[HUB ISLAND | NEWBIE TRAINING]

[spellbindmods]

Who: New coven members, Brie and assigned teachers (old blood can join too!)
Where: The coven base camp
When: Day 98
Open/Closed: Open to Alllllllllmost everyone, essentially top levels are newbies and teachers, but oldbies can tag around!
OOC: To be clear, top levels should only be new characters accepted in October and those who signed up for teacher slots. Old players ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAG AROUND IF THEY WISH, and of course other new characters can mingle with their newbie brethren. If your character is a teacher please indicate that in your top level to differentiate.

Danger may not be imminent -- but that doesn't mean things will always be so peaceful. Being new and gifted with magic, the time has come to try and create a force to be reckoned with. While Genette is more focused on interpersonal unity (and not her poor planning skills), Brie wants to worry about other, more important things. The explosions and power missteps grow older and older with each new batch of coven members, so let's nip that in the bud ASAP, shall we? All the newbies have been gathered together in the base camp clearing with very explicit instructions -- hopefully this isn't such a daunting task that she needs to resort to tying people together, like some bougie servants running around. There is a bit of a problem of personalizing activities -- A.K.A. she's not doing that again. It was a mess last time, and hard to keep up with who all was succeeding and falling flat on their face. Instead, there are three distinct stations that are being utilized in order to try and grab every type and subset of power. A ▢ For offensive type characters, wild boars have been enclosed in a large pen. Also within this pen are large pillowcases, filled with sand and tied at the end. It's as good a dummy as any, okay? Brie has instructed those with magic more in line with direct fighting to kill a boar -- or if they want to work up to that type of offensive magic, they can instead try to explode those sacks of sand. B ▢ Healing is a bit trickier -- some may get lucky and find someone who is unintentionally injured or who is harboring an old wound that Genette hasn't sniffed out. In the case of needing to focus on healing, Brie has a small knife at her disposal. Any volunteers are going to be sliced against their palm. Genette is on standby to heal this wound if a newbie can't pull it off, but don't worry. Even in the worst case scenario, this wound won't last long. C ▢ Other magic powers may work better with items involved -- dismantling, levitation, the like. So there's a big bin of items in the middle of another roped off clearing. From salt and pepper shakers to MP3 players, your character can find some sort of junk in this bag. Whatever your character wants to do with these items and their magic, they're there to use. D ▢ Another roped off area is for more abstract magic. Other volunteers can come and help with whatever these magics might be -- emotional reading, creating plants. Those hard-to-define magic types can practice here with as much help as they can find. E ▢ Some older coven members have garnered Brie's seal of approval. If they know anything about fighting or magical training, they've been welcomed to create their own space and get newbies to learn whatever skills they have to offer. F ▢ Finally, magic isn't the only training going on here. There's one final area that's roped off and filled with swords, stuck about a foot in the ground -- thanks Brie. Characters who are good with swords can of course show off their skills, but it's also a good idea that inexperienced characters learn how to wield one of these weapons.

Comments

teacher!

[splinten]

[b/c/d: experimentation]

[God. Why did he sign up for this. He knows why, but why. He's going to make a mess of it. At least he's used to creative applications of stupid powers. If he finds someone is a i) healer, he'll readily offer them an injured limb to let them have a go at it, neutral of expression and chill of pulse. If someone ii) seems to be trying to work out how to make their power work, he'll ask,]

What exactly was the description of it?

[Creative loophole abuse is something he can do.]

[f: what they don't know is your real advantage]

[Well, swords are what Striders are for. He feels at once more at ease and more unsettled with this, knowing it's what he's supposed to be for, but also knowing that training is exactly where he fucked up so badly before. But Jake is here and he's trying, so. Dirk has to, too.

Dirk watches people who approach the swords, assessing their comfort and ability. If i) a character seems at ease with the weapon, he'll draw his own katana and look at them, nodding to a clearer space.]

Spar?

[Best way to practice is to go at it.]

[If, however, a character ii) seems unfamiliar and nervous when it comes to waving around pointy murder sticks, he will make an awkward go at trying to be comforting.]

I'm not going to let anyone get hurt practicing, it's cool. Just come at me and we'll, uh... work this out.

f: i

[precedents]

[ well. ok.

yorha battle models wield a variety of weapons, but swords were her primary weapon of choice. though 2B's virtuous contract was taken from her when she was reactivated, A2 draws another sword and considers him for a moment, blue eyes eventually landing on his katana.

there's something unsettling about fighting a human, but this is just a spar. this is not her last encounter with 9S at the top of the tower, with no choice left but to fight. no blood needs to be shed here. dirk seems to be capable anyway; A2 doesn't need to be familiar with humans to know that much at least. ]

... Sure.

