The Parapet

Southern Turret

Access to the Parapet begins in the southern turret of Basgiath War College, reached from the main courtyard. Candidates enter through a ground-level door and ascend a 250-step spiral staircase leading to the bridge above. The interior is dim and narrow, lit only by slivers of light that fall through evenly spaced windows along the curved wall. There is no railing, and most candidates steady themselves by keeping one hand against the cold stone as they climb.

At the top, the staircase opens onto a small, exposed platform. The turret’s circular crown is lined with low stone battlements that provide little cover from the wind or rain. Strong gusts sweep across the open space, while the lower portions of the structure offer only minimal shelter from the elements.

The Bridge

The Parapet itself is a slender stone bridge that stretches high above the ravine dividing the main college from the Riders Quadrant Citadel on the southern ridge. Suspended nearly two hundred feet over the valley floor and measuring barely eighteen inches wide, it is among the most perilous structures at Basgiath. Its exact length is not recorded.

Because of its height and exposure, conditions on the Parapet are treacherous—strong winds can easily unbalance a walker, and rain or mist make the stones dangerously slick. Despite this, the crossing proceeds in any weather. The bridge is uneven, built from roughly mortared stones that increase the chance of slipping or tripping.

Candidates step onto the Parapet from an opening at the top of the turret. Painted markers divide the path into quarters, with the midpoint marking the bridge’s highest rise. The proper footwear is crucial—rubber-soled rider boots offer traction, whereas smooth-soled shoes make the crossing nearly impossible.

Near the end of the bridge, low stone walls rise on either side for the final stretch, guiding candidates toward the Citadel entrance. The crossing concludes with a twelve-foot drop into the courtyard of the Riders Quadrant, completing the passage from student candidate to rider aspirant.

The Citadel

The Parapet ends at the courtyard of the Riders Quadrant Citadel, enclosed by ten-foot-thick, eight-foot-tall stone walls. The only opening faces the bridge, emphasizing its isolation and danger. Beyond the courtyard, the Citadel rises directly from the mountainside in an L-shaped formation of massive, fire-resistant stone towers.

Inside the courtyard, a raised stone dais stands opposite the bridge entrance, used for official proceedings and announcements. The citadel’s imposing structure and defensive design reflect its purpose as both a fortress and a proving ground for Navarre’s future riders.

The Parapet embodies the harsh logic of the Codex. It is designed not only to test balance and nerve but also to cull the weak before they can bond with dragons. Cadets, riders, and scribes witness the event each year, reinforcing a shared identity rooted in endurance, fear, and survival. Watching peers fall to their deaths is considered part of the indoctrination into Navarre’s warrior ethos.

The Parapet is the Riders Quadrant’s infamous initiation trial at Basgiath War College. Every candidate must cross it on Conscription Day to gain entry into the citadel. Suspended two hundred feet above the Iakobos River, the eighteen-inch-wide bridge has become a symbol of Navarre’s ruthless creed: only the strong survive. Roughly 15% of candidates die on average each year, making it one of the most feared and defining rites of passage in the kingdom.