quest log | wilder training

[faileas]

Who: Those who signed up for the High-Risk Quest "Wilder Training"
When: 08/09 to 08/12
Where: A camp on the south-western edge of the Wilde.
What: From the quest information itself: "Outside of the recruitment, the Wilders are also offering training for anyone who'd like it regardless of bonds and experience. They'll be taken into a safe, slightly infected area in order to hone skills of magic (both Witch and Monster based), how to handle different weapons available, have lectures on things to look for in the field, and finally a test to see what they've learned. No notes allowed."
Warnings: None in the log post itself; if anything comes up, let us know, and we'll make sure to add it here.

The Way There

The training camp party gathers just outside of the city's walls before the sun begins to rise; once heads are counted and everyone is accounted for, Yvette Tressa - the same Witch who led the expedition into Smugha Cave - will start the march through Dead Man's Land, following the river. It isn't quite dark at this period of dawn, the bare landscape painted a washed-out blue by what small light there is, and as the sun settles into the early morning sky they reach their first destination - the edge of the Wilde. Rowboats large enough to fit five or six people (or a few significantly larger people) bob gently up and down where they're tied, the runes marking around the area marking it as protected by a barrier; keen eyes will notice these are the same as what the Wilders and the Coven have been setting up around Smugha Cave.

The party is herded into the boats and sent up the river into the Wilde, the boats gently rowing themselves against the current. The trees of the Wilde have slowly, almost imperceptibly, been shifting to a new color as summer turns into fall outside of it: browner and fully dead, with fewer leaves hanging from their branches, as if winter has finally come. The air is also significantly cooler the deeper they row into up the river, the breeze a sharp string of cold when it blows, and several Wilders shiver despite their being used to it. The journey is a quiet one, the river ducking out of the Wilde when the sun is at its highest point - the area is changed from the familiar fields around Aefenglom around this small bend, with dozens of flowers waving their faint scent in the still chilly breeze. No two flowers look the same, but the boat ride doesn't stop there: it continues back into the Wilde, leaving the sweet smell behind them.

The sun is still visible where they dock, noting it as a little later in the afternoon; further ahead, the river splits two ways, and it's to the left side the party will be guided. As they come upon the split's left side, the trees begin to thin in a way similar to the area around Smugha Cave, their branches cleaned up and the start of infection scraped from their sides - and then abrupt barrenness as it becomes clear just what the trees now suddenly missing have been used for: A fortified camp, well-protected by its high, sturdy wooden walls, the tops of them sharpened to a point. As the party draws closer, runes of protection are easy to notice, carved line after line in the thick, wood logs.

Training Camp: Sauf

Located on the edge of the Wilde (the red dot; the navy dot is Smugha Cave, for a point of reference), Sauf is a fairly large camp equipped with all of the basic necessities. Used year-round for various training exercises, Sauf is home to around twenty "permanent" residents - that is, those who have volunteered to stay the year - and otherwise hosts trainees, instructors, researchers, and so on. Look-outs are positioned all around the camp's edge, manned by at least one pair of Wilders, and a large communal fire pit sits in the middle of the camp. The main entrance is on the south side, with smaller ones located on the other three sides.

The north side of the camp is where characters will find their living quarters for their weekend stay: large, sturdy tents designed to hold several dozen people comfortably. Given the Wilde's chill, these are kept toasty and warm through the use of small piles of heat stones similar to the larger ones found in the city during the snow last month. Also on the north side is the mess hall, where characters can get some grub or hang out and mingle with their fellow trainees, mirrorbound and native alike.

The east and west sides of the camp are where the training takes place. Each side has a different function, however: the east side is for more individual-based training, with dummies and moving targets, both magically-repairing, and instructors, while the west side is for arena-based training - that is, fighting one another. Any type of match-up is considered fair and reasonable, and fights go on intermittently over the days, as does betting.

Finally, the south side of the camp is home to the meeting hall, a large stone building; while not currently in use, it remains an important fixture nonetheless. The healer's wards are also located here as two tarped areas that hug both walls, which provides medical help for those coming in or who have been injured during training, and protection for those venturing out.

I. A Primer On Witches


In addition to weapons training - which, specific to Witches, comes in the form of long-reach weaponry such as lances, quarterstaffs, or halberds - they offer instruction in spells that come in handy while needing to defend oneself and others in the Wilde.

• Abjuration 1: Barriers, shields, alarms.
• Abjuration 2: Healing (both lower level and advanced courses), dispels.
• Alchemy 1: Potion-brewing for healing draughts, magic draughts, potions that can cure basic ailments (poison, paralysis, sleep).
• Alchemy 2: Arrays to create on-the-go bombs (palm-sized) of the offensive and smoke varieties, weapons of various types, all from materials able to be found around and on oneself.
• Conjuration 1: Temporary camps (tents and campfires), various magical weapons, food and water (not very filling nor hydrating, essentially as a just-in-case thing).
• Conjuration 2: Living creatures such as animals and insects, a variety from the harmless/watcher-type to more offensively-based ones.
• Divination 1: Scrying on the fly using pocket mirrors, running water as a medium, speaking with animals (sometimes not extremely helpful given their lower intelligence).
• Divination 2: Finding magic via a scavenger hunt, how to enter a dream-like trance to access the subconscious and interpretation of signs found there.
• Enchantment 1: Charm spells that work against either humanoids, Monsters, or animals, which make the target more friendly or a straight-up ally; some target will know they've been charmed.
• Enchantment 2: Strengthening spells such as for physical, mental, or magical power, as well as elemental imbuing for weapons and other objects.
• Evocation 1: Single-target elemental spells and how to control them, particularly fire and ice for the latter, with elements also including earth/stone, water, lightning, and wind.
• Evocation 2: Multiple-target elemental spells with the same instruction and types as above, as well as multiple-target healing spells.
• Illusion 1: Visual illusions (people, animals, items), larger illusions (areas, buildings, bigger varities of aforementioned types).
• Illusion 2: Audio illusions, how to tie them together with visual illusions.
• Transmutation 1: Transforming oneself or one's items and back again, as well as mending minor objects.
• Transmutation 2: Transforming other people or other people's items and back again, as well as how to do it sneakily.

II. A Primer On Monsters


In addition to weapons training - which, specific to Monsters, comes in the form of short-reach weaponry such as swords and axes - they offer instruction in the special traits and perks each Monster has, particularly ones that come in handy when defending oneself or others in the Wilde.

• Arachne: Speed/jumps and web-spinning, either as traps or in use as rope, whip, etc.
• Chimera: Fighting blind and/or deaf to avoid charms, illusions, and curses.
• Dragon: Breath abilities, both how to use them and the finer points of control.
• Fae: Creating illusions and seeing through them, with a heavy focus on landscape and areas rather than creatures or objects.
• Faun: Plant growth, with a focus on naturally revitalizing plants and ones with more offensive uses, such as bomb-nuts and carnivorous flowers.
• Harpy: Singing lessons, as well as flying lessons with the use of wind magic should one have it.
• Merrow: Water magic, with an experimental focus on purifying it for drinking or bathing purposes.
• Naga: Speaking to water and empathizing with it, as well as instruction on the proper and ethical usage of hypnosis.
• Puca: Impersonation practice, with shapeshifting into someone they know or see and mimicking their voice and way of speaking.
• Turnskin: Sense training, particularly smell and hearing, with the use of blindfolds.
• Vampire: Casting thralls, and proper measures to take against the sun.

