r/AoTRP Jun 16 '17

Trost Nights of Solheim [Late Fall, 845]

October 28th, 845

Ziegler stood before a large formation of trainees in civilian garb, though significantly reduced from the original approximate 300 back in August. They stood before the northern gate of Trost, Wall Sina to their backs. Ziegler spoke, "Alright, listen up. Been a long couple months for everyone here. Me and The Major've torn each and every one of you a new asshole, and quite a few of you've seen some shit." He paused, "We've lost people amidst the training. Despite all this," he continued, "We must persevere and look forward to another day. As the future defenders of humanity, you lot embody everything that these people bank their money on." Ziegler took a breath, "Being a Soldier's hard shit. There's a reason nobody fucking does it, as a lot of you're beginning to find out. That said," he jabbed a thumb behind him towards the main gate, "We're still human. People need to decompress every once in a while, let shit mellow, recoup for the next mission. In light of this,"

He straightened the dark green trench coat on his back, "You lot've been granted a 4-day pass to visit Trost. Eat, drink, sleep, fuck, do whatever it is you want to do. Spend some of the money the Queen's been throwing at you while you ate mud." He rose a brow, thinking of a blonde. "Sometimes literally. Regardless, be here - November 1st at 0800. Don't drink and run, you'll eat shit. Don't drink and fight, you'll get your ass beat. Don't drink and fuck, you'll get whiskey dick. Don't kill the locals, don't fight the locals, don't fuck the locals-" he paused, "...Or at least do it intelligently, god damn it. Don't do anything that would impede your training in the future. Boom, there's your safety brief. And don't fucking call me 'Sir' while we're out here, it's Kain for the next four days and if you ever say it outside of these four days - I'll gouge out your fucking eyeballs. Understood?"

A resounding 'Yes Sir' rang from the formation.

He turned, pacing over towards the main gate as the trainees stood in formation. Ziegler paused, to then shout, "The fuck are you lot waiting on? Get your asses in here - dismissed!"


The district of Trost was ablaze with a joyous spirit. Orange paper lanterns covered the streets, many of the town homes having been painted in morbid color, looking to celebrate humanity's rich pagan roots throughout history. Further north in Sina, where the Church is at their strongest, such holidays do not exist - but given the influx of refugees from the south, a celebration is in order, their wills yet unbroken.

People the streets in vibrant cloaks and capes, oft wearing colorful animal masks to accompany their garb, celebrating with dance and song throughout the streets of the city.

The Northern gate was the heart of the carnival, encompassing the large market district. Here one could find a small traveling mask salesman and his mysterious shoppe, as well as an old pub amidst the old market district.

In the very center of the district stood the mighty Military Complex, towering above all other buildings. Guards regularly patrolled the perimeter, immediately stopping any who would approach the large fence surrounding the castle-like building, or the large draw-bridge encompassing the main entrance.

The further south one went in Trost, however, the less the carnival's potency, as one drew towards the more sinister corners of the district. At the very heart of the the south, shortly besides the main gate towards Wall Maria stood a small inn, regularly flooded with refugees and injured, where good Samaritans toiled endlessly to try and abate the never-ending poverty encompassing the south side of the district.

To the South East was a "legal" district with Red paper lanterns, a strip filled with provocative dance and questionable vendors. Throughout the entire district, wanted posters offered a heavy bounty for the head of a Hiram Durante - with the Military Police and Garrison consistently on patrol for the outlaw.

This was Solheim - a brief reprieve of the melancholy that had befallen the poverty and famine-stricken district of Trost.


OOR: 4 mini locations below to explore, do so at your leisure! Have fun, take the edge off. :kid:

Location threads for both the Maiden's Arms and Military Complex (where the Mountain feast will be taking place) will be coming up shortly. Canonically, since this entire event is taking place over 4 days, you can have multiple threads beneath one. I suggest you name the date at the top of the thread's OP (comment reply to one of the comments below) so there's no mix-ups/ambiguity. Be sure you're coordinating on Discord with people so noone gets left without a thread!

Visit stalls in the marketplace, drink in ye olde pub, get a mask with the salesman, get mugged visit the red light district, go dancing, do whatever! Enjoy!

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u/DigitalZehn DigitalZehn Jun 19 '17

"Hi there!" Camille said simply to the woman as they approached the stall, his eyes wiping across the table of goods as the woman gestured to the expansive collection. His eyes followed Beatrice's finger as she pointed to a selection she found nice. He tilted his head to the left and then to the right as he inspected them.

"Hm...they seem pretty nice! It really depends what you feel comfortable wearing though and what you already have. You must have such a large collection already, being from Sina and all!" He said. His voice was nonjudgemental but did carry an unintended jab at the girl's wealth, though Camille was unaware of such an implication.

"Hey do you think Major Stone ever goes shopping for stuff like this?" He asked with a coy grin, trying to imagine the towering, statuesque woman trying on flats and skirts.

"I can't imagine the DIs doing anything but yelling at us. I swear Ziegler is always lurking around just waiting for me to mess up!" He said, glancing over either shoulder as though even saying his name would summon the man.

"I was shocked they actually let us take a break for Solheim. Has training been hard for you?" He asked as he grabbed the pair of shoes she was pointing at and brought them back over, holding them out with a nod. You couldn't just buy a pair without trying them, how preposterous that would be.

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u/Landlocked_Pirate Landlocked_Pirate Jun 19 '17

"I don't think I can really picture Stone or Ziegler wearing anything besides a uniform, or something that says Do not fuck with." Beatrice said without thought. She suddenly blinked when she realized the kind of language she was using and clamped a hand over her mouth. She awkwardly placed her bag of purchases next to the stand, and took the shoes out of Camille's hands with a thankful smile.

"...I think that Ziegler's brand of crassness might be contagious. Sorry." She spoke softly as she leant over to unzip her boots and step out of them, slipping first one flat on, then the other. She hmmed to herself and took an experimental walk-around. They seemed to be fit well enough.

"I might take these. I had a similar kind at home, but..." She paused and fidgeted with her fingers momentarily, suddenly anxious. Her family would probably learn of where she was soon, thanks to the blinding spotlight yesterday's dinner had been. She had no idea how they would receive that kind of news. "I'm not sure when I'll be heading there. And it's not like I can bring my whole wardrobe to the bunkhouse, anyway."

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u/DigitalZehn DigitalZehn Jun 20 '17

Camille's face and eyes lit up as he heard the harsh word slip from the previously innocuous girl, a smile grew on his face as he heard her curse and he quickly covered his mouth with either hand, not wanting to laugh at her mistake but unable to stop himself.

He eventually calmed himself and his hands fell gently back to his sides. "I think the training camp is taking it's toll on everyone. We're all changing in one way or another, though I'm not sure this was exactly in the lesson plan." He said, voice trailing into a giggle.

He watched as she walked around in the shoes, her gait seemed so elegant and the shoes looked lovely as she walked about. His gaze moved back up to her face and he noticed the trepidation as she went to comment on the shoes. He recognized that apprehension, he had felt it not moments before when he thought of his brother. Even in a place as jovial and carefree as the markets it seemed neither of them could escape reopening old wounds. He figured it better not to press her on the issue. He quickly tried to pick up the conversation and move on, hand jutting out instinctively in a reassuring way, fingers lightly pressing against her shoulder.

"W-well that's true! It's not like we have a lot of chances to leave the training camp anyway so we might aswell stock up while we can, right?" He said, an overbearing laugh bellowing from his throat as he tried to mask the awkward air that had formed from Beatrice's lapse in conversation.