Joining the Veldar Elite

[Darius]

Late Afternoon, 9th Brightening of the First Cycle of Junctior
Season of Autumn, of Era I of the Celestine Mandate
Era X Post Fractum in the Age of the Darkening, the Mageocracy of Julos the Mad

When Darius arrived at Zerdargia, he got directions from the guards to the Veldar Compound. After he had completed an errand or two in the city, Darius proceeded directly to the Compound, using the directions given him. Darius' thoughts moved as swiftly as his Saurus as he considered what this might entail and be like. "What will I do with Midnight while I'm receiving training? And I wonder what the required length of an initial enlistment will be will be…" However, one thought overrode his concerns and other considerations. "Well, at least I do know I'll be getting training from, and working with, the best there is."

When Darius arrived at the intended destination, he dismounted from his Sarus, only then realizing he wasn't sure where exactly to enlist. One of these military styled buildings, certainly, but which one? Darius looked around for a member of the Veldar, since anyone of them could direct him to the proper building and office.

[Soldier]

A sign was posted on the wall of the barracks:

ATTENTION ALL RECRUITS! All individuals wishing to join the Veldar Basic Training Course must report here at 0700 hrs tomorrow. Cost is 100 crowns to cover training expenses. Sergeant Anton Setik will be your Drill Instructor!

Under the sign, someone had scrawled “may the gods have mercy on you!”

[Darius]

Darius noticed a sign posted on what appeared to be the barracks. Leaving his mount where it was, he walked over and read the sign. "So...seven tomorrow morning," Darius thought, "Thats good timing on my part. Sgt. Setik...hmm, never heard of him." Then Darius read the words written benigth the sign and stared. May the gods have mercy on you! Either this someone's idea of a practical joke, or tomorrow is going to be a long, long day. Well, I'm not going to quit now." With that thought, Darius remounted his Saurus and left the Veldar Compound.

[Soldier]

Several others crowd around waiting for training. Some want to join the Veldar, some just want a weapons education, some have darker motives.

As all wait for 0700 hrs to roll around, a hobbit can be seen coming toward the group. He is dressed in an impeccably clean and well-maintained blue uniform with a shortsword and dagger at his belt. He wears steel capped boots, an oddity for a hobbit, and has a stern countenance. At precisely 0700, he snaps to attention and bellows in a remarkably powerful voice. “Serale! I am Sergeant Anton Setik. If you are looking for an easy way to make money or a lazy existence, you are in the wrong place. If you want to train with the weapons of war, if you want to join the proud tradition of one of the empire’s greatest military units, then you have come to the right place. I will be your Senior Drill Instructor. You will listen to me and follow my orders. You will train long and hard, but in the end I will make sure that by the time you graduate, you will be prepared for the worst that the world can throw at you. Remember, the more you train in peace, the less you will bleed in war. Are there any questions?”

[Darius]

Since they likely wouldn't be using mounts, and he wasn't certain what he would do with it if he brought it, Darius returned the next day on foot. Knowing the nature of military punctuality, Darius arrived early. This also gave him the opportunity to observe the others. However, the individual that struck his interest arrived just before it was time to begin. A hobbit in a blue uniform carrying a short sword and looking deadly serious was walking over. "I guess this guy with direct us to where we'll go to train or something; he's clearly a member of the Veldar."

At exactly 0700, the hobbit comes to attentions begins shouts in a unusually commanding voice. As Darius realized this is a sergeant, he immediately rethought his initial impression, and when he heard that Sergeant Setik would be the Drill Instructor, Darius thought, "He's Senior DI? He's not gonna be a guy to mess with, and he's got to be tougher than he looks…definitely not a guy to irritate." As Sergeant Setik finished his initial speech, Darius considered if he had any questions, then after he deciding he had none presently, he continued to stand silently.

