Citizen Levy Command Center

[Maddyn]

Ethgan’tor Guard

Located towards the west of Ethgan’tor, stationed directly in between the Citadel and the Gates of Ethgan’tor lies the Guard quarters of those who serve within the Levy. One hundred metres in length and breadth, the building itself consists of some eight floors from ground level and another two located beneath the city itself. As one draws closer, the Guard House rises above the buildings by a solid four stories in height and is build from the same pink veined marble by which all of Ethgan’tor is built and fashioned from. The building itself however unlike one would expect from military buildings found within the Allerian Empire didn’t bother with fortifications or the possibilities of having to withhold assault or siege; but rather was designed for aesetic tastes simply because it wasn’t the original architects who designed Ethgan’tor in the beginning since their ‘fall’ to construct anything unsightly when perfection could be established in every medium.

Outside, two Moriquendi guards stand to an almost lazy attention upon either side of the great doorway that remains open; each half of the polished door and mythril inlay doors held back in place with bolts in the floor itself. Both Moriquendi stood at an even five foot eight inches and were lithe of build – almost identical to the eye as if that had been the primary requirement for guards who chose to remain within the Levy after serving their twenty patterns of compulsory service. After all, not every Moriquendi in Ethgan’tor found themselves suitable for ‘normal’ life or was offered a position within one of the few Major Houses within Ethgan’tor or the many Minor as a part of the Household when service was completed. Each Elf was garbed in perfectly form fitting plate mail constructed from Elfin Steel with the rune of Order inscribed onto the breastplate itself in polished bronze. Between their legs was a white silk tabard that stretched to the kneecaps bearing the rune for Law and draped about their shoulders was a heavy white woollen cloak designed for winter weather bearing the final rune of Justice in crimson thread. Upon the right hip was a black leather sheathe with bronze gilding and a longknife, wielded in their left hands was a large glaive constructed from dark polished wood with mythril reinforcing and an adamantinum blade as if the Guard was showing off the accumulated wealth it had managed over the hundreds of Patterns.

Moving inside the Guard house, rather than some massive hallway or chamber there was but a little room with a closed doorway on the right and left sides. Lit with bronze braziers, the room was illuminated perfectly to reveal scuff marks and a worn surface leading towards the two doorways and the desk in the middle of the room. And it was that desk which immediately drew ones attention, some three metres in length and all but completely covered in neat stacks of paper that all but totally hid the Elf who sat behind the desk. Silver hair was the first sign of life, neatly braided behind her head before slender moonbeam pale hands reached to shift aside some of the paper and redistribute it to another, somewhat smaller pile. Her face bore the atypical beauty of the Elf-Kin, though it was marred somewhat by the entire left side of her face bearing markings of long healed scarring due to fire that gave her a gaunt and unhealthy appearance. Glancing up suddenly, she but blinked once as she noticed oneself, her eyes a light tan and her bow shaped lips twisting into a wry smile at there being yet another person who’d had their Naming Brightening only recently and was about to sign up for their service, or an older Elf who simply couldn’t adjust to life outside the army.

“Vedui’, I’m Shaalth Niayn – could you be a dear and take note of the tapestry while I sort out the forms? Just a little busy at the moment…seems a group from Kard en’i’Nimor and Kard en’i’Me’a dared each other for an extra fourty patterns of service and now we’ve got to commodate them…A!, I swear Nikeryn Tindomerel will be the death of me if we follow the procedures from the prior Captain…” Niayn stated softly, rambling as she thrust forth a small 2oz bottle of black ink, a goose feather quill and continued to rummage through the paper itself for the various forms.

The tapestry above that Lieutenant Niayn had indicated was white silk, though tending to be somewhat threadbare down the bottom and was covered in pitch black embroidery for the following information.

Aaye!

Welcome to the Ethgan’tor Levy Citizen,

All Elves between the ages of one hundred and one hundred and twenty patterns are obliged by the State for complusary service within the Citizen Levy.

Exceptions to this are only through already holding an Apprenticeship in either Government or Trade, or through speaking with the Commander for special dispensation or deferment.
Deferment holds an additional twenty patterns service.

During this time you shall be granted clothing, living quarters, stipend and various other means to accommodate oneselves.

