7512, Duuri 7th. It’s another cold winter day in the Trasis Republic and the Academy’s winter semester is underway. It has been approximately one week since the initial welcoming ceremony, allowing students to find their dormitories and settle in. This story focuses on those in the Faded Imp House. A fairly small and new dormitory with ten student rooms, single story. The assigned teacher is an imp named Pylia.

Though not a wizard of any caliber even compared to her students, Pylia is highly knowledgeable of the arcane arts and serves as the familiar to one of the academy’s most experienced professors. Her duties is primarily to educate the students in her house of magic, explaining conceptual ideas and phenomenon, as well as organizing projects and expeditions. Being an Imp, Pylia is physically incapable of certain tasks, and thus she has various teacher assistants to aid her.

The first being an eleven man by the name Mi’Durgen. He is the primary night security officer of the dormitory ensures the students peace and safety within the dorms. Though his first impression may leave much to be desired; since his duty is to provide watch during the night shift he’s often found napping throughout the day. Though polite and courteous there’s something to be said of the guardsman literally sleeping on the job.

Fortunately there is another security officer to handle the day shift while Mi’durgen naps. A lizard folk by the name of Eats Well, not only is he the dayshift guard but he also serves as the Faded Imp’s primary chef. A skilled cook specializing in wild game meat, he is however belligerent and surly. Always seems annoyed and far less friendly compared to Mi’Durgen, but an efficient worker nonetheless.

Lastly there Pylia’s personal assistant and cousin, Lithe. A tiefling who used to work as a traveling minstrel, now employed by her cousin to earn money to put herself through Bard’s college. An easy going and fun loving fellow, though she’s a slacker at heart. Why work hard when you can work easier? Indeed as a teacher’s assistant she harder does much teaching or assisting, often delegating menial tasks to Mi’Durgen or Eats Well. Cunning in her own way, if only to do the least amount of work as possible.

After the introductions were completed it would also be explained to the students what their expectations were, as well as their tasks and responsibilities. For starters, there was a matter of their tuition; while every had passed the test to be accepted into the academy on grounds of their magical competence and knowledge, to live on campus requires monthly fees. Fifty gold coins per month to be exact.

After all they weren’t simply living in some tavern room. They lived within the wellspring of knowledge and magical lore that was the Apotheosis Arcanaeum. Fortunately, the academy always had work for those willing to do it. Students are often hired as expedition members and researchers for various projects and experiments. They’re even encouraged to seek out and utilize or sell any noteworthy object or item they come across; the college would pay fairly for such bounties.

Of course students can also supplement their income through other crafts or work. Those with skills in tools can easily find steady work among the various areas around the academy or the city itself. Spelling ones magical services were also a legitimate venture, so long it’s being used for legal purposes. And of course there is mercenary work. While the Trasis Republic is in peace at the moment, they had a brutal civil war roughly ten years ago, with many rebel cells still operating in the jungles or even within the city. Fighting against them will net those willing a bounty for each head, or more for high priority targets.

But that could be an endeavour for later. Pylia has worked long and hard to secure an expedition for her students; they will be traveling around the southern coast for one of the Archmage old hideaway. Back when the Trasis Republic was physically part of Doros, the Archmage has erected various hideaways for his personal research. When he moved the island off the main continent many of these hideaways were lost or destroyed, however Pylia believed that they found one. Scavenge was theirs for the taking, as well as any old relics or tomes the Archmage may have left behind. All they needed to do was secure a specific locked tome for the Archmage and they’ll even be granted payment!

Today was the day the students were to set off. Of course students are also free to not participate, but of course that would mean they reap no benefit from the success of the others. Only Pylia and Lithe would accompany the students; Mi’Durgen and Eats Well must stay to secure the Faded Imp while the students were away. However both did assist by providing supplies for their journey; Mi’Durgen managed to get them a wagon that can carry up to eight people, while Eats Well made rations and brought camping supplies such as tents and bedrolls. Beyond that however, the students were expected to provide for themselves.

“Okay! I hope everyone is ready, our journey shouldn’t takes us longer than eight hours by wagon. We will have two stops, first by a small village named Ferris and a second time somewhere two-thirds if the way to the hideaway. I recommend you bring your books and study while on the journey! Also be warned; once we go pass Ferris we’ll be heading into wilderness. There’s no telling what dangers could find us so be prepared for combat. If you have any questions or concerns feel free to ask while we are traveling!”

Pylia then flew to sit on the shoulder of Lithe, who would be driving the wagon. “Load up and get comfortable everyone!”

~Isilfarrel~

Getting accepted in the Arcanaeum had not gone quite as she had expected. She had expected getting into it, after all her knowledge of histories and religious history should be invaluable. What she wasn't expected, was the obvious amount of work she was going to need to do. Not that she was afraid of hard work...but money? Really? How greedy. Hmph. Not that she could entirely blame them. An institution needed money, but she wasn't exactly used to needing to work extremely hard at things she didn't particularly like. Hm, maybe she could get a job or something at the Apocrypha sorting or something. Books, she could handle...and it'd open some opportunities for research.

A thought for later. She was too busy mentally restraining a groan at the thought of their current task. Field work. How quaint. Necessary, she supposed, but she'd have preferred staying inside. She was not interested in roughing it, as it were. Someone like her shouldn't need to do such a thing in the first place. The thought of potentially stumbling across ancient magics or artifacts relating to the Archmage in one of his old hideaways however, was more than enough motivation.

Climbing into the back of the Wagon, Isil kept to herself unless she was spoken too. She had no desire to converse with the unenlightened masses. Instead, she took out a tome of history she had brought with her. A thing she had read numerous times before, ever since she came from the temple but it was something merely to pass the time.

