fandomhighdorms | Behind the Dorms, Tuesday Afternoon

Beyond the rapidly-healing scratch on his left arm, Arthur looked downright sprightly today, for whatever measure of the phrase. He rubbed his gloves together as the reservists arrived, and didn't stop until everyone was there. "Two weeks ago, we spoke about guerilla tactics," he said, "I hope you've remembered some of it. Today, we'll be focusing on the stealth, rather than the immediate location of the ambush. We must find ways to render ourselves completely inaudible when need be, both through the use of tools, and our own skills."

He considered the group. "If any of you - including those of you affiliated with the other groups rather than this one - know of any tools at your own disposal that will minimize our own noise, especially in forestal environments or cobblestoned roads or the like, please share those with everyone so that we will know what options we've got if the time comes."

"As for the skills, a bit of hands-on practice might be needed." He nodded towards the preserve. "A while ago, we hid and sought each other out in the woods. Now, I propose something similar, but different. Form up pairs. One of you will venture deep into the forest, and then attempt to return here--" He leaned back to pat a particular spot on the dorm wall, "Without being spotted. You may draft others onto your team, if need me. The other must, at the very least, fully discern the location of the first, and whether or not they're alone-- and if possible, catch them."

He crossed his arms. "Remember that the movement of our troops and their numbers alone is valuable information in the hands of the enemy," he finished, "So it's key that you make sure you are not seen, nor heard enough to find."

[[ ~~wait for the~~ ocd up! have at! ]]

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As per usual, the fighting reserve sets itself apart by its badass lack of comfort food.

At least, that's what Arthur will call it if anyone ever called him on it.

Do you have any tool, be it practical or magical or otherwise, that would help render the troops inaudible?

Although Arthur's not calling it that.

Pair up, and choose a hider and a seeker. Draft help from other teams if you feel the chaos is needed for your amazing strategies. Hiders, head into the preserve, and make sure you get back to the dorms without being caught or, ideally, even seen. Seekers, follow them after a minute or so, and attempt to make out where they are and whether they have help.

And ideally, catch them.

Who will be here once they ping in.

Omg just one more day.

Arthur was here, of course, keeping everything under close scrutiny.

Leto was here too, and was approachable if anyone needed to talk to him.

Firekeeper was here with Blind Seer, of course.

It was possible they were both looking a bit smug at this 'assignment'. They'd both spent most of their lives moving silently through terrain after all.

"I cannot teach any to walk like wolf," Firekeeper admitted. "But there is things that can be done to disguise a trail, at least from sight. Scent is harder to mask but can be done."

"This is very true," Arthur had to grant her. It was something he knew a fair bit about, as well. "You've a way to mask scents?"

So smug. Oh so very smug as they looked for someone to pair up with.

[ooc: with the caveat that I don't have internet access at work, so a thread will probably drop to SP after a few pings, to be picked up once I get home.]

"Some of this is hard to do if we cannot control time we move," Firekeeper admitted. "But there is times of year or even times of day when there is more water in air. This water can muddle a trail some. As can on-purpose marking in a wrong direction." She didn't elaborate on how 'marking' was accomplished. Arthur would know, she was certain. But whenever she'd tried to elaborate on the topic before, humans had tended to find the subject distasteful.

... Yes.

But to Arthur's credit, he did not wince slightly at the implication. "Very good," he said instead, "Mind sharing some of the prime ways to cover up a trail with the rest of the group?"

That was pretty much 'you and I know this shit, but these noobs don't' except phrased in Arthurese.

And rounding out the three stooges was Zack, leaning back against a wall with his arms crossed over his chest and grinning.

He knew better than to tell Arthur that they were playing hide-and-seek, yep. That didn't change the fact that today's activity amused the heck out of him.

Noticing Zack's cheerfulness - which wasn't unusual but seemed more specific today - Leto approached him. "Am I missing something?"

. . . they were playing hide-and-seek, weren't they? They were so totally playing hide and seek.

Tahiri could have laughed, except for how she'd pretty much done exactly this on scouting patrols.

"Shoes," Tahiri muttered through her teeth to Firekeeper, "are a noise problem for all of them, but I bet you they'd look at us funny if we said so."

Zack laughed a little, giving his shoulders a shrug.

"One-two-three, not it," he almost singsonged, and then grinned and gave his head a shake. "I used to do this all of the time, back home in Gongaga when I was little. I never figured then that we'd be doing it here as a training exercise, you know?"

Tahiri had gotten one sense of the smugness from Firekeeper and Blind Seer, and decided to let them inflict that on someone else. She'd be over here looking for someone else to pair up with.

The lack of comfort food made Gabrielle a little sad. Maybe she should just bring some in sometime.

Although Gabrielle, rendering herself inaudible. That was kind of hilarious.

"You mean it's like a child's game?" Leto said.

"Hide and Seek," Zack agreed, laughing again. He couldn't help it, really. It was a useful exercise, of course, but it seemed almost surreal to be putting it to use here. "With maybe a bit of Capture the Flag thrown in, but without the flag. Now I have to wonder if there are other reasons we were taught those games as kids, beyond just that they're fun to play."

"Many games prepare children for adulthood," Leto replied. "That's only sensible." He smiled. "And if they are fun, both children and adults put in more effort."

"Makes sense to me," Zack decided, shifting his weight away from the wall and then clasping his hands behind his head. "I guess it just never occurred to me before, you know? When I was a kid, I figured being an adult meant fighting monsters off with swords and magic, or going to work at the mako reactor, or maybe farming. Now that I'm a little older, the line is kind of blurry, I guess. Fun isn't just fun anymore. You find practical reasons to play games, too."

"And practical reasons can be fun."

"How has your week been, Zack?" Leto asked.

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Behind the Dorms, Tuesday Afternoon

Arrive/Mingle

Share Tools

Play Modified Hide And Seek

Talk to the Guys

OOC

Re: Talk to the Guys

Re: Talk to the Guys

Re: Arrive/Mingle

Re: Share Tools

Re: Share Tools

Re: Play Modified Hide And Seek

Re: Share Tools

Re: Share Tools

Re: Talk to the Guys

Re: Talk to the Guys

Re: Arrive/Mingle

Re: Arrive/Mingle

Re: Talk to the Guys

Re: Play Modified Hide And Seek

Re: Arrive/Mingle

Re: Talk to the Guys

Re: Talk to the Guys

Re: Talk to the Guys

Re: Talk to the Guys

Re: Talk to the Guys