Returning Citizens:

Upon re-entering the Levy, all prior ranks will hold as beforehand and the same facilities shall remain open unto thee for a period of twenty patterns by which one will be required to re-enter the Levy again.

Below this was the three symbols of Law, Order and Justice.

OOC:
Vedui’

Training available:

Many things, ask and you shall recieve.

Pay:
Private: Thirty Imperial Gold Crowns equivalent per Cycle.
Sergeant: Sixty Five Imperial Gold Crowns equivalent per Cycle.
Lieutenant: One Hundred Imperial Gold Crowns equivalent per Cycle.
Captain: One Hundred and Fifty Gold Crowns equivalent per Cycle.
Commander: Two Hundred and Fifty Gold Crowns equivalent per Cycle.

Leaving the Guard:
This shall be done only through the following means.

* Character Death.
* Offer of employment within one of the Major of Minor Houses as a Household Guard.
* Proving to be a liability to the state. Detainment and charges are lain.
* Obtaining an Apprenticeship in Government or Trade within Ethgan’tor.
* Special dispensation granted by the Commander of Ethgan’tor.

[Alexiali N'mora]

He was decidedly not dressed for the part Alexiali decided as he made his way towards where he remembered the Citizen’s Levy to be, he remembered that much at least even if he’d forgotten absolutely everything else under the sun about it. As he approached closer his eyes flickered over the weapons with perhaps a hint more suspicion and caution than your average recruit might show. Most would probably show awe…or perhaps simply recognition given this was Ethgan’tor, Alexiali though was suspicious to his core and trying to force his mind to remember.

After all what did he know about the place? About it’s organisations and the people that were here, had they had such good weapons before or not? He wished Ioannes would damn his lack of memory to Aeternia, or would have if he hadn’t remembered that it was because of Ioannes he was here, in attempting serving Ioannes he’d become blind and then once again saw clear, he knew what he had to do.

Entering the building Alexiali stepped forward, for a moment lost before he saw the hair and finally the Elf that followed it. Stepping forward further towards the desk he offered a respectful bow after she’d finished, making sure he had her attention. The bow that of a lower to a superior, as was befitting someone without any house at all. Why after all be nothing but frank, the worst case would be he’d get into an argument. Death would come during training, during affairs where it could be put off as an accident, there was too much face to be lost among the Houses to kill him in cold blood as it were.

Waiting for her to respond somehow Alexiali spoke, his voice grave and frank but befitting its usual gaunt certainty.

“I am Alexiali, formerly of House N’mora, if you’ll forgive me my lack of knowledge I seek to return to my position in the Levy after a period of…retraining. I’ll explain further in a moment.”

He’d explain further only if and when he knew if the Elf before him was going to be scornful or co-operative, it did no good handing his enemies the fact he was completely without skills, they’d discover eventually but he hoped to relearn what he’d lost quickly. He knew what to learn and scraps of how but never enough to form anything coherent, it was a race against time before the wolves came to hunt the crippled outcast.

[Maddyn]

Lieutenant Niayn's reaction however to Alexiali was a moment delayed as her brow furrowed in extreme puzzlement while she listened to him. N’mora was a name she knew, how could she not considering Niayn had served originally under a Captain N’mora when she'd first been inducted to serve her time within the Ethgan'tor Levy...this couldn't be the same Esh'lashier however could it? Alexiali didn't have the bearing of someone barking out orders even if he did have that aire of nobility about him that was only to be expected for a N’mora...

"Hmm...Alexiali of House N’mora...oh...Phedos! Sir!" she suddenly exclaimed, having found the sheet of paper she was looking for - or rather the damned folder of Alexiali's that contained his service time, records, students trained and the courses he'd undertaken along with the few actual engagements he'd had outside the city of Ethgan'tor and those rare ones beneath in the mines. "It's umm...an honour to meet you again Sir...you remember me don't you? Private Niayn, served under Sergeant Mylanthiar under your command in Pheonix Regiment...taught our Squad how to use a glaive Sir!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide even as her cheeks flushed with light rosy colour - obviously facinated with Alexiali's return as if he was some great war hero and couldn't quite believe he'd come back.

