Literature

Books

Specific to Basgiath War College

The Book of Brennan

by Brennan Sorrengail

• Violet Sorrengail's Personal Addendum; "I will not die today."
• Violet Sorrengail's Personal Addendum; "I will not die today. I will save him."
• Page 2; "Mira you’re a Sorrengail, so you will survive. Perhaps not as spectacularly as I have, but we all can’t live up to my standards, can we? All kidding aside, this is everything I’ve learned. Keep it safe. Keep it hidden. You have to live, because Violet is watching. You can’t let her see you fall. Brennan”
• Page 3; "You survived Parapet. Good. Be observant the next few days, and don’t do anything to draw attention to yourself. I’ve sketched a map that shows you not only where the classrooms are but where the instructors meet, too. I know you’re nervous about challenges, but you shouldn’t be, not with that right hook of yours. The matches might seem random, but they're not. What the instructors don't tell you is that they decide the challenges the week before, Mira. Any cadet can request a challenge, yes, but instructors will assign your matches based on weeding out the weakest. That means once the real hand-to-hand starts, the instructors already know who you’ll be up against that day. Here’s the secret—if you know where to look and can get out without being seen, you’ll know who you’re fighting so you can prepare.”
• Page 46; "Don't underestimate the challenge of the gauntlet, Mira. It's designed to test your balance, strength and agility. The times don't matter for this shit, only that you make it to the top. Reach for the ropes when you have to. Coming in last is better than coming in dead."
• Page 47; "Everyone thinks most Rider cadets die from dragon fire. Truth be told, it's usually gravity that gets us."
• Page 50; "Just because you survive Threshing doesn't mean you'll survive the ride to the flight field. Being chosen isn't the only test, and if you can't hold your seat, then you'll fly straight into the ground."
• Page 61; "Don't freak out if you can't immediately channel your dragon's powers, Mira. Yeah, I know you have to be the best at everything, but this isn't something you can control. They'll channel when they feel you're ready. And once they do, you'd better be ready to manifest a signet. Until then, you're not ready. Don't push it."
• Page 64; "The first rush of power is unmistakable. The first time it forms to you, surrounds you with a seemingly endless supply of energy, you'll be addicted to the high, to the possibilities of all you can do with it, to the control you hold in the palm of your hand. But here's the thing, that power can quickly turn and control you."
• Page 70; "I know you don't want to hear this, but sometimes you have to know when to take the death blow, Mira. It's why you have to be sure that Violet enters the Scribe Quadrant. She'll never be able to take a life."
• Page 71; "But even harder than taking a life is doing nothing while one is extinguished beside you. Keep your eyes forward, Mira."
• Page 77; "The Squad Battle is more important than the wingleaders let on. They like to joke that it's a game, that it's just bragging rights for the squad leaders and the winning squad, but it's not. They're all watching. The commandant, the professors, the commanding officers—They're watching to see who will rise to the top. They're salivating to see who will fall."
• Page 80; "Winning the War Games isn't about strength. It's about cunning. To know how to strike, you have to understand where your enemies—your friends—are most vulnerable. No one stays friends forever, Mira. Eventually those closest to us become our enemies in some way, even if it's through well-intentioned love or apathy, or if we live long enough to become their villains."
• Page 84; "It is one thing to cross the parapet your first year. But watching countless candidates lose their life to it feels a little like dying, too. Don't watch if you can help it."
• Page 91; "At some point, probably during your second year, you'll realize the trust you feel for your friends and family has nothing on the loyalty you develop for your squad."
• Page 96; "There's a course second year I can't tell you about, other than to say that it's hell. My only advice? Don't piss of anyone else's dragon."
• Tairneanach's personal addendum as quoted by Cadet Violet Sorrengail; "We do not eat our allies."

The Dragon Rider's Codex

It is a fraction of the length of other division rule books, likely because riders have trouble obey rules.

• Article One, Section One; "A dragon without its rider is a tragedy, a rider without their dragon is dead."
• Article One, Section Two; "A dragon determines its last flight, and its rider's."
• Article Two: "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”
  • Written to make thievery an executional offense, but in doing so gave any item carried across parapet the status of being a part of the rider.
• 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; "Quadrant leaders cannot hurt each other 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."
  • "While cadets are strongly encouraged not to form romantic attachments while studying in the quadrant, lieutenants are permitted to marry whomever they choose upon graduation."
• Article Eight, Section One; "Calling cadets into active service in times of war may only be authorized by the Commanding General of Basgiath."
• Article Unknown, Section Unknown; "People within the same squad cannot kill each other." ... "Challenges between squadmates are forbidden."

Basgiath War College Code of Conduct

• 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."
• Article Four, Section One; "Cadets who are found absent without leave will be subject to court-martial by their chain of command, if they are not executed on sight."
• Addendum 5.2; "In the best interest of preserving peace within Navarre, no more than three cadets carrying rebellion relics may be assigned to any squad of any quadrant."
• Addendum 5.3; "In addition to last year's changes, marked ones assembling in groups of three or more will now be considered an act of seditious conspiracy and is hereby a capital offense."

Sharpen the Talon: A Professor's Guide

Written by Colonel Tispany Calthea.

• "There are two reasons rider cadets are not given the same summer and winter leave as others: Firstly, civilians do not react well to dragons casually roaming their villages. Secondly, raising tigers for war requires locking their cages lest they turn on each other...or you."

Leadership for Second-Years

Written by Major Pipa Donans.

• "Command is built on respect, rules, and obedience. Squad are built on trust."

Political Texts

The Treaty of Aretia

• Addendum 4.2; "As for the 107 innocents, the children of the executed officers, they now carry what shall be known as the rebellion relic, transferred by the dragon who carried out the kings justice. And to show the mercy of our great king, they will all be conscripted into the prestigious Riders Quadrant at Basgiath, so they may prove their loyalty to our kingdom with their service or with their lives."

