burn away your self doubt with the fire underneath you (literally)

[whattaprick]

Who: Nightrunners, engineers, and anyone who wants to check out the new facilities.
What: WELCOME TO THE GRIND aka. training yard construction + actual use. Prompts/ideas of what you can find there are in the log text and in this OOC post; otherwise it's a make-your-own-toplevel kind of log!
When: After the engineering meeting; through the end of the Carnival's stay in Mainframe and the break.
Where: The newly-cleared training yard space in the woods!
Warnings: Shenanigansss.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION
With magic, absurdly powerful Pokemon, and combined experience putting together ridiculous shit at the Carnival's disposal, training yard construction goes by much faster than it would in an ordinary world. All facilities will be completed by the time the Carnival wraps up performance week.

People are free to come and go to work on various components for the training yard, gawk at the ongoing construction, provide useless side-commentary, or even attempt to help! Unfortunately, nobody here believes in wearing hard hats, so if you're not part of the official crew the risk is yours to take.

TRAINING YARD
A space dedicated to target practice, practicing forms, and more stationary kinds of exercises (many designed to prepare hapless miscreants who aren't quite ready for the obstacle course) for people who want to focus on something specific. Magic-resistant dummies are available for people who want to practice their magic or combat skills. Various beams, tightropes and poles of varying heights can be set up to improve balance. Climbing equipment of various types (such as walls and ropes) are also available.

It's basically a semi-customizable jungle gym with some target dummies to practice hitting things! Stick to whatever difficulty level suits you. It's mostly a bring your own weapon policy, but there are prop swords and balance poles that can serve as staves in a pinch.

OBSTACLE COURSE
The obstacle course spans the length of the clearing, and offers an opportunity to put together all the skills from the training yard. The basic layout is already pretty challenging on its own, but surprise, Peridot has also set it up so you can adjust the difficulty level depending on your level of experience.

On Normal mode, the course components are stationary. On Hard, things start moving around and actively getting in your way, like the tunnel starting to rotate and landings getting progressively harder as things disappear beneath you, and some parts of the course even have drones chasing you down with lasers to 'encourage' you to go faster. Sometimes things will be on fire to really encourage you to avoid them! On Death March the spinning is faster, there are lasers on everything you can conceivably put a laser on, and pyrotechnics have been rigged up so that the last part of the course has you flinging yourself out of the path of a controlled explosion (aim to land on the big X on the end for full points).

Where's the easy mode, you ask? Nothing in life is easy, why would this be?

There's a small signboard at the end of the course listing the shortest times it's taken someone to complete course. The Ringmaster currently holds the record, and no matter how she dares you to beat her, it's generally not recommended to try because faeries are big cheaters.

ARENA
There's a circular, elevated concrete platform towards the end of the obstacle course that functions as place to spar without holding back. It's surrounded by a moat (which coincidentally also serves as a place where anyone on fire because of the last bit of the obstacle course can throw themselves into) and there's a square-shaped sand pit in the center. Depending on the day, the moat might have robot crocodiles and it might be electrified or something? Actually getting into the arena seems to be a challenge all on its own, kind of like someone built it and then put everything else around it because it was cool in some strange reversal of painting yourself into a corner.

FIRST AID STATION

Haha just kidding there isn't one. There might be a small box with some bandages and antibiotic cream kind of thoughtlessly tucked behind training yard equipment though.

There's been an effort to reasonably fire-proof most items as possible, but it's not infallible. Acts of deliberately malicious destruction will subject vandals to being chased around by the obstacle course's laser-wielding attack drones and the ire of the Engineer. Have fun guys.

Comments

Jonathan Strange | open!

[kingsroads]

construction
Whenever Strange mentioned his work in the peninsula, inevitably people were a bit confused. You fought in a war but you did things like put out fires and make roads, well that's not really fighting is it. And yes, it might not be fighting but it's certainly useful. Case in point? The training yard is in the forest. Strange still gets turned around in the forest occasionally. So, naturally, he's going to use his magic to make a road to the training yard in the first place.

Of course, it's less of a 'road' like most people would think of roads and more of a 'cleared away path.' As Strange holds a rock and mutters the spell, various rocks and dirt from around the forest come together to make a pathway leading from the carnival to the training yard. The path is again, comprised entirely of dirt and rocks, but it's visible and smooth, going as straight as possible, but winding around trees as needed. There's no ditches and no tree roots to trip anybody, just a lovely leisurely path to the training area. Let's see anybody judge him for making roads now, ha! He's shown everybody just how useful a simple road can be and is now terribly smug about it.

