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Giacomo starts singing poorly clears his throat and starts again
A company always on the run.
A destiny, oh it's the rising sun.
I was born
A shotgun in my hands.
Behind the gun
I'll make my final stand.
Yeah
That's why they call me
Bad company
I can't deny
Bad company
Till the day I die
Until the day I die.
Rebel souls
Deserters we've been called
Chose a gun
And threw away the song.
Now these towns
Well they all know our name
The death punch sound
Is the claim of fame.
And that's why they call me
Bad company
I cant deny
Bad company
Till the day I die
'Eye for an eye.'
'Tooth for a tooth'
'Blood for blood'
We've all gotta die
And that's why they call me
Bad company
I won't deny
Bad company
Till the day I die
-Posted with Wayfinder
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Giacomo starts his song rather hoarsely, and a pain to the ears. Boo's are thrown at him. However after he clears his throat and sings well, the mess hall erupts in wild cheers and applause!
Similarly Rogan's drinking habits have done him well, Mikey only gets past his second mug when Rogan finishes his. The hall again erupts in wild cheers! Rogan is given another ale as a reward.
The lieutenant starts moving to the elf and the oread. "Well what about it? Decided on your special skill yet?"
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Jazmine looks around their "accommodations" with disdain. "We had better clean this up before anything else.. no need to start out on the wrong foot any more than we seem to already have.." With that, she begins putting the room to rights, glad for any help the others offer.
"Indeed" the Oread grumbles, disappointed with the barracks, but knowing it will only be for a short time. "Care for any help?" offering his assistance to Jasmine.
At 6 o’clock, an enticing dinner of roast meat and potatoes is served in the mess hall. A group of seasoned mercenaries accost the PCs as they attempt to join the serving line.
Once the task is completed, Blood Stone joins the others as they make their way to dinner. "I am not going to lie. I truly expected "stone soup" for our first night."
Lieutenant Larssok (a male half-orc) explains that the Ungrounded have a tradition: new recruits have to entertain the rest of the company on the first night! “If you won’t party with us, you won’t fight with us.” he explains. "So, who's it gonna be? You a funny guy, stone face? What about the forest walker?"
"I. . . see." never being one known for his jokes or talent with song, even amongst the dwarves, which says something.
"Well, warriors,. . . allow me to introduce our band. I hope you find us worthy to live the legend that is the Ungrounded. Right now, we are outsiders, and we don't even deserve names. Haven' earned 'em yet."
As Rogan begins his contest, and Giacomo begins to clear his throat after a failed first start, "First,. . . we have "The Fervor", a cunning brute that combines the better qualities from two of the Material Plane's better pedigrees, that of the endlessly ambitious and that of the perfect killing machine who wields the power of the holy in his hand and heart."
"I first met our next specimen, "The Torrent", only a few short weeks ago." as Giacomo begins again his war chant. "We where thrown together for a mission last minute, and one need not guess just how a Rock and a Waterfall might feel in such circumstances. But, . . . if you feel the need to doubt his prowess, I suggest you hire a priest. . . That way you can ask the last guy that messed with him just what happened."
"And from the dark pits of the Material Plane, rooted deep within the earth, comes "The Tempest". Cast out from her people, she has had to make her own way on her own, but that's okay. She knows how to find the way, and to survive without. I also would piss her off."
"And finally, "Snipes". She might look weak on casual inspection, if you can find her. That's okay, though, It just means she wants you to find her, and that may not be a good thing. . . She also has powerful friends."
"But, as I said,. . . I hope we find it within us, when you have made us ready, to step up, and be worthy of you, the Ungrounded."
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Helgga waits for the cheering to subside then gracefully raises her left arm in the air. She brushes her blonde braid behind her and inserts her right arm into her left armpit. As her left arm forcefully comes rushing down to her side she vigorously armpit farts the fight melody that comes into her head. Her face scrunched as if performing a masterpiece.
-Posted with Wayfinder
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Jazmine looks about at the team as they all go first. She watches appreciatively as Rogan steps up and slams back his ale.. cheering as he releases a belch of refreshment and victory.
Her ears hurt and Giggles whines as Giacomo first starts singing, but he adjusts his tone and finds the pitch. Whats a Shotgun?? she thinks, applauding the song, touched by the inherent steel and loneliness as the tune floats through the galley.
She has fun guessing which of her companions is who as Blood Eagle gives them all nicknames and calls out to him "And what should we call you?"
She just buries her face in her hands and turns away to hide her smile as Helga's musical accompaniment wafts around.. glad that there is no smell to go with it.
Finally, Jazmine and Giggles take center stage. "This is my friend and Companion, Giggles. We work together to solve problems. Sometimes our enemies see us, and sometimes they don't! Most of the time, they are busy wondering what in the nine hells is going on right before they die! Giggles, Feel like giving them a show?"
Giggles lets out a roar.. it sounds kinda cute coming from such a small creature, but it puts all of her sharp teeth on full display.
Let's show them what we've got!
