Baldor's Advanced Training (Private)

[Soldier]

The day has come.

Basic training seemed so long ago. It was a grueling time, but a rewarding one. And now, the time has come for the advanced training that will make the twelve people gathered here at the gate to the Veldar Compound full-fledged soldiers. Everyone was dressed in their blue exercise uniforms, and knowing Setik there was going to be a lot of exercise involved.

Setik marched his way up to the group, the same hard man he always was. He snapped to attention and barked out. “Atten…TION! Listen up! It has come to my attention that you people want to join the Veldar as full time soldiers.” He started to pace as he looked over the assembled group. “Well let me tell you something. If you want to join my beloved Veldar, you will have to prove yourself a worthy enough soldier, a worthy enough citizen, and a worthy enough person. And to do that, you will have to survive ME! You think the Basic Course was difficult? That was a weekend in a Riparian brothel compared to what you are about to endure. I will make it my sole mission in life to break you. If I succeed, you can leave knowing that you at least tried, which is more than most have ever done. If you succeed, then you will be true soldiers and worthy of wearing the blue uniform. If any of you want to save yourselves the pain, drop out right now, otherwise, welcome to my private little HELLDOM!”

[Baldor Dar'alok]

It was an interesting notion, to say the least, that Baldor could actually become a soldier, fighting for a living. It was the best job he could think of. It would be a difficult road to get there, but when he did, he could feel sure that he was not just handed an axe and made city guard… No, he would earned the title by hard work. This was all assuming that he could make it through advancing training. Only twelve people were here now, which meant that it would be much easier to stand out, either positively or negatively. If he wanted to rise in ranks, it would start right now. They would have to be impressed right from the start.

His resolve was strong, and could not be weakened by any amount of push-ups – At least that was what we thought. Setik’s speech was obviously meant to single out those who would be doomed to failure from the start. There was no point in wasting time on them. He took a deep breath, remaining silent. He smiled at the thought of the uniform, certainly an impressive thing to brag about at a night out on the tavern. It would give him some direction in his life as well, a roof over his head, food, and even some crowns for himself. He would be able to start a new existence without his father, that drunkard. A pleasant thought, but there was much between him and becoming a Veldar Soldier yet.

[Soldier]

“Alright then,” Setik barks. “You milksops want a shot, I’m going to give it to you. RIGHT, FACE! FORWARD, MARCH!” Tiala thought that they were headed into the compound. She was wrong. Setik marched them past the gate and straight out of town, doing a complete circle of the city walls, a distance of several miles.

Fairly exhausted, the small squad reenters the city, marches to the barracks and through the gate. The guard gives a slight nod of encouragement to each one as they pass and the look in his eye seems to say, “You can make it, we’re pulling for you.” Then Setik had everyone in a push up position. “You are no longer individuals.” He yelled, “You are Veldar. That means you will move, act and think as one person. You will have many tasks ahead that you will need to complete as a group. You will all succeed or fail as a group. If you fail, you will all suffer the consequences for it. If you fall behind, you will be punished. If you let someone else fall behind, you will be punished MORE. There will be no one left behind, DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?” Then the push-ups began, seeming to go on forever as muscles are pushed beyond their normal use.

“RECRUIT BALDOR!” Setik yelled, “FRONT AND CENTER! GET YOUR BUTT UP HERE AND DROP DOWN INTO PUSH UP POSITION, YOU GOT 3 SECONDS!”

[Baldor Dar'alok]

The march had gotten his pulse up quite well. He was not in the best condition, but it had improved considerably after he had joined the elite. He had been training, running, doing various exercizes, but he could never push himself as hard as when Sergeant Setik was breathing down his neck. A short speech followed the march. They were no longer individual persons, it seemed. From now on, Baldor would be a Veldar, part of a whole. It felt strange to be diminished into a mere piece of a puzzle, a pillar that supported a greater foundation. But at the same time it was satisfying to be part of something. For the first time in his patterns, he was part of something. And while the training was much akin to torture, he enjoyed watching his muscles grow from it. Physical as well as mental strength was something that the recruit strove for, more than most, really. His goal had been to become a soldier, which would be accomplished if he had the heart to complete this course. He was steadfast, and certain that he would be able to pull through, although he knew that Setik was not a joke. He was panting already as Setik ordered them to begin the exercise. Setik even yelled at him personally, which meant that he had to be even faster.

Baldor responded immediately, dropping down, ready to do the push-ups. He had practiced this slightly, knowing that many more were to come as he began his advanced trainining, but this grueling exercize was worse than imagined. Beads of sweat moistened his hair and beard, and a few droplets. He could feel the pounding of his heart, and the pulse in the veins of his temples. His face assumed a tomato red colour, and his breath became a desperate heaving for enough oxygen to keep going. He could not stop, no matter how hard it was. Simply giving up seemed to easy, so satisfying. His muscles were quivering with fatigue, but he kept going… Right until the moment where Setik ended the exercise.

