On the Island of Ogdo

Peter sat crouching on the ground observing the sky above the palm trees and subtropical green vegetation of Ogdo. It was a nice day today, a cooling breeze was sweeping in over the island and there were some white puffy clouds floating in the sky and the sun wasn’t too bright either. But in a few hours he would most likely curse the sun and hate the sky.

He sighed and looked up at his companions. Lauren was levitating as she meditated under the cover from some strange exotic bush of some kind while her boyfriend Robin was keeping an eye on her and their surroundings. Robin never seemed to feel secure when Lauren was meditating and couldn’t sense any approaching creatures. But if Robin were tense Susan was like a knocked arrow half-way into the air.

Susan, who strange enough were their leader contrary to the usual way when the mentalist being the leader, was a simple beautiful half-elf. Or maybe it wasn’t so simple, certainly not simple, when she had the strange ability to predict the opponents’ actions in the vital moments just before they made them. Her keen eyes were incredible and he had seen her evade the most impossible things with her ability. That, plus her extensive way to apprehend the situation had made her leader, he thought.

They were waiting for the signal, the signal from the Captain that the three other groups had been placed and that the simulation would begin. This was the examination simulation for them all. The Battle Mages would gain their rank depending on their performance and how long they lasted and the Soldiers would get their depending on their weapon skill and Strategic ability. If he failed this test, he would become a footman, a regular level one guard and have to work in that position for over a year before he could take the tests to become a level two. If he succeeded with fine or excellent he would be passed onto the command tests and maybe the extensive dangerous tests to become a special unit soldier.

“The signal has been lit,” Lauren suddenly said as she stepped down from the air looking at Susan. It was obvious that Lauren didn’t like that a Warrior, no less a half-breed, was above her but Lauren didn’t insult or even question Susan, she knew of the Protocol and she intended to go far so she couldn’t let her emotions or prejudice get the best of her if she wanted to become an Arch Mage or High Mage. Susan looked back at Lauren, Susan noticed most things about people and tried to treat them after the Protocol as well and she had tried to make it easier for Lauren by appointing her as her Second and her battle advisor even though it should have been his task.

“Then let us begin,” she said plainly and nodded towards the chest where all their equipment was.

***

Ha had been right. He was cursing the sun and hating the sky, oh how he had been right. He had completely lost track of how long the examination had gone, but he was sure it wasn’t going well for him. Of course they had already lost their mages to the other groups, that was to be expected. He thought that it was only one mage left out there, but the tactic to take out the mages first was imbedded in all of them. Lauren had been taken out with an arrow, which Susan had known were coming but chose to save all others instead. She had done the right choice according to Protocol but afterwards they had been ambushed several times without a hint of what to expect. Now it was only Peter and Susan left. And they only had fulfilled one of the objectives.

“The clearing lies ahead, are you sure you can face a Bullhorn by yourself?” Susan asked as she looked back and forth into the jungle. He looked at heir indignantly. And she gave him a glance and then looked straight ahead.

“You’ll need to keep him occupied for me to be able to reach the cave. When I’m in the cave you retreat into the jungle, he shouldn’t chase you. Count slowly to a hundred and then start attacking with the bow from a distance to lure him into the Jungle. When you see me, change your tactics and do a frontal assault instead.

“But we aren’t supposed to defeat him!” he exclaimed surprised. She looked at him again, this time with a determined stare.

“We need to gain the advantage to the others. We are going to force him to take us north to the last objective and intercept the others ahead of us,” she said calmly but her eyes was burning with determination.

“But we have four more objectives after this objective! What are you planning?” he asked confused.

“If we take out the others we will be the survivors and all the objectives will be ours by walk over. If the others reach and finish the last objective we won’t have time to finish the other objectives either way. We’ll loose if we can’t stop the others, it’s not according to The Protocol but it’s according to The Process, whatever to win the objective!”

He looked at her again and let out a sigh. Why didn’t he just chose to skip this and take the slow road instead. It would have been so much easier!

***

Peter leaned on his bow, panting heavily and looking exhausted around only to see Susan lying in a bush, paralyzed. She had received a fatal hit then. But… that would mean that he made it to the end. By the Creators green beard, he had succeeded! He laughed to himself as he suddenly felt how his legs were freezing up. So, he had received a fatal hit as well. Well, he was the last one still standing so the would take this into account later.

And so they did, when they made Peter Sergeant later and Susan Master of War…