The Trials of War [Saffron and Sho]
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		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Human Solos =&gt; Topic started by: Sho on 22-05-2009, 09:56:03</h2>
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				Title: <strong>The Trials of War [Saffron and Sho]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Sho</strong> on <strong>22-05-2009, 09:56:03</strong>
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				War tended to place elves in precarious situations. Especially elves who valued the written word over the sword, and ink over blood. The sorts of elves who spent hours pouring over scrolls in libraries or holed up in some fortress had a tendency to try and avoid war, and preached against it as best they could from their musty tombs surrounded by books and crumbling paper. It was these very elves that had pushed Selion out of their fold, into the rather harsh world and into the army. All because he had aruged that, perhaps, war wasn't entirely unnecessary and that one couldn't remain locked up within a library forever. In an attempt to scare this out of the young man, he had been booted out of his comfortable home in the royal library and into the royal army, instead, to chronicle the tales of a great warrior. While the older elves had expected Selion, affectionately Sel, to whine and whimper and beg until they reversed their decision, he packed his bags and gleefully skipped off.<br><br>Which led him to where he was at that very moment. Standing conspicuously alone in a lush green field, sunk up to his ankles in the grass, breathing in the heady scent of grass that would soon be covered in crackling frost. He stood out like a sore thumb. Whereas the elves about him were swarthy, brawny, and content to polish their weapons, Selion was slim and rather delicate looking. His face was rather pinched in the bright light, unused to heavy sunlight on his face, squinting slightly to let his eyes adjust. <br><br>With typically pale skin, and the full, smiling lips of any young male excited to adventure, what stood out most was the sheet of silky hair, a rich toffee gold, tied back to keep it out of his face, and the gleaming, indigo eyes. His eyes were startling, given how dark they were, almost black or a heavy violet in their blueness. Like a sea, or so he had been told by scholars who had only ever seen seas drawn out for them in words. He stumbled forwards, nearly tripping himself up on a log, soft grey leggings clinging to his slim frame, a billowy white linen shirt blowing about him in the breeze. After approaching a few soldiers he was pointed in the right direction, towards the general's tent, towards the man that he was supposed to be a companion and chronicler to. <br><br>Sel wanted to knock, but that was impossible on the fabric of the tent, instead parting it somewhat with a long-fingered, oh-so-white hand before stepping in. In the back over his shoulder he had a fur-lined cloak, a few changes of clothes, and sheaves of paper. The usual things that a traveling scribe might need. Ink and quills, as well, along with a comb his mother had left him and a flute that his father had left. Anything else, he had been told, would be provided by the man he was supposed to serve. He knew little about his general, and was curious to see if he would be older and wiser than Sel himself, and fierce as he was reputed to be. He was supposed to be one of the best generals that their elvish army had ever seen, one of the best generals that the royal army had ever had enter into their ranks.<br><br>"Sir?" Sel's voice came out smooth, free of any nerves that were turning his stomach into a roiling pit, "Sir, I'm Selion. You can call me Sel. I'm, ah...I'm the scribe." Under the initial shyness and nerves there was a hardness to the angular lines of the young man's face, a sharpness that spoke of a wit that wasn't entirely learned from books. <br><br>He wanted to explore and see the world. <br><br>Sel just hoped, as he was sharing a tent with the general, that he wasn't going to get in trouble for his sexuality. Though no one around him knew except for a few other scribes in the library, Sel had a taste for men. Stronger men, particularly. Guards, and the like. Men who would dominate him in some way. His experiences had been purely physical, and he was hoping that maybe this trip would allow him an opportunity to explore those feelings that he had gotten to fulfill but had never really had time to delve into. Then again, even if he couldn't do that, he would get to explore areas that no scribe had ever seen before. This was a great honor and Sel's own sexual fulfillment would be the last thing on his mind. <br><br>"It is an honor working for you, Sir." Sel bowed deep, hair sliding over his shoulder in the ponytail, a burnished gold in the shadows of the tent. It was just cool enough that he was somewhat uncomfortable in his linen shirt, but certainly not cold enough for him to be wearing the cloak that he had been given. He was shy, not meeting the general's eyes, framed in the setting sunlight that managed to spill through the thick canvas of the tent.
