The world is ruled by two simple principles: Life, and Death. These two principles never mix, and are never removed from the world. Everywhere which is traveled, there is life, and there is death. Few people truly study these phenomena, although there are some who brave the perils of learning these. There are those who breathe life into those who are so close to death, that they are able to see their patron deity greeting them with open arms.

And then there are those who give death to those so enveloped in life, they never see it coming.

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"New recruits, here are your living quarters, I suggest you get to know each other; these will be your companions on various jobs that the guild may or may not place you on. And, as with all new recruits, here are the rules:

Rule one: Kill the people you are assigned, nobody else unless your life depends on it.

Rule two: Enjoy what you do. You never know when life will be taken from you.

Rule three: Don't attract attention.

Rule four: Listen to your superiors.

And that's about it. Now rest up, tomorrow's your first training session. We'll see just how tough you really are."

The speaker appears from the shadows, a small kobold, who seems to fade in and out of view. He creeps towards the door, then as he exits, he says, "Oh, and your leader's name is Volke. He will meet you in the morning, when you are ready for training. The room is yours."

Upon inspection, the room is elaborate, complete with climbing wall, trapdoors, locks and chains, and rope. This is clearly meant to supply you with everything which you need in order to practice with. Three lofts are also in this room, with ladders leading up to them. A table lies in the middle of the room, large enough for all of you to sit around. There is also a cooking pit, and a cold box, to cook and store food.

On that table is a small box, which says: Job Assignments. However, it lies empty now, as you are only new recruits. Perhaps when you prove yourself, it will fill with assignments for you to complete.

Small, serious Dora stands quietly until the speaker leaves. Her black leather armor with grey-black studs and buckles makes only a whisper of sound as she moves to the loft farthest from the door and climbs the ladder to the bunk. At a little less than three feet tall, she has to reach a little farther to get up that ladder, but she does so with little effort and no hesitation After she drops her gear on the bunk, she takes off her skullcap, revealing short, curly, light-blonde hair that complements her fair complexion. Before descending the ladder, she looks at the human and elf in the room with her and speaks, "Volke, huh? Never been good with names, but I gotta remember that one, I guess. Can't be sayin' 'Hey, you!' to the boss now, can we?

She sighs, then descends, still speaking as she moves to the table to sit and put up her feet. "It's bad enough I gotta work with someone else, but if I gotta do that to become an independent here, then I'll put up with it, for now. I think we all need to set some ground rules that apply to all of us. I don't like it, but I see a need for it now. The only rule I have that I think you should remember, team or not, is Don't Get In Front Of Me unless that is part of the plan we have agreed to."

"Oh. My name is Chandora, but don't call me that unless you want pain. Chan or Dora will do fine."

Likewise waiting until the indoctrinator finished speaking and left, Gannag moved to one of the lofts and tossed his gear up to it without climbing the ladder. His leathern clothing was dyed in slashes of dark brown and black, as if to mimic shadow-chamoflage. While unbuckling his weapons in preparation to toss them up with his gear, he turned to listen to the halfling female. He continued to follow her movement to the table as she spoke, but kept silent until she herself finished speaking.

"My name is Gannag and, li'l lady, what you choose to call me is irrelevant. I honestly don't know if what you said was meant to sound intimidating or arrogant but, considering your size, it doesn't come across as either -- to me. I do however, understand your point. I also agree, at least somewhat. To work together as a team, we need to know where each of us stands and what each of us will accept from the others."

With a smile, he makes a swift motion. Holding his hand at waist level, wrist bent upward and palm out, he shoves the palm outward slightly, and Dora feels the toe of her boots being shoved with a light pressure.

[OOC: Using Hand of the Mage to cast Mage Hand to shove at Dora's boot-toe. ]

"I myself have no rules -- yet, but I do expect all of us -- all of us," here he specifically looks at Dora, "to follow the rules laid down to us as they come, for they are bound to be for our benefit and to increase our effectiveness. And on the note of effectiveness, I do not intend to make use of the training materials within this room yet. I intend to rest until later. I hope none of you intend to make noise while I do so."

Nod stood where he was and waited in silence. The person who had given them their "rules" had long gone, and still Nod waited until the other two had finished their conversation and had gone quiet. Only then did he move toward the remaining loft. He hung his backpack on a post of the loft, near the ladder, and his weapon belt along with it. He then proceeded to doff the darkened leather armor he wore, with it's blackened studs, leaving the under-padding on in case the human had the prudish over-sensitivity to nudity that his kind usually displayed. Once the armor was folded into a neat packet, he tossed it up to the loft and followed it up the ladder. There he sat, still in silence, crossing his legs and looking over the equipment in the room.

Nod also had plans for the evening. He intended to strike for the stable to check on his horse, so that he would know where to find it if the need arose, and also to be sure that it was being cared for in a satisfactory manner.

It wasn't until all that was settled in his mind, especially the location and inventory of everything in the room, that he spoke, nearly an hour later.

"I am called Nod."

Time passes by uneventfully in the room, as evening fades to night, and night fades to morning. The late summer day is beginning, but sunrise is not for another hour or so.

However, with a faint click, the door opens. Nothing seems to walk in, until a tall, slender form walks into the middle of the room. Short cropped brown hair frames a pale face with piercing green eyes. His leathers, completely black and slicked so as to prevent sound when moving, were in perfect condition. A black cloak was wrapped around him, with many odd, square shaped stitches in seemingly random locations. His fingers run along the table in the middle of the room as he walks around. Pulling out a chair, he silently sits down, and looks around at the three lofts, knowing the people who lie within them. Casually putting his feet up, he lies back in the chair, taking a deep breath in, and letting it out. Cocking his head, his eyes look down. Nodding, his voice rings out inside your room;

"Alright boys and girl. Get up. We've got a lot to accomplish today. You three might have a chance at actually joining the guild. Might. We shall see. You have fifteen minutes to meet me directly outside the front door of the dorm. That is when training will begin. Anyone late, and the whole team suffers. A team is not carried by one person. A team works together to accomplish a task which is given to them. Any supplies which you find within this room are your to bring to aid you in your training.

(OOC: This is pretty much everything from the "adventuring goods" section in the PHB.)

If you wish, you amy also talk to any of the other new recruits if you wish. Just don't be late."

From a very downgrading tone, the man changes completely. He smiles broadly as he walks towards the door. "I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Volke. I'm your specialist. Before I go, any questions?"

"Good." The elf says. "No questions. I like it. Be outside in front of the door once you've gathered your equipment. And it better not take more than fifteen minutes." Turning on his heel, Volke walks out of the room, closing the door behind him as silently as he had opened it.