lostcarnival | let's get down to business

Entry tags:

let's get down to business

Who: Nightrunners and whoever wants to make use of the training yard for whatever reason.
When: S2 D1-D5
Where: The Training Yard
What: Training, or pointing and laughing at people training.
Warnings: Explosions and swearing, probably.

Though it's never really been off-limits, once they're down off the moon, Lambert wastes little time informing the nightrunners he officially expects them to get back to training and getting in shape. They can make ample use of the training yard facilities to learn how to work with each other after their extended vacation, or just get to know their newer coworkers in an environment closer to what their actual working conditions will actually be like.

The yard, as usual, isn't limited solely to nightrunners. Anyone who wants to work on their physical or magical skills are welcome, as well as anyone from the other departments who have anything they might want to test out that requires a combatant, for some reason.

Lambert's generally a constant presence at the fringes, sometimes participating in exercise or sparring himself, but mostly just watching and making sure no one's about to put someone's eye out or break the equipment, because that would be bad for obvious reasons.

[ ooc; this is an open log, so bring your own toplevel! ]

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[Strange will get no response from 'Syrlya', who is probably brightly obviously coating in magic as he just stands there.

The real Syrlya, meanwhile, is keeping himself under the veil of invisibility, running on the other side of the ditch and through the dodging panels. And he doesn't intend to make himself visible anytime soon, when there's no need to cast any revealing spells. Spot him if you can, Strange!]

[ ...alright, this is odd. Tentatively, Strange picks up a rock and chucks it in the general direction of 'Syrlya'. The lack of a reaction tells him that well hell, this is probably an illusion or something.

Turning back to the obstacle course, Strange stops the magic for a moment. If he knew where Syrlya was, he could probably dispel the invisibility. Strange's spellbreaking kiss magic could also be cast verbally as, well, not everything can be kissed. The problem is, he doesn't know where Syrlya is in the first place. There's a few moments where Strange watches, with a pause, before he tries something. He brings the breeze back again but this time the wind sweeps along the ground of the obstacle course, trying to kick up as much dust as possible.

After all, could Syrlya's magic keep him invisible if dust or paint or something like that tampered with it? Strange honestly doesn't know. ]

[The illusion doesn't react.

Dust also, unfortunately, doesn't do anything to reveal Syrlya. The particles are too small and are blended into the illusion seamlessly. It can't, however, hide Syrlya interacting with larger of the pieces of the environment, like the ropes. He stops in front of them, then back where Strange is, shielding his eyes from the dust.

... Technically, there's absolutely nothing stopping Syrlya from just skipping that part of the course entirely. So he does, running between the ropes and up the slope to just leap across the ditch.

There's only so far his focus can go, and maintaining invisibility for this long means he can't cast anything else without releasing the spell and revealing himself. So, if anything, Strange has forced Syrlya to run the next few sections properly to avoid his tampering.]

[ The wind comes to a stop as Strange realizes the dust isn't working. Hmm. Well, if Syrlya wants to run this course properly, then he'll need to complete the next few sections. Of course, Strange is well aware that Syrlya could just fuck off and leave the middle of the course. But he's continued to run it even while Strange was messing with him before, so perhaps he'll continue to run it now?

Almost instantly, Strange turns into smoke. If he wants to dispel whatever the hell Syrlya's got going on, probably invisibility, he needs to be right there in the middle of things. And if he's going right there in the middle of things, he'd like to spend as much time as untouchable as possible, just because he knows Syrlya has a cheap trick or two up his sleeve.

As smoke, Strange floats over towards the start of the balancing bridge, hoping that Syrlya hasn't gotten that far. And hey, if he gets in Syrlya's eyes and manages to distract him somewhat, all the better! ]

[It's too bad purple smoke is super obvious. Strange does beat Syrlya to the balancing bridge, and Syrlya stops just before he gets to him with a frown.

The illusion further back on the course shatters, too far to tether back to its source. Syrlya could try to run through him, but he sure can't guarantee the safety of that. Strange's magic isn't all for show, and Syrlya has respect for the power of it.

