[Video]

[glowygreendeath]

[Ermac sits in the grass in the garden, looking calm but completely out of place in such a peaceful area.]

We are disappointed in the lack of discipline among our ranks here. A war cannot be won with untrained soldiers.

So we will gladly train all those who wish to become true warriors. Contact us or meet us in the garden at mid day.

[End video.]

Comments

[Video]

[daughterofursa]

[There are so many things about this post that irk her, but she's going to focus on the most important thing.]

Do you have to train in the garden? It upsets the turtle ducks.

[Video]

[glowygreendeath]

[He glances off-screen toward the pond. The well-being of ducks was of no concern to him, but apparently at least one person cared about them.]

Is there somewhere else you would prefer?

[Video]

[daughterofursa]

[Excuse you, the wellbeing of turtle ducks is super important!!]

A lot of us use the bridge already. The courtyard by the main gate is a good open space, too.

[glowygreendeath]

[As far as he's concerned, ducks are future dinners that happen to be relaxing to watch in the meantime.]

Then we will meet you in the courtyard.

[Less chance of someone needing to be rescued after losing their balance and falling off the edge.]

[daughterofursa]

What?

[Zuko wasn't responding to this as someone in need of training...]

[glowygreendeath]

We will meet you in the courtyard.

[He turns off the video.]

[Action]

[daughterofursa]

Hey-!

[Ughhh, she didn't agree to this, but now he's expecting her and she doesn't want any reputation for being unreliable. Zuko heads to the nearest couch, transports to the courtyard, and looks around for him. She'll just... quickly set him straight and then return to patrol.]

[Action]

[glowygreendeath]

[Ermac is waiting for her. He's even standing with his feet firmly on the ground, with no hint of any unearthly green glow around him. He almost looks normal.

He needed to take it easy on any new recruits, after all.

Ermac spots her, but just watches her approach.]

So it begins. Do you prefer armed or unarmed combat?

[Action]

[daughterofursa]

[Zuko is not a new recruit, and she's seen weirder than this guy.

There's clearly a sword(s?) of some kind strapped across her back, but she doesn't draw them.]

Look, I'm not here for your training. You stopped the phone before I could say anything.

[No, she doesn't know the proper terminology for ending a phone call.]

[glowygreendeath]

We...

[He trails off for a second, and appears to be listening to something. Just as suddenly, he snaps back to full attention.]

..."hung up," yes. There was nothing else we needed to say over the phone.

[He looks her over, gauging her probable combat ability.]

If you do not require further training, then prove it to us.

[daughterofursa]

[Seriously? She's not against sparring, but this is insulting.]

Why should I have to prove anything to you?

[glowygreendeath]

We wish to know what manner and level of training we can expect from our allies. And that, in our experience...

[He adopts a defensive fighting stance.]

...is best demonstrated with some friendly combat.

[daughterofursa]

Knowing your allies' strengths and weaknesses is important.

And so is respecting them.

I'm busy right now.

[Video]

[break_the_ice]

You're probably not going to get a lot of volunteers that way, you know.

[video]

[glowygreendeath]

It matters not. We may be able to win this war with only a few well-trained soldiers fighting as one.

[break_the_ice]

I can tell you, with authority, that a few well trained soldiers can't even defend a city, let alone win a war.

And we don't exactly have the Iron Wolves here....

[glowygreendeath]

We can tell you from experience that only a few strong warriors are needed to kill any leader. We doubt these shadows can survive without their Queen.

[break_the_ice]

Mmm... Probably not.

[She shakes her head.]

But we'd have to set a trap for her first. The last people that tried to confront her apparently got turned to stone for their efforts.

I'm pretty sure that the Queen has faced attempts on her life before.

[glowygreendeath]

All monarchs live with death hanging above their heads. It is a fact of life for them.

[The mention of people being turned to stone doesn't even phase him. Every Emperor he's known has had similarly devastating powers.]

Then we will require a plan, and the training to ensure all participants are capable of carrying out their parts.

[break_the_ice]

All monarchs live with death hanging above their heads. The smart ones ensure that they've got death at their fingertips as well. You don't live long enough to get that kind of power without tricks up your sleeve.

[She puts her hand on her hip. Accordingly, Ghost backs up a little to show off her body language on the screen.]

And I wouldn't call even ten of the people here ready to fight that kind of fight.

[glowygreendeath]

All the more reason to provide training. Failure is the only outcome without it.

[break_the_ice]

We should be working to weaken her. We won't win a face to face fight, but if we can continue taking her territory, beating back the darkness, we can defeat her through attrition.

voice;

[metempsychic]

I would like to help you train students, sir, should you need it.

Do you know how to use a sword?

[glowygreendeath]

[He smirks a little.]

Swords, axes, war hammers, bows, pistols... We know how to wield any weapon, boy.

But do you know how to use your body as a weapon?

[metempsychic]

When I am at my peak I can somewhat...

Uh.

What is a pistol?