[Tower Guard]__2 Recruiting
Boyd J Boedeker
Gregory Brashier <gbra...@home.com>
Adam D <ad...@psycho-pets.demon.co.uk>
Shadowsmith <grey...@sandyvalley.net
Joe Butler <jfr...@airmail.net>
Blake Sinclair <unse...@geocities.com>
Boyd Boedeker <alo...@idcnet.com>
[Raegar]
Raegar looked at Sgt. Smithe, and drew his own sword. He
brandished the blade before him in a warrior's salute. He nodded his
readiness to begin the test.
[Sgt. Smithe]
He launched a simple attack as he started testing Raeger's defenses. He
smiled at the defense especially with the heavy bladed broad sword.
"Very good, let's try a few hard ones"
[Raegar]
Raegar smiled and thrust forward and down with his sword, feinting
towards Smithe's leg. At the last second, however, he twisted upward
toward the Sgt.'s stomach.
[Sgt. Smithe]
With a backhand swing, Smithe knocked the blade aside, and lunged for
Raeger's thigh.
[T ' Kara]
As Raegar and the sergeant began the arms test, T'Kara nudged Baernan
hard in the ribs with her elbow. "Pay attention lad. These are the more
basic moves to learn." She looked past Baernan to the Captain standing
slightly behind them. She winked at him as he turned at her loud
comment.
[Baernan]
Baernan grunted an affirmative, or maybe it was from the elbow, but he
didn't seem to be paying any more attention than usual. Which means he
was watching everything like a hawk. He felt for something in the folds
of his clothes, nodded slightly, then relaxed again, despite the
presence of the Captain. He tilts his head slightly and whispers to
T'kara, "He's already attached, don't get too friendly wit'im. You must
be new here, not knowing that. Or just the type who doesn't listen to
the streets."
[T'Kara]
T'Kara's head turned towards Baernan so quickly that her pony tail
swished through the air behind her. " WHAT ! You think I want to
DEFILE my body with the likes of him ?" She nodded her head towards
the captain, uncaring on whether or not he heard. "Ha. Haha.
Hahahahahahahahahaha! You must be joking !"
[Lt. Pastel Colour]
She return from her errand and moved up beside Capt. Wintermane,
"Well sir, the word is out. If these three pass the exams their assigned
to the Umbers. Personally I think they'll all pass."
[Capt. Wintermane]
"That's good news, the Umbers have been undermanned for too long"
Glancing over at the boastful new recruit, he whispered to the Lt.,
"For her sake I certainly hope she's capable of learning tact."
His thought's ran to what would be left of his recruit if Adrienne
or Keeve had heard her comment.
[Lt. Pastel Colour]
"I am certain she will, especially under your leadership Sterling," she
spoke softly so only Sterling could hear. In a normal voice she said,
"Now I must return to the Inn, the table is empty and there maybe
someone looking for a place to be."
[T'Kara]
Wiping the tears of mirth from her eyes, T'Kara watches Lt. Pastel
approach the Minotaur and report. * I wonder what or where the Umbers
are.* Turning once more to Baernan she prods him once more with her
elbow.
" Ok, Mr. Knowitall where are the Umbers, or what are they ?"
[Capt. Wintermane]
He excused himself from Pastel and stepped over to the two recruits.
"The Umber Guard is a special unit led by the Captain of the West Tower.
They are similar to the Vesper Guard."
[T'Kara]
T'Kara looked the huge minotaur up and down. "Well excuse me for not
saluting captain, but you see I haven't been recruited as yet. Not
formally. And excuse me for my ignorance, but what in the nine hells is
the Vespa Guard? It sounds like a mode of transport back home. You know,
like one of those single seat person drawn carriages?" She handled her
whip as she talked, unaware that her fingers caressed lovingly the sharp
barbs at the ends of the fine leather. Her electric blue eyes sparkled
with glee as she goaded her new commander. "And whilst we're about it,
what's a special unit?"
[Capt. Wintermane]
"The Vesper Guard is Capt. Selias' unit. Both the Vespers and the
Umbers, in addition to regular patrol duties, are assigned to any
special details that arise. The Vespers recently handled an invasion of
insect-like creatures that escaped from a sealed mine. And the Umber's
current mission is to track down dangerous elements in the undercity."
His tone was even and betrayed no hint of anger or annoyance at
T'Kara's tone.
[Raegar]
Raegar leapt backwards to avoid the blow to his thigh. With
amazing speed, he darted forward again and twisted his sword under
Smithe's sword. He jerked it up quickly and stopped it a finger-length
from the Sgt.'s throat.
[Sgt. Smithe]
"Pretty good, but most of those you face here are not 'honorable. Look
down."
The thin blade dagger was aimed at the rib cage just a fraction of an
inch away. The blade was sharp and thin designed to slip easily between
the ribs.
"The battles here are not the massive battles of army verses army. The
opponents we face do not think that way. They fight to live and will do
all they can to make sure they take you with them if they can. Be
prepared to face poison, traps and knives in the back."
[Baernan]
The ragged-looking youth smiles at Smithe's demonstration, and avoids
looking towards T'kara or Wintermane. Baernan continues with his usual
pastime, watching everyone and everything else.
[Raegar]
Raegar shook his head slightly and laughed. "I should've
remembered to watch for something like that. It has been a little while
since I've done this type of combat. Thank you for refreshing my memory
on this, Sgt. Smithe."
As Raegar spoke he curled the fingers of his free hand up and
into his sleeve. Hoping that the Sgt. wouldn't see the movement, he
pulled a small dragonclaw from his shirt. As he finished speaking, he
blinked and lunged back. He brought his sword down to knock away the
knife, and brought the dragonclaw to the Sgt.'s stomach. He held his
sword ready to parry a blow from the other's blade, and grinned faintly.
To Be Continued....