Rummaging through the papers to her side, carefully placing the folder of Alexiali's down before him as if he was more than welcome to start flicking through it if he so desired as she saught out the forms for returning soldiers. "You know...I think they've still got your glaive in the armouy Sir...I've never seen someone weild it like yourself Sir...would it be alright if you have me a lesson one brightening perhaps?" she queried, her eyes wide with innocent hope completely surreal in this city of manipulation mixed with religious fervour and politics.

[Alexiali N'mora]

Well Ioannes had both blessed him and cursed him, no more or less than he deserved in the end. He’d need to find someone, a sensible someone to train him in the glaive and do so quickly, possibly Sergeant Mylanthiar? It was fortunate Alexiali remembered some of his past or the shock would have been such to leave him speechless, instead the loss was hopefully only momentary as he regained his composure, seemingly appearing to have forgotten something important. He then made a show of studying the Lieutenant, refusing the urge to rip the folder from her hands and memorise every page.

“You’ve done well Lieutenant.”

Alexiali said with a small, genuine smile to cover the insecurity. Given the lack of ranks in the militia to get to Lieutenant was no small feat, although the woman did appear to have paid for it after a fashion and certainly deserved the spot, far more than he did. Forcing himself to take the folder calmly he flicked the covers open, studying the information before him, aware he needed to keep things as quiet as possible. The Lieutenant would probably give him pity, hopefully the Sergeant would still be around and would give him what he needed; his enemies would give him nothing but a knife in the back, for he would have enemies here as much as anywhere.

His decisions it seemed had been made, the glaive it was for now, possibly some of the unarmed combat too. He remembered the odd snatch of that if nothing to make himself any good at it, he had a reputation to live up to here and if he could at least appear…rusty with the blade then he could pick up the details as he went along.

“So what’s changed while I’ve been out in the world How is the Phoenix Regiment??”

Alexiali asked conversationally as he flicked through the folder to find what he was going to have to live up to in his second life.

“If I have time I’d be glad to spar with you, you’re probably better than me by now anyhow, I’m older and rusty.”

He attempted to joke– although fearing his ability with the thing had been so complete he’d have a tough reputation to live up to, unwilling to mention the woman directly given how little he knew of her. Hopefully the file would shed light on what he’d been involved in. Rank obviously as well as informal and formal levels of ability and training, what he was supposed to know and what he’d been…also why he’d left. He didn’t quite remember that either, the amnesia was irritating in places, you’d know one thing but not another, incomplete and fragmented but with the pieces torn, making it impossible to reform the puzzle.

He didn’t mention the glaive yet either but he’d look that up, something special would be useful at any rate…deterrents were all he had right now. Certainly N’mora might know of the amnesia but not how complete it was, he trusted in his brother simply thinking Alexiali stupid, hopefully word would simply get out that he’d returned to the city with nothing, not that he knew nothing into the bargain, his value was in his knowledge and although some would wish him dead and others him alive neither would be willing to bet on his metal condition for fear of being wrong, he just had to hope the fear held out until he could relearn what had been lost.

[Maddyn]

If anything Alexiali's compliment only served to fuel Nia's pride in wanting to do as much as she could to assisst Alexiali for the time being and perhaps future. Despite the fact she was probably coming off as just a little bit ditzy, if not more-so and overwhelmed by Alexiali as if he was some celebrity...which, given that even if he was an outcast N'mora, he was still the progenity of one of the Major Houses of Ethgan'tor and if anything his being outcast only served for fame or infamy depending on who you chose to support.

Working through the papers and trying ti make everything as presentable for Alexiali as possible, Niayan's voice undertook an almost melancholy quality, almost considering even for the distress such actions of the past had caused it'd also served to highten her own position and authority within Ethgan'tor itself. "Pheonix Regiment was almost entirely destroyed by a single Era ago when assigned to the Adamantium mines by a Vysstichi army attempting a breakthrough...only eighteen survivors in total, and even then that's because we dropped the shaft while evacuating..."

Smiling sadly, and shaking her head so as to cause her pale hair to shift as if udner the control of some seele breeze it lightened at the prospects of actually being able to spar with Alexiali in the future. "Well, maybe seeing as i've learnt some new tricks in the past - but I still don't see how you could be that rusty as not to beat me about a bit...perhaps this evening in the second training room? Also, your room should still be available Captain N'mora - just need a little dusting off...I'll have your pay go through from this cycle onwards..umm...anything else you'll be needing Sir?"