Giggles begins shifting forms under the amazed gazes and exclamations of the observers. First bear trounces through the room, which fluidly turns into a bull that knocks over tables and benches. A Frog bounces from wall to wall with amazing jumps before turning into a tiger that lithely darts through the audience and around obstacles. They go through several more animal forms, each signaled with a complicated series of whistles from Jazmine. It is obvious that the creature is showing off and preening, glad for a opportunity to run and play!
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For Giggles, Jazmine, and Bloodstone, more round of applauses and ale thrown their way for a very enjoyable performance. For Helgga on the other hand, she is heckled and harass with a bit of rude remarks. The "boo-ing" seems to never end. Larssok though, resolutely claps Helga on the back, "You're welcomed into our ranks anyway. Don't let these guys get to your head. It's all in good fun."
As the night dies down, you're immediately ushered back to your bedrooms for a good nights rest after a long day, anticipating an even longer one tomorrow.
Somewhere around midnight, Captain Othis barges into the room banging a soup landle against a metal pot. *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG*. The noise continues until you wake up.
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Groggy as all get out, Blood Stone rises from his small pile on the floor, not wanting to risk breaking the bed frame, "UA? Again."
-Posted with Wayfinder
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Jazminne starts from her sleep and jumps up from the rack in alarm. She cries out in pain as she smack her head on the bunk above her, then gets bowled over by Giggles thinking they were under attack. She glares up from the floor at the Captain, gritty sleep still pinning one eye almost closed. She lets loose a round of profanity that would make any professional soldier blush as she picks herself up and tries to calm Giggles, showing the protective beast that she was ok.
"Well. I should have expected this, but here you are. What would you have us do Captain? What is your morning routine?"
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Helgga's eyes pop open. She slowly stands up and stretches. "Brakfast time already?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
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Realizing that the clanging was not for breakfast, Helgga frowns. She gathers her things and stands at attention until further orders.
-Posted with Wayfinder
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She maintains her quiet but mean looking demeanor as you all get out of bed. Your attention is unquestionable, but she then looks to inspects your beds. “You can’t even make a bed. How can I trust you to oil a sword or maintain armor, let alone fight for the empire?” Captain Othis then confiscates the bedding in question except for Giacomo's.
At 6.00am, Captain Othis, returns again with the same makeshift drum from the night before and continues the same routine until all is ready and bed is made. "You're a bunch of lazy worms! Come on! Get out of bed!" Once ready and dressed, you're taken to the mess hall for some gruel. Which taste nasty.
From 6.30am to 9.30am, you are tasked to do Labor. This task usually involves unloading deliveries for the armory and kitchen as well as weapon and armor maintenance.
From 9.30am to 12.00pm, the new recruits, (only the pathfinders, in case you were wondering), are given small brushes and harsh soap to clean their living quarters, the mess hall, and other common areas. This is tiresome labor.
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Looking this Captain Othis is the eyes, if groggily, "Well, are you going to get us our food, or did you simply feel like stand there being an annoyance? Seriously, little one, we could have just pretended to try out to be Pathfinders again, if that's all you got up your sleeve. . ."
---------
Taking the strange device in one hand and the soap in the other, he looks at the small brush questioningly.
As the night into days stretches on and on, Blood Stone struggles to not nod off. Not because he is tired, although he truly is, but because it's so uninterested. scrub scrub scrub.
"I guess they are new at this whole "new recruit thing". Maybe we should scrap this plan of showing how easy it is to join this army and just teach their leaders how to, . . . ah never mind."
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As the Captain confiscates her bedding, Jazmine can't help herself and words spill out of her mouth. "Captain, with all due respect. How are we supposed to know what is expected of us if you don't tell us what to do or respond to us in any way?? When I know what is expected of me, I will perform the task. Not informing me of a task means my failure falls upon my leadership, not me."
With that, Jazmine turns to her pack and pulls out her bedroll, setting it in place of the sheets the Captain has taken away.
The next morning, Jazmine opens her eyes once more to the clanging of the soup ladle. She climbs out of her rack and begins to straighten up her area before being led off to breakfast. She chokes down the gruel, then forces Giggles to eat hers before being led off for the manual labor.
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"I did not want to bring trouble to the group. We are to be learning lessons, but what she did was uncalled for."
-Posted with Wayfinder
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Hellga is very tired but manages to get out of bed and straighten up her sleeping area before going to the mess hall for breakfast. She does not seemed bothered with the taste and happily chows down whatever they give her. "Just like mother use to make." After breakfast she cleans the floors as fast as possible in hopes of sneaking in a nap before the next task.
-Posted with Wayfinder
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Jazmine tries to keep her cool when she sees the Captain marching through their freshly cleaned floors with her muddy boots, and gives Giacomo a smile of thanks as the mud magically disappears. At some point in this whole mess, she really begins to regret volunteering for this mess of a mission.
