As you all find your way into the dining room, you take note of several trays of food floating through the swinging doors of the connected kitchen and setting themselves down upon the serving table where plates and cutlery are already set out.  The food all smells immaculate in the early morning breeze that's blowing through the open glass doors that lead out to the covered deck outside.

Other than yourselves, the dining room is deserted.

After a few minutes of waiting, Erulisse emerges through the swinging doors with Hildi following close behind.

"Good morning, everyone!" she says aloud with a cheery smile.  She motions to the table with her arm, indicating the rather more lavish spread than what you've seen for the past two tendays.  "I was instructed to provide an extra hearty breakfast for today, so it's now here for you.  Miss Jhessana left the hall a couple of hours ago with instructions that you should all be ready for her return, which should be between eight and nine bells."

"Pleasant morning," Hildigrim says to each as they enter.

"It certainly is, Hildigrim!" Gimmur grins as he sits down and starts to eat. "Mmm! Thank you, Mistress Erulisse! Very kind of you."

"Up late again, Edgar?" Hildigrim observes bluntly, passing a plate of meat. "You know I can commiserate with your tendency toward self-abnegation for the sake of academia, but if we ever receive orders, we'll need you unfatigued." He looks around the table. "Speaking of orders, has anyone seen Jhessana this morning? Her door was ajar and quarters vacated when I passed minutes ago."

 

Ooc: sorry everyone, im on mobile and cant choose a text color.

Edgar yawns, still very tired but sits up to converse.

"Yes hildi, i stayed up late and got up early to study more weapon designs. I completely agree that one should be ready when called forth to action. But im so excited to study these new weapons miss Jhessana has shown us that i can barley stay asleep most nights, i even have dreams about them"

Edgar will smile and drink whatever is available, happily waiting to eat.

You all spend some time breaking your fast, some chatting amiably, some sitting by silently.  Erulisse stays for only a few minutes to make sure everyone has what they need before returning to the kitchen, presumably to begin cleaning up.

About 15 minutes pass before you all hear the sound of footsteps approaching the dining room from the deck outside.  Mere moments later you all see the familiar figure of Captain Dietrich Harken step into the room.

Once he enters, he just stands there inside the threshold with his arms clasped behind his back, seemingly waiting for something.

OOC: If anyone is at a loss as to what the good captain might be waiting for, feel free to make an Insight check.

As the captain comes into the room Vayn, who had been eating on his own standing by the doorway, finishes his mouthful and places his plate on the table as he moves to stand facing the captain.  After an initial look back at the plate and the unfinished meal a wistful look comes to his eye as he wonders if he'll get to finish the breakfast but he stands to attention, eyes forward not making eye contact with the captain but not looking away. 

Night is one those silent types content to eat in peace. Although his ear flickers occasionally at key pieces of conversation. When the good captain Harken walks in, Night is able to contain himself to an attentive look this time around.  

Insight: 17

Though sensing something up, he curtly slips out of his seat and stands at full attention with his hands clasped behind him as well. 

Phillandros sits on a stool and his large frame is hunkered over his plate as he eats.  He greets the others between handfuls of food, and when the Captain enters he waves at him and continues to clean his plate.  When he notices the others starting to stand at attention, he looks at the Captain once more, shoves another handful of breakfast in his mouth and stands to face the captain.

"Mornin' Captain....." he says with a mouthful of food.

[Insight: 3]

Insight: 22

Gimmur chatters on, happy for the first time in a long time to be around people who might be friends soon. He continues talking for a few moments after the captain enters, then sees the others stand to and realizes that it's time to be quiet. He wipes his face and hands and stands alongside the rest of the company.

OOC: Not sure how you feel about multiple people rolling for the same information, but I'll also roll for insight.

Insight: 18

Hildigrim smiles briefly at Harken. "Pleasant morning, Captain," he says, turning back to his plate. He dutifully ignores the falderal of everyone standing.

