- Location
- Austria
I mean.
If you think hours of helpless agony and no repercussions for it are fine...well ok I guess, you do you, but don't be surprised not everybody shares your opinion on torture?
On the Road to Elspar [Book 1] (Dryad Mercenary Schoolgirl Quest)
- Thread starter Kei
- Start date
- Original Fantasy
I mean.
If you think hours of helpless agony and no repercussions for it are fine...well ok I guess, you do you, but don't be surprised not everybody shares your opinion on torture?
Mother Nyx
Mother of Elpis
- Location
- The Kei Klub
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Yes... yes, it does. I kick your ass. I leave you there. You're writhing in pain, because I kicked your ass. If someone punches you really fucking hard, it'll still be hurting later even if they didn't break anything.
The use of magic, and it's effects therein, is just skewing the scale a bit and coloring your perceptions. You're like the warrior who curses the witch for using fire on the field of battle, because of course killing them face to face is more honorable, and I get it.
But, no. This was not torture.
Edit: She used lightning magic on them. No telling what that did to their nerves.
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Kinruush
Who?
- Location
- USA
That sounds an awful lot like torture to me. They did spill soup on her, yes, but context indicates it was not painfully hot or intended to be physically damaging, it was intended to be humiliating. I'm not condoning what they did, mind you, but what Elizabeth did was absolutely disproportionate. Being disproportionate was the entire point of it. That's what her line here is about:
- Location
- PA
Assuming Neianne can learn techniques to not get fried herself?
*looks meaingfully at Kei's other quest*
We've seen some of what Kei's done with that idea. It's a fun thought. Admittedly I feel like what Neianne really needs is someone to use ice to lock her foes in place so she can actually connect instead of electrical burns on top of cutting someone in half, but it's a fun thought.
As far as Elizabeth goes...The fact that Penelope basically escalated to that point first is why I don't like her. She picked the fight with Zabanya, and then later during the Roldharen training(the thing we were doing before we ran into the Wyvern) she was quite hostile to Neianne in a way that suggests she would have perhaps gone after her, had she gotten a chance. And then there was Penelope's pushing the issue and extorting a wyvern out of that merchant.
I feel like Penelope feels like the world owes her for dumping her into a bad situation, and is going to take it out on anyone she can. The nasty thing is that sort of attitude seems like she'll kick around ANYONE she gets the upper hand over. Sure she dislikes nobility in particular but that to me is only her being jealous. I'm not sure if she'd be much better then Elizabeth if she was the one who was the heir of Zabanya, frankly.
Elizabeth, at least...I would describe it as subscribing to game theory. She wants to win. But the best way to win isn't to beat up anyone you can, but to put as much power as you can afford to towards whatever your goal is. Meaning it's very possible simply to stay out of her way and to not be caught in her crosshairs.
Penelope is more indiscriminate, and I personally dislike that far more then someone who is can be maneuvered around.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
It lasted hours. The agony lasted hours. They were unable to get up or call for help. If I bet you up, and you were unable to call for help or even stand up, uhh.
This was torture. So is doing the same thing to someone without magic.
- Location
- Austria
Nnno?
Direwolfs recuperated a lot faster, for example, after a much more significant magical attack. Granted, direwolves, but still, a lasting effect and maximal pain were optional.
It was explicitly and deliberately designed to be torture, not just magical punch: if she just shocked them or whatever instead of what happened it would not have been such a problem.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Note: I'm not voting for interactions with Penelope. I chose Wendy because we have a connection/schoolwork/etc to help bridge some of the gap, and as far as I can tell she was never the ringleader of the bullying? But Penelope is someone I'd only interact with if we had to, like as part of some class. IMO.
Want to tie her to the flat side our sword?
Be my guest, I'm sure she would find it amusing not.
Better way of getting an electrified sword is to find someone to carve electric runes on it, if runes exist.
Honesty I feel like we miss out on something interesting like having an electrified shield so when an metal weapon touches, it would be shocking for our opponent.
Really now, we can easily avoid her blast radius since we got plenty of hints of what's she's aiming for.
It takes quite something to gain her ire and interest considering how lazy/sleepy she is plus she's not the type to willy-nilly take it out on her squad members maybe if we're bad at fighting, an liability to the squad.
She would make some encouragements.
We already demonstrate the worth of our existence in her eyes with our actions and personality so anything more would be dangerous to the point she might end up keeping us.
Our current status with her is stable.
No need to focus on her plus we still get more of her entertainment all year around instead of being the focus of her entertainment if we pick her.
I think Wendy is the sidekick bully since she did end up with Penelope.
Mother Nyx
Mother of Elpis
- Location
- The Kei Klub
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Hey, I actually like Penny. Due to that so called torture, she actually became a decent character whose presence I quite enjoy because it stopped her dead at being a bullying asshole.
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AnonymousRabbit
Rabbit Faced
Our sword is a big metal stick! Big enough to be a shield! Just duct tape Liz on the other end and make her mad!
It'll be like some pokemon shit.
Neianne: E-Elizabeth I choose you!
Elizabeth: Eliiiiii~za!!!!!!!!!!
Mother Nyx
Mother of Elpis
- Location
- The Kei Klub
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Kinruush
Who?
