⋆ THE BASGIATH WAR COLLEGE ⋆ 

The college stands at the heart of Navarre, nestled into the side of Basgiath Mountain within the Morraine Province. The grand structure is divided into two halves—the lower section housing Scribes, Healers, Infantry and Administration, while the upper half, known as the Citadel, is reserved for the Riders Quadrant. It seems as though the building was carved from the very ridge of the mountain, looming over the grassy fields below. Its towering battlements and defensive turrets, one of which shelters the bells, lend a formidable air to the keep within.

A worn cobblestone path snakes along the southern turret, leading to the General’s office. Four roads converge at the fortress, meeting just below the main gate. However, during Conscription Day (the day of seeking entry), candidates for each quadrant enter through their unique entrances and facilities—except for the main gate, which is off-limits to all candidates. The northern turret guides to the infantry grounds, the southern gate to the healers, and the central tunnel to the archives and the subterranean scribe quadrant. The entrance to the riders’ quadrant is a fortified door in a tower akin to the infantry, but candidates must climb toward the citadel past the Parapet.

Prospective students must pass written and physical agility exams before Conscription Day. While most head straight into the infantry, successful candidates choose their quadrant—volunteers, conscripts, and even those serving punishment for crimes. Yet, the Riders Quadrant solely admits volunteers and the children of the rebellion. Those who fail become frontline fodder for the infantry - or simply die during training. Still, the Riders Quadrant is never short of volunteers, as riders are highly esteemed, well-paid, able to climb the social ladder with more ease, and get several other perks (e.g., get to marry early).

The candidates who succeed during Conscription Day enter the Riders Quadrant. Their next serious challenge is the Presentation Day, during which first-year cadets present themselves to the dragons to be chosen for bonding. If the dragons deem a cadet unworthy, they might be burned alive. To enter the Presentation, all cadets must run the Gauntlet - a ruthless obstacle course. All of these tasks culminate to Threshing: The actual bonding. All cadets shall walk into the fields to find the dragon willing to bond with them. If a first year survives threshing unbonded they have the opportunity to repeat their year.

Training spans three years, during which first-years are banned from writing and / or receiving letters from their families. Only second and third years may contact their loved ones outside the college. In the unfortunate event of a student’s death, parents can choose to retrieve the body and belongings for burial or let the college handle their remains, commemorating them under a stone in the fields beyond Basgiath.

Key dates

Mid-late July - Conscription Day

September 29th - Presentation Day

October 1st - Threshing

⋆ WEAPONS ⋆

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. This game does not include firearms and other 'modern' technologies, but rather knives, swords, bows, and other weapons of the sort.

⋆ ATTIRE ⋆

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;

1. 1. Summer-weight uniforms: Tight fitted tunics, pants, and accessories;

2. Fighting leathers: Durable and flexible, worn for sparring;

3. Flight leathers: Thicker, more protective combat uniforms and flight goggles (aren't handed out until after Threshing due to the amount of cadets that die between Conscription and Threshing).

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. A list of known patches can be found below:

1. 1. Wing Patch: Flame, Claw, or Tail-shaped patch with the emblem for the rider's Wing (First, Second, Third, Fourth) and their squad number inside of it;

2. Year Patch: 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);

3. Name patch: Displays the rider's name;

4. Signet patch: Displays the rider's signet;

5. Gauntlet Patch: Awarded to the cadet with the fastest Gauntlet-completion time;

6. Iron Squad: Awarded to the squad with the most surviving members at Threshing.

⋆ THE CODEX ⋆

All riders must adhere to the dragon riders' Codex:

Article One, Section One; "A dragon without its rider is a tragedy, a rider without their dragon is dead."

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."; "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.”

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; "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."

Article Unknown, Section Unknown; "People within the same squad cannot kill each other.";  "Challenges between squadmates are forbidden.";  "Nothing but respect among riders at formation."; "[after parapet] now you begin the true crucible."

⋆ THE CITADEL ⋆

The Riders Quadrant commands its own secluded Citadel, perched high above the administrative building, nestled into the southern ridgeline of Basgiath Mountain. Its colossal stone foundations ascend the mountain’s base, visible from the Parapet. Thick battlements envelope the fortress, forming an L-shaped formation of towering stone structures designed to withstand fire. The walls, a stout ten feet thick and eight feet tall, double as perches for dragons. Only a solitary opening—leading to the Parapet—pierces through the walls, elevated twelve inches above the gravel-paved courtyard. 

