Akademia Otarerkrya (IC) [Closed]

[Central and Eastern Visayas]

Hearing someone mention his name, Ishmael turned.

"Yes, it is I. What's your name, by the way?" he then asked his fellow foreign student.

[Norvenia]

Piling his plate with lamb, Daniel strode over to the table with Sam, Lori, Adeh, and now Moira and Alexander. An Aquitaynian and a New Edomite - Norvenia's in contact with both of those countries, so at least I'll have something to talk about.

He found himself in the middle of a discussion about the Elwe revolt and sat with a smile. The new BDUs fit somewhat loosely - Daniel was tall and lean, except across the shoulders, and so any clothes big enough to fit him tended to hang a bit. Spearing a piece of lamb with his fork, he announced, "I actually have something to contribute here - how's that for a miracle? Twenty thousand Norvenian peacekeepers were just deployed to Raith Immel; I saw it on the news on the flight out here. General Steele's in command, I hear. He's a talented officer; I served under him in Sremski Okrug."

"The Nava'ai are cannibals, the Vatani are xenophobic arms dealers and war mongers, the Azyrani are cultists worshiping snakes, and we keep all of them as neighbors," Vana commented dryly. "I do not understand why your President does not simply force everyone to cooperate. General Vaneni would never allow us to be so hostile towards each other again. But then again, New Edomites have a very different history and mode of government. Still, it is something to ponder."

Daniel paused and gave Vana a tight smile. "And in my opinion, the Vatani are xenophobic arms dealers and warmongers. I have a classmate from the Academy, Tim Pritchard, currently stationed in Gwalo - just waiting for a Vatani attack on Kalumba." Daniel shrugged. "I couldn't comment on the rest of your neighbors, but when a man I know is staring an overseas war in the face, I daresay I have a right to hold an opinion."

Pausing to chew his lamb, Daniel realized that he hadn't actually introduced himself. He chuckled slightly. "Exuse my rudeness, please. I'm Daniel Carpenter, from the Commonwealth of Norvenia." Daniel briefly considered giving his rank and unit: Captain, Norvenian Rangers. The Rangers were a thousand-strong elite unit, largely recruited from the Airborne divisions (which were themselves elite); the Rangers were assigned to protect Norvenian politicians and embassies. They were the best of the best of the Norvenian military. But even if anyone here knew that, for Daniel to announce his rank and unit would only serve to attract hostility or curiosity, and it came far too close to boasting for Daniel's liking. So he contented himself with the knowledge that his bearing and build alone should be enough to confirm his military background for any observer.

[Aquitayne]

Sam perked his head up. "Norvenia? I could have sworn I knew your uniform. Your guys are helping us re-take Helm from the Communists. I have to say, your guys know what they're doing." Sam smiled and extended his hand for Daniel to shake. "While I was there-" He cut himself off. He remembered that Lori didn't know he was in Helm during the fighting and had been taken off the front for his own safety, and sent here. He hoped she had been too busy talking to her other friends to hear, but he knew she was listening. "Erm, anyway, I really appreciate what your guys are doing for us. Means a lot."

[Norvenia]

Sam perked his head up. "Norvenia? I could have sworn I knew your uniform. Your guys are helping us re-take Helm from the Communists. I have to say, your guys know what they're doing." Sam smiled and extended his hand for Daniel to shake. "While I was there-" He cut himself off. He remembered that Lori didn't know he was in Helm during the fighting and had been taken off the front for his own safety, and sent here. He hoped she had been too busy talking to her other friends to hear, but he knew she was listening. "Erm, anyway, I really appreciate what your guys are doing for us. Means a lot."

Daniel shook the young man's hand. Maybe I misjudged the fellow. He doesn't seem to have the arrogance that usually comes with publically wearing a chestfull of ribbons. "Well, I'm glad to see our help is appreciated," he smiled. "Now that the communists are being pushed out of Helm, though, I doubt Norvenia will play as active a role in the rest of the war. We've got a lot on our plates as well right now - Kalumba, New Edom, and so on. But Aquitayne's an old friend, and I'm glad to hear that what we have been able to do for you has made a difference." Daniel cocked his head slightly. "You seem familiar to me, friend, but I don't believe we've met. May I ask your name?"

