FIGHTING ACADEMIES
"Great Warriors are bred, not born"
Shalsal'indinor Primsal (elvish for "warrior's camp in the dry woods")
Teachers: Iltal Gam'boral is secretly a Centurian Knight, and commonly goes by the name "Pilar" [which means "short stuff" or "pixie'ish" in an
old elven dialect]. She stopped aging at 17 (virtually a child for a half elf), and to this day her features appear deceptively tiny and fairy-like. She has short dark hair, purple
eyes, and strongly elvish influenced features. Her only noticeable trace of the human half of her ancestry is her broad shoulders and relatively large hands and feet. She keeps a
low profile at the academy, relying on several other highly qualified (and loyal) instructors to do much of the regular work. These instructors include a 7th/7th female elf fighter/mage,
an 8th level human ranger and an aged 9th level elven fighter. Most of her students only know her as "another" uncannily skilled and "long-lived" elf. For details on her skills, weapons
and attributes see the entry under the Dlear Woods.
Location and Facilities: Iltal's small camp is located virtually at the heart of the north-east branch of the Dlear woods. Known to the Fire Clan locals at the Hung Forest, it is
relatively dry but still verdant. Passage is difficult as pockets of dense, gnarled trees and many shrubs and vines block any obvious trails. The camp itself is well-maintained stone shell
keep, a dry moat with a drawbridge, and numerous inner buildings including a central stone tower where Iltal and the instructors live. The students are lodged in wooden barracks along the
shell wall, and fed in a communal dinning hall between the kitchen and the blacksmith's shop. While Iltal has neither followers nor any servants, the defense of the keep is furthered beyond
the instructors and the student by hiring on of interested ex-students for a few months at a time. They are usually kept to about 12-15 in number, and when not on duty help out with other
jobs around the keep. There is also a well-equipped stable where both the instructor's and student's mounts are kept while within the keep.
Curriculum:
WP: Dagger, all swords, all bows (but not crossbows), long sword specialization, two-handed specialization, single weapon specialization, weapon and shield specialization,
two-weapon style specialization.
NWP: Animal lore (used to protect against surprise), animal training, blind fighting, survival. Riding (land based) is also available, but limited by the amount of open land
around the keep.
In terms of objectives, Iltal and her staff stress the defense of oneself and others. In term of process, the focus is on flexibility, strategy and responsiveness. The use of the natural
surroundings and animals both as allies in terms of awareness and protection, and as a source of inner strength and balance. The ability to soften-up a foe and strike from a distance, and
then to vary one's response to the style of the attacker when up close, are key messages. Drills include long wilderness hikes through the roughest terrain, a sort of "capture the flag"
exercise both within the fort and in the surrounding woodlands, and all-weather night or day weapon exercises within the keep.
Iltal's students are recognizable by their fluid style and ease of movement even over rough ground. They shift frequently and easily from one style specialization to another. Least obvious but
equally important, they are in tune with their environment, and aware of subtle changes around them.
The Students: Iltal's students are from many races and virtually any creed, so long as they are of strong Good morals. The vast majority however are Mantaten and Sapoy humans, half-elves
and elves. Most students are Fighters or Rangers, but an occasional battle-oriented Priest or even a Paladin or two has been known to visit. There are no major population centers nearby, so
students come from far and wide, and often getting to the academy is a major "training" opportunity in its own right. Most hear of the school from other satisfied graduates, but Iltal
encourages even them to be selective in who they tell: she would rather train a few well than train many poorly.
Entry and Fees: Unlike many other schools, Iltal does not care if students have trained elsewhere. She knows that most of what she teaches is not transferable by anyone else, and more
importantly would love to see the subtle values that go with her work spread more broadly. With rare exceptions, all students must learn the long sword and long bow before any specializations
are taught. Iltal herself has little need for fund, and the trip to her academy can be arduous and expensive enough, so she charges less than most teachers to ensure that students get fair
value. Level training costs 80 gp/week, and 100 gp/week for proficiencies. Particularly high level students who have been to the academy many times before may receive specialized one-on-one
level training from Iltal herself in return for either the completion of special tasks or the donation of selected magic items.
C.S.R. (acronym for "Chalor an Sinnal Renifal", Tahlian for "training hall of the brave")
Teachers: Baron Carais Belmon's family has been at the head of
Location and Facilities: The Western Kingdom has
Curriculum: WP: Dagger
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