The Aretia Accord

• Article Two, Section One; "Fliers and riders are held equal in every regard with the exception of wing structure. Riders will maintain their wings, sections, and squads, as well as retain their command. Every drift will be absorbed by a squad, and their leader will replace the squad's current executive officer for unit cohesiveness and efficiency."

Second Aretia Accord

Signed during the events of Onyx Storm. One result of the accord gives Xaden Riorson the title of Duke or Tyrrendor. It also state that Tyrrendor has independent command of its military, under the command of Ulices Ferris and Kylynn. The accord also grants all those who flew for Aretia to be welcomed back with a full pardon for their treason and sedition. The final term of the accord permits Andarna access to hunt in King Tauri's forest whenever she pleases.

Educational Texts

Major Rorilee's Guide to Appeasing the Gods, Second Edition

• "It is a grave offense against Malek to keep the belongings of a dead loved one. They belong in the beyond with the god of death and the departed. In the absence of a proper temple, any fire will do. He who does not burn for Malek will be burned by Malek."
• "While many preach loyalty to Hedeon above all others, especially in Calldyr Province, I find that favoring Zihnal has universal appeal. Everyone wants wisdom but needs luck."
• "It is unwise to favor one god above another. Better to shun them all than show favoritism amongst a jealous, prodigious pantheon."
• "The god of wisdom is the trickiest to placate. Hedeon seems to only answer those who do not pray to him."
• "While most deities allow temple attendants to choose their timeline of service, only two require a lifetime of dedication: Dunne and Loial. For both war and love change souls irrevocably."
• "Dedicating oneself to temple work isn’t just a noble pursuit. Becoming high priest or priestess is the closest most of us will get to touching the power of the gods. The rest are riders."
• "There is no goddess more wrathful than Dunne. Entering Her temple will slice the soul from any attendant who has shunned Her grace."

Effective Uses of Wild and Cultivated Herbs

Written by Captain Lawrence Medina

• "There is an art of poison not discussed, and that is timing. Only a master can properly dose and administer for effective onset. One must take into account the mass of the individual as well as the method of delivery."

Colonel Kaori's Field Guide to Dragonkind

• "Blue dragons descend from the extraordinary Gormfaileas line. Known for their formidable size, they are the most ruthless, especially in the case of the rare Blue Daggertail, who's knifelike spikes at the tip of their tail can disembowel an enemy with one flick."
• "Presentation Day is unlike any other. The air is ripe with possibilities, and possibly the stench of sulfur from a dragon who has been offended. Never look a red in the eye. Never back down from a green. If you show trepidation to a brown... well, just don't."
• "There is nothing quite as humbling, or as awe-inspiring as witnessing Threshing... for those who live through it anyway."
• "Though this officer considers himself to be an expert on all matters dragonkind, there is a great deal we don't know about the way dragons govern themselves. There is a clear hierarchy among the most powerful, and deference is paid to elders, but I have not been able to discern how it is they make laws for themselves or at what point a dragon decided to bond only one rider, rather than go for better odds with two."
• "There is no stronger bond than that between two mated dragons. It goes beyond the depth of human love or adoration to a primal, undeniable requirement for proximity. One cannot survive without the other."
• "It is the valley above Riorson House, heated by natural thermal energy, that is its greatest asset. For there lie the original hatching grounds of the Dubhmadinn Line, from which two of the greatest dragons of our time—Codagh and Tairneanach—descend."
• "As dragons ferociously guard both their young and any information regarding their development, only four facts are known about the Dreamless Sleep. First, it is a critical time of rapid growth and development. Second, the duration varies from breed to breed. Third, as the name suggests, it is dreamless, and fourth, they wake up hungry."
• "Dragons do not answer to the whims of men."
• "By their third year, a rider must attain full and complete control over their shields. Otherwise, in moments of extreme stress, they are susceptible to being not only influenced by their dragon's emotions but controlled by them."
• "I'll say one thing for dragonfire. It kills quickly."
• "Do not mistake a dragon’s bond for fealty. If you expect a dragon to choose their rider over the well-being of their own kind, prepare for two things: disappointment and death."
• "What we know about dragonkind is nothing compared to what we don’t."
• "No rider has ever survived the loss of their dragon. I can’t imagine wanting to."
• "The only thing more stubborn than a dragon is its rider."

Major Afendra's Guide to the Riders Quadrant (Unauthorized Edition)

• "There's a misconception that it's kill or be killed in the Riders Quadrant, as a whole, aren't out to assassinate other cadets... unless there's a shortage of dragons that year or a cadet is a liability to their wing. Then things may get... interesting."
• "The sparring ring is where riders are made or broken. After all, no respectable dragon would choose a rider who cannot defend themselves, and no respectable cadet would allow such a threat to the wing to continue training."
• "It is therefore only natural that the more powerful the dragon, the more powerful the signet its rider manifests. One should beware of the strong rider who bonds a smaller dragon, but even warier of the unbonded cadet, who will stop at nothing to seize a chance to bond."
• "The most worrisome sight for any instructor is most definitely when powers backfire. We lost nine cadets my first year to signets that could not be controlled from their first manifestation. Pity."
• "The death of a cadet is an inevitable yet acceptable tragedy. This process thins the herd, leaving only the strongest riders, and as long as the cause of death does not break the Codex, any rider involved in extinguishing another's life shall not be punished."
• "The inability to control a powerful signet is just as dangerous to a rider—and everyone in their vicinity—as never manifesting one."
• "There is no moment as rewarding, as stirring, as... anticlimactic as a Riders Quadrant Graduation. It's the only time I've ever envied the Infantry Quadrant. Now those cadets know how to hold a ceremony."
• "What no one openly says is that while all four quadrants obey the Code of Conduct, a rider's first responsibility is to the Codex, which often overrules the regulations other quadrants live by, By definition: the riders make make their own rules."
• "There is a natural distrust that must be overcome between infantry cadets and riders. This exists mainly because riders will never trust that infantry has the courage to hold the line when dragons arrive, and infantry will never trust that the dragons won't eat them."
• "The things that happen behind closed doors in the Riders Quadrant in order to turn young cadets into full-fledged riders are enough to turn the staunchest of stomachs. Those prone to queasiness should not pry."
• "Every few years, a squad comes along that defies all expectations. They rise through the ranks, secure every patch, win every challenge. And then... they inexplicably falter, then fall. They call it the burnout effect: they flare too fast, too bright to sustain the pace. Sad, really, but mildly entertaining to watch them turn on one another."
• "Gods save us from the ambitions of second-years. They think they've experienced everything because they've survived their first year, but in reality, they only know enough to get themselves killed."
• "The only signet more terrifying than an inntinnsic is a truth-sayer. And yet we let them live."
• "The only crime worse than murdering a cadet is the unfathomable act of attacking leadership."
• "Mastery of one's signet does not occur at Basgiath, nor in the years directly after. No rider alive truly believes they've reached the limitations of their power. The dead ones may feel differently."
• "Never turn your back on a rider."

