Sedjwick

The World of Aerion

Elric watched as each of his companions accepted the quest in turn. He almost immediately took a disliking to the Ethorian man he had seen first upon his arrival at the tower. This Sir Roland seemed far too arrogant for Elric's liking. In fact, nearly every one of Elric's companions had something that put Elric off in some way: Catskull Maclung seemed both rude and far too predisposed to violence; Sir Duncan also seemed arrogant in his own way, not quite like Sir Roland, and certainly less off-putting than Sir Roland, but his idea of being somehow hand-picked by Andal himself rubbed Elric the wrong way; and the elf just seemed a bit too stand-offish. Of all the companions to undertake this quest, Karl was the only one who seemed to project a friendly and courteous air that Elric took a liking too. However, regardless of how Elric might feel about any of his companions, they were all on the same quest, and Elric would stand beside them all staunchly through the conclusion of this quest, and maybe he would come to learn that his first impressions of them were wrong.

In any event, the monks informed them that their first destination would be Miracia, near the border of Falke, and that they had already commissioned a ship to bear them to this destination and hired a man to guide them to the presumed hiding place of the first shard of the Orb of Ardor. Elric bowed to the monks as he and his companions were dismissed, then donned his helmet and followed the Eunuch to the docks. The ship awaiting them seemed to be of middling size, dark and unadorned save the embroidered insignia of the Monks of Ekilore on the sails. It should provide them with a comfortable enough voyage, though Sir Roland saw fit to insult it on first sight. Elric, in his usual quiet manner, boarded the ship wordlessly and stood at the starboard side, looking out to the sea as he waited for the ship to shove off.

L'Mordryn Academy

Alebard and Zalek had just been getting ready to get up and head to class for the morning when the ground began shaking. Instinctively, Alebard turned to look in the direction the shaking seemed to be coming from just in time to see Grarves barging through the doors of the cafeteria, heading straight for Albus in his normal, puppy-like manner. Alebard often found it surprising that such a large dragon could have such a puppy-ish nature, but that was hardly an issue right now as the dragon was on a collision course with Albus, who seemed to have no intention of trying to avoid what was sure to be a painful experience.

Of course, all of this was made immediately worse as some jerk slid a tray right under Grarves, causing the land dragon to slip, making what would have already been a painful experience that much worse if it hadn't been for the quick actions of another summoner and his summons putting a barrier up between Albus and the sliding Grarves.

After all that chaos, Alebard felt sorry for the poor land drake as it was clearly hurt, both by the tray causing it to slip and the collision with the barrier. Alebard held no fault for the boy who had made the barrier as it was probably the only thing that had kept this from being any worse that it had been, but towards the boy who had caused poor Grarves to slip in the first place, Alebard was nearly as angry as Isobel was, and if he didn't have absolute faith in Isobel's ability to handle the situation herself (though not necessarily in the best way), he would have confronted the boy on her behalf. As it turned out, though, the boy decided to make a hasty escape with a smoke bomb before Isobel could escalate the situation much more. Alebard was sure this offense wouldn't be soon forgotten, though, and he made a mental note to avoid the boy at all costs. He was clearly of the bad sort of people, and Alebard wanted nothing to do with such people.

Finally, things were starting to calm down, and people were slowly resuming their usual activities. Silas bade Alebard farewell and headed out of the cafeteria. "I need to be getting to my first class myself," Alebard said in response as he also rose from his seat and headed for the exit. He made his way directly to the emerald Lyceum, and from there to Lady Ashorath's classroom, where he took his usual seat in the front row and approximately at the center of said row, immediately producing a small sheaf of papers and a pen for any notes he would need to take or any other sort of writing the class would require.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

I be here.

The World of Aerion

Okay, I should probably edit that part in my post, but I'm lazy and going away, so just pretend he thinks he's just another human.

Speaking of going away, I'm leaving for a 9 day geology field camp. As soon as I post this and update my status, I will be offline until the 28th or 29th. I will do my best to catch up with anything I missed at the earliest possibility after I get back from the desert.

L'Mordryn Academy

Hey, just a heads up to everyone. I'm going on a 9 day geology field camp. I will have no internet access as soon as I'm done letting everyone know what's going on, and I won't be back until the 28th or later. I will do my best to catch up with anything I missed at the earliest possibility after I get back from the desert.

The Marauders (2018)

Hey, just a heads up to everyone, in case this is going to continue, I'll be going on a 9 day geology field camp, so pretty much as soon as I finish letting everyone know that, I'll be offline until the 28th or later. I'll do my best to catch up with anything I missed as soon as I can after I get back, though.

