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 Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 1:59 pm
There were many who had been glad for her return, and her instruction. Many others had been very displeased about having to take orders from her again. Her technique and her strict-nature were not for everyone. However, the Firekin were a military, and they needed to learn to act like them. Most of the soldiers did not get the opportunity to think for themselves like the guard did.
Guards needed to be smarter, contrary to popular belief, as they often did not act as a unit but as a sole force. The entire pride relied on them for defense. They were an essential core, not throwaways.
It didn't mean that Moto'Seide wasn't surprised when she saw a familiar face heading in her direction. "Excuse me, soldiers," she told the two and moved to meet the Corporal halfway.
Her strides were long, face steeled over in an unreadable expression. Was this about her quieting him in the most recent meeting? Perhaps her brother had struck a nerve with the Corporal - not a wise choice - and she was going to receive the complaints. Whatever the reason, Azar certainly had her attention.
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 2:18 pm
But then, neither would he have gotten a chance to approach Seide about this...rumour, he had heard.
Some might think he had a bit of a cheek coming to ask her about her position as Legate after all that had been said and done. Not only had he disrespected her authority, he had also told his son - quite explicitly - that sentinels were cowards who didn't want to stay and face the danger. That they'd rather be out in the rogue lands hiding away instead of standing side by side with their kin. But only Azar'bijan knew that he'd lied about that. The truth was that he just hadn't wanted his son to leave. But Heti had gone anyway...
He looked up just as Moto'Seide came striding towards him and pulled himself up to his full height. "Legate." He greeted gruffly, eyeing her with a strange sort of wariness. Perhaps annoying females was not the best idea...
"I think you probably know why I am here."
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 5:26 pm
Moto'Seide came to a pause as she entered Azar's personal boundaries. His head was raised, and his voice seemed stiff. Perhaps he was worried, stressed, or a combination of both.
In contrast, Seide's ears swiveled calmly on her head and her tail hung low and still. It was a vague surprise that he called her by her title; it was a sign of respect for her position that she did not believe Azar to posses.
Did she know why he was here? Moto'Seide thought for a moment, and then put all the pieces together.
"You are either here to raise issue with me," she began. "Or you are interested in taking my place as Legate." The Firekin looked him over and waited for him to clarify. If he was so weak-minded that he could not hold a voice to his desire to complaint or position, then neither were the right path for him to follow.
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 5:34 pm
The fact that he was at least attempting to be on good behaviour was certainly sign enough...if one knew him well enough. His use of her title had not gone unnoticed then and, when she responded he gave a short nod of his head to clarify it.
"Well, I'm not here to talk about the weather." Was his initial response, gruff and bordering on impatience. His brow furrowed. "So it's true, then? That you're taking leave from your post?" If it was not, then he had totally wasted his time. And possibly made a fool of himself, too. Azar didn't usually put much faith in rumours but he had heard the same story from more than one lion and it seemed to him that so many lions could not have gotten hold of the wrong end of the stick. "Because if it is true then that's why I'm here." And he puffed out his chest a little, as if trying to look more the part - or what he considered to be the part. "You can end your search now. You'll find no better lion."
Modesty had never been in his make up and that was not about to change now.
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 5:41 pm
"Yes," she responded to Azar simply. There would be no beating around the bush. If Azar was qualified, he would get the position. However, that would require the proof in his ability to not let his anger govern him.
It was the one task that set the sentinels apart from all other Firekin. They simply could not let their anger and pride take over their duties. It was a useful fighting tactic for the guard and the soldier, but it was deadly for the sentinel.
There was a funny sound from the Legate. It was a chuckle, happily purring from her chest at Azar's great confidence in himself. He was exactly the kind of lion that she would look forwards to interviewing.
"Then I shall interview you here. Should you have any questions when I am done, you may ask them." With Azar's rush and confidence, Seide felt there was no need to relocate should the Corporal not request it.
"To a Firekin outside his or her land, what are three deadly mistakes."
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 6:01 pm
Interview? Wait? What? No one had mentioned anything about interviews and tests in the rumours. Dammit. Maybe he should have studied...Thankfully the only sign of his inner thoughts was the slight shifting of his weight from one paw to the other. What was he getting nervous for? He knew stuff. This would be fine. Totally fine.
Unfortunately for Azar, the first question was...tricky.
The lion, for all his talk and confidence, had never strayed from the borders, keeping strictly within the territory. Unlike his son the thought of leaving his homeland was...not the most comfortable of things. The desert was where he belonged and the thought of stepping foot outside of it was...disconcerting. But this was a promotion opportunity. If he had to go blundering out there then he'd damn well do it even if it did go against his beliefs that a Firekin should be in the desert. In the Motoujamii.
