[Riparian Guard] Basic Training - Ranel Wright

[BlueberryKitty]

Ranel

0500 hours came terribly early in the brightening. The sun was still hidden below the rim of Aslan's Forge, glowing just slightly in the pre-dawn light. The stars were still twinkling, though they were beginning to fade as they all went to hide in their beds from the heat of the coming sun. The Riparian Guard compound was already bustling with activity- officers and recruits and guards all making their way through the showers, the barracks, and to the mess hall.

When Ranel approached the gates with his personal belongings to begin his six cycle training camp, he was stopped by the Guards on duty. "Halt, citizen! What business have you with the Guards of Riparia this brightening?" They waited patiently for his answer before they would allow him through the gates of the compound. But he'd best hurry if he was to make it on time.

[Ranel Wright]

The night had been a short one. But it wasn't like Ranel slept all that much normaly anyways. Truth be told he was anxious for a change in his life and this seemed like just the thing to get him out and living. 'Up and at'em' his father would always wake him at ungodly times saying. He hated it at the time but suddenly he understood why his father would have everyone up and going by 630. It was habit from the old days.

Carrying his few personal belongings in his bag minus a silver necklace and a ring which he chose to wear he aproached the place feeling rather underdressed for the occasion. The place seemed very professional. Ran was often known for being anything but.

He'd learn, he supposed.

When stopped he gave an annoyed sound but answered respecfully anyways. These would soon be his companions so it would be best to make a good impression. "Sir! My name is Ranel Wright and I'm a new recruit. The recruiting officer told be to be here by 0500 but it seems I'm cutting it a bit short. Will you be needing to see any form of identification? I'd like to be on my way as soon as possible" He asked already producing the documents.

OOC: My character has some... personal issues that resulted in him having multiple personalities. They aren't magical by nature so they won't give him any advantage. In fact, unless placed in a particularly dangerous place it won't affect him at all. The pleasant nice guy is sort of the "default" personality with the others acting like emotional shields at times of great stress. In time I'd like to train them all individually with different skills, but for now let's just focus on the one.

Anyways, I just wanted to mention this in case a mind reader or something of the like comes into play.

[Maddyn]

The Weapons Master for the brightening was a soldier from Alleria Prime, new to the Riparian Guard after retiring from the Imperial Guard after the debacle within the city when Julos the Mad took over. About himself several other new Recruits were mustered waiting for the last few soldiers to present themselves for Basic Training and begin the first steps as a member of the Riparian Guard. Humans mostly, size and shape seemed rather random with people being anywhere from five foot in height to six foot six in one particular case. In all, including Ranel and the Weapons Master there was twelve people here this brightening.

Bearing the uniform of slate grey in the Imperial Guard's styling, Vincent wore a Sergeants rank on the shoulder with the markings of his Unit Designation underneath. Standing at about five feet in height and almost as wide as he was tall, Vincent would've looked rather close to being a Dwarf if it wasn't for the lack of a finely cultivated beard - grey stubble though did cover the man's cheeks. His hair was a dark brown and closely trimmed with silver along the temples now and a cigar continued to roll from one side of the mouth to the other - unlit.

"You do Not call a Sergant 'Sir' Soldier!" was the first words that Vincent Lorian Heldenhammer would ever speak to Ranel, glaring at the man as he spun about with a longsword almost as long as he was tall in hand. "Drop and give me twenty, and this be a lesson to the lot of you here Recruits! It's Sergeant, Sergant at Arms, Sarge, or even Heldenhammer if I like ye; but never call me 'Sir' got it lads and lasses? Right! Line up!" Vincent called ot at nothing short of a bellow that hurt the ears. Giving Ranel time for the simple pushups before starting to pace up and down the line.
"You have been sworn into the Riparian Guard lads, which means your rear is mine until I can get you to weild a weapon, march, hold ranks and give praise to the Imperium. Now, how many of you lads here be having any experience in arms eh?" Vincent called out, a tenative few hands rose as he looked up and down. Waiting for each and every person to either shake their head or nod. "Come along, and now's time for Q&A lads so if you be wantin' anything from your Sarge here now's the time to speak."

OOC:
I'll be taking this one up. Any questions, feel free to poke Kitty or myself. ^^

Cheers, Maddyn

[Ranel Wright]

When Ranel first heard the term "drop and give me twenty." he was a bit stunned. He'd once heard this type of response likened to a cow's expression as it was caught in a stampede. Total uncomprehension and then total comprehension too late. Thankfully Ranell put the pieces together just early enough to avoid the Sarge's wrath.

