The Empyrean RPG

There is little known about the ways of dragons, or how they govern themselves. There is a clear hierarchy among the most powerful, and deference is paid to elders. A dragon only answers to the eldest of their den and the empyrean. A dragon's lifespan is estimated to be around 200 years. Professor Kaori stated that 100 years is roughly considered middle-age for dragons. t's mentioned that dragons do not typically bond their riders until they are full grown, therefore not much is known about feathertails. A group of dragons is called a riot, and ten dragons make up a full riot.[2] Dragons bond with humans and channel magic through them, allowing riders to develop signet abilities. Some of this magic was previously used to create the wardstones that weave the protective wards around Navarre. This protects Navarre from gryphons, wyvern, and venin. Tairneanach notes that dragons can fly for 24 hours without needing water.They can also go multiple days without needing sleep.

Dragons have four legs and two wings, which is one of the main differentiations from wyvern. Full grown dragons average twenty-five feet tall.There are several different colors and breeds in dragonkind and, between all of them, various combinations are possible. However all dragons have semi-translucent wings and the tip of the wing joint is crowned by a single fierce talon. Each leg ends in razor-sharp talons and they have horns coming out the tops of their heads. Dragon scales are larger and thicker than a hand, and they are layered into the scales above them in an intricate pattern. This pattern does not leave handholds or paths for a rider to climb.The chest scales ripple with movement.Dragons have a part of the back called the seat. This is a smooth, scaly divot, just in front of their wings. In front of the seat is a pommel, which is a thick ridge of scales where their neck meets their massive, muscled shoulders.One of the biggest dangers with their scales is that if a small object gets stuck under their scales and they're unable to remove it, it could cause an infection.

Dragons hatch from eggs, referred to as clutches. Clutches are kept safe in their line's den within their hatching ground, most commonly in the Vale. Dragons can stay within their eggs for up to 650 years. These embryos have the ability to hear their surroundings and have some level of choice in when they decide to hatch. The egg shells are metal and hold magic long after the dragon has hatched. The shells can be used as an ingredient to create alloy, which can be imbued with power and used to kill venin. Hatchlings Infant dragons are commonly referred to as hatchlings before they become feathertails. During this stage, they develop the ability to fly. When a hatchling hatches from their egg, their birth transforms the immediate area around them if they are not located within the Vale. Juveniles Feathertails, also known as juveniles, are kept in the Vale, far from humans. This had led to the common false assumption that Feathertails are their own breed and that they don't bond riders because they abhor violence. All Feathertails are gold dragons and they change colors when they reach adolescence to match their den. Their tails are made up of feathers, hence the name, rather than a weapon-like tail that mature dragons have. Their only form of defense is their teeth. They do not have the ability to breathe fire, do not have claws, and are unable to carry a rider. Feathertails don't have the ability to give their bonded human a signet or bear them as a rider. If bonded, they have the unique ability to gift their powers to their human. However, since they're so young, they can accidentally gift all their powers to their human and drain themselves. This is the reason dragonkind fiercely protect Feathertails, hiding them from view, and when possible prevent them from bonding. Most Feathertail gifts disappear with maturity when they begin to channel.

Adolescents At this stage, if bonded, dragons lose the ability to gift their power to their bonded human. They now take on the color of their den. Tairneanach notes that they are known for their inability to be rational.

The Dreamless Sleep To progress between being juveniles and adolescents, dragons enter a long period of slumber called the Dreamless Sleep. This is necessary to ensure that they not only age correctly, but that their body develops properly to allow them to bear a rider. Only four facts about this time period are known:

It is a critical time of rapid growth and development. The duration varies from breed to breed. As the name suggests, they do not dream. They wake up very hungry. After waking up from the Dreamless Sleep, they developed their new tail type and color, losing their feathertail and golden color.

Fully Matured It typically takes 2–4 years for a dragon to fully mature once hatched, but it may take longer depending on the dragon.

History Not everyone in Navarre knows about the fables of venin and their wyverns, as the government outlawed the books that featured them. People that do know the stories however, assume that they only existed in fairytales. The folklore surrounding them involves a tale of three brothers: one who bonded with dragons, one who bonded with gryphons, and the third brother who became so jealous that he “drew [magic] directly from the source, losing his soul and waging war on the other two.” According to the story channeling magic from the source, without the use of a dragon or gryphon, corrupts that person’s soul beyond salvation. Venin are blamed for the lack of life in the Barrens and are thus assumed to reside in The Barrens. It is mentioned that at least one venin, the Sage, is centuries old. It was presumed that venin cannot draw power from the source while within the wards' reach, which is why Navarre has not seen a venin attack in 600 years. However, Jack Barlowe confirms that it is possible to turn venin within the wards and that they do not block all power. Venin are still able to channel from the ground and channel enough to survive. He also confirms that it's possible for Venin to control their dragons and do not die if their bonded dragon dies. Physical Description Venin are seen in various clothes; wearing blue or purple floor-length robes and holding a long misshapen cane—as well as in red fighting leathers. They are characterized by the “rivers of red veins fanning in every direction” around their red soulless eyes. Depending on their rank their appearance can vary.

