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Post by Moxie on Aug 2, 2015 1:14:58 GMT
Barracks & Training Hollow
This immense cavern is used for all types of battle and survival training at its center clearing white it's more private sides are used as the sleeping chambers for Camp Soldiers and militant defense ponies (Immediate family members of soldiers/defense team are allowed to stay here as well).
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Pumpkin Vine
Junior Member
Camp New Hayven Refugee: Main Defense Trainer and Combat Leader.
Posts: 54
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Post by Pumpkin Vine on Aug 25, 2015 7:16:45 GMT
[Enter Pumpkin Vine From Dining Hallow]
Walking through this cave with preparations to be done, the warrior had begun to set up her training area for a special session. Accepting guests, her main target was to teach the dragon about defense, both verbal and physical as its effects could last a lifetime. Collecting her things from a hiding place, the amazon had used a fine powder to make a rather large circle for a ring. Gathering up her weapons and placing a few stakes at every few markers, the ceiling of the cave was a lot higher in this area for the dragons needs.
"There. Now for some distractions." Flapping her wings and rising into the air of the cave, Pumpkin had begun to work on a secret way to brighten the sun from a certain angle. By placing a small mirror where the sun normally came through, this would come in handy later as she awaited her guest(s).
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Post by Archimedes on Aug 25, 2015 12:24:56 GMT
[Enter Archie]
Archimedes waited with the others just outside at the mouth of the cave for training to begin. Most mornings with this rotation, he would sit in silence unless asked a direct question. Today, he stretched for the second time, and only grinned when one of the ponies asked him what's up. "Just wait and see." He said to him.
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Pumpkin Vine
Junior Member
Camp New Hayven Refugee: Main Defense Trainer and Combat Leader.
Posts: 54
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Post by Pumpkin Vine on Aug 28, 2015 7:04:58 GMT
Finishing up some of her last minute touches, Pumpkin walked to the entrance of the cave. Greeted by the dragon and others in her class, the light colored pegasus motioned for them to come inside. Without speaking a word, Pumpkin Vine rang a bell that was over the cave top hanging. As per the usual, this meant that her class was about to commence. Walking to her circle and stepping inside, burnt orange pupils glanced to the large reptile, her intentions clear.
"Archimedes. Come Forward. Today we will be learning something new." Her words were blank, without expressions as the monotone vocals allowed for the few members there easy access to her voice.
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Post by Archimedes on Aug 29, 2015 5:27:55 GMT
Archimedes walked to the edge of the circle thoughtfully and bowed respectfully to Pumpkin. He then stepped inside the circle, checking the preparations she had made with the edges of his vision. He smiled.
"And what would you teach me today, Amazon?"
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Pumpkin Vine
Junior Member
Camp New Hayven Refugee: Main Defense Trainer and Combat Leader.
Posts: 54
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Post by Pumpkin Vine on Aug 31, 2015 15:04:01 GMT
"How to be respectful." The lightly coated tan mare smiled at her sentence, offering him a small bow in return. Tossing aside all weapons, she hoped that he would do the same if he indeed carried any. Burnt Orange pupils stared directly at him as her body movements remained completely still. As her mental process begun to think through her plans, the very earth feel to this cave had begun to move through her nostrils, creating a smile.
"You will be learning how to render your opponent unable to battle, without knocking them out or maiming. The act is to stay on the defensive. Never assume your opponents move, your body must be one with the earth and wind, and you will move as such. The ground will speak for you, if you can listen."
Moving like the wind, Pumpkin Vine's wings remained closed as the mare closed her eyes just the same. Appearing to the front of the dragon yet obviously very much closer, a hoof went to a point on his stomach. Seemingly not even a punch, Archimedes could not feel a thing quite yet as the mare smiled upwards.
"Your move."
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Post by Moxie on Aug 31, 2015 21:52:49 GMT
[Enter Moxie from the Medical Grotto]
Moxie entered the Barracks with her usually mousiness, never feeling quite at home in this aggressive setting. Our of habbit, her eyes trailed to the wall that housed the training weapons, as if to check that they were still there. Yup, still fully weaponized. They always filled her with both dread and wonder. Having one in her hooves always made her heart race, but it also felt empowering. She had quite the complicated relationship with weapons of any sort, so today, she really hoped the training wouldnt be utilizing them.
