Open post: Calvary Combat

[forgedinbattle]

[Welcome to Calvary Combat class! The first thing you might notice is that your teacher is making no effort to keep you here. If you want to ditch, go ahead. She’s not going to waste her time teaching people who aren’t interested.

Now, if you've decided you want to stick around, she will gather you all up in a group.]

Right. I’m guessing we have a lot of different skill levels here, so I’m gonna divide you up. I don't want to stick a sword in your hand before you can even get on a horse.

[ooc: Threadjack all you want, move around, add sections if there’s other stuff you can think of. Go nuts on this post, guys. Sections: Riding, fighting, hanging out with the animals, slackers. Also, I may or may not be a bit slow, bear with me.]

Comments

I'M ON A HORSE (Riding)

[forgedinbattle]

[Not everybody came here knowing how to ride a horse, after all. Xena’s set aside the most patient horses for this group and they are lined up behind her.]

You guys are gonna start with the basics. And by that I mean “staying on the horse.” Don’t even think about touching the Pegasi; I’m not cleaning splatter off the ground if you fall off.

First things first. Go make a friend. [Totally judging you based on the way you approach the horse. And intervening if necessary. She guesses.]

[learns]

Wait. So we're supposed to fight? [ How barbaric. How cruel. How... wait. ] We're supposed to ride them? [ Why would you do that? ]

[forgedinbattle]

Well, yeah. That's usually what "Calvary" means. [Not getting your problem, Twilight.]

[gagaterasu]

[Feeding all the horses! Where does she even get the food from?]

[forgedinbattle]

[Xena doesn't know, but she approves!]

Looks like you've got the right idea.

[cyan_maid]

[Horse-riding. Staying on the horse. Alright, yes, that comes before fighting on a horse, of course. Jane's been on a horse before. When she was five. And the horse walked in a circle and was guided by someone. And her Dad took pictures of her on it for their Christmas card because that was a cheesy thing Dads did.

Okay so she really doesn't have any valid horse experience, but she's willing to try! Jane's going to attempt to make a friend by walking slowly towards one of the horses.]

[forgedinbattle]

[So far, so good. While she's walking, Xena will just approach and silently slip an apple into Jane's hand.]

[antichauffeur]

[Hesam is just going to look very confused...]

How'm I gonna get up there? [Damn this kid!loss, making him all short...]

[forgedinbattle]

With a little bit of help. [She smiles and bends down] Need a hand?

[takethat]

[Phoenix has only ever seen a horse in person a couple of times, and has certainly never ridden one, so he's at the cavalry training in the hopes of learning to look impressive and amazing on horseback.

Yep.

He stands staunch and bold and waves determinedly at the horses from a safe distance.]

Hi, horses! Let's do this.

[forgedinbattle]

[Just...give her a moment to laugh. Because she's going to do that first.

Then she'll approach and hand him a sugar cube.]

This might help a bit.

[payback]

[She figures this class might be worth attending. Gotta get better at fighting on Tad, after all.

Still, this is different. How do approach a horse? All she knows about are giant tigerdog steeds. She comes forward slowly towards one of the horses, hand extended with palm up.]

Um, do we have food for them or anything? `[Food is a good way to make friends.]

[forgedinbattle]

I was waiting for someone to ask that. [And you are having a sugar cube handed to you, sensible student.]

[stalkershiki]

[Shiki's... actually not too bad with the horses. She approaches one of them cautiously, lets said horse sniff her a little, and then begins petting him. Maybe it comes from having had a boyfriend who was obsessed with all kinds of horses, but she's not doing too badly.

Oh, she has no idea how to ride one. She knows that you don't face the horse's rear, and that's about it.

But she's really good at petting them!]

THERE WAS NO FAIL HERE

[forgedinbattle]

Not bad. [Oh, Shiki, you've already endeared yourself to the horses.] Now do you have any clue how to get on, or am I gonna need to give you pointers there?

[honorinflames]

[Zuko's giving that horse a long appraising look. Arms folded, standing a safe distance away, like he's judging. Or maybe trying to figure the animal out.

Whatever it is, it's not the look of someone who is used to hanging around horses.]

[forgedinbattle]

New to this, huh? [She comes up from behind, slapping her hand on his shoulder.]

STICK ‘EM WITH THE POINTY END (Riding + Fighting)

[forgedinbattle]

[For people who have already figured out how to ride. Again, Xena has set out a series of horses, mostly leaving the pegasi alone- though if someone good enough on a horse asks, she might just get one for you. This time, though, she’s addressing the group from the back of a horse, sword in hand.]

The most important thing to keep in mind here is balance. Reach too far- [She sticks her sword arm out, as if aiming for an enemy, and leans a little farther than she should- just enough to show the precariousness of the position] Doesn’t matter how good with a sword you are if your opponent tramples you.

[craggyfaced]

[Well, these guys aren't Blackalock, but he can deal. The fighting from horseback part is what's new to him. His usual weapon is too large for that kind of thing. He swings the smaller weapon experimentally.]

Shall we try maneuvers first, or is something we can spar against?

I’M JUST HERE FOR THE CUTE ANIMALS

[forgedinbattle]

[The poor pegasi and the horses Xena decided weren’t ready to deal with beginners are still sitting in the stables. They look awfully lonely…]

[waterproofed]

[poor things. Percy's gonna go over to keep them company]

Hey, guys, how's Xena treating you?

[thehangedrose]

[Garry is pretty much saying NOPE to all of this fighting stuff and is going to wander over to the lonely horses in need of company instead because this is considerably less dangerous.]

Oh, hey, look at all of you! What are you doing over here? You look like you need some company...

WHATEVA, WHATEVA, I DO WHAT I WANT

[forgedinbattle]

[Fuck da police. You do what you want. For anyone in the area, slacking, goofing off, or otherwise ignoring Xena and the horses. You rebel, you.]

[not_like_the_rest]

[GUESS WHO IS CRASHING YOUR PONY PARTY?! This Victor.]

Hey. [she nods.]

[sosweet]

[ More than being a slacker, Saga just watches the classes from a distance. It is something rather different from his training as a Saint but no less interesting.

He's standing with crossed arms like a bosspillar. Good thing he got rid of that horrible shirt. ]