During the morning meal Edgar is happily eating the delicious food, asking odd questions to to group about the firearms like, "what do you think would be the weakest thing you could make ammunition out of, bone maybe?" and he will eagerly note any insights to his question from the group.

As the captain enters, Edgar will take a last drink of water, push his chair back from the table, and wait to see if orders are coming. "Morning sir,"... Then an idea about the fire arms will surface, and he will quickly write it down, thwn go back to waiting.

Dietrich waits and watches, gauging all of your responses, before shaking his head with a sigh.

"Discipline still needs work," he finally says in his usual gruff voice as he steps more fully into the room.  He walks to the center of the room, making sure to catch each of your eyes so he knows you are all watching, and when he gets there he suddenly snaps to attention himself.  The heels of his boots click firmly but not loudly together, his feet splayed 45 degrees apart.  His arms snap instantly to his sides, hands open but with fingers together, palms resting against his sides. His knees are ever so slightly bent, but otherwise he stands ramrod straight, his head up, eyes staring intently into the distance directly ahead of him.  He remains standing this way, silent for just a moment, before beginning to speak

"Properly coming to Attention requires promptness and precision," he says firmly but not harshly, still staring into the distance.  "Which means no second glances at plates, no continuing to eat because you can, no bending down to take notes, and no waiting until you see what everyone else does.  Hands should be at one's sides, visibly showing that nothing else has your attention.  You are completely focused on whomever you are giving your attention to, and they should know it beyond a shadow of a doubt." He pauses for a moment, listening intently to hear if any of you shuffle about to adjust your own position.

"At Ease," he declares after a full moment of silence in the room. His feet spread apart to shoulder width and his hands clasp behind his back as his posture visibly relaxes.  He slowly looks about at each of you.  "Now, can any of you tell me WHY I emphasize coming to Attention properly?"

"Uncle Barakor taught me that attention means respect, sir. M-O-O-N, that spells respect, and without respect, nothing gets done right." Gimmur answers promptly.

"Uh.....because you want something?" Phillandros looks around at his teammates and kind of shrugs, bits of food still stuck in his almost dwarven-esque beard.

and then beneath his breath he mutters "I do not think that spells respect....I think that spells moon....."

Dietrich gives a faint, barely visible smile as he points a finger in Gimmur's direction.

"Exactly, Master Gimmur," he says firmly, "Respect.  Coming to attention is ALL about showing respect.  Whether it's an officer coming into the room, a noble you pass in the street, or the funeral pyre of a friend, it's a matter of SHOWING that individual that you respect either their person or their position enough to stop whatever you are doing and focus solely on THEM. You give them your full, undivided, and absolute attention, if you will."  He pauses to look over everyone once again.  "Does everyone understand this?"

Phillandros slowly nods.....while his hand grabs another handful of breakfast and stuffs it in his mouth when he thinks the Captain isn't looking.

Hearing Phillandros's response, Dietrich frowns briefly before his face goes calm again and he gives a firm nod.

"Aye, that's a fair point too, Phillandros," he responds aloud so the whole group can hear.  "While showing proper respect is the primary PURPOSE of the kind of discipline I've been trying to teach you all since you arrived here, it is NOT its only USE.  Much as I regret it, but the state of our world being what it is, there is considerable persuasive value in looking sharp and disciplined no matter who you are interacting with, and whether they deserve such respect or not.  Royals, nobles, military leaders, influential merchants...even commoners on the street, almost every single one of them is susceptible to flattery, and giving a good first impression of respect can go a LONG way to getting what you want or need in a given situation."

He actually pauses to chuckle for a moment, which catches a number of you by surprise as Dietrich is generally very good about remaining stoic when he's giving instruction.

"As a case in point," he continues, "it is my understanding that we you all will be meeting two new people of import today.  One who will have much more immediate impact on each of your situations here with the Knights of Thunder, and the other who, while more indirect, will very likely have a much more far-reaching impact.  I strongly suggest you all put your best foot forward for each of them."

Phillandros looks down at his feet trying to figure out which one is his best foot....