Thrust into a new life (Basic longsword, Eyvind)

[Aragos]

TIMESTAMP: 2nd brightening of Junctior, in the Season of Autumn, Era I of the Celestine Mandate, Era XIII Post Fractum

Aragos turned up at the break of dawn on the second brightening of Junctior, in the proper uniform, and with all necessary equipment, fully prepared to begin his training as a legionaire. It had been a long and ardous journey to this point in his life. There was much he had to endure as an Oedipus male to be ready for the military. The physical training he'd undergone had been to such a degree that there was nothing these people could throw at him that would destroy him physically. His endurance was admirable, he was tough, he was strong, he was quick. Admittedly if he were in a foot race he probably wouldn't be first but he'd at least be in the top half. Physically he was a fine specimen, and mentally he was sharp as an assassins knife, but he still lacked the skills necessary to make him a truly deadly man. He was comparable to two thirds of a warrior.

He stood at attention, waiting for the drills to begin. He had heard that Shield-Daekin Dogg was a good instructor. Aragos could only hope that it would turn out he was as deadly a swordsman as the legendary men of his family had been. Many of the more senior officers that were in his family tree had ultimately become superior swordsmen as well, it was his hope that he could join their ranks. Generalship was in his future, he was sure of it, and all good generals ought to be able to stand toe to toe with any of their troops.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

As it was usual Shield Daekin Dogg wasn't in a good mood. Walking slowly like if hunting he checked every single recruit in the field as if looking for someone in special. Behind him is assistant in training and his companion of many campaigns, Sennior Legionnaire Drok, pulled a cart with training dummies. The sight of the dummies was supposed to make the recruits at ease with the training, rarely did the Shield Daekin used them, prefering to risk the recruits' lives rather than sending them unprepared to battle.

"I am Shield Daekin Dogg! And I will be the first and the last person you will see for the next candlemarks, meaning I will be taking the eyes of those who don't make it out alive! Are we clear? You will follow my orders and my orders only and a single failure in doing so means a night in the brigue after a special treatment!" he started with a shout.

"We are here today to learn how to use a longsword! I don't want training weapons! Let me see the steel of the real ones! Those who don't have their's here twenty push-ups right away! Then go get them before I decide to teach the others how to throw a longsword to a running stinking recruit! I want to hear you counting and thanking me because I am saving your smelly bottoms in advance!"

Most of the recruits fell on their arms and started counting "One! Thank you Shield Daekin Dogg! Two! Thank you Shield Daekin Dogg..."

[Aragos]

Aragos couldn't help but wonder what the point of having the training swords was if they weren't going to be used, and he certainly didn't think it very wise to use the real weapons. Not only was there extreme danger for the unskilled recruits in the use of real weapons, but more importantly damage would unnecessarily be done to the weapons. However, being the upright soldier that he had been bred to be Aragos wasn't about to say anything about it. He hoped that one day he would be in a position so as to prevent drill instructors like Shield Deakin Dogg from being so brash and foolish.

Of course, Aragos only brought his wooden training sword, and thus was forced, much to his own personal enjoyment, to drop and fire off twenty push-ups. For Aragos this was no large matter. It was an every day thing for him, comprising only a fifth of his normal work out regimen as far as push-ups went. It was almost laughable. But he would never show it. His face was blank as a stone.

Immediately after completing the push-ups the fresh recruit was up and off to the barracks, having to scramble around a bit to find his longsword, which he had forgotten that he had placed beneath the bottom bed of his bunk. As quickly as he could he ran back to the training grounds, having gotten the impression that Dogg was not a man who should be made to wait.

Aragos was forced to control his breathing so as not to be panting. He didn't want to appear weak in front of his superiors. A weak man didn't advance in the ranks.