So, don't mind Strange as he just smugly stands near the new road, looking far too proud of himself, as he accosts anyone who's walking into the training area. "Well? What do you think of the path?"

obstacle course
Like fuck he's doing this. Sorry Lambert! Instead, Strange is watching the obstacle course from the sidelines with a little frown on his face as he just studies the thing, trying to think of as many ways he can cheat at the course. Perhaps he could use the ground to lift him up over the wall and through the window. The rope ladder, though...that seemed to be cruel for the sake of being cruel. When was he going to have to climb a rope ladder?

He is 100% going to end up chased around by an attack drone and getting yelled at by Peridot at some point. As it is, Strange is just staring at the obstacle course that's a bit like he's trying to glare the thing out of existence. And, again, not run the damn thing, no matter how much certain people (Lambert) want him to.

Eventually, he mutters to himself, "Maybe I could flood the ditch," in a way that's probably a bit worrying to anyone within earshot.

obstacle course

[stillwinningthehardway]

It's all... exaggerated, considering how most people here don't seem to have trained like this. It was very clearly made to intimidate and impress. Still, Scout's pretty pleased at how the place has turned out. She's never seen this kind of thing built before.

"You should look into kneepads," she says, watching Strange watching it. "And probably a helmet. Also, clothes you don't like."

[kingsroads]

"Or, I should look into not doing the thing to begin with." Because it's downright ridiculous, a hundred percent worrying, and will probably be the thing in his entire stay at the carnival that actually succeeds at killing him. It's a bit hyperbolic, but in what situation would he have to jump through a window in the first place?!

"This is a bit ridiculous. If anything I need to train my magic more, not my ability to climb up a rope ladder. I don't know how this could help with that at all."

construction

[mylastchance]

Lauren actually is impressed, good job Strange. He looks at the path, stunned. Of course he knew magic that could shape earth, but it wasn't quite the same as this.

"Did you move the trees too? Or did you just put it between them?"

[kingsroads]

Whereas Strange just looks far too puffed up and proud of himself for his own good. A few more compliments and he'll be insufferable for the rest of the evening.

"I put it between the trees. I suppose I could have talked with the trees to ask them to move, but that sort of magic always takes longer than expected. Besides, as we're in the Ringmaster's domain, I doubt they'd be that receptive of me in the first place."

Obstacle course

[periphrasing]

Did someone mention Peridot yelling

Because to her, saying he's going to flood the ditch is extra worrying, her being involved in building the damn thing in the first place.

"That would be extremely inadvisable, and also likely hazardous to your health," she growls ominously.

[kingsroads]

Fun fact: Strange is pretty darn tall. As it is, he's kind of looming over poor Peridot in a manner that would be slightly comical to anybody else watching. He also...one hundred percent ignores that ominous tone in her voice and lets out a small huff of annoyance.

Extremely inadvisable she says, inadvisable according to who? Certainly not to him!

"Hazardous to my health how? It's just water."

obstacle course

[whattaprick]

"Only if you're volunteering to dive into the mud," Lambert chimes in, appearing out of fucking nowhere like a jerk and speaking almost directly into Strange's ear. Guess who's gleefully abusing the powers of a gemstone that darkness, that's right, it's this shithead. But that's what Strange gets for standing in a convenient patch of shade!

"Pretty impressive, huh?"

[kingsroads]

Strange just tenses up as he hears a voice behind him and whirls around, getting ready to yell at Childermass...only to see that it's Lambert? How on Earth could Lambert have snuck up on him like that?

"I would describe it more along the lines of ridiculous," said as Strange just tries to take a bit of a deep breath and get his heart rate down. "Still, if you and the rest can get use out of it, then I suppose that's what matters."

You and the rest, not including him, of course. There is no way on God's green Earth that Strange is going to willingly run that thing.

Rita Mordio | OTA

[anti_nonsense]

[Since the adventures in the Game, Rita's been afflicted with her first physical change since coming to the carnival: a tail, much like a lion's, with dark fur ending in a bright red tuft. It hangs out from under her tunic, curling just a bit above the ground to keep from dragging.

The change wasn't a welcome one, and anyone who's seen Rita in the past few days might have noticed her being especially irritable. This project, at least, serves as some distraction from the things upsetting her.]

