((You don't have to have such a huge post as the one I have going for my two teachers, but I do ask you try to do the best you can in anything you do in this game.  Beyond that, the ball is in your court.))<br/><br/>http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=126737.0 (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=126737.0)  OOC Thread/also serves as a directory to all the other IC areas.<br/><br/><div align="center">(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr300/cloudstrife559/Niveus/00001.jpg)</div><br/><div align="center"><strong>Once every four years, a gateway appears in every town across the multiverse, letting heroes, heroines, and creatures of all ages, races, genders, and more to attend the most prestigious school there is.  At the start, all that approach a gate are told straight away that they'll be cut off from their outside world until the four years are over.  Given the school's reputation as being the best for heroes, heroines, and creatures alike however, few turn away despite the hardships that lie ahead for them.  The classes are tough, there is no two ways to say otherwise.  Archery, horse back riding, or dragon riding, depending on preference, (and anything else you can slap a saddle on and hopefully stay on,) combat training, arcane arts, demon summoning which is always supervised, (doesn't mean you can't try anyway, just be aware the price of failure in containing said demon is hefty), ancient lore and history, and a myriad of so much more are open to any and all.  There are race specific classes, to be sure, but most are cross species, meaning you might be studying beside a half demon and a dark elf and more in the same class more times than not, for a quick example.  ALL THAT ATTEND ARE AT LEAST MORALLY DECENT.  If you think you have what it takes to attend this place of learning set within its own dimensional pocket that contains a whole forest, open plains, a small but dangerous desert, and a mountain range around the castle itself, then feel free to step forward now.<br/><br/>We are not responsible for loss of limbs, unwanted pregnancies, body modifications self inflicted or otherwise, byproducts of dark rituals, and other physical or magical harm that might occur during your stay with us.  Please see a cleric before attending any classes that have strenuous activities involved if you have a heart problem....</strong></div><br/>A thousand square miles of land.  How in the Nine Hells could there be a thousand square miles of land within this place?  It was a pocket dimension, usually that meant small extra dimensional space anywhere else, from her own experience, but from what she could tell, someone had mistaken pocket dimensional space for its own country just about.  From what the pamphlet had said and from what anyone could see for themselves, this place had it all.  The castle grounds themselves where they'd be staying for four years was enormous, but the area surrounding the beautiful grounds was divided equally into four different environments that she'd get to see up close with an entire class of students trailing not too far behind her.  Oh this was going to be 'fun' alright.  More like nerve wracking since she had never taught anyone before as she was expected to do upon acceptance of the invitation she still had in her heavy brown pack that bounced with each step to the castle's massive front gate.  The drawbridge was lowered down before her, the sun just starting to rise in the east, yet Giselle Do'Urden, dark elf/light elf ranger couldn't believe what she had gotten herself into.  Arcania High as it was called, had been open since long before she'd been born, even before her own father for that matter.  2000 years this place had been open to any and all future heroes and heroines, yet it was the first time she'd ever heard of it.  It was the first time her world had heard of this place, now that she thought about it.  A year before she had been contacted by a representative of Arcania, and asked to teach her vast skill set to future Rangers and their variants.  They had already asked her father but he had refused, kindly, saying that he was a bit too old for all this, which was a bit of a lie since elves, dark or otherwise lived for a very long time.  Still, he had directed the man to his daughter, who at the time had been wandering the Trollbark Forest, looking for a supposed camp of goblins and wild orcs before they caused trouble for any passing merchant caravans and nearby villages.<br/><br/>They had talked on the move, the man was somehow able to match her step for step without breaking so much as a single twig along the way while she continued her search for the troublesome creatures.  It had taken him a better part of the afternoon to get through his speech, which was clearly rehearsed from what she could tell, but it was enough to get an iffy yes out of her full lips before she held out her arm, having finally found her prey.  "If you're serious about your request, prove to me you're not full of bullshit."  For the first time that day, the human warrior beside her grinned before seeming to disappear into the forest, coming around the other side of the small gathering of orcs and goblin underlings.  The camp of evil beings had no chance between two seasoned warriors.  After the dust had settled, Giselle nodded her approval as she cleaned her father's old scimitar blades on the grass that hadn't been soaked under a covering of monster blood before wiping her forehead off with the back of her hand, a gleam in her brown eyes as she held out her hand to the recruiter.  "Just tell me when and where to find the portal when it's time."  Coming out of her memories, Giselle chuckled to herself as she stepped over the bridge and into the enormous town that surrounded the place.  There were creatures from places she had never even heard of, working peacefully alongside each other although there were a few arguments here and there just like any friendly town.  The air was thick with rich aromas of well cooked food, spices, and more besides as she walked along the main path, more than a few of the locals stopping to stare since it wasn't everyday they got visitors.  They knew what the time was, and cheered and called out to the ranger, bringing a smile to her face as she rubbed the back of her head, a bit embarrassed but happy for the good cheer she was inadvertently bringing along with her.<br/><br/>Maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all?  Regardless, a new challenge such as the one she had taken upon herself was good for the soul.  It also helped to broaden her own horizons, let alone those she'd be taking under her wing.  