IA: A Teacher for Laynie

[Rystil Arden]

*There is a soft rumbling, and a silvery metallic form rises out of the ground, looking a bit like a suit of armour or a man made of metal.*

"Quelth ryss tir ergrimar?" no mouth moves, but a voice comes forth from somewhere, speaking in a soft monotone in a tongue that reminds Vanitri a little bit of the Medibarians talking to each other.

 

[Bront]

"Sorry, do you speak modern common?" Vanitri asks.

 

[Rystil Arden]

"I don't think the shiny statue man is talking because his mouth isn't moving. Maybe it's a magic spell?" Laynie says, looking on with curiosity"Besides, everyone knows statues don't talk.".

"What an unusual place," Mearran remarks.

"Quelth ryss tir ergrimar?" the voice repeats.

"Why would a metal man who lives in the ground want to know why we're here anyway?" Laynie asks Vanitri, "Don't you think he's very nosy?"

 

[Bront]

"You can understand him? Tell him we're here to seek your entrance into the accademy."

 

[Rystil Arden]

*Laynie nods and responds to the metal man. It stands still for a moment and then pulls open the door with the ring, making a loud grating sound as it pulls open. Then it sinks back down into the ground.*

*Looking in through the door, Vanitri sees that the Academy complex proper is well-furnished and well-lit, with a double sweeping carpeted stairway leading up to a balconied second level and beyond, a wide hallway leading straight ahead, two smaller hallways to each side, and doors along the halls. Two men and a woman in robes, each with a cloak of a different colour, walk down the wide hallway towards them.*

*One of the men, who is wearing a red cloak, speaks in Common:*

"Welcome outlanders. In reaching our grounds and opening the door, you have proven that the two of you understand at least a modicum of our ways. I assume that you wish to enroll in the Academy? If so, you are going to need to find someone to take care of the child during your studies."

 

[Bront]

Vanitri steps in with the others, "Well, um, actualy... we were hoping you'd take Laynie here as a student. She's the one who opened the door."

 

[Rystil Arden]

"She did," he looks her over appraisingly, "Well, I hadn't noticed it initially because I took her for Freefolk as well, but she's a Highborne, so that actually makes a lot more sense. However, I'm afraid that she is far far too young to begin a career as a Wizard, even if you have the tuition fees to pay for her entry. Come back in ten years or so, though, and we'd be glad to look her over."

 

[Bront]

"Wait, don't you have some sort of scholarship or sponsor program? And I think you're missing out on an incredably bright child." Vanitri says.

 

[Rystil Arden]

"We do have a scholarship program. However, that exists to assuage the entrance fees for qualified students. We have no intention of making the Academy into a preschool. If she's bright, as you say, then she can come back when she's old enough."

 

[Bront]

"Perhaps, sir, there is some way we can deal with this," Vanitri says. "We've journied from Orussis to find a teacher for this bright young girl here, who is well beyond her years already. You say you have scholarships, and I'm sure you have entrance tests. I think I have a proposition for you. Tell me, how much are your usuall entrance fees?"