Cavalry Courtyard III

[Shivased]

The Cavalry Courtyard
The Cavalry Courtyard is bustling with activity. Cavalry members of all ranks are enjoying the summer weather in the Courtyard, taking advantage of the lack of rain to practice skills such as one-on-one combat, archery, and spear throwing. Words of instruction and encouragement can be heard as experienced officers work with and train the new recruits.

Some are at work grooming horses, others rubbing down tack or polishing armor. There is an air of pride and duty about the courtyard, as well as congenial rivalries between riders as training continues and friendly competitions break out. As the day wears on, riders will come and go about their duties and training, and the daily life as soldiers in service to their King.

This is the Cavalry Courtyard, where cavalry members can experience daily life as a member of the elite Cavalry of Rohan. Here cavalry members can RP training, healing, tracking, maintaining armour, weapons, and tack, care for their horses, or any other tasks or daily activities related to their service in the Cavalry. From time to time the marshals will update the Courtyard with orders for specific riders, or other new events

The main Courtyard itself is located in Edoras, and the majority of training takes place there. The Westmark and Eastmark are fortresses, and do not have the extensive training facilities that are in Edoras.

The Courtyard is located just outside the walls of Edoras, offering close access to any supplies, weapons, or food the Cavalry may require. The riders stationed here are a mixture from all Eoreds. They are responsible for guarding the King, and the protection of the Golden Hall. While this is a high honor, they are also the closest to the King, and more visible than those in other parts of Rohan, meaning they must be ready for any eventuality, and always ready for inspection.

Areas of the Courtyard:


The Barracks: Where cavalry members sleep. A low, long building consisting of several large, open rooms lined with bunks for dryhtgumas and sperewigends, with small adjacent rooms which house the Aethelwigends, who sleep two to a room. Feldmarshals have their own small quarters at either end of the barracks, and marshals are afforded private, larger rooms in an adjoining but separate wing of the building. While some riders prefer to live in the barracks, others sleep here only when required for duty, preferring their own homes outside the Courtyard.

The Mess Hall: A large room next to the Courtyard where the kitchens and mess are. Cooks bustle about making and serving the cavalry their meals, and most times of day any number of Riders can be found congregated here eating and socializing at the long trestle tables that fill the mess. An adjacent room serves as the office of the quartermaster. Behind the Mess Hall are the stores, several small buildings and sheds that store the provisions for the cavalry.

The Courtyard: The open area in the center of the compound, where any combination of many activities happen.

The Stables: Located against the wall of the Courtyard, the stables houses the cavalry's prized horses. Stablehands bustle about caring for the animals, and riders go in and out on various tasks. The tack room is a smaller building attached to the stable where equipment and tack for the horses is stored. There are two large paddocks attached to the stables for horses to roam and enjoy fresh air.

The Infirmary: The realm of the Hӕlends and overseen by the Bealdorhӕlend, this is where the healers can be found. A wooden building with beds lining the walls, with tables set up at intervals holding supplies such as bandages and splints. A small room in the back holds the various herbs and medicines these renowned healers use when treating the injuries of the cavalry. Those who are not healers tend to avoid the infirmary, unless forced to enter.

The Armoury: A building near the barracks that stores weapons and armour. The Armoursmith runs the place with an iron fist, doling out equipment grudgingly. He keeps his armour and equipment in pristine shape, and woe to the soldier who treats his armor poorly! Attached to the Armoury is a small forge used for making and repairing equipment.

The Stockade: A sturdy building with a heavy wooden door and barred windows. The stockade houses cavalry prisoners and the occasional drunken rider. Guards stand outside the door, and only those on guard duty or on official business are permitted entry.

Training Fields: Outside the walls of the Courtyard are the training fields. An archery range, sword ring, practice field, and riding arena are here, close together. This is where new Sperewigends are to be found, receiving their training, as well as fully-fledged cavalry members honing their skills. Marshals, feldmarshals, and experienced officers oversee the practice and training, instructing and encouraging those in on the training field.

The Memorium: A small area with a simple stone marker dedicated to Cavalry fallen in battle. Set aside from the bustle of the rest of the Courtyard, this is a quiet area with several benches to sit quiet and reflect.


Rules:
~All Plaza and Cavalry code of conduct guidelines apply
~Please put your courtyard location at the top of your post (ex. Mess Hall)
~If you are posting as a secondary character, please place your character name in bold at the top of your post as well
~No godmoding
~Please post in the appropriate color for your Eored: Eastmark Blue - #000080; Westmark Red - #BF0000; Meduseld Green - #008000; New trainees post in BLACK
~Updates and announcements will be posted in PURPLE
~Cavalry members and trainees only. Signatures on please.

[Romeran]

Garberend
Reporting to Learmagister Eideard at the Training Fields
@Shivased

Immediately after speaking with the First Marshal, Garberend left for the training grounds of the Courtyard to report to Learmagister Eideard. There was little point in wasting time, he had returned to Meduseld for a reason and he wasn't going to delay any further. The only arms or armor that Garberend brought with him was the helmet which he wore on his head still. His clothing was the same common woolen garb which he had worn in the Dragon Room and he bore no weapons. As he had not been assigned any new ones in the Dragon Room and his order had been to report immediately to the Training Fields, Garberend did not stop anywhere to acquire any new weapons.

The sun was high in the sky as Garberend arrived at he fields, he did not bring his horse, as he had not been instructed to, but would not have begrudged walking back to acquire her. The large burly figure of Learmagister Eideard was easy enough to spot and the man was larger than Garberend though not by much. The Learmagister had served during the great war, as had Garberend, although Garberend had been still a young man not even an adult but had fought only because of the dire need. Garberend had seen Learmagister Eideard before, but as his previous enlistment in the war had been a drafting of necessity rather than the usual sort, Garberend had never officially met the Learmagister.

