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starting off 2022 with COVID LESSGOOOOOOOOOOOOO
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Whoever says "the customer is always right" has not worked with atual customers.
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I didn't read anything beyond this but I'm interested


Why were there so many nobles?

Isolde slowly blinked as she tried to unravel everything, but that one thought seemed to dominate. This entire 'class' was strange, from being the only people having to go somewhere to the circumstances around it. All of the professors showed up, they're told the archbishop himself chose them--but all it did was raise several alarms in Isolde's head. Professor Roland hardly gave any real answers, too. Unity? A test of faith and morality? Why now? There were only so many reasons one could pick that didn't point to the inevitable bad end to those sorts of questions!

In a quiet panic, the blonde tried to subtly look around. Everyone else seemed calmer than she was, and almost eager to introduce themselves. Was she overthinking? Was she looking for an enemy where there were none? Her stomach was starting to hurt, as if telling her that she was stressing herself out. Of course, by the time she realized this, all of the Blue Lions had introduced themselves as well as the other Golden Deer. So really, she barely registered everyone's name and had a stomachache and wanted to quietly melt into the ground. Oh dear...

Forcing herself to stand on shaky legs, Isolde drummed up every etiquette lesson she had to stand tall. Or at least try, anyway; she was sure she probably looked like she was about to faint. Okay, all she needed to do was introduce herself, take a seat, then wait for the bell to dismiss them and lay down in her room. Except her voice was caught in her throat. "...Isolde Ordelia..." She managed to squeak out, clearing her throat as she felt a lump forming. "...I like knitting and sewing and...I don't like this..." She muttered, hastily taking her seat and keeping her eyes planted firmly on the table in front of her as she hugged her stomach.




The extra class spot had already given Derec a bout of nervousness as it was, but it intensified somewhat at the sight of all five professors gathered. For a moment, he almost thought the class was in trouble, but looking around they didn't seem like the type to get in trouble. Well, that wasn't entirely accurate, but no one could deny there was a polish among most of the students that couldn't be ignored. It made Derec feel a little out of place, but that wasn't anything he wasn't used to. The 'lecture'--or should he call it some words of wisdom?--that Professor Roland gave put some unneeded weight on the students. At least, it definitely put more weight on Derec.

Fortunately, the lackadaisical Professor Kalonic--Professor Michail decided to have everyone introduce themselves. Unfortunately, Derec was thrown right back into his previous discomfort. Would he be recognized? He wanted to think that since Auberon Galatea hadn't, it meant that he was essentially incognito. It would be nice to lay low and enjoy the year while he could. On the other hand, if he was outed, it could reflect poorly on him.

Despite being buried in his thoughts, he was able to keep a tab on matching names to faces, raising his eyebrows at a few--the Golden Deer in particular seemed like a rambunctious bunch. Kellen Fraldarius' introduction did make him chuckle a little, but he remained polite. After all, it was imperative to get along with those he was going to stay close to, and he seemed like a decent kid. Auberon was...Auberon, even if it was good to see him stay consistent. The dual-wielding-prayer-and-weapon part did surprise him a little, though. Lienna did nearly break him, however: how one from the cooler Faerghus disliked the cold was puzzling. But hopefully they could get along, too.

Just as he thought he had made up his mind on how to introduce himself, however, the last student revealed themselves to be the crown prince of the empire. Any doubt in Derec's mind suddenly vanished--nope, he was going to lay low and go with the flow. No need to expose himself to any potential enemy.

Deciding to take his chance, Derec stood up. "I'm Derec Ballard," He introduced himself with a smile. "I like making weapons and accessories, and as for dislikes, I prefer cooler temperatures and don't do as well in the heat. I look forward to working with you all."

Short, sweet, and to the point. After giving a bow, Derec reclaimed his seat, feeling satisfied. As he smoothed out his jacket, however, he caught Professor Michail's lingering stare, a tiny smirk on his lips. The redhead blinked slowly, confused, though Professor Michail gave his attention to the next student with the same smile he wore before. Was he trying to tell him something? He was a knight, but as far as he was aware, he didn't come from any major noble house. Maybe Kalonic was a minor noble he hadn't heard of? Maybe Derec was just being paranoid? Exhaling a short breath, Derec tried to put it out of his mind, focusing on the rest of the unit he'd be spending the next year with.





