A bugle pierces your peaceful slumber. It's an annoying sound yet somewhat comforting as it's the same noise that has awoken you the past six weeks. Wearily, you roll yourself out of bed. You're body still exhausted from the previous day but you know what awaits if you delay. Looking around, you see the others of your unit rising as well. Many are already getting dressed and lacing up their boots. You too eventually pull on you green and blue uniforms and head to mess hall for the morning meal before. As you're nearly done dressing you hear a conversation going on from two other. They are not secretive but you catch a bit about team assignments and you nearly stutter in your action. Thinking back, you do recall that today was the day you'd be assigned to your teams. You're not sure what all that means but it means change.
----
As everyone one in your unit, a grouping of 30 men and women, Captain August us entered the room. He's not a tall man but he has an intimidating presence about him that commands attention. Dressed in his officer's uniform, a similar green of blue but with more colored, knotted leather along on his left side, each a symbol of rank and individual accomplishment. He scans the room with his dark bluish grey eyes as everyone eats. Those that had not seen him walk in hear a loud piercing whistle as he brings two fingers to his mouth and blows. With that, all conversation dies down immediately and there is a scrambling to stand at attention.
"Morning, soldiers, fore that is what you are today. Soldiers." he calls out and again sweeps his gaze across the gathered group. "You are no longer recruits. Those of you that remain here, have pasted beyond the normal rank and file. You that remain will be involved in a rather unique tradition here with the Tordek Army. As you well know, we are a smaller nation, more remote and on the fringes of known civilization. Looking at a map, one would think that our neighboring kingdoms could crush us with sheet size and number, and oh have they tried. We here in Tordek prescribe to a different military philosophy. We believe in more advanced training, more adaptable squads and higher diversity. That is what you graduate to today." He then begins to pace back and forth in front of the group slowly.
"If you thought your training was hard before...Good. You needed it. Today, you get your squads, today you get tossed into the fire and will have active combat immediately... Tomorrow... we'll see. Impress us, show us what you've learned." He then claps his hands and stops pacing. He reaches into the inside coat pocket and pulls out a scroll. "Now, I'll be breaking you into squads of 5 with a total of 6 squads. When you hear your name, find the others, you have one hour to finish your meals, grab what you need for active combat sparring and be out to the front gates. Now, " he begins to read off names one by one in groups of six. He he gets to the fourth grouping you hear, "Boofa Stronghand, Dor Lurmur, Elisha, Jilrana Sunmeadow, and Nadariel." Giving only a slight pause, he continues through to group 5 and 6.
Looking around for whoever is named "Boofa," Dor looks over at a halfling and chuckles lightly before finishing his meal. With a little more respect, he stands and straightens his clothes before setting off to find his group and then catches a glimpse of an imposing Goliath barbarian a few tables down.
"I wonder what that fellas name is...probably 'Ragnar the Skullcrusher' or some such. He'll definitely be useful in anyone's group, they'd be lucky to have him."
Boofa, looking for his fellow group members, sees a dwarf looking his way. He walks over clumsily, wary to not bump into any of his more... compact soldiermates. In a deep voice, he says:
"Hello, I am Boofa Stronghand. Are you in my group?"
Boofa's face looks tired, but has an overall friendly disposition. His body language shows that he is excited to get started with the work planned ahead.
With a shocked face and, mostly, suppressed choke, Dor covers his mouth while nodding. Clearly surprised, he settles himself before confirming his involvement in the group.
"Ah, yep, that'd be right. Now we've just got to find the other three. I've got to say, I'm glad to have one such as yourself as apart of the group. As strong and well-made as my dwarvish roots have me, I can't deny that height has always been a challenge."
Boofa, somewhat confused at the Dwarf's reaction, agrees.
"The quicker we find our group, the quicker we can get to our assignments. And just to let you know, I have fought against and alongside Dwarves throughout my time before joining this Army. What you lack in height, you make up in fortitude. I'm sure you have your fair share of battle stories, once we get situated I'd love to exchange some with you. For now, let's ask around and find our group."
"There it is, I've made it!" Jilrana thinks to herself, barely able to contain her excitement. The first three weeks of training had been a shock to her, the hard work and extremely limited freedom so completely opposite to the world she had known before, but she had adjusted and was beginning to see the beauty in the strict regime. It made the challenge of pranks that much more rewarding.
"And,"she has to admit to herself, "there is a certain satisfaction in being relied upon and relying on others."After all, more than one night she had fallen asleep exhausted, but knowing the harsh training had been performed successfully. Especially the group tactics always left her with a feeling of pride when it all clicked.
She looks around, a wide grin creasing her button nose and the multitude of freckles on her cheeks as she spots the giant man she knows to be Boofa. One of the more memorable faces in the group, that one. One of the few that she has already began to see as a friend over the course of the six weeks.
