"Getting to be a big, tough soldier." Pause. "If I don't die first."
"Sasha."
A young trainee lies back on the bed, moaning in pain.
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45
45
Foulk's Lockpicks
12
purc
1
"So if you want to buy some, you can."
"Most of my tools are boring. Cutting knives, hammers, screwdrivers, intricate things. I can't sell those - the army needs 'em too much. But my lockpicks are works of art, and there isn't too much call for 'em."
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deal
1
"I often complained how hard it was to get fine locksmithing tools down here. So I started making 'em." He leans close. "Look, I'll make a deal with you."
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lock@pick
1
"They brought me in to make tools. Set me up here, near enough to the Castle to be useful." He holds up a lockpick. "Beautiful pick, isn't it?"
0
tool
1
"Well, they need tools around here. Need 'em for training, need 'em at the castle, need 'em everywhere. So they brought in a toolmaker."
"I'm Foulk."
A young, red haired man with long, nimble fingers works behind the counter bending wire. He seems to be making a lockpick of some sort.
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stnd
1
Sharpen Weapon
28
purc@impr
0
He mutters a few words, and the steel of the rapier blade begins to glow red hot. He starts running the stone down it again. "I can make a weapon sharper than any you've seen. If you want to buy improvement for one of your blades, let me know."
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magi
0
"Hard stuff to work down here. I'm one of the few that has the skill and equipment to do it. Plus, what's better, I know some magic."
0
smit@stee
0
"I'm the smith here. They wanted someone making weapons near the Castle, someone really good, so they got me. I work steel."
"My name's Ray."
You meet a man with harsh features and the blackest hair you've ever seen, long onyx sheets of it reaching halfway down his back. He is sharpening a rapier, and purple sparks fly from the blade as he runs his stone down it.
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stnd
0
"You end up down here. Where nobody will keep you from fighting, and there's always plenty to fight for."
0
stin
3
"So I made a stink. And you know what happened when you made a stink."
"This is why I'm down here, ya' see. I tried to get in the military up surface. I was proud of my land, then, and wanted nothing more than to fight for it. But where I lived, they wouldn't allow it."
0
exil
3
"Sometimes, it makes it worth being Exiled."
She points at the western building. "They're all in there, resting. Then I'll drill them with live steel at three-quarters speed for, I dunno', six or seven hours." She beams with pride. "And they can take it."
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buil@sold
3
She grins proudly. "I build soldiers!"
She turns to you, sweat pouring off her face. "I'm Lieutenant Faulkner. Welcome to the Camp!"
You meet an armored soldier, practicing feints with a heavy steel sword. The movements are sure and skilled.
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stnd
3
"Simple. Empire fighters, they fight 'cause they were told. 'Cause they have to. But us, we got something to fight for!" She grins. "Magic helps. Steel helps. But some things are unbeatable!"
0
adva
2
"Plus, they got a big advantage."
"Ya' see, the Empire knows we're here, and they've sent raiders at us twice. And each time, the raiders got killed. All of 'em. And it was the kids who killed them. Exile grows people tough, and they learn fast."
0
pity@admi
2
"Between you and me, I pity 'em. But I admire 'em too."
She grins evilly. "Oh, you know! Weapons drills from sleep to sleep, rough food, runs through the tunnels. They're in there now, recovering from the last forced march. Castle and back, with boulders on their backs."
0
puni@pace
2
"I take the kids who're ready to fight for their home, and put them through the paces. Punish them, in other words."
0
trai@camp
2
"I head the training here at the camp."
"Lieutenant Mariann. What brings you to Camp Samuels?"
You meet a small, sturdily built, highly attractive woman. She takes off her helm to greet you, revealing a pleasant smile and short hair.