[Alexiali N'mora]

Alexiali inwardly winced but kept his attention on the file, a Captain and the regiment destroyed? That limited his choice for trustworthy subordinates, still if he worded the request carefully then she’d know who he meant, for all her seeming confusion she wasn’t exactly that stupid, she’d survived this long after all hadn’t she?

A Captain though, it had both advantages and disadvantages, sure, it was a high rank but it carried responsibility, he couldn’t let it be known he’d lost any of his old skills, if that leaked then he was in deep trouble. Old enemies would come down on him as would the new, equally he had allies if he could find them, this girl was one but telling her the truth would ruin that… It was like a situation he remembered vaguely in the House, playing one off against the other, using reputation to your advantage.

“Unfortunate, they were a good group.”

He said with a real trace of sadness in his voice, unfaked, for all his lack of knowledge it came unbidden, those who served, in any capacity, should be preserved at all costs.

“I don’t suppose any of my old subordinates are around still? Any Lieutenants or Sergeants? I’d like to get in contact with as many of my old staff as possible, quickly.”

No reason to explain, she’d know who he meant, the faithful, the trustworthy, he just had to find one and then things could start rolling, that person would know who he could trust and who would have to be watched and could re-train him under the guise of practice, he’d make no promises but he couldn’t fob this particular Lieutenant off forever.

“Also, given this is my first day back I’ll need some time to get familiar with any changes.” He continued, still intent on the file. “But I’d be delighted to see how you’ve progressed in a brightening or two, it shouldn’t take my that long to get back into things.”

He looked up and attempted a smile, hoping he was still not too bad at that sort of faking things, he needed those contacts and possibly his old weapon, he needed to know where he stood and this woman wasn’t going to be much use for that… For all she was she seemed a romantic, not one with a sense for the undercurrents here, if she’d known that she wouldn’t have been assigned to push pens, no, she wasn’t completely useless but equally she was not someone he could trust completely.

Already it seemed he was falling back into the pattern, into manipulation without even realising it, that was good, if that came back then what else would too?

[Maddyn]

Nia however only nodded her head slightly not really minding the prospect that so many Esh'lahier had died under the onslaught. Afterall, it's been probably the only reason she'd managed to rise so high in the Guard whilst remaining so young and not attached to any of the Major Houses of Ethgan'tor. It was unfortunate yes... but not something worth bothering too much thought about simply because death was often a means to an end in promotion...it just generally wasn't done in open view or in such a grand scale as the Company had suffered.

"Yes Sir, I believe Captain Tylinterial served underneath you as one of your Sergeants. He runs Griffin Regiment now, trying to restore it up to full strength but it won't happen for another generation or two; simply too few of our people in the right age group and not enough hang around full term as you know Sir." Nia responded, slowly rising from the seat as she mouthed the word "Invertium with force like it was a command word, which oddly enough, it was as the massive doors of the guardhouse slowly closed over and seemed to lock with whatever arcana brought about such effects.

Smiling back gratefully at the opportunity to force her company upon Alexiali for a while longer, she slid about the desk with only a momentary glance of annoyance at the heap of papers; Nia's slender form definetly not suited to the uniform of the Ethgan'tor Guard seeming far too bulky for such a slender waith-like body as she moved with a military precision that was marred by the clothing. Snapping to attention before Alexiali, she gave a simple crisp salute with her left hand clutched into a tight fist and placing it against her right upper body before relaxing of her own accord once again.

"It'd be my pleasure then Sir to get everything organised and show you about if you're willing. I'll have to get your set of kets from the storage rooms however for your locker and chambers - getting those shouldn't take long but we can do a quick tour for the general layout if you'd like?" she queried hopefully; slender fingers touching along the burnt tissue of her cheek as soft brown eyes mirrored such hope.

[Alexiali N'mora]

Alexiali nodded, it certainly couldn’t hurt. He wasn’t about to comment on her exactly circumstance but it definitely seemed the military had gone downhill since he was a member, still he wasn’t about to do anything that he knew of to show her he’d completely lost his wits, after all memories could be as potent as ‘trained’ skills and abilities.

