Ranger Commons II

[Karis Ziranphel]

Cúner Ranger Karis Ziranphel
Headquarters, Nárië 20

Ziran was curious about the reason for the meeting, so listened closely as Pele began to speak. Her head tilted the slightest fraction at the mention of a security council, but she waited patiently for the rest of what the Captain had to say. She stilled and her gaze sharpened at the mention of Umbar. Her own memories of the place were not good, but from the little she knew, Pele’s experiences had been far worse. She had vacated the captaincy and returned to Pinnath Gelin by the time Pele had returned from the south, and only learned a bit more since their reunion in the Rangers.

The names mentioned, Relic and Shamara, were both known to her, although Ziran only had extensive reports on the latter individual. It was very concerning that they were both potentially in the city. Her eyes assessed Pele’s expression, and then flicked to Kaylin, who had much more experience with dealing with Shamara. She saw the rage simmering in her cousin, and although she would normally wait to speak, she stepped forward now.

“I think it wisdom that the King has assigned you guards if these two are a danger to your person. We will remain vigilant as well, although if there are any means by which we can identify them, it would be helpful to know.” Her gaze was on Pele, but Ziran laid her left hand calmly and unhurriedly on Kaylin’s right shoulder in solidarity.

[Arnyn]

Headquarters, Nárië 20


Hyandaner Kaylin Maethyr

Kaylin knew it would be extremely bad form to yell in frustration that Isys should have simply let her kill Shamara when she'd had the chance. Just like it would probably be unacceptable to punch at the wall. Or smash something. Most of her energy, therefore, was going to staying still - verbally and physically, as a small part of herself tried to calm herself down desperately. She kept failing, however, since most of her just wanted to release her anger and go on a rampage.

Karis' words brought a small vestige of her attention back to the office, instead of focusing entirely on keeping herself in check. She still jumped at the hand on her shoulder - perhaps not all that visibly, but Karis would have definitely felt the response.
Kaylin closed her eyes, and breathed. She tried to use Karis' hand as an anchor. When she opened her blue-grey eyes again, they were still stormy. But at least she'd managed to gather some of her wits. Her voice was low as she spoke.

"Captain, how is it a rumor Shamara has escaped? Either she escaped or she has not. If the matter is still unclear, let me go down to her cell and find out for certain." She could not fathom how such a thing could be an uncertainty. No - Kaylin could not bear it being an uncertainty.

"How long have you known Relic has followed you here?" The question was loaded, perhaps slightly accusatory. But Kaylin had the presence of mind to only put words to the other reason behind the inquiry.
"I - we -" she corrected herself quickly, "need a list of anyone who has approached you or whom you've spoken with since then, and to be sure, a week or two prior to that moment."

[Isolde Alarion]

Ranger Mourgan Alarion
Headquarters, Captain's Office, Nárië 20

A security counsel? His features grew serious. He was curious to hear what threat they were going to tackle but as he listened his fingers grew tighter around his helm. His jaw tightened and his brown eyes darkened as he listened further. Apparently someone was trying to kill Pele and he knew nothing about any of it! She'd been tormented by this woman and she shared none of it with him and he assumed his mother.
Glancing around the room he could see from the others reactions that they at least had some knowledge of this person and the events in Umbar. His eyes flicked back to Pele. Why didn't she tell him?! He would lay down his life for her not only as his Captain but more importantly as his beloved Aunt. Doubt flicked through his mind, she didn't trust him? Was that it? He knew better as a flicker of common sense told him the real answer. To protect him and his family but it didn't ease the sting of not knowing.

His eyes lowered to the floor as he worked through his thoughts as others spoke theirs. He wasn't sure what to say, he had so many questions rolling through his mind. He came to the conclusion that all his anger would do him no good at this moment. He needed answers and a plan.

He knew of neither of this Shamara or Relic. Apparently they'd had the one woman in custody and now she had escaped? His lips pursed at this knowledge. This Relic person caused his brows to furrow. She sounded like the main threat and to think she was in the city, free, plotting against Pele. Now he understood the reason for the guard and the her long absence along with the changes in her. He might not know details but he knew her well enough to recognize she wasn't the same person.

He finally spoke up. " Kaylin is right. We need to know what you know. Secrecy only helps them. " He shrugged. "I don't even know what they look like. They could be standing right beside me and I wouldn't know. Have you noticed anything unusual or out of the ordinary?" He asked hoping to jar her memory.

[Ercassie]

Ehtyar Ilisys Azrubêl
Captain’s office, HQ – 20 Nárië

The notion of a secret council surprised her. She was not typically disposed toward sharing secrets with any but those whom she trusted or knew well. Of those Rangers present, she respected all, but ‘knew’ very few. And despite having forsook her ‘southern’ garb for more standard colours on this occasion, and for reasons which were maybe more relevant than even she had suspected at first, Ilisys was aware that she was not privy to nor a part of their collective history together. She had served only the Prince, in the South, while they served the Steward, until such time there came to be a King. But Umbar was the enemy of all Gondor and those in the South perhaps were more acquainted with that particular pestilence than those who had regularly battled the likes of Orcs on the Eastern front.

The Belfalasian did not alter her demeanour as Pele outlined the matter at hand. Though she did excuse her gaze from the Captain, who could not have relayed such information without considerable strength and required intense scrutiny whilst doing so, like one needed a hole in the head. Instead she scanned the room, not holding to any particular attendee overlong. A reminder served enough that they were Rangers, that this was a place of trust, and that for all their purposes and personalities, they held a mutual want to safeguard their Captain, their mutual friend.

The initial silence spoke volumes of their shock and outrage, as much as the consequent calls for something to be done. Which she was not surprised to note, came mostly and most enthusiastically, from Kaylin’s direction. The redhead stood so near all but burned a private remonstration between the two of them, though she said naught of their part in the affair. Yet it was clear from the earliest reactions, that the sharing of information would set them that much closer to how best proceed. So it must be then.

“It is no rumour,” she put in suddenly, with a composed yet emphatic cadence. Without perhaps the fanfare or drama that the revelation might be owed or others might favour. “Shamara has without doubt escaped the dungeon. I can confirm it.” There was no joy in disclosing such tidings and she had dearly wished to learn more before bothering Pele with any of the particulars. But she could not claim ignorance of the matter when it was raised unexpectedly.

“How eager I was to encourage you to partake of the River Cruise,” Isys met the Captain’s face anew, and rather than search, this time, surrendered what she might, some at least as was necessary. “How eager to see you at least safe out of the city, since I was made aware by .. ” she waived the name away of her informant, “that,” she corrected herself, “Shamara was once again at large. By chance then I ran into her myself, upon the River cruise.”

Cloudy grey eyes avoided the likes of Arnyn whom she knew had also been upon the cruise, and Kaylin who would likely fly at the Ehtyar for having allowed the Umbarian to pass so without a riot. “That was .. unforeseen. Unfortunate. Though in hindsight, I suspect she might have been simply took up the cruise to ride the Anduin down to the coast. I barely recognised you myself in that beautiful gown,”

A sad smile escaped the Ehtyar, almost as though she might envisage that scene before her anew, in the office. The smile dissipated and Isys recalled her former more sedate expression. “She left the ship not unobserved, nor alone. And with luck, she may not yet realise that any one has followed her. I have yet to hear an update from her .. interested pursuit.” Her tapered chin descending some small way, some degree of remorse was evident about the woman’s expression, as she concluded her ‘report’. Doubtless it would not appease as greatly as an account of immediate recapture of Shamara. Still, Isys had never expected this council nor to be held accountable for what clandestine measures she had taken of her own accord.


“There are though other leads. The dagger,” she directed a raised eyebrow toward the Captain. “The vial ?” This time her head turned somewhat toward Kaylin. “And then there is the question of Cadil,” she mentioned, apparently as an afterthought. “The matter of abductions by Umbarians is a thing that Abrazimir and myself have set personal store against for longer than I care to share," she shared what might be shared of what had been done without report, or request from the command. "I am aggrieved to admit that together we have retrieved but three souls of our folk who were stole by the Umbarian scourge, and lost at least ten times that number in the efforts of doing so. The initial report I received from when Warder and Cadil set out in an immediate response to your disappearance ..” she did not look to the Captain at this point, unwilling to be diverted by any surprise. Did Pele even know that the two had set out to find and bring her home ?

“Their account," she continued, a heartbeat later, "was concerned mostly of the harbour where you were last seen .. and told tell of more than a dozen citizens of Harlond who were incapacitated at the time, and in whom the healers interviewed did hint an toxin was responsible.” Isys let the word carry about the room to properly convey the peril that their target was capable of. “We have reason to believe that Relic herself was present at the abduction, although there remains no sure description of even her appearance. Those who have been asked are more afraid to answer than to tell. Neither coin or bribe or appeals to conscience have availed. We should not by any count assume that because Pele is her target, that this Relic will not make collateral damage of all and any who she deems to be an obstacle.” Having made her, overly extensible perhaps, argument, in support of other enquiries, Isys relaxed the height of her posture and set a more cautious request of Pele in her conclusion.

“Several of us have seen Shamara by now, but Relic ? I must agree with the others here and ask, what are we looking for, exactly ” she had to ask. And she had to ask Pele herself, against all wish to cause the woman further upset.

It was more than a question of physical description, though that in itself had even proved impossible to ascertain so far. Ilisys was half convinced they were dealing with more than even a dangerous human adversary here. But she had said already much, and more than ever she had meant to. But it did not good to beat about the bush. This was a case of unmistakable urgency. And the more that was known, the more that might be managed toward some resolution. But she stepped down from the ‘report’ as far as it was. Much had been said already and not near enough yet to console anybody present. As though to console herself, or perhaps to revert back to her usual guise of distraction, the Ehtyar eventually plucked a slight strand of her long, loose dark hair from about her shoulder, and began to braid it, rather than in any way intimidate Pele, as might she may, to compose answer to all of their combined demands for detail.


(EDIT : removed the words 'vapour' and also 'airborne' after rediscovering the relevant original RP posts which included the events referred to in this post)

[Arnyn]

Headquarters, Nárië 20


Hyandaner Kaylin Maethyr

It must be understood that Kaylin Maethyr was already grasping to hold on to a semblance of calm. While she stood immobile and had managed to speak reasonably, the visible expression of her temper was but the tip of the proverbial iceberg. She was outraged at this Relic's nerve to come here and harrass her friend and Captain after what she had already done to her in Umbar, and furious at how their own guards could have let Shamara escape. Shamara, whom Kaylin knew was responsible for sequestering Gondorians, including but not limited to Pele, to who knew what terrible fates exactly. They'd had her! She'd been off the streets, in their custody - a threat removed! And now... Kaylin breathed in deep and breathed out slowly. Easy, she told herself. You have no idea where either Relic or Shamara is, so you cannot run off to go find them and make them pay. Another slow breath. Easy. You are among those who would see both of these women in chains. You are among those you can trust. Among those who will work together, to the same purpose. Your rage will not help anything. Your rage will be useless. Keep it in check.

Mourgan's words served to keep her as she was - Yes, outraged and furious - but still able to keep herself under control. Pele was right there, after all, the person who was most entitled to her emotions of those gathered. And Mourgan... Kaylin glanced sideways at him. He seemed mostly... sad, somehow. Seeing this tamped down her own temper. Slightly.

And then... well, then, Ilisys Azrubêl opened her noble mouth to speak.

While she'd only thrown a cursory glance Isys' way upon the words that it was no rumour, before fixing her attention back on Pele, Kaylin whipped her head around to downright stare at the Belfalasian when she said she could confirm Shamara's escape. Wait. Isys had known Shamara had escaped? And Isys had informed neither Kaylin or Pele, who had both been present along with Isys when Shamara had been taking into custody and taken to the dungeons? Part of Kaylin might have understood that Ilisys would not have chosen to tell her, given that Kaylin had come close to choking out Shamara the last time she'd seen her, but... not telling Pele? Not telling the one who was most likely to be in danger? Not telling the Captain?

Kaylin's head was spinning with an utter lack of understanding. Her anger wasn't allowing her to slow down and think of any reason why the noblewoman would have made such a decision.

The lack of understanding turned into shock and Kaylin's vision blurred as Isys continued to explain she had encountered Shamara on some cruise - which then made Kaylin realize she had still been travelling with Thûllir at the time, although they had returned to Minas Tirith only days after, and Isys had not breathed a word of Shamara since. Kaylin's breaths became shallow and one quickly followed the other.

It had been months - half a year!

And on this cruise, Isys had done - what exactly? Hadn't moved on Shamara for fear of collateral damage?! She had rather risk Shamara running free?! Why in Mandos' name hadn't Ilisys just followed Shamara herself to then take care of things?! Why had she not informed Pele before this?! They could have worked together!

Reeling, Kaylin might have moved to grab Isys and shake the woman - if she were lucky - but Karis' hand reminded her that there indeed were others in the room, whom she did not want to alienate.

When Isys turned slightly to look at her and mentioned the vial, Kaylin was only a breath away from losing her temper altogether. The foot closest to Isys moved toward the Dol Amrothian a few inches. It was fortunate that Isys had more to tell. Kaylin wanted to hear as much information as she could, now it was finally being offered. It was all that saved both women at present.

When the Ehtyar started braiding her hair, Kaylin waited a moment longer, to see if she was really done speaking. The redhead's expression and the tightness of her muscles spelled absolute trouble as she was losing the battle against expressing her anger, and she slightly rolled her shoulder to get free of Ziran's hand.

[Isolde Alarion]

Recruit Amber
Armory w/ Cali
@Rillewen

She approached the Smithy and was a little surprised to find a woman manning the forge. She returned the greeting only because it fed the image she was portraying. “Hello, Yes, you can help me. Apparently I need armor and a weapon now that I’ve joined the Rangers” Her amber eyes slide over to the rows of shiny toys.

She didn’t really need the woman’s help picking out a weapon, she knew most of them intimately, but it suited her story. She looked back at the woman. “A woman Smithy hu? Very progressive of them but I think it’s important for a woman to know her way around a good weapon. Never know when she’ll need to use one.” Her lips curled into a small smile.

“So, which is your favorite?” A weapon told a lot about a person she believed. Some preferred large bulky swords that took two hands to wield while others preferred the more personal weapons like daggers which allowed the barer to get close enough to hear their victims last breath and to witness the shock in their eyes as they stared into the eyes of their killer.

[Rillewen]

@Isolde Alarion

Calithilidis Dringolben - Armory
(with "Amber")

Slightly surprised, Cali wondered if it was common to get new recruits this frequently. "Another recruit? You're the second one today." She smiled slightly, though made a mental note that she was really going to have to ask for a list of exactly what supplies she should give the recruits when they came. During the transition period when Cali was shadowing the former smith while her arm healed enough to take over, there had been no new recruits to come by for gear. Now, suddenly, there were two in a row!

"You'll need a uniform, too." She knew that much, and would find one to fit the young woman after she had found her other gear. A faint smile came to her face at the comment about them using a woman smith. She was somewhat curious why she said it that way though.. 'very progressive of them'. Maybe the rangers? She supposed that would make sense. As far as she knew, there were no female smiths in the lower levels, because her own shop was currently occupied by some man. For now. "Yes, I'm a woman smithy." She nodded. "I'm Cali, what's your name?" It would help matters to at least know what to call the new ranger.

The next question gave her slight pause as she considered how best to answer that. Her favorite? A few memories flitted through her mind.. afternoons spent with Ryn and the rest of her friends, while her brother eagerly taught them much that he had learned from his own training, passing on useful tricks with his dual daggers that his sister and friends might use to defend themselves, if it ever became necessary. There had been plenty of fun afternoons spent playing sword fights against each other, both before and after he joined the rangers. She remembered a few of those things, and had been brushing up on those skills, since that recent incident at the fayre. But Cali liked to keep a few things to herself, especially after the fayre. Turning slightly away from the rows of weapons, Cali motioned instead toward the armor collection. "That's my favorite kind." She answered. "The kind that protects our people from these," with a motion back toward the weapons. "Having the right armor, and knowing how to move in it, is just as important as having a weapon you can use effectively. If it's made and maintained properly, it can save your life."

That said, she gave a small smile and continued, "But if you're curious which tool I prefer," she worded it that way because, really, a weapon was a tool of its own sort, "this is all I need." She rested a hand on the hammer hanging from her belt, easily within her reach. "But the question is, what sort of weapon do you plan to use in your training?" This was about finding the recruit the weapon that best suited her, not Cali. "Are you interested in these axes, or swords, spears, or what?" She glanced at the battle axes, thinking they looked rather too large for the woman but she wasn't one to judge according to appearances... after all, Cali surprised many people by being a smith.

[Pele Alarion]

Captain Pele Alarion
Headquarters, Captain's Office, Nárië 20

Pele had tried to prepare herself for various reactions and questions, and yet she felt rather overwhelmed when the time came. She watched carefully each of the Rangers, and so she noted that Mourgan seemed rightfully disappointed that Pele had told him next to nothing, and she noted that there was only that much that Kaylin could do to reign in her anger. Pele sat quietly for a while as she processed the questions and sorted answers in her mind, and tried to grasp the information Ilisys provided which she had not been aware of.

"Isys," she finally began. "You should have told me." Her voice remained calm and without much condemnation - after all she had kept quiet herself, much longer than that. Besides, it was what it was, and now that more details became clear some sort of solution would have to be found. "Before the cruise, I mean. Had I spotted her there suddenly, I might have caused a scene and knocked her out, unhindered by that fancy dress and all. So... no news of her, is it possible then that she might have left for Umbar?"

For a moment Pele paused and looked down at her hands as the memory of pain darkened her eyes, before she continued with a part of the story she thought no one else knew: "When I tracked Shamara down in Harlond, she used some sort of poison on me, I think by a sharp object laced with it. Relic was there. I remember seeing her, hearing her words, but was unable to resist, and... The poison overcame me and I passed out. They must have kept me drugged for the most part of the travel because I came around properly only in Umbar, feeling so sick that I thought I would die."

"So... other people were harmed in Harlond? Do you know how many, Isys? Did someone die? Shamara was with me, so it must have been Relic. Perhaps using the same stuff that they used on me. Causing chaos to get me away, I assume," she sighed and shook her head realising that innocent people suffered because of this. "And... Warder and Cadil were out searching? How far did they go?" Pele stood and walked a few steps to the door and then back to the desk again, rubbing her chin with her index finger in thought.

"Is Warder all right? And Cadil... I think I might have spotted him somewhere. Kaylin," she spoke, seeing that the redhead was about to move towards Isys and attempting to distract her. "Have you seen Cadil lately? Or perhaps Unalmis might know more."

She rested against the desk once more and glanced at Kaylin. "Relic sent me a note... about nine months ago or so. By a messenger of sorts - he was later found dead, so I assume the woman has been around here somewhere since then," feeling a little guilty for suffering in silence for such a long time, Pele avoided eye contact and looked out the window for a few moments. "I have not been able to figure out her whereabouts though. It has been a long time but she is very patient and can suddenly strike at the most unexpected moment."

Looking at Mourgan, she said: "Well... as for descriptions. Shamara is in her early twenties, I think, black hair about shoulder length or longer, dark eyes, tanned - suppose you could say she's very beautiful. Don't fall for her, Mourgan, if you ever come by her," Pele added, a slight grin touching her lips. "I figure she'd disguise herself these days, but there are some markings that can always give her away - double crescent on the palm of her right hand, especially. And I've noted a tattoo of a dagger on the same wrist."

"Relic now... is hard to describe. Fiery red hair, eyes... if those can even be called eyes - rather orbs of crystal. Not clear, but..." A shiver ran down Pele's spine as she thought of the hated woman and failed to find words to describe what she had seen. "I doubt she would present herself that way anywhere here, not in public, so I don't know... she might present herself as anyone."

Pele passed a hand over her face as if to brush away unwelcome memories, and then said more quietly: "If I had to produce a list of people I've met, it would be awfully long even if I could remember everyone. However, one thing. Just a day or two ago I accepted a recruit, Amber by name. There's something about her... that made everything in me react the way - as if I was standing face to face with Relic." She looked from one Ranger to another, before continuing. "I have nothing to go by to support my intense feelings against her. By her words she is just an orphan looking to earn her living. Perhaps... I've made a mistake, but I thought it better to keep her close where she can be seen rather than lose track of her, so I accepted her as a recruit."

"So... I don't know," she held back a sigh. "Not much to go by. Yet, if either of them or both of them are here in Minas Tirith they can surely cause a lot of damage. Relic more so than Shamara."

[Ercassie]

Ranger Unalmis Raxëlilta with Trastion @Rillewen
Outside the Barracks, some time ago / before the Captain's Meeting/Council

He had been mildly surprised when the dog paused, even briefly. Less so when she launched at the other young man moments later. Thankfully the stranger did not seem to mind in the slightest and so Unalmis relaxed some, though he did venture over in her wake to check that she did not lick her new friend to nothing. Or decide to bury him as well …

“Well then, welcome,” the Ranger returned, meeting Trastion’s gesture with an equally dirtied hand as they were introduced. “I am Unalmis,” he began before a sharp bark from his canine companion intervened. “Yes, yes,” he shook his head at the animal. “And this is Hattie” he explained with a short laugh. “You’ve a treat ahead of you then, if you’ve yet to meet the lieutenant.* Thankfully for me, she hasn’t either.” He cast an eye as to the terrier who had by now noted Trastion’s reach and decided to walk around him, evading his grasp, so that she might better gauge was he was up to.


When the newcomer gave up his explanation, Nal rubbed the back of his (own) head with his left hand, a little sheepish at the account of the dog’s unruly behaviour. There was no doubt in his mind that Trastion was telling the truth, for certainly Hattie had a habit of making off with things. It was an outright play for attention of course, but it did seem to have become rather ceaseless. And of course recent events had only encouraged her.

“Well, that’s not any good,” he admitted, as the new recruit explained what had been lost. Given his neophyte condition, Trastion might have been carrying his most treasured possessions about with him to move into the barracks. Nal could not recall ever seeing him anywhere around before, not just on the Sixth; which was fair enough except that they looked of a similar age, and so he would have thought he’d have bumped into him before now, if that was the case. At school or the like, since he had lived in Minas Tirith all his life.

“I’m afraid if she did take it, she might have chewed some parts of it by now,” he was loath to admit, and apologetic. “She does have rather an affinity for leather. But if it’s the contents rather than the pouch which is of most interest to you, you might be fortunate. I’ve been digging up what I thought she’d buried of mine for a while now and there are several things I don’t even recognise.” A rather awful thought occurred to him then, that the dog might have properly swallowed whatever was small and lost. “What exactly was inside this pouch, did you say ?” he had to ask.

