The trainees arrive in the forest of Arden.

For the Earth-Shadow-raised, it's like being amongst the California giant redwoods, but... much more so.

You're out in front of a large two-story log fort (normal logs, not these twenty-and-thirty-foot-thick giants) with a large, squarish, spiky wall around it.

It's slightly warmer here than up on the mountain, but the deep shade everywhere makes it perfectly comfortable-- the morning's not too far advanced yet, after all.

Julian is present, of course, since you all came through on his card. "Good, good, you brought your weapons... Might as well train with what you're going to be using..."

(Each of you give me a reaction post, please...)
This message was last edited by the player at 23:44, Sat 12 Nov 2022.

Jade smiles and hugs uncle Julian, "Hello uncle thank you for helping us out. His majesty said we need help to survive and that of his brothers he said you would be best to help us to learn how to fight and survive."

She stepped back and after looking around she saw the fort looking at it with curiosity.
She glanced to Ariadne and then to her ax, as if to prompt her to ask about the ax.

Ariadne remembered that, as a teenager, her and her juvenile delinquent friends used to wander around the city of Boston, making fun of all the tourists who stared up like stunned rodents at the tall buildings and the flashy attractions like Fenway Park or the Boston Gardens.  She vowed, even when she moved to Los Angeles, that she'd never do anything like that herself.

And yet, here she was, gaping at the massive trees that made the California redwoods look like a cute grove of willow trees.  It was like everything else here in Amber, it seemed.  They looked like they had been growing and getting better since the Dawn of Time.   It took the old expression "Like this, but on steroids" to a bizarre degree.

Pulling her gaze away from the oppressive but impressive trees, she admired the log cabin, which she presumed was much more impressive than some goofy forest ranger house back home.
She nodded and smiled at Julian.

"Yes, I appreciate your time, Uncle Julian.  And I had a question for you, before we got started, if you don't mind"

"Yes...?"

Ariadne nodded to the imposing man, one of the more imposing she'd ever met, including movers and shakers in Hollywood
"I've brought my mother's axe with me today, hoping to practice with it and be able to use it in a fight.   Not that it makes a hige difference,  but did it have a name or anything like that?"

Jade looks all expectant.

"I'm sorry to say that I don't know. Have you asked your father about it?"

Ariadne blushed and shook her head
"No, I'll admit i never thought of  that.  I suppose some part of me still thinks of him as separate from all of this Amber stuff, despite everything "

Jade walks over resting her hand gently on Ariadne's shoulder. "If your father doesn't know then it means you can get to name it yourself, I am sure your mother would approve."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:01, Mon 14 Nov 2022.

Jon nods to his Uncle and smiles as Jade takes the lead.

He listens as Ari and Julian talk.

"I agree with Jade, though I think that you will get the name the ax."

Offers his hand to Julian "Thank you Uncle Julian for this opportunity. It came sooner than I thought."

Julian is slightly uncomfortable-- or is he just surprised at such warmth from a family member? But he shakes hands. "This training? Yes, well, it's high time. Difficult times have returned, and everyone must be ready, if they are to survive. We don't want to lose any more family members."

Jon nods "I agree, Uncle.  Or I guess for now, Master."

"Hmph. Let's go with Uncle, between those two options." He turns and addresses everyone. "Present your weapons, please..."

Ariadne got a little distracted thinking about Axe Names, but quickly presented her mother's battle axe.
"I've also got some knives and daggers,  as well as a couple of slim hand axes"

"No, this axe will do for now." One of Julian's men brings a small bucket and a brush. The bucket contains a sort of light purple liquid. At Julian's direction, the liquid is lightly brushed onto the points and edges (or, in the case of any bludgeoning weapons, just the bludgeoning part in general) of the weapons. They do the same with Julian's sword, too.

The helper then jogs back to the fort.

"Now, when I give the signal, I want you... to attack one another. Not to first blood, if you can help it-- just touching. Everyone try your best to dodge, too. When you have been tagged, call 'I'm out' and hurry over to the front gate of the fort." Julian very lightly runs his own sword edge along his left sleeve. Nothing happens-- but seconds later, a purple mark shows up. "With this, there can be no confusion about who too a hit where. Are you all ready...?"

Jade presents her parasol and Eric's rapier. As her weapons. She is a little worried her favorite uncle might mock her for her choice of weapon but it really is full of tricks and various weapons for her use and had been on the pattern. She was sure Eric's sword most likely had been on the pattern too.

Jade nods when she sees him display the purpose of the liquid.

She looks to the others and nods.

"And... GO!"

Ariadne looked skeptical,  but took back her axe and got ready.

At the signal, she tried to swat Jon.with her axe.

OOC:
18:45, Today: Ariadne rolled 13 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 6,5.  Dex

This message was last edited by the player at 00:46, Tue 15 Nov 2022.

Jade tries to hit her fellow female and...yeah



17:54, Today: Jade rolled 6 using 2d6 with rolls of 4,2.  Dex Bonk Ariadne.

Jon tries to attack Ari, but pulls back to attempt to block her attack.
It causes him to miss both hitting Ari and blocking her strike.

13:24, Today: Jon rolled 3 using 2d6+1 ((1,1)).

"I'm Out!"

(Ariadne, you totally get Jon. Where'd you get 'im? Arm? Chest? Stomach? Leg? Something scarier?

Wherever it is, your control is so perfect it will leave a purple line without harming him at all, but I wanna know where it is.

Jon: You're out, details to follow.

No one has targeted Jade, and she missed, so she's still in-- UNLESS you got both of them with one swing, maybe Ariadne? If so where'd you mark 'er?)

Ari would have aimed for an arm on Jon.  If possible,  she might have tried to knock Jade's parasol out of her hands, rather than aiming for her body