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 Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 8:58 am
Formation Drill: The V Flying Pattern
Setting Physical Time: Early morning, about 6:30 am. Sun is just coming up at the time of the ground meeting. Chronological Time: This ORP is set before the events of the Hatching, and is on the second morning after the first ORP. (One whole day has passed since 'Our New Assignment" ) Duration: The whole drill will last approximately six hours ICly. Riders will be back in the Weyr in time for lunch. Weather: The drill has been scheduled early in order to beat the heat, early morning mists may impair vision at first, and rising temperatures interacting with cool coastal breezes later in the afternoon could give rise to thunderstorms. Location: Lyveana has found an ideal bluff not far from a small cothold that remains friendly with the Weyr. The holders are family members of several Weyrworkers, including an assistant cook named Bianne. The location is north-west of the Weyr, about 3 miles. Easy flying distance if riders would rather fly straight, and should be well known if riders want to go between to get there.
How The Formation Works Following this article on this specific formation, the 'V' is one of the oldest and most practiced drill. As weyrlings, each of the riders would have marched too it before their dragons could fly, flown it in threes, and then flown it some more in larger groups as the Weyrlingmaster decreed. As full fledged dragonriders, the emphasis is less on the overall shape of the 'V' but is rather focused on the spacing between riders. Every rider drills and re-drills the basics so that they will have the instinctive understanding of their place in the 'V' and can work from any angle within it. Spacing is crucial, since it is based on a length greater the a dragon's flame can cover. Point and edge dragons will shift as they tire, but the bigger bronze and brown dragons will be the ones mostly assigned to those positions. Agile greens will flank the larger dragons, and the blues will be the stabilizing middle. ** A note about the Flight Plan. Lyveana would have had a weyrbrat deliver a copy of the flight plan to everyone the previous morning. All it will say is the length of the drill, the drill focus ( v formation) and time. Place to be determined. ** A note for absentees. Like the last ORP, you do not have to say you missed this drill. So for IC purposes, unless someone replies with a character that is late or has mentioned that so and so will be absent, please do not have your character comment on another character's IC absence or tardiness.
The Action List
Alrighty! To get this party started, I'll just do a quick run down of how we're going to handle the 'random action' side of this drill. I'm hoping to avoid pages of randomizer rolls with no content for others to respond too, so for every action a player rolls, that action must be followed by another 'neutral' or non-random action post. That is not saying you can't have your character still responding to the previous action you DID roll, you just can't roll for another action immediately after.
Basically, the jist is that YOU choose when you want a new action to play with, so long as it isn't one after the other. Lyveana will be calling out to dive left, turn right, rise up, etc.... and you have the option to either reply on your own, or factor in the random element. No one is obligated to roll at all, actually, but it does make it more dynamic and fun. The only catch is, you HAVE to respond with what you roll when you do decide to roll the randomizer.
So, break down of steps:
Step One: Write up a neutral post, perhaps you are just coasting along thinking?
Step Two: Randomize a number 1-14 at the top of the neutral post.
Step Three: Post your neutral post with the randomized number.
Step Four: Identify what your next random action will be by looking at the number you rolled at the top of your 'neutral' post and comparing it to the action list. Respond to it in your next post.
Action List 1- You rock! You and your dragon have just completed your mid-air adjustments perfectly! 2- Oops, your timing was a little off! Don't worry about it too much, no one noticed! 3- ASLDLJAHFAJFH!)@*$&*!!! You just scraped the wings of the dragon to your right/left! 4- Fantastic! Your dragon kept perfect spacing during the trip between while in formation. 5- Not too shabby! You and your dragon were a little behind the motion, but that can be fixed easily enough! 6- What was that? Was it a bird/bug/sneeze? Whatever it was, you just missed the last order/blink between. Better ask your dragon what just happened! 7- Great Job! Your formation flying is a great example for the rest of the Wing to follow! 8 - That was a mediocre jump between while in formation, but not bad enough to warrant a stern lecture. 9- Your dragon just sneezed some residual flame, uh oh! 10- You are doing exceptionally well! Sleep well tonight on a job well done. 11- That was a nasty wind shift, but you and your dragon handled it perfectly! Good job! 12- That was a nasty wind shift, and you and your dragon got jostled a bit. Not too bad, but there is room to improve. 13- That was a nasty wind shift, and you and your dragon just got blown out of formation. Correct it quickly! 14- The sun was in your eyes for a moment, but you recovered well enough. *** Side note*** If you mistype and roll a 0 or anything higher then a 14 on accident, you can ignore that roll, write another neutral post, and re-roll the randomizer
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Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 10:38 am
The sun wasn't up yet, but Lyveana had been rising before the sun for far too long to remark upon it now. Her daily routine was simple, and hadn't changed for her new promotion. Ruinnth would stir in the next few minutes, but in the meantime the greenrider would busy herself straightening her side of the weyr and posting her flight plan up on the wall for personal review. The last wasn't a new addition either, since she'd been receiving flight plans from her former Wingleaders and Wingseconds for Turns.