Colonel Daxton's Guide to Excelling in the Scribe Quadrant

• "There is nothing more sacred than the Archives. Even temples can be rebuilt, but books cannot be rewritten."
• "All tome requests at the Archives of Basgiath must be recorded and filed. Any cadet who fails to do so will be reported for dereliction of duty, as well punished for the loss of any text they failed to accurately track."
• "The first time you are caught in the Archives after the door seals for the evening will be the last. The complex magics put in place to preserve our texts are not compatible with life."
• "Most cadets believe their ability to recite historical fact will usher them onto the adept path, but it is actually the ability to observe and recount it that separates the librarians from the scribes."

Navarre, An Unedited History

By Colonel Lewis Markham

• "In the six centuries of recorded history of dragon and rider, there have been hundreds of known cases where a dragon simply cannot emotionally recover from a loss of their rider. This happens when the bond is particularly strong and, in three documented cases, has even caused the untimely death of the dragon."
• "In response to the Great War, dragons claimed the western lands and gryphons the central ones, abandoning the Barrens and the memory of General Daramor, who nearly destroyed the Continent with his army. Our allies sailed home and we began a period of peace and prosperity as the provinces of Navarre united for the first time behind the safety of our wards, under the protection of the first bonded riders."
• "The first known gryphon attack occured in 1 AU (After Unification) near what is now the trading post of Resson. At the edge of the dragon-protected border, the post has always been vulnerable to attack and, over the course of the past six centuries, has changed hands no less than eleven times in what has become a never-ending war to secure our borders from our power-hungry enemies."
• "In his last days of interrogation, Fen Riorson lost touch with reality, railing against the kingdom of Navarre. He accused King Tauri, and all who came before him, of a conspiracy so vast, so unspeakable, that it does not bear repeating by this historian. The execution was swift and merciful for a madman who cost untold lives."
• "The Migration of The First Year is one of the crowning achievements of Navarre's unification. What a celebration of the human spirit, to leave a life of war and enter one of peace, blending people, languages, and culture from every region of the continent and forming a cohesive, united society, whose only goal is mutual security."
• "The day Augustine Melgren manifested his signet changed warfare for the kingdom of Navarre forever."

My Time as a Cadet: A Memoir

By General Augustine Melgren

• "Accusing a wingleader of wrongdoing is the most dangerous of all accusations. If you're right, then we've failed as a quadrant to select the best wingleaders. If you're wrong, you're dead."

United Navarre, A Study in Survival

By Grato Burnell, Curator of the Scribe Quadrant

• "And in the mountains of the Steelridge range, the green dragons of the Uaineloidsig line, known for their keen intellect and rational countenance, offered their ancestral hatching grounds for the good of dragonkind, and the wards of Navarre were woven by the First Six at what is now Basgiath War College."

The Sacrifice of Dragonkind

Written by Major Deandra Naveen.

• "Many historians choose to ignore the sacrifices made by both humans and dragonkind to establish Navarre under the first wards in favor of praising the spirit of unification, but I would be remiss not to mention the losses suffered, both in terms of the ancestral hatching grounds of each dragon breed and the civilians who did not survive the continent-wide migration that resulted from the opening of Navarre's borders... or those lost when we closed them."
• "It was not without risk that the first dragons bonded humans, for though they clearly hold the power, their bonded riders made them the one thing they could not tolerate: vulnerable. Many dragons suffered the loss of their bonded riders in the name of self-preservation."

Tactics, A Personal Memoir

Written by Lieutenant Lyron Panchek.

• "If we ever choose to invade enemy territory—which we don't—I would choose Zolya as my first target. Take out Cliffsbane Flight Academy and you take out years of gryphon riders in one strike."
• Part II; "Though fliers only wield lesser magics, in my vast experience with the Northern Wing, they are formidable opponents in both mindwork and hand-to-hand. Take heed, younger riders: do not unseat against them unless forced to do so."
• Part II; "For maximum potential, riders should be stationed close to their villages if possible. Nothing is a more effective motivator than seeing one's home on fire."

Tactics, A Modern Guide to Aerial Combat

Written by Major Constance Cara.

• "Weather is the one great equalizer in battle, equally detrimental or favorable to both sides given the conditions. Without our wielders swaying that element to our advantage, we are at its mercy."

A Study on Signets

By Major Dalton Sisneros

• "The art of imbuing comes naturally to only a handful of signets, and automatically only to one: the siphon."
• "The rarest of signets—those that rise once in a generation or century—have manifested concurrently with an equal twice in our records, both critical times in our history, but only once have the six most powerful walked the Continent simultaneously. As fascinating as that spectacle must have been, I would rather not live to see it happen again."

Magic: A Universal Study for Riders

By Colonel Emezine Ruthorn

• "At its core, magic demands balance. Whatever you take will be recouped, and it is not the wielder who determines the price."

