The Allerian Military Base - Abestat

[Jester]

Just inside the Atayr gate on the western side of the merchant city sits a minature fortress of an establishment. Walls, built ages before of moss-covered stone that is at least three feet thick and topped with iron "arrow" shaped figures, rise a solid seven feet into the air surround the mostly rectangular complex to prevent most unwanted eyes and ears to have access to the facility. Only two gates mark entrances to the grounds; the main one facing the Atayr city entrance rises even above the walls around it with a decorative, but nonetheless solid, iron structure of bars and symbols of Abestat. On the far side, a quiet and smaller entrance just wide enough for a horse creaks open and shut less often with only a trickle of soldiers flowing through.

Both gates are heavily guarded by at least four guards standing with their presence ever felt by the passerbys. Their uniforms are stiff and clean; the soldiers on duty are some of the best in the city. Small patrols regularly monitor the inside and outside of the walls for this property is owned by the Empire itself, rather than the city. With jurisdiction within the general proximity, soldiers often arrest or question civilians acting suspicious.

If one were to peek in through the bars, the only view from the front is that of the stone-built Military Administration Building (a building with a good four floors of offices and the like) that opens to the street with two huge, heavy wood doors. The symbols of Abestat again adorn the stone and woodwork, even visible as one enters the city.

On the far side, the soldiers' barracks and training grounds are visible. A field, mostly of dirt and sparse grass from repetitive use of tramping feet, is often filled throughout the morning and late afternoon with dozens, if not hundreds, of Allerian military stationed in Abestat working through exercises and routines. Combat dummies and riding tracks also draw shadows from the sun in the expansive facility.

At night, the field is empty save for the odd patrol of the walls. Instead, lights from the barracks can be seen glowing across the running track and splashing onto the walls in the distance. Located behind the administration building at the far side, a collection of single-story, long, tube-like structures jut out of the ground. They house the soldiers and their quarters; bunks for the low levels and small rooms for the officers.

Upon closer inspection, if one were to be able to walk freely throughout the complex, one would find that the dormitories were quartered off by gender and sometimes by species if the need arose. Certain buildings housed the mess hall and others near the wells were the home to the bathing areas.

Inside each bunk room is a line of about twenty bunk-beds on each side with a small chest a shelves for each soldier. Little privacy, less personal space.

Still, it would be home for those in the military stationed in the city of Abestat. Hate it or love it, most were stuck with it.

At approaching either gate, the closest guard steps forward and groughly unsheathes his weapon, using it to block any movement.

"State your name and busines," comes the simple question with the negative undertones.

[Yarrow]

Yarrow pulled out her military ID. Private Yarrow Woodruff...and I was just going to get a nap in my bunk before reporting for training. She told the guard mildly. She tried not to yawn, but it was hard not to do so. She should have come here immediatly, but she had got distracted in town and now she wouldn't get a very long nap.

She glanced passed him, searching for any of the others in her group. She hoped she would get time for her nap. It will be a long day still. She thought to herself. She glanced back at the guard.

[Jester]

The guard looked at the military ID for a moment, then at the girl in front of him. His eyes scanned with disgust and Yarrow could tell he was thinking about something along the lines of how the quality of the military had gone so far downhill in the past few eras. Suddenly, he withdrew the weapon from her path and then used it as a cane, leaning slightly as he commented.

"Girls in the military...what're you going to do when faced with an ogre...or a giant...or even a goblin? The time will come and you will be too weak!" he spat at her. Then he literally spat on the ground beside him with his negative eyes cutting her up from the outside.

Still, he waved a gloved hand to the gate and one of his fellow men at attention broke position and slowly creaked the door open just wide enough for Yarrow to slip through.

As Yarrow entered the grounds, she could hear the man's final words under his breath: "Women...only good for babies and dishes..."

[Yarrow]

Yarrow didn't say anything. It was useless to do so. Just a waste of her time and breath. Instead she simply rolled her eyes, pocketed her military ID and countinued on her way. As she went she hummed under her breath and glanced up at the sky.

