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

[onemind]

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.))

NAVIGATION • GAME CALENDAR • MISSION: HYRYPIA • FAQ • MOD CONTACT • GLOSSARY

( CODE BY WHAMBAM )

Comments

!!!!!!

[wille]

[ Straightforward, as she was. She tweaks a smile that he can't see but may be able to sense through the link. This ineffable sixth sense. The same one that helps her tell him apart from the other robed figures, taste the idea of him without seeing his face. She's just putting a name to a feeling. ]

It's Misato.

[ She leans in, close enough to seem conspiratorial, wanting to turn this into a shared joke between them regardless of the initial hostility. ]

Were you working hard or hardly working?

[calhar]

[ The suspicion's quickly dropped in favor of pleasant surprise, the echo of familiarity and affection — for Birgitte, who isn't here, but who would've been just as quick to invite herself over and take his drink. He's had enough that he's slow to curb the stray thought. ]

Misato. [ Testing it out. They have strange names, half of them. No stranger than any other region back home, but certainly nothing like what he grew up with. ]

I've never worked hard a day in my life, save the ones my life depended on it. [ Which was quite a few days, actually. Does this mission qualify?? Feels like a lot of nothing so far. ] Surely you're not here for work.

[ he has never heard that phrase in his life, p.s., so have a very literal response. ]

[wille]

[ She lets out a tuneful, considering hum that carries with it every bit of amusement as well as disappointment. ]

You think I'd be talking to you if not for work?

[ How rare for her to have someone else to stand in as the butt of the joke instead of herself. She relishes it, it's clear, resting her chin on her hand as she grants him her full attention for no other reason than to unnerve him further. Her legs are crossed, flexing her foot in a measured rhythm. ]

I'm not saying you can't be useful, it's just . . .

[calhar]

[ Rude as hell. Mat frowns at her, then pointedly retrieves his glass from the table to see whether she's left any drink. ]

I've never claimed to be bloody useful, either. [ There's barely anything left in the glass. He sinks back against his seat, weighing the option of ignoring her and getting a refill. Or demanding that she get him a refill.

There's no sense of urgency when he looks back towards her, though he does sound slightly suspicious — it's more good-natured than a moment ago, somehow. ] Just what?

[wille]

[ Boy, she's finished that drink to the last drop. She would not be herself if she didn't see things through to the end, consider it a personal code of principles, scout's honor. Besides, his slight suspicion is what piques her interest, leaning forward now to rest her chin on her hand. ]

Just that I could use another drink and you looked fit for the honor.