Darkthorne Academy of Swordsmanship

Whereas Felix & Jonathan's school takes a nonchalant approach to swordplay (and life in general), Alicia Darkthorne lives an ascetic's life. Her school emphasizes the triumph of will over style and steel over flesh. Her students have absorbed some of her arrogance and haughtiness, and are known for taking offense at the slightest breach of courtesy and initiating duels. Their focus also – maybe – makes them better swordsmen. Or swordswomen.

The school focuses primarily on the use of a single rapier, with advanced students studying under Darkthorne herself. Other instructors teach the use of sword and dagger, or sword and short sword, though Alicia Darkthorne herself disdains the use of a second blade as dishonorable.

Many of the duels between members of the two schools are bred of an old, nasty rumor, widely spread by the swashbucklers and vehemently denied by the darkthornes, that Alicia Darkthorne once loved Jonathan O'Connell, and he spurned her advances for another woman. This rumor is hard to credit, because:

1. Alicia Darkthorne is notoriously chaste;
2. She is also devastatingly beautiful; and
3. O'Connell isn't exactly known for turning down the affections of a pretty lady, or being particularly monogamous.

Nonetheless, it has persisted for more than forty years, so there may be something to it after all. At any rate, it is known that she was once an advanced student at the School, shortly after it was founded, left in a fury and founded her own competing academy, and has not been seen in the company of any man since then.

See Swashbuckler for more information.