Kenoma Team Training

[lachtara]

WHO: The Kenoma
WHAT: Training Activities
WHERE: Starts at the Citadel, varies per activity
WHEN: Starting on 6/4
WARNINGS: None yet...?

After a period of relative quiet, the Kenoma will receive a Communion post of utmost importance:

"Good day, everyone. This is Ciel. We may have received a passing grade from the Regent following the events in Venera, but they have sorely underlined how ill-prepared we were for a proper mission on Horos. Emet-Selch, Eustace, and I are in agreement, thus we have organized a series of training and teambuilding exercises. We ask that you all please attend, there will be... prizes."

---

OVERVIEW

When trainees arrive in the Courtyard after the Communion, a plethora of training activities await them.

The courtyard itself is sectioned off into areas, one for each training activity for the day. The activities vary from one subject to another, and still manage to be related to their tasks as a Kenoma while still leaving room for "fun". Weapons training, tag, survival training, and strength training are all provided. Kenoma is also welcome to spar on their own if they so choose. (This is not included as a specific prompt to avoid too much PVP, but you can add it in a TL if you like.)

Instructions on each activity will be provided to the participant before they begin. For those who can’t participate or choose to show up for moral support or to dodge the activities, water will be provided so that you may gossip around the proverbial "water cooler".

Each of the three trainers are on hand in some capacity or another to provide instructions on that activity or training on a specific skill.

These exercises can be done at any point and do not necessarily have to be done on a training day with the group. Characters can return after the crowd has dispersed to train on their own or with a chosen individual. The equipment will still be there and trainers (or fellow Kenoma) can be brought here at their leisure.

---

I. WEAPONS TRAINING

Racks of weapons are lined up on the far side of the courtyard. These range from swords to polearms and rather sizable knives to swords and tonfas. Feel free to grab a weapon of your choosing and have a trainer engage you to show you how to use it. Or, if they have experience, other students may also advise you!

The intent is to train on the proper use of several types of weapons and how to wield them effectively. It may also delve into how to most efficiently disable/neutralize/injure someone in a fight, depending on which teacher you wind up with.

---

II. AGILITY

There is an open part of the field that has been roped off specifically for...tag! Rope bridges, mud pits, chest-high walls of rock, and even a large wall of ice (?!) dot the field to give people plenty of places to hide and run. (If you would like your own obstacle, feel free to comment to ask so we can make sure it’s within reason of what our characters could do.)

Participants will be provided with a waxy paint to put on their hands which will stain whatever person it comes in contact with with a very luminescent purple glitter. (It washes out, of course!) The last person standing will get a prize of…dubious worth.

Now get running!

---

III. SURVIVAL

There’s two locations for this: the outdoor courtyard closest to the main citadel kitchen, and the kitchen itself.

For the outdoor location, bundles of tree branches and firewood are provided if needed, students are expected to start their own fire and cook wild game with what they foraged.

A - Foraging
Time for a field trip to the mountains and woods outside Achamoth! Students will be taught basic survival skills including: first aid without the use of magic, how to find and create shelter from natural terrain, how to identify and forage for food that is safe to eat, and how to create traps to catch wild game. Yes, you too can experience the joy of floor meat!

All foraged supplies can subsequently be used for Home Ec cooking lessons.

B - Home Ec
For the kitchen, there's a dedicated area where several Aions at once could attempt cooking with utensils and more elaborate ingredients. There are some servants keeping an eye out just in case and could be flagged down for help or assistance if requested/needed, but otherwise, Aions are free to make use of everything available to their own ends. Is this really useful for "training"? Cooking is a science that shapes and nourishes both body and soul, of course, it's important enough to have a part in the curriculum!

---

IV. STRENGTH

Step up to the starting line with one partner. One person will carry the other across a small section of the course to the finish line at the opposite end. There are a few minor obstacles such as walls and puddles. Nothing that you have to put too much effort into getting around. The person who can see will guide the person carrying them to the finish line using only their voice. Try not to bump into anything.

If you feel *really* ambitious, extra weights will be provided. Or you can forgo the rules and carry two people (or more?). Your choice, really.

---

V. REFRESHMENTS

For those who are not athletically inclined - or claim not to be athletically inclined - a large chunk of ice with refreshments dotted throughout awaits you on the sidelines. They will take a little effort to free them. Most will be freed with a little pull while others are completely encased in ice and may not be worth the effort.

Feel free to hand out refreshments, gossip about the participants, or scheme to your hearts' content.

