Othmar leads Nilsar into a quiet archive gallery lined with correspondence chests and dust-softened shelves. Lord Edric Marrow remains in the classroom with the other honours students.
A royal clerk waits beside a broad oak table. The royal clerk, a thin middle-aged man with ink-stained fingers, a russet scholar’s robe, and a silver chain of office, guards an opened document beneath a weighted seal.
Othmar Venn
Captain, this gallery holds records too important for casual instruction. Osmic found the charter among academy correspondence, overlooked but apparently genuine.
Osmic
The seal accords with royal registry marks, and the captain’s authority is plainly stated. It grants lawful recruitment from the Northern Trade Cities, but these clauses reach farther than the heading suggests.
Osmic turns the parchment so Nilsar can read it without touching the seal. One clause permits recruitment, another grants temporary command over recruited hands, and a third leaves the limits of that command uncertain.
Osmic
Before this enters the academy’s permanent records, I need your judgment. Is this a useful captain’s commission, or authority broad enough to invite abuse?
Othmar folds his hands behind his back and leaves the table to Nilsar’s scrutiny. The charter, its seal, and the uncertain clauses wait in the silent gallery.
“Using my Records Research skills i will over view the contracts though at the surfave they definietly appear to leave too much room for abuse making the first contract with the clause about staying within the crowns authority the best choice, i will secretly read the contents and see what they say about Anuncagra and who will be allowed to recruit from the lands.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Reasoning, rolled +0)
Nilsar studies the charter line by line, using Records Research to compare its headings, exceptions, and authorizing marks. The Signed Commendation and Sealed Academy Order establish which crown authority the document must obey.
Nilsar Yarb
The first contract is safest because it keeps recruitment within the crown’s authority.
Interprets Legal Records exposes the danger beneath the generous wording: temporary command over recruits could become permanent control if the captain defined necessity alone. The charter grants no right to ignore royal limits.
Reading beyond the visible heading, Nilsar finds Anuncagra named among the permitted recruiting lands, alongside the Northern Trade Cities and several crown border holdings. Recruitment is allowed only for declared royal service.
The hidden clauses identify the recruiting authority as the crown or its formally appointed officers. Local captains may select volunteers, but may not compel residents, seize dependents, or transfer recruits outside the commissioned purpose.
Nilsar finishes the private examination with the charter’s meaning secured: the first contract is the lawful choice, and Anuncagra’s people remain protected by consent, royal oversight, and defined service limits.
“Professor i would choose the first contract as it gives the most well defined details for a heading and limits the recruitment laws to the kings authority”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled -1)
Nilsar Yarb
I recommend the first contract. Its heading defines recruitment clearly, and its limits keep that authority with the king.
Nilsar indicates the first contract without touching the seal. Records Research confirms its headings and authorizing marks, while the Signed Commendation and Sealed Academy Order establish the crown authority governing it.
Interprets Legal Records separates lawful recruitment from unchecked command: volunteers may be selected for declared royal service, but no local captain may compel residents, seize dependents, or extend the term.
Osmic
That reading is sound. The first contract binds recruitment to royal authority and gives the academy a defensible standard for rejecting any broader interpretation.
Identifies Authority places the crown or its formally appointed officers above local captains. The clerk records Nilsar’s recommendation beside the charter, preserving the limits as part of its official interpretation.
Othmar Venn
Then the first contract becomes the academy’s lawful choice. Captain Yarb has shown that royal advancement is strongest when its power remains precisely bounded.
Othmar directs Osmic to enter the first contract into the academy record. The charter is accepted for royal recruitment under consent, defined service, and crown oversight, with its limits now formally preserved.
“What is the next lesson for us professor?”
SUCCESS (Legendary Reasoning, rolled +1)
Nilsar Yarb
What is the next lesson for us, Professor?
Othmar accepts the question without ceremony and gestures toward a narrow stair descending from the archive gallery. Identifies Authority places the academy’s next instruction under his lawful office.
