Daen's question gets a friendly smile from the Tribune. A few from cohort two laugh quietly and shake their heads. Of course you may go last, if you wish.
He motions for a hawkish boy to step forward, taking the right hand between his own. His gaze is piercing as he speaks quietly, asking several questions. After each, he pauses long enough for the boy to nod yes.
We ask you to make an oath today. Can you promise to answer these questions honestly?
Do you swear to support Lastwall against true evil? Against the monsters facing humanity and threatening the lives of good people?
Do you swear to stand among the Vigilant and be strong in adversity?
Will you uphold Vigil's laws and abide by their intentions to keep peace, order and hope in our city?
Can you be an example to others in all things, modeling after our lady Iomedae, and being a force of good even in your daily life?
One need not be hasty in making oaths. He thought to himself as he looked a bit contemptuously at the laughing recruits. It was going to bring them into trouble someday. But now was not the time for that, he thought to himself. Now was the time to gain knowledge of what is expected of him.
Could he be honest? Sure, no problem. He'd rather be honest than duplicitous. It didn't come easy to him anyhow.
Support Lastwall against monsters? Again no problem. Even if he went back to Brevoy he could support them in spirit, word and deed.
Stand among the vigilant? He'd always been vigilant in his own mind, so that was easy.
Uphold Vigil's laws and abide by their intention. That was a sticky one. He could probably get a copy of the laws of this place, but understanding their intent would require history as well. Not that he wasn't up to it, but it may take time.
An example to others and a force of good? It was good for people to want what he wanted. Being successful and bringing honor to things that needed honor, to defend truth... This is also something he can do.
At the end of the ceremony, he opened his mouth and let forth deep resonant words. "This all seems well to me, but since I am a foreigner and do not know your laws it would behoove me to read them first. Is there a place where I can gain access to them?"
The Tribune tilts his head a bit and smiles. "Ah, someone both wary and interested in legal documents? How rare among the Knights!" His delight is evident and he starts into a history of Vigil's laws, including where they can be found.
"Lastwall is a nation constantly under siege from numerous sides. Our citizens face outside violence and do their best to stand as a bastion against evil for the rest of the world, much like Mendev in the north. As such, we expect much from Vigil's citizens. We are an example, a representation of the best of humanity."
As he continues, one of your fellow scrubs elbows you lightly in the ribs and grumbles playfully. Its the girl with the burnt hair, Elyssa. She hisses quietly into his ear. "Aw, come on. Now he's going to go on for foreeeeever. Haven't you ever spoken to a lawyer?
And, in fact, after about four or five minutes, it seemed he would without actually answering Daen's question. Finally, however, he concludes. "...the lexicon of our codified laws can be found in any of the libraries of Vigil. I recommend going to the Tribunal Library within the Forum of Justice. It's located near the five Tribune Halls."
The sudden silence seems to snap most of the scrubs back to attention. A few had been leaning against the nearby wall while Elyssa and Cilys were engaged in a quiet conversation that was quickly shushed. Before Mateo can continue, Elyssa jumps in. "And that, Daen, is a great explanation, isn't it?" She looks at him smugly, crossing her arms, her stance quietly saying "I told you so!"
Back in the dormitory, Eilidh finishes reassembling her crossbow, making sure it's put together properly. She puts the candles out with quick pinches, wincing on the third when it singes her fingers, and places the candles into the chest below. She refastens her cloak and tries to ignore as many strands of conversation as she can. It proves impossible, and she instead tries to gather some sort of useful information from them. In her head, she tries to formulate a list of where each scrub is likely to be in a month.
Alkenstar? quite a long journey, if I remember my maps at all. And he got a shield-mark of his own volition? He could be more of a go-getter than his mannerisms portray. And what's this about book-learning? Kassie should do well at that, and I guess I'll be okay at it. Vorin's little saying is going to get him in trouble. It's one thing to act with compassion, but it's quite another to live as if the world will act the same way.
She takes a look down the dormitory toward the lower bunks, trying to see how they're behaving down there, and her eyes linger near bunk fifteen for a moment, trying to see if the Rotheld boy has already received a shield-mark.
