The Savant

The slender elf cleans his glasses with the corner of his

cloak as the dust settles around him. He was the first living thing to set foot in the ancient temple in hundreds of years. His benefactor had paid him a great deal to find this place, and after months of pouring over forgotten tomes he had finally figured out it's long-lost location. Now, he had a

choice to make, would he report back to his benefactor

allowing them to strip the temple of it's valuables? Or,

would he keep the location hidden, and preserve the

priceless information found here himself? To a savant, knowledge is more precious than gold coins.

The elderly warrior assessed the state of his men, they were exhausted and almost out of supplies. This was the tenth day of the siege, and the warrior knew that at this

point no reinforcements were coming to relieve them. He

was too old to be of use in battle, but if his men followed

his orders to the letter, and without hesitation, they just

might have a fighting chance. He stood up, and for what

could be the last time, drew his sword.

A young dwarf bends over his unconscious comrade in

the midst of battle, his hands shaking as he examined the unconscious soldier's wounds. The elders of his clan had spent a great deal of their fortune to send him to the best university gold could buy. All those hours spent in lectures, libraries, and observation; all for this moment. He thought back to what he had learned about field medicine from his professors and began to dress the soldier's wounds.

Great Minds There are many intelligent people in the world, but few are true savants. Born with an innate desire to learn all they can, and the potential for a genius level intellect, they spend their lives studying anything that those around them are willing to teach them. Savants are often recognized at an early age, and in their hunger for knowledge, they are drawn to great libraries, universities, and other places of higher learning. They will do anything to access the troves of knowledge that lie hidden in the forgotten places of the world, for savants, no price is too steep to pay for a new discovery. Despite their aptitude for learning, most savants seek to better themselves without having to rely on outside influences. Savants reject the patronage of gods and other powerful beings, and in turn they view wizardry as a shortcut to power for the weak willed. Relying on their intellect alone, they strive for perfection.