[ We find Our Heroes standing on the edge of what might have been a crater a long time ago, before erosion made it into something a bit gentler. ] [ It is important right now because it's the only large flat space near Black Peak. It's about eight miles across, and a great deal of it is currently covered in camps with banners flying above them. It has a small lake in the center, and a single path winds it's way through the mountains to the northeast.] [ They're here to become soldiers! ...well, except Sei. He'll be more of a medic. ] [ They've been told to report to Captain Daavya of the Red Horn company; you'll be able to find it, you were told, by looking for a banner with a red horn. So, off they go! ] [ SESSION START! ] * Ada stands where she is, scanning the banners for the one with the red horn (shock). * Ethan idly twirls his glaive, looking more at ease than he has in a while. Mind/vision rolls. * Sei is looking quite anxious, and peering at the banners. * Nebrinel is eying the preparation of the troops... 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ada (2d6) and gets 6. * Fyril squints around the area for the right banner. 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Sei (2d6-4) and gets 1. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Nebrinel (2d6) and gets 6. (Made.) 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ethan (2d6-2) and gets 6. ( Yup. ) 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Fyril (2d6-4) and gets 1. * Sei looks off to the left. "Is that it?" * Fyril stops swivelling his head and looks off in one direction. He points. "Yeah, that's what I see." [ Oddly, the banners don't seem to pay much attention to the usual Elven color representations (possibly because there's only so much you can do with silver and black). The colos run the full gamut of... well, everything. Even colors that uaually represent illness or bashfulness are seen on flags here and there, fluttering in the wind. ] * Ada peers thataway. "Looks like it. Come on." She starts over there. * Sei follows. * Ethan follows. * Nebrinel will follow as well, still scanning around, looking at the troops. * Fyril follows along, blinking at the odd colors when he spots them. * Ethan singsongs softly. "Be it ever so humble..." * Ada chuckles. * Nebrinel mms, and smiles faintly. "Well, someone knows how to put together troops." [ The troops, for their part, don't seem to pay too much heed to you. Ethan or Ada occasionally fetch sneers, sometimes surprised looks, but mostly indifference. ] * Fyril gets more and more wide-eyed as he walks along. He tries to look around at everything, moving his fingers rhythmically to his palms and out again. * Ethan continues on as he was, moving over towards Ada and whispering to her. "Most elves don't think very much of humans, right?" * Ada nods. * Ethan grins. * Ada glances at Ethan, then snickers. * Nebrinel keeps walking. * Sei is still looking around. "They're serious..." You expected otherwise? * Nebrinel says dryly, "As serious as Ethan, I wuld say. In a professional capacity, at least." [ For the most part, the tents are in groups of three, each such group being bunched around a single fire. Most of the soldiers are sitting around these fires, sharing stories and jokes, and sometimes getting to know each other. ] ( Whatever you do, don't show people a picture of your girlfriend back home! ) * Fyril is now plainly gawking around. "I've never seen this many people in one place before!" s'one hell of an army, yeah. * Sei nods. [ You're close enough to the banner Sei spotted earlier to tell that it is, indeed a red horn; a musical instrument, as opposed to the things bulls have on their heads. ] * Nebrinel chuckles faintly. "You should get used to it. And not stealing too much either." * Fyril gives Nebrinel a sad look for a moment, but then turns it into an insolent grin. "Why not? This many people, who would notice? Or be able to find me?" ( You, my dear rogue, are welcome to try. ^_~ ) * Nebrinel smiles faintly. "Give them time." Soldiers hate losing stuff, Fyril. And they don't believe in jailtime. There are some things I *can't* fix. * Ethan nods. "Back home, people who stole from soldiers on assignment got their hands cut off. I can't imagine Xivilai's army being much more lenient." * Fyril sighs. "I wouldn't take anything important. It'd just be for fun. And practice." They can't tell the difference. And I don't think they'll care. [ You're now in sight of the tent that the banner is being flown from; it is somewhat larger than the rest, and has a few big, competent-looking people standing guard outside. They're all wearing green sashes with red horns on them, and they wear cute little berets colored the same way. In fact, every soldier you've seen so far has had a sash and cap on. ] * Fyril looks around at the others, and puffs out his cheeks, but doesn't reply. He looks over the tent instead. (Fyril's a blowfish!) * Nebrinel frowns, and says, "I refuse to wear that outfit." (Pouty, sad elves with puffy cheeks. It's a proud tradition. =P) * Ada snickers. [ One of the men standing guard outside the tend looks over the bunch of you and waves you over. He's clearly an experiences soldier since he, unlike most elves, has muscles you can see. Big, thick knots of muscle, even. ] * Ethan is waved over, eyeing the big guy as he goes. * Ada walks after Ethan, not looking particularly worried. * Sei follows. * Nebrinel arches an eyebrow, mms faintly, and follows as well. * Fyril looks at the guy as he passes, blinks a few times, and heads in behind the others. [ The guy stops you just outside the tent. He says, "I am Sergeant Cropper. Are you the... 