Quest for the Sword [IC]

[Silent Assassin]

Royal Republic of Verdugo; Royal Army Training Academy
Noontime
Ollie Earbourne

And so it was a sunny Tuesday in Verdugo, and a busy day at the Royal Academy of the Army, where the future protectors of this country receive the right to call themselves Men of War. The trainees lined up horizontally, ready to be addressed by their commanding officer. The next few weeks would be some of the toughest they'd ever experience.

"Listen up, trainees! This is not a vacation! You're training to prove yourselves worthy of the title Man of War. To be in the King's Army is riteous indeed. It is an honour not all get to experience. Don't take this lightly!" The commanding officer barked. He eyed the line of trainees with a death glare, before setting his eyes on a tall, defined-looking human. Dragovich. "You there!"

[shaneyd93]

Royal Republic of Verdugo; Royal Army Training Academy
Noontime
Dragovich


"It's Drago sir" (said in a loud clear voice)

[Silent Assassin]

Royal Republic of Verdugo; Royal Army Training Academy
Noontime
Ollie Earbourne

"Hm. A nice, loud voice. Good. That goes for the rest of you!" The officer focused on Drago. "Perhaps you can teach them a thing or two about using the bass in their voice."

"Er, excuse me? Can I use the facilities?" Came a small, almost shrill voice from down the line. The officer snapped in its direction, as if preparing to pounce on its source.

"Who dares to pipe up while I'm giving a lecture?"

The source of the voice in question was a small white rabbit-thing wearing red clothing. "I said that, um, sir. I'm Ollie. Ollie Earbourne."

"I didn't ask for your name, worm. Keep your filthy mouth shut. You'll be released when I am through with you. Not a moment sooner!"

Well damn. The officer wasn't having it today, it seemed. Ollie sighed and continued waiting patiently while waiting to be dismissed. I only want to use the bathroom, he thought.

Verdugo was a strict, militaristic nation. It was all about control. Controlling the lives of the citizenry, and even the actions of other nations. Verdugo earned quite the reputation in the Fantasarealm. The bully state, it was called. The more ruthless you were, the more in tune with the culture you were. This officer was merely a piece of that puzzle.

"Tomorrow", he began again, "the King will personally be addressing this unit. You will make me look like the best damn officer in all of Verdugo, or you will suffer my wrath. It really is that simple. I will give you . . . five minutes to yourself. I suggest those of who that need to relieve yourselves do so now. Ollie. I will return shortly." And with that, the officer disappeared behind a door, leaving the trainees to muck about or do whatever it is they do until his return.

Ollie stretched before walking up to Dragovich. "It's Drago, right?"

[shaneyd93]

"I thought you had to pee". (said with barley contained laughter)

[Silent Assassin]

Ollie looked confused before responding with a distant "Oh, yeah." He thought about something for a moment. Likely something distant, like carrots, or being at home. "Well, we could walk together for a while. Everyone else is in groups anyway. I'm Ollie", he said, with a tiny arm outstretched in Drago's direction.

[shaneyd93]

"did you just forget you had to pee?" (bursts out laughing)

[Silent Assassin]

Ollie really didn't see what was so funny. "Huh?" The rabbit merely scratched his head. "Uh, what's so funny?"

[shaneyd93]

"how did you forget you had to pee?" (still laughing)

[Silent Assassin]

"But I didn't forget. Um, on second thought, I'll go right now. See you around I guess."

So Ollie had no idea what was so funny, or why that guy thought he'd forgotten to use the loo, but it didn't matter. Perhaps this guy was more absent-minded than Ollie was. Who knew? The little white creature walked away and looked for a bathroom. Before he found one though, he would bump into higher-ranked soldier who looked at him with contempt.

"Y'know, I ain't the biggest fan of Animarians. Not since the last war. I'd be careful around here if I were you."

"Careful?" Ollie asked puzzled.

The soldier shook his head and walked away. "What's that guy's problem?" Ollie said before continuing on.

[shaneyd93]

"Man that was one weird animarian."
draco thought on the way to pick up his equipment

[Silent Assassin]

"I'm bored. When are we going to work on swords? I want to cut things! Not people though. That would be wrong." Ollie finished his business and began to walk back toward the group. For some reason, when he reached, he stopped next to Drago and attempted to make another conversation.

"Uh, hi."

[shaneyd93]

(oh great its the weird animarian again) "Uh, Hi to you too."

[Silent Assassin]

"So what are you training to be? I'm training to become a swordmaster when I graduate and start serving full-time in the King's Army."

[shaneyd93]

"Oh, I'm training to be a bowmen in the kings army"
Moves up in the line

[Silent Assassin]

Ollie forgot there was a line. Or perhaps he didn't notice it before. It appeared to be a precession of trainees waiting to receive their equipment. "Bows. I like arrows too. Maybe I'll learn how to use them someday." He patted the top of his head. "Not trying to brag, but I think I'm pretty handy with bladed weapons." Ollie was careful to stop talking at this junction. The worst thing he could do is overestimate his skill and get thrown on his *** by a bandit or barbarian or what have you.