*(The only lieutenant at the time of events in this post was Lieutenant Brian. )

[Arnyn]

Headquarters, Nárië 20


Hyandaner Kaylin Maethyr

Pele spoke up right before Kaylin was about to more forcefully shrug Ziran's hand away. She had no idea what she was going to do herself - all she knew was she had to get closer to Isys for some reason. And that she was seeing red.
Pele's words stalled her slightly, although she was still focused on the Ehtyar from lack of a better way to vent her anger at the moment.

The mention of poison made Kaylin glance at the Captain. Combined with Isys asking about the vial earlier - which Kaylin had ignored at the time - it seemed like she was honor-bound to say something. At least, if she was also going to demand open communication from the others as they went forward.
Yet Pele went on with more information and then some questions of her own. When she directly asked Kaylin about Cadil, the Hyandaner growled rather than spoke her response.

"Cadil is fine." She saw him around the pubs every so often, and when she did they would play a few card games or darts together. "Last saw him about a week ago."

Ready to return her full attention to Isys, Pele's next bit of information was... jarring. It halted Kaylin in her untaken step - and her blue-grey eyes widened as they focused on Pele. Some of the fury left them to make room for shock, disappointment and... well, a taste of something along the lines of what Mourgan had to be feeling.

Nine months ago? Pele had received a threatening note from the woman she was most afraid of, nine months ago? And she hadn't told anyone until now? She looked around the room at the others, seeing that Karis, Mourgan and Isys had indeed not known. When Kaylin looked over to their new Lieutenant, she saw no surprise in the blonde's face. So. She had known. Pele had told someone, then. So it wasn't that she'd been too afraid to speak up. Just that she hadn't wanted or dared to tell anyone other than Arnyn. Her expression darkened again before looking back at Pele. Or perhaps she should just say Captain.

The news that she had accepted a recruit who made her feel like she was standing face to face with Relic, made Kaylin's head tilt down. Someone who made Pele's defenses go up, for some reason. Someone who reminded her of this Relic, in some way. Someone... whom Kaylin could focus on. Someone to hook her claws into, once she got some proof... Someone tangible. Someone close.

"Assign her to me," Kaylin suggested, in a deceptively quiet tone of voice. It sounded almost... casual.


Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen

Arnyn kept a careful eye on Kaylin, since it was obvious the redhead was seething. Kaylin seemed incredibly hot-tempered. While Arnyn had known Kaylin to be extraverted and open with her feeling, she had not expected the other Hyandaner to be so... emotional, was perhaps the word?

Karis seemed to have picked up on Kaylin's mood as well, and put a hand on the woman's shoulder as she asked a question that had also popped into Arnyn's mind.

And then at least Kaylin seemed to maintain enough reason to ask another of the questions at the forefront of Arnyn's mind: how was Shamara's escape only a rumor? Her insistence on finding out for certain definitely met with Arnyn's approval.
Kaylin's other question, about Relic, was a smart one. So was her suggestion. But Arnyn knew it had been months, and thus a difficult task for Pele to make any such list. Unless she had already been keeping one herself.

Mourgan, like Karis, also wanted to know what Shamara and Relic looked like. And asked whether Pele had noticed anything unusual. A good question, and a bit less specific than Kaylin's near demand of a list of people.

The next moment, Ehtyar Ilisys declared that Shamara's escape was indeed no rumour: that she knew for certain of the woman's escape and that she had even seen her... on the Anduin cruise.

That was a surprise.

While Kaylin turned her head to stare at Ilisys, Arnyn carefully watched both of the women. The Lieutenant understood that Ilisys had not come to tell her about Shamara; after all, Ilisys and Arnyn hardly knew each other and Arnyn had held no higher rank at the time. However... not telling Pele... was questionable at best. Not only because Pele was Ilisys' commander, but also because Shamara had caused Pele personal harm. She'd had a right to know. Not reporting this to Pele until now, was... not what Arnyn would have expected. Nor what she deemed preferable. But seeing as how the Captain was present and listening to the same account, Arnyn would not comment and would let Pele take the lead.

Arnyn had addition questions concerning the two Umbarians, other than their physical characteristics. What were their skills? What should the Rangers be most careful of - in other words: what were their known and preferred methods of operation?

Ilisys answered in part; revealing that Shamara had carried some vial in the past - that would have most likely either contained a sedative or a poison. And Ilisys indicated that Relic had incapacitated over a dozen people at the harbour, through some kind of toxin. So it was safe to assume that the two women were versed in poisons and sedatives of sorts. In addition to fighting skills, one would assume.

Ilisys also asked what Relic looked like, and indicated several of them had seen Shamara. Arnyn was trying to piece it together. Based on everyone's questions, she deduced that Karis and Mourgan had seen neither, Pele had obviously met both, and since that left Kaylin and Ilisys, Ilisys must have meant that she and Kaylin had seen Shamara.
So Pele, Karis and Kaylin had seen Shamara, but only Pele had laid eyes on Relic. That answered a few more of Arnyn's questions. But brought forth another.

Pele addressed Ilisys as Isys again, saying the Ehtyar should have told her. The Captain's tone was not very strict, which surprised Arnyn in turn, although she kept her face neutral. Pele went on to mention Shamara using a poison on her. And more sedatives on the way to Umbar. Pele's extra tidbits of information made Arnyn's gaze grow darker. Why had they targeted Pele, out of all people? They had wanted information on Gondor - Pele had told Arnyn that much. Had Pele been a random choice, out of several options? Or had there been reasons why she had been chosen? If they knew that, they might be able to get into their enemies' minds more.

The Captain asked Kaylin about this Cadil person, whom Arnyn did not know at all, and it seemed to the Lieutenant that the question came at an opportune time, because one look at Kaylin now told her that the redhead was ready to just about strangle Ilisys in payment for her silence on the matters the Ehtyar had just divulged. The question was... would Pele's question be enough to distract Kaylin?

Arnyn winced when Pele said it had been nine months since she'd received the note from Relic. Perhaps that would make Kaylin angry with Pele, as well. At least it might serve to divert Kaylin's attention from Ilisys enough to avoid a fight right in the Captain's office... When Kaylin looked over at her, Arnyn had regained her calm facial expression, but what she saw in the redhead's eyes was troubling. Kaylin had a keen sense of perception. Arnyn was convinced Kaylin knew right away that Pele had told her abut the note. She could feel it in her gut.
Yet she managed to look unfazed, and gave Kaylin a level look in return, until the redhead looked away.

The Lieutenant tucked away the information about Shamara and Relic's appearance, and when Pele mentioned having accepted a recruit by the name of Amber, whom Pele apparently found unsettling, Arnyn's dark eyes flashed.

Kaylin's request made alarm bells go off in Arnyn's mind. The redhead suddenly sounded all too calm. Arnyn cleared her throat. "Perhaps we can hold off on deciding what to do with Amber until some more questions have been answered and the situation is clear to all," she suggested calmly.

Then she dove into the questions she had left.

"Ilisys... If you have not heard from whoever is following Shamara, how do you know they are still following her at all?" Arnyn slanted her head thoughtfully. "Do you believe they would intervene if Shamara made an attempt at sequestering anyone? Or hurting anyone? And since we are speaking freely now: who is it, that you have following her?"

"How have the two of you, Ilisys, Kaylin, come face to face with this Shamara?"

"Other than a preference for poisons and sedatives, do we know anything else about their skills? I assume they can fight, as well? What are their weapons of choice? What else do we know about their method of operations?"

"And..." She was loathe to ask, but felt like she had to. "What do Relic and Shamara know about you, Pele? I know they tried to ask you about Gondor's defences, and you resisted their questioning. Did they get any intelligence on your person, though? Or did they gather information about you, previous to your capture, that you know about? What can they use to get to you?" Her dark eyes touched Mourgan for just a second. She was asking about any weaknesses they might exploit; whether from knowledge or by guesswork.

"Kaylin, Ilisys mentioned a vial as a lead just now, then looked at you. But I'm missing context there. Was there a lead to follow up on?"

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie

Trastion Leithor
New recruit - first day
Outside the Dorms (some time before the Captain's Meeting/Council)

He grinned, amused by Hattie demanding that she be introduced, while evading his reach. "Pleased to meet you both. Well, I was less pleased to meet her earlier, if you don't mind my saying so," he admitted. "But she is friendly, at least." After a bit of pause, he added, "I think I gave some of the higher ranking folks a bit of amusement, going in all covered in mud to ask to enlist. I was afraid the captain would take one look at me and throw me out of the city." He laughed, absently wiping a hand on his leg, a habit his mother would have scolded him for had she been there to see. Come to think of it, he realized he may have met the Lieutenant that Unalmis was talking about. "You mean the guy in charge of the dorms? He did almost throw me out, I think, and would have if I hadn't had some instructions from the captain to get cleaned up and find my dorm." He added with a grin. "Is he always that uptight, or is it just because I was covered in mud?"

He had somehow already accomplished getting a few smears of mud on his new set of clothes, thanks to Hattie. Again. But he paid no attention to that, and wandered over to take a look at some of the things Unalmis had dug up, though glanced up in concern at the suggestion that the dog may have chewed it all up by now. The pouch he could replace, that was nothing, but the contents... He inhaled slowly to keep calm, trying to think of what to do. "Hmm, what?" He answered distractedly, as Unalmis asked the last question. Frowning slightly, he tried to spot the familiar bag, while his mind raced trying to think of what to tell him about its contents. He hadn't wanted anyone to see or know what those items were, and this now posed a problem. "Some things from home," He said at last. "Something my sister gave me.. something that belonged to my brother, and something of my father's... " He hoped the other would understand and not press for further information. Although he realized that would make it harder for Unalmis to help him find it. Before he had decided whether to say anymore, however, Hattie had begun barking and ran off somewhere. Trastion glanced up, watching. "Where's she going?" He wondered, curious if Unalmis might have more insight to his dog's behavior.

Erynneth
(shortly after Kaylin's mishap in Ithilien)
Being "invited" over to join Unalmis and Trastion

Eryn was reluctant to have to leave Kaylin, guessing how miserable it must be to endure the healer's orders not to move around that much. She would have been happy to stay with her until she was able to get around more and do things for herself, without risking a healer scolding her, but Eryn had chores to do in the evening, and in the morning. So her visiting time was limited to the hours between those chores. And, not wanting to leave it til the last minute and have Aggie thinking she wasn't coming in time for the chores, Eryn had left with plenty of time to get through the city and out to the farm before it was actually time for the chores.

The streets were fairly silent as she left Kaylin's house and headed back toward the main street going to the gate, but as she neared the other end, she stopped in surprise to hear some excited barking. And shortly thereafter, she spotted Hattie racing toward her, and grinned. "Hi Hattie!" She laughed as the dog put her paws up on Eryn's shoulders, licking her face happily. "What're you up to, huh?" She put her arms around the dog, hugging her back and slid one foot back slightly, to brace herself so not to let the dog push her down. Returning all fours to the ground, Hattie ran around her a couple of times in an energetic circle, then started back the way she'd come, before pausing to look at Eryn, tilting her head as if wondering why she hadn't moved to follow her, and barked.

"What?" Eryn laughed. "I have to go home. I can't stay and play with you right now, Hattie." She told her. Yet the dog persisted, barking at her as if to encourage her to change her mind, and made another circle around Eryn before setting off again toward the barracks, and paused to look back at her again. "Hm... well, I guess I can spare a moment," Eryn decided, wondering if maybe there was something important. So she set off after the dog, with some concern as to why she was so determined to have Eryn come along, though she hoped she wouldn't get in trouble if she wasn't supposed to be here. "Hello?" She called hesitantly, following Hattie around behind one of the dorm buildings. She stopped in surprise to see the yard back there all dug up, and two young men standing amid the holes. The sight of one of them brought a smile to her face. "Hi, Nal... um, what's going on?" She wondered, wondering if Hattie had caused this mess.

[Isolde Alarion]

Recruit Amber
W/ Cali in Armory
@Rillewen

“Amber.” She answered. The idea of wearing armor slightly bothered her just because she wasn’t used to working in such garb but she felt it was part of the illusion so why not? The Smithy then answered a question of her own. Armor was her choice hu?

A brown brow quirked in question as she spoke of her favorite tool being a hammer. “I suppose it has it’s uses.” She looked over the vast variety of weapons and was told to pick one. She was like a child in a candy store. So many sweets to chose from. Swords, battle axes, spears and bows and numerous other instruments of carnage.

Although she would love to use many this wasn’t about causing as much damage as she could, she had other means to do that. This was personal and the weapon she chose had to be personal as well. She turned from Cali and walked slowly down a row of swords. She ran her fingers over their smooth handles as her eyes moved one to another. It had to speak to her this weapon she was looking for. It had a very important purpose after all.

Then her fingers stopped moving. Her eyes caught up with her hand and she looked where they stopped. Her fingers curled around the heart shaped guard and she pulled it up slowly, looking over it’s slightly curved blade.
She brought it before her to examine it’s tough tempered blade, her reflection shone back at her. “This will do nicely.” Her tone nearly as if she were speaking to herself. She looked back to Cali. “This short sword will do I believe.” She tested the feel of it in her hand as she spoke.

[Rillewen]

@Isolde Alarion

Calithilidis Dringolben - Armory
(with "Amber")

Cali didn't respond to Amber's comment about her tool of choice, but she thought it sounded almost like the other thought it was silly. She didn't really care much one way or the other; what mattered to Cali was that she achieved her own goal in keeping these rangers properly equipped with gear that would not fail them. She trailed along a few steps behind Amber as the recruit went over the rows of swords, and kept her thoughts to herself. She did feel that a sword was probably a better choice for her than the battle axes she had been admiring, and gave a tiny smile when she picked out a short sword. "Hm, yes. That does look like a good choice for your height and build," Cali commented with a nod of approval.

"Now then, let's get you fitted into some armor." She suggested with a smile. "Are you very familiar with weapons and armor, Amber?" She wondered. "What I'm wondering is, do you have a particular preference on your armor type, or are you completely new at this? In the case of the latter, I can help with a few suggestions, but if you already know your stuff, then I won't bore you with things you may already know." She explained, as she was aware that some folks might be new to the rangers but not to the equipment. Her brother, for instance, would have likely known more about armor than the person who'd trained him, growing up learning how to make it as he had.

As she spoke she led the way toward the armor section, and pointed out the various types of armor. Hopefully, they would be able to find something already available that was in Amber's size, but Cali knew that several sets of armor, in various sizes, had been added to her pile of things to fix. If necessary, she might have to either move one of those to the top of her list, or possibly make something new to fit her, but that would take time.

[Arnyn]

Headquarters, Nárië 20


Hyandaner Kaylin Maethyr

Arnyn clearing her throat made Kaylin slowly look over to her with a dark look. She was fully expecting an objection from the Lieutenant, though when it came it was milder than she would have thought. She still had a shot, then. Good.

She actually approved of Arnyn's questions for Isys, and Kaylin raised her right eyebrow minutely as she stared at the Ehtyar. Indeed. She wanted to hear those answers as well. And they had better not disappoint.

The Lieutenant's question about how Isys and Kaylin had met Shamara, seemed best for Kaylin to answer, but she was not in an explanatory mood. She was in the mood to break something, to pummel something, to fight someone. Not to tell stories. Jaw clenched, she pulled some kind of control out of herself she didn't know she had to at least sound somewhat civil.

"In the army, I was sometimes given... assignments." Kaylin took a deep breath to steady herself. "On one such assignment, I met a woman - and I got her to share with me that she procured more or less important individuals for... someone. She did not specify." Slowly, her grey-blue eyes trailed to Pele and her voice lost its edge as she continued. "If I had known then... I would never have let her walk out of that pub, Pele." The shame and regret at letting Shamara go back then, had been with her every since Pele had told her part of the story about what had happened to her. She hadn't had enough to take Shamara into custody at that time - veiled words, hints, ambiguous language. Kaylin had needed better proof, but she hadn't been able to get it. And due to her lack of action, due to not trusting her gut... Had she known then, Shamara wouldn't have so much as taken one single step away from their table. "I swear to Mandos, she would have joined him in his halls that day."

Kaylin turned her head slightly to look at Arnyn. The more she spoke, the easier it was to continue, although her anger was still very much present, right beneath the surface. It was evident in the tension of her body language and the strain on her face. "Years later - after Pele's return, and after learning some of what had happened to her and by whose hands - I saw Shamara traipsing around the barracks, posing as someone who would clean the floors or something. As soon as I recognized her, I attacked her. I was this closer to rectifying the mistake I had made years before..." Kaylin glanced at Isys. "When Isys came upon us. Long story short, Shamara ended up in a cell instead of in the ground."

"We took the vial Isys mentioned from her then, Lieutenant. Turns out it was nightshade. In case anyone is wondering, it can induce a range of symptoms, including blurred vision, a rash, headaches, slurred speech, hallucinations, convulsions and death." Her eyes touched on Isys. "Hardly the innocent liquid she convincingly pretended it was." Back to Arnyn, then. "In my experience, Shamara has a gift with words. She is good at veiling what she means, and she is an excellent liar. She could make someone doubt what they had for breakfast earlier that morning."

Falling silent then, she slowly focused back on Pele. "That cell was a mistake. I should have taken her years ago, pried what information I could from her and then her life should have ended right there. It might have prevented --" She did not finish the sentence. She couldn't. Kaylin steeled herself with her anger, and her light eyes blazed with it. "I would rectify this mistake now. I said earlier that if I had known then... Shamara would not have lived to see another day. And unless I am given a direct order not to, I would swear that to you now. The same for Relic. And if no one else is willing to do this, let me do this for you... Captain. Or with you. Let us remove this threat to your wellbeing, instead of merely incapacitating it, with the risk of it regaining consciousness in time. As it seems to do."

[Ercassie]

Ehtyar Ilisys Azrubêl
Captain’s office, HQ – 20 Nárië

It was a habit, seemingly born out of idleness, but with great worth regardless, when it came to focus and patience. As she carefully braided her dark hair, the distraction was a crutch by which means Ilisys could afford herself what time she required to gather her thoughts, absorb the ambience of those about her, and decide upon her next move. Sometimes people tired of waiting for her to return to them, or else they outright dismissed her as done. Most took up the opportunity to seize upon their own next move, and the Belfalasian did not meet any of their eyes while they did. She listened. She did not need to look. She certainly did not avoid their glance for shame, for she did not feel as though she had done aught wrong. She had though no wish to turn towards defending herself either, despite Pele's admission of disappointment that she had kept secrets to herself. Quietly she folded the perfumed tresses about one another, toying with the strands as though she was awarding a place for each piece of this evolving story.

The descriptions which the Captain offered up, of Shamara and Relic, almost drew the Ehtyar’s grey eyes up and back into the arena. Not least for the rather marked contrast between the two. The look of the former of course she had been aware of, had seen with her own eyes, although Isys did find herself nodding half subconsciously in agreement as Pele spoke, and as the image in her mind’s eye was confirmed. As to the latter .. yes. There it was. Fire, crystal, elements extraordinary and far beyond the characteristics which had been awarded to her associate. The Belfalasian was glad she had not yet raised her sight that she might have openly been seen to judge the impact of Pele’s experience upon her account. Some degree of bias was to be expected, and yet .. the woman did not seem to be wild with exaggeration. Which then begged the question of if the victim was not ‘exaggerating’, then what indeed was this elusive Relic ? She sounded like a demon, even with her vocation and reputation for cruelty put aside.


The matter of ‘Amber’ was maybe the first to surprise Isys. Besides the belated news of a murdered messenger. A scapegoat perhaps ? Someone to direct their collective anger and determination against ? Perhaps … not. Isys had never known for Pele to be so irrational as to whip up a mob against mere circumstantial evidence. If anything, she seemed the sort to mull it over before acting. Grey eyes resumed a level height as Ilisys apparently resumed her place within the small congregation. Her hair, so intricately woven, commenced to fall from it’s given shape in the same moment that the woman took hands away from holding it. She could not though be said to have noticed, nor mourned all of her apparent efforts to shape her coiffure.

When Kaylin did not hesitate to propose she be awarded first ‘shot’, and probably quite literally, at this suspicious recruit, the Belfalasian allotted her attention with intrigue toward Arnyn, their new Lieutenant and Pele’s chosen Second-In-Command. The blonde seemed to be engaged in much thought, though she had offered little vocally as yet, and it was a relief when she, as an officer, spoke up to try and reclaim control of the situation. She had questions of her own too, if only to recover the focus of their meeting before it was utterly derailed into a mob rule. Some of those questions were directed at Isys, amongst others, but Kaylin spoke her mind first.


The account of how the Hyandaner had first met Shamara was also news to the Ehtyar. She had only been introduced to the trafficker herself, from receipt of Kaylin’s furious accusations in the messhall later on. She had known before then that Pele had fallen afoul of Umbarians of course. Warder had filled her in to that much. But it seemed as though Kaylin had actually gotten in on the act first of all of them. Some degree of understanding began to fall like snow in the Belfalasian’s thinking, until the pieces of the puzzle had covered the entire ground of her thinking process, and painted the scene entirely transformed. Remorse, perhaps even embarrassment … began to form suggestion throughout Kaylin’s tale and some of the seeds of disapproval began to soften as regards the Hyandaner's volatile behaviour.


Isys was not surprised to hear that the vial had held extract of Nightshade. From what Kaylin had found out from Shamara's confiscated elixir, it matched with what Warder had described of Harlond. But even as the Belfalasian began to be grateful that this meeting was getting somewhere, Kaylin threw her hat right back into the fray again by all but swearing to murder their enemy without hesitation. As though murdering two women of Umbar would end the entire culture of slavery and human trafficking on which Umbar largely depended.

“What Kaylin has spoke about Shamara’s arrest in the messhall was my first meeting with the trafficker,” the Ehtyar put in, though almost abruptly, to mitigate the call for unchecked violence. “If the Hyandaner had not ‘accused’ her, then I would never have been privy to the Umbarian's presence, nor it’s potential threat to all those in the HQ who were equally unaware.” Isys relayed her words to Arnyn, even as she tailed toward an end, for they served for an answer to at least one of the questions the Lieutenant had raised. And if Isys's commendation of Kaylin’s action on the day seemed like applause, then the audience had not observed the Ehtyar’s inflection of tone as she spoke the word ‘accused’. Indeed, given the state of things that she had come upon that day, ‘accused’ was the kindest of descriptions she could offer, particularly before a superior officer. Isys had not won any favour from the redhead on that day for intervening, but she had perhaps ensured that the right woman ended up behind bars. If Kaylin had not been interrupted, by her own volition, she would have killed the Umbarian. And then where would they be ? Gondor for one would be the loser, not Umbar. Because it was that line, where the taking of a life mattered more than the lives you claimed to be protecting ? .. that was where Gondor could so easily become Umbar. Had their complicated but combined history taught naught ?


