For Science - RPLOG
Participants
Date
2/12/476
Log
A fine day out on the training yard by the barracks, with the cool evening sun beating down on the sands. On one side, a small assortment of produce fresh from the marketplace - root vegetables, winter squash and beans, amongst others. On the other side, an assortment of beings positively bristling with weapons and itches to scratch. A hopelessly lost-looking young owl sits between the two, taking notes.
"The control group has been set down in the orphanage, sir. No violence there, as far as one can tell, and unlikely to be. Over here...plenty of imminent violence. Why are we doing this? We can't just be wanting to spend the department's money, are we?"
Issi walks in on the strange scene, blinking a few times, raising her hands to sign something, but then lowering them. She looks the most confused about the scene, tapping the owl on the shoulder handing them a note saying (What exactly is this?)
Angus whistles a little bit as he walks in on the scene, staff in hand as he looks about. "So, what are we doing here?" He asks curiously, tail flicking a bit as he tips his hat in greeting and tries to understand whats going on.
Kurzon has been in constant retraining since assuming his new role and upon hearing talk of something odd going on, of course he had to poke his head in...What if it were some radical new training method that made him amaazing in no time flat?
Mica had to be in attendance! She was the one that mentioned it, afterall, and she had to see if her words would hold up. She looks about, eyes falling first on Issi, then on Kurzon, before giving a quiet nod and turning her attention to those it seemed would be doing the experimenting.
"Don't mention that in front of everyone!" the owl's mentor, a bespectacled goat hisses, before turning to everyone. "Well, good day and welcome to our little experiment, as mentioned in the request. The hypothesis we're trying to falsify today is that violence in the immediate area causes fresh produce to spoil - and hence today we're trying to get as much violence concentrated in as small a place as possible. If those who would like to participate would step forward, so we can pair you up..."
Issi tilts her head to the side, violence? Fruit? Why ever they wanted this bit of odd data, she was glad to help. Even if it sounded immensly bizzare. She signs to the rest of the group (So... Why do they need this?)
Angus stops, taking a minute to just stare in disbelief. "...Well, this is an intresting study." One that sounded crazy to him as he looks over to Issi and shrugs, before he steps forward. "I'll help if this yields any actual information."
Kurzon was of course present and part of the discussion that spawned this mystery and in a fit of amusement he strides forward. "It seems the good Svetlana was true to her word when it came to delving into this folktale! I will gladly participate for the sake of cataloguing this for library records."
Mica tilts her head at that and gives it a little shake. "Mind you, for best results the violence needs to be indoors, yes. Though I would prefer to avoid any fighting, myself. I will... Watch, yes." She glances at Kurzon for a moment. "Remember, do not hit the produce itself." As if it needed saying.
Leonidas slinks into the barracks, hanging well back from the beings officiating the excercise in futility, thumping his tail on the ground to announce his presence should anyone not be rapt by the explanation of the study. After a polite few moments to allow it to finish, the olm skirrs over to Angus and stands with his tail coiled around his legs. "Sir Angus, we have heard little from you recently. Nor are we aware of official business in your name - We wish to know what has been occupying you so when we have unfinished business to attend to."
"Indeed. We're just gathering here, anyway - the event is being held in the training hall," the goat says, before directing the owl to lug along the large basket of produce. Ah, the ignoble life of a graduate student. Quickly and efficiently, beings are divided into sparring pairs - with Angus and Kurzon, incidentally, paired together. Once that's over, everyone participating, be it with strength of arms or eyes, is ushered into the adjoining training hall, where the mats, training dummies and boxing bags have been cleared out, giving everyone ample room to swing about.
"All right, we want as much controlled violence in one spot as possible! Restrain yourselves if you will - whatever happens here is between each pair of partners! We'll take some small breaks, swap partners, do what you need to..." and just a little quieter, "...like us."
The few participants who are unpartnered hang back, waiting for the next round.
Issi takes out her staff, seeing as its the least leathal thing she has, that can still be considered a weapon. She follows those being lead to the area, positioning herself near a wall as a backup.
Angus blinks, peering up at Kurzon a little in surprise as his ears droop. "right...This should be intresting." He comments as he takes his hat off and puts it on top of his staff, which he then leans against the wall. He waits until Kurzon is ready, and they are given the signal, before he strikes. Taking a step forward he leads off the attack with an open palm from the left, followed by a right upper cut. The fox knew he couldn't beat Kurzon by sheer force alone, trying to stay on his toes and continue the momentum as he throws in a few more quick blows, aiming to stagger the bear.
Kurzon knew he was in over his head when facing the wily noble, afterall, he'd fought beside him in real combat enough times to know the difference in their experience. As such he doesn't bother trying to wrestle the smaller and swifter male and chooses one of the training staves on hand to stand in for the long spears he'd been training with recently.
"I will hold no grudges Lord Solacious."
His opening thrust was timed unfortunately just too late missing the fox and leaving himself open for a palm strike to his gut, the soft padding of fat cushioning the impact to the more solid muscles and vitals beneath. Spinning into what a side step he brought his staff down only to find it met by a rising uppercut that nearly jarred it from his grip leaving him to slowly backpedal, his staff switching from side to side trying and failing to halt the flurry of blows coming in and managing only to slow the worst of them as he is battered backwards.