"Are you a good shot?", he asked Drago after a while.

[shaneyd93]

"I was the best in my village not that that's saying much. It was a really small village."

[Silent Assassin]

"Well, with any luck we both graduate. I can learn bows from you, and you can learn swords from me!"

[shaneyd93]

"I don't trust my self with a sword, but I'll be glad to help you with bows."
moves to second in line

[Silent Assassin]

Ollie wanted to shift gears. You know, talk about more serious subjects. "Have you ever quested before?"

[shaneyd93]

"No I figured I should get some training first." moves to front of line

[Silent Assassin]

Drago was now at the front of the line to get his equipment. Ollie moved up when he did, but was standing next to Drago, rather than behind, since he was not in line.

"Oh, so you plan on training fir-"

"You there! Animarian! Shut up!" Another soldier was handing out equipment. He turned to Drago. "Name and weapon of choice. Quickly!"

[shaneyd93]

"Dragovich bow and arrow" (wow what an ***)

[Silent Assassin]

Ollie blinked at the soldier who cut him off and demanded he be silent. The soldier scoffed in his direction before dropping a bundle of armour and arrows that felt like 30 pounds into Drago's arms. It would definitely feel heavy and take some getting used to. Luckily, he didn't have to carry it long or far. "Suit up and prepare for practice when the Commandant returns! Get the **** out of my line! Next trainee, step forward!"

[shaneyd93]

"See you Ollie. Make sure You get back in time."

[Silent Assassin]

"Uh, right." Ollie said to Drago. By this time the Commandant -- that is, the commanding officer -- returned to the trainees. He strode out of the wooden doors to the building behind them. It was large and made out of stone. He stopped in front of them when he reached. They lined themselves up once more before he addressed them.

"Okay, scum. You will now work through combat scenarios with your applied-for weapon. I will not have that pansy crap other training units do, where bowmen fight bowmen and swordsmen fight swordsmen. To be in the Royal Army you have to be adaptive and witty. You will fight the class opposite of you. In groups of two. One-on-one battles. Choose your partners and hurry up! Stance when you're ready!"

Ollie paid attention. This was action time. Fighting time. He'd get some practice in. Even if the sword he had was meant for training, which of course meant the arrows bowmen had were for training as well. This didn't matter to him. A fight was a fight. Action was action, and he was thirsting for it all day. He walked over to Drago who seemed to not have a partner yet. "So, uh, wanna spar?"

[shaneyd93]

"sure i don't see why not" pulls out bow and puts arrows in shooting hand "be warned the style i hold my arrows in allows for extremely fast shots"

[Silent Assassin]

Ollie stanced himself. Right foot in front of his left, sword held firmly in front of him at an angle, two hands grasped the sword. The practice sword the military gave him could only break skin or stun. The stun strip on the cutting edge of what would be the blade of a real sword glowed with a blue light, showing its activation.

"Well, my style is defensive, meaning I can block your arrows with my sword." This was a unique style indeed. Ollie was the only sword-user he knew that was more defensive than offensive -- most swordmaster types emphasising quick, furious strikes with high damage.

"Well, okay. Here I go!" He did burst into a full-blown sprint towards Drago before jumping high into the air above him, sword pointing skyward. "Skyward Slash!" he cried.

[shaneyd93]

"Oh ****" quickly jumps back firing three arrows as he goes

[Silent Assassin]

Ollie landed on the ground, missing Drago by inches. He blocked the arrows Drago fired in response with his sword, somehow almost falling over whilst doing so. "Whoa! That was close!" Not wanting to let up or break his momentum, Ollie charged Drago again, this time staying on the ground and going for a low cut. He was going to attempt to take out his legs using his smaller size to his advantage.

[shaneyd93]

"damn your fast" jumps over Ollie with a flip only managing to get of one arrow

[Silent Assassin]

Ollie deflected Drago's arrow with his sword again and, before he could land from his flip, jumped into the air, bringing his sword up as he got higher. "Rising Cut!" If Drago dodged that, Ollie would be waiting for him once his landed and would go for his legs again.

[shaneyd93]

"damn here goes nothing,impact arrow" pulls back on the bow seemingly gathering energy into the arrow till it glows. then releases his shot.

[Silent Assassin]

Ollie blocked the impact arrow, but it pushed him a fair distance backwards. His tiny feet made two thin tracks in the dirt. The force caused him to stumble and he almost fell over. "Uh, huh? Impact arrow?" He hadn't seen that technique before. An arrow that pushes back on block. Definitely a handy tool for an archer to have. "Where . . . did you learn to use arrows?" Ollie asked in between breaths. He took this opportunity to catch his breath a little, and peek at the other trainees. They were giving it their all, though a couple seemed a little slow on the uptake.