"Er? Wha- YES! Si- er Sergent!"

Not wanting to waste another second he practically fell onto his hands and started doing pushups. He could only think 'Dear gods! The stories pop told me where true!'. By the time he was done his arms where sore, he was beginning to work up a pretty good sweat and his clean clothes where now all dirty. A side effect that he should have known about but hadn't thought of. He wondered briefly what he'd look like at the end of the day. Hell, how he'd FEEL!

'This doesn't bode well for the rest of the day' he thought joining the other and avoiding eye contact with them for the moment out of embarrassment.

Ranel remained still as the sergent spoke taking care to listen to his words. When the subject of arms experience came up he chose not to raise his hand. First out of fear. He wasn't in the mood to draw more attention to himself just yet. Second, while he did have some minor experience it was nothing noteworthy. He'd only annoy the "Sarge" with him bringing it up. So he just shook his head "no" on that subject. As for questions he didn't have any really. He wasn't sure what he'd ask even if he'd been willing to. Instead he decided that it would be best to just observe the fellow recruits questions if they had any. It may give him some idea who they where and what they may be like.

OOC: Thanks!

*test pokes*

Just checking!

[Maddyn]

That there seemed to be nothing though from the majority of the soldiers clustered about who were willing to say a word one way or the other for various reasons of their own. Be it prudence and a desire to scrape through this brightening ignored and considered average or a more sensible one not to risk being given the command 'drop and give me twenty' as had so readily been displayed by Ranel's lack of military etiquette when it came to ranks and titles.
"Quiet lot o' lads on me hands we be havin' hmm..." Vincent mused, scanning the ranks for any signs of unnecessary movement just in case someone decided to think eyeballing him was a good idea. Which really wouldn't have been the first, or the last time such a matter had occured.

"Conventionally, you lads here are to be soldiers which means you all march along and learn how to salute the nobs higher up who usually can't even button up their own fethin' tunic without having some aide from a page or private." Vincent continued, strolling downwards and with each and every step the unlit cigar that hung from the corner of his mouth with a rather dogged look about it was slowly chewed, shifted to the other side of the mouth and then back again. "Conventionally, that means you learn how to either use a longbow or a spear or a halberd because at the end of the brightening you're a bunch of grunts who get to play in the mud. Convention however doesn't have much purpose in this particular matter 'cause Riparia isn't at war with anyone which makes a blasted fortunate change lads compared to the rest of the Imperium at this right' an pretty moment."

Gesturing towards a basket, there was a series of old longswords set there, each and every one's edge dulled noticably and there was some cork set on the very tip of the blade. They weren't anything fancy, just a nice iron blade with a basket guard and a wire bound hilt and no adornment on the pommelstone. They weren't swords for prettiness but actual use. Along with this was a large pile of leather that amounted to being a simple leather tunic with iron buckles and leather straps to adjust, the inside of the tunics grey goats wool. The final matter in all this was a pile of bucklers and kite shields again without adornment.

"Lads, grab a sword, grab some protection and then pair up with someone else as we'll be doing something a wee bit useful this brightening and start on swordmanship. If the swords not yer weapon, then we'll try an axe for you later. After this we've got protocol, marchin' and then finally to at least teach you lot of lads at least how to use a spear... pointy end forwards and thrust, be fethin' amazed how many people can't manage that one properly." the Sergeant mused, grinning suddenly before running a beefy hand through his hair.

[Ranel Wright]

Ranel Wright didn't grin at the crack at the noble's despite wanting to. At this point he just knew better. Instead he just focussed on listening and praying that he wouldn't be the guy to screw up and be doing the next thousand or whatever rounds of pushups.

In all honesty he was relieved when he was told that it was time to be learning swordplay. He took out one of the rusty things and wasn't sure if he should feel relieved at having a sword that was clearly tough enough to last the years or affraid that it was so old that it may break in two at any point. He quickly tossed asside both thoughts though as he really wasn't in any position to be picky.

As he held it in his hand he felt an odd sensation. Nothing deep or earth shattering. Just an odd sense of de ja vu like he'd held one of these more than he actually had. It wasn't like he had any reason for this he contemplated to himself. Asside from that one incident (as frightening as it was) in the local wilderness with that mad woman he'd barely had a change to hold one of these damned things. Yet as he held it he had a sort of instinctual grasp of the knowledge of the thing. No special stances came to mind, no magical killing techniques filled his head, but the feeling was there. Like if he tried hard enough he'd remember how to really hurt someone with these things in ways that required no training.

