Side Story 4.4: Recruitment Efforts
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The Recruitment Stall
By the following morning, Talon One had set their plan into motion. The team assembled in the middle of the village square, where a simple stall had been erected overnight. It resembled the market stalls that appeared during trading days when they were out in the city, but its purpose was entirely different.
This was a recruitment drive, and they were seeking candidates from among the villagers themselves.
Word spread quickly through the settlement. Imperial soldiers and village guardsmen were among the first to arrive, curiosity drawing them to see what the legendary team was planning. The Imperial soldiers could only groan in disappointment as they realized they could not join this elite team. They were bound by their own professional standards and employment contracts, their loyalty pledged to the Empire itself rather than to any individual settlement.
The village guardsmen initially thought they might be eligible, but those currently on duty were politely turned away. Their responsibilities to maintain security could not be abandoned for personal advancement, no matter how tempting the opportunity. However, those guardsmen who were off-duty were invited to approach the stall and apply.
Grand Captain Commander Lex Draconis and Captain Commander Hilda Burnguard-Solmane arrived to observe the proceedings. From their vantage point at the edge of the square, they watched what appeared to be a straightforward recruitment process. But both veteran commanders recognized something more sophisticated was occurring.
The members of Talon One present at the stalls were not merely conducting interviews. They were actively evaluating everyone who had gathered around, whether they had officially applied or not. Body language, fitness levels, how individuals carried themselves, how they interacted with others, all of it was being assessed and catalogued.
"Clever," Captain Commander Hilda murmured to her counterpart. "This is as much about identifying future potential as it is about immediate recruitment."
Grand Captain Commander Lex nodded in agreement. "They are looking for rough gems, unpolished diamonds that might be refined into something exceptional with proper training and guidance. The formal process is almost secondary."
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The Process
The recruitment effort spanned most of the day, with interviews and preliminary ability tests conducted continuously. The Talon One members had divided themselves into several stations, each handling different aspects of the evaluation process.
August had positioned himself centrally, overseeing the entire operation while also seemingly selecting random villagers from the crowd for personal conversations. Those chosen for these interactions often had no idea why they had been singled out, but August had his reasons. He was looking for something specific, some quality that went beyond obvious combat ability or physical prowess.
The support personnel, led by Angeline, Betty, and Isabel, along with Bren and Erik, managed one station. This group handled the initial interviews, assessing personality, motivation, and interpersonal skills. Their line moved smoothly, with candidates feeling comfortable and open during their conversations.
The atmosphere at their station was professional but warm, encouraging honest responses rather than rehearsed answers designed to impress. Bren's easy charm put people at ease, while Erik's straightforward nature helped identify those who were genuinely committed versus those merely curious. The women excelled at reading subtle cues, picking up on character traits that might not be immediately obvious.
At another station, Adam and Milo conducted more physical assessments. However, their approach was so rough and brash that they inadvertently drove off a significant portion of potential participants. Their line was notably shorter than the others, populated primarily by individuals who shared their direct, confrontational nature.
"Come on, you call that a punch?" Adam would challenge, demonstrating a technique with perhaps more force than necessary. "Put your whole body into it!"
Milo was equally intense. "If you cannot handle a few hard words and some rough sparring, how are you going to handle actual combat? The enemy will not be gentle with you."
The rest of Talon One found this hilarious, and it quickly became a running joke. Those brave or stubborn enough to remain in Adam and Milo's line were identified as sharing their particular brand of aggressive determination. In a way, the two muscle-heads had inadvertently created an effective sorting mechanism, identifying candidates who would thrive under harsh training conditions.
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The Candidates
Throughout the day, a diverse array of candidates presented themselves. Young men and women eager to prove their worth. Veterans of the village guard looking to advance their skills. Even some beastfolk from the Kotoko Clan stepped forward, curious whether the primarily human team would accept members of other species.
One young woman, barely eighteen, demonstrated remarkable skill with a bow, hitting targets at distances that impressed even Erik. "Where did you learn to shoot like that?" he asked.
"My father was a hunter before I escaped here in the forest," she explained. "He taught me everything he knew before he passed last year. I want to honor his memory by putting these skills to use protecting others."
A beastfolk warrior, a lynx-featured individual named Kali, caught August's attention. The warrior moved with a fluid grace that suggested extensive combat training, but there was also a measured caution in his approach, an intelligence in his eyes that went beyond mere instinct.
"Why do you wish to join Talon One?" August asked directly.
Kali considered the question carefully before responding. "Because I have seen what you have accomplished. You do not merely fight; you fight with purpose, with strategy, with respect for those you protect. That is the kind of warrior I aspire to be."
Then there was a familiar teenage boy, no more than fifteen, approached with obvious nervousness. His hands shook slightly as he presented himself, but his eyes held determination. "I know I am young," he said before anyone could comment, "but I am strong. I have been training every day since we arrived in the village. I want to be able to protect my family, to protect everyone."
August studied him thoughtfully. "What is your name again?"
"Shaggydog, sir. Shaggydog Tracker."
"And why do you think you are ready for this, Shaggy?"
The boy straightened his shoulders. "I do not know if I am ready, sir. But I am willing to do whatever it takes to become ready. I will train harder than anyone else. I will not give up, no matter how difficult it becomes."
