Gray watched as the Squires retreated at his command. When the beast turn on him however Gray's heart raced. The beast was going to try and leap at him. For a handful of trill the world slowed for Gray as the beast gathered power into it back legs and began to launch itself at him. Though before it could finish pushing off the ground it lost traction and its legs shot out from under it. Sending it head first into the stone of the street.
Then in the blink of an eye the Squires with bows let loose their flame arrows, and with the cries of a thousands voices the fight was over. It took Gray a second to comprehend what had just happened. The beast had thrashed from a trill before simple vanishing in a puff of shadow. Taking a quick look around to be sure they were clear, Gray finally lowered himself to the ground.
While the squires went about resting and tending to those that were wounded, Gray made his way over to Hannes. "You did good Hannes. You'll make a fine Knight someday." Gray said patting the squire on the shoulder. Soon after the squire who had taken charge back at the gate approached him. Something about her seemed familiar to Gray, a small itch at the back of his mind that said he recognized something, but couldn't place it. With an internal shrug to the feeling Gray answered the Eidisi woman. "No need for the honorific, my name's Gray." He answered, holding out his hand to the Eidisi, "and I'd say you all helped me just the same. I not sure how long I could have continued to face the beast alone."
Hannes grinned widely as the mercenary complemented him, a slight blush coloring his cheeks. “Thank you ser,” he said, looking very much like a boy who'd been told the very same thing. “I do my best. But we wouldn't have been here without your instructions.” He glanced in Yana's direction then, aware she hadn't heard him, but he still looked apologetic all the same. “Well, that is to say, we wouldn't have been able to dispatch it as quickly, or without any casualties. How did you know fire would kill it instantly?”
- - -
The mercenary did not want to be referred to with honorifics, giving a humble impression. A humble and helpful man, eh? He seemed to be the kind that clung to honor and 'doing the right thing', much like the Airman from before, only not as extreme. Yet, if Yana had been in the mercenary's stead, she'd have stood by and watched, not having acted at all. That is, if she were in her human form.
He offered his name then, and Yana nodded slowly, already having known what he was called, though she did not show it. “Gray then.” She shook his hand briefly but firmly, a soldier's handshake. “Saeri. I am glad we could be of help.” Her eyes directed themselves to the sky then, judging the time. “While I am under orders to send civilians to their homes, I believe you are more skilled than any of us here-” She did not doubt that none of them would have survived a one-on-one encounter with the beast for as long as Gray had. “-and we are now a bit short on people, I would appreciate it if you would choose to stay for a little while longer. We should be relieved within a quarter-break, but we could definitely use a man of your caliber.” The slight inflection of her voice made it a question or a suggestion. “But the choice is yours, of course.” Either way, she and her peers would go back to defending the gates for fifteen bits longer until their shift was over and a fresh number of squires or knights would take over.
Saeri, Gray noted the woman's name. She was an exceptional leader and had proven it today. As she thanked Gray again, Gray just waved the compliment away as though it was a fly. It had been his duty to help, and always would be, Knight or not.
"We should be relieved within a quarter-break, but we could definitely use a man of your caliber.” She asked, her words making him look around. She was right, her peers were exhausted and she too was battered and looking like someone that had been wrung out twice and left in the dirt.
Gray frowned at the request for a moment, before answering. "I'll stay and help keep watch, but I'm going to do it from out of sight. No offense, but I'd rather not be around when Knights start showing up."
With that Gray turned and made his way to the nearest alley. On the border between the warm light of the setting suns, and the cool blackness of the shadowed alley Gray stopped and looked over his shoulder. "You did well leading your peer's today Saeri." Gray offered the compliment, though his words seemed heavy with some dark emotion. "But remember this, if you continue on the path of a leader, there will come a day where you will lead your men into something they can't handle, and when that day comes it will be your burden to decide who lives and who dies." With that Gray continued on into the shadows.
Gray kept his word and watched over the squires and the gate until their relief came. As the did Gray gave a small salute to the tired and worn out squires before disappearing down the alleys of Lowtown and into the growing dusk.
Knowledge:
Leadership: Making the tough decisions.
Leadership: Keeping people informed, even when they don't like the information.
Leadership: Stepping in when the battle is done
Shield: Using shields to push opponents
Shield: Using shields to bash opponents
Tactics: Reading the crowd allows you to plan and implement.
Logistics: Don't break the line
Loot: NA Fame: -3 (opposing a popular cause), -1 (bashing a civilian), +1 (not letting Aeon kill himself), +1 (defending the people from themselves), +2 (upholding a city law) Magic: These points may NOT be used for arcana
Story All good - interesting and well written, Yana is a complex character who sticks to her personal rules very closely. Structure No worries, all good!
Aeon
Story: 5/5 Collaboration: 5/ 5 Structure: 5/ 5
Knowledge:
Leadership: Sounding like you really mean it.
Leadership: Pull rank where necessary
Leadership: The art of the stirring speech
Leadership: Appeal to their better nature
Injuries: Cut to left arm from flung rock. Will take 7 trials to heal and must be kept clean till it scabs over. Loot: None Fame: NA Magic: These points may NOT be used for arcana
Story Aeon the idealist is such fun to read! His frustration and desire to scream loudly at Yana was obvious and well written, he too was very honest and entirely himself. Great fun! Structure No worries!
Rita
Story: 5/5 Collaboration: 5/ 5 Structure: 5/ 5
Knowledge:
Leadership: Emotive speeches.
Leadership: Giving the facts
Medicine: Triage in field medicine.
Medicine:Removing foreign objects
Injuries: Arm ripped up by big dog - jagged and unpleasant wound will take 20 trials to heal. Rita will have an unpleasant scar along her arm and will experience dull pain from it for months / arcs to come. Loot: NA Fame:-3 (opposing a popular cause) +3 (good deeds x3) Magic: These points may NOT be used for arcana
Story Rita has changed a lot! I loved that she stood up to the rioters, such a shame they didn't listen to her. You write her well and I enjoy the internal dialogue she has. Structure Your writing has a number of small errors, which would be helped by a proof read / edit of your work. Things like "desperately she had hopped" rather than "hoped". Nothing that obscures what you are saying at all, just worth to edit out.
Gray
Story: 5/5 Collaboration: 5/ 5 Structure: 5/ 5
Knowledge:
Stealth: Strategic places to observe large groups
Stealth: Joining a group surreptitiously
Acting: Appearing terrified
Intimidation: It can all be in the eyes
Tactics: Fire can add the element of surprise
Leadership: Praise where it's due.
Leadership: Knowing when to watch and knowing when to act
Injuries: Scratches down your arm. Loot: NA Fame: +1 (general good deed: dealing with the rioters), +1 (general good deed: helping with the beast) Magic: These points may NOT be used for arcana
Story What an interesting character Gray is - in the middle and on the periphery at the same time! Great story and he came across as very much the "older soldier" in this thread - his experience shone through. Structure No issues here!
Please do PM me if you've got any questions
word count: 545
~~Red in hoof and claw... ~~
Current Status:
Working on a New User Guide - feel free to feed back in the thread!