"I've too many times had people break their oaths to me that I should wish to be like them." Is what he wanted to say, although he didn't say anything as he turned to the singed girl, at least at first. Obviously she had at least some connections here if she were so bold as to mock the process openly. Should they even be allowed to take the oath if they were to treat it so lightly? He refrained from saying this as well.
It was nice that no one spoke up right away to allow him the moment to decide his next move. Perhaps he should be nicer as well. "It was more than I asked for, but isn't everything like that? Looks like I'll be training in the Library until lunchtime." He said as he made his exit. Let them stew on that.
He never made it to the library. He had somehow taken a wrong turn somewhere and ended up somewhere he had not seen before. This wasn't going well. If only he had a map or something, this place was at least ten times larger than his last school. Hopefully he'd be able to find the cafeteria by lunchtime.
Kassie grins in response to Vorin's wink. couldn't agree more. she says, glancing around at the others. The way I see it, we're all going to be hanging around with each other for a while. Hells, we've already got to share a room. Since we're stuck with each other, we might as well make friends, don't you think? After all, we're all on the same side in the end."
"I like you, Kassie. You have fire in you. Sorry again I had to punch you out. I hope you do pay me back someday, I've never been put down by someone your size before," Urias says from his bed with a chuckle. "So how many of the rest of you are from Lastwall like me?"
Lucky for Daen, the annoying girl decides to tag along. Elyssa, however, is no better at directions than he is. "Erm..its been awhile. Maybe we should just ask someone for directions?" After wandering in the hall for maybe ten minutes, she dashes off after a servant and motions for Daen to follow.
"Hey! You! Can you show us to the cafeteria? We're lost."
Elidh notices that Rotheld has a shield-mark and even shows some signs of having been trained by his brother, a Knight.
At Kassie's query, hands go up. It seems all but Eckart and two boys from Taldan, out of those in the dormitory, are from Lastwall. As hands fall and conversation starts up again, a servant comes walking in with a scroll in one hand.
"Cohort One?" Jalen nods to him.
"I'll see you to the cafeteria, if you'll just follow me."
The cafeteria is a long, rectangular room with giant glowing orbs suspended from the ceiling. The Bonewatch makes use of these rather than traditional, less bright, fire. Within each of the cohorts are being seated in sections. Rather than sit at single long tables, there are are groupings of four designated for each cohort, each table big enough for six or seven people.
Lunch is fairly simple for those used to noble repast, more elaborate for those from poorer origins. Plates of fried mackeral with scalloped potatoes, plates of steamed collard greens and hard rye bread. It seems like less than an hour before a servant rushes the cohort out and back into the training yard where Trainer Fisk awaits. He stands with his arms crossed, the perpetual frown scrawls over his face.
"I hope you enjoyed eating. Now we're going to see how much of it we can get to come back up. Before we get started, however, let me go over your schedule for the week. This will be the schedule for the next five months of your lives."
He begins pacing and the cohort stands awkwardly in lines. Jalen starts to push and prod a few of you to stand in order of the current ranking.
"Each week you will have combat training here with me, historical and war tactics at the Crusader War College with one of their professors, classes on religion and undead with a priestess at the Cathedral of Sancta Iomedaea, and lessons on magic with a magister of the War Wizard school that is part of the Crusader War College. While you will have each class every day, you will spend extra time in one of these each day with another day devoted exclusively to combat training."
He stops and turns to face the group. "For those few of you who can count, this covers only five days covered. You will also have a day of challenges and duels each week. That day is for you to adjust your rankings. You are expected to succeed in your training and in rankings to join the Knights of Ozem. The last day you have for free, do with it as you will. Additionally, your success in your classes will affect the cohort. Each week, the cohorts will be told of how many points they have earned. Do your best to be the best! Rewards will be given for those who succeed."
At the bed of each month two shrubs
scrubs get scrubbed out of the program. You will have a final chance to raise your rank in a Trial. Each month is a different trial. It will test you in many areas and only some can succeed. We will talk more of it as it approaches. Occasionally you will run a Special as well. These are cohort specific tasks to accomplish taking over your free day of the week. Any questions?"