The World of Aerion

Elric silently regarded each new arrival as they came to the entrance of the observatory. Though some of them introduced themselves, Elric did not reciprocate as of yet, merely watching each of the arrivals as they came. Finally, the eunuch returned to allow the knights into the presence of the Monks in their observatory. Apparently their company was complete. Elric looked over each of the men once more as they stepped through the door of the observatory: three men, himself included; one half-dwarf, if his size was any indication; and an elf.
As he entered the observatory, Elric removed his helmet and held it under his right arm. He gave his full attention to the monks, and particularly to the one who appeared to be their leader, and listened to the quest that the monks wished to set before them. The quest seemed nearly impossible, and the rewards seemed too good to be true, but Elric trusted the visions of the monks, and he trusted the gods to guide him and his fellow knights on this quest, and so, when the monks asked if they accepted the quest, Elric stepped forward, giving the monks a respectful bow. "I, for one, accept the quest," he announced.

The Marauders (2018)

I like the idea, and am interested in seeing this continue if others are likewise interested.

The World of Aerion

Elric gazed up at the Tower of Oculus, even more amazed by it's size up close than when he saw it from afar in Falke. When word had come that the Monks of Ekilore had a prophecy and requested emissaries of the nations to hear the prophecy and thus change the fate of their world, Elric had immediately requested permission from Lord Dunston Hawke to travel to Ekilore as an emissary of Falke. Like all the soldiers of Falke, he had heard the rumors of Miraheim mobilizing for war and the civil unrest in Ethora and the quarrels within Raelus and Palaven, and so much more that could portend the collapse of the world as we know it. With so much turmoil in the world, even a glimmer of hope would be welcome, and a prophecy from the shadowy, but respected, Monks of Ekilore was so much more than a glimmer of hope - it was a beacon, a light in the darkness. And so, with the blessings of both Lord Dunston Hawke, and King Frederick Highclaw III, Elric had journeyed to Ekilore on a mission to save the world from catastrophe.

The journey to Ekilore had been rather uneventful. He had traveled on horseback from the garrison at Skyfall to the port at Falcon Peak, and from there he had boarded a ship bound for Ekilore. The tossing of the ship on the waves had unsettled Elric's stomach at first, but after one short bout of seasickness, the queasiness subsided and the rest of the voyage had passed quietly, the ship aimed always at the Tower of Oculus, seeming to rise out of the sea even before the island came into view.

Finally, the ship docked at the island and Elric disembarked, taking a moment to marvel at the massive tower before he grew uneasy with the insignia of the monks that seemed to be watching him. He stepped forward and the massive iron door to the massive building opened. Stepping inside, Elric was greeted by a Eunuch who led him to a golden platform in the center of the Grand Library that Elric found himself in. Elric stood in awe of the vast collection of books and art housed in the library. He had never seen so many books and artwork in his life, and he was certain that some of the pieces contained in this library were the only one of their kind, or at least the only surviving one of their kind. He gazed around him at the massive library as he followed the Eunuch onto the platform. Once Elric had joined him, the Eunuch pulled a lever and the platform rose up, giving Elric a view of all the books and paintings and murals that resided in the Grand Library. Elric would have commented on the amazing vastness of the library and the tomes and works of art it contained, but the room's sheer vastness left him speechless.

Finally, the platform stopped in an empty stone room that seemed to serve no other purpose than as an antechamber between the library and the room beyond the iron door. The Eunuch opened the iron door, and Elric was greeted by a strong wind. Looking through the door, Elric could see the reason for the wind: this section of staircase had no outer wall; it was completely open to the elements. Looking out from the stairs, Elric could see the entirety of the lands of Aerion laid out in the distance on the sea below. From such a high vantage point, many of the landforms of the continent were indistinguishable, and cities and villages and other human dwellings could not be made out at all, but remembering his geography, Elric could tell exactly where the borders of each nation were. He kept himself close to the wall as he followed the Eunuch up the stairs, constantly glancing out at the breathtaking scene laid out below. Finally, he reached the archway over the iron door that led to the observatory of the Monks of Ekilore. Here he would wait for the monks to summon him to their presence, a bit of nervousness showing on his face, wondering what prophecy the monks had to speak to him.

Elric leaned against the wall and waited. One other person had arrived before him - a military man much like Elric himself, judging by the man's armor. Elric recognized the sigil of House Reigncliff on the spaulders of the man's armor, marking him as Ethorian. Elric regarded him silently, his gaze, as usual, hidden in the shadow cast by the hawk helmet of the High Dragoon, making it impossible for the man to tell if Elric even was looking at him or merely gazing idly as he waited for the monks to receive them.