'special operatives' lady Shardae has sent? ] * Ada nods. "That would be us, yes." * Ethan nods and salutes crisply. "Reporting, sir." Yes, sir. * Nebrinel feels no need to comment. She strikes her best 'competent as unholy hell' pose. * Fyril blinks way up at him, and nods. [ He seems pleased by Ethan and Sei's responses, and somewhat less so by Ada's. "Very well. I will let the Captain know that you are here." He ducks into the tent, presumably to do that thing. ] * Ethan returns to a normal stance, a somewhat sour expression on his face. [ The sergeant comes back out. "You may go in." ] [ He's even nice enough to hold the flap open for you all. What a swell guy. ] * Ada glances at Ethan, then nods. "Thank you." She does just that. * Nebrinel nods at the guy, and gives him a slight smile. Before walking right through. * Sei bows politely, and heads on in. * Ethan nods, and enters. * Fyril nods to him as he goes by into the tent. [ Inside is a tent with a single table and a single cot. A lady in black and silver sits at the table, looking over a map and drinking some cheap wine. She looks to be around nineteen hundred years old, and her black hair is beginning to go silver in streaks, which actually compliments her outfit rather well. Or would, if not for the sash and cap. ] [ She looks up at you all and smiles, and you can tell by the way she does it and the way her face reacts to it that she's done that a lot. "Greetings, soldiers, and welcome to Daavya Company. I am Captain Tazendra Daavya, and I will be your superior officer. For most things, you will report directly to me, rather than through your corporal and sergeant." ] [ She quirks an eyebrow. "Mind, this makes introductions a bit more awkward than usual. Usually I have a little speech I give right now, but I don't think it would motivate you like it does most." ] * Ethan nods, doing a reasonable impersonation of a person standing at attention. * Nebrinel chuckles faintly. "Perhaps not." * Sei smiles. * Fyril looks around the inside of the tent, then focuses on her and nods. * Ada smiles slightly at that. [ "So, we shall have to do introductions the old-fashioned way. I have already been given your names and a brief summation of your abilities, but I need to know which of you goes to which name." ] [ "So please do introduce yourselves?" ] * Sei bows. "I'm Sei Sokutori, ma'am." Ethan Swordbreaker, Captain. * Ada bows. "Ada." [ She nods at Sei. "You are the healer, then. After I dismiss you, you will be reporting to the medic's corps. When combat comes, you may choose to fight on the lines or not, as you will." She smirks at Ethan. "Such a colorful human name." ] * Fyril glances at the others, then bows. "I'm Fyril, ma'am." * Nebrinel adds, finally, "Nebrinel Amydien." [ She nods at Fyril. "You are the rogue, then. You will have more unusual assignments; you do not have to man the line in battle, if you do not with to. As for you," she indicates Nebby and Ada, "Since we are not a large enough company to have a sorceror's corps, you will have to stand the line. I suppose you can stand back and fling spells if you feel you need to, however." ] * Ada nods. * Nebrinel quirks an eyebrow, and says, "Very well." * Fyril cocks his head, then smiles cutely. [ She turns to Ada. "Having thought it over, by the by, I am recommending you do not hold back with your magic. Xivilai told me about it, and while it may shock your messmates to learn that you're a spellcasting human, they don't have to know. It's awfully hard to tell where a spell comes from in the middle of battle." ] * Ethan closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, opens them, and takes a half-step foward, saluting. "With your permission, Captain, I would request to be assigned to provide cover for Ada and Nebrinel. With no formal sorcerer corps in the company, they'll be an inviting target, and keeping the enemy off of them while they cast is obviously rather important." * Ada nods. "I understand, Captain." She blinks at Ethan's words and looks over to him. [ The Captain raises an eyebrow. "A bit lax with protocol, are we? But it doesn't matter. When battle comes, you can take the line where you like. However, I will say this; every soldier naturally protects those allies that are next to him, because he expects them to do the same. These ladies will not be unprotected." ] * Nebrinel comments almost sotto-voice, "I feel insulted, Ethan." [ "I doubt even Ada's being a human will matter, since a good soldier values his life more than his prejudices." ] [ "Now. Any other questions or requests?" ] * Ethan nods. "Understood, Captain." * Fyril shakes his head. He starts looking around the tent again. * Ada shakes her head. "Not at the moment, no." No, Captain. * Nebrinel says nothing. No need. * Ethan takes a half-step back to his original position. [ The Captain nods. "Very well. On your way out, Sergeant Cropper will give you your uniform sash and cap. Wearing them is highly recommended, as it doubles the likelyhood of you surviving battle. He will also assign you to your tents, and you can take some time to get to know your messmates. That's all. Dismissed!" ] [ COMPANY, DISMISSED! ... er, I mesn SESSION END! ]