Stratos: Reinforcements (Fantasy RP)

[cammac48]

OOC: http://www.thefurryforum.com/forums/index.php?topic=23796.0
On a world far beyond the reach of our sun's light, there was a mountain. Its summit was deathly cold, but its base created warm valley slopes all around.

The Cliffwalkers took these lush and steep valleys as their home.Forty-four years after they founded the cities, the earth provided the Cliffwalkers with an excellent bounty of crops. They celebrated with a month-long festival, and light and colour filled the valleys.

Yet there remained a colorless blemish, never before tamed: the Mountain itself... To protect themselves, the Cliffwalkers built a dam, a mighty wall of wood and stone, in many places around this wilderness.

Many things can change in forty-four years.
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                                                                         STRATOS: REINFORCEMENTS                                                                                                                                                    PART I: THE VILLAGE
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I n a stone tower within the squad complex, the 31st regiment prepared themselves. The circular room housed five individuals who had all gathered here for the coming journey.
Farley slowly looked around the dim room, at each of his squadmates. They all arrived a few minutes ago. The only sources of light were a gas lamp in the middle of the table where they sat, and the constant barrage of color passing through the window: the festival had lasted for days. The white rabbit couldn't understand what the fuss was all about, he thought of the festival was just another distraction. There were more important things to worry about.


"Alright," Farley huffed. "Let's get to know each other," he said, adjusting his glasses.


"I'm Farley Gray, a rifleman. I waited here for all of you to arrive because I have orders from the higher-ranked squads, but that's not important. I'm not much for waiting around. Please, introduce yourselves."

[deadlybacon7]

Ethan leaned forward in his seat, letting the dim light of the lantern reach his face. "My name is Ethan Richard Pullmann, the truth is, I'm based on a foundation of lies and deceit and I don't know why I'm here. What I can tell you though, I am from an old city in a formerly great land. I won't tell you why I left yet. I am 17 years old if I remember correctly. I don't keep track of trivial matters of age. I have much training in medicine, and this is how I hope to help you." He receded into the dark corner he sat in. He couldn't be seen quite well, but it seemed he was interested enough in others' stories.

[tangletail]

The cat looked around the room nervously after noticing that most of the squad he had been assigned to   appears to have some form of experience or upper hand training that he lacks. “Erm... Yes. I am Leo Cyrule,” The cat began, contemplating if he should really mention his full background when he was sure that two of the other members were also part of the city guard. He bit his lip for a moment, and decided completely against exposing himself now. Even if it was possible some of City Guard members knew exactly what he and his family were.

 
“I came from an interesting background. I too am a forienger, but I've been to many lands and speak many languages as well,” Leo clasped his hands together, and slowly writhed them between his grip. His eyes darted wearly between each of the members, studying for any reactions other than disappointment. “I have no prior training in military or in full combat for that matter. And some with self defense from a now deceased Squad runner. I was expecting to see it when I enlisted... but... no. Did not happen. I am your new Watchmen. I can do stealth, and I can run, I suppose.”

[Vosur Aekira]

An avian demi-human got up from his ready-room seat, attempting to be courteous to the others. "The name's Loto Soretsen. Served with the 107th Expeditionary Force for several years, but with no wars to be fought, I was sent here due to my recon experience." he spoke as he backed up away from the chair and the group so he could stretch his wings from sitting down too long. "At least this doesn't feel too unfamiliar, the hurry-up-and-wait mindset seems to make me feel right at home." he added as a bit of a joke, though it probably would not be understood by any of the nonmilitary experienced people in the squad.

[cammac48]

"Of course!" Farley said with a chuckle. "Well, I can't help anyone there. The higher-ups have their own agenda;  they haven't told me where to dispatch - or when." He became more relaxed. "I think I've heard of the 107th, they're quite famous for their recon."

[tangletail]

It seemed like the cat did understand the joke as evident with a light humored puf of air, even without the prior experience in the military. But he wasn't to keen about the “hurry-and-wait” mind set of the military. Leo slowly leaned back to take a look around at the his surroundings, with the first room he saw almost immediately being the Training area of the complex. His eyes remained fixed in this state. “I don't mind the training on the job... but, I'd also like to live should things get... well... rough,” the cat sighed, as he looked back to the other three in the room. “Could someone show me how to fight? Or at least a spar so I can get an idea... while we hurry and... wait... for the others?”

