[Game Thread] The Human Conflict

[The Yellow Bin]

Place: Just Outside of Caer Natal

Caer Natal, the western home of a section of the Human race. Natalie Manser, formerly known as Natalie Neri, from the Neri's section of The Circle of Eight, took upon herself to bring the exodus to this western part of the plains. In the first few winters, things were tough. But the sheer determination and the will of her people soon begin to turn things around. Caer Natal is now more than it was several years ago. It is now beginning to look like a large town. Natalie Manser, though late in her years as a human, have not shown any signs of slowing down. Her two young children, legitimate yet at the same time illegitimate heirs to Ranlian Manser have grown to become the default leaders of this outpost. Caer Natal, technically a Matriarchal society, will mean that the daughter, Victoria Neri, will be the heir to Natalie. She has recently taken up as the second in command in all political decisions to Natalie. She is not set to wed any time soon, thought at the age of 24, there have been rumblings of who Natalie is going to choose as her companion. Olan Neri, the young son of Natalie, is seen only on occasion. He has tendencies to explore the wilderness by himself, and can be gone for months at a time. He is ruff and very much unlike his sister.

On this particular day, Kadelia has been tasked to train some new recruits. She is demonstrating how properly to use sword and shield to the new recruits...

OOC We can start now!

[Josiwe]

Kadelia Farsox surveyed the ragged handful of recruits and adopted a sharkstooth grin. She recalled her own days of training, not so long ago, and felt a moment's pity for what was about to befall them. To survive in battle, a soldier needed to be strong. And for new recruits, well... that strength grew from a seed planted by an utter bastard.

"On your feet, children!" she barked. With startled glances amongst themselves, the young men and women slowly began getting up. "I said ON YOUR FEET, RECRUITS!" she shouted.

All of her victims jumped to their feet.

"You are here today, to learn the sword. Or so you think!" she said. "But the sword is handled by a soldier, a warrior dedicated to a cause. Do you think you are soldiers? Do you? You're barely children."

Walking down the line, she gave a long wooden stick to each recruit.

"We'll begin today with balance and conditioning training. Each of you will hold this stick at arm's length all day. That's all you have to do, is hold a stick and remain on your feet. Doesn't sound too hard, does it? By the time the sun sets, your arms will feel like lead bars, your legs will feel like a quivering mass of jelly, and your head will be pounding like a sledgehammer. I will push you, and push you, farther than you think you can be pushed. I will push you past the edge of your endurance, and then you will thank me. Yes, you will THANK ME! Because I am your instructor, and that means that for the next six weeks I am almighty Saya, as far as you are concerned!"

It was almost word for word the speech her first mentor, Restax, had made on her first day. And while she had hated him during her training, there wasn't a day that had gone by since when she hadn't thanked him in her mind.

"Of course," she continued in a much softer tone, "there may be some of you who made a mistake coming here today. KEEP THAT ARM RAISED, YVARRA!" She wandered amongst the recruits, some of them already sweating, and gave them light pushes or taps on the arm. "If you don't belong here, you can leave. Maybe you weren't meant to wield a sword! Maybe you were meant to hoe a field, or weave a basket." Turning to one recruit she asked him in a mocking tone, "Were you meant for basket weaving, Horster?"

"Well?" she demanded. "Any takers? Any of you want to quit before your lives descend into never-ending sweat?"

[The Yellow Bin]

The recruits certainly heard what Kadelia had said. Some of them were scared out of their minds. In fact, one of them nearly raised his hand when another voice, not from the recruits, came shouting out. Boy, if I was in there, I'd skit out of there in a heartbeat. There is only one place I'd like to be when I'm sweating, and that's down at the riverbed, half-naked, and soaked in the cool water. If it was me, that's where I'd be training.

Naturally, Kadelia would turn towards the source of the voice. As she did, she sees Olan Neri standing near one of the make shift dummies used for practice, leaning his lean frame against it. He hadn't been seen for nearly four months, and just for Kadelia's luck, he shows up today. Who would have thunk it. He is cleaning his nails with a dagger, grooming, if you will.

Kadelia's knowledge of Olan is limited, but it is suffice to say that Olan and Kadelia are similar in age, and grew up very differently. Kadelia does remember the times when they were growing up how Olan annoyed him in his nonchalant ways as suppose to the strict training that Kadelia was under.

[Josiwe]

Boy, if I was in there, I'd skit out of there in a heartbeat. There is only one place I'd like to be when I'm sweating, and that's down at the riverbed, half-naked, and soaked in the cool water. If it was me, that's where I'd be training.

Kadelia decided to make the most of the interruption.

"Well, children, it seems we have a visitor. The wandering son of our leader, Olan Neri. Try not to shame yourselves by falling down while I go see what he wants."

With a short glance to make sure her charges were not distracted, she turned and walked over to Olan.

Speaking softly, she said "Welcome home, Olan. How long has it been, three months? Four? Well, nevermind. I'm sure it's none of my business. But this training field is my business, so why are you here?"

