aionlogs | Kenoma Team Training

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Kenoma Team Training

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.

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[Barnaby's finishing adjusting his equipment when he hears that voice, and his posture stiffens in obvious annoyance, before he spots Gen and shoots him A Look.]

Please don't call me that ever again. [It's not embarrassment so much as something else behind his expression, but he quickly moves the topic along, looking down at his rather pitiable excuse for armour.] And no, it won't replace the suit. It's just for training purposes, particularly if I'm going to spar with armed opponents.

[Saito would be rolling in his grave if Barnaby so much as thought of comparing this to one of his creations. Or the engineer would join Gen in making fun of him, one of the two.]

Did you intend on joining me?

[ Huh. There's something more behind that nickname, isn't there. Gen scrutinzes Barnaby for a moment, gaze sharpening as if he's seriously considering immediately ignoring that polite request -- but no, in the end he decides to relent for the moment. Not out of any sense of consideration or mercy, but simply because it feels like he can glean more from the situation by playing nice(-ish) for now. ]

... what's a good weapon to try against you?

[ Gen glances aside, tapping his knuckles against one of the weapons sitting on the racks -- a mace. ]

Been taking one of these with me when I think there's gonna be a fight. But it seems like a bad choice for a sparring match. [ Armor or not, it'd probably break bone, and that seems excessive for a dumb training match, even for him. ] You got any suggestions?

[Barnaby glances over at the rack. He's no expert on ye olde weaponry, but based on his experiences against blunt weapons...] If this were a real fight, and I had a decent set of armour, a mace would actually be a good choice against me.

[It would crush through plate with a powerful enough blow. He's right, though -- it's not ideal to train with.]

In this situation, I still have plenty of exposed weak points. So a bladed or pointed weapon that could strike those would be a good choice.

But this isn't a real fight. And I'm not looking to get bitched at for breaking your ribs.

[ While Gen lays out those gripes easily enough, Barnaby might notice the way his expression crinkles ever so slightly as he looks to the knives gleaming on one of the nearby racks. It's nothing overt or glaring, but there's definitely a stiffness to his shoulders that hadn't been there when he'd tapped at the mace, his lips pressed together thinly as he picks up the closest sword -- a simple, streamlined blade that looks a bit like a cutlass.

A pause as Gen looks dubiously from Barnaby, to the sharp blade, then back. ]

... you that confident that I won't be able to get you good with one of these?

[ Again, not looking to get yelled at. ]

[Seeing the stiffness in reaction to those knives, Barnaby is about to retract his suggestion; it's on the tip of his tongue when Gen picks up a sword instead. He won't ask about it for now, instead offering some reassurance.]

Even if you strike me, my vital organs are protected, and we have healers on hand for the rest.

[Not that he sees Gen inflicting severe injury on him on purpose, but accidents happen, especially for someone inexperienced.]

Why don't you try attacking first? I'll only defend or evade until you have a feel for it.

[ Probably unwise of Barnaby to forget that he's talking to a teenager with the appropriate level of (read: way too much) pride, because Gen definitely interprets that last bit as being condescending. And regardless of the fact that Bunny is a professional superhero and he's only a former student thrown into this mess, he can't just take that sort of shit lying down.

His gaze flashes bright with indignity, and his voice is sharper when he responds: ]

Yeah? Alright, then.

[ Accompanied by a jerk of the head towards the sparring area roped off to the side. He huffs a soft exhale as he immediately grips tight at the sword and strides over; there's nothing at all polished about his handling of the weapon thus far, but his movements do suggest he's been training hard these past few weeks. ]

Whenever you're ready.

[ His usual trepidation about handling blades is set aside for the moment; as expected of a hot-headed youth, his ego takes priority here. ]

[Of course he'd take offense to something intended to be helpful... but Barnaby figures it would be worse to coddle his ego instead of giving him a chance to properly warm up before the actual sparring match, so he's just going to act like he hasn't noticed Gen's annoyance.

He follows him to the sparring area, and once they're in position, assumes a defensive stance.]

Very well. Come at me with everything you have, Minegishi.

[ Were it a round of bare-knuckled fistfighting that Barnaby had suggested, Gen probably wouldn't have even waited for the other to fall into position, first. But there's a definite tension to the way he handles that sword -- too proud to back off, but far too aware of how dangerous the weapon is.