A sparrow flew over head. She watched it dive and she held out her arm. Ann landed and gave her a little "kiss". How is my good boy? Have you seen Bloom any place? It is about time for your lunch and so I think he will be around don't you. Ann gave a tweat for a reply and sure enough the great dane was were she had left him...outside near her bunk house. Hungry are you? I have some food in my pack you two...

[Jester]

The sparrow landing was quite the odd sight for the few guards that sat around the fire near the entrance, watching the girl enter the complex. Their eyes followed the bird to the soldieress to each other with smirks on their faces.

"Quite the beast of a pet you have there," joked one man gnawing on some sort of roasted meat. He spoke between disgusting, drooling bites, and another man slapped him on the back in a heart laugh in the midst of his own eating.

It was somewhat strange to see them eating meat---supplies were low and they were dipping into emergency rations as it was in the military. Strange even more so when she saw the rat's tail sticking out of the end...

Desparate times call for desparate measures.

[Yarrow]

Why thank you sir. He is a nice companion. If you'll excuse me... Yarrow nodded her head and began to walk again. She felt the need to be away from the rat eatting men...not that she wouldn't eat a rat if she was starving...but she had an odd sensation that he was eatting his own species. Rats eatting rats. She thought sadly. Yarrow again...moved away toward her bunk and her own comfortable restting place. Maybe one of the others would be there for a chat...maybe one that she wouldn't be disgusted with.

[Roland Moonstar]

OOC: continued from the Quarantine Thread

IC:
Roland thanked his superior, then left him with a fast thought:
"A recommendation on the write-up for that to be 'Corporal' Mi'Colloch would not be forgotten, sir. A man like yourself tends to rise rapidly in the ranks... it would not hurt to have an aide-de-camp you know and trust."

Roland smiled at the female guard, and thanked her for relieving him. "I know it's your job, but for what it's worth, I appreciate it."

Once he heard the order to march, Roland nodded, and got in step with the patrol. All thoughts of the wilderness and quarantine camp were quickly forgotten as he glanced left and right of him at the massive gates of Abestat. "Well, I succeeded in coming in, though at the price of having everyone think I work for Abestat."

His political mind mulled that over, attempting to figure out a way to turn a disadvantage into a potential advantage. It would depend on what qualities were valued by the hierarchy in Abestat, he supposed. Time would tell, Mr. Moonstar, he said to himself. Time would tell.

As the patrol passed the former site of the Thane's speech and approached the base checkpoint, he waited to see what the procedure was for returning patrols... he assumed it would be laxer than for someone who came to the gate alone, but it did not really matter, as he had decided his first order of business was seeing the Quartermaster and Officer of the Watch, which he would get bumped over to if anything went awry anyway.

[Jester]

Yarrow

OOC: I realize you haven't been assigned a bunk or cabin to your OOC knowledge, but we'll assume you have already and know it, k? And what time of day is this?

IC: Leaving the disgusting fire behind, Yarrow soon came upon the line of structures that were the living quarters for the hundreds of soldiers assigned to Abestat. Cabin K...cabin K...bingo. She had followed the line to the correct location, greeting the door guard who knew every resident inside very well. She passed without incident, save for her sparrow flying off into the night...

Bunk number...fourteen...bottom...there it was. It was quiet in the place, but she could see a few bodies scurrying around...

Roland

"I'll keep that in mind, Private," said the keyed off officer at Roland's suggestion. "But next time remember that I make the decisions around here?" After that, they marched in silence and without an interesting event through the gates and to the walls that was the military complex.

A sudden hand gesture, unfamiliar to Roland but nonetheless obvious, stopped the four from their march as the guards outside approached for information. A quick discussion with the unnamed officer and the metal gate was opened; the new path ready for them to enter. A few steps later and they were ordered to return to casual stance and go their separate ways.

"I'm going to the White Dragon," said the now cheery partner of Mi'Colloch. He bumped Roland's arm. "You should join me when you get a chance. You just pulled off something huge---quite the bar tale!"

