A Strong Arm for a Coin (Open)

[Reviewer]

Thread Title

Time Stamp

Searing 65, 121

It was well lit in one of the many, large training rooms within the citadel that was both Areya's prison and home. She stood there, axes on her belt, arms crossed, a sour look on her face. Her clothes were clean, as was her face, an uncommon sight for those of the Dead Legion. But with an impossible quest blessed by the Shohane herself came certain privileges, certain resources. And Areya was not going to let them sit idly. She was going to use every resource at her disposal to ensure her success at this mission, in the hopes that it would get her out of this hell earlier.

"Do you think anyone will really come? Who would want to help the Dead Legion with anything?"

Areya side-eyed Torria, forcing down the smallest of smirks. "Someone will come. Coin paid by the Sky Guards is just as good as any other."

Areya had put out word through the official boards and criers that she was looking for combat trainers, calling for those with experience in axes, bows, hand to hand combat and body strengthening. She had put a generous price out for it, and had told the interested parties to show up here, at this time, on this day.

"Why can't we just train with the other Legionnaires as we've always done?" Torria purred.

Areya turned full face to look at her redheaded friend, "Because they aren't good enough. We aren't good enough. The Legion is made up of shopkeepers, farmers, hookers and thieves. Not soldiers. You can count more ribs on one Legionnaire than you can find truly skilled fighters. The Shohane has allowed for me to give us more food, to become stronger. But we need someone better. Shins are among the weakest of the monsters here in the Warrens, and they kill many of our kind."

Torria nodded, "The food is a nice perk."

Areya nodded in return, "And so, we wait for them to come."

Over the next thirty minutes, a handful of people showed up, bringing their weapons and giving their names, though none of them looked especially promising. Most looked to simply acquire an easy day's coin. Areya was looking for those willing to take this seriously, as serious as she did. All who showed would receive some small payment, but the real coin would only go to those who proved themselves to Areya and Torria and secured the position of training them in one of the fields they had called for.

Torria went around to each who showed up, getting their names and what they came to teach, learning a bit more about each of them, returning back to Areya to pass on the information.

[Talon]

A Strong Arm for a Coin

65 Searing 121

Talon folded his wings in as he brought himself into a solid landing. The cool breeze of the morning was a welcome feeling running over the feathers. The shadow of raven wings followed shortly after his landing. His beloved companion, Aoren, fell into step beside him silently. He had spent more time in the underdark of the Warrens that season than he cared to admit. But yet it was the Warrens themselves that had brought him to Mistreach Keep. The great citadel of the Sky Guard over whom his family patroned was busy with activity even in the early hours of the morning. He passed through the gates, adjusting his wings so that they rest comfortably. He was there for one reason and it was to devote a greater amount of his personal time to the men and women who spent their lives defending Kalzasi from the threats that roamed the violent Deeps. While he had always had a great deal of respect for them, Talon felt he had not given the brave soldiers of his homeland enough of his attention.

The need to not only give them his attention but to invest in them had made itself even more abundantly clear while he had been questing to help Lyra through her predicament. To many of the nobility, the Warrens were a place to use as the backdrop of scary stories meant to frighten children into behaving. Talon was ashamed to admit that this was true even for some of the Avialae who had embarked upon their Warren March but who had never returned. For Talon, it was different.

As the Heir of House Novalys, his family was intricately tied to the Warrens. The Novalys Mining Company supplied many of the dragonshards that funneled their way to the markets across the Northlands and indeed into other kingdoms. The minerals their miners gathered supplied blacksmiths with ore needed to ply their trade. The gems they harvested from other mines flowed into markets and filled the shops of jewelers and supplied the banks with the gold they needed to fashion more coin. This wealth in turn was used to supply the Sky Guard with its armor, weapons, salaries and fortifications.

“My Shinsei. You...are...is the Shohane expecting you?” The gate guards immediately recognized him. He waved them off before they could render full honors.

“No. I am here on different business. There was a call for a teacher. Someone to teach Legionnaires how to defend themselves.” The two gate guards looked between each other.

“No disrespect, my Shinsei, but shouldn’t that be left to others?” Though the guardsman did not say it outright, Talon knew what he was getting at. Was this not a matter beneath him? Was it not something that should have been left to some tired drill instructor? Talon did not answer. He did not know if the knowledge he possessed would be of use to the Legionnaires. But would it hurt to try? He had no need for their coin that they offered. Was it not better that he try to teach them what he knew of the Warrens and how to defend themselves because he wanted to? That way the money could be used for other purposes.