The Gift of the First Six

Jesinia lends a copy to Violet that appears to be hundreds of years old. It taught Violet that the First Six weren't the first riders, but simply the first to survive.

The Journey of the First Six

A Secondhand Account by Sagar Olsen First Curator of the Scribe Quadrant, Basgiath War College. Translated into the common language by Captain Madilyn Calros, Twelfth Curator of the Scribe Quadrant, Basgiath War College. Translated and Redacted for Academic Consumption by Colonel Phineas Cartland, Twenty-Seventh Curator of the Scribe Quadrant, Basgiath War College.

Mostly filled with scribe-centric stories about the Great War that are heavily redacted, with one vague passage about discovering the ability to extend the wards.

• "It was only when we pushed the wards to their true limits, extending them far past what we thought possible and to what I now question as sustainable, that we defined the borders of Navarre, regretfully knowing not every citizen would benefit from their protection."

Major Frederick's Modern Guide for Healers

• "It is my opinion that of all the signet powers riders provide, mending is the most precious, but we cannot allow ourselves to become complacent when in the company of such a signet. For menders are rare, and the wounded are not."
• "In the event that you come across a poison you do not recognize, it is best to treat with any and every antidote. Either way, the patient will die, but at least this way you will have learned something."
• "Menders are not healers. Healers are bound to the Code of Chricton, sworn to aide all in time of need and never to harm a beating heart. Menders are riders. They're only sworn to the Codex. They can as easily bring harm as heal."

Code of Chricton

Basgiath War College's code of conduct for the Healers Quadrant.

Untitled Tome about Krovlan Language

Given to Dain Aetos by Violet Sorrengail before he crossed the parapet on his conscription day.

The Unabridged History of the First Six

Property of Basgiath War College Archives. Marked as Classified in the endpapers. Loaned to Violet by Jesinia Neilwart. It goes into detail about the complex interpersonal relationships of the First Six, and a little bit into their battle experience during the Great War. It labels the enemy as General Daramor and Navarre's allies as the isle kingdoms.

The Sacrifice of Dragonkind

Written by one of Professor Kaori's predecessors. Goes in depth into why Basgiath was chosen for the location of the wards.

Gryphons of Poromiel, A Study in Combat

Written by Major Garion Savoy.

• "Though gryphon riders are not capable of producing signets, they are not powerless. In fact, some would argue that they've honed lower magic, especially mindwork, into the deadliest weapon of all. Underestimating them is an error."
• "Some combat signets are fearsome, but any rider can be brought low by two things: lack of a shield…or a group effort. Never give the enemy the advantage of surrounding you."

On Tyrrish History, A Complete Accounting, Third Edition

Written by Captain Fitzgibbons.

• "Half palace, half barracks, but entirely fortress, Riorson House has never been breached by army. It survived countless sieges and three full-out assaults before falling under the flame of the very dragons it existed to serve."
• "As our largest province, Tyrrendor provides the most conscripts for our forces. However, the strength of Navarre isn’t only found in Tyrrish soldiers, but also in the province’s most valuable resource: Talladium. Losing it would doom Navarre."

The Last Admiral, A Memoir by Admiral Levian Croslight

Written by Admiral Levian Croslight.

• "I cannot imagine sustainable life beyond the Emerald Sea. No ship has ever survived the tempests that form its ice-tipped waves, and the only sailors who return from her exploration do so defeated."

The Dark Side of Magic

Given to Violet either by Jesinia or Queen Maraya while she researches for a cure of venin.

Red Regalia

Given to Violet either by Jesinia or Queen Maraya while she researches for a cure of venin.

The Scourge of our Times

Given to Violet either by Jesinia or Queen Maraya while she researches for a cure of venin.

A Study in the Anatomy of the Enemy

Written by Captain Dominic Prishel. Given to Violet either by Jesinia or Queen Maraya while she researches for a cure of venin.

• "In the first twenty-four hours of removal from source magic, the subject—an asim—presented as even-tempered. But withdrawal quickly revealed the subject's true nature, requiring the subject's immediate transfer to stage two of the study. Her results can be found with group thirty-three B under the category: DEATH BY FIRE, and subsequent group fourty-six C under category: DEATH BY POISON.

The Resurgence of Evil, A Timeline

Written by Pierson Haliwell.

• "472 AU, Willhaven, Braevick: With the exception of one house, the village was desiccated overnight by a single venin estimated to be a Sage. The only adult amongst the three survivors described her as, "Astonishingly ageless. Hair as black as the day we married, but in place of age lines I'd expected were bulging scarlet veins branching outward from her red-ringed eyes.""

Poromish Texts

On the Aristocracy of Poromiel

Written by Pearson Kito.

• "Having refused every proposal from the isle kingdoms, Queen Maraya has named her distant cousin, Viscount Tecarus of Cordyn, as her heir. As the viscount is living in his fifth decade and has no direct heirs of his own, the decision has not been a popular one."

The Tactical Guide to Defeating Dragons

Written by Colonel Elijah Joben.

• Chapter One: "Never forget that dragon riders have been selected, trained, and even bred for cruelty. Expecting mercy from a rider is a mistake, for none will be given."
• Chapter Two: "From the dangerous waves of the Arctile Ocean to the lowest plains of the Tyrrendor plateau, the Cliffs of Dralor rise to over twelve thousand feet in places, making them unflyable by gryphon. While there are three well-carved paths within Navarre to ascend the plateau, along the Krovlan border exists only one.. and it is deadly to both gryphon and flier. Do not attempt under any circumstance."
• Chapter Three: "The easiest way to defeat a dragon is to kill its rider. Though the creature will most likely survive the blow, it will be stunned long enough to be felled."

The Canon of the Flier

• Chapter One: "When a gryphon bonds, it does so for life. Guard your life as you would your gryphon's, for they are forever intertwined."
• Chapter Three: "The gem given to you upon graduation from Cliffsbane should always be worn close to the heart, but if you have not mastered your control, it will only amplify your downfall."

