D&D 5E 5e Halcyon Academy

[tglassy]

[sblock=Jordy]
"There will be a ferry to the ship leaving the dock soon, if you would like to simply go now. The ship is too large to enter this small cove, so it's a little further out. The trip to the Academy will take a little less than a week, so you will be on board for a while. Not too long, but long enough to get to know your future classmates. If you head to the dock, you should be able to catch the ferry. Just do not lose your coin. If you are not able to produce it when you get to Halcyon, you will regret it.

"As for this...Melinda, whether you trust her or not is up to you, though I would be skeptical. You surely won't be kicked out for trying to stack the game in your favor. That is, after all, what they teach you at the Academy. But i have personally buried many a student who tried to take the easy way out too many times."

He got a thoughtful look on his face, "Then again, those students who get the most out of their studies are those who take greater risks. The greater the risk, the greater the reward...but the more likely you will fail." He looked back at Jordy, "I suppose that is up to you. Do you play it safe and rely on your own abilities and luck? Or do you...take a risk?"[/sblock]

 

[Charwoman Gene]

Dariana devours the pastry. When done she licks her fingers and says, "You take everything very literally. I fail to see how failing to hold onto a thieving little runt after I stopped him from stealing my money has anything to do with learning anything.
Heck, everyone is so mysterious to me about what I can learn here. I've learned much on my own, by studying nature and my self. I'm willing to give it a shot but I'm pretty sure I can handle getting in to the Academy."

 

[tglassy]

[sblock=Dariana]
"You wish to know what it is you will be learning?" the woman said with a smile, leading Dariana to an out of the way spot, not out of sight of others, but where they wouldn't be overheard.

She held out a hand, a fire igniting within it. "You can learn to control the elements," she said as the fire snuffed out, and with a swirl, a stream of water appeared in her hand, forming in to a ball. It spun, then sprouted into a starlike pattern, which she then froze into an icy star. "You can learn to give life," she said as her hand glowed with energy, "Or to take it," and the energy in her hand turned dark. "Communing with nature, enhancing yourself, even transforming into other creatures is not outside your grasp. Magics are only part of what they teach, though even that would be enough. You want to hone your body to the point where few could stand against you? Where your weapon becomes a mere extension of your body? Halcyon is the place you can do that.

"But it is not easy getting in. Even talented individuals who study their whole lives for this moment are not guaranteed to be accepted. Nearly half the students who leave on that ship in the morning will come back to this port empty handed. Or dead. It is something you should take seriously, lest you fall prey to your own hubris."

Her tone softened. "I don't know why, but I like you. You strike me as someone who is determined, who can do great things, if only given the chance. I only wanted to warn you of the dangers you will face, to make sure you were prepared. I could help you prepare, but if you do not feel you would need help, then I would leave you alone..." she looked at Dariana with a question in her eyes.[/sblock]

 

[Azurewraith]

Mim pulls Barnabus from his pouch and raises him to eye level before giving him a look that could freeze the sea before popping the rat back in his pouch.

Mim very gently and slowly pushes on the door.

 

[jonathonhawke]

"There will be a ferry to the ship leaving the dock soon, if you would like to simply go now. The ship is too large to enter this small cove, so it's a little further out. The trip to the Academy will take a little less than a week, so you will be on board for a while. Not too long, but long enough to get to know your future classmates. If you head to the dock, you should be able to catch the ferry. Just do not lose your coin. If you are not able to produce it when you get to Halcyon, you will regret it.

"As for this...Melinda, whether you trust her or not is up to you, though I would be skeptical. You surely won't be kicked out for trying to stack the game in your favor. That is, after all, what they teach you at the Academy. But i have personally buried many a student who tried to take the easy way out too many times."

He got a thoughtful look on his face, "Then again, those students who get the most out of their studies are those who take greater risks. The greater the risk, the greater the reward...but the more likely you will fail." He looked back at Jordy, "I suppose that is up to you. Do you play it safe and rely on your own abilities and luck? Or do you...take a risk?"

"Thank you for your help. I think I should go catch that ferry." With that, Jordy turns and runs for the dock.

 

[Charwoman Gene]

"Pray then, what dangers should I be looking out for?"

 

[Greenmtn]

"Thank you Balasar. A pleasure to meet you."

Zivar enjoys his meal before grabbing his things and heading off to the tower. His fathers instructions to stay out of trouble and to make something of himself sounding over and over in his head as he nears the tower.

He goes over his mental checklist once more as he gets close. Eat, check; check in, in progress; visit the local jeweler, soon. Now for the walk and the puzzle he thinks to himself. What do I make of myself?

OOC: Unless anything happens between now and then Zivar enters the Tower to check in, his only other task in town being a professional courtesy of letting other guild members know that he is in the area

 

[KahlessNestor]

Llast/The Little Spitter
Late Fall/Morning

“Oh! You’re going to the Academy, too?” Asherah said with curiosity. “No, I don’t know where Atemial is,” she admitted. “I haven’t really been outside of the Suzerainty before. I haven’t made it to the Tower yet. What is this coin I need?” she asked.