Talon knew the Warrens. As one of Kalzasi’s premiere Runesmiths, he’d delved into them to retrieve components that only the Deeps could provide. As an Avialae, he had faced them as part of his Warren March. As a man he had answered every call sent out to the people whenever an Incursion had surfaced and imperiled the city. Talon had been into the Deeps and it had ultimately extracted the highest price from him, death. He had been killed in the Warrens but the Goddess of Fate had seen fit that he be reborn.

“Please show me to them.” There was hesitation but in the end, the guard relented. As he walked through the halls of Mistreach, Talon inclined his head to those who acknowledged him but he made no effort to make his presence particularly known. Dressed as he was, in a simple vest, pants and boots with nothing but a pair of bracers around his forearms, it would have been easy to take him for just another recruit of the guard. As they came to the training room, Talon kept his thoughts to himself.

Logically, he understood the purpose of the Dead Legion. They were those who had not been sentenced to death but to service. Consignment to the Legion however was effectively the same thing. Enough people survived for the possibility of freedom to be something to hope for. Enough people were killed in the line of their service for most to know that such hope was often short lived. Talon reached out to grasp the shoulder of the guard escorting him before he could open his mouth and announce him.

“Thank you, Guardsman. I will be fine from here.” The guard blinked at him. He then looked to Aoren who stood quietly beside him. Though he looked hesitant to do so, the man bowed and shuffled off to return to his duties...or perhaps to run off to inform the Shohane of his arrival. It would not matter either way.

“Teaching criminals how to fight better, some might call that unwise.”

Aoren’s deep voice sounded quietly in his head. The Bond between them was strong enough that such communication flowed as easily as breathing.

“But not you.”

He could feel the smirk on Aoren’s face in his mind as much as he could see it on his bondmate’s face.

“Everyone deserves a fighting chance. Even those society cast off as lost causes.”

Reaching out, Talon squeezed Aoren’s arm before walking into the training room. He approached the one who seemed to be handling matters, a red haired woman who was light on her feet. When her attention was finally on him, he spoke.

“There was a call for a teacher. I believe that I may have something to teach. If you will have me.” Talon folded his arms over his chest, surveying those in the room that were not otherwise occupied.

"I am Justice."

[Kala Leukos]

No sooner was the gate fully manned but the Leukos twins arrived. Startled, the guards eyed Kaus, who was less impressive than the First Son of Novalys, but any Avialae was bound to be trained in combat and the pommel of his blade was clearly visible. Kala, of course, looked too small to be there on the business she claimed.

"Kala Leukos," she said.

"And Kaus Leukos."

"We've come to train with the legionnaires," she added with a smile. She walked with a dancer's grace, but the hilts of her daggers were also clearly visible and she was confident as any man twice her size. The guards looked at each other. One shrugged.

"Follow me, please."

The twins fell in behind the guard, who led them along the same path trod minutes before, albeit with more august company. The guard hadn't heard of any House Leukos, though the twins were dressed finely enough. They were dressed simply enough, too, in things they could easily fight in. They hadn't been into the Warrens since their March, but that hadn't been so long ago. They were both quite young, but now both considered adults by their people, even if Kala had insisted on proving herself as worthy as any boy-child of the race.

But in Starfall, the service never ended. So when Kaus had heard that the legionnaires were seeking trainers, he had brought it to her attention and she agreed that they should serve if their service was required. And, after all, legionnaires might have clues about something like a Boundless Gate down in the depths, though, in reality, she had little hope that they would. If it were easy to find, it ought to have been found already. But training the city's defenders was an important task, and both twins could fight with steel and with magic. Kaus might even initiate someone in a couple of runes, though they had agreed he ought not to do so without due consideration as then he would feel beholden to train the person in magic, as well, which they didn't know to be possible with the rules in place.

They introduced themselves to the red-headed woman, though it was difficult not to catch sight of the newly ascended demigod no matter how simply he dressed.

[Rune]

R E V I E W

Lore:
None Yet Requested

Points: 10 each, not for magic

Injuries/Ailments: None

Loot: None

Notes: Due to this being eight months old one of the participants requested it be closed and reviewed. Lores may be added later at the rate of three per player if wanted.