Mission:
I prowled into the parade grounds of the palace, shaking my head snd sneering at the sorry lot before me. Most looked as if there was a whole tavern of drinks in their quarters and not not been quick to ignore it. They held their weapons awkwardly, most of the blades were dull and in disrepair with rust on them. There were a few good veterans throughout the group and I swiftly pulled them out to assist me. I stood in front of them, the flat of my longsword resting easily on my shoulder. I took it off and jabbed a startled weasel in the chest lightly with the tip. "What's your name, crewbeast?" He stood taller a bit and muttered in a low voice. "Risenbleed" My booted footpaw shot out, kicking him hard in the knee while my left paw punched him in the belly. I dropped him to the ground then dragged him over the rocky turf to a post, much to the snickering of the veterans. "That'll be 'Risenbleed, commander' from you, crewbeast." I turned to the rest. "Proper respect will be given, this one made a mistake. Every mistake you made you'll recieve ten strokes from a whip and you'll lose a meal in the day." I took a whip that was coiled around my sash and tossed it to one of the veterans who began the lashing. "Five mistakes and you'll lose an eye, ten and you'll lose a paw, any more then that and I'll send you to the monitor barracks." Risenbleed's screams were pitching high with every lash and I walked over, putting my dagger blade to his throat. "No more dying toad antics, crewbeast." Once more I turned to the main group, counting in my head. "Form the ranks, six wide and ten deep!" There was a flurry of movement then we went to work, rooting out those not in proper formation and sending them over to wait in line at the post. We put them in sparring pairs, the loser moving towards the post even as those finshed being whipped came back. I did not whish to overwork them, it would do no good at all if they became the best fighters on the earth if they had not the strength to fight. But I did not give it to them lightly, I was tired of goodbeasts insulting the Emperor and only a score or so from Sampetra made moves to extract vengeance. I lead them to the harbor after the initial sparring, using two ships for them to have a taste of fighting on ships. Some were better on land, others were better at throwing grapnel and boarding, I made notes of this, gave them to somebeast to copy for the Emperor and captain of each ship. There was not a beast there besides the vets and myself that did not recieve at least the ten strokes, the training went well after that, only losing three in the group to the monitors and only seven paws to the block and Sampetra regained some of her fighting glory.