(a: finishing the training dummies)

[If one were to come by the training yard during construction, one might find Rita putting the finishing touches on a set of training dummies. There are, of course, some ordinary straw dummies set up, but her focus now is on preparing sturdy, magic-resistant ones. She tightens a few bolts on the life-size metallic figures, then steps back to admire her work.

They're all fairly ordinary dummies... save for two, which look a little different than the others. One is the size of a child, smaller than Rita, with a head shaped like its hair is styled upward. The other is about the height of an average adult man, with a head shaped like it has fluffy hair tied in a ponytail at the back. Almost like she modeled them after two very specific people...]

This should do it. [Rita has a faint, satisfied smile as she looks over the completed dummies.] Guess I should come here for stress relief once in a while.

(b: testing at the obstacle course)

[Or perhaps you're in the vicinity of the obstacle course when a certain pyromaniac happens to be testing out the pyrotechnics she set up. Crouched near the course, Rita fiddles with a panel of controls, and...

FOOOOOOOOM!

A burst of flames erupts around the path towards the very end in a spectacular explosion meant for a flashy finale. The heat emanated by it can be felt on the skin of anyone remotely near. But Rita simply stands, cupping her chin and looking over the spectacle with a critical eye.]

Hmmm. Was it better last time...?

(c: wildcard!)

[Did your character break something (or find something broken/malfunctioning) and needs someone from engineering to look at it? Would they like to make a complaint about the unnecessary amounts of fire in the course? Or maybe they come across her tossing fireballs and launching rock-spikes at those dummies she built. Maybe your character wants to spar with a magic-user? Or... anything else! Rita will be around during the construction and the early days of the training area's operation.]

b

[kingsroads]

[ This is only reaffirming his belief to never go on this goddamn obstacle course ever. Strange is nosy, Rita is doing something interesting, Strange is going to bother Rita and then just backs up as soon as that burst of flame shoots up from the pyrotechnics. It's entirely unexpected...but pretty impressive, he'll give her that much. ]

Make certain that the fire's that large whenever Lambert runs the course.

[ ha ha, let's set the boss on fire. To Strange's credit, his tone has a hint of sarcasm...but there's definitely a seriousness in there as well. Maybe if Lambert sees how ridiculous this thing is, he'll ease back on some of the more 'murdery' and 'fire-like' aspects of the stupid course. ]

[anti_nonsense]

[Rita glances over, only now realizing that Strange was standing nearby.]

So it's enough, you figure? [Apparently, Rita's concern was that it wasn't enough fire.] I guess we can arrange that, then. [Did Rita catch the humor in his tone? Is she joking? It's not clear, but generally speaking, Rita doesn't joke. She does seem mildly pleased with the idea, however.]

dummies!

[showmystar]

Friends from back home?

[Allen walks up from behind Rita. He'd been admiring the construction from afar for a small while, but he's most interested in the training dummies.

And really, making dummies look like people from back home? He sounds amused.]

[anti_nonsense]

Friends? [Rita glances at the stranger with a raised eyebrow, looking almost offended at the suggestion. But she stops to consider it, looking over the specially-designed dummies once again.]

Well... something like that, I guess. We spent a lot of time together. Enough to get sick of them.

fire!!!

[stillwinningthehardway]

[Scout winces. This is the thing with this obstacle course, it's just so dramatic. If your focus is on repetition and building endurance, and all the boring necessary work that comes with it...]

I think I smell hair burning.

[anti_nonsense]

Do you? I hadn't noticed.

[For Rita, all this drama is completely normal and not at all excessive.]

You saw just now, right? [Since there's someone else here, Rita might as well get a second opinion.] It didn't look too plain, did it? [Yep. That's what Rita's worried about. Compared to some of her fire spells, mechanically-generated fire just doesn't have the same elegance and flair.]

a. dummy dummies

[mylastchance]

He looks at them all, admiring the work that's gone into the little training camp and the people who've managed to complete it so quickly. When he spots the dummies, though, he looks briefly confused.

"Why are these two different?"

[anti_nonsense]

"Hm?" Rita turns to face him, only now realizing someone else was here.

She gives a small, self-satisfied smirk. "They're just what came to mind when I thought about things I'd like to blast for target practice."