Ok, maybe it felt a little different because she was the one who had written this one, but the act of review in and of itself was the same.
She was mindful of Jevasi and Meridoth, however, and kept her glowbaskets shielded away from them as she made her bed and slithered into the underlying clothing she would wear beneath her riding gear. It was looser then usual, and she frowned at her reflection in the mirror by her bed, noting she had dropped quite a few water pounds. Sharding heat, she'd better make sure to drink more water before she withered away to a stick or ended up in the clinic.
I will not let you end up in That Place. Ruinnth cut in sleepily, her big eyes peeking open to watch her rider through the slit in the drapes between the dragon wallow and Lyveana's side of the sleeping chamber. The dark green was hardly distinguishable from the shadows of the weyr, aside from her whirling eyes, but Lyveana knew she was rousing herself with a stretch. The wash of draconic ecstasy that came along with a good morning stretch was palpable even to the much smaller human. Hopefully you'd let me go there if I needed too Rui. Lyv countered with a gentle mental caress for the green, which was returned in kind. We are flying formations today, how do you feel?
Ready. Nothing hurts and I am not hungry. She replied, pulling herself to her feet before gingerly picking her way past Meridoth and out to the ledge. I will wait for you here. Meridoth sleeps. The green added, expecting Lyveana to understand what that entailed.
Which she did, Rui just wanted some time to wake up fully and didn't want to speak with another dragon until she did so. The green was awfully finicky about her morning habits, and aside from the stretch and reporting how she felt, she preferred to watch the sun tip over the horizon in solitude. I'll check the straps, get my gear, and we'll be off in a few minutes Rui. You can watch the sunrise from the bluff where we are meeting the Wing for practice today.
As you wish.
- - - -
Those few minutes turned into a mere few moments as excitement took hold in the greenrider. She had a lot to do before anyone arrived, so she whirled though the rest of her morning chores, spending the most time checking her riding straps and tacking up and the least on herself. Really, she doubted anyone would notice that her hair wasn't brushed beneath her riding helmet anyway! Ruinnth had something to say about it, naturally, but Lyv ignored her dragon's fashion advice in favor of checking the weather with the watchdragon and securing the writing tools she'd need to Rui's harness. The sun's leading edge was just peeking over the cliffs by the time the pair was airborn, and they winked between to the cothold that owned the bluff she would be utilizing today.
Thanking the first egg that the assistant cook Bianne worked the night shift and had been in the Lower Caverns when Lyveana had stopped in for a quick cup of klah and some small handi-snacks to take with her, she rechecked that her family had received the letter of introduction Lyv had asked Bianne send. The giant woman nodded patiently, adding that she had gotten a reply to that effect the day before when a runner came back. Relieved, Lyveana thanked the woman again and set out with the intention to meet the cotholders beforehand in order to let them know what was going on over their lands. Since this group was friendly with the Weyr, she would make especially sure that relations remained good!
Below them, the residents were already out and about, with one of them waving from the stone structure that must serve as the barn. Nudging Rui to land, Lyveana greeted the stout little man that came up to them once they had landed, thanking him on behalf of herself, her Wing, and the Weyr for the use of his lands. The man waved off her thanks with a cheery grin, saying only that so long as she kept clear of his beastherds, she could use the bluff as long as needed.
There was a time when we could eat here. Ruinnth commented as they once again took to the sky after a quick farewell to the cotholder. Shall I call the rest of the Wing now?
"Please do, and relay the coordinates."
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Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 11:04 am
They had been waiting for the call, and not in a relaxed manner. Once he had gone about the buisness of washing, dressing, eating, checking straps and all those o ther things he did on a normal morning, he had returned to his weyr and sat on the ledge, reading again and again over their orders for the day. V formation, standard and simple, nothing to compliment or complain about in it. He felt tense though, even though he had flown this way hundres and hundres of times. Being the wingsecond didn't make it that that, being wingsecond was thrilling and he was eager to rise to the challange. What upset him was... her. That green wingleader, his wingleader. Why him?
It was with a mixture of dread, and relief that the waiting was over that he recieved news from Garith that they were to set off. Rubbing his face, the grey-haired rider pushed himself to his feet and climbed onto Garith's neck. Here they went then.
As soon as His had fastened his jeacket and the straps, Garith stepped off the edge. He swooped only for a few moments before hopping between; if they had to do this they would do an impeccable job, and an impeccable job started with impeccable timing. He resented this... this unnatural arrangement, but he would obey that green, and he would see to it that he and His were beyond reproach. They would be outstanding wingseconds, and they would hope for a transfer to a different wing in the not too distant future. This was not right, and he could not shake his dislike of the arrangement no matter how he tried. This was not how it was supposed to be.