Captain Lera Dorrell's Guide to Vanquishing the Venin

Property of Cliffsbane Flight Academy.

• "It was only in the last fifty years that we realized they were no longer coming solely coming from the Barrens. They'd begun to take recruits, teaching those who never bonded a gryphon to channel what was not theirs to take, to upset the balance of magic by stealing it from the very source. The problem with mankind is we too often find our souls to be a fair price for power."
• "It is somewhat fitting that the only weapon capable of killing a dark wielder is the same thing that drove them to soullessness... power."
• "Many of our most esteemed tacticians have tried to estimate the approaching tipping point—where the outcome of the war may have been decided even though we still fight. Many believe it will come in the next decade. I fear it will arrive much sooner than that."

Venin, A Compendium

by Captain Drake Cordella, the Nightwing Drift

• "Defeating a dark wielder begins with knowing where they rank in age and experience. Initiates have reddish rings to their eyes that come and go depending on how often they drain. Asims' eyes fluctuate in degrees of red, and their veins distend when riled. Sages'—those responsible for initiates—eyes are permanently red, their veins perpetually distended toward their temples, expanding with age. Mavens—their generals—have never been captured for examination."
• "If possible, hunt the enemy during the day. Their markings are so easily hidden by the shadows of night that it would not surprise me to find they walk among us."

Major Edvard Tiller's Unaccredited Study of the Venin

Property of the Viscount Tecarus' Library of Cordyn, given to The Revolution.

• "Though there is some debate, it is greatly believed that turning venin heightens one of the dark wielder's senses. It is this scholar's belief that the one responsible for the death of King Grethwild developed keener eyesight. For not even the best of His Majesty's royal fliers could see through the darkness the venin hid within to slay our beloved king."

Forbidden Texts and Unpublished Research

Fables of the Barren

A forbidden children's book featuring a collection of stories that warn us against the lure of magic, and even demonize dragons. About dark-wielding Venin and their wyvern. Violet receives a copy from her father. Violet later loans the copy to Jesinia Neilwart in exchange for her assistance in researching information about the first six and the wards. It was a limited printing, done on a press.

• The Wyverns Cry; "For there, in the land beyond the shadows, were monsters that dwelled in the night and dined on the souls of children who wandered too close to the woods."
• The Origin; "But it was the third brother, who commanded the sky to surrender its greatest power, who finally vanquished his jealous sibling at a great and terrible price."

The Tyrrish Rebellion, A Forbidden History

by Colonel Felix Gerault

• "His first true action of rebellion was to seek allies, the first of which was Viscount Tecarus of the Poromish province of Krovla."

A History of the Second Krovland Uprising—Draft

Written by Lieutenant Colonel Asher Sorrengail. Hidden in his shared chambers with General Lilith Sorrengail.

• Page 1; "A History of the Second Krovland Uprising—Draft, by Lieutenant Colonel Asher Sorrengail."
• Page 2; "Dear Violet, It's my most sincere hope that you are reading this by my side, laughing at the glorious mess that is a first draft, but I fear that may not be the case. If I now walk alongside Malek with your brother, then guard this manuscript carefully. But if the worst has happened and your mother has joined us, then you must protect this knowledge with your very life. Within these pages, you'll find my careful study of the second Krovlan uprising, but my daughter—remember what I taught you about history: it is simply a collection of stories, each influenced by those that happened before and steering the ones to come. I wrote this study so it could be read by others but understood by you. If time is sweet, peruse at leisure; you'll find the connection between the uprising and the pursuit of feathertails to be both alarming and enlightening. But if time has indeed run out and you seek the weapon to defeat those you've only learned about through lore, then abandon your robes and ride for Cordyn. You have always struggled with Krovlish, but I made sure Dain would be capable should you need him... should he not choose to cross the parapet this summer. If he follows in the footsteps of his father, you must find strength to let go of your affection for him. From Cordyn, book passage to Deverelli—you will be safe beyond the reach of magic there—and quietly seek the merchant Narelle Anselm. Take her the rarest item you possess—be sure it's truly exceptional to be given what you need. Do not send another in your stead. Should you travel under the banner of Navarre, beware the king—he bears grudges and speaks only in profit. I'm sorry this falls to you, my brightest light. Trust only Mira. Love, Dad."

Subjugated: The Second Uprising of the Krovlan People

Written by Lieutenant Colonel Asher Sorrengail.

• "Perhaps the point of this is not to deny rebellion, but to only go to war with those you trust implicitly."
• "Tyrrendor was the last to cut contact with the isles. The province has a reputation for its cunning leadership, but in this case, I would add: astute."
• "It was whispered in academic circles that Cordyn had supplied troops and weaponry for the second Krovlan uprising, but the research has led me across the Arctile Ocean to Deverelli, known to our kingdom as the treacherous isle of merchants, who to my surprise may not have been the source of the arms, but perhaps the broker."
• "The uprising suddenly failed overnight on December 13, 433 AU, in what has been called the Midnight Massacre. The foreign troops disappeared, and the rebels were killed in their beds by Poromish forces. It is not their disappearance that strikes this scholar as particularly vicious but their obvious betrayal. There is a saying in Deverelli: The word is the blood. When they make a trade, broker a deal, it is considered law. I cannot help but wonder what part of the deal the Krovlan rebels did not uphold."

Unnbriel: Isle of Dunne

Written by Second Lieutenant Asher Daxton (later renamed to Asher Sorrengail).

• "There are times I look at Parapet, at the very act of Threshing and marvel that dragons have not been to Unnbriel. What we call treacherous is their idea of primary school."
• "In a culture that worships the goddess of war exclusively, blood is the preferred sacrifice and cowardice is the ultimate sin."
• "With such wan coloring in the vegetation, it comes as no surprise that it requires four times the amount of indigo to dye even the simplest garment. I can't help but wonder if the colors of our Continent are the exception, or if the isles are."

Hedotis: Isle of Hedeon

Written by Captain Asher Sorrengail.