Comments

[sterngaze]

[For once, Liem has eschewed the long, dark robes he typically wears around Achamoth for something a little less likely to get in the way. He shows up for training in a shirt and pants suited for moving around in, though his sleeves are still very much full-length. Liem makes an appearance for group training after the activities are first announced, but he can also be found using the training rooms or hunting around Achamoth on subsequent days, often during dusk or dawn. It’s good to keep occupied, after all.]

I-A. ARCHERY HELP

[Liem has been using the Citadel’s training facilities regularly for the past couple of weeks to keep his bowmanship sharp, and although his custom is to practise solo, he’s not averse to training with an audience. He can be found in an open area set aside for ranged weapons practice, filling the centre of a painted target with crossbow bolts or, later on, with arrows. And although he wasn’t involved in organizing any of these events, he’s available to give assistance to those who are trying to learn how to hit a mark.]

I-B. HAND-TO-HAND

[Liem has never been especially strong at fighting in close quarters. He knows how to give someone a good stabbing, but that’s always been a last resort. So his ability at unarmed combat is rusty at best, and his swordsmanship is nonexistent. But while he probably should learn to use a blade longer than a dagger, skill with unarmed combat seems a more versatile thing to know. With that in mind, he leaves sword training until another day and focuses on hand-to-hand for now. Maybe a helpful instructor pointed him toward you, or maybe he’s seen you in action and judges you as having expertise to share. Either way, he’s not shy about approaching to ask for tips, demonstrations, or a sparring partner to get in some hands-on practice.]

II-A. BE CARRIED

[For a man of such unassumingly average size, Liem is decently strong—but only by normal human standards. He agrees to participate in the strength training exercises only reluctantly, and it goes without saying that any of the unusually tall or bulky aions will have to look elsewhere for partners to carry them. Eyeballing the obstacle course, he holds a blindfold in his hands and firms his lips into a thin line. He’s already ended up on the ground more than once today, but depending on the quality of his directions, he feels like the odds are fairly good he and his partner are both going to end up there again at some point.

Well, there’s no time like the present to begin. With one final look at the course in front of him, he ties the blindfold securely in place, muttering,] I still don’t see why the blindfold is necessary.

II-B. CARRY

[This certainly won’t be the first time in the few weeks since Liem arrived on Horos that he’s been carried, although it will be the first time that the person carrying him is doing so while blindfolded. These training exercises have a bit of a bizarre twist to them that he doesn’t quite see the point of, but gods know he’s familiar enough with blindfolds, even if not in this exact context. And after he’s tried his hand at carrying someone across the course himself, it’s only fair to try the reverse while he catches his breath.]

Whenever you’re ready.

III. WILDCARD

[Want to do something else? Hit me up at Sporelett or ping me on discord, and we can figure something out!]

II-A

[gravings]

[ As one of the smaller Aions available, Gray feels like it's her duty to offer herself up as a human weight. After shyly (and apologetically) introducing herself to Liem, she gamely prepares to get picked up, watching as he ties his blindfold on. ]

I'm not sure either... Maybe it'll make more sense as we go.

[ Now that he has his blindfold on, she realizes that she somehow has to get herself into his arms without his being able to see her. She gently touches his arm so that he can have an idea of where she is. ]

Um, when you're ready, I can hop into your arms?

[ ??? She hopes that will work. The alternative is him awkwardly groping around to pick her up, but even she has a limit to what she'll tolerate. ]

[sterngaze]

[Liem’s annoyance with the blindfold requirement of this activity is in large part to do with his desire to avoid accidentally dropping or (gods forbid) injuring this teenage girl—regardless of her own willingness to volunteer as a human weight. The possibility that they’ll end up looking foolish ranks decidedly low on his list of priorities; he’s completed his fair share of physical training in the past, and sometimes looking foolish is a necessity. But if he’s going to be carrying young ladies around obstacle courses, he would much prefer to do it with his eyes open.

Well, his reflexes are pretty good. If they do end up tripping over a hurdle or something, he’s confident he can at least avoid falling onto her. But for now he’ll be optimistic and shoot for making it to the end without any accidents. Responding to the touch on his arm, Liem turns his blindfolded head towards Gray as if to look at her.]

Put your arm around my shoulders, [he suggests.

He widens his stance and bends his knees slightly, both to get a bit more stability and to make it easier for her to reach, then gestures toward himself with one hand.]

Once I have a hold of you, you can hop up so I can get your legs.

[gravings]

Okay.

[ She takes both of his suggestions as commands and hooks her arm around his neck. When he seems ready, she'll hop up smoothly, her social awkwardness thankfully not translating to athletic awkwardness. ]

Please let me know if I get too heavy...

