Meet the Landers: Mizufa Trude

Mizufa Trude is never really found behind a desk, or in a chamber. She is always, at all times, either eating, training, or if she must, sleeping. As such, Goldenblade finds the woman exactly where she's found most of the time. That is, the Arena. Whipping some new recruits into shape.

"If you don't shape up, you won't see another day past the Coming of Age ceremony. You will all be Sher Kar food!" She calls out to them. "Again, thrust with all your might!" She demands of the younger Salamanders, before turning towards the entrance, watching Goldenblade take her approach.

Goldenblade strides in, looking crisp and efficient, in a Westelande tabard over her armor. Not so much a prettying up as an attempt at military bearing, at least as far as it was known in RL. Her eyes are drawn to the general's whip, and an old thought re-enters her brain, about how making a steel whip might be an interesting weaponsmithing project. But that's neither here nor there.

"Good evening, General," she greets, and when she reaches an appropriate distance, executes a ... do they salute here, or bow? She ought to have looked it up. Wake would probably know. But .... based on Japanese culture, she goes with a low bow, from the waist, and then rises to stand at attention.

"Good evening, miss Goldenblade. I'm sorry it's taken this long to make time to meet you. I've been dealing with a lot of preparations for the Ceremonies." It isn't often that the woman apologizes to... well... anyone. This should tell Goldenblade at least something about how serious Mizufa Trude is about what is transpiring right now. The whip is gripped firmly as Goldenblade glances at it. An instinctive response.

Mizufa Trude just approaches her. No bow, no saluting, no nothing for the time being. Instead, she places her hands behind her back as she ends up a few feet from Goldenblade, gripping that whip against her lower back, and demands; "Report!"

Goldenblade is a bit surprised at the apologetic tone, it's not necessary for her. At seventy five, if she'd gotten upset every time she had to wait a bit longer when things didn't proceed at their best pace, she'd have been dead of stress ten years ago. But Mizufa, well, she'd have no way to know that the young-seeming Blade Dancer before her was seventy five. But at the crisp demand for a report, she smiles. This is what she expects, and she delivers crisply:

"I have placed a mission with the Guild to clear out the ants from the Sher Kar burrows, to kill their queen and destroy their eggs so they can't hatch a new one. I, myself, have been down there multiple times, and to my knowledge, one of my associates was down there without me on at least one occasion. I, myself, was unable to locate the Queen on my forays into their tunnels, but my friend said she did, and the mandible she showed me looked like the genuine article. I would say their numbers and replentishment capability have been greatly diminished."

Mizufa Trude listens, her expression firm. Her lips more like a line. No smile. No anguish. Listening to facts being spewed before her without a shred of emotive change on her face. And when Goldenblade finishes, she glances back to the younglings. "Good."

Her gaze returns to Goldenblade. "That means you have given these wyrmlings a fighting chance, Goldenblade. Well done." She then shifts her posture, hooking the whip on a little 'claw' at her hip, and pulls out something else. "Approach." She demands. "I believe I promised an agreement were you to complete this mission for the Holy Empire. An entry into our Army. Did I not?" Mizufa Trude inquires.

Goldenblade smiles, a small, tight smile, as Mizufa Trude expresses her pleasure at the good news. In her own way. Goldenblade has worked for Japanese supervisors for ... well, over forty years. It's not worth trying to count back to when she came over, it's been a while, and she's accustomed to the tone and word choice. From a stoic like the general, she'll take that as praise. Not that it'll go to her head. A good leader asks their subordinates, 'What can you do for me tomorrow?' She's not one to rest on laurels.

But she nods at being told to approach, and and about entry into the army. "Yes, ma'am," she replies, stepping forward and remaining at attention. She'll kneel if she's instructed, but she's not sure exactly how this will go. She does have other news to report, but this is taking care of old business before new business is brought before the ... well, before the general. It's not like a committee.

The woman takes out a small item from within a leather satchel she has on her other hip. Carefully unlacing and re-lacing the leather, taking out what looks like a brooch of sorts. It's made of a red draconic looking scale, with a black backing. It gleams, almost as if the scale itself belongs to a dragon that is still alive.

"Then I will make this official. As long as you bear this item, you will be my subordinate, and a member of the Holy Empire Westelande." She then proceeds to carefully pin it on Goldenblade's chest, lacing it with the chainmail in a rough and firm manner. She's not gentle with anything she does. But Goldenblade may recognize based on the way her muscles and tendons move, that the woman is in fact holding back her strength. The metal of the chainmail creaking, and the leather kept at the edge of tearing.

"There." She decides, patting the badge, and taking a step back again. "Now. I recognize that you have other loyalties as an Adventurer. But if the Holy Empire Westelande has need of you, I expect you will report to me." The woman pushes. "And your first mission is as follows. I wish for you to push the Palace Land invaders out of Yamato. Is that understood?"

Goldenblade stands firm as the general attaches the badge to her armor, her rough manner jerking her back and forth as she attaches it to the chain links. This is met with a thin smile of her own, and she says curtly, "It is my pleasure to serve." The first mission she's given draws a genuine smile, though, and she says with pleasure, "I will devote every ounce of energy to that end, General. When we are done, there will not be a Palace Lander left alive on this side of the ocean." She bows gravely, accepting the order, and says, "In that vein, general, players have come upon word that Palace Landers may try to infiltrate the cathedrals in our capital cities, to try and interfere with player resurrection." She knows it's a bit of a sore point with the General that Landers don't rez, but hopefully she will recognize it as an important thing for players. "The other nations have been contacted by players close to their leadership, requesting permission to place players in the temples to guard against any foul play, but I am informed that no player has asked Westelande as none had connections with the King or court. So I will make that request on behalf of the Olympus Alliance, that we can station guards in the Temple to thwart any Palace Lander attempts at foul play."

"That is fine. The Churches are owned by the Adventurers. We treat them like small embassies to your floating nation of... unusual people." Mizufa Trude answers Goldenblade, as she takes a proper posture and crosses her arms. "Do as you see fit, as long as it doesn't get in the way of standard Holy Empire affairs." The woman points out.

The lady then turns towards her subordinates. "Now, if that will be all. I need to improve the life expectancy of these younglings. You can either stick around and practice alongside them and serve as a sparring partner, or you can start on your mission. Whichever you prefer." Mizufa points out.

Goldenblade gives a crisp salute, in the modern style, as Mizufa Trude dismisses her. Or gives her the option of departing. She replies, "There is much to do, but the proper training of the young who will step into our places in the fullness of time is a duty also." And one which she, now as a Legend, may be uniquely capable of imparting.

She says, "I think I will help you train for a while before I assume my other duties. Thank you, general." She will select a practice weapon and begin with the training.