[The Yellow Bin]

Originally Posted by Josiwe

Kadelia decided to make the most of the interruption.

"Well, children, it seems we have a visitor. The wandering son of our leader, Olan Neri. Try not to shame yourselves by falling down while I go see what he wants."

With a short glance to make sure her charges were not distracted, she turned and walked over to Olan.

Speaking softly, she said "Welcome home, Olan. How long has it been, three months? Four? Well, nevermind. I'm sure it's none of my business. But this training field is my business, so why are you here?"

In fact, Kadelia's orders were distracted. Somehow, with the time allowed as Kadelia turned to make those orders, Olan had done something with Kadelia's back to him that made one of the female recruits giggle. Naturally, Kadelia stared at her and she quickly stopped.

Kadelia turns around and Olan had returned to his previous pose. Oh, don't mind me. He said, still cleaning his nails. I'm just here to observe. But I must say, you're being so harsh on them. They're new recruits. They are NEW, for a reason. I mean, you're scaring them out of their minds, how are they going to be ready for battle if they're scared out there.

Olan just smirked, being the person he is. Currently, it seems like that he has just returned home. His face filled with spots that result in too much wilderness activity, and his armor and clothing are worn and full of dirt. His swords on his back, strapped and ready to be pulled at anytime. He is known as a two-sworded man. Though his way of training is not to Kadelia's liking, Kadelia can not doubt his prowess.

So... How've you been? I haven't seen you in a long while, well, my own choosing actually. This place really confines my talents. I think it does yours too, doesn't it? Don't you want to get out? To see the world? I mean duty and all that, isn't that boring?

[Josiwe]

Originally Posted by The Yellow Bin

Kadelia turns around and Olan had returned to his previous pose. Oh, don't mind me. He said, still cleaning his nails. I'm just here to observe. But I must say, you're being so harsh on them. They're new recruits. They are NEW, for a reason. I mean, you're scaring them out of their minds, how are they going to be ready for battle if they're scared out there.

Olan just smirked, being the person he is. Currently, it seems like that he has just returned home. His face filled with spots that result in too much wilderness activity, and his armor and clothing are worn and full of dirt. His swords on his back, strapped and ready to be pulled at anytime. He is known as a two-sworded man. Though his way of training is not to Kadelia's liking, Kadelia can not doubt his prowess.

So... How've you been? I haven't seen you in a long while, well, my own choosing actually. This place really confines my talents. I think it does yours too, doesn't it? Don't you want to get out? To see the world? I mean duty and all that, isn't that boring?

"I wouldn't expect you to understand," she said. "Discipline keeps soldiers alive, but you aren't a soldier. Oh, I don't doubt you know your way around those swords, but on the field of battle it is brotherhood and training that win the day, not flashiness and sarcastic quips."

Kadelia sighed. "Look, Olan, I don't want to get into an argument with you, and I don't want to abandon my duties to go traipsing through the wilderness on some half-assed adventure. If your mother asks me to undertake a quest, I will go wherever she asks, but until then my job is to train these recruits and ensure the security of Caer Natal. You may not care about this place, but I do."

Looking him over, Kadelia grimaced. "You're a mess. I'm sure your family would want to see you. Do they even know you're here? Instead of hanging around making a nuisance of yourself, maybe you should go get cleaned up and find them."

[The Yellow Bin]

Olan paused, raised his right arm in order to get a sniff out of his under arm's dark place. Come now, it's not that bad. It was a lot worse than before when I fell into some unknown gooey stuff. That stuff was nasty.

Some of the female recruits now really can't hold on to the sword, the way Olan is acting, it is making him very much of their center of attention.

And I do care about this place. This is my home, you know. As much as it is your home, it is mine. I just care about it a little bit... differently. Kadelia, look, I'll prove it to you. I will whip them into shape. You'll see. Give me ten minutes with them. What do you say?

[Josiwe]

Originally Posted by The Yellow Bin

Olan paused, raised his right arm in order to get a sniff out of his under arm's dark place. Come now, it's not that bad. It was a lot worse than before when I fell into some unknown gooey stuff. That stuff was nasty.

Some of the female recruits now really can't hold on to the sword, the way Olan is acting, it is making him very much of their center of attention.

And I do care about this place. This is my home, you know. As much as it is your home, it is mine. I just care about it a little bit... differently. Kadelia, look, I'll prove it to you. I will whip them into shape. You'll see. Give me ten minutes with them. What do you say?

Kadelia snorted. "Ten minutes? In ten days, they might be ready to hold a sword without stabbing themselves in the face. You're on."

[The Yellow Bin]

Originally Posted by Josiwe

Kadelia snorted. "Ten minutes? In ten days, they might be ready to hold a sword without stabbing themselves in the face. You're on."