Mica folds her hands and watches the spar, occasionally shifting her attention to look over her trinkets to make sure everything is in order. "Interesting methods, yes." She pauses for a moment, if she were going to say anything else, and looks around for the produce, intent on keeping her eyes on it to see if there were any changes.
Leonidas slinks back as Angus is picked to spar, the olm regarding the pair with cold scrutiny and an implacable expression, maintaining his posture with some measure of dignity. Although, as often is the case with the olm, there is something subtly jarring about the silent observation and stillness.
Unfortunately, there's no immediate change in the produce. Apparently, the level of violence simply isn't enough, so a brief respite is called, parters swapped, and then it's Angus up against Issi, with Kurzon sitting out this round.
Issi walks up to angus, staff in hand, giving him a nod. In a moment she's already started sweeping her staff in attacks to his middle and legs.
As soon as Issi attacks the fox backpedals, dodging her staff as it comes near. He waits, ducking and weaving away from the jabs and swings, before he reaches out to snatch the staff and pull her closer. Her weapon disabled his left arm lashes out, and his finger exstends to poke her in the chest. Insted of actualy hitting her.
Kurzon stands to the side watching after Angus departed to engage with the little serpent, thinking on how he could have better handled himself. Smaller fast opponents and supremely heavy monsters still gave him trouble, though he had been teaching the shanty thugs the folly of their ways as of late, though ANgus was no petty knife combatant...
Mica shuffles up next to Kurzon, with all the grace and subtlety one would expect from a bird covered in noisy shiny things. Which isn't much. "I had expected to find you here, yes, after last evening. Hello." She keeps her eyes on the fight, occasionally looking towards the produce.
Leonidas continues his silent vigil, a smirk creeping into the corners of his face as Angus performs well again. The small mouse is subjected to heavy scrutiny as he enters, bout of combat notwithstanding. Mica is treated to a similar degree of cold examination.
There still doesn't seem to be any change in the produce, even after all this fighting. Seems like folk are having a really good time, though, and while more than a few bruises have been sustained it seems like everyone is using the pretext to blow off some steam and have a bit of fun. Nope, not so much as a blemish on the squash or potatoes in their basket, but the training hall seems to have acquired a bit of a smell of exertion, if anything.
The last round runs up, notes are taken, partners swapped, and it seems like Issi is up against Kurzon this time.
Issi stands before Kurzon, giving him a similar nod, reading her staff in the process. She moves fairly quckly, swiping her staff at the bear's legs, then his chest, and finally jabs at his gut with the non-leafy end of her staff. Not hard enough to do any damage however.
Kurzon had just been glancing at the produce for the first timr when Mica spoke up. His golden gaze snapping to her, then he bows his head once in acknowledgement. "I could hardly pass up a chance to test a folk tale of this sort in a practical manner! Oh look, it seems I am up again, do pardon me, goody Mica."
Pulling away from the crow with a mix of anticipation and reluctance, he readies the stave, nodding in return to the serpent thrusting too high to try and turn her body with a shoulder jab that forces him to brace his legs to keep from being swept and receives the shin abuse Siyu promised him. Using a whirling defense he steps back, only to find the serpent under his guard as he tries to counter again and gets jabbed in the chest and gut rapidly before he lowers his weapon, holding up his hands in surrender before bowing and backing away. Clearly he had much to learn.
Angus sighs a bit as he is finally not the target of the combat. Grabbing his staff and his hat he walks over to the rest standing on the sidelines, giving Mica a nod as he moves to stand by Leonidas. "I'd be surprised if you came here to help with the studies, so are you enjoying the show?"
Aand it's a wrap! It seems like despite the impressive clash of metal against metal and fists against flesh that's been going on for almost a full hour now, the beans are still fine, as are the carrots. The owl comes running up to the goat with a small note, and it turns out that the control group left at the orphanage hasn't so much as blemished, either. What a great day for science!
"And so it would appear at a first glance that violence in the immediate surroundings has no effect on the spoilage of fresh fruit and vegetables, as the very least," the goat intones with all the gravity of one in academia. "We certainly thank you for helping us finish this year's budg...I mean, in our efforts to discover more about the natural world about us. If you don't mind, please queue up in an orderly fashion and you'll receive your pay for participating..."
Issi stows her staff. Well that was an interesting sparring match, as it stands, she's not as good as Angus, but managed to beat Kurzon. It allowed her to gauge her skills against her allies, and that was good enough for her.
Angus gives both Kurzon and Issi a nod of respect, they fought rather well. "Well, seems like everyone had fun at least." He comments to the Goat as he takes a step up to him and smiles, thinking that this was a rather productive day.
Kurzon bows when it was his turn to greet the goat scientist. "Thank you for allowing my participation and happy fiscal planning in the future good sir." Another bow and the stave is returned for the next newbie to get trounced with or to use it to twist fate onto it's ear!
Mica shuffles up to receive payment! She was not expecting that, oh no, but she wouldn't turn it down. "It is both good and a shame that the produce did not spoil. Ah well. Know we know for certain, yes we do."
Leonidas makes no move to the payment, simply hanging back - after all, no participation does not equate with payment. "We are pleased to see your improvements, Sir Angus." states the olm, allowing his gaze to flicker over the others that had participated in the bouts with mild intrigue - though he says nothing of the 'experiment' being conducted.
