onemind: (Default)
THE N E S T ([personal profile] onemind) wrote in [community profile] station722017-08-23 07:57 pm

[mission: hyrypia] then the holy paths we'll travel strew'd with rubies thick as gravel

CHARACTERS: EVERYONE
WHERE: Hyrypia - The Graze
WHEN: DAY :014 - 016
SUMMARY: Two days of horseback hunting training, followed by the second round of competition.
WARNINGS: Will update as necessary. Need a warning added? PM this account please!






THE GRAZE
DAY :014 - :015

THE DAY FOLLOWING the festivities finds the majority of competitors and spectators still buzzing with the competition’s failures and successes, but there is little time to gloat or moan about the results. By the time the sun has risen over the graze there's a new announcement: there will be two days of additional training followed by another day of competition. Today and tomorrow will be dedicated to learning skills vital to the hunt.

0. TRAINING

THE TRAINING FIELD has become familiar, but the decor has changed- as have the the teachers. Unlike the previous riding and herding lessons which featured ropes and hooks, today's syllabus includes a series of more dangerous tools. The short spears that line the racks may be dulled but they still look painful, and the speed at which they're hurled from the intricately carved Sarvat - the traditional spear throwers - is intimidating.

At first glance, the slings of woven and stained Gryer leather are less impressive-- but the different ammo that can be loaded in them proves interesting: a bio-luminescent tagging liquid that stains the targets that it hits and leaves distinct trails, hard metal weights, and carefully handled poison globes.

Over the next day the envoys are are trained to use the weapons from Elinback in addition to being schooled in a number of simple traps and snares that leave little confusion as to the nature of the next challenge events...



THE GRAZE &
THE MINIATURE FINGER MAZE
DAY :016


I. THE CHASE

THE HERD of technomanced automaton Gryer sits idle in the knee-high silvery grass of the Graze. They're nothing like the Elin (who exhibit all the traits of live animals); these automatons seem to know only two basic concepts: don't run, and run. Right now they're practicing the former as the competing riders are divided into large, mixed hunting parties. Once the parties have been formed, they take turns taking their runs at the herd. Among the herd of thirty, four Gryer have been painted a brilliant sapphire. To strike one down requires either two metal weights to the head, a spear to the neck piece, or two spears to its midsection.

When the hunting parties take off so do the automaton Gryer. And they're fast, moving as of one mind - a school of mechanical fish through a sea of silver grass. It'll take cleverness, skill and a bit of daring riding to either cut the targets free of the herd or go crashing through among the running Gryer to strike a target down among its brainless brothers and sisters. Once struck enough times or in the right place, the sapphire Gryer will lose power and drive spectacularly into the earth.

The attentive audience (many of them armed with an array of binoculars from their personal belongings) might cheer when appropriate, but due to the distance at which much of the action takes place most of the observation is spent eating, drinking, and enjoying the shockingly pleasant weather.

II. THE 75th HUNGER GAMES PURSUIT

THE BREEZE GROANS through the shadowy pocket of the canyon system, whistling tiredly through the coral structures - along narrow bridges and between tight passages. Familiar to anyone who competed in the individual race on Day :013, this shadowy miniature canyon is crawling with automated creatures to 'kill.' The only problem? Beating everyone else to one of them. With the blare of that now-familiar horn, the hunters mounted on their Elin take off into the canyon and rapidly splinter into disparate groups or simply go off on their own into the tangle. It doesn't take long at all to lose sight of other riders, to begin to feel completely alone in the low light of early evening. Mist rises from the canyon floor and the breeze moans ominously through the pockmarked coral structures.

It'll take more cleverness and accuracy than high speed riding skill to claim a prize here. But best work quickly and quietly to avoid having your target poached out from under your nose…

III. THE AFTERMATH

THE SECOND CHALLENGE ENDS with a long, mournful cry of the now-familiar horn. All of the possible targets have been captured and to the victors go the spoils in the form of the accumulated scores, carefully kept by the judges. The losers are left empty handed-- at least until the spectators and competitors alike have made it back to the tent encampment. Then their hands are filled with the same liquor and a new spread of simple, filling, and delicious dishes expertly prepared by the servants of the manor.

