Military end-of-year Party

[Daniel]

To celebrate Primeheims and the start of Imperios and the New Year, the Base Personnel office decided to throw a big party on the base. Civilians and military of Abestat alike were invited and for once it was the highest of the brass who donned aprons and serving spoons, and who handed out the serving portions and set up the tables.

Governor Lastra was invited to attend, along with the powers-that-be of Candaceburg and Port Constantine, and there was an abundance of holiday cheer and spirits.

The highlight of the day came when everyone got to participate in the Secret Giver program, where many of the officers and enlisted who were far from their familys and friends gave gifts, toys, and clothing to each other.

In addition, the Base Pursar stood in a corner. A colorless little man that no one ever remembered his name or face 5 minutes after they encountered him, he was dressed up as a Trelorean elf and was handing out prizes from a goodie bag for anyone who wants it.

[Yarrow]

Yarrow had never really been to a party before. Her mother and father had never thrown any and the birthday celebrations weren't much of a party. They were just considered a "here...your another year older! good for you" event in which cake and a few gifts were given. Therefore, Yarrow was a little excited to see what a real party was all about.

Hmm...should be a different experience, at least. She told herself as she came through the door and glanced about. Nothing jumped out at her or bite her nose off so she went in further until she was all the way inside. She was amazed at what she saw...

[Agaenos Phidion]

Perhaps, this is what people say about the better aspects of the military. "Military is not just about killing and mindless bloodshed", they say. Now, for once, the new Private knew what this phrase really meant.

"I... have not been to a party all my life... I wish I knew what to do beforehand..." Indeed, this prospect is frightening him by a slight bit - none of which he is showing. Stepping inside, he hoped deep within him that no one would jump up and offer up a "pleasent surprise"...

No one did. Phew!

His attention was immediately captured by the Base Pursar, dressed up as a Trelorean Elf, handing out prizes - to him, it seemed a proprosition far more attractive even than the Governors and political figures within. A small glitter came from within his eyes, as he approached it to see what could be gotten from the bag. "I hope anything great is up for order..."

Next - the Secret Giver Programme. He started walking about, trying to find out what it really was all about. As well as that, he constantly scanned the area with his keen eyes, looking out for people that he actually knew in the military...

[Vincent Stefan]

Vincent walked around rather aimlessly. His pet raven Shadow perched on his shoulder. Vincent never was the type of person for a party but still it was free food and there was shore to be something that caught his eye so Vincent decided to check the place out. he was not disappointed.

[Kellos Vastak]

Kellos grinned as he walked in, such a grand party was finally deserved in the military! He had worn his armor, as he had no formal dressware, but had polished it until it gleamed in the faintest light. He looked about, and found Governor Lastra. "Serale, my lord" he said, bowing slightly. "It is good to see you here. May it celebrate Abestat's new freedom."

[Daniel]

OOC: With the new emphasis on PC-to-PC interaction, all players are being address in a single large post, and may interact freely with each other as well as any NPCs mentioned. You're all in the same time and place and hear everything that is going on around you.

IC:
Tech Corporal Polly Enpaqi nodded at Yarrow, a happy grin on her pretty little poodle face. "Ah, so glad you could make it! Margo is home sick in Room 202B. Will Keeva and the others be here later? Anyway, come in and enjoy yourself, and make yourself comfortable!" She giggled bashfully. "I think that fellow in Charlie company that likes me might be here, you know that tall setter with the red freckles."

She watched at various other people came inside. "Have you met the new privates? That one there is Agaenos Phidion. This is Vincent Stefan just coming in with the raven on his shoulder, and bringing up the rear is Kellos Vastak."

She glanced at Yarrow. "I'm bucking for Sergeant, so I figure it's good to mingle and learn who everybody is. I don't want people following me out of fear, I want loyalty and respect!"

Polly made sure that Vincent, Kellos, and Agaenos all knew who each other were, in case any of them did not. A military like the one in Abestat functioned best when it was a family, and that meant everyone knowing each other.

The pretty Dorin noticed Agaenos looking at the Secret Giver program. As no one else had taken the initiative to explain it, she nodded at the man. "That's pretty basic. All people who are interested in getting a prize put their name in the big red hat there under the tree, and then you draw out someone else's name. You then get a card and some minor tricket or piece of clothing or something as a gift for this person, and someone does the same for you. This particular party is going to last for many hours, if not the better part of the weekend, so there is ample time to slip out to the base gift shop or commisary and grab something."

