CA 1: Clawford

<Nick|GM> The journey to Caverwall Academy had taken far too long. It had been especially slow-going for the last segment, going over the pass. Bastien arrived a day early with his mother, and they'd spent a night in a hotel in Silver Springs. The castle is just outside the town, and they approach it now in their carriage.
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<Nick|GM> "Bastien, dear," his mother addresses him. "Please don't forget to write. We must stay a family, even with you so far away. Your brother didn't travel this far, and still I feel as if I somehow lost him when he left." ||
<Claw|Bastien> ...
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<Claw|Bastien> His breathing is calm, measured. Finally arriving at Caverswall was a big step, one many would consider with apprehension, and he was no exception. However worrying over it would do no good, and so he maintained his composure. "Of course Mother, I'll make sure to write often." He meant it too. The family was important, he was going to usher it further and higher like his grandmother had. Losing touch with them wouldn't do. Absentmindedly
<Claw|Bastien> his finger brushed the hair of the little doll nestled in the pocket of his waistcoat, only the head and arms poking out as if the little figure was looking outside and smiling at the world. ||
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<Nick|GM> The carriage stops in front of the gate. A guard with a rifle approaches the driver, glances into the carriage, and ushers them through. Apparently there is some security here.
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<Nick|GM> The castle itself looms ahead of Bastien and his mother, pink-red stone arranged in defensive structures and towers. It's meant for practicality, though castles are no longer as important as they were once.
<Nick|GM> Even with all the functionality, the castle still manages to be appealing. Its windows reflect light from the sun, and the trees around it frame the building wonderfully.
<Nick|GM> The carriage stops in front of the front door, which is open, revealing a hallway inside.
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<Nick|GM> "Alright," Bastien's mother says. "Time to go. I love you very much, and I'll see you next year."
<Nick|GM> A year is a long time. A lot can change in a year. They will be different people next time they meet. ||
<Claw|Bastien> ...
<Claw|Bastien> "I love you too." He stands up and gives her a hug in the privacy of the carriage before they part. They will not see each other for a long time. "Goodbye. I'll write soon." And then he steps out on his own. The academy was as intimidating as he'd expected, both in its beauty and in its might. He walks toward the door, looking around him to determine where to go once inside. It wouldn't do to miss a door and get lost just as he arrived.
<Claw|Bastien> ||
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<Nick|GM> ...
<Nick|GM> Luckily, he doesn't have to wander around. Just inside, a woman meets him.
<Nick|GM> "Bastien Ambroise, am I right?"
<Nick|GM> The speaker is rather slender and is wearing a formal jacket that is significantly slimmer at the waist, along with a cloak over her shoulders. Her face is set in a smile, but her eyes have bags under them. ||
<Claw|Bastien> ...
<Claw|Bastien> What an odd contrast. Perhaps she has a lot of responsibilities around here? He'll probably learn this soon but in the meantime, he'll probably do some faux-pas. He'd rather limit his mistakes, however. "Indeed, you are. I'm afraid I do not know your name in return." Maybe she was just a high ranking servant, but even then it paid to be polite. ||
<Nick|GM> "My name is Delia Ryan," she says. "I will be your professor for Current Events, but for the meantime I am just to welcome you to the Academy."
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<Nick|GM> The Ryans are a minor family over on the west coast, in Hadley's Bay. Traders. He doesn't know much more than that.
<Nick|GM> "You have been placed in House Cathartid, the house of the vulture, for those of artistic inclination. I will show you to your rooms, if you'll follow me." ||
<Claw|Bastien> ...
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<Claw|Bastien> "Of course" He follows, a step behind her. House Cathartid, interesting. The house of art, he hadn't known what to expect but it seemed fitting. He wonders what the other houses are. This should make for appropriate conversation as they walk. "What are the other four houses?" ||
<Nick|GM> "Bovid, the cow, is for academics. Varanid, the monitor, for athletes. Apid, the bee, for leaders. And then there's House Lampyrid, the firefly. The last is a popular one, of course. Politics."
<Nick|GM> She walks at a steady pace, slightly faster than a leisurely walk.
<Nick|GM> "The houses sleep together, and eat together. Classes are mixed, and most areas of the Academy are common to all four houses." ||
<Claw|Bastien> ...
