Guards practice kata and formation, tactics, and rude jokes.
Healers carry out triage drills, a pair of mages are discussing combining spells to greater effect.
A group of light soul casters test different arrangements for casting in groups, opposite a group of dark soul casters playing with a rather sickly looking frog and appear to be discerning something from this morbid amphibian. It hops languidly to a trio of grey casters who sit and enjoy the sunshine and the antics of all who surround them.
There is no one prevailing race here and all work happily, enjoying their work and being able to test their power in safe surroundings.

Soot is surprised to see the combat practice has been arranged already. He opens conversation with one of the older guards about small war tactics

Amadeus turns up looking a little worse for wear. He produces a small bottle from somewhere and drinks the entirety of its contents. He instantly looks fine and confidently march over to one of the practise dummies and starts showing off with his quarter staff.

*largos enters the large courtyard, admiring it some satifaction*

I never the knew that we could be so productive as a group, just by sitting in a pub!

*Looks over and sees a person quite skilly useing a quarter staff and soot, proceeds to walk towards Soot*

AH Soot, wondered where you got off too?

At twelve o clock sharp Isobel arrives and sets about warming up ready fro a good work out.

The older guard with whom Soot has been talking casts a glance at the young interloper into the conversation, then carries on.
".... see the thing is the tactics you are speaking about only work if the opponant you face is an invading one, how long does it take for the invading army to become established and effectively become native? The undead have been at our walls for a long time as you know, and the effects of a long low intensity attack would have a questionable effect on them. They have no civillians as far as we can tell to think about an uprising, if a group of zombies die I don't think any of their group would mourn them, so the psychological effects would not function as they would against a living race. A wise man once said "The enemy advances, we retreat. The enemy camps, we harass. The enemy tires, we attack. The enemy retreats, we pursue." They do not tire, they may have supply lines to break but they will not descend into anarchy without their 3 squares. I question the effacy of your system but beleive that anything is worth a go in this stalemate situation. Your point regarding intelligence, ambush, deception, sabotage, and espionage is sound though."
He sips at a demi-jon.

speaking ernestly
I always believed that propaganda and terror tactics would be ineffective against the undead. I do wonder however if the Undead have allies who might be susceptable. We may have more luck psychologically with the T'cra as they are living beings like ourselves but the Blacks make it difficult to gain an espionage advantage over them.

Realising Largos had spoken
Hello Largos, were you looking for me?

Yes indeed i was. I was intending to talk to you back in the inn but the ale got the better off me.

I wanted to continue our discussion about the two viles containg the power of the water emental that i reteived from our latest journey.

But am sure that can wait till the traing is over. I believe Tellos is Ralling more people from the inn as we speak.

<tellos comes striding over towards the group congregrating>

How's it going, there might be a few more along in a bit.

<starts some stretching exercises>

seeing tellos isobel heads over to him.

Hi tellos if we spend about an hour or two working up a good sweat with the guard then if you like we can continue with the slightly more complicated stuff afterwards, your doing quite well up to now but you really need to concentrate on that up swing after your verical block. we will cover that today and maybe over the next few weeks we can meet here every day at noon to bring you up to speed. I have to warn you your going to be absolutly knackerd by the end of it and probibly bruised from head to foot, but then if it was easy everyone would be able to do it. besides I need to get my own back after you poured all that liquor down my kneck.

Hi Isobel,

That sounds like a plan, anyway I didn't pour it down your neck, you drank it of your own free will!!

As to being knackered and bruised, it sounds like a standard jaunt out to save the world from nasty or another so I'm well up for it.

I've always been of the opinion that the best way to enjoy life is to work hard and play hard and this even more true with the lifestone failing the way it is!!

Any hints or tips you can give me will be gratefully appreciated, I know I am still a fair way behind yourself in the skill stakes.

Ah yes the Vials. I think Umbrial or Morgrim might be the best people to have a look at those. Hopefully they can be used to create the Water equivalent to the Phoenix and I'm sure they would both want to be involved with that.

Morgrim stroll past the people drilling in combat routine sees an empty spot and hangs up his cloak and cloak , places his helh on the floor , loosens his baldrik so his swords hang at an even level " so , when do we start?" Morgrim shift his neck to either side letting out crunches and cracks , and appears releived.

Many thanks Soot.

I will do as yoy suggest later this evening.

But now i feel like working up a sweat.

*nods to Soot and turns to prepare for the training exersie*

Now that we are all warmed up I sujest we split into two or three groups and each practice different things so one group practice with sword and sheild one group practice with two wepons and so forth we can set up the guards to do the same and we can practice against them. afterwards we can set up a few sheild walls and charges and then maybe pair up and work in small teams to take out a larger force in an open area then practice fighting in close quarters. after that we can practice some one on one fighting,
so if that sounds ok with everyone lets get to it !
I'll make sure the guard are ready and we can make a start.
anyone arriving later can join in as they see fit.

