Closed [Throughout] Red vs Blue (Round 1)

[Orion Michaels]

8th of Fall, 513 AV
Stormhold Castle, Classroom
4th Bell

It was so godsforsaken early. Dinah had informed him and some other squires late the previous day that they would be showing up early in the morning to learn something. He didn’t understand why it had to be before Syna’s rays had even peeked over the horizon, but he’d learned early on that arguing with his patron was not beneficial to him. So he’d dragged himself from the squire dormitories with droopy eyelids and a string of curses, but at least he was there. When he arrived, he was surprised to see just what she had in store for them.

It was something he’d heard the knights did, but it wasn’t something he’d ever seen or been asked to participate in. There was a section in the training grounds set up for practicing urban movements. It wasn’t something that they ever expected to actually utilize, but it was there for a few reasons. One, to teach and reinforce the ideas of tactical combat. To sit there and swing a sword at one another was good enough for learning how to truly wield a blade, but if you can’t even get yourself in position then your skill with a weapon meant nothing.

”Squires, it’s not enough to know which end of a sword to hold, you have to understand how to move around in combat.” Captain Knight Dinah Lorene, Orion’s patron and influential Syliran Knight stood before the group of squires within one of the classrooms reserved for the educational advancement of those within the knighthood. Lessons on the gods and goddesses, important Knights throughout their history, and even the stories around the terrible cataclysm around the even known as The Valterrian.

Today they would learn something very different.

It was war.

”So what we have here is a map of our battleground. In our scenario, the city has been invaded, and we are fighting for control,” she explained, taking a wooden stick and pointing to the parchment hanging against the wall. There were several corridors leading around small buildings. At the center of the map was a larger building that was marked as having two stories. A short distance from where the group of buildings were markings which vaguely resembled vegetation and trees, and nearby a particular group of these trees was a black ‘X’.

”This particular section of the city is close to falling to enemy hands, but there is an important member of the knighthood in this center building. He has extremely important information that cannot fall into the wrong hands.” Dinah slid the tip of the pointer from the center building over to outside of the area, where a red ‘X’ was at. ”Your objective is to get into this middle structure, secure the knight, and make your way to the exfil point at this red mark.”

She turned to look at the group of squires, eight of them in total. Orion and Fallon were amongst them, a group ranging from their late teens to Orion’s ‘advanced’ age of 26. All of them were somewhat advanced in their training, especially in the martial aspects. This training was to occur completely on foot, so their mounted skills would be useless. ”There area is crawling with enemies who know the Knight has this vital information, but they are unaware that we are sending reinforcements. Those reinforcements are, of course, you all. I am here only in an instructional and mentoring roll. It’s up to you all to decide how to proceed. Pick a leader, or not, however you wish. Remember that too many leaders doesn’t work, and all followers will also get nothing done. You have to cooperate to get this done.” The redheaded knight laid down her pointer and leaned against the wall, crossing her arms.

”One last thing; you have the element of surprise. The enemy forces are attempting to penetrate this building, and our men and women are bravely holding the line. Don’t waste that surprise.”

[Fallon]

It was a stagger and a stumble that Fallon lurched out of bed. Numbed hands patted at the floor, tired aching limbs fighting to grasp and pull at clothing. She remembered the orders from yesterday, of an educational request into one of the classrooms. On what exactly was beyond her bleary mind, more so as she grasped and pulled on clothing. Buttons were missed and her boots barely pulled into some semblance of order as she staggered through the dormitory. Even her hair was a mess; tangled, knotted and largely unkempt. She just about managed tighten the belt around her waist and hang the kukri from the leather before finally escaping the dormitories.

There was a loud yawn as she weaved and wobbled, features pinching together as she shook off the distinct tiredness that consumed. In honesty she would have much enjoyed the idea of crawling back under the covers and hiding away from the world. A pre-winter hibernation. There was the occasional nod of the head as the knight gave her lesson, eyes blinking away sleep. The clack of a stick gestured to the map, the monotone voice barely audible to the squire’s ears as she listened. Fingers rubbed at her eyes, the thick black ‘X’ and then to the red.

Cheeks puffing she fumbled for the gloves in her pocket and hastily pulled them on. It was tactical manoeuvres, nothing too hard or difficult. Least not yet, even in this training exercise there were risks of harm coming their way. The brow pinched, her chin lifting so she could gain a better view of what Sera Lorene was pointing at. Even her arms folded as she adopted a more thoughtful role – least as well as she could force upon her awakening mind. There was a dull clicking, her eyes darting between the eight chosen squires for this. Orion, she noticed, was no doubt the oldest, with herself falling into the younger half. Which made a pleasant change to say the least; she was far too used to having herself surrounded by young teen squires set upon making a good impression or showing off.

Finally, the knight laid down her own pieces of wisdom upon team work and leadership. Something that was vital for them in this current situation. Eyes came and went, the looks shared between the squires as they almost weighed each other up. The tired, the scruffy, the indecisive and the nervous on whom to speak up first. No doubt the moment one made a calling to take charge and lead; there would be the start of an uproar. Perhaps they were all under the same flag, but it did not mean they knew each other and their capabilities. She gave a rock on her heels, finally shaking off the lust for rest and returning her attention to the map.

”How many numbers? How many foes?” she mumbled under her breath. There was a lot things the group had to determine first, little snippets of information. And the list no doubt would go on and on. She gave only a quick glance back to them, before finally speaking up properly this time, ”So what does everyone think? Any thoughts yet?” She gave an inhale, ”Who here knows any of the others? Or have worked together with them before?” Understand your team first; find out the strengths and weaknesses of them. From there a plan can be constructed and put into action, ”Anyone? At all?”