Oh Lilie was mad. So mad that she definitely considered just walking out the door and going back to her room to cry. The only thing stopping her was that she was pretty sure someone would notice, and after lingering in the hall for a few seconds, she rejoined the group in the seating room. Plopping herself back down in her old spot, she ran a finger around the edge of her cup, watching as the water followed it. She tried to pay attention to the conversation at hand, but all her brain could do was replay her cowardice over and over again. The soul crushing disappointment at her chickening out at the last second was gonna haunt her for the whole weekend.

Maybe it was for the best? Aaron was all "butler mode" and it wasn't like he could really do or say anything aside from a token response. Ha, that was rich, she was assuming she'd get any reaction at all! And even if she did, it wasn't like it would be in her favor--she was optimistic, yeah, but she felt a lot of doubt that Aaron felt the same way. Then again, this was the first time the shoe was on the other foot; back home she was the one that was always asked out. So many movies and stories always made the ordeal romantic and easy, too--maybe she was just bad at this, too.

Realizing she had been quiet, Lilie tuned back to the conversation, quietly taking a sip to excuse herself from not talking. It looked like some of the teachers were a little loopy, and that much interested her. Esi was nice, so fortunately they didn't have any problems, but she did have a lot of energy. Not that Lilie minded at all! It helped with her own enthusiasm, so she appreciated it.

"I like Esi," Lilie decided to rejoin the conversation. "She does prefer to go by her first name, so I guess some people think that's eccentric? But aside from that, she's really nice."

Lilie took another sip of her drink, stopping when she remembered their first meeting. "Although...when we first met, she came out of the sea. And she forgot to, um..." Hm, was this something she was supposed to share? Now that she thought about it, it was kinda inappropriate, wasn't it? But she couldn't just stop, someone was gonna ask what she was going to say! "...she forgot to form her swimsuit." She finished quietly.



Twelfth Bell, 3rd of the Great Tree Moon
The first day of orientation had finally come to a close with the sound of twelve bells singing from the cathedral. Students were free to roam the grounds and better acquaint themselves with their surroundings--after all, Garreg Mach would be their home for the next year. Many were eager to take on the sights, what with the dining hall, the cathedral, and the marketplace all being attractive options to explore. And for those that still held some discomfort, the dormitory was still somewhere they could retreat to.

Of course, the exception came for one class unit that was instructed to meet in the Blue Lions Classroom. Thirteen students were expected, and waiting for them seated patiently behind a larger desk was Professor Lysander. He rested his chin on his hands, eyes staring at something that wasn't there. Once the students started to gather, however, he straightened up immensely, wearing the same kindly expression he always did. As the last student took their seat, Professor Kaira closed the door, joining the other three house professors at the front of the classroom with her hands together.

Lysander got up from his seat and stood in front of the students, taking a gaze at all of them before he cleared his throat. "Thank you all for coming. My name is Lysander Roland and I am honored and humbled to meet you all," He said with a soft voice, giving the class a short bow. "As some of you are already aware, this year the Officers Academy is choosing to--well, to be honest, this year I am choosing to do things differently. While tradition has long since guided our way, I feel that a little change can do no harm."

Euphemia frowned at Lysander, but he continued, "In truth, Fódlan is experiencing an instability that hasn't been seen in centuries. The Black Plague sweeping the Empire while they navigate relations with Dagda is enough to upset the balance, but both Kingdom and Alliance have had their fair share in trial and tribulation as well. Because of this, it is prevalent to do what we can for the people of Fódlan. For your people, for your brethren, to offer a hand to thy ailing neighbor as the scriptures dictate...the time will come sooner than later where faith and morality will be tested."