And once Barnaby gets into a fight-ready stance, he shifts he grip on the handle, takes a deep breath, then clenches his jaw before lunging in.

It's probably obvious that Gen's hardly a trained soldier; these past few weeks of training have only taken the edge off how unpolished his movements are. But he's young, and his instincts are good -- it's respectably-executed move when he starts off high then abruptly ducks down lows, swinging the sword aimed at the gap between Barnaby's cuisses and greaves, the delicate and vulnerable spot at the side of his knee. ]

[Barnaby knows what a totally untrained opponent looks like. During his brief stint in the Second League, he'd fought petty criminals who had no idea how to handle a knife or gun, or who had only the most rudimentary understanding of a fight and mostly brought a weapon for show. Gen is definitely a step above that.

Still, even with the clever change in movement, Barnaby's fast enough to step forward to intercept, grabbing Gen's wrist before the blade can land. From here he could strike Gen while he's wide open, but as he said he'd only defend himself, he doesn't; he's more interested in seeing whether Gen can do anything to break out of his restraining grip.]

[ Barnaby had certainly sounded confident, so it's not exactly surprising that the first blow is blocked without much difficulty. But still, there's something annoying about the ease with which Barnaby manages it; the fact that he really doesn't take the chance to strike back is doubly frustrating.

Reflexes kick in first -- Gen makes an attempt to jerk his arm out of Barnaby's grip. But that's easier said than done, and when that inevitably accomplishes little, he switches tack.

A second jerk of his arm against Barnaby's grip helps him switch his sword from one hand to the other. And while the next swing of the sword aimed at Barnaby's shoulder is a little sloppy -- he favors his dominant hand a bit too much, something he's still getting trained out -- it's mostly just to serve as a distraction so he can try to kick Barnaby's feet out from under him when he dodges back from the swipe of the blade. ]

Edited 2022-06-10 21:28 (UTC)

[Dodging backward when he has the advantage of close range would be a mistake, so instead Barnaby defies Gen's expectations and ducks forwards to try to get behind him. It does mean he has a blind spot and doesn't anticipate the beginnings of that kick, so he stumbles over it, Gen's sword scraping against the armour on his back. He then turns his momentum to slam his elbow between Gen's shoulderblades, regaining his footing in the same motion.]

Don't toss a sword around in front of your own face.

[He admonishes, and assuming the elbow strike landed, turns and steps back to put some distance between them again. He really doesn't want to be the one to explain why Gen took his own nose off in a training exercise, though he supposes it was his own fault for going easy on him and not restraining him fully. He won't make that mistake again, at least.]

[ As expected of a 'professional hero,' Barnaby's movements are quick, efficient, and almost difficult to follow. Gen ends up stumbling forward heavily when that elbow rams into the center of his back, grunting as he's sent falling heavily to his knees, the sword going skittering across the ground as he loses his grip.

Gen is stubborn if nothing else -- he's quick to scramble back to his feet, shooting Barnaby a vicious glare as he snatches up the sword once more. But the hoarse shallowness to his breath is rather at odds with the sharp focus in his eyes and the way he maintains a pale-knuckled grip on his sword, brandishing it defensively as he looks to Barnaby once more. ]

Thought you were only gonna defend or evade.

[ Can he take it as some indirect validation that he managed to force Barnaby into taking action? The thought is energizing to the (non-insignificant) spiteful part of him, and Gen lunge forward with another wide swing of the sword aimed at Barnaby's waist. Already, his movements are growing less refined.

Fuck, he really hates dealing with blades. ]

[Gen's tenacious, he'll give him that, and while his lack of stamina or speed are both things that can be worked on with relative ease, he's too temperamental, Barnaby thinks. In a real battle, an experienced enemy would be able to both read him like a book and exploit him.]

I'm defending you from yourself. You're too reckless with that weapon.

[Is that the same as acknowledging he's a threat enough to act? Well, it's some kind of validation, anyway. He brings down his armoured forearm to block the strike to his waist, then twists and swings up a kick to Gen's arm with enough force to try to knock the sword from his grip.]

