am I the caller of your keep

[hotspurred]

Who: Guardsmen & you!
What: A open catch-all for the Guard HQ for the month.
Where: Guard HQ
When: March 10th – April 9th
Warnings: TBA


A month after construction finished, the Guard HQ is in great shape. While it retains an air of newness, it's also starting to look settled into.

A sofa by the entrance, in clear sight of the office off to the right, provides a place for visitors to wait if they wish to speak with a guardsman. The office itself is made up of a variety of scavenged tables and chairs, inconsistent in style but providing every guardsman a space to do paperwork and occupy while manning headquarters. Beyond the office is a small meeting room, as well as a separate lounge for guardsmen to socialise and eat in, filled with a handful of comfortable chairs and a low table. Off to the left side of the building is a large, open training area, for guardsmen to train, spar and offer lessons within, safe from the overbearing heat outside. Beyond that is a storage room. A set of stairs at the back lead up to the roof, which serves as the northern watchtower. Like the standalone watchtowers that cover the other cardinal directions, it provides shelter from the elements as well as windows that allow a clear view, wide enough to be shot or fired from with ranged weapons.

The front door is always unlocked.

Comments

Henry | office hours | OTA

[hotspurred]

[Throughout the month, when he's in the city, Henry can be found at his desk for a handful of hours every day. It's the easiest place for Guardsmen and visitors alike to approach him if they have anything they want to discuss.

Well, mostly.

Not one to sit idly, when he's out of paperwork, he tends to stray to the training area. He's just as approachable there — as long as you don't run into the weapons he swings.]

[requiemshark]

[Though he signed up with the Guard pretty soon after getting dumped in Hadriel, Ephemera hasn't been a vocal member. He completes his assigned patrols, sends newcomers in the right direction, occasionally remembers that he's supposed to do paperwork even if he never turns it in, and in general keeps to himself. His grudges had been more important than making an impression one way or another. And things were chaotic enough in Hadriel that he slid under the radar, more or less.

He's starting to see how things are different, though. And that means changing.

After his shift, he wanders back to the training area. Spots Henry going through motions with that big sword of his.

No time like the present. Ephemera sighs. Takes his helmet off and tucks it under his arm.

He doesn't salute or snap to attention. But he watches for a moment as Henry works and that almost counts as respectful.]

You're pretty good with that thing.

[He exhales.]

Figured we should talk.

[hotspurred]

I ought to be. [Henry remarks, finishing his last cut.] Are you?

[He lowers his sword, and nods at Ephemera.]

You have been with us for some time now, have you not?

[Henry simply assumes that Nick, the more personable of them, has been Ephemera's main point of contact.]

[requiemshark]

If I need to.

[Weapons like that are good for close quarters and not much else. But he's always been a versatile fighter, quick to change.

Ephemera runs a hand through his hair.]

Uh huh. Figured I should step up. Considering how things are getting nasty these days.

[It's not the whole reason he's here, though. He's quiet for a moment. Watching Henry.]

I wanna do more.

[hotspurred]

More.

[Henry echoes, cocking his head. He wonders what Ephemera felt previously sufficient, though it's moot now.]

We are sending guardsmen to scout the surroundings where that lone Null was recently encountered.

[It's the only extra work they have at present.]

[requiemshark]

[Ephemera hums in agreement.]

Would it help having video footage? 'cause my helmet has a camera.

[hotspurred]

[Henry blinks, like it hadn't even occurred to him.]

Ah, yes. 'Twould.

[His brow furrows faintly, and he cocks his head.]

Your helmet has a camera. Does your armour also have a... [He pauses, trying to recall the correct name.] Hm. [It's been a while.] A jetpack?

Re: Henry | office hours | OTA

[soldier_blade]

[She found the place by accident, using her time here to try navigating and learn about the realm she's stuck in. Her attempts to contact anyone on the 'outside' had failed, and if she didn't go out and find some way to keep herself busy, she feared losing it completely.

What makes her go in is just how 'familiar' it looks, even from the outside. There was something about it that reminded her of the military.

She checked the door before stepping inside.

[hotspurred]

[At the sound of the door being pushed open, Henry looks up from the paperwork occupying his attention. Not recognising the woman he sees he pushes back his chair and gets to his feet. While he foregoes his plate armour in the heat unless there is a crisis, he still wears a red leather jupon over his mail harbergeon and chausses, and while his shield is left propped up against the side of his desk, he wears his sword belt around his waist, from which hangs his sheathed arming sword.

He walks over to meet her.]

Might I assist you?

[soldier_blade]

[Sonya's own clothes are the military issue pants and t-shirt she arrived in (the utility/bullet proof vest being left at her place). She'd seen clothing in the shops, but at the moment she was sticking to the familiar.