"I...I have a couple of questions."Eilidh raises her hand cautiously."Our rankings within our cohorts are what's most important for not letting mo-I mean, for becoming a knight, correct? How does competing with the other cohorts help with that goal? sir..." She begins flushing red again, but presses on. "and h-how do these classes affect our standings within the cohort? Isn't our ranking based on our combat skills? I just d-don't seem to understand completely..."
Yes we expect warriors not scholars.
If Daen still has his book, Fisk will look pointedly at him. However we expect Knights to be knowledgeable of tactics and the threats they will face. Competing with the other cohorts builds rivalry. Rivalry and competition make the best rise to the top.
He pauses to let that sink in before continuing. Repeated failure to show progress and understanding in your classes may drop your rank some. But that is a rare event. Cohort ranking let's us know if an entire cohort need be eliminated from our ranks.
Several shrubs gasp and start whispering to each other. None look pleased at those words. Fisk smiles grimly in response.
Now, we will train you in some unarmed combat. We will begin some routines...
The next three hours are a blur of exhausting, repetitive tasks. Running laps, punching bags of sand and learning numerous stances. There is even a lengthy section on yoga and acrobatic obstacles. Fisk is obviously stretching each of you to the limits to find your talents. At the end of which you are sore and exhausted.
Kassie takes her place as the old soldier gives his speech, grinning at the outline of tasks they would have to take part in through their training, fairly confident that she would perform well at most of them. Her interest wains somewhat, however, as the families tedium of the training is begun. Nevertheless, she sweats and punches and runs with the rest of the recruits and ends the traing session flushed, sweaty but grinning with pleasure at the physical exertion, and at the sight of so many good looking boys doing likewise
Acrobatics:
As Eilidh struggles through the acrobatics course for the last time, sweat dripping from her nose and running into her eyes, she comes to the wall again. Okay, last time, up you go, Allie! Though she slips a few times, her quick glances around don't seem to show that anyone has seen it, and she's able to rest, having finished the workouts for the day. What if-Goddess, that was tough! What if Fisk makes us do that in full kit tomorrow? How many of us do you think will drop dead right there? She wipes the sweat off her face on the hem of her cloak.
He makes sure to follow the instructions of Fisk as best he can, climbing running, punching, stretching. At the end of the three hours he is covered in sweat. He feels that he could have done alot better, possibly nervous in the competitive environment held him back a little.
The trainer sets Urias to climbing a forty foot long rope over and over again for several hours on his first day of combat training. The first few times are relatively easy, but after that it gets tough. Even for the strong Aasimar it's brutal. By the end of the training Urias is shaking badly and feels like he's going to puke.
After being followed by the persistent girl, Daen was at least comforted by the fact that she didn't really know where they were either. He felt it might have been an opportunity to increase his influence, but he'll have to check more on that when he had opportunity. They did some small talk, although the magus was not particularly skilled at such things until and during lunch.
Daen eats relatively well, but is not finished entirely when they get called back to the field for exercises. Having not been to the dorm to stow his possessions he had to do all the strenuous activity with his chain shirt and book, although he did feel comfortable enough to put down his sword belt as it was getting in the way.
He managed to get through everything much better than he was expecting, but the extra weight might have cost him some endurance for tomorrow.
After it was all said and done, he decided to chat her up some more to see what she was about. Besides, there hadn't been anyone who had treated him as friendly as she had, so it might be a decent idea to find someone in the know. "So, are you a local? What made you desire to be a knight?"
Most of the cohort does fairly well, with Jalen, Elyssa and Vorin doing as well or better than Eckart. Only a couple, Kathleen and Rhill do very poorly. None do as well as Daen, leaving Fisk to nod slightly to him.
No one has this so don't bother worry about it :)
"Some of you scrubs did okay. The rest, terrible. We're going to run a few more drills instead of you attending the rest of your courses today. Run another ten laps! Rhill, I want to see you vault over that wall, not scrabble at it like a dog climbing! Elyssa, you called that a punch? Show me another forty."