[Aquitayne]

Daniel shook the young man's hand. Maybe I misjudged the fellow. He doesn't seem to have the arrogance that usually comes with publically wearing a chestfull of ribbons. "Well, I'm glad to see our help is appreciated," he smiled. "Now that the communists are being pushed out of Helm, though, I doubt Norvenia will play as active a role in the rest of the war. We've got a lot on our plates as well right now - Kalumba, New Edom, and so on. But Aquitayne's an old friend, and I'm glad to hear that what we have been able to do for you has made a difference." Daniel cocked his head slightly. "You seem familiar to me, friend, but I don't believe we've met. May I ask your name?"

"No, no one expects you would. Now that's not to say you haven't helped enough, you have. You've helped turn the tides of that battle, and hopefully we can take the fight to the enemy rather than have them bring it to us." Sam took a drink of water before continuing. "My name is Samuel Riech, son of President Riech. Probably why you know my face."

[Norvenia]

"No, no one expects you would. Now that's not to say you haven't helped enough, you have. You've helped turn the tides of that battle, and hopefully we can take the fight to the enemy rather than have them bring it to us." Sam took a drink of water before continuing. "My name is Samuel Riech, son of President Riech. Probably why you know my face."

Daniel chuckled again, this time more to himself. Well, now, that explains so much. "Yes, that would probably be where I recognize you from," he agreed. "I'm no representative for Norvenia, but I wish your homeland all the best against Comrade Commissar. They're a menace to every peace-loving people in the world."

He turned to the others at the table. "And where are the rest of you from, then?" And who are you, Daniel thought, not that I can really ask that. But if I'm going to spend the foreseeable future here, I may as well get to know the other students.

[Nalaya]

He found himself in the middle of a discussion about the Elwe revolt and sat with a smile. The new BDUs fit somewhat loosely - Daniel was tall and lean, except across the shoulders, and so any clothes big enough to fit him tended to hang a bit. Spearing a piece of lamb with his fork, he announced, "I actually have something to contribute here - how's that for a miracle? Twenty thousand Norvenian peacekeepers were just deployed to Raith Immel; I saw it on the news on the flight out here. General Steele's in command, I hear. He's a talented officer; I served under him in Sremski Okrug."

Surprisingly, the Quenyan girl's demeanor changed rapidly not when he mentioned Vatan, but when the Norvenian peace keepers were brought up. "Yes, talented and late. I trained with St. Xavier's Brigade. My—" She turned her head sharply, concealing the full depths of an emotional response. She was not Mina of the fiery temper. "Dear people, honorable men and women, are dead or dying because Norvenia cannot be bothered to get their peacekeepers where they matter. If I were you, I would not go waving that around. Many of us here have a great love for the people serving with St. Xavier's."

The girl rose. "You must forgive me. I have neglected to complete some of my duties." Vana departed, heading for a quiet space to collect herself. Emotional outbursts were not appropriate in front of foreigners. She could handle mention of the Elwe conflict, but some knives cut deeper than others. Later, when she was more herself, she would apologize. But right now, she lived with the uncertainty of not knowing whether or not a loved one was alive or dead.

[Qyryqstan]

"We have fought three now in the past ten years. We can likely expect to see more," Mina said with a little shrug. "I have only fought in one, but Vana's older sister has fought in all three. and before that? Nalaya was at war without a single peace for six hundred years. Battle is not strange to us. You are fortunate not to have seen it. War is...not what the stories say."

Nursultan was embarassed. "Well, I don't really want to go to war, more the military discipline and training. I'd like to become very strong and be a goat herder like my father. The profession definitely requires strength. I doubt that I'd ever have a job with music."

