station72 | [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.))

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

( CODE BY WHAMBAM )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ She must really be terrible at her shielding that night, for so many concerned Hosts to be knocking at her proverbial door. Perhaps some of them are concerned for her well-being, but just as many seem to only be worried that she'll start chowing down on one of the other guests and give them all away. There's no telling yet which one this guy might be. ]

( Not particularly, but I can handle it. )

[ She hopes. It says a lot about her current state of mind and how worn down she is that she actually admits to anything other than being perfectly fine, as per her usual answer. When she realizes what she's actually said, she adds with a flimsy dose of firmness: ]

( I'll be fine. )

[ To be fair, Clint just really has a bad habit of gathering up sad, trauma kids under his wing. It's like a sixth sense, or maybe, simply his own vaguely-inconvenient-in-the-moment-but-great-in-the-end superpower. The hunger settles, tacky against his tongue, even as she straightens and firms her answer and -- well, it's good enough. He's not going to lecture her. Either she knows her limits, or she doesn't, but she's gotta figure that shit out for herself. Instead, he nods a bit, understanding gleaming soft and silver in the threads of his mind. ]

( Wasn't doubtin' it, just checking in. )

[ And he was, really. Clint...knows of her, through Sam. But he's never truly reached out. If she's testing herself among these crowds though, he doesn't have an issue with being her back up. So, an offering. ]

( If you don't mind company, I was hoping to scope out some of the crowds and it'll be easier with another. )

[ It's a relief to feel that understanding from him, when she knows it could have just as easily been a protest. Honestly, she's probably earned all these people questioning her control and whether she has the handle on things that she claims to. But he doesn't do that and she's grateful, so much so that she doesn't hesitate to accept that offer, even as she realizes it's likely fueled by his wanting to keep an eye on her. ]

( That sounds nice actually, thank you. )

[ Elena has been acutely aware of how few of the Nest she has personal connections to, and that, along with everything else, has been wearing away at her. ]

[ A lifetime as a spy and assassin maybe comes in handy here? He's used to letting people figure their own shit out, on their own time and in their own way. Doesn't always work, but hell, it's not like Clint'll let her crash and burn while he's here with her. There's a nod, the edge of his mind easy-going in the face of her gratefulness and realization. ]

( No problem. ) [ The impression of a grin. ] ( Lead the way and I'll follow. )

[ As a "guard" he means, easily settling to the right and slightly behind her. Clint's attention splits a bit, keeping an absent attention on anything interesting that might be happening near by. ]

( I'm Clint, by the way. )

[ This game of role-playing has become almost second-nature by now, Elena used to walking with Damon or Shiro in this way. To the rest of the revelers, she's a noble from that strangely secretive society, so of course a guard would be at her side. None of them will know she's just meeting this one for the first time as they make their way slowly around the periphery of the crowd. ]

( I'm Elena. But I bet you knew that already. You're one of Sam's friends, aren't you? )

[ She doesn't know much of anything about Clint beyond a few facts gathered during her conversations with Sam, but his lack of utter disgust at her hunger is a huge point in his favor. If only she could meet more people like that. ]

[ Clint's well established himself, the mute guard that follows at Sam's heels like a loyal dog. Considering their roles' close relationship, it should be no surprise to see him with Elena either. If anybody marks it anyway -- guards are easily looked over, seemingly disabled ones even more.

But, well, there's no faking the well of fondness that leaps up at Sam. Clint smiles, though the veil hides it and his silence steals it away. Or would, if their minds weren't linked. ]

( Guilty as charged. )

[ He doesn't know...that much about her, really. Sam's good about privacy, after all. But Clint knows enough, and he knows just how highly Sam thinks of Elena. That's enough for him. ]

( Not that Sam isn't friends with most of the Nest. )

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

super fine, just like clint

waggles brows at

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