[Last Time, on El WHAT?!: The group arrived in the city of Colorford and discovered that the place is a natural magical nexus and home to the biggest magical university in the known world, Hogwart's University. They talked with an innkeeper for a bit, and then split to seek training.] [Ichi's Training Hunt begins just outside the inn.] [Session Start] * Ichi wanders away from the group while trying to decide what sort of training he should seek. Maybe I'll just look in the first interesting place I pass...What do you think Car...oh she's not here... * The city is quite busy, as it's still early in the day, and it only looks to be getting busier. The streets are definitely getting crowded. * Ichi walks down the street looking at the people and signs above varios shops and such. * Colorford has virtually anything you could want for sale in at least one place. There are shops of every type imaginable, almost all with a magical theme to their names. * Ichi walks past the Hard Knocks School of Adventuring, for instance. This looks as good as any. ::enters:: (I may regret this but it should be a fun trip) Hello? * The inside of the HKSA is dank, dirty, and altogether not what you'd expect of a school... unless it had the name Hard Knocks. There are a few gentlemen sitting around a table, playing a strange game involving dice and playing cards. * One of the 'gentlemen' breaks a bottle over the GM's head. Correction: * There is a small group of nasty looking old bastards sitting around that table. * Ichi walks up and asks what they are playing Wha? s'just a game, we made it up. The hell you in here for? The sign said "School for Adventurers." * Bob blinks twice. That old thing? * Ichi nods. School's been gone for years, we just never bothered to take the sign down. Why you wanna be an adventurer, anyway? I bet he wants fame and fortune! * The old bastards all seem to think that's mighty funny, as they crack up. Hmm? No, what I want is to get home. When I told Sensei my story he said that I must be an Adventurer. I don't seem to be very good at it yet, so I came here. He doesn't seem to be very good at it yet! * The old bastards crack up again. * Ichi sweat drops a bit. * The game they were playing is irrevocably ruined by their pounding on the table, but they don't seem to mind. So anyway, if the school is closed, do you know anybody who might be able to help me? Lotsa people what can help you. Second step in being a good adventurer is being able to figure out who has the information you want. That makes sence, what would step one be? Be lucky. * The old guys start laughing yet again. They must not have had anything this funny in ages. Ahh, I seem to have that one down, only it's not all good luck. ^_^; * Bob gets serious. Luck is a matter of work, boy. If you work hard, and know your stuff, you'll have good luck. That's all there is to it. I thought that was skill. this one's about as sharp as a bowling ball. he better be careful, or he'll cut himself! * The old guys crack up again. Ahh...right...^_^; Anyway, I'll try to keep what you said in mind, and if you'll excuse me I'll go look for someplace to put that hard work in. Thank you. Go forth, young fool! * Bob draws his sword and POWERPOSES! * Ichi sweatdrops some more, and bows his way out. * Bob's cape blows dramatically in the breeze and the sun sets behind him, sillihouetting him grandly. Nevermind that you're indoors and he was wearing neither a sword nor a cape a moment ago. * Ichi stops midbow. "How'd you do that?" * Bob stops powerposing and puts the sword and cape away. 'Luck.' HAW! * The old guys crack up again. Ahh, lots of hard work? Here's a tip, boy. Stating the obvious only makes you look smart if the people around you are dumber than you are. So why don' you just walk out that door and go find something to do that's more suited to your intelligence? * Ichi opens his mouth, starts to say something, shuts his mouth, and nods. * Ichi walks to the door, thanks them again, and exits. ...that there is one dead boy. Hmm.::stares at the rainbows in the sky for a bit and then starts walking again.:: * Soon enough Ichi discovers the city wall, and with it, the barracks and training grounds. Currently, the grounds are being used by men in irridescent scale mail armor holding lances and jumping insanely high. * Ichi walks up to the edge of the training ground and watches the jumping men. * Strangely, the jumping men don't appear to be casting any spells that allow them to jump that high. * Ichi decides that although he's just been told to stop asking obvious questions, he'd like to know the answere to this one, and looks for sombody who looks like they might know and isn't curently twenty feet in the air. * Dragoon lands seated on the fence next to Ichi. You must be new here. Very true. * Dragoon is an exceptionally pretty Dragoon, with blonde hair down to the middle of his/her back. It's hard to tell exactly what sex s/he is, as the armor conceals it rather well. Why're you watching us? * Ichi shakes his head a bit. "I'm trying to figure out how you do it, but I'm not having any luck." Training. Lots and lots of training. * Dragoon smiles prettily. We train nearly every day, all day for most of our first four years in the service. Ahh, and after that? After that we only practice half the day, every day. That's a lo...::watches the jumpers:: It's amaizing what you can do with that much work. * The jumpers land and begin leaving the field. Oops, time to go. Seeya, newboy. Ahh, it's been nice talking to you. May I ask your name? Arya. Arya Kain, of the Dragoons. Seeya around. * Dragoon jumps off the fence and lands a moment later on the other side of the field. Goodby, and I'm Ichi...not that you're here to hear... * Arya waves from across the field and then disappears into the barracks. * From the other side, figures in shining plate armor with slightly overlarge swords in one hand and shields in the other begin to take the field. * Beside the knights enter a number of students in colorful robes. * This new group is obviously new to the whole combat thing, as they are paired off by an instructor and started on infusing fire into the swords. One knight-in-trainiing must be carried from the field as he badly screws something up and is engulfed in flames. * Ichi thinks "That looked interesting but I don't have the years and years... I wonder if this group would be able to help" O.O * Ichi walks nearer to where they're training. * Instructor walks up beside Ichi. Can I help you? Hello sir. You really shouldn't be on the field, you know. You could get hurt. You new in town? Yes, we just got here. We? I'm traveling with a group of people I know from home. We decided to split up for a bit at the inn. Aaaaaah, adventuring, or just traveling? Adventuring. Fame and fortune call, huh? It's more like I got pushed realy. Ah. Well, try not to die, eh? Train well, I mean. Colorford's the place to do that. Yeah, this does seem to be the place. ::points at the students:: Magic knights in training. Right now, they're learning the most basic skill. Channeling basic elemental forces through their weapon. Sounds like a good place to start. Could be. We've got a slot that just opened up. You think you can handle it? I'll give it my best. You have weapon and armor? I've got what I'm wearing. Huh. That's good for fighting in, I s'pose, but not for learning in. I suppose I can get you some castoffs to train in, if you're up to it. Thank you. C'mon. You're in the magic knights now. For a while, anyway. [Ichi's Search For Training End]