III. Partnering Up


Skills and spells are both useful while out in the Wilde, but one's biggest asset is their partner - or partners, plural. The Wilders will pick at random two or three people to partner up and do a variety of things in order to build trust and clear communication, such as your ordinary trust-falls or a game of telephone, as well as things that might be a little more on the side of seeing just how far they can go: clothes-switching (you don't know a man - or Monster - until you've walked a mile in their shoes), taking care of an inanimate object together, and being connected to one another for several hours, courtesy of some enchanted pair bracelets that won't allow their wearers to move more than a foot from the other half of their pair.

Outside of that, they'll be offering up the opportunity for those without Bonds to try temporarily Bonding to whoever their eyes land on first (with a quick, non-ceremonial shot of silver liquid), as well as fighting together against other pairs or tamed beasts (with or without the Bond) in the arenas.
IV. A Little Exploration


On the final day of the weekend training excursion, everyone is once again gathered - this time for the test promised to them. It isn't a pen and paper test, however, but one to test how well they've retained the training offered to them. In the early morning, the group will set out north-west of the camp; the path begins well-trod, but overgrowth soon begins to get underfoot. Patches of frost begin to show up as well - perhaps it's the Wilde's odd season at work.

Or perhaps it's something else.

Entire trees are encased in ice, their branches looking like arms reaching out or twisted around themselves; the bark resembles faces, with hair curled to their chins, and while some may have the sinking feeling that appearances might not just be appearances, the humanoids frozen mid-stepping from similarly frosted trees may all but confirm it.

Dryads, frozen in time, the Cwyld dark and trapped beneath the ice - or maybe those are remnants of the fire that was an attempt at culling the infection before it could begin. Some of them are cracked and broken, their limbs lost, while others are perfectly preserved.

There won't be too much time to stop and stare, however; this is a test, and the enemies of the day become apparent:


• Ice wolves. With a chilly bite and a tendency to work in pairs and groups, it's worth doing just the same to take them down. Their paws are black and crusted with mud and Cwyld infection, their eyes bright and unseeing - and though they may be blind, the rest of their senses have become even stronger in response.
• Snow elementals. Large and actually made of a mix of ice and snow, their patches of Cwyld streak across their white bodies - it makes them easy to see in all the white, but gives them some resistance to the traditional use of fire to melt them. They primarily rely on ice spikes and other related magics, ut will throw a heavy punch if gotten too close to.
• Withered ents. Ordinarily peaceful, these normally massive moving trees are as tall as a one-story house due to hunching over from the cold and ice that covers them. Similar to the wolves, their large, gnarled hands are covered in the black of the Cwyld, but only one eye is the blind white that marks infection - the other is hollow and sunken in. Roots and heavy earth shakes are their primary skills, being otherwise slow to move, and they avoid fighting where there are dryads.
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Comments

OOC QUESTIONS

[moustre]

[usurpers]

what kind of exercises would we see for dragons training their breath? a variety of breathing exercises? control varying with intensity (hotter fire, larger streams), etc, or is there more to it?

and second question: after the tests are completed, what answer would eren get if he were to ask about the frozen dryads/infected? when did that happen?

[showsnopiety]

Would the weapons be more of an European influence? Do they have dull weapons for practice or do they have wooden practice weapons?

Are there also specific Witch-Monster lessons of the monster protecting the Witch so they have time to cast?

[warfares]

what kind of measures can vampires take against the sun? are there spells or potions they could use? if so, where would you typically go for something like that? could their bonded (if their bonded is a witch) cast or create these for them? are there more permanent solutions like an enchanted piece of jewelry they could wear ala the vampire diaries?

also, how many of these permanent camps are there out of interest.

Lady Maria | OTA

[whomthebelltolls]

[1: I swing both ways. Violently. With a bat.]

[Or, in this case, a staff. Long-range two-handed weapons are, by far, not Maria's cup of tea. She's brought her Rakuyo - and her Evelyn, as well, being this far into the Wilde - but the trainers have given her the option to diversify her fighting style, and so she is.

Training dummies are her target this time, and while her form needs some work, the speed and power cannot be denied. Except she has the worst habit of doing a two handed overhead slash and followup that are trained specifically for her Rakuyo, but are very odd with a staff. So, the trainers think to set her out against someone else. They know she's good, they want her to prove it against someone else.

She takes her staff to the center of the arena, and taps the bottom of it on the arena. Already, the jeers seem to favor her. But honestly, she has a whanger of a headache anymore, and it's not abated much since the full moon, so her concentration is... iffy. In fact, it isn't really all that long before she's on her back and staring at her opponent, blinking against the backlighting of the sun, head throbbing from the impact, and the teacher calling for first aid and a halt to the fight.]

[2: Gay Baby Jail]

[Ooooor she could be the sorest loser and want nothing more than to take it out on the next person to cross her in the arena. Rakuyo in hand, Maria might have accidentally (read: purposefully) gone way too hard against one or two of her opponents and injured them. In fact, for the rest of the day, until night time, she's relegated to practice dummies only. Instead, she elects to sit over by the wall, hunched over, her sword in its sheath leaned up against her chest, trying to rub the ache out from around her nose. It's not working.

The native Witches know the signs, she can hear the whispers, and she doesn't care. The magical practice has been relieving in a lot of ways, but it's still not enough, and she doesn't care. It's also been educational. She hasn't been working much on ice, but now she's got a few simple spells in her repertoire, along with the strong basis in fire she's already shown, and the growing proficiency in lightning magics, as well.

Truly, though, she isn't looking too sociable at the moment. Too bad! She should be bugged anyway. It's almost dinner, as it is, and she isn't willing to head toward the mess hall yet.]

[3: You see these shackles baby, I'm your slave]

[Actually, good luck with that. There's not too many good words to describe the expression on Maria's face as the shackles close around her - and her unfortunate new partner's - wrists. "Indignant" just isn't quite strong enough. She jerks her arm, and feels resistance, watches it jerk her "partner's" arm.

Then, she stares in a mild form of disbelief at the trainer, while slowly, slowly feeling the urge rising to remove the distinctly smug look from his face. Likely with a sword.] What are you doing?

[She knows what it is, it's a trust exercise, there's just a level of incomprehension that at some point they thought it would be a good idea to involve her. And then, she turns to her newfound friend, with that same disbelieving look.] You cannot be alright with this.

[4: We're going to Candy Mountain, Charlie! - CW: Blood]

[It's always easy, to get back into the habit of her Hunting days. Every time, though, she notices the lack of Bloodlust, and she never really thought she'd miss it, but it had so many uses to her. It made pain so much more dull... it made her body so much more powerful...

... And it made her mind so much less... fragile. It would dull the inevitable edge, the sinking feeling of death she could feel closing in upon her. It would not be the first time, though with some luck, it would be the last.

Maria's grip tightens on her Rakuyo. There's already a scorched trail of dead wolves and upset forest floor litter behind her, the rising din of the group she left behind to throw herself into the Wilde catching up, as she looms over a third corpse, well into her hunt for the alpha of this pack.