[ her stance is relaxed and open, sword held loosely at her side. he can make the first move. ]

[splinten]

Nice sword. Looks crazy impractical, but really fuckin' cool.

[Wryly, he adds,]

Any health issues I should know about before we start?

I personally tend to bleed when I'm stabbed, but that's the only one.

[precedents]

Who needs practicality when you've got aesthetics.

[ the same could be said for their design, honestly. like, bless yoko taro for these awesome designs but still. she keeps sort of cracking jokes around dirk and surprising herself with it, what the hell.

also was that?? laughter??? maybe. it was short and kind of stilted, like she wasn't expecting to do that. which she wasn't. ]

Sounds like we've got the same issues.

[splinten]

Motherfuckin' agreed.

[Yeah, aesthetics!]

Then I guess we should both try not to die.

[With that out of the way, Dirk does make the first move: a sprightly step forward. He lacks flashstep speed on the island, so he's only as fast as humanly possible for someone with his build, which is still reasonably fast but not flashstep fast. His strategy tends towards aggressive: he wants to close space and come in to make a strong cut. But it's at A2's side, and he's ready to pull back if he needs to.

He doesn't expect to need to. The first passes are more about learning about his opponent before the real fighting starts.]

im really shit at fight threads gomen in advance

[precedents]

[ A2 has only ever fought machines and other androids since her creation; this marks the first time she has ever fought a human. dirk is no machine and is certainly not an android, but he is still fast and limber, moving with surprising fluidity as he closes the distance between them. there is purpose in his movements, precision and intent behind his strike that A2 feels when she meets him with her own sword.

A2 has always thrown herself into a fight with the same sort of aggression dirk has, but this isn't the same as fighting the machines or 2B and 9S. A2 is careful when she pushes against him, using the blunt end of her sword. she's never had to worry about holding herself back or going on the defensive before, and though dirk is fast, he isn't fast enough. it would be easy to find an opening, to slide her sword through his throat before he could realize it. but she doesn't.

the first passes are about learning your opponent. A2's strikes are fast, not shy about facing him head on in an effort to force him back, and though she's only using the back of her sword, there's still a thrill to this, a different sort of challenge that she's never felt before. ]

it's ok just wing it with me all vague and nondescriptlike

[splinten]

[Wow, threaten to slit a child's throat. Come fucking on, A2. You know you gotta decapitate him.

Dirk enjoys the challenge too; he likes pushing himself and he can tell A2 is fast, not trying to kill of course, both of them are using the reverse of their swords, but he wishes he were in a world where he could try his flashstep and see how far he could go. Instead, he tries to sidestep her efforts to force him back, aiming to come around and swing at her from the side.]

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[precedents]

[ decapitating isn't her style, sry2say.

she wasn't sure what she was expecting when she agreed to spar with him, but this is definitely far beyond the realm of her expectations. androids are hard-wired to enjoy battle, be it fighting hordes of mindless machines or surprisingly agile humans, and this isn't exactly a fight, no, but there are hints of one simmering beneath the surface. she can see it in the way he steps to the side, light on his feet and more alert than she would have initially given him credit for; she can see it in the way they meet and separate, how he switches up his movements each time to find a better angle, observing and adjusting accordingly.

there is the undercurrent of something a little bit like surprise, a little bit like awe -- humans have always been capable of achieving greatness, striving to accomplish the impossible, to fulfill their dreams no matter what they may be, even when they are only met with failure. maybe that's why yorha had modeled them after humans, filling each of them with false memories of a lifetime they would never be able to return to.

"i mean, after all... we all need something to fight for, don't we?"

her fingers tighten on the hilt of her sword; she sets her jaw. her next strike is stronger than her previous ones, unleashing an arc of energy. ]

[splinten]

[It comes unexpected and Dirk jolts back, stepping aside and gaining space to protect himself from getting hit harder.]

Okay, that was fucking cool.

[It makes him more determined to come back and attack, an enthusiasm for the challenge rising in him. He likes hard fights. And hey, he used to build fighting robots, set them to kill, and train on them. This is a lot more fun with a much smarter android.]

fi&ii

[reckoner]

[ Once yanking the blade from the ground (with less ceremony and feeling of accomplishment than might have accompanied the task in stone), Gaelio looks over the sword, adjusting his grip.

The only swords used in actual combat had been massive, affixed to mobile suits and his Kimaris, and those less swords -- a foldable combat knife and Gungnir, the massive lance. Utilized through the machine's controls and not by holding the weapon in hand.