- Location
- USA
I'm definitely changing (some of?) my picks, but I'm going back through the story to get a better idea of who our options even are and what our relationships with them are like.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Oh, also, Wendy was nice to us in helping us home when we were drunk. We should tell her thanks for that!
Maybe? Not sure. I'm not as sold on Wendy as I am on some others.
Maybe? Not sure. I'm not as sold on Wendy as I am on some others.
Mother Nyx
Mother of Elpis
- Location
- The Kei Klub
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Regardless of everything debated, @The Laurent, I am so happy you decided to check out this quest!
- Pronouns
- They/Them
I mean, I'm actually getting behind on my own Quests.
- Location
- Austria
*counts*
Within last week you've written sum total of 25k words of updates for quests.
Falling behind.
I am pretty sure you are actually a cyborg.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
I have a Quest that updates on Saturday (EOAE) and one that updates on Sunday (Roaring Age), I need to work on those.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
I look away for a few hours and suddenly a few hours of discussion squeeeeeee
A little seriously, though: I'm trying to do different things with different characters. And I'm not trying to make certain people completely good or completely awful. They're young people with flaws, some of them more pronounced than others. It's fine that you're coming to your own conclusions, and I won't stop you.
The political structure in the confederacy is actually pretty simple. The confederacy is a confederation of five sovereign regions: Apaloft, Elspar, Fulwaite, Lindholm, and Sandria. Each of these regions is governed by a Caldran Countess, who wields supreme power in her region. The confederacy has a capital - the Confederated City of Stengard - but that's where the five countesses (and much of the nobility) meet during the political season, and is otherwise just a normal city otherwise; the real power comes from the countesses and their seats of power in their own regions. Beneath each Caldran countess, she gets to pick whomever to elevate to other positions of nobility, such as the elevation of the Charmaines to a barony, the lowest "serious" noble rank.
...And that's pretty much it. If you've been interpreting what Sieglinde says, this is what annoys her about the confederacy. Although still with their aristocratic systems and social inequality, enemies like the Tenereian Union are already developing institutions of modern statehood, little things like ministries and bureaucracy. Whereas Caldrein is stuck in a feudal system wherein everyone just sort of does what they can at whatever time. The problem is that where Sieglinde sees this as a system of complacency and a stubborn insistence on "the old ways", too many Caldrans think of it as a sign that they're honest and honorable. Like, where a Tenereian court may swiftly intervene in a case of a drunk veteran with PTSD constantly causing public disturbances, a Caldran community would decide that she is their responsibility and try to deal with it themselves. Which is a nice thought, but also not an excuse for why courts with professional judges don't exist.
Similarly, the aristocracy is responsible for the upkeep of their own territories. For some - such as the barony of House Charmaine, Azalea's family - it literally involves labor, because House Charmaine is not very rich, and has to do some things themselves. Of course, some houses - like Houses Celestia and Treiser, for example - are rich so this doesn't matter as much. But the idea is that just like summer vacation (when it's arguably too hot to get work done), most of the aristocracy makes a trip to their vacation homes (or borrows one from another house that decides not to go this year for whatever reason) in Stengard. Sure, it's where the Caldran Countesses meet up and make confederacy-wide policy, but it's also where a bunch of smaller families get together, trade information, make important deals, socialize, and gossip. The political season ends along with summer, by and large, where the aristocracy returns to their fiefdoms to oversee the major harvests that come with autumn.
A little seriously, though: I'm trying to do different things with different characters. And I'm not trying to make certain people completely good or completely awful. They're young people with flaws, some of them more pronounced than others. It's fine that you're coming to your own conclusions, and I won't stop you.
The political structure in the confederacy is actually pretty simple. The confederacy is a confederation of five sovereign regions: Apaloft, Elspar, Fulwaite, Lindholm, and Sandria. Each of these regions is governed by a Caldran Countess, who wields supreme power in her region. The confederacy has a capital - the Confederated City of Stengard - but that's where the five countesses (and much of the nobility) meet during the political season, and is otherwise just a normal city otherwise; the real power comes from the countesses and their seats of power in their own regions. Beneath each Caldran countess, she gets to pick whomever to elevate to other positions of nobility, such as the elevation of the Charmaines to a barony, the lowest "serious" noble rank.
...And that's pretty much it. If you've been interpreting what Sieglinde says, this is what annoys her about the confederacy. Although still with their aristocratic systems and social inequality, enemies like the Tenereian Union are already developing institutions of modern statehood, little things like ministries and bureaucracy. Whereas Caldrein is stuck in a feudal system wherein everyone just sort of does what they can at whatever time. The problem is that where Sieglinde sees this as a system of complacency and a stubborn insistence on "the old ways", too many Caldrans think of it as a sign that they're honest and honorable. Like, where a Tenereian court may swiftly intervene in a case of a drunk veteran with PTSD constantly causing public disturbances, a Caldran community would decide that she is their responsibility and try to deal with it themselves. Which is a nice thought, but also not an excuse for why courts with professional judges don't exist.