<Claw|Bastien> Bastien smile on the inside. Politics and leadership were separate here, funny. And probably apt. "I see." He wonders how his fellow Cathartids will be. This year was already promising to be... interesting. He tries to think of another question but nothing comes for now. ||
<Nick|GM> ...
<Nick|GM> "You'll be sleeping in a room with another boy, in your house's hallway. Your schedule will be waiting on your desk, but there's no need to be concerned about classes yet, they don't start for two days."
<Nick|GM> They walk past a door, which she indicates. "This is the teacher's quarters. If you need anything, knock on the door here and someone should be able to help." ||
<Claw|Bastien> ...
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<Claw|Bastien> Well, it sounded like he was being provided with all the necessary information anyway. She was certainly more used to this than he was. The news that he would share his room surprise him. It shouldn't be a problem, he'd shared rooms with siblings before but he hadn't thought about the fact that he may have to share his living space with a stranger. "I understand, thanks." He makes sure to memorize the door's position so he can go back to
<Claw|Bastien> it if he needs to. ||
<Nick|GM> "For most things, older students in your house will be a better resource, although of course family politics can get in the way of cooperation." ||
<Claw|Bastien> ...
<Claw|Bastien> "Ah, yes... I don't think any family has a grudge with mine but our rise is quite recent. I suppose I can expect some to look down on me for this." On the other hand, people probably wouldn't pay too much attention to him or feel too cautious around him. And there would probably be some interested in taking him under their wing, if only as a convenience. Both could be advantages if he played it right. ||
<Nick|GM> ...
<Nick|GM> "I expect you're right," says the professor. "But here we are." She stops and indicates a door with a vulture's drawing.
<Nick|GM> "Go on in, introduce yourself. There aren't a lot of people in yet, but they'll be coming. And I believe someone is scheduled to arrive soon, so I'll be making my way back to the entrance, unless you have any final questions?" ||
<Claw|Bastien> ...
<Claw|Bastien> He almost answered no, but then realized that was wrong. "Ah yes, which room is mine?" He doubted that their names would be on the door, as convenient as that would be. And since he already had a roommate that probably meant he would be able to choose. ||
<Nick|GM> "Ah, I'm afraid I do not have the sleeping arrangements of all students memorized, but if you look for your schedule, I'm sure it won't be an issue. Now, if you'll excuse me," she says, and turns away to walk off. ||
<Claw|Bastien> ...
<Claw|Bastien> "I should be alright. Thank you." And with that he open the door and steps in, taking in the room before him. ||
<Nick|GM> "And thank you, Master Ambroise."
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<Nick|GM> As he opens the door, he sees a small group of students playing a card game. They all look his age.
<Nick|GM> "Hey," one of them says, a girl with long hair and in the school uniform. "Did you just get here?" ||
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<Claw|Bastien> ...
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<Claw|Bastien> He walks toward them. "Hello. And yes, I just got there. My name is Bastien Ambroise. Nice to meet you." Hopefully, this wouldn't start things off the wrong foot, but if they were going to dislike him for his family then he'd rather know as quickly as possible. ||
<Nick|GM> "Ambroise? From Hedsmouth?" one of the boys said. "Your grandmother worked with my family, I think. I'm Sebastian Deary."
<Nick|GM> The girl who spoke first also volunteers her name, Sandra Cleaton. She's from North Point. The other member of the group, another girl, this one with light hair, waves but doesn't introduce herself. ||
<Nick|GM> ((going to pause after your next post, I need to get ready for bed))
<Claw|Bastien> "The very same." Good, in his apprehension he'd almost forgotten that his grandmother had gone through the school before him, and she had made connections. He'd have to stand on his own but at least some people should have a better disposition toward him... Then again, she may have made enemies too. He waves back to the girl, but since she's not volunteering her name he'll have trouble addressing her... ||
<Nick|GM> The light-haired girl turns as if to go back to the card game, but the others don't seem to want to.
<Nick|GM> "You're in your first year, right? All of us are. I don't think the older students get here until after tomorrow. There's supposed to be something tomorrow, like an initiation," says Sandra. "Our parents weren't supposed to tell us about it, but mine told me basically what it is. H-"
<Nick|GM> She's cut off as Sebastian interrupts her. "What is it, then?" ||
<Nick|GM> -||
<Nick|GM> "I don't know, why should I tell you?" she asks.
