Fandom High Dormitories

"We did well this past weekend in warding off the gremlins." Even if Arthur'd been asleep for... well, less time than he was starting to blow it up into being, but he was frustrated. Anyway. "But we can do better. We have shared out our phone numbers - and if you haven't, yet, please leave it in the middle - but when an invasion catches us this early in the morning, we're still left scrambling. I want some of you to serve as points of contact for other students, I want all of you to see about getting a warning out or something like it if you are caught outside the dorms."

"Today's activity is going to be simple," Zack added, crossing his arms over his chest and smiling. "Figure out these points of contact that we have to work on, talk about what it is we can do to make sure that people aren't getting caught out in this stuff without warning. And," he smiled a little, his expression wry, "suggest ways that we could have handled this last invasion better. They won't always party themselves to death."

[Open!]

"Alright!" When the Reserves crew assembled today, they'd be greeted by Zack, holding up... Half a sword! The last two feet of the length of his blade were nowhere to be seen, and what survived was the hilt, and a length of metal that had definitely seen better days. "Broken weapons! They happen! I know some of you think your blades are all but invincible, but considering the sorts of things we see around here every day, I think it'd be safe to assume that someday, something will invade that stands a chance at disarming even you."

Like, say, Klingons.

Zack tossed what was left of his sword onto the ground at his feet, and then crossed his arms over his chest.

"A broken weapon means that you're going to have two problems. First, the very immediate issue of an enemy that quite possibly has now gained a serious upper hand against you. And second, the eventual repair or replacement of your weapon." He perked a little, giving his hands a clap together. "So! What we're going to do today is discuss both. Can you hold your own in a fight with something big and mean if you've been disarmed? Is your weapon still capable of doing some damage with what might be left? My sword isn't any good for attacking anymore, but at least I can use it to block incoming attacks with what's still there. And then talk about the repair or replacement. Is there someone on the island who can fix your weapon in particular? Can you find another one if it's beyond repair, or is it one of a kind?"

"Some of you may remember the meeting we held on searching your environment for an appropriate weapon," Arthur cut in, "In a pinch, remember to look around you, and to make use of what you've got. In fact, you're best off making sure you've got the measure of the area before you even start - lest you lose a flail and don't know to find the blunt instrument you might need to take out your enemy." NOT THAT HE KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. "Look around the grounds -- do you see anything you could use to your advantage if disarmed? And, on a related note - how great are your skills of avoidance -- although we'll go into that next week."

[OCD is up and the Reserves are open to all!]

"It's introductions time again," Zack said, launching right into his greeting the moment it looked like everyone who was going to show up for the Reserves meeting was there. This was in no small part due to the fact that he'd only actually met one of the new kids yet, and his wiggly puppy sense was tingling.

A lot.

"Every semester we seem to get a trickle in of new faces, so it can't hurt for all of us to stand up and share! We need names, your fighting experience and weapons proficiency, and what kind of other skills you might have that would come in handy in an invasion situation!"

A pause. A kind of squirmy sway from one foot to the other. Zack wanted to get started on that noooooow.

"You new guys have probably had the invasions mentioned to you at least once by now, I hope. If not, uh... Welcome to Fandom Island! That sort of thing is what we're here for! I'll go first! I'm Zack Fair, SOLDIER 2nd Class, so yes, I am a kid in the military, and I do have a pretty decent rank, too. My weapon of choice is a sword and materia- little round spheres that let me cast spells, like fireballs or healing. I have access to items that can heal a person in a pinch, too, which comes in really handy on the field. Okay! Somebody else's turn!"

People! Introductions! Yay!

[OCD is up, and once again, the reserves are open to anyone who feels compelled to stumble along to scope it all out. We love new faces, from fighters and those interested in becoming them!]

Huh. No Arthur to be seen, which meant that Zack was going to step up to the Reserves-Leader-Plate again, grinning a little. He kinda loved taking charge! So what?

"So, since we're hopefully starting to get into the swing of things again, this week we're going to talk about our weapons. Again!"

Why not?

"Every weapon has strengths and weaknesses. My sword, for example, has excellent reach because of its size, but it sacrifices manoeuvrability as a result. An arrow is better for ranged attacks, but weather conditions like rain or wind might affect your aim. Some weapons might rust in certain weather. And being on an island, well, we're prone to that kind of weather, yes. So what we're going to do today is try to come up with one example of a shortcoming of our weapon of choice, and how we're going to account for it!"

Zack then motioned to a cardboard box over by the wall.

