video to everyone, sent as a private message - aka Anders spamming everyone again

[birdhousesoul]

Right. Let's try this again.

A colleague of mine has attempted to help her fellow conscripts by forming some ... working groups, let's call it. Battle parties. People who can rely on one another in combat, if we've trained together long enough, if we find we're compatible and balanced.

This isn't exactly a radical idea. We could just go into battle a completely incoherent mess, as we did in Assyria. Those of you who fought that battle for our captors will remember. War is never pretty, no, but it can be waged with some semblance of planning. You know, because some of us would like to keep on living.

Now, if you're among those who have been conscripted into this Initiative's war from a world they seem especially to enjoy ransacking for soldiers, and you've got a ready-made unit, cheers. We don't need to talk further. Not at this point, anyhow. You might want to have your leader talk to spokespersons from other groups, at some point. Just to be neighborly, yes? So we've got some idea what we're going into, together.

What I'd like to see now is some framework for sorting the lone warriors in. And the lone mages, and the lone rogues, and the specializations I've never even seen up to now. And the pairs who've come from a world the Initiative hasn't quite tapped into, yet, and know they want to stay together, but also know it can't be just the two of them against the enemy hordes.

If that describes you, drop me a line.

[Additional messages go out to:

Tatsumi Kanji
Roslyn Small
Bariyan what's your last name BARIYAN E KODHI
Dean Winchester
Orihime Inoue
Danny Williams
Yuki Terumi]



Everything under Fiona's topic that I could read, I've read. Whatever's locked between her and yourself, the way I've locked this now, I've no idea about, sorry. We're not on such close terms that she opens up her messages to me.

First off, if you've got a problem with mages, this is not for you. You'll likely have to work with a mage or two. I'm a mage. I won't make any apologies for what I am. [yes Anders still thinks you care about this because mages.]

Second, if you've got friends or ... countrymen ... you'd like to keep with you, they ought to get in touch with me, all right? Or not, if you've changed your mind.

Last, if you'd like to train people in the basics of what you know, that would be fantastic. If it's a teachable skill, I mean, and not something inborn.

Comments

Video;

[onemoredeath]

I do hope that people are willing to actually follow through.

[video][private]

[birdhousesoul]

Yes, well, we can organize a nagging team.

[Like Anders isn't already great at nagging!]

Actually, I think if people don't follow through, they'll simply be replaced by other people, new ones. As new conscripts come in -- I'm assuming that will happen, though I wish it wouldn't -- they'll be added to working groups where a person or two stopped following through.

[video][private]

[onemoredeath]

[ Look at that, one of the mages actually learned how to make things private. Takegami will clap at that. ]

It does make for crowded living conditions.

One of the problems I would find with adding new people to an already formed group would be the sense of obligations and resentment until things get settled. As for the groups themselves... How are you going to fit in people who are not fighters by trade?

Take myself for example. I can defend myself if I have need to, I am not a fighter or a magic user or a medic. I have no real skills outside of listening and entertaining people. What kind of role would I be placed in? Spy?

If I was to be made into a spy, then a group would only make things harder for me, correct?

[birdhousesoul]

That's a thought. How would you suggest incorporating a spy into a working combat group?

[What Takegami describes is something like a bard, actually, but Anders isn't interested in forcing square pegs into Thedosian holes. ... why is there innuendo even in your brackety quasi-narration Anders augh]

[onemoredeath]

You turn the rest of the group into their support or back up. The spy is suppose to go in, get information, then get out without someone getting wind of their activities. The fighters or magic-users or medics are there just in case someone does learn about the spy. They need to either get the spy out or make sure the enemy cannot use the spy for their own ends.

Of course, I may be thinking way too much in movie terms with that.

[constantsarcasm]

Let's say our only talent is that we're really good at not dying.

video;

[ladyspitfire]

[Elissa looks thoughtful.]

This has the potential to be very useful. And successful. From a tactical standpoint, this would ensure that every group that was sent out would be able to have a strong arm, support, and anything else they may need on a particular mission.