<Nick|GM> "I thought we were gonna be friends," Sebastian says, "and if we're going to be friends we should trust each other."
<Nick|GM> "Alright, Seb. But I'll tell you later, unless you-" she looks at Bastien "-have anything I want to know in return."
<Nick|GM> Before Bastien can respond, she starts talking to him again. She's not exactly the silent type, apparently. "Have you used magic before?" ||
<Claw|Bastien> ...
<Claw|Bastien> Well, his curiosity is picked. However, he can probably bear to wait. This initiation didn't sound like a trial, and if they needed to prepare for it they probably would have been told... unless being thrown off the deep end was part of the trial. "No, I've never used magic before." Probably a good thing, from what he'd heard it took terrible circumstances to unlock's one's gift without training. "And I don't think I know anything you'd
<Claw|Bastien> want to know. So even though I'm curious I'll have to wait until tomorrow." ||
<Nick|GM> ((piqued*))
<Nick|GM> "Alright, that's fine, I'll tell you later," she reaffirms to Seb.
<Nick|GM> "Your family is vassal directly to House Carish, yeah? The crown?" asks Seb.
<Nick|GM> ((roll 1d6))
<Claw|Bastien> $roll 1d6
<[ATM]> Claw|Bastien [2]  = 2
<Nick|GM> ||
<Claw|Bastien> ((oh dear))
<Nick|GM> ((note: he's right))
<Claw|Bastien> ...
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<Claw|Bastien> "Yes, my grandmother ennobled directly by the Crown." He didn't remember the exact circumstances of that. Most people of lower birth who went through Caverswall ended up becoming nobles, but not all, you still had to be successful enough afterward to get a respectable family to give you a title. But anyone determined enough to go through the Academy had all the cards in their end to do just that. ||
<Nick|GM> ...
<Nick|GM> "Mmm, right," Seb says. ||
<Claw|Bastien> Bastien observes them. Had he already done a faux-pas? The murky waters of politics would certainly be the hardest for him, he had some success connecting to people but they were usually people who did not hide behind masks. Perhaps he should cut things short for now. "Well, I won't distract you from your game any longer. I still have to find my room." He wonders if his roommate was already there, and again what kind of boy he would be.
<Claw|Bastien> ||
<Claw|Bastien> ((I have empathy as a skill, can I use it to get an impression from them?))
<Nick|GM> ((sounds good to me. roll 1d6))
<Claw|Bastien> $roll 1d6 empathy
<[ATM]> Claw|Bastien "empathy" [2]  = 2
<Nick|GM> ...
<Nick|GM> "Alright, see you," Sandra says.
<Nick|GM> As he leaves, he evaluates the three other students. The light-haired girl didn't seem to have much of an interest in him. Seb is hard to read, but his family worked with Bastien's. Maybe he could write home about it. Finally, Sandra seemed friendly, but she kept that information about the initiation tomorrow secret to use as a bargaining trip.
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<Nick|GM> ((chip*))
<Nick|GM> He easily finds a hallway that seems to contain the dorm rooms. Each door has a small window in it, so there's not a huge amount of privacy, he notices.
<Nick|GM> Most of the rooms seem unoccupied, with schedules still on the desks. ||
<Claw|Bastien> ...
<Claw|Bastien> Well, Lady Ryan had said that he should be able to find his room by checking the schedules, so he does just that, starting with the unoccupied rooms. It should be simple enough. ||
<Claw|Bastien> ((going to eat dinner))
<Nick|GM> Each room is simple enough, with a bunk bed and two desks. The lucky ones have windows.
<Nick|GM> There's not much extra in the rooms, and he assumes they aren't meant to be spending all that much time in them. ||
<Nick|GM> ((I'm going to go eat lunch myself))
<Claw|Bastien> ((back, okay))
<Claw|Bastien> ...
<Claw|Bastien> Mmm, well even if it was small he would still have enough room to work. Light may be a problem though. He probably wouldn't need to work there though, Lady Ryan had mentioned that there were lots of common area in the Academy, he would be surprised if there wasn't a workspace for all kinds of artists, a whole house was dedicated to them after all. ||
<Nick|GM> ...
