faderift | the kids'll blow dandelion fuzz

the kids'll blow dandelion fuzz

WHO: The Righteous Snow Teams & anyone who wants to watch (and laugh, and judge.)
WHAT: A GIANT SNOW FIGHT.
WHEN: 13th July or whatever the IC equivalent is.
WHERE: In the valley near Skyhold.
NOTES: ooc post 1 and also ooc post 2. The snow fight itself is closed to those that signed up, but the observation/chilling afterwards stuff is open. No warnings to add here, please put any that come up in the subject lines!

Also we have room for one more last minute sign up!

Wrap up warm! It probably goes without saying that certain medical personnel will be less than sympathetic to those who come to them with colds after this.

The valley near Skyhold has never really completely defrosted, given how high up they are in the Frostbacks, and Adelaide's students have found themselves working with an environment very receptive to the reintroduction of cold, even in the summer months.

The battle field is impressive. Each of the six teams has their own fortress, forming a rough circle on a thick blanket of snow. Each fort has one flag flapping over all others, the only one each has that cannot be stolen (or, at least, would be very challenging.) Their other seven flags are considerably smaller, and where they are depends entirely on how the team opts to defend them. The vast majority of the snow is white, but there are generous patches within and around each fort that matches that Team Fort's colour. Each fort is a little different, but comes with a catapult build inside it, and scattered around the field are large snow drifts, some battering rams, and a trebuchet. (No trebearchet, sadly. We can always dream.)

Every team member is given a sash of their team colour, and a round wooden shield that is so padded that hurting someone with it would actually be quite an accomplishment.

Far enough away to be spared the fighting, but not to entirely escape the chill that has been renewed in the valley, are some benches. There is warm cider and some food being served, and people are welcome to come and watch (and laugh, and judge) and/or hang out with the noble warriors once the fight has wound down.

Recap of OOC & IC Info;

ADELAIDE	BLACKWALL	CASSANDRA	MERRILL	NORRINGTON	OBI-WAN
violet	apricot	seafoam	raspberry	goldenrod	periwinkle

Andra	Zevran	Eirlys	Sabine	Sadira	Vasran
Alistair	Samouel	Church	Ruby	Clarke	Anders
Cosima	Rydia	Korrin	Martel	Mal	Aleron
Daenerys	Cullen	Sherlock	Ciri	Hermione	Ingrid
Bellamy	Kas	Aveline	Bruce	Taashath	Katniss
Pel	Ellana	Velanna	Lexa	Cyril	Merrick
Anakin	Jeannot	Emma	-	Val	Kirk

Plus Teren as a wildcard and liferiner. No other wildcards on the field!

IC-ish RULES AND STUFF.
1. NO WEAPONS, NO MAGIC.
Assume there is unlimited snow - some dyed to match team colours - so there are snowballs galore! Every person also gets an extremely well padded round shield as a chance to defend themselves. Don't use the shield as a weapon, pls and ty.

2. FLAAAAGS.
Each team gets seven flags that match their team colour. The IC goal is to capture as many flags as you can, but OOCly this is flexible and timey wimey and you don't need to worry about keeping track of flags bc who has time for that?

3. NO VIOLENCE.
Or, more accurately, no going out there to hurt people - it is a snow fight and there is siege equipment, let's not kid ourselves. That said; no tackling anyone smoller than you. If you hurt someone, apologise and don't be an ass. Don't make an NPC referee come after you.

4. BASICALLY JUST HAVE FUN.
Characters can't be eliminated unless they're being a big jerk, but no one wants that to happen because friendship is magic, or something. If it's fun and its awesome then odds are it's totally fine, unless it'd put a character in danger.

There will be an IC prize for winning, which will be ICly due to happen after Orlais since that opens up so soon after the snow fight.

A quick recap on how the winners will be determined OOCly - in three weeks time I will do a tally of points based on comment count and tagging around done per team. Three weeks will hopefully allow everyone a chance to dive in even if unexpected RL things happen, as they are wont to do, and not put on too much pressure with the Orlais plots opening up.

How to get points:
1. Open starters! Every team will get 2 points per team member that posts an open starter.

2. Tag around! Every team will get 2 points every time a team member tags a new person. (If character A tags characters B, C & D they will get 6 points total for tagging around - three different threads with character A and character B would still only result in 2 points.)

3. Keep threads going, hop around and have fun! Every comment by a team member will be worth 1 point. (Multi-comment responses ie. one tag split over two or more comments will still only count for 1 point.)

4. Be hilarious, do something awesome, idk persuade me that something is worth an extra point. NO SERIOUSLY, TELL ME I love excuses to reward people for puns and/or being absurd.

