Riparian Guard - Basic Training RockRump

[Ladon]

ooc - Your training in all basics of the aspects of the riparian guards will be caried out in here.

ic - The training Sergeant stood on the parade ground, immaculately, in his everyday uniform. He was early; he was always early. If any recruit thought they would be smart and try to beat the training sergeant to the grounds, they were very much mistaken. He stood, still as a statue. His rugged elven face was without emotion, looked straight ahead and waited for the persons that he would have to try to shape up, to be part of this guard platoon. If anyone was late they would not like the consequences.

[Rockrump]

Rockrump awoke early in the morining eager for the days training. He quickly changed, grabbed his dagger, and began to rush down the stairs. He planned on making a good impression by arriving early. As he was heading to the secon set of stairs he noticed his dagger was missing from his side. Looking back, he noticed it on the floor near him. Rockrump scuttled over and grabbed it and noticed that he didn't have much time to get to the field, ruining his chances at ariiving before the others.

When he finally made it to the field, Rockrump noticed that he was one of the first people there, save for the Sergeant and a few others. He looked around and wondered, Am I early or is everyone else late?

[Ladon]

The sergeant waited for the rest of the recruits he was expecting to arrive to turn up. Most arrived before time, which was good as that meant they were eager. Some arrive just as the time arrived which was also good for these were the ones that were going to be the just in time type of soldiers that were needed in some situations. One unlucky guy decided that he would be the one to turn up late. To cap it all, the young man was yawning as he approached the parade ground. The sergeant loved guys like this one. His fate was sealed........

Serale recruit. What time do you think this is recruit?

The words were spoken in a pleasant and charming type manner. Now maybe this recruit was so wet behind the ears that he didn't realise what was coming, but there were those in the ranks of recruits that stood on the parade ground that had a feeling that something bad was going to befall this one.

I'm sorry. I fell asleep a little too hard last darkening, and it took me a while to get my barings this morning. So I apologize sir.

The sergeant walked towards the new recruit with a pleasant smile on his face. then when within two strides of the newbie, he came to an abrupt halt, and boy did the sergeant change.......

YOU HORRIBLE LITTLE MAN. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE RIPARIAN GUARD ARE PAYING ME FOR. MY TIME IS MONEY. YOU HAVE JUST COST THIS GUARD AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? WHEN I ISSUE AN ORDER, I EXPECT IT TO BE OBEYED. YOU ARE THE FORTUNATE ONE BECAUSE IT IS YOUR FIRST BRIGHTENING OF YOUR TRAINING. IF THIS WAS TOMORROW YOU WOULD BE CARTED OFF TO THE CAPTAIN TO EXPLAIN WHY YOU JUST COST THE GUARD THIS EXTORTIONATE AMOUNT OF CROWNS BECAUSE YOU WERE LATE. AS IT IS YOU HAVE HURT MY FEELINGS. THIS IS NOT A GOOD THING. AS YOU ARE ABOUT TO FIND OUT. YOU WILL NOW STRIP TO YOUR SHORTS, AND COMPLETE ONE HUNDRED LAPS OF THIS PARADE GROUND, AND THEN COMPLETE TWO HUNDRED PUSH-UPS, AND TWO HUNDRED SIT-UPS. FAILURE TO COMPLY WILL MEAN EXPULSION FROM THIS SQUAD. NOW BEGIN

The young man began to comply. The sergeant then marched to the centre of the parade ground, turned in marching style halted and stood to attention. The squad of recruits did not speak. they had an idea that this may not be a good idea.

Serale new recruits of the Riparian guard. My name is sergeant Elq'ish. I am your training instructor for the next cycle as I put you through your paces in this the new training squad of the guard. You will be pleased to know that I am a nice man. I do not care what colour, creed, sex, race, or religion, you are or belong to. You are a member now of the riparian guard and as such I treat you all as brothers and sisters. That being said, if I give an order then I expect that order to be obeyed, or, suffer the consequences of your actions.

No one on my training squads has ever died. This is because everyone has completed the actions as I have laid them forth. If you are good at following orders then we will get along fine. If you have trouble following orders, then I would suggest that you quit now. I have broken many a stubborn will, and made soldiers of each and every recruit that really wanted to complete the course.