Hierarchy: Venin are ranked based on their age and experience. Initiates are the lowest level of venin. Their eyes may have reddish rings depending on how often they drain others. Asim: Their eyes fluctuate in varying degrees of red and the veins distend when riled. however their veins are not "spiderwebbed" like a Sages. Sages are those responsible for initiates. Their eyes are permanently red and their veins perpetually distended toward their temples and expanding with age. Mavens are the equivalent of Generals in venin hierarchy. Sometimes Maven will train an initiate. A Maven has never been captured or studied. Power Venin handle a staff and hands to use their magic, appearing in balls of blue flames. They are immune to dragon fire and channel their power from the ground. Powers Fire Wielding The venin wield a kind of fire that's different from typical fire-wielding signets manifested by riders. Pain Projection The ability to force power into an enemy. Gravity Manipulation Using a staff, or by raising their palm up to the sky, they have the ability to lift opponents off the ground or force them down onto their hands and knees. Shields Wielding make them be able to project a physical shield out that can deflect a signet attack Destruction/Disintegration Closing their fist an asim can cause a conduit to overheat and disintegrate into nothingness. Reaching forward and then flipping and closing their fist allowed them to make rock fall from a mountain side. Abilities Venin can quickly adapt to whichever fighting style a person uses against them. Venin are immune to dragon-fire.

When a venin dies, so do the wyverns they created.

Inhibiting The runes placed on the Rybestad chest cause items held within the chest to be suspended in midair, effectively immobilizing venins from channeling their powers from the ground.

General Information Wyverns were created by the venin to compete with dragons. Instead of channeling magic from them, venin channel power into them. Because of this wyvern carry a form of energy forced into them by their wielders. This is thanks to a rune embedded in onyx, which acts as the heart of a wyvern. Despite this, they are related to dragons and share some characteristics. When a venin dies, the wyverns they created die with them. If they enter a warded region, they start to fall and crash into their death. Dragons cannot accurately detect wyvern. They can merely feel that something is off. Their scent is like stolen magic when you get close. Physical Description Opposed to dragons, wyverns lack front legs and depend on their membrane wings to move forward when landing. They have only two feet, and a mane of razor-sharp feathers streaking down their necks, with poison-barbed tails. Their colors range between white and grey, which makes it easy for them to hide in clouds of high altitude regions. They're typically larger than dragons. On the inside of a wyvern is a runed stone that hums when the wyvern is alive. Powers and Abilities Hive-Mind Wyvern share a collective conscious with the venin that created them. This allows riderless wyvern riots to patrol and gather information without endangering their venin.

Fire Type A wyvern is identified by the color of their fire. Blue Green: are characteristically faster Cherry red

General Information Gryphons are half-eagle, half-lion creatures. They are capable of channeling powers to their riders. However, they are not capable of powering wards. They don't tolerate altitude well because they can't handle the thinner air at higher altitudes. Dragons can channel more power than gryphons, making the riders of Navarre's abilities, both lesser magic and signet abilities, superior.

Gryphons die when their flier dies. They fly in groups, called drifts, in seven or less fliers to patrol Poromiel. Fliers train at Cliffsbane Flight Academy in Zoyla, much like cadets at Basgiath War College, but statistically the fliers have a much better chance at surviving till graduation than dragon riders.

Physical Description Gryphons are half-eagle and half-lion creatures. They're seven-feet tall with two-foot long beaks. They have dark beady eyes, back paws, razor-sharp talons, and a lion-like tail. Their hard beaks transition into a feathered chest. Their fur is brown and white, and some have silver on their wings.

General Information There are three known sources of magic; dragons, gryphons, or "the source" (a.k.a. the ground). Humans can wield magic by channeling power from one of these sources. If a human channels from "the source", they become a venin. Magic exists naturally in the world, and living beings emit excess magic, like waves off of body heat. It's such a small amount that they don't even notice it. Once magic is channeled, it is only visible when the wielder gives it a form (ie: grounding, shielding, signets, or lesser magic). Other uses for magic including housing power in objects to act as a battery (i.e. imbuing) or placing power into an object with a specific purpose (i.e. tempering runes).

Dragons' Magic and Signets Dragons channel their magic through their bonded rider, which allows the rider to use both lesser magic as well as their signet. Signets are a strong, unique, ability that results from the bond between a dragon and their rider. However the type of signet manifested depends on the rider, therefore no two signets are alike, the "feel" of a dragons magic differs from dragon to dragon. Signets are limited by a riders control, the more control a rider has over their signet the more powerful they can be in wielding it. If they channel too much at any given time they risk burning out and killing themselves. However in the case of a rider bonding a juvenile, or feathertail, dragon the consequences of burning out reverse and the dragon risks dying instead. Signs of Burnout Trembling Fever (Xaden's skin shows signs during battle of Basgiath) Fatigue Red skin that fades into something similar to a sunburn. Second Signets A rider having two signets is achieved in two ways. The most common is when a dragon bonds with a rider in the direct familial line as it's previous rider. However, there's an equal chance of the rider being driven to madness instead. Bonding this way is, according to Throit, frowned upon and punishable by the Empyrean. Some dragons skirt around this by bonding a distant relative so that their signets are more powerful but not entirely different from the previous rider. The second method, which has only been done by Violet, is to bond two different dragons. Relics Relics are given to humans through dragonfire. There are two types of known relics: Rebellion Relics are a result of specific runes which protected the children of the rebellion during the Calldyr executions. Dragon Relics a result of a bond between rider and dragon given to the rider after successfully survivng Threshing.

