>>5286628“You lack ambition,” the South-Merchant suggests.
“You lack experience with ACTUAL hardship,” the North-Merchant shoots back. “Speak with me when you have wintered in icy climes, with Paladins and Inquisitors checking every third shipment to and from the forward base.”
“And you in turn may condescend to me when you have dehydrated in the desert,” the South-Merchant replies, “or had to contend with backstabbing rival clans who plot openly even on the surface, with your mutual clients! Ape-men are easy; the master Race has true, deadly cunning!”
“In the Age of Scales, we will all rise and work openly,” you say, interrupting the argument before it boils over and blades are drawn, “and none of our people will be so desperate as to have to fight one another for crumbs.”
“Yes, Dragonborn!” they enthusiastically affirm in unison.
When the marching is done, you split your time between several training activities, to better your body and mind and to strengthen your unit.
First and foremost, you train in archery with the warriors. You are not so skilled at matters of ranged combat as in melee, sadly, but practice will make perfect. The Pit-Guard and his Apprentice practice with you, and lack even your skill; they are both used to grappling and battering-down unauthorized entrants into the breeding pits. Oluwadamilare the Degenerate, however, proves quite adept with bows and with thrown blades. He is a hybrid of a southern human and a Steeltalon, he says, and his certainly has the muscular built of that Reptilian subrace. Under his tutelage, you and your fellows experience marked improvement.
>Next time you use archery or a thrown dagger in battle, or take up practice in your downtime, you will gain a rank in that discipline 