First thing first. Starting fights. It seemed to be a clear enough answer, but what exactly could be dangerous about that. Firekin were big, strong and fierce. Their reputation alone might be enough to scare anyone stupid enough to come up against them. But...he supposed if it was one Firekin against many, such as a pride then there could have been trouble. After all, the outnumbered scenario was what had seen the deaths of two of their kind already and why the guards had to stay within sight of one another - in case aid was required.
"Wandering into pride territory." Was his first answer. "Stirring up aggression in a group. Firekin are strong but one Firekin can fall to many."
But he still had to think of two more answers and he couldn't help but revert to what he knew as a guard. Another mistake would be falling out of communication with a fellow guard. If one disappeared out of sight behind a dune and danger came...or if one was too proud to call for assistance. The 'wall' could crumble to allow enemies to slip deeper into the lands. But did sentinels have this sort of set up? And so, that was his second answer. "Maintain communication. If you don't show when expected, the others will need to know where to start looking." It seemed reasonable to him. After all, he'd heard the unclaimed lands were vast. Still, perhaps they were so vast that communication wouldn't really be possible. Maybe lions out there were responsible for themselves. After all, did he want to spend his time chasing across the lands in search of little lost sentinels? Not really...
And a third.
What else could possibly harm a Firekin?
Groups of strange lions. Yes. Getting lost? Maybe. But what else? Azar had always believed the rogue lands to be a far easier life than what they had here.
"And, uh..." His mind whirred and he said the only thing that came to mind. "Underestimating a danger." Because of one's own pride. He thought to himself, though he didn't say that out loud. Pah, he was sure he'd be fine out there. It was those young ones with no experience that had to be careful.
"So." He said when his answers had been given. "Am I done?"
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 6:13 pm
For many, the Legate's face was unreadable. There was a lengthening in the muscles around the muzzle and a sudden forward movement of ears, however, that revealed she'd been surprised by Azar's answer. Seide suppressed the very good that she wanted to give for Azar's first conclusion. It was an interview, and Azar needed to finish the entirety of it on his own.
"Good." He had missed water, focusing too much on the battle aspects and not on the long, hard days where you saw no one, were unaware of the environment's dangers, and had nothing to do but chew one another out. He seemed to have an understanding of limits, and that was a very good start.
"No," she answered him. "I have scratched the surface of your ability to think out of your element. You still must prove to me that you are capable of handling yourself within it, when it is threatened, and before that threat ever comes to pass."
The Legate bobbed her head and moved to the next subject. "What formation should be utilized against a single, foreign opponent? Assume the potential for an ambush. Include the differences for both soldiers and guards to compensate for differences in training style and body type. The sentinels are composed of both." Someone from the sentinels themselves would have been expected to know this information, but Seide felt no qualms in providing it for Azar. He was a guard, not a sentinel, and she was here to test his strengths and weaknesses, not make a fool of him.
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Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 1:26 pm
One of Azar's many downfalls was that his mind rarely dwelled upon aspects of life that were not military. Such practical things as water and food and being able to find shelter in an unknown territory was something that a lion who had lived in one place all of his life wouldn't necessarily think of. Still, as Seide acknowledged his answer he gave a quiet huff as if to say: did you expect otherwise?
Still, he wasn't entirely happy that this was going to take more than one question. It was all a farce, really. Seide knew of his prowess. Going through this formality seemed pointless to a lion who believed he was the only lion suitable for the job.
Her next question reminded him, distinctly, of the war games that had been organised all those weeks back. When he had taken lead of a smaller group in preparation to take on the larger number of enemies. The thrill of that mock battle had given him a thirst for the real thing, remembering the snap of his voice as he called out orders as they prepared to face the coming horde. He'd found himself and his team a good strategic location, sent forwards some members to act as lures to try and funnel them through a narrow pass - forcing them to file in slowly instead of an instant rush. Once they were all in - however - that was where things had gone wrong. In real battle it would have been a retreat situation but there was no danger of death standing to face the enemy head on in that scenario.
"Easy." He rumbled in response. "I would use the soldiers as the aggressors, cutting across - or dropping down in front of the target first. Whilst they have the target distracted, the guards would fall in behind him, tight formation, shoulder to shoulder, preventing escape if the target tried to flee." He smirked, ever confident. "If completely surrounding the target isn't possible, have the guards flanking the soldiers, ready to step forward to protect an ally if they fall."
Damn, he was good.
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 2:11 pm
The answer that Azar gave her next was far more predictable, and exactly the sort of response she had expected from him. In fact, it was the sort of response she looked for in all her soldiers.