It is a fraction of the length of other division rule books, likely because riders have trouble obey rules. Article One, Section One; A dragon without its rider is a tragedy, a rider without their dragon is dead. Article One, Section Two; A dragon determines its last flight, and its rider's. Article Two: Impersonating a commissioned officer is a punishable offense. Article Three, Section Unknown; It is unlawful for a rider to cause another harm while in a quadrant formation or in the supervisory presence of a superior-ranking cadet as it will diminish the efficacy of the wing. Article Three, Section Two; It's an executable offense to attack any cadet while sleeping. Article Three, Section Six, Addendum B; A rider may only bring to the quadrant the items they can carry and they shall not be separated from those items no matter what they may be, for once carried across the parapet, they are considered part of their person Written to make thievery an executional offense, but in doing so gave any item carried across parapet the status of being a part of the rider. Article Four, Section One; All cadet belongings are subject to search at the discretion of command. Article Four, Section Two; A cadet's discipline falls their chain of command before being brought to cadre. Article Four, Section Three; Quadrant leaders cannot hurt each other without cause and calling a quorum of wingleaders, other Rider Quadrant leaders cannot be harmed. Article Five, Section Seven; Though not forbidden, cadets are strongly encouraged not to develop strong romantic attachments while studying in the quadrant for the efficiency of the unit. Though the chain of command may be consulted, the final say in any academic punishment or repercussion lies with the commandant's office. While cadets are strongly encouraged not to form romantic attachments while studying in the quadrant, lieutenants are permitted to marry whomever they choose upon graduation.

Article Eight, Section One; "Calling cadets into active service in times of war may only be authorized by the Commanding General of Basgiath."[26] Article Unknown, Section Unknown; "People within the same squad cannot kill each other." ... "Challenges between squadmates are forbidden." Basgiath War College Code of Conduct Article Two, Section Three; Barring invasion, only riders and designated scribes are permitted in the Riders Quadrant. To enter uninvited as infantry or even healer is to welcome a swift death. Article Four, Section One; Cadets who are found absent without leave will be subject to court-martial by their chain of command, if they are not executed on sight. Addendum 5.2; In the best interest of preserving peace within Navarre, no more than three cadets carrying rebellion relics may be assigned to any squad of any quadrant. Addendum 5.3; In addition to last year's changes, marked ones assembling in groups of three or more will now be considered an act of seditious conspiracy and is hereby a capital offense.

Addendum 4.2; "As for the 107 innocents, the children of the executed officers, they now carry what shall be known as the rebellion relic, transferred by the dragon who carried out the kings justice. And to show the mercy of our great king, they will all be conscripted into the prestigious Riders Quadrant at Basgiath, so they may prove their loyalty to our kingdom with their service or with their lives." The Aretia Accord Article Two, Section One; "Fliers and riders are held equal in every regard with the exception of wing structure. Riders will maintain their wings, sections, and squads, as well as retain their command. Every drift will be absorbed by a squad, and their leader will replace the squad's current executive officer for unit cohesiveness and efficiency."

General Information Those in the Riders Quadrant are trained to fight on dragon-back. Though it is the most deadly of the quadrants, with only a quarter of the cadets reaching graduation. Statistically most riders don't make it to retirement age. There's been an increased rate at which Rider Alumni have been dying in the two last years.

On average 15% of candidates die while attempting to cross the parapet on conscription day before they even enter the Riders Quadrant. Even with the high death rate, there is no shortage of rider candidates each year because of the glory of being a rider. Riders are at the top of the social and military hierarchy, and it is well known that it is easier to climb the ranks as riders. According to Violet the only rules that apply to Riders are from the Codex. Riders are also permitted to marry earlier, shortly after gradation, most likely because riders often die early too, and because most successful riders are legacies so they want to continue the bloodlines. They also receive better pay.

The Riders Quadrant is divided into four wings, each wing has three sections (either flame, claw, or tail), and each section has three squads. Highest ranks are Wingleader and Section Leader, both positions held by third years. Everyone is considered a cadet until after bonding a dragon during Threshing at which point they become a rider.

First year cadets are placed in the back two rows of the little square that makes up each squad. If a first year survives threshing unbonded they have the opportunity to repeat their year. The only weapons that cadets and riders are allowed to have are weapons that they earn or bring with them across parapet. Weapons can either be earned by passing a weapons qualification for a specific weapon, or they can beat an opponent during a challenge and take one of their weapons.

Basgiath War College is located roughly in the middle of Navarre and is the main college is built into the side of Basgiath Mountain in the Morraine Province. The Building itself is split into two halves, the main lower portion dedicated to Scribes, Healers, Infantry and Administration. And the upper half, otherwise known as the Citadel, for the Riders Quadrant. The main building is built into the side of Basgiath Mountain, as if it were cleaved from the ridgeline of the peak itself. The sprawling, formidable, structure towers over the grassy fields below with its stories-tall battlements built to protect the high rise of the keep within, and has defensive turrets at each of its four corners, one of which houses the bells. There is a worn cobblestone path along the southern turret near General Sorrengail's office. There are four roads that lead up to the fortress where they converge just on the grassy fields just beneath the main gate. Of all the doors in Basgiath, the main gate is the only one no candidate enters during Conscription day, since each quadrant has their own unique entrances and facilities. The northern turret leads to the infantry ground level quadrant. The southern gate leads to the healers quadrant. The central tunnel leads to the archives and the scribe quadrant below ground. The entrance for the riders quadrant is nothing more than a fortified door in a tower similar to the infantry one with the exception that the riders have to climb up towards the citadel. Before Conscription Day, all future students are required to pass a written and physical agility exam. The majority go straight into the infantry, ending as front line fodder, but those that pass become candidates of their choice of quadrant. Candidates are a mixture of volunteers, conscripts, and those serving Navarre as punishment for crimes. However the Riders Quadrant only accepts volunteers and the 107 children of the rebellion.