[Soldier]

Setik began to pace back and forth as he answered questions, looking at each person in turn, sizing him or her up. “You pay your training fee in a few moments. Training," Setik says "will last five days. At the end of it, you will know the use of the dagger and the weapon of your choice. I know the use of just about every weapon in existence, so your needs will not go unfulfilled. This is intended as a primer on the military. Citizens are encouraged to sign up and learn basic military skills. If you pass you will be given the opportunity to enlist in the Veldar. If you do not, you go home a wiser person. If you do, you will undergo another set of training to make you into a soldier. In case anyone is concerned about discrimination against elves, giants, dwarves or anyone else, you needn't worry there. I show no favoritism and hold no animosity toward any race, creed, gender, or religion. Within these walls there is only one race and that is “VELDAR”. Leave your prejudices at the gate. I hate only one thing and that is insubordination. I expect you to do what you are told to do, when you are told to do it and to do it as quickly and thoroughly as possible. As long as you are in my training program, I am the all-powerful god of your universe. DO NOT MESS WITH ME! I have killed more giants, bandits, orcs and assorted monsters than any three Veldar soldiers put together. I will chew you up, spit you out, and pick my teeth with your bones. If you doubt me, you are welcome to try me. Are there any other questions?" There were none, so Setik continued.

"Alright everyone. When I say 'ATTENTION!' you are to stand erect, feet together, shoulders back, head up, eyes parallel with the ground. When I say 'LEFT FACE' You will all turn and face the left. When I say 'FORWARD MARCH' you will all walk forward, stepping in time starting with your left foot." As he talked, he walked up and down the line of recruits, evaluating who was going to be a troublemaker, who would need extra help, and who he should talk to about joining the Veldar. "COMPANY, that’s all of you, ATTENTION! LEFT FACE! FORWARD MARCH!"

The group heads off into the barracks. Everyone’s name is taken on a role, the 100 crowns fee (waived for those who sign up now to enlist for 6 months) is paid, and all recruits are given a quick physical exam to make sure they are capable of getting through training without dying. Corpses tend to be a real morale buster. After getting uniforms, standard issue dagger, and stowing the gear in rough wooden footlockers, they are guided to an exercise yard by several Veldar soldiers, Setik's assistants.

Setik is in a plain blue training uniform now, just like the everyone else. The recruits form up in a line and Setik says, "We will now exercise. The purpose of this is to build your strength and stamina." They began performing various exercises and several of feel as though they are about to die from exertion, but Setik has been doing this for eras and knows how far to push the new recruits. Looking barely winded himself as he exercises with the group. Finally, he stops and calls everyone to gather around.

Everyone gathers around and sits on the ground in front of Setik. He is pacing back and forth, his hands clasp behind his back as he speaks. "Before we begin," he says, "I feel it is important for you to know a little more about me. Like I said earlier, my name is Anton Setik and I am a Sergeant with the Zerdargian Veldar. I am a 25-era combat veteran of 4 different major campaigns. I am not a sadist; I will not try to crush you, no matter how much some of you may deserve it. I only ask for 2 things. First, that you follow my orders as if they were the mandate of the gods. Your success in this program and your survival on the battlefield will depend on you doing WHAT you are told WHEN you are told to do it. Second, I expect 100% effort in everything you do. Half measures will produce half results. Now if you ever have a problem or need help, I expect you to come speak with me. Otherwise I will assume that all is well. Later, I will divide you into three squads. The first squad will consist of all katta, humans, and elves. You will be referred to as the "Dark Horse Squad". You will be led by my assistant, Jakab Morovia. The second squad will be the "Stone Breaker Squad" made up of dwarves and lead by Jeri Ironmane. Third squad will consist of hobbits and gnomes and be called "White Eagle Squad", led by Tillic Twillindon. All females will barrack together separate from the men, but will come back and rejoin their operational squads during actual training. If you have any problems, complaints, or issues, you bring them to me. Do not be afraid to ask for help in any matter. Now, let us begin dagger training. The dagger is the simplest of weapons in the Veldar arsenal and the methods you learn from it will be used in many other weapons."

The recruits line up into two rows of 15 each and Setik 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." Setik 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 Setik's assistants counts out a cadence of 'THRUST! TWIST! RECOVER! THRUST! TWIST! RECOVER!' as Setik makes his rounds.