And so it goes on. Eventually, the cohort is released to go to dinner which subsists of roasted chicken, a kale salad with walnuts and more of the same, hard and cold, rye bread from the morning.
Following the meal, the cohort splits up. Some head off to spend some time with family, others go to the libraries or return to the training yard. The PC's, Elyssa and Jalen are in the hall outside the cafeteria when six unfamiliar scrubs approach. A boy in the center with short-black hair and a slim build seems the center of their attentions--and his smirk is focused on Daen. Despite the smirk, his attitude seems friendly.
"Hello, cousin! I hadn't realized uncle chose to send another Surtova this far west. Which cohort did you end up in?"
The boy with the sneer on his face is none other than Leo Surtova. He is the son of Jaerl Surtova, brother to the current King of Brevoy, Noleski Surtova. Any interactions he may have had with Daen in the past were highly negative. He's a cruel, malicious teenager who happens to be very good with a blade and good at hiding his cruelty behind a smile.
Leo's facade of friendliness masks a demeaning attitude, he doesn't think highly of his 'cousin.'
Elyssa grins at the half-elf and shrugs.
You won't believe me...but it's for the schooling. I mean, sure the Knights are brutal and difficult to get into...but they have the most unique facilities! Anything relating to war OR combat is if interest here. Bonewatch is the only place in Lastwall that I can experiment with alchemy to the degree I want.
She flashes an excited grin, shrugging again. Why are you here?
It was nice to recieve a nod for what he was doing right, but he was extremely tired at the end of the day. He knew that this kind of training would surely increase his prowess, but he would need a few edges to keep on top of the cut. After a tiring afternoon, he was glad for his dinner, making sure he ate it quickly and efficiently, listening to any small talk around the table.
"Hello, cousin! I hadn't realized uncle chose to send another Surtova this far west. Which cohort did you end up in?"
When his cousin approached him, Daen kept his face as impassive as he could as he addressed the black-haired boy but it was easy to tell that he wasn't particularly pleased to meet him either. "How kind of you to call me cousin when we both know your uncle has been quite clear on the substance of our relation. I'm also glad you brought your friends along. It's wonderful that you've made so many so quickly. It must be because of your winning personality.
It, of course, was not nice to see that his relative had brought along a gang of thugs to him up. Surtovans were often like this. He figured he'd try to end the conversation as soon as possible. "I am in Cohort one, although I'm surprised you didn't already know. Usually you are much more connected and informed, but it is the first day after all."
My family considers me an embarrassment and wanted to get rid of me. They know I want an opportunity to make something of myself although they'd be just as happy if I failed miserably. So they sent me here. It is a bit of a win either way for them. I don't mind though, at least I am not having to walk on eggshells around a hostile house. Well, as long as I don't run into my cousin."
Leo shakes his head and lets out a small laugh. "Tch--! I'm very well informed! I was watching, actually. I thought that was you on the field, but I wasn't sure. If you ask me, Fisk wasn't hard enough on you lot. You have no hope of competing against us." He sneers at Jalen, then looks to the Tilernos sisters.
"Should I know those two?"
The only female in his group steps forward and snorts, tossing her pretty blonde hair. She glares at Kassie and Allie. "Duh, Leo. Those two are from Tilernos. They're supposed to be the best..pretty poor showing against that gray-skinned guy though. I'd expect better! Maybe your entire cohort will suck and get kicked out."
The girl is Septima Cane. The Cane's are a very rich noble family in Lastwall, controlling a great deal of stone and ore trade from a nearby quarry and mine. They have a fierce reputation as traders and an equally famous reputation for honesty. Septima is known as a spoiled daughter who had the best in everything growing up, rarely wanting for something she asked for. She's also, unlike Leo, not very elegant in her insulting.
Jalen starts to step forward, frowning.
Not typically. I mean, they do. And they don't. Scrubs rarely get to take part in those lessons, unless they have an aptitude. I think I do! I have to convince Fisk of that though..sigh. Explosives and alchemy can prove useful in so many cases. Knights of ozem like to be prepared for and useful for practically everything...you said you taught yourself from books? Taught yourself wha--Oh! You know magic, don't you?" Elyssa, apparently, was paying attention when you stepped forward to help Kassandra.