Training lasts three years, and first-years are not permitted to write or receive letters from their family for the first year. Only second and third years are allowed to contact their families and friends outside of the college.[2]

If their child dies at the war college, parents have the option to either retrieve the body and personal effects for burial and burning or the school will put their body under a stone in the fields beyond Basgiath and burn their effects themselves. Conscription Day The exact date of Conscription Day is unspecified, but through various references to the passing weeks and months, it can be inferred that Conscription Day is in the second to last week of July. in: Locations, Fourth Wing locations, Iron Flame locations, and 2 more Basgiath War College Sign in to edit

Basgiath War College

Interior school map by Amy Acosta and Elizabeth Turner Stokes General Information Type War College Located in Morraine, Navarre Notable Residents Dain Aetos Rhiannon Matthias Violet Sorrengail Imogen Cardulo Bodhi Durran Ridoc Gamlyn Sawyer Henrick Garrick Tavis (former) Liam Mairi (former) Xaden Riorson (former) Series Information Appearances Fourth Wing Iron Flame

Basgiath War College is an institution in Navarre that trains members of the Navarrian military. It is most popularly known for its dragon riders.

The Citadel The Riders Quadrant is located in it's own separate Citadel high above the administrative building carved into the southern ridgeline. The enormous stone footings of the citadel rise up the mountain to the base of the structure and can be easily seen from the Parapet. The fortress looms behind thick battlements in an L-shaped formation of tall stone buildings that can withstand fire for obvious reasons. The walls around the citadel are ten feet thick and eight feet tall to support the weight of dragons who use them as a perch. The only opening within the wall is the opening that leads to the parapet which is elevated twelve inches above the gravel-paved courtyard. To become a Riders Quadrant cadet, Candidates must climb a turret, cross the parapet, and enter the courtyard of the citadel on conscription day.

The Parapet The inside of the tower leading up to the turret is dimly lit with equidistant windows along the curved staircase. There's no railing for the two hundred and fifty stairs. The top of the turret is bare, with crenulations of stone rising and falling in a circular pattern at the height of Violets chest with a gaping hole at the entrance of the Parapet, doing nothing to obscure the view of the Iakobos River and ravine below. At two hundred feet in the air it is a stone bridge that is only eighteen inches wide and slick but not slippery from moss growth. It's surface is uneven in some places held together by mortar that can be knocked loose and makes it easy to trip. The exact length of the parapet is unknown. Due to its height, the wind is very strong and can blow candidates off, causing them to fall to their death.

The Courtyard A sizeable open space that connects the turret to the citadel via the parapet, it can easily hold a thousand riders and thus where the cadets hold formation. Shaped like an angular teardrop the rounded end is formed by a giant outer wall at least ten feet thick. Along the sides are stone halls. The four story building carved into the mountain. Stone Dais Located to the right side of the Parapet opening. The Alcove There's an alcove in the courtyard wall, close to the first defensive turret of the citadel that's a shady hidden spot with a hard wooden bench. There's a tunnel at the end of the alcove. Tunnel Connects the alcove with the turret to the dorms, has mage lights that flicker on scones as people pass and a wrought iron gate that looks like it was built to keep out a troll, or dragons. Western Gate A door along the courtyard wall, to the left of the academic building, that opens to a tunnel that leads to the ridgeline that separates the citadel from the flight fields. The archway at the end opening to the gauntlet is roughly 10 feet tall. First Defensive Turret Has a set of circular steps without a railing that lead up three flights to the second and third year dorm rooms. The stairwell also descends a flight lower than the main entry to a passage that connects with the healers quadrant in the main campus. The main floor has a polished stone floor.

The Dragon Rotunda Imposing, links the academic wing and the dorms but also serves as an entrance to the gathering hall, commons, and library behind it. The stone keep has a giant arched door at the center with the words carved into the arch that say, "A dragon without it's rider is a tragedy. A rider without their dragon is dead." There's a wide staircase leading up to the four doors of the rotunda from the courtyard. Inside is overwhelming, the room is three stories tall, from the polished gray marble floors to the domed glass ceiling that filters in the soft morning light. When entering from the courtyard, to the left are two massive arched doors to the academic wing, between the orange and black pillars, echoed by two doors on the right, leading to the dorms. Up half a dozen steps, there are four doorways straight ahead leading into the gathering hall. Equally spaced around the rotunda are six daunting marble pillars carved into the shapes of shimmering dragons; red, green, brown, orange, blue and black. They're sculpted in a way as if they'd come crashing down from the ceiling above. here's enough room between the snarling mouths at the base of each to fit at least four squads in the center of the Rotunda. Violet notes that it's possibly the most beautiful piece of architecture in the citadel and all of Basgiath. There's a small gap between the claw of the dark red marble dragon and the wall. Students use it to walk through from one building to another.

Academic Wing A four story building carved into the side of the mountain with a rounded end.

Battle Brief Room An enormous lecture hall with recessed flooring from which the teachers lecture. Battle Brief is the only class held in this circular, tiered, room that curves the entire end of the academic hall. It's one of only two rooms in the citadel capable of fitting every cadet, presumably the gathering hall is the other room, however the senior third years have to stand against the walls while the rest of the cadets sit in creaky wooden seats. There is a twenty foot high map of the continent mounted to the back wall that's intricately labeled with defensive outposts along the border and illuminated by dozens of mage lights that more than make up for the lack of windows. Reached by taking the academic towers turret. The Sparring Gym There are twenty sparring mats across the massive gym that consumes the flirt floor of the academic wing. One wall is made entirely of windows and doors that are left open in the summer to let in a cool breeze. Each squad gets one mat during assessment day, and there are three squads from each wing. The sparring mats are black and the sparring gym has wood-planked walls. Professor Kaori's Classroom Has circular tables/desks so that he can project images onto the middle of each table. Burn Pit Located at the top of the academic tower's turret, past the battle brief room and up to the stone roof. It has an extra-wide iron barrel that's only purpose is to incinerate the personal belongings of the dead. The Forge This holds the only known luminary in Navarre (until Viscount Tecarus hands over his own in Iron Flame). It's heated by dragon fire and is used to smelt alloys and forge weapons, such as daggers. To get to the forge, Xaden takes Violet out of the Academic wing, across the courtyard, into the tunnel to the flight field, and down a set of stairs. At that point, their route is interrupted.