“If you grasp your quarry by the finger, you ought not then sever that lone digit in your grasp. Or else relinquish the rest of what you might have reeled in,” the Ehtyar repeated now, with a subtle incline of respect toward Arnyn, what she had spoken on that fateful day itself. If Kaylin had not been quite so beside herself with emotion and fury at the time, then she might have better recognised, or at least suspected, from even that early point, what the Belfalasian’s opinion was upon the matter.

The Relic problem would not end with Shamara, Isys knew; and thus ‘ending’ Shamara would have been a waste of resources. She had believed that killing Shamara would only lose them their main means of locating Relic, of learning more about Relic. The younger Umbarian had not even struck Isys as a particularly vengeful character. Frustrating to interrogate, undoubtedly. But in fact Shamara had been absolutely blasé about everything they accused her of despite the severity of the allegations, and so much so that it almost felt as though her heart was not even entirely in it. The notion of allowing for Kaylin or even Pele free to outright murder her, at least before she had served any purpose to compensate for her crime, had not sat well with Isys at all.


“You are ready to hear it now,” she said almost gently, turning finally to face Pele. “Had I told you that Shamara was at large when I first became aware of it,” Isys could not fault that the Captain would feel hurt over her actions. Which did not translate to Isys doing things any differently, if she were given chance; “mayhaps .. you would have acted ..” she was going to say ‘differently’ but ‘at all’ was also relevant. And so the sentence ended without making a choice between the two and an unspoken uncertainty circling the notion altogether. After all, history would suggest that Pele would not have taken action even when she became aware of a danger presenting close by.

“I had no hand in Shamara’s escape from the dungeon and, when she was revealed to be there, when we were already upon the cruise .. I could see no means of alerting you to her presence without alerting her to yours," she admitted. "I did hope at that point that the trafficker would, if even obliviously, lead us to Relic,” she allowed. “I was never made aware that Relic herself was already closing in on us here, nor indeed did I have reason to think she had even left Umbar.” A moment passed where the Ehtyar shifted her stance, but did not recoil. Indeed she raised her chin, almost stalwart in response to the Lieutenant’s enquiries. “Alas, Lieutenant, to tell the name of a person that you do not know would be, I fear, to tell you no more really than you do already know. I honestly do not believe a single person in this room has ever met him. However I do expect that he would involve himself in some way, if the need arose. For he has certainly done so before.” She ducked her head in a belated nod toward respect. If a cause for revealing her associate was made clear then she would of course relinquish such information without delay. But as yet, she saw no good reason save to quench curiosity. And again, that would only take them off base.


“She was in disguise on the river Cruise,” Isys suddenly recalled of their enemy, “Dressed as a cleaning drudge in the messhall," she supported Kaylin's description first .. "and then later veiled and begloved, no doubt to conceal her face and her tattoos, upon the ship. No doubt Shamara believed that would be enough to keep her from drawing peoples' attention to any distinguishing features, although really. Anyone who wears both gloves and a veil whilst claiming they were there for social cause, would naturally only draw attention to herself in such a company ..”

The noblewoman was half speaking to herself now as her musings aloud diminished to little more than apparent idle contemplation.

[Arnyn]

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen

She narrowed her eyes in thought when Kaylin spoke the word 'assignments' the way she did. Not regular duties, but 'assignments' - in that tone. It reminded Arnyn of the former Muinamacar, and she pondered this privately as Kaylin proceeded. It seemed to fit still, as the redhead went on to say she 'got the woman to share'. Yet it did not seem like she had used the interrogation techniques Arnyn recalled, which had always been spoken of in hushed tones. A disguise, then? A ruse, perhaps, to get someone to speak more than they usually would? Interesting.

Getting a bit more insight in the reason for Kaylin's anger, was welcome - and Arnyn received it as Kaylin addressed Pele. Anger was never the beginning. Anger was usually a result of some other emotion, most often pain of some kind, that warped into either a cold fury or a hot blaze. In Kaylin, the anger burned hot. Arnyn preferred warriors to recognize their feelings before it turned into anger unmanageable - or to know their anger was dangerous and to channel it appropriately. As Kaylin continued and turned to look at her, Arnyn was not yet convinced Kaylin was capable of either. Attacking the woman on sight, this she could follow, but wanting her dead instead of thinking it through? This was worrisome. Yet it was clear that Kaylin's current need to end the lives of these Umbarians was rooted in a caring for Pele, and a wish to keep such a thing from happening again. And this root of the other woman's emotions, Arnyn could approve of, at least.

It seemed that Isys had more of a cool head on her shoulders, then. All these new rangers were proving exceedingly interesting, although they all seemed to be more extreme in character than Arnyn had been used to in the past.

Nightshade? Arnyn was wondering, in fact. She knew it was a poisonous plant, of course, and that it could lead to death, how to recognize it and to avoid it, but the details... Blurred vision made sense. Hallucinations, though? She frowned.

Kaylin's appeal to Pele made Arnyn look to the Captain, worried that Pele might be tempted to acquiesce Kaylin's request. While the Lieutenant understood that many emotions were involved, for both of the women apparently, it would not be wise to be guided by them. Almost imperceptibly, she shook her head, hoping only Pele might look her way for her opinion and consequently pick up on the slight movement - due to their long friendship. If anything, Shamara should not be killed on sight - she should be used to learn more about Relic, who appeared to be the woman in charge. The woman who... owned... Shamara? Perhaps they might even learn that this Relic knew other important players in the slave trade, and the woman could be a key to dismantling it altogether. Then again, such a notion might be naive.

Turning her attention to Isys, Arnyn tried to read the Belfalasian's body language and facial expression - but it appeared weirdly out of tune, somehow. Focusing on her words and tone, Arnyn listened attentively. The inflection on the word 'accused' was not lost upon the Lieutenant, and since Kaylin had rather honestly used the word 'attacked' herself, Arnyn wondered whether Isys' choice of words was driven by comaradarie or simply a more reserved nature.

When Isys said it would be wiser to use the finger to get at the whole hand, rather than prematurely severing that finger, Arnyn's gaze was plain in showing her approval. Her eyes flicked over to Pele briefly, to indicate she agreed with the Ehtyar's statement. To some extent, at least, for she did not know how far Isys would take her expressed belief.

After gaining more of an insight into Kaylin's reasons, now it was time to learn more about what had driven Isys' decisions. The Ehtyar indicated she had not told Pele from the start, for fear of the Captain acting too rashly. Arnyn could understand the motive, and it spoke of emotional intelligence, but it also clashed with the Lieutenant's principles on honesty, the chain of command, and trust in your peers. Her face turned thoughtful as she listened.

As far as responses went which clashed with her principles, Arnyn's thoughtful expression did not lift when Isys responded to her inquiries about who was following Shamara now and how they might behave if the Umbarian were to be up to no good. The Ehtyar had dismissed one of her questions, while they had just learned (had they not?) that a lack of shared information was not preferable. And she had left another unanswered.

Arnyn hesitated briefly, before speaking again, looking around at all those gathered. Yet she wished to offer her opinions clearly, before the Captain made up her own mind and would give her orders.

"I think that, despite the difference in our preferred methods, we all have common ground here," she first emphasized perhaps the most important sentiment. "Our wish to protect the citizens. Our wish to keep Pele from befalling further harm. And to that end, Relic and Shamara must be stopped. One way, or another."

She looked to Pele. "I am not in favour of killing Shamara on sight." When Kaylin frowned at her angrily, Arnyn calmly explained why. "Like Isys, I would prefer to use her to reel in Relic, first - in case we have not already done so, of course. And once we have the two of them, after interrogations to see what else we might learn of the larger Umbarian slave trade, I would have the King render his judgment. In accordance with our rule of law."

"As to what is next," she began. "I will be moving out of my house and into the barracks, to take up residence in the room next to that of our Captain." She had already discussed this with Pele, but now that she'd learned Shamara had already been inside the barracks, and considering Pele's reaction to this Amber, she was all the more convinced it was the right choice. "It is clear to me from this meeting that Relic, especially, will challenge our notions of what areas are safe. Therefore I would press upon everyone here to consider no area safe from them, at all."

"Pele has her guard assigned by the King, and now our increased watchfulness. Yet... it is entirely possible, likely even, that Relic will move on Pele in a roundabout way. As she has done before. Relic has already targeted innocent passersby, as I understand it, to get to her. It is not a stretch to believe she might target those close to Pele as well. Be it to harm them directly or to deliver threats to ensure some form of cooperation. We should each prepare for such a possibility. And I think we should all procure the antidote to nightshade, so we might either administer it to ourselves or others, should the need arise for it."

"And as for moving toward Relic and Shamara... We have two leads, yes? Shamara's pursuit, and possibly the recruit called Amber."

Arnyn's attention turned to Isys. "In that light... I thought we had agreed that holding back information was not the way forward," Arnyn said quietly. "While the name of whoever is following Shamara might not be of consequence to me, or any of us, at this very moment - it might prove useful farther down the road. And when the time comes, perhaps you will not be nearby to provide his name and draw a necessary connection." She paused. "Information is a weapon. Moreover, I didn't catch the answer to me question how you know this man is still following Shamara, if you have not heard of him in all this time. He is this capable and this loyal to you - or Gondor - that you assume he has continued with this task? Or you do have doubts at all?" She thought for a moment.

"And do you have a means of communication, if he is nearby? A signal of sorts, that you wish for him to contact you? I think it is time to find out what he has learned. If Shamara has met with anyone regularly, this could be Relic. If there has been no telling activity for this long, then we may as well move to retrieve Shamara. And question her. Which we apparently did not do after her earlier capture." She looked to Pele then. "Or, it yielded no results?"

"As to Amber..." The Lieutenant looked to her Captain. "If you feel this strongly about her... it is worth investigating. Did she want a room in the barracks? If so, did you put her alone or with another? As for Kaylin's question; have you already assigned an instructor to her? Perhaps you could assign several, so we can benefit from more than a single assessment." Her brown eyes touched on Kaylin. "And regardless of who ends up being one of her instructors, I would advise for another ranger to always be present for her sessions, be it at a distance."

[Pele Alarion]

Captain Pele Alarion
Headquarters, Captain’s Office, Nárië 20

Pele was silent, as she rested her chin in her hand and observed Kaylin’s reactions. It seemed to her that beyond words she could see feelings that she could relate to, though her friend let show much more than Pele herself had.

For a few moments Pele examined her own feelings. While she had certainly been under physical and mental duress caused by Umbarian enemies, there had been long and lonely days and nights beyond count when she had been her own worst enemy tormenting herself with much regret and guilt. However, the work she had put in upon her return with the aid of her friends, as well as finally coming to terms with the loss of Maldir and releasing him had brought a certain level of peace and wholeness to her inner world.

“Many things could have been different, Kaylin,” Pele spoke eventually, her blue eyes warm with understanding and kindness. “But killing Shamara would not have saved me; Relic had already arrived herself and would have gotten her way… Don’t let regret become a trap for you, getting out of it is very difficult indeed. Besides, whatever they have done, they have not managed to destroy me; if anything, I will just grow stronger, with the help from you and others.”

“I really am sorry though,” she resumed after a brief pause, straightening her shoulders slightly and looking from one present Ranger to another. “For silence. I was tangled in thick, sticky webs of fear, shame, and guilt for a long time. The more strands of the web got cut, the more freedom I found to talk, and realised rather late that I do have friends to trust in.” Pele did not think she was completely free yet, at least not from fear, but she surely felt that now there was room to breathe, and be herself, no matter the level of threat from enemies.

Glad to hear that both Warder and Cadil were doing all right and had not been drawn further into the whole matter, though she was surprised to find that they had gone all the way to Umbar in search of her, Pele still did not comment on it any further, and instead turned to addressing other questions, mostly posed by Arnyn.

“I suppose trying to get information on Gondor was just an… additional benefit,” she said thoughtfully, deciding that this was a good time to share on the reason why she was targeted so. “This is a personal feud between me and Relic. Me and Maldir had a run-in with her at some point when she was looking for slaves. She had nearly got us as well, but there was help, and she lost her ship, barely making off herself in one piece. This is about revenge. I do not think she would ever settle for someone getting away from under her nose, twice.”

Her gaze rested on Arnyn, as she considered the question on the skills of her foes, and what they knew. “I am not sure I can say much about their fighting skills. They tend to avoid direct contact. I have fought Relic just once, and I figure it would be a fight up close and in your space – knives, daggers, shortswords, what have you, at least for Relic. Once she has gained advantage by other means first,” she explained.

“I do not think it would be useful to kill Shamara off right away,” Pele then said, glancing from Arnyn to Kaylin. “I do not fear her. She may be very skilled with words and deceptive beyond measure, but somehow she seems very inexperienced and… careless. I would not be surprised if we managed to catch her easily, and perhaps she would give in under pressure and provide valuable information. I fell in her hands because I made a mistake going after her alone without backup.”

“Relic is a whole different matter,” the Captain’s eyes darkened with anger which served as covering for the pain that was still unhealed. “Determined in her evil intentions, manipulative… she knows much more about me than I care to admit, though mostly from her own sources,” Pele’s fists clenched for a moment, though she immediately took a couple deeper breaths and made her hands unclench and rest on the edge of the desk. “She played on my feelings of guilt and regret, causing almost endless distress to me. And made me believe that I would not be wanted or welcomed back because… Umbar. Which would make me look like traitor, with her assistance of spreading evil rumour, I guess. It hurt much more than any physical pain they put me through.”

“If anything… I doubt she would go for a head-on confrontation. She’d find her way in, up close, and strike when least expected. Causing as much damage as possible along the way, secretly,” Pele spoke, feeling troubled by the thought. “She’d use my weaknesses, could attack my family, any of you even. Be so kind and do look after each other! And indeed, nowhere can be safe as long as she is somewhere around.”

For a few moments she considered the options, and then said: “Right. Firstly, I’d say we should see if Shamara can be found, alive, and if she can be made to talk. Secondly, I wonder if… if Relic is really around here, perhaps she has already caused some damage out of her overflow of hate. It may be worthwhile seeing if there are any suspicious unsolved crimes that could be related to her and give away her whereabouts. Thirdly, Amber.” Pele fell silent, and scratched the side of her neck as she thought.

“She was eager to get a room, and I put her alone. No instructor for her yet, and I would absolutely be more at peace if I knew she was watched by more than one pair of eyes. Kaylin, Arnyn, can you two work together on this? I’d leave the details at your own discretion.” From the interactions in the room Pele saw the differences in the disposition of the two women, and yet it seemed to her that they would complement each other well if they got over the differences. “I’d rather err on having too much safety in case my instincts went all wacky for no reason rather than end up dead because of not paying sufficient attention to it.”

“Are there any other blanks I would need to fill in for the picture to be clearer,” she asked, looking at the group which were both her Rangers and her friends all in one. “Anything that has been missed, not discussed? Perhaps more practical, specific steps to be taken.”

[Ercassie]

Ehtyar Ilisys Azrubêl
Captain’s Meeting, HQ – 20 Nárië

The Lieutenant’s summary, of their mutual goal was a welcome rally point, not unlike the reassurance that Arnyn approved of a less confrontational approach. At least it was reassuring … to Ilisys. The Ehtyar did not award attention toward Kaylin’s response for she assumed she would not have to seek too hard to be well aware of it. Further measures which Arnyn proposed were those that Isys could endorse, though she did not feel the need for a hearty shout out of approval in that regard. The King’s rule of law for one was a gratifying arrival into the discussion, and even if the call for constant vigilance was a little self-evident, it could probably not be underplayed in any consideration of the situation. The idea of being so prepared to protect themselves and others from known poisons; a tool much employed by this particular foe, was shrewd as it was sage. The Ehtyar was impressed.


Observing Pele then extract what further memory she was able, when to do so might have been a torture in itself, Ilisys felt for her friend. Even the mention of the Captain’s late husband could not have been easy, for she had certainly never heard her friend speak on that subject aloud before. In the wake of Pele’s far more impactful admission, it was difficult then to deny Arnyn’s dogged interrogation. The Ehtyar was not unused to her countrymen openly challenging her and had over the course of a great many years, established an ambiguity to her contributions which both amused her and for the most part confused them until they left her be. the bulk of her fellow Knights in Dol Amroth had not expected anything more substantial than what she gave them, to be contributed by ‘a woman’ who had dared convene upon their traditions by even standing in the same military rooms as they in the first place. It was .. she was slowly beginning to realise, different here in Minas Tirith. Honestly she was as impressed as surprised that the Lieutenant would make such a forthright and even repeated attempt to be told what she wished to learn. This woman was a truth seeker. This woman did not appreciate a lie, or even a vague notion that she would have to interpret amongst doubt of it’s accuracy. This woman actually wanted to know what she could tell her, without an agenda to then pass that knowledge off as their own. This truly was a day of much discovery.


“Information is a weapon,” Isys agreed with Arnyn eventually and to that extent at least. And for a moment it seemed as though she would say no more than that. “And a lady learns early to share only what she must. Particularly when to do aught else would serve fine gentlemen discomfort,” she sighed as though airily. “The gentleman, though in question,” she continued, unsure how this was going to be received, “has more names than even I might tell you. Netor, Erud, Raldem, Hantus, Zarem, Hollin, Jusan, Grabal …” the Ehtyar paused, “these at least I am aware of, and I could go on. But I suspect there are still further more. And so you see your question inspires no simple answer, Lieutenant. I applaud your quest for relevant details however, so let me be as obliging as I am able.”

“I know he is still following Shamara .. because I know full well why he agreed to do so. I know he would not give up if it were within his power to persist. His motives surpass any inclination of loyalty to Gondor, or to me. He has his own reasons and those I shall not share. This was, though the reason why I asked him to take up the task. He was the best equipped to pursue the particular target in question, and he was to hand at the time when I needed her steps to be shadowed before the trail ran cold.”


Though Arnyn asked about her means of contacting this ‘client’, Isys puzzled over how much she might share. She had of course the influence to make known where she was most of the time, even if word did not spread of it’s own accord which it usually did. Such a name and deliberate shows of wealth could surmount to the equal of a mighty beacon range, where it came to those in need of passing her word, learning where to send it. She had managed to shroud her real identity only once or twice early on, and fortunately procured on those occasions the sorts of acquaintances who could later take matters up on her behalf ever since. Besides maintaining her own watertight alibi should things happen to turn unsavoury, there were simply certain tasks which she was not too arrogant to accept that others were more capable and competent in managing, than she was. Her apparently ceaseless coffers financed much of what she wanted to know or have managed, whether she acquired it personally, or (most often) not.

“He knows how he may make contact with myself,” she allowed, albeit slightly guarded in so doing. “Although he is unlikely to trouble over that unless to let me know all was lost. Whereas my efforts to gain audience with him would .. potentially compromise his subterfuge.” This last was enunciated in a markedly more drawn out manner, possibly even to allude to some reluctance on the Ehtyar’s part to interrupt ‘the chase’. “If we were within proximity to one another, I have no doubt that he would make me aware of his, and thus Shamara’s propinquity. If that should serve ?” she wondered. And almost immediately fell upon a response to the Captain’s greater matter. Because if this ‘Amber’ was what they presumed, it was a good deal more urgent than an errant and lesser-perilous Shamara


“I wonder would it be worth incorporating some tighter security measures around the barracks just in case," she remarked. "It would not be difficult to encourage Lieutenant Brian of that end. Such a thing could easily be achieved, given how well his tendencies are recognised by the ranks, so that even the newest recruit may not question or overly concern at the change,” she remarked. "It is well indeed that nobody ought be alone at any point if they can possibly help it, not only to reduce the danger of their being attacked, but also so that one can administer or run for aid . We have recent changes within the hierachy which could explain things like working together to have suddenly become more of a priority." Isys considered the end of a dark strand of her hair, as though she might suck on it, although she did not. "It might even explain away what this meeting was about. If 'Amber' should hear of it or have the time to wonder," was her last thought upon the matter.

[Arnyn]

Headquarters, Nárië 20


Hyandaner Kaylin Maethyr

Arnyn's statement about common ground was like a drop of water on a hot pan over a fire. Despite her agreement with the sentiment, it did nothing to cool Kaylin down, not when the Lieutenant followed it up by speaking against killing Shamara on sight.

Isys wasn't exactly blowing Kaylin's mind with the notion of using a smaller fish to catch the big one. Yet, when the smaller fish had teeth and kept taking bites off of you, first after getting away without being apprehended and a second time to get away even after being caught - that changed things. Shamara had eaten her fill, as far as Kaylin was concerned. If the citizens at Harlond were so impressed with this Relic that they were unwilling to breathe so much as a word of information, then why would one of Relic's agents be any different? If anything, they would be more taciturn. They would know much better what Relic was truly capable of, wouldn't they?

That Isys did not see this, and apparently that neither did Arnyn, nor Pele, frustrated her immensely. As if she had not considered the rule of law? What oh what would the King decide about a woman who had played an integral part in the abduction and torture of his now Captain of the Rangers, and who had proved she could escape a Gondorian cell? Kaylin could imagine no different sentence than death. They had the necessary information on Shamara, they had what proof they needed. This was just ridiculous. Did the others enjoy having bad people pecking at them, or something?

Kaylin thought it was positive that Arnyn was moving into the room next to Pele's at the barracks, although she questioned what good it would really do if the woman was not prepared to kill. Some part of her mind knew that was a faulty reasoning (not wanting to kill Shamara on sight was rather different than not wanting to kill her under necessary circumstances, after all), but her anger didn't allow her to sieve through her thoughts as she usually would, so that bit of insight stayed buried for now.

Pele's words to her were kind, and then the Captain followed up with an apology and an explanation for being quiet this long. Kaylin's heart went out to Pele then, and she almost reached out to hug her friend, only held back by the official character of the meeting. At a sudden thought, Kaylin narrowed her eyes as she looked at Arnyn. Had she helped Pele realize she had friends to trust in? Had she helped Pele to open up? Or was her gut off about this?
Her anger almost started to subside, but as Pele went on to explain why exactly Relic was after her, Kaylin could feel it flaring back to life. Kaylin was reminded that Relic had a personal feud against Pele. A personal feud. Yes, Relic was a crime boss of sorts, a bigger player in the Umbarian slave trade - but she had a personal vendetta against her friend and Captain. For Kaylin, there was no doubt what had to take precedence.