Similarly, the aristocracy is responsible for the upkeep of their own territories. For some - such as the barony of House Charmaine, Azalea's family - it literally involves labor, because House Charmaine is not very rich, and has to do some things themselves. Of course, some houses - like Houses Celestia and Treiser, for example - are rich so this doesn't matter as much. But the idea is that just like summer vacation (when it's arguably too hot to get work done), most of the aristocracy makes a trip to their vacation homes (or borrows one from another house that decides not to go this year for whatever reason) in Stengard. Sure, it's where the Caldran Countesses meet up and make confederacy-wide policy, but it's also where a bunch of smaller families get together, trade information, make important deals, socialize, and gossip. The political season ends along with summer, by and large, where the aristocracy returns to their fiefdoms to oversee the major harvests that come with autumn.
Nervos Belli
Don't think this means you've won!
- Location
- Murica
I can see why they are having problems coordinating a national war response. How much do the Countesses who don't border the Tenereians even care about the invasion? Their lands aren't being pillaged, and they aren't likely to lose territory. Without any central power you're essentially relying on the goodwill of the Countesses to support the war, which is just messy.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
I mean, hrm. What are the mechanics for, like.
You know, the rest of society that isn't nobles? Like. How hands off is it?
This isn't something I want to talk about too much until at least year two (in part because I don't like typing on a phone) , where I hope I can show instead of tell (and it's on me for not having yet depicted this in a balanced way yet), but there is a level of social and cultural integration between classes. Servants sass at their employers, most noble head of houses will be pretty involved in managing the affairs of their fiefdoms, and they're not exactly inaccessible; for story reasons, you will definitely visit the Treiser residence at least once, which - make no mistake - is a pretty big house, but isn't a walled and gated compound. It's simply a large house with a front door on the streets like everyone else, and that front door is usually kept open. Community is pretty important to Caldrans. The gap between the privileged and the disenfranchised isn't catastrophically wide, but it's also a really entrenched gap. Becoming a Caldran mercenary is one of the most fluid ways to surpass this.
So I said I'd try to come up with some kind of character index. And it looks like the codex really may need to wait a little, but, um, here's a little something in the meantime, written largely from the perspective of Neianne's knowledge of these people.
Alexia
An Ornthalian elven bard traveling around Caldrein. She first appeared in the aftermath of the wyvern incident during the Roldharen field exercise, and correctly identified a marking on the salvaged wyvern corpse to be a Tenereian beastmaster's brand later attributed to the Squirrels. She also performed at the Aroma at a later date while you attended one of Azalea's tea parties, and noted that she's keeping track of your story. She's largely a cheerful person, if somewhat teasing.
Aphelia Meredith Treiser
An elf and one of the daughters of House Treiser, a viscomital governing the city of Arnheim in Elspar. Probably the closest thing Faulkren Academy has to a perfect ojou-sama, type 1, with immaculate manners, a popular following, a keen intellect, and prodigious skill with both a rapier and ice magecraft. She has a somewhat aloof personality that makes her feels like part of the untouchable elite, but possesses a level of natural charisma that encourages the best out of those under her command, making her an excellent leadership candidate. She is often seen in the company of Lucille Lorraine Celestia, and they seem to be at least decent friends. You were assigned to a team with her during the Roldharen field exercise, where she largely took command. It was also during the exercise that you overheard her expressing her anxieties about the war in her home region to Lucille. She regarded your episode with the wyvern in the field exercise favorably, and interacted with you a little bit during Midwinter's Feast. She seems to have a good impression of you, but neither of you are close or really know much of anything about each other.
Ashlyn
A human Caldran apprentice who seems to come from a peasant family in Apaloft. She apparently knows Lucille well enough to casually trade barbs with her despite the great divide in class, given that Ashlyn literally arrived at the academy with no shoes. Given her background, she has rudimentary knowledge of all kinds of animals, beasts, and monsters out in the wild. Probably from adults in the village who warn everyone about what to do if they run into them out in the fields. It came useful during the attack on Faulkren by the Squirrels, where she displayed some level of knowledge on the direwolves, although perhaps this was not capitalized on enough during the attack. You've traded kind words with her before, but you don't really know each other well enough to even know what her impression of her is of you. Beyond thinking you're cute and shy like Melanie.
Azalea Cherilyn Charmaine
A dryad and one of the daughters of House Charmaine, a barony in Fulwaite. Probably the second-closest person Faulkren Academy has to a perfect ojou-sama, type 2, with a sociable personality, a gentle temperament, and a secret mischievous streak. To most, she's "Lady Azalea" or "Lady Charmaine", but between you dryads, she's "Azalea". Which is ironic, given that she's the first dryad highborn in the confederacy, born after her parents were awarded a barony for mitigating a blight and famine in Fulwaite between 1304 to 1308. She wields earth-based and support magecraft. She's also childhood friends with Wilhelmina Adelaide Marienberg. You first sought out her company early in your first year at Faulkren Academy, and since then you've attended several of her tea parties in an attempt to force yourself to become more sociable, if not more graceful. You've probably also danced with her during the celebrations in town for Midwinter's Feast, but you're not sure, because you drank too much grape juice at the time. So you almost certainly means you did something embarrassing. But it means the two of you are relatively close. You hope.