There was a heavy, odd silence that followed Lysander's words. Tomai let out a muted sigh, shaking her head at the dark haired man. As he caught his eye, he cleared his throat, a little concerned. "That was more ominous than intended! I sincerely apologize," He chuckled nervously, shaking his head. "What I meant is--what I mean to say is that now, more than ever, reaching across borders and taking your neighbor's hand is important. That is the reason we have split the classes into 'units' as opposed to separating them by house. By combining the three, it is my hope that relations between students will see through nationalism."

Another pause followed, but it was more comfortable and mostly because Lysander forgot what he was going to say next. He snapped his fingers as he remembered. "I thought I had more to say, but honestly, I think that about covers it," He said, missing Euphemia's facepalm. "Well, this group in particular does have a small advantage over the others. Lord Ioannis in particular picked this unit out! That's neat, isn't it?"

"Y-Yes, Professor, but I believe you had more to say..." Kaira piped up, trying to steer Lysander back in the proper direction.

"Did I--? I did. How bothersome, my memory is just not what it used to be," He sighed. "This unit will be looked after a little closer than the others. Aside from a few heirs and some royalty among you, some classes and missions will be handled differently. Students participate in requests given by surrounding villages as a way to both give back to the community and to give the students experience. In addition to those, there will be the odd mission here and there that will take you to the other churches to offer your assistance. Think of it as a trial for future generations!"

Lysander seemed satisfied, taking a seat back behind the desk. The other professors avoided exchanging looks, but were a little more confident. Euphemia nodded, deciding to say a few more words. "All of us here--that is, Professor Michail, Prifessor Malathice, and myself included--implore you to reach out to us if you ever need a guiding hand as well," She told the class with a smile, though she noticed Kaira's delated look. "And Professor Kaira, too, of course!"

Michail chuckled, deciding to join Euphemia. He motioned for Tomai to join him, but the man preferred to stay where he was. For now, Michail decided to focus on the students. "On that note, how about everyone here go ahead and introduce themselves?" He suggested. "I'll start it off. I'm Michail Kalonic, Knight of Seiros turned professor, and I'm from the Kingdom. I like horse riding and fighting, and I dislike people telling me what to do. Explains why I decided to teach, right?" He joked.

Euphemia was less than thrilled at Michail, but Lysander loved it. "That's a great idea!" He agreed, much to the chagrin of the blonde. "Oh, but I already introduced myself. Why don't the rest of you go ahead, that way each student knows us all?"

Tomai seemed to disagree, but relented. "Tomai Malathice. I like crest research. I dislike Michail," He replied plainly. Michail's smile never left his face, but he did look over at Tomai.

"I am Euphemia Kalonic--the Goddess blessed me with only one brother but could only do so much with Michail--and I like books and nature. I dislike bugs, though," Euphemia followed suit obediently, giving the class a playful wink.

The three then looked to the green haired girl, who seemed to forget she was a professor for a moment. Considering the gap in age, it was probably understandable. "Oh! I am Kaira Simeon, and I like...praying? Oh goodness, I feel like I could give a better answer than that..." Kaira furrowed her brow, trying to think. "I like a lot of things, and I don't like some things, but that is...not very specific. Oh dear..."

"While our lovely Kaira decides, who wants to introduce themselves first?" Michail asked as he smoothly transitioned attention to the classroom, looking at the students. "Don't be shy! Just stand up and introduce yourself!"

"what does success mean for me as a GM/RPer"


Honestly, even if the rp dies, so long as I had fun and had good memories, I consider it a success? Idk in my head a rp dying =/= failure per se, though I guess you can argue it depends on when it died. Failure to launch rps are easy enough to discern I think
Jesus Christ this is going to explode in the worst way

Though actually, I think sometimes people want more interest than they need. For example, you get a group of maybe 4-5 when you anticipate double that. Sometimes smaller groups actually work out better than larger groups, but they get discouraged when they have only a few people expressing interest if that makes sense.