There’s some ceremony to it - the meat they are eating is the same that they would have served if their hunt had been for something more than machines. However, mostly this seems to be a chance to relax sore muscles. That's aided by the addition of several leather-enclosed tents raised earlier in the day. Once the sun sets, these tents are filled with hot, relaxing steam and lined with benches: saunas! ...which might provide some comfort for anyone not stuck wearing a heavy robe. :(






((OOC Notes: This log covers the two days of mounted combat/hunting skills training and the competition which follows. You can find a full breakdown of the events/a place for mini-event specific questions HERE. Sign-ups will remain open until the next event log for the finale goes live, however going forward please make sure to either join the individual event or have a full team selected for the team events. Please be aware that signing up late won't give you extra time to finish your thread to qualify for the finale event.

Have more generalized questions? Drop them on the MISSION: HYRYPIA OOC POST or get in touch with us on the Mod Contact page.))







greentech: (hide behind space dad)

[personal profile] greentech 2017-09-20 04:52 am (UTC)(link)
Ah-

[ She feels a bit bad. Red isn't all bed. There's some great reds out there, after all, and even if humans tend to use it for loud purposes or for warnings, there's still beauty in it. She frowns to herself and tries to focus on something a bit more... positive. She frowns and tries to remember a few things that aren't terrible. Like... poppies. She's seen a field of poppies before. ]
perroquet: (01 grin)

[personal profile] perroquet 2017-09-20 07:23 am (UTC)(link)
[ He only knows what he's been trained to do, so unless this string theory involves actual stringed instruments and the channeling of musical energy from sound to spell, Gildor is just as lost as Misato. But he doesn't know she's lost, and answers her question seriously to the best of his knowledge- ]

Not always. Every spell is different, but music is the best focus when making magic.

[ They're nearing the encampment again - he's starting to hear others and feel other Rabadoceans walking through his range of awareness. Soon she'll be off to join the hunt, and he'll have learned nothing more than her name, her distaste for criticism, and her deadly throwing arm. So he curiously turns the questioning on her while he can- ]

Is knowing string theory your specialty in this collective, Miss Katsuragi?

[ Whatever Divine Creators are out there - help them if it is. ]
sistershoggoth: (pic#8730471)

[personal profile] sistershoggoth 2017-09-20 07:25 pm (UTC)(link)
( Of talking back?! Getting all uppity!!! )
sistershoggoth: (pbsbyariel_eriko131)

[personal profile] sistershoggoth 2017-09-20 07:43 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It felt important to be clear that she had not so much stopped as finally been overwhelmed too deeply for the drink to ever really fix. No amount of liquor or drugs would have disguised reality to her.

She and Therese had spent months alone cleaning up corpses from the Academy's lawn, let alone the relief work that occupied their years to come. All the bodies they'd burned, hidden, removed from history one by one with the pathos of a select few so that the world could be dressed up like their powers, and the ones who introduced them, had never been there at all.

There was no drinking that away. ]


Yeah, fine.

[ It didn't bother her, her skin and bones were nothing in her estimation besides a too-tight shell she would one day escape.

The scar is gruesome, raised flesh like a mountain range of scar tissue, twisted knots of slimy, purpled skin. It's some kind of miracle she was able to reform into this body at all, the searing energy of what had occurred could easily have incinerated her entirely. ]
otrazhenie: (011)

[personal profile] otrazhenie 2017-09-20 10:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[ That amusement bounces off Elena's own, and it's strange to realize that she does, in fact, find that amusing for some reason. Maybe because she's not starving anymore, thanks to Gildor letting her feed from him. ]

( I can tell you're not human, but not the specifics. )
ryohji: (pic#10951761)

[personal profile] ryohji 2017-09-20 10:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Can anyone say they're any different?