• "It has been the experience of my lifetime to spend these months with others who value knowledge just as reverently as I do. But though their intelligence and wisdom inspire me, their artifice terrifies me."
• "The citizenship test for those wishing to reside in Hedotis reminds me of the entrance exam for the Scribe Quadrant, but our test is designed to measure how much a potential cadet has learned, and theirs reads as though to prove how much one has not."

Zehyllna: Isle of Zihnal

Written by Major Asher Sorrengail.

• "To live amongst the Zihlni, you must prepare to accept luck as your guide and chaos as your standard."
• "Sometimes the best gift the god of luck can give is his absence."

Journals

The Journal of Warrick of Luceras

Translated by Cadet Violet Sorrengail and Dain Aetos.

• "With all we've sacrificed for this kingdom. We'd better be able to defend it." - Transcribed only by Cadet Violet Sorrengail
• "It was never our continent. From the very beginning, it was theirs, and we were simply allowed to live here." - Transcribed only by Cadet Violet Sorrengail
• "The blood of life of the six and one combined and set the stone ablaze in an iron rain."
• "The breath of life of the six and the one combined and set the stone ablaze in an iron flame."
• "Nothing kills powerful, unshakable love faster than opposing ideologies."
• "The combined hatching grounds at Basgiath is our generation's greatest asset... and our greatest liability."

The Journal of Lyra of Morraine

Transcribed and translated by Cadet Jesinia Neilwart.

• "I am alone in thinking the knowledge of wards, the protections they provide, should not solely benefit Navarre, and it has cost me everything."
• "If I’m to be court-martialed for helping Braxtyn defend his people, then I shall welcome the trial. All who channel from dragon and gryphon alike should flourish under the wards, and now Aretia will be that haven should one of the others ever return."

Journal of Captain Lilith Sorrengail

• "Sometimes diplomacy is best served at swordpoint."
• "Asher returned today. Gods help us if anyone finds out. I'm not sure I'll ever forgive him for what he's done to her."

Journal of General Augustine Melgren

• "The only thing more unpredictable than the volatile province that is Tyrrendor is her duke. There is a reason reigning aristocracy should never wear black."

Public Notices

Public Notice 200.417

Transcribed by Racel Lightstone.

• "Guardians are no longer permitted to dedicate children in service to their favored deity. The decision to serve the gods for life must be made after the age of majority and of one’s free will."

Public Notice 628.85

Transcribed by Cerella Neilwart.

• "In this, the 628th year of our unification, it is hereby recorded that Aretia has been burned by dragon in accordance with the Treaty ending the separatist movement. Those who fled, survived, and those who did not remain entombed in her ruins."

Public Notice 628.86

Transcribed by Cerella Neilwart.

• "As a result of the Treaty of Aretia, the power to represent the province of Tyrrendor in the King's Senarium has hereby been transferred from the House of Riorson to the House of Lewellen."

Public Notice 634.23

Transcribed by Percival Fitzgibbons.

• "Conscription rates are hereby doubled for each province until further notice."

Public Announcement, Untitled

First found in Rhiannon's home-village.

• "Beware of strangers seeking shelter. In this time of unprecedented violations of our sovereign borders, we count on you, our border villages, to be our eyes and ears. Our safety depends on your vigilance. Do not take in strangers. Your kindness could kill."

Public Announcement, Untitled

Distributed at Basgiath War College by Professor Devera.

• "Zolya falls to dragon fire. The third largest city in the Braevick Province has fallen to the blue fire dragons and their riders. though the city and its drifts fought valiantly, the two-day battle ended in Poromish defeat. All who did not evacuate have perished. An estimated ten thousand lives have been lost, including General Fenella, The Commander of Braevick's gryphon fleet. All trade routes to the city have been barricaded to prevent further loss of life."

Royal Proclamation of King Tauri the Wise

• "July first, the anniversary of the Battle of Aretia, is hereby proclaimed Reunification Day and will be celebrated throughout Navarre on this date every year to honor the lives lost during the war to save our kingdom from separatists and those saved by the Treaty of Aretia."

Posted Bulletin, Village of Chantara

Transcribed by Percival Fitzgibbons.

• "It is hereby suggested strongly that neither bonded dragon nor gryphon shall be allowed to land or hunt in a one-mile vicinity of the village of Chantara in order to sustain the endeavors of our sheep herders through this surge of demand."

Correspondence

Official

The Tyrrish Rebellion, an official brief for King Tauri

Written by Lilith Sorrengail.

• "Knowing I am in direct disagreement with General Melgren's orders, I am officially objecting to the plan set forth in today's briefing. It is not this general's opinion that the children of the rebellion's leaders should be forced to witness their parents' executions. No child should watch their parent put to death."

Official Notice

From Commandant Panchek to General Sorrengail.

• "It is not unheard of that a candidate enters the Riders Quadrant having been paid to assassinate a cadet. I'm sorry Mira was targeted but proud to say she dispatched the threat quickly. You have enemies, General."

Recommendation for Award

From Major Potsdam to General Sorrengail.

• "For Valor above and beyond the call of duty in the battle of Strythemore, where her bravery resulted not only in the destruction of a battery behind enemy lines but also saved the lines of an entire company of infantry. I recommend Mira Sorrengail receive the Star or Navarre. But if the criterion is not met, which I assure you it has been, downgrading to the Order of the Talon would be a shame, but sufficient."

Memorandum

From Professor Carr to General Sorrengail.

• "Though her extraordinary signet allows her to extend the wards around herself and her dragon, Cadet Sorrengail lacks the consistent ability to produce her own wards without extreme emotional distress. I'm sorry to report I doubt this ability will develop in time. I had such hopes for her."

The Last Words of Fen Riorson (Redacted)

• "You're all cowards."

The Last Words of Tracila Cardula (Redacted)

• "Fuck you. My daughter and I will meet Malek with clean consciences. Will you and your daughters be able to say the same when they come for you?"