"I'm sorry about your family. Mine is as poor as rocks..but they love me. I am hoping to get lots of gold and help them live nicely! Since you're here now, you don't have to deal with your family though!"
"I-if you know who we are, you have no excuse for your words. Kassie and I will be defending Lastwall and this...boy's homeland from the hordes of Belkzen long after you've been removed from your cohort. Now, stand down and apologize, whoever you are. Y-you should be begging your parents for forgiveness, the way you behave yourself, w-whoever you are." Eilidh tries to speak loudly and clearly, but can't help stuttering a few times even so. She puts a hand on Jalen's shoulder. "T-hey may be insulting, but these...peasants aren't worth your time." Kassie, don't do anything foolish. Please...it'll be so embarrassing if we fight them and lose.
Kassara watches the interplay between her sister and girl, stepping forward to support Allie. "This is Septima Cane Allie, I'm surprised to see her here," she says, hand casually on her sword-hilt, "not many spoiled brats end up making it into The Knights, but she's sure found herself in good company. I've heard that Noleski is supposed to be pretty good with a sword, its just a pity that we're not in the same cohort - it'd be fun to see if his reputation is what its cracked up to be, what with his family hiding behind Lastwall's skirts. On the other hand, I guess that'd mean having to share a room with Septima, and that's the last thing I would want."
Septima looks smug through most of Allie's tirade, although her face snaps into a glower and she steps forward with a screech by the end. "Peasant?! My family has a fortune yours could never hope to match!" She pouts, her hands trembling a little. Its obvious that Eilidh's words got to her. "..You're not worth my time, Eilidh, Kassara!"
She turns and storms off, yelling over her shoulder as she does. "And I'm not spoiled!"
Leo starts laughing as she gets further away, rubbing at his eyes before gesturing to one of the others to go after her. "Pardaic, make sure she doesn't kill something." The boy who goes running after her gives an apologizing smile to cohort one before heading off and obeying.
"As for you.." Turning back to Kassara, Leo shakes his head. "I have inherited my father's sword fighting skills and others." He grins viciously and steps forward, a hand on his own sword. "Care for a test? Say...tomorrow, after classes in the training yard?"
"Is it a good idea to interact so between cohorts my lady?" Eckart says quielty behind Kassara.
Ignoring Eckhart and (inevitably) Allie's words of caution, Kassara steps forward to meet Leo face-to-face. "Sounds like a good idea to me," she says with a smirk of her own, "...but maybe a little boring. How about we make it interesting? Some kind of forfeit for the loser, or are you too scared?"
I hope she's okay. I didn't mean to hurt her, I was just...she was in the wrong place and she said the wrong thing. It wasn't her fault." Eilidh takes a step forward, almost as if to go after Septima and apologize, but stops when Leo issues his challenge. As Kassie accepts, Eilidh grabs her wrist and tries to drag her a few yards back, hissing in her sister's ear.
"Why d-do you always do this? I j-just finished telling Jalen that these two weren't worth the time, and now y-you jump at the first chance for a fight. If the f-family's honor wasn't at stake every time you fought someone, that would b-be one thing, but I c-can't even tell you not to do it now, you've accepted it. J-just don't get hurt, you s-stupid, foolish s-sister..."
Daen watched the dizzying exchange silently. He knew this was not going to end well, as his relative was supposedly quite good. He was readying himself for a duel or something else, but the tempestuous one just jumped right in. It didn't bother him for two reasons. First, he'd be able to gauge his cousin's supposed prowess and he wouldn't be the one who got in trouble if this kind of dueling was illegal in Lastwall. After all, he still didn't know what was allowed and what wasn't.
Still he couldn't resist getting a little bit of his own dig in there. "If we aren't able to compete with your cohort, Leo, then you shouldn't concern yourself with us. If you do, then I'll take it as a compliment that you believe we're worth your time."
Elyssa lets out a small laugh and shakes her head when Kassara accepts. ”Are you two serious? We haven't even been here for a full day yet..”