Allen Walker ; OPEN

[showmystar]

Obstacle Course
[Allen had started with Hard Mode. He has something to prove, and really, non-moving targets are too boring. The rotating tunnel and disappearing floors are the sort of training he's used to, and really, it's a little below his grade.

He got cocky.

Once the laser-spitting drones come in, he's absolutely sprinting through the course. And then, somehow, it flips to Death March.

Maybe he took a wrong turn. Maybe whatever mechanical system works this thought he could handle it. Maybe the world just wants to make Allen suffer. It doesn't matter. Because now he's running for his life, leaping over this wall and slipping under that swinging log, narrowly avoiding getting set on fire by how close he cuts those corners, sliding like he's drifting past home base. He's experienced, but reckless. This is about survival.

There's a wail as he zooms past yet another laser-toting drone. This one is on fire!!]

WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE ROBOTS?!?!??!

[kingsroads]

[ Strange is on the outskirts of the training yard, practicing his knifework one one of the dummies. He's obviously not amazing at it, but after a few weeks of practice, he has most of the basics down pat.

Of course, the knifework is interrupted by Allen weaving and bobbing and screaming as he deals with drones of all things. Really, this would distract anybody from practice...and as one drone zips past Strange, he probably admits that he should at least make a valid attempt to help. ]

If you want me to stop the drones you simply need to say so.

[ Can he stop the drones? Well...maybe. He can at least put the ones out that are on fire and maybe convince the trees nearby to knock some of the drones that aren't on fire out of the air. Perhaps he conjure up a mist? These drones must navigate somehow, conjuring up a mist could at least confuse the machines. ]

oh please take your time strange

[showmystar]

[Allen hits the ground, barely ducking another laser, before he rolls to his feet and scrambles off, shouting over his shoulder--]

YESPLEASE I'D APpreciate the help!! [--as he keeps running further and further away

He doesn't know if this guy controls them. He doesn't know if he can help. It doesn't matter.

This is not the time for pride. This is the time for living to see the next sunrise . . .]

[whattaprick]

[ Lambert wouldn't consider himself a sadist, but after having watched a few people make a go for the obstacle course, he has to admit: it makes for a pretty good show.

Also, his finger may have slipped on the setting just to see what would happen if Allen had to go through it like that, and so far, he hasn't been disappointed. He cups his hands around his mouth, shouting: ]

Ignore the robots! Focus on your feet!

[ Easy to say for someone not getting aimed at by lasers, but. Well. ]

[destiny_key]

Obstacle Course

For Sora, the stationary obstacle course isn't a challenge at all. He can glide and do flowmotion and all those other fun game-breaking abilities, but where's the fun in that? He's running these bad boys with no extra help at all.

Mostly, though, he's just messing around on the Normal setting. A lot of this stuff feels more like playground equipment to him, so he takes his time and is going kinda slow, swinging around and playing more than training. Hope he's not holding anyone up!

Obstacle Course: Extreme Edition

Inevitably, someone gets a little annoyed at Sora for messing around instead of training, and dares him to do the course on a higher difficulty. Clearly they didn't know who they were messing with.

Sora takes the course on Death March mode, and passes with flying colors. He doesn't land on the 'X' at the end, and he doesn't beat the Ringmaster's score, but he's grinning at the end anyway.

"Wow, that really is a workout on the higher difficulty," he laughs, wiping at his sweaty forehead.

Arena

Sometimes, in the evenings, Sora can be found in the Arena, sparring with the Keyblade. He had a heck of a fight during the last area, but he was knocked out fairly quickly, and it seems like he's trying to make up for that with some combat practice. Care to join him?

Obstacle Course: Normal Edition

[mylastchance]

Lauren can do the normal obstacle course, but he definitely doesn't find it easy. He feels using magic to complete the course would sort of defeat the point, so like Sora he's going at it the old fashioned way, but unlike Sora he isn't just playing around. He honestly likes testing himself and wonders just how quickly he could complete the course his first go. He doesn't expect Sora to be hanging from the bar that's hidden behind one of the short walls when he jumps over it and nearly ends up colliding with the teen. In fact maybe he does?

[destiny_key]

Of course, Sora knows that other people will be on the course. It's be kind of boring if he was just hanging here by himself.

However, he's not expecting anyone to come swinging out of nowhere and slam straight into him. At the collision, Sora loses his grip on the bar he's hanging from, and tumbles to the ground.

"Ow..." he complains, rubbing at his back.