Whatever Works

[Vae]

As indicated In this Announcement
This thread is open to Members of the Adamantine Arrow, Guardians of the Veil, or those with the appropriate Goodwill Merit.

What used to be the sanctuary of Circle of Creation had been converted into something that was part gym, part conference hall. And it had been used as such for some time. The pillars of the arcade that encircled the gothic architecture had the well hidden thrum of wards, and on the far wall was the steel design of the Adamantine Arrow’s Sigil.

The day had been scheduled for an Arrow Training day, Guardians and Friends welcome. The idea was to share techniques and use them to encourage learning and defense.

If you couldn’t give it everything you had in training, there was no way you could give it all when lives were on the line.

Vaeltia had been in the hall, moving mats around and specifying areas of practice. There were times she felt that she spent more time in the Circle than the people who might choose to live there would. But then, Archery was almost Zen to her.

Training is Brutal - and everyone who entered here today should know that, and accept it. Guardian or otherwise, this wasn’t preparation for some mythical combat that would never happen. This was training for everyday life, and the battles the Awakened fought, whether they knew they were or not.

There was no one thing being taught or being learned today, the whole gym was open. It was up to those attending to figure out what they wanted to learn.

The Obrimos was dressed in grey sweatpants and a black teeshirt. Her shoes were made for this sort of thing, and her hair was pulled back into a tight bun at her nape.

Now to find out who would come.

[Swift]

Samael arrives dressed in his standard black, but the material is more suited to a day at the gym than the normal attire. He has a small bag with him that he places on a table and smiles to his cabalmate. "Hello, Vae," he says glancing about. "Am I the first to arrive?" It seemed that way, but the ever careful priest avoids calling her 'Michael' just in case he's wrong.

As he gives his greeting the priest begins pulling out the contents of his bag and arranging them meticulously on the table. The first is a soft cloth that he lays out, followed by two black plastic cases. Each one is opened in turn revealing first a Glock 26 and then a Glock 22. He checks each to ensure they are not loaded and show no signs of tampering or damage. Then he pulls out the ammunition box and begins to inspect that as well.

The guns weren't something the priest normally showed off even among just the other Awakened of the city, but today was about training. And, while it wasn't an exclusively Guardian event, the Arrows were the closest to his viewpoint outside of his own order and he admitted to himself he maintained a special place in his consideration for them. On top of that, both of his cabalmates were Arrows and he trusted them. Finally, if he could provide some instruction either mundane or Awakened that would help either his fellow Guardians or the Arrows of the city survive and do their job, it was his duty to provide it.

"Is West going to be showing up today?" he inquires of Vae as he goes about his preliminary inspections. Glancing up with a brief smile. "And yes I have the license for these, do you need to see it?"

[Animus]

Animus walks in, not far behind, surveying the sanctuary. So many memories lodged in these walls, both good and bad. How many new ones would be forged today?

You wrap your spellcraft around you, as a fearful child cowers under his blanket. Is this how you uphold the adamant way? The thought sears through him, all the more painful for being his own. Worse, he knew it to be valid: any who trained under less than the harshest conditions risked being caught unprepared in true combat.

He gathers spells about him, feeling the build-up of nervousness. The surest sign that he had to go through with it. Taking a deep breath, he tugs, unweaving all at once with a shock akin to plunging into an icy lake. Senses normally relied upon blink out, leaving the building feeling cold, empty. Strength fades, leaving vulnerability in its wake. The fear worrying at the back of his mind he would bear without complaint, for it gave this training its meaning.

Finally satisfied, if still a bit off-balance, the Thyrsus walks up to the two previous arrivals. "Hi Vae, and ... I don't believe we've met." He offers his hand to the Guardian, forcefully reminded of exactly how far out of the loop he'd let himself grow. Yet one more reason for being here.

[Weavebreaker]

Weavebreaker wore grey sweat pants like Vae's, though she sported a white tank top and vibram toe-shoes. She wore her hair tied back to keep it from meddling with her face. Weavebreaker also carried a black duffle bag over her shoulder, with gym essentials.

She made her way into the work out area, and set her stuff aside. Weavebreaker headed over to Vae. "Need any help?"

[Ariadne]

Ariadne walks out of the old Coventry in loose gym pants and a dark blue gym top. Taking in the mages gathered she smiles and heads over to them. Blue eyes shift and hold on the guns that Samael brought. As she gets close she nods to Vaeltia and Animus.

"Hey."

Blue eyes shift to the blond women from Consilium. "I'm Ariadne."

[Swift]

Samael takes the offered hand and shakes it with a nod. "I presented myself last summer when asked at the Consilium, but that was some time ago, a more general announcement, and the events of that meeting undoubtedly left my own arrival somewhat less-memorable. Father Samael."

The priest glances around as more Awakened arrived and is somewhat pleasantly pleased to find out that he already knows everyone else. He gives a nod and a smile as Ariadne shows up. And another smile to Weavebreaker .

[Leo Lockheart]

Leo made his way to the sanctuary from the Circle's dorms upstairs. He was wearing blue jeans, black hiking boots, and a sleaveless black T-shirt. He figured if he were ambushed by Banishers on the street, he wouldn't have the luxury of loose and comfy gym clothes, so he dressed as he would any other day. The exceptions to his usual outfit are the knife and rapier strapped to his belt. In his hands he held duplicates to the knife and sword attached to his waist, and under his right arm was a clear plastic box containing bandages, disinfectants, burn creams, and other assorted first aid items. He wasn't sure if there would be a healer present, and he wanted to be ready just in case. After all, he knew two Obrimos mages were present and the Arrow training sessions do get intense. God only knows what sorts of spells could fly today.

As he entered he scanned the room. Vae and Weavebreaker he already knew, and he smiled at them as he walks past. The others he saw at the Rage, but hadn't been introduced to. He made his way to the table Samael had laid the guns out on and placed the kit and his carried weapons on the nearest open space. "Hey. Ya mind if I put these here?" He asks with a look to the Father.

[Vae]

Vaeltia pirked up at the sound of Uriel walking through the door. She noted that he was pulling out weapons of the firearm kind. Something had made her suspect that he was a gun user.

“Bullets and all that are going to be handled downstairs.” she said as she walked over to Samael around the same time that Animus walked in. “Not sure if he’s coming, he seemed pretty wiped out after Consillium. You know how people tend to leech off his energy, I think he had summoned a congregation when I had tried to talk to him. I figured it was for the best to not even try.”

She shrugged and raised a hand at the incoming Thyrsus. “Actually I would like to, you may cover your name if you wish, I just need to see the image and state stamp.”

Weapons were weapons, and she was still a cop. Certain things needed to be checked at the door, and if he was displaying or using. At least he had suggested it, that meant a lot.

Upon Weavebreaker and Ariadne ‘s arrivals she turned to the foster. “Sure, I was pulling out mats out of the back room, I figure simple exercises can be done on that, but most of the training will actually be done on the floor straight.” As she spoke she indicated a doorway opposite the one that led to the small kitchen.

Realistic conditions and all that.

She paused after a moment, before turning to Ariadne; and apology on her tongue. But then she second thought the motion and let her attention turn elsewhere.

“Leo ( Xander ), do you have a permit for that?”

They weren’t illegal per say, but there was no scabbard, only a frog, and any cop worth their salt would recognize that.

Besides it wasn’t tipped.

[Weavebreaker]

Weavebreaker nodded to Vae, indicating her understanding, and then gave the others a nod before she headed across the room and through the threshold. After a few moments she was heading back into the room, with a mat in hand. She glanced over to Vae as she settled the mat down upon the floor. With the load dropped off she headed back through to get more...