[Carceno]

"No, no one expects you would. Now that's not to say you haven't helped enough, you have. You've helped turn the tides of that battle, and hopefully we can take the fight to the enemy rather than have them bring it to us." Sam took a drink of water before continuing. "My name is Samuel Riech, son of President Riech. Probably why you know my face."

Daniel chuckled again, this time more to himself. Well, now, that explains so much. "Yes, that would probably be where I recognize you from," he agreed. "I'm no representative for Norvenia, but I wish your homeland all the best against Comrade Commissar. They're a menace to every peace-loving people in the world."

He turned to the others at the table. "And where are the rest of you from, then?" And who are you, Daniel thought, not that I can really ask that. But if I'm going to spend the foreseeable future here, I may as well get to know the other students.

"The Federation of Carceno. Interesting place, if you ever decide to visit. I'm Alexander, by the way. Good to meet you." he nodded and offered his hand to Daniel.

[Nalaya]

Nursultan was embarassed. "Well, I don't really want to go to war, more the military discipline and training. I'd like to become very strong and be a goat herder like my father. The profession definitely requires strength. I doubt that I'd ever have a job with music."

"Let jobs be second to passion," Mina said with a smile, as if oblivious to his embarrassment. "Don't worry about it. Here in Nalaya, the arts are well cultivated. It is not difficult to find a living pursuing things like music or crafts. But a second job is well worth it if you can still pursue your dreams."

She glanced up as Vana departed and made a soft sound of sympathy for her friend, but knew better than to go after her. Vana needed space right now. Beneath the cheerful demeanor were a great many fears. "I hope she will be well."

[Qyryqstan]

Nursultan was embarassed. "Well, I don't really want to go to war, more the military discipline and training. I'd like to become very strong and be a goat herder like my father. The profession definitely requires strength. I doubt that I'd ever have a job with music."

"Let jobs be second to passion," Mina said with a smile, as if oblivious to his embarrassment. "Don't worry about it. Here in Nalaya, the arts are well cultivated. It is not difficult to find a living pursuing things like music or crafts. But a second job is well worth it if you can still pursue your dreams."

She glanced up as Vana departed and made a soft sound of sympathy for her friend, but knew better than to go after her. Vana needed space right now. Beneath the cheerful demeanor were a great many fears. "I hope she will be well."

Nursultan smiled at the thought of a potential music career in Nalaya. He was imagining it when he heard Mina say, 'I hope she will be well'. Nursultan was puzzled, not realizing that she was talking about somebody who had walked past. "I'm sorry? I'm not sure if you were addressing me.." Nursultan privately hoped that she was.

[Nalaya]

Nursultan smiled at the thought of a potential music career in Nalaya. He was imagining it when he heard Mina say, 'I hope she will be well'. Nursultan was puzzled, not realizing that she was talking about somebody who had walked past. "I'm sorry? I'm not sure if you were addressing me.." Nursultan privately hoped that she was.

"Sorry," Mina said with a quick smile. "Just thinking out loud. Speaking of which, I should show you to Political Science. It's about five minutes until class. But if you really do want to be a musician, you should go down to Massis. There are a ton of Nalayan musicians there, and a lot of them love to hang out with new people." She stood up. "You're a very nice guy. I can see them being willing to talk shop with you."

[Altakstan]

"I'm Adan. A pleasure to meet you". He watched as Vana walk out of the room, making a quick beeline for the door". "I'm sorry for interrupting. I'll let you get back to your conversation". He got up and. went out into the halls as she. continued on. "Vana! Is everything alright? You look like you're in a hurry", he shouted after her.

[Nalaya]

"I'm Adan. A pleasure to meet you". He watched as Vana walk out of the room, making a quick beeline for the door". "I'm sorry for interrupting. I'll let you get back to your conversation". He got up and. went out into the halls as she. continued on. "Vana! Is everything alright? You look like you're in a hurry", he shouted after her.