"You would utilize your whole army against a solo force?" The question seemed to be rhetorical, because Seide was very quickly moving on.
"Enough of our brains." The Legate shifted and moved out on the sands further from Azar. "We are on training grounds."
Moto'Seide's shoulders were rolling and she took in a deep breath to relax her body. Her stance widened.
"Attack."
-
If attack is attempted Roll 1-5:
1: Attack countered
2: Weak hit
3: Attack dodged
4: Attack lands, but exposes a weak point: receives strong counter-hit
5: Strong, solid hit
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Kimaria generated a random number between
1 and 5 ...
5!
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 2:49 pm
"You're joking, right?" This had to be a joke. She wanted him to fight her despite the fact that he was bigger, stronger and better than her? That was ridiculous. But there she was, getting all prepared. Was this some sort of trick? He eyed her suspiciously for a moment, his red eyes narrowed. And, when he curled a lip in response, the scar on his nose made the expression puckered and ugly.
Well, fine then. He was not about to say no to a direct challenge. He was no coward and he was pretty confident that he'd be able to knock her off her paws and end the fight in a single attack. With a small shrug in response, he settled himself more comfortable on the sand, testing it beneath his paws as if seeking anything that might smite him at the most unfortunate of times. This posture was held for about two seconds and then he answered her request with a forceful leap...
It seemed like a long time since he had duelled and the exercise would probably do him good, what with his lack of patrolling recently.
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 2:57 pm
Azar's thoughts about bigger, stronger, and better were completely ignored. No, instead Moto'Seide met him halfway.
When he leapt, she went up, taking the force of the attack with her back legs. The strong impact made her head ring, but soon she was pounding her own series of attacks in return. For a brief second, it was like a scene from a movie.
"Counter," was the only warning she gave him as they rose up again. The Legate delayed by no more than a moment. She shifted, quiet on her hind feet and drove the point of her shoulder into his chest and then a paw--its claws sheathed--down towards his face.
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 3:07 pm
It took him a moment to realise that she had spoken again, caught up in the moment as he was in trading attacks back and forth. And, by the time he did, it was too late. She'd slipped out of her attacks and came underneath his defences. Her shoulder against his chest knocked him off-balance, particularly with his hind legs planted as precariously as they were. Determined not to lose balance completely, he twisted his body and drove forwards as if to use her own weight to balance himself and get back on track to remain on the offensive.
Except his face was suddenly full of claws and - with the memory of the injuries Fia's attacks had left still vivid in his mind - Azar'bijan jerked his head backwards to put more distance between them and draw out of her reach. He didn't realise, until he'd already acted, that the paw Seide had swung at him did not have claws at all.
Practise. His mind hissed furiously as itself. Not every female is a wild-eyed lunatic.
Well...maybe.
Azar'bijan dropped back onto all fours and his expression became almost brooding as the mistake settled in, his tail swinging irritably behind him.
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 3:18 pm
The Legate had expected many more back-and-forths before the Corporal stepped back. In fact, she'd believed it would be her, not he, who would have to step back to end things.
The red lioness slowly shifted forwards until her weight settled over all her paws equally. Nothing escaped her mouth for a time, her breaths moving in rhythmic and practiced.
Perhaps it had been an unfair test. Azar was recovering from a series of injuries. In fact, those injuries were probably the worst offenders to Azar's resume. Everything else could have been as perfect as he thought, but the risk of infections and weakness in the outside lands was high.
They did not loligag from place to place.
"That will be all, Azar." The Legate finally settled the rest of the way. "This is your time, should you have questions for me."
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 3:30 pm
He grumbled inaudibly to himself, probably cursing his brief moment of weakness. If he was going to do that the least he could do was wait until something which didn't mean it could ruin his chances of promotion. Damn. Damn. Damn.
"How long will it be before I hear?" He asked. "As soon as my injuries are done I'll be back out on the borders." And patrol shifts were long. He didn't want to be out there potentially missing his chance because everything had moved quicker and couldn't wait for him to get back. And, if he had it his way, he'd be back on patrol tomorrow - though the likelihood of that happening was slim. A wounded guard, after all, was a weak link in the chain. He had to be in top condition to do his duty...he just wished it wasn't taking so long.
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 3:37 pm
"A week to two," Moto'Seide answered. "If you are selected, I will find you personally."
A silent bob of her head indicated that she had heard Azar. A few things had surprised her today, but the Corporal seemed more or less the same at his core. She would keep him in mind, but it was certainly not in the bag for the egocentric Firekin.
"If there is nothing more, Corporal, you are excused."
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