A Guarded Surprise

[tummyflowers]

Who: King Richard (tummyflowers) & Magnus Burnsides (ruffboi) & The Royal Guard!
What: Magnus and Richard have concocted a plan to train the new trainees. It's worked so well, why not try it on the other newbies?
When: This week
Where: Throughout Olympia, along several patrol routes
Warning(s): idk, maybe language and blood?


[It starts with an idea. Every great moment does, when two minds come together and realize that they can accomplish great deeds together. This is what had happened to Richard and Magnus some days ago. Now it was time for them to put that brainstorming effort to work. Since being assigned responsibility of the armory, Richard had been lending a hand in helping outfit and train some of the new recruits drawn in from the Olympian natives. They'd been young and keen lads who didn't entirely seem to grasp Richard's lessons, but they were still trying their hardest. And finally, after all the drills and strange parables of heroic valor, they were off on their first real patrols throughout the city. Richard had kindly volunteered to accompany them, even though he was very likely less equipped to do the job than they were.

Only once they were in the heart of the city did their real training begin, because Richard had enlisted the help of the swolest man he knew, a musclebound ginger with a brawny, hairy chest and an axe to match. He'd play the part of the violent criminal and give a chance to give the recruits some real hands on experience. Richard couldn't be more proud!]

OPEN PROMPT

[After some success(??) with the recruits, the two decide that it wouldn't be such a bad idea to help their fellow refugees who are equally new to the guards. It's a bit of a boring job, so something like this would surely spice things up and provide some motivation. So using his access to the patrol schedule, Richard has gone out to the city to join some of his fellow guards on their patrols all while a silent, lurking figure waits in the shadows... ready to strike.]

(tl;dr: fellow guards can have Richard show up on their normal patrols, only for Magnus to jump out and attack them! They're more than welcome to fight back and even beat up the poor guy! And yell at Richard too! It's for morale, right?)

Comments

Closed to Richard

[ruffboi]

[With Richard nearby, to keep him from being, you know, arrested, Magnus prepares to jump right into the training. He's starting off with whichever recruit gives Richard the most trouble -- this is a friendly exercise, obviously, but also, isn't it a good way to teach some arrogant recruits a little humility and respect for their commander?

In that spirit, Magnus creeps behind the guard when he seems to be not paying attention, and puts him in a chokehold.]

If you don't want to die, defend yourself!

[This guy, rather than responding to the training as expected, looks about two seconds from pissing himself.]

[tummyflowers]

[Richard had been casually pointing out some of the sights, which given he wasn't even from the city, seemed to range from obvious to wildly inaccurate. The recruits had sort of learned to put up with this sort of thing while directing their eyerolls to Richard's back. They knew he didn't even really outrank them, despite having been involved in their training.

And none of his training had prepared them for this!]

Oh God, look at the size of him! Well, go on, stop him!

[Richard steps aside, casually allowing the other two recruits to stare agape before carefully taking out their weapons. The braver one rushes Magnus yelling something about his right to surrender.]

[ruffboi]

[He throws his current victim hard to the ground, to free up his arms to fight the guards who are impressing him more, by rushing him. He draws his shield with one arm, but leaves his battle axe strapped to his back. He bashes into the guard rushing him with the shield, knocking him off balance, and then steps to the side, repositioning himself so his back isn't to the guard on the ground.]

Not bad, fella! Hey, are you going to let your friend do all the work? If you don't apprehend me, I'm going to kill this guy here, okay? [Pointing vaguely at the dude on the ground.]

[tummyflowers]

[The other guard is horrified to see both of the other guards on the ground and looks desperately to Richard for help, but Richard has already pulled out his electronic device and is casually scrolling through recent posts and comments on the feed. So he's no help.

The third guard swallows nervously, draws his sword, and approaches more cautiously. "Y-You're under arrest for assaulting a royal guard," he managed to squeak out. "Surrender now o-or we will use force!]

[ruffboi]

[So, Magnus isn't going to draw his weapon against these trainees - it's not necessary, not against some useless NPCs, but it definitely makes it harder to intimidate a kid who won't even attack. Still, he's going to try.]

I pick force!

[And he runs at the third guard, shield still out to block any attempts to use the sword, pivots so his shoulder crashes into his side, hoists him up over his back, and tosses him into the second guard.]