Which is exactly why he's going to rely on tricks to try and keep faster than Strange. The veil drops and reveals Syrlya as he takes one step forward, looking ahead.

And then he Blinks to the end of the balancing bridge, bouncing down the two steps and running to the window.]

[ As Syrlya Blinks to the end of the balancing bridge, Strange turns himself solid again, spinning around to watch as Syrlya runs to the window. Well, he couldn't really do anything there if he wanted to—Syrlya's simply too fast. But the apex ladder after the windows, he's got an idea for that.

Strange is casting the spell as Syrlya continues on. It's only when Syrlya reaches the apex ladder (or, if Syrlya goes invisible again, when Strange thinks he's on the ladder) that he calls forth a gust of wind, blowing towards the apex ladder, strong enough to hopefully try and knock Syrlya off balance. ]

[Syrlya doesn't end up turning invisible again, though whether it's a choice or because he can't generate the magic that quickly isn't something he'll say.

His balance isn't terrible, but it's not exceptional either and without a proper stance on the apex ladder, the wind manages to force him stumbling sideways. He topples over, grabbing the rungs to crawl up to the top instead, and then swings his legs around and slides down the other side quickly.

That's definitely not how that section is supposed to go, but you adapt.

That just leaves the terrace, so he rights himself to his feet and sprints.]

[ There's only one obstacle left and Syrlya's definitely going to clear it.

Still, Strange isn't giving up the fight just yet, as he gestures towards the terrace. The gust of wind moves towards the terrace, blowing in an attempt to knock Syrlya over. The wind's picked up a bit as well, as Strange puts all his effort in the magic, concentrating and trying to put enough power behind that gale so that at the least, it gives Syrlya a really hard time. ]

[Syrlya feels the wind, and with a final lunge he teleports forward once more to the very end of the terrance, dropping down with his knees bending as he catches his weight. There, finished.

He straightens back up, looking over his shoulder a moment before he swings around the edge of the terrace enough to see Strange. Then he crosses his arms, leaning against him.] Had your fun, Strange?

[He raises a brow.]

[ As Syrlya finishes the course, the wind dies down. With a wave of his hand, Strange's magic shuts off. Of course, those bigass pillars that Strange made earlier are still hanging out midway through the obstacle course. Maybe he'll put them down later.

At Syrlya's question, Strange attempts to look innocent, something that lasts for all of five seconds before a dumb smirk firmly plants itself on his face. ]

I was simply helping you train! [ he explains. ] And from what I saw, you performed admirably.

Is that so. [He's not sure that was actually Strange's intention at all, but he won't argue with him over it.] And do you intend to cross it now that I'm through?

[ Well shit. Strange wasn't exactly planning to cross it in the first place. Still, now that Syrlya's opened up a challenge (or at least, Strange interprets this as Syrlya opening up a challenge) he's got to at least give it a shot. ]

I suppose I might as well, [ he admits, with a sigh. Strange has a feeling Syrlya's going to try and trip him up the same way that he tried to trip Syrlya up. If that's the case, then at least he doesn't have to worry about completing the thing in a reasonable amount of time.

Already starting to come up with a plan, Strange walks towards the front of the obstacle course. ]

[Syrlya clasps his hands behind his back. Innocently. He waits for Strange to get to the beginning of the course to continue.]

I cannot move the earth or wind like you... but I am sure I can still provide some sort of extra challenge. For the sake of your training, of course.

[He bends down and picks up... a rock. Just a palm sized piece of stone and juggles it in his off hand.

The wonderful thing about a focus is it doesn't need to be able specific shape for him to channel those specific spells through it. It just needs to be in hand.]

Edited 2018-01-17 22:27 (UTC)

[ Strange has made his way to the start of the course. And of course that low wall is the first thing there, he hates that thing so much, why can't the entire obstacle course just be balancing and ducking.

Once he makes it there, Strange starts running the thing...and we just get a slightly sad minute long struggle of Strange trying to get over the low wall.