Leo ignores Elyssa and Eckart's comments, focused on Kassara. ”A wager? Hm...what though...”
Jalen frowns at Eilidh and grumbles. ”Your sister is the one you should have held back, apparently. I hope she fares better against him than she did Urias.”
A round of snickers come from Elyssa again at Daen's dig. ”Apparently his own friends don't even bother to stay around him.” She inclines her head to where the other two had disappeared. Her comment causes Leo's friends to glower and two, very similar looking, men clench their hands and move forward.
”Maybe we can just settle this right here,” one growls. The other nods his head, looking eager to leap on top of someone but an extended arm from the Surtova holds them back and makes them fall silent.
”These two gave me an idea...the loser has to run an errand for the winner. If you lose, I'll have you head out in the middle of the night to pick up a crate of wine for us. The Bonewatch has a curfew for scrubs due to how early we have to get up for training. If you're caught, you'll lose points for your cohort.”
Urias stands by watching. No need for me to get involved in this...
"Sounds good to me," Kassara replies with barely a pause for thought and a wicked smirk, "I was thinking of heading out anyway. Seems to me that that wouldn't be a bad thing for you to do for me and my friends here. Maybe you could serve it to us with our dinner as well. After all the rest of your cohort seem like they enjoy following orders, it'll help you fit in." with that she turns from the arrogant young noble and begins to walk away. "Come on Allie, everyone," she says, " I don't know about the rest of you, but I for one have had more enough words with stuck-up little boys and their pets for one day!"
"K-keep your monkeys on their leashes, Leo. Even b-better, you could send them to see how Septima is feeling. I hope...hope she'll forgive me." Eilidh steps forward. "The t-time and place for this f-foolishness has been chosen, and the wager is declared. I have studying and prayers that must be done tonight. Farewell, and may our next meeting not b-be so...aggressive." Eilidh follows her sister, trying to formulate a plan for beating Leo, but not coming up with much of anything.
Elyssa grabs Eckart's hand and tugs him away with Kassie. Jalen requires some coaxing, but follows as well as the cohort walks off. Behind them, Leo starts laughing and shakes his head, calling out before walking off himself.
"Deal, but I refuse to serve my cousin and I am not wearing an apron!” With a smirk to Allie, he adds, []b”I may just get Septima to do it. She's not very strong willed. “[/b] After a slight pause, with the group almost out of hearing.. ”You pick unusual friends, half-breed. I hope you have chosen well."
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The second day of training starts much like the first. Scrubs are woken at the crack of dawn and dragged down to Fisk's torture arena. Several miles are run around the outside ring while obstacle courses, punching bags and various unarmed attack forms are drilled into them. "I will not have my cohort be the failure." Fisk grumbles as he jabs poorly performing members with a long stick.
After two hours of training, the characters are rushed off to a gender-separated bath areas and encouraged to move quickly. Afterward, they are directed by a servant to the Crusader War College and their tactical class. The room is small with several two-person desks scattered in loose rows. A middle-aged man with a large belly and numerous scars limps his way to a podium at the front.
”Welcome...to your history lesson. I am Professor Comell...in this class you will introduce you to military history.” He lets out a great sigh. It doesn't seem as if he is bored, but rather seems tired and generally exhausted; perhaps from hauling his great bulk around. ”...this will include an analysis of the impact of stone encampments, a variety of armour and training and guerilla warefare. Assignments will include several history reviews, a research paper and an oral report.”
Comell flashes a smile on his broad face, scratching at a scar along his arm. ”We will begin today's lesson simply by learning more about one another. I am a former Knight of Ozem who fought in the Fourth Mendevian Crusade on behalf of the knigthood. A hezrou tore my arms up and ruined my leg, making further combat a foolish choice. I volunteered to teach scrubs like yourselves and the nobles of the Crusader War College about Lastwall history and military tactics. Now..starting with you.” Comell points toward the first student in the row, Bryson Tray. ”Introduce yourself, tell us something you know about Lastwall's history and what you hope to learn in this class.”
