OOC: I brought mine for career fairs and the like.
IC: Since Hode and Mitel are themselves following Oier, they all get the right number this time. When they are finished, Bakar brings the two groups back together. He stands up on his crutches and nods to Sanfor. "Bring the chair." Without another word, he begins to swing himself away, heading out of the courtyard and toward the castle gate.
IC: Sanfor quickly grabs the chair and hurries after the group, afraid of being left behind.
Bakar leads them out of the castle and to the top of a mist-shrouded hill. Several shovels of various sizes and in various states of disrepair. "Tonight, you will each dig a hole large enough for you to lie down flat in, and as tall as you are. If you do not finish tonight, you will be back tomorrow night, and the next, until the hole is finished. Begin." The recruits hurry to the pile of shovels and try to select the best ones.
IC: Sanfor quickly grabs the chair and hurries after the group, afraid of being left behind.
Bakar leads them out of the castle and to the top of a mist-shrouded hill. Several shovels of various sizes and in various states of disrepair. "Tonight, you will each dig a hole large enough for you to lie down flat in, and as tall as you are. If you do not finish tonight, you will be back tomorrow night, and the next, until the hole is finished. Begin." The recruits hurry to the pile of shovels and try to select the best ones.
Sanfor ends up with the absolute last one, which happens to be rather too short and rather wobbly. He sets doggedly to work, muttering about the morbidness of his task.
Bakar leads them out of the castle and to the top of a mist-shrouded hill. Several shovels of various sizes and in various states of disrepair. "Tonight, you will each dig a hole large enough for you to lie down flat in, and as tall as you are. If you do not finish tonight, you will be back tomorrow night, and the next, until the hole is finished. Begin." The recruits hurry to the pile of shovels and try to select the best ones.
Sanfor ends up with the absolute last one, which happens to be rather too short and rather wobbly. He sets doggedly to work, muttering about the morbidness of his task.
The sun is setting now, making the work even more difficult. Sanfor hears grumbling from the other recruits as they dig. The only ones who don't complain are Kemen and Alaia.
OOC: You know I would have given you the worst shovel even if you hadn't done so yourself.
Sanfor ends up with the absolute last one, which happens to be rather too short and rather wobbly. He sets doggedly to work, muttering about the morbidness of his task.
The sun is setting now, making the work even more difficult. Sanfor hears grumbling from the other recruits as they dig. The only ones who don't complain are Kemen and Alaia.
OOC: You know I would have given you the worst shovel even if you hadn't done so yourself.
Sanfor manages to snap his measly shovel in half by accident, and is left working with basically just the scoop. He keeps at it doggedly, but just as doggedly muttering.
The sun is setting now, making the work even more difficult. Sanfor hears grumbling from the other recruits as they dig. The only ones who don't complain are Kemen and Alaia.
OOC: You know I would have given you the worst shovel even if you hadn't done so yourself.
Sanfor manages to snap his measly shovel in half by accident, and is left working with basically just the scoop. He keeps at it doggedly, but just as doggedly muttering.
OOC: Sanfor is destined for a hard life.
The night drags on as he struggles to dig.
OOC: That he is. And I don't intend to make it any easier on him. How much do you think Sanfor can dig in one night, by the way?
Sanfor manages to snap his measly shovel in half by accident, and is left working with basically just the scoop. He keeps at it doggedly, but just as doggedly muttering.
OOC: Sanfor is destined for a hard life.
The night drags on as he struggles to dig.
OOC: That he is. And I don't intend to make it any easier on him. How much do you think Sanfor can dig in one night, by the way?
Blisters form on his hands and he temporarily throws the shovel down in disgust, but picks it back up again and keeps going.
OOC: That he is. And I don't intend to make it any easier on him. How much do you think Sanfor can dig in one night, by the way?
Blisters form on his hands and he temporarily throws the shovel down in disgust, but picks it back up again and keeps going.
OOC: I dunno, a human size hole 3 or 4 feet deep?
OOC: That makes sense. He's halfway done, then.
IC: In the morning, everyone has finished their holes except for Sanfor, Oier, and Alaia, whose shovel also broke. Bakar arrives and tells them to follow him back to the castle to continue their training.