He'll get over it eventually! But starting the thing off with something involving upper body strength is simply cruel, in his opinion. ]

[Syrlya... doesn't even try to interrupt Strange's attempts to vault the wall. It's just sad, he's clearly suffering enough just out of his own effort and thwarting it is just too cruel for Syrlya to stomach.

He'll just let Strange fumble his way over the wall, staring blankly.

When he finally manages it over, Syrlya mumbles something to himself and briefly traces some sort of pattern in the air.]

[ look, different people have different talents, it's not Strange's fault that he doesn't have anything in the way of upper body strength, that's his story and he's sticking to it.

He might be completely awful at the wall, but Strange is better at some of the other obstacles. The next one is the stepping stones and he's going through those with relative ease...though he is a bit worried about the fact that Syrlya hasn't done anything yet. ]

[Strange probably should be worried. There's not a lot of warning after that, before Syrlya points his finger forward.

And instantly, if Strange isn't warding his mind, a shock will roll through. No visible magic or homing bolt to avoid--just the sudden pain to stun him, and of course Syrlya tries to catch him mid-jump.

He usually doesn't use mantras. The initial time to set the spell takes longer than he can usually afford himself, although the results are quick. But he's got time as a spectator and isn't anticipating Strange to have any sort of mental warding going on.]

[ He doesn't have any mental warding in the slightest. Strange yelps in surprise as the shock courses through his body. It hits mid-jump, though he does manage to grab onto one of the stepping stones before he eats it completely. He hauls himself back to his feet before continuing on the course. Urgh, and next up is the rubble aka more hauling himself over things.

...well fuck that. As soon as he hops off the stepping stones, Strange turns himself to smoke. These are smaller than the wall, he can definitely float over and under as needed. ]

[... Hm. can Syrlya still affect human smoke? He's never actually tried before, but mantras can be used twice before they have to re re-cast, so Syrlya points his hand forward again and tries to zap Strange a second time. Let's see if that works.]

[ The problem with being smoke is that one's mind is magically all over the place. It's not like Strange is a solid form with an actual brain, just more like a consciousness piloting some plumes of smoke.And so, instead of one concentrated jolt like it was before, the zap feels like it's spread out over Strange's entire smoke form: uncomfortable, yet something he can power through.

Needless to say, this is something he had no idea would happen. At the end of the rubble, Strange reforms,
looking pleasantly surprised with himself, before he starts to run towards the tunnel.]

[He doesn't see much of a pause from Strange, so now he knows what his magic isn't capable of. Once Strange is in the tunnel there's little Syrlya can do. But while Strange is running for it, he gestures to place one of his ticking clock wells right at the entrance. It'll be familiar to Strange as the one that slowed time down, making him move in weirdly slow motion.

It's not even for a challenge, Syrlya's just being an asshole.]

[ Strange runs smack into that clock well and almost instantly slows the hell down. At least he's used to this magic before and has seen it in action. That makes it all the easier for Strange to break. He starts muttering a counterspell as he moves through the tunnel.

Breaking the spell takes a solid ten to fifteen seconds though, just enough time for Syrlya to place another clock well somewhere or just be an asshole in a different way. ]

[For better or worse, the well only lasts about six seconds with Syrlya not attempting to maintain it in any way. So Strange won't have to struggle as long, but also won't get the chance to break it.

Once he disappears into the tunnel, there's not a lot Syrlya can do. So he's left waiting to see how Strange tries to handle the dodging panels.]

[ Strange handles the dodging panels decently. It's obvious he's not used to cardio and running the entire obstacle course: his breathing is starting to get heavier. But, he's navigating the turns fairly well and more tightly than expected.

However, his mind is more worried on what's up ahead than what he's doing. It's that low rope that's going to be the hardest thing for him to climb on his own, and Strange is already thinking of ways he can attempt to cheat at that. ]

[Ah, yes, the rope. The portion Syrlya didn't even do, but he was invisible so nobody can prove anything.

He also knows exactly how he can mess that up for Strange. He brings a hand to his mouth to call out.] Well, go on then. All you have to do is climb up it!

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