She listened to the information that was to be heard, but it was soon clear to her that her opinions were not shared by any of those speaking up. Kaylin crossed her arms, almost as if she was trying to keep her anger contained to her person and not to allow it to venture out. Her blue-grey eyes frowned at Mourgan and Karis. What was their opinion in all of this, anyway? Was she really the only one to see things so differently?

From Pele's words after Isys and Arnyn's input, Kaylin deduced she was not granted permission to do as she wished and kill Shamara when she could. To the contrary, Pele then clarified Shamara was to be caught and questioned for information. Kaylin could hold back an eye roll, but she couldn't keep herself from looking sullenly off to the side of the office, avoiding anyone's gaze.

At the question of whether she could work with Arnyn on Amber, and that Arnyn and she could work out the details together, Kaylin resisted the urge to glance at the Lieutenant. She kept staring at the wall, and her voice was level as she replied. "Yes, Captain."

When Pele asked whether there were any more questions, Kaylin pressed her lips together. Not from her, no.
The matter of looking into unresolved crimes was left rather loose. If Kaylin hadn't been so upset, she would have asked who was assigned to this and where Pele wanted them to start - if she had given it any thought beforehand. But the Hyandaner was upset. Very upset. And so she left the asking to someone else.
She had also noted that there had been no specific order concerning Relic's life. Perhaps Pele thought it was so unlikely that Relic would be caught by any of them without adoubt as to her identity, but it was the blade of straw Kaylin needed to hang on to to keep some semblance of her cool at present. If she found Relic, if she was sure it was Relic, if she had proof - there had been no words spoken by the Captain to prevent Kaylin from trying to take the woman's life. It was something.

[Ercassie]

Ranger Unalmis Raxëlilta with Trastion and Erynneth
Outside the Barracks, some time ago / before the Captain's Meeting/Council
@Rillewen

“I remember the day I came to enlist,” Unalmis leant back on his heels to properly commit to the conversation with Trastion. “t was raining so hard that by the time I’d walked up from the Second, I was utterly soaked. The Captain was following the puddles that I had left all down the HQ corridor. She’s a good sort, the Captain though; probably seen all sorts, with all the experience that she has.” The Ranger’s hope was that the new recruit would not worry too much, if he knew he was not the first, and likely would not be the last, to have a less than perfect ‘first day’. After all, that was the point they all started to improve from, so technically the first should be everybody’s least impressive day, even if nothing went wrong.

“That would be Lieutenant Brian” Nal confirmed, however moments later, with an exhausted look about his face. There was something about the barracks master which dragged at one’s exuberance even if he were not present. “I wish I could say he is not always so uptight, but there again I usually have some mud or something on me someplace, so that might explain it. I swear he is the best incentive to obey the rules around here than anything else they could have brought in. And he knows it. And he always turns up,” the young man glanced up on his toes so he could peer beyond a nearby bush, “out of nowhere !” he concluded, with a finger raised before his lips, in warning.


When Trastion described his missing items as ‘some things from home,’ and ‘some things that were gifts or belongings of his various relatives’, Unalmis paused about his digging and took a long look at the Recruit. That was perhaps the most vague of all descriptions he’d heard for some time. Given that the Ranger had no notion at all where Trastion’s home was, let alone a single thing about any of his relatives … “You might need to help me out a little better than that,” he started to suggest, when his new friend asked where the dog was going to now.
“Fetch, Hattie. Fetch !” Nal tried, as she lumbered away. Hopefully to bring back some further things she might relocate, since a second young man now stood between her and seizing up anything else they had recovered where they were.

Moments later it appeared that she had managed just that. For Hattie came proudly padding around the corner of the building, with a familiar face in tow. Not Lieutenant Brian. ”Eryn,” Unalmis grinned. “I did not expect to see you up here today. Are you busy ? This is Trastion. And this is .. well, a mess.”

[Isolde Alarion]

Ranger Mourgan Alarion
Headquarters, Nárië 20

He stood watching, listening. There was so much to take in and come to terms with. Yes, he was disappointed she’d not shared this information with him sooner. Yes, he wanted to question her as to why he wasn’t told but he also understood her. His Aunt was all about protection. If a thousand arrows were shot she would take every one of them to keep others from being hurt. Maybe it was the healer in her. Maybe it was the care for those she served with that motivated her. Protection even from the truth of her ordeal.

The pieces of the puzzle were coming together as others shared their information and as each was added he felt more compelled to side with Kaylin. He glanced over to her, her anger apparent. His helm which rest in his hands before him was still getting a good wrenching as he kept his anger at bay. It wouldn’t do to flip a desk with the Captain nearly seated on it. He would bide his time. Do as they planned but if given the chance he would do his best to end this Relic once and for all.

When the Captain asked if there were any questions he simply shook his head. He wanted to move on these people, charge head long into this problem but he would restrain himself, for now.

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie

........
Erynneth and Trastion Leithor
Civilian.......New recruit - first day
Outside/behind the Dorms
(some time before the Captain's Meeting/Council)

Listening to Unalmis' account of his own first day, Trastion laughed, and felt significantly better about his own first impression with the captain. "Well, at least you had the excuse that it was raining," He pointed out. "Surprisingly, she didn't even ask me why I was covered in mud. Just made a comment about my being in camouflage," He grinned. Who would've thought his talent for getting dirty could ever be considered a possibly useful skill someday?

"So, this Lieutenant Brian," Trastion grew a bit more serious, considering this potential obstacle. "He's quite strict, then?" He wondered if the man would have any objection to how Trastion had 'unpacked'... which was, basically, not at all, he recalled. He'd literally just tossed his pack into the empty chest, and then dumped all the new gear from the armory on the bed before rushing out here. "Sounds perhaps as if..maybe it's some sort of test," He contemplated the thought. "To see if one can pull anything over on him, perhaps? Or... I mean, um, you know, like practice or something. For when we're up against enemies? That sort of thing." He ran a hand through his hair thoughtfully, debating what sort of pranks could be done, and also curiously gauging the reaction of the other young man, hoping he wouldn't turn out to be a the type to go tattle and refuse to participate in anything somewhat mischievous or fun.

The matter of his missing artifacts was indeed a problem. Under the young ranger's stare, Trastion barely refrained from squirming as he paused to consider how to give a more proper answer to Unalmis, yet without spilling too much information. But, before he had a chance to come to any sort of decision, the dog had taken off and drawn the other's attention after her. "Perhaps you ought to consider a leash?" He suggested, attempting to be helpful. It seemed to be a common occurrence for Hattie to take off. "Else, you're likely to have that lieutenant breathing down your neck about all the trouble she's causing," He teased, just before a young lady appeared, much to Trastion's surprise. A girl, over here by the boy's barracks? He had a strong suspicion that Lt. Brian would not approve of this, and he took a quick glance around to ensure he was not around. All seemed safe for the moment, and he had no intention of tattling.


"Yes, I can see it's a mess," Eryn laughed. "Did Hattie do all of that?" She reached down to scratch the dog around the ears. "You're a little troublemaker, aren't you?" By the amused tone of her voice, the dog would be more likely to assume she was praising her for something, rather than scolding. Straightening from giving Hattie some attention, she acknowledged the stranger with a nod in greeting. "Hello, Trastion," She greeted Nal's companion, smiling.

"Good afternoon, miss Eryn," Trastion greeted her politely with a tilt of his head, respectfully. And then spotted something that drew his attention. He reached down to pull something from the depths of a hole, while Eryn and Unalmis were speaking. It was about the same color as the dirt, and he almost missed it... his leather pouch. Only it was all chewed up and shredded, and nearly unrecognizable. His heart sank as he stared at it in dismay. Where were the contents?


"Oh, I was on my way home," Eryn answered Nal. "I've just come from visiting Ranger Kaylin..." Suddenly remembering he didn't know about anything that had happened with her in the last couple of days, Eryn could hardly wait to speak with Nal. "Oh! I have something to tell you about..." Eyes shining with eagerness to tell him about her recent adventure, she bounced lightly on the balls of her feet. "but... not here." She added, with a slightly hesitant glanced toward Trastion. He was busy studying something he'd dug up from one of Hattie's holes. "Um, I can spare a few minutes here, if you need something?" She added to Nal, unsure why he'd asked if she was busy. "Though I do need to be getting home before too long.. it's nearly time for the evening milking." She explained. "I'd ask if you'd like to join me, but.. it looks like you're busy here," She glanced around at all the mess.

"Hey, that's a nice dagger," Trastion commented, nodding toward the weapon the girl held in her hand, partly hidden by the folds of her dress.

"Oh... thanks. It's my father's," Eryn glanced down, realizing she hadn't done such a good job of keeping it out of sight as she had thought. She stopped trying to keep it hidden, and looked at it herself. "I uh, need to get it fixed," She explained, a little awkward.

Tilting his head inquisitively, Trastion stepped a little closer to take a better look, and raised an eyebrow curiously as she turned the dagger over to reveal the ugly scratch along one side of the handle. "Oh.. what happened?"

Eryn fidgeted. She didn't know him, and she had no idea whether she could trust him with a secret. "Um... an accident." She hesitated, and added, "I don't think I'd better say anymore than that..."

"Right, sorry. I didn't mean to be nosy." He nodded, understanding about someone having secrets. He busied himself with poking around the piles of items Nal had retrieved from the dirt, in the hopes of finding the former contents of his pouch.

Turning her hazel gaze to Nal, worry showed in Eryn's eyes as she dropped her voice to a more hushed tone. "Could you help me, Nal? I have to get it fixed before he comes back, but I don't know where I could take it. What am I going to do?"

[Pele Alarion]

Captain Pele Alarion
Headquarters, Captain’s Office, Nárië 20

Pele could sense the held back anger as she glanced at Kaylin, and then checked in with Mourgan who had been quiet since his initial question. It made her think of how things would have turned if she had spoken up as soon as she had even as much as a shadow of doubt that her enemies were around, yet now there was nothing to be done about it, except to move forward together.

She then turned her attention to Ilisys who finally responded to Arnyn's questioning, or at least as much as she could. None of the long list of names for the man following Shamara meant nothing to Pele, and the description seemed to portray him as some sort of a suspicious character. Yet, she assumed that Isys had her own contacts from Dol Amroth, and if she trusted him and thought he was doing the job, it was enough for her.

"I hope he really is following Shamara," she said. "I'd rather not have the woman slip out of view completely and keep causing trouble unchecked. Though I'd rather have her found and taken to preven that from happening."

Considering the options in relation to Amber, Pele narrowed her eyes slightly in thought. "I'd rather Amber does not realise that she's under scrutiny," she said hesitantly. "But at the same time the security measures, yes. Perhaps combat readiness check, sort of a training or drill, is in order to put the other Rangers on alert until things can be sorted out."

[Ercassie]

Ranger Unalmis Raxëlilta with Trastion and Erynneth
Outside the Barracks, some time ago / before the Captain's Meeting/Council
@Rillewen

Unalmis was not surprised to hear that Pele had not been especially stern about Trastion and his mud. She was exactly the right sort of balance between firm and fair. Unlike certain Barracks Masters he could mention. Although, to be utterly fair to Lieutenant Brian, “He is the very definition of strict,” it was only fair to warn his new colleague. “Lives for rules and regulations, doing all things by the book. Though there are stories ..” Nal confided, rather than go chasing after Hattie .. she always came back eventually .. “Its one of those things like the chicken and the egg. Noone is sure whether Rangers love to prank the Lieutenant because he is such a moralist, or has he actually become so obsessed with maintaining rules and regulations because so many Rangers have played pranks on him. Did he give you a room here ?” he wondered aloud.

Unalmis pulled a face though soon after, at the suggestion of getting Hattie a leash. Despite his personal aversion to having anything restrained, somehow it led to images of chasing the dog to put a leash on her, and/or being dragged all about by the dog if she were on a leash, tangling up people as she ran around them … hmm. No, he wasn’t really convinced of that one. But before he could have mentioned anything more about the risk of Brian catching her, Eryn had arrived, with the runaway hound herself.


“Err .. well,” he couldn’t quite agree that the mess was entirely Hattie’s fault, but it didn’t seem that the girl would hold that against the dog regardless. Nal shook his head slowly with a smile, as she pampered their canine friend. He was genuinely surprised to see her up on the Sixth, and without her little dairy cart which was usually the reason that she got around everywhere in the city. To hear that she knew Kaylin was another surprise. He couldn’t even say that he especially knew the Hyandaner, though they had worked in the same ‘company’ for some time now. Of course though it would be impossible that he hadn't heard about the redheaded Bladeswoman. She had quite a reputation for trouble herself. Cadil had mentioned their gaming and pub visits before, at the very least.

It was all too easy not to notice the intrigue which Trastion was dedicating to his search, when first Eryn and then Hattie were possessed with apparent excitement. The dog didn’t even know what was so exciting, and it might have even been just showing off because of her growing audience. She had literally begun barking as though she was sharing some news of her own.

“I was going to say the same thing,” Nal admitted, sticking a finger in one ear and wiggling it against Hattie's insistence. “I mean. I have something to tell .. no. I was going to ask you. But I don’t want to make you late ..” the novelty of the sentence sounded unlikely even to him. “And I don’t think I should really leave this mess lying around. Or the Lieutenant will literally string me up on The Tree. ”

Trastion’s remark about the dagger which Eryn had clearly been trying to conceal, made Unalmis consider her account. That the weapon was her father’s and there’d been some sort of an accident .. Duinion he knew was out of town at the moment. So this sort of situation was all too familiar and he certainly had some experience in how to get out of such circumstances. He’d figured out that Duinion probably didn’t even know she had the weapon, before his friend’s quiet plea was delivered. And all this time Trastion was rather politely pretending to look very intensely about the unearthed items, rather than listen in any further on the conversation. Hattie, clearly not involved in the secret sharing, did not need telling twice to leap on Trastion’s back from behind, almost as though she was planning on burying the young man next ..


“I think I’m getting an idea,” the Ranger assured Eryn, obliviously, or maybe warned her. Either way. Thanks to a rather unimpressive room inspection, Unalmis had been told to get his equipment in order, ready for some ‘focused’ training, to keep him out of trouble. Or at least distracted by something 'productive'. It would be easy to slip a small dagger in with the rest of it, and visit the barracks smith, so there’d be no need for Eryn to fret about paying a smith in the market. There was apparently a new smith in the armoury as well, so she wouldn’t even suspect Nal of being up to anything, unless Brian had already let the uninformed new staffmember know to keep an eye out on him .. Even if she had been forewarned, this smith couldn’t possibly know yet that he was ‘him’. This was going to work.

“It’s not safe to plot around here, with the Lieutenant lurking about,” the young man winked at Eryn, rather conspiratorially. “But I can bring Hattie out your way for a walk later, if that’s convenient ? It might even tire her a little before bed. We can work it out then. I promise.”

It would have been a proud moment, to have realised how well things might turn out, but for the unexpected arrival of Lieutenant Brian himself, who turned the corner, came upon the scene, and began walking over in a far more urgent manner, which was rather amusing to watch, but also terrible timing. Unalmis realised how Hattie had decided to 'play' with Trastion, a little belatedly. And ran over to make sure she didn't try the same thing with the Barracks Master.

[Arnyn]

Headquarters, Nárië 20


Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen

She played on my feelings of guilt and regret, causing almost endless distress to me.

Those words, spoken by Pele, kept rolling through Arnyn's mind. Guilt about what? Arnyn had thought Pele had felt embarrassed about being taken prisoner and would have feared Relic making her out to be some kind of traitor. But how could Relic play on guilt? The guilt of being taken? That didn't seem quite right.
Arnyn pursed her lips very slightly as she thought it through.

She nodded when Pele asked Kaylin and her to work together on Amber. Kaylin sounded almost like a stubborn child who was not getting their way when she agreed, and Arnyn wondered what working with that temperament would be like. While she would have looked forward to working with Kaylin and getting to know the redhead a bit better just an hour ago, now she was in doubt. However, Pele had asked. And it would be good to get to know the other Hyandaner better, regardless of whether they would get along well.

Arnyn revisited what orders the Captain had handed out as of yet.

Find Shamara, alive, and make her talk if possible. That was clear enough.

Investigate any crimes that might be related to Relic and would give them more information on where she was holding up. Arnyn had a few questions about that part.

Be careful around Amber and find out whether she is genuine or whether Pele's instincts were correct. And Pele had assigned Kaylin and her on that.

Isys' reply to her earlier questions made Arnyn hold her peace a while longer. She inclined her head to the Ehtyar when she gave up a number of names the man pursuing Shamara went by. While the names meant nothing to her, as Isys had predicted, she tried to store as many of them as she could in her mind. She would write them down in the privacy of her own home, later, on a nondescript piece of paper and reread them every so often, to help commit them to memory. Arnyn nodded again when Isys said she would be as obliging as she was able. Listening carefully to the Belfalasian's words, the Lieutenant processed the bits and pieces of information and decided they would indeed suffice. "Thank you, Isys," Arnyn said quietly, once the Ehtyar had also given her thoughts on the safety of all Rangers. "I appreciate your elaboration. I will trust in your judgment on the finer details."

"I do wonder..." Arnyn thoughtfully tapped a finger against the outer side of her thigh. "If we were to install a rule that Rangers temporarily need to work and play at least in pairs... That means Amber would also need at least one Ranger, who is visible to her, to be around her at nearly all times. Kaylin and I alone cannot incorporate that into our lives. She would find other Rangers to accompany her when we cannot offer ourselves up. Even assuming that we could manage to offer our own company in an inconspicuous way - which I do not think we can - the rest of the time this would force her upon others, perhaps also entirely unsuspecting Rangers. Or, Manwe forbid, one of our other recruits."

"If this Amber is Relic in disguise... there is no telling what she may do. But I am not in favor of forcing her to find some unsuspecting Ranger to hang around. It may create a temptation where there might have been none, otherwise."

"Based on what Pele has told us about Relic, she seems vindictive and likes to make things... personal. So, unless our King has somehow offended or shamed her, I doubt she is here for him. I imagine she quite liked the way things are in Gondor - given that she is able to steal away our people for her despicable affairs. What Relic wants... is coin, reputation, obedience, and..." Arnyn's eyes went to Pele's, to check if her assessment felt correct to the Captain. "No loose ends."

"And speaking of loose ends..." She was doubtful to ask, but it was tugging at her. Arnyn would have preferred to ask Pele in private, so the Captain could more easily say no, or perhaps share more easily, but perhaps giving Pele a push to share it with those gathered here would actually be better. Not just so everyone had the same information, but also for Pele's healing process.

"Pele, I am sorry to ask." Arnyn suspected the Captain's emotions would run high. "I know it might be difficult to answer." Nevertheless... Sometimes people did really need that little shove.

"You said Relic played on your guilt, on your regret, and that this caused you the most pain. It seems to me that the reasons for this guilt and regret, are Relic's sharpest weapons against you. Could you perhaps share with us... the reasons behind your feelings of guilt and regret?"

She felt like a bad friend, almost, for asking such questions in the presence of so many others. "Perhaps speaking them out loud, to us, will take away at least some of the power they hold over you." Not to mention, if they all reacted in a manner that showed Pele there was nothing to feel guilty about... It was a gamble. But a gamble she had to take. Pele was taking too long on her own. And Arnyn had promised her that she would help as best she could.

[Isolde Alarion]

Recruit Amber w/ Cali
Armory
@Rillewen

“I have some experience.” Amber answered Calis question about having any experience. Of course she wasn’t going to reveal all her experience. She tried to down play her answer with a shrug. “No more then your average recruit I suppose. I don’t have any preferences, something flexible I suppose.” She spoke to the woman’s back as she led her towards the armor section.

She looked around, nothing really met her gaze. Like she said, she had little experience with armor. “I’ll let you find something to suit me, it’s your area of expertise after all.” It seemed they were going to have to find her size so Amber let the Smithy take her measurements and when they were done she felt she’d spent enough time there, she did have other things to do.

“I’ll check back another time on that armor, see if it’s ready for me but now I have to go. I have a barracks to check into.” She turned and headed out of the armory, once more past the rows of weapons. Her amber eyes rolled over them to set to memory where what was if she needed anything quickly.

Ranger Mourgan
@Rillewen

Returning to the armory to bring his dented armor to Cali, Mourgan past an unfamiliar face (Amber) as he entered the armory. He gave her a passing glance but there was something that made the hairs stand up on the back of his neck looking at her. It was like the passing of a dark cloud on a sunny day. Strange, he thought to himself but shook it off when he looked forward to the Smithy.

Approaching her he held out the dented armor. “Told you it needed fixing.” He didn’t elaborate on how it got dented other then in practice and that was mostly true.

[Rillewen]

@Isolde Alarion

Calithilidis Dringolben - Armory
(some time before the Captain's Meeting/Council, with "Amber")

Cali glanced toward the recruit thoughtfully. She got the impression that Amber wasn't very friendly, although she tried not to judge her too quickly. Still, her responses seemed.. almost as if she had little interest in chatting and even trying to make any friends. Perhaps she was shy or not very outgoing with unfamiliar people, but Cali couldn't help feeling that it was something else. She shrugged and tried not to take it personally, offering a faint smile. "I'm not sure exactly what the average is for a recruit, since everyone comes from all different levels of experience. Some have never handled a weapon before, while others may have been in the army for many years before joining the rangers." She explained.

After taking the young woman's measurements, Cali jotted everything down and promised to have something ready for her as soon as possible. After having Amber sign for the short sword and anything else she wished to take with her at this time, Cali watched her go, looking thoughtful, before turning to the forge yet again. She had just set the can of rings into the coals again when the ranger from earlier reappeared.

Cali smiled at him as he entered. "Welcome back, Ranger Mourgan. Did you think I didn't believe you?" She asked with a light laugh, unlocking the bellows so she could revive the heat in the forge. "Give me just a moment and I'll take a look at it," She told him, pumping air into the coals until they were glowing just the right color. Once she had the coals hot enough, she turned and held her hands out for the dented helmet, examining it carefully. "Yes, it's not too bad. I'll need to heat it up to get the dent out, though." She explained. After taking a moment to remove any padding or straps that could be removed, she settled the helmet, dent down, into the coals. "If you'd like to stick around and wait, it shouldn't take too long." She added.

"I'm going to finish this up while that's heating," Taking her hammer up again, Cali returned to working on the maille from earlier. "So, what happened to your helmet, anyway?" She couldn't help being a bit curious, but also it was a way to make conversation. It only took a few more rings before the mend was completed, and that only took a few minutes to accomplish. As she worked, she listened to whatever tale Mourgan may have to explain the dent, with a nod here or there, or a glance to show she was listening. Finally, she had fixed the last rivet in place on the maille, and held the armor up with gloved hands, turning the piece to examine it carefully. After a thorough inspection to ensure that she had not missed any links, Cali nodded to herself in satisfaction that it was done. Now, it just had to cool. She slipped it onto an armor stand to let the rings cool slowly while she was busy with other things. With that finally out of the way, Cali then turned her attention toward Mourgan's dented helmet, which should be heated enough to work with by now.