With a spring in her step Jilrana makes her way over to the three already gathered, her hair swaying behind her. During active hours she keeps it tightly bound in a big ponytail, but as soon as she is allowed to she unties the leather to have her rossy hair fall in a big tumble down her back.
"Hi!" she says on approach, then simply leans against one of the tree trunks that is Boofa's legs. "Jilrana, reporting." she continues with a big smile and a wink, her always-sunny disposition casting a bright light on those already gathered.
An Elf with shoulder length black hair approaches the group and says: "Hello my name is Elisha, it looks as though we will be working together. It is nice to meet you all."
"Wait, we have an hour, still!" Jilrana exclaims, her face bunching up in confusion, fists on her hips in mock anger."I don't know about any of you, but I'm going to fill up another plate before we're sent out. Race ya!" she ends with a wide grin, then darts off laughing into the crowd, nimbly avoiding the long legs of the other soldiers as she runs forward. As she runs past she gives a running high-five to Tasha, a female Dwarven recruit she had befriended as well, but sadly hadn't made it into the same group.
With wide eyes she holds up another plate to be filled by the cooks, and soon afterwards is seen wolfing down whatever was put on it.
Nodding in approval to Boofa's words, Dor stands satisfied as the other members of the group introduce themselves. As they finish, he eyes group 4's members and smirks with happy reminiscence of a former time. Watching Jilrana run for more food while Nadariel, Elisha, and Boofa want to get going, he shrugs his shoulders before walking back over to his plate.
"I'd wager you'd all like to get going, but, take it from experience, you gotta eat what you can when you can. I'm sure the Officers will call whenever they're ready for us. As for me, I'm ready to go when they are, but I think I'd like a second helping of whatever that grainy soup is while we wait."
Boofa, anxious but excited to get started, agrees.
"The halfling and dwarf have a point. We have a long day ahead of us. Let's eat and rest for now."
Boofa sits down, somewhat awkwardly in the regularly sized mess hall chairs. Too anxious to eat, he swirls his spoon in the grainy tan-ish sludge served up this morning.
Once the group finishes their meals, they go and gather their gear for sparring. Armor is donned, weapons belted on and magic/religious items grabbed. Soon, they meet back up at the front gate as commended. Stilling having about 15 minutes before the appointed time, they count themselves as being the second to last group to arrive. Group two has still yet to arrive. Looking about, group 1 has a boisterous Half-Elf trying to give a rousing speech to his peers. One seems to be paying attention, the others are not. Group 3 has a gnome and human completing some stretches as the prepare and many others are standing around strategizing or otherwise conversing.
"What are you talking about?"Jilrana exclaims, her high-pitched voice carrying farther than she intended. Her face turns a bit red as she sees some of the other groups turn their heads, and lowers her voice as she continues, "We're not only here before the Captain told us to be here, but we're not even the last to arrive!"
With an exaggerated wince she adjusts the crossbow slung over her shoulder, pulling her ponytail out from under it as she does. With a sound that could mean absolutely anything she turns to the group, takes a deep sniff of fresh morning air, and blows it back out with a satisfied sigh. "So," she says, moving around the members of the group almost restlessly,"You all ready?" She follows up the question with a big, open-handed slap on Nadariel's behind and a friendly but powerful punch into Elisha's thigh.
Looking a bit confused at Jilrana , he explains: “We are new Recruits, well S.soldiers now. We need to be first, to mmake a good impression on the Captain.”
Dropping to one knee, Dor places his hammer on the ground and grabs the pendant hanging from a chain around his neck. A slowed breath is drawn, and his eyes close.
"Calm during the storm, Light in the dark. Grant us strength, and to my prayer hark. In the name of Tyr."
Dor grabs his hammer, emboldened , and stands in triumph. Looking to his comrades, he smiles and hefts his weapon to his shoulder.
A bugle pierces your peaceful slumber. It's an annoying sound yet somewhat comforting as it's the same noise that has awoken you the past six weeks. Wearily, you roll yourself out of bed. You're body still exhausted from the previous day but you know what awaits if you delay. Looking around, you see the others of your unit rising as well. Many are already getting dressed and lacing up their boots. You too eventually pull on you green and blue uniforms and head to mess hall for the morning meal before. As you're nearly done dressing you hear a conversation going on from two other. They are not secretive but you catch a bit about team assignments and you nearly stutter in your action. Thinking back, you do recall that today was the day you'd be assigned to your teams. You're not sure what all that means but it means change.
