Advanced Training (Private, Emberfang Only)

[Soldier]

The day has come.

Basic training seemed so long ago. It was a grueling time, but a rewarding one. And now, the time has come for the advanced training that will make the twelve people gathered here at the gate to the Crimson Lions Compound full-fledged soldiers. Everyone was dressed in their blue exercise uniforms, and knowing Silverblade, there was going to be a lot of exercise involved.

Silverblade marched his way up to the group, the same hard man he always was. He snapped to attention and barked out. “Atten…TION! Listen up! It has come to my attention that you people want to join the Crimson Lions as full time soldiers.” He started to pace as he looked over the assembled group. “Well let me tell you something. If you want to join my beloved Lions, you will have to prove yourself a worthy enough soldier, a worthy enough citizen, and a worthy enough person. And to do that, you will have to survive ME! You think the Basic Course was difficult? That was a weekend in a Riparian brothel compared to what you are about to endure. I will make it my sole mission in life to break you. If I succeed, you can leave knowing that you at least tried, which is more than most have ever done. If you succeed, then you will be true soldiers and worthy of wearing the blue uniform. If any of you want to save yourselves the pain, drop out right now, otherwise, welcome to my private little HELLDOM!”

[Drae'zin Emberfang]

Drae’zin kept a stern face through Silverblade’s speech, yet he strained from smirking at the drill sergeant’s pleasantries. He had successfully completed the basic training and eagerly sought for his advanced training. Despite the hardships and torturous labor, the Dracon had never been happier. It wasn’t simply that completing his basic training that was his greatest achievement in his life thus far that made him so happy, but the simple feeling he had found some place that he felt he belonged. With this thought, Drae’zin held his chin up high as the sun heated his scales and awaited orders from Silverblade.

[Soldier]

“Alright then,” Silverblade barked. “You milksops want a shot, I’m going to give it to you. RIGHT, FACE! FORWARD, MARCH!” Emberfang thought that they were headed into the compound. He was wrong. Silverblade marched them past the gate and straight out of town, doing a complete circle of the city walls, a distance of several miles.

Fairly exhausted, the small squad reentered the city, marched to the barracks and through the gate. The guard gave a slight nod of encouragement to each one as they pass and the look in his eye seemed to say, “You can make it, we’re pulling for you.” Then Silverblade had everyone in a push up position. “You are no longer individuals!” he yelled. “You are Lion! That means you will move, act and think as one person. You will have many tasks ahead that you will need to complete as a group. You will all succeed or fail as a group. If you fail, you will all suffer the consequences for it. If you fall behind, you will be punished. If you let someone else fall behind, you will be punished MORE. There will be no one left behind, DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?” Then the push-ups began, seeming to go on forever as muscles are pushed beyond their normal use.

“RECRUIT EMBERFANG!” Silverblade yelled. “FRONT AND CENTER! GET YOUR SCALY TAIL UP HERE AND DROP DOWN INTO PUSH UP POSITION, YOU GOT 3 SECONDS!”

[Drae'zin Emberfang]

Drae’zin fell in with the other recruits in their exercises and Silverblade took the “Advanced” part of advanced training into play with brutal severity. The new fashion of running around the city soon brought the Dracon out of breath but he wasn’t about to let a few weary muscles slow him down, he hung with the group all the way to the end. The guard’s approving glance gave Drae’zin a boost of spirit and he nodded to the individual in mutual understanding.

After entering the Keep once more, Drae’zin assumed the push-up position along with his fellow recruits, no doubt this exercise would receive the same “make-over” as the run for advanced training. The push ups did prove to be relentless and straining, but he was determined to push himself to the limits and more if the need arouse. It was about that time that Silverblade called him up to the front. He quickly shuffled to the front, his talons digging into the training yard ground and dropped down into position perpendicular to Silverblade. He was rather confused but the current situation left little time to ponder the instructor’s purpose for tossing Drae’zin in the front.

[Soldier]

Silverblade squatted down and stared at Emberfang. “What is the matter, Lizard, can’t take a little exercise? Should I get your mommy over here to wipe your nose and kiss your boo-boos? Don’t you eyeball me, boy, or I will rip off your arm and beat you over the head with the bloody stump! Now pay attention, you are the new Squadron Leader, you got that? You are responsible for everyone else in this squadron until such a time as I get completely disgusted with your performance and fire you, NOW GET ON YOUR FEET!”