5. IC rule breaking may result in points being taken away because how rude.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Pre-fight and fight adventures for snow trams! Post your starters and go for it party style.

Need a warm cider while you watch? Need an injury healed during the battle? Laughing and judging? Snowman building? Picnicking?

Party style adventures for watching and mingling during and after the battle!

all is fair in love and war | closed to teammates
"Okay!"

Clapping her hands together, Merrill looks at the assembled members of her team. They are, for the most part, people she knows and likes -- some are more unfamiliar than others, but each and every one gets a bright smile.

There is, for the record, bright red war paint smeared across her face and her vallaslin, in the style of Hawke.

"So, the most important part is to have fun, of course! But we should definitely try to win, and I think we definitely can! I want to get the area around our flag covered in ice; it's cold enough that if we melt the snow it should refreeze into ice, and that will help as far as defense. As for the rest? Let's be creative. Remember, if it isn't against the rules, it's open season!"

This is said in the cheeriest voice imaginable, which- well, possibly makes it even more sinister, or just makes it ridiculous.

"Any questions? Plans? Who should we go after first?"

it's a bird, it's a plane, it's- an elf? | open
The rules state that you cannot tackle anyone smaller than you. The rules say nothing about using other people to tackle those people. Merrill is rather small, both in height and in width, and she trusts Martel. What this means is that every once in a while there will be a WHOOSH followed by a thud, sometimes accompanied by a yell (either a battle cry or one of fight) as Merrill is used as an elven projectile.

Sometimes she has snow in hand, which she often immediately tries to shove down her target's clothing. Other times she's empty-handed and tries to scramble up before whoever she was flung at in order to get between them and the flag.

Sometimes, she goes for the tickle.

and never again shall we submit | open
When not being thrown around the battlefield, Merrill is relying on more traditional tactics -- throws of snow, the use of her shield (with inward thanks for Aveline for training, unless it's Aveline she's facing) to block snow, and the use of ice to keep others away from the Raspberry flag. While she's a mage, she's Dalish; she uses her environment as best she can, guerrilla tactics of distracting noises and, on some occasions, being used as a living shield when someone might want to tackle one of her larger teammates.

She's covered in multicolored snow by the end of it, but she's having a good time.

((prose or brackets, will match!))

Be warned. Anyone who wanders close to where the drinks and food are being served without a steaming cup in hand is getting flagged down and told very sternly to get one immediately. Somehow, Avery managed to get talked into "make sure the giant children don't freeze to death" duty, and though she doesn't seem too happy about it, by the Maker she is going to make sure it gets done.

Between staredowns and grumbled "offers" of drink, she watches the game with a bemused and perhaps slightly horrified expression.

"These people are going to save the world."

THE BATTLE PLAN ( closed to teammates )

"Who knows how to calibrate a catapult?" First thing's first. Head high, voice at a tight, authoritative clip, Adelaide survey's her team. She'd also seen the battering rams and trebuchet- trying to claim that particular bit of equipment, no matter how long or short a time, would be helpful. "And who has the best eyesight? We'll need someone on the battlements to ensure they don't take us unawares. Anyone comfortable with scouting- each fort ought to have a back or side entrance that is difficult to cover. If we find that? We have a way in to get the flags."

Position them high, assault from a distance with the siege equipment, scout, destroy. Or, well. Steal flags. "Be mindful of potential ice patches, return regularly for rest and cider to keep warm, and-"

Of course.

"Show no mercy."

Laying Siege ( open )

While her mobility is limited by the leg it does not stop Adelaide from skidding through the snow and hurling her own violet covered projectiles at those perched upon the walls of their fort. Any opportunity she has to attempt to knock someone on the high ground with a whap of snow. Stealth isn't really an option but she does try to get around the back to find some way in that isn't through the front gate. Shield slung on her back or held overhead to protect against any reprisal, she continues her assault.

You Shall Not Pass ( open )

Early on it is easier for her to move- but after an hour or so the ache sets in with regular twinges and Adelaide takes up post instead before the drawbrige of her fort. Shield in hand and pile of colored snow next to her, she holds the line before any that would come to the gate.

Unless they have a battering ram, in which case a hasty retreat is called for, but! Until then, she holds and calls positions to those still on the battlements for a volley from on high.

[( Prose or Brackets are good, I'll match whichever! )]

[ The shadow's what catches his attention- well that and Jayne making the happy little 'whuff' he does whenever Merrill's about but she ain't here. Just him and his dog in the trench, shuffling through the drift to find a good place for sniping, arms full of snow.

Then the shadow, then the whuff and he turns up and sees her flying through the damn air at him like a javelin. ]

What in the- Merrill!