[ What will she do about it? Nothing except get dropped, probably. But she really isn't worried about that; getting banged around a bit isn't a big deal. ]

So... I just have to tell you when you're about to run into something? That doesn't seem too difficult.

[sterngaze]

[When he feels Gray move closer to wind her arm about his neck, Liem slides his arm carefully around her back. Despite his complete lack of vision, being able to feel her moving does wonders to help him keep track of her when she jumps up; he catches her adroitly and straightens with her held against him in a capable bridal carry.]

You’re fine. I won’t drop you.

[He doesn’t seem to be bluffing as far as heaviness is concerned, carrying her without any apparent struggle. Rather than the weight in his arms, it’s the obstacle course that he’s concerned about.]

I believe you’re meant to be my eyes. Just direct us to the other end, and I will endeavour to follow your instructions.

[gravings]

[ He doesn't seem to be trembling or buckling, so she supposes he must not be bluffing. Still, she's mindful to stay still and compact so that he won't have to adjust too much as they go. ]

Alright. Then... you can start walking, and I'll tell you when you need to stop.

[ She keeps a vigilant eye, eager not to let him down. As promised, she'll dutifully (and politely) tell him when to stop as they come up on obstacles, then direct him to turn this way or that as necessary before telling him to go again. It's a slow, clumsy, not particularly sophisticated way of trying to guide him through the course, but she's earnest about doing a good job of navigating for him. If her chaperone were weak of muscle, they might have some trouble with the painstaking pace she's setting. ]

[sterngaze]

[Fortunately for Liem, years of bending a longbow on the hunt for monsters and criminals have done a thorough job of conditioning his upper body, especially his arms. Even considering the slow progress they seem to be making through the course, he's in no danger of needing to put Gray down. He follows her directions dutifully, keeping a fairly brisk pace between instructions to stop and maneuver.

But the cautious way that she directs them through the course doesn't escape his notice. After a while it starts to seem perhaps overly so, and he wonders if she's concerned about the consequences of making an error. Tilting his head slightly toward hers, he speaks quietly.]

How are we faring? Are you worried about being dropped?

I-B

[hundredpower]

[Barnaby's been training on his own and sparring with others, so it's not difficult for Liem to witness his skills in hand-to-hand combat. Barnaby's style is quick and a little unusual in that he favours kicks over punches, keeping his enemies at a distance over grappling with them. It's his strong suit compared to any kind of weapons, which which he has little experience, so he's happy to assist Liem when approached.]

Of course I can help. We could start by sparring, and if there's a technique you're curious about, I can demonstrate after. Are you interested in learning more for self-defence, or for direct combat?

[Barnaby's experience is definitely more in the latter category, but he's certainly capable of giving tips on either.]

[sterngaze]

It would primarily be the former. I’m used to keeping out of reach in combat situations, with a small blade for close quarters as a backup. But I’ve no experience at fighting completely unarmed, and I thought it would be wise to learn.

[Liem rolls a shoulder restlessly as he looks up at the taller man; most of his time so far today has been spent on the archery range. He’s unaccustomed to sparring of pretty much any kind, given how much of his time tends to be spent simply working. Nonetheless, he nods gamely at the suggestion, and takes a couple steps toward a clearer area of the courtyard to give himself some more space.]

i-a!

[lifespanned]

[ A bow and arrow seems like an elegant weapon choice to her— it doesn't seem so... well, hefty as all the other options they've been given. She's not sure if she could ever become proficient at swinging around a sword or a hammer. But a bow... it's just drawing back the string and aiming, right? How hard could it be?

Right??? ]

Wow, you're really good at this.

[ She's been watching him strike the targets so easily on the sidelines for a bit, admittedly too out of her league to actually waltz up to the weapons and give it a shot for herself. Nope, she's just sitting in the grass a bit away, eyes round as saucers while she looks on. ]

Any chance that means it's easy to learn? Haha.

[sterngaze]

[Liem is certainly making it look easy as he sends arrow after arrow into the targets set up at the end of the courtyard, clustering his shots neatly in the centre of each one. His routine is to empty his quiver, pull the arrows out of the targets, and then head back to the shooting line to do it all over again, and he’s about halfway through his current round when Misa speaks up.]

I’ve had quite a bit of practice.

[He admits this while aiming one last arrow down the shooting range, and releases it with a snap of the bowstring, sending it to join the others in a red-painted bullseye. Then he lowers his bow, aiming an appraising look over at Misa where she’s seated on the grass.]

Would you like to give it a try? [He gestures at the rack of bows set up nearby.] I can help you pick a bow that suits you.

[lifespanned]

Oh, could you really? I don't have a clue about this stuff.