[She'll have to speak privately to Fiona about it. And Anders.]

...What happened in Assyria?

[birdhousesoul]

[[I lost track of this. *collapses and clings* Could we pick up the idea when Anders gets punched in the face shows up in Elissa's log? Killing two birds with one stone, Shale-style.]]

[ladyspitfire]

[Absolutely! I'd be happy to do that. And no worries about being slow, you.]

[feelingepic]

... I'm here by myself, if that's what you're looking for.

[Because as much as he doesn't want to be a part of this, going it alone in dangerous situations probably isn't the best idea.]

sorry for extreme lateness!

[birdhousesoul]

That's exactly the sort of person I'm looking for. How would you describe your abilities?

Video

[danno_williams]

[Just waves]

Mages? why the fuck should I have any problem with mages, except that they actually shouldn't exist according to the rules of nature in my world but that's about it.

And I don't mind teaching... still have to get used to the future firearms. If they even let us have some.

[birdhousesoul]

[[blurgh I suck forever. I'm really sorry I dropped this -- would you like to thread it out, or handwave something?

I know that John Watson will be adding the names of characters willing to teach in his guide to Exsilium, and if you make an IC contact post for characters in search of training to message, Zetsu can link that post.]]

[Voice; private]

[noble_nate]

I'm afraid I wasn't as supportive of Fiona as I should have been. [read: he should have bothered paying attention to what she was saying before making rash judgments, but whatever]

I guess the two of us could be considered our own ready-made unit, but I'd like to lend support to those that may have more weaknesses than strengths. Give them a fighting chance, so to speak. I'll help in training and the like, and do whatever else I can.

[Voice | Private]

[hatesvampires]

I'm one of those lone warriors [heh] here, I'm afraid. Been wondering why though; got quite a few strong guys back home who'd be a lot more helpful here than I'd be.

In any case, I've no issues with mages. I worked with a few once. They were really helpful.

[birdhousesoul]

[[I see I utterly dropped this post. I'm so sorry! Would you like to continue threading, or handwave an outcome to the conversation?]]

[Voice]

[expendablepride]

Back where I was before I was dropped in here, there was kind of a... uh, paramilitary force run by transports, for transports. If what you're planning is anything like that, guess I could throw myself in.

[birdhousesoul]

[[This is a post I completely lost track of. It would be out of character for Anders to ignore it, but I don't want to make anyone feel obliged to backthread this far. :( Would you like to continue threading, or handwave an outcome to the conversation? I'm up for either.]]

video; private

[hardbody]

I'm the only one they took from my world. I use magic--shamanism, mostly--and I'm handy with a sword, too. [said in a tone that suggests he thinks he is way more than just handy.]

[birdhousesoul]

[[Anders would absolutely agree Zel would be super handy to have in any fight - but I lost track of the post. Is it too late to pick up the thread, or would you prefer to handwave something? Essentially, he'd talk to him about abilities, talk about his own magic if need be -- it's not an interrogation, of course, so he'd share :) -- and ask whether he can share the info with Fiona for group planning, and with Watson for the guide if Zel offered to train anyone in anything.]]

video;

[hellodeadpeople]

[ squinting aaat. ]

We seriously getting scolded because we don't wanna play nice and hold hands? Who died and made you nanny, Feathers?

[voice]

[last_man_standing]

I'm the only one from my world....well, technically I'm not but that's beside the point. I'm magically inclined and am pretty good with weapons.

[birdhousesoul]

Technically you're not?

[Maybe he's possessed, like Anders! ... well, there's no polite way to ask a question like that. Although Anders very much wants to ask. He has no idea about BRDIE.]

[[ooc note: as mentioned on plurk just now, I completely lost track of this post. I'm so very sorry about this. If it's too late to pick up an old thread like this, I'm happy to handwave an outcome - let me know what you think might work best?]]

video | private;

[ganking]

[ Hrm. ]

Hey, if workin' with some witch or whatever is the only way to get things moving, then whatever.

I can teach stuff too. Know a little about a lot of things.