Emberfang struggled to hIS feet and stood at attention as the rabid drill instructor continued to yell. Pointing to a single story stone building just behind the group, he shouted, “You see that building? You got 3 minutes to get your entire squadron on top of that building, MOVE IT! MAKE IT HAPPEN!”

[Drae'zin Emberfang]

Drae’zin would have been stunned, possibly thrilled at this promotion, save for the simple fact that he didn’t have time to be stunned or thrilled. Now was the time to act and he was not about to fail in his new post as squadron leader. He looked at the short building, which with the current objective didn’t seem so short anymore. He glanced around at his fellow recruits, twelve including himself and began to work out a stratagem.

“Alright, recruits, the Sergeant wants us on top of that building. We got three minutes, so we don’t have time to play around,” he bellowed out at the recruits in his most official sounding voice. In truth, he was rather nervous about this first task in leadership, he had never in his life told anyone what to do nor ever had been in the position to. Yet, here he stood looking at eleven other men who now awaited his command, in all honesty, it was rather thrilling to the silvery Dracon.

Taking a second to glance from the other recruits to the building again, he formulated his plan. The four dwarves seemed to be the strongest of the group but they where also the most cumbersome and shortest. The humans and elves would be the lightest as well weaker of the group. That left him and the other Dracon in the middle. It seemed to Drae’zin that a human or rather a dwarf “pyramid” would be the most logical way. This would easily get all the other recruits up but that left the much shorter and heavier dwarves left on the ground and unfortunately in the military, three-quarters wouldn’t cut it.

He would work it out as he went, he didn’t have time to dawdle in thought and turned back to the recruits. “Dwarf recruits assemble at the base of the building, I wanna see the four of you in a pyramid on the double,” he said couching them into position with one on top of two other’s shoulders. He placed the final one in front to help with hoisting the other recruits up into the arms of the top dwarf and to steady the pyramid as they ascended. With this complete he began to order the other recruits to scale the dwarfish construct to the top.

As Drae’zin watched the recruits ascend, first the humans and followed by the elves, he formulated how to get the dwarves up. He watched as the recruits already at the top helped their comrades up and deduced if one recruit where to hang down by their ankles from the other recruits they could be used to hoist up their fellow recruits. Drae’zin was the last to scale the pyramid, adding “Good work men, now to get our sturdy friends up to join in our victory.”

Drae’zin set about to guide the recruits on top of the building into an organized “winch”, dangling two humans over the edge who were each held by the ankles by three other recruits. They proceeded to pull the dwarves off the ground two at a time until they all stood atop the building. Provided all went well with Drae’zin’s plans, he looked over the edge down to Silverblade, “What else would you have of your recruits, SIR!”

[Soldier]

“What do you think you are doing, lollygagging around on the roof?!? Who do you think you are, some kind of jaybird? Get your tails down here before I come up there and boot you off the roof myself! MOVE IT!”

There was a mad scramble to get off of the roof and line up in front of the manic drill instructor. “I am horribly underwhelmed by your performance. You people had better start showing me what you are capable of or you will not make it. Now listen up. Recruit Emberfang, you have one minute to get your squadron to the mess hall for lunch. The first person there owes me 20 push-ups. The last person owes me 40. MOVE OUT!”

[Drae'zin Emberfang]

Drae’zin was a bit perturbed by Silverblade’s disregard of what he considered rather successful but it was not if he actually expected a pat on the back or congratulations. The silvery Dracon joined in climbing back down and reassembling around the drill instructor. The Sergeant began detailing their next command which seemed rather simple, just get the recruits to the dining hall, easy enough considering all of them were most likely famished after the day’s vigorous exercises. He had considered this too soon when the Drill Instructor added the punishment for first and last place.

Drae’zin ran the implications through his mind quickly, no one would want to enter first now and that would cause an argument unless he went first and took the punishment. This brought with it a second ordeal, if he went first then no one would want to be last then and cause a commotion of everyone trying to enter before the other. He knew in his head this was a test, but the answer seemed to evade him. There was another possibility but he didn’t like the outcome of it either. He could himself enter first, leave, let the other recruits enter and him re-enter last as well. This meant he would have to do sixty push-ups by himself on his tired and weary muscles. This to Drae’zin seemed the only method possible in order to stifle any commotion and get the squad in quickly.

