Hung over, tired, and exceptionally bored was not a feeling any man enjoyed. So it was that the Stone Dog on sentry duty was less than pleased when a young boy approached the entrance to the roof.

 

"Stop. What do you want?" he asked sullenly.

 

OOC: Short and to the point...check the outline and have fun with Step 1. Please be realistic. Though we've assumed you're a trained warrior, you're no match for an entire society of trained brothers. They'll only beat you close to a bloody pulp! 8)

Ghil approached the Roof of the Shae'en M'taal cautiously. As he came closer the ragged looking sentry spoke. Stop. What do you want?

Ghil eyed the sentry calmly. I seek entry to the Shae'en M'taal he replied. The sentry nodded sharply and then grimaced. I'll get the society leader he said after he regained composure. He then stuck his head through the door and yelled INNITIATE! And immediately turned and threw himself at Ghil.

Ghil reacted on instinct kicking the man in the gut then pivoting and jabbing a hard right to the back of his head. By this time Stone Dogs were pouring out from their roof yelling and heading strait for Ghil. Remain calm was his last clear thought.

The first man to reach Ghil received a knee to the stomach but not without a crushing blow to his attackers ribs. More poured out of the house and off the roof. Ghil new then he was doomed. He new his only chance for life was to run. The thought was gone almost before it even registered.

He may die here but that was better than living in shame. Ghil fought as he had never before. He managed to break one mans arm and dealt a crippling blow to anothers right leg. However the damage he did to the few who he got his hands and feet on was nothing compared to what he was taking. Tired beaten and bloody he could only think of one thing. At least I die with honor.

OOC: I will be writing this post as Belran my NPC Society second.

 

IC:

 

The initiate had shown great resolve during the onslaught of Stone Dog members. The members of the society always took great pleasure in the ritual beating of new members. Cor and Belran stood on the balcony of their roof watching the fight progress. Belran reflected on the time when Cor had been the newest applicant into Shae’en M’Taal as he prepared to play his part in the next part of the initiation, which oddly enough was the same as it had been that night not so long ago. At that time it had been Cor who was undergoing the beating. They had become fast friends even though Cor rose through the ranks; rapidly advancing until Xin named him his successor as Society Leader. Tonight was an odd mirrored refelection of that evening's events.

 

Now it was time; with Ghil laying on the ground a bloody pulp from the beating the society had given him. Belran descended the stairs quickly and emerged from the door of the hold. “STOP!” With the trained practice that only comes from many battles shared, a lifetime of bloodshed, and a brotherhood forged by fire, everyone stopped. “You have shown you can stand against the onslaught; that you will not run. Now you must show your strength. You must go from the hold; you may take your weapons with you. You will run until sunrise and then turn around and return to the hold. You won’t stop or rest. Now go and return only when you have completed your journey.”

As Ghil lay on the ground preparing himself to wake from the dream he suddenly heard a voice shout from above ceasing the onslaught of fists and feet. He looked up from his not so comfy place on the ground and saw a man approaching him.

As Ghil attempted to gather his feet under him the man said, “You have shown you can stand against the onslaught; that you will not run. Now you must show your strength. You must go from the hold; you may take your weapons with you. You will run until sunrise and then turn around and return to the hold. You won’t stop or rest. Now go and return only when you have completed your journey.”

Ghil nearly fell over at the words. Run?! He could barely stand! But this was what he had wanted so this was what he must do. He staggered over to his spears and began a painful trot away from the hold. As he began to run he began to feel alive. Running was the purest form of enjoyment for Ghil. Slightly hampered now by the massive beating of his bunny he just took he began to stretch out his body and loosen his muscles. He lost himself in the feeling of the wind on his face and the ground beating rhythmically beneath his feet.

The hours passed in seconds and as the sun peaked over the horizon Ghil turned to head back to the hold. About halfway back to the hold he saw a figure lying on the ground in the distance. Ghil immediately moved behind a rock and started towards the figure scanning the land for an ambush.

As he approached the figure he noticed it was a man. Upon closer inspection he was a Stone Dog at that. Ghil approached carefully and looked over the man. His pulse was steady. No wounds to speak of. Not even a bruise. Ghil became very suspicious but he couldn’t just simply leave him here to die. So he heaved the man over his shoulder and started toward the hold.

