Wheel Of Life

Mark stood amongst the 18 whom had passed, Little Tai and Boudica stood behind each of his shoulders. The remaining failed applicants stood at the back of the warehouse, waiting to see if their colleagues and friends would pass the rigorous testing. Some of Teech's men had also entered the warehouse to watch the earlier fighting, impressed with both Little Tai and Boudica's strength. Little Tai's strength invigorated them and their belief in a strong future under Captain Zheng.

Mark looked around at the faces, Coyotl, Hilda, Bertrand and the rest, smiling to himself. He would have a strong foundation by the end of the night.

Mark called forwards Coyotl first.

"Coyotl, my first question for you. I ask you to strike an innocent down with no reason, do you obey or disobey." Mark asked.

Coyotl looked at Mark deeply, feeling this was a trick question, if he obeyed he would kill an innocent person which was against his character, if he disobeyed he would be going against his commander and could be struck down himself. But Mark didn't seem like the kind of person to kill an innocent, he had let the failed applicants stay and had stopped any clashing before serious injury could he caused.

"I would obey." Coyotl replied.

Mark was surprised by his quick answer "Why?" he asked.

"Because I do not believe you would ask me to kill an innocent without a reason." he replied.

Mark looked at him deeply, he had already decided to pass Coyotl and several others earlier, and only asked these questions to deem if they were honest or not.

"Very good, you pass, join Zhou Tai and Boudica behind me." Mark commanded.

"Hilda, you are next." Mark ordered. Hilda stepped forwards, planning to say obey as Coyotl had. "Your question. A lonely life with all the gold and riches you could dream off, or a poor life with friends and adventure?"

Hilda was surprised, did they not get the same question? She was joining a mercenary group, the whole point was for gold coins and riches. But then again, what was more important, gold or happiness. For a moment the question struck her deeply and she had to assess her ambitions.

"Friends and adventure." She replied, still deep in thought.

"Interesting." Mark replied, "You have passed, come join us."

Mark asked a few similar questions to the fur armoured men, getting answers that he approved of. They also joined him, the 4 men's backgrounds were as follows:

Rollo - He was once a Viking Warrior who mainly fought in the east against poor tribes in the early 700s. He was chosen as a human sacrifice to the gods by his clan, which accepted with honour.

Jin - A Chinese tribesmen from the early 100's. He lived in southern China and fought for his King against imperial rule. Thought well for many years and died happily with a small family.

Maurice - An Italian Bandit from the middle ages, majoritly unsuccessful in his endeavours, known for his quick wit and quick feet, he was able to escape hanging on 3 occasions, before finally meeting the noose.

Kish - An Indian Beast Tamer, he grew up hunting small animals for food to help feed his family, as he grew up he became well known and was eventually taken in as a Beast Hunter, before learning to tame and train. Eventually killed by a Tiger he had as a pet.

They all had good skills and felt that due to their histories they wouldn't have much drive to betray him, being happy with the gold and adventure he would give them. His overall ambition to create his own Kingdom and remove the Honda Clan was for himself and those he trusted for now.

Mark then called forwards Bertrand, who had been sat silently waiting.

"With your earlier skills, I feel you would pass even without a question." Mark praised.

"I will still have one, as it's only fair." Bertrand replied sternly.

"Very well. You are on your travels and find a young child and mother in need, but you only have food to help one. Which do you help?" Mark asked.

"Both." Bertrand replied, with no thinking needed. "I would give them my portion."

Mark was shocked by the speed of the reply, but not the reply. He was a chivalrous Knight through and through.

"You pass." Mark replied, to which Bertrand nodded and headed to Little Tai.

"I hope to duel you again." Bertrand asked Little Tai, who replied with a gentle nod of the head.

Soon after Mark called forwards the other heavy armour wearers. There was 3 more of them in total:

Octavian - A Roman Centurion. Honest and proud commander who fought against the Germanic Tribes. Died on the field of battle as many of his rank did before him.

Lucan - An actual Knight of the round table, valiant warrior, who served King Arthur loyally until death. He died from a wound in Arthur's last battle, when trying to drag the dying king to safety his stomach wound split and opened it's contents upon the field of battle.

Vlad - A Russian Knight who was loyal and a strong fighter. He was renowned for his Ale drinking and was killed when jousting under the influence. *Don't drink and joust*

Mark finally called up the remaining 8 people. He had originally placed these all in the pirate category. However one of them stood out for a different reason.