He then cast these thoughts asside as well. A sword was a weapon. Of COURSE it was designed to hurt people. Wouldn't be of much use to anyone if it wasn't now would it? He thought shaking his head and making the final steps in fastening his armor. Taking a moment to line up with the rest of the group he prepared for his first lesson in swordplay.

[Maddyn]

Waiting until everyone was ready, which really did take longer than should've been expected from a group of adults... but here and now, it was like kindergarten pre-Schola and a general rush to the toy box during recess. Pushing, shoving and once Sergeant Heldenhammer had to cuff a weasle faced young man over the back of the head for being a little too rough in his endeavour to obtain the best equipment. Eventually though the rest of the soldiers were lined up and each tenatively, some cockily holding a sword in one hand and a shield or buckler in the other.
"Amazing lads, and here I was thinking we might be able to continue after pracenda at the speed you lot move. Diana above this is going to be one looong brightening..." Vincent muttered more to himself than the collective.

"Right, everyone stand up straight as if to attention. Now, everyone spread your hands out beside you so they're horizontal - and don't swing your sword when you do it you bunch 'o idgits!. Now, when you've all got a little room between you all we'll begin." this too took some time, amazing really how unprofessional some soldiers could be.
"Now, everyone step forwards with your right leg and bend it at the knee so you can only see the toe of your boots. Pull your left leg back and bend it only slightly. Feet apart at about shoulders width. This is your standard 'Forward Stance' and the position you'll be fighting from most of the time lads so get it right!" he called out, waiting for everyone to follow along.

[Ranel Wright]

OOC: Sorry for the delay, comp problems.

IC: Ranel held the sword tentatively, and assumed the stance. As he did so he took a moment to guage his fellow recruits. As he did so he took a mental note to avoid the weasle faced man who had been a little too eager to grab hold of a blade. A man once had told him that if you wanted to see a man's personality you'd do best to watch him battle. Ran was now beginning to see what that man had meant and he now looked to see what other kind of styles might come out of this.

Now in the correct position (which felt a little more uncomfortable than the thought it would) he awaited his next order.

[Maddyn]

"You sorry looking bunch of soldiers really do astonish me!" Vincent started as he walked down the line with a disapproving expression. "Why I never thought I'd see the day where a group of full grown men couldn't even stand properly when given step by step directions on how to do so!" he continued, moving down the line and periodically being a sadistic bastard and showing people just where their stance work was wrong. Using his foot to pull the soldier opposite him's front leg forward to show how they overbalanced through to simply spinning about and presenting the soldier with a hard open handed push in the right or left shoulder to see them stumble backwards and fall out of line.

And then he came to Ranel, eyeing the stance critically before givign a rare nod of approval and then subjecting the next soldier to a rather uncomfortable punch in the shoulder that sent the man reeling. And so on until everyone but three of the recuits including Ranel had been shown the error of their ways.

"Three successes out of the lot of you, why if old Corporal Khal was here you lot would be spending your brightenings bloody running around the outskirts of the city from dawn till dusk just to get your sorry arses in shape! Ioannes above this is going to be a long brightening. Right then. Pleasantries aside I want you all to step forwards - front foot forwards, don't step forwards with your back leg as we're doing a thrust understand! Right, from there, turn your hips and thrust directly in front of you. Do not straighten your arm entirely. You might be fethin' well impressed with being able to stab someone and from tip to blood hilt but frankly I'm here to teach you how to live. If you think playing around with someone's guts or getting your sword entangled in entrails be my fethin' guest. Just don't go crying for help when someone sneaks up behind you and brains you from behind with a cudgel got it? Okay lads, show me what you're make of!"

OOC:
No worries, RL happens

Cheers, Maddyn

[Ranel Wright]

Ranel actually took a great amount of pride in the fact that he hadn't been bruised for standing incorrectly. Though as he felt pride start to well up he immediately crushed it as he felt quite confidently that showing anything related to ego would bring the man's wrath down upon him. Best to keep a low profile and all.

He took a deep breath and took a step foreward with his front foot as he was told. As he did so he felt a part of him analyse the move from every possible angle. Not just the strenths and weaknesses of the move and ways of fataly screwing it up but moral aspects of it as well. He liked this thrust. It was an honest, straight foreward way to fight a man that needed neither cheap trickery nor mind games to be completely effective. At the same time though a darker part of him hated it. Ranel's grip tightened as he contemplated that he was not supposed to push the sword all the way. Was that not what a sword was for? What was the point of useing one if it wasn't used to it's full potential!? Where was the passion?