Vincent and the others noticed a nice spread of food on the far wall, a banquet of cold cuts and various appetizers laid out so that people could take little plates and walk around with them. Various meats were sliced and cut up, and people could take rolls, mashed potatoes, salads and whatever they liked. There was room on the far end for a desert cart but it had not yet been wheeled out.

Governor Lastra nodded at Kellos. "Aye, lad, that is very true. Freedom. And with freedom comes the pursuit of happiness, so I hope everyone is enjoying themselves! This base has really grown in a few months, and I am pleased with the turnout."
He turned to the young soldier. "And to be honest, it is good to see you all here. You are the future of Alleria, and I am proud to have been shepherd of Abestat's transition to the future."

[Keeva Kaldres]

Keeva entered the room in the usual tentative way she did when she felt even the least bit uncertain. It wasn't that she was in any way shy or timid, or even verbally challenged, but she knew so few people within the Abestatian military, despite the fact that she had been a part of it for so long.

Flickering her eyes over the numerous soldiers who had already made themselves known and were conversing with various others, Lance Corporal Lasant was completley unsure of what exactly she should do. Her base instinct immediately told her to look for Yarrow, the friendly, chirpy young human who had become her room-mate. However, she also knew that she should practice sheer politeness in getting to know the other soldiers within the army.

What drew her attention first was the Secret Giver area, marked by the tree and red bag. Curious, she finshed the few strides that would bring her directly in front of it. She had, however, never heard of anything like a Secret Giver program in her life, an irregularity in her mind that she would like to have filled.

Noticing Agaenos and Polly, Keeva was just in time to hear the dorin's explanation of how the Secret Giver system worked. With a smile, Keeva was only too eager to place her name on a piece of paper, before placing it within the dark depths of the red bag.

'Polly, great to see you again! How've you been? ' the young woman greeted the pretty dorin. 'And who's this?' She added, gesturing towards Agaenos, one of the many people she did not know at the party.

[Kellos Vastak]

Kellos nodded at Lastra's comment. "All too true. You have been a great leader to the people of Abestat, and I pray that you will continue to do so for many patterns to come. Please pardon me for a moment." Kellos bowed once again to the governor, his armor radiant from the lighting, and walked toward the table with the cutlery. Grabbing a small plate, he took a shank of beef and some potatoes, and sat down on a nearby chair, and began to eat his first meal in a while, occasionally tossing a small piece down to Mari, who accepted the gift with open jaws. From the moment he had entered the room, vincen't raven had grabbed his attention. He intended later to introduce himself, but for now, he would eat.

[Yarrow]

When Keeva entered Yarrow smiled for the first time. She knew someone here, finally! She gave her friend a wave before she ventured out to meet the others. She had not meet them as of yet. She first targeted Agaenos.

Serale there! I knew we would get a chance to meet! She stuck out her hand. Yarrow Woodruff, sir. A pleasure to meet you...

[Agaenos Phidion]

He listened to the Dorin's explanation of the Secret Giver Programme, nodding at intervals to show his attentiveness and understanding. Soon, however, he also noticed another Human approaching and listening to the Programme's explanation. What is more, she seemed to know the Dorin.

"Polly, great to see you again! How've you been?" She asked the Dorin. Agaenos took his time to have quick glimpse at the red hat. At length, though, he noticed she was gesturing towards him.

"I'm Private Agaenos Phidion. It's a pleasure to meet you." He smiled, and stretching out his hand, he shook Keeva's. There are many people that he did not know - all of whom he was curious to find out about.

At length, however, another woman approached. She seemed to know Keeva, as she waved to her in a friendly manner. Now, Agaenos was shaking two females' hand, at the same time.

"A pleasure to meet you, Miss Woodruff. I'm Private Agaenos Phidion, just joined in the army - and it looks as though the whole army is taking a vacation!" He laughed slightly, and hoped his joke was not too lame - hopefully, at least not as lame as his opinion on an Elf or what he shouted in the public when he was still a young, innocent child.

"Have been on any exciting or memorable adventures in the military?" He asked.

[Keeva Kaldres]

'Have we been on any exciting adventures?' Keeva responded to Agaenos' question, with a highly amused glance in Yarrow's direction, a gesture that suggested that the man's question held the same sort of stupidity as asking whether the sea was wet might have had. Of course, her fellow soldier could not have known of hers and Yarrow's various adventures and escapades; they had only just met, after all.

'Well, we've patrolled in a quarantine camp, battled it out with snakes, been target practice for a group of evil magicians, and been shot at and almost killed by an attacking group of orcs. And that was when we first joined the army! you have a lot to look forward to, Private.'