The training was useful for the small spells that she didn't use otherwise - to give her the knowledge and the edge she would need in a fight in the Wilde, and for that, she is grateful. But Maria is an old, stubborn, unruly sort, and so of course she's out on her own, striking deeper than recommended, testing the limits of the "leash" the Wilders put on her, and grinning in the face of the consequences. Even without the bloodlust, she still feels most alive when other things are dead. Even with the headache.

A pity she won't be able to get too used to it.

Panting, she drives her sword through the eye socket of the wolf at her feet. It gives with a gooey, splashing sound, and the sword point opens enough of a wound in the mouth for the blood to gush out. It smells like ozone, and cold rot, and death - not the sweet, coppery, delicious tang of blood, but something awful and corrupted and dead. She's come to be used to the scent of Cwyld infetion, though. And as the footsteps approach, she turns toward the group, front splattered in blood, sword through the eye of the wolf, and nods, cordially.] You will find no further prey here. I recommend somewhere else.

[5: Aces Wildcard]

[Hmu for anything else! Lighthearted camping shenanigans, other enemies in the Cwyld, magical target practice, or just fussing over the fact she's three months into being Unbonded and feels it. Unfortunately, no, she will not be doing the temporary bonding thing, it's definitely not her cuppa, though the other trust exercises are fair game. I am at Reslari or Reslari#9561 if you wanna hammer out more details!]

3

[fieryimpulse]

[Oh, why had she agreed to this? At all? Ever?

It wasn't that Chandra really objected to training, per-say. Even trust exercises, since some of her friends were big on those. But get-along shackles? No. That was crossing a line.]

...No.

[She recognizes Maria, the Hat Lady, of course. She's not terribly put out by the option but that doesn't stop her from giving the trainer a flat look.]

I am not thrilled.

2

[eightleaves]

[Rean was about to just walk right by, but he notices when someone's on the side of the path. It's hard not to notice Maria, honestly; she sticks out, if not because she's dressed strikingly then because Rean recognizes her from the training earlier. She was incredible; he thought she could be a Divine Blade if she were from his world. As a guy with a samurai sword and a penchant for stupid JRPG skills, this sort of thing is important.

He stops and looks down at her, a friendly smile curving his lips.]

That's a nice sword. I can't say I've seen anyone fight like you did out there-- you were like a one person army. But you left before I could ask to be partnered up with you.

1

[actuallyadork]

[It's been a while since Cloud had seen Maria around. Being pitted against her in a training match was not how he would have liked to say hello again. She didn't seem to be all there for one...

Still, a fight was a fight. Giant sword versus a staff. Didn't seem fair, but Cloud has fought staff users before. It wouldn't be too hard to get into the swing of things again... he just feels a pang of guilt when Maria goes down. He's quickly at her side, kneeling down.]

Are you okay?

4, rocking in late with starbucks

[gunsmithed]

I can see that.

[ There's a touch of the sardonic to Percy's voice as he steps forward, but it's friendly despite the edge. Once he'd seen the sword marks on the corpses she'd left, Percy had thought to have a fairly good idea of who was responsible for it, and he's somewhat pleased to be proven correct. Not just because he can think of much worse things to encounter.

Though the fact that he's holding his massive rifle loosely in his hands probably makes it clear that he's had his own share of the more dangerous sort. ]

Maria.

[ He nods once in a sort of greeting. ]

geralt | ota!

[niespodzianka]

The journey is easy compared to the kind of road life Geralt's used to, though the scenery and shift through biomes is interesting - and of course, reminiscent of the shared dream he experienced prior to waking up in this world. He's quiet, observant, and handy with seeing in the low light. He's torn between being appreciative of the organized efforts to train newcomers and thinking this is too little and not militant enough if what they're facing is as bad as what it appears to be. But he keeps his thoughts to himself, because he's here to learn. Intel's always been what's served him best, as a witcher; there's little value in being able to hit something very hard if you don't know where to land the blow.

🐺 a primer on witches;

[ He could use magic at home. Barely-there, slim cuts of magic that any mage worth their salt scoffed at, but magic all the same. Geralt's essentially being trying to recreate what he knows - moving no further than small, precise applications, bluntly forcing less-than-cooperative power to fit into shapes it doesn't want to fit into. Proper attempts tend to overshoot-- trying to turn a rock into a gem gets a toucan with rock feet that makes a loud noise then explodes into thick, glittery slime.

Oops.

He's better suited to combat, even if the need for longer-reach weapons baffle him. Witchers use swords, up close, leaving their off hand free to cast their small spells. While he's perfectly fine with learning to flip around something new, he's also open to discussing the merits of one-handed sword wielding.

Or fighting!! ]

🐺 partnering up;

Geralt is pretty good at catching people in trust falls, and it doesn't take all that much cajoling to get him to take his shirt off. (Good luck figuring out how to buckle yourself into his armor.) Temporary bonds, though - hard pass. It's a combination of polite but firm refusal and plain old ignoring the subject. Oof.

(a) Maybe he should have put his shirt on before getting magically handcuffed.

(b) Getting handed a giant egg with a baby face drawn on it is not his idea of a good time. "What the fuck is this?" he asks one of the instructors, who just serenely smiles at him - and his new friend. The egg feels too fragile in his hands, containing the as-yet-unscrambled goo of some creature he's unfamiliar with. Parenting during combat.

🐺 a little exploration;

[ This is more like it.

Beasts and elementals are known foes that Geralt's felled before, at home, and these are similar enough to be getting on with. The ents remind him of young leshens. He gains no animal satisfaction from causing mayhem, but there's a particular kind of calm in doing what he's supposed to be doing. Witchers are made to kill monsters, plain and simple. The heightened danger of being tagged by an opponent makes him wish for potions to use, but he shrugs the desire off quickly in favor of narrowing his senses to the bone.

Geralt is quick, and easily tracks multiple enemies and friendlies with almost preternatural awareness - something born not of mutations, but experience. Heads are lopped off, groups of wolves corralled, ents cornered towards the trees they skirt from. He tries for magic, here and there, but finds his backfires more often than not. ]

Shit, [ he hisses, once, a swing from an ent coming too close as his attempt at a magic push does nothing. He recovers, but it's a near thing.

Another moment, something besides sword-swinging that he's practiced in: grabbing someone who's not doing so hot by the back of their trousers and flinging them behind him, blocking the incoming blow from the elemental and forcing it back with a brutal strike. ]


( ooc; brackets and prose both fine! i'm open to whatever, shoot me a pm if you'd like to ask about anything specific. ♥ )

partnering up; b

[ua_duibhne]

[Diarmuid's not entirely sure what to make of his new partner just yet. The introductions have come and gone (using "Lancer" rather than his True Name, as usual) without issue but it's the clothing swap that might raise an eyebrows. Strapping himself into his armour wasn't too much of a chore- even if it is considerably heavier than he's used to- but handing over his own attire came with a weak apology. Putting on a skintight green two-piece probably wasn't at the top of Geralt's list of things to do today.

Then again, he doubts that babysitting an egg was either.