[birdhousesoul]

[[arrrrgh Susa I'm really sorry I dropped this -- would you like to thread it out, or handwave something?

Watson will be adding the names of characters willing to teach in his guide to Exsilium, and if you make an IC contact post for characters in search of training to message, Zetsu can link that post.]]

video;

[atwar]

I'd heard the Initiative's administration was poor, but I would not have expected some semblance of strategy. You mean to say they have none?

video

[birdhousesoul]

Nothing at all. No directions given, no orders other than the most general of objectives.

[[hiccup I am so sorry I dropped this! If you'd rather handwave, let me know.]]

[mslegendary]

It seems like a lot of your are idealistic in your hopes to band us all together. The hardest thing is finding the common ground to bring them together.

I'm willing to help defend the other transports, but I'm hesitant to offer my services to the Initiative.

permavideo

[birdhousesoul]

[[the most belated of backtags -- if you'd rather drop or handwave, I absolutely understand!]]

That's just it. None of us wants to offer any services to the Initiative. We'd also rather not die in their war.

It's maddening that our involuntary conscription is our only common ground as a whole, I'll readily admit. To try bringing together such disparate elements may indeed be idealistic, perhaps even impractical -- but mutual support seems a better option than allowing ourselves to be thrown into battle unprepared again, as we were in Assyria.

permavideo

[mslegendary]

I can't say I disagree with you, but I'm not all together certain this is the best way to go about it. I'm not saying I have a better way, just that I'm wary about the circumstances. And the outcome.

What can you tell me about Assyria?

[private video]

[sacrificar]

Working in a group is viable option and can often lead to continued survival, or victory.

[she's got no real problem with the idea, really.]

However, I choose my allies carefully.

[birdhousesoul]

Spoken like someone who knows her way around a battlefield. I can't say I disagree. How would you go about choosing allies?

[[ooc note: I completely lost track of this, and I'm very sorry for that. Anders would have been hitting F5 like crazy to reply with insane speed because he gets obsessive like that, so I've not only been rude in thread-dropping, I've also made him look out of character! I know it's super late to pick up a backthread like this - if you'd like, we could handwave an outcome rather than picking up the conversation. I'm open for either/or.]]

[sacrificar]

Strength alone means little.

[it took more than that to win battles.]

There is much I would learn about them. Origin, motivations... desires.

[ooc: I'm up for keeping this going for as long as you're willing to.]

[text]

[stonefaith]

I'm not sure that this falls under what you and Fiona are talking about, but there is someone I need to keep with me on future missions. For safety, rather than effectiveness.

I spoke to Fiona about teaching, too. That I need to be taught. I did not tell her but I am looking for training in magic, as I am not certain what to make of my powers as they currently stand.

[birdhousesoul]

[[Sophia I dropped the ball and I dropped it off the side of the Empire State Building. Would you like to handwave some kind of thread conclusion here? There's no way Anders would ignore a reply from his favorite summoner of maggots, it's entirely my fault.]]

[stonefaith]

[[ absolutely! and don't worry about the dropping, it's completely ok and i understand B)

we can say that the following gets discussed:

- bariyan wants to keep close to martin darkov in order to keep him safe!! (with some implication that it might also be to keep others safe from darkov)
- he'd also explain to anders that his magic has developed and he can do things like rot living flesh now, and he's sort of uncomfortable with it BUT ALSO WANTS TO GET BETTER AT IT AT THE SAME TIME.
- and therefore he's looking for training, etc, etc? ]]

[audio]

[vestigiaflammae]

Hey, do you think if I agreed to be part of a team, I could train with them?

[Sounding slightly self-conscious] I guess I've still got a lot to learn.

[birdhousesoul]

That's exactly the idea! That you could train with your group. I know Nathaniel would be happy to continue working with you, as you began to do in ... whatever that place was. With the angry druids, and the capturing you and Pounce, and all.

[vestigiaflammae]

Oh, yeah. [clearing his throat let's not talk about the part where he got captured that was so not cool--] Yeah! That'd be great! I mean, they've got lots of places here where I could practice, and stuff....