The Forge This holds the only known luminary in Navarre (until Viscount Tecarus hands over his own in Iron Flame). It's heated by dragon fire and is used to smelt alloys and forge weapons, such as daggers. To get to the forge, Xaden takes Violet out of the Academic wing, across the courtyard, into the tunnel to the flight field, and down a set of stairs. At that point, their route is interrupted. Dorms Connected to the courtyard via the first defensive turret. Private rooms for riders after they've bonded with a dragon. the third floor is for second years such as Dain. The building to the right of the courtyard towering over the cliff. Second and third year riders with leadership positions are awarded larger rooms.

First Years Section/Barracks A three story building, although only the first and third floors house first years. Beds are positioned in four neat rows and house more than 156 cadets. Lights flicker on after sunset and go out with curfew. Hallway leads from the womans hall, on the first floor of the first year barracks, past other halls that will lead to individual rooms once riders survive threshing. At the end of the hallway is an arched doorway that leads into the rotunda and as they enter the rotunda they pass the Green Dragon marble statue. Gathering Hall located behind the rotunda students pass through the commons and walk past the Library and study tables to enter the gathering hall. Commons Located behind the rotunda students walk up a small flight of stairs to enter. Inside the commons are study tables and the entrance to the library. Passing the library leads to the gathering hall where students eat. Library Located behind the rotunda inside the commons. It's not the same as the archives, but it features all the tomes needed for studying in the Riders Quadrant.

The Gauntlet There is a steep staircase carved into the cliffside beside the wide switchbacks of the gauntlet to allow riders to reach the flight field that sits on top of the ridgeline after Presentation. The view just outside of the Western Gate at the entrance of the Gauntlet is spectacular, still high up on the mountain thousands of feet above the valley. The greenery seems to stretch endlessly to the south, with random clusters of squat trees among the colorful slopes of wildflowers. Basgiath Mountain The Main Building is built into the side of Basgiath Mountain, as if it were cleaved from the ridgeline of the peak itself. Iakobos River Runs beneath the citadel. there is waist high grass along the sides of the river. At the beginning of Fourth Wing the river is swollen and rushes with the summer runoff from the peaks above the war college. The current is fast and deadly during late summer, especially coming out of the steep drop of the ravine. There's a line of ancient oak trees that line the river, which is where Violet retrieves the fonilee berries and spies the Marked Ones having their meeting. Unnamed Lake It is near the Citadel, where Dain and Violet used to swim growing up at Basgiath, and where cadets from the Morraine province all meet up on Saturdays and spend time together at the lake because it reminds them of the ocean back home.

The Vale The Vale is the valley behind Basgiath that is the dragons' home and they protect it from gryphons. Dragons eggs are laid at the Vale and it is their sacred hatching ground. Hatchlings and Feathertails, both terms for different stages of a baby dragon's life, are protected at the Vale until they are old enough to protect themselves.

Flight Field The flight field, also known as the training field, is located at the top of the ridgeline that the Gauntlet is carved into. The flight field is inside a natural box canyon that's designed for dragons to land and take off from. In the afternoon sun the view is spectacular. with miles of autumn colored meadows, gold-leafed trees, and peaks rising on three sides (the fourth side, the valley entrance, is the narrowest part and is a steep drop off down to the gauntlet and the steep staircase beside it) Opposite of the valley entrance is a waterfall that rushes during runoff season. There's a dirt path that leads through the center of the valley used for presentation day, with a lingering odor of sulfur.

There are stairs that lead from the flight field to the citadel, however only cadets that have successfully completed the gauntlet may use them.

Unbonded cadets, healers, and any other non-rider personnel are not permitted onto the flight field.

Main Building Healer Quadrant Tunnel - a suspended stone bridge with few windows that leads out of the riders quadrant that leads over the ravine directly into the healers quadrant. There's a door at the end. Infirmary - a long hall of beds, half of which are occupied by Riders on Assessment Day. There are wooden chairs next to each bed and blue fabric curtains that can be used to partition beds away from public view. Bell Tower Infantry Quadrant Scribe Quadrant (Under Ground) Archives They are a part of the Scribe Quadrant. The doors of the archives are sealed every evening. The complex magic that activates when the doors are sealed, are intended to protect and maintain the scripts, but is incoporable with the human live. For this reason, every living has to leave the archives before the doors are shut, unless they want to die.

Administrative Building Through the windows of the cental administrative part of the fortress's lower half Violet is able to see thousands of candidates on the grassy fields just beneath the main gate of the War College.

Breakfast Duty Chore (starts roughly at 5:25am) Breakfast (served at 6am) Formation (death roll, important announcements) Unnamed Class fourth floor, second room on the left in the academic wing. Gym (twice per week) or Gauntlet Training (three times per week) Gauntlet Training starts around Sept 11th in the morning, two and a half weeks prior to Presentation Day. Dragon Lecture by Professor Kaori History (lasts one hour and is directly before Battle Brief) Reviews past wars only. Battle Brief (time; mid-morning, only class taken daily) Entire quadrant attends. Meant to teach critical thinking skills to keep riders alive in fluid political situations. Lunch Challenges (after lunch) Every cadet is challenged once a week starting the second week of class (August) Pause between second week of September and resume after solstice Special Events Conscription Day (mid-July) Gauntlet/Presentation Day (September) Threshing (October 1st) Squad Battle War Games