So the first thing that we will need to learn is how to stand to attention, and stand at ease. To stand at ease you stand with both your feet a shoulder length apart. To stand to attention, you bring your right leg towards your left leg until they are together. To return to the at ease stance you move your right leg back to the shoulder length from your left. I will now begin to ask you to attain each of these stances. So recruits.....

ATTENNNNNTION.....


STAND AAAAT EASE......


ATTENNNNNTION......


STAND AAAAT EASE......

These may have been easy compared with the exercise that the one recruit had to endure but this was the start of a process that would kill or cure those who would want to be a member of this squad.

[Rockrump]

Rockrump watched in shock the sudden change in the sergeants attitude. He thought to himself, that isn't going to be me. Must follow orders. Then, on the sergeants command, he repeated the motions to stand at attention and at ease. This would be an incredibaly easy task, but Rockrump had to left feet and felt like he was going to fall every now and then. He reminded himself of the late recruits fate, and got the hang of standing very quickly.

[Ladon]

ooc - two left feet hey? well we'll have to see about that

ic: The sergeant watched the recruits as they began their basic drill in how to stand to attention. Some were on the crisp side others had a little trouble figuring out which foot was which, but in the end the group were badgered into performing the moves correctly.

Sergeant Elq'ish Then began to instruct therecruits on how to march as a group.

Now, the correct way to march is to all follow the lead of the instructor. You will begin by leading with your left leg and following with the right. I will give you the timing of which leg you should be using. When I cry HALT! you will come to a stop at attention. you will stay in that form until the next command is given. So we will begin. Line up in what will become the squadrons standard formation form now on, in lines of five soldiers to each line. When I commence you will begin to march to wards the command centre. When I Left FAce, you will turn to the left and contiue to march, theopposite for Right Face. So Trainee Squad 1772, By the Left.... March.

Left...
Left...
Left... Right... Left...

The squadron was marched up and down the parade ground for a full twenty five minutes, until all the recruits were able to follow the orders of the training sergeant.

[Rockrump]

Rockrump listened carefully as the sergeant gave his new instructions. He figured that marching might be a tiny bit tough, but that was a definite understatement. Keeping in step wasn't a problem, but his stature meant that he would take slightly shorter steps than his taller comrades. After a few tries he got it right, but by the end of the half hour march, his legs began to sore. This had been a big day for Rockrump, who was usually a very lazy person, but it would be crucial if he wanted to be strong.

[Ladon]

The sergeant looked the new recruits over one guy was flagging a little by the end of the march, but the rest seemed eager to please. Now it was time to sort the wheat from the chaff.

Now then Men. I think it's time to see who has the makings off a soldier in them. We're going to go for a little bit of exercise on our training ground. I think some of you will have fun, others of you are going to be hurting, but either way by the end of it you will understand the level of physical fitness that will be require from you as you train in this squad.

The sergeant formed the Men back into the standard marching formation four a breast and marched them towards the training ground. Here was the part that the sergeant loved to watch. The men attempting to complete the obstacle course. The course would be completed in groups of four.

The first obstacle was a set of four poles laid over a pit. Each of four recruits attempting the obstacle would pick a pole. The poles were about twenty five meters long and seemed to be slightly flattened on the part of the log that was facing the sky. This pole had to be walked over to prove the balance of the individual.

The second of the obstacles about ten meters away was a wall twenty Meters high made of stones. There was a knotted rope for each of the four recruits to use to help to pull them selves to the top. At the top they would find that there were four rope bridges to use to cross to the other wall, thirty meters away. The rope bridges were made from three ropes one to walk on the other two to help steady the person trying to cross the bridge. The three ropes were held together with smaller ropes at strategic places to make sure that they would keep in roughly a two to one type arrangement , but this was a test of sorts and the recruits needed to be able to complete this. On the other wall the ropes were not knotted but were to be used to help the recruits down the wall.

