AFSNES I – The New Dawn

[Niklas]

Akkadian orders sent.

 

[Symphony D.]

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FIELD CAMP, WESTERN PROVINCES, KYRGYS CONFEDERACY
0821 LOCAL TIME, 23.01.0750AD
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The various warriors sat assembled on the bare, snowy ground. They wore almost nothing—not even the few women—except what was required to keep them barely decent. They chatted amongst each other grimly. “It’s damned cold out here,” said one, to which another muttered “Tell me about it, I can’t feel my rocks.”

They persisted in their idle chatter until their instructor appeared from his tent. He wore a simple blue[1] robe (it was almost the exact shade of his eyes), and was thus clearly identified as a Bhikkhu. He stood before the assembled group and slowly looked them over. After some moments he sat down and arranged himself into a lotus position in a single fluid motion. He closed his eyes and began to speak softly, his voice lilting along with the breeze “You have all been taught this position; you are to assume it, then we may begin.”

The warriors shot each other glances before doing as instructed. The Bhikkhu waited silently for them to finish, apparently unrushed. Once he was apparently satisfied that sufficient time had elapsed, his voice went forth upon the wind once more “Envision for yourself something which makes you content.”

A wisecrack from one of the warriors near the back was immediate “Can I envision myself walking away from this cold field and going back inside?”

The Bhikkhu gave the smallest of smiles but did not open his eyes, merely saying “Close your eyes and imagine a fire.”

Reluctantly the warriors did so. The Bhikkhu continued with rhythmic intonations “Imagine now that this fire is upon you, but you do not burn.

“You do not fear the fire, you simple watch it.

“It starts on your hand, and creeps slowly up your arm, across your chest, up your neck, down to your stomach; it envelops you.

“You do not put it out, you do not panic, you simply watch—and you are warm.

“Feel the warmth of the fire on your skin, feel it sink down into your flesh and seep into your bones.

“The fire is within you, you are the fire.

“Open your eyes,” he said. The sudden harshness and depth of command in the words compelled them all to follow his orders. Many blinked and they all stared at him. There was silence. Slowly, the Bhikkhu rose to his feet and opened his eyes. He looked over them once more and gave a genuine smile, asking “Now, who feels cold?”

The warriors looked at each other. It dawned on them with sudden surprise that none of them, in fact, felt cold anymore. Several pinched themselves to check that they had not simply gone numb and exchanged remarks of surprise.

The Bhikkhu turned and wandered back toward his tent, waving a hand and saying “Remember always that flame, and you will never again be cold; we resume your training in one hour once you have eaten and gathered your clothes.”

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[1] Bhikkhu robes are traditionally dyed whatever the color of the cheapest locally available dye is. In Central Asia, this is likely to be based on woad, which yields a blue dye.

 

[das]

Deadline has arrived.

 

[silver 2039]

No!! Wait!!

 

[Dachs]

Deadline has arrived.

Oh yeah, I sent those ordaz things awhile back, as in late last night. That redone military doctrine might not make much sense, das. It might have been the "Night Train".

 

[Luckymoose]

I forgot to make a longer military doctrine. I need to do that soon before das kills me.

 

[JosefStalinator]

I assume your silence means you accepted them, Das?

 

[Lord_Iggy]

Nice try Iggy. But rekkefølg refers to something that is ordered, as in an ordered list of integers, not giving orders to someone.

Orders close to the deadline, as always.

Ah, so I sent him a logical sequence?

 

[alex994]

I think das should extend his mercy and sympathy to all who have sent late orders.

 

[Birdjaguar]

It is Christmas after all.

 

[silver 2039]

Winter Solstice dammit.

 

[Lord_Iggy]

Have an enjoyable non-denominational season, or don't if you don't feel like it.

 

[Dachs]

Have an enjoyable non-denominational season, or don't if you don't feel like it.

That is so wishy-washy and PC that it means virtually nothing.

 

[Angst]

I don't even remember if I send orders?

 

[Abaddon]

I sent totally radical orders [not]

 

[silver 2039]

This is your Captain speaking. We are 20,000 feet in the air flying over Beruit. We will be landing in Baghdad in 0800 hours. Thank you for flying Air Singapore.

 

[Lord_Iggy]

That is so wishy-washy and PC that it means virtually nothing.

I know. Excessive poliical correctness is an abomination- and a good source of humour.

 

[Insane_Panda]

No update?

 

[Thlayli]

This is your Captain speaking. We are 20,000 feet in the air flying over Beruit. We will be landing in Baghdad in 0800 hours. Thank you for flying Air Singapore.

Connecting flights will be available in the Turgulid Empire, the Dinghistic Xanate, the Republic of Guangling, the Samarkandian Empire, and Ayutamradvipa. Minor turbulence is expected over Tibet.

 

[Luckymoose]

No update?

He takes his time these days.