Michail seemed to anticipate Jorah's response, an almost giddy expression on his face, though he seemed to straighten up just a touch as Auberon came into the conversation. At Auberon's greeting using their shared last name, both Michail and Euphemia looked out of habit, though Euphemia realized the student wasn't addressing her. He did noticeably examine his student, probably trying to get a good read on him, but after a few seconds he lit up considerably. Taking his elbow off Euphemia's shoulder, he managed to catch her curious look and gestured to the two house leaders. Despite her raised eyebrow, she nodded, and with that approval, Michail flashed a grin at the two young men.

"I figured you'd take this time to get to know your fellow Lions, but I can see you take your responsibilities seriously. It's good to see that the Blue Lions are in capable hands this year," The blond stated, giving him a polite bow of the head in acknowledgement. "But please, call me Professor Michail--having two Professor Kalonics running around would confuse people, and Euphemia here has been a professor here for several years so it's only right she gets claim to it."

"How kind of you," Euphemia replied.

"Indeed! More importantly Little Galatea, you've come at a perfect time," Michail gestured to Jorah before he crossed his arms. "This is Jorah von Riegan, the Golden Deer's House Leader. Part of your responsibilities include keeping up pleasant inter-house relationships--and that includes information retention. I think it'd be prudent if Little Riegan here would go ahead and relay what your duties include."

Tomai decided to remove himself from the small group, choosing to converse with Lysander and Kaira. As they spoke, the three took notice of Derec leaving the classroom. For a moment, the redhead noticed the trio of Professors looking at him, though he did not speak to them, choosing instead to look for the Fraldarius boy.

"So the rumors are true. How bold of Duke Charon," Tomai noted. "I take it to mean that Lord Ioannis took his plea to heart. But what coincidence would it be to have both heir apparent to the Empire and the legitimized bastard of the Kingdom? Not to mention the heirs of the Alliance's roundtable."

Lysander frowned at Tomai, shaking his head. "We mustn't speak of this. The archbishop made that clear," Lysander reminded him. "The very least we can do is grant a year of peace and hope that the relationships built can withstand the incoming turbulence."

"And you don't believe the students won't also notice? The 'extra class' you've implemented has practically given it away," Tomai asked.

"Regardless, we must do what we can for them," Kaira insisted. "No more, Tomai. Leave your concerns for later, please."




Euphemia watched Jorah, unamused, though surprisingly she didn't seem to have much to say about it, choosing instead to focus on his words. She did, however, hear Michail's delighted chuckle, but fortunately he wisely chose not to comment, either.

"Your wish will be granted, if only by coincidence. Aside from the more obvious title ensuring that your fellow students should follow your orders in combat, House Leaders also have a few more responsibilities in addition to their schoolwork. Fortunately, it can be narrowed down to three additional tasks, and one does include more time with yours truly. The first is a weekly report with your house professor, which in your case would be me--most nobles usually have some idea on reports and the like from watching their parents, but aren't aware of the paperwork behind it. Every Monday you will tell me the skills your classmates wish to work on, and in turn I will be helping them during their respective classes. This will also help me judge how you watch over your troops, so to speak; if there are any faults, I will correct them, so you shouldn't be afraid to make any mistakes.

The second is a monthly conference with the other house leaders. Facilitating relationships between the Empire, Kingdom, and Alliance is a cornerstone in diplomacy, so it'll be good practice for the future. This will also be the time where your problem solving skills will come in handy, as any inter-house grievances or issues are to be solved there. Professor Lysander will oversee these conferences and guide you in building relations, and every month he will present you with a hypothetical question. Of course, no man is an island, so you'll be permitted to bring in one classmate to assist you. It doesn't have to be the same student every month if you so choose.

The third is deciding which students will be assigned to group tasks. The Officers Academy is indebted to Garreg Mach for their donations, and so we return the favor with community service. The students help by tending to the horses in the stables, picking weeds from the fields, and assisting guards with watching the skies on pegasi and wyverns. Keep in mind that students cannot opt out once they're chosen and will lose their free time on Saturdays to complete these tasks."