“Alright recruits, we need to hustle through those doors and now and unless any one of you gutless worms wanna volunteer,” he started, hoping to “inspire” someone into going first or last so he wouldn’t have to do it alone, “I guess I will.” He would gladly accept any offer by the other recruits, but he didn’t have much faith in them giving a care about him. Perhaps his selfless sacrifice might inspire someone, but he wouldn’t bet on it. If no one did step forward he would carry on with his original plan and be first and last through the door, taking the punishment for the squad… for the good of the team.

[Soldier]

The three columns headed out and stopped just outside the door. The two Dwarven assistants of Silverblade’s got the group in single file line and Silverblade began marching up and down the line, glaring hard at each person. His silence was worse than his ranting, but that was soon ended as he walked up to Emberfang and shouted, “You were the last one here. You will not be late again. Being late can, has, and will result in the loss of a battle and a lot of good soldiers will die. I never want to see you late again. DROP AND GIVE ME MY 40!”

Then he turned his attention on the rest of the group. “You people left your Squadron Leader behind. In the Lions, we have never and we will never leave ANYONE behind. When you go off to fight, know that you will come back, alive or dead. I never want to see you leave someone behind again. ALL OF YOU, DROP AND GIVE ME 60!”

After the push-ups were done, the recruits were marched in, single file, to eat. Food was heaped upon their trays and water and milk were in abundance. There were a few other people in the mess hall, but the instructors crowded the recruits together at two tables. Sitting next to Emberfang on one side was a little Halfling lady with a missing front tooth who looked like she was about to drop dead. On the other was an Elf that kept glaring at Silverblade like he was trying to throw daggers from his eyes.

[Drae'zin Emberfang]

Drae’zin would have sulked if he weren’t standing at attention. The Sergeant’s words struck like ice on the Dracon’s thoughts. As it was quite apparent now, hindsight was truly clearer than foresight and he understood what he had done wrong. The leader must always “lead” his troops and he had displayed he hadn’t understood that concept. He hoped that this wouldn’t discredit him in the eyes of Silverblade and cost him his position, but he had learned his lesson.

Thoughts buzzing around his head as he performed his exercises, he didn’t stop at forty and went the full sixty with his comrades while shouting encouragements. Then he marched in and joined the crowd to eat. He munched stiffly on some form of meat, his thoughts still on the many occurrences of the day. As he grabbed for a glass of water, he noticed his company of the hobbit and elf. Drae’zin hid a scowl at the elf and paid him no heed and focused his attention on the halfling. She seemed to have seen better days and being the concerned Dracon he was, “Pardon me, miss, but are you ok?”

[Soldier]

“I don’t think so, Iguana!” growled Silverblade, a powerful hand clamping solidly on Emberfang’s tail. “You were ordered to give me forty, and EVERYONE was ordered to give me sixty! YOU STILL OWE MY FORTY!” The last part came out as a bellow, as the Drill Instructor swung a foot at the Dracon’s ankles, sending him to his hands and knees. A solid boot planted itself directly on Emberfang’s spine, pressing down. “PUSH, Iguana! PUSH!” The boot pushed down and released until Emberfangs’ punishment was complete.

The Halfling smiled back. “I’m Lana,” she said. “Lana Wimpleweather. What have we gotten ourselves into?”

The Elf snorted. “We’ve gotten into Silverblade’s personal torture chamber, that’s what.” (OOC- if you like, start a thread “Life in the Barracks” for this interesting conversation)

After about half an hour, Silverblade and the other two instructors stormed in and start getting everyone out the door. “EAT NOW, TASTE IT LATER! WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS IS, A PLEASURE CAMP? MOVE IT!”

Once outside, the squadron was assembled for a lecture. Silverblade, in a surprisingly calm demeanor, began to relate one of the foundational events in the Lions’ history: the incident in the Fire Cave.