@Ercassie
........
Erynneth and Trastion Leithor
Civilian......New recruit - first day
Outside/behind the Dorms
(some time before the Captain's Meeting/Council)

"No, not Lieutenant Brian. Captain Alarion assigned me to a room," Trastion answered Nal's question, while lifting up a gnawed boot to look underneath. "I'm sharing a dorm with Ranger Mourgan," He added, in case that offered any helpful information to the other ranger. He ventured a few steps further away, figuring the other two would rather not be overheard with whatever they were talking about. He was curious, but he was also very hopeful of finding his missing belongings among all this mess.

Eryn's curiosity grew to nearly unbearable levels upon hearing that Nal wanted to ask her something. What could it be? She wanted very much to ask him what it was, but she was all too aware that this was really not the best place for sharing secrets. They would both have to wait until a better time and place to exchange secretive news and secrets, though she felt that she was nearly bursting to tell him. Luckily, she was slightly distracted, both from her worry and from her curiosity, as her ranger friend informed her that he had an idea. She smiled with relief to hear that. "Really?" This was great! A smile replaced the concerned expression, as she admired how easily Nal could come up with a way to help her out of this predicament. "Oh, yes, that would be perfect," She assured him, nodding eagerly as he suggested the idea that he could come by the farm. That would give them plenty of secrecy to talk, and contrive a plan for getting her father's dagger fixed! "I'm sure Hattie would love it too," She added with a smile, glancing around for the dog... and saw what the playful canine was up to now. "Oh no! Hattie, no!"

Trastion had spotted something sort of shiny, half-buried in the dirt. With a surge of hope, he leaned over to dig the item out, and just managed to grasp the item. Before he had a chance to identify what he had found, she had launched herself at his back, and landed hard. Trastion yelped in surprise as he toppled over, landing on his hands and knees right into one of Hattie's larger holes. Almost as quickly as she had come, she was gone, and Trastion was still a little confused about what just happened as he looked up with dirt on his face, slowly sitting up.

Seeing that Hattie was excitedly moving off in another direction, Eryn looked, and saw a very cross-looking man striding briskly toward them, like a storm cloud rushing across the sky to rain on a picnic. And Hattie was running straight toward him. Something Nal had told her about seemed to fit with the person approaching them, and she made a guess that this must be the infamous Lt. Brian. Just wonderful. What terrible timing! She realized immediately that Nal might get in big trouble, not just for Hattie, but for her own presence here, if what she'd heard was correct. And it wasn't even his fault that she was here! She couldn't let him get in trouble! "Hattie, heel," She tried to call her, without success, for the dog was caught up with her game.

Without giving it anymore thought, Eryn ran to intercept the mischievous pup, and somehow managed to grab hold of Hattie just before she managed to wreak anymore havoc by jumping on the Lieutenant. "I... I'm so sorry, sir," She looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes while trying to hold the wriggling dog still. "I.. uh.. she's my dog." She declared, hoping to save Nal from any further trouble. "She got away from me, you see, and I was looking for her, and well, she's dug some holes in the ground here, and I was trying to catch her, and these two rangers were kind enough to offer to help me, and.. I didn't mean to let her make any trouble, she's just a puppy and she didn't know any better..." She had no idea how convincing the story was, but maybe the fact that she had instinctively called out the dog's name would help to lend credit to her tale. Better her to take the blame than the other two. After all, she was just a civilian... what could he possibly do to punish her?

[Pele Alarion]

Captain Pele Alarion
Headquarters, Captain’s Office, Nárië 20

"This is true, such instructions would mean that Amber has to be paired up with someone," Pele agreed after a moment of consideration. "But then again making other Rangers aware except her would probably not do either as it would be too obvious. I suppose she might wreak enough havoc as it is, if my suspicions prove to be justified. Any suggestions on how best to go about it?"

When Arnyn described Relic's characteristics, Pele met her eyes and nodded, "Yes, she definitely wants to have the last say, power greedy..."

It would have been all well with them quite successfully keeping to the subject and coming to some sort of agreement and plan of action, unless Arnyn had not suddenly asked about Pele's feelings of guilt and regret. The request took her by surprise, and she found herself lost for words as everything in her told her to just say no and refuse to speak of something she had not dared to share, not to this many people at once, not now.

She tensed up as if prepared to make her escape, but her hold on the edge of the desk gave her enough sense of stability to stay put. The question did pertain to the discussed matter, her mind argued against the feelings which claimed the opposite. How was she even to explain this? Would others even understand? Was it worth trying?

"Well... I..." Pele began awkwardly having decided to face the worst and be honest, and searching for words to explain the reasons. "I have failed," she paused, and then corrected herself. "I feel that I have failed to protect those I love, keep my husband from harm." Even when slightly adjusted, the words she had been repeating to herself again and again and now had spoken out loud seemed to tear open any wounds she thought she had managed to heal slowly over time.

"The first time, Relic would have him beaten every time I dared to stand against her... until I submitted," she spoke quietly, eyes cast down to avoid contact with anyone in the room. "I could not stand to see him suffering. Not on my account. So... she, Relic, found a way... but we got away, and thought it was done with."

Pele cleared her throat trying to get rid of the tightness that was forming there, and then continued: "Maldir went missing, for a couple years, and... never returned. Only the word reached me later that mountains had overcome him. Quite soon after I learned what had befallen him, I was taken. Relic... made it clear that she had taken him too, that he waited, but I never came."

It took a few deep breaths and a decision to finish what she had started sharing for Pele to go on: "I know it is not so; he was not in Umbar. But... I should have looked for him. I should not have let him leave alone. I should have... done something. And... still... What if Relic did have him? It's hard... to forgive myself. And... what if things happen to other people I care about, just because they happen in the way when Relic is after me... and if I fail to protect them?"

Pele felt tears stinging her eyes and yet refused to let them fall. She stubbornly looked at the floor as if attempting to bore a hole into it with her constant gaze, and wished that she could simply fall through it and escape the pain and despair that seemed to have multiplied somehow as she voiced her thoughts out loud for everyone to hear.

[Arnyn]

Headquarters, Nárië 20


Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen

Seeing how Pele tensed up at her question, confirmed that it had been a dangerous ask. For a moment, she even wondered if the Captain would end the meeting, or ask them all to leave.

At her first stammered words, Arnyn was therefore incredibly relieved. It seemed like Pele had decided to answer her, at least in part. To face the feelings she was ignoring. This could be a step forward. Arnyn hoped it would be, with all her heart.

Pele's words tugged at her, and her heart went out to her friend. She had known Pele for years and years, and her friend's feelings in turn made her feel great sorrow. A better understanding for what Pele was fighting to overcome, washed over her. It was one thing to know that someone could wrench at who Pele was. It was another to hear just how they had done so.

Part of her felt sorry she had asked. But another part was convinced that this was a breakthrough.

As Pele fell silent and stared at the floor, Arnyn cared little for protocol or for who was present. "Pele," she said quietly, stepping forward to put her hands on Pele's shoulders and then pull her in for a hug. "Thank you. It pains me to learn she has cut you so deeply, but I am honored you would share this with us." She withdrew to look her Captain in the eyes, although Arnyn did not know whether or not Pele would look back. If she were to do so, she would see the conviction in Arnyn's eyes. "As far as I can see it, you are not a failure. Whatever pain Maldir suffered by Relic's hands - the pain you know of or the pain she claims, true or false - none of it is your failure. It is Relic's. Her failure at being good and true. You know she is a terrible person. Please, don't put her actions on yourself."

Arnyn gently squeezed Pele's shoulders. "She does not get to win, Pelepele." The Lieutenant looked at the Captain a moment longer, almost as if trying to lend her strength. Then Arnyn turned around to face the others in the office, stepping to the side with one foot to end up next to Pele. Her expression clearly asked the others to speak their minds as well, and not let the moment pass.

[Pele Alarion]

Captain Pele Alarion
Headquarters, Captain’s Office, Nárië 20

Somewhat unwillingly Pele responded to a hug, letting go of the desk edge she had still been gripping. Yet she was determined not to leave any tear stains on Arnyn's shoulder, though it seemed that instead of bringing comfort the hug seemed to make her emotions go even more wilder. Unsure of what to do with herself, she looked up at her friend when she stepped back. A whole world of pain seemed to reflect in Pele's blue eyes, having broken from under carefully sealed cover almost without her consent.

"No, not that I had caused pain directly, no. Yet... I swore to cherish him, so also to protect him, and yet could not fulfil my oath. Though... I am not sure what I could have done," she said in the same quiet tone. Now that she had found the way to dress her experiences into words, it became easier to share, though she did find herself tackling not a little bit by bit but almost everything at once. "I have not allowed myself to live beyond survival since then, and I am not sure whether it is more because I have been on constant lookout for Relic or because I have been punishing myself for not being there when I was needed," she confessed, realising that in a way she was still a captive, a slave, even though she had done everything possible to erase the physical mark. Feeling vulnerable and broken, she ventured a look at the gathered Rangers, wondering what they would think of her now when she was here before them without the usual external appearance of a strong captain.

Breathing a deep sigh, she then said: "Relic knows this, as she fed the fire herself so to say, and would use the same approach again, no doubt. If she did get a hold of any of you..."

[Ercassie]

Ranger Unalmis Raxëlilta with Trastion and Erynneth
Outside the Barracks, some time before the Captain's Meeting/Council
@Rillewen

Unalmis had started over to save Trastion but pulled up short and far too late, as that young man sat up, looking rather shocked from where Hattie had decided to leap at him from behind. Grimacing, the Ranger was on the cusp of apologising, when the question arose, .. to whom, or rather to whom .. first ? Since Eryn had already moved to stop the dog knocking the Lieutenant down next, Nal offered the recruit a hand back up to his feet. It was the very least that he could do. But for now they had a larger problem. Though it was tempting to cut and run, he could not. Or should not, would be the better description. So slowly, he followed Eryn, unwilling to leave her face the blame for what was (on several levels) his fault.

Brian had already come to a stop, confronted by the young girl (who should not have been there) frantically trying to keep a hold on the wild dog (which definitely should not have been there). The Lieutenant required a moment first of all, to come to terms with what he was exactly facing here. Besides utter despair in the hope for his country’s future. Besides the fact that babysitting this sort of anarchy was not in his job description, there was the matter of the holes. Being a man who regularly required to seek out peace and reflection (in order to keep his sanity), the Barracks Master was quite fond of potting a small plant here and there around the grounds. Some were herbs, others simply fragrant. It was a simple pleasure which he had thought nobody could take away from him. But now .. this …


Raising one hand, he strove to halt Eryn in the midst of her pleading. He shook his head as Unalmis looked ready to add something, and narrowed his eyes at Trastion until the young men moved aside, and the Lieutenant was able to see the full extent of the damage. He picked up a muddied sock as though to consider the evidence, holding it away at the very furthest reach of his hand, before he whirled back, swiftly, on his heels. Lips pursed.

“Recruit,” Brian started with the closest culprit. “When you enlist in the King’s Rangers, you are representing your King and Country. I should hate to think that you think so little of either one as you clearly do your own attire. This is your first day,” the Barracks Master recalled, though did not relent, “but it is not the first time that you have demonstrated such a poor portrayal of your new position in so very short a time. A third instance of appearing in public so unkempt will see me send a report to the Captain. Do you understand ?”

Scarcely enough time was allowed for Trastion to reply, before the Lieutenant delivered his verdict. “Retire. To the washrooms. I am sure you have at least learned where those are already. And if not, then clearly you ought to, immediately. Clean yourself up and clean up after yourself. You can expect that I shall be with you shortly, to inspect your progress. Do you understand ?”


Unalmis was trying to mouth something silently to Eryn around the lecturing Lieutenant, but he straightened up when Brian turned attention his way next. “Congratulations, Ranger,” he tried to hand the young man the sock, and just dared him to laugh. Unalmis did not move. “You have just won yourself a daily room inspection for every ranger lodging in the entire Wing, for the entire month,” the Barracks Master let that sink in for a moment, and then raised his reasons against any complaint. “Rangers work together, they live together, they are a team. And your actions have consequences beyond your own reckless self. Do you understand ?”

A bowed head and silence was the best Nal seemed to manage. A mumble might have been an affirmation, or offense, but it was unintelligible. There were times for making your case, and there were times that against all odds, you knew that you were in the wrong. The Ranger could not deny that he had gotten both Trastion and Eryn into this mess. And now every Ranger in the Mens' wing of the barracks ? All for want of keeping the dog under wraps, all for want of keeping the dog in his room ... the company had been a comfort. But it ought not to have come at such a cost. Especially to others who he had no wish to pay for his mistakes. The want to laugh at the Lieutenant's ravings dissolved slowly into a very new sort of remorse. But Brian was not content in his attempt to make the young man the most unpopular in the entire building.

“Since you clearly have no wish to take care of your things," Brian had not finished, since it was now clear why the Ranger's room had been so barren of belongings earlier. "then consider all those things that are now in my garden confiscated into my personal custody. If you do find that you are missing something that you require, you shall have to come and make a case for why I should return it to you. Rather than donate it all to some poor folks who would better appreciate what they have. Do you understand ?”


An opportune bark from Hattie reminded the Lieutenant of the other malefactor. And he turned on Eryn, disregarding the dog who was by now snapping her jaws repeatedly at the dirtied sock that Brian was brandishing like a deflated baton to serve his points.

“Now, miss. Since you are so keen to claim responsibility for this … animal, kindly remove both it and yourself from these grounds. And see that neither one of you is found here again without prior notice and written authorisation. This is not a park. This is not a playground.”


“Lieutenant,” Unalmis interjected at that point. “She’s but a child. It’s my fault the .. ” a vigorously flourished sock shushed the young Ranger, eyes wide with shock. As Brian put his other, sockless, hand up for silence.

“I already have cause to write the Captain a second letter about you. Do you wish to force my hand to a third as well ?” Slicking his hair, Brian recovered himself while Unalmis lost his tongue in shock, and the stern man cleared his throat to resume with the disapproving speech. “Now. The reason that I came to find you, aside from all the excessive noise and vandalism … ” the Barracks Master took a deep breath, and then continued. “A messenger came from the courthouse this morning,” he met the brown eyes of Unalmis and slowed down his speech so that each word to come would be rightly comprehended. “I was so distracted by the state of your room earlier, that I did not get a chance to tell you. The man who tried to drown his dog has since left town. Your accomplice and room mate is on an extended leave abroad with no return date anyone can expect. The dog thus, it has been decreed, belongs to you.” A hard look found Eryn and did not leave her, even as Nal closed his eyes. Somehow the best news ever had come at the worst time ever. And the Lieutenant had known about this how long ?

“I suggest you escort the little girl home and decide what to do about it, unless she would like to stake a claim for ownership before the judge as well,” was Brian’s parting shot, aside from an incredulous “are you still here ?” aimed in Trastion’s direction. And with that, he dismissed the trio, and prepared to tend to his small but devastated garden.





*1.The courthouse decree/decision about custody of the dog serves as conclusion to the otherwise unfinished storyline, last depicted in THIS POST.**

*2.Disclaimer - Lieutenant Brian is not my character but a thread staple NPC, here employed for plot purposes, and for my personal character's development and for general entertainment. No socks were hurt in the making of this post**

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie
........
Erynneth and Trastion Leithor
Civilian......New recruit - first day
Outside/behind the Dorms
(some time before the Captain's Meeting/Council)

Taking the offered hand, Trastion gave a nod of gratitude to the ranger as he got to his feet, transferring a bit of his dirt to Unalmis' hand by default. Quietly, he sneaked a look at what the item in his hand, only to feel his spirits sink yet again as it was not what he sought. The item appeared to be a pin* of some sort, for clasping one's cloak, but he didn't recognize it. Before he could hold his hand out to ask Unalmis whether the item belonged to him, however, the Lieutenant had begun scolding him. After that, he could only watch in stunned silence, for the next few moments, at the lecture that unfolded.

After jumping slightly to find himself addressed by the stern Lieutenant, Trastion slipped the pin subtly into his pocket as he straightened, a bit unsure of what exactly he had done wrong this time. He soon found out, and stood staring at the man in disbelief. Because he was muddy? The man had to have just seen what happened, how could he possibly blame Trastion for that?! It was like a flashback of home, he absently thought, with some inward amusement as he recalled the strict teacher he and his siblings used to have to endure. He managed, only just, to keep from snickering at some of the memories that thought had dredged up.

Still, despite recalling some of the jokes shared between himself and his brother, at the expense of their tutor, Trastion found it rather irksome to be spoken to in such a way, as if he had purposely gotten himself dirty, and didn't care about how he represented the King and Gondor... that was certainly not true, and he had to take a slow breath to refrain from making some retort that would land him in even further trouble. He merely gave a small, curt nod in reply to the first 'do you understand', and kept quiet as the man continued his lecture. His frown deepened. While Trastion did understand the Lieutenant's instructions, he didn't quite understand a few other things, and was frowning as Brian finally finished with him, turning his wrath onto one of the other two. Trastion didn't move, despite having been ordered to go wash up.

Eryn, having fallen silent when the lieutenant raised a hand to indicate she do so, was trying her best to keep Hattie still, and had her hands full doing it. Thankfully, she had dropped the dagger onto the ground just before rushing over to catch the dog, else she would have feared she might harm Hattie with its sharp blade. Kneeling beside Hattie, Eryn kept her arms wrapped around her, hugging her firmly against herself so as to limit the dog's ability to squirm free and cause more trouble.

Yet, Eryn couldn't help casting a concerned glance back toward where she had left her father's dagger. Attempting to be both subtle and urgent at the same time, she motioned with her head toward the spot where she had dropped it, trying to get Nal's attention, mouthing at him. Trying to silently beg him to rescue it before it became noticed.. hoping the Lieutenant wouldn't become aware of the weapon's existence, lest some awkward questions might be asked, or worse. What if he decided to confiscate it, and demand that she have her father come and claim it himself, or something equally horrible?

Eyes widening slightly upon hearing the harsh punishment that had been dropped onto her friend, Eryn almost couldn't believe what she was hearing. And not just Nal, but all the rangers who lived in these barracks would now have to suffer. Her gaze fell upon Nal, frowning sympathetically. She wasn't sure if she'd ever seen him so..downcast-looking, and contrite as the mean lieutenant continued to lecture him. She didn't like seeing him upset like that, and glanced back at the lieutenant. She decided right then that she did not like him at all. To make matters worse, he declared that he was actually going to confiscate everything here. Everything! Eryn bit her lip, suddenly very worried about that dagger, unsure whether Nal had managed to grab it or not. And there were all of his things too, that they were trying to rescue from where Hattie had buried them.. and... it just wasn't fair! But what could be done about it?

While the Lieutenant was focused on Unalmis and Eryn, Trastion frowned as he heard the other young man's sentencing. All of his stuff, confiscated? "Hold on a moment," Trastion spoke up at that point, frowning in surprise. That was indeed a hard blow, he thought, and took a surreptitious glance around. As Lieutenant Brian continued talking, apparently ignoring him, Trastion took advantage of the moment while he was distracted and looking at Unalmis and Eryn. He kept an eye on Lt. Brian as he slipped some of the smaller items from the pile of belongings into his pockets. Thanks to the lieutenant's long-winded lecturing, Trastion managed to stuff several things into his pockets, planning to deliver them to Unalmis later. At least those things wouldn't be held hostage by the tyrant, he thought with a faint smirk, which he quickly wiped off his face before anyone could see it.

"Stop it," Eryn whispered softly to Hattie, stifling a giggle at her comical antics as Eryn tried to prevent her from snapping at the sock the Lieutenant was waving around, even more comically. Then fell silent as the man finally turned his attention toward her.

“Now, miss. Since you are so keen to claim responsibility for this … animal, kindly remove both it and yourself from these grounds. And see that neither one of you is found here again without prior notice and written authorisation. This is not a park. This is not a playground.”

"Yes sir," Eryn managed a quiet response, a little stunned by all of this... his outburst toward the two rangers, the harsh, unreasonable punishments, and his detachment concerning poor little Hattie. Remove it? She almost felt insulted for the dog, and considered pointing out that she has a name. But, given the way he had scolded Nal and Trastion, Eryn decided against it.

Still, she wasn't terribly surprised to be told she ought to leave the grounds. She was well aware that she didn't belong here, after all, and ought not to have come there in the first place. But again, it wasn't quite her fault. Hattie had made it seem like it could be a life or death situation. Or so she told herself, anyway. Not to mention the fact that it had been a very long day for her. She was very eager to get home, and besides, she was running low on time, she remembered. Nal's protest on her behalf startled her though, and she looked at him in surprise. A child? She was fifteen** years old! Hardly a child! And she would be enlisting with the rangers in a couple of months, if her father wasn't so adamantly against it. How could Nal say she was a child? Taking a deep breath, Eryn tried to calm down, telling herself that maybe he only said that to make the lieutenant stop speaking so harshly toward her. Still, hearing him say it brought a small frown to her face, and she had to bite her lip to keep from blurting out anything about her recent adventure to Ithilien. This was not the time or the place to speak of that.

She was so caught up with thinking about what Nal had said that Eryn almost didn't realize the impact of the Lieutenant's news concerning Hattie. Almost. Her eyes grew wide as she glanced toward Nal, with barely concealed joy for him. Hattie officially belonged to him now! She was thrilled for him.. but at the same time, realized that meant... oh. Then, her story about Hattie being her dog... oops. She fidgeted and stared down at the ground, realizing she'd been caught in a lie. She frowned, but didn't remark on the lieutenant then calling her a 'little girl'. At least Nal was free to walk home with her, she realized, but she still felt bad for him about all that had happened.

When at last the tyrant had finished with his ranting, Trastion managed to straighten and look as if he hadn't been sifting through the piles, before the man had turned toward him. "Yeah, I'm still here," He responded with a tone of defiance, frowning. He'd had a bit of time to think while the man was telling off the other two, and had formed a sort of plan. He folded his arms over his chest, frowning as he faced the lieutenant. Perhaps it was due to naivety, this being his first day here, but the new recruit stood his ground as he stubbornly faced Lt. Brian.