They touched down a short distance from the woman and her green, and R'than dismounted swiftly, walking over to her and throwing a salute as he came to a halt. "Lyveanna, Garith and I are ready for duty." There wasn't really anything more than that to say. They were here, and they would do their job to the best of their ability. Smalltalk was not part of the deal.
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Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 1:57 pm
Cavaruth leaned upon a rocky outcropping and gazed up at the sky very content to stare at the morning stars as he waited for his rider to stir. The late night had been a party at a bar at a hold not too far away where the male camaraderie and music did wonders to uplift the spirits that had been aggravated by the previous days events. This time though, A'ras avoided finding a female for the night but found lodging with two brothers who had a reasonable farm along a hold. Cav for once had to agree that a break from the Females probably was in both of their best interests.
Cav could sympathize with his rider's sentiment. None of the days that had passed recently gave any encouraging outlook at the Weyr even though the rest of Pern seemed to turn at the same slow pace. It was almost like living in two separate worlds. However, eventually Cav saw A'ras walking out of the house with a couple bags at his side which smelled like baked bread. A grin swept his face as he set the bags down and started inspecting Cav's riding straps. "You know its always a good morning when your wake up to fresh baked nut bread that isn't burnt and the crust is perfect." He set the bags down as he pulled the straps over Cav carefully making sure each one set right in place.
"So, you've found more friends?" said Cav with an encouraging dragon grin.
"Yes. Indeed. Well, I did trade them the bread and lodging for a service from us so we will help them move a fallen tree from the creek not far from here. It's no big deal for you but it will be much work for them." returned A'ras as he strapped himself in. As A'ras expected, the service was nothing for a dragon like Cav compared to other options. All and all it profitable transaction for both parties.
Soon they were on their way back to the Weyr and eventually within their own space where A'ras sat down to take a chunk of the nut bread glance down at his K'lah table where a copy of the flight plan laid. "Hmm...I suppose we should attend. Although, It would do my own eyes well to miss that particular woman and her bitchy green. Cav, it is my very heartfelt request that you never even consider taking flight for that one."
Cav snorted firmly in reply as he sat on the ledge, "Who...your Wingleader's green....Ruinnith? Hmm...she's not my type."
A'ras cocked his head looking up the stairs to the dragon ledge, "I didn't know you had discerning tastes, Cav."
If I didn't before, I do today. SHE is Definitely NOT my Type!" Cav said as his nails clacked on the ledge in minor irritation.
A'ras was mightily relieved with his dragon's thoughts because the sheer thought of having a go with the Green 'Wingleader' brought a shudder to his inner being.
''Never Sleep with the Wingleader's Green' is my new mantra." said Cav with determined resolution.
If A'ras didn't realized how serious Cav was he might have laughed because it was a sheer rip off of his own lines but instead he stood slapping a hand to his hip keeping himself focused, "Well, well...that is the best news I have heard from you all week, Cav. Ok..let's go get this damned drill over with so we can go about our day. It's just a V formation. You and I could fly this with our eyes closed."
Cav grumbled as he moved a little closer to the edge of the ledge, "I don't know why we are bothering; I'd rather not deal with that annoying green. She knows not her place."
A'ras pulled on his riding gear and did his own inspection of the straps he preferred for maneuvers. He sighed upon Cav's remark and shook his head. "We are going out there to perform our duty for the Weyr. I am not going to this drill because she is calling us there. I have no faith in this woman but we are stuck on this team until such time that she can be removed or I can get us moved to another wing. If thread fell tomorrow, I'm going to be gambling on our skills to survive. While we are flying with this group, you're going to have to know how they fly. I'm going to be counting on you to keep us both safe."
Cav hissed under his breath very confident and proud, "You are my important one. I will keep you safe no matter the cost."
Today, A'ras was thankful that he had such a valiant steed because he need to fill his own head with the reasons he had contrived for going out there. Where did his duty lie? That was a good question...Words he spoke were ones he had felt turns back but the sentiment was straying. Each time he turned around, he had doubts about the future. Maybe that was why he had been so firm on developing friendships outside the Weyr. The problems within the Weyr were like tentacles that could drag down the most ardent man. But he like his dragon, didn't like to lose. "That's the spirit!" he called out as Cav's wing took on the rush of air under them lifting upwards to the high open skies.
Drifting high the clouds rolled around the blue dragon that became one with the colors of morning. They did not go between as speed would not relieve the pit of discontent that brewed within. When the area was sighted, the agile blue chose his landing point at a particular distance; toes scraping the ground as the wings hovered a second before landing. Cav wanted nothing to do with the Green or its rider. A'ras turned in the straps he glanced over at the dragons and riders a distance away; blond hair tinkling with the sound of charms woven in by last week's lover. He didn't t bothering to dismount or announce their arrival because it was obvious they were there.