"I remember always getting stuck with stable duty after stealing Olivander Charon's girlfriend. Joke's on him, though, that's how I met Betsy," Michail sighed happily. "Thanks to the generosity of a few nobles, the horses, pegasi, and wyverns we take care of are top-notch. Betsy was such a shy filly...now she's one of the finest mares you'll ever meet. They're all real sweet, Chionne takes very good care of them."

Euphemia almost rolled her eyes, but turned her attention back to Jorah instead, flashing him a smile. "As the heir to the Riegan house, I have high expectations of you, Jorah--and that includes proper conduct," She said, giving him a look as she crossed her arms. "So you'll be happy to hear that I'll be keeping a very close eye on you. We'll be getting to know each other very well over the next year."


Oh wow, he already knew the group members' names, Derec wasn't expecting that. He should probably take a page out of his book. At least the guy seemed amicable enough right now, although he had to bite back a chuckle at his first comment--great minds think alike! Okay, so far so good, he wasn't immediately rejected, so he could relax a little. At least Auberon was a little self aware his actions weren't immediately welcomed with open arms; he couldn't imagine spending too much time with anyone who was more concerned with their own ego. Well, the guy did seem to have an ego, but nothing Derec couldn't manage.

"Unfortunately, I don't really know anyone here," Derec admitted that much, choosing not to comment on the national pride even if he felt it was in poor taste. "She could have already left, but if you'd like to track her down, I'm sure she hasn't gotten far."

As far as he could see, most of the students either lingered or went to the courtyard, so it shouldn't be too hard to look for someone. Not that he had any idea what she looked like. He could always ask around, it wouldn't hurt to learn a few more names. They'd eventually have to learn who the other Deer and Eagles were as well, so he could technically kill two birds with one stone.


Isolde visibly flinched at the sudden hand, taking a moment to realize that there was a witness to her bumbling. Oh, wonderful. Still, it would be rude to decline help, and once she was on her feet, she dusted the grass and dirt off her skirt. As he spoke, she listened, though she found him strange. Now that she was looking at him, she realized he was one of the boisterous boys. How odd, she didn't think he was the charitable type. His face didn't look familiar at all, either, despite his claim of Gloucester. At least the other boy's face did ring a bell.

"We were dismissed, I do not believe anyone would take offense to any withdrawal," She admitted quietly, plucking a blade of grass caught in her wavy hair. What a first impression, she could have easily been swallowed up by the ground or struck by lightning from the heavens above and it would have been a mercy. But there was no escaping interaction now, was there?

The thought was cemented as another girl came up to them, apologizing for the other boisterous boy. It looked like the three knew each other well. After patting around and making sure her hairclips were still in place, she bowed to both the strange classmate and the red haired girl. "I am Isolde Ordelia. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance," Her voice dropped in volume as she wondered if she should even bother with her last name. Well, no use hiding it, right?


Veronica paid more attention to her manicure than all the commotion in the Black Eagles classroom. There were few things in this world that ever really demanded her attention, and even those were always second to her well being. Right now, she was sure that manicurist had done a poor job filing her nails perfectly; she could see the lopsided curve from a mile away. It would need to be fixed sooner than later, and a letter would ensure that her employment would end long before Veronica returned to the Gerth Estate. She'd pen it tonight, no use in using the sorry excuse for parchment the academy could barely afford.

That said, her blue eyes flickered up at the sound of a nearby conversation, her interest piqued. Of course the prince was arrogant enough to assume people already knew who he was, but then again, such was the burden of royalty. Apparently he was seated near the ever infamous Aegir siblings as well, and she couldn't help but laugh at the coincidence. What a trio they made: one bastard, one half-baked heir, and one pompous prince. Nevertheless, the fates smiled upon her as she would be joining the group. They could do the heavy lifting while she watched from afar.

Uncrossing her legs, Veronica finally stood from her seat, boldly approaching the three. Placing one hand on her hip, it was obvious she held herself to a high esteem, easily looking down on them. "Greetings. As we are all in the same unit, I feel the need to introduce myself," She pushed her jet black hair over her shoulder as she spoke, her formal words betraying her disinterest. "I am Veronica Berenike von Gerth, future princess consort of Adrestia."


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