No, being shown around again was a good excuse to get to know the place and at the end he could ask her to drop him off at this ‘Captain Tylinterial’s’ workplace so he could at least get to know someone who he’d worked with, after all the reaction of the man to him would tell him all he needed to know about whether he was trustworthy or not.

“I’d like that Lieutenant.”

Alexiali replied with a friendly smile.

“Lets get me settled again; I’ve forgotten the layout after all these Eras, then when it’s all done you can drop me off to see Captain Tylinterial, I’d like to find at least one other person around here I actually remember, it’s like I was never here.”

That was of course no joke but it would easily seem like one, which was fine. Things seemed to be going reasonably well so far, Ioannes be praised, he just needed to survive until he found someone he knew he could trust, although he suspected he’d find a few enemies before that time came, the worst bit being they’d know all about what he had been while he hadn’t got a clue. Fortunately they knew nothing of what he was, what he’d learnt and was mentally capable of, even if his skills were now broken and tarnished ruins.

[Maddyn]

If anything Nia looked positively radiant as the smile remained perfectly placed upon her pale features, the scar remaining but seeming to meld in with the hollows of her cheeks when she smiled so the damage wasn't quite so apparent. Curious about Alexiali to a fault, mostly she was interested in how his apparent outsing could be used for favour and if he could perhaps be used through one means or another to ascend her own station within Ethgan'tor. Always there was to be an alterior motive, it tended at least to keep people on their toes.

"As you know, the right door leads into the underground area's for the regiments bedding and supplied and the left is upstairs for the training facilities and the officers. The armoury itself is on the ground level, but to get there you have to go through the right door but rather than taking the stairs down keep going and take the first door on the left - that's where the blades are housed, second door is armour, third artilery, fourth...well, that's arcanically warded from all the old Magi's toys we still haven't found purposes to so best not to tamper much." Nia explained, not bothering with taking the tour towards the right thinking it better she took Alexiali towards Captain Tylinterial - and with any luck avoid Nikeryn Tindomerel - her commanding officer.

Pushing open the door gently and holding it open for Duncan, the room itself was little more than a staircase that rose up to the first floor before another doorway branched off after a little platform and the stairs continued until the top floor. Ignoring the first of the marble banisters, Nia only stopped once they'd reached to the third floor of the building before pushing that door open as well. The corridor was plain, marble as everything else within Ethgan'tor really with bronze braziers for lighting and doors of oaks and mahogany running along both right and left - each one adorned with a silver nameplate denoting the various officers of the Ethgan'tor Guard.

"Because we've been understaffed Sir, your room should be pretty much how it was left to be honest - your room if the fourth on the left, I'll have your tag restored...oh! and the Captain is the third door on the right hand side. I'll get this stuff from the locker first and set the key on the lock for your return alright? We can do the in depth tour once you've finished if you'd like..." she continued, her head tilting slightly to the side as if a child seeking approval; somehow managing to convey innocence from someone who was likely Alexiali's own age if not a few decades more.

[Alexiali N'mora]

The fact was Alexiali didn’t know but the explanations sufficed, the way she did thing was almost too good to be true though and, fortunately, it probably was true. For in her mind it all made sense, Alexiali wanting to meet his old staff members and such, still, if luck was with him this Captain would be friendly, if not he’d have problems – but then again he already had problems and would always have problems so the difference was negligible and the possible advantages great.

“That would be just fine thank you, if you just put everything in the office I’ll come and see you when I have time.”

No real definition of ‘when there’ but enough. When she’d finally gone though Alexiali indeed headed for the third door on the right, he didn’t plan to stay there since conversations through thin doors could be overheard but he’d definitely meet the Captain before he went to his office.

Going to said third door Alexiali looked around before knocking, aware he was still dressed somewhat badly. Without really waiting for permission to enter he slipped the latch down and walked inside, shutting the door behind him without looking at it, eyes instantly searching for the Captain.

[Maddyn]

Tylinterial wasn't the most difficult of people to find within the office given he was afterall standing right in the middle of the room even if his back was presented to Alexiali. The room itself was furnished better than the majority of the complex from what Alexiali had seeml the pink shot marble remaining predominate though tapestries covered the right hand side wall with the image of a Pheonix being reborn in red and gold thread. The left hand wall was spartan on the other hand, a window opening to the outside, with a simple bird perch of polished wood remaining underneath.