---

Elated at his acceptance to the academy, the kenku hardly stopped chattering for days. Of course, his chattering took the form of jumbled sentences constructed from snippets of conversation he had heard in the past, so it was quite jarring to anyone unfamiliar with kenku. Most of his recent dialogue seemed to be be sampled from what sounded to be a young human boy who was very excited about something. There were many “Wow!”s and “I love it!”s and a few “Thank you so much”s as he familiarized himself with the Faded Imp House and the denizens thereof.

Pylia seemed capable enough, though when she had made it clear that they would need to pay fifty gold per month, Whizz emulated a long whistling sound of some projectile flying through the air, then exploding. He was not enthused. This dismay didn’t last long, however, because once the imp began explaining the various opportunities to research and work and make some coin, Whizz was quite eager to begin.

The kenku had indifferent feelings about the elven man, Mi’Durgen. He was pleasant, but boring and seemed to enjoy naps more than anything else. Eats Well, however, concerned him at first with his non-nonsense attitude and gruff demeanor. However, after only a couple days of seeing the lizardman’s dedication to his work, Whizz Crash regarded him more favorably and, if Eats Well would tolerate it, WC would even assist in some of his prep work in the kitchen! Unfortunately, after only one meal, the kenku decided that he’d rather fiddle with gears, sprockets and magical do-hickies than knives and meats, so he politely bowed out of any further meal preparation chores.

Lithe... spooked him. She was very bright, he could tell, and admittedly he hadn’t met many tieflings and he was curious about her, but something about her manner unsettled him. Even so, she would find that the kenku was quite the minion and he would be relatively easily manipulated into doing simple tasks so that she wouldn’t have to. He was, at heart, a follower so long as the quest was not too great.

Once Pylia announced that she had an expedition for the new cohort, Whizz was chirpy and joyous once again, gleefully chittering. “I wonder! I wonder!”

Whizz Crash methodically packed up his meager few items into a small satchel which hung from one shoulder and across his torso to rest on the opposite hip. His talons click-clacked on the stonework as he hopped from foot to foot after closing his room to make his way to the prepared wagon.

He waved to Pylia, avoided making eye contact with Lithe, and climbed into the wagon only to find a fellow student already within. The high elf. Despite the fact that she was quite obviously content with silence and her studies, the kenku erupted with a pleasant greeting as he joined her.

“Hello!” A very human voice came from the very avian red beak of the bird man. He swept a wing across his chest then bowed his torso forward abruptly. “I’m-” Then came a mechanical whirring buzz, followed by a sudden, grinding halt and smashing of machinery. He cocked his head sideways at the elf. “What’s your name?” The voice returned to something vaguely human that he had heard some time in the past.

Once everyone was on, the wagon was off. It was, admittedly, a smaller group than Pylia had hoped, but at least some people came! Plus with less students meant more of an excuse for Pylia to be on the field with them, something her master normally didn't approve of. The ride was largely uneventful aside from Lithe providing some ambiance in the form of her musical skills while Pylia did her best by answering questions and chatting. Their first stop was the village of Ferris a small farming community that often acts as the first and final village the academy students will come across before heading into the wilderness. Notable structures here included the town hall, a large stone building with the village's emblem above the door, the Four Shield Tavern and Inn, and surprisingly enough a library. While not as grand as the arcanuem, Ferris's Public Library had many books free for the villagers to check out, and for traveling mages they have discount cantrip scrolls. For just 10 gold coins one could buy a scroll that has the powers of a cantrip in it. Some were even spells normally not available to wizards, making them quite a bargain.

Aside from that there also seemed to be some adventurers out and about, resupply or relaxing before their next big job. Most of them looked capable enough but not quite the sort of legendary figures anyone would recognize; little more than sellswords who haven't sold their dignity away yet. Their asking price would be far above what a college student could afford, but perhaps for the price price they have wisdom to impart. If nothing else they may make for interesting company until it was time to leave. And finally, there seemed to be a chance to earn some easy money; near the library was a help wanted sign for translating some texts. Anyone who could help is welcomed. They were paying 2 gold for each page translated. The group would be here for at least an hour before they'll have to set off again, as Pylia was checking up on people and information. The party could stick together or go their separate ways, as this place seemed peaceful enough.

~Isilfarrel~

Caught up in her studies, Isil didn't immediately register the other students for most of the ride. She dearly hoped this was a fruitful endeavor. She couldn't disappoint Lord Tzaan by not making some progress in her studies. Hm, perhaps she should make an offering? The lord of Betrayal certainly didn't have worship in the conventional way. Maybe a blood offering? Some sort of show of power or some such.

"Gah...!" She gave a mild start when the Kenku said hello, fumbling with the tome slightly and almost dropping it as he bowed. She really should pay more attention, shouldn't she? Taking a brief moment to look over the bird-brain who startled he, Isil didn't immediately reply. Kenku. Wasn't every day you saw one of those. Isil sighed, clearing her throat as he didn't quite manage to introduce himself correctly.

"It's a pleasure to meet you...uh," What should she call him? She was aware Kenku's couldn't exactly speak in the normal manner, but she really couldn't comprehend what his name was from his introduction. "feathers." She offered the Kenku a smile as the cart came to a halt. Hopefully he'd take it as a playful nickname or some such. "Isilfarrel Mornelis, apologies if I was a bit absentminded. I was reading on up on some theology." Taking this as her cue to stretch her legs a bit, Isil hopped off the wagon.

The village seemed nice enough, but she was mostly interested in the library.

"Miss Pylia, I'm heading to the Library!" A more familiar place, and perhaps she could find something to read, and perhaps a cantrip scroll or two to help in this outing. "Want to join me, feathers?"