"Your new ward. Take good care of them- and maybe give them a name to help you get a little more attached to them."

A name...?]

Kayneth.

[It slips out before he can stop it. That way he won't be too disappointed when their parenting skills inevitably fall short and it breaks. Of course, guilt takes over a few seconds later and he quickly adds-]

Unless you had any other ideas, that is.

Towa Herschel | OTA

[overworker]

I. One (Tiny) Beginner Witch

[While this training is in fact probably exactly the thing she needs, she can't say that she's not a bit concerned about it. Her orbal gun is attached to her hip, but getting that to work is still in the very early stages of experimentation. So it wouldn't be a bad idea to at least try to work with something different for training purposes. The longer reach is at least somewhat playing to her strength but-- they're all long weapons, and rather tough to wield for someone as small as her.

...it won't stop her though. But for safety's sake, she chooses the quarterstaff. At least that way she's not waving around something pointy. That doesn't make it any less difficult for her to get used to the way one carries it, and just how aware of your larger surroundings you have to be anytime you move it. The tiny girl with a large stick might accidentally give you a good bump with it if you're not watching. She's not trying it, but-- unfortunately, maneuvering something that's longer than she is tall is... difficult.]

Haaah... sorry!! I'm... a-are you alright?

[But then, when it comes to the actual magic-- while there's nothing she's not about to try, her focus is on evocation first and illusion and divination after. During which time, that staff is left FIRMLY on the ground... please don't trip over it.]

III. Won't You Be My Partner?

[Whether it's caring for an inanimate object or switching clothes or whatever-- these kinds of activities, Towa isn't against trying even if some of them are a little questionable.]

Some of these tests seem kind of fun, actually.

[Others, well-- Towa doesn't know how she feels about this kind of temporary bond scenario. Training for the eventual she understands, but just throwing two people together at a whim seems a little reckless. But she hasn't had the opportunity so she can't turn it down now. If the time comes that someone wants to rely on her, she wants to be ready to support them. So, even if it's for a short while she should learn to do this. Maybe she's not so confident now, but she'll do everything she can to make the bond work. Ultimately, she's willing to accept the bracelet-- and whatever bond it will get her involved in.]

IV. Practical Examination Time

[It's a little intimidating, since this is her first time really embarking on such a task. But that's not enough to stop her. If nothing else, she has her training from Thors to rely on-- and her gun is still locked in at her side, even if the staff that they'd given her for proper training purposes is also strapped to her back.

At least combat situations aren't new to her. So when the monsters approach, she's ready. Pulling the staff out in front of her she takes a deep breath and nods.]

...don't let your guard down. Focus on the enemies first. Once the area is secure, then we can investigate the area.


IV. Wildcard

[Towa is working hard to improve her skills so she feels ready to support her friends, so there's nothing she's not willing to try! She might be shaky on the bond aspect until her confidence is a bit more stable, but she's gonna give it an A+ effort...]

III.

[rollfordiplomacy]

[There's an older man looking over the bonding options and Towa's comment grabs his attention. Though he only had the start of horns poking out from his hair at this point, it's clear he's no witch. He should really try to find some to work with, so he will strike up a conversation with her]

I agree, quite the curious offering of tasks. Which might you be interested in, good miss?

Caren Ortensia | OTA

[showsnopiety]

I: A mess hall

[caren was tired. It was mostly due to the travelling and the work that she was doing. And while it was fine in here-it was warm-the problem was...it was a little too warm. She was drooping...drooping....

Someone save her from falling asleep on the table-or worse, on her food. It might be a stew...]

II:

(A) chimera's weapon

[It was kind of weird. They were having her go through some various drills for various weapons-for her now hardened fingernails, to axes, to various daggers and swords. When she explained how she was used to using a magic weapon, they had hummed and hawwed, but after seeing her stance, they were happy to put her into drills.

And after putting her into drills long enough to make her sweaty and limp, they told her to put on the blindfold and go after the 'dummy', with her wooden weapon.

Which was...well this was new to her. And knowing it's a mirrorbound as her partner, she frowned vaguely in their direction.]

Are you really all right with this? You might get hurt.


(B) 'yond being a dummy

[When they got her out of the drills, they shuffled her off into the arena. She kept wondering if she should get a lance or pike instead, like some of the weapons but...

She rolled her shoulders, and gave a soft huff. At least they weren't expected to maul each other.]

All right.

[She brought up her weapons-which could have been her hands or a dagger or even an axe.]

You better not whine at me when you lose.

(C) Watching things go down

[Caren was taking a break from all the arena fighting and from the practice dummies and what not-maybe it was intentional from the teacher's point of view, as she tended to go too far, and for too long if given the chance. Her wings were fluffed up, and half extended over her back; her small tail curled in into a near shape of a question mark as she watched, trying to take in the fight that was going on in front of them.

Without looking away, she piped up:]

Five hundred cene on the witch in the floppy hat.

[Any takers?]

III:

(A) Not so enchanting

Why are we-this is stupid.

[She didn't like this. SHE DIDN'T LIKE THIS. It was rude and she didn't want to be stuck to anyone! She even tried to walk away-only to have the magic collide with the other person wearing the other bracelet. She made a wordless noise of frustration, yanking her hand away.]

Let's just take these off and do something else. We really don't need to do this.

[She hates this trust exercise. SO MUCH.]

(B) Time to axe a few things down

[She's far more grimly satisfied with this one. So much so, that her tail is lashing out of satisfaction. Sure, she's been in the arena more then once but...this was different. This was about protection.

Holding onto her weapon-or weapons if she had a dagger and sword-she moved into a crouch, her eyes narrowed. But there was one thing she had to ask her partner.]

Do you remember the plan...?

[That's important. Else it was going to be a mud show.]

IV:

(A) What she's been waiting for CW: violence

[This was better. It was better then the camp, strangely enough-not that she disliked the heat but...the cold made her feel better. Maybe it was her wings and the tail; maybe it was a mix of the chimera traits that were raising to the fore. She wasn't entirely sure.

But she finds herself instead of something easy for a amataur like her, with an ent. An angry ent, in the middle of an open area. Caren found herself having to run around and make noise, and doing a lot of dodging when it came to the roots and the earth shakes. She was able to brace herself with the shakes, but the roots-that took a lot of acrobatics. She hadn't even known she could do some of the fl-

And a smack of an ent had her exhale, harsh and sharp, as she flew in the air-and skidded and tumbled over the snow when she landed. One wing half poked up.]

Ow.

V: Wildcard

Anything goes! And if you're not sure, catch me on my plurk or discord!

III-A

[fiddlestick]

We've only been doing it a few minutes, Caren.

[Elliot meanwhile, seems a lot more calm about this exercise. He was pretty used to trust exercises from Class VII, and having to stay close to other people. Sure usually sticking close wasn't so literal, but he could get the point of it.]

Sometimes we'll have to work with people in tight spaces. This is good practice.

Elliot Craig | OTA

[fiddlestick]

I-A: Fight Training
[It's a rare day when Elliot is in a combat training course and is doing pretty well compared to the rest of his classmates. Quarterstaves aren't all that different from his orbal staff, so he already has a leg up on using it. Sure, he's not physically strong enough to take out people with just a wooden stick and no magic, but he's holding his own. Enough so that he'll provide tips to people around him that are struggling]

You want your hands further apart than that, it'll make it easier to control.