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Trials of War [Saffron and Sho]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Autumn Sativus</strong> on <strong>02-06-2009, 01:31:30</strong>
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				War. What it truly was, the public would never learn. Only the soldiers in the worst of the conditions knew what it meant to be at war with another race. And only the families who'd lost their men to the weapon of the enemy could understand what the cost of war truly was. Shael was the General on this battlefield, the highest ranking member of the army. Though he currently had a fairly comfortable home set up within his tent, he'd spent many a night out with the lowest ranking privates, and most of his soldiers respected him for that. When it was possible, all of them would have a warm and dry place to sleep within the shelter of a tent. The tents for the rankings slowly decreased in size and comfort, but it was with ranking that one gained privileges. And for that reason, Shael would never allow himself to feel bad for the private who shared a tent with one or two others, when it may have been comfortable for one. He'd been that private once, and he knew that it was not a pleasant position. <br><br>The elven General was handsomely muscled from his work with the army, his skin tanned enough to show that he spent each day in the sun. His atypical chocolate brown hair was not quite long enough to fit well into a ponytail, and so laid hiding the majority of his face from either side. He was careful to ensure that the right pieces stayed tucked under and behind his ears, enough to ensure that he could see from all possible angles without having to brush a strand from his face. He was a giant among elves, standing at about 5'9", though his body showed his race. Even with the great amount of muscle he held it was still apparent that he was of a slim elven build.<br><br>He’d just been writing out some new tactics when the new scribe arrived at his tent. Shael was a bit surprised by the small and young looking elf, usually they sent him someone wise and knowledgable, not a newbie. Rolling his eyes a bit he took the pack from the elf’s shoulders, dumping it’s contents onto his sleeping mat. He shook his head a little as he found so much extra weight, items that were of no necessity when travelling with the army, and even more so when with someone of such high command.<br><br>He gave a quick glance to see what the appointed scribe was wearing, rolling his eyes a little. “Did no one give you any information about travelling with the army?” he asked, moving across his tent to the place where he stored some of the extra uniforms. He judged the elf for size before tossing two of everything needed at him. “These other clothes won’t do you any good here. You wear the uniform, and if you need anything replaced you come to me.” Shael was beginning to wonder if perhaps those who were sending out the new recruits needed to be reminded to explain the things that would be needed. Having one of the new soldiers carry all that extra weight around for no reason was just idiocy. What if they were forced into battle when the newbies arrived tired from carrying all their extra weight around.<br><br>Shael extended a hand to the other as he mentioned his name, though the position notification was unnecessary, he was already well aware that it was the scribe. He extended a hand. “Good evening Selion, my name is Shael, I’m the General of this Army.” He was quick to draw his hand back to his body, not one to get too excited about meeting a new soldier. They often came and went as quickly as children were born.<br><br>It was clear from the way that the General spoke that he was a kind man, his voice was low, but it was not rough. He was one to make friends with those that he could, conversation to pass the time whenever possible and whatnot. He was happy to take time out from the horrors of what war was to get to know another who’d chosen to join him in his journey. “Glad to have you along, Sel.” Shael murmured, moving to the small makeshift desk that was a table with a pillow on the floor in front of it. He went back to his journal entry, scrawling a few more lines before signing and dating the page, letting the book close.<br><br>The boy was cute, Shael noticed. He smiled a little as he reached into a nearby bag, pulling out a couple of mugs and a small cloth bag of sugar. “Sit, have tea with me, tell me of your journey here.” He spoke, his hand motioning to the other side of the table as he set down the two mugs, placing his journal away and pouring from the hot teapot that sat in the center of the ‘desk’. He enjoyed to learn of the things that the new recruits were having troubles with, and the things that should be focused on. Anything that they could learn before they got to the battlefield or the campsite would make things easier on the army in general.
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Trials of War [Saffron and Sho]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Sho</strong> on <strong>15-06-2009, 14:25:08</strong>
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				Sel had never been told that he should take things out of his pack...then again, being away from home for the first time would certainly prove hard enough, even more so without the creature comforts he lost as Shael dumped the extra weight to the side and and across the sleeping mat. "No...not really. I've really not been told much about this." He looked at the general, taking the two uniforms he was given, holding one in his hand and putting the other inside his bag so that he wouldn't lose it. <br><br>He was easily one of the smaller sizes, though definitely not in a way entirely surprising for an elf. He shook the other man's hand when it was offered, his own fingers and palm entirely soft, showing that he had never had to do a hard day of work in his life. <br><br>"It's good to be along with you and the army, General." <br><br>He sat down quickly, folding his legs up underneath him, taking the cup that had been offered.<br><br>The sugary tea was entirely welcome, and he took a slow sip, "The trip was fine. A lot of walking through the forest, but it wasn't bad. I came from the castle so I didn't have to do anything but follow the trail that's been set up from there to this camp. I mean, it's not much of a trail, but I was given a little map to follow." <br><br>He shrugged, "I'm not coming from very far." He shook his hair back, sending the silvery locks shuddering back behind his shoulders, tucking some behind an ear thoughtfully, "Just the castle. How long have you been in the army, General?"<br><br>He was curious to know more about the man he would be following about.<br><br>He was supposed to trail after the other man, documenting everything, but he wanted to know more about the general himself than about the supplies he needed or the way that his men behaved. <br><br>He was young, though, in mind. Sel's face was unlined, eyes clear and free of worry, perfectly content to toss the majority of his trust into the General to keep him safe when it came to fighting or anything that would involve direct combat. Things like that he knew nothing of, and just as the young do, he was willing to toss trust onto someone older and assume that he'd be safe if he just stuck close.