[ She admits that with ease, though she does get up from where she was lounging with a hint of enthusiasm. "A bow that suits her." Sounds exciting. And it seems much easier to learn from someone with such a practiced ease of the art - not to mention willing to be a teacher.

Misa catches up with him easily, already casting her gaze on the rows and rows of armory provided bows, already reaching out to touch the strings on some of them. ]

I guess it'd have to be something pretty small, huh? I saw you earlier with that crossbow looking thingy. Looked heavy.

[sterngaze]

Of course.

[He shifts his attention away from the targets without any hesitation, readily abandoning his position at the shooting line in order to focus instead on providing assistance. From his willingness to abandon his current activity, it would be entirely reasonable to guess that he’s been waiting for the chance to help someone out.

Leaning the longbow he’d been using up against the rack, he stands next to Misa as she looks over her choices. Rather than scanning the bows along with her, however, Liem is directing his attention at her for the moment.]

Crossbows are heavier because the bow does more of the work. It means you don’t have to rely only on your own strength for the shooting power. It’s simpler and quicker to use a bow, but your strength will determine the kind of power you can manage.

[lifespanned]

[ She draws out a long hum when he explains that— really, it's a simple concept, just not one she ever really had to think about until recently. Of course it would make sense that the power of a bow came from the wielder, but she'd just never thought about anything aside from the skill needed to fire one. ]

So you could either get used to carrying and loading the crossbow, or get strong enough to fire a regular bow well... I get it.

[ To her, a crossbow feels much more reliable, at least in concept. Too many variables with firing a bow, maybe? ]

Which one do you prefer?

[sterngaze]

It depends on what I want to use it for.

[A small, rueful smile curves the corner of his mouth as he thinks wistfully of the crossbow he’d left behind when he was brought here. None of the mundane options on offer in the Citadel’s armoury come close to it—though its power was linked so closely to his country, he’s not sure any of its magic would follow it here even if he did manage to reacquire it.

Reaching for the supply of crossbow quarrels, he takes one and holds it up for Misa to see. With his other hand, he slides a much-longer longbow arrow from his quiver and holds it next to the quarrel.]

A small quarrel like this won’t fly accurately for as far as an arrow from the kind of longbow I prefer, so it isn’t as good for using in open areas. I tend to use a longbow when I’m hunting.

But in urban environments, the extra range isn’t necessary. The crossbow is also more compact, making it a little less unwieldy. I could use it while crouching or even lying down if I needed to.

ii-b.

[subsist]

[ ah, the good ol' trust exercises. kaeya can see the benefit of them, especially considering he's pretty sure not a whole lot of the aions from the kenoma trust each other. it's not like he can count himself as one of those who do either, but still — there is merit in finding out whether or not your comrade can be relied on when you're at a disadvantage.

at least, that's what he thinks the lesson is behind this particular activity. ]

My fate is in your hands.

[ while he isn't tying the blindfold around his eyes just yet, he looks at liem with an inquiring gaze. ]

How would you like to be carried?

[sterngaze]

[Physical training seems to agree with Liem. He's spent much of his time in Achamoth drifting about like a sombre, black-robed ghost, avoiding the locals' hedonistic pursuits and spending much of his time either in study or in prayer. But now, disheveled and smudged from tumbles onto the ground during various training exercises, he has a visible glint in his eye. Whatever personal demons he's been living with for the past month, they seem to have been temporarily banished.

Liem tilts his head at the other man, considering his question with a raised eyebrow. After only a moment's brief thought, he answers:]

Upright.

[As long as he doesn't have to direct Kaeya while slung over his shoulders like a sack of potatoes, they'll probably be just fine.]

If I'm on your back, your arms won't get as tired. That might be best.

[subsist]

Then, let me tie the blindfold first and I'll let you climb on my back.

[ kaeya didn't have to put it that way, but there he goes. he won't bother removing his eyepatch since it hardly matters, tying the piece of cloth around his head and over his eyes. his demeanour doesn't change much despite being completely blind now, clearly unfazed by the handicap. he does remember to make it easier for liem to get into position so that they can get this piggyback ride started.

even once they're settled, he can't seem to shut up. ]

I'll do my best not to drop you. Where are we headed first?

[sterngaze]

A genuine effort is all I can ask.

[Liem's attitude is pragmatic as he secures himself properly on Kaeya's back, peering over his shoulder at the course ahead. It's not an especially demanding course by itself, so as long as he directs Kaeya well, he expects it shouldn't be too arduous to complete. He's cautiously optimistic about not ending up on the ground.]

A little to the right— Yes. We're aimed for a couple of markers about twelve feet ahead.

