RP:Unfettered

This is a Warrior's Guild RP.

Part of the Dissonance Theory Arc

Summary: Wounded from a spar against Quintessa which became far more dangerous than he had anticipated, Kazeem worriedly asks Lionel if deadly initiations are commonplace at the Warrior's Guild. Lionel, in turn, is stricken with guilt over Kazeem's ordeal and vows to warn Quintessa of her recent behavior posthaste.

Snowless Training Yard

Lionel had never before seen this place so empty, and in a way, the emptiness felt even stranger to him than anything he and the others had come upon during the mission through the chasm. At least back there the unexpected was to be expected. Here in the snowless training yard, where so many guild meetings had been held over the past three-and-a-half years, there had always been a hustle and a matching bustle. Even at nighttime, the guards patrolled and scurrying recruits stole away with equally quick-footed academy students. Now only a few carts and wagons remained, and a mere handful of soldiers -- the few who would stay behind in order to serve and protect the citizenry. As the sun set and the land grew colder, Lionel stood at the exact center of the yard, alone.

Kazeem had missed the call to arms that the guild has answered with the mission through said chasm due to his injuries sustained in the "training spar" just a few short days ago. The healers the guild offered worked wonders with what they could, but as the infernal mark placed upon him did wonders for many things it seemed to block magical healing from taking full effect, leaving the neophyte to heal (mostly) the ole fashioned way. It was fine though as years spent with this situation has had the desert native adapt well enough. Word has spread of Lionel's return to the guild for a brief amount of time and it was here that Kazeem felt compelled to talk with the man. After the encounter with Quintessa the nomad was feeling a bit out of place, given the mad woman's blood lust and attempt to take his life and all. Would Lionel, who had mentioned Quintessa to him, would not have set up new blood in his guild to face such an attempt on one's life? Maybe being a foreigner played a part? In his travels outside the nameless desert Kazeem has already come across a bit of xenophobia, but he had hopes this was not more of the same. And so, as bandaged up as he was, the man makes his way out into the training yard and over to Lionel. His spear left inside with his armor, as he is only in simple attire of weather appropriate style that does little to cover the amount of bandages that cover his body, especially his left arm, where Quintessa's flames scorched his flesh. Each step also reveals a slight limp, all evidence of the damage the man has taken at the hands of the insane creature. Kazeem will wait a moment, before clearing his throat to try to gain Lionel's attention, saying after. "Excuse me, sir, but can I have a moment of your time?"

When Kazeem approached, Lionel tilted his head to welcome the newest member of the guild. Before he could open his mouth to speak, he noticed the man’s considerable wounds. Blinking, he rushed to the nomad’s side. “You can have more than that,” he answered quickly, “so long as you tell me what happened first. No wonder you’re still here -- you’re not fit for travel, let alone travel so far west to what will soon be the new HQ.” The cold air blew past the two men in a gust, prompting the Catalian to gesture toward the nearest door. “Let’s head inside. Do you like tea?”

Kazeem watches the man's concern, notes his bewilderment at his condition and simply nods his head at the mention of going inside and tea, followed up by a simple. "Yes, tea would be nice." And with that he'd follow Lionel back inside, happier to be out of the cold.

Lionel led the way. It was only after he asked his question and Kazeem replied in the affirmative that he realized with so much being shipped out there was a chance no tea was on their horizon this evening. Thankfully, the larders and cabinets remained fully stocked, no doubt so that the guild-unaffiliated faculty and students would have ample provisions until their next shipment arrived from the city. Lionel had only made tea for himself infrequently; he hadn’t the taste for it in his youth, and upon his return to Lithrydel his stalwart assistant Briar Ku Risu had always brewed it for him. She brewed so much of it that he came to like it, even. But Briar died -- and then she was found, two years later, alive as a prisoner of Kahran. That whole situation was… complicated. Too complicated for the Imperator to dwell upon it at a time like this, when the urgent question of the source of Kazeem’s injuries yet lingered. By the time Lionel escaped from the bed of his own thoughts, water was boiling in his copper kettle. He added tea leaves and turned around, hoping to find Kazeem sitting down without asking permission. It always felt strange telling people they could do a thing like sit down. “Alright, it’s almost ready. Now please: what the heck happened? Is this from your spar?” Then, like a bolt of lightning, it dawned upon Lionel. It had to have been from his spar… and Quintessa Dragana must have refused to hold back in the least. His face darkened. “It is, isn’t it? Did she do this to you?”

