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 Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 7:32 am
The Test of Apprenticeship is a two-week event that happens twice a year in Long society: in the last two weeks of Yao Ying, and the first two weeks of Xin Xue. Each time is preceded by five days where any Jiao or Qiu Long may sign up in the hopes of becoming an apprentice to a Yao Long, and learning both the craft of their trade and some of the magic that they will someday need in order to progress to Yao Long themselves. However, in order to become an apprentice to a Yao Long, all who sign up must undergo five tests that measure their raw strength, swiftness of body, quickness of mind, understanding of the world, and their ability to relate to others. Only the Long who score highest in all areas will be considered for an apprentice.
Yao Long are not required to participate in the event, though it is certainly encouraged, and any Yao Long who is unhappy with the turnout of those who have tried his tests may choose not to take an apprentice that round. However, Yao Long are schooled to treat each event with impartiality, setting aside any personal feelings he might have for the apprentices-to-be as they are tested, and must judge with that same impartiality in order to ensure fairness for all. These two weeks are nerve-wracking all around, but much of the time, those who have joined in find that they have a better appreciation for their fellows and more knowledge of the world, even if they don't succeed. And of those who do secure apprenticeships, many eventually become good friends with their laoshi (teacher).
The Test of Apprenticeship is only the beginning to a journey through the world, but it is not a required one. However, it enriches all who try their best.
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Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 7:34 am
>>>>>Test of Apprenticeship Rules
OOC: The Test of Apprenticeship is a 2-week RP event. It is not mandatory, but RPs will count toward yao long requirements, and may, where applicable, count toward breeding bonuses.
OO
OOC: The Test of Apprenticeship is a twice-yearly event, and any Long who are not prepared this time around may certainly choose to wait until they feel ready.
OO
OOC: Those who sign up will be given a list of stats and a number of points, and must distribute according to their character's strengths and weaknesses.
OO
Jiao & Qiu Long: All Long of these stages are welcome to sign up.
OO
Jiao & Qiu Long: Applicants must complete all 5 tests to be considered as an apprentice.
OO
Jiao & Qiu Long: Each event will test against one stat.
OO
Jiao & Qiu Long: The willingness to persevere, the strength to continue when all odds are against you, is part of The Test, and will not be overlooked.
OO
Yao Long: Judgings must be fair and impartial. Yao Long may, if necessary, employ another to help balance their views.
OO
Yao Long: May choose up to two apprentices from the applicants who complete all 5 tests, but are not required to take any. They may also choose only one.
OO
Yao Long: Must choose the apprentice that scored the highest in all areas, setting aside any personal feelings.
OO
Yao Long: May choose their own tests, provided they are approved by the government.
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Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 7:36 am
>>>>>Sign Up Form
[b]Your Name:[/b]
[b]Which Long is joining in?[/b]
[b]Who are they hoping to apprentice to?[/b]
(Repeat questions as needed for all Long joining in)
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Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 7:37 am
>>>>>Fei Yi
Ming Hoa (SillyAngelKitty) - Strength, Agility, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma, Journal
Hēiméi* (Roserain) - Strength, Agility, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma, Journal
Xingyun* (Rian-chan) - Strength, Agility, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma, Journal
Pinyin (Phoenix_soarys) - Strength, Agility, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma, Journal
>>>>>Lin Shui
Landuo (Lexenos the Knight) - Strength, Agility, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma, Journal
Hong Lu Xing (Falcona) - Strength, Agility, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma, Journal
Tianping (Fea Line) - Strength, Agility, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma, Journal
Meili (Rian-chan) - Strength, Agility, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma, Journal
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Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2011 4:36 am
The air was crisp and clean with the early morning dew. A faint breeze played through Fei Yi's hair, and he smiled as he shifted the bag of pork he carried from one hand to the other. A new wok, dark metal complimented by the pale wood of the handles, banged against his back. The feel of it made him smile all the more for what it represented, but that and the clean feel of the day weren't the only things making him smile. It was Yao Ying, and a week in at that. Time was approaching for the next Test of Apprenticeship.