Vana turned around, the heel of her hand rubbing at one eye. "Fine," she said briskly with a small smile, clearing the knot out of her throat with a cough. "But thank you for the inquiry. I apologize if I caused offense."

[Qyryqstan]

Nursultan smiled at the thought of a potential music career in Nalaya. He was imagining it when he heard Mina say, 'I hope she will be well'. Nursultan was puzzled, not realizing that she was talking about somebody who had walked past. "I'm sorry? I'm not sure if you were addressing me.." Nursultan privately hoped that she was.

"Sorry," Mina said with a quick smile. "Just thinking out loud. Speaking of which, I should show you to Political Science. It's about five minutes until class. But if you really do want to be a musician, you should go down to Massis. There are a ton of Nalayan musicians there, and a lot of them love to hang out with new people." She stood up. "You're a very nice guy. I can see them being willing to talk shop with you."

Nursultan was very flattered. He was worried that his face would become red. "Thank you, I appreciate your comment. I will go there, to Massis. I will meet with Nalayan musicians. I hope that my playing of the dombyra, and my singing will be enough to become recognised by some of them." He stood up as well, grabbing his class materials and his dombyra holder made of goat skin. "Please, lead me to Political Science? I am not sure of its location."

[Altakstan]

Adan look confused."How would you have caused me offense? What happened?". She was crying? Crying was a an action that Adan was unfamiliar with. Not many people that he had met would cry unless. they had been wounded. But he knew people did so without physical pain. It was just... foreign to him. "Are you alright? Did you hurt yourself?".

[Nalaya]

Nursultan was very flattered. He was worried that his face would become red. "Thank you, I appreciate your comment. I will go there, to Massis. I will meet with Nalayan musicians. I hope that my playing of the dombyra, and my singing will be enough to become recognised by some of them." He stood up as well, grabbing his class materials and his dombyra holder made of goat skin. "Please, lead me to Political Science? I am not sure of its location."

"The pleasure is all mine," Mina said, standing up. It was not a long walk to the classroom, and the Nalayan girl was happy to tell him a little bit about Nalayan music. She smiled a little. "Your instrument reminds me very much of our komuz. It pleases me to see such a resemblance. But more often we use the kanun, the dotār or the duduk. "

She paused outside the door to Himnakan Martirosyan's classroom. "Here we are. I will see you after you are done in class." Mina gave him a friendly kiss goodbye on his cheek, comfortable around the Qyryq young man. His culture shared enough that she at least had a starting ground to relate to him. "Have fun."

And with that, Mina took off for her own class.

Adan look confused."How would you have caused me offense? What happened?". She was crying? Crying was a an action that Adan was unfamiliar with. Not many people that he had met would cry unless. they had been wounded. But he knew people did so without physical pain. It was just... foreign to him. "Are you alright? Did you hurt yourself?".

"No, no. I am uninjured," Vana said. Her eyes were a bit glossy, but not wet. The frustrated, anxious tears hadn't quite come. In Nalaya, it was almost the opposite of Adan's people. Physical pain you were taught to bear without tears and complaint. Crying was for emotional relief. "Things are just...not well at the moment. I will be fine."

[Ganos Lao]

"Oh my GOSH!" cried Adah, grabbing a napkin and swiping at the front of Lori's uniform. "You've got--gravy or sauce or something all over this...you can't go to class like this...let me help you. You should probably quickly change, come with me!"

A good cavalry officer, according to the doctrine of the New Edomite Cavalry, always seizes an opportunity--or creates one. And in fact there was sauce on Lori's BDU jacket.

Lori looked at the sauce on the jacket and grimaced slightly. "Oh, my goodness! It's gonna stain, isn't it? How did I get this shit on my BDU jacket?!"

Lori decided to follow Adah to wherever she had planned to help Lori get changed. Goddamn, why did this sauce have to appear on my jacket? Lori couldn't believe it. This would be embarrassing!