The third obstacle was a pit of water that had to be crossed by swinging over it by using a rope. A set of four guards were each holding a rope ready for the recruits to use to get across the other side, if they could

The forth obstacle was a net held up off the floor by little poles. The recruits would have to crawl under the net and out of the other side. This may be an easy task as they were dressed at the moment, although some would get snagged by the net to slow them down, but by the end of the cycle, in full battle armour this would be a nice fun obstacle.

The fifth and last one was another wall this time twenty five meters tall. This wall was made of wood and had no ropes to help, but there were hand and foot holds, pices of wood that had been positioned, that could be used to gain grip to help to gain height. At the top of the wall was a rope slide. A forty meter slide that had to be taken by holding a pole. The short pole had a wheel that was on the rope and would take the recruit down the slide at a fast pace. At the bottom of the slide, about thirty meters from the wall was a pit of sand that was covered with a target. The object of the slide was to land in a specified area. The recruits should aim for the bullseye of the pit, but anywhere in the pit was good. If the recruit didn't let go of the pole in time then the landing would be slightly harder

So recruits here's the task in front of you. The record for completing this course one minute thirty six seconds. I do not expect any one to beat this, a this was by an outstanding soldier who was in his prime. But those that wish to try may attempt this. You will take this course in groups of four and if you get left behind on an obstacle, then the group will suffer. So when you are called you will start the fun.

The sergeant called the first group to the starting line, and set them off on the obstacle course. Soon it would be the turn of the team involving Rockrump. The group was called and then they were given the signal to start.

GO!!

ooc - Have fun with this. I have tried to be as descriptive as possible and if you don't understand an obstacle then ooc and I will give a larger description so that you can post again to complete the course.

I will decide on times but I trust you to be honest in your posting. Be descriptive and have fun. Be assured that if you post that you complete everything as perfect, and no mistakes were made, then a time forfeit will be given, you will at least wobble a lot on the rope bridge, slowing you down. Get the message

Have fun

[Rockrump]

Rockrump listened carefully to the sergeant as he gave the instructions. This course wouldn't be easy, but Rockrump knew that if he tried he could make it. When he reached the first obstacle, he chose a pole and began to walk across it. The pole wobbled but Rockrump's low centre of gravity evened things out. After nearly slipping into the pit, he made it across.

The second obstacle would prove more difficult. Climbing up wouldn't be too hard due to Rockrump's upper body strength, but he was afraid of heghts. He closed his eyes and quickly climbed to the top, stalling every once in a while and struggling not to look down. When he came to the bridge, Rockrump decided that it would be best to just look forward and get the run over with. On the way down the finally part of the second challenge, he fell off of the rope about 5 feet above the ground. This shook Rockrump up a bit, but it wouldn't stop someone like him. He continued.

The rope swing would have been a very serious problem, had Rockrump not been used to grabbing ropes by now. After just barely clearing the pit, he moved forward.

The net wasn't a challenge. Finally Rockrump's size would become a great advantage. He slid through it neatly and quickly the stared in horror at his next objective.

After a long hard climb, Rockrump hesitantly grabbed the pole and prepared for the slide. Hopefully he could let go in time without being too scared. He quickly slid down and was shocked by the speed. When he dropped, Rockrump landed right on his rear, just barely missing the bullseye. He quickly got up and waited to hear how he did. After all, he was called Rockrump for a reason.

[Ladon]

Sergeant Elq'ish smiled as the recruits had their fun on the obstacle course. He was not upset with most of the recruits, in fact, if this was a sign of what was too come then it was a good sign, from this starting point there were improvements to be made and the recruits would make them. One recruit had already given up. The young lad, who had turned up late, had gone. He couldn't hack the pace.

That was an average attempt ladies and Gentlemen. On the morrow I will expect a better attempt to be made. As you will now realise, one of our number has already made the decision to leave our ranks. This is not an army of pressed men, If at anytime you feel that you cannot continue, I will help where I can, and I will expect that if you have a problem with any of the training, or with anything else of the guards life, that you will come and see me, but I will also accept that some of you will not make the end of this course and will have to go. That being said if you think you can loft around and expect to pass this training, then you will find you have misunderstood my message. Now off to the mess hall with you all, chow down and back in exactly thirty minutes. Any one not back in time has already seen the task that awaits them

-------------

On returning from there brunch the recruits were given a lecture in the history of the Riparian guard. How on many occasions the guard had been involved in one war or anther. On how the guard had been the implement in the fall of one of the Cities worst leaders. There were many things of historical value spoken. Then it was time to introduce some of the basic weapons training.