The World of Aerion

Sir Elric Orstein, High Dragoon to Lord Dunston Hawke

Name: Sir Elric Orstein, High Dragoon to Lord Dunston Hawke
Age: 30
Gender: Male
Race: Human
Country of Origin: Falke
Appearance: Elric cuts an imposing figure, standing at an even 6 feet tall with a perfectly sculpted body due to the rigorous training he has undergone for most of his life. His skin has a healthy tan to it and shows off his impressive musculature due to much of his service in the Dragoons being spent outdoors bearing heavy equipment for hours on end. He keeps his jet black hair cut short on top of his head and rarely allows it to grow on his face for more than a day or two without shaving if he can help it. His dark gray eyes are set deep within his face and are often shaded by the overhang of the hawk helmet of the High Dragoon, making his expression often difficult to read. This is not helped by the fact that he is naturally rather stony-faced to begin with.
Personality: Elric's training in the Dragoons has instilled within him a fierce loyalty for his comrades in even the direst situations, and now, as High Dragoon, he employs a policy of leaving no man behind. His training with the Dragoons has also taught him valuable leadership skills, but also the humility to submit to the authority of a superior officer (although in his role of High Dragoon, the only superiors he has are Lord Dunston Hawke and King Frederick Highclaw III). That being said, he is not above questioning orders that he thinks are foolish or go against his morals or code of honor. Concerning his code of honor, Elric believes in dealing fairly and honestly with all people, even if they do not give him the same courtesy. He will not attack an unarmed enemy, nor will he attack an enemy who is unable to defend himself as such would be unfair. As for honesty, he will never say anything that is blatantly untrue, but that doesn't mean he will necessarily reveal the whole truth about something. His speech is often guarded, and he will often take time to consider his words before responding to any query, choosing just how much it is wise and polite to reveal. However, he is not above being sarcastic or even downright rude in his speech and dealings with people he finds distasteful, especially if he is under no social or hierarchical constraint to be kind or polite to them. In general, though, Elric is a kind and altruistic person to most people he meets unless they should do something to somehow prove that they do not deserve his kindness.
History: Elric was born the second son of Count Cedric Orstein IV, a minor noble in the lands of House Hawke. With his brother, Cedric V, the heir apparent to the county of Orstein and betrothed at birth to the daughter of a wealthy Baron, Elric was somewhat more free to choose his own future. He could not inherit his father's county (nor did he really want to, for that matter), but nearly any other option was available to him: he could marry into another noble family and become a count or baron himself; he could join the army as either a knight, archer, or dragoon; or he could set out and forge his own life anywhere else. In terms of the first option, that was how the house of Orstein became nobility five generations prior when Gareth Orstein came from Miraheim and married a widowed Countess who bore for him a son and heir to the county, Cedric Orstein I. Regarding the second option, many second and later sons of the house of Orstein had chosen that route and had served the Lord of House Hawke and the Falcon King with valor and honor. Regarding the third option, this had been chosen a few times among the sons of House Orstein, most recently by Elric's uncle Edward who had undertaken a holy pilgrimage to find meaning in life and had eventually come to Palaven where he now serves the Church of the One. Regarding Elric's disposition to these options, the first was wholly unappealing to him - while Elric did hope to one day to get married, he had no aspirations of being nobility. The life of a nobleman, while certainly comfortable, involved far too many duties that simply did not suit Elric's personality. The third option likewise did not appeal to Elric. Elric was an adventurous man who had traveled to a few of the other kingdoms of Aerion in his youth, but Falke would always be his home, and he had no desire to simply wander through the kingdom until he found an appealing prospect. The second option was much more to Elric's liking as it allowed him to serve the kingdom that he loved, gave him a stable life, and offered the possibility of adventure. Therefore, at the age of sixteen, Elric left his home for the nearest garrison and enlisted in the Dragoons.
Qualifying for service in the Dragoons was no easy task, and many prospective soldiers didn't last one year through the training. Those that did last usually took four or more years to complete all the training and fitness requirements to finally qualify for service in the Dragoons. In fact, there had never been a candidate who qualified for the Dragoons at a younger age than 20 years. Therefore, it was quite a surprise when Elric, through much hard work and perseverance, donned the arms and armor of the Dragoons at the age of eighteen, just over two years after beginning the training. Elric's ambition did not stop there, however. He served faithfully in the Dragoons for the next twelve years, quickly ascending the ranks of the military branch until achieving the rank of High Dragoon in only ten years, a feat unheard of in the entire history of the Dragoons. Since the establishment of the Dragoons, no one had ever achieved the rank of High Dragoon in less than fifteen years, and no one had ever achieved the rank before age 40, yet Elric did both, to the amazement (and occasional jealousy) of all his comrades. Now, with the turmoil in Aerion and the prophecy of the Monks of Ekilore, Elric, with the blessings of Lord Hawke and King Highclaw, sets out for Ekilore to hear the prophecy of the Monks and do his part to save not only the kingdom of Falke, but all of Aerion. He has no idea what any of this may entail, but he is determined to do his part because if the people who love their land won't take a stand to save it, who will?
Weapon Preference: Elric is most skilled with his spear, a long, barb-headed pike, but will often start a fight using his bow and arrows until the enemy comes into spear range, at which point he will switch over to his spear.
Side: Knights of Ekilore