Welcome to Gaia! ::

Combat 101

After feeling particularly fit from all her survival training Minist decided to head back to combat. She was ready for whatever they had to throw at her. She could take it. However, tonight's lesson wasn't going to be as physical as she had expected. No, they were simply going to be trying to hit targets with different projectiles. Rocks and bullets seemed to be the main source of ammunition for this training session. This looked somewhat fun, at least. She was even able to throw a rock at some greenblood's head and play it off as a clumsy attempt to hit her target. While she got a stern look from a soldier, she didn't get in trouble. The greenblood, however, made a slicing motion across his throat while he glared at her. Sheesh, some people can't have a laugh at anything.

Combat 101

The second night in the combat course, on the other hand, went exponentially better than the first. As soon as the ring came into view, she could see today would be different; one of the younger trolls was fighting a soldier in the ring, the older troll obviously taking it easy on the kid, only countering his attacks. As she drew closer, she could hear that the soldier was pointing out the boy's mistakes as the younger troll launched attack after attack, each of them effortlessly shut down by the veteran.

Another supervisor took the revolvers she'd brought and gave her padded gloves and a mouthpiece in exchange. She put on the gloves and got to work on biting a couple holes in the mouthpiece for her fangs while she listened to the combat instructor finish up the match, lecturing the kid all the while. "Don' throw haymakers like that, you leave yourself wide open...fists up, I coulda broken yer teeth right there...you're gettin' too frantic, back off an' cool down..." Before too long, a small bell chimed, and the instructor caught the kid's last punch before landing a quick open-palm jab in the middle of the boy's chest. The adult had barely looked like he was trying, but the younger troll was nearly lifted off his feet as he was knocked away, sprawling on his back as he landed hard several feet away from the instructor. The soldier turned and stared straight through the next in line. "Next."

So it went, the clearly very experienced adult going up against each troll in turn, child and adult, and for the most part, stopping their every assault cold. Rarely, a punch would slip past his defense, and he'd counter with his own much more powerful blow, never looking like he was even giving half his best.

Before too long, it was Pyre's turn to step up. The soldier smirked a bit as she entered the ring. "I remember you. Little Miss Runner-Up." She stared for a moment, not too sure how to reply to that. "Up for seeing what it's like to play in the big-leagues, hm?" She wasn't sure if he was mocking her or just being playful, but she responded with a jerkish nod, and raising her fists. Not like she could talk with the mouthpiece in, her eyeteeth holding it rather firmly in place. He seemed to get the message, raising his hands as well.

She left the ring without landing a clear blow, but they had so much time left after everyone had gone a round that they circled back around and started again, and again, and again. She landed a hit in the second round, but didn't even have time to feel proud before she was hit stupid, the side of his fist connecting with her cheek in a blindingly fast hook. The adult didn't even look phased by her punch as he grinned down at her. "Don't focus on what damage you're taking. Even if you lose a limb, if you're on a royal mission, keep ********' goin'." The third round, she managed to get in a clean jab and block the punch he countered with, not that blocking it did much. Trying to catch a wrecking ball won't yield any better results than getting hit with it from behind, after all.

The fourth round, his instructions had so improved her form, she was getting in such a groove, blood growing hotter by the second, that she actually had him on the ropes. About as on the ropes as he could be while still winning vastly, she supposed, but still, he could no longer stop every punch cold, could no longer counter and throw back every blow, he was forced to simply block them as they flew. He still managed to find time to jab her back for every landed blow without leaving himself open, but that's what it meant to go up against someone with so much more experience, so much more expertise and skill.

By the time everyone's fourth round ended, the lesson well past late in concluding. Every recruit was exhausted, all of them who'd been skilled enough to land a blow sporting a rather serious-looking bruise for each punch that had landed. Even the warrior in the ring was considerably breathier than he'd been when they started. "Ahaha, ********' awesome. Wish every class was as spirited as you grubs, most of 'em just start whining once they lose a few teeth." He paused for a moment, letting out a short laugh that almost sounded like a wheeze, thanks to his being winded. "That was fun. Dismissed, maggots."

Survival

And here she was again. She was determined to get something done today at the foreboding wall, climbing, swimming, whatever! She wanted to get something done, something accomplished, something learned and something gained

...Which probably wasn't going to happen, and truth be told, it didn't.

Another day spent watching, she supposed...

MEDICINE 101

The next night's lecture, Alifax was displeased to learn, had nothing to do with herbs.

It was a boring lecture, too; their instructor had informed them that there'd be two parts to it, and this one would require no practical experience. How frustrating - Alifax didn't particularly want to hear anything about the art of CPR, especially since it was one of the few things they'd learned so far that he couldn't apply to himself (unless in future he somehow managed to clone himself. Now there was a thought - perhaps that clone could sit through these particular silly lessons). But apparently it was critical and important, and so they'd dedicated a few hours of lecture on the topic.

Coming out of it that morning, Alifax still wasn't sure what exactly they'd been trying to teach them. The other trolls seemed to be discussing it eagerly - perhaps, he thought, because they believed that the process looked something like a proper black snog. But Alifax was certain that they were different - weren't romances supposed to have to do with your emotions?

Alifax supposed the lectures had been marginally better than what they’d have to endure the next night. He did hope that the model that they’d be practicing on wasn’t a highblood; he wasn’t sure if that was at all proper, even though he was confident that they wouldn’t be culling their recruits. Not for now, anyway.

Survival 101, take 5: Evidence that Abrila was slowly losing her sanity.

After bruises, embarrassment, and a spontaneous trip to the medical tent, Abrila wasn't eager to return to combat 101. The gash in her arm was shallow, thankfully, but it had bled so much it had caused some mayhem among the class. Worst of all, it wasn't a battle wound to be proud of; she tripped and fell right in front of everyone and somehow sliced her arm open on a rock.

She could have gone back to medicine 101 but she was concerned that she would be recognized if she returned so soon. She hated being noticed... and she definitely had been noticed yesterday.

So survival 101, sadly, seemed like the best choice. Luckily, she had been funneled into one of the lecture classes that were meant to give her detailed instructions on how to survive a variety of conditions. Abrila didn't think learning about dehydration was that important (you got thirsty so you drank, simple as that), but the advice on what to do if one was poisoned seemed to be more practical. She tried to pay attention despite the constant drowsiness that tugged on her concentration.

Survival 101

Cheese returned to the general fitness training class the next night. She was determined to at least conquer the first four hours of jogging. She could use the stamina. This time she was careful to keep hydrated and alternate between jogging and walking, and managed to add an hour to her time, but she wasn't sure how she was going to increase it any more than that.

#6432C7]
xxxx

Combat 101

Today was a day for sparring. Grabbing her flail and kicking on her indigo boots, Frossa skipped off to the dusty rings where the fights were held. There didn't seem to be many trolls there this evening; was interest dwindling? Was there something special going on today that she didn't know about? Frossa couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something awesome and fun was happening without her, and couldn't quite get into the groove of combat. While she won most of her matches, successfully tossing her opponents out of the ring, Frossa's little heart just wasn't into it!
#6432C7
xxxx
xx

Survival 101 (aaaaah I can actually post BEFORE I'm supposed to be in bed *u* )

Tonight the general fitness instructor faked out his students and held the triathlon first. Swimming came first, but it wasn't a long distance, and Cheese was able to complete it. Peddling around a two-wheeled transportation device was next. Cheese didn't find it too difficult, except for a steep slope that required her to get off and walk. The jog was last, but Cheese was pretty worn out. She managed to complete the triathlon, but definitely couldn't continue jogging for four more hours.