Now, let us begin with some basic dagger training. The dagger is the simplest of weapons in any arsenal and the methods you learn from it will be used in many other weapons.

All the recruits line up in the now standard three rows and take out their daggers. Sergeant Elq'ish stands in front, dagger in hand.

Stand with your feet shoulder width apart, one foot slightly ahead of the other. Lean slightly forward. Hold your dagger blade up and your other hand up next to, but slightly less than shoulder width apart from it, palm out, as if you are going to push someone away. Katta should have their claws out and ready to rake. This is the Basic Stance.

Sergeant Elq’ish demonstrated the correct position.

From here, we will practice the basic thrust. Throw your dagger-hand forward, following through with your shoulder and shifting your weight forward. After contact is made, twist the dagger to open the wound. Then pull it back and get ready for a second thrust. Everyone practice and I will go around and check you."

One of Elq’ish’s assistants counts out a cadence of THRUST! TWIST! RECOVER! THRUST! TWIST! RECOVER! as Sergeant Elq’ish makes his rounds.

[Rockrump]

After completing the obstacle course, Rockrump's legs were very sore, so he was happy to have a chance to rest his legs uring the history lecture. He nearly fell asleep a few times during it, but not out of boredome. It was rather facinating but he was tired. After the lecture had ended, Rockrump took out his dagger as instructed and began the thrusting motions. He pictured a door with a large padlock and used the dagger like an oversized key. Every once in a while he would forget to throw his weight forward but when that happened the sergeant was always looking at the other troops. Rockrump eventually got the pattern of thrusting and recovering down and continued.

[Ladon]

Sergeant Elq’ish walked around each person, correcting stances, grips, and thrusts as he went. After he was satisfied as to everyone’s competence, he began the next drill.

Now we will learn the slash.

He took out his dagger and held it, blade up, the standard stance.

Thrust the blade forward, then down to one side. Don't go too far or you will not be able to recover in time. Turn the blade toward your opponent, and cut up as you bring the blade back to your starting position. The idea is to make two rapid cutting motions, one going down and one coming back up. Now practice.

Just as before, Sergeant Elq’ish walked around to each recruit as his assistant called out

SLASH! TURN! BACKSLASH! RECOVER! SLASH! TURN! BACKSLASH! RECOVER!"

[Rockrump]

Rockrump practiced the slash, only occasionaly fumbling and going to far. The actual motions were never a problem, and only by going too far would he actually make a mistake. Rockrump could hear his heartbeat when the sergeant passed by, only to have a point of relief when he went to the next troop, before returning. This nervousness, along with the exercise, made Rockrump's arms as tired as his legs, but if he wanted an easy job, he wouldn't have joined the guard.

[Ladon]

Sergeant watched as the recruits were put through their paces with the basics of dagger training attacks.

There is one more technique that we will practise before we take a break. The technique we look at is that of evasive manoeuvres, the parry. Now when we use the parry we need to always be of mind to remember ‘The Box’. The Box is the term used to describe an imaginary box we put around ourselves. The box is a square that goes from the top of your head, down to your groin, and to the sides encompassing your arms. When defending yourself from attack, you must keep your blade point in this box. Always keep your weapon between you and your enemy. If you try to do anything fancy then you will get hurt, so you will keep you defensive moves to the basics. Many a master of the dagger uses the basics to defend, and nothing more, so learn these moves well that I will describe to you now. When an attack comes in, counter with your own blade and redirect it to one side. Do not try to stop it dead, especially if your opponent is stronger than you are. That wastes energy that you will need elsewhere. Keep light on your feet and try to move out of the way. If the attack is coming in on your right, spring to your left and parry the blow to your right. If the attack comes in on your left, go the other way. If high, duck. If low, spring backward. Always parry to make sure you do not get hit.