Cornelia Rastangard
The aseri headmistress of Faulkren Academy. An aging Caldran mercenary who nonetheless still impresses the rest of you just by standing there. Because she really looks impressive just standing there. You haven't really attracted too much attention from her, so to speak, but she's certainly made an impression as a serious, slightly grim taskmaster who definitely knows what she's doing. She gives decent speeches, too.
Elizabeth Irivich Zabanya
Your elven wildcard squadmate. The heiress to House Zabanya of Marloch, Lindholm, Elizabeth was discovered to be a natural prodigy with magecraft, and years of the best education a Caldran noble house can afford has since turned her into a monster of mage. Almost constantly sleeping or dozing off, tiny and possessing delicate features, and usually superficially sweet when awake, a random first impression of Elizabeth can lull onlookers into a false sense of complacency, when she is in fact a girl who will happily "punish" people who wrong her, painfully and without remorse, as she did to Squad Twelve early in your first year. Elizabeth's precise beliefs are hard to pin down beyond "know what you want", "know what you're doing", and "have the power to do it", and she suggests that she'll unconditionally respect anyone who can fulfill these three criteria, even if she disagrees with you. If nothing else, she seems to at least be noticing the fact that you're her squadmate, which may very well mean that you're doing something right. Or, perhaps, something horribly, horribly wrong.
Emilie
A human Caldran apprentice from a human freeholder tailor family in Apaloft. You met her when you first arrived at Faulkren Academy, presenting herself as nice, easily-impressed, and perhaps a little naive. She shares an enthusiasm for the Adventures of the Silver Princess books alongside Vesna Rainer, which reflects a sense of adventurism in her desire to become a Caldran mercenary as she trains to become a mage. You haven't really done much more aside from exchange greetings and fleeting conversations ever since, but you've also grouped up together again during Midwinter's Feast, and it doesn't seem like her kind demeanor has changed very much. The two of you regard each other well, even if you're not very close.
Lucille Lorraine Celestia
An elven daughter of House Celestia, the comital that governs all of the region of Apaloft. Lucille is from a side branch of one of the confederacy's most powerful families, although you'd never be able to tell; her interactions with her friends - ranging from nobles like Aphelia to freeholders like you to peasants like Ashlyn, even if some of them are only hanging onto her because of her status - is almost absent of even the barest hint of class consciousness, as if they are all equals, although Aphelia and Melanie probably rank among her closest friends. Generally kindhearted and considerate, Lucille nonetheless has the unfortunate reputation of being the least talented of the aristocratic apprentices at Faulkren, especially one from one of Caldrein's most important bloodlines, as well as a family disappointment, a fact that she's bitterly aware of. You worked together with her during the Roldharen field exercise, saving Wendy from a wyvern; you also later ate together during Midwinter's Feast at Faulkren Academy, and discussed her troubles in the aftermath of the Squirrel attack on Faulkren Academy. She seems to regard you positively ever since Roldharen, at least.
Melanie Aster
An aseri daughter of a merchant family working out of Apaloft, it's easy to assume why Melanie chose to become a Caldran mercenary: One of her sisters is the quartermaster of the Apaloftian armies sent to fight in Elspar, and another sister is a Caldran mercenary of the Llyneyth warband, the most prestigious in all of Caldrein. Of course, her actual reason for joining is unknown, but Melanie is certainly a determined overachiever, vowing to accomplish extraordinary tasks that eventually wielding wind magecraft, her primary element, to cut through wyvern scales; this is at odds with her general shy, nervous, and polite temperament. You know, not at all unlike you. A bookish individual, Melanie is not one to seek the spotlight, and largely seems to be content to remain under the shadow of Lucille, seemingly her closest friend. The two of you hit off well when you first met during the Roldharen field exercise, where you saved Wendy from a wyvern set loose by the Squirrels, and although you're not entirely close yet, the two of you share a gentle, friendly kinship.
Mia Honette
Everyone has heard of Mia Honette. Not only because she's relatively popular, but mostly because you can usually hear her, literally. The loud, friendly, and almost eternally cheerful aseri is from a merchant family based out of Lindholm, and as far as you can tell, she's probably friends with everyone. Not that you've sought out her company in particular, but she's certainly sought out yours from time-to-time. Such as during the Roldharen field exercise, and also during Midwinter's Feast. And that one time she cheerfully bet you can pick her up if you can pick up your buster sword. As far as you can tell, she probably has a glowing opinion of you. But let's be honest, she probably has a glowing opinion of everyone.
Neianne
You, dummy. Born in the Thionval dryad commune in Apaloft, your parents urbanized into a village not terribly far from your birthplace when you were five, and your younger sister was born a year later. You were literate and had a very basic education even prior to arriving at Faulkren Academy, although an academic you are not. You have largely remained in almost everyone's good graces by mostly being a shy, unassuming, and cute dryad freeholder with no social, cultural, political, or economic baggage...for now.
Nicole
Nicole is an elven freeholder, the spouse of Tiffany, and the co-owner of the Aroma, a cafe in the town of Faulkren. Of the couple, Nicole is the feistier one. She had a picnic with you and Azalea once, and the latter's tea parties are held at the Aroma. She survived the Squirrel attack on Faulkren, and brought relief supplies to the academy in the aftermath.