With that he was off and Roland was left alone again. The gate and the city behind, the cabins to the right, and the offices to the left.

[Roland Moonstar]

Seeing that there was no point in sticking around as 'Private Lucky,' the man who was quite familiar with another uniform paused, debating the colors he was now wearing. It wasn't the black-and-purple, but the people here needed help desperately. If he could so easily penetrate Abestat's various perimeters, then so could other agents, those with far more sinister agendas.

Roland looked around, letting out a deep sigh. Regardless of his own orders, he could not in good conscience leave Abestat like this. The civilian population was alternatively cowed and agitated, and the military morale appeared at an all-time low.

His own plans were long-term. There was time enough to do some good here. He screwed up his resolve, gave one glance to the beckoning gates, then decided to go to the offices on the left.

He walked around for a few moments, then went towards whichever of the largest buildings had the most flags draped from it. Cities may change but armies never did. He glanced around, looking for whichever guard or guards were standing post. "Serale, I need directions to the office of enlistments and commisions." He said nothing else, letting the guards assume he was re-upping.

[Yarrow]

ooc: night time is fine... thanks!

Yarrow sighed and pulled back the blankets. She pulled open her pack and fingered through it until she found some food for herself. An apple would do nicly. She chewe on it happily...rubbed her stomache and disposed of the coar.

Now for a much needed rest... She muttered. She lay back onto her bunk and shut her eyes. Only an hour... and then I will wake up again. She hit her mental clock...

[Jester]

Yarrow

Someone shook her awake sometime later. Sleep had come easily for her, thanks to the past day's adventures, but now the attempt to awaken was difficult. Another shove from above, this time Yarrow realized that whatever was pushing her from slumber was furry...

Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. "Pss...wake up," it said to her with yet another attempt, this time opening Yarrow's eyes. "The Sergeant is going to be here any minute for inspection and you're still asleep? And it's Sergeant Muller this morning...just purrrfect," said her Katta bunk mate from above. "He's male and you're still in your night garments???"

But it was too late. "Attention!" snapped the woman in full uniform at the door with a full salute to the room. "Officer on the floor!"

All the woman lining the bunks, also in full dress uniform, quickly jumped around to line up in front of their beds, matching the efficient appearance of the calling guardswoman.

"Did you forget," hissed the Katta from her new standing position, leaning back slightly to tell Yarrow. "Everyone was told!"

Roland

The closest soldier looked at Roland strangely for a moment before scratching his head with his one hand and pointing to the administrative building with the other. "Room 102, can't miss it on the left through the main doors out front," he explained, eyeing Roland. He said nothing else, though, and went along on his way.

Soon Roland had arrived at the huge doors, successfully got inside, and located the room. Slipping into the office size door, he soon realized that this was only an anteroom to the much larger chambers beyond. An elderly secretary, dressed in uniform nonetheless, was pouring over some papers at her marble desk built into the wall on the far side. Old chairs lined the stone floor room, giving a slight echo with every step despite the small size of the place. The secretary never even looked up as Roland entered.

[Roland Moonstar]

OOC: I've no idea what that is, but nice quote!

IC:
Reasonably certain that Abestat's military worked the same as anywhere else in the world, (he probably held the record in Arium alone for having been kicked out of all three) Roland knew his best bet would be to walk up, ask for a number, then go back and stand to one side at parade rest for an hour or so, waiting for his number to be called. It didn't really matter that he appeared to be the only applicant; things were the way they were, and probably had not changed since the proclamation of 4259.

His plan-of-action in place, Roland marched over to the desk. He knew waiting for a polite moment would come sometime after never, so he coughed and said in the most authoritative voice Professor Az had taught him: "Serale, may I see your secretary credentials please? I'd like to schedule an appointment to inquire about procuring a commission with the armed forces of Abestat. I'll take a number if that's necessary." He paused, thinking he should have phrased that as 'numbers will be taken if necessary,' but was not sure if he should start talking like that before he was actually officially inducted. Probably not.. this would just be the secretary to the undersecretary, anyway.