After the first thrust was over he realized that he'd extended his thrust to far. He shook his head and brought himself back to reality. This wasn't about passion, it was about hinor he reminded himself. Not passion. Bessides, extending it all the way affected ballance and threw you off. As the next thrust came about he made an effort not to repeat this mistake.

[Maddyn]

Keeping a low profile wasn't the order of the brightening however as Sergeant Lorian watched his soldiers with a critical gaze. Smiling ever so slightly before rolling the aged cigar to the other side of his mouth as he caught side of Ranel's movement. It took less time for the man to bellow a reprimand than it would've taken the average Syl'rosyan to draw a blade and knife a Vysstichi at the earliest convenient opportunity. "You there, Private!" he cried out, stabbing a finger in Ranel's direction accusingly. "Take four steps forward lad! If you're not going to fethin' well listen to an order then we'll be teaching you the hard way. Everyone, gather around and see just why you don't fethin' well overextend your arm like that alright!" he continued, tsking under his breath and in doing so causing the cigar to roll to the other side of his mouth again.

Stepping in front of Ranel and grinning viciously, the Sergeant motioned towards one of the other soldiers to hand over the blade. Not even bothering to claim one of the shields, bucklers or pieces of protective armour. "Right then, take another swing at me lad... go on, take your best fethin' shot and if you so much as spill a drop of blood I'll even give you the curtesy lad of dropping and giving myself twenty for such a damn big oversight in teaching alright? Right, show me what you've got then lad." Lorian mused, the smile never once wavering as he stepped backwards a pace so that his right leg was forwards and left extended further behind in in that same forward stance he'd just taught.

Fighting single handedly given that was how the Sergeant was teaching Ranel and the other recruits, the longsword was raised simply in his right hand and held at a slight angle so that the very tip was levelled to point in the direction of Ranel's chin. Very slowly rotating the tip of the longsword in a figure of eight pattern as he waited to prove to Ranel first hand why you don't overextend so thoroughly.

[Ranel Wright]

Ranel's expression as the croud gathered around was something akin to that of a deer as it stepped in front of a speeding chariot. Before he even realized it he was surrounded by the entire group with a sword pointed at his chin. Great... He thought to himself. Like he wasn't under enough pressure already. "Er, yes sargeant!" He said not completely sure if he was even allowed to strike at a superior officer.

He faced the man and raised his sword and went over the instructions in his head again. Feet apart at shoulder's lenth, right leg bent, and sword raised at neck level mirroring the sargeant. He took a deep breath and worked up his courage. The man had said to give him his best shot so he may as well do it. Letting out a fierce yell he lunged foreward at the instructor's torso as he was told, turning his hips and steping with his front legs. At that moment he wasn't sure why but as much as he didn't want to hit him part of him hoped that he did.

[Maddyn]

Smiling grimly, Vincent Lorian Heldenhammer barely even shifted as he moved slightly to the right and raised his right hand so that when Ranel thrust the blade swept underneath the Sergeant's armpit harmlessly. Or rather, more emphasising what would happen if someone went and buried a blade so deeply in a person. Strong fingers though gripped Ranel by the wrist of his sword hand - immobilising Ranel then and there which wouldn't have been so bad if Vincent wasn't one to drill a point home in pain. Pain after all was an excellent teacher when it came to arms, it gave the student something to think about because in life not everyone was quite so nice as a teacher... Orcs, Vysstichi, Ratta... few were exactly going to be well mannered and Ranel was seeking a career as a soldier.

Jerking Ranel's hand hard as he stepped forwards, Vincent quite methodically rammed his knee right in Ranel's stomach causing him to double over as pain flared throughout his abdomen. Using his other hand to brace Ranel and then help him remain upright before positioning himself to keep his trainee up. It wasn't really painful, just the kind of blow that knocked a persons breath out from them and left them gasping for air for a few seconds before everything sorted itself out. "This is why lads, it generally takes a while before people will acknowledge they're dead and more so - just because they are dying doesn't prevent the momentum from any final swing being any less deadly. Having your blade in someone's entrails is a damn fine way to be knifed or stabbed while you're trying to get clear again - now everyone take example of this as this lad here'd done you lot a favour!" he explained, patting Ranel on the back.

"Now, try a lunge again but this time make sure not to overextend quite so far... you only have to open the body, not spit it like a boar."

OOC:
When/if you return could you send me a PM please? I tend to delete threads from my subscribed list after a month+ of inactivity. ^^

Thanks, Maddyn