[ No. No, that's really not the sort of acknowledgement that'd appease his temper. In fact, it just grates at him further, and it paradoxically works against Barnaby's intentions -- that irritation gives him just enough focus to maintain his grip on the sword even when Barnaby's kick smashes into his wrist.

But just barely.

The faint buzz of adrenaline in his veins lets him ignore the pain ringing down his arm, and Gen instead snarls as he simply gives one more hard downward swing of the sword. This time, a block of the blow will probably be enough to send the blade ricocheting off and spiraling out of his grip -- though the close proximity between them might make that a bad option, unless Barnaby's willing to risk some collateral damage. ]

[He realises there's no point in reasoning with him now; Gen really has the same kind of wild temper he himself once had. Past a certain point, once he saw red, there really wasn't a lot that would snap him out of it.

He doesn't block the blow, knowing the damage it will potentially cause. Instead, he catches it between his hands -- still dangerous enough to feel the bite into his skin, but not completely reckless, given it's a blunted training weapon -- then reaches to grab the hilt, at the same time delivering a sharp kick to Gen's stomach.]

[ -- a blade catch? Seriously? Isn't that some movie nonsense?

Gen's so startled by the move that he can't help freezing for a split second. Which is just enough time for Barnaby's kick to land cleanly right in his gut.

He's sent staggering back one, two paces before he doubles over onto the ground, coughing and hacking for air. At least he's relinquished the sword to Barnaby for the moment, but even before he's properly caught his breath, Gen still glowers indignantly at Barnaby from where he's hunched over, as if to say how dare you. ]

[Sorry Gen, he built an entire career on movie nonsense... Or should it be TV show nonsense? At least there's no cameras to pander to this time.

Regardless, he lowers the blade once Gen doubles over, tossing it to the side and well out of Gen's easy reach. His hands are bleeding a little, but it's nothing severe he can't get healed later. He looks down at him, expression as collected as ever.]

Are we finished, or do you want to keep going? [He'd rather finish things here, but he's not about to call time if Gen will attack again the second he turns his back on him.]

[ For a moment Gen does look like he's about to scrabble for the sword and go right into round 2, his gaze hot with a low-burn of anger as he breathes in huffs.

But, perhaps surprisingly, he balks the moment he catches sight of the bleeding cuts on Barnaby's hands. His shoulders stiffen as he recoils a fraction, his breaths catching as he swallows hard, and Gen needs a moment to tears his gaze away from the bright crimson of that blood. ]

... forget it.

[ Dirt grits underfoot as he slowly starts easing himself back onto his feet, though he's still a little doubled over; fuck, he just knows he's gonna find a clean bootsole-shaped bruise on his stomach tonight. ]

[Barnaby keeps his distance while Gen recovers. He doesn't notice what Gen is balking at, at least at first, but when he realises where his gaze is pointed, he balls his hands into fists to hide his injuries.]

Will you be all right? [He didn't use his powers and deliberately didn't strike him as hard as he could have, but any internal injury to the abdomen could potentially be serious if left unchecked.] I'm sorry I didn't keep my word not to fight back. I wasn't trying to trick you.

[ As thanks for his kind consideration, Barnaby is repaid with a brief stare, then an eyeroll and an indignant huff. (Which rather loses its efficacy because he's still quite out of breath, but he refuses to acknowledge that.) ]

Not like Eustace hasn't done worse.

[ Or at least, Eustace choked him out during their first round at sparring, which definitely feels harder to stomach than a kick to the gut.

Gen stifles a low groan as he stretches out the sore spot, but befitting a scrappy teenager, he's already showing signs of a remarkably quick recovery. It's just that he unconsciously avoids looking at where the sword lies on the ground. ]

M'fine. Just not used to handling swords.

Whatever Eustace did, it's still counterproductive to train only to get injured.

[And while he's heard those like Emet-Selch are capable of healing others, he doesn't exactly want to encourage a risk-taking mindset when learning to fight without taking injuries should be part of the process, too. A healer won't always be there to pick them up if a situation goes south.

Still, he won't push the topic any further, particularly when it was his own fault for not picking up sooner on Gen's discomfort with blades. Instead, he simply moves to retrieve the sword from the ground, examining it. He'll have to get it cleaned up before someone else uses it.]