His experience with hilts, then, was narrow: foil, épée, sabre. Fencing and that rigidity of form. After a few seconds, he looks up, across to Dirk, shrugging. ]

It's fine if it hurts. [ Blandly. After all, the healers need to practice, too. ] But, practically speaking, I've only fenced.

[splinten]

[Hm.]

Well, you've got more places to make me bleed with this. Up for learnin' by doin'?

[reckoner]

How else?

[ Though he doesn't intend to make Dirk bleed, and given that the teen teaches, won't assume he could.

This sword in his grip - far from an épée, to which he'd been relegated once the trajectory of his height was clear, whatever the personality clash. Yet, knowing only that stance, his body shifts back to it, as though it hadn't been years. ]

Let's go.

[splinten]

You never heard of book learning, bro?

[Dirk shifts his grip on the sword; he steps in and closes distance fast to swipe at Gaelio's side. Dirk is fast, but no more than humanly fast; flashstep isn't an option here. He has turned his blade around to avoid actually cutting Gaelio if he hits, but he expects to stop his blade before doing so anyway; it's how he fought with Jake usually so he has practice.]

[reckoner]

Have you got a book?

[ ...bro?

Not distracting enough to keep him from movement. It's been awhile, too long, since standing like this, since moving. He steps back, fast himself despite his size, but of course Dirk does not keep within the lunge, still moving. This isn't fencing. Gaelio swings the blade to deflect, only just in time, and awkward in it. ]

[splinten]

[He doesn't go after him to hurt him; it's a strong hit when their blades meet, trying to push Gaelio back, but he doesn't intend on seeing any pain. There's no real pause between the clash of swords and Dirk sliding his forward past Gaelio to strike at him again. 'Relentless' is kind of how he rolls.]

I've got a pen.

[reckoner]

[ Strength he's got, so Gaelio manages to hold his ground, but it has been too long. But fencing bore little resemblance to close, hard clashes of this kind. But the tremendous crashing of behemoth metal in mobile suits and Kimari Vidar demanded markedly different muscle reflex.

The second strike hits, his blade and step too slow. Gaelio frowns at his own hand, a dull wince in it. ]

Don't waste your ink.

[ And lunges. ]

[splinten]

[Dirk parries readily and moves to get around Gaelio. It's an aggressive style of combat, if a careful one, and highly fast-paced.

One might described it as 'speedster dps' rather than 'tank.' Sadly, Dirk tries to tank too often, but at least he's being good here.]

f;

[humenity]

[ Eleanor herself is both experiences with fighting, yet... inexperienced with what she has been given. And so, she'll approach him with some uncertainty. ]

... I would appreciate it. But, I have to forewarn you. I'm not experienced with the sword. [ She wants to make sure she stays on top of her training and all. Still, she does wish that she had a lance to work with... ]

[splinten]

What kind of weapon are you most used to?

[It's an important starting point, both to understand where she might slip up and to help point her to better swords.]

[humenity]

I was trained to fight with a lance. ... I suppose that it's mostly the distance and the weight I'll need to become accustomed to.

[ She'll do her best, but... she's definitely all ears for what he has to say next, too. ]

[splinten]

We might be able to get you a staff fashioned. If that's better. But if it's sword you want to practice, yeah, range'll likely be what gets you.

[All of his movements are designed around the specific length of his weapon. Losing that would throw him.

For his part, he flips his katana, ensuring he won't cut her in the fight. He knows how to hold back, but it's safer with new kids. Not everyone is Jake and enjoys combat with live weaponry.

For that matter, not everyone is him.]

[humenity]

Is there someone especially knowledgable about that sort of thing here?

[ She'd be pretty surprised if that was the case... ] Though, I don't particularly mind learning how to properly fight with a sword, either.

wtf i lost the notif for this IGNORE IT IF IT IS TOO LATE i am just baffled

[splinten]

Alphonse can create weapons using alchemy when we're on high frequency words. Outside of it, I'm not sure we could get much further than a knife tied to the end of a stick. Right basic concept, but maybe not ideal for actual combat.

[He gives a brief nod.]

Versatility is never a disadvantage. If you're ready, we can start with learning by doing.

no worries!!

[humenity]

... I haven't met Alphonse myself, but that ability sounds amazing. [ There's awe in her tone. She knew that magic abilities could differ from person to person greatly, but she never thought of something like using alchemy to make weapons... ]

If I meet him, I may request for assistance with a weapon then, but for now-- I'll try my hand at using a sword.

[splinten]

Sword up, then.

[His comes up too, and he flips it over so he'll be attacking with the dull edge.]

When you're ready.