[Darius]

Darius listened attentively to Setik's speech, mentally taking notes. "Dagger training, and more longsword training, excellent. No racism or favoritism, words are cheap, and I guess I'll see how much he really means that…but he does sound serious." When Setik said he expected the absolute best out each of them, and warned them not to cross him, Darius thought, "This is not a man to cross, and I'm sure his words are no idle boast."

As Setik detailed his first commands, Darius listened carefully, then followed orders as precisely as he possibly could. Darius had no intention of earning any wrath or anger from Sergeant Setik. The group was led into the barracks, where Darius was asked for, and given his name, paid the 100 crown fee, though he wasn't certain that he didn't want to join the Veldar anyway, he thought it best to keep his options open. Next, he was given a brief medical examination. Finally, after receiving and stowing a uniform and dagger, Darius was guided to the exercise grounds.

Setik leads them through numerous exercises, and though Darius thought himself to be in good condition, he was thoroughly winded by end. Then Setik called them to him, and begins to speak again. Thankful for the opportunity to catch his breath, Darius tried to listen while breathing heavily. The most vital information to Darius seemed to be at the end, where he was assigned to the Dark Horse Squad and Setik began discussing dagger training. Where do they get a name like that?' Darius wondered as they prepared to begin dagger training.

They were lined up, then Setik ordered them to assume a stance Darius recognized from his previous longsword training. Darius shifted into what he thought of a combat stance, but modified by holding a dagger rather than sword, and leaning slightly forward. Darius, had only a right hand, so while he brought up his left arm and positioned it like instructed, he, of course, could not hold his left palm out.

From there, Setik instructed them in the basic thrust, that of pushing forward with the dagger hand, using one's full body in the strike, twisting the dagger, the pulling back quickly. As they were instructed to begin practicing this technique, Darius did so, keeping his full focus on following the cadence and each of the steps of the technique.

[Soldier]

Setik 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, Setik walked around to each recruit as his assistant called out "SLASH! TURN! BACKSLASH! RECOVER! SLASH! TURN! BACKSLASH! RECOVER!"

[Darius]

After Setik had made Darius' (and everyone else's) technique was satisfactory, he began to teach the second strike: a slash. Darius ceased practicing and began to watch and listen again. After watching the new strike demonstrated and explained, Darius again follows the order of Setik and begins practicing the new strike in time with the words of Setik's assistant. Darius worked to improve every time, carefully focusing on making his moves accurate, swift, and to the chanted words of ,"SLASH! TURN! BACKSLASH! RECOVER! SLASH! TURN! BACKSLASH! RECOVER!"

[Soldier]

“Very good, recruits.” Setik barked out. “We will practice one last technique before we break for a meal, the parry.” He pulled out his dagger and assumed the standard stance. “To learn this technique,” he began, “you need to understand the concept of ‘The Box’. The Box is an imaginary 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. Don’t try elaborate hidden dagger type techniques. If you get fancy, you get killed. Keep it simple. 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.” As he was talking, the incredibly agile hobbit was demonstrating exactly what he meant by ducking, weaving, and parrying in the air.

This time, as he went around to everyone, 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.

There is a break for a meal, and everyone heads for the mess hall, a low stone building with rows of benches and clusters of people scattered all over. (OOC- feel free to interact with these people by starting a "Life at the Veldar Barracks" thread.) After the meal, Setik and his assistants herd the recruits outside. Setik gives a brief lecture about military protocol, a brief history of the Veldar, and starts looking at his pocket watch regularly. Then he says, “It has now been an hour since you ate, so we will now do a little light exercise.” Forming up into your respective squads, you find out that ‘light exercise’ to Setik means a 2-mile run. Many people are pulled and dragged through it. Those who ate too heavily, lose their lunch.

After the run, the recruits go through dagger practice. A course has been set up where they charge forward to a set of 6 wooden dummies. The first they thrust at, the second they slash left, third is slash right, and the other three are for practicing defense.

The rest of the afternoon is spent on the dagger drill. Setik pulls each person out in turn and instructs them personally one-on-one. After that, the training for the day was over.