Keeping close to the walls and out of the sparring pits, Moxie made her way to where she could see other ponies gathering for their weekly training sessions.
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Post by Archimedes on Aug 31, 2015 22:37:58 GMT
Archimedes smirked, letting her touch him. He let his mind focus in on those words: to move like the wind, listen to the earth. He settled on a possible meaning and applied it. He began relaxing his muscles and paying attention to the sensations he felt in the cavern floor, the air around him, the heat he felt from her hoof. He shut out the light with his eyelids and soaked it all in, underscored by that nagging, dull, annoying pain in his entire body. It almost overwhelmed him. What would be annoying in one spot, multiplied and united, became a cacophanous roar that would shatter mortal eardrums. But it was an old friend, and the healing he had received with his new friends taught him to focus elsewhere. With difficulty, he restored the barrier in his mind that never quite cut it completely. Now he maintained it consciously as he focused outward, detecting subtle hints that he sensed quicker than sight.
He spun around her, as if dancing in a hurricane and appeared in the center of the the circle, behind her. He dropped into a relaxed combat stance, hunching over with his palms turned upwards towards the cieling.
With a single claw, he beckoned her silently, grinning competitively.
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Post by Forte Fermata on Sept 1, 2015 0:58:23 GMT
[Enter Forte]
Forte came into the training hollow, yawning. He had stayed a bit too late last night in the common area performing for the ponies gathered there. He often played his trombone after dinner for anyone who wanted to listen, but last night he had gotten a bit carried away, and played far longer than he usually did. He smiled when he saw the ponies gathered around the weapon wall, though. The group was a bit smaller than he had hoped, but he was glad that some ponies recognized the need for combat skills.
He was a bit surprised to see Moxie. Forte knew that she had an aversion to weapons, but he was glad to see that she was willing to try. The world could use more ponies like her. He avoided the sparring pony and dragon and made his way over to the gathered ponies.
"Good morning everypony." He said, his voice authoritative, but kind. He always tried to keep a mix of calm helpfulness and drill-sergeant-like sternness. "Who is ready to learn to defend themselves and their loved ones?"
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Post by Moxie on Sept 1, 2015 2:03:08 GMT
Moxie looked on in awe at the grace of Archimedes and Pumpkin Vine, they had this battle thing down to almost a dance between two partners. Transfixed with the duo, moxie was startled when Forte's voice rang out over the area she was in with others waiting for training.
Blushing from being so distracted, Moxie fell in line with the other trainees in front of Forte as he addressed them. They chimed in disciplined unison back to him, "We are, Sir!" Moxie's voice coming in slightly later. She tried her best to match the eagerness in the other ponies' voices, but in reality, she couldn't help but feel nervous during these trainings.
It wasn't because she was afraid to fail.... In fact, it was the opposite. Over the years, Moxie had come to find that she actually had a knack for hoof to hoof combat, and while the rush felt exhilarating, she often found herself fearful of how easily it came to her. Paranoid of becoming a pony who could inflict pain upon others, Moxie had nightmares that when she looked into the mirror, she would see her mother looking back at her. No. She wouldn't let herself become her.... She wasn't like that. She couldn't let herself be.
Moxie waited with the rest for Forte to begin. Moxie had trained with him a few times, and she was happy to see him as the instructor today. He was one of the camp's finest battle instructors, and one who wouldn't force trainees into things they were really uncomfortable with. Moxie had a lot of trust in him, and tended to push herself harder just for him. Today's session was looking promising to distract her thoughts for a good cause.
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Post by Forte Fermata on Sept 1, 2015 5:05:48 GMT
Forte smiled wide. He remembered the sense of pride back when he was in basic, when he and his platoon mates would all be standing at attention, sounding off in unison. It sounded especially nice in the cave, echoing through the cavern.
"Good. At ease." Forte said, allowing the gathered ponies to relax their stance. It was easy to see which ponies had come from a military background, and which had not. The military ponies and those with military aspirations relaxed their stance slightly into a standby position. Those that didn't mostly sat down, though some newer ponies seemed nervous about whether they should sit or stand. Forte let them decide for themselves.