[Yarrow]

Yarrow groaned. She was in for it now. Must have slipped my mind. She muttere. She could feel the iron curtain coming down now. It was all over now. She sighed and tried to make heself as presentable as possible. It was no use though.

She was still in her nightgown and her bed wasn't made up and... She stood up stright in a presentable manner. So much happening too fast. First bandits trying to kill me and chasing down evil gnomes and on top of that when all I want is sleep...AHH SHUT UP AND STOP COMPLAINING! iT AIN'T THE END OF THE WORLD!

[Jester]

Yarrow

"ATTEeeeeeeeennNNNNNNNTion!" came the final warning as the stragglers piled into their standing positions in front of the bunks. Some looked slightly dischevelled from the night before's festivities, if any, and some looked like they could sleep for a cycle. Still, they were all in uniform and Yarrow wasn't.

Soon a small contingent, led by the Sergeant Muller himself, presumably, came through the doors for inspection. He stopped them with a single arm held up for a moment as he eyed each of the closest woman to the door and their appearance.

Just as suddenly the contingent of the three officers were walking, nearly marching, toward their right side of the room---the same aisle Yarrow was stationed to.

"Psss...make a break for it...the window is open," whispered her bunkmate, trying to help her out in someway. The window was actually missing, more than open, from some previous incident. Still, it might not be the wisest move to run away from an inspection no matter the cost.

Down the row about a dozen bunks, the man threw a crown onto the closest bunk, drawing a resounding 'twang' as the tightly made bed successfully passed his test. The upper bunk mate, though, only got harsh words for her lack of shined boots.

Of course, Yarrow wasn't wearing shoes of any sort...

Roland

OOC: It's an obscure reference to my personal plan for world domination. All my quotes are incredibly stupid and only personally funny. Sue me.

IC: "Yeesss," creaked the woman's voice, aged and decrepit, but not without some sense of experience and perhaps a touch of nobility in it. She still sat straightly in her chair, despite the rest of her body's sagging, and looked at Roland with narry a blink out of the corner of her eye.

Instead, she continued to work along at whatever she had in front of her, soon drawing out a huge stamp that began banging again and again and again...

"I'm afraid that you'll have no luck today---the man of the office is out with some sort of festivity going on, you know," she finally explained, trying to shoo him away.

Yet, she continued her constant 'BANG! BANG! BANG!' as she stamped through a huge pile of papers. All else was silent---

Until the door to the office swung open with such great force that it seemed to rattle the whole room. Out popped a stout dwarf, greying in the beard but powerful in the look. He obviously had had his share of experience and trial, but now had only one thing on his mind...

"WILL YOU QUIT THAT INFERNAL RACKET?" he barked, slamming his fists onto the desk as best he could from his lessened height. "I HAVE A PILE OF WORK RISING TO THE CEILING AND I AM TRYING TO WORK IN THERE and I cannot have YOU CAUSING NOISE!"

She still didn't blink. "Very well...oh, and this lad is here to see you about signing up." It was her simple victory that mattered, it seemed, for she had given the dwarf yet another piece of work to deal with: Roland Moonstar.

He knew he was beaten and backed down in a huff, waving for Roland to follow him back to his desk in the next room. His voice was back to a normal tone which he used on Roland instead of the secretary. "Are you coming, or what?" he questioned suspiciously. "There are pressing matters to deal with and recruitment isn't exactly one of my necessities at the moment. Suck it up, soldier!"

[Yarrow]

Yarrow shook her head. No...I can't run away... She thought to herself. OF COURSE YOU CAN! BETTER THEN GETTING YELLED AT! Came the reply that she knew would come. She hated that voice, but nothing could be done about it until she won...won contol over her head by ignoring the voice.

No...can't run away now. Only a stepping stone in life...only moment by moment... Yarrow felt dizzy, but she didn't know if it was from lack of sleep or from fear that the commander would...would do what? She didn't no exactly, but time was ticking out.