Next time you can show me your hand-to-hand skills.

[ There's a brief pause before Gen gives him a look like he's said something stupid. Which he kind of has. ]

We're training for a war with the Pleroma aren't we. Like, a life-or-death battle. And you're making this much of a fuss about a kick to the stomach?

[ Mentally, Gen slots Barnaby on his list of preferred sparring partners above Amos (more restraint) but below Eustace (too fussy). And besides, he can handle a kick to the gut just find. Though he stifles a grunt as he prods at the spot, gauging how much it hurts, he's already getting his breath back, and he can straighten up properly once more. ]

-- and s'not like hand-to-hand'll always be the answer. [ He looks calmly enough at Barnaby retrieving the sword, though notably, he doesn't move from where he's standing, shoulders slightly squared. ] Figured I should get used to some other things, just in case.

[ Too bad he can't quite keep the sliver of discomfort and tension out of his voice when he addresses the subject. ]

It's not fuss. We should be honing our skills together, not seriously attacking one another with intention to harm. [And he's not going to budge on the subject. Even back home, fighting criminals resulted in life-or-death situations, but to put themselves in similar peril in training with that as a justification would be absurd.]

And it would be wise to try a range of weapons, yes. You'll find something that suits you better than blades.

[He's trying to skirt around the subject without directly addressing it, because he's sure that won't do him any favours at this juncture.]

( apropos of nothing, the two gain a visitor on their little training session.

makoto had just been arriving to do some weapons training of his own — he has characteristically poor luck in timing, as arriving at the time that he does puts him just within range of sensing the injuries that sprung up between gen and barnaby. he feels the compulsion arise like the beginnings of a wave from the edge of his consciousness; as it approaches rapidly, gaining size and strength as it does so, he begins to grit his teeth. why now? why them?

it is possible to resist the urge that the curse gives him to go to them, but it's been a while since it's activated. it sometimes feel like the longer it rests, the more power it gains. he basically had no option but to walk up to them, his expression a picture of wrath and obvious conflict. he'd been fighting the urge to walk over here every step of the way, and it shows in a deep furrow between his brows. he speaks in a low, venomous tone: )

Couldn't you two simply avoid injuring each other.

( he doesn't even need to look at them to sense their injuries; bruises, minor contusions. he feels them tangentially, like the phantom pain relived from a memory. his head bows in anger and something vaguely akin to shame as two ghostly feathered wings sprout from his shoulderblades. they spread, and then they fold; an extremely keen eye might be able to pick out a glow which originates from makoto's back and then spreads out throughout the feathers — and, in time with that slow rhythm... healing. at a snail's pace, causing lacerations to itch as they knit and bruises to ache faintly as they mend. )

[ It speaks to how unsettled he'd been that Gen -- normally the type to maintain at least some awareness of his surroundings -- gives a small start when Makoto speaks up, only then becoming awareness of his presence. ]

What's it to you?

[ And while later on he'll certainly be puzzled to find the bruise at his stomach is a little less vivid than it should be, given how expertly-delivered Barnaby's kick had been ... for the moment he barely feels the fading pain in his midriff, thoroughly distracted by the sight of those ghostly wings sprouting from Makoto's back. They're different, right? From Makoto's usual demon wings?

It takes him another moment to remember Makoto had confessed to his involvement in that whole stupid mess with the Innocent-aligned monster popping up after Estinien's death -- had gotten himself blasted in the face with something for his troubles, if memory serves correct. Vaguely, he remember Makoto had confessed to not being injured, so. Figures some other mark's been left on him. ]

... you really are a freak, aren't you. [ His nose wrinkles as he throws out that snide remark. And he inadvertently ends up helping Makoto when he looks to Barnaby and declares, ] I'm done here.

[ He offers no further comment or explanation before simply turning heel and leaving. His mood's already been fouled by how that whole round with Barnaby had ended up going -- a sour reminder of how he's still struggling to deal with some of his old scars -- and like hell he's going to endure Makoto's obnoxious presence on top of that. ]

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Kenoma Team Training

OVERVIEW

I. WEAPONS TRAINING

II. AGILITY

III. SURVIVAL

IV. STRENGTH

V. REFRESHMENTS

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i'm so sorry for how late this is