Official Records: Scribe Quadrant

Written by Colonel Lewis Markham, Commandant of the Scribe Quadrant.

• "Upon failure of three exams, Jesinia Neilwart has been removed from the adept path and stripped of all its responsibilities and sacred privileges as of January 15. Under protest, I transfer her command to Professor Grady at his over-authoritative request."

Augustine's Official Correspondence to Queen Maraya

Official correspondence of General Augustine Melgren to Queen Maraya.

• "While the enemy's advance throughout Krovla makes it impossible to station a full riot at Suniva, we offer you four dragons and their riders. In the spirit of our alliance, you may expect a shipment of our most valuable resource—weaponry—to be used at your discretion."

Agatha's Drafted Correspondence to King Tauri

Unsent, drafted correspondence of Colonel Agatha Mayfair, Royal Archivist.

• "Your Majesty, unfortunately I can find no law that supersedes the Unification Scrolls. The Provincial Comitment under Queen Alondra the Bold (207.1)—consolidating the provinces' armies under the queen's standard for the Poromish conflict—expired with the Second Aretia Accord, and control of all forces should must return to the provinces from which they hail. I recommend demanding asking for a new Provincial Commitment covering our current conflict. The provinces will never agree after the rise in conscription rates. My advice: do not anger Tyrrendor's duke, who now commands the largest portion of our army. Screw this, I hate my job."

Xaden's Official Correspondence to King Tauri

Official correspondence of His Grace, Lieutenant Xaden Riorson, Sixteenth Duke of Tyrrendor, to His Majesty, King Tauri the Wise.

• "Your Majesty, Tyrrendor hereby officially declines your request for a Provincial Commitment of troops to our current conflict. Having resigned my professorship at Basgiath War College, I am now in rightful command of all Tyrrish citizens in military service."

King Tauri's Official Correspondence to Xaden

Official correspondence of His Majesty, King Tauri the Wise, to His Grace, Lieutenant Xaden Riorson, Sixteenth Duke of Tyrrendor.

• "If Tyrrendor does not immediately restore the flow of Talladium, the consequences will be dire not only for the province but the Continent. This is not a request—it is an order from your king."

Letters

Mira's Letter to Violet

Found on Violets Bed, from Mira Sorrengail, along with the only copy of the Book of Brennan (see above).

• “Violet, I stayed long enough to read the rolls this morning, and you aren’t on them, thank gods. I can’t stay. I’m needed back with my wing, and even if I could stay, they wouldn’t let me see you anyway. I bribed a scribe to sneak this into your bunk. I hope you know how proud I am to be your sister. Brennan wrote this for me the summer before I entered the quadrant. It saved me, and it can save you, too. I added my own bits of hard-earned wisdom here and there, but mostly it’s his, and I know he’d want you to have it. He’d want you to live. Love, Mira.”

Letters found during the Squad Battle

Found on General Lilith Sorrengail's desk at Basgiath War College.

• "General Sorrengail, the raids around Athebyne have spread the wing too thin. Being posted beyond the safety of the wards comes with considerable hazards, and though I am loathe to request reinforcements, I must. If we do not reinforce the post, we may be forced to abandon it. We are protecting Navarrian citizens with life, limb, and wing, but I cannot adequately relay how dire the situation is here. I know you receive the dailies from our scribe attachment. But I would be remiss in my duties as executive officer of the Southern Wing if I did not write to you personally. Please find us reinforcements. Sincerely; Major Kallista Neema"
• "General Sorrengail, Protests regarding conscription laws are growing within the province of Tyrrendor. Knowing that due to Tyrrendor's size it provides the majority of our conscripts to replenish our front lines, we cannot afford to lose the support of our people again. Perhaps an influx of defensive spending on outposts here would not only bolster the provinces economy and remind the Tyrrish how needed they are to the defense of our kingdom, but also ease the unrest. Please consider this solution as an alternative to suppressing the unrest with force. Sincerely; Lieutenant Colonel Alyssa Travonte."

Asher's Correspondence to Violet

Letter from Asher Sorrengail to Violet, hidden inside a book.

• "My Violet, By the time you find this, you'll most likely be in the Scribe Quadrant. Remember that folklore is passed from one generation to the next to teach us about our past. If we lose it, we lose the links to our past. It only takes on desperate generation to change history—even erase it. I know you'll make the right choice when the time comes. You have always been the best of both your mother and me. Love Dad."

Recovered correspondence of Lieutenant Colonel Asher Sorrengail to Violet Sorrengail.

• "My brightest light, I meant to prepare you but only had time for half the lessons you need, half the history, half the truth, and now time runs short. I failed Brennan the day I watched him walk the parapet, failed Mira when I could not stop her from following, but I fear my death will fail you. Your mother and I trust no one, and neither can you."

Theophanie's Letter to Violet

From Theophanie, addressed to "Lightning Wielder." It was left next to a necklace in Anca.

• "Violet, Just a reminder that while I want you to come of your own free will, I'm capable of taking you whenever I wish. Why do you not ask me for the answers you so desperately seek? —T"

Letter delivered to Violet by Colonel Aetos, already opened.

• "Violet— I do hope you had a marvelous time on your journey, though your riot looked a little haggard when you flew over Pavis. I do wonder why you went to so much effort when I have the one thing you seek above all else. Do enjoy the time you have with your friends until our next rendezvous. Don't worry, I'm making all the arrangements. —T"

Tecarus' Letter to Violet

Viscount Tecarus' letter, delivered to Violet by Halden after he opened and read it.

• "Cadet Sorrengail, As per our agreement, here are your requested tomes. I've also handpicked a selection from my personal library I hope you'll find educational. In regard to your search, King Courtlyn of Deverelli has agreed to a single meeting—noble blood only—for the reasonable of the Amelian Citrine. Queen Maraya has agreed to gift the gem to him but will not be responsible for its retrieval from its display in Anca. Please let me know when you have the citrine in hand so I can schedule our visit. In service, Viscount Tecarus"

Xaden's Letters to Violet

Recovered correspondence of Lieutenant Xaden Riorson to Cadet Violet Sorrengail.