Just then a flicker of movement caught his eye and he managed to dive out of the way of an arrow just before it hit his leg. He then scrambled behind a large rock dragging his not so helpful friend. So it was an ambush. Ghil was pretty sure he could handle one guy but an ambush never had just one man.

He carefully peaked around the rock and sure enough there was four other veiled figures making their way towards him. They where moving in a pattern though. Last moves to the front and then repeat. It was perfect. Ghil uncased his bow and knocked an arrow. Out came the next figure to find an arrow strait into his shoulder. One down.

Ghil then sent a hail of arrows one after the other high into the air toward his enemies. At the last second right before they hit he grabbed his companion and darted to the next rock. It gave him a partial view of the original archer that so foolishly missed him in the beginning. Another arrow loosed from Ghils bow and another high shoulder strike. He scolded himself for not practicing with the bow more.

Two down. Ghil then new what he had to do. He jumped out from behind the rock and ran strait at his enemies. He jumped over a rock to find them both waiting. He quickly spun his spear to divert their attacks and landed hard on his feet and bent low as he charged the man on his right with all his strength.

Ghil somehow connected to him full on in the chest and sent the man hurling backwards into a rock.

Three down. As he was picking himself up off the ground the fourth attacker jumped high in the air and was coming down fast and hard with his spear. Ghil tried to roll quickly to the left but hit a rock. Pain seared his right side but it didn’t stop him. He did a sweeping kick that knocked his attacker off his feet and met him in the stomach with his spear.

As he stood to finish the man he heard shouts in the distance. More veiled men. Ghil ran to the rock where the man lay and heaved him over his shoulder once again and ran as he had never run before. He ran and soon was in sight of the hold. He looked back to see how close his assailants where but there was none to be seen.

Ghil sprinted to the roof of the Shae'en M'taal and collapsed. Tired as he was he was still surprised when his burden lifted itself off his back and started talking with the sentry.

Belran had taken up the sentry duty as was customary for the Society Second while they awaited the return of their potential brother. He returned from the desert tired and worse for the wear but carrying the burden that had been set before him. The other warriors he had faced returned before him and had already been seen to by a Wise One; some bearing more scars than they left with. It was almost enough to bring a smile to his face. Those men had been careless to let the young one's spear find them. He should have been no problem for them, but they had grown cocky and learned a lesson in the progress. It was now time for the less than pleasant aspect of their initiation, Belran only hoped that it wouldn't send the young man into shock. The stone and the fire pit were brought forth, Belran picked up the blazing stone with a pair of blacksmith tongs and approached the man, two Stone Dogs removed the top half of his cadin'sor and Belran placed the blazing stone on the right side of the mans chest. The boy did well accepting his pain and poring it forth in a guttural scream and the smell of searing flesh filled the air.

 

He was tired and worn out, but his trials had only begun. Cor stepped out from the doorway, the blazing sun now completely fallen from the sky. He moved as one with the darkness, staying in the shadows watching the boy's eyes follow his slow progress towards him. The two men who had held Ghil while he was branded began stripping him of his clothes and taking his weapons from him. He tried to struggle at first until he realized that this was part of the initiation. Cor now stepped into the ring that had formed around the initiate and slowly drew his knife.

 

He had carried it with him since he was first initiated in Shae'en M'Taal; past the time that was customary and when it was supposed to be returned to the armory. Ghil now stood naked in the middle of the ring. He had managed to find his feet and had taken up a fighting stance waiting for Cor to make the first move.

 

"You've come far since you first approached our roof. Can you take the last and hardest step to reach your destination?"

 

OOC: ok time to fight Cor, remember he's the SL for a reason you won't be able to make a mark on him but you will be able to make him touch outside the circle. eventually. so have fun with the fight. you're almost done; just be realistic. 8)

Ghil lay on the ground tired but pleased at what he had done. As the Stone Dogs gathered around him two came forward and raised him to his feet and removed the top of his cadin'sor. He was wondering what was to happen when his eyes fell upon the heated stone bound for his chest.

He thought he handled the pain well. Making it part of him and then expelling it in a guttural scream. He could smell his burnt flesh more than he could feel it. He was tired but not so tired that he missed the man coming towards him in the shadows. Ghil new that walk. It was Cor.