"Now, before we get to the fun stuff, I've been asked by some of the magic instructors to go over with you the various enchantments that can be put on your weapons. Who has experience using enchanted objects of any kind? Or enchanting objects, for the unicorns among us?"
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Post by Moxie on Sept 1, 2015 5:19:59 GMT
Moxie's ears perked at Forte's question, mind immediately clicking to her use of unicorn paint. Her mouth opened slightly to respond, but quickly shut when three different ponies shouted out answers at once, each trying to out do the orher's experience. Moxie decided against sharing, worried about experiencing the same competitive replies from other ponies. Besides, Forte knew about her paint anyways... And it wasn't like it was an enchanted weapon... Well, for the most part.
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Post by Forte Fermata on Sept 1, 2015 5:46:27 GMT
Forte frowned a bit. Some of the less disciplined ponies shouted out standard answers about enchanted tools, or performing simple candle enchantments. He disliked the chatter that started, so he called out a sharp "attention" command to get things quiet again. Everypony snapped to attention and the noise quickly died down.
"Okay. So, it seems a fair amount of you have experience with enchantment." He began pacing back and forth in front of the formation. "I personally don't care for enchantments, and I don't rely on them. The only enchanted bolts I carry are for less-than-lethal take downs. In my opinion, the fanciest enchantment is no match for a good quality weapon when it comes to reliability and ease of use. Sure, they can help, but if you're good enough, you don't need it. I'll go over some basic enchantments and where they are best utilized, but I'll leave the more advanced stuff to Trixie and the other magic instructors. Now..."
Forte proceeded to explain the basic enchantments. He explained and demonstrated a force enhancer, a fire enchant, a homing arrow, and a LTL (less than lethal) bolt. He explained what their main use was, and ways you could possibly counter them. It was a fairly uneventful lesson, even a bit dull given Fortes lack of interest in the topic. Towards the end, however, Forte said something surprising.
"And those are your basic enchants. Use them well, but don't rely on them. Magic is finicky enough as it is, and while our enemies may not be expecting us to have enchantments, they will probably be able to counter. However, there is one form of enchantment that only one pony here knows. Moxie, front and center, please."
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Pumpkin Vine
Junior Member
Camp New Hayven Refugee: Main Defense Trainer and Combat Leader.
Posts: 54
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Post by Pumpkin Vine on Sept 1, 2015 7:13:55 GMT
Blocking out all distractions from entering within her mind, Pumpkin Vine begun to walk forward. Inside of her circle, her words poke to the subjects surrounding the ring and dragon. Providing a firm posture to his cocky yet intelligent stance, the light coated pegasus picked up her speed to a trot. Instead of rushing to him as usually predicted however, the mare pushed herself to slip on her side. All for the sake of survival, her body motion was rapid and unsuspecting as her slide to the side of the dragon had allowed her body to pop herself in a kneeling manner. Instantly swinging her two back hooves to trip the teenage beast, her low sweep of the floor was a one shot. Flipping herself back in front of Archimedes and awaiting his body to catch up, her wings unfurled as a voice broke through.
"Fighting is not all about winning. It is simply about out smarting and surviving. Do not ever go for the original and in the book attacks. If I were to land behind the dragon or who, that is the first thing an enemy would look. Never go for the obvious attack. Take effort in planning your attacks, it may most you a life."
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Post by Moxie on Sept 1, 2015 14:39:13 GMT
Moxie had tried to follow Forte's words, but most of what he spoke about she already knew in some ways. Tid bits were new, like the homing arrow and LTL bolt, and Moxie tried to store them away in her mind to use later. However, her attention had lingered a little too long on the dueling duo to the side of them, and when Forte spoke her name she had jumped a bit. Turning red in the face and embarrassed of being caught distracted, Moxie quickly recalled the last words Forte had spoken. Enchantment? Me?... Moxie hesitantly began to creep to the front of the class until she was standing before the others and right in front of Forte. Looking slightly unsure and hating the spotlight on her, Moxie answered rather timidly, "Y-yes, Sir?"