Othmar Venn
The next lesson is the chain of command. You will trace an order from its issuing authority to its lawful execution, and identify where a subordinate must pause.
Osmic gathers the charter and follows them into a chamber containing copied commissions, appointment notices, and academy precedents. Records Research makes the lesson’s sources visible before instruction begins.
Othmar Venn
You will compare three authorities: a crown commission, an academy appointment, and a captain’s field order. State who may issue each, whom it binds, and where its power ends.
Othmar places the first copied commission before Nilsar and opens the academy precedent beside it. The next lesson is ready, grounded in lawful authority rather than mere command.
“The top priority is the crown commission using the Kings direct authority. Then a Officers field order during times of war and finally the academy orders during times of war. Though the last wo are reversed when in times of peace.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Reasoning, rolled -1)
Othmar sets the crown commission at the head of the table, placing the officer’s field order and academy order beneath it. Osmic uncaps his pen.
Records Research lets Nilsar follow each issuing clause and exception. His Signed Commendation and Sealed Academy Order identify the crown’s direct authority and distinguish royal command from academy procedure.
Nilsar Yarb
The king’s commission stands first. Every lesser order must remain within its purpose, whether issued by an officer or by the academy.
Identifies Authority places the king’s commission above both subordinate documents. Interprets Legal Records confirms that neither a field commander nor an academy master may contradict its terms.
Nilsar Yarb
In wartime, the officer’s field order comes next for active service, with the academy order beneath it. In peace, those two positions reverse.
Nilsar marks the change by duty rather than rank. The field order governs war operations, while the academy order governs peaceful instruction and discipline.
Othmar Venn
Correct. Osmic, record the hierarchy: crown commission first, then wartime field authority over academy authority, reversed when peace makes instruction the governing duty.
✓ Quest Accepted
Have the academy seal the recorded chain of command
“lets seal all these together in a wooden box allow me to fetch the candle for you professor.”
SUCCESS (Good Craft (Blacksmith), rolled -1)
Nilsar Yarb
Professor, let me seal these documents together in a wooden box, then I will fetch a candle for you.
Nilsar gathers straight boards, small nails, cord, and wax from the household stores kept for academy work. Skilled Craftsman guides his measurements as he fits a close-lidded wooden box around the charter and orders.
He squares the corners, hammers the nails cleanly, and binds the lid with cord before pressing the academy seal into warm wax. The documents sit together, protected without disturbing their original marks.
Osmic
The box is sound, Captain. I will enter its seal and contents in the archive record before it leaves the table.
With the papers secured, Nilsar crosses to the academy’s supply alcove and returns with a fresh candle, its wick trimmed and its tallow unbroken. He sets it beside Othmar’s open notes.
Othmar Venn
Thank you, Captain. The records are protected, the archive can account for them, and our lesson may continue without confusion.
“Very well Professor please continue with the lesson.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Reasoning, rolled -1)
Nilsar Yarb
Very well, Professor. Please continue with the lesson.
Othmar returns to the table and places the academy appointment beneath the crown commission. Nilsar’s attention remains fixed on the issuing words, exceptions, and limits.
Othmar Venn
Then continue from the hierarchy. Identify the authority behind each order, state whom it binds, and mark the point where its power ends.
Identifies Authority lets Nilsar distinguish the crown’s commission from Othmar’s academy appointment and a captain’s field order. Each document gains a clear place in the chain.
Nilsar Yarb
The issuing office determines the order’s reach.
Commands Earned Trust gives Nilsar’s explanation weight before the master and clerk. He states the limits precisely: no subordinate order may exceed its commission, and any conflict must return to the higher authority.
Othmar Venn
Correct, Captain. Osmic, record that conclusion. The lesson continues with the subordinate’s duty to pause, verify, and seek clarification rather than obey an order beyond its lawful scope.