[Soldier]

OOC: You were ordered to go in FRONT of Setik.

IC: Setik squatted down and stared at Baldor. “What's the matter, midget, can’t take a little exercise? Should I get your mommy over here to wipe your nose and kiss your boo-boos? Don’t you eyeball me, boy, or I will rip off your arm and beat you over the head with the bloody stump! Now pay attention, you are the new Squadron Leader, you got that? You are responsible for everyone else in this squadron until such a time as I get completely disgusted with your performance and fire you, NOW GET ON YOUR FEET!”

Baldor struggled to his feet and stood at attention as the rabid drill instructor continued to yell. Pointing to a single story stone building just behind the group, he shouted, “You see that building? You got 3 minutes to get your entire squadron on top of that building, MOVE IT! MAKE IT HAPPEN!”

[Baldor Dar'alok]

Usually, Baldor would only find relief and relaxation in a comfortable chair, but the mere thought of being able to stand, without having to do something, if only for a few seconds, was very appreciated. His joy ended soon after it started. For some reason Setik chose him as the new squadron leader. It sounded almost unreal. So far the military had been about nothing but doing what one was told to do. Now Baldor actually had to be the one making orders, and not simply follow them. He looked at Setik in disbelief, but only for a second, time was already ticking. His muscles felt nothing short of useless right now, and he wanted to relax more than anything else, but he knew that any attempt to do so would simply get him more work and exercise. He had no choice but to do his best.

”Yes sir!” he bellowed in his deep dwarven voice to the sergeant, turning to ‘his’ squadron. ”Move it! Get to the building! Let’s go, let’s go!” Immediately thereafter, he ran as fast as his short legs would allow him to, towards the building. ”Giants! Strong, tall recruits, up against the wall. Help the dwarves up first!” he commanded. As soon as the dwarves were up on the roof, he would order them to help the others get up, by grabbing their arms and pulling them up, and then finally they would all try and help the remaining giants up. Shouts like “Let’s go! Move it! Faster” were heard from Baldor’s mouth constantly, as he tried to push his squadron as hard as Setik had done it, even though that was close to impossible.

[Soldier]

OOC: Due to the fact that this is MY thread, and it was taken without consulting me, the last three posts have been deleted.

IC:The two base members, sturdy looking Giants, grunted and groaned as the other members climbed up their backs to get on the roof. After a lot of yelling and screaming, Baldor's voice becomes a little hoarse, but everyone manages to get on top of the roof.

"What do you think you are doing, lollygagging around on the roof?!? Who do you think you are, some kind of jaybird? Get your tails down here before I come up there and boot you off the roof myself MOVE IT!"

There is a mad scramble to get off of the roof and line up in front of the manic hobbit drill instructor. "I am horribly under whelmed by your performance. You people had better start showing me what you are capable of or you will not make it. Now listen up. Recruit Tiala, you have one minute to get your squadron to the mess hall for lunch. The first person there owes me 20 push-ups. The last person owes me 40. MOVE OUT!"

[Baldor Dar'alok]

OOC: Recruit Tiala? Can I assume that you meant me? If not, I'll edit.

IC: It was a satisfying experience to see the entire squadron upon the roof… Right until Setik opened his mouth. He was without a doubt the most strict, and the toughest, person that Baldor had ever met. Nothing was good enough for him, but such could be expected from a Drill Instructor of one of the most elite military divisions on Telath. Not a second could be wasted. ”Let’s go, help eachother down. Go! Go! Go!” came the hoarse, but deep and powerful voice of Baldor. ”You heard him, to the mess hall! Come on!” he continued. He ran with as much speed as he could manage, although most of the elves or humans would probably be a lot faster. He panted heavily as he ran to the mess hall with the rest of the squadron.

[Soldier]

OOC: My bad...

IC: The three columns headed out and stopped just outside the door. The two dwarven assistants of Setik’s got the group in single file line and Setik began marching up and down the line, glaring hard at each person. His silence was worse than his ranting, but that was soon ended as he walked up to Baldor and bellowed, “You were the last one here. You will not be late again. Being late can, has, and will result in the loss of a battle and a lot of good soldiers will die. I never want to see you late again. DROP AND GIVE ME MY 40!”

Then he turned his attention on the rest of the group. “You people left your Squadron Leader behind. In the Veldar, we have never and we will never leave ANYONE behind. When you go off to fight, know that you will come back, alive or dead. I never want to see you leave someone behind again. ALL OF YOU, DROP AND GIVE ME 40!”

After the push-ups were done, the recruits are marched in, single file, to eat. Food is heaped upon their trays and water and milk are in abundance. There are a few other people in the mess hall, but the instructors crowd the recruits together at two tables. Sitting next to Baldor on one side is a little hobbit lady with a missing front tooth who looks like she is about to drop dead. On the other is an elf who keeps glaring at Setik like he is trying to throw daggers from his eyes.