----
As everyone one in your unit, a grouping of 30 men and women, Captain August us entered the room. He's not a tall man but he has an intimidating presence about him that commands attention. Dressed in his officer's uniform, a similar green of blue but with more colored, knotted leather along on his left side, each a symbol of rank and individual accomplishment. He scans the room with his dark bluish grey eyes as everyone eats. Those that had not seen him walk in hear a loud piercing whistle as he brings two fingers to his mouth and blows. With that, all conversation dies down immediately and there is a scrambling to stand at attention.
"Morning, soldiers, fore that is what you are today. Soldiers." he calls out and again sweeps his gaze across the gathered group. "You are no longer recruits. Those of you that remain here, have pasted beyond the normal rank and file. You that remain will be involved in a rather unique tradition here with the Tordek Army. As you well know, we are a smaller nation, more remote and on the fringes of known civilization. Looking at a map, one would think that our neighboring kingdoms could crush us with sheet size and number, and oh have they tried. We here in Tordek prescribe to a different military philosophy. We believe in more advanced training, more adaptable squads and higher diversity. That is what you graduate to today." He then begins to pace back and forth in front of the group slowly.
"If you thought your training was hard before...Good. You needed it. Today, you get your squads, today you get tossed into the fire and will have active combat immediately... Tomorrow... we'll see. Impress us, show us what you've learned." He then claps his hands and stops pacing. He reaches into the inside coat pocket and pulls out a scroll. "Now, I'll be breaking you into squads of 5 with a total of 6 squads. When you hear your name, find the others, you have one hour to finish your meals, grab what you need for active combat sparring and be out to the front gates. Now, " he begins to read off names one by one in groups of six. He he gets to the fourth grouping you hear, "Boofa Stronghand, Dor Lurmur, Elisha, Jilrana Sunmeadow, and Nadariel." Giving only a slight pause, he continues through to group 5 and 6.
Looking around for whoever is named "Boofa," Dor looks over at a halfling and chuckles lightly before finishing his meal. With a little more respect, he stands and straightens his clothes before setting off to find his group and then catches a glimpse of an imposing Goliath barbarian a few tables down.
"I wonder what that fellas name is...probably 'Ragnar the Skullcrusher' or some such. He'll definitely be useful in anyone's group, they'd be lucky to have him."
Boofa, looking for his fellow group members, sees a dwarf looking his way. He walks over clumsily, wary to not bump into any of his more... compact soldiermates. In a deep voice, he says:
"Hello, I am Boofa Stronghand. Are you in my group?"
Boofa's face looks tired, but has an overall friendly disposition. His body language shows that he is excited to get started with the work planned ahead.
With a shocked face and, mostly, suppressed choke, Dor covers his mouth while nodding. Clearly surprised, he settles himself before confirming his involvement in the group.
"Ah, yep, that'd be right. Now we've just got to find the other three. I've got to say, I'm glad to have one such as yourself as apart of the group. As strong and well-made as my dwarvish roots have me, I can't deny that height has always been a challenge."
Boofa, somewhat confused at the Dwarf's reaction, agrees.
"The quicker we find our group, the quicker we can get to our assignments. And just to let you know, I have fought against and alongside Dwarves throughout my time before joining this Army. What you lack in height, you make up in fortitude. I'm sure you have your fair share of battle stories, once we get situated I'd love to exchange some with you. For now, let's ask around and find our group."
A young teenager approaches the two of you. If it wouldn’t be for a hint of goatee on his chin, you would guess his age at 14 or 15.
”umm..., are you group 4? I am Nadariel. N.Nice to meet you.”
"There it is, I've made it!" Jilrana thinks to herself, barely able to contain her excitement. The first three weeks of training had been a shock to her, the hard work and extremely limited freedom so completely opposite to the world she had known before, but she had adjusted and was beginning to see the beauty in the strict regime. It made the challenge of pranks that much more rewarding.
"And," she has to admit to herself, "there is a certain satisfaction in being relied upon and relying on others." After all, more than one night she had fallen asleep exhausted, but knowing the harsh training had been performed successfully. Especially the group tactics always left her with a feeling of pride when it all clicked.
She looks around, a wide grin creasing her button nose and the multitude of freckles on her cheeks as she spots the giant man she knows to be Boofa. One of the more memorable faces in the group, that one. One of the few that she has already began to see as a friend over the course of the six weeks.
With a spring in her step Jilrana makes her way over to the three already gathered, her hair swaying behind her. During active hours she keeps it tightly bound in a big ponytail, but as soon as she is allowed to she unties the leather to have her rossy hair fall in a big tumble down her back.
"Hi!" she says on approach, then simply leans against one of the tree trunks that is Boofa's legs. "Jilrana, reporting." she continues with a big smile and a wink, her always-sunny disposition casting a bright light on those already gathered.
