malnosso | [Locked to Residents]

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malnosso

[Locked to Residents]

[Appearing on the journals is a written message as follows. A voice option is provided for a computerized reading of the text.]

Attention Luceti Residents.

The following names are being called to participate in a strike against the cultist hordes:
[the names listed here appear on the journal.]

All subjects are required to arrive at the tunnels at 8AM on the 27th of March for deployment. All listed individuals are required to be present. Subjects will then be escorted to TERRACE for battle preparation and further details.

Target will be Region One, a former Malnosso stronghold, presently in cultist hands. Subjects are advised to prepare for combat in forested areas. Further information will be made available at TERRACE. Questions and answers will not be provided at this time.

[The Malnosso will not reply to this message, but everyone is free to use this post to discuss among themselves, whether using voice options on the journal or doing action threads.]

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[Zevran comes to Max not with one knife, but several. Small, large, balanced for throwing, curved or serrated for slicing and tearing, thin for filleting- a plethora of blades from which to choose and each he has a ready demonstration and word in mind for Max. The Mage will not wander into battle unarmed.

He certainly isn't expecting the uniform. It's enough to give him pause, melt some of the seriousness from his expression.]

Now that...is quite appealing.

[Max flashes Zevran a smile for that, tugging at the heavy leather gauntlets that had arrived with the uniform.]

It's uh- mages have a long history with the military. If you're being presented at any kind of formal government event and you don't hold another rank, this is what you wear.

Haven't worn it in years.

It does not seem terribly practical. But then the mage robes in my world don't seem terribly practical to me either.

[He shrugs and strides to the nearest table, pulling blade after blade from hidden and visible sheathes upon his person and lining them up for Max to look over.]

You asked for a knife, and I've many for you to choose from.

It's not too bad. Relatively easy to move in. It's more formal gear though.

[Max just stares for a long moment as Zevran lays out a truly impressive array of knives.]

...Where the hell were you hiding all of those? Do I even want to know?

Formal but neutral enough to not call attention to itself. I like it.

[Another moment or two and the last five blades seem to appear with nothing more than a flick of Zevran's wrist.]

I'm an assassin, Max. You have your threads, I have my knives. And garrotes. And darts. And picks. And- well. We'll not get into the rest.

Mages have more sense than the rest of the military apparently. Why make it obvious who's the most powerful?

[He's just gaping now, because that... how is that physically possible?]

Right. Assassin. Yeah.

...one man army, huh?

Ah, now that I understand.

[He drums his fingers on the table top for a moment, snaps his fingers and pulls another blade the length of his forearm from somewhere in his trousers. Don't ask.]

There- longer than most but I think, perhaps, you might be able to make use of it.

[He won't ask. He isn't sure that he wants to know.

The knife is larger than he's used to, but looks usable. Besides, a little distance between him and whatever he has to stab can't be a bad thing.]

Thanks, Zevran. This is all pretty intimidating for me.

I'm not certain how much I can teach you in the two days we have- but you've all my knowledge and skill at your disposal.

I'm hoping muscle memory will carry me over for the most part, but yeah, whatever you can teach me would help. Thank you.

Are you more accustomed to stabbing, slicing, or throwing with your knives?

Stabbing. I use a dagger at home. As long as it has at least a bit of a cutting edge.

[Zevran picks through and pulls out several different stiletto style daggers, tapered to a vicious point with a solid cutting edge.]

Try each of these and tell me which is most comfortable for you?

[Okay, those are some pretty impressive knives. He picks up the first one, trying it for weight and grip and he's really glad that the hilt is wrapped well. He switches it out for another, working through them until he finds one that fits his hand well.]

This one. It's more comfortable. Good weight.

[Zevran watches him pick through the available options and nods, pulling three similar blades from the arrangement on the table.]

These are made in the same style and have the same balance. You will not always be able to stab and pull back with the knife- sometimes you may need to abandon it. Always carry a few spares.

If you lose these on the field of battle I will not hold it against you.

[...the hell is he storing those things? Seriously, Zev?]

Right. [He reaches out to touch one of them lightly. It feels awfully real right now.]

I'll do my best to bring them back, anyway. Uh... how do I uh... [God he feels stupid asking.] carry them without hurting myself?

A belt, usually, but first I must know which is your dominant hand, and where does your hand go when you are startled? To your hip? your shoulder? your back?

[The closest to an instructor's tone one would ever hear from the elf. Cool and efficient and entirely professional.]

A belt. Of course. [Apparently the creeping fear had taken common sense with it.]

I'm right handed. And uh- hip, I guess.

[Zevran pulls a belt off of- well. Somewhere on his person and twists it around to fit to Max's hips- fastening it without so much as a question. He has no issue with stepping right into the mage's personal space. For this? He needs to be certain it fits well.]

The sheath would be on the left, then- and for the extra-

[Another idle flash of hands, another appearance of a leather band and sheath- this he affixes to Max's left forearm.]

Here. And one in your boot or the small of your back.

[He stands stiffly, a little awkward, as Zevran manhandles him, wrapping the belt around his hips and then another around his arm... and suddenly he's armed, four knives hidden about his person and this is really happening, isn't it?]

I didn't think the knife in the boot thing happened outside of films. Backups for backups.

For backups. I also have...let me find it.

[He pats Max's shoulder and flips through a case at his side before pulling out a relatively simple looking contraption with a spring and a ring and a few leather bands. He attaches it to Max's other arm and slips the ring on his finger.]

Pull your hand back, thusly, and- [Out pops a blade.] I learned it from a lovely nobleman close to the border. Son of a Banker. Fantastic eyes.

[He frowns a little at the... the thing that he pulls out, but holds out his arm to let Zevran fit it on. He does as shown and...]

That is so cool!

I mean, as far as weapons for killing people go...

Assassins always have the best toys. Keep this on you in case of an emergency, yes? It'll keep you alive.

I'm starting to see that... Yeah, I'll keep it with me. Thankyou, Zevran.

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