She hadn't been sure how the company would take to an immediate assignment, but the news went over remarkably well. Weeks at sea had apparently left them eager to get back to work. So, after an unusually good night's rest, Astra found them up early and hard at it in the barracks salle, sparring with training weapons, sharpening their service blades, and performing cutting exercises on soaked rolls of mats. No few of what she presumed to be Lord Elgron's soldiers were there as well, many even exercising with her girls, lending an excited clamor to the air as Astra walked among them, watching and assessing.
Krystelle was off to one end of the yard with two dozen of their rank and files, and just as many of the Nosya soldiers, drilling in various formations and maneuvers, her voice occasionally breaking above the din to call out an order in elvish. Almost no one in the company actually spoke the language, but it had proven effective as coded shorthand to cut through the noise of battle. It didn't take much to learn what each shrill word meant in the context of keeping each other alive, and that was enough.
Closer by, on Astra's left, she found Koyani and Lyndsi engaged in a rather dramatic cutting exercise, the taller woman armed with a bull-whip in either hand, snapping them erratically in Koyani's direction as razor-edged katanas lashed out again and again to send chunks of leather cord flying. Perhaps not the most cost-effective form of practice, but it was certainly impressive to watch.
LYNSDI: Swift Strike + Attack, 1d20+3, -5, -2, -6 = 7, 5, 13, 3
KOYANI: Steel Wind, sunder attempt, 1d20+7, +7, +3, +3, = 21, 20, 17, 23 (Critical Hit)
In a dizzying flash, Lyndsi sends what remains of her whips cracking at the smaller girl, the cords seeming to reverse direction in midair in attempt to slip past her guard, but with her characteristic calm and grace, muscles like forged iron snapping in total control of her blades, Koyani responds with a flurry of strikes, defeating each attack and with her last, sending a bisected section of one of the whips streaking back at Lyndsi's face.
KOYANI: Improvised Ranged Attack, 1d20+1 = 21 (Critical Hit) vs. Evasion 16. 1 WP damage.
Caught off-guard, it strikes Lyndsi just above the left eye with an audible crack that has her reeling, blood streaking her face when she looks up. "Ugh, you freaking bitch! Are you serious, Koyani?" She blinks at the shocking quantity of blood staining her glove, but her tone is more playful than upset. Injuries in training are something of a mark of pride.
Of course, the swordswoman says nothing in return, her vow of silence unbroken for something as paltry as a friend's spilled blood. She merely sheathes her blades in an effortless blur and tosses Lyndsi a rag.
Astra laughs, any momentary concern fluttering away. "Go see Mia so it doesn't get infected. You'll have a good story to tell at dinner tonight."
"I wanna know how she even did that!" Lyndsi grumbles as she heads away. Astra shares a smile with Koyani, well-accustomed to such outrageous displays of talent.