OOC: And that's why you shouldn't listen to mercs... Triple in size...

(OOC: Shh, Jad's ego still thinks he has some control over the RP...let Gin have his pointless talks...)

"So Dawn, what are you gunna do if we ever get Cid all cornered and at our mercy? Or are you just in for the ride?"

Ark could tell that Vace was using experience to weigh all the factors. "Forget about it. They come when they come, we just have to be ready."

He walked towards a seperate room of the armoury and a guard stopped him. "Soldiers only I'm afraid. No civilians may take our needed armour."

Ark sighed, and wished he hadn't needed to do this. "Then I should be going in. I'm the son of clergy leader Jesoph."

"You mean, you're the son of High Priest Jesoph?"

"He's high priest now? Well, yes. I am. I left here 8 years ago, the note I left ended with 'I might come back when I feel it is neccesary.'"

The guard's eyes widened. "You're back."

Ark nodded. "Let my dad know. Try to get him to bolster the walls in any way he can." He grabbed a new jerkin of leather armour, and a tunic of chainmail. Following this, he grabbed some new boots of the same stuff as the armour, and left the armoury.

Once back in his room, he swapped the shirt for a coat like tunic of darker red, and a better pair of pants. Then he put the mail on, followed by the leather.

He clipped his throwing daggers to hang behind him to the left, with his dagger on the right and his sword went at his side.

His head then popped into Jude's room through the wall. "Hey, Jude? Got a really small knife?"

"Oy...you again...no, I just use a spear, it gets the point across much faster." Jude replied, then slammed the door shut.

After a bit, a servant of the king walked into the guest quarters, he knocked on each of the doors and repeated his warning, "The king has told me to inform you that the meeting will be taking place shortly. Please round up everyone in your party and be ready by the time I return to take you to the meeting."

(ooc: so basically, finish up anything you are doing or any conversations that you're having and be ready for when I continue the plot along. ^_^; )

"Ya know Jude, slamming the door before the guy got there must've disturbed him. Not as much as my disembodied head stickin' through the wall though."

"....and then Thunderleg fell over." Drae'san said. He was laughing very hard. So was Pikey, and several other mercenaries who had gathered nearby. One was crying he was laughing so hard. "To Thunderleg may he stay as graceful as a cat." Drae'san raised the bottle of whisky. "TO THUNDERLEG!!!" The mercenaries chimed in.

Soon a guard came over and clasped the shirtless mercenary on the shoulder.

"You are requested at the palace, Blackhand Gin." The guard said stiffly.

"Well my boys I must get going. I'll probably see you soon, just hopefully not across the line." He intoned the mercenary blessing. "Here, Here." They agreed. Pikey raised his mug. "To Whirlwind, may he never get dizzy in combat and puke like he did at stirling Bridge."

They all laughed. "To whirlwind." they cheered once more. Gin returned to the Palace.

OOC: I assume with the passage of time we can make our characters better? If so, I have an idea for one improvement I want to make to Vace's gear before he comes back for the meeting.

Vace had thought about it, and decided with the size of his army and logistical considerations, it should take a little over a week for the army to arrive, but when he was going to tell him, he commented about "They come when they come," and walked off. Vace shrugged and went back to watching the smith repairing his sword, and decided he was impressed, but he still felt the uncontrollable urge to comment and demonstrate to the smith tricks he had learned from his father. The smith patiently let him interrupt, but soon realize that many of his ideas were solid and made for a stronger, sharper sword, and soon he was listening carefully whenever Vace butted in.

OOC: Right. There was enough time that you could make your characters better and maybe even find some better weapons and armor for them

Ark sighed at Jude's ignoring him. He pulled back into his room, and tore off a small strand of cloth. He tied his hair (which was now shoulder length) back so it wouldn't get in his eyes, and made sure all of his equipment was good to go in a hurry. He folded his old stuff up, and put it aside.

He walked out of his room, his mail jingling lightly. He pushed his head through the door to Jude's room. "You coming?"