Situated in the middle of the room was a pine desk, stacked neatly with papers that for the main seemed to be marked in an 'out' pile and a bin filled to the brim with crinkled paper balls. Behind this was a wall, or rather shelves filled with books upon end that occupied Tylinterial's interests as the slender Elf continued to run his index finger across the leather bound tomes even as a loud creak filled the room at Alexiali's opening of the doorway. Without moving a muscle, Tylinterial continued as before though there seemed to be a shifting in his stance...something more to do with attitude than movement.

"Alexiali, I believe you owe me five crowns from our last match of chess...you've left paying your debts a little late old friend." came a soft voice, barely above a whisper that commanded absolute authority. The voice of someone who made decisions that costed the lives of hundreds daily and didn't matter how many died so long as the assignment was accomplished. Callous, and yet there was a warmth hidden behind this exterior - a melancholy for every soul he'd commanded to die, a silent weeping for the fallen that there was no repentance for. So long as Eth'gantor was safe; such deaths woulc continue as was necessary.

Turning slowly, the pale Esh'lahier was in the prime of his life with perfectly chiseled features that held a certain similarity with the marble walls; though underneath his eyes were dark markings of sleep deprivation and his eyes almost black in colouring. Tylinterial's one distinguishing feature being shoulder length silver hair that was shot along a single lock with purple dye and bound with a thin piece of string to keep it hanging above his left eye. "They're all dead you realise...almost... only eight remaining within all of Ethgan'tor that served under you...and not all will be happy with your return Alexiali...why'd you return? Why...why no word in all this time?" he asked, pleading almost as if his voice was about to break.

There had perhaps once been a friendship, an alliance mayhaps forgotten...or simply the trust of two soldiers of who'd saved each others lives...or at least Tylinterial was in Alexiali's debt. It was hard to figure...but there was something wrong here all the same. Something that didn't figure with what Alexiali's memories had provided.

[Alexiali N'mora]

Memories, flickers, nothing more but perhaps enough to get at least a picture of things, a very unclear one but a picture none the less. He remembered a little of Tylinterial now, a soldier, always a soldier. Not a stupid one either but he didn’t remember the man as being quite like this. He couldn’t quite put the pieces together but there were pieces. Pieces like the way he’d said “debts.” And the way he related the death of the entire unit.

In fact, from the way the man acted, Alexiali wouldn’t be surprised if he’d been able to tell it was Alexiali by the footsteps or the way he opened the door, a dangerous man. Yes, now he remembered, he’d only been a Sergeant then but dedicated, more dedicated than anyone else Alexiali knew. The danger was that the fanaticism, the patriotism, was in the body of an intelligent man. Certainly, Alexiali considered, that intelligence was limited to its focus but in a way that made him even more dangerous.

Oh the man was in Alexiali’s debt but as far as the former Captain could make out Alexiali was in an even greater debt to Tylinterial. The near-breaking voice, the sleep deprivation, something was bothering the man but he wouldn’t tell Alexiali, no, he wouldn’t tell the former Captain because there was admiration there, angry admiration, admiration at a trust that was broken. Alexiali wasn’t only in danger from everyone else who sought to use him, from his own family who sought to kill him, and it seemed in his present situation most of all from the former Sergeant who, in his mind, Alexiali had left to die.

For, as far as Alexiali could see, Tylinterial thought he was the one who had killed them all and left Tylinterial to do a job he couldn’t do, possibly he’d led the fight that had killed them all and thought it would have been different if Alexiali had been leading? It was a theory.

Unfortunately it was only in time that he would discover whether that was right, he new however that Tylinterial would help him, for now at least, because he wouldn’t want to kill a defenceless man. There was honour there, stained and crisped but honour that would make him determined to have Alexiali pay. How? Again he’d only discover that in time but he’d always have to be on his guard once he was partially retrained and, no doubt, Tylinterial would spare nothing in that retraining.

“I made a mistake. Now I’m paying for it.”

