It was an interesting choice to join the Odessan Royal Guard. While most of your counterparts joined to get away from troubles at home or to turn their lives around, you joined the Royal Guard because of your best friends Ross and Ryr Wyles. 

You were on the way home one night when you spotted the pair unsuccessfully trying to get the attention of a cab. It was nothing for you to hail one for them and while Ryr pushed his incredibly intoxicated brother into the car, he invited you to go out with the two of them as thanks. Not usually the one turn down a free dinner, you accepted. 

Over a free meal about a week later, you learned that Ross and Ryr were in the Odessan Royal Guard and had been so for a number of years. They were stationed in the city you were living in at the time, training new recruits. One dinner turned into several and soon enough, Ross and Ryr were just like family to you.

One day, the three of you guys were sitting at the bar inside of your favorite pub, talking about the future. Both of them had tried to get you to enlist several times, but you never relented. This particular pub trip, they seemed pretty adamant. 

"C'mon, it'll be fun!" Ross exclaims to you across the table at a pub in a city you've long forgotten the name of. "You'll be with us, well, eventually. We're moving to Dia."

Ryr, beside him, scrolls idly on his phone but nods at his brother's words. 

"Well, I don't know about fun. Our first year was hell." The older male shakes his head with a sigh. "But, yeah, we're about to be transfered to Dia to be with the Royal Family."

Ross rolls his eyes and takes another sip of his beer. 

"Look, you're strong. You can definitely keep with us and the other new recruits," Ross says. "If you can survive the first year, hit us up. There's sure to be an opening in Dia with us and we can meet up again."

You ponder both of the brothers' words while Ross slinks off to get his heart broken by some blonde headed girl. Come to think of it, you didn't have anything tying you to this place. Your family was doing well and you could always go to school while serving in the Guard. 

It takes you a month or two of weighing the pros and cons to decide, but you eventually file your application online to join the Odessan Royal Guard. 

*page_break

It takes you another month or two to ultimately decide, but soon enough, you were applying online to join the Odessan Royal Guard.

True to Ross and Ryr's words, the first year was hell. You laughed, cried and went to bed sore more times then you could count. You were constantly going all over the country for training, for lessons and, when you could, some fun. 

Finally, after two and a half years with the Guard, you finally felt strong enough and confident enough to apply to work with the Royal Family in Dia. 

Both of your best friends welcomed you back into their circle with open arms once your transfer was approved. You joked about their new tattoos and piercings ("Too many people confusing us for twins," Ryr told you one day) in between getting briefed for your new position. 

Soon enough, you were strolling the halls of the Odessan Palace with Ryr or Ross at your sides. In hindsight, you never really saw too much of the King Frederick and Queen Ramona's children, at least in person. You'd hear a giggle here, a pattering of feet running down a corridor there, but the King and Queen preferred to keep them away from most. You wondered if the children even knew who you were.

Of course, that was something way above your paygrade and more in Ross and Ryr's realm. 

*page_break

Eventually, you found yourself leaving the Odessan Palace, Dia and the Odessan Royal Guard altogether.

Why did you end up leave, anyway?
*fake_choice
    #I became bored with my position and wanted to start over elsewhere.
        *set guard_background "bored"
        Sun up to sun down, you were doing the same things. Patrol the east corridor. Patrol the west corridor. Accompany the king on local business trips.
        
        You voiced your concerns to Ross and Ryr, who understood your guard fatigue.
        
        "Well, I'm sure you're well past your contact, so you'd be cleared to leave. We'll miss you here though," Ross says, trying to cover up a pout, but it wasn't working. 
        
        Ryr nods at his brother's words, placing a hand on his shoulder. 
        
        "Right. I'm sure there's nothing stopping you if you wanted to go. Ross and I will be Dia for the foreseeable future, so if you ever want to come and visit, you can," he says with a smile.
        
        You match his smile with one of your own. 
        
        "Thanks," you say. 
        
        *page_break
        
        You found out you had a few more months to serve, but once you were cleared to leave, you found yourself surprised with a bit of a going away party hosted by Ross, Ryr and the Royal Family. You were rather honored to have a party thrown for you, especially since you didn't really see yourself as that influential in the castle.
        
        There's cake, gifts and you even catch a glimpse of the two royal children. They both eye you intently, seemingly too shy to approach you properly. Eventually, you do leave Dia and all of the big city issues behind, content with finding a much quieter city to live in.
        
        *page_break
        *goto_scene chapter1_roommatemeeting
    #I was...discharged over a misunderstanding with one of my commanders.
        *set guard_background "misunderstanding"
        *set brawn %+5
        Though you were stationed inside of the Odessan Palace, you still had to report to a commander. You don't know what it was about Commander Nat but they never seemed to really like you. 
        
        Your uniform was never really out of place, you were almost always on time for your shifts and never had a complaint from anybody. Still, Nat made it their life's mission to discourage whatever you did. 
        
        Finally, the tension lead to a shouting match one day, just as you were getting ready to leave for the day. It was just about to come to blows, when Ross and Ryr intervened. Luckily, the King never caught wind of it, but Nat all but forced you to leave your position or else. 
        
        You found yourself out of a job, despite the pair of brothers doing everything they could to keep you in the guard. You were able to leave with a decent amount of money, which at least helped you get out of Dia without too much trouble.
        
        *page_break
        *goto_scene chapter1_roommatemeeting
    #My contract was up and I wasn't interested in staying any longer. 
        *set guard_background "contractup"
        Probably the most common way of leaving the Odessan Royal Guard was due to your contract being up. You had no hard feelings for the Royal Family or the Guard, but you knew that it was time for you to move on and do something else.
        
        Fast forward a few months and you found yourself leaving the doors of the Guard headquarters with nothing on your back but clothes and your Guard possessions and collectibles. Odessa is huge and you were eager to explore as much of it as you could not that you no longer had anybody to report to.
        
        *page_break
        *goto_scene chapter1_roommatemeeting
    #Something came up unexpectedly with my family and I had to return to my hometown. 
        *set guard_background "return"
        It was just another normal day at the castle when your cell phone began buzzing incessantly. You weren't really supposed to be using your phone while on duty, but the buzzing eventually became too much to ignore. Once you answered, you quickly realized why you were getting called so much.
        
        One of your siblings had become horribly ill, according to your mother. She didn't believe that they would make it. The news was devastating to you, as you were quite close to your sibling. You were in so much of a daze, you didn't even realize King Frederick staring at you from down the hall.  He did not seem pleased at all.
        
        You shove your cell phone in your back pocket and attempt to resume your guard position, but you find it hard to do so as he advances. Soon enough, he stands inches away from you and you're sure he's about to yell and scream at you.
        
        "Are you alright?" King Frederick asks you.
        
        It was such a simple question, yet you still struggled to answer it. Eventually, you found yourself confiding a bit to the King about your situation. He doesn't say anything at first, but eventually he does speak.
        
        "You…you may leave," he says. "I'll see to it that your commander knows. But, I'm sure this won't be the last time I see you."
        
        The King's words left you a bit puzzled, but since you got the clear from him to go, you decided not to question it too much. Your sibling was much more important to you at the time. 
        
        *page_break
        *goto_scene chapter1_roommatemeeting