• "Garrick has always been my best friend. His father was my father's aide, which in a way makes him my Dain, except trustworthy. After Liam, Bodhi was and still is the closest thing I have to a brother, perpetually tagging along a step behind."
• "Sgaeyl watched me kill another cadet for bullying Garrick during Threshing. She says she chose me for my ruthlessness, but I think I just remind her of my grandfather."
• "My dad hoped I'd go into the infantry like he did. He thought riders were pompous pricks, and in his defense.. we really are."
• "In the years after my father died, I forgot what it felt like to be loved. Then I entered the quadrant and became the monster everyone needed me to be, and I never regretted it. But then you gave those words to me, and I remembered... and nearly lost you, too. I'm striving to be better for you just like I promised, but I need you to know that monster is still there, screaming to use every ruthless part of me to get your words back."
• "My last words with my father before the Battle of Aretia were spoken in anger, because he was sending me away for my own safety. I'm not sure I'll ever forgive myself for that, but I like to think he forgives me."

Recovered correspondence of His Grace, Lieutenant Xaden Riorson, Sixteenth Duke of Tyrrendor, to Cadet Violet Sorrengail.

• "You might be angry when you realize I didn’t wake you to say goodbye. But it’s only because I no longer fully trust my ability to walk away."

Letter written by Xaden, sent by Garrick to Imogen, who delivers it to Violet.

• "V— We fought in Fervan last night, called by an attack upon civilians. It is with deepest regret that I delay my return in favor of rest. I walked the edge of burnout, but the lives we saved were worth the cost, and Garrick has informed the healers I'll be in quarters, recovering, until further notice. Lewellen is standing in as proxy in case the Senarium orders any emergency meetings. It is worse than we imagined beyond the wards, but I have a solution in mind to prevent future burnouts. Is it just me? Or does my pillow smell like you? Yours, —X"

Letter included in the package, delivered by Jesinia, gifted to Violet with a Deverelli silk nightgown and robe.

• "For the nights I can't sleep next to you. —X"

Letter found in Violet's pocket after having her memory of the past 12 hours erased.

• "Don't look for me. It's yours now."

Liam's Recovered Unsent Correspondence to Sloane

Recovered unsent correspondence of Cadet Liam Mairi to Sloane Mairi.

• "You're going to love Violet. She's smart and stubborn. Reminds me a lot of you, actually. You just have to remember when you meet her: she's not her mother."

Lilith's Recovered Unsent Correspondence

Recovered unsent correspondence of General Lilith Sorrengail.

• "Most generals dream of dying in service to their kingdom. But you know me better than that my love. When I fall, it will be for one reason only: to protect our children."
• "Sometimes I worry about Violet. She has your sharp wit, quick mind, and steadfast heart paired with my bullheaded tenacity. When she finally and truly gives that heart, I fear it will overrule the other gifts you’ve given her and logic will cede its voice to love. And if her first two liaisons are any indication of what we might expect… Gods help her, my love, I’m afraid our daughter has atrocious taste in men."
• "She won’t understand why you’ve kept her in the dark. You left too soon, left too many of your plans unfinished. Now we can only hope the bond between our daughters is strong enough to endure the paths they’ve chosen. They’ll need each other to survive."

Augustine's Recovered Correspondence to King Tauri

Recovered correspondece of General Augustine Melgren to His Majesty King Tauri.

• "Securing Basgiath and the wards has come at great cost, including General Sorrengail's life. Strategy must adjust. It is in the realm's best interest to ally with Poromiel even temporarily."

Lyra's Recovered Correspondence to Nirali

Recovered correspondence of Nirali Ilan, Commanding General, Cliffsbane Fortress, to Lyra Mykel, Deputy Commanding General, Basgiath War Camp.

• "In the hope and excitement this new development of the bonds between dragons, gryphons, and their humans brings, I wonder who has stopped to contemplate the nature of magic's balance. Do we not risk the equal rise of the very powers we seek to wield?"

Fen's Confiscated Correspondence

Confiscated correspondence of Fen Riorson to unknown intended recipient.

• "The most useless word in the language of aristocracy has always been and will forever be: love. Marriage is a necessary evil to secure the line. Nothing more. Save love for your children."

Violet's Recovered Correspondence to Rhiannon

Recovered correspondence of Cadet Violet Sorrengail to Cadet Rhiannon Matthias.

• "I wish you and Sawyer were with us, but I'm grateful to have Ridoc, even if his sarcasm is wearing on Mira's last nerve."

Violet's Recovered Correspondence to Xaden

Recovered correspondence of Cadet Violet Sorrengail to His Grace, Lieutenant Xaden Riorson, Sixteenth Duke of Aretia.

• "I think I started falling for you the night in the tree when I watched you with the marked ones, but I began tumbling the day you gave me Tairn's saddle. You'll give some self-serving excuse, but the truth is you're kinder than you want people to know. Maybe kinder than you know."
• "When this is over, we should take as much leave as they'll give us and spend it all in Aretia. We can figure out what life is supposed to look like without the daily threat of death. You can govern the province you love during the day, then slide into bed with me at night. Or I can always join you in the Assembly chamber. You do some of your best work on that throne."

Deservee's Recovered Correspondence to Aaric

Recovered correspondence of High Priestess Deservee to His Royal Highness, Cadet Aaric Graycastle, Prince Camalean of Navarre.

• "A gift from one servant of Dunne to another. I must warn you—only those touched by the gods should wield their wrath. I will pray to Her that she need not use it to avoid reacquainting herself with the other who curries her favor. Her path is still not set."

Nolon's Missive to Lilith

Missive from Lieutenant Colonel Nolon Colbersy to General Lilith Sorrengail.

• "We have tried every method we know of, as you requested. There is no cure. There is only control."