The very man that he had looked up to and came here to protect was now stepping forward and drawing his knife against Ghil. He then noticed the two men that had held him earlier where taking his weapons and the last of his cadin'sor. He struggled for a second until he realized that this too was part of the initiation. He stood naked and unarmed now.

Facing the man he respected. "So be it" he thought as he dropped into his stance.

"You've come far since you first approached our roof. Can you take the last and hardest step to reach your destination?"

With those words Cor came at Ghil.

He was amazingly fast. Ghil barely time to block or turn away his attacks befor the next came. "So much for fighting" thought Ghil. Several minutes of abuse and many cuts later Ghil found himself on his back. He knew he had only one chance to defeat Cor. It was terribly risky and if he missed he wouldn’t be able to get back up.

Rising and mustering the last of his strength Ghil lunged head on at Cor turning away the knife just enough to shoulder him in the chest. Cor staggered backwards, out of surprise more than the force of the hit Ghil was sure, and the back of his heel crossed the line and landed with a thud that should have been audible on the other side of the hold.

Ghil had always been small amoungst the Aiel; but it had taught him to rely on speed and lightning quick attacks to throw his opponents off guard. It was exactly the tactic that he used with Cor. The Stone Dog leader was surprised, but impressed, that the youngster still had enough energy to execute such a swift attack. It stunned him so much that he momentarily lost focus, but it was just enough to allow the weak blow to nudge his foot slightly ouside the circle.

 

The members of Shae'en M'Taal roared a cheer for the young man as Cor helped him stand up from the ground. Many of the members present had had to fight Cor to join entry to the society, and all secrectly enjoyed seeing the man bested in single combat. Once back on his feet, Cor sheathed his knife before dealing with the boy who was barely standing but was still watching him warily.

 

Belran moved forward holding the branding stone out to Cor who took it and moved towards Ghil. Two members once again braced Ghil to keep him on his feet, and Cor placed the stone on the left side of Ghil's chest. "You have shown your dedication, your skill, your strength, and your willingness to protect at the risk of your own life."

 

Having said what needed to be said Cor turned and led Ghil into the roof with the rest of the society. They made their way into the back, into the armory. He was always proud of their armory because it was the largest in the hold and rested in silent tribute of their ability in the dance.

 

"Now my friend you shall pick one weapon from this armory, you will carry it with you for a year and a day to show you are new and learning our ways, customs, and rights." Cor waited until Ghil had finally selected a weapon and was tottering on his feet. Cor smiled, looking forward to the next part of the initiation.

 

"You still have one more test you must pass before being allowed full entry into our society."

 

Cor grinned at the look of shock on Ghil's face, and his grin grew even wider as a large Aiel stepped forward holding a bag of oos'quai. Downing half of it in a single swallow, Cor held it out to the newest member of the finest society of the Aiel.

 

"You must face our friend here in a drinking match and enjoy the night and remember it as your first night as a member of Shae'en M'Taal."

 

OOC: react tell us what weapon you picked etc. then you're a full Stone Dog and we'll continue with your training and advancement to Society Second. congratulations, mate.

As Cors foot touched the other side of the line a tremendous roar filled the air. As Ghil regained his feet two men took his arms and held him once again. When Cor approached and placed the branding stone on his chest once again Ghil was so tired he didn’t even bother to acknowledge the burning pain.

 

"You have shown your dedication, your skill, your strength, and your willingness to protect at the risk of your own life," said Cor as he removed the stone. Then turned and started to lead Ghil into the roof into the largest room of weapons he had ever seen.

 

Cor stopped in the middle of the room and turned to Ghil. "Now my friend you shall pick one weapon from this armory, you will carry it with you for a year and a day to show you are new and learning our ways, customs, and rights."

 

Ghil slowly eyed the rows of weapons until one caught his eye. He staggered over to a shelf of knives and picked a pair that was jagged and had twin lions carved into the hilts. As he raised them in the air to show his choice Cor approached.

 

"You still have one more test you must pass before being allowed full entry into our society." Ghils face fell. Cor grinned as a large man came forward with a bag of oos'quai. Downing half of it in one large swallow and held the bag out to Ghil. "You must face our friend here in a drinking match and enjoy the night and remember it as your first night as a member of Shae'en M'Taal."

 

Ghil accepted the oos'quai with pleasure and took a long drink to the cheers of his new brothers.