Seeing the man step through the off, Sonya would've thought his own clothing was out of place, but then everything about this was out of place. Why she stopped by here in the first place;

She turned to address him.] Possibly.Is this HQ for the city guard? [She could see the training area from the building, and with the patrol towers-her theory for the buildings purpose couldn't be a far stretch.] I just arrived a few days ago and am still learning the area.

[hotspurred]

It is.

[He looks her over briefly, curious. In his years here he's met enough people from what he considers the future to recognise that her clothing is akin to that of other soldiers.]

My name is Henry Percy. I am one of the Guard's commanders.

[soldier_blade]

Nice to meet you. [She took a deep breath. At nearly two weeks in, the pain in her ribs was still there, but it if she didn't exert herself too much, she could bear it. The burns on her abdomen might be an issue, but atleast there was no fear of infection; she just needed to wait for them to heal.]

My name's Sonya Blade. Back home, I'm an officer in the US army special forces. Do you have openings for volunteers to sign up?

[If she had to be stuck here, she'd feel better knowing she could have a hand in defending her fellow 'captives']

[hotspurred]

We do.

[Even if the specifics of her rank elude him, officer is more than enough experience to satisfy him.

Henry gestures back the way he came.]

Join me at my desk and I shall get you started.

[dragonsgrasp]

[A little while after submitting a report on that Null sighting, Kain comes in to talk to Henry. What kind of guardsman would he be if he didn't follow through and see what next steps will happen, after all? Responsibilities like this are good, though, keeping him focused on something. Now, the question is, whether or not they're in danger...]

May I have a word?

[hotspurred]

Certes.

[Henry answers, turning his attention to Kain. Having had Nick direct him to Kain's report, he has a good idea of what this is about, but he allows Kain to speak freely.]

[dragonsgrasp]

[Kain nods, demeanor continuing to be all serious. After all, this is a matter of the utmost importance, something that must be handled as soon possible, before they get more trouble out of it. He really despises the Null for all that they did, so he's definitely interested in doing what he can against this menace.]

I trust you've seen the report I sent. I wanted to follow up, to see what actions we'll be taking... and whether or not I might assist in some way, as well.

[hotspurred]

[Henry frowns.]

Nick and I shall question that Zelda and Law about what exactly occurred. We will also need guardsmen willing to scout the area surrounding their encounter. Not only for more of their kind, but for their devices too.

[It's too dangerous a prospect to ignore, as far as Henry is concerned. They need to be thorough.]

[dragonsgrasp]

Good, I’m glad to hear that…we can’t risk a situation like we had in the caves. I would be interested in joining in on that scouting, if possible.

[He’d figured they would take immediate action on this, in some form. The Guard has always taken its duties seriously as long as he’s been in this world. And he wants to do his part, too. He’s felt uneasy ever since he saw Zelda’s discovery.]

[hotspurred]

[Henry nods once, decisively.]

Very well. Consider the task yours.

[closerift]

[ It's in the training area that she finds him, approaching with her bow slung across her back. ]

Is this a back time? [ Cecily asks lightly, inclining her head in a sort of silent greeting. ] ... I was wondering if I could speak with you about getting involved in the Guard.

[ It's about time, anyway. ]

[hotspurred]

[Henry has a high level of skill in numerous weapon arts, but his truest mastery is in the sword and shield. As such, it's the discipline he puts the most time into practising. He finishes running through his current play before turning towards Cecily, lowering his sword.]

It merely grows dull sitting behind a desk.

[Which is to say it's not a bad time. He smoothly sheathes his weapon, then half-smiles.]

So let us speak. We would be honoured to count you among our number.

[closerift]

I know the feeling. [ Well, she's not as much behind a desk as, say, Cullen or Josephine, but she can sympathize nonetheless.

Cecily returns the half-smile. ]

I owe it to the others to get involved, I think. Being here long as I have.

[ Maker. It'll be three years in the fall. ]

How can I help?

[hotspurred]

Ever do we need more guardsmen... to patrol the city, man the watchtowers and this building, to be in the colosseum when new arrivals are due and fight alongside us when the next crisis occurs.

[Henry keeps his gaze on Cecily as he speaks, watching her reaction. She's a case where it seems prudent to offer more than one option.]

But we are willing to make certain exemptions if that is more involvement than you intend.

[closerift]

I'm happy to do all of the above. Certainly to fight alongside you, and the other items as well.

[ She's a team player despite her often-flippant attitude. ]

[hotspurred]

Wonderful.

[He smiles fully, this time.]

Then I welcome you to the Guard.