Breakfast (served at 6am) Formation (death roll, important announcements) Battle Brief (time; mid-morning, only class taken daily) Entire quadrant attends Meant to teach critical thinking skills to keep riders alive in fluid political situations. Lunch Challenges (after lunch) Every cadet is challenged once a week starting the second week of class (August) Pause between second week of September and resume after solstice. Flight Field Rider Survival Course (RSC) Physics Special Events Conscription Day (July) Gauntlet/Presentation (September) Threshing (October 1st) Squad Battle War Games

Third Year Breakfast (served at 6am) Formation (death roll, important announcements) Battle Brief (time; mid-morning, only class taken daily) Entire quadrant attends Meant to teach critical thinking skills to keep riders alive in fluid political situations. Lunch Challenges (after lunch) Every cadet is challenged once a week starting the second week of class (August). Pause between second week of September and resume after solstice. Courses: Weaving Special Events Conscription Day (July) Gauntlet/Presentation (September) Threshing (October 1st) Squad Battle War Games

The wings are the different ''house'' in wich the rider are split. In Besgiah, there's 4 wings (the first to the fourth, no more name than that.)

The wings are split in sections (Flame section, tail section and claw section) The sections are split in three squad of more or less fifteen to sixteen member.

The uniforms are less strict in the riders quadrant than in any other quadrant. Riders are only required to wear all black and cadets often alter or customize their uniforms. Cadets are issued standard uniforms at the beginning of their first year, this includes; Summer-weight uniforms- tight fitted tunics, pants, and accessories. Fighting leathers- worn for sparring. Flight leathers- thicker more protective combat uniforms, aren't handed out until after Threshing due to the amount of cadets that die between Conscription and Threshing.

Patches Cadets are issued patches that they can choose to wear on the shoulders of their uniforms and the wearer sews it into their clothes. Patches indicate information that is specific to the cadet and are often worn with pride but it is not mandatory for a cadet to wear them. The design on patches changes yearly.

Patches are only worn on regular uniforms, flight uniforms do not bear any insignias, patches, or names; they only have a rider's rank and any leadership designation on their shoulder. This is done intentionally to protect the rider if they are separated from their dragon behind enemy lines. Few exemples Patches Wing Patch: Flame shaped patch with the emblem for the Fourth Wing and a cantered reddish number two Year: The number of silver four-pointed stars worn on their collarbone indicates their year. (One star for a first-year, two stars for a second-year, and three stars for a third-year) Classified Signet: The compass patch, worn below the wing patch. Flame Section: It is bright purple. Gauntlet Patch: Awarded to the cadet with the fastest Gauntlet time. Iron Squad: Green. Awarded to the squad with the most surviving members at Threshing.The Squad that earns this patch does not have to rotate sparring mats during matches. Classified Patch: Circular, silver patch with a black key, given after escaping interrogation. Lightning Signet Patch: Lightning bolt that branches off into four different directions. Executive Officer (Squad) Patch Section Leader Patch(s): Signet Patches: Represents a person’s (unclassified) signet. Untitled Patch: Patch for the squad leader that keeps the highest number of first years alive. Untitled Patch: Triangular patch with a long sword. It indicates that the wearer is "not to be messed with on the mat"

Combat matches between the cadets and/or riders. Some are hand-to-hand while others are with weapons, it is up to the two competing cadets to decide which weapons can be used. Throwing weapons is not allowed as it endangers cadets sparring on other mats. Riders are not allowed to use lesser magic or signets during challenges. However, riders have still been known to use these abilities- as was the case between Imogen vs Violet, and Jack vs Violet.

These challenges start two weeks into the school year, usually the first week of august, and stop for first-years in early September when they start training for Gauntlet. To the cadets, challenges may seem random and any cadet can request a challenge, however, it is rumored that the instructors secretly assign matches based on weeding out the weakest. These challenges are decided a week in advance.

Is a vertical obstacle course that cadets must complete in order to attend Threshing and attempted to bond with a dragon. It is located in the Riders Quadrant at Basgiath War College, the Gauntlet is built into the ridgeline that separates the citadel from the flight field and the Vale. The final gauntlet run begins shortly after morning formation on September 29th.

Presentation Day September 29th One of the deadliest days for first year cadets. Cadets all walk in a line down the meadow and back. This is done so that the dragons can see that years cadets and assess them. Advice given to cadets to promote bonding Leaving at least seven feet between each cadet incase a dragon finds disfavor with one of them. A dragon is more likely to burn a group to weed out one singular cadet. Talking to their fellow cadets while they walk. This helps the dragons get a sense of who they are and how well they work with others. There is a correlation between bonded cadets and the level of chatter between them on Presentation day.

Threshing October 1st Cadets are spread out in the fields outside of the quadrant and they walk around looking for a dragon to bond with. Second- and third-year riders are also spread out around the fields to observe but they are not allowed to interfere. Some first-year cadets takes this opportunity to attempt to kill any cadets that they think are too weak or unfit to be riders. Once a rider bonds with a dragon, the dragon will put them through a series of flight trials, where the dragon will fly and turn, testing the rider's abilities to remain seated. If the rider falls from their seat then the dragon will either catch them and place them back in the seat, or if deemed unworthy, the dragon will let the cadet fall to the ground and die. After a successful flight trial, the dragon will land and the cadet will report their bond to the roll-keeper who will record the bond in the Book of Riders.

Their quadrant takes up the southern end of the college and their uniforms are pale blue. There's a lower covered stone bridge that leads over the ravine directly from the Riders Quadrant into the Healers Quadrant's infirmary.

Healers do not have magic, they rely instead on traditional tinctures and medical training to heal as best they can and use surgeons for serious injuries. At Basgiath War College, healers and menders work in tandem to heal injured students. On weekends, cadets in this quadrant go on mind-body-health retreats. During Threshing, healers are not allowed in the flight fields, but cadets and riders will often visit the healers after Threshing to take care of any injuries that could not be sufficiently managed by the field medics.