Asherah listened to Korlin describe his homeland, and said, “Atemial sounds like a wonderful place to visit. I would like to see it sometime,” she said with a smile, sipping her ale. “Hopefully once I graduate I will have more time for travel.”

 

[tglassy]

[sblock=Mim]
Mim opens the door easily enough, seeing a hall with stairs at the other end. Bright daylight is filtering down the stairs, and he can hear the sounds of the ocean filtering down through them.[/sblock]

[sblock=Jordy]

Jordy makes his way to the dock, which is within sight of the Tower. He sees a number of smaller ships tied to the dock, and one in particular, little more than a large rowboat, is letting a number of people on, including a Goliath, who looks uncertain about climbing aboard the vessel.

"What assurances do I have that this...toy won't capsize the moment we are out of the cove?" the Goliath said, standing easily eight and a half feet tall.

An elf ushering the people on board rolled his eyes. "It's a boat, mountain man. They float. You'll be fine. Now either get on, or stay here. It's your call."[/sblock]

[sblock=Dariana]
"No one can be prepared for all dangers, but I can ensure that you do not leave empty-handed. I can help make certain that you are accepted into at least one school, so that you will not be sent away from the Academy. I would not do this for free, of course, but I doubt my asking price would be too high. Just news, really. News of the Academy, what is going on. It has been so long since I have attended. I had friends there. And a few enemies. I would very much like to have word of them.

"If you are interested, come to the tavern after checking in to the tower. Ask for Melinda. If you decide you are not interested, then don't. The choice is yours."
[/sblock]

[sblock=Zivar]
Zivar approaches the tower and nearly gets bowled over by a halfling as he bolts from the the tower door. When Zivar enters the tower, he sees a human with an orange robe sitting at a table, as if expecting him.

"Hello! You have been expected. Please, come! Sit!"[/sblock]

[sblock=Asherah]
Korlin smiled, holding up a coin. "This is apparently our ticket to the Academy. You get it when you check in at the tower, so you will want to grab it as soon as you can. They're only giving them out until sundown, then the ship leaves in the morning. I was going to stay one last night in the Tavern before going to the ship.

"As to travel, my brother studied at the Academy for four years. He travels everywhere, now. almost every door is opened to you once you spend a few years there. Everyone will begin vying for your favor. At least, they did for him. He was a Paladin. A knight. I, however, am more of a musician and a scholar. You?"[/sblock]

 

[Azurewraith]

Mim heads towards the stairs reluctantly. Mim did not like the sound of the ocean... not anymore.

 

[jonathonhawke]

Jordy hoped that the boat would indeed float with all the people aboard. He wasn't a strong swimmer, for his ma telling him they were river folk afore his da died and they took to working for Mister Butterbur at the tavern. He didn't remember any of that, being just a wee one then. The tavern was all he had known, until that night...
Jordy shuddered, and there was a sound of raindrops on water. He slipped past the Goliath and clambered into the boat, squeezing into a spot in the middle.

 

[Greenmtn]

Zivar looks for a chair to sit in and takes a seat.

"Hello, You wouldn't by chance know anything about a halfling running gout of here with his pants on fire would you?" he says with a nervous smile.

"So, yeah, I guess we both know why I'm here... um Zilzivar Kivrippliss Seodoireacht reporting for the Academy, I hope."

 

[KahlessNestor]

Llast/The Little Spitter
Late Fall/Morning

Asherah looked at the shiny coin and smiled at Korlin. “Oh, you are a minstrel?” she asked. “I always loved when the minstrels would come through our village as a child. I was a page training in the Suzerain’s court,” she told Korlin. “I was sent here as a reward for my service.” She didn’t want to brag or anything. “I suppose I should go to the Tower then and get my coin,” she mused, her tail swishing around. It brushed up against Korlin’s leg.

 

[tglassy]

[sblock=Mim]
Mim walks up the stairs, and on to the deck of the ship.

The ship is massive. Tall masts stand with the sails rolled up, the deck itself could easily hold a thousand people with room for a banquet table. How does a ship this big even float, Mim wonders?

The wood is ornate in every way, with carvings in the railings depicting mermaids, dolphins and other sea life. People of every race walk about, no one paying much attention to the Kenku who just walked out of the storage hold. Many of the people seem to be carrying belongings through a door that leads below deck. The helm of the ship is raised above the rest, and a man stands there, his arms behind his back, surveying the comings and goings. He has a hard look on his face.