Nikki
An aseri from a freeholder smithing family in Sandria and a Caldran mercenary apprentice. Kind of unique given her darker skin tone, like most people from warmer Sandria. She is among the first people you've met at Faulkren Academy, with a friendly but sometimes dry and snarky attitude. Without much talent in smithing, she's given up trying to inherit the family business, instead trying to be of some use with a spear as a Caldran mercenary. You haven't really kept up with her beyond friendly greetings, but you ran into her again alongside Vesna and Emilie during Midwinter's Feast in town. She's a squadmate of Wilhelmina's, whom she respects but otherwise thinks has a stick up her posterior.
Penelope
A human Caldran mercenary apprentice, part of Squad Twelve, from a family of city laborers. You were first aware of her existence when she led her squadmates in bullying Elizabeth for whatever reason, a mistake they made once and only once after Elizabeth quietly went to their rooms and did something that left them writhing afterwards. During the Roldharen field exercise, she demonstrated intense animosity towards you for what she viewed as your complicity in this, but this later cooled into a more begrudged respect after you saved Wendy from a wyvern attack, for which they thanked you afterwards. You later watched Elizabeth drop in on Squad Twelve during Midwinter's Feast at the academy, and they were relatively friendly with you when you won at a carnival game in town. She survived the Squirrel attack on Faulkren Academy, but lost a squadmate in the process. Your impression of Penelope is that of someone constantly brewing at a low level of anger, with a blunt and sometimes abrasive personality. At the very least, she doesn't seem ungrateful, and your relationship has developed into something resembling reluctant respect.
Sieglinde Corrina Ravenhill
Your elven squadmate, the heiress to House Ravenhill of Arcaster in Lindholm, and one of the three prodigies of your generation of the apprentices of Faulkren Academy. Sieglinde's quiet, aloof, and reserved personality lends to the impression of an unapproachable but intelligent young woman, but also conceals an allegedly unpopular degree of thoughtfulness, a critical and sometimes unflattering view of her own country, one that demands greater introspection by the country and its subjects. Beyond such, Sieglinde is a terrifying combatant with a polearm and bow, easily a match for the other two proverbial giants, Aphelia and Elizabeth, the latter of whom she shares a weird friendly antagonistic relationship. Which is mostly terrifying because they're roommates on your squad, living right next door. Despite her cool exterior, Sieglinde is probably the person at Faulkren Academy you're closest to, someone who've you seen a friendlier side to, someone who accepts you for who you are, which is just as well; Sieglinde seems to prefer books over people, and isn't exactly clamoring for more friends.
Stephanie
Your aseri roommate and squadmate. More than a little reserved but otherwise generally kind-hearted, Stephanie is a bit of a mystery. She doesn't talk about her family, beyond the fact that there really isn't anything interesting to tell, and that they trained her in swordsmanship. If nothing else, that training has certainly paid off, as she's actually surprisingly excellent with a katana and wakizashi. "Surprisingly" because until the Squirrel attack on Faulkren Academy, you've never seen her fight as fast as she did, and you've never seen her channel fire through her weapons. Not "set her weapons on fire", but "channel fire through her weapons". And you're not a mage, but your "how magecraft works so you can defeat a mage" classes makes you think this is kind of impossible. Which is probably more than just a little interesting, but you're trying to respect her privacy, though, and she certainly isn't telling. That doesn't stop her from worrying about you, though. Or tell you that you can ignore people trying to pester you. Or that you should really get some healing for that cut on your shoulder. She's still probably the apprentice that outwardly shows the most obvious concern for you, and that's just fine for now.
Tiffany
Tiffany is an elven freeholder, the spouse of Nicole, and the co-owner of the Aroma, a cafe in the town of Faulkren. Of the couple, Tiffany is the gentler one. She had a picnic with you and Azalea once, and the latter's tea parties are held at the Aroma. She survived the Squirrel attack on Faulkren.
Vesna Rainer
A human Caldran mercenary apprentice from a merchant family. Of the three apprentices you first met when you first arrived in Faulkren, Vesna is the one you've interacted with most, in part due to the Roldharen field exercise, where she often took your side and helped you save Wendy from a wyvern along with Lucille, Melanie, and Penelope. She also talked to you during Midwinter's Feast, both at the academy and in town, alongside Emilie and Nikki. Friendly, slightly mischievous, a little naive, and happily impressed, Vesna has spent much of her life in her family's traveling merchant wagon, and wants to help actively make a difference as a Caldran mercenary, specializing thus far in support magecraft. Her friendliness is such that she has no problems chatting up Elizabeth, whom most other apprentices are at least wary of, although she is still relative low-profile, not really standing out socially in spite of being on relatively good speaking terms with everyone.
Wendy
A human Caldran mercenary apprentice, part of Squad Twelve, from a family of city laborers, like her squadmate Penelope. You were first aware of her existence when she followed Penelope's lead in bullying Elizabeth, a mistake they made once and only once after Elizabeth quietly went to their rooms and did something that left them writhing afterwards. Following this, she displayed a quiet animosity towards you, seemingly blaming you by proxy for Elizabeth's actions. You put yourself at risk and hurt yourself badly to save her life in the Roldharen field exercise, though, and since then she has shown a degree of real gratitude, putting her animosity behind her in the months you two trained together to recover from your injuries. When Elizabeth dropped in on Squad Twelve during the Midwinter's Feast, she was the one who defused the situation, and you've been told that she helped Melanie carry you back to the academy after you passed out during the Midwinter's Feast. She's still a cheat, though.