I-B: Magic Training
[Elliot took a smattering of courses through the trip, trying to pick any of the ones that seemed useful to him. Which honestly translated to most of them, though he seemed to decline on the second divination course. Overall, he seems to be doing well at following instruction and trying to learn what he can!

At least, until he hits Illusion 2. There, he finds himself getting wholly distracted by the audio illusions. So while the class is supposed to be working on mimicking animal calls, Elliot instead seems to be trying to make phantom instrument sounds. And so anyone near him will get to hear the occasional blaring sound of a horn or strum of a violin]

Hmmm...no, that's not right. That sounds more like a bugle than a trumpet...hmm...

[He's going to be at this quite awhile unless someone interrupts him or a teacher decides to lecture him]

III: Trust Exercises
[Elliot doesn't have any issues with the exercises. Learning how to work with partners and teams was a huge part of Class VII. Sure some of these activities were different than what Thors used, but the principal was the same.

The clothes switching though....well, as a small guy whose stands a grand 5'4", he's less sure about that]

Er...will this stuff even fit?

IV: The Test
[The final day, and while Elliot is a little nervous about the test, he's been through enough to keep his mind level about it. He has his own orbal staff with him, and he's wandering the area- inspecting for clues. ]

This place...other than the ice, doesn't it kinda remind you of that dream?

V: Wildcard
[Hit me up for anything else! Elliot will be participating in most witch related activities, and is pretty easy to work with as a partner! ]

kylo ren - ota.

[warfares]

( i have a catch-all over here with the camp specific starters here and here. if you'd like something specific, feel free to hit me up via pm or at resurrectionist. )

john childermass / ota

[atouts]

i. a primer on witches - shields

[ While a chance to see what lay outside the walls of Aefenglom was an equally important reason to get Childermass — who doesn't seem particularly well-suited to combat training in the wilderness — to sign on for the little training expedition, it was always a chance to practice this new magic and observe others doing the same that really fueled his interest. He's no stranger to hard work, though, so the trip out here make no real difference to him, nor do the bleak surroundings of the fort.

Now that they've arrived and moved on to actual training, however, he spends most of his time by the practice dummy side of things.

Initially, he's trying to work out strengthening the shield he'd been able to summon back in the dream, which doesn't call for practice dummies, and so he's off to one side, focusing on raising a faintly iridescent wall in front of himself. It flickers in the light, curving to cover both front and sides, though it isn't a complete circle yet.

He's been closing his eyes while raising it with one hand, picturing how he wants it in his mind first, but the real question is strength. Can it take a blow? To that end, once he has it raised, he turns to look for the nearest witch or monster practicing with either a weapon or some kind of spell they can throw at other things. Once he spots one, he'll call over to them. ]

You over there! [ Yes, you. ] Would you mind trying to hit me?

[ Odd request, he knows, and realizing that some people here might actually go all out, he adds, ]

Without trying to kill me, please. I'm not sure if my shield will actually hold yet.

ii. a primer on witches - scavenger hunt

[ And when it isn't about shields, he's gone ahead and joined the silly little scavenger hunt to help practice tracking magic. In this, he already has a talent, having been able to do a similar sort of spell back home. Magic has always drawn him towards it, here it turns out to be no less once he puts the effort in. Which means he may be one step ahead of the other seekers, even obnoxiously so. ]

Behind those barrels. [ He'll say just as he and another on the scavenger hunt step into the mess hall, already looking towards the barrels of who knows what kind of supplies pushed up against the far wall. Though even after saying that, he pauses, eyes narrowing a hint. ] I think...

[ Now that they're in the hall at all, he's realizing quite a few other sources of magic are pulling his attention towards the kitchen, too. ]

There's a lot of magic coming from where all the pots and pans are kept, too.

iii. wildcard.

[ There isn't any scenario he wouldn't be specifically avoiding, either, so if these two don't work, feel free to hit me with whatever you want to do. ]

1 - shields primer

[warfares]

( an unexpected request, maybe, but a quick glance the stranger’s way proves to be enlightening.

he’s seen shields like this before. had attempted to conjure one himself, once, out in the field; it had been a brittle thing, however. half-formed. nothing quite like this: pulsing and vibrant. )

Do you have a preference? ( a wave of his hand toward one of the weapon’s racks. )

rean schwarzer | harpy | open to all

[eightleaves]

[ii. you can't fly, you can't fly]

[Rean is fairly sure he's not a witch at this point, as he's tried to use magic for days only for nothing to happen. He's not even sure he needs a proper diagnosis. Considering the dream he had, he asks a few questions, and he gets sorted into harpy training. Much to his surprise he can actually use some of this wind magic they're born with. Of course, it's not a lot, but it's enough to get him a slight jumping boost.

... He'll have to take notes on this for later, when he's stronger.

One thing he does figure out, mostly by accident, is that wind magic can be used in a few different ways-- such as accidentally blowing over the person standing in front of you while you're in class.]

Gah, I'm sorry! Are you okay?

[This is more magic than he's used to having, okay!!!]

[iii. bonds are not meant to be broken]

[People partnered up with Rean will find that he does great with the trust exercises. He's careful to note where people are going so they don't get too far apart, and he's great at catching those who fall onto him, assuming he's not falling into them first...

What's strange, however, is temporary bonds. Rean just can't keep them. He seems okay with drinking the liquid even if he's not enthusiastic, but it doesn't last long. Sometimes it breaks in the middle of a fight against another pair in the arena, a feeling of something sharp in the chest as Rean pulls ahead to take on both opponents by himself. Or maybe it happens later during some innocuous exercise as Rean loses focus in the middle of it.

If that's not enough, this keeps happening... and it keeps making him feel worse.]

[iv. the day of the exam]

[Rean doesn't have much to offer in terms of monster qualities right now, but he still has a sword and he's still strong enough to swing it in a way that can murder. He fights... recklessly, to put it simply: using more strength to chop down the snow elementals that stand in his way. He dodges nimbly out of danger and weaves back in, whirling viciously, and even leaps onto its back in order to swipe at its head.

Of course, fighting recklessly has its disadvantages. His miscalculates how much time he has to move and gets thrown about twenty feet, landing on his back instead of his feet, and he takes a second to get back up. He clutches at his heart with his left hand, breathing hard.]

[v. obligatory wildcard option]
[You know the drill. fonfabre if you wanna plot.]

III

[fiddlestick]

[Picking Rean as a temporary bond partner had been a no-brainer. Rean and him had linked all the time back home, and in fact had be one of the first in Class VII to pull off a successful link along with Gaius. So he hadn't expected any trouble from a bond with Rean at all.

And at first, it had been true. At first, he figured any odd feeling from the Bond came from them being rusty at this, and a round with some tamed beasts were the perfect way to shake any cobwebs out.

Except midway through the fight...Elliot feels a sharp pain in his chest as the Bond breaks. He doesn't even realize what the feeling is as first, since he's never had problems linking before]

O-Ow! [His hand leaves his staff to grab his chest. What the heck...? ]

lloyd bannings | ota

[cspd]

i. magic training: divination 2
[ If you're teaming up with Lloyd for the magical scavenger hunt, you might get your A without actually doing shit on the group project, because this is clearly Lloyd in his element. He's attentive, good at picking up on the small things, and zeroes in on things like a bloodhound on the trail.