[shaneyd93]

"One of my towns guardsman trained me but impact arrows something I learned on the way here when I was attacked by a bear. it gave me just enough time to get away then just like it gave me space here." (said through heavy breathing)

[Silent Assassin]

"Oh. Well that's cool." Ollie thought for a minute, about his first time holding a sword and how natural it felt. "It's a good technique I guess. I still need to find a way around it." Ollie firmed his grip on his sword. Before he could make a move, the Commandant appeared to his left. He looked at Ollie, then at Drago.

"Hm" he began. "Don't mind me. I'm only here for the show."

Ollie blinked. "Uh, okay. Prepare yourself, Drago!" The white rabbit charged, but this time slipped between Drago's legs and ended up behind him. A simple slash at his ankles was all Ollie intended for. The spar was beginning to take a toll on his stamina. He could feel himself becoming tired, slow, ineffective. He had to end his spar now -- especially since the Commandant was watching.

[shaneyd93]

"oh ****" jumps and spins around shooting of his last four arrows

[Silent Assassin]

The arrows were dodged this time rather than blocked. When Drago landed, he would be tripped by Ollie's foot.

[shaneyd93]

"sorry Ollie" in midair before landing does a spinning kick right at ollies face

[Silent Assassin]

Ollie quickly threw his sword at Drago's leg. It bounced off and hit Ollie in the stomach even though it would cause a bit of damage to Drago's leg. He yelped as he bent over, hands on his stomach.

The Commandant sighed. "Pathetic. This is to be the future of the Royal Army? A rabbit that uses flashy techniques and a man who can't hit a bullseye ten inches from his face!" Crossing his arms, he pinched the bridge of his nose. "No. That wasn't acceptable. You will not embarrass me during the King's visit tomorrow. You will return to stance and spar again, or . . ."

"Or what?" Ollie inquired innocently.

"Or", the Commandant mocked. "I'll think of a punishment fit for a failure. Don't tempt me, Ears."

Ollie blinked. "Uh, okay. Hey Drago, go get your arrows back before we go another round."

[shaneyd93]

"oof ouch, my leg, god Ollie that was a heck of a throw" goes and picks up the arrows. then gets back in position.

[Silent Assassin]

"Prepare to strike . . . NOW!" the Commandant barked. Ollie ran at Drago, this time aiming to strike upwards. He picked up significant speed which would be enough to cause Drago to stumble if he somehow managed to block it.

[shaneyd93]

tries to bring up the bow to block but doesn't make it in time and gets knocked out cold

[Silent Assassin]

Ollie felt the feedback from his sword as it met with Drago's jaw. It was a direct hit. Drago dropped instantly -- out for the count. "Um, did I win?"

"Yes, Ears. You won. I didn't expect someone of your size to be a formidable opponent. Nice work. I'll recommend you for tomorrow's showcase for the King." The Commandant clapped and put a hand on Ollie's head.

"Uh huh. Sure. Wait. What?" Ollie didn't think he caught that. Did this guy want him to spar in front of the King? Why him? There were plenty of other more skilled trainees, he thought.

"Yes, that's right Ears. You and Drago are to spar in front of the King for tomorrow's ceremony. Don't make this unit look bad."

"But I'm not that good. You can find another-"

"Look here, trainee. You were chosen by an officer of the Royal Army. You will do as you're instructed. Dismissed."

"But I-"

"DISMISSED!"

There was nothing Ollie could do. He was chosen and that was that. He was fighting in front of the King tomorrow, rain or shine. Hell or highwater. His opponent? Drago. Again. The rabbit merely sighed and headed towards the barracks. The Commandant had informed him that he was done for the day. This isn't why I signed up for the Army, Ollie thought to himself.

[shaneyd93]

"uhh uhh, oww my head I think im gonna be sick"(said while clutching his head) heads back to barracks, stumbling the whole way finally getting back around dusk "Ollie, good game." throws up on Ollie "oh sorry Ollie I couldn't hold it in. I think I have a concussion." falls onto nearest cot

[Silent Assassin]

"Uh, right", was all Ollie could manage. He wasn't too covered in vomit, just a small portion of the left side of his body. A quick shower and it would come right out. Or off. Or whatever. "I'm going to bathe, you . . . stay there and sleep, I guess". Gee, I must've hit him too hard. Ollie removed his red shirt and hopped into the bath after the water had warmed and filled up. Ollie loved to take baths. They were so relaxing and the perfect way to call a day a day. While in the shower he reflected on his spar with Drago, inventing some new techniques for tomorrow's showcase. He'd need to pull out all the stops if he meant to impress the King. Failure did not sound like it would be fun for him.

[shaneyd93]

"Zzz impact shot Zzz."

[Silent Assassin]

Ollie is still taking a bath.