[personalwar]

[ 76 is assigned to the theatre district, a route that he's become all too used to over the past weeks. Beyond the first assignment that he took from Ashti, there hasn't been anything too exciting for him to deal with when he's on the clock. Mainly petty theft, complaints about harassment of actors, people trying to sneak into shows they haven't paid for, that kind of thing.

All the same, when someone else who's assigned to the Guard (judging from the uniform and the stone on the other man's chest) approaches him, 76 goes stiff as he looks him over.

This guy isn't assigned to this area, as far as he knows, so what's he doing here? ]

What is it?

[tummyflowers]

Oh, do watch yourselves, lads!

[Richard calls this out helpfully while presumably deciding to record it?

The second and third guard are sprawled out on the ground, but the first one who'd had a knife to his throat is more incensed than the others. He did piss down his leg, but he's turned that shame into rage. He charges Magnus whilst his back is turned, screaming profanities and swinging his sword with clear intent to kill.]

[tummyflowers]

[When Richard spots 76, he isn't entirely convinced that he should go ahead here. The guy looks old, more than enough to be seasoned, and might actually be so old that Magnus could break him. Maybe if he's careful, he can use his words and eye gestures to signal to Magnus NOT to attack.]

Oh, nothing much. Just in the hood, you know. Don't think we've met. How's the theater walk today, hm?

[shashka]

[ Ocelot's around the palace district, giving the newly awakened DD a tour of things. and who else does he run into but... ]

You again.

[ his tone is friendly enough, but DD is eyeing him up with suspicion. it's only when Ocelot nods to him that the dog walks up, looking to sniff at the strange man. ]

Guess I'm not just a "bit character", after all.

[ though this does feel like a bait-and-switch midboss (or submidboss, really) fight about to start. ]

[reek]

[ Really, Theon makes for a perfect target for these sorts of shenanigans. Though he’s proven himself a skilled fighter, he’s still young, not particularly imposing, and perhaps just a little too cocky for his own good. Not to mention all those times when he’s just a touch insufferable. The smirk that tugs at the corners of his mouth when Richard approaches is proof enough of that. ]

I see you’ve foregone the helmet today.

[ Which would have actually fit in really well in the theatre district. Shame. Ah, if only there were a tree nearby… ]

Have you come to make fool of yourself again, or do you intend to waste my time rather than your own?

[tummyflowers]

[Well, isn't that a cute doggy, hm? Still, he's not thrilled to see Ocelot. Not because he doesn't like the guy, he seemed fine, but he just had extra written all over him. It's astonishing to see him again, really.]

So much for a cameo, eh? [Richard chuckles, laughing it off.]

How's the ahh, dogster, hm?

[tummyflowers]

[Richard had some mild apprehension before, but it is gone the moment Theon smiles. He really didn't like this boy. Not in the least. He had mentioned him to Magnus, too. "That boy Theon isn't a very quick learner. You'll need to hit him twice as hard to make the lesson stick, I think."

That would be mondo-satisfying.]

Hardly. Can a fellow guard not go on a bit of volunteer patrol on his own time? I thought I'd see how you lads were doing around this area. Seems a lively place, yes?

[chaoticlootral]

[ Hey, doofuses, what's happening here. While your good friend (?) Taako had previously been hanging out kind of on the sidelines, enjoying a frozen marg and taking bets on who gets a beatdown. He'd run out of drink and patience for the whole thing earlier and wandered off, citing important appointments like washing his hair to attend to. Not that Taako has anything to do with this situation, where your good boss (?) Ashti has just come round the corner, sizing Richard up and down with a clearly disapproving look. ] Yo, what's happening here? What's up with this situation, my [ what the fuck do royal guards talk like ] good . . . fellow? Guardsman. [ Something about that voice seems a little weird though. ]

[ruffboi]

[Fortunately, the surprise is sort of cut out of the surprise attack when he runs screaming at him, a mistake Magnus himself has made many times. He puts a little of that rogue training to good use, ducking and rolling to the side to avoid the attack, and then springing to his feet and charging right back at him again.

He still doesn't take the axe from his back. Instead, he charges at him, with his shield up. The guard makes a valiant attempt, but he's still able to block the next swing of a sword on his shield, since these are just some worthless NPCs. After knocking the sword away, he swings his fist and socks the guard in the jaw.

And, now that everyone has been (mostly non-lethaly) dispatched, he begins to slow clap.]