⋆ THE PARAPET ⋆

Within the tower that ascends toward the turret, dimly lit by evenly spaced windows along its curved staircase, exists a risky ascent of two hundred and fifty stairs devoid of a protective railing. The turret’s peak, bare and exposed, presents crenulations rising and falling at the height of a person’s chest. An open entrance entrance to the Parapet overlooks the Iakobos River and the ravine below, the stone bridge spanning the dizzying height of two hundred feet [ appr. 61 m. ] Its narrow eighteen-inch width, uneven surface, and occasional loose mortar make it precarious. At the elevation, the wind’s strength poses a constant threat, capable of causing fatal falls.

⋆ THE COURTYARD ⋆

A sizable open space connecting the turret to the citadel via the parapet serves as a gathering place for the cadets, large enough to accommodate a thousand riders. Its teardrop-shaped outline encompasses a rounded end formed by a colossal outer wall, complemented by stone halls flanking its sides. Carved into the mountainside, the four-story building houses the inner sanctum.

⋆ OTHER LOCATIONS ⋆

The stone dais is situated to the right of the Parapet’s opening; this feature provides a prominent spot within the courtyard. This is the place where the death of cadets, etc. are informed.

There’s also a tunnel, which links the alcove to the turret towards the dorms. This passage is adorned with flickering mage lights on sconces, and features a wrought-iron gate resembling protection against trolls or dragons.

The Western gate is a doorway set along the courtyard wall, adjacent to the academic building’s left, leading to a tunnel connecting to the ridgeline separating the citadel from the flight fields, and its archway stands roughly ten feet tall.

First Defensive Turret is boasting circular steps without a railing ascending three flights to the second and third-year dorms, the stairwell also descends a flight lower than the main entry, connecting to the healers’ quadrant in the primary campus. 

The Dragon Rotunda is an imposing structure bridging the academic wing and the dorms, serving as the entry to the gathering hall, commons, and library. Its stone edifice features a massive arched door inscribed with the words, “A dragon without its rider is a tragedy. A rider without their dragon is dead.” The vast chamber spans three stories from polished gray marble floors to a domed glass ceiling that filters the morning light. Six marble pillars, resembling shimmering dragons—red, green, brown, orange, blue, and black—circle the room, leaving ample space at their bases for squad formation.

Battle Brief Room is an expansive circular lecture hall, dedicated solely to the Battle Brief class. Tiered seating curves along the entire end of the academic hall, accommodating all cadets except senior third-years who stand against the walls. A twenty-foot-high map adorns the back wall, intricately labeled with defensive outposts and is illuminated by mage lights.

Sparring Gym is a vast gym occupying the entire bottom floor of the academic wing, housing twenty sparring mats and walls made of wood planks.

Dorms are connected to the courtyard via the first defensive turret; these private rooms are exclusive to riders bonded with a dragon. The building, towering over the cliff, reserves larger rooms for second and third-year riders in leadership roles.

First-year dorms are located in a three-story building, housing only the first and third floors for first-year riders. Neatly arranged beds host more than 170 cadets, with lights coming on after sunset and shutting off with curfew.

⋆ THE PROFESSORS ⋆

Professor Carr helps caders learn how to nurture their signets, develop shields and deal with lesser magic. He has dark hair and surprising strength, and is described as imposing and intimidating.

Professor Devera teaches Battle Brief. She has short hair and a black brow, a few shades darker than her deep brown skin tone. 

Professor Emetterio is essentially the PE teacher, who oversees the physical training of all cadets.

Professor Kaori has dark eyes and teaches cadets about dragons.

Professor Markham is a scribe who co-teaches Battle Brief.

⋆ THE HIERARCHY ⋆

In broad terms, the hierarchy in Basgiath can be divided into four sections: quadrants, wings, sections, and squads. Quadrants assign you to your area of responsibility. Upon choosing (or, in case of the children of the rebellion, being automatically assigned to) your quadrant after successfully completing your written and physical agility examinations, you shall be assigned to a wing. Each quadrant houses four wings (first, second, third, fourth), which have their hierarchies.

The most prestigious positions within each wing are the roles of wingleader and section leader. These roles are typically filled by the most outstanding third-year students, although exceptional second-year students can also ascend to these ranks. The hierarchy within wings is formed as follows (from highest- to lowest-ranking): 

1. 1. Wingleader
2. 2. Section leader 
3. 3. Squad leader
4. 4. Squad member (approx. 15 per squad)
5.  

One should note, that this roleplay is focused specifically on the third wing of the Rider-quadrant. Therefore, our wing shall have 1 wingleader, 3 section leaders, 9 squad leaders, and approx. 135 squad members (obv. most of these NPCs). See 'Forum>Public>Forms' for a list of playable roles. 

You can read more about the Riders Quadrant here