Ment
Auto-translated
A bit ahead of the appointed time, Gullveig came to the statue of Felicia and thanked the local valkyrie for the warm welcome in her country. Shortly after, the first people began to gather, clearly intending to join her party because everyone else is just some kind of bandit.
Their number was perhaps fewer than she would have liked, but clearly exceeded her worst expectations.
Convinced it was time, Gullveig begins her speech.
— I am the representative and commander of the "Dracaena" party, Gullveig of Baldur. My name likely means nothing to you
"And it would be better if it didn't, Mother."
— But you have come here for the reason that you wish to work together, in one party. Or — having received an invitation and are considering it. Or — because you want to seek adventure, fame, or riches, and the only advertisement for allies was in my name. These, of course, are also reasons.
— Dracaena — the dragon tree, a plant that some people say brings happiness and luck. This plant is strong and resilient, though perhaps somewhat heat-loving, and it is not without beauty. Who knows, perhaps the ability to survive in harsh conditions — is exactly what leads to luck and success? After all, happiness is rarely given to anyone for free; usually, it must be won through labor and strength, enduring many hardships along the way. In that case, I wish for our party, like the dracaena tree, to overcome possible adversities and eventually find its fertile soil.
— To do this, we must all stick together and cover each other's backs. Our business involves enormous risk; each of us could perish, each could become a helpless cripple overnight. Therefore... Although my words may sound too premature right now... I will say them anyway. All of you, if your applications are to be believed, possess the skills for such work, and therefore I have no special requirements for you, but I do have one important requirement — you must trust me and each other.
— Foolish? And is it wise to entrust your lives and your future into the hands of complete strangers? For what? To earn a bit more than one could do in the workers' guild? For some special experience and sensations that, for some reason, cannot be obtained in the war that Visteria has plunged into? Or so as not to sit idle for a couple of months until some other party announces recruitment? In short, if you have any doubts, any serious skepticism that cannot be resolved in the very first battle, well... In your place, I would make a different decision before it is too late. I would prefer to fight side by side with fewer people, but those strong in will and spirit, than with a larger number of people who do not possess such qualities or do not manifest them when required...
The Arterian looked around to see if anyone had filtered themselves out after the previous words, which she had been prepared for. It seemed, however, that she could continue.
— For my part, I will care for the lives and health of everyone and each person who agrees to go with me, as well as take responsibility for the completion of tasks. I will not receive any special reward for this: according to what I wrote to you, it will be distributed in equal shares among all. You must also understand that your opinion in the party will matter. Your duties, however, will depend on your abilities; keep that in mind.
After this, Vegi described her own skills in detail, concealing neither her faith, nor her origin, nor her styles. Except that she omitted her abilities in theater, moving furniture, not getting drunk after a bottle of strong liquor, and other such things.
— Any questions?
After listening and answering, asynchronously if possible, Gullveig proceeds to personal introductions with each candidate she does not yet know (and in the case of Guy and the old man, she asks them as well). She approaches, looks into their eyes, asks for their name, where they are from, their faith, why they decided to be a mercenary... And more details on skills than just "specialist in one-handed/two-handed/throwing toothpicks." Then she smiles and, after thanking them, moves to the next. Let's do this asynchronously too.
I also thought about a skill test, but that can probably be done off-screen in the forest. I'd like people to just wave a wooden stick or whatever they use, or hit a dry stump if Revan says it's safe there. If not, it doesn't really matter, we'll check everyone on the first quest...
Ideally, of course, we'd go to the adventurers' guild for such a thing, or a fighting club. But the second is currently closed to us since we are without money, and the guild seems to be just a one-story little house with one room; it doesn't look like they help with infrastructure. Unfortunately.
Their number was perhaps fewer than she would have liked, but clearly exceeded her worst expectations.
Convinced it was time, Gullveig begins her speech.
— I am the representative and commander of the "Dracaena" party, Gullveig of Baldur. My name likely means nothing to you
"And it would be better if it didn't, Mother."
— But you have come here for the reason that you wish to work together, in one party. Or — having received an invitation and are considering it. Or — because you want to seek adventure, fame, or riches, and the only advertisement for allies was in my name. These, of course, are also reasons.
— Dracaena — the dragon tree, a plant that some people say brings happiness and luck. This plant is strong and resilient, though perhaps somewhat heat-loving, and it is not without beauty. Who knows, perhaps the ability to survive in harsh conditions — is exactly what leads to luck and success? After all, happiness is rarely given to anyone for free; usually, it must be won through labor and strength, enduring many hardships along the way. In that case, I wish for our party, like the dracaena tree, to overcome possible adversities and eventually find its fertile soil.
— To do this, we must all stick together and cover each other's backs. Our business involves enormous risk; each of us could perish, each could become a helpless cripple overnight. Therefore... Although my words may sound too premature right now... I will say them anyway. All of you, if your applications are to be believed, possess the skills for such work, and therefore I have no special requirements for you, but I do have one important requirement — you must trust me and each other.
— Foolish? And is it wise to entrust your lives and your future into the hands of complete strangers? For what? To earn a bit more than one could do in the workers' guild? For some special experience and sensations that, for some reason, cannot be obtained in the war that Visteria has plunged into? Or so as not to sit idle for a couple of months until some other party announces recruitment? In short, if you have any doubts, any serious skepticism that cannot be resolved in the very first battle, well... In your place, I would make a different decision before it is too late. I would prefer to fight side by side with fewer people, but those strong in will and spirit, than with a larger number of people who do not possess such qualities or do not manifest them when required...
The Arterian looked around to see if anyone had filtered themselves out after the previous words, which she had been prepared for. It seemed, however, that she could continue.
— For my part, I will care for the lives and health of everyone and each person who agrees to go with me, as well as take responsibility for the completion of tasks. I will not receive any special reward for this: according to what I wrote to you, it will be distributed in equal shares among all. You must also understand that your opinion in the party will matter. Your duties, however, will depend on your abilities; keep that in mind.
After this, Vegi described her own skills in detail, concealing neither her faith, nor her origin, nor her styles. Except that she omitted her abilities in theater, moving furniture, not getting drunk after a bottle of strong liquor, and other such things.
— Any questions?
After listening and answering, asynchronously if possible, Gullveig proceeds to personal introductions with each candidate she does not yet know (and in the case of Guy and the old man, she asks them as well). She approaches, looks into their eyes, asks for their name, where they are from, their faith, why they decided to be a mercenary... And more details on skills than just "specialist in one-handed/two-handed/throwing toothpicks." Then she smiles and, after thanking them, moves to the next. Let's do this asynchronously too.
I also thought about a skill test, but that can probably be done off-screen in the forest. I'd like people to just wave a wooden stick or whatever they use, or hit a dry stump if Revan says it's safe there. If not, it doesn't really matter, we'll check everyone on the first quest...
Ideally, of course, we'd go to the adventurers' guild for such a thing, or a fighting club. But the second is currently closed to us since we are without money, and the guild seems to be just a one-story little house with one room; it doesn't look like they help with infrastructure. Unfortunately.