Not bad, boys. Not bad. You passed the test.

[ruffboi]

[If Richard is eye gesturing, Magnus doesn't see it. The elderly can learn, too! As Richard is speaking and distracting, he slides out of the shadows and starts creeping up behind 76. He's actually, for a guy who is 6'5" and carrying assorted weapons, not too bad at being stealthy, but it's still not a stretch that 76 would notice being crept up on.

If he does make it near him, he whispers in his ear.]

Sneak attack!

[ruffboi]

[Magnus is midway through a creep, just around a corner, so he can't actually see Ocelot or Richard talking. He's hiding just a few feet away and springs out - just in time to hear 'How's the dogster'.]

Sneak atta - oh! Dog! [Well, he's not going to attack a man with a dog! He might become upset seeing his master attacked.] Can I pet him?

[Apparently he's not going to explain why he just leaped out and started shouting 'sneak attack.']

[ruffboi]

[Oh, huh. So this is the shitty guy Richard was talking about? Maybe? He can't really tell some of these guys apart. Magnus sizes him up from where he's hiding (on a balcony immediately above them). His facial hair game is pretty weak. Seems like kind of a dick. But also, he doesn't have strong feelings about this kid.

So, naturally, he leaps down from the balcony and brandishes his axe.]

Sneak attack!

[shashka]

[ you know, he should be more unimpressed with the idea of just being an "extra", but that's always been the way he likes it. never let anyone know how important you really are until it's too late.

DD, noticing the "attack", readies a stance. If he were felling particularly sadistic, he supposes. but, seeing as he's on duty, ]

It's fine, DD. [ he gives Ocelot a "look" as if to say "is this real life", to which Ocelot only shrugs. and to Magnus: ] Sure. Though I have to warn you, he's not a big fan of sneak attacks.

[ as if to emphasize the point, DD gives an affirmative bark. ]

But since you didn't actually launch a sneak attack, he might like you.

[reek]

I couldn’t care less about what sort of place it is so long as it pays we—

[ Theon doesn’t have time to finish his sentence. Someone who apparently has it out for him and his weak facial hair game is leaping from the balcony in an impressively ironborn-esque manner. Theon stumbles in a less than graceful manner, but reacts quickly enough, whirling away from Richard to face his new opponent.

Your facial hair game is pretty weak too, Magnus. All sides, very little middle. Doesn’t matter, though. Theon laughs as he draws his sword, smirking his insufferable smirk. ]

He needs a bodyguard now?

[tummyflowers]

[Richard really hadn't expected the commander to make an appearance. Worse yet, she has all the insignia of the royal guard that Richard had pointed out to Magnus. He was not an especially cunning man, but Richard knew that there was no good justification whatsoever that involved jumping her.

He smiled uneasily. Even though she sounded a bit off. And maybe not as freakishly tall as he remembered?]

Oh ahh... good evening, commander. Nice of you to drop by?

[tummyflowers]

My gods, kook at the size of him!

[Bodyguard? What? Richard has no idea who this unwieldy ruffian is! Richard even draws his own sword for effect, despite not actually doing anything to help.]

Away with you, foul criminal, or my fellow guard will have no choice but to cut you to ribbons!

[tummyflowers]

[Ahh... well, this is probably for the best. Richard has at least the decency to look surprised by all this.]

Well, it is quite the adorable little beastie, isn't it? Is DD short for something?

[tummyflowers]

[The men, battered and bruised, all look too confused to understand what exactly is going on. Eventually, their eyes turn to the completely uninjured Richard who looks a tad bit too enthused about all of this.]

Fantastic work, boys! I think with a bit more teamwork, you could have taken him down no problem! [Richard taps his nose conspiratorially.] Give it time, you'll get a nose for this sort of thing!

["A test!?" one of the guardsmen shouts incredulously. "I think he broke my nose!"]

Ah.

[ruffboi]

If you fight a real ruffian, he'll break more than your nose. Next time, you'll know.

[See? This was a good training exercise all along! Magnus is not responsible for any broken noses. Anyway, he certainly looks like he's had his nose broken a few times in his life. It's not a big deal.]

[ruffboi]

Hah, yeah, that's why I stopped! Wouldn't want to startle this good boy!

[He has absolutely no shame about the sneak attack, turns out. Instead, he's dropping to the ground and trying to rub the doggie's head and ears.]

We'll have to do your training exercise later.