"Am I to understand that we are being punished for trying to clean up this mess?" He demanded to know. "Because that certainly doesn't seem at all fair. You said yourself, the rangers live and work together. As a team. Yet, he and I were literally out here, trying to work together to clean up a mess that was not our fault, and now we're getting punished for it?" Trastion's tone was incredulous as he spoke his piece. "You asked me twice now if I understood... as far as your instructions go, yes. But what I don't understand is what we're being punished for. I literally came over here just to help a fellow ranger, whom I didn't even know, because of that whole teamwork thing." He pointed out. "And furthermore, you surely can't expect me to clean up, then go clean up after myself, and expect me to not get dirty again in the process?" He asked, throwing his hands up in a dramatic show of exasperation as he tried to make a show of how absurd it all was. "Next you'll be insisting that I have to clean up all of THIS mess, on my own!" He waved a hand around at the piles of unearthed possessions, gesturing with great frustration. "Why should I have to do it?"

It was actually a little surprising that the lieutenant hadn't thought of that idea himself... to order the recruit to do the work of picking up all the dirt-covered items to bring to his office, rather than risk getting dirty doing it himself. But sometimes, Trastion had found, the seed of an idea needed to be planted before it could emerge and blossom. With any luck, the man would decide that it was a good idea, and claim it for his own, thus ordering the recruit to do exactly what he hoped to do.

*(Leaving it open for the pin to belong to anyone that's interested lol
**she was 15 at this point in time, but has since had a birthday in later RPs)

[Arnyn]

Headquarters, Nárië 20


Hyandaner Kaylin Maethyr

She was rather checking out of the conversation by that point, mainly noting that Karis and Mourgan were still keeping their silence. When Kaylin frowned again and took a closer look at Mourgan. She'd missed his earlier glance at her, but as she watched him now she saw the set of his shoulders and the way he was holding that helm. She recognized the look in his eyes.

Her blue-grey eyes gained a new focus. If she was not mistaken - and the odds were with her, considering her experience with the emotion - that right there was anger. This pleased her. She could use someone who was of a like mind.

She half listened to Pele and Arnyn talking about Amber and Relic. Any useful information she compartmentalized, anything that didn't seem to apply to her role she ignored - as she still observed Mourgan a few moments longer. They would need to touch base after this meeting - at least briefly.

But then Arnyn addressed the matter of how Relic had played on Pele's guilt and regret, and was so bold as to ask for the reasons behind the Captain's emotions. Kaylin's head tilted down and her lips parted in disbelief as she looked at the new Lieutenant. The introduction, the question, and her reason for asking had been carefully delivered, but - wow. Kaylin blinked as she sized Arnyn up again. Just when Kaylin thought she'd mostly figured her out... The brass!

It was Pele's reaction that finally tore Kaylin's gaze away from Arnyn, toward the Captain. Growing increasingly incredulous as she listened to Pele, Kaylin's mouth parted further as she wanted to protest to the Captain's words, but she held herself back, knowing it would be bad form to interrupt, and probably important that she kept quiet until Pele was finished. Kaylin wasn't an idiot, and realized this was a very delicate situation.

And then Arnyn beat her to the punch and simply... stepped forward to give Pele a hug, right then and there. A hug. A HUG. Followed by gentle yet somehow firm words to offer their Captain reassurance and deny that Relic's actions should load such a weight onto Pele's shoulders. And what did Arnyn just call Pele? Pelepele?
Arnyn turned to them all then, and it was hard to miss the request in those dark eyes.

"Right she is," Kaylin said vehemently, still fuelled by her anger - which was not subsiding at the sight of the number this Relic pulled on Pele. "Relic does not get to win. She gets to lose. She is a witch indeed if she managed to turn and twist this around on you this way. You cannot protect everyone around you from veiled threats, poisons and daggers in the dark! None of us could do that! We cannot be where we are need all the time. That would mean we would have to everywhere at once, and we are no magicians. We can only look out for each other, and try to eliminate the threat."
Kaylin gave Mourgan a sidelong glance. "So let's do that."

[Karis Ziranphel]

Cúner Ranger Karis Ziranphel
Headquarters, Nárië 20

Ziran listened intently as the others spoke, trying to form a coherent picture in her mind of what had occurred and what seemed to be happening now. She appreciated Arnyn’s questions in particular for their clarifying quality, but it still didn’t appear that everyone was being entirely forthcoming, intentionally or not. She had let her hand drop when Kaylin shrugged it off and seemed calm enough to not need it anymore, hooking her thumb in her belt.

As the varied analysis and stories continued, Ziran maintained her silence to listen and watch those present. Her gaze flicked between Kaylin and Ilisys, Arnyn, Mourgan, and Pele as they each spoke, trying to make sense of who knew what and when, and how it all fit together to give an accurate picture. The mentions of spying and tracking had her crossing her arms, and a slight frown mastered her features. The Tirdinen, like and yet unlike the Muinimacar before them, had been formed by her to counteract spies in their own land and as well as conduct covert reconnaissance. Both Kaylin and Thûllir had been trained by Master Lôkhi as such, which is how Kaylin had first encountered Shamara. It disturbed her how much it had been needed, as well as how much they had not been able to catch, as was obvious by Pele's story about Relic as well as Ilisys' own spy operating with impunity in Gondor. It hadn't sat right with her when Lord Denethor disbanded the organization shortly before the war, when they needed it most, and it still felt odd to hear the name adopted now for part of the Ranger force by ones who knew nothing of the history.

She had been mulling this over as she listened, and Arnyn asked the question that had started to surface for her as well. What could be so bad as to cause Pele debilitating guilt? The answer tugged at her heart even as the repeated mentions of Umbar and torture there, so different from her own, scraped at her and froze the words of response in her throat.

Both Arnyn and Kaylin responded before Ziran could get herself to do so, but eventually she cleared her throat, and although she didn't move forward from the background place she had chosen, her words were quietly clear. "It was not and is not your fault that this person took and tortured you and your beloved mentally and physically, nor is it your fault that he was lost. No more than it is mine, if you feel the need to blame someone. I was Captain then, but my attention was elsewhere when he was lost, for varied reasons, and I did not retrieve or defend you sufficiently." Her gaze sharpened but her tone softened as she continued. "Torture in Umbar is enough to deal with. Do not torture yourself further Pele. Healing comes by sharing the burden and letting it go rather than punishing yourself further. I know this for myself, even though my experience was much different, and a political move rather than personal vendetta." She uncrossed her arms finally, stepping forward with her hand open. "The others may have said it better, but we are with you. Hold no more guilt, Pele, and she will have no more hold on you."

[Arnyn]

Barracks
@Rillewen
@Isolde Alarion


Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen

Declaring your intention to move into the barracks and having Pele sign off on it, was one thing.

Talking to the Barracks Master, was quite another.

Never usually one to postpone things, one might have expected Arnyn to immediately go to Lieutenant Brian's office after that meeting in Pele's office.
However, that meeting had proved to be demanding, in more ways than one. And Arnyn was left with what she deemed was too little of the calm demeanour she would need to interact with Brian.

He didn't like her. To be fair - the Barracks Master did not like most people. He tolerated a good number of the individuals living under his care, and that was generally the best anyone could hope for. There was a few rare individuals who had gotten on his good side, somehow - but it was not easy to stay there. Arnyn had never been on that very short list.

He had tolerated her for a while, yes. Until she had started with certain... teambuilding activities... in the barracks. Even when she'd no longer had a room in the old Hyandaner wing, she had still been a frequent visitor, and had probably given the man a few near heart attacks. And he hadn't been able to punish her as he saw fit, because... Well. She'd outranked him at the time. He had complained a few times to the then commander, she knew. There had been a few... conversations. But Lieutenant Brian had known that there had never been any consequences to speak of for her. All of which meant that simply stating that 'he did not like her' was indeed a grave understatement.

So. Arnyn had first taken a few days to organize her house and pack some things. As she entered the barracks, she was pulling along a small cart behind her that held a collection of her belongings, divided into three large sacks and two boxes. Halting outside of the Barracks Master's office, Arnyn stared at the door with an expression that would have told any onlooker that she - did - not - want - to have this particular conversation. Arnyn sighed. Best pull off the bandage and be done with it. She knocked on the door.

That no answer came, was almost anticlimactic. She frowned and looked around the entrance hall. A passing Ranger saw her and slowed his steps. "Is the Lieutenant looking for the Lieutenant?" he asked with an amused tilt to his lips.

Arnyn recognized him as a long-time Peleconner, shrugged and gestured at the cart.

The Peleconner let out a long whistle. "Brave," he said after drawing the conclusion she was moving in, and remembering quite well one episode in particular that had led to an outburst from the Barracks Master that was still legendary. "He's actually in the South Wing, performing room inspections." The Ranger's face darkened. "Every day this month."

Arnyn raised her eyebrows. "Every day?" she repeated questioningly. "Someone caused trouble, then." An expression that was difficult to decipher appeared on her face. "Some things never change." She glanced at her belongings, then at the stairway leading up to the men's wing. Well, she wasn't taking that with her.
"Alright. Thank you," she told the Peleconner, who lingered just a moment longer to ask one more question.
"Seeing as how many of us don't know each other that well yet, are you planning... anything?"
Arnyn had to hold back a grin. "Who knows. First order of business is to get him so far as to give me a room." She wheeled her cart toward the officer's wing, in between the two staircases, and left it there.

Then she brazenly went up the stairs to the South Wing. Officers could go anywhere.

It didn't take long before she could hear Brian's voice. The tone almost made her roll her eyes, but since a few Rangers were watching the proceedings, Arnyn managed to keep a neutral face. She got a few surprised looks upon her approach. Even though she was allowed here, being second in command, it was still unusual.

Arnyn knocked on the open door to room 3, and saw the Barracks Master peering under one of the beds. Ah, this was Trastion's room, she noted upon seeing the young man. Which meant that it was also Mourgan's. "Lieutenant," she said calmly, but in a clear voice as she turned her attention to Brian. "I need to speak with you."

The sound of her voice made Lieutenant Brian's head snap upward abruptly to look at her. "Dealedwen," he said grouchily.

"Brian," she replied, just as calmly.

He realized his mistake then, one he would never have made if it had not been for his antagonism toward the tall blonde standing in the doorway. "Lieutenant Dealedwen," he corrected himself, slowly getting up from his knees and rising to his feet.

"No need to stop your inspection, Lieutenant," she said good-naturedly. "I only wished to request a room in the central wing." Upon seeing his expression, she slanted her head. "Well, I suppose the request as such has already been granted by the Captain, who has agreed to me moving into one of the rooms adjacent to hers. That would mean either room 2 or room 4, I imagine?"

As she left the Barracks Master to process that little bit of information, her brown eyes glinted with amusement as they settled on Trastion. "Everything is going well with the inspection, I presume? Has your roommate managed to escape today's moment of scrutiny?"

[Isolde Alarion]

Ranger Mourgan Alarion
Headquarters, Nárië 20

At that moment, listening to the torment Pele went through and how Relic twisted and turned the disappearance of Maldir against her, he wished he could excuse himself. Her words and baring her feelings and emotions for all to see was like throwing oil on a fire.
He half focused on what they were saying, the other half was stoking that fire. His jaw was hard set and his hands wrung at his helm while his dark eyes moved from the Captain, briefly to who was speaking then to the floor where he could bore a hole through it with his stare. The only time they came from the floor was when Kaylin spoke of eliminating the threat. He focused on her. She was right, eliminate the threat. He caught her sidelong glance and caught her meaning at least to his understanding. "Let's do it." He agreed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ranger Mourgan
Armory w/ Cali the Smithy
@Rillewen

He could only smile at her question and when she asked for a moment he merely shrugged. " Of course." He wasn't going to leave and he did like watching her stoke the coals. He handed her the helm and he watched her look it over. He nodded hearing it wasn't too bad. "I'll wait then, nothing to do at the moment anyways."
When she spoke of finishing the chain maille he simply agreed with a bob of his head. He was stepping back to lean against a rack when she asked what happened to his helm. He tried to sound nonchalant. "Just some practice damage." Well, maybe it was abit more then that but she didn't need to know he'd smacked it against a post on the practice field just to orchestrate this visit.
He leaned against the rack and crossed his arms as he watched her check the chain maille. He could see she was someone that took great pride and satisfaction in her work. He liked that about her. He watched her slip it onto a stand to cool. "How long have you been a Smithy?" He really wished at that moment he'd thought of something better to start a conversation with, not exactly riveting.

[Ercassie]

Ranger Unalmis Raxëlilta with Trastion and Erynneth
Outside the Barracks, some time before the Captain's Meeting/Council
Some time before the month of the South Wing Room Inspections commencing ..
@Rillewen

Trastion might have been surprised by the Lieutenant’s tirade, but Unalmis was far too familiar with Brian’s bad side by now to be anything but resigned to such a reaction. The fact of arguing back against such a stalwart stick-in-the-mud had been tried, tested, and eventually written off as outright tiresome. Nal had no want to waste his time or breath on somebody who wouldn’t even hear him out, and saw little potential in the prospect of placating the Barracks Master. He had long since learnt that the best practice was to simply let the man believe he’d won, because it made for shorter lectures. It also made it all the more satisfying to pay him back later, when he was least expecting it.

The desperate idea to fling his belongings out of the barracks room window .. had not saved him from the strike for damaging the wall in his room. If anything the abruptly bare chamber had only made the marks more obvious. And when the Lieutenant had allowed him to volunteer to ‘find’ the dog, Nal had really no idea, that the Barracks Master had meant him to ‘fetch’ more so than ‘find’ Hattie. The smug expression that Brian had worn, when delivering the court's news, that he had clearly known all morning, and just let Unalmis enough rope to hang himself …

Just as he had done by letting Eryn try and claim the dog was hers.

And just as he was about to ensure Trastion also learnt not to try and best his betters.

The Lieutenant had been doing this a long time. He had seen all the tricks, and was not easily taken in. As the latest trio who had crossed him, were now finding out.


While the austere officer had focused upon Trastion, Unalmis had been subject to Eryn’s distressed charade. An exchange in silence and frantic gesturing had just about explained about the dagger which she indicated having dropped, in favour of grabbing the dog. And since the girl had hold of what was his, or rather .. his he hoped; the Ranger had picked up swiftly what was hers. Or rather her father’s.

The fact of Nal behaving almost contrite in the face of such a severe sentence, might have had a lot to do with the fact of his now hiding the weapon behind his back in both hands. Doubtless the Lieutenant had mistook the Ranger’s stance for submission. His hands linked behind him. And his head bowed so .. that it was easier to swallow laughter in the face of the animated sock. And the sight of Trastion swiftly pocketing much of their ‘swag’ while the Barracks Master had turned his wrath elsewhere.

But when the officer returned his attention to the new Recruit, Trastion surprised Unalmis almost as much as he surprised Brian, with such outright belligerence. The former was amazed and rather in awe at a relative newcomer’s effrontery. It had to be said however that the Barracks Master was ever so less impressed.


“First of all, you will refer to me as either Lieutenant, or sir, when you speak to me,” the officer declared, blanching at the young man’s utter gall in behaving so. The very tone of the youth suggested that he did not consider himself subject to anyone or anything. And such ridiculous entitlement required to be stifled. Swiftly. Especially in front of spectators. “Second,” Brian raised himself up tall as his feet could extend him, the better to try and look effectively down upon the Recruit. “You are not being ‘punished’,” clarification was provided. “Children are punished. You .. are being directed, towards becoming worthy enough to wear the King’s colours. Because that is what you signed up for, Recruit. Not to besmirch them. Not to be an embarrassment. And certainly not to let down the rest of the team !”

The crossed arms, the melodramatic gesturing .. it was nothing that the Barracks Master wished to note in one so green about their cause. It was time for a little education, he rolled up his sleeves. One after the other, and took his time over it so that Trastion could be done with his bluster. The concluding “why should I have to do it ?” rankled the Lieutenant then, like nothing had for a good long time. It was difficult enough to deal with the likes of Raxëlilta who, with the advantage of having known several of his mentors socially before he’d enlisted, had somehow convinced Nal that they were his buddies rather than his betters. Which was not at all conducive to the respect of hierachy. That was trouble enough.

But this ?? This topped that with new depths of outrage. Trastion’s defiance was the red flag to an already storming bull.


“You may not have been the cause of the mess,” the Lieutenant attempted to douse the Recruit into understanding, “but I put it to you that you were not helping a comrade to ‘clean’ up. You were, I suspect, standing as an accomplice by helping to ‘cover up’ another’s mistake. What you should have done was report the matter to me at once. All of which proves that you,” he glared at Trastion “have a lot to learn, and that you,” he rounded then upon Unalmis, “ought to know better by now. ”

Nal had by now reached Eryn, to assist her with the squirming Hattie, and attempt a clandestine exchange of the dagger for the dog. The sudden draw of Brian's wrath, brief as it was, almost made him lose hold of both. But he recovered, barely, while the Lieutenant fixed his whole attention in a concluding arc upon Trastion.


“Since it is your first day,” the Barracks Master mentioned, as though trying to remind himself of such a fact, as much as remind Trastion of his complete insignificance in their ranking, “let me make it extremely clear what is expected of you. First and foremost, Recruit, to obey orders, and particularly the orders of a superior officer. Without question. Without hesitation. Because one day it may save your life. So the reason you should do as I have told you is because I have told you to do so. Now,” he narrowed his eyes upon the unflinching young man, and folded his own arms, across his chest, stealing the notion of who was in charge of this situation, “do you understand ? Or should I go inform the Captain that you wish for your first day to be your last ?”

[Rillewen]

@Isolde Alarion

Calithilidis Dringolben - Armory
(some time before the Captain's Meeting/Council, with Mourgan)

Just some practice damage? Cali wondered how roughly these guys sparred, and whether she should expect more things like this to happen. If the armor, in this case a helmet, was made properly, it ought to have stood up to a great deal more than practice sparring. "Practice..." She muttered thoughtfully. "Hmm." Already the wheels in her head were turning, considering whether the helmet would need reinforcements, but the metal had looked thick enough when she inspected it.

Taking the helmet to the anvil once it had heated enough in the dented area, Cali selected the appropriate hammer and began working to knock the dent out. It didn't take long to complete, but she couldn't help worrying about the metal being weaker now in that spot. Mourgan's question brought a faint smile and she paused to consider how to answer it. "Well... that's slightly tricky to answer. One might say, since I was a child. But, I didn't start truly working the forge until I was..18. That was a few years ago." She answered, more quietly with the last part. The dent was gone now, but she took a moment to gently tap the spot with her hammer, to smooth out any marks from striking the metal. "I learned from my father, and my brothers. I assisted my father for a while, in secret... before the war forced me to leave Minas Tirith." She added. "In Dol Amroth, I met an elven grandmaster Smith, and learned even more from her." She glanced up with a small smile. "She encouraged me to return to the city of my birth and stop hiding my skills, as I once did." She further explained. "So that's what I'm doing, now. Until I can reclaim my father's forge, which is currently being leased by another."

Having given such a lengthy, and very honest, reply, Cali found herself wondering why she'd told him so much. Perhaps she sought to prove her credentials in fixing his helmet, lest he question her ability to do it properly. Maybe she just wanted to let someone else know, aside from her closest friends. Whatever the reason, it was told, and she could only wait to see how the information was received. Clearing her throat softly as she focused on her work, Cali inspected the helmet once it looked smooth enough, and set it aside to cool, and cautiously felt of the last few rings on the maille. It felt cool, which told her it was ready to go through a few tests to ensure it's endurance. "Now, while that's cooling," She turned to Mourgan with a slight smile. "Could I borrow your strength for a moment?"

Leaving the ranger to puzzle over that request, for a moment at least, Cali went to the weapon racks and selected a spear. Returning to Mourgan, she gestured to the maille on the stand, which was bolted to the floor so it wouldn't move. "I need to test that the maille will hold up under an enemy's attack. Seeing as you're bound to be stronger than I am, I thought perhaps you could give it a more accurate trial than myself." She explained, before offering the spear to him. "Do your worst, and we shall see if the maille will withstand your efforts."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

@Ercassie
........
Erynneth and Trastion Leithor
Civilian......New recruit - first day
Outside/behind the Dorms
(some time before the Captain's Meeting/Council)

Trastion was a little surprised, and disappointed, that his attempt failed, and he was not ordered to dig up the belongings and carry them into confiscation himself. He had hoped that would give him a chance to smuggle the things back to their rightful owner, but instead, the lieutenant proved less easily manipulated than the tutor he had come to know so well in his youth. Hm, interesting. Trastion stored that information away for future reference, as he listened to the lieutenant's tirade. Report something to him? Not a chance, the young man thought, barely refraining from scoffing at the very thought of being a snitch. That sounded just like something his stepbrother would do, actually.

Relief filled her mind as Eryn saw that Nal had managed to rescue the dagger. Now, they just had to make an escape while they could. And with the lieutenant's attention currently fixed on the other ranger, she thought this would be the best time to do that. He had, after all, instructed her to leave, and Nal to escort her. They'd just be following his instructions. Trying to receive her father's dagger back from her friend without losing her hold on his dog, however, proved quite a challenge, and she was tempted to just tell him to forget trying to switch, at least right now. Because Hattie was trying very eagerly to get free, probably assuming this was some new kind of game, and Eryn was nearly pulled down into the dirt herself, trying to keep from losing her grip on the dog.

Behind Brian, Trastion could see the other two trying to accomplish something. He wasn't entirely sure what, but it didn't take much to assume they did not want Lt. Brian to catch on to their actions. Trastion had kept talking, therefore, drawing the Lieutenant's attention toward himself as best he could, to buy them a little more time. It wasn't hard, since he had already things he wanted to say, and it had certainly worked. Perhaps a little too well. He'd definitely riled the man up, that was for certain. It may have been a bit dangerous, testing his limits like that, but how was he to learn what his limits were, if he didn't push at them a little? So now he knew at least one of those boundaries, and knew which buttons he shouldn't push. There were still plenty of others to test, at a later time. Not today.

Yet, seeing the lieutenant turn back toward Unalmis and Eryn, telling the former that he ought to know better by now, Trastion realized they needed more time to accomplish whatever they were trying to do there. "You suspect," He spoke up, frowning, watching the lieutenant turn back toward him. "But you really don't know what I was doing here, and you have no right to assume without proof." He pointed out. That accomplished his goal, as the lieutenant turned back to unleash the even more of his fury upon Trastion, with a seemingly grudging recollection, "Since it is your first day..."

Eryn couldn't help a slight cringe, observing how much trouble the other guy appeared to have gotten himself into, but now definitely seemed the best time for her and Nal to get out of here. Nal seemed to have a hold on Hattie at last, and she released her grip in favor of taking the dagger back from him, all the while trying to keep an eye on the irate barracks master. Inching back a few steps, she tried to motion for Nal to come along, before he got into even more trouble.