Alexiali said quietly at last. It was the truth but he still didn’t know what he was meant to do, the Gods controlled life in a way, not in absolutes but close enough and they’d told him he was doing the wrong thing in Directing the House. Or possibly it was just in opposing Baragot, whatever he’d done wrong he had to restart as it were, begin again and perhaps this was the right thing to be doing or perhaps not, but he’d find out one way or another.

“I have no memory…Captain, I don’t remember anything except patches, when I see someone bits come back but what I need right now is your help.”

He paused and shook his head, finally shutting the door and leaning against the inside wall of the office, what was said next? That would be the crux, what the other Captain said next.

[Maddyn]

So many possibilities, of the unknowns within Alexiali's life...so many ways that any Esh'lashier Elf with the knowledge Alexiali had just given Tylinterial in the mentioning of not knowing his own memory in totality could be used against him. And it was that knowledge that brought a whisper of a smile to Tylinterial's moonbeam pale features that held a somewhat sickly almosy yellowing tone in the recesses of his gaunt cheeks and the edges of his sleep lined eyes. "I'd offer you a seat Alexiali, but it seems we're both left standing..." he continued, glancing downwards as if to confirm his words in the lacking of any chairs both before or behind the desk.

"No word...no memories..." Tylinterial started but never seemed to finish whatever he'd started to say considering there was nothing the Elf could really manage. It was as if decades of pain and sorrow instead of being lifted from the Elf's shoulders had instead been picked up an inch or two before a pair of Minotaurs had decided to sit on each of his shoulders and break his back in the process. "Well then... I suppose it's a good thing I reminded you about the chess game considering how unlikely you'd have been to remember that Alexiali...heh...heh...heh..." dry quality, the laughter brittle like it would snap with the smallest amount of pressure.

If anything, Tylinterial looked as if he was on the verge of collapsing both through sleep deprivation, a sickly form and Alexiali's startling arrival that wasn't doing the Elf any favours. When his conscience was already eating him up with the 'what ifs' and unable to escape the horrors and his memories both awake or through dreams...plagued by his indecisiveness, of past mistakes of judgement that had been costlier than Tylinterial had a right to pay. But it'd been necessary, it'd had to have been considering he'd been promoted for his decisions and talents...that Alexiali had gone had had nothing to do with it...right?

...right?!

...and he was back...how would he have done things? The what if's continued and yet Tylinterial didn't dare voice his thoughts.

"What do you need Alexiali...how can I help?"

[Alexiali N'mora]

“Yes.” Alexiali continued dryly. “Well.”

His eyes and head tilted slightly as if mentally acknowledging a point, this wasn’ easy, it was never easy. Grunting in irritation the Elf sighed.

“I need retraining, I need to know what’s going on around here, all those things you did for me before I need again or it could be more than my life that is on the line; it could be the whole of this city.”

A gamble, nothing more, the man had to know how much importance the denial of Alexiali as a member of N’mora was on a court level and therefore how it applied to the Militia, in turn he’d know the importance of Alexiali being able to effect events and in turn the importance of him being trained enough to be able to do that, it was a twisted chain that relied on the image Alexiali had, the image of something beyond the memories, a core, the core that was even now manipulating a very angry, old friend.

[Maddyn]

Silence greeted Alexiali, Tylinterial torn between nonchalance and embitterment. There was so many answers, concerns and worries that he desired or wished to voice and yet lacked the courage to speak out lest the reprimand be there. For all their holding equal rank, Tylinterial in that same means of someone able to hold their own in the middle of the Chain of Command; never being less and yet never wanting more...and yet forced into the position by Alexiali's dissappearance. This wasn't how Tylinterial's life was supposed to be...

...but that hadn't been his choice to make.

"Very well then Alexiali...which weapons and skills, I can arrange things or do them myself. Just a warning though, if only for your future...Ethgan'tor isn't quite mustering for war yet but Prince Ebany' has been abroad with his Honour Guard and some of the Minor Houses have started partaking in his sports...one or two Major ones. At the moment the one the outsiders call Frozen River? Is being hit, slaves for the mines mostly but it's only a matter of time before the Prince razes the city and claims the mines himself so he has control over the weapons manufactured within Ethgan'tor's walls..." Tylinterial replied, his voice neutral and yet at the verge of breaking with the smallest of efforts.