Brutal Boot Camp - Day 1

[disciplines]

Who: Alleyne and anyone/everyone going to boot camp
What: Day 1 in a week of intensive training and educating the masses
When: May 11th
Where: A forest right on the border of the Dead Zone
Rating: S for Shenanigans (Shouldn't be more than PG13 at most)

The elf waited at the crack of dawn, standing firm in the lobby, carrying only a small pack on her shoulders and gripping her staff tight. She had on a simple mantle over her usual green outfit, hood down, taping one of the capped ends of her weapon against the ground. A commanding presence and sense of enthusiasm radiated off of her almost, a slight, sadistic grin on her lips.

Alleyne never smiles. Those who saw that glimpse of happiness knew from the onset this trip would be a horrible, grueling experience. Those who knew not could remain blissfully unaware, thinking of her just as a teacher happy to help anyone learn.

"Time to go, hope you all can keep up!" she said as she lead them out as close to the Dead Zone as they could get, making them walk the last bit of the trip through thick woods. She stepped through them as one would expect an elf to, watching everyone hack their way through behind her.

She found a suitable spot about an hour into their walk, a stream nearby. She stopped and began to make camp, inviting everyone over to sit down and take a good look at their new surroundings.

"This is our home for the next week. Get used to it and treat it well."

The sun peeked in through the canopy, illuminating the area beautifully. If you're going to be stuck there, may as well be somewhere easy on the eyes.

[Bag Inspection | Poison Ivy | Tents and Campfires]

[OOC: There's still time to join! Throw them in anywhere! Open to anyone ever! Prose or action-spam is perfectly okay! IC Info Post | OOC Info Post]

Comments

[craggyfaced]

[Durge is silently going about this whole activity with the methodical mien of a veteran. He's already cleared a small area around where his bedroll is set, and is now making a small ring of rocks for a fire. His greatsword is propped up against a tree nearby]

[shrugs_a_lot]

Nice sword. [Says the guy with the enormous broadsword on his back.]

[craggyfaced]

[Durge glances up and notes that particular detail, though if he's surprised at all it doesn't show on his face. Instead he nods in acknowledgement.] It has served me well for many years. I am glad to see I am not the only one that thought to come armed on this trip.

[shrugs_a_lot]

Better be safe than sorry, isn't it what they say?

[craggyfaced]

I believe I have heard the expression. [This expression is his life]

You are only the second I have seen with such a weapon.

[shrugs_a_lot]

Who was the first? [Who knows, maybe it's the one he's looking for.]

[craggyfaced]

A woman named Theresa. I believe she has gone home since I met her, however.

[shrugs_a_lot]

[A nod, it's not the name he expected to listen, even though he cannot really remember it.]

Why are you here? [Because so far the type of people he's seen in this little trip are, for the lack of a better word, amateurs. This one doesn't look like one of them.]

[craggyfaced]

[He calmly pulls a dagger from his boot and starts cutting up some kindling. Clearly not an amateur.]

One can never let their skills lapse. Most of the concepts are the same, but this world is foreign to me.

And another pair of eyes to watch out for dangers is never amiss. [In other words, to protect the amateurs]

[shrugs_a_lot]

What kind of dangers? [Because so far he hasn't seen nothing by now they should have found a monster or two, though of course, this is not Gaia anymore...]

[craggyfaced]

[In Durge's mind, everything can potentially kill you. This makes for longevity but also slight paranoia.]

Nothing in particular. Ravines, foot holes, rock slides, deadfalls, in-climate weather, and of course bandits and wildlife, though I am unsure what sort of animals populate these woods.

s-sorry about the late

[shrugs_a_lot]

[Nods at that.]

Haven't even heard a single bird singing... [That was never good, was it?]

no worries. I've been busy with plot prep myself ;;

[craggyfaced]

It is suspiciously quiet, isn't it? It reminds me somewhat of the Gloaming Wood...

[psych0p0mps]

[Aradia happens to pass into wherever Durge is getting the rocks from, in her search for dinner. She can be found turning them over, rooting in the dirt with a stick, and occasionally eating what she finds.]

[craggyfaced]

[Startled pause] Are you certain those creatures will not be poisonous?

[psych0p0mps]

[Looks up and swallows.] Yeah, most of them aren't. It's mainly the bright-colored ones you have to avoid. [She pokes around a bit with her fingers, and in a moment is holding up a long, squirming earthworm.] Want one?

[craggyfaced]

You eat these all the time? [Not a no]

[psych0p0mps]

Oh, yeah. My lusus was an herbivore, so I grew up hunting bugs instead of bigger stuff.

[craggyfaced]

......lusus?

[psych0p0mps]

My guardian. Kind of like a human parent, only they're animals.

[craggyfaced]

May I ask how that works? Why don't you have a adult of your kind as your guardian?

[psych0p0mps]

[She gives him a semi-amused look, the kind that says "that ought to be obvious."]

Adults of our kind are more likely to kill a wiggler than take care of it! At least, I'm guessing that's why we evolved that way. Lusii are the ones with the proper guardianship instincts, even if some species are better at it than others. [Pokes at the ground with her stick] It's kind of a symbiotic relationship. They take care of us, we take care of them. And in ideal situations, as we grow older, the lusus becomes less of a protector and more of a partner, although they remain both for their entire lives.

[craggyfaced]

[You give him too much credit] I see.

I suppose they do good of a job if you are still alive.

[And...what the hell...he holds out a hand to accept that worm]

[psych0p0mps]

[Hee~ She drops the worm into his palm. Finally, a human who isn't all squeamish about it! She will not get into the whole "well technically I've died like three times" thing though.]

The bug species here aren't exactly the same, of course, but they still hide in the same places.

[craggyfaced]

[Squeamish is not a valid emotion for Durge. Wary, maybe, but he's old enough to seen worse than a worm.

He holds it for now, watching it curiously]

What do they taste like?