He also clearly enjoys the hell out of finding all this stuff. You clearly made a good choice, partnering up with the detective for this exercise.

Except eventually, he looks at you, and laughs a little awkwardly. ]

I should really stop monopolizing this and let you get some practice too, huh?


ii.magic training: illusion 1
[ This, on the other hand? Is clearly not his strong suit.

He starts strong, to be fair! His illusions have a lot of attention to detail, a lot of the little things that make them seem more real.

They just...don't ever seem to last very long, and after the seventh one fizzles out, he sighs. ]

If only this were as easy as divination.


iii. weapons training
Lloyd has a weapon and he's very comfortable with it, thank you very much - but options are never a bad thing, so he's perfectly willing to set aside his tonfa and go a few rounds with a quarterstaff.

...he keeps trying to close in. Too close for the staff to be that effective, really. ]

Sorry. I guess I'm too used to fighting closer than this.


iv. wildcard me
[ I'm always open to someone else's excellent ideas! ]

iii

[sylphid]

[Fie decides to try something a little different than normal, which is why when she steps back (again), she lets an axe rest at her side.]

You're not trusting the weapon. [Wow, Fie, that's pretty insightful.] No wonder it hates you.

[That's better.]

Percy de Rolo | OTA

[gunsmithed]

i. A PRIMER ON WITCHES

[ At the mention of long-range weaponry Percy's expression brightens just a little, an expression that immediately falls back off his face as he gets a look at the assembled pole-arms. He might be able to handle a longsword well enough, but these are clearly not his style, and it's pretty immediately evident. He's not completely hopeless with the halberd he's been handled, but for someone used to being fast and agile in a fight, Percy is clearly not enjoying being comparatively clumsy.

He manages a few strikes against the training dummy in front of him, gritting his teeth as the contact vibrates down the length of the weapon, and finally plants the end of the halberd in the ground to lean on it. Something out of the corners of his eyes catches his attention and he turns to shoot a not-quite-smile at someone observing his less than impressive efforts. ]

Honestly, what is this going to do? If something gets that close, your options are already limited.

[ Says the man who tends to fight from a minimum of thirty feet away. ]

ii. PARTNERING UP

[ Percy's managing well enough with the various tasks that keep getting thrown at them. He won't touch the temporary bonds with the halberd he still isn't completely comfortable with and the rest are increasingly ridiculous, but he's doing enough ridiculous things in his life that he can get through without too much sighing.

At least until the trainer smiles and encourages him to trade his clothing with someone nearby. Then the woman gets a look that suggests she might have just grown a second head before he draws up every inch of de Rolo nobility. He doesn't quite stick his nose in the air, but it's close. ]

I beg your pardon? Certainly not.

iii. A LITTLE EXPLORATION

[ And then they're sent out into the wild, and all of the indignities of training are immediately forgotten. Percy's ignored the offered weapons in favor of both his guns, pistol in hand while the large rifle stays on his back for the time being. This time he's brought something else as well, a metal gauntlet covering his left hand and forearm. It doesn't seem to do much good as armor, but he wears it comfortably enough that it clearly isn't getting in his way.

It doesn't take much to let himself be separated a bit from most of the group, at least far enough that he's less likely to catch someone with a shot by accident. It does mean that he can almost immediately hear the sounds of something coming towards him, and Percy lifts his pistol with an almost grim smile.

He takes out a good three quarters of the small wolf pack that scramble towards him before they can get close, but at least one manages to evade his shots to leap at him. Percy turns enough to take the brunt with his left side, reaching out to wrap his gauntleted hand around the wolf's muzzle to try to keep the teeth away. Until lightning suddenly pours out of the metal, catching the wolf full in the face and throwing it back a few good feet with a whimper. And Percy straightens up again, eyes darting around to see if anything else is coming. All that noise has probably attracted something, whether it be enemy or ally. ]

i~!

[niespodzianka]

You can't hold it like a sword, [ he says with a slightly apologetic shrug. ] But I agree with the sentiment. I hate that shit. It's for battlefield soldiers.

[ Geralt has relative respect for soldiers and understands the logistics - stabbing from a distance, having a removed center of gravity, being able to yank knights off horses - but the style has never worked with his profession. ]

Probably some nuance with spells I'm overlooking.

Soren | OTA

[silentsavant]

I. primer time
[ Close-range weapons and dragon's breath... Soren is not used to fighting like any of this, but to adapt to the slow changes in his physiology, it would be best to take advantage of some training if he wants more ways to defend himself on missions through the Wilde. Doubly so if he is a Cwyld-sensitive dragon. ]

a. a little dicey

[ One peculiarity Soren has noticed about himself is his newfound strength. He'd always been one of the most physically frail units on the battlefield, relying upon magic and speed to break past his enemies before they could so much as graze his poor defenses with metal. Now, however, he lifts even the heftier practice swords with ease that surprises him.

Even so, he opts for speed over pure power and picks something lightweight that can be wielded with one hand. Even while surrounded by mercenaries who aspired to get their daily sword training in, he's no natural by any means. Theory is no solid replacement for practice...

...but the fundamentals of each discrete component are not so difficult to master on an immobile straw dummy. What he needs to worry more about are moving, reacting targets and integrating each swordplay basic into a fine-tuned art. And having wings, now... That might change things up significantly. Perhaps he could use a living, talking target who is about as inept as he is, and they could learn from each other. Or maybe he'll luck out and find someone more seasoned than him who could provide better feedback. ]

Excuse me... How comfortable are you with sparring at the moment? I could use a partner.

b. breathing exercises

[ Soren focuses on within. He takes a deeeeep breath... and doubles over a little to start hacking into his sleeve. Over, and over, and over... Um. You gonna be okay there, buddy? ]

II. trust exercises

a. falling for it

[ BIG GRUMPY SIGH ]

I'm going to be completely honest. I don't trust anyone farther than I can fall.

[ Which isn't very far, by the way: he's 5'2". ]

But I should at least be able to trust that you're capable enough not to screw this much up.

[ So you won't, right? He is in SUCH a foul mood, and it shows... What a little stormcloud! Can you tell trust exercises are NOT his forte? Anyway, you'd BETTER catch him... ]

b. have a nice trip...

[ Whee! More trust exercises! This particular one requires one party be blindfolded, while the other must guide the sightless (verbally and/or physically) through a minefield of obstacles to get to the other side, many of which are enchanted booby-traps that trigger a number of harmless but annoying effects, such as make obnoxious noises, create a spout of water when stepped on, teleport the player to another point on the course... There's a wide variety. (Someone must have had fun setting this one up...) But what makes this exercise especially insidious for the blindfolded partner?

It's so much fun to guide them down the wrong path. Can you really trust someone not to get a good laugh at your expense??