Olan smirked and put his dagger away. He bids you to stand by the dummies while he went over there to the recruits to gather them around. The recruits were tentative at first, but they indeed got around him. Interestingly, he divided the recruit into two groups, one female and one male. He dismissed the males to one side, while he huddled around the female recruits and instructed them. He took the stick and posed for them, correctly as you see. He is a great swordsman. Then he huddled again with the female recruits, giggles began to creep out of the circle. He then steps out of the circle and went over the male recruits. He did the same thing with them, but they did not giggle, instead, all of them looked back at Kadelia for a little while.

After all of the instruction, it was no more than ten minutes, Olan came back to you and said: Try it now. Have them pose the sword stance for you.

[Josiwe]

Originally Posted by The Yellow Bin

After all of the instruction, it was no more than ten minutes, Olan came back to you and said: Try it now. Have them pose the sword stance for you.

Dubious, Kadelia addressed the trainees.

"Recruits, en garde!"

[The Yellow Bin]

Originally Posted by Josiwe

Dubious, Kadelia addressed the trainees.

"Recruits, en garde!"

Interestingly, the recruits at once did their pose. This time, however, there were no flaws in the way they stand. They mimicked Olan as exact as they can, and they did a fantastic job at it.

Olan, on the back near the dummies, just smiled. When you looked around towards where he was, he simply just bowed slightly and turned towards the stronghold, presumably to greet his mother... Leaving you there with the recruits...

[Josiwe]

Originally Posted by The Yellow Bin

Interestingly, the recruits at once did their pose. This time, however, there were no flaws in the way they stand. They mimicked Olan as exact as they can, and they did a fantastic job at it.

Olan, on the back near the dummies, just smiled. When you looked around towards where he was, he simply just bowed slightly and turned towards the stronghold, presumably to greet his mother... Leaving you there with the recruits...

Kadelia ground her teeth. That man is infuriating! she thought. Still, she would make the best of the situation.

"At ease!" she snapped.

"I don't know what he told you, but your form was impeccable. Nevertheless, I can see the strain on your faces. We have been training for less than an hour, but battles can last for days! While I applaud your making the best of this opportunity, I hope you still trust me when I tell you that training and discipline will serve the best interests of you yourselves, and Caer Natal in the long run. In the meantime, Olan and I have much to discuss. You are dismissed for the day; to prepare for tomorrow, you will all adjourn to the barracks together and discuss today's events. That is all."

Turning on her heel, she followed Olan. She was burning to know what he had said to teach the recruits basic posture so quickly and effectively, but it didn't matter. He might be able to teach them faster, she thought, but I can teach them better. And that will keep them alive!

[The Yellow Bin]

Olan's foot-speed is swift, but for some reason, he slowed down just enough for Kadelia to catch up. The two of you are now at the gate of Caer Natal. He stops, and turns around. His grin is still evident and the frustration that you showed back at the training grounds were a thing of amusement to his mind. He leans up against the wall once again, and says the obvious thing that is on both of your minds: You want to know what I said to them, don't you?

He pauses, before going on. You preach discipline, I preach rewards. I like to look for rewards, and I like to seek them out. If someone gives me enough incentive to... go on, I will. You see, to the women, I told them, 'The last person to not lose the sword stance will have me as her guest at dinner tonight.' And to the men, well, 'I offered you as the reward.'

He turns around quickly and makes his way to his home, entering the mansion at his will. The guards recognize him and lets him inside.

[Josiwe]

Originally Posted by The Yellow Bin

You preach discipline, I preach rewards. I like to look for rewards, and I like to seek them out. If someone gives me enough incentive to... go on, I will. You see, to the women, I told them, 'The last person to not lose the sword stance will have me as her guest at dinner tonight.' And to the men, well, 'I offered you as the reward.'

He turns around quickly and makes his way to his home, entering the mansion at his will. The guards recognize him and lets him inside.

"You did WHAT?"

Spluttering with outrage, Kadelia followed Olan into the mansion. The guards, having overheard, were obviously trying not to laugh, but she ignored them.



Inside, paneled wood glowed in the light of several candles, and sunlight streamed from a window in the second story. Caer Natal was compact but beautiful, and the final construction had been finished only a year ago. But Kadelia had no time to appreciate the craftsmanship of the place; besides, she had been here many times before.

Olan halted on the stairs, and a servant scurried out of the room to avoid the coming confrontation.

"Olan! It's bad enough you disrupted my training session, but what gives you the right to hand out my favors? Not to mention the fact that an instructor dallying with a recruit so new he practically squeaks when he walks is completely out of the question! You claim you prefer to preach rewards. Damn you, the reward I'm offering them is surviving battle instead of coming home in a shroud! How dare you make mockery of that?"

Olan just grinned at her.

"Fine. I don't know what you're doing here, and I don't care, but the next time you interfere with my trainees, they'll get a demonstration of bladework that will not end with you chucking a pretty lass under the chin. Do I make myself clear?"

[The Yellow Bin]

Olan heard what Kadelia said, whether or not it registered with him is another question. Yes, perfectly clear. You want to hand out your own favors, and I should not interfere with that. Knowing that the statement would work against him, Olan turned and practically ran.

He went up the stairs and towards his room that was designated for him, leaving Kadelia hanging there...