Blisters form on his hands and he temporarily throws the shovel down in disgust, but picks it back up again and keeps going.
OOC: I dunno, a human size hole 3 or 4 feet deep?
OOC: That makes sense. He's halfway done, then.
IC: In the morning, everyone has finished their holes except for Sanfor, Oier, and Alaia, whose shovel also broke. Bakar arrives and tells them to follow him back to the castle to continue their training.
Blisters form on his hands and he temporarily throws the shovel down in disgust, but picks it back up again and keeps going.
OOC: I dunno, a human size hole 3 or 4 feet deep?
OOC: That makes sense. He's halfway done, then.
IC: In the morning, everyone has finished their holes except for Sanfor, Oier, and Alaia, whose shovel also broke. Bakar arrives and tells them to follow him back to the castle to continue their training.
OOC: Sorry about the lapse there, my activity is falling apart.
IC: Sanfor follows the group, massaging his blistered hands, very disgruntled.
IC: In the morning, everyone has finished their holes except for Sanfor, Oier, and Alaia, whose shovel also broke. Bakar arrives and tells them to follow him back to the castle to continue their training.
OOC: Sorry about the lapse there, my activity is falling apart.
IC: Sanfor follows the group, massaging his blistered hands, very disgruntled.
OOC: That's okay. It was actually for the best, because it helped get the timeline a little more aligned.
IC: Back in the training field, they run through forms and techniques with a wide variety of weapons, including some Sanfor has never seen before.
OOC: This is what you do all morning. I'm going to leave it here for now, because Alpida is about to return.
OOC: Eh, it's fine. Things are starting to settle out and I'm starting to care less about it.
Alpida will be back very soon, probably by the next time you have time to get caught up.
OOC: Apathy sets in. Oh no.
OOC again: Ha, I was on two days in a row. Fooled you.
OOC: It's too much work to keep everyone on a logical timeline with all of your irregular activity schedules.
Not so fast, because . . .
IC: A lone woman appears in the distance. As she draws closer, she becomes recognizable as Alpida. She is let inside and brought to the Black Knight.
"So, here is our missing Shadow Guard," he says, "As I'm sure you've already heard, I am the Black Knight, the predecessor of Valithor Icebeard, come to reclaim my throne. I was displeased to hear that one of my Shadow Guard was not present on my arrival. Your duty is here, not off on some foolish adventure. I hope we can bring you to understand that."
Alpida immediately kneels before him. "I, Alpida, do swear my life forevermore to the Black Knight. I swear to defend and uphold him and his kingdom. My life is no longer my own, but his. Should I fail him, my life is forfeit. There is no Alpida; there is only Shadow Guard. This I swear."
The Black Knight laughs. "Very good. You may stand. Now that that is done, I think it is time I learnt the abilities of my Shadow Guard, and those who would wish to join them. This afternoon, I will test you against the trainees."
OOC again: Ha, I was on two days in a row. Fooled you.
OOC: It's too much work to keep everyone on a logical timeline with all of your irregular activity schedules.
Not so fast, because . . .
IC: A lone woman appears in the distance. As she draws closer, she becomes recognizable as Alpida. She is let inside and brought to the Black Knight.
"So, here is our missing Shadow Guard," he says, "As I'm sure you've already heard, I am the Black Knight, the predecessor of Valithor Icebeard, come to reclaim my throne. I was displeased to hear that one of my Shadow Guard was not present on my arrival. Your duty is here, not off on some foolish adventure. I hope we can bring you to understand that."
Alpida immediately kneels before him. "I, Alpida, do swear my life forevermore to the Black Knight. I swear to defend and uphold him and his kingdom. My life is no longer my own, but his. Should I fail him, my life is forfeit. There is no Alpida; there is only Shadow Guard. This I swear."
The Black Knight laughs. "Very good. You may stand. Now that that is done, I think it is time I learnt the abilities of my Shadow Guard, and those who would wish to join them. This afternoon, I will test you against the trainees."
Alpida stands. "Yes, my lord."
OOC: I'm trying to get back in swing, but man, it's rough.