Everyone had the rest of the evening to themselves and they are encouraged to enjoy it. The next day would be tougher. The recruits are each barracked together according to squadron. Setik's assistants show them how to make a bed "the Veldar way" with the blanket pulled so tight one could bounce a coin off it. They stow their gear on a footlocker at the foot of each bed and now, they are free to wander, until lights out at 2200 hrs when they had better be in their bunks or they will answer to Setik "Ironbrand" as they hear a few dwarves call him behind his back. Must be a story to that somewhere.

[Darius]

Darius listened as Setik elaborated on the next technique, the parry, and the concept of the "Box." Darius watched at the hobbit adeptly demonstrated all of the dodges, parries, and moves that he described. "That’s why he's good, he's fast, skilled, and agile." Darius thought briefly before the drill began anew. However, the difficulty was increased from the previous drill. Now, there was no pattern, no certain order to the drill. Darius was slow to react at first, but he concentrated on moving as rapidly as possible in response to whatever command the assistant gave. After some time, drill is ended and the group is sent to eat at the mess hall. Darius enjoyed the respite from the training, and makes certain to eat well.
.
After lunch, Setik discussed the basics of military procedure and Veldar history. As Setik began looking at his watch, Darius realized Setik was just passing the time while waiting for something. When Setik mentioned that it had been an hour, and now they would do some "light exercise," Darius' thoughts are confirmed, though perhaps in an unpleasant manner. They formed up into squads, and went for a two mile run. Darius managed to keep pace, though he was slowed when his stomach rebelled and released his lunch. Curiously enough, he felt much better afterwards, and, though he was well-winded, ended the run feeling much better than he early in the run.

At the end of the run, they ran a dagger course, and Darius realized that they ran probably in part because that would help simulate the tiredness that comes from combat while doing the dagger drill. After completing the course of six combat dummies, they return to group drill. However, Darius and each of the others are pulled from drill for personal instruction at one time or another over the course of the afternoon. Finally, the training was over, and Darius and other recruits are sent to the barracks. There, they were instructed on the proper way to make a bed before being free for the rest of the night. Darius stows his gear, and after relaxing with the others for the evening, Darius goes to sleep early. The last thought he had before slipping to sleep was,"Ironbrand? I wonder where he got that name…"

[Soldier]

At 0500, Sgt Setik and his assistants come around to the barracks to wake everyone up…by banging loudly on pots and pans. The noise was enough to wake the dead, much less those who just thought they were. "TIME TO GET UP, RECRUITS!" Setik yelled, "WE ARE BURNING DAYLIGHT. ROLLOUT OF THE SACK AND BE ON THE EXERCISE FIELD BY 0600. I WANT BEDS MADE, GEAR STOWED, AND YOU READY TO LEARN THE WEAPON OF YOUR CHOICE. MOVE IT! MAKE IT HAPPEN!"

When Setik said that he was not a sadist, he must have been lying. The day begins with a grueling set of exercises; push ups, sit ups, jumping jacks, crunches, and a run that seemed so long it made everyone wonder if Setik wanted them to eat lunch in Alleria Prime. Then another turn through the dagger course (including another one-on-one session with Setik). Finally, a rest period came around, and food. After breakfast, Setik had everyone back out on the field. "Alright recruits." the little man called out, "it is now time to select the main weapon of your choice. As you can see" he waved his hand around, "spread along the edge of the field are various stations were my assistants have set up practice dummies and tables of weapons. If you do not see the weapon you wish to learn, see me. Classes begin in one hour. Take your time."

The weapons stations displayed include sword, axe, bow, crossbow, mace-and-chain, throwing axe, double dagger, staff, halberd, hammer, and spear.

[Darius]

OOC: Sorry. Nearly forget about this thread.

IC:
Darius is woken to the clamor of banging metal, and after only a few seconds of wakefulness, the screaming of beloved Sgt Setik. Mentally swearing, Darius gets up and does as ordered. He dresses, makes his bed immaculately, stows anything that needs putting away, and makes his way out of to the exercise field. "Knowing him, I bet Setik starts with some particularly unpleasant training or more likely, exercise." Darius thought sourly.

