Wanderer, leave everything you know behind these gates. Forget the fear – you have nothing to be afraid of. Forget the doubts – trust your heart and your blade. Forget the past – today you will be born again. In these walls, the gods of war pass their knowledge to mortals. Enter and ascend to the domain of the gods.
Inscription on the Academy's Outer Gates
Long before the Empires of Sadar and Vaalor arose, hundreds of years before the Republic of Tartu was founded, in the times of the Great Wars, Dragons and Humans swore an oath of loyalty to each other. They swore that their bodies and souls would be one in battle against evil, and that Dragons and Humans would never become enemies.
So the Word of Melding was spoken for the first time, and Dragon Knights appeared on Tartu.
As years passed, hundreds of vows and promises have been broken by Humans and Dragons alike. Both races succumbed to temptation from time to time: to sloth, cowardice, and guile. Humans harassed Elves, and Dragons tricked Dedaires into parting with their precious stones. Quite a few written oaths were erased by Human blades and Dragon talons. Palaces were burnt, thrones upset, wives stolen.
But one oath, between Humans and Dragons, always remained sacred. It stayed as strong as the walls of two citadels built by the Dragon Knights of the Western and Eastern Wing Nests. In the language of the Dragons, these citadels were called Tor-Gaet and Tor-Radan.
Each Human born on Tartu knew: those who despise the evil that always hangs over the world, were free to go East or West to seek glory. Behind the walls of the Nest, warriors repeat the words of an ancient oath and begin the journey to mastering hidden knowledge and one day becoming a Dragon Knight, one of Adan's guardians.
The times of the Great Wars passed, as does everything in this world. On the Day of Wrath, the Dark Gods of Shaab were forced back into the Forbidden Arks. Along with them perished Tangors, masters of the Void. A peaceful era began, and the Dragons left Adan. The former glory of Dragon Knights faded, their Nests falling into decay.
But peace never lasts. The schemes and rivalries of different nations tore apart the once-mighty Republic of Tartu. In the fires of the Civil War, two Human Empires were born: Sadar and Vaalor. And it wasn't long before the old evil returned in a new form.
But with the evil returned the winged guardians of the world.
The six Elder Dragons took up their abode in a new Temple of Dragons, located near the Kmeer Mountains (the old Temple had been destroyed by the creatures of Blight along with Old Republic's capital). Lesser Dragons settled all across the territories of the two Human Empires and soon, just like between Humans, there was no peace between Dragons. No wonder it is said that Dragons and Humans were both created from the Original Flame.
Citizens of Sadar and Vaalor longed to restore the diminished greatness of the Dragons Knights. Stone by stone, Tor-Radan was rebuilt after Taurs razed it, and the location became the Sadar War Academy. Its twin had better luck – the only blows that Tor-Gaet received were delivered by time. This is why the Vaalor War Academy opened its doors a bit earlier – but not enough to attain any serious advantage.
Above all else, Sadar War Academy owes its rebirth to a living legend, the Dragon Knight Crimm. Today, this noble warrior bears the rank of Crown-Legate and First Mentor. Crimm and his red Dragon Brother Mehlest received decorations from two Sadar Emperors. For more than twenty years now, Crimm and Mehlest come to the gates of the Academy at sunrise to greet the would-be Dragon Knights.
Crimm and Mehlest accept vows from recruits and teach them basic combat skills. According to the Code of Sadar, future defenders of the Empire must train for twenty years and this training is divided into four stages.
The three Years of Osmose are not really different from any recruit's life. They include marching, making the first steps in the Arena of Broken Blades, washing the floor of the barracks, taking letters to the Ikarim messenger Asakhi, cleaning the armor of elder warriors, and taking care of their Dragons.
The three Years of Doctrine bring constant hardships and tests into the life of the disciples. Training grounds are exchanged for exhausting marches under the harshest weather conditions, basic combat drills are exchanged for long hours of intense weapon exercise. Future Knights are taught the martial arts of Humans and other races, including the Elven Branch Dance, the Dedaire Skomm-Rag and, of course, the Eleven Steps of a Dragon. This technique, created by the Dragons for their Human allies, has been almost forgotten in Vaalor – a fact that Sadar graduates are always proud to emphasize.
The three Years of Loyalty that follow are spent in apprenticeship under one of the Dragon Knights. Servant, page, and squire, the disciple sleeps and eats only when the elder Brother or his Dragon orders him to. The Code of the Academy dictates that the Dragon Knights show no mercy to their wards, and that they're free to inflict any punishment they deem necessary. This is arguably the most difficult part of training for the proud people of Sadar.
Three Years of Blood complete the path by making disciples familiar with real warfare. Together with regular regiments of Sadar armies they participate in land, sea, and air operations. Knights-to-be have to learn the tactics of infantry and artillery, combat engineers and scouts, and the organization of the army, from squads and the chain of command to manning details, and even staffing the field kitchen. The secrets of fortress assaults and sieges, the deceitful silence of night ambushes, and the terror of the sky raids are revealed to them. They learn the hard way that wherever four warriors go, a fifth always follows – Death.
By the end of the twelfth year of training, Younglings of the Nest return to the Academy. The First Mentor, with the power given to him by the Emperor, dubs them Dragon Knights of the First Blood. But this is not the end of their training. The young Knights still have a lot to do before they leave the walls of the Academy to serve Sadar with honor and glory.
And they still have the most important test of all ahead of them – the Trial of Dragons. There are no guidelines for the Trial in the Code, and even the First Mentor remains unusually silent when the time comes. The decision is made by Dragons alone, the decision of who is worthy to enter the Halls of Dragons to choose a Brother- or a Sister-by-Word. Only the warrior who is allowed to make this choice is considered to have walked the path to its end, becoming a true Blade of Sadar, Spark of Eternal Fire, Hope of the Empire – a Dragon Knight.
Take three things on your journey. A sharp blade to strike your enemies. A loaf of bread to share with brothers. And your oath of loyalty. As long as the sun shines in the sky. Until time stops its flow. As long as the stars define fates. You are one. One soul. One body. Human and Dragon.
Inscription on the Academy's Inner Gates