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Post by Forte Fermata on Sept 1, 2015 17:02:29 GMT
Forte smiled warmly at her. "Miss Moxie, I believe that you know a type of enchantment few others do, and that you are working on weaponizing it? You're paints?" This elicited a surprised reaction from a lot of the gathered ponies. Weaponized paint? Some looked on skeptically, while others leaned forward, eager to learn and curious about what this enchanted paint could possibly be.
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Post by Moxie on Sept 1, 2015 19:01:26 GMT
Moxie's eyes darted to the ponies behind her nervously, but she managed to crack a small smile to Forte and nodded. "Yes sir, my enchanted unicorn paint - well.... my FALL unicorn paint to be precise... Though, I havn't been working to weaponize it - it already is a form of defense, and I guess offense too depending on how a pony uses it..."
She couldn't help but feel highly self conscious. Worried that others would get jealous of her attention or think of her magical "weapon" as lame, Moxie stopped there and glanced around to see their reaction before looking to Forte for guidance on if he wanted her to continue or not.
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Post by Forte Fermata on Sept 1, 2015 23:16:24 GMT
Forte stepped aside and motJones to Moxie to continue. "Why don't you explain to the group what you're paints are for, and how you have found you can use them in combat?" After some murmurs from the crowd about 'how can this help us' and 'paint? That's stupid,' Forte raised a hoof to silence them. "Don't worry, you'll see where I'm going with this soon enough. Now give Moxie the respect she deserves." He ordered sternly before motioning for Moxie to continue.
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Post by Moxie on Sept 2, 2015 3:29:37 GMT
Swallowing her nerves as best she could, Moxie turned to the group, trying to look through them instead of to their faces. Her words would surely trip on one another if she saw anypony getting board.
Like pulling off a bandaid, Moxie quickly began. "My fall paint was mixed and laced with magic to essentially trigger hibernation in plant life, but it's effects on ponies when it enters their blood stream from their skin can be severely disabling. Like it would a tree, the magic tells the organism to begin to shut down, often causing internal organs to slow and in extreme cases, shut down all together. A pony can loose their vision, have their heart slowed near to death, or even pass out from low oxygen intake from weakened lungs. It can be a very painful experience within moments from being hit with the paint.... It's served me well when needing to simply get away instead of risking my life in a fight." Moxie shuffled her hooves uncomfortably, wondering what else she needed to say for Forte's lesson to have its point.
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Post by Forte Fermata on Sept 2, 2015 5:01:01 GMT
Forte listened intently, as did the rest of the class. "Wow. And that's just from skin contact?" Forte thought to himself a moment, the gears turning visibly in his head. He soon came back from his mental world, though, and turned to the formation. "I think the take away here, colts and fillies, is to never dismiss a weapon. If some pony is using something to fight, it probably works. Now the rest of the time we will spend on the range. When I dismiss you, go to the weapon wall, grab a bow and some arrows, and practice on the targets on the wall. Keep in mind your range safety, because anyone caught breaking the rules will be banned from the range." He took his position back at the front of the formation. "Attention!" He called, keeping the beginnings and endings of his classes formal. "Dismissed!" He called again. The formation of ponies broke up and began following their instructions. As they filed to the weapon wall, Forte pulled Moxie aside. "Mox, can I talk to you for a sec?"
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Post by Moxie on Sept 3, 2015 0:03:02 GMT
Relieved that it was over, Moxie had taken a few steps towards the wall when she paused and looked back to Forte at his beckoning. Giving a glance to the others as they trotted away, moxie turned and stepped back to Forte's side. "Uh, sure, what's up?" She asked curiously, large eyes blinking.
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Post by Forte Fermata on Sept 3, 2015 0:24:54 GMT
Now that he was not at the head of a formation, he slipped back into a much more relaxed demeanor. His voice lost its edge and took on a kind, almost childlike quality. "First off, how did I do? You haven't been to one of my classes in a while, and I'm curious to know what you think." He asked her, plopping down on his haunches.
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Post by Moxie on Sept 3, 2015 3:45:33 GMT
Moxie laughed and gave him a smile, "You did fantastic Forte, you get better and better everyday it seems. You have a whole new set of lessons, I wasn't disappointed. You seem to have the whole class eating out of your hooves." She smirked. "Not to mention the mares fawning over you in the front, I see why you teach these so regularly~" She giggled, covering her mouth with a hoof.
