Lichthart

Lichthart, at least compared to Pensalir, is the school of hard-knocks. But it's much more than just a rough school for rough people, as the North might like to generalise it. Lichthart is the oldest school of combat on Sliver and was inarguably the best until Pensalir rose to prominence - if it wasn't for the first generation of Lichthart graduates, Sliver North could never have been reached to begin with. But despite its proud history, Lichthart doesn't get much of the respect - and it doesn't get the funding.

Lichthart seems an easy-access academy on paper, at its founding it practised no entry requirements or selection and it continues that tradition even to its day. The only thing they ask of their students initially is to warn them about what they're getting into, and ask for their very best efforts. As such, Lichthart's student body is comprised primarily of those from Anchorage, Vixilancia and Naraida (independent) - the beasts without memory are still a very present threat there - they come tough and leave tougher. The minority are a mix of those from Elysium and the North, most of whom failed to make Pensalir, but still wanted to train in combat no matter what. They aren't exactly welcomed by the Centre-South natives, but if they show their willingness to defend others and fit with the culture, and can keep up with Lichthart, they'll be respected. To that end, a lot of people do drop-out from Lichthart as it remains a school which sets a very gruelling pace, not everyone can handle it.

The academy is notoriously understaffed and lacking resources, while the campus itself was once one of the biggest constructions on Sliver, it's now pretty rough around the edges. Peeling paint and duct-tape are your view from Lichthart. On account of the very generous incentives being offered by the North, many of the best tutors left or qualified and chose to teach in Pensalir - but not all, some remained. Very stubborn types. Which goes for the student body, too. Lichthart treasures a mix of individualism and co-operation the most. There is no real student hierarchy, sometimes even no student-teacher one, besides a loose mish-mash of power, smarts and respect.

What training they're missing from qualified tutors they give to one another, Lichthart upperclassmen work hard training the incoming youth, honing each and every talent over the course of study. With this system and oftentimes with pure tenacity alone, Lichthart produces fighters who can frequently stand equal with if not above anyone Pensalir could turn-out, in spite of the latter's best efforts to quash them.

Lichthart students tend to be: more likely to have particularly strong individuals among them, focus on backwards or unusual tactics in combat; work through self-improvement and collaborative study, and make do with whatever they can get a hold of.