As the rest of the team is tied up with this manual and useless labor, Giggles soon begins to get on everyone's nerves, tearing about and getting into the way. Finally, Jazmine gets an idea and calls the velociraptor over. The rest of the team peers at her curiously as she wrestles with Giggles for a few moments before Jazmine steps back to admire her handiwork. You can now see rags tied to Giggles' feet and a third rag dangling from Jamines hand. She tosses the rag across the room, and tells Giggles to "Fetch". When the dino-puppy races across the room and returns the rag to Jazmine, you are able to see the elf's idea in action! Every few throws, Jazmine also plays a game of tug-o-war with Giggles, dragging the dinosaurs rag covered feet back and forth over a particularly dirty spot on the floor.
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After what seems to be forever of the captain needlessly staring at you do your works. She is unable to find anything wrong, and leaves. But she glances at you menacingly, as if she's watching and waiting for you to screw up in her eyes. After cleaning, around 12.00pm, a well earned 30 minute lunch break is served. Your lunch consist of bread, salt pork, and lentil stew. Not much, but enough to keep stomachs filled.
After lunch, the real test starts as you are led into yard where you join the rest of the group. You practice forming ranks, marching, responding to various commands, and learning chants and cadences with the soldiers..
"GET IN LINE WORMS!!" Yells the drill sergeant.
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Rogan falls in to formation with the others and stands at attention, waiting for their orders. He follows the commands of the others precisely, and when it's his turn to lead the formation, he belts out a favorite cadence of his past.
We are, we are, we are, we are, we are the Engineers.
We can, we can, we can, we can demolish 40 beers.
Drink up, drink up, drink up, drink up and come along with us
Cause we dont give a damn about any old man who dont give a damn about us!
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Knowing that he will likely be absolutely terrible at this, Blood Stone does what he can to fall in and follow the directions he can. His natural slow voice, a gift of his stony heritage makes keeping pace with cadence nearly impossible, but, if called to lead, he will do his best.
"I'm waking up
to ash and dust
I wipe my brow
and I sweat my rust
I'm breathing in
the chemicals
I'm breaking in,
shaping up,
then checking out
on the prison bus
This is it,
the apocalypse
Whoa
I'm waking up,
I feel it in my bones
Enough to make
my systems blow
Welcome to the new age,
to the new age
Welcome to the new age,
to the new age
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh,
whoa, oh, oh, oh,
I'm radioactive,
radioactive
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh,
whoa, oh, oh, oh,
I'm radioactive,
radioactive
I raise my flags,
don my clothes
It's a revolution,
I suppose
We'll paint it red
to fit right in
Whoa
I'm breaking in,
shaping up,
then checking out
on the prison bus
This is it,
the apocalypse
Whoa
I'm waking up,
I feel it
in my bones
Enough to make
my systems blow
Welcome to the new age,
to the new age
Welcome to the new age,
to the new age
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh,
whoa, oh, oh, oh,
I'm radioactive,
radioactive
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh,
whoa, oh, oh, oh,
I'm radioactive,
radioactive
All systems go,
the sun hasn't died
Deep in my bones,
straight from inside"
by Imagine Dragons
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The parties general performance is above and beyond the expectations of many of the soldiers. Giving them nice big pats for being pure naturals. The captain observes silently throughout. Later she approaches the party and gives some words."Oh-oo-oh, you think you you're special, Oh-oo-oh, you think you're something else. Okay, so you're a natural chanter.That don't impress me much, So you got the brain but have you got the touch?" She leads you away, for you soon to find out what she meant by touch.
"Recruits," barks Captain Othis, "your job now is to do the simplest of tasks... complete the obstacle course. I am sure that puddle scum like yourselves will founder in the ability to do so, but it is my job to see that you don't completely embarrass the Ungrounded. Can you manage this?"
The first obstacle is a 10 inch wide log spanning a 10 foot wide gorge. You must cross it successfully.
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"We will do you proud, Captain."
Blood Stone, slowly but surely makes his way to the log, takes a single step to test it out, and falls on his booty, hard.
Picking himself up, he cracks the bits of rocks that make up his neck and gives it another go, at leadt staying on his feet, but unable to make any headway as he twists and flails trying to keep his balance, before stepping aside.
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Bloodstones first fall hurts as he fumbles on a bed of sharp rocks. His second fall is not as bad as he manages to avoid the rocks learning from his first mistake.
Helgga on her first attempt doesn't get very far as well before she slips off and falls safely on her bottom in a pool of mud.
Rogan with ease makes it through the log. Showing the rest of the group how it's done.
Helgga attempts a second try, moving a little gracefully thanking the gods for not falling yet. But she's only made it halfway so far.
Blood Stone: Two attempts fail. -6hp
Helgga: Half way through second attempt
Rogan: Pass first try. (Removed Armor?)
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"Watch out! It seems that the Captain has upped the ante here! She's greased the log!" Jazmine warns the others, looking at the obstacles. Standing back, she watches the first couple of attempts, then goes for it herself. She gets a running start and easily glides over the beam. Once over, she turns and whistles for Giggles to join her!