<Nick|GM> He finds his room, reading a schedule headed by his name:
<Nick|GM> Bastien Ambroise
<Nick|GM> Practical Arts, Domestic Arts, Lestirn History, World History, Current Events, Accounting and Economics, Graces, Recreational Literature
<Nick|GM> Required classes are attended during the week, and auxiliary classes are to be attended on the weekends. Professors and class locations are listed on the reverse.
<Nick|GM> Apart from the schedule, his room is like all the others. He has a window, and his roommate doesn't seem to have moved in yet. There's room for him to drop his luggage, but more should be arriving in the mail soon enough. His stuff might not all fit comfortably once his roommate is moved in, but that's a problem for another time. ||
<Claw|Bastien> ...
<Claw|Bastien> Good, he's got a window, he'll appreciate the natural light if he has to work here. Well since his roommate isn't here Bastien will have to take a look at his schedule to get an idea of who he is. Then he'll probably explore the castle to get a sense of the layout, that way he could check his classrooms in advance and look for the common areas. ||
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<Nick|GM> His roommate's schedule is similar to his, with the name "Hiall Tremark," and the following class list:
<Nick|GM> Practical Arts, Domestic Arts, Lestirn History, World History, Current Events, Dueling, Lestirn Law, Philosophy
<Nick|GM> ((roll 1d6))
<Claw|Bastien> $roll 1d6
<[ATM]> Claw|Bastien [5]  = 5
<Nick|GM> Bastien's pretty sure that the Tremarks aren't an important family, or if they are, they must be far removed from the social circles of his own family. ||
<Claw|Bastien> ...
<Claw|Bastien> Well, he would see how Hiall would behave, if he was from an unimportant family he may feel closer to someone whose family had only been ennobled recently... or if he resented his family's position he may take the opportunity to feel superior to someone else. Dueling, Law, and philosophy, what an odd combination, especially in a house of artists. Perhaps he fancied himself a cultured duelist? Or perhaps he had others reasons for his
<Claw|Bastien> varied curriculum, having chosen Economics, Graces and Recreational literature he probably shouldn't judge. Carefully he puts his roommate's schedule back on the desk. For now, he puts his luggage under the bed and then folds his own schedule to put it in his pocket and goes out, memorizing the room he's in. It's time to explore the castle. ||
<Nick|GM> As he walks back through the front room of the wing, the card players look up at him.
<Nick|GM> "Where are you going?" asks Sandra. "Dinner's not for another few hours." ||
<Claw|Bastien> ...
<Claw|Bastien> "I want to explore the castle a little bit, easier to do that before most people get there." ||
<Nick|GM> "Oh, OK. I'll come with you," she says. "I've only been here a day, so I don't know much either."
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<Nick|GM> The light haired girl looks at her. "Sandraaa. We're in the middle of a game."
<Nick|GM> "Yeah, yeah, I'll be back," she replies.
<Nick|GM> "If you're going, I'll go too."
<Nick|GM> "Guess I'll start unpacking, then," Seb chimes in. He heads towards the hallway to the dorms. ||
<Claw|Bastien> "Well great then." That Sandra wanted to come was a bit surprising, but it made sense. The light haired girl was probably closer to her if she'd decided to accompany her. "Sorry for interrupting the game, and sorry I didn't catch your name last time." Better be tactful rather than point out she hadn't introduced herself. Strange that Sebastian didn't want to come through, he'd gotten there recently too, surely they had time to unpack
<Claw|Bastien> later? Or maybe he just wasn't curious about their surroundings. ||
<Nick|GM> ...
<Nick|GM> "I'm Cecelia," she says. ||
<Claw|Bastien> ...