Eyes widening slightly at the threat of getting kicked out, Trastion knew immediately that he'd better not push any further. There was a moment of silence following the lieutenant's question. 'Tread carefully,' Trastion thought to himself, taking a slow breath. "Yes... Either Lieutenant Or Sir," He answered, barely managing a straight face. He couldn't resist that, although his tone now lacked the earlier defiance, and in fact sounded genuinely contrite. "I understand, and offer my apologies to you." In the background, the other two appeared to have finished their secret business, at least, so there was no need now to keep diverting the man's attention away from them. Before he could go further, Hattie, having somehow broken free from those trying to hold her back, raced toward him and Brian. In her excitement, the young dog leaped at the lieutenant's back, in a similar fashion as she had done to Trastion, not long ago. His eyes widened further in surprise at this new turn of events, just before having a sudden fit of coughing... which sounded suspiciously like stifled laughter. "I.. I'd better.. get to the washroom." He decided, struggling not to outright laugh at the lieutenant's plight. And with that declaration, he set off rapidly, with all indication that he'd decided to heed the lieutenant's orders and clean up.

Startled, and slightly horrified, Eryn watched as if in slow motion as Hattie managed further mischief than she could've imagined. Nal was going to get expelled from the rangers, at this rate! And she might never be allowed to join.. oh, this was awful! "Let's get out of here," She whispered, urgently tugging his sleeve, hoping to make a hasty retreat before the lieutenant could recover enough to cast the blame on anyone.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn and @Isolde Alarion

Trastion Leithor
New recruit - Some point after the Captain's Meeting
Dorm 3

Trastion's first day here had certainly been.. memorable, to say the least. Somehow, from the moment he'd arrived in this city, things just kept going wrong for him. He was blaming it on losing his good-luck-charm, although he didn't exactly believe in superstition. Still, it was awfully coincidental that right after losing it, he'd managed to get covered in mud, not once, but twice within a very brief short of time, and gotten himself swiftly added to Lt Brian's list of troublemakers, and managed to have a part in getting the whole south wing daily room inspections for an entire month, which surely hadn't helped with his intention of making friends here. The man clearly had very little to do, if he was so eager to deal out such inspections, which he would then have to conduct. Trastion still didn't find the whole thing very fair, but then again, he also couldn't deny that he had rather antagonized the barrack's master further. It was a miracle that he hadn't added further punishment.. or rather, direction.. onto this one, for everyone in the wing.

As the Lieutenant went about searching the room, Trastion stood beside the desk in the room, doing a very good job of standing at attention. He stood straight, with his back was pressed against the wall, and his hands down by his sides, with his fingers curled under and pressed against his sides, practically holding his breath as he waited for the Lieutenant to finish his inspection.

Some time prior...

The training session with Arnyn in the archery range earlier that day had given Trastion much to think about, but his thoughts right now were far away from anything going on here in Minas Tirith. The last couple of days, he had been thinking a good deal about someone he'd left behind, someone he missed very much, back home. It had been some time since he wrote to her. And now, being in a place where he planned to stay for a long while, he thought it was about time he did so. Luckily, there was a desk in the room, complete with some writing equipment, and he had the room to himself for a while, so he took advantage of all of those things, and took his time writing his letter. By the time he finished, the letter contained carefully chosen words, but at last it was concluded, and he put the quill into the inkwell as he sat back to re-read what he had just written. Then, in a sort of slow motion, in his peripheral vision, he saw the quill starting to tip over... too top-heavy for the inkwell he had placed it into.

Eyes widening, Trastion made a desperate lunge for the inkwell, managing to snatch it from the desk before an absolute catastrophe happened. Only a splatter of ink got on the desktop, and he quickly wiped it off with the edge of his sleeve. Breathing a sigh of relief, he saw that he'd managed to clean it up in time, and there were no stains left on the wood. But where did the quill go? He glanced around, and found it on the floor... in a small puddle of ink. Oh no! Leaping up, he snatched the first thing he came across, the sweat-damp shirt he'd been wearing earlier at the Training grounds, and began hastily trying to mop up the mess.

That was when he heard Lieutenant Brian's footsteps, a dreaded sound which he had already become all-too familiar with, coming down the hall. He was approaching Trastion's door! Shoot! With a frantic glance around, Trastion crumpled the now ink-smeared shirt, along with the quill, and looked for someplace to hide it. There was nowhere, though, and there was no time to find somewhere. To make matters worse, there was a small ink splotch stain on the floor now, beside the desk, near the wall... with nothing else to do, Trastion tucked the shirt and quill behind his back and placed his feet over the spot to hide it, while keeping the shirt sandwiched between the wall and his back, desperately hoping it wouldn't show. As the doorknob was turning, Trastion reached out to snatch his letter from the desk, folded it in half, and tucked that into the shirt he was wearing. As he did that, he noticed his fingertips also had ink on them, and swiftly tucked his fingers in, to hide the stains, just about the time the lieutenant had entered the room.

Heart pounding, Trastion did his best to appear at attention, hoping to give the man no cause to linger. Hoping, even more, that he wouldn't be ordered away from this spot. Perhaps the lieutenant would even think Trastion was being good, for once. His eyes followed Lt. Brian as the man had made a point of searching even under the bed. What exactly he hoped to find, Trastion wasn't sure, but he was somewhat glad that so far, he had very few belongings at all, so there was little for him to leave lying around. His entire pack, containing everything he had arrived with, (aside from the shirt stuffed behind his back) rested inside the trunk at the foot of his bed. The armor was stowed beside it, also in the trunk, and the sword, too long to fit in the trunk, was hanging on the wall. The young man had never really had much cause or reason to bother with making his bed before now, and so his skills in doing so were a bit lacking, although the blanket was at least mostly unwrinkled. As far as Trastion's side of the room went, there wasn't much for the Lieutenant to find fault with, but he wouldn't put it past the man to find some fault with something, anyway. If something was wrong on Mourgan's side, Trastion would probably get blamed for it, he figured, but he hadn't really paid much attention to how Mourgan's part of the room looked.

While he was busy watching the lieutenant, intently watching as the man actually get down on his knees and peek under the bed as he conducted his search, as if he expected Trastion to be hiding something under there, he was startled to hear a knock on the door, and even more startled to see Arnyn standing there. That was new! Given her recent promotion, he wondered if she would be assisting Brian in these inspections, or something like that. Her appearance here was so unexpected, that he couldn't find any words right off, though his eyes surely widened a little at the sight of the lady there in his room. Therefore, he listened with some curiosity to the exchange between herself and Brian, gathering a few answers to his unasked questions.

Her question about his roommate brought a faint smile. "Good evening, ma'am. I hope so," He replied to her question, curious if her moving in had anything to do with the promotion. "And yes, it seems he has." He added, to the second part of her question. "He's on guard duty somewhere, if I'm not mistaken, although I believe he's due back any moment." He added, keeping his tone courteous and respectful, when addressing her. Quite a contrast to how he had previously spoken to Lt. Brian on his first day. "Does.. this mean you'll be assisting with the room inspections, ma'am?" He wondered, as an afterthought.

[Arnyn]

Barracks
@Rillewen
@Isolde Alarion


Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen

"Good evening, Trastion," Arnyn returned the greeting amicably. "No, I will not be assisting Lieutenant Brian." Arnyn had a faint smile on her face. "Daily room inspections are not one of my priorities." Lieutenant Brian had picked out that jester's hat all by himself. He would be the one who'd have to wear it.

Lieutenant Brian avoided her gaze, but could not help but sigh audibly at the way Trastion greeted her - despite his own hiccup just moments before. "You're no longer so new that you are excused from properly greeting an officer," he told Trastion. The Barracks Master's expression looked like he had just smelled something rotten in the room. "Even if I find your room is in good order, recruit - and I severely doubt that I will - I will make yet another report to the Captain that you need a dire lesson in protocol as well as manners in general."

Arnyn gave a slow nod when Brian glanced at her in search of agreement. As the Barracks Master continued his sweep of the room, she raised a clandestinely amused eyebrow at Trastion. "My my, Lieutenant," she began in an interested tone, "you mean to say this is not the first time Recruit Leithor's behaviour has disappointed you?"

"Disappointed?" Brian's reply sounded almost like a bark - decidedly ironic, for those in the know. "Disappointed!?" He huffed, but whether it was from the exertion of inspecting his umpteenth room of the day, or from the event he was recalling, was anyone's guess.

Arnyn leaned a shoulder against the doorpost, her arms crossed loosely in front of her. "Worse, is it?" She calmly regarded the way Trastion was standing. It hadn't been lost on her that he had offered no salute. Did he not know? Or was he holding - or rather hiding - something? Her instincts were leaning toward the latter, especially since he was standing deceptively still, something he had never done during either of their training sessions.

"Leithor is part of the reason behind these daily inspections, Lieutenant Dealedwen." The agitation was dripping off the Barracks Master's words. "Along with Raxëlilta, who kept some animal around close enough to destroy part of the grounds. Unbelievable, I tell you. Some people just think they are above the rules--" The Barracks Master swiped a finger over Trastion's desk, then inspected it closely. " -- and it seems to me like the younger ones always get worse." Lieutenant Brian now eyed Trastion with slightly flaring nostrils.

The tall blonde hummed pensively. She felt bad for Trastion; his part of the room seemed neat and orderly at least, and no more dirty than a single day's living in it would cause. But Brian was clearly on a war path, looking to find something that was just wrong enough with the room so he could devise some sort of additional punishment. "Surely they are not worse than everyone," she distracted him. "If you think back to the division days."

Lieutenant Brian seemed confused as he glanced at her again, uncertain of what she wanted him to say. Was Dealedwen really pointing out her old antics? Was she proud of them still, somehow? Or was this some misguided attempt to have him put things in perspective? Neither option pleased him. It was not as if he could reproach her, least of all in the presence of other Rangers. Firstly, her transgressions - severe as they had been - dated from years ago. Secondly, she outranked him yet again now, with her position as second in command. He cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable.

Arnyn decided to throw the Barracks Master a bone, before he should start sweating on her account. "Ranger Unalmis hid an animal?" she asked with a hint of disbelief to her tone.

"Yes, a dog. A dog! And he foolishly figured I would not find out. I fail to understand why these Rangers continue to believe they can get anything past me.' Brian narrowed his eyes as he focused on Trastion again. "I - always - find - out. Remember that."

"And Recruit Leithor's part?" Arnyn nudged gently.

Brian turned to face her and launched into a seemingly endless tirade about Trastion's involvement as well as the recruit's insolence to his own person.

Arnyn focused on the Barracks Master with a serious gaze, her brown eyes flicking over to Trastion every so often as Brian retold the story and his perception of the events...

"...thus the boy needs to learn to respect authority and follow orders instead of questioning them. He has a very long way to go indeed before he will be worthy to call himself one of the King's Rangers with any semblance of pride. His instructors clearly have not spent nearly enough time, if any at all, on the importance of discipline."

Arnyn frowned slightly as her gaze now moved from the Barracks Master to Trastion and calmly settled on the recruit. The sudden silence in the room was almost jarring after the waterfall of complaints that had been rushing out of Lieutenant Brian's mouth just moments before.
"You disrespected the Barracks Master?" she asked quietly.

[Isolde Alarion]

Ranger Mourgan Alarion
Returning from Guard Duty
Barracks
Room 3 w/ Traistion
@Rillewen
@Arnyn

It had been a long day of guard duty and all Mourgan could think of was getting back to his room and falling into the bed, sleeping for the next few hours then taking what time he had off to visit Cali in the armory. Walking toward the mens barracks he noticed another Ranger coming towards him, he seemed in a hurry and he looked worried. Mourgan instantly wondered what was happening so as he past him he caught the man by the arm.

"What's going on? You seem troubled." He looked into his worried eyes. The Ranger looked back to him, sweat noticeably on his brow and answered him in a shaky voice. 'Lieutenant Brian's called for room inspections to be held." Mourgan replied with a calm shrug, not understanding the mans concern. "Daily." This word caused his brows to raise with equal concern as he let the man go as his hand fell to his side. Inspections were nothing new but daily Lieutenant Brian inspections?! That could be trouble.

The man was like a hound dog and when on a scent he became just as dogged in finding whatever he was looking for. "Bema arse." He cursed under his breath knowing he had to get to his room as fast as he could. He turned on his heel and headed straight for the barracks door.

Inside the barracks his steps echoed on the cold stone floors and approaching the corner to the long hall leading to his room he slowed his steps, he heard voices. He gathered himself and removed his helm, tucking it under his arm. It didn't take long to see it was Room 3 that was being inspected. The same room he shared with the new recruit Trastion Leithor. He took a deep breath to calm himself and not seem winded.

It seemed the inspection was quite the spectacle as a couple other Rangers mingled not far from the door and he noticed a figure leaning on the doorpost, the newest Lieutenant, Arnyn. He came up beside her only to hear the dreaded words. "You disrespected the Barracks Master?" He followed her gaze and it also rested on his very stiff roommate, Trastion.

He wanted to run his hand through his hair and curse but all he could do was salute. "Lieutenant." His first addressed Arnyn then his eyes went to the Barracks Master. "Sir." He then offered a crisp salute to them both. " I've been on guard duty, I'm was not informed of the inspection till a moment ago." Maybe the ill timing would explain his things not in perfect order. He had a book and a couple mugs on his side table and some clothing peeked out from the end of his trunk. It was what you couldn't see that worried him the most, the flask tucked in the folds of his blanket which stretched sharply over his bunk.

His gaze flicked to Trastion, something wasn't right with him. Never was he ever so still but then he remembered Lieutenant Arnyns question. He had to hear this and if he were the reason for the inspections, well, there would be payback.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn and @Isolde Alarion

Trastion Leithor
New recruit - Some point after the Captain's Meeting
Dorm 3

Still keeping his back pressed against the wall as if he were trying to hold it up, Trastion glanced back toward the barrack's master, somewhat confused by his comment. He had certainly greeted Arnyn, very politely. So it must be himself Brian was referring to. Thinking back, Trastion recalled that he had been in such a flustered state when the man entered, he had only given a curt nod. And Brian probably didn't even see that in his zeal to begin his search. "Forgive me if I forgot to properly greet you, Either Lieutenant Or Sir." He responded in a calm, level tone, only just managing to keep a straight face. It was quite likely that would be Trastion's title for the lieutenant forevermore. It probably didn't help his case, as only moments later the lieutenant seemed all too glad to give an account(his own version) of what had transpired that first day out in the yard. Trastion inwardly cringed at the way Brian's version of the story made him sound, and annoyed that he was making him sound like such an awful person to Arnyn. His jaw clenched, fighting the anger that was building up, along with the urge to speak up and verbally defend himself. That would probably only make things worse, he reminded himself.

Instead, he took slow, deep breaths and rested a glare at the man. Hearing Arnyn speak up, somewhat in his defense, helped to calm a bit of the anger, and he exhaled slowly. He let himself get distracted by what Arnyn had said, which had clearly been the cause of some confusion for Brian. He wondered what that was about, and whether Arnyn would be willing to tell him about it later. But now was not the time at all. The last bit of what Brian said caught his attention, and Trastion raised an eyebrow, with a sidelong glance toward Arnyn, wondering if she would be irritated by that remark about his instructors.. did Brian not know that Arnyn was his instructor? Then, Brian's declaration that he always found out about things, that no one could get anything past him, made it all the more challenging for Trastion to keep a smirk off his face. No one could get anything past him, huh? The battle was fierce, but he somehow managed to still keep a straight face. No sense in shattering the man's delusion by telling him all three of them(Trastion, Unalmis, and his friend Eryn) had managed to sneak a couple of things past him that evening. That was their secret.

The desire to smirk left him rather quickly when Arnyn spoke, asking if he had disrespected the barrack's master. About that time, Mourgan entered. Watching his roommate promptly salute both of the lieutenants, it suddenly dawned on Trastion that maybe he had been meant to do that, too. So that must be what Brian meant... oops. He focused his gaze on Arnyn and brought his hand up to his heart in a salute to her, his face having gone slightly red upon realizing what he had failed to do. The paper tucked under his shirt made a faint crinkling noise as he made the salute, but he hoped no one would hear it.. although, Arnyn's question had left such a silence in the room, one could've heard a pin drop. Hesitating, Trastion frowned, taking a moment to find the appropriate words. He had already learned how far not to push Brian, and had no wish to give him further cause to dish out any discipline. He certainly didn't want Arnyn to think less of him, and as for Mourgan, he hoped to be friends with his roommate... which would be rather difficult if the other believed him to be responsible for these ridiculous inspections. All of which meant that Trastion needed to choose his reply very carefully.

"I merely spoke up against something I felt was unjust, ma'am." He answered Arnyn, his gaze focused on her, hoping she would see the honesty in his eyes. Still, he was very conscious of the others present. "The room inspections were.. decreed.. due to another matter.. of which I was not involved." He insisted, inwardly begging both Arnyn and Mourgan to believe him. "Yet.. because I happened to be standing there at the moment the lieutenant arrived on the scene, it seems I, too, am blamed for being involved in that incident." He paused, and added, "I..uh.. may have protested a bit too vehemently, as a result... in defense of myself, as well as in defense of a fellow ranger whom I felt had also been unjustly accused." He explained. After a slow inhale and exhale, he added, "I did offer my apologies to the Lieutenant, afterward." He cast a glance toward Brian, as if daring him to deny that Trastion had indeed apologized, before looking back at Arnyn. "I am sorry for any misconduct I demonstrated during that unfortunate incident... it was my first day here, mere moments after arriving.. and in the spirit of teamwork, I may have gotten carried away in trying to defend a fellow ranger..." He admitted.

After finishing with his answer to Arnyn, he let his gaze slide over toward his roommate, briefly, trying to gauge whether he was angry with him or not, hoping he wouldn't have to share a room with an enemy now. That would definitely make life harder. He had meant to give Mourgan some warning about this whole thing, but hadn't actually had a chance to see him since the room inspections had been declared. Trastion felt bad, hearing him state that he didn't know about it until a moment ago. Glancing back toward Brian, he wondered just how extensive he planned on making this inspection, and whether Mourgan would be in trouble for not getting his room cleaned up. Inwardly, he wished he had taken the liberty of tidying up his roommate's side of the room for him, in his absence, but he hadn't known when the inspection would happen, and had lost track of time while he was writing his letter.

[Arnyn]

Barracks
@Rillewen
@Isolde Alarion


Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen

Mourgan arrived the moment she had asked her question, immediately addressing her by her new rank, addressing Brian and then saluting them both. Arnyn nodded at Mourgan as he stood next to her. "Ranger Mourgan. Good evening." Meanwhile Trastion's face had reddened and he belatedly touched his hand to his heart, as she had taught him. A smile would have tugged at her lips in any other situation, but the circumstances didn't allow for it at present. She gave Trastion a nod in return for it - she always appreciated a salute, rather especially one that was genuinely given and not simply 'because it was protocol' - and that was exactly the reason why salutes dictated by protocol were not one of the things she deemed the most important. Respect could be shown in different ways.

She was still waiting for a reply to her question, and watched Trastion's eyes move from her, to the Barracks Master, to Mourgan, and then back to her. When Trastion started by saying he had merely disagreed with Lieutenant Brian because the recruit felt the Lieutenant's judgment had been unjust, Arnyn frowned slightly but attentively listened to Trastion. She looked him in the eyes as he continued to explain. He went on for quite a while. It was unusual, so she took a moment to process.

Lieutenant Brian, however, was fuming. Leithor had the nerve to challenge him yet again? The Barracks Master gritted his teeth and looked at Arnyn as he stretched out an arm to indicate Trastion, still standing so still by the wall. "Do you see what I am dealing with, Lieutenant Dealedwen?" He turned his annoyance upon Trastion more fully as he turned to the recruit. "What you feel is just or not, is irrelevant, Recruit Leithor. Your feelings have no place here. You do not protest against orders you are given, you do not challenge orders that are given with defiance and disrespect, nor do you apologize for them one moment and then revert to protest once more the next!" His words did not seem to suffice as a way to vent, however. Probably because the Lieutenant had so far found nothing wrong with Trastion's side of the room, which he was really the most interested in. In a desperate attempt to find something - anything - he partially lifted Leithor's mattress from the bedframe to check underneath.

He found nothing, however, and was forced to resort to the only detail he could remark further upon. Thus, he pulled Trastion's sheets and blanket from his bed, leaving them in a pile on the floor. Lieutenant Brian pointed at Mourgan's bed. "Look at Ranger Alarion's bed. Fine, sharp lines, both with the sheets and the blanket. He can show you how to make your own bed properly instead of like a spoiled child. Also, you have clearly not understood my lecture about teamwork, despite your effort just now, in order to pretend that you hold it in such high regard, given that you even failed to clear a few items from your roommate's side table in case your room would be inspected before your roommate could be informed of said inspection in the first place." Almost winded after getting all of the words out, Lieutenant Brian however found he was on a roll.

"Now you have failed inspection on account of your bedding, and he has failed inspection on account of those dirty mugs!" He would have accepted the book, but dirty mugs left out for a whole day of guard duty, went too far altogether. "Cleanliness in a building of this size is paramount. It starts with some mugs, then some nuts, and once food starts ending up here, there are crumbs. Then ants or rats follow, and we could have an infestation on our hands -"

Arnyn moved away from the doorpost and uncrossed her arms as she stepped further into the room. "Thank you, Lieutenant Brian, for your dilligence in this inspection. Seeing as how Recruit Leithor is under my instruction and I happen to be present, I will further handle the consequences of this particular inspection."

The Barracks Master froze for a moment. He quite seemed to have the wind taken out of his sails. "Your recruit?" The two words had spilled from his lips before he could spare a second thought, and he instantly wished he had not spoken them. Surely Leithor would find this all too amusing, since Brian had basically critiqued whoever the recruit's instructor was moments before, and not in a way that he ever would have done had he known the Second-in-Command was in fact said instructor.

"Well, I do not own him as such," Arnyn said calmly, "but one could describe it that way. Yes."

To his credit, Brian recovered quickly. "Of course, Lieutenant. I have no doubt you will handle the matter expertly, and I shall leave it in your capable hands." Even though the words meant nice things, the man's tone belied his faith in the matter, inviting further questions about where things had once gone wrong between the two Lieutenants. The Barracks Master gave Trastion a final glare. "Until tomorrow," he said ominously. He nodded curtly at Mourgan, saluted Arnyn and strode toward the hallway.

Arnyn cleared her throat. "Lieutenant?" she asked.

The Barracks Master reluctantly turned around. "Yes, Lieutenant Dealedwen?" He was obviously not happy with having to accommodate her.

"Room 2 or room 4?" she asked, not elaborating again.