And really, despite the fact her father would have been better suited for this than her, Giselle hadn't missed the point he'd conceded to her.  He knew she was ready for this, and had let her lead this time despite the distance between them at the time the ranger recruiter had come around to her campsite when he had.  "Thanks father, wherever you are now."  He was most likely back in Mithral Hall, sharing the news of what he had let fall into his daughter's lap with her twin older brothers and their old friends that still resided in the dwarven stronghold, but that was neither here nor there.  Once clearing the town itself and coming into the outer courtyards of the castle which was brightly decorated with beautiful trees and flower gardens before stepping into the main hall itself at last after passing a few more draw bridges and guard towers situated in high stone walls around the castle itself, Giselle was one of the first few dozen to arrive already.  Well, this was a bit more than she had expected already given the early hour, but if what the pamphlet had said was true, there'd be a lot more before the call to attention as the Head Master and Mistress appeared to give the welcoming speech to old and new faces.  Might as well get comfortable until then.<br/><br/>----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br/><br/>Neria Zathrieal too was surprised by how big the place was as she stepped through the gateway, having just missed her friend that had met her in Baldur's Gate just a week ago.  She had had to take a few extra minutes that morning to pray to her god to regain her cleric powers, as was customary with people that followed a religion empowered school of magic as she did, and that was why she had just missed her friend that morning as she went on ahead just in case something like this happened.  She was extremely excited more than anything, unlike her friend who had readily admitted to being nervous to the light elf priestess when they had discussed what they were doing in the port city.  Still, she knew that Giselle would do fine.  They had gotten a few odd looks from the other patrons in the Purple Wyrm Inn they'd met at since light elves and dark elves rarely were able to sit together without the darker half wanting to kill their lighter elf cousins.  Of course, Giselle was not of her dark race, neither was her father, a fact that many could appreciate greatly given the fact they were both heroes of great renown in their own ways.  Drow elves were normally evil, foul beings, but the two Do'Urdens that bore the dark skin of their kinsmen proved themselves to be quite different from the rest of their dark line everyday.  Neria had seen through her half breed friend the very first day they'd met up.  She was an exceptional good judge of character, and her good judgment had yet to fail her.  Coming out of her remembrance upon seeing her dear friend again, Neria's sea green eyes looked ahead to the slowly growing castle and the town protected safely within its walls, amazed that this place could even exist as it did, although she didn't understand the magics behind it all like a true practitioner of the arts might.<br/><br/>Regardless on how it was possible, the land was beautiful, to be sure.  The main path was protected against the wild creatures that lived in the four environments around the castle town and the school itself, giving safe passage to and from the portal she was quickly leaving behind, her steps light and full of life despite the elven mithril chainmail armor she was currently wearing on her person rather than her priestess robes, preferring to appear to those in charge as the cleric rather than the sacred prostitute despite both being respected arts back on Toril.  First impressions were important in her line of work, both of them since while both were essentially healing arts, one was more....hands on than the other, to put a nice spin on it.  Neria was not ashamed of what she did by any means, but others were not so quick to accept on some occasions, and thus she was careful how she presented herself to strangers for her own safety rather than their own.  Still, almost a century old, and her temple she ran, or used to run before coming here, was a testament to how far people could go to finding peace and tranquility within themselves as long as they had someone to guide them along, to help them when they stumbled along the path to peace with the world and themselves.  Giselle was no different given the fact the ranger had had trouble of her own that Neria herself had helped her past.  She'd been an emotional wreck, but within the course of a couple of weeks, she'd begun to put herself back together with the cleric's aid.  Within the same month, she was back to her old self, although she had stated that she'd never love again so she didn't wind up like that again.  It hurt to hear, but it was her choice, and Neria could do nothing to change her mind even if she had wanted to.  As long as she was alright otherwise, that was enough for her.<br/><br/>Just as Giselle had before her, Neria smiled warmly to those that stopped and cheered, seeing something in her that told them what she was there for.  Whatever it was, the light elf cleric walked on, her head held high as the sun made her golden blonde locks shine brightly, forming a halo of light around her head although she wasn't aware of it.  Even so, it gave her the appearance of a goddess come to walk among the mortals, something that'd appear in many an artists picture that laid eyes on the beautiful woman, a sword and shield bouncing along on her back and hip along with a similar brown leather pack as she made her way through the courtyard and eventually into the main hall, where she saw Giselle once again, unable to miss the long silver gray hair even if the dark elf skin wasn't obvious enough.  Giselle turned and hugged her friend who in turn returned the favor.  "It seems Corellan Larathain has blessed this morning, let alone the four years we are to work together in this place."  "Indeed, it does seem that way, but I don't think Mielikki would appreciate me changing faiths now."  Giselle teased, earning a light chuckle from her light elf counterpart.  Yes, this adventure proved to be quite promising already.<br/><br/>(The mosaic will be that of past teachers and their graduating classes that changes over time, each picture representing a past graduating class up until the last time the portals were opened.))<br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide</div><div class="spoiler_body">(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/Le_grand_foyer-2.jpg)</div></div>