<Claw|Bastien> Not the sharing type then. He waits for the girls and step out of the Cathartid common room with them. "Well, Cecelia, Sandra, I guess we could start from the places you already know, get me up to speed and then start exploring from there? If that's alright with you." ||
<Nick|GM> "Yeah, OK," says Sandra. "I mostly just know the teacher's wing and the dining hall. Bathrooms, too." ||
<Claw|Bastien> "Lady Ryan showed me the teacher's wing as I came in, bathrooms and dining hall would be good to know, however." ||
<Nick|GM> "Alright," she says. "The dining hall is this way. I ate there all yesterday, it's pretty good." ||
<Nick|GM> -||
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<Nick|GM> The impromptu tour doesn't take long at all, and it's entirely uneventful. They run into a teacher who introduces himself as Professor Scholas, a non-noble. He's to be their Lestirn History professor. When they get back to the Cathartid wing, they see Seb talking with two new students. The first is a boy with dark hair who looks as if he's from the south coast. The second is a girl who could be his sister. ||
<Claw|Bastien> ...
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<Claw|Bastien> Well, that had been interesting. He'd gotten a sense of the place and he'd located most of his classes. Has he steps inside the Cathartid common room he notices two more students. Probably new arrivals like himself, he walks forward to join the conversation, waiting for a pause in order to greet them. ||
<Nick|GM> ...
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<Nick|GM> "...me carriage, yeah. We're both from Lowport, so our families thought it would be easier to just send one carriage, and it's not like we're super important or anything," says the southern girl. "I know a lot of you from up north would be shocked to hear that a noble family would send their children without a full escort and at least one of their parents, but we're not exactly children. I mean, I'm 14, basically an adult."
<Nick|GM> ((2h6))
<Claw|Bastien> $roll 2h6
<[ATM]> Claw|Bastien (3) [5]  = 5
<Nick|GM> Cecelia, funnily enough, seems to negatively react to something in that statement. ||
<Claw|Bastien> ...
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<Claw|Bastien> Interesting. Maybe she judged this other girl pretentious because she was calling herself almost adult? Two years before they were 16, those could make a lot of difference. Or perhaps she resented the remark about northern nobles... Sandra was from North point, and Cecelia was close to her so perhaps she was too. And North point was quite literally the most northern part of Lestrin. She was probably annoyed by the girl calling the middle
<Claw|Bastien> of the country North even though from her perspective it probably made sense. "Given the distance, I can't imagine it would be practical. I'm Bastien Ambroise and lucky enough to be from Hedsmouth. I did not have to travel as far as those from the edges of the country. Though I guess those from North Point can take a boat to get there faster?" He glances toward Sandra, and by extension Cecelia, leaving the question in suspense. ||
<Nick|GM> ((just a quick correction, the journey from Lowport and the journey from Hedsmouth are comparable.))
<Claw|Bastien> ((*grumble avout small map*))
<Claw|Bastien> ((actually could I get a link to a bigger version))
<Nick|GM> ((sorry, gdocs won't let me put giant files up. I'll link a better version))
<Nick|GM> ((yep))
<Nick|GM> ((https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1PN-3JHrc2EdzJDUlUyVjV4eWs/view))
<Nick|GM> ((Caverswall Academy is in Silver Springs))
<Claw|Bastien> ((ooh I hadn't seen Silver Springes there, I was picturing it much more centered))
<Claw|Bastien> ((I'll modify what I said))
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<Claw|Bastien> "I can imagine it's not practical for everyone to send an escort." His mother had accompanied him but she did not have as much day to day responsibilities. "I'm Bastien Ambroise and lucky enough to be from Hedsmouth. I did not have to travel as far as some. Though I guess those from North Point can take a boat to get there a bit faster? I can't imagine having to do the whole way from there in a carriage." He glances toward Sandra, and by
<Claw|Bastien> extension Cecelia, leaving the question in suspense. ||
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<Nick|GM> Sandra nods. "Yeah, I took a boat to Hedsmouth."
<Nick|GM> "Ah, I see," says the southern girl. "I'm Lia Gerenon, and I'm from Lowport."
<Nick|GM> The southern boy also introduces himself. "Hiall Tremark, it's a pleasure." He holds out his hand. ||
<Claw|Bastien> ...
<Claw|Bastien> Oh, there was his roommate. He seemed to be a good sort so far. Bastien shook his hand. "Hiall... I believe you're in the same room as me, I saw your schedule there as I was taking mine." ||
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<Nick|GM> The handshake is almost aggressive in its firmness. "Oh, so those are your things. Nice to meet you, I just arrived." ||