[New Edom]

Adah didn't really want to reply to the Norvenian. For one thing, to Adah, talking loudly about "we have peacekeepers in your country" was like saying "Yeah, I remember that time you farted really loudly right during the wedding ceremony! I have it on film too, how embarrassing for you!" She managed to say, "Yes, thank you very much, our people are eternally grateful." Not, you pious pompous fuck, she thought, determined to find some excuse to duel the foreign officer. She hurried Lori out of the room. "Sorry, minor emergency, we have to get her ready for poli-sci!"

Adah hurried Lori back to their barracks room. She said, "Quick, you'd better get your jacket and top off, and we'll get you into clean ones."

[Central and Eastern Visayas]

Ishmael checked his watch and realized that PolSci was in four minutes. After a quick closing prayer, he bade a respectful farewell to the four Nalayans he met ("Goodbye, and go with God.") Once he made it to the room, he took a seat in the rear rows--all the more to note anything and everything.

[Lamoni]

"Oh my GOSH!" cried Adah, grabbing a napkin and swiping at the front of Lori's uniform. "You've got--gravy or sauce or something all over this...you can't go to class like this...let me help you. You should probably quickly change, come with me!"

A good cavalry officer, according to the doctrine of the New Edomite Cavalry, always seizes an opportunity--or creates one. And in fact there was sauce on Lori's BDU jacket.

Pausing to chew his lamb, Daniel realized that he hadn't actually introduced himself. He chuckled slightly. "Exuse my rudeness, please. I'm Daniel Carpenter, from the Commonwealth of Norvenia." Daniel briefly considered giving his rank and unit: Captain, Norvenian Rangers. The Rangers were a thousand-strong elite unit, largely recruited from the Airborne divisions (which were themselves elite); the Rangers were assigned to protect Norvenian politicians and embassies. They were the best of the best of the Norvenian military. But even if anyone here knew that, for Daniel to announce his rank and unit would only serve to attract hostility or curiosity, and it came far too close to boasting for Daniel's liking. So he contented himself with the knowledge that his bearing and build alone should be enough to confirm his military background for any observer.

Moria was trying not to chuckle at how Adah was currently acting around Lori, it was fairly obvious to an attentive observer that Adah had 'plans' for Lori. In the meantime, Moira decided to chat up Daniel. "I've never heard of Norvenia. What's it like there?"

[Altakstan]

Adan looked down at his watch. Shit, PolSci was in a few minutes. "I have to leave for my next class right now. But would you want to meet during the lunch break?". He really wasn't sure what he was doing at this point, but it felt like a moment to sieze.

[Nalaya]

Adan looked down at his watch. Shit, PolSci was in a few minutes. "I have to leave for my next class right now. But would you want to meet during the lunch break?". He really wasn't sure what he was doing at this point, but it felt like a moment to sieze.

Vana looked briefly confused. "I...if you like. You should hurry. Martirosyan hates it when people are late." The Quenyan girl was really off balance right now.

[Qyryqstan]

Nursultan was very flattered. He was worried that his face would become red. "Thank you, I appreciate your comment. I will go there, to Massis. I will meet with Nalayan musicians. I hope that my playing of the dombyra, and my singing will be enough to become recognised by some of them." He stood up as well, grabbing his class materials and his dombyra holder made of goat skin. "Please, lead me to Political Science? I am not sure of its location."

"The pleasure is all mine," Mina said, standing up. It was not a long walk to the classroom, and the Nalayan girl was happy to tell him a little bit about Nalayan music. She smiled a little. "Your instrument reminds me very much of our komuz. It pleases me to see such a resemblance. But more often we use the kanun, the dotār or the duduk. "

She paused outside the door to Himnakan Martirosyan's classroom. "Here we are. I will see you after you are done in class." Mina gave him a friendly kiss goodbye on his cheek, comfortable around the Qyryq young man. His culture shared enough that she at least had a starting ground to relate to him. "Have fun."

And with that, Mina took off for her own class.

