Admiral Squish
2009-09-27, 12:45 PM
As you push through the massive gates of Morgrave’s front entrance, the first thing that strikes you is the sound. Dozens of hopefuls mill about in the huge room, chattering to each other, the echo of the room making the whole place reverberate with the sound of voices. The clatter of armor and the sound of boots on stone, the clear, sharp sound of weapons being sharpened and inspected complementing the chatter and raising quite the ungodly din in the huge room.
The room itself is richly decorated, with huge, sprawling carvings on almost every surface. On one wall, an arcanist flings powerful, arcane magic at an ancient dragon. Another, sprawling vines choke an entrance as a band of relic hunters seek entrance to some long-forgotten tomb. A third bears a scene of a student hunkered down, a wide array of arcane implements at his fingertips as he inspects some manner of artifact. On the ceiling, there’s a squared-off spiral from the center framed with a molding of raised stone, filled with a long string of text in draconic, the school’s motto, if the plaque near the door it to be believed.
As the hopeful applicants milled and chattered, the in was tremendous. But suddenly, a single, sharp tap, like metal on stone cut through the roar, and the hopefuls fell silent. Another tap, and all the head turned to view as a redheaded dwarf woman strode from the faculty office and towards the raised platform on the far wall from the door. She was clad in simple white robes with black accents. Her hair was braided and pulled up into a tight bun atop her head, and a circlet of woven silver rested on her brow. The tap sounded again, and it was collectively realized the assembled that it was something to do with her footwear. As she ascended the steps, you see how, as glimpses of steel-shod boots are visible under the hem of her robes.
She strode confidently across the stage and surveyed the crowd as she stepped behind the podium, which sank automatically to adjust to her height. She cast one more glance before she began to speak. “Good morning, hopefuls.” She began. “You all know why you’re here. You all seek to join the newly-formed acquisitions department of Morgrave University. And the smart ones among you know not all of you will be accepted. So, before we go any further in the process, we have a mission for you all, a test to ensure you all have what it takes to be faculty here at the prestigious Morgrave University.” She redhead said with a sly smirk.
“The city sewers are a dangerous place, but nothing compared to what you will face if accepted to the department. And so, twelve warforged staff members are milling about below the city. They’ve been instructed to avoid contact with anyone wandering the sewers, and if they are cornered, to activate these.” She mentioned, holding up a golden disk the size of an orange with six wings forged of the finest gold filigree. “These are your objective. They’re small, they’re fast, they fly, and their only purpose in existence is to return to me as fast as possible. If it reaches me of it‘s own power, you’ve failed. Bring me one of these in the next 24 hours, and you will be recognized as a Morgrave staff member. I don’t care how it gets here, as long as it’s intact when you get it here, and in your possession.” The dwarf woman explained. “The test begins at high noon. I’ll be answering your questions until then.” She added, a wicked gleam in her eye, her voice still deceptively cheerful. The massive magical clock behind her was gesturing the time, only ten minutes to noon.
The room itself is richly decorated, with huge, sprawling carvings on almost every surface. On one wall, an arcanist flings powerful, arcane magic at an ancient dragon. Another, sprawling vines choke an entrance as a band of relic hunters seek entrance to some long-forgotten tomb. A third bears a scene of a student hunkered down, a wide array of arcane implements at his fingertips as he inspects some manner of artifact. On the ceiling, there’s a squared-off spiral from the center framed with a molding of raised stone, filled with a long string of text in draconic, the school’s motto, if the plaque near the door it to be believed.
As the hopeful applicants milled and chattered, the in was tremendous. But suddenly, a single, sharp tap, like metal on stone cut through the roar, and the hopefuls fell silent. Another tap, and all the head turned to view as a redheaded dwarf woman strode from the faculty office and towards the raised platform on the far wall from the door. She was clad in simple white robes with black accents. Her hair was braided and pulled up into a tight bun atop her head, and a circlet of woven silver rested on her brow. The tap sounded again, and it was collectively realized the assembled that it was something to do with her footwear. As she ascended the steps, you see how, as glimpses of steel-shod boots are visible under the hem of her robes.
She strode confidently across the stage and surveyed the crowd as she stepped behind the podium, which sank automatically to adjust to her height. She cast one more glance before she began to speak. “Good morning, hopefuls.” She began. “You all know why you’re here. You all seek to join the newly-formed acquisitions department of Morgrave University. And the smart ones among you know not all of you will be accepted. So, before we go any further in the process, we have a mission for you all, a test to ensure you all have what it takes to be faculty here at the prestigious Morgrave University.” She redhead said with a sly smirk.
“The city sewers are a dangerous place, but nothing compared to what you will face if accepted to the department. And so, twelve warforged staff members are milling about below the city. They’ve been instructed to avoid contact with anyone wandering the sewers, and if they are cornered, to activate these.” She mentioned, holding up a golden disk the size of an orange with six wings forged of the finest gold filigree. “These are your objective. They’re small, they’re fast, they fly, and their only purpose in existence is to return to me as fast as possible. If it reaches me of it‘s own power, you’ve failed. Bring me one of these in the next 24 hours, and you will be recognized as a Morgrave staff member. I don’t care how it gets here, as long as it’s intact when you get it here, and in your possession.” The dwarf woman explained. “The test begins at high noon. I’ll be answering your questions until then.” She added, a wicked gleam in her eye, her voice still deceptively cheerful. The massive magical clock behind her was gesturing the time, only ten minutes to noon.