Several decades ago, a patrol was out near Aslan’s Forge. They drank some water from a small stream they found and the entire patrol was poisoned. The LT was afraid he would lose his whole patrol when an old crone met them who said she knew were the antidote was. The sick patrol followed her to a cave where she told them that, far back into the cave, was a small box that contained to cure. But there was a problem; every few seconds, a tongue of flame would roar through the cave, sucking out all the air and killing anyone inside. The cure was so far in that no one would be able to run in while holding their breath, grab the box, and make it out alive. And if they did not, the wooden box was sure to be burned, destroying the patrol’s only hope of survival. They would have to find another way.

They thought up several possible ideas, but none would work for one reason or another. Then a Halfling stepped forward. “Sir,” he said. “I am not the greatest soldier here. I barely passed training and have been a burden to my comrades in many ways. But I will get that box.” With that, he turned and, as soon as the flames died down, he darted in. He did not make it out again. Around a corner, they saw his lifeless hand fall to the ground.

Not wanting to leave the charred body, which was now close enough to retrieve, he sent two other men in who made it out with no problem. What they found shocked them. The Halfling, knowing that he could not make it, had cut open his belly and placed the box inside his gut to protect it from the flames. The antidote worked and the patrol was saved, but only because one man was willing to die to save his comrades.

“Do you understand?” Silverblade asked. “There may come a time when you will have to lay down your life to save others. If you are not willing to do that, you have no place here. You will be a danger to yourself and others. Only those who are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice can be Lion. When you are in battle, the man next to you has to know that you are willing to lay down your life for him, just as he is willing to lay down his life for you.”

[Drae'zin Emberfang]

Drae’zin quickly corrected his mistake about the push ups quickly and ate with the same haste. It was becoming quite apparent that the military lived by the rule that everything should have been done thirty seconds ago. He followed this sentiment as he rushed to the next lesson around Silverblade and listened intently.

The story of the Fire Cave made the silvery Dracon descend into deep thought. He cocked his head to the left and right, glancing at each recruit in their squad with his large amber eyes.

Could I possibly give my life to let even one of these men survive…

The automatic reply from his brain was “Yes” but it was much easier to say than to do. He truly wondered if he would have the strength and integrity to do so… in fact, he hoped very much he would.

[Soldier]

After the story of the Fire Cave, the next class began. “First aid,” Silverblade said, “is the emergency help you give to a soldier who is wounded. It may be a very long time before a doctor or healer can get to him, and what you do in the first hour or so after an injury can mean the difference between life and death.” The assistants brought out sets of first aid supplies, the items every soldier would have on his person when entering battle. The small kit had several triangle shaped bandages, a needle & thread, and a small vial of pure alcohol (“Not for drinking, you idiots!”). He explained how to apply direct pressure to a wound to stop bleeding and how, in only the most dire of circumstances, to use a tourniquet. He showed each soldier how to use the triangle shaped bandages in the kit to make a splint for a broken bone and a sling for an injured arm. There were a few herbs in the kits as well used for pain relief and to clean wounds so they do not get infected. Silverblade and his men went around to make sure everyone was doing it right.

[Drae'zin Emberfang]

Drae’zin turned his attention away from pondering giving his life for another towards the ability to save a life… without his sacrifice. He would have to cross that bridge when it came, if it came, but he was much more hoping that he could use the lessons on first aid before the much more drastic approach. He paid attention to each technique, noting the instructor’s procedures carefully as they might save a life some day. Although, the Dracon was much more inclined towards dealing wounds than to healing them, he absorbed the lesson slowly.

[Soldier]

After several hours, the squadron got fairly proficient at the simple first aid being taught, enough to save a man’s life anyway. But the day was still not over. The group was hustled into formation, two columns of men and women, and marched at a quick pace to the other side of the compound. There, six thick logs were on the ground, four 10 feet long, two four feet long. The short logs were for the 4 Halflingss in the group, the rest of the squadron got the others. “Each log,” Silverblade said, “will be carried by a team of 2 to 3 people. Two teams will run side by side. Every 100 paces, the teams will stop and swap logs. One team will throw their log high to the other team. That team will throw their log low. If you throw at the same time, each team will catch the other teams log. If you screw it up, you’re going to break bones. Squadron Leader Iguana, get your people together and follow me.”