He hadn't discussed it with Lin Shui just yet. In truth, he'd forgotten about that particular 'holiday' until he'd arrived at the market that morning and overheard the butcher talking about it with the owner of the nearby vegetable stall. He'd stopped, listening to them discuss the relative merits of trying once again to aspire to the power of a yao long, and he'd simply stood there, thinking as jiao and qiu long wound their way around him to get the items they needed. In the end, he'd taken the pork and made his way over to the kitchen supply shop, buying a new wok and knife.
"Ya wanna second?" the shopowner had asked, dark eyes sharp with wit as he nodded to his wares. Fei Yi had been tempted, but one was enough until he knew how Lin felt about the whole thing. He'd never worked with another yao long quite so closely before.
As he brought himself out of his reverie, he realized he was back at home, staring up at the front of the shop that he now called his home. "Well," he said to himself as he made his way inside, "Lin's just going to have to deal with at least one, no matter what she thinks." And with a grin, he started setting up for service.
***
Service was smooth and without incident, and Lin certainly hadn't missed the topic that was on everyone's lips. Fei Yi knew that much, because even back in the kitchen amidst the clatter of woks and spoons and the crisp sound of his knives through the fresh bok choy and carrot, he'd caught the occasional whisper. The test was approaching, and now was the time to prepare.
He cleaned the kitchen as Lin set the front of the shop to rights once they closed, and when he was done, he brought out a tray filled with two bowls of soup and two plates of Golden Fried Rice. It was tradition with them to sit after service and eat something that was not dim sum as they discussed the problems from the day. He'd thought all day about how to approach her, had planned out a great speech, but in the end, all that came out was a simple, "Are you going to?"
Lin glanced up in surprise, then laughed softly, setting down her soup bowl and watching him for a long moment before finally speaking up. "Yes." It was one word, simple, calm, and confident in that way that he always had admired.
"One or two?" he asked, as he thought again about the second wok and knife, the one he'd walked away from. If she were going for two... perhaps it wasn't too late. He could certainly stop by the shop after he'd bought the meat for the day tomorrow. A little side trip would hurt no one, and he'd be best being prepared before the end of the tests when all prices on such things skyrocketed.
After a moment, he realized that she was watching him, a small smile of amusement on her lips. She'd answered, and he was so busy thinking of woks and knives that he'd missed it. "...What?"
Lin's smile just grew...
***
The two rooms were small, each sized to fit stacked bunk beds sized for Yao or Jiao Long, a row of shelves against one wall and a table with two chairs against the other, where both Long could be expected to work on whatever they might need. Fei Yi stood in the doorway of the one he'd claimed, smiling quietly as he looked at the neatly-made beds, the four shelves cleared of everything and the fifth shelf, on the bottom, where he'd placed two copies of the cookbook he'd made from shop cuisine, and the table, where sat two woks and two knives, neatly placed and ready for the apprentices he intended to take on. He could remember his first Test of Apprenticeship and how he'd felt the night before, as nervous energy left butterfly ghosts all over his skin. He remembered the questions floating through his mind, the wonderings of whether a Yao would even notice him amidst the others, of whether he could prove himself. Later, he'd found that he loved the feeling of such anticipation.
Now, he felt a shadow of it again. Folding his arms over his chest, he glanced to where Lin was making the final arrangements in the room she'd claimed. There was a grace to the way she moved, a delicacy that spoke of beauty beyond her body, and for the moment, he could appreciate it all the more. Perhaps, he thought, one of her apprentices might just do what he'd ended up doing during his own Test, and fall a little in love with Lin as he'd fallen for Huijin. They might, he reflected, even go so far as to tell her how they felt. But if he remembered the feeling properly, he suspected they wouldn't. To please a teacher, a master in his or her field... that often became the world to an apprentice, and of all the apprentices out there, the ones who gained their status through the Test were the most dedicated and determined he'd ever known.