"And please, please take a bag of Oreo cookies with you when you go. For you, for a friend, whatever. I might have bought a few too many."

A few cases too many.

[The Reserves are, as always, open to one and all!]

"Good afternoon," Arthur called, once everyone had assembled. He hadn't been at his best all day - time seemed to be on the blink - but he wasn't about to let that put him off. "Today, our focus will be on the art of 'guerilla tactics'." If he pronounced the word a bit funny, it might have been because it was fairly, er, he'd read it in a book. "If we are overwhelmed by greater numbers, this could be an option. The goal is to whittle away the enemy through ambushes and traps. Mobility is the key word. Considering the woods and the closeness of the homes on this island, it shouldn't be too hard to launch a number of small guerilla--" Again with the weird pronounciation, "Attacks. We'll be planning for several of such strategies over the next few weeks. This week, traps and ambushes." He glanced at Zack.

Zack, who was grinning faintly at Arthur's treatment of the word, nodded in agreement regardless.

"What he said," he intoned. "We've got numbers who can stick to the treetops, and those of us who are just as comfortable in the streets of town. We know the island better than any invading forces might, and so it's up to use to take that knowledge and use it to our advantage. A trap can be as simple as a pitfall, covered so that nobody but us knows what it is, or it could be a matter of waiting with a weapon, out of sight, for the enemy to pass by. It's important to know which camp you're sitting in, here. Do you know your way around booby traps? Are you more inclined to spring into action on a moment's notice?"

"Using set traps will slow down our enemy," Arthur continued, fluidly, "While fluid attacks from our end will destroy morale and pick the enemy clean with time. Of course, tactics will vary depending on the environment, so we'll be mostly looking at the town today. Are there any spaces where we can dig trenches and cover them, set a tripwire, that sort of thing? Which alleys and hiding spaces does the town offer in case we need to employ such tactics? We've been spending a great deal of time getting to know our terrain. This is one way of putting this to work. How many of you know how to set a booby--" another one of those words, "Trap? Share what you know. Explosives might also be useful, if any of you remember Rikku's presentation from several months back."

"This sort of thing is where our archers and gunmen might find a chance to shine," Zack noted. "Firing from rooftops, or treetops, or hidden in bushes. I admit to not being a gunman myself, and so some of you might be able to set the record straight on the matter, but your job probably works more smoothly when you don't have a target rushing at you in the first place." He gave his arms a casual sort of stretch, and then set his hands on his hips, grinning. "So, guys! Today, you're going to figure out which camp you're in. Are you the ones setting the traps, or the ones sitting in wait and then springing them? Talk to one another, sort that much out, and then figure out what in town you can use to your advantage, guys."

[OCD on the way up, and meeting open to all! Co-written with bitch_prince.]

Zack was in a darn good mood, in spite of a pair of slightly blackened eyes and a tender nose that was a little on the crunchy side, but was totally hard-earned.

Why was he so chipper?

Because it was Rookie Day at the reserves, that was why! New people on the island meant that there were probably going to be new people here today, and Zack was totally happy to take the reigns and lead the troops!

"Okay! So, we've got a new term, and possibly a few new faces, so we're going to do our introductions over again! Names, fighting experience, and weapons proficiency, as well as any other skills you think might come in handy in the case of an invasion, if you please!"

Arthur shot him a slightly sideways look. "Before we get to that," he said, scraping his throat, "I am Prince Arthur Pendragon, leader of the reserves, and these are my," sidekicks, "fellow commanders, Lord Leto Atreides the Second, and Zack Fair, SOLDIER Second Class. We're willing to help you if you are in need of any further combat training, as are your fellow reserve members, I'm sure." Look, he was being good.

Zack blinked. Ooooh, right. Introductions for them was probably important too, huh?

"That's right! Come and see any of us if you're looking for help with..." Headtilt. Ponder. "Anything, really. Oh! And we have maps of the island, too! We're going to hand those out, and if the seasoned members would be so kind as to show the rookies what to look out for around here, like areas where the terrain might grant a tactical advantage, or training areas, or things to watch out for, that'd be great!"

"As for the rest of you, if you find anyone who might be interested in joining us, spread the word," Arthur called, "I know you lot think you're good, but you can always use another kick in the arse." This was what passed for humour, clearly. "Work well today. We'll see come next week."

[Open! Newbies, feel free to stumble in and get involved, too! This is behind the dorms, so it should be easy to find even if you haven't been informed IC about what's going on. Of course, everyone is welcome, not just students. Co-written with bitch_prince, who is awesome like pie.]