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Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 6:51 pm
Since Ruinnth had landed not long before Garith and R'than burst out of between overhead. Lyveana was barely on the ground before the brown landed and R'than was walking towards her. She couldn't read his expression, but she supposed that was to be expected of the rather grave 'Second. His greeting was short, polite, and left her little room to do more then acknowledge his arrival as he had acknowledged her presence.
"R'than, good day to you. How fares Garith this morning?" She asked pleasantly, noting with a slight twist of her insides that the bluerider who had stormed out with such a flashy show of temper had also arrived. Shells, was he wearing charms in his hair during a drill? She could hear the sharding things from here, and she suspected the distance he had cultivated between them was all on purpose. How was he supposed to even have a proper fitting helmet with those things in his hair? Schooling her expression so as not to let R'than think her frown was aimed at him, she cast her voice a little louder so it would carry to the blue and his rider. "And a good morning to you, A'ras."
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Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 5:01 am
He had been about to answer when the blue rider arrived. Oh shards, was that preening idiot really wearing... yes, yes he was. Hair charms. For a drill. It was bad enough that riders these days all seemed to wear their hair so long, even the men, but tinkling pretty charms... Well, it was Lyveana's choice whether or not to call him out on it, and it seemed that at least for now she was letting it be. Fine, might as well get the drill out of the way and then bring up any and all issues afterward.
"We are both well thank you Lyveana," he answered eventually, having realized that he had been silent for some time, "I hope the same is true of yourself and Ruinnth." He supposed he'd better greet the idiot boy with the chiming hair-do as well. "A'ras, good day to you, how does this morning find Cavaruth and yourself?" It found them too stubborn and obtuse, that was how it found them. Why couldn't one of the others arrived first?
Garith too had noticed A'ras' hair-adornments and was less than pleased to say the least. He retained his calm exterior however; there wasn't a lot he could do about this for now. As His had thought, it was probably best that matters of discipline and so on were left until after their first drill. Everyone might feel a little better after having had some wind under their wings, perhaps they would be more likely to listen to reason. Not likely - and he still hated that they would all be listening to the orders of a greenrider - but one had to keep on hoping.
"Good morning Ruinnth," R'than had already greeted Hers but it was proper to greet your wingleader yourself as well so he ignored the fact that it probably wasn't strictly necessary,
"good morning Cavaruth." This blue was going to cause issues; his attitude to females was utterly ridiculous. If the fool spent all his time trying to 'rescue' the greens on the wing rather than doing his own job he would be a big issue. If he kept his foolishness strictly off duty he would just be an annoyance and a point of friction. A sad day, the day you hoped a rider on your wing would 'only' cause tension and arguments.
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Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2009 11:32 pm
A'ras glanced around and noting the tension that might have been easier cut with a knife than words. He could only imagine their disappointment and perhaps was content with that. Considering he had arrived before the others must have really bit into their bunions. However, he really didn't care what they thought. It was easy to see their discontent with the posture and was glad he chose to remain where he was.
"Morning..." He returned politely without the addition of Good. Why add something that didn't apply? Considering he neither thought this was good company or a good situation, but...of course, he had some nod to duty. That was why he was here or at least that is what he told himself at the time. It was only the slight kick in his head from Cav to remind him that they did have to be prepared for thread...even if they were in this Wing. All he could do was nod at his dragon and try to steel that thought in his head. No matter what, he still had a job to do. At least, he would be good at that despite how much he disliked the circumstances.
Cavaruth's head cocked towards the brown, "Good morning to you as well, Garith. Seems to be a pleasant sunrise don't you think?" He kept himself poise and mild in his conversation with the brown as he didn't want to be to agitated prior to dealing with the drills even if the company was poor. Slowly, the blue adjusted his stance for his rider's comfort and gazed up into the sky wondering when the others would make their appearances so they could get this over with.
A'ras patted Cav in total agreement and hoped that the conversation could be kept to the minimum of one word every hour. He really didn't want to talk to them anymore than he had to.
As he sat there, A'ras realized that he'd at least make sure that everything was in place again...just to keep himself occupied. So he rechecked the equipment from toe to head...then reached into his strapped bag to pull out his head sock. He grabbed up his long mane and tucked it into the sock and dragged over his head hooking the side opening around the ears and patted it neatly into place. Sure, it looked a bit strange but it was the utility that mattered and it kept everything under the helmet. Even with his vanity he surely wasn't about to let thread burrow into his skull. Afterwards, he topped it off with his well worn helmet and cinched it comfortably into place.
"Well Cav. We're ready as we can be...I wonder when the rest of them will be here." said A'ras quietly as he absentmindedly rubbed his dragon along the neck.
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