"Exciting, isn't it?" a voice said besides Mim. When Mim turns to see who spoke, he sees a small gnome with glasses and hair that sprouted in every direction. "Halcyon Academy's own ship, The West Wind. A marvel of architecture, wouldn't you say?"[/sblock]

[sblock=Jordy]
The small, rickety boat took off from the dock, the Goliath holding on to the sides so tight his knuckles turned white. As the little boat left the cove, Halcyon Academy's flagship, The West Wind came into sight.

It was massive, an architectural marvel. The wood, though only wood, seemed to almost shine like gold, the masts went up forever, though the sails were rolled at the moment.

The Goliath looked up in awe, "At least that one doesn't look like it'll spring a leak anytime soon..."
[/sblock]


[sblock=Zivar]
"You will certainly have the opportunity to try!" The set a coin down on the table in front of the gnome. It is a small coin, perhaps an inch long, and is clearly made of gold. On the one side was the face of a rugged man with a beard, and on the other was a castle.

"Obviously, the Academy isn't here in Llast. It's on an island. Well, it's on a number of islands. Impossible to find unless your captain knows exactly how to get there. Once there, in order to get off the boat, you have this coin. You will not be able to get off the boat without one. If the boat gets there, and you do not have this coin, no force will be able to pull you off that boat. You will be brought back here, and be offered another chance with next year's class, maybe. Do I make myself clear?"

He didn't bother waiting for an answer.

"Good! On to other things. No weapons, that was on the invitation, I think. No other magical items. The first thing you will be doing is your entrance exams. Need to know if you're going to be staying, and where you can stay. Don't worry, sixty percent of each incoming class makes it to at least one of the schools. That's better than half a chance! You'll be great.

"Now, do you have any questions?"
[/sblock]

[sblock=Asherah]
Korlin smiled at the touch. "Why don't we go together? I've already been, but quite frankly, I've met so few interesting people in this gods forsaken town. It'd be a shame to lose sight of you so soon after meeting."[/sblock]

 

[Greenmtn]

Zivar looks at the coin for a moment.

"Actually yes I have a few questions, the first and most important, in two parts, when and where do I get on the boat?"

He reaches for the coin while waiting for an answer.

 

[Azurewraith]

Mim looks at the gnome and laughed and clapped his hands. Mim liked gnomes they made these really amazing clock work toys.

Mim surveys his surroundings before picking Barnabus up "Squeek squeak sqeee squeeek"(well we made it to the academy after all that. What luck never have you lead me astray.)

 

[KahlessNestor]

Llast/The Little Spitter
Late Fall/Morning

Ashera smiled brightly at Korlin. “That would be wonderful!” she said. “I do not know anyone in town, so your company would be appreciated.

 

[Charwoman Gene]

Llast/Marketplace:

"I will consider your offer. I think I should head to the tower soon, however, so goodbye for now.", says Dariana. She then leaves and begins making her way to the tower.

OOC: Yes I said I'm out of touch but I may have a few moments here and there. Like now.

 

[jonathonhawke]

The small, rickety boat took off from the dock, the Goliath holding on to the sides so tight his knuckles turned white. As the little boat left the cove, Halcyon Academy's flagship, The West Wind came into sight.

It was massive, an architectural marvel. The wood, though only wood, seemed to almost shine like gold, the masts went up forever, though the sails were rolled at the moment.

The Goliath looked up in awe, "At least that one doesn't look like it'll spring a leak anytime soon..."

Jordy stared. The West Wind was bigger than most of the buildings he'd seen, the Tower, and Lord Taneer's stronghold being notable exceptions. He'd seen riverboats aplenty in Novis, but the ocean-going vessel was huge.

 

[tglassy]

[sblock=Jordy and Mim, on The West Wind]
The row boat Jordy was on came up alongside The West Wind, hooked up to a rope, and was lifted out of the ocean expertly to the side of the ship, allowing the passengers to board the boat. A shimmering energy shield around the railing of the boat came into view as each person crossed the threshold, then vanished. When Jordy crossed, he felt a feint tingle from his coin as he passed through the energy barrier.

Surveying the deck, he saw a number of people walking to a door leading below. On the deck were others, mostly crewmen, but a few Academy candidates were loitering about as well. He saw a Kenku and a gnome talking not far away, as well as a trio of Dragonborn huddled on the far side of the deck.

Mim noticed the newcomers, noticing a Goliath, a number of elves, and a halfling. A human walked up to the group.

"This way," he said. "Your quarters are below deck. It's first come, first serve, but there are plenty of beds."

He turned and led the group to the door.[/sblock]

[sblock=Zivar, Dariana, and Asherah in the Tower]
Dariana the wood elf, Asherah the Tabaxi, and Korlin the human arrive at the Tower at the same time, each walking in to see a human wizard in a bright orange robe seated at a table across from a gnome, Zivar. The wizard looks up at them.

"Ah, welcome! Cutting it rather close, aren't you? No matter, come in, come in, take a seat, all of you. I trust you are here for your coins?"[/sblock]