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Post by Forte Fermata on Sept 3, 2015 4:06:24 GMT
Forte blushed lightly. "R-really?" He looked over at the trainees at the range. "They were?" His blush only deepened as he eyed the small group of mares on the range. "I do like a mare who can shoot..." He said absentmindedly. When he realized he was staring, his ears folded against his head as he remembered Moxie still next to him. "Hehe, sorry..."
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Post by Moxie on Sept 3, 2015 4:37:45 GMT
The group of mares in question were collected by the arrows on the weapons wall, choosing the ones they liked the look of best and giggling among themselves.
Moxie rolled her eyes with a good-natured smile, "Stallions... Are you going to be able to finish teaching the class now?" She smirked at him. "Or am I going to have to take over? Heavens knows if thats the case we will need alot more of my spring paint if I'm going to train weapon use."
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Post by Forte Fermata on Sept 3, 2015 4:41:56 GMT
"Actually, that's what I'd like to talk to you about." Forte regained his composure and straightened up. "The effects you report your paint has on enemy combatants has me intrigued. What do you think would happen if, instead of being absorbed through the skin, the paint was introduced directly into the body?" He asked.
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Post by Moxie on Sept 3, 2015 21:42:11 GMT
Moxie looked a bit perplexed. "Well uh..... I'm not sure if it would be much different... possibly more immediate.... I guess it depends on how it enters the body, maybe?" She raised a brow to Forte. "Why? Are you hoping to feed it to a pony you dislike?"
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Post by Forte Fermata on Sept 3, 2015 22:35:10 GMT
"I was hoping to force it into that bitch Chrysalis's heart..." Forte said, the malice clear in his voice. His hatred of changelings was well known throughout the camp. He had to take a moment again to collect himself, but soon started again. "I was actually hoping that it could be applied to our arrows. It seems like it would make them a lot more efficient."
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Post by Archimedes on Sept 3, 2015 22:54:48 GMT
Archimedes felt the heat from her body on the wind as it rushed around him. He could feel the earth shift. His eyes focused as he cartwheeled over her outstretched hooves and backflipped, fully expecting her to go for the rear.
When she did not he faltered for an instant. After regaining his composure, he took the hint and allowed her to finish the lesson. Mischief desired him add something snark to her speech, but respect held his tongue. This was her lesson after all.
Slowly, he inched backed towards her and prepared his defense, taking in the surroundings and guessing possible strategies. In particular, he planned for the oddly placed mirror and the opening in the cavern cieling.
When she would turn to him, he would nod the ready.
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Post by Flux on Sept 3, 2015 23:20:49 GMT
[Enter Flux from the direction of the Medical Grotto]
The pegasus stumbled through the hallways until he'd reached the section of caves where the barracks were. By job title he wasn't technically supposed to stay there, but he needed a quiet place to go and let the rest of his tangled thoughts sort themselves out. The sleeping area for the rest of the camp's inhabitants was often used as a recreational area during the day and he knew it wouldn't be as calm as where the soldiers slept. Having patrols and shifts that rotated all through the day and night, the area had to be kept relatively peaceful so that those who needed to could rest while the camp was up and about. The natural layout of the space had the bunk area around a corner that greatly shielded it from noise, and that's where Flux headed, keeping near to the cave wall.
He glanced over at both groups in the cavern as he walked, the sparring match and related instruction, as well as another who seemed to be doing more weapon training. The sights only dredged up further memories from his mind. The fighting of his own he'd had to do just to survive... His left arm ached slightly at the unbidden thoughts and he grit his teeth, forcing them away. He wasn't very keen on going to the defense and fighting classes, not only from his own previous experience, but from the reminder that it was of where he had been. He pushed onward around the cave's bend, sighing in slight relief as the sound muffled.
At this time of day most of the bunks were empty. A several were filled with those who took night rotations, but they were a relatively small percentage. This gave Flux many to choose from, so he ambled to one at the far end of the chamber, falling onto it and pulling the blanket over himself with shaking hooves. He rolled toward the stone wall and curled up as tight as he could, fighting his mind to get back in control.
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