Lynn-Marie Verine-Wintercleaver, Human Bloodhunter - Adventures in Esyldien
Finan Caible, Human Bard - Joys of Balance
Yroc Grumbak, Orc Fighlock - Pizazz's ToA
Arell Peroan, Half-Elf Warlonk - Scattered Gods
ESC! | 10|33|5~
An Elf with shoulder length black hair approaches the group and says: "Hello my name is Elisha, it looks as though we will be working together. It is nice to meet you all."
„M.maybe we should grab our stuff and go to the f.front gate? I doubt that the Captain would be happy to w.wait for us.”
To the gates then.
"Wait, we have an hour, still!" Jilrana exclaims, her face bunching up in confusion, fists on her hips in mock anger. "I don't know about any of you, but I'm going to fill up another plate before we're sent out. Race ya!" she ends with a wide grin, then darts off laughing into the crowd, nimbly avoiding the long legs of the other soldiers as she runs forward. As she runs past she gives a running high-five to Tasha, a female Dwarven recruit she had befriended as well, but sadly hadn't made it into the same group.
With wide eyes she holds up another plate to be filled by the cooks, and soon afterwards is seen wolfing down whatever was put on it.
Lynn-Marie Verine-Wintercleaver, Human Bloodhunter - Adventures in Esyldien
Finan Caible, Human Bard - Joys of Balance
Yroc Grumbak, Orc Fighlock - Pizazz's ToA
Arell Peroan, Half-Elf Warlonk - Scattered Gods
ESC! | 10|33|5~
Nodding in approval to Boofa's words, Dor stands satisfied as the other members of the group introduce themselves. As they finish, he eyes group 4's members and smirks with happy reminiscence of a former time. Watching Jilrana run for more food while Nadariel, Elisha, and Boofa want to get going, he shrugs his shoulders before walking back over to his plate.
"I'd wager you'd all like to get going, but, take it from experience, you gotta eat what you can when you can. I'm sure the Officers will call whenever they're ready for us. As for me, I'm ready to go when they are, but I think I'd like a second helping of whatever that grainy soup is while we wait."
Boofa, anxious but excited to get started, agrees.
"The halfling and dwarf have a point. We have a long day ahead of us. Let's eat and rest for now."
Boofa sits down, somewhat awkwardly in the regularly sized mess hall chairs. Too anxious to eat, he swirls his spoon in the grainy tan-ish sludge served up this morning.
Elisha will join his comrades at the table with his meal.
Once the group finishes their meals, they go and gather their gear for sparring. Armor is donned, weapons belted on and magic/religious items grabbed. Soon, they meet back up at the front gate as commended. Stilling having about 15 minutes before the appointed time, they count themselves as being the second to last group to arrive. Group two has still yet to arrive. Looking about, group 1 has a boisterous Half-Elf trying to give a rousing speech to his peers. One seems to be paying attention, the others are not. Group 3 has a gnome and human completing some stretches as the prepare and many others are standing around strategizing or otherwise conversing.
“I told you we w.would be late, everbody is already here.”
"What are you talking about?" Jilrana exclaims, her high-pitched voice carrying farther than she intended. Her face turns a bit red as she sees some of the other groups turn their heads, and lowers her voice as she continues, "We're not only here before the Captain told us to be here, but we're not even the last to arrive!"
With an exaggerated wince she adjusts the crossbow slung over her shoulder, pulling her ponytail out from under it as she does. With a sound that could mean absolutely anything she turns to the group, takes a deep sniff of fresh morning air, and blows it back out with a satisfied sigh. "So," she says, moving around the members of the group almost restlessly, "You all ready?" She follows up the question with a big, open-handed slap on Nadariel's behind and a friendly but powerful punch into Elisha's thigh.
Lynn-Marie Verine-Wintercleaver, Human Bloodhunter - Adventures in Esyldien
Finan Caible, Human Bard - Joys of Balance
Yroc Grumbak, Orc Fighlock - Pizazz's ToA
Arell Peroan, Half-Elf Warlonk - Scattered Gods
ESC! | 10|33|5~
“Ahh..”
Looking a bit confused at Jilrana , he explains: “We are new Recruits, well S.soldiers now. We need to be first, to mmake a good impression on the Captain.”
Dropping to one knee, Dor places his hammer on the ground and grabs the pendant hanging from a chain around his neck. A slowed breath is drawn, and his eyes close.
"Calm during the storm, Light in the dark. Grant us strength, and to my prayer hark. In the name of Tyr."
Dor grabs his hammer, emboldened , and stands in triumph. Looking to his comrades, he smiles and hefts his weapon to his shoulder.
"Aye, I'm ready for whatever comes."
Elisha will cast mage armor on himself and say: "I am ready"