[ ikari shinji doesn't take much of anything well, so little has changed in that sense. and because they've haven't yet been acquainted, kaji decides to skip the pleasantries and dive headfirst into the point. even as a man without a normal sense of social propriety, kaji does not lack for perception, empathy, or symbiote. her offense passes him like a smells from a kitchen wafting under the noise. he'll get to that, too, later.

after he regards the untouched meal that covered her table with passing study, of course.
]

I want you to tell me that you feel comfortable around him, one hundred percent.
otrazhenie: (087)

[personal profile] otrazhenie 2017-09-20 10:45 pm (UTC)(link)
You want to know that I won't attack him. Isn't that what you mean?

[ That is something she's not offended by. For anyone who's unfamiliar with actual vampires, or even just anyone who can feel her current state of gnawing hunger, it's not at all an usual question. Of course he would be concerned about that, especially if he cares about Shinji, which he certainly seems to. She can appreciate his worry for her broodmate. But she'd also rather have him just spell things out. ]
ryohji: (pic#10951780)

[personal profile] ryohji 2017-09-20 11:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Sharp.

[ genuine curiosity colors the voice that crosses the border from serious to amiable. kaji reaches over and plucks what resembles a green olive from her dish, popping it into his mouth. ]

Used to these kinds of questions? Sorry for not being more creative with my approach.
shiro2hero: (tell me again how big)

[personal profile] shiro2hero 2017-09-20 11:30 pm (UTC)(link)
(I don't really think that's something to be proud of.)
otrazhenie: (112)

[personal profile] otrazhenie 2017-09-20 11:32 pm (UTC)(link)
[ She wonders what that olive-like food tastes like to him, if it will be the same for her or if everything will be strange and off like it was during her transition. Back then, she'd almost been sick from trying to eat a sandwich, but Damon and Stefan still ate normal food just fine. So did Caroline. Maybe she'll find those little green things delicious. She hopes so, because they certainly won't do anything to sate her hunger. ]

I'm used to asking them myself, not being on the receiving end.
ryohji: (pic#10824821)

[personal profile] ryohji 2017-09-21 12:01 am (UTC)(link)
[ the olive-thing hovers between his teeth for a moment as he gives elena a long, considering look. her response could be alarming, for the implications it seems to gesture at, but it leaves his curiosity stoked and an uncertain awareness that, on some level, he recognizes some of the self-doubt tactically assumed. that's worrying. terrifying, even, but if she hasn't been feasting off the broken necks of the recently deceased...

he folds his arms across the table in front of them, speaking after a thoughtful pause parks and departs between them.
]

Because you're unsure, or especially fastidious?
otrazhenie: (097)

[personal profile] otrazhenie 2017-09-21 01:43 am (UTC)(link)
[ Don't think she's forgotten that you're hurt, Shiro. That is a physical impossibility for Elena Gilbert, and she will mother all over you if she gets the chance. ]

( It's not that easy, Shiro. Her hatred is instinctual, there's no reasoning with it. She'll either learn to see past it or she won't. )

[ And it's not personal - that's what Elena keeps telling herself. Lakshmi is a product of her environment. If Elena had grown up fighting vampires, she'd probably hate herself too. ]
perroquet: (03 listen)

[personal profile] perroquet 2017-09-21 02:11 am (UTC)(link)
Oh- that's a nicer red, yes. And there's green, and blue again-

[ He's starting to piece the others he's just learned together. Green for the grass and leaves and trees, blue for the sky, and red for the poppies. The red itself is still a bit much, but in this setting it's less threatening. The stressful music fades on his command, though something else is quick to take it's place.