And with that, Keeva shot an apologetic glance towards Agaenos', a look that put across te fact that she had forgotten something extremely important.

'Oh, I'm sorry, I haven't introduced myself, right? I'm Lance Corporal Keeva Lasant, and it's a pleasure to meet you, Agaenos.'

Rather than burden Agaenos with the prospect of having to shake hands again, the young woman quickly launched into another question.

'So tell me, what have you been up to in the army so far?'

[Kellos Vastak]

Two heaps of food later, Kellos and Mari seemed to let out a sigh of satisfaction in unison. It had been a while since their last meal, and he was completely pleased with the meal. "Top notch food for being free." he muttered with a grin, let his hand fall to rest on Mari's coat, which the cat turned and licked affectionately (well, more because it smelled of meat than of affection, but oh well). He stood up, and quickly patting Mari on the head and telling him to sit tight, he decided he would go and introduce himself to his new companions in the military. He first approached the three women and the man. He stopped beside them, and bowed. "Serale, I am Kellos Vastak, a new private for the army of Abestat. I am pleased to fight against such as yourselves. Might I inquire as to what your names are?"

[Yarrow]

Yarrow chuckled along with Keeva, but she wasn't laughing at the new fellow, more like laughing at all the fun times she had gotten herself into with Keeva. Fun times, fun times! Yarrow said simply with a nod of her head.

She turned to the new approaching private. Serale, sir. It is nice to meet you. I am Corporal Yarrow Woodruff. She said putting out her hand. And this is Agaenos, Polly and my room mate...Keeva... She introduced the others quickly and made room for the new comer to feel welcomed into their chatter...

Rember when...during our quarintine, Keeva...we chased that vilian into some quicksand and had to pull him out? What ever happened to that fellow, I wonder? She smiled remembering how they had to pull to get him out of there...She shook her head laughing.

[Agaenos Phidion]

He chuckled slightly when the Lance Corporal remembered that she forgot to introduce herself. "Well, very well met, Miss Lasant." He always kept his manners. What he did not show, however, was manner was not his second nature - there are times when he had to keep his consciousness clear to keep his manners. This was one such time, though no-one noticed.

He listened at Yarrow's remark about their quarantine trip. Sure enough, the unfortunate fellow who fell into the quicksand who had to be rescued by his persuers sounded very amusing, and he laughed.

"So tell me, what have you been up to in the army so far?"

"Me? Nothing much, to be honest," a tone of eagerness seeped into his voice. "All I had was a broad sword training. And speaking of broad swords," his hand went to the sheath of his own broad sword, "do you know how much that sword was? It was ridiculous - 570 Crowns!"

At this moment, an Elven Private, Kellos Vastak, came into view. Introducing himself, Agaenos shook his hands. "Serale and well met, Mister Vastak."

At length, he continued his conversation. "I probably won't have much to talk about the military - but when I moved from Prime to here, Abestat," the smile faded slight from his face, "I met an old man, holding a snake-shaped talisman, and speaking to a rock!" Some horrible memory came into his mind, but he did his best to hide it. "I thought he was mad at first, until the rock spoke back - the soul of a Saurid trapped within. The talisman glowed, and literally burned the flesh of the old man, whimpering on the ground. Blimey, the smell of his burnt flesh, it was horrible."

It seemed a vast contrast between Yarrow's tale and his own; her's seemed to be beset with many dangers, yet rather fun; but his was more grim, vile, horrendous images flitted wimpishly through his mind for a moment - but his will dispelled it. It was no time for such things.

Hoping he had not be rambling on too much (he seemed to always do that when telling others accounts of his doings or travels), he started to mention something that has been bothering him slightly now - food. "Has anyone tasted the food yet? I'm hoping for some proper, enjoyable feast here today, you know?" He chuckled.

[Yarrow]

Oh! How awful! Yarrow wrinkled up her nose at the thought of burning flesh. It must have smelled...awful. That was a stupid statement to make, but Yarrow made it anyway. She didn't mind. If anyone asked it was because she was crazy. Crazy people could get away with almost anything these days.

I haven't had any food, no. I am sure it will be good though...after all the military provides good food. She also thought of warm elvan tea...the kind she had gotten at the comisionary one day when she wondered in to see what kind of place it was. The lady behind the counter had given it to her for free in order to get some public notice of the store. She still remembered how good it had been and wondered if the party might bear some good elvan tea.