"Westu Learmagister Eideard hal" he said, standing to attention with a salute as he came within speaking distance of the Learmagister. "I am Garberend, I served in the Éored under Feldmarshal Grimbold. I am reporting for re-training" he announced, remaining at full attention. It was funny to say 're-training' when truly Garberend had never undergone any official training, having been been called in urgency in Westmark shortly before the first battle of the fords of Isen.

[Shivased]

NPC: Larmagister Eideard
Training Grounds

A figure approaching the training grounds on foot caught Eideard's attention from where he was leaning casually against the hitching rail beside his horse. As the figure came closer he could see the old helm on his head, plain clothes, and no weapons. Probably a young man during the war, and now returning to the Cavalry. They had seen a lot of this lately. Boys glad to leave the harsh life of a soldier they were forced into, now men returning to the Cavalry for that sense of purpose and belonging. Whatever reason, though, it gave them experienced riders who were experienced with the horrors and chaos of battle, and wouldn't whither and run at the sight of their first orc.

As the rider introduced himself as Garberend, former solider under Grimbold, he had to admit to himself being impressed. Serving under Grimbold suggested this man had seen most of the war, making him a bit more than the raw conscript he'd initially thought. That would make training easier.

Westu Garbarend hal he greeted gruffly. Good it is to see a veteran return to the Cavalry. Your training will be three or more tasks, as I see fit. He regarded the man, again taking note of the simple clothing and no weapons. First things first, you need armour and weapons. For that you'll need to go visit the armour and speak to the armourer.

Task 1: Equip yourself with armour and a sword. Visit the armoury in the Courtyard and speak to the armourer for a sword and armour. You will need a leather jerkin, vambraces and greaves, short sword and spear. Once you have collected these items, bring them back here and arm yourself. You need tell me what each piece of armour is and what they are for, as you put them on.

[Romeran]

Garberend
Reporting to Learmagister Eideard at the Training Fields
@Shivased

After Eideard returned his greeting, Garberend lowered his salute and stood more at ease. It seemed his decision not to visit the armorer on the way was mistaken, however, he supposed me may have been rebuked for presumption. It wasn't worth fretting over, he decided, his first take was simple enough. "Yes Learmagister" he said saluting quickly before turning to see to his task.

Luckily for Garberend the walk back to the Armourer was not too far from where he had met the Learmagister. Garberend entered the building cautiously and the gruff Armoursmith greeted him as he entered with a grunt, busy polishing some armor. Garberend removed his helmet and put it under his arm as he entered and approached the smith.

"The Learmagister sent for some equipment" he said, as the Armoursmith looked up at him with a frown.

"I can see that" the smith replied gruffly eyeing Garberend up and down but not elaborating further. For several moments they both stood there silently and the Armoursmith continued to polish the armor he was working on. Eventually Garberend was the first one to relent and speak.

"I've been tasked to acquire: a leather jerkin, vambraces and greaves, a short sword, and a spear" he said quickly.

"I know the basic equipment" the Armoursmith said but this time he stopped polishing the armor he was working on and stood up, putting the rag down that he had been using. "Well come here then so I can size you up" he said, waving towards Garberend. Garberend obliged quickly and moved towards the armorer who began to roughly size him up. "One moment" he said after a minute or so and walked away to gather a few things. He came back with a leather jerkin which he handed to Garberend "this ought to fit" before quickly leaving to another area to pick up a pair of greaves and vambraces and handed them to Garberebd. Finally, the Armorsmith returned with a short sword and standard eight foot ash spear which he promptly handed to Garberend who was now juggling several items all at once.

As the instructions had been to equip himself with the Larmagister and explain the purpose of each item, Garberend simply carried everything rather than equipping it first. It wasn't that much equipment but enough that it was slightly awkward to carry all of it at the same time. When he returned to the Larmagister he placed the stacked items on the ground, having stacked the armor and sword and held them in one hand and the spear with the other, his helmet he had returned to his head for lack of arms.

Garberend slipped his arms into the leather jerkin and tied it closed with the leather straps and buckles "Other than the head" he said, although he already wore his helmet "the chest and stomach are the most fatal areas to receive a wound" he tapped his chest and stomach now covered by the leather jerkin "and so we protect them with armor first" he said, simply. Next, Garberend put on the greaves "as cavalry our legs are the lowest point and the most exposed to enemies, especially infantry." he said tying the back of his greaves "a pair of hard greaves can turn a blade and keep the rider mounted" he explained before reaching for the similarly designed vambraces "similar to the legs, since we fight with weapons held with our arms, they will the closest body part to our enemy and as such the easiest to strike."

With his armor equipped, Garberend took the sword which was on the ground and strapped the belt which the sheath was attached to around his waist, the sword hung at his left side. "A practical side arm, easy to carry and relatively easy to use" he said, taking the sword out and inspecting it, it was a standard one-handed sword with a wide blade and fuller designed for cutting. "Easy enough to carry as a side arm when walking or mounted, although the short sword is perhaps not the best primary weapon for a rider" he explained, putting the sword back in the sheath and picking up the ash spear.

"The spear, on the other hand, is one of the best weapons for cavalry." Garberend held the ash spear about one third of the way up and placed it under his arm, couched as if a lance "held in a couched position the long spear can project in front of the horse" he said, indicating with his free hand "this allows for maximum force to be applied against the spear tip on the charge, one of the most devastating cavalry maneuvers" Garberend inspected the spearhead, it was long and leaf-shaped (although not exaggerated). Slightly longer in blade and taller than what might have been ideal for a footman's spear but perfect for cavalry.