[He guides Kaeya with brisk efficiency through the beginning of the course, making sure they don't wander off the track while keeping a running commentary of upcoming obstacles. Some of the challenges set up on the track simply involve walking in the right direction; others are a little more demanding.]

Careful. There's a large puddle ahead, with lengths of wood laid across it as stepping platforms.

[subsist]

[ once liem is fairly secured and settled, kaeya makes his way towards the course while accurately following the other man's direction. maybe it's thanks to how much he's used to accommodating for a blind spot that he doesn't encounter much trouble as long as liem is detailed enough. that said, it also helps that the course is relatively easy, so...

it allows him to be more at ease, such as trying to strike up a conversation in between the instructions. ]

Say... I never did get to introduce myself last time.

[ while he steps over the first plank, he balances the two of them carefully before making his next step. he might as well take it slow here, but there's no danger of them toppling over at least. ]

My name is Kaeya Alberich.

ib/iii-ish, i'm sorry for the latest of late tag-ins u_u

[expiera]

[Luck or misfortune, the 'opponent(-slash-instructor)' Liem ends up facing against is a familiar fellow Aion. Ciel certainly doesn't look imposing with her full height of 5'4, though it's admittedly more like 5'5 in practice thanks to her steel-tipped boots. She hasn't been engaging very much personally either, having opted for more of a supervisor/demonstrator role than actual sparring partner, but since Liem seems to be looking...]

May I help you, Liem?

[As if she was a store clerk wondering if he's looking for a specific aisle, though her eyes are clear and sharp as she scans him with scrutiny from head to toe. Is it just her, or is he looking paler than she remembers...? His complexion never looked particularly healthy, admittedly, and it hasn't been something she's ever asked him about either. This is a training session, but it's also one where everyone can take things at their pace. Plus, health IS important if you're going to fight. Maybe this is a good opportunity...?]

[sterngaze]

[The fact that Liem has opted for full-length sleeves to do rigorous physical exercise may indicate how he feels about being exposed to the sun. Direct sunlight tends to make him look more deathly than usual, and although he’s made an effort to stick to the shaded parts of the courtyard, he’s been training out here for long enough now to look noticeably worse for wear.

But despite appearances, he still has some energy left in him. Liem responds alertly to Ciel’s offer, his expression brightening as she approaches.]

I’d welcome your assistance. I’ve been trying to polish my capabilities in close-range combat.

[Although he has plenty of experience with fighting, his skills in hand-to-hand are notably weaker than his abilities with a bow—for obvious reasons. If Liem looks like a well-placed punch could lay him out flat, that’s because it absolutely could. He usually tries to avoid putting himself in situations where that could be a risk.]

Perhaps you could show me a thing or two?

[expiera]

[He does seem to have a marked aversion to sunlight, doesn't he? It's not like they see each other every day, so it wasn't something that was immediately apparent, but the more often their paths cross and the longer it's been, the more... Noticeable, it becomes.]

Of course. But before that, I have to check: are you okay? Eating and sleeping well, staying hydrated? Your health is important too, you shouldn't force yourself if you're feeling unwell.

[He acts fine, but that complexion would be worrisome for any normal person. A responsible trainer wouldn't run others to the ground either, moderation IS important. Thus she asks politely while eyeing him back, posture and demeanor relaxed despite the sharp glint in her gaze.]

[sterngaze]

[Surprise registers on his face when Ciel inquires after his health. Does he really look that haggard? He wonders if concern for his well-being has been on her mind for a while now, or if training has been more rough on him than he realized.]

I'm well, [he assures her. But, because he assumes she wouldn't have asked unless she judged him as looking especially sickly, he adds,] My health can be somewhat inconsistent, but I promise that I've been taking care of it. Thank you for asking.

[There's no need for him to go into excruciating detail over a polite inquiry. The truth is that Liem's eating and sleeping habits have never been ideal, and the new situation he's found himself in hasn't helped any. Nonetheless, he's had enough practice managing his "condition" to know just how far he can safely push himself. He wouldn't still be out here if he was in danger of fainting in the middle of the courtyard.]

[expiera]

[It would be unfair to compare him against other regular people, but no one he hasn't spoken to personally would be aware of his exact circumstances. They have been told that their physical bodies are simply containers, it's entirely feasible that he's like this for his own reasons. Still... Chalk it up to her personality, maybe? Probably.]

I see... You would know best, but I can't help but still find it concerning. Your complexion looks worrisome, you always seem to dress so heavily even when it's hot out too. Are you cold, or is it a condition?

[She accepts his explanation, yet doesn't seem to be willing to drop the subject. It IS just nosiness (at least in part), for better or worse...]