Adan look confused."How would you have caused me offense? What happened?". She was crying? Crying was a an action that Adan was unfamiliar with. Not many people that he had met would cry unless. they had been wounded. But he knew people did so without physical pain. It was just... foreign to him. "Are you alright? Did you hurt yourself?".

"No, no. I am uninjured," Vana said. Her eyes were a bit glossy, but not wet. The frustrated, anxious tears hadn't quite come. In Nalaya, it was almost the opposite of Adan's people. Physical pain you were taught to bear without tears and complaint. Crying was for emotional relief. "Things are just...not well at the moment. I will be fine."

Nursultan was left happy that he'd made a new friend at the Akademia. He didn't know if Mina considered it a friendship, but he did, so he was happy. She had left him with the thought of the Nalayan komuz. He desperately wanted to see one, and maybe even try to play it. He entered his classroom and took a seat.

[Norvenia]

Surprisingly, the Quenyan girl's demeanor changed rapidly not when he mentioned Vatan, but when the Norvenian peace keepers were brought up. "Yes, talented and late. I trained with St. Xavier's Brigade. My—" She turned her head sharply, concealing the full depths of an emotional response. She was not Mina of the fiery temper. "Dear people, honorable men and women, are dead or dying because Norvenia cannot be bothered to get their peacekeepers where they matter. If I were you, I would not go waving that around. Many of us here have a great love for the people serving with St. Xavier's."

The girl rose. "You must forgive me. I have neglected to complete some of my duties." Vana departed, heading for a quiet space to collect herself. Emotional outbursts were not appropriate in front of foreigners. She could handle mention of the Elwe conflict, but some knives cut deeper than others. Later, when she was more herself, she would apologize. But right now, she lived with the uncertainty of not knowing whether or not a loved one was alive or dead.

Adah didn't really want to reply to the Norvenian. For one thing, to Adah, talking loudly about "we have peacekeepers in your country" was like saying "Yeah, I remember that time you farted really loudly right during the wedding ceremony! I have it on film too, how embarrassing for you!" She managed to say, "Yes, thank you very much, our people are eternally grateful." Not, you pious pompous fuck, she thought, determined to find some excuse to duel the foreign officer. She hurried Lori out of the room. "Sorry, minor emergency, we have to get her ready for poli-sci!"

Well, I put my foot in my mouth there, thought Daniel ruefully. I'll have to try to find some way to make up for that. Being a minor war hero didn't actually give you social skills; in fact, it could serve as a dangerous substitute for them. But Daniel understood people fairly well, and he knew where he had gone wrong. He had seen Vana's pain on many Norvenian faces after Death Saturday, as families waited for word of what the rescue squads would find in the ruins of Zion City. She has a friend or a family member serving in New Edom. I didn't know, but I still should have been more careful. Daniel, you fool! The Norvenian sighed and shook his head. I'll find a way to make it up, he thought again. To do penance, as it were.

He didn't have much sympathy for Adeh, though, whose curt reaction spoke more of bruised pride than of emotional strain. New Edom invited the peacekeepers. It's not my fault they're there! With a sigh, he returned to his lamb, then glanced up as another foreign girl spoke.

Moira decided to chat up Daniel. "I've never heard of Norvenia. What's it like there?"

Sitting back, Daniel chuckled. "Cold. Lots of snow in the winter, brisk even in the summer. High, white mountains; fertile valleys waving with the golden rain; deep pine forests of emerald green. A beautiful country, I think; but then again, it's my home, so what would you expect me to say?" He paused, considering. "And it's a pious country, though not intolerant; the Church plays a large role in most peoples' lives. And we've become rather militarized since Death Saturday." Daniel shook his head briefly, forcing down memoires. That airless hole; the clammy touch of dead flesh all around. He clenched his jaw, pinched the bridge of his nose, then turned back to Moira. "I'd love to hear of your country, too, but I think we both have to get to class. So, if you'll excuse me..." Daniel stood, bowed slightly with the slightly stiff, old-fashioned manners common in Norvenia, and headed off to PoliSci.