aionlogs | 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"The fact that emotional capriciousness would distort what may be considered typical aside," Emet-Selch notes for the sake of consideration for the proper amount of theatrics he has seen, "Yes. Greater importance yields a greater return."

He spares a thought for the other details she has covered. The lack of presence due to the Regent's orders, being unable to speak of things he wanted to, companionship. All warrant their own questions and thoughts.

In practically the same breath as he subtly complains about Howl's theatrics does he lean back against the chair, puts a hand to his face, and sighs. "I will speak to him further on the matter, but doing so while others were meant to be training is not the time for it."

She nods, choosing to gloss over his exasperation at the irrationality of human emotions to offer a small nod in response.

"I've asked him several times what he wants. 'Be mindful of everyone's efforts and their motivations', as you put it." Emet-Selch did give that advice, and in a way, it's also the reason why Ciel is seated in his room having tea with him over a difficult subject, right now.

"Even after he came back from Dionys, he struggled to answer me for his own reasons. I asked him that again earlier, as how he hopes this resolves between you two. It worsened his mood and made him angrier."

She doesn't offer theories or speculations, only facts.

"Please take your time as you see fit, I will also check in with him again and can keep you updated if you like. In the meanwhile, may I ask you the same, Emet-Selch?"

What does he want, or hope, for this to resolve? Is he willing to make amends and meet Howl somewhere in the middle, or is he really seeing this as a bridge already burned? As both their allies, is it not only right and proper for her to be concerned?

At the mention of Dionys, a slow picture of possibilities begins to form in his mind as he weaves certain instances together. Orders from the Regent, was it.

"What do I want." He restates contemplatively. Emet-Selch looks off and considers. "I want to be able to work together. That is all I ask." His expectations of others have withered over the years, so much that 'friendship' is too high of an expectation.

"I will extend the olive branch and let him do with it as he sees fit; I do not expect friendship if he is not willing to supply it."

A remarkably practical and grounded answer, for all the theatrics the Ascian is also prone to indulging in.

"Understood. I... will pen him a letter. He needs more time to himself, and it wouldn't do any of us good to try pushing him further now."

She acquiesces in turn, then takes another sip of the cooling tea. Something like this will take time to work through, but at least there's a starting point now, she knows enough. As for the rest...

"Indeed." At least that will provide some measure of resolution.

Emet-Selch stands from his chair with a small noise of effort. "If it's all the same, I think I will return to my rest."

Though he will have to return to the training field in short order.

"Of course."

Gingerly replacing the (empty) cup back onto the saucer, Ciel draws to her feet before tucking the chair back beneath the table. She should get back herself, they've already left the fields unattended for long enough.

"Thank you for your time. Please excuse me."

With a low and polite bow, she withdraws without further ado. The door closes with a soft click behind her, and she thinks of what to write to Howl on her way back to the training field. A letter would be ideal, or at the very least, her best shot at trying to communicate anything to him without straining the situation any further. What will ultimately come out of this will be up to the wizarding men, but this much at least she can do, so she has to make sure that she does it well.

As the door clicks shut, he finds himself in an empty room once more, and his glance falls on the cup which lingers on the table.

So much effort to address some discontent. So much effort to bother with meals. So much effort to be a mediator. One has to wonder what value she finds in it all.

Emet-Selch sighs faintly. A puzzle to consider another time.

Kenoma Team Training

OVERVIEW

I. WEAPONS TRAINING

II. AGILITY

III. SURVIVAL

IV. STRENGTH

V. REFRESHMENTS

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