[cammac48]

"I'm as anxious as you are," Farley said quickly. "But I'm afraid I can't teach you anything you don't already know, or anything that's useful to you. Unless you want to talk about guns," he said as he tapped his empty holster, as they were unequipped until the time was ready. "I've taken my training some ways further as a rifleman." His long ears perked up and he smirked as he urged a reply.

[tangletail]

Leo blinked for a moment. His eyes darted down to the empty holster that belonged to a revolver. And then back up Farley. He listened and then slowly raised up a finger as if he's about to say something. His lips pursed, and his large ears angled out in confusion.  His finger slowly retracted for a moment, but quickly came out after he decided to go ahead and say it. "I'm... sure there is a lot more you can teach me than you are actually putting off. I mean... I read the job description, and it says a rifleman is still formidable in combat... right?"

[cammac48]

"...Certainly," Farley stammered after a long pause. "I've learned the ropes in military training. I didn't know if watchmen had the same education... I guess not. I's a strange system we have. I was not expecting such a dangerous mission, and I'm sure you weren't, either.. The schedule is very unruly nowadays.." He caught himself rambling and said, "Enough excuses. If you want me to teach you, I will."

[tangletail]

Leo's eyes once again, blinked after detecting the stammering. “I... could have sworn I have told you earlier that I was not trained... period. The moment I enlisted, they just threw me on in here without so much of boot camp,” he rasped in a nervous tone. He then motions to the other watchmen, "I am sure he could attest to the training of the watchmen... but I can barely fire a gun, and I only know some basics about daggers." he then motions to the training room.“But yes, I would like, no... love the training.”

[Vosur Aekira]

"Yeah, they did just rush us through with a simple 'How fast can you run and climb?' test, of which they were a bit surprised. They thought I applied for the wrong role because of my prior background, but I passed that test. Though, I wouldn't mind hitting the firing range if we have some time, but I thought we were waiting for the commanding-officer to show?" Loto asked as he shrugged. "Even before we can hit the firing range at all, we have to be issued our equipment, which I'm hoping they still have my favorite pistol while I was in the 107th."

[deadlybacon7]

"Guns and rifles never were my favorite thing though, they did test my abilities and I can shoot well enough, but my allegiance will always lie with the bow. Unfortunate that they won't allow me to have one." He finally decided to get up and check his surroundings. He didn't let the tiniest detail slip, something felt odd about the room, no doubt, but he couldn't figure out what. I guess it's just how it feels in here, he thought. "I'm sure as a watchman observation would be an important skill to have. It's difficult to learn, but I'm pretty sure I could be able to teach you at least something if you want." He said as he gestured toward Leo.

[Vosur Aekira]

"Definitely a good idea to learn how to develop your situational awareness, it can very easily determine between life or death in the field." he spoke, then glanced behind himself. "And we are being watched, I don't know why though." he shrugs and starts to pace about in the room, trying to just take in the details of the room, looking at all of the boards on the wall. Various safety tips and notices were on them, making him stop to examine any of them that might be useful while waiting for something to happen.

[tangletail]

Leo continued to listen to the others, but frowned to what Ethan had suggested. His original thought was to protest to him about one of the few skills he does have for his duty in the squad. But he felt he'd simply be to careless if he said to much about himself now. It was the one skill that kept him out of prison. And the one skill that has indeed kept him alive up to this point. Instead, he'd figure he'd leave a better impression if he just calls out everything he's noticed. But oddly enough, he never noticed the small group being watched. He didn't hear anything else, nor noticed anything odd about the room.

“Erm... I don't think observation could be learned in a nutshell by anyone... but I feel confident about my own skill,” he murmured thoughtfully. He then gave Vosur with a curious look. His right ear flicked as if suggesting how he could detect what he noticed. “I don't know about being watched... I could only notice the mouse knawing on something, behind me on my right, and another scurry in the walls to the front.” He'd then look around slowly, wandering if he could in fact locate the watchful eyes previously mentioned.

[deadlybacon7]

"Well, does anyone know what our orders are?" asked Ethan, he was tired of waiting. He was leaned forward in his seat, elbows rested on his knees and slowly rocking back and forth. "We should think of how we can prepare, what steps we can take to be more effective."