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Trials of War [Saffron and Sho]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Autumn Sativus</strong> on <strong>24-06-2009, 10:29:22</strong>
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				Shael only shook his head slightly as the newcomer explained that he hadn't learned much about what he was getting into. Absently, he wondered what ever happened to the education program. When he'd been stationed within any town, the soldiers recieved some education about what they may need to know, if only the very basics. That would always include the sorts of things that one might need within their pack. He only shook his head a bit. "It's alright, it's not your fault, but I'll be sure to send a message along to those who should be doing basic training." he scowled slightly.<br><br>The taller elf surveyed the other again for a moment, nodding slightly as he settled with his cup of tea, sipping it and pondering. "You just want to be glad that you will share the luxuries that I have, if any. Usually it's only a dry and somewhat comfortable place to sleep, but from time to time there are small rewards that come my way. It's different than being a private out there."<br><br>He nodded as he listened to the short story of the young elf. He could see by the way he held himself that he was still only a child for their lives. Perhaps a century or so in years. "I've probably been in the army longer than you've been alive, my friend." he chuckled, taking a gulp of his hot drink.<br><br>"I enlisted when I was about a century in age, feeling like I needed to do something to protect my family and my home from the invading night elves." he wondered if that would give away how old he really was. Though his appearance was still only within his twenties, for that of human years. Though the war with the night elves was something of a historical matter for their kind now. <br><br>"I found the army very rewarding. The feeling that I was protecting not only my family, but my people... it pushed me to stick with it, even after the war ended." He sighed softly as he reminisced over the memories. "I've never thought of doing anything else. It's become my life, for the most part." Slowly, he set his mug down and looked around the small tent quietly.<br><br>"It takes a strong family to hold a General. But I get by seeing my family when I can. When we're not in the middle of war like this, I usually have free time until I'm needed again. That's probably the only way I've managed to stick with it so long."<br><br>"Enough about me, I could ramble on for days. What has brought you to us, Sel?"
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Trials of War [Saffron and Sho]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Sho</strong> on <strong>06-07-2009, 13:25:35</strong>
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				[[Sorry it took me so RIDICULOUSLY long to post!]]<br><br>"Basic training?" Sel asked softly, looking a bit nevous, "I never got any basic training. I was just told that I was supposed to chronicle everything that's happening and then come back to the library the next time we're stationed here, if I wanted."<br><br>He flicked his head back, sending that wave of silvery hair sliding behind him, the features the slim and elegant features that elves of aristocratic blood might have had they been, most likely, a bastard child. <br><br>"Oh...that's, wow..." he murmured softly. Sel's glimmering eyes were wide at hearing how long the other man had been in the army, serving his people, serving the elves. How long he had been doing, well, what he did. He was clearly impressed by the general, smiling brightly enough to show gleaming white teeth, taking a sip of his tea. <br><br>"Well..."<br><br>He had to pause to think about why he was here, "I told one of my superiors that I didn't think war was necessarily, uhm...evil, or wrong." He shrugged slightly, "He told me that if I think that I could go to war."<br><br>Sel's pale face darkened slightly, "He never liked me anyways, though, so it's nice to get out of the libraries." Sel brightened just a little bit as he took another sip of tea, letting it wash down his throat, smiling with a contented smile spreading over his lips. "I'm still young, though, so being in the libraries forever isn't what I want to do for now. I'm not quite a century."<br><br>The tea was warm, sweet, washing back over his tongue and giving him a homey sort of embrace. "When do we actually leave this encampment and go and see battle?" Sel didn't sound eager.<br><br>He sounded nervous, if anything, scared to get his first taste of death.
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Trials of War [Saffron and Sho]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Autumn Sativus</strong> on <strong>17-07-2009, 18:45:16</strong>
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				Shael had to shake his head as he learned how lazy they were becoming with the new entrances. "No basic training?" he asked, almost shocked at the thought. "I hope that is only because you are a scribe." he mentioned, trying to comprehend why this young man would not receive any training as to what to do or expect on the field. <br><br>The dark haired elf sipped his tea, wondering if he should send a messenger up to the kingdom to remind them the importance of pre-field training. After some thought he decided he would pass unless it became a problem.<br><br>"That's alright. We'll get you up to speed soon, though hopefully you'll never need to use any of your training." he murmured, going through basic tactics in his head as he listened to the younger one begin to speak again.<br><br>The general had to laugh, shaking his head as he looked at the other. "You will not learn that war is wrong with me. We fight because we have to, we take the defensive stance. We protect the people from the harm that would otherwise come to them. There is nothing evil or wrong about defending one's family and kingdom from threats posed by others."<br><br>He paused, considering it for a moment. "War has it's reasons, usually. And obviously if two sides are at war they disagree with each other on some level. For one side to attempt to overtake the other... they have their reasons, just as the defending side has their own reasons for not just allowing the others to take over as they wish. <br><br>"Really, it is something best learned through experience. You will come to know what is difficult to explain, in time. And then you can tell those who thought you wrong just how right you were."
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