The majority of the conscripts join the Infantry Quadrant making them the biggest quadrant at Basgiath. At any given time they have over a thousand cadets. The entrance to their Quadrant is at the base of the northern turret at Basgiath War College and they are at ground-level.

It takes at least a full company of infantry to make up for the loss of one rider.

Uniforms Their uniforms are navy blue.

Cadets carry a rudimentary set of survival gear in their packs at all times. This gear includes a mess kit. All infantry cadets carry a shortsword as their standard weapon.

Rank Battalion commanders are the Infantry equivalent to Wingleaders

Patches Rank: Open triangle beneath two oak leaves embroidered on the shoulder of their uniform Known Training For missions, each cadet has a designated role, one of those roles is a healer's aide.

Camping and outdoor survival Making and breaking camp in the snow through the winter Land navigation training Join practice operations with Rider, Healer, and Scribe cadets starting in second year

On Conscription Day, candidates for the Scribe Quadrant must pass a written entrance exam in order to start their scribe training. Part of their exam would be about the history of Navarre and their complicated relationship with Poromiel as they are training to be the Navarre's historians. The Scribe Quadrant is located across the river in a separate building than the Riders Quadrant at Basgiath. Scribes start their day at around 5am. Scribes dedicate themselves to the custom of maintaining emotional composure as an extension of their work. This composure shows how earnest they are about their work, and how dedicated they remain. Smiling, or hugging their friends, is thus frowned upon and chastised. Cadets are able to return home for the summer breaks during their three years of training. Duties It is the duty of the scribes not only to study and master the past but to relay and record the present. Scribes provide accurate depictions of the front lines, reliable information, and most importantly, veracious details to document history for the good of future generations. It is a scribe's responsibility to record all the incoming candidates on Conscription Day, as well as the cadets that cross Parapet into the Riders Quadrant. Scribe cadets, in conjunction with Captain Fitzgibbons, report to the Citadel every morning to announce the names of the cadets who died the prior day in front of the Riders Quadrant morning formation. Professor Markham, the Scribe Quadrant Curator, is responsible for co-teaching Battle Brief to the Riders Quadrant because the scribes have access to up-to-date relevant information about military movement. The rider in charge of the rider's library sends a list of requests and returns to the Archives every night, and scribe cadets prepare and deliver the books to the rider cadet who is on Archive duty in the morning before breakfast.

Uniforms Their uniforms are a set of robes with a cream tunic and a hood. The hoods are designed to keep the scribes from standing out against the tomes. It is a symbol that no one and nothing is more important than the documents and books in the Archives. The number of gold rectangles woven into the shoulder of their tunic indicates their year. Ranks The first-years are inducted as scribe cadets. Cadets are placed into squads and have different rotations. One of the rotations is archive duty. As cadets, they are also responsible not only for recording history, but to transfer information from the front lines as well.One of the paths that scribes can follow during their education is the "adept path." Only the highest ranked scribe cadets can follow this path as it is the hardest of all degrees for scribes. Every Curator of the Scribe Quadrant must have that degree. Cadets that follow this degree will rarely leave the Archives and will spend more time with Professor Markham than other scribes.

The Archives The door to the Archives is similar to a vault and the inside smells like parchment, book-binding glue, and ink. They have less fresh air as a part of the fire mitigation system With less air in the Archives, there is less risk that Navarre's history burns to the ground in a fire. The Archives are meant to have a copy or the original of almost every single book in Navarre. Only ultrarare or forbidden tomes are excluded. It is notable that The book "The Fables of the Barren", which is a book of fables about venin and wyverns, or anything similar was not included in the Archives.

The Sublevel Royal Vaults The sub level vaults are highly secret.

The Continent is separated into two kingdoms: Navarre and Poromiel, and the uninhabitable land of the Barrens beyond their borders. According to ancient Navarrian royal records, the landform was called Amaralys by Navarrians and Amelekis by Poromsh records. After the Great War, the kingdoms could only agree on calling it "The Continent.

Navarre, made up of mountainous and forested land, is ruled by King Tauri and the senarium. Heir to the throne is the King's eldest son, Halden Tauri. Second in line is Cam Tauri (aka Aaric Graycastle), the King's youngest son. Navarre has been at war with Poromiel for four hundred years. The kingdom's primary resources include ore, hardy timber from the eastern provinces, elk, and deer.

Tyrrendor Province:

• Aretia: The capital of Tyrrendor
• Lewellen: Where Earl Lewellen resides.
• Tirvainne: Where Duke Lindell resides.

Luceras Province

Calldyr Province:

• Calldyr City: The capital of Calldyr Province.

Morraine Province:

• Basgiath War College
• Chantara: A village that supplies Basgiath and is open for second- and third-year students to visit for worship. -Montserrat
• Pelham: An outpost near the Cygni border.
• Sipene: A village within the Esben Mountains and an hour's flight from Montserrat.

Deaconshire Province: -Ruel

Elsum Province:

• Athebyne : One of the most strategic outposts along the Esben Mountains.
• Chakir: A small village located near the eastern border of Navarre, within the Esben - Mountains, which marks the border with the Braevick province of Poromiel.
• Keldavi: An outpost along the Braevick border.
• Samara
• Sumerton: A small, high-altitude village located on the southern border of Elsum and the Krovla province of Poromiel, within the Esben Mountains.