For the briefest of moments, it seemed like Lieutenant Brian might crack. He just stared at Arnyn for a long moment. When his reply finally came, it was strained. "I believe you will find room 2 to your liking, Lieutenant Dealedwen."

"Excellent. Thank you, Lieutenant. When I am done here, I will come find you so that I might acquire the key."

Brian saluted her again and then left the room. For being so intent to inspect it and find whatever might be wrong with it, he seemed to suddenly not want to spend a moment longer within its walls.

Even as they heard the man barging into the next room, Arnyn gestured for Mourgan to step further into the room. "Close the door, Mourgan," she said quietly. Then she looked at Trastion with no small amount of suspicion, and beckoned him closer with one finger. "Okay. Now the Barracks Master has moved on, you can move away from that wall, Trastion."

[Ercassie]

Ranger Unalmis Raxëlilta with Recruit Trastion and Erynneth

Outside the Barracks, some time before the Captain's Meeting/Council
Some time before the month of the South Wing Room Inspections commencing ..
The Case of the Dog (finally) departing ...
@Rillewen

The dog certainly had a handle on complicating matters. It should have been a simple act to hand Duinion’s dagger back to Eryn without Lieutenant Brian noticing; not least because the Barracks Master had something of an effective distraction of his own. Trastion was going all out, when it came to holding the officer’s attention. But even aside from how often Unalmis stalled, to observe the showdown between the two other men, he was equally thwarted in his goal by the dog herself. For Hattie, noting how determined that her friend was to keep the dagger unnoticed, decided that it must be a new game. And every time the Ranger sought to hand the damaged weapon, subtly, to Eryn, Hattie could only think they were hiding it from her. And she was thus more determined than ever to have it for herself ! She intercepted every attempt at handing it over, entirely oblivious as to how sharp it might prove, if she ever should manage to seize it up in her mighty jaws; which spurred the pair of two-leggers to deny her efforts repeatedly.

After Eryn almost fell into the dirt herself however, the Ranger outright picked Hattie up as best he could with all her wriggling to be liberated. In the short time that he staggered under the animal’s relentless struggle, Nal saw with satisfaction that his friend was finally able to recover what was hers. That was, what was her father’s. Slowly he delivered Hattie back down to the ground, while Eryn stowed her prize out of the dog’s sight. And the dog herself looked expectantly to each of them, for what they would do next.


As Trastion continued to argue his point and Lieutenant Brian turned a further fetching shade of plum, Unalmis realised he was far less concerned with regaining what Lieutenant Brian might confiscate of his, and rather more troubled over the things which were not his at all. Things which Hattie had invariably ‘gathered’ up, from who knew where and who know who. To retrieve and return them all would prove quite a quest ! He already suspected that this might be what had driven the Recruit’s startling ‘performance’. For Trastion had seemed as keen to find his lost items, as he had seemed reluctant to describe them so that they might be found quicker. It was odd, to be honest, but hopefully Nal would still have the opportunity to see more of his new friend in action. He certainly owed him a favour, or perhaps more than one, given all that had happened. And anybody who would talk like that to the Barracks Master was surely somebody worth getting to know a little better !


When suddenly Trastion took Brian very literally, and referred to the officer as ‘either lieutenant or sir’, Nal dropped his jaw into open laughter, then clapped his hand belatedly over his mouth. At either his unrestrained outburst, or the loosing of the dog as she broke away and rushed outright at the Lieutenant from behind. Who could say whether she was acting in a means to stop the man from yelling at Trastion, or simply because the Barracks Officer had stopped paying any attention to her … Either way, the unsuspecting officer went face down into the dirt, and rose up shakily after, in such a state to rival the mess which Trastion had worn to find his way into all of this trouble. For a moment the Lieutenant was too stunned to speak, he simply opened and closed his mouth a few times, with no words finding shape enough to express himself. That was all the time the younger folk required to beat a hasty flight out of his jurisdiction.


Trastion was first and, fair enough, chose to relent to the washrooms even as he had been bidden. Eryn was urging Nal to do as they too had been ordered. She was going to be late home, the Ranger realised, and so there was naught to do but escort her, just as the Lieutenant had told him to. For she might need somebody to speak for her in explaining her delay. And he certainly couldn’t take Hattie back to his room now !

“Hattie !” he tried, more than once, as the dog cocked her head playfully and barked at the Barracks Master until he stepped hesitantly back a pace. Then, “Walks !” Nal tried instead, earning an immediate turn about head from Hattie before she scampered lightly off and away, out of the grounds, quite assured or unconcerned that her friends would follow. Seizing Eryn’s hand in his, Unalmis shook his head with an exasperated grin, and did just that. "Right you are," he let his friend know as they set off. "I think that might just be our count for trouble anyway. For today at least."

[Pele Alarion]

Captain Pele Alarion
Headquarters, Nárië 20

Pele could see that both Kaylin and Mourgan were all but burning with anger, and she found herself feeling strangely satisfied that they would do so, even if she did not want to admit to it and had to keep a rather cool head herself. Shamara and Relic would do well not to run into them, she thought as a shadow of a grin touched her lips for a moment.

"A witch she might be, a very smart one too in seeing and using opportunities for her benefit," Pele responded to Kaylin's angry observation. "I sort of know that it is impossible to protect everyone all the time, but..." The knowledge had not really helped her when she had given in and listened to accusations instead. For much too long.

At Ziran's words, Pele shook her head vigorously and took a step to meet her and reach for her hand with her own for a heartfelt grasp. "No! No... I would definitely not think of blaming you. And should stop blaming myself too, yes."

For a moment she was silent, and then looked around at the gathered Rangers. "She caught me while I was in the middle of mourning and struggling with grief, and turned it to her advantage. That, coupled with physical pain, ingrained the guilt so deeply that it was hard to see a way out of it. But no more. Though I might need you to prod me in the right direction when going gets tough. Thank you though, for listening to my ramblings," she said, finding that reactions from her friends and comrades deepened her sense of finding a new level of freedom again.

"The plans then," her voice gain a business-like quality, though her eyes still seemed to reflect a mix of emotions she had just experienced. "Anything to add? Except for reminding me not to hoard guilt, that is."

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn and @Isolde Alarion

Trastion Leithor
New recruit - Some point after the Captain's Meeting
Dorm 3

Moving his hand back down by his side once Arnyn had given him a nod back, Trastion closed both into fists moments later, as Lt. Brian once again began talking, ranting and raving about Trastion as if he were the worst human to ever step into this city. Clearly, Trastion had managed to make an enemy here already. He wanted to interrupt the man, to explain to Arnyn and Mourgan what had really happened, in full. He wanted to say a lot of things, but carefully reminded himself to keep quiet. Jaw clenched, standing rigidly, fists pressed hard against his legs, he waited for the man to finish speaking, taking slow, deep breaths. He would not speak out again. He would let Brian be the one throwing the tantrum, as it were. Maybe that would show everyone else that he was being completely unreasonable. As much as he wanted to retort back at him, Trastion stubbornly kept quiet, though there was anger flickering in his eyes.

Despite that, those same blue eyes narrowed in further irritation as he watched the lieutenant yank his bedding off of the bed, and then proceed to complain about the only two thing he had managed to find wrong with the room. Though he was struggling to maintain his temper, he nearly let out a laugh as the man mentioned that he ought to have cleaned up Mourgan's mugs. After telling Trastion the other day that he should have immediately reported Unalmis' mess in the yard to him, rather than helping him clean it up, he now proposed that the same recruit ought to have then helped clean up another's mess? He really needed to make up his mind, Trastion thought, inwardly scoffing. Shortly after, the 'spoiled child' remark made his eyes narrow slightly again, but he still maintained silence, inwardly fuming but determined to keep it to himself, while the barrack's master was in the room. If he opened his mouth now, Trastion didn't want to be held responsible for whatever words came out. Though, it was, figuratively, killing him to refrain from several sarcastic retorts that he might have otherwise spoken. The mention of ants and mice coming to infest and plague the building, for example... Trastion considered pointing out that the Barrack's master had already staked a claim in that department, or that he was a leader to all such pests... but he knew that would only add fuel to the fire.

It was, therefore, indescribably satisfying, moments later, when Arnyn cut him off from any further tirade, and at the same time, yanked the rug out from under him, as it were. Watching Brian flounder briefly as he realized his earlier mistake in criticizing Trastion's instructor, Trastion had to struggle not to snicker. Watching the two lieutenants' interaction with some intrigue, he inwardly marveled at Arnyn's seemingly miraculous ability to send Brian on his way, looking rather deflated.

Before he could get any ideas about celebrating this small victory, Trastion was slightly surprised to hear Arnyn ask Mourgan to close the door, then inform him that he could come away from the wall now. Actually, it sounded more like an order, that he didn't dare refuse. His eyes widened slightly. How did she know? He hesitated, slightly awkward, before dropping his gaze down with a sigh. Sighing in resignation, he relaxed his stiff, 'at attention' posture and slowly stepped forward, reluctantly. One hand reached behind him to catch the still-damp shirt he had kept smashed between his back and the wall, before it could fall to the floor. "It was an accident," He assured Arnyn quietly, casting a rueful glance toward the small stain left on the floor, which he had kept hidden with his feet. "I spilled a little ink," He admitted quietly. "I was trying to clean it up, but then he showed up, and.. I didn't know what else to do..."

He cast an apologetic look toward Mourgan. "I intended to warn you about the inspections, but I haven't had a chance to see you since the tyr-lieutenant decided he was going to do them." He added sincerely, and catching himself before he called the lieutenant a tyrant in front of another lieutenant. "I would've put your mugs somewhere out of sight, too, except I thought you'd have been back earlier, and I lost track of time, and then the ink... I'm sorry." Hopefully, Mourgan wasn't too upset at him, but he really didn't know him yet, so it was hard to tell how he would react to all of this.

Frowning down at his shirt, Trastion saw that it was obviously stained from him using it to try mopping up the ink. He glanced up at Arnyn, wondering if she might be able to help somehow. Unknown to him, the back of the shirt he was wearing also bore a similar splotch. "Is there any way to get the ink stain out?" He wondered, inwardly cringing at the thought of Brian seeing the result of that mess. "I don't mean this..." He clarified with a motion toward the stained clothing. "I couldn't care less about that. I'll have to buy new clothes the first chance I get anyway -if he sees me in dirty clothes again, he'll probably write me up again- but the floor..." He glanced again the stain on the floor by the desk, desperately hoping it might be possible to get that splotch clean before tomorrow's inspection, and maybe the tyrant wouldn't ever have to find out about it...

[Arnyn]

Barracks - Little mess
Some time before the Captain's Meeting/Council
Some time before the month of the South Wing Room Inspections commencing


Hyandaner Arnyn Dealedwen

It was a peculiar sight, as suddenly one piece of clothing after the other seemed to fall from the sky. After brushing her horse and cleaning his stall, the Hyandaner had come to the little mess for a snack and to rehydrate. The clothes, obviously, did not come from thin air; there were rooms above the little mess. Yet it struck her as comical.

Rather pleased to see that one thing which hadn't changed in this new version of the Rangers was that the barracks were rarely a boring place to be, Arnyn mosied on over to the windows and leaned on one of the low windowsills. She had a better look from here, and now spotted a rather enthusiastic black dog, who felt like the items - now no longer limited to just clothing - were like a feast. When the items stopped coming down, the dog looked for a different way to amuse herself, and started digging holes and burrying several of the discarded items. Arnyn whistled lowly. Lieutenant Brian would not be pleased with any of this, least of all the damage to his well-kept lawn.

When Unalmis appeared and spoke to the dog, she chuckled quietly. While she could hear next to nothing from her position, it was still highly entertaining. She figured the dog was the same one as that new prospective recruit had been wrestling with in the stables yard earlier. It was definitely a little troublemaker. Was Unalmis the one who'd brought her here? Intrigued, she took another bite of the apple, choosing to let things unfold as they would.

It did not seem to take long before the new recruit in question, Trastion, joined Unalmis. And a while later, a girl joined them whom Arnyn did not recognize. The three seemed friendly, and there was a fair deal of conversation, which was less intriguing perhaps. That is, until the black dog jumped Trastion from behind and the young man toppled over. Arnyn's lips parted with a blend of surprise, amusement and sympathy, her apple quite uselessly held up a ways from her mouth. Trastion seemed like a favorite target of this dog, if it was indeed the same one. She could not resist a chuckle.

And then an expected (this was the barracks, after all) yet entirely unwanted calamity in the shape of Lieutenant Brian appeared. Arnyn's eyes widened. Quickly, she glanced around the little mess. She was still alone. Finding a slightly more comfortable position, she returned her attention to the proceedings outside, where the black dog was bounding straight for the Lieutenant.

Arnyn was spellbound.

The girl - young woman - ran interference, however, and the Hyandaner found herself more than a little disappointed. Lieutenant Brian and she did not get along and thus Brian getting tackled by a happy dog would, while definitely being the worst part of his day, therefore possibly be the best part of Arnyn's. Alas, it was not to be.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Brian was being his best self, Arnyn noted as she watched him raise a hand toward Eryn to stop her from talking, and then aimed his proverbial arrows at Trastion. Then it was Unalmis' turn. Ah, she remembered those arrows well. It was no gift to be on their receiving end, but all you could really do was take it with what dignity you could muster...

Trastion, however, did not seem to think so. Arnyn watched the recruit grab some of the items lying around, and a little grin made its way to her face as she watched. Ahh, the brave and the bold! And then - wonder of wonders, the recruit straightened and crossed his arms and frowned at the Lieutenant and started... talking back. The barracks master's face went white.

Arnyn sipped her water and took an absent-minded bite from the apple in her hand, feeling as if she were listening to a storyteller so gifted that she could see the events playing out in front of her eyes. This was better than a book. She was very sorry she could not hear the words that were being spoken.

And then the dog... got... loose.

Her glass of water lowered slightly as she leaned forward just an inch while the dog ran so unknowingly, so freely, so beautifully...

Arnyn's mouthful of water sprayed all over the window as Lieutenant Brian fell face down into the dirt.

After a second of shock, she quickly wiped at it with her sleeve in order not to miss anything. The overall appearance of the Barracks Master made her press her lips together with restrained laughter.

Unalmis, Trastion, their friend and the black dog all quickly scattered. Taking a cue from the younger people, the Hyandaner got up from her own position on the windowsill and made herself scarse. She did not want to be noticed.

On her way out of the mess, she took another bite of her apple. Best part of her week, even. Despite her initial moment of success, Arnyn lapsed into a fit of the giggles.

[Arnyn]

Barracks, Room 3
@Rillewen
@Isolde Alarion


Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen

Arnyn watched as Trastion stepped forward somewhat reluctantly and produced a shirt from behind his back. She followed his gaze when he spoke of an accident. There was a rather small ink stain on the floor. He'd been trying to clean it... with his shirt? And then Lieutenant Brian had come in for an inspection.

Arnyn sized him up. The shirt in his hands was stained, and so were his hands. As well as the floor. Her eyes checked the wall where Trastion had been standing, which was miraculously clean. Then the back of the shirt Trastion was wearing was a toss-up, she figured, but she couldn't telll from her current position and had no intention of moving as of yet.

When Trastion addressed Mourgan, Arnyn kept her silence and simply listened. She noted how Trastion checked himself from calling Brian what could have only been tyrant, and after apologizing to Mourgan, the recruit turned to her again, looking for help with the ink stain on the floor.

"We will get to the ink in a moment." Her voice was calm, as was her way, but there was a quality to it at the moment that would make most people cautious. "I told Lieutenant Brian I would be handling the consequences of his inspection, which the both of you failed." She sighed as she looked at Trastion's sheets and blanket on the ground, and then Mourgan's mugs at his side table. She did not care much about a less-than-perfectly made bed or a forgotten mug or two, which is exactly why she had taken control of the situation. Brian would have likely overreacted. Especially after what happened to the grounds and to the barracks master himself, during that incident with the dog Arnyn meanwhile knew to be called Hattie. Those events would have earned both Trastion and Mourgan punishments which would be far more severe than their small infractions justified. Yet, now Arnyn had gotten herself into a situation where she could unfortunately not afford to do nothing. Doing nothing would undermine Brian's authority as Barracks Master, and undermining another officer's authority - even if that officer was Lieutenant Brian - went against her principles.

"I will assign you to one extra shift with Sergeant Pete to do the dishes," she told Mourgan, although it was clear she did not want to assign him much of anything. "I just learned that the Ranger who was assigned to it the day after tomorrow has fallen ill with the flu, so we need a replacement." This meant that bad luck of the draw might have dropped that extra shift in Mourgan's lap, anyway - and if the Barracks Master were to ask about her chosen punishment, it would be an acceptable one, without being overly taxing. Lieutenant Brian doubtlessly would have chosen something much more demanding. "Just the one shift, though, Mourgan. If you are asked or told to do more, for whatever reason, come to me."

Her dark eyes moved to rest on Trastion again. "When the barracks master himself informs you of room inspections, after he feels you are guilty of a crime... You know he will be giving your room one of his most thorough sweeps. And it's a room inspection, not a half-of-the-room inspection. Mourgan would have had your back if the roles had been reversed." Her voice grew even more quiet. "Family, remember?" She waited a moment before continuing. "When the Barracks Master is pissed at you and announces inspections, your first order of business, if you are not on duty elsewhere, is to prep your room. The whole room, Trastion..." Arnyn didn't like agreeing with Brian, but... "Lieutenant Brian had a point there."
She seemed to be considering something as she looped her braid with two fingers. "Mourgan will show you how to make your bed the way the Barracks Master likes it." A hint that she was less concerned with such things herself. "And tomorrow, you can practice your newfound knowledge to perfection by making the beds of all the Rangers on this floor of the wing." That should please the Barracks Master enough to avoid further harrassment to her recruit on the matter, and Arnyn was certain that this would ensure Trastion would never again fail to please Brian with his bed-making skills - and all in the time span of a single day. Trastion would never fail a room inspection on account of a poorly made bed again.

With that part out of the way, she could now return to the matter of the ink. Her face, therefore, cleared somewhat as she continued in a different tone."The ink should fade if you rub some alcohol on it, let it sit a while and then rub it away." Looking from Trastion to Mourgan, her eyes rested on the latter a bit longer. "I assume at least one of you should be able to assist with this." She did not know Trastion that well yet, but Mourgan had been around for a while and would have adopted some of the usual customs. Stashing at least a little bit of alcohol was one of them. Arnyn adopted a patient expression.

[Isolde Alarion]

Ranger Mourgan Alarion
Barracks Room 3
W/ Trastion & Arnyn
Room Inspection
@Rillewen
@Arnyn

Mourgan stood quietly listening to his roommate explain himself. He found Trastions loyalty admirable only his execution needed some work. His only reply to his roomie was a slight upward flick of his right brow.
He then watched as the Barracks Master continued with his exasperated inspection, going so far as to lift the bed from it's frame to find something. This worried Mourgan, what if his was next, surely the flask would hit the floor and be revealed. Brian then went on to use his own bed as an example of how to make a bed. Please don't touch the bed, Mourgan kept repeating in his mind. He did feel bad when Brian got onto him about clearing his cups.

Mourgan simply stood there and listened as Brian used his cups as an example of how it all lead to an infestation of vermin. A bit extreme but he got the jest of it, no more dirty cups.

He had to focus across the room not to bust into a grin when Arnyn took control of Trastion, he thought Brian was going to pop a vein as the wind seemed to spill out of his sails. Mourgan had to catch himself and return the Lieutenants curt nod before the Barracks Master left the room, probably to make another poor soul miserable but when Arrnyn addressed him a final time he bit down hard on his lip to stifle a chuckle that lay just beneath the surface.

When instructed he moved forward and closed the door behind the three of them, his stance relaxed and he moved slightly to put his helm on his bunk but he looked back to Trastion when he was told he could move away from the wall.

He watched with interest as his roommate relaxed and it seemed a crumbled shirt was exposed. Mourgan listened to the whole thing and when Trastion said he would have put his mugs somewhere he shrugged. "It's alright." he added, that was his fault anyways, he'd been a little preoccupied lately and hadn't taken care of things. He then noticed the stains and grimaced slightly, they would be hard to clean but not impossible.

His attention then went to the Lieutenant. He listened to his punishment. An extra shift doing dishes. He wasn't a fan of dishes but hearing of the Ranger falling ill made it easier to accept, not that he wouldn't. He nodded in agreement. "Yes Sir, I will."

Then she turned to Trastion. Bed making of all the Rangers on the floor. Dishes suddenly didn't sound so bad, he knew once the others were to hear of it there would be more then one bed torn apart and in disarray but with his help Trastion would be making sharp, crisp beds in no time.

The ink stain was then addressed and how to clean it. At this and Arnyns gaze he tried not to look too guilty. "Absolutely Sir, I'm sure we can find some alcohol..somewhere." He tried to keep a straight face but hers was so piercing in it's patients it was like having his mother look at him when he'd done something she was waiting for him to confess to. She already knew the answer. "I'll see to it immediately." He hoped his answer would suffice because if she kept looking at him like that he would hand over the flask himself!

[Isolde Alarion]

Ranger Mourgan Alarion
Armory with Cali, Smithy
@Rillewen

He was worried the way she was looking at the helm, almost suspicious. When she continued to fix it he was relieved. She didn't need to know he'd just beat the poor thing against his bunk post just to have an excuse to see her.

He stayed leaning against a rack as she worked with the helm and answered his question at the same time. He listened intently and found her story very interesting. The fact she learned from an elven Grandmaster caused his brows to raise in interest. The elves were known for keeping their trade secrets, secret. She placed the helm aside to cool and he was busy looking at the helm when she turned to him and smiled.

Her inquiry caused him to smile. "I suppose so." He thought she would need some help lifting something heavy, moving a crate of horse shoes or some other manly expression of strength. His chest puffed up abit truth be told but then she left him to go select a spear from the rack. This puzzled him slightly but he looked over to the maille on the stand.

She explained what she needed and offered the spear to him. He wasn't going to back down from this and stood to take the offered spear. "Well, I'll try my best." His lopsided grin peeked out from under his stubbled cheek. He stepped away from her and tested the spears weight in his hand. Looking over to the stand he turned his focus to adjusting his stance and holding the spear in order to stab it into the maiile.

Within two quick steps he raised the spear to waist level and with all the force he could muster he stabbed it into the maille. Letting go of the spear it hung in the maille for a moment then clattered to the ground. Mourgan watched the whole thing then looked back to the Smithy after taking a few breaths. "Well, it might cause some pain but you won't die from it. Nice work Smithy." Now he did smile then look back at the maille. "I'd wear it."