True to Darius' expectation, they begin with some absolutely brutal exercise, steadily working their way from push ups to jumping jacks to crunches, and rounding it all off with a truly draining run. "I'm beginning to believe this is his favorite part of the day." Darius thought as they began to run through the dagger course. Finally, after still more dagger practice, the other recruits and Darius were allowed rest and even breakfast. After this, they returned to the exercise field, where there were now tables filled with weapons and practice dummies lined the field. Darius' eyes went to the swords, knowing his interest was in the longsword. Once Setik announced they had an hour to examine the weapons, Darius went over to the swords and picked out a one-handed sword whose weight, balance, and length suited him best. Then, he found a suitable buckler he could strap on to his left forearm. After he had done this, Darius spent the rest of the hour practicing what he already knew with just the longsword while he waited for classes to begin.

[Veleraen]

OOC: Okay, lets get started finally eh?

IC:

The Veldar were well known for their rough and grueling training, but you got what you paid for, and for what it was worth, Darius had gotten a good deal. A rude awakening and a long jog combined with grueling exercises was well worth it.

After Darius had been through the long run and the situps, jumping jacks and Ioannes knows what else, they stopped for a rest and then had breakfast. It was a sloppy meal, but it was a soldier's breakfast. After eating, tables upon tables were set out with different types of weapons, the longsword and buckler being Darius's true passion.

Finding the table, Darius found a medium sized buckler that he could strap onto his left forearm. Having no left hand could be a handicap sometimes, but everyone had to play the cards that life dealt to them. Some were luckier than others, and in general, Darius was probably luckier than most.

After a while of practicing with his sword, Setik walked up behind Darius and cleared his throat. "The long sword and buckler combo I see, good choice soldier. You can never go wrong with that. I was watching you and you seem to be skilled in the longsword already, so I'm going to teach you how to use it effectively with a shield so that you can be more deadly on the battlefield." Setik grabbed a longsword and shield off the table and wielded it like Darius was doing.

"I'll first show you how to properly defend yourself with the shield. Try to keep it over the biggest portion of your upper body, keeping the top of the shield in line with your chin, this way it gives you maximum protect from your neck to your lower abdomen. Try to keep your feet at shoulder width apart, one foot in front of the other with your knees bent as well. In battle, always try to be on your toes. If you're caught flatfooted, you're a dead man. Period." Setik demonstrated with his shield, and let Darius get a handle for it.

"Good, now when you go to attack with your long sword, the object is to expose yourself as little as possible when striking at an opponent while you move your shield. Obviously you can't swing around your shield, so you will have to move it. Now, to do this, try angling your body towards your target, shield facing them, almost as if you were standing sideways to them, and then swinging at your target. Like so." Setik positioned himself perpendicular to Darius and then struck Darius's buckler lightly with his longsword. "Now, to complete this cycle, after you complete your strike, is the recovery stage, where you bring your shield back into position after you strike." Setik struck at Darius's shield again and then recovered very quickly, his shield only opening up a small space and then covering it up again.

"Now you try it." Setik stepped back and watched Darius practice his manoeuvres.

[Darius]

After Darius had been practicing a while, Setik walked up behind Darius, cleared his throat, and spoke. Darius turned as Setik began to speak. After the brief introduction, Setik pick up a sword and buckler himself and the real work began.

Setik began with instruction on where to place the shield so that it would be most effective. Darius precisely acted upon Setik's instruction. He held his buckler so that the top edge was even with his chin and covered the greater part of his chest. He stood in combat stance, which he had learned in his longsword training, and was identical to was Setik advised: one foot somewhat in front of the other, shoulder width apart, light on your feet, sword at roughly a 45 degree angle with the ground, point outward towards his (currently) imaginary opponent. Darius repeated moving into combat stance several times, making certain to correctly integrate the buckler with the rest of his stance.

Next instruction on using the sword effectively while wearing a shield on the other arm. Darius listened to Setik, imitating him. First Dairus watched Setik do it, and then tried to do the same. He slipped into combat stance, and moved to that he was at an angle to Setik, swung his sword lightly, then moved back into position. He repeated this several times to get the hang of it. Darius continued practicing getting in stance and attacking with a shield until Setik began the instruction again, or indicated for Darius to stop.