But, well, here you are. And here Soren is, holding the blindfold and wearing resignation. He already knows you can't be trusted. ]

...Let's just get this over with. [ He holds it out to you. ] Why don't I let you do the honors?

c. temporary bonds

[ Soren has not sealed a Bond with anyone yet. He knows, logically, that it is in his best interest to do so — but the idea of being linked so intimately, so invasively to a near-stranger he's known for a maximum of three moons unsettles him. There's only one person in all of existence who he would ever want to Bond with, but he's somewhere on the other side of his mirror. Besides, he hasn't felt up to forming regular bonds with most anyone here, either.

But the alternative is growing increasingly scarier. He's not sure how long his current attempts to curb such moonstruck madness will last without one.

He's tested it with his exception to that inclination, however, in much the same manner these Witches are offering their vials. He doesn't resist at all; in fact, he's more amenable to the idea, and looks to his new temporary Bond prospect to calmly size them up, a bit of wariness embedded in his scrutiny. ]

I see merit in testing as many Bonds as I can to better understand who I am truly compatible with before making any commitments. What about you?

[ He's holding up his own vial, as though prompting whether to drink from them or not. ]

III. miscellaneous
((Have something else in mind? Want to play with another prompt, or create an entirely new one out of thin air for ourselves to play with? I am HIGHLY open to plotting and catering to specific characters! Just contact me via PM, over discord (paingel#4140) or add me on plurk at wingything. Thank you!))

trust exercises, b.

[tryhard]

Being randomly paired up with strangers to do trust exercises in not Waver's idea of a good time, but... well. Here he is. Iskandar had insisted they must go to this training to understand how to better prepare for being in this world and dealing with its dangers, and though Waver's sure he's not wrong, per se, this sort of thing seems far more aggravating than actually useful. Especially considering they're supposed to be doing it with strangers.

He doesn't like being separated from the person he'd actually intended to train with, since he hadn't known coming in that he wouldn't get a choice of partner, but--

As luck would have it, Waver's new buddy isn't actually a complete unknown. Waver takes a moment to recognize him, especially with his Monster features more established now than they had been some weeks ago, but it's a weird relief. The guy owes him, right? There's some semblance of trust to start with-- or if not trust, then at least basic obligation.

"Er... sure." He prefers to tie it on himself anyway. Waver takes the offered blindfold, hesitating only a moment before he pulls it around his eyes and secures it.

"Have you done anything like this before?"

Lambert | OTA!

[whattaprick]

1. a primer on monsters

[ On rounding a corner of the tents, or some other part of camp, one might suddenly find themselves running into a copy of themselves. It isn't a perfect duplicate by any means -- the nose might be a bit too big, identifying features either missing or on the wrong side of the body, some details on the clothing obscured -- but it's startlingly close. ]

Well? [ The doppelganger asks, the slightly nasal man's voice that comes out distinctly at odds with its current appearance. It places a hand on its cocked hip, pursing its lip and batting its eyes. ] How do I look, gorgeous?

2. partners

After having experienced the 'joy's of bonding in a dream, Lambert's in no hurry to pop any of those silvery potions himself. Instead, those saddled with the witcher for a partner will have to contend with:

a. Lambert looking terrifyingly maternal as he delicately balances what's easily got to be a fifty-pound sack of flour or beans or something on his hip, already swaddled up in a blanket with two dark voids for eyes painted on. He grins horribly at his fellow trainee, cooing:

"Aw, I think it's got your eyes. Wanna see?" Whereupon he'll promptly attempt to foist the fat-ass fake baby on his partner.

b. The witcher straightening as soon as the bracelets lock on their wrists and yank them to within a foot of each other, lifting his arm to better inspect the arrangement.

"Hmm. Now this is gonna make pissing awkward."

3. exploration

[ Those who happen to be striding next to Lambert will notice the witcher looking distinctly sour as the wind bites into his skin. Close enough, and you might hear him muttering under his breath: ]

If I'd known they were going to take us out here to freeze our tits off, I would've stayed in the city.

[ But finally, they get to their destination, and it's a real fight -- something that makes all the hanging out in this blasted cold worth it. Lambert doesn't spare much of a glance to the frozen, humanoid trees, already unslinging his steel sword from his back. Despite the twinge it leaves in his fingers, it's still not so bad that he can't fight, spinning out almost elegantly to slash down at the nearest monster, shouting 'encouragement' at whoever's nearest. ]

Wake up, slowass! Playtime's over!

4. wildcard

[ Bring your own prompts, etc! I'll match my style to yours! ]

3ish

[niespodzianka]

[ The unsettling, solid sound of an elemental head crashing to the snow-covered ground doesn't travel far through the scattered tress - thud, and it stares up at Geralt, empty, infected eyes pleading or screaming or both.

Hmph. ]

You lose your turnip bag baby?

[ Geralt has been remarkably polite, not giving Lambert shit about monster training. (He's saving it up. Like a bitch.) It feels normal out here; like they're clearing an area near the keep out so that their crumbling castle walls aren't harassed by every beast looking for warmth. ]

wolf | ota!

[divineconfetti]

a) dream in red
( when asked if he needed any instruction on how to use a bladed weapon, wolf had almost looked offended. having trained with some of the best blademasters of a territory known for the ferocity of its generals, he calmly and flatly refused, though he looked a little more open when they continued on to ask if he would agree to training that would focus on his special skills as a turnskin.

he isn't so certain what that training could entail. to his (now much more wolfish) eyes, turnskin aren't so different when the moon isn't full, but for the fur and the teeth. he agrees, though, thinking this ignorance a potential weakness that should be cut away. he is taken to a copse of skeletal trees, blindfolded, and given instructions: he would be given a scrap of material with a scent on it, and he would have to track the rest of the garment without the use of his eyes.

somehow, he all he thinks in this moment is that owl would have laughed at him in this situation.

so, this is where you come in. you've volunteered (or been forcibly volunteered, depending) to aid in the training. the rest of the garment that wolf is tracking is in your possession. you could stay where you are, hidden away in the forest, or you could fuck with him and really make him work for this training. it's really up to you. as it is, he has just started to make his way into the forest, his expression dubious beneath the blindfold, though when the wind shifts and flows past your location to where he stands, his ears perk suddenly and sharply.

best decide soon. it seems like he's caught hold of the trail. )

b) it's a dark road when you walk it alone
This is foolish.