As she turned to leave the room, her eyes lit on him, and Fei grinned, nodding to her before turning back to look into the room his apprentices would occupy once more. The day was coming... and he couldn't wait to see whether there were any out there who could truly keep up with his demands. Satisfied, he closed the door, hearing the soft latch as it clicked shut, and turned to make his way down the hallway to his own room. Time to go sleep for a while, and look forward to the next day...
***
"Do you know what tests you're going to be using, Lin?" Fei asked over the rice of his breakfast. He was rarely at his best during the early mornings of the shop, but the last few days had seen him leaping from bed, ready to take on the new day. The idea of the Test, the preparations for it, had inspired him and fired his mind with idea after idea. The result was an entirely too enthusiastic Fei Yi, who poured his eager mind into plans and into his work, creating new dishes with the leftover bits of his creativity. As a result, more Long had started showing up, for word was spreading about the Jade Lotus.
"Not yet," Lin murmured, teacup in hand as she frowned. She liked his enthusiasm, and was certainly drawn in by it, but trying to come up with tests on her own, particularly ones that the government would approve, was a chore that only added to her work at the end of the day. "I have a couple of ideas, but I'm not quite certain about them. What about you? With the way you've been going on, you must have some plans."
Fei chuckled. "I'm still trying to figure out what would work out best," he admitted, shaking his head. "I don't want to be too hard on them, but I also don't want their victory to come so easily that they don't appreciate it. It isn't some little game they're playing, after all. This is about their future, about whether or not any of them has the wherewithal to become the very best. Don't you think, Lin?" Their eyes met for a moment, Fei's earnest as he tried to emphasize the importance of the Test.
Lin was the first to look away. "I suppose," she agreed quietly, though inside, she knew that was precisely the case. "But..."
"But nothing," Fei countered, taking a quick drink of his own tea. "Besides, Laoshi Huijin would have my head if I didn't take this seriously. And your laoshi would do the same! Tonight, I'll sit down with you, if you like, and come up with some ideas for tests. We still have time to get them approved before the Test begins."
"Okay," she agreed quietly, moving to gather their now-empty dishes onto a tray as he made his way back into the kitchen to begin preparing for service.
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Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2011 4:38 am
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Lexenos the Gypsy Bard Crew
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Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2011 6:48 am
Your Name: Lexenos the Knight
Which Long is joining in? Landuo
Who are they hoping to apprentice to? Lin Shui
- Stat PM sent
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Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2011 7:58 am
Your Name: Sillyangelkitty
Which Long is joining in? Ming Hoa
Who are they hoping to apprentice to? Fei Yi
(Repeat questions as needed for all Long joining in)
Stat PM sent
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Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2011 4:46 pm
Your Name: Falcona
Which Long is joining in? Hong Lu Xing
Who are they hoping to apprentice to? Lin Shui
Stat PM sent
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Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2011 5:14 pm
Your Name: Roserain
Which Long is joining in? Hēiméi
Who are they hoping to apprentice to? Fei Yi
Stat PM sent
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Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 9:18 am
Your Name: Rian-chan
Which Long is joining in? Xingyun
Who are they hoping to apprentice to? Fei Yi
Stats pm sent.
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Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 9:31 am
Your Name: Phoenix_soarys
Which Long is joining in? Pinyin
Who are they hoping to apprentice to? Fei Yi
Stats PM sent.
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Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 12:57 pm
Your Name: Fea Line
Which Long is joining in? Tianping
Who are they hoping to apprentice to? Lin Shui
Stats pm sent
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Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 11:35 am
Your Name: Rian-chan
Which Long is joining in? Meili
Who are they hoping to apprentice to? Lin Shui
...Annora convinced me and so, here it is. <3 I have to leave for work but I will post the stats asap (won't be home till like... 1:30am EST though)
Stats pm sent - please note that stats are different for Qiu Long than for Jiao Long.
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Annora Lyrisa Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 12:59 am
Because the Test was a trial-run, and full of problems and poor timings, no winners have been announced. However, those of you who would like to at least claim the Yao Long for your journal entries may continue to edit your Event Journals until you have 10 days worth of entries. There is no longer a deadline for this.
Eventually, you will all see what your willingness to try has gained you.
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