Gildor takes the image a step further, inserting them into the setting Pidge has thought up by adding a few more details to the other memory senses. The feeling of sitting in dewy grass, the smell of earth, and a breeze that makes the red petals bob and rustle. He delights in their visualized movement, smiling again from where he sits in the tent - but really, he's reaching for an imagined flower and remembering the silkiness of it's petals between his fingers. ]


Let us stay here a moment. Are there yellow flowers too?
sistershoggoth: (pic#8730471)

[personal profile] sistershoggoth 2017-09-21 03:11 am (UTC)(link)
( You are the squarest square to ever be square, do you know that? )
greentech: (Green Lion)

[personal profile] greentech 2017-09-21 03:55 am (UTC)(link)
[ The music is a nice touch. So is the 'memory' that they find themselves in and she breathes deep, not quite getting the smells. It's pleasant, all the same. She keeps her eyes shut, trying to focus on maintaining that link between them, letting ideas and concepts flow. ]

Yellow? Yeah. Yeah, there are-

[ He's treated to the image of a sunflower field, that stretches out over the rolling hills. It's bright and sunny - well, would be sunny, if he had a concept of "sunny". ]
shiro2hero: (get in the fucking lion)

[personal profile] shiro2hero 2017-09-21 04:19 am (UTC)(link)
[When will he master the art of hiding his nonsense, the world may never know.]

(I know it is. But we're a team here. You're not from her world.)

[It's frustrating beyond measure. Shouldn't it count for anything if Elena is trying to be better? If anyone is trying?]
shiro2hero: (oops accidentally charming)

[personal profile] shiro2hero 2017-09-21 04:22 am (UTC)(link)
(Well. Now I do.)
wille: (+ school trip)

[personal profile] wille 2017-09-21 05:13 am (UTC)(link)
[ Such interest in knowing others contrasted by her own self-centered view of the world, in which the knowledge she seeks from others relate directly to her objective at hand, and similarly so for any information she gives out about herself. She curates her stories to her purpose. It would be a major gaffe to mistake her clumsy bearing for an equally clumsy mind.

As they near the encampment, her steps slow, becoming shorter and her gait more relaxed. There is some comfort to be found in crowds. His question has her chuckling, imagining Ritsuko's displeasure. Ritsuko, who is more alive in her head than elsewhere. ]


No, my business is warfare. Battle tactics. Operations . . . Bureaucracy. Nothing as fun as music!

[ If it was ever in doubt: ] And honestly, I don't really know how the whole string theory works. It just sounds like a load of bull to me, but I guess it works?
otrazhenie: (043)

[personal profile] otrazhenie 2017-09-21 09:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Because I've only been like this for two weeks.

[ It's an automatic response, a statement of fact that in no way asks for his sympathy over the matter. She doesn't expect it. Yes, she died two weeks ago. It's been less than a month since she transitioned from human to vampire and her entire world changed, followed quickly by being plucked out of that world and dropped into this mess. Sometimes it still catches her off guard, just how short a time it's been, and then she begins to think of just how much longer she has to go, and things... Well, things get complicated, and hard, and she tries not to think about that stretch of eternity laid out before her. ]
otrazhenie: (115)

[personal profile] otrazhenie 2017-09-22 03:05 am (UTC)(link)
( I'm glad you think that way. It's really nice to have someone around who does. )

[ It means the absolute world to her that he thinks the way she does when it comes to this, reinforcing the idea in her mind that she's not a monster to be hated. Each drop in that bucket is slowly helping to fill a pool in which her mind might one day reside, a safe haven from the deadly ocean she drowns in every day. ]

( Enough about me for now. Are you going to tell me how you got hurt? )
shiro2hero: (why is it on the CEILING)

[personal profile] shiro2hero 2017-09-22 04:27 am (UTC)(link)
(I've got people who think that way about me. You deserve the same thing.)

[He wonders sometimes, if it would be easier here, if the thing in his brain did something different. If he had a useful skill like Pidge, like Sam. Or almost anyone else.]

(Oh... that.) [The sense of a shrug, a sheepish expression.] (It's not that bad. I uh. Am not as good at riding as I thought.)

