The Guard Test

[Margrett]

Margrett watched over his shoulder, eyebrow raised, arms folded behind her back.

An office for yourself, hmm?

She gave him a look that was amused, but warning.

Make it an extra office. We'll see if you get into it.

[Sir Kerag]

Kerag grinned.

"Sounds good Captain."

He scratched his name off the blueprint, replacing it with 'extra office."

[venom]

Venom scratched his head for a while. He liked the blue print, but it was alot to be built between the three of them only. He shrugged at Kerag.

Looks good to me. I just wish we had more help. This may take a while to finish. Where do we begin?

[Tallia]

Tallia wholeheartedly agreed with Venom, but she doubted the Captain would let them off easy, even with this arduous task at hand. Sighing and shaking her head, she turned to Venom.

"I... I guess... we should... focus on the layout..."

With that, she walked over to get some wood and focused on building the parameters, based on Kerag's blueprint.

[Sir Kerag]

Kerag sighed, shrugging his shoulders. What was there to say? This was their test after all. He didn't expect the task to be easy. The orc nodded.

"Aye the layout first. From the foundations we can build up. I'll start cutting the wood into the sizes we need. Take those pieces and work together putting them where I've indicated."

Kerag pointed at the blueprint.

"If we keep our spirits up and focus on the task, we'll have it done soon enough."

He walked away from them, lifting heavy loads of wood to a chopping area, grabbing his axe.

"This is going to be a long day..."

Kerag raised the axe, swinging it down again and again, cutting the materials to the correct size. There was a pile to his left with measured pieces, the pile to his right still needed to be cut.

[venom]

((Do we really need to rp all this?))

Venom nodded to Kerag and Tallia. He took the pieces cut by Kerag and started hammering away building up on the foundation with the help of Tallia. He began to break a swet with the sun blistering down on them and all the hard work they were doing. Every chance he'd get, he would walk over to where they had water to calm his thirst and offered it to the others.

[Margrett]

((Be creative, but some effort into it, and I'll move it forward in a bit. One more round from each of you.))

[Tallia]

With a stretch, she grabbed more wood from Kerag's left pile, sizing it up with the other boards, and continued working. Thankfully, this wood wasn't too heavy for her...

[Sir Kerag]

Kerag continued chopping. He sweated profusely from the constant exertion as the sun bore down upon him, his only reprieve the cool morning breeze. The orc kept a steady pace, and though it was plain to see the work wasn't enjoyable, he didn't miss a beat from his rhythm, nor did he falter the pace with which he set about completing the task. Soon enough his finished pile was stacked with the necessary materials his fellow recruits would need. Kerag wiped his brow, letting out an impatient sigh as his good eye looked over what materials he had left.

He tried remembering how Chaz made his new back door on site, and frowned a little when he felt he wasn't doing as good of a job. It was to be expected of course, but even as he sized the wood and trimmed pieces to size, he couldn't help but feel inadequate for the job. Yet he didn't stop. Kerag focused on making all the doors they'd need, jotting measurements next to the blue print, counting how many was needed. He left the pile of finished pieces alone, dragging planks of wood together and starting another pile for the completed doors. Each were of the same size, basic but functional.

Kerag watched them work, cupping his hands and calling to them with a forced smile.

"Lovely way to spend the day eh? After I finish cutting everything I'll come over and help set everything into place."

[venom]

Day after day, Venom showed up early and began working on the garrison. His body became sore of so much work, but it had to be done in order to become a guard. He enjoyed working next to Kerag and Tallia. They made his day by just spending time with them, even if it was just building something. After many splinters and blisters in his hands, the place was beginning to feel more like home. In fact it would soon be that, but Venom hadn't realized it yet. He was used to living upstairs from the tavern in a little room the bartender had rented him since he first arrived. After a long day of work, Venom took a breather and sat down next to Tallia.

Let's take a break... Nice touch on that wall over there. I couldn't have done it better myself. Are you sure you've never done something like this before?

After spotting Kerag, he waved him over to take a break with them. Kerag had been the one doing all the heavy stuff since day one, and eventhough he had the body for it, Venom knew he must be tired as well.

[Margrett]

((Okay, one more round. Sorry.))

[Sir Kerag]

(It's all good)

Kerag waved back to Venom, walking over and falling backwards onto the ground in a comfortable position, hands behind his head. He stared up into the blue sky, then looked at Venom from the corner of his eye.

"What a project we've under taken eh?"

The orc chuckled. This wasn't the first time they'd all taken a break together like this, and it was here that Kerag often spoke about his time in Mirengrote, watching the master architects conceive of intricate and advanced designs for housing and transportation. Such things were beyond his understanding, but he expressed his new found appreciation for the art and craft of building.

"I'm so used to tearing things down, I hadn't realized how much effort and time goes into making something."

Kerag laughed, smiling at them both.

"Couldn't have done it without help. Thanks."

[Tallia]

Tallia let out a heavy sigh, just as exhausted as the others from working and slaving away at the garrison. She turned her head towards Venom, but turned back away directly afterwards, her face flushed with embarrassment. It was hard to not get entranced by his visage, especially with sweat trickling down his face and... well... other things.

"U...uh...um... y-yeah...I... I... um... built s-smaller things before... but... not... something... t-t-this... big..."

Looking over to Kerag, she smiled.

"We... we couldn't have done it... without you too..."

[venom]

Proud at the work they had accomplished, Venom couldn't stop smiling. This was the first time he felt he accomplished something useful and became a part of a creation. He was used to taking things from others and never had to put any effort to have what he wanted. It was a big change for him, a feeling he never had in him before.

[Margrett]

After a few days work, the building was nearly-finished. Margrett inspected it, approvingly.

You did well, considering none of you have any experience in this sort of thing. But you worked together, and...

She ducked under a low-hanging beam, chuckling.

I'd say most of what's left we can...fix later.

She turned to them and put her hands on her hips.

What say we have a little celebration in our new garrison? Guardsmen?