Wilhelmina Adelaide Marienberg
An elven daughter of House Marienberg of Apaloft, Wilhelmina is universally recognized as the best shot with the longbow among the apprentices at Faulkren Academy. That being said, you really don't know much about her, and have never interacted with her directly before. You know that she's a childhood friend of Azalea's, and that Nikki respects her as a squadmate but thinks she's too much of a stick in the mud, and...that's about it, really. She gives you the impression of being relatively reserved and aloof, but a little more stiff about it than Aphelia or Sieglinde. Otherwise, you have no idea what she thinks of you, even though you've attended a few of Azalea's tea parties together before. She did save your life by shooting down a direwolf with well-placed arrows during the Squirrel attack on Faulkren Academy, though, so there's that.
Alexia
An Ornthalian elven bard traveling around Caldrein. She first appeared in the aftermath of the wyvern incident during the Roldharen field exercise, and correctly identified a marking on the salvaged wyvern corpse to be a Tenereian beastmaster's brand later attributed to the Squirrels. She also performed at the Aroma at a later date while you attended one of Azalea's tea parties, and noted that she's keeping track of your story. She's largely a cheerful person, if somewhat teasing.
Aphelia Meredith Treiser
An elf and one of the daughters of House Treiser, a viscomital governing the city of Arnheim in Elspar. Probably the closest thing Faulkren Academy has to a perfect ojou-sama, type 1, with immaculate manners, a popular following, a keen intellect, and prodigious skill with both a rapier and ice magecraft. She has a somewhat aloof personality that makes her feels like part of the untouchable elite, but possesses a level of natural charisma that encourages the best out of those under her command, making her an excellent leadership candidate. She is often seen in the company of Lucille Lorraine Celestia, and they seem to be at least decent friends. You were assigned to a team with her during the Roldharen field exercise, where she largely took command. It was also during the exercise that you overheard her expressing her anxieties about the war in her home region to Lucille. She regarded your episode with the wyvern in the field exercise favorably, and interacted with you a little bit during Midwinter's Feast. She seems to have a good impression of you, but neither of you are close or really know much of anything about each other.
Ashlyn
A human Caldran apprentice who seems to come from a peasant family in Apaloft. She apparently knows Lucille well enough to casually trade barbs with her despite the great divide in class, given that Ashlyn literally arrived at the academy with no shoes. Given her background, she has rudimentary knowledge of all kinds of animals, beasts, and monsters out in the wild. Probably from adults in the village who warn everyone about what to do if they run into them out in the fields. It came useful during the attack on Faulkren by the Squirrels, where she displayed some level of knowledge on the direwolves, although perhaps this was not capitalized on enough during the attack. You've traded kind words with her before, but you don't really know each other well enough to even know what her impression of her is of you. Beyond thinking you're cute and shy like Melanie.
Azalea Cherilyn Charmaine
A dryad and one of the daughters of House Charmaine, a barony in Fulwaite. Probably the second-closest person Faulkren Academy has to a perfect ojou-sama, type 2, with a sociable personality, a gentle temperament, and a secret mischievous streak. To most, she's "Lady Azalea" or "Lady Charmaine", but between you dryads, she's "Azalea". Which is ironic, given that she's the first dryad highborn in the confederacy, born after her parents were awarded a barony for mitigating a blight and famine in Fulwaite between 1304 to 1308. She wields earth-based and support magecraft. She's also childhood friends with Wilhelmina Adelaide Marienberg. You first sought out her company early in your first year at Faulkren Academy, and since then you've attended several of her tea parties in an attempt to force yourself to become more sociable, if not more graceful. You've probably also danced with her during the celebrations in town for Midwinter's Feast, but you're not sure, because you drank too much grape juice at the time. So you almost certainly means you did something embarrassing. But it means the two of you are relatively close. You hope.
Cornelia Rastangard
The aseri headmistress of Faulkren Academy. An aging Caldran mercenary who nonetheless still impresses the rest of you just by standing there. Because she really looks impressive just standing there. You haven't really attracted too much attention from her, so to speak, but she's certainly made an impression as a serious, slightly grim taskmaster who definitely knows what she's doing. She gives decent speeches, too.
Elizabeth Irivich Zabanya
Your elven wildcard squadmate. The heiress to House Zabanya of Marloch, Lindholm, Elizabeth was discovered to be a natural prodigy with magecraft, and years of the best education a Caldran noble house can afford has since turned her into a monster of mage. Almost constantly sleeping or dozing off, tiny and possessing delicate features, and usually superficially sweet when awake, a random first impression of Elizabeth can lull onlookers into a false sense of complacency, when she is in fact a girl who will happily "punish" people who wrong her, painfully and without remorse, as she did to Squad Twelve early in your first year. Elizabeth's precise beliefs are hard to pin down beyond "know what you want", "know what you're doing", and "have the power to do it", and she suggests that she'll unconditionally respect anyone who can fulfill these three criteria, even if she disagrees with you. If nothing else, she seems to at least be noticing the fact that you're her squadmate, which may very well mean that you're doing something right. Or, perhaps, something horribly, horribly wrong.
