariana thinks to herself for a moment, then sets off towards the keep, looking over her shoulder and smiling as she calls back, "I'm sure I'll see you guys around, but I think I'll pass being drown by Loke in case I get lost on my way."

OOC:  That is the vast majority of what I was hoping to get through in the intro thread, mostly just character building stuff for the players and important NPC's.  I'm going to open up the second intro thread, feel free to post here if you want to continue the conversation, but there won't be any unexpected combat or magical duels going on for a while yet.

"I accept your apology, Grobbik," Judoc says graciously.  He takes a pipe out from under his robes, stuffs some tobacco leaf into it, waves his hand over the bowl, and murmurs, "Flammo."  A spark ignites the tobacco, and he sucks in the comfort, calming his nerves.

"Probably killed somebody, I wouldn't wonder," he says idly, breathing out a smoke ring.  He watches it lazily ascend.  "He made a mistake and got sent here as punishment.  Either that or he specifically requested to be stationed here for some reason."  Probably to terrify students, he thinks.  Or maybe to spot promising future battle mages like Judoc, groom them, and take the credit for their success.    The diamonds, eh?  Then Loke really knows his stuff.  All the more reason to watch and wait, observe the man's weaknesses so Judoc can one day humiliate the monk as the student was.

Judoc finds himself itching with curiosity.  What is Loke's secret?  Judoc must find out, and when he does, he can use it as another weapon against the sadistic monk.

He smiles broadly.  "The good brother sounds very dangerous, doesn't he?  I guess I'm lucky to be alive.  Yes, you're right, my dear girl.  Loke is far too skilled to bear any grudge against.  I'm sure we'll all settle down to be the best of friends."  Puffing contentedly, he watches the brilliant scarlets burn across the sky.  One day, he promises himself, Loke will get what's coming to him.

[Private to GM:  If it's ok, Judoc will cast Ignite Fire on his tobacco.  1 FP.

15:15, Mon 30 Dec 2013: Judoc the Obscure rolled 9 using 3d6 ((5,2,2))]