Kazeem is not one to feel as if making sure one is "ratted out" so much as he does wish to address the woman he faced outright tried to kill him. He gets it though, that this is a way of life and many of these people are close and damn well near family. He doesn't yet understand the depth of it all, who is close to who, so he plays it as they are all close and he is stil la new outsider, unproven and unbloodied enough to yet be in the inner circle. But, even in this the man states what was asked on him. " Yes. I met with Quintessa, under the idea we were to have a friendly spar to test each other." The man's face almost looks saddened by the fact he has to even say this, but alas. "It quickly turned into a fight for ones life. Magic was used, forcing me to also utilize was little I have in defense of myself. She was relentless, and under different circumstances I'd commend her spirit and skill... but..." He shakes his head, the pain from his wound causing a slight wince as he adds. " She was out for blood since she unsheathed her blade. And sir... I felt I was lead like a lamb to what could have been my own slaughter. If I had not switched my stances... parried a blow in just enough time... she would have killed me.: he pauses, allowing time for Lionel to digest this, before adding what he really wanted to ask. " This is not how things are done here? Am I just mistaken? Would... would you ask me to try to kill a new recruit as a mere test of worthiness?"

Lionel had his back to Kazeem at first, as he steeped the tea and then poured it into two pewter mugs. Handing one of the mugs to the desert warrior, the Catalian shook his head and sighed. “No,” he answered. “I would never. If anything, I would kill the man who gave such orders, if only to save a recruit’s life.” Lionel’s grimace became severe. As awkward as he could be, it was rare that he bore such a countenance even in the worst of times. “Quintessa is also fairly new to the Warrior’s Guild. She possesses great potential, which I believe that both you and I can see. But her ambition suits her surname.” He took a sip of his tea and sat down beside Kazeem. “Which is to say, she wants to be held in high esteem and I now realize she isn’t yet aware of how to go about illustrating her capabilities. We met when she accepted a bounty on my head,” he said with the slightest trace of a smirk. “I wanted to believe the only reason she didn’t hold back against me in her own entry spar was because I specifically told her not to. I never would have imagined she would further the notion without valid cause to do so. I’m sorry.” Sorrow was in Lionel’s azure eyes. “The onus rests with me for this, and I will ensure that it never happens to you or anyone else again.”

Kazeem listens and hears Lionel's words which seem to ease the dread that has been swelling up inside of him for some time, though the tea helps with that as well. Wonderful thing, tea. Knowing the desire to prove one's worth is a powerful motivator, the Ansari tries to simply chalk this up as a misunderstanding for now. Lionel seems to know of the issue, and truly Kaz does not wish to "make waves" during such a time for the guild, or well any time for that matter. Taking a sip of the tea once more, the desert born says. " She has skill, but she needs to learn to temper her murderous instincts in certain situations, less she make a bad situation worse." Catching the fact he was almost preaching to the pastor, Kazeem simply says. " No disrespect sir." Before taking another sip of his tea, and then adding. "I don't fear facing such adversity, but the way she treats comrades in arms is atrocious. Had she not yielded as I pressed the attack.. " He quickly add in a softer tone more to himself than anything. " Or had her magic to save her.." He then continues with his main point. " I could have also killed her more than a few times. It is hard to fight for ones life and keep the restraint to not kill in return..." He remembers the anger, the desire to simply finish the fight and see who ended up in the dirt that day. Yes, Quintessa was not on the holiday gift card list at the moment. " I.. I've no more to say, but know I faced the challenge. There was no real winner, or even lesson learned in such a clash.. well, save neither of us dying because one child thought we were in the Vailkrin Slave arena.." He sighs here, causing a bit of pain for himself, though its nothing either should fret about. " I hope she's healed up as well? I hear rumor she was with you in the mission... I.. I wanted to come but I'd be more a liability than asset at this current time."

Lionel appreciated Kazeem’s candor and shook his head when the recruit clarified that he meant no disrespect from any of this. None was taken, and the Catalian made sure that even in silence his countenance reflected it. “You’re pretty wise.” Kazeem had finished his talk by now, and it simply felt like the most immediately apt thing for Lionel to say. “You’ll rise to the rank of soldier here before long -- that is, if you’re willing to forgive us this transgression and stick around. I can tell that there’s a fair bit the world has already taught you, and you never truly needed that spar to begin with, no matter its nature. But I get the feeling you’ll keep at it, honing your skills over time. Except, maybe with someone who isn’t aiming to end you.” He paused afterward to finish his tea and then nodded regarding the mission. “Near as I could tell, Tessa was mostly healed when our little misadventure began. She suffered an injury underground, but it’s nothing she won’t recover from, and it was in the line of duty that it happened. That alone is enough for me to still believe in her -- her potential,” he stressed in reiteration. “There will be more missions, Kaz, and I have little doubt you’ll be on them with us.” Rising from his seat, he stretched and stifled a yawn. “I’d pat your shoulder, but under the circumstances I’m worried I might break a bone. Now I think the best thing I can order you to do is get back to your chambers for some more rest. When you’re ready, I’ll get you situated out west with me.”

Kazeem feels a whole lot better overall with the situation, and is glad things worked out the way they have. knowing Lionel is a busy man, Kaz is ok not taking up too much of his time and simply rises to properly see the catalian off before he says. " I aim to stick around, and even as injured as I am, I'll see to helping around here and making sure the fort stands ready in case of need."