Emilie
A human Caldran apprentice from a human freeholder tailor family in Apaloft. You met her when you first arrived at Faulkren Academy, presenting herself as nice, easily-impressed, and perhaps a little naive. She shares an enthusiasm for the Adventures of the Silver Princess books alongside Vesna Rainer, which reflects a sense of adventurism in her desire to become a Caldran mercenary as she trains to become a mage. You haven't really done much more aside from exchange greetings and fleeting conversations ever since, but you've also grouped up together again during Midwinter's Feast, and it doesn't seem like her kind demeanor has changed very much. The two of you regard each other well, even if you're not very close.
Lucille Lorraine Celestia
An elven daughter of House Celestia, the comital that governs all of the region of Apaloft. Lucille is from a side branch of one of the confederacy's most powerful families, although you'd never be able to tell; her interactions with her friends - ranging from nobles like Aphelia to freeholders like you to peasants like Ashlyn, even if some of them are only hanging onto her because of her status - is almost absent of even the barest hint of class consciousness, as if they are all equals, although Aphelia and Melanie probably rank among her closest friends. Generally kindhearted and considerate, Lucille nonetheless has the unfortunate reputation of being the least talented of the aristocratic apprentices at Faulkren, especially one from one of Caldrein's most important bloodlines, as well as a family disappointment, a fact that she's bitterly aware of. You worked together with her during the Roldharen field exercise, saving Wendy from a wyvern; you also later ate together during Midwinter's Feast at Faulkren Academy, and discussed her troubles in the aftermath of the Squirrel attack on Faulkren Academy. She seems to regard you positively ever since Roldharen, at least.
Melanie Aster
An aseri daughter of a merchant family working out of Apaloft, it's easy to assume why Melanie chose to become a Caldran mercenary: One of her sisters is the quartermaster of the Apaloftian armies sent to fight in Elspar, and another sister is a Caldran mercenary of the Llyneyth warband, the most prestigious in all of Caldrein. Of course, her actual reason for joining is unknown, but Melanie is certainly a determined overachiever, vowing to accomplish extraordinary tasks that eventually wielding wind magecraft, her primary element, to cut through wyvern scales; this is at odds with her general shy, nervous, and polite temperament. You know, not at all unlike you. A bookish individual, Melanie is not one to seek the spotlight, and largely seems to be content to remain under the shadow of Lucille, seemingly her closest friend. The two of you hit off well when you first met during the Roldharen field exercise, where you saved Wendy from a wyvern set loose by the Squirrels, and although you're not entirely close yet, the two of you share a gentle, friendly kinship.
Mia Honette
Everyone has heard of Mia Honette. Not only because she's relatively popular, but mostly because you can usually hear her, literally. The loud, friendly, and almost eternally cheerful aseri is from a merchant family based out of Lindholm, and as far as you can tell, she's probably friends with everyone. Not that you've sought out her company in particular, but she's certainly sought out yours from time-to-time. Such as during the Roldharen field exercise, and also during Midwinter's Feast. And that one time she cheerfully bet you can pick her up if you can pick up your buster sword. As far as you can tell, she probably has a glowing opinion of you. But let's be honest, she probably has a glowing opinion of everyone.
Neianne
You, dummy. Born in the Thionval dryad commune in Apaloft, your parents urbanized into a village not terribly far from your birthplace when you were five, and your younger sister was born a year later. You were literate and had a very basic education even prior to arriving at Faulkren Academy, although an academic you are not. You have largely remained in almost everyone's good graces by mostly being a shy, unassuming, and cute dryad freeholder with no social, cultural, political, or economic baggage...for now.
Nicole
Nicole is an elven freeholder, the spouse of Tiffany, and the co-owner of the Aroma, a cafe in the town of Faulkren. Of the couple, Nicole is the feistier one. She had a picnic with you and Azalea once, and the latter's tea parties are held at the Aroma. She survived the Squirrel attack on Faulkren, and brought relief supplies to the academy in the aftermath.
Nikki
An aseri from a freeholder smithing family in Sandria and a Caldran mercenary apprentice. Kind of unique given her darker skin tone, like most people from warmer Sandria. She is among the first people you've met at Faulkren Academy, with a friendly but sometimes dry and snarky attitude. Without much talent in smithing, she's given up trying to inherit the family business, instead trying to be of some use with a spear as a Caldran mercenary. You haven't really kept up with her beyond friendly greetings, but you ran into her again alongside Vesna and Emilie during Midwinter's Feast in town. She's a squadmate of Wilhelmina's, whom she respects but otherwise thinks has a stick up her posterior.
