Nervously the entire company stood to attention below the balcony. This was the first time Master Zathabarius was to address the company since he had taken command of the troop some two months ago. Only the officers had spoken to the gaunt dark skinned man so far and they had never disclosed, no not even when plied with a good few drinks, anything about what he was like. Ordinary troopers like you had maybe gotten a glimpse of him from time to time, but that was about it. All you knew was that he was human (probably) from Mengath judging by his skin tone of dark mahogany and over forty years of age. Oh yes he had a limp as well, definitely dragged his left leg, but nobody had had the balls to ask why.
A movement from the balcony caught your eye and brought you back to the present. Malcianus stepped forward flanked by Odo and another shorter figure you couldn’t see from your position at the back of the parade.
“Attention Soldiers!” the Mage whispered, yes that was a little creepy. The man’s voice might well have been coming from about a foot from you – no louder than a stage whisper thought he was maybe a hundred feet away from where you stood. Magic didn’t always have to be flashy lights or will enslaving charms you supposed. Still it was a little creepy.
“I give you our master, Grand Mage of the Twilight Oasis, Commander of this company, Zathabarius!” the assistant wizard declaimed then stepped back as the senior wizard stepped forward.
“Greeting soldiers! Stand easy, this is no rigid parade.” The mans voice was deep and warm and unlike his aid he spoke without spell amplification. He actually chuckled as he surveyed the eighty or so troopers in the courtyard. “No, you should be aware by now I do require discipline but not to ridiculous lengths. We are, or shall be, a practical group! Stand easy!”
“Now those of you that have taken my leadership with good grace, deserve to know what lies ahead of us. It will come as no surprise to you that I am a practitioner of the Arcane. I do not hold it against any one for feeling nervous about that! But I assure you it is a skill as any other, one that require exacting discipline to exert, not unlike combat drills I am told, but of the mind not of the body.
“I have taken the running of this band for two reasons: Firstly I have over the course of my career made my share of enemies, as has many a lord. In short some of you will be seconded to my bodyguard and will be expected to deal with the non mystical threats to my life; Assassins and thieves and the like. In due time I will interview your best and most stout-hearted to see if they will take that duty.
“Secondly, it is my Patrons wish to enforce “justice” in this world. That means those that have broken the fairly rendered laws of the land should receive punishment in due turn for their wrong doings. The bulk of this band will therefore be sent out at times to apprehend said villains and return them to the authorities they have offended. A service for which we will be duly compensated.
“We will be reorganising into squads of 20 soldiers and each squad will be given an objective or list of objectives then I shall send you out to earn your pay by apprehending such individuals as we are commissioned to bring back… ” he paused and his eyes flashed with dark amusement, “… one way or another. In the meanwhile until your name is posted on the board consider yourselves at liberty for the rest of the day. Dismissed!”