First Day. (Open)

"Well, it would seem that today is your lucky day, then", a soft voice would respond to the exclamation the unfamiliar face had come up with with a welcoming, though also somewhat curious tone. A silver-haired man would emerge from the hustle and bustle of Soldiers that populated the guild hall of Dies Irae, dressed in a long, black coat that hung loosely off his shoulders, adorned by decorations of red and golden hues. His argent strands were hidden under a hat of similar color, the man himself wearing a friendly smile as his expression.

Johann had taken some time off today. The never-ending stream of paperwork and other duties that called for his attention at a constant rate not only annoyed him, but were somewhat stressful to deal with. He was thankful for all the help he could get, and his fellow Ambassador, as well as the Commander, along with their clerical department undoubtedly worked as much as he did to make sure the day to day business and the guild's administrative responsibilities went by as smoothly as possible, though the man would lament the fact that, if anything, the paperwork had only increased. Being in a legal guild, he guessed, came with a certain amount of bureaucracy, especially if the guild in question was technically an extension of the Magic Council of Fiore. It was certainly a little more demanding than the work he'd dealt with when he had still been part of the West Fiore Trading Company. Well, that was of no matter. At least, the man thought, he'd still get to de-stress every once in a while, making a seldomly made trip to the guild's Training Grounds to exercise. It was a good way to stay focussed, and Johann considered it a form of meditation in its own right. Once that had been dealt with, though, the man had returned to the Throne Hall, a hearty lunch and a cup of tea the next thing on his mind.

It seemed, though, that tea would have to wait a little.

While he could let someone else handle the man's expressed desire to join the guild, he was present either way, and since he couldn't seem to spot Sivvy anywhere, he was also the highest-ranking member of the guild in the Throne Hall at current. He might as well handle it now, and handle it himself, thus making his way over to the newcomer.

"My name is Johann von Weiss. I am one of the two Ambassadors of Dies Irae, the Guild Masters, if you will", the man would bow forward slightly, in a gesture that was more of a symbolic greeting than anything else, only now giving the new arrival a closer look-over. The man that had expressed his intent to join was certainly built well, to say the least, his muscular form the first thing that the man noticed. Johann wouldn't let that influence his impression of the man, though. Muscles were hardly a giveaway for martial prowess, something the guild ultimately valued more than form or fitness. Still, the God of Ishgar would maintain a practiced expression that was nonetheless friendly and welcoming as he mustered the other. "So, you've come to Amber Island to join the guild, hm? May I ask your name?".

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Well, that certainly was quite the determined introduction. Despite the fact that Johann had nothing against a friendly conversation, the Ambassador appreciated that the man was straight to the point with not only his introduction, but also in his explanation of the reasoning that had prompted him to come here to Amber Island and Dies Irae specifically. "I see. Mister Nyx, is it? A pleasure", Johann responded plainly, though he would maintain his welcoming attitude. He'd introduced many people to the guild before at this point, some who had stayed until this day, some who had left, and some who had simply disappeared. He didn't blame them. The life of a Soldier wasn't for everyone, though by now he the process of introducing someone to this organization was a, much like other business related to the guild, a matter of routine. He let the man's words pass through his head for a few moments, though he continued to maintain eye contact with the new arrival who called himself Zagar Nyx.

Well, the man's explanation certainly made sense. He did look the part, like someone who desired strength above other matters, that was, but there was more to the guild, of course. Possessing strength was only a portion of the prerequisites Johann considered when judging potential recruits for the guild, and while the power and capabilities to be a competent Soldier were certainly plus points, if the man wouldn't be well-rounded in the right kind of ways, namely conviction and morals, the Ambassador would certainly reconsider things. "It is true that the guild assist its members in obtaining such goals, most namely bettering themselves as mages and transforming into more capable fighters. It's bound to occur in our line of work, really. Everyone here, to some degree, pursues that dream, but-", the man would pause briefly before as he took a breath before continuing, "-it takes more than strength to be a Soldier of Dies Irae, Mister Nyx. There are a few things that I must consider, so before I go ahead with your admission into the guild, I have a few questions I would like to ask you. If that's fine with you, of course", the silver-haired man would explain in his usual well-spoken manner.

If the man agreed, the Ambassador wouldn't lose much time and simply ask the first of his questions, his tone shifting from a friendly, warm, and welcoming one to a more professional and objective approach. "Firstly, while, as you mentioned, Dies Irae does assist in training its members to be more powerful mages, that is not all. The guild is made up of men and women of certain ideals and convictions, and I would like to confirm whether you share these same convictions, Mister Nyx. Tell me, are you familiar with the guild's rules, laws, and perhaps most importantly, its modus operandi when it comes to the guild's mission?". If the other denied this, that wouldn't be a problem, of course. Johann could just as easily explain the essentials to the man, at which point he could still share his opinion on Dies Irae's self-appointed mission and overarching goal with the Ambassador.