"The...The orcs out of B-Belkzen broke the Hordeline nearly two hundred years ago. W-we've been holding the current line since then, but...the outlook for holding it longer seems b-bleak. I'm Eilidh Tilernos, and I hope t-to learn more about the other s-side of Lastwall. My family has been on the..the front lines with the orcs, b-but I was never told much about Ustalav and G-Gallowspire." Talking to the Professor, and worse, doing it with the eyes of the class on her makes Eilidh nervous, and she sits back down and pulls her hair in front of her eyes, as if hiding.
"What, oh, ummm... Couldn't tell you any more than Allie just has. You know, the orcs and everything." pipes up Kassara from the desk next to her sister, her attention momentarily diverted from the view out the window, and thoughts of the coming fight with the Surtova boy. "In fact, I kinda forgot about what she said too. Anyway, I'm Kassara Tilernos, and Our family has helped defend Lastwall for,... well ages. We grew up in Castle Firrine. Mother's the commander there. Ummm,... yeah. That's me I guess. Oh! What do I want to learn? Maybe more about other places, you know like how they fight down south or something?"
As his turn had approached, Daen stood and addressed the class clearly and concisely but flat and somewhat monotone. "I am Daen, Son of Brevoy. From time to time both lesser nobility and peasants alike have come here to join the knights of Ozem from many nations including but not limited to Brevoy, Galt, Andoran, Taldor, and even Cheliax. In recent years since the Worldwound arose, many have instead joined the crusades against the demons on the eastern front, especially those less scrupulous than the knights of Lastwall. He paused for a beat as if thinking and then added, "I would like to learn of all of the weakness of the enemies that have been exploited by the Knights to ensure continued success against their foes."
Eckart stands up and addresses every one with a little hesitation, unaccustomed to being the centre of attention like this. "I am Eckart, unlike many of you I am not a noble and I know little of the specific histories of this land. I intend to study hard and learn all I can in order to uphold and protect the principles that define the Knights of Ozem. Hopefully I will be lucky enough to make it through the next months with you."
When the dour half-elf approaches Kassara leans back on her chair, hoisting her long legs onto the table in front of her and looks up at him, arching an eyebrow at his words but grinning. "Do you only do things out of self interest then? I was hoping that we might be friends or is selfishness some kind of family trait? I'm fighting your cousin because Ive heard about how he treats people, like objects, things to be used. I would welcome any help you can offer, but I'd prefer that it be as friends or comrades, or at least as allies. Who knows, we might even manage to have some fun whilst we put him in his place."
He turned again from his thoughts to be confronted with the legs and he, well, he wasn't made from stone after all. "Where I come from, expressing self-interest is one of the only ways you can convince anyone that you are not planning to stab them when they aren't paying attention. I'm willing to accept that this place is different than that to which I am accustomed. I appreciate your offer and while I came here to have success and not fun I wouldn't be opposed to both."
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Comell's Class
”Well...I see some of you know more than others. That's alright! We will start with Lastwall and cover nearby nations as well as a few of particular interest further away. We will pay special attention to the Shining Crusade as well as the Mendevian Crusades.”
He walks through the desks, handing out scrips of parchment with a list of books.
De re militari – Concerning Military Matters by Flavius Vegetius
History of War in Antiquity Volume I – Hans Delbrook
The Thirty-Six Strategems of Rahadoum – El-Said Hamdy
Treatise on Infantry Attacks – Erwin Rommel
”I expect you can purchase copies of these from the library here at the War College. You may be able to find cheaper copies in the city, but it will take some time to look. Please read the first chapter of each by the end of the week. We will be focusing our attention on Vegetius's De re Militari and the use of his tactics in the first Shining Crusade.”
Comell continues in the same, droning voice. He gives an introduction on the crusade that formed Lastwall although goes off-track several times to discuss his own battles when he was a Knight of Ozem. If it wasn't for these stories, half of the class would have fallen asleep.
Purchasing the above texts from the War College costs a total of 25 gold.
Daily Action
Eilidh reaches into her moneybag, quickly counting her coins. 36 gold coins. I suppose I should go shopping...perhaps tomorrow.
