Rowan finishes his lunch and rises from the chair, washing the bowl and spoon from the rain barrel, hanging them to dry. The man bids Erin stay seated whilst he excuses himself to don his armour and uniform. The Captain soon returns, displaying sleeves of medallion yellow and trout grey beneath the polished scale mail, with a maul strapped across his back, the same one that has seem him through a rough, drawn-out engagement and at least five skirmishes. He mills among the drilling militia members, eyeing  their stance and checking the grip on their weapon, the care with which they donned their armour. Some receive sparse praise, by his silence the others are found wanting of the Captain's high standards.<br/><br/>Eventually Rowan has his ten guard to send against the bandit. Masota is a plump woman with short cropped brown hair and narrow, attentive eyes. Despite what her physic may suggest at first glance, she is competent with her spear and shield. She offers a clenched fist to Erin in greeting,<em>“Your knowledge of the roads will be useful. I would ask your advice on whether we follow them, or head over rough country and hope to surprise the bandits,”</em>she asks the half-elf. Rowan has his own ideas, he wants the team to take a wagon, to learn the logistics of marching at its pace, and how to manoeuvre without abandoning the slower vehicle. It would be good practice if Yelmed ever has to mobilize for a full on war, but unnecessary for such a such a small patrol. Masota struggles with this, feeling her Captain is being excessive, but finding it difficult to confront him about it.<br/><br/>The pair continue to discuss tactics, and Rowan introduces the rest of the bandit hunting force. From the main militia he chooses another human, an elf and two half-elves. All carry the shield and spear, and wear armour of boiled leather. The reserves are a little more ragtag, two elves, two half-breeds but one of them orc-blooded, and a tiefling. Two carry spears, but the half-orc wield an axe, and one of the elves uses a short bow, whilst the other holds a long knife in each hand, perhaps in imitation of Erin's fighting style.<br/><br/>With the group assembled they wait for the magical support. This takes a while, as a good half hour passes with nothing to show. Some youth without any magic skill appear wanting to fight, but they are sent away, they have no training and can barely hold a spear steady. One stays, agreeing to cook and wash in return for 2 silvers a day. Rowan makes it clear he will not receive any of the reward money on top of this, and the young half-elf accepts this. The Captain smiles, pleased that the mini army as he seems to be imagining it, will have a catering staff.<br/><br/>Finally Quarion shows up and meets the assembled twelve. The elf's magical talents are known, though their extend is a little debated, but Rowan seems pleased with this development. “You will leave tomorrow, early, an hour before sunrise. Stay here and camp out front of the barracks, make sure you have everything you need on you. It will give you a chance to see how best to make camp, this bandit hunt will take 5 days there and back, perhaps 7,” he declares, “Cooking? No, you fight or you cook, not both,” the Captain likely knows such an arbitrary insistence is unnecessary in so small a force, especially one so fresh, but he wants instill early upon the men and woman of Yelmed a sense of discipline and structure that professional armies have, so that later they may easily adapt to proper ranks, should the time ever come.<br/><br/>At the market place things are returning to normal, the excitement of the Court's announcement dying down as everyday life must go on, tasks tended to, the table set with food. Vanessë, Onette, Nephie, Mella and Allia however decide that they wish to pursue this heroic quest without joining the militia, at least for now. They agree to head out the next morning, the news having come so sudden that none are properly prepared, and Vanessë at least needs to look into possibly acquiring some combat equipment on short notice, and even simple hunting bows are not cheap. Back at the barracks Rown eyes the empty road, “Look like this Quarion is all you will have for magic. A ration of 1 mage per 10 warriors, I know plenty of soldiers that would kill for such odds,” he actually smiles at that comment of his, not a common sight.<br/>