[After a moment, he adds, in what feels like a mental undertone:] (Someone on that course had it out for me.)
Edited (updated info with mod answer woo) 2017-09-23 19:13 (UTC)
ryohji: (pic#10951798)

[personal profile] ryohji 2017-09-22 10:28 pm (UTC)(link)
[ two weeks. it's been two weeks, more or less, since he'd stumbled upon vice commander's disemboweled corpse, two weeks since he'd woken up to learn that a parasite had been implanted in his brain, two weeks since they'd been dispatched to this previously unconcieved planet. so, whatever happened to her two weeks ago, it had coincided with the station in some way, a conclusion he feels comfortable running with.

he is not versed in vampire metastasis.
]

The symbiote made you like this? [ it wouldn't surprise him. ] Or was it another Host?
otrazhenie: (013)

[personal profile] otrazhenie 2017-09-23 12:18 am (UTC)(link)
[ The symbiote...? Or another Host. Well, that second one was accurate, but only in the very broadest sense, and that's not one she's going to pursue. It isn't Damon's fault that she ended up like this, even if it was his blood she had in her system. This hadn't been like the day of the ritual, he hadn't forced it on her, though someone else had. She knows that her Damon would have fought to give her that choice that had been taken. ]

Neither, it started the day before I was brought here. I finished the transition not even an hour beforehand. It... was an accident, in a way. It wasn't supposed to happen like this.

[ It wasn't supposed to happen at all. ]
perroquet: (07 notice)

[personal profile] perroquet 2017-09-23 12:48 am (UTC)(link)
[ The glove is slipped off and his sleeve pulled down, just enough to keep his hand covered from watchful eyes but leave his fingertips free. He reaches and tentatively places his hand against her collar, skimming along the surface of her scarves till he finds the opening exposing the her skin-

And the opening to that portal she mentioned. He runs his fingers along the bumpy knots of raised scar tissue, and his brows knot together under his veils. Through the vibrations he feels in her breath and heart, he can detect something deeper - like a pit just beneath the surface of her scars. A long tunnel no living thing should have within them, and it isn't empty. It's writhing. ]


...yes, I was certainly foolish to think I could heal this. Blood and thunder, Annie. Does it pain you all the time?

[ He pulls his hand back, shaking slime off his fingers. He's still not fully comprehending it all, but he can understand now how no amount of substance can fill her, and basic healing is right out. She would need more than bard magic or even clerical magic can offer. Perhaps only healing a god could provide would to something, and nothing short of a miracle. ]

I know my sympathy does little, but if there is ever a way to ease this...

[ He doesn't finish, letting the sentiments hang there, a bit bitter at himself. As someone who's been offered help a hundred thousand times for pains he's had to live with, he's confident she understands. ]
perroquet: (04 play)

[personal profile] perroquet 2017-09-23 04:37 am (UTC)(link)
[ He slows his pace to match hers, lifting the end of his cane so that she guides him completely instead. Or she appears to - he's fairly sure of their direction, and wary of listening Rabadoceans again. Best be careful and play to his cover as they pass through camp, heading towards the place the events will be viewed, and where they will part. ]

You'd be surprised. Unfortunately bureaucracy has worked it's way even into music, or at least in the places that've gone and turned it into an industry. Still a friendlier business than warfare, naturally...

[ And one that near ceases to exist in the heat of war. Suddenly nothing becomes more important, and even young musicians with signs of magical talent are sent to defend those at the borders of the Wylds, or to the highest paying king's guard. If he hadn't run from the Bard's Guild to wander and fight on his own he likely would have served at some point. And if he weren't a bard, he'd have no way of serving the Nest besides moral uplifting support. Music is fun, but the magic that comes with his music is meant to be useful. Useful and sometimes weaponized.

There's no need for that here and now though, just as there's no immediately identifiable battle. Still, he's quick to find value in her once again- ]


That explains the ruthlessness. Your professional expertise must be quite valuable here.

[ Because what is this mission if not a silent battle in larger war? ]

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