Notable Landmarks :

• The Vale: Where the Empyrean's hatching grounds reside.
• Parchille Forest: A forest used for the Rider Survival Course (RSC).
• Shedrick Woods: A woodland used for the Rider Survival Course (RSC).
• Hadden Woods: A woodland used for the Rider Survival Course (RSC).
• Beatha River: It has crystal clear water. Riders fly over this river on the journey from Basgiath to Aretia.
• Iakabos River: The river that flows through Morraine and travels beneath the citadel of Basgiath War College.
• Cliffs of Dralor: They disappear into a thick layer of cloud cover.
• Medaro Pass: A trail carved into the gray granite cliffside made up of a series of ledges and switchbacks with hidden gryphon-traps, it blends in with the terrain and has been kept a strategic secret. it's located to the west of Draithus above a grassy field. The trail is not wide enough to support a fully loaded wagon. The trail is up to six feet wide in some parts, but it narrows to a quarter of that in spots where the path has disintegrated, thus leaving gaping holes that would have any hiker hugging the wall to get by. one trap was a battering ram log.
• Precipice Pass: A winding trading route up the northeast side of the Cliffs of Dralor, along the border of Deaconshire.
• Esben Mountains: They make up the border between Elsum Province and Braevick Province.

Poromiel is made up of mostly arid grasslands and marshlands. It is ruled by King Tecarus, with Syrena Cordella as its hier. The kingdom's primary resources include textiles, grains, and unique crystalline gems.

Krovla Province :

• Cordyn: A city on the southern coast of the Krovlan Province, where King Tecarus rules. It's the third largest Poromish city.
• Draithus: Krovla's second most populous city.
• Pavis: A town located an hour's flight east from Draithus.
• Resson: A trading post just along the border of Poromiel, Resson served as both a home to roughly 300 civilians and a key trading post.
• Jahna: A village that's an hour's flight east of Resson, and has been drained by venin.
• Soudra: A port, a half hour from Draithus on horseback.

Braevick Province :

• Anca: The city was drained by venin following the capture of Zolya (fall of 634 AU), and left abandoned.
• Zolya: The second most populous city in Braevick and home to the Cliffsbane Flight Academy. At the foot of the Esben Mountains along the Stonewater River. It's a four hour flight from Navarre's border. The city has fallen to venin in the fall of 634 AU.

Cygnisen Province

Notable Landmarks :

• Bay of Malek: A large oceanic bay that borders the Eastern coast of Krovla and the Western coast of The Barrens.
• Dunness River: A river that runs along the border between Braevick Province and The Barrens. This land has already been drained of its power.
• Stonewater River: A river feeding into the Bay of Malek, from the Esben mountains along the border of Elsum Province, Navarre and flowing through Braevick Province, Poromiel.

There are multiple kingdoms occupying the isles that surround The Continent. There are 5 large and 13 small isles that surround the Continent in every direction. One of its notable exports is Deverelli silk, a silk that is both soft and almost transparent. One of the costs of Navarre's Unification was that travel to the isles became prohibited. Navarre has not traded with the isle kingdoms in centuries.

Deverelli is the southernmost of the isles. It is rules by King Courtlyn IV. Deverelli residents do not worship gods, one of the reasons it is considered the most neutral of the isles and ideal for trade. Their economy is built on stable trade of both goods and secrets.

Unnbriel residents exclusively worship the goddess of war, Dunne. The isle is ruled by Queen Marlis.

Zehyllna is an isle within The Isles off the coast of Amaralys that exclusively worships the god of luck, Zihnal. Zehyllna has magic, though not as much as on Amaralys.

Loysam is one of the major isles. It has guards, but no army.

Located to the west and north of the Continent. The northern coast of Luceras, which borders the Emerald Sea, is described as bitterly cold. It is largely unexplored because sailors don't return from the deepest waters. Piracy within the Emerald Sea was a big issue in the fifth century.

“I cannot imagine sustainable life beyond the Emerald Sea. No ship has ever survived the tempests that form its ice-tipped waves, and the only sailors who return from her exploration do so defeated."

Located to the couth and east of the Continent. The ocean is known for calm, warm waters and were once lucrative trade routes. It is later described as having dangerous waves in the context of gryphon flier strategy.

Leigheas Serum: amber liquid, bitter taste, helps with pain. can cause slurring.

The known religion is polytheistic, with several gods to worship. Various temples are mentioned in locations such as Chantara and Aretia. Humans may visit these temples to appeal to their gods. Another popular religious practice includes burning the belonging of loved ones after their death. This is to appease Malek, the god of death. Dragons do not worship the gods of humans. Not all humans worship gods, such as the residents of Deverelli.

"It is unwise to favor one god above another. Better to shun them all than show favoritism amongst a jealous, prodigious pantheon." —Major Rorilee's Guide to Appeasing the Gods, Second Edition

"Dedicating oneself to temple work isn't just a noble pursuit. Becoming high priest or priestess is the closest most of us will get to touching the power of the gods. The rest are riders." —Major Rorilee's Guide to Appeasing the Gods, Second Edition "Guardians are no longer permitted to dedicate children in service of their favored diety. The decision to serve the gods for life must be made after the age of majority and of one's free will." —Public Notice 200.417 Transcribed by Rachel Lightstone

Malek : God of Death "It is a grave offence against Malek to keep the belongings of a dead loved one. They belong in the beyond with the god of death and the departed. In the absence of a proper temple, any fire will do. He who does not burn for Malek will be burned by Malek." A a rite to Malek, the people burns everything the dead owned. At the end of the reading of the deaths scroll in the morning, in military setting, the scribe says '' we command their soul to Malek.''

Dunne: Goddess of Strength and War Popular phrase: by Dunne

Zihnal: God of Luck

Amari: Queen of The Gods Artistic depictions usually give her high cheekbones and an oval face. Cherubs are usually carved at the feet of statues of Amari.

Loial: Goddess of Love

Hedeon : God of Wisdom