The First Two Picks, a Defensive Core - 2C

Chapter 2 – Putting the Team Together (continued)

Kaylen had already spent some time considering what types of skills he wanted for his adventuring party, so Tyrell’s question was quick and easy for him to answer.

“Well I want my team to be mobile, but the foundation of the team should ideally be one or two people who can lock down an area and keep multiple opponents from getting past them. They should be tough, probably armored, and with good crowd control weapons like a greatsword or poleaxe.”

“Well, we’ve no shortage of that sort.” Tyrell nodded, then led Kaylen back out into the yard. They stopped toward the middle of the training field, near the pair Kaylen had seen sparring earlier. The guild master called out to everyone on the field. “This mage is assembling a specialist team. Anyone who is interested in joining can make their case. We’re starting with men-at-arms and other vanguard soldiers who can hold a line and fight against a mob.”

Then he singled out the two greatswordsmen, “You two, you’re up first.”

When the two Tyrell had called on removed their helmets, Kaylen realized the woman he’d been admiring earlier was someone he’d met before, though he couldn’t quite place where. Odds are she would have been a lot younger, he reasoned. Before he could spend too much time on that thought, the object of his curiosity stepped forward to shake his hand, “Lyria Gallowglass. I know what you’re thinking, but I promise I can stand against any man here. I won’t hold you back or slow you down.”

“Lyria?!” Kaylen gasped, recognizing his sister now that he’d heard her voice, and her name for that matter. “Goddess above! When did you take up the sword?”

“Um…” Lyria frowned, giving him a closer examination, “Kaylen?” She asked, hesitantly. Then, at his nod, she added, “Well damn! Wow, you got tall!”

“I take it the two of you are related?” The guild master asked, alleviating some of the confusion among the other men present.

“Yes, Lyria here is my sister whom I haven’t seen in thirteen years. We were both much younger then.”

“Been fighting with the sword since not long after you left for your apprenticeship.” Lyria offered in answer to Kaylen’s earlier question. “You may be bigger than me now, but I bet I could still trounce you in hand-to-hand.” She added with a smirk, flexing her arm to add weight to her statement.

Kaylen felt safe in the assumption that she was well muscled under her armor, even if she was still slim compared to some of the male adventurers present.

“She could be an easy pick then, if you think you can handle being responsible for her safety as her commander in combat.” Tyrell suggested, eyeing them both appraisingly.

It was a fair question. Kaylen regarded his sister for a long moment, both to get a gauge for her strength and skills, and also to appraise his own feelings on the matter. But then she met his gaze and gave him a look he remembered all too well, a look that clearly challenged any thought he might have of leaving her behind or underestimating her, and Kaylen knew the choice was ultimately hers, not his. “I think I’ll leave it up to her. If she wants on the team, then she’s on the team. But that still leaves room for one more vanguard type, as you put it.”

They first turned to Lyria’s sparring partner, but when their attention was on him he immediately put up his hands, “Sorry, I’m not really interested in being in a party under a mage.”

Kaylen simply nodded, “I can understand that. I want any potential recruits to feel comfortable being part of the party, and I wouldn’t want you to try and **** it just to get on the team.” The man seemed happy with that response, but still shrugged and turned to move away. “What about the rest of you?” Kaylen asked the gathered crowd.

A few more cleared the field, and Kaylen was happy to note that the other adventurers didn’t seem to be sour that Kaylen’s first pick had been his own sister, and soon they were down to four remaining candidates.

Since they were trying out to bolster his party’s defense, the four of them were in medium to heavy armor and wielding a variety of weapons. There was a human with a sword and shield, another human with a long halberd. The guild master had the two of them face off in a sparring demonstration, while the remaining pair; a dwarven poleaxeman and a lizardman with a partisan spear, also faced off.

After nearly a half an hour of the four sparring, Kaylen noticed the arrival of a half-giant woman in a chainmail tunic carrying a one-handed spear and a round shield even taller than Kaylen was. Once there was a pause in the demonstrations – the lizardman was fighting the human halberdsman now, and the dwarf was facing off against the other human – Kaylen motioned for the newcomer to come forward. “What’s your name?” He asked.

“Ursa.” She replied, her voice a smooth baritone that suited her large lanky frame.

“Ursa Cloudwalker has been quite an asset.” Tyrell explained, “But she can be a little intimidating to other adventurers, and doesn’t get a lot of regular work.”

Even before he saw a demonstration of her skills, Kaylen felt fairly confident that Ursa would make a good pick for his party, as a half-giant she was clearly tough, and quite strong, without being bulky. Rather her features appeared elongated, like she’d been stretched out from a normal human size. She had a high forehead, and long lanky limbs which carried her spear and shield with practiced ease and familiarity. She was certainly imposing enough to draw attention on the battlefield, but not so tall that she would have trouble with typically human sized doorways.

“Well, by all means, let us see what you can do, Lady Ursa.” He gestured for her to join the fray, indicating the dwarf poleaxeman.

But the half-giant laughed, “I’m no lady. Just Ursa is fine.”

“Ursa then. Go ahead and demonstrate your sparring skill.”

The two faced off after taking a moment to size each other up, trading feints and testing one another. The half-giant was able to move with surprising speed and precision, and while the dwarf’s poleaxe had significant reach for a warrior of his stature, Ursa’s one-handed practice spear out-ranged him and gave her the opportunity to knock him back back after only a few exchanges.

She then faced off against each of the humans in turn, and neither gave her much issue.

Finally, she sparred with the lizardman, who gave her a run for her money, dodging blow after blow, though the massive woman showed no signs of tiring. The match ended with a single blow to the lizardman’s breastplate, sending him to the ground.

Kaylen was happy to have a clear choice so there would be no room to question his decision as he extended a hand to the half-giant woman as she strolled up to where Kaylen waited with Tyrell and Marius close by. “I can safely say the position on the team is yours, if you want it.”

She glanced at Kaylen’s hand, and he braced himself as she took it between her thumb and two fingers in a surprisingly gentle grip.

Kaylen smiled, “Welcome to the team. We’ll be counting on you, and that shield arm, Ursa.”

Kaylen soon turned back to Tyrell and the other candidates, “That’s two positions filled.”

Tyrell nodded, “What else do you need? What other skillsets are you looking for?”