Character Information:

Name - Sakura

Position - Ninja Assasin *disguised as a pirate*

Age - 20

Relationship Status - Neutral

Level - 3

Additional Information - In a past life, Sakura was an orphan who was trained by Mochizuki Chiyome, a famous female retainer of Shingen Takeda. She had a successful career as a female konoichi until her death at the hands of the Tokugawa shogunate.

Skills - Ninja Skills, Throwing Stars, Silent but deadly, Talented Actress.

Potential - 4 stars

More information upon level up.

An assasin dressed as a pirate, Mark was lucky they his system skill showed him this information or he would have been completely unaware. He felt there was no reason she would be attempting to hide to hurt him as he was an unknown in this world, but he needed to know why.

"Next up is you!" Mark exclaimed, pointing at Matsuri. She looked at him thoughtfully before stepping forwards.

"Your question is a simple one, but I will know if you are lying." Mark started. "Are you really a pirate, looking to join this group for gold, or are you hiding your true self?"

Sakura stared at him deeply, did he know the truth? Some of her Co-Pirates looked at her confused, this should be a simple question for her they thought.

"I am a...." she started.

"Don't lie to me." Mark advised.

"I am not a Pirate." She replied. "My reasons for being here are pure and I know your reason for being here also."

Mark looked at her questioningly, before replying. "I said one question, and you were truthful so you passed. However I would like to speak with you more later in private."

Sakura nodded her head in response, awaiting this meeting eagerly.

The final 7 came forwards and all passed. Their names and backgrounds are as follows:

Sebastian - A Greek ship faring warrior from before the Roman's had an empire, journeyed around Greece and the Aegean Sea. Died in a storm.

Hector - A Greek warrior who during the siege of Troy hid inside a giant wooden horse that was pulled inside the gates by the unsuspecting Trojans. He broke out and was one of the first men who opened the gates, however he died after taking an arrow to the eye.

Leif - The first European to explore America, 500 years before the famous Columbus. Grew up in the cold of Greenland and Iceland.

Belle - An American Outlaw, Belle Starr was known for hiding outlaws in the wildwest. Shot dead on her ranch by an unknown assailant.

Anne - Anne Bonny was a successful Irish pirate from the crew of Calico Jack. When captured, she feigned pregnancy and was released. Living an uneventful life there onwards.

Francois - A French pirate who was known for his bad luck, he once boarded an enemy ship, slipped off the deck and fell in to the sea. *More clumsy than Mark*

Vito - An Italian Mobster who was loyal to his family and friends. Died in a shootout with police protecting his Mob boss.

Mark looked around at his 18 new recruits, excited that he had started to gather his own little army.

"What do you think?" Mark asked Boudica.

"Its an interesting start, we are only a couple of days in and we already have a base and men, it could be worse." She replied.

"What about you Little Tai?" Mark asked.

"Teech supplied us some Barrels of Ale." Little Tai replied to Mark.

Mark shook his head, "Get the new guys a drink and let them bond. We'll train together tomorrow and see what else they are capable of. Little Tai, invite Teech's men for a drink as well, they should stay tonight."

Little Tai nodded in agreement and head off to do his work. Mark turned to the group proudly.

"Welcome to the Red Ribbons! We may be new but we will the best. Tonight celebrate and drink, for tomorrow the real work starts." He roared. "Sakura, please come speak with me in the headquarters before joining your new brothers and sisters."

Mark headed to leave the warehouse, Boudica at his side.

"Boudica, enjoy yourself, I will be fine alone." Mark offered, she looked at him and smiled, which she rarely did.

"Tonight I shall show them how a princess drinks!" Boudica roared, her battle spirit alight after all of the days fighting.

Mark headed through the fort, past the derelict bunkhouses back to the headquarters. He stepped inside and took a seat at one of the many tables.

System Notification

23/50 Mercenaries hired

"Thanks Wilson, I was wondering when that would come up!" Mark exclaimed.

"You was busy, I didn't want to distract you." Wilson replied.

"Appreciated!" Mark replied, "I wasn't expecting the recruitment to be so full on! I still have my meeting with Sakura and Jama's letter to read. I need to plan what's happening tomorrow and I really hope Gan Ning and Eduardo have had a successful trip!"

"Sometimes Mark, one needs to learn to walk before they run." Wilson advised. "Now do you want to check your level up Rewards?"

"The Skill Editor!" Mark replied, completely forgetting in his earlier excitement at seeing the fort.

"The Skill Editor allows you a spin of the Skill Wheel." Wilson replied, "Spin it and see how your luck is."