Sergeant Elq’ish demonstrated each of the moves as he said about them, demonstrating the actions so that those that were a little slow could see what was meant by each move, then he, and his assistants moved along each line of the recruits training the guards to be in the parry.

As he approached Rockrump, Elq’ish smiled, as he had with each of the other students he had approached, he carried his dagger unsheathed and used it to get each person to parry his slow thrust and slash. All the while the assistant called out

DODGE LEFT! DUCK! DUCK! SPRING BACK! DODGE LEFT! DODGE RIGHT!

in an unpredictable pattern, completely throwing off several people who had expected a mesmerizing pattern. They begin to wonder if the instructor’s planned it that way. The recruit needed to watch the sergeant, not listen to the assistant. The sergeant brought slow attacks that the recruit was to defend against, first high, then low , then to the right, then to the right again, to the left, up high, to the groin. All these attacks happened as the assistants called some other defending pattern; all in all it was most confusing, but if the recruits were to concentrate then they would get through this training on defence.

At the end of the parry training, it was time for food. So the sergeant called the guard recruits to attention and dismissed them for Chow time.

[Rockrump]

After the slashing practice came basic evasive maneuvers. Rockrump never was very agile, as his stature wouldn't normally allow it. The unusual pattern of commands very quickly threw him off. Genius,Rockrump whispered quietly to himself, training both skill and reflexes in the same exercise. If this training had taught anything, it was to be ready for anything. Anyone could dodge a predetermined order of strikes, but this exercise was completely dependant on one's awareness. While the dagger was far too small and light for Rockrump's liking, he would definitely value this increase in agility to incorporate into an axe.

[Ladon]

The sergeant arrived on the parade ground and waited for the other recruits to gather and line up. There were a few stragglers but that was to be expected, as this was the first full day that they had been in the guards, but as always they would soon learn that being late was not for those who wanted to serve in this squad.

Some of you think that this little squadron work on your time. Unfortunately you are mistaken. You, You, You, and You, front and centre. You were the last to arrive because of this you will perform fifty pushups each. Drop and start.

The sergeant watched as the recruits he had singled out dropped and began their punishment.

Let this be a lesson ladies and gentlemen, I have no problems with those that are here to learn, I will repeat, those that want to try my patience on for size, will find that I am a hard nut to crack, and you will break before I do.

Now to the next part of your training. We are now going to go over to our training feild and continue training with the Dagger, but this time you will be using the dagger on human sized dummies. These dummies are made from bags filled with straw, and they will not feel pain, but I do not want you to take this lightly, you will perform the movements at each dummy as you are instructed by my assistants and you will give your all. We will wait for our friends here, for a Riparian Guard does not leave another member of the team on the battle field, or any other place for that matter.

The sergeant smiled as each of the recruits he had singled out finished their pushups, and then nodded that he was happy again, as he looked them over some were a little worse for wear but that was to be expected. The recruits were marched over to the training ground and it was then that they saw the course that was in front of them.

The course comprised of three sets of dummies lined up in sets of five all hung from beams and held in positions so that they would look like a deformed human body, no arms but head, leg, and torso. Each set of dummies was placed about one hundred meters from the next in a line that ran the length of the fields, and at the end of the filed stood a line of real guards, the sergeant’s assistants waiting for each recruit to make it to them.

So Recruits I hope you remember well your training from this morn. At the first set of dummies you will attack the dummy with the basic thrust, twist, withdraw move you will then run to the next dummy in line and perform the thrust, slash, twist and withdraw move. At the last dummy you will perform the thrust, slash, turn, reverse slash, withdraw move. Then you will run to my assistants waiting at the end of the field, there you will need to defend against their dagger attacks.

So the first set of recruits get on your marks. Go!

The first recruits lined up and then they were set in motion by the sergeant’s word.

Rockrump's group were forth in the line and he was then set in motion as well.

When he arrived at the assistant he made four attacks at Rockrump. The first to the left Shoulder area, the second to the right ribcage area, the third was a high attack, the forth was to around Rockrump's groin. Once all these were completed the group could wait for what was to come next.