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Word Count: 527
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"I see", the man would respond once more as the newcomer admitted that he didn't quite know all of the guild's rules, giving him a definitive nod. Johann had figured as much. Most people didn't know about the intricacies and technicalities that were requirements of equally legal and ideological nature. Dies Irae had very specific ways it operated and required its Soldiers to hold themselves on duty, and the Ambassador wanted to make sure that the man would understand that fact. "In essence, Dies Irae is a guild of men and women that devote themselves to the maintenance of concepts such as order, law, peace, as well as the integrity of Earthland in addition to fighting and eliminating any threats to these concepts. By any means necessary, should the situation call for it. Of course, in exchange for monetary compensation in the form of contracts, which are relayed to the guild by official instances of government from Fiore, more specifically the Magic Council, and allied nations, as well as reputable organizations and private individuals, in addition to, sometimes, the guild itself. Some would call it bounty hunting, you might say". He knew that it sounded less glorious than what most people imagined, but Dies Irae had adapted to the hard truths and realities of the world as it was today, and would follow the best and most successful path to its goal.

"Soldiers of Dies Irae are, naturally, expected hold themselves and each other with dignity and respect. The guild does not simply kill blindly. The punishment will match the crime, and I expect the Soldiers of the guild to adhere to that. Restraint, mercy, and compassions are virtues that we follow. If we didn't, we would be no better than the criminals we hunt. I hope I do make myself clear", the man would pause briefly, his tone a little more stern than before, though it would swiftly return to the neutral, matter-of-fact way of speech. "Soldiers of the guild are also expected to respect the law of the land, wherever that may be, especially when representing the guild, with some expections based on the nature of our work and the privileges bestowed upon it by the Magic Council. I suppose that everything I said so far is easy to follow". The man would finish, taking a quiet breath. He didn't anticipate that something he'd said had been particularly hard to understand. Still, he would make sure.

"In case you agree with these core ideals and principles, Mister Nyx, then I think you will make a welcome addition to the guild as a Soldier of Dies Irae. Are there any questions you have about the things I mentioned or the guild itself?", the Ambassador would ask the man and listen to what he had to say.

"Enough about the guild, though-", Johann would follow up after, bringing up the last point he had as he once more addressed the man with a more personal question, "-let's talk about you and your capabilities, for a change. I assume you are a mage, Mister Nyx, correct? What kind of magic do you use?".

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Thread Word Count Total: 2,556

The man's sudden shift to overblown praise caused the Ambassador to raise a brow, staring at the other with a confused gaze. "Good to know, I suppose? I hope that you do internalize these core rules and values", he would respond simply, though now much more aware of the newcomer's words than before. Usually, those who sang praises to others without a founded reason did so because they wanted something very specific. Influence, good standing, reputation, it didn't matter. It was raising suspicion, to say the least.

"I see", he responded to the man's explanation and "joke", something the Ambassador certainly failed to pick up on, his face and voice both bearing nothing short of an emotionless demeanor. The guild, of course, already had ways to get around quickly if need be, for free as well, so the man didn't quite understand the purpose of that statement was. Members of the guild were supposed to support each other. Monetary gains were not their primary focus in any way, shape, or form, but he guessed he couldn't exactly tell the man what he could and couldn't strive for.

The next thing that followed, though, obviously upset the Ambassador, his eyes narrowing as his brows inched closer together in a soft, though visible anger, still, containing himself enough to let the other finish his words before speaking up himself, taking a deep breath, a determined, stern voice ringing out. "The rules are absolute", he began, taking a step towards the man while maintaining eye-contact, hoping to make his stance on the other's inquiry more than clear. "I don't care what kind of company you keep or what kind of locations you frequent, Mister Nyx, but when I said the law of the land is to be respected, that the rules and the mission of the guild are to be respected, I meant it. I will not allow my guild's reputation to be tarnished by "sticking to the gray", as you have put it. If you wish to be a Soldier of Dies Irae-", the man's eyes would narrow just a little more, "-then I expect you to heed my words and follow the rules. How you accomplish your work is one thing, but the rules of Dies Irae are rooted in belief. If you do not believe in our mission, if you do not believe in the balance of law and order, then I frankly don't know what you are doing here".

He would turn away slightly, closing his eyes for a brief, few moments as he drew in a deep breath before continuing. "We determine what is a threat to Fiore, Mister Nyx. If you are willing to adhere to the guild's code, then I don't care about your past or previous occupations under the assumption that you respect what we do and how we operate. If you think you can live with that, then I shall accept you as one of our own. If you can't, then it's probably time to go now. Oh, and one more thing, Mister Nyx ..."

Johann would open his eyes again, the white within his scleras replaced by a deep, ink-black hue, his pupils radiating with a carmine color, alight with magical power. "... If you're deceiving me, I will find out one way or another, and I promise you, I have no problem "mucking up my polished boots". I hope I make myself clear". Needless to say, Johann's respect for the newcomer had sunken rapidly, whatever choice he would go with. He would keep a very close eye on him if he chose to become part of Dies Irae, and indeed, if he ever stepped out of line, the Ambassador, as he had promised, would turn the other into nothing more than a bloodied stain.

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Word Count: 632
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Thread Word Count Total: 3,679