Chronicles of the Blackblade 00
Prologue
.. *DONG* …….. *DONG* The town bells announced the arrival of a brand new day; the weather being nice and sunny, with only a few lazy clouds to coat the otherwise pale blue. But today wasn’t just any day, oh no - today was special; it marked the end of four years of gruelling training. It heralded a decision that would affect each and every one of the students differently; today was the time of choosing.
Now I call Kyndale Keep a town, but its more like a cross between a fort and a school, children born here, orphaned at a young age or sent here by their families are given a year in which to prove that they were worthy of staying on for more training. Often this initial year, or even the first week is enough to cut the numbers down drastically as they realize that the life of an adventurer or hero is not for them. Nobles often sent their boys here to learn about tactics and war strategies, but generally it wouldn’t last.
The town is split up into several parts, as per most towns of this age, you have the merchants quarter, peasants row, the main keep, the academy itself and the housing estates, all surrounded by walls to keep the town safe. While Kyndale Keep is a focal point for adventurers in training, the population is not large, where everyone knows the important members of staff within the first week, Kyndale Keep is a peaceful place where one could life a good, honest life.
The town was built at the base of Culdail Hill and has expanded. It is beginning to gradually develop up the hill; while not much work has been done on actually excavating into it as no resources of any use were found within. To the east is a river that ran north-south around the base of the hill’s east side, this was tapped into and kept the surrounding farmland rich and fertile, to the west laid Bellasee Forest, and due south are the rolling plains of Alaspar Flats.
Rose awoke to a earthquake, the bed was shaking violently and she quickly sat up – only to the greeting of a pillow in her face that sent her back into a lying position.
“Ow” she moaned, only to have laughter in reply from the shorter girl as she jumped from the bed and out of striking distance.
Rose laid in her bedroom; she was one of the luckier students, while children from a noble family have no extra privileges compared to others. When the rooms were picked she ended up in a rather large room that she shared with - Smack! - again a pillow was in her face.
“What the hell was that for!” she bellowed at the smaller girl, while simultaneously diving out of bed in just her nighties and equipping her own pillow to return the favour.
Rose sized up her foe – she was smaller then herself, but was also fully clothed in her student’s uniform; she had to admit, she …. Wait…uniform?
“The Ceremony!” she gasped, quickly turning and running to the large wardrobe to change into her uniform.