** spoiler omitted **
Elyssa grabs Eckart's hand and tugs him away with Kassie. Jalen requires some coaxing, but follows as well as the cohort walks off. Behind them, Leo starts laughing and shakes his head, calling out before walking off himself.
"Deal, but I refuse to serve my cousin and I am not wearing an apron!” With a smirk to Allie, he adds, []b”I may just get Septima to do it. She's not very strong willed. “[/b] After a slight pause, with the group almost out of hearing.. ”You pick unusual friends, half-breed. I hope you have chosen well."
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==========================================The second day of training starts much like the first. Scrubs are woken at the crack of dawn and dragged down to Fisk's torture arena. Several miles are run around the outside ring while obstacle courses, punching bags and various unarmed attack forms are drilled into them. "I will not have my cohort be the failure." Fisk grumbles as he jabs poorly performing members with a long stick.
After two hours of training, the characters are rushed off to a gender-separated bath areas and encouraged to move quickly. Afterward, they are directed by a servant to the Crusader War College and their tactical class. The room is small with several two-person desks scattered in loose rows. A middle-aged man with a large belly and numerous scars limps his way to a podium at the front.
”Welcome...to your history lesson. I am Professor Comell...in this class you will introduce you to military history.” He lets out a great sigh. It...
Urias sighs before his introduction. "I am Urias Lastwaller, and really the only things I know about Lastwall history are that my family have been here since near the beginning and that we stand against the orcs and the remnants of the Whispering Tyrant's influence..." The big aasimar shrugs. "History was never my strong suite."
"Hells." cursed Daen when he realized he was going to need to find some sort of job to earn money while he was here. He could be sure of one thing, his cousin wasn't going to be short on funds.
But what could he do? He'd gotten pretty good on a horse during his trip over. He had his arcane knowledge and expertise, he knew that was somewhat valuable. Perhaps he could try seeing if any of the trainers knew a way to earn some funds quickly. His other option would be to sell some of his equipment, but that didn't seem like a good idea. Perhaps he could borrow the books from someone else after they were done instead. This was something he was not expecting.
Perhaps he'd keep it in mind for a couple days. An opportunity to fix the issue would hopefully come up during the next day or two, but then he'd have to deal with the money issue eventually. If they don't cover all expenses of training, he'd have to figure out how to foot his own bill.
"I do have a plan, actually" Kassie replies to her sister, "I'm going to do my best to knock some decency into the weasel. I won't cheat though Allie, at least, not if he doesn't. And yes,.. I know he probably will. If he does then I'll take whatever help you can give me. Don't worry, I know you think i'll embarrass the family, but I'm pretty good with a sword myself, he won't have it all his own way!"
Seemingly completely unaware of the effect of her legs on Daen Kassie replies. "Well for me self-intest means having a good time and making good friends," she says with a smile that lights up her face, "and I hope that together we can find both, and maybe even success as well." hoisting her legs back down from the table she leans in. "Anything you could tell me about how he fights would be very welcome, I've heard that he's pretty good with a sword. So those aren't just those stories that sometimes get told about those in power then? Ok, what style does he use? What weapon? Does he have any favourite moves or moves that tend to work against him? Do you think he'll play it fare, or will he cheat? Sometimes even nasty pieces of work like him have a little honour."
Kassie frowns to herelf at the cost of the texts, she was keen to buy them to add to her collection, they sounded interesting, especially the one about Rahadoum. She leans over to Allie. "Do you still have that money mother gave us? Yes I know we got the same amount, but that corset was just too nice, and the lady said I looked pretty in it. You know, the one with the silver embroidery? She even gave it to me cheap! Well now i've only got fourteen gold left. Maybe we could share books?"
"Of course the lady said you looked pretty in it, she was trying to sell it to you!" Eilidh checks her purse to stall for a few seconds. I can't just let her borrow them forever. She always does this. Gotta get something out of this, but what? "Yes, I can let you borrow my books. Let's head to the library and pick them up. You'll owe me, though. This is the end of me bailing you out with no consequences. Don't forget that time in Vellumis!"