Penelope
A human Caldran mercenary apprentice, part of Squad Twelve, from a family of city laborers. You were first aware of her existence when she led her squadmates in bullying Elizabeth for whatever reason, a mistake they made once and only once after Elizabeth quietly went to their rooms and did something that left them writhing afterwards. During the Roldharen field exercise, she demonstrated intense animosity towards you for what she viewed as your complicity in this, but this later cooled into a more begrudged respect after you saved Wendy from a wyvern attack, for which they thanked you afterwards. You later watched Elizabeth drop in on Squad Twelve during Midwinter's Feast at the academy, and they were relatively friendly with you when you won at a carnival game in town. She survived the Squirrel attack on Faulkren Academy, but lost a squadmate in the process. Your impression of Penelope is that of someone constantly brewing at a low level of anger, with a blunt and sometimes abrasive personality. At the very least, she doesn't seem ungrateful, and your relationship has developed into something resembling reluctant respect.
Sieglinde Corrina Ravenhill
Your elven squadmate, the heiress to House Ravenhill of Arcaster in Lindholm, and one of the three prodigies of your generation of the apprentices of Faulkren Academy. Sieglinde's quiet, aloof, and reserved personality lends to the impression of an unapproachable but intelligent young woman, but also conceals an allegedly unpopular degree of thoughtfulness, a critical and sometimes unflattering view of her own country, one that demands greater introspection by the country and its subjects. Beyond such, Sieglinde is a terrifying combatant with a polearm and bow, easily a match for the other two proverbial giants, Aphelia and Elizabeth, the latter of whom she shares a weird friendly antagonistic relationship. Which is mostly terrifying because they're roommates on your squad, living right next door. Despite her cool exterior, Sieglinde is probably the person at Faulkren Academy you're closest to, someone who've you seen a friendlier side to, someone who accepts you for who you are, which is just as well; Sieglinde seems to prefer books over people, and isn't exactly clamoring for more friends.
Stephanie
Your aseri roommate and squadmate. More than a little reserved but otherwise generally kind-hearted, Stephanie is a bit of a mystery. She doesn't talk about her family, beyond the fact that there really isn't anything interesting to tell, and that they trained her in swordsmanship. If nothing else, that training has certainly paid off, as she's actually surprisingly excellent with a katana and wakizashi. "Surprisingly" because until the Squirrel attack on Faulkren Academy, you've never seen her fight as fast as she did, and you've never seen her channel fire through her weapons. Not "set her weapons on fire", but "channel fire through her weapons". And you're not a mage, but your "how magecraft works so you can defeat a mage" classes makes you think this is kind of impossible. Which is probably more than just a little interesting, but you're trying to respect her privacy, though, and she certainly isn't telling. That doesn't stop her from worrying about you, though. Or tell you that you can ignore people trying to pester you. Or that you should really get some healing for that cut on your shoulder. She's still probably the apprentice that outwardly shows the most obvious concern for you, and that's just fine for now.
Tiffany
Tiffany is an elven freeholder, the spouse of Nicole, and the co-owner of the Aroma, a cafe in the town of Faulkren. Of the couple, Tiffany is the gentler one. She had a picnic with you and Azalea once, and the latter's tea parties are held at the Aroma. She survived the Squirrel attack on Faulkren.
Vesna Rainer
A human Caldran mercenary apprentice from a merchant family. Of the three apprentices you first met when you first arrived in Faulkren, Vesna is the one you've interacted with most, in part due to the Roldharen field exercise, where she often took your side and helped you save Wendy from a wyvern along with Lucille, Melanie, and Penelope. She also talked to you during Midwinter's Feast, both at the academy and in town, alongside Emilie and Nikki. Friendly, slightly mischievous, a little naive, and happily impressed, Vesna has spent much of her life in her family's traveling merchant wagon, and wants to help actively make a difference as a Caldran mercenary, specializing thus far in support magecraft. Her friendliness is such that she has no problems chatting up Elizabeth, whom most other apprentices are at least wary of, although she is still relative low-profile, not really standing out socially in spite of being on relatively good speaking terms with everyone.
Wendy
A human Caldran mercenary apprentice, part of Squad Twelve, from a family of city laborers, like her squadmate Penelope. You were first aware of her existence when she followed Penelope's lead in bullying Elizabeth, a mistake they made once and only once after Elizabeth quietly went to their rooms and did something that left them writhing afterwards. Following this, she displayed a quiet animosity towards you, seemingly blaming you by proxy for Elizabeth's actions. You put yourself at risk and hurt yourself badly to save her life in the Roldharen field exercise, though, and since then she has shown a degree of real gratitude, putting her animosity behind her in the months you two trained together to recover from your injuries. When Elizabeth dropped in on Squad Twelve during the Midwinter's Feast, she was the one who defused the situation, and you've been told that she helped Melanie carry you back to the academy after you passed out during the Midwinter's Feast. She's still a cheat, though.
Wilhelmina Adelaide Marienberg
An elven daughter of House Marienberg of Apaloft, Wilhelmina is universally recognized as the best shot with the longbow among the apprentices at Faulkren Academy. That being said, you really don't know much about her, and have never interacted with her directly before. You know that she's a childhood friend of Azalea's, and that Nikki respects her as a squadmate but thinks she's too much of a stick in the mud, and...that's about it, really. She gives you the impression of being relatively reserved and aloof, but a little more stiff about it than Aphelia or Sieglinde. Otherwise, you have no idea what she thinks of you, even though you've attended a few of Azalea's tea parties together before. She did save your life by shooting down a direwolf with well-placed arrows during the Squirrel attack on Faulkren Academy, though, so there's that.