August made a note of the name. Raw determination could be as valuable as natural talent, sometimes more so.
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Future Announcement
As the sun began to set and the day's efforts drew to a close, August stood at the center of the square and called for everyone's attention. The crowd, which had swelled to include nearly every off-duty villager, quieted immediately.
"Thank you all for your patience and participation today," August began, his voice carrying clearly across the square. "Before any of you leave, please take note that we will be conducting additional rounds of interviews in the future. As our village grows, there is also a need for our team to expand. So remain prepared if you are interested."
He paused, making eye contact with various individuals in the crowd. "Those we have interviewed today will be contacted soon regarding next steps. For those who were not selected in this round, do not feel sad or disheartened. There will always be future opportunities. Your dedication to improving yourselves and serving the village is already commendable."
The crowd began to disperse, but the energy level had noticeably changed. Conversations buzzed with excitement and speculation. Who had been chosen? What would the training involve? When would the next recruitment drive occur?
The recruitment effort had brought a palpable shift to the village's overall mood. Hearts burned with desire to improve, to become stronger, to earn a place among the elite. Even those not selected felt motivated to continue their training, to work harder, to prepare for the next opportunity.
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The Restrictions
One detail that had been emphasized during the announcements was the age restriction. Only those thirteen years old and above were permitted to apply for Talon One. This had disappointed some of the younger children who idolized the team, but everyone understood the reasoning.
Combat training at too young an age could be psychologically damaging, and the missions Talon One undertook were genuinely dangerous. Thirteen was already quite young by most standards, but the harsh realities of their world meant that young people needed to learn to defend themselves earlier than might be ideal.
The restriction had been debated extensively during the previous night's planning session. Some had argued for a higher minimum age of sixteen or even eighteen. Others pointed out that many of the current Talon One members had begun serious combat training even before thirteen or fourteen.
Eventually, they had settled on thirteen as a compromise, with the understanding that younger recruits would receive additional supervision and would be gradually introduced to more dangerous situations rather than being thrown directly into combat.
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The Deliberation
As evening fell, the Talon One members returned to the Finn household for their deliberation session. They gathered in the large common room, where food and refreshments had been prepared. The atmosphere was relaxed but focused, everyone understanding the importance of the decisions they were about to make.
"Alright," August said, calling the meeting to order. "We have seen many candidates today, some expected and some surprising. Now we need to discuss who we believe should move forward to the next stage of evaluation."
Each member presented their top candidates, explaining why they believed these individuals showed promise. Arguments were made, debated, refined. Some candidates received unanimous support. Others were more controversial, with team members disagreeing about potential versus readiness.
The young archer received strong support from Erik and Isabel, who both emphasized her exceptional skill and proper motivation. "She has raw talent that could be refined into something truly special," Isabel argued. "And she is already disciplined, which is sometimes harder to teach than technique."
Kali, the beastfolk warrior, generated extensive discussion. Some worried about introducing someone from outside human culture into a predominantly human team. Others, including August, felt that diversity would strengthen rather than weaken their effectiveness.
"The Kotoko Clan are our allies," August pointed out. "Having one or two of their warriors in Talon One would cement that alliance in a way that political agreements never could. Besides, Kali clearly possesses both skill and intelligence. Those qualities matter more than species."
Young Shaggydog's application was perhaps the most debated. His age and relative inexperience concerned several members. But his determination and clear dedication impressed others.
"Well we all started somewhere," Bren pointed out. "Most of us were barely more experienced than him when Talon One formed. If we see potential and he is willing to work, we should give him a chance."
After several hours of discussion, they had identified their preliminary candidates. The agreement was that anyone who received majority support would move forward to the next stage: an extended evaluation period where they would train alongside current Talon One members and be assessed under more realistic conditions.
Only after that secondary evaluation would final decisions be made about permanent membership.
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The Real Tests
The candidates would be notified within the next few days and invited to begin provisional training. They would not yet be official members of Talon One, but they would be given the opportunity to prove themselves worthy of that honor.
The training would be intensive, designed to push them to their limits and reveal their true character. Combat skills could be taught, but qualities like courage, loyalty, integrity, and perseverance under pressure were harder to instill. The evaluation process would focus heavily on these intangible factors.
"We are not just looking for strong fighters," Angeline reminded everyone as the meeting concluded. "We need people who share our values, who will put the team and the village ahead of personal glory, who can be trusted absolutely in the worst situations."
Everyone nodded in agreement. Talon One's effectiveness came not just from individual strength but from their unity, their trust in one another, their shared commitment to protecting those who could not protect themselves.
With the recruitment decisions made, the team members gradually departed for their own homes. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but tonight they could rest satisfied that they had taken an important step toward building something larger than themselves.
The recruitment effort had ended, but in many ways, it had only just begun. The real work of training, evaluating, and integrating new members would unfold over the coming weeks and months. Whether these candidates would succeed or fail remained to be seen, but Talon One had given them a chance, and that was all anyone could ask for.
In the village square, the recruitment stall was dismantled and put away, but its impact would resonate for far longer. The village had been reminded that excellence was achievable, that ordinary people could aspire to extraordinary things, and that opportunities existed for those willing to work for them.
It was a good message, and one that would help shape the village's future in ways both large and small.