( wolf lifts an arm to inspect the bracelet where it is locked around his left wrist. his eyes narrow, the bridge of his nose wrinkling in frustration.

it's not that he doesn't think learning to work together is worthless. no, there are merits to that, though wolf is exceedingly picky about those he places even an iota of trust in. the problem here is the method. it is more of a shackle than a scaffolding upon which to build a new skill. )

The limits — ( and he demonstrates, trying to walk a few paces away from the wearer of the paired bracelet. he doesn't make it much further than two or so; he's forced to stop, and then he turns and frowns at his companion. ) They do little more than hobble us both.

c) little beast, are you wild as me?
( what they are faced with for their final test is something that seems to fit in-line with how the Coven had gone about educating them of their new capabilities and surroundings thus far: by throwing them directly into its teeth, so they could sharpen their own.

as time wears on, wolf finds him surrounded by a pack of his supposed, icy brethren. they bare teeth like knife-sharp icicles, cold breath frosting from slavering mouths. their milky eyes are blind, but it is of no consequence to them; he is reminded of his own turnskin training as he dodges from their charges, slipping out of the range of their snapping jaws. it's hard to fight them when they hound him all at once like this. the strength of the pack, allowing them to take down much larger prey —

he knows he's not the only one fighting this sizable pack, and maybe if he'd thought more about that, he wouldn't have done what he did. but as it is, he remembers how he dealt with beasts such as this in ashina. the device in his prosthetic arm snaps several times as he swaps out the tool for an odd whistle, seemingly crafted from the bones of a slender finger. he brings the whistle to his mouth and sounds it, causing a shrill, maddening sound to pierce the air. the sounds of the attacking pack stagger, and they all yowl and snarl in pain and fury and anger. senses discombobulated and enraged by the finger whistle, they begin to turn on whatever is closest to them — be it wilder or ice wolf — and attempt to tear into it.

coming at him one at a time, it is far easier for wolf to cut them down, kusabimaru effortlessly sliding through their frozen forms.

sentient creatures are not entirely immune to the finger whistle, especially monsters. the maddening sound rings in one's ears, rattling around an impulse to lash out. perhaps violently, or perhaps just as a tongue-lashing, frustrated that wolf would have used such a tactic in a group fight. )

d) wildcard
( totally up for the other prompts or anything else! I am especially offering tutoring & sparring threads, though I would prefer to write personalized starters for those! feel free to PM me or contact me at lycanthropic if you wanna talk about it! )

B

[whomthebelltolls]

[Normally, Maria might consider this to be one of the worst situations she could ever be in. Wolf is, after all, becoming exactly what his namesake implies, and to someone with a history of hunting primarily werewolf-like beings... well... it's just a bad time. However, she has some history with this one - she remembers him from before his were traits started to show. She remembers him as a person.

It's one of the things they always told the Hunters never to do, really. Or at least, a tacit understanding they all had, after they started to understand the truth of what was going on. At some point, anyone could turn into a Beast. Beasts did not care about friendship, families, love. They only understood hunger and violence; they desired blood. No one was safe from that side of the beasts and what they did.

So, in short, yes, Maria agrees with just about everything Wolf says, and it may yet be worse because he's definitely starting to become more than just... human.]

I agree. My skillset relies primarily on my speed and mobility. To keep me chained to another is a detriment, and puts him at risk, as well. [You know. From accidentally swinging her sword too far and hitting him with it.]

Closed to Fang

[fieryimpulse]

[Exploration she could do. That was kind of why she came out here in the first place. Combat training and get-along manacles were at the bottom of her priorities list, given that she'd already worked out this shit at home. And wouldn't you know it, her assigned testing partner is someone that she knows.

Chandra's armor, the leather and chain, is a bit much maybe for the summer heat, but she barely notices anymore. It's well oiled, coated and padded just so it won't make noise when she walks, and that's why she keeps wearing it. That and the fact that Fang has tried to take a bite out of her at least once.

Spear in one hand, the strange whip-covered gauntlet Gideon had left to her on the other, she makes her way on ahead through the chilly forest, not for the first time wondering just what had happened here. The deeper they go, the cooler it gets, and that is decidedly odd.]

Think it's like back at town?

Re: Closed to Fang

[belligerentwarrior]

No. There's... rot in the air. Barely, but there.

[She's still adjusting to the finer aspects of her new senses, but that's hard to miss. It's an unnatural sort of decay that makes hackles rise instinctively. ]

Don't think our little training program'd send us out here for nothing, anyway.

closed to fei

[usurpers]

[ exchanging clothes is probably not too much of a difficult task if you’re partnered with eren— the young man is built, tall, and his clothes are large and comfortable for anyone smaller than him. only a sleeveless cloak to give room for his arm wings (no shirts underneath), loose fitting pants and . . . no shoes! his feet are getting a little weird and shoes just don’t fit anymore.

so. this just might be a problem for what he has to wear now. he stares down at his partner in crime, and hands over his cloak, first. ]

They’re going to rip.

[ just so that. we’re clear on these terms, and risks . . . nothing her size can fit the ten abs parked out here :’( ]

[sylphid]

[Fie stares up at him, considering. After a moment, she takes off her scarf and goggles, then hands those over.]

These should be fine. I like my clothes, so I'm willing to chance it with just these.

[As she fastens the hugely oversized cloak and slides her arms through, she looks down at herself.]

Nice. So, you're bonded with Elliot, too, right? [They'd taken care of that mess a couple days after she arrived. Less exploded musician and what not.]

Thancred | ota

[wordsinthesoul]

1. Tents

[Huh. This is a little more comfortable than he'd expected. The heat stones are a little reminiscent of one of the ways fire crystals can be used, and Thancred crouches, examining one to try to work out the trick to it.]

Ah. Now there's a handy thing…

[…mm. It might be a little difficult to pull him away, given how much cooler it can be.]

2. Primer
a.
[…hm. So they're each expected to fight in different ways, then? That seems as though it could be awkward for some. Fortunately for him, Thancred is trained in melee fighting. It's stretches at first- best to limber up, after all- but it's easy enough to find him with weapons in hand. He moves between a single sword, movements a little slower, more deliberate- as if trying to draw attention. With twin daggers in hand, he moves a little more lightly- landing a hit, and then dancing away. It's good to stretch- to make sure he hasn't lost that, completely.

He'll give a nod to anyone who approach, taking a step away.]

Can I be of some assistance?

b.
[Well, the betting here seems innocent enough…. At least, he' sno intention of putting much on the line here (he doesn't have very much, besides).]

Hm. I think I favour the fellow with the spear.

[…mostly out of interest for how he'll do, admittedly.]

c.
[Now, though- it comes to a question he's been holding close- what magic is available to him? Thancred's picked up a little; it would be foolish not to have tried to find something, though… it makes him wary. Not that there's really a reason to be, a world away and without any from Limsa who might pick a fight over it. Though most of the true sirens are long gone, as best he knows…

In honesty- it comes easiest to think of it as bardic training. He's had some measure of that- though there are minor differences, and he listens intently, committing the breathing exercises to memory. Besides which- the beginning exercises allow him a little bit of breathing space. Bard he may claim to be, but it's been a little while. Time to center himself. His singing doesn't start out particularly thrumming with magic- the better to become used to it, but slowly. Slowly he begins trying to weave a kind of call- partly to see if that works at all.]

Come gather, good souls, come one, come all…

[Ah, perhaps he can think of better words, too…]

3. Partnering Up

It's been a while since I've done anything like this…

[Perhaps it's a game of telephone, although Thancred's face stays carefully thoughtful while he relates that back to his own experience- to linkpearls, though he's not sure many others here have heard of them. Perhaps trust falls, and he'll offer his partner a smile, one hand held out.]

Well. Shall we get started?

[Alternatively, if they've got a pair of handcuffs, he considers that for a moment instead- lifting his arm as much as he can.]

That's rather more persistent than I thought it would be. Still- it seems we're stuck, at least for the moment…

4. Exploration

[Well. Now it's time to see, isn't it? Thancred has his blade at the ready, eyes intent and peeled for movement. And it won't be long, because clearly they've caught some attention- earth shaking as one of the withered ents begins to move.]

Well, then- time to test our salt, hm?