Morgrim thinks for a while , "i take it there are healers to fix the gaurd we will break? ive waited along time to hit the gaurd without being arrested!" morgrim strolls over to a weapon rack to choose some weapons ,

Entering the Order, Laninia looked around till she was directed to the centre of the building where the practising was taking place. Taking in all the various people ready and waiting for their weapons training, Lani sighed at the sight of all the real weapons they would be practising with, knowing she was going to be very busy shortly.

Seeing Isobel giving out orders, Laninia quickly made her way round to the woman, nodding a greeting as she stopped a little away from her, not wanting to put herself in the middle of everyone. Once she had Isobel's attention, she spoke in barely a whisper,

"Excuse me Miss Isobel, I heard you were all going to be weapons training and wondered if you will need my assistance in case anyone is hurt.."

<Isobel smiles at the sight of laninia>
Hiya
I would of thought that the good lady Umbrial has sort of used a spell or something so we dont actually hurt each other very much but just incase she hasnt I think your help would be most appriciated thankyou for coming.
Did she say anything about that sort of thing to you tellos ? I dont really want us to loose what fighting force we have just by practicing !

*walks out into the courtyard holding his shield and with his swords sheathed*

*walks over to the small group of Isobel, Laninia, Tellos*


"So... what's this practice I heard of on my way out?"

*starts a with a slow sword Kata and gradually steps up the spped and complexity*

Morgrim picks up a battleaxe of some size , he starts to swing iw with a precise blow to a sword fighting dummy , and takes the head clean off " right , everyone ready?"

She didn't say anything to me, should someone go and make a request of the Healers Guild for some of their members to be in attendance, just incase Morgrim gets excited with his big chopper!! :P

well laninia is here but maybe some more healers wouldn't go amiss send someone over would you ?

"As long as you have some sort of order as to which group will be practising first, I will be more than happy to heal you on my own." Laninia sounds confident as she speaks of her profession, the shyness gone once more, for a brief time at least.

"ah good to hear ! , i dont care what anyone say about you squeekies ... you lot are all right" Morgrim shoulders his axe and take a hipflask (an ogre sized hipflask) and offers tellos some .

Startled by the sudden comment from the male Ogre, Laninia looks to the floor and stutters a thank you, wondering what a squeekie was.

<takes the proffered flask and takes a big chug and then starts coughing>

What have you got in that!!

<hands the flask back>

"morgrim takes a glug pushes the cork back in and stuffs it in his breeches, "orc spirit , makes my horn shiny"

The grizzled old guard who had been speaking watches the action with some interest. Every so often he smiles if a particular bit of footwork or a parry meets his approval.
"I hope you realize drinking booze and waving round a weapon are not usually a good combination for keeping yer limbs in order." He chuckles to Morgrim.

A group of light soul casters watch intently waiting for even the slightest paper cut so they may practice their craft. Some of them appear to be making bets......

Morgrim walks up to the gaurd , " now as i can see , your old as am i, we both appear to have all our limbs so i think il just carry on the way i am .... if it aint broke .... dont fix it "

Soot walks over to a group of lizardkin guard that the Old Guard pointed out earlier. After a brief discussion they agree to let Soot train with them and they begin explaining the tactics they intend to use for the first exercise. After checking Soots stance and correcting it. They place him between two junior guards and declare their readiness to the Old Guard who seems to be in charge.

Anthony runs into the yard, and pausing looking for someone.
He scans the area till he spots Tellos then hands him a note.
"I've just recieved this sir, I came as quick as I could."
(PM to follow)

His eyes glaze over once more, and he automatically whips out another scroll and writes quickly.
"Gosh, another one for you sir, popular lad you are now"
He hands over the second note.
(PM to follow)

<As he reads the first scroll, his eyes widen in horror>

Bloody Hell.

<looks to Isobel and the others he is training with>

Looks like an emergency at home, something has just bitch slapped Escavon!!

<As he starts to gather his thoughts he is handed a second note>

Nothing to concern me!!

<Looks to Anthony>

Can you get a message to Major Umbrial for me please and also Sir Caelwin and Sir Niall ap Trahern to meet with me urgently in the tavern.

<looks at the rest of the "group">

I've just had 2 very disturbing messages, concerning the fate of one of our cities, if you are interested in helping please can we meet me in the tavern as soon as possible.

<strides off towards the city gates>

"Well, looks like this has been cut short..."

*Starts to leave the Order and head for the Inn*

Soot looks disappointed but concerned. He makes arrangements to meet up with the lizardkin later and heads off to the Inn.

Anthony runs off to Umbrials personal quarters.

*Notices the comotion*

*Finishes his sword Kata*

Oh well, so musch for training! Off the the tavern again!

*Within a few minutes is leaving the courtyard*

Morgrim looks at all the comotion , places he axe back into the sword dummy and takes a stroll to the tavern

Seeing as the fighting practise seemed to be over for now, Laninia left the Order shortly after the others, seeing them all head to the tavern. Unsure what the letters were all about, she decided to enter the tavern as well and see if she could be of any aid.