[ He drops the snow. He drops his snow and holds his arms out to catch her- legs going out from under him as he falls backward into the drift. ]

Dressed warmly for the occasion, Morrigan herself isn't taking part since she would never stoop to such utter idiocy, but Kieran caught wind of it, and there are a few people he cares for participating. Hence Doghren.

Doghren in a spectacularly ugly vest half-violet, half-apricot to show his - and by extension Morrigan's - divided allegiance to the members of the Fifth Blight Veterans Club taking part. Doghren is rather more preoccupied in trying to chew or scratch her way free of her garment when Kieran isn't stroking her ears, or offering treats. Such a good girl, what a good mascot.

If there are any wayward snowballs coming her way, Morrigan has her staff to deal with them too. And Kieran's enthusiasm after everything is infectious as he beams and cheers, tucked in against her side if the chill rises.

"Who do you think will win?" He asks, as much a question for anyone that chooses to join them as his mother.

Near the edge of the snowfield, there's an area haphazardly set aside with a few colorful ribbons tied to stakes driven into the ground. It's been set aside for anyone who wants a break from the fight, or who just wants to watch the snowfight and enjoy the snow.

The main force behind this is Beleth, who spends most of her time kneeling on the ground and crafting little snowmen--or snowelves, to be exact, for every single construction has pointed ears carefully and methodically applied to them. By her side are several thermoses of hot chocolate, and anyone who wants some needs only to ask.

She does stop to watch the snowballs being pitched at one another from time to time, a smile on her face. If she's cheering for any team particularly, though, it doesn't show.

( pre-gaming | closed to teammates. )

"And here we have the official team schnapps. Raspberry, strawberry and rosewater." Ruby speaks as she lays out shot glasses along the table with the deft hands of an experienced bartender, grinning at the closest person to her. "Ready to kick some serious ass?"

( a. ready, aim-- )

Fire. Once upon a time, when she was still Red from a small village where everyone knew everyone else's names, she'd been the best shot in the village with a bow and arrow. Aiming a snowball is a little different, sure, but she is still ruthless. A quiet growl of exertion tears out of her throat, and her target? Well, there's some dramatic red splatter, probably.

"Sorry!" She doesn't sound at all sorry. That smile is also not at all sorry.

( b. crashtackles )
Compared to a whole lot of people, Ruby isn't all that tall. Above average, maybe, but not tall.

The rules of this game suddenly make her feel like she is unreasonably tall, as she gasps from the shock of the cold and for air as she rises out of a snow bank, appalled by her life. "Worst rule idea ever."

( wildcard the wolf. )
Want a thing that is not a thing here? DO IT.

Edited 2016-07-13 10:31 (UTC)

Pre-Battle

Ladies and gentlemen, we have come here today to win glory and honor for the great Team Goldenrod.

[James's solemn speech began this way, and was only slightly put off by the giant penis on a goldenrod background that flew above their heads. You can thank Burns for that. Still, with his padded shield and goldenrod banner across his chest, James was going to be as Serious as he Could be because this was SnowWar.]

What we lack in superior numbers, and sadly magic and or weaponry, we will in fact make up for in guile. I believe outside of Certain Other Teams, we have the most guile available. Ergo, all plans that are sneaky plans, have my full attention.

Guarding the Gates

James was not the sort of leader to control the battle from the rear. Ergo, in front of the snow fortress he stood, padded shield at the ready, snowball in hand to take out any approaching enemies. He wisely had a stock of snowballs at his elbow, and was getting more as Interceptor ran out a shield full of them as soon as they were made for the front line warriors.

WILDCARD
Make the magic happen people.

Edited 2016-07-13 14:00 (UTC)

[Upon hearing that there's some kind of game taking place, Inessa wanders over with her mabari. She has no intention of taking part, but it piques her interest, and she'll want to see it with her own eyes rather than second-hand. After getting some cider for herself and a treat for Garahel, she settles down with her mabari somewhere at the edge of the benches. She doesn't take up much space, but it's better to let Garahel stretch out.

Fresh to the game and not having seen anything quite like it before, Inessa swallows her pride and turns to the nearest person.]

Do you happen to know the rules of...whatever this is called?

Gratefully accepting the steaming cider, Inessa smirks as she watches the event unfolding, taking a slow sip. Garahel sniffs the air but seems more interested in food than cider, the mabari's tail wagging hoepfully.

"Indeed. That's all the more reason release some stress with this event. Whatever it is, at least it serves to entertain."

Oh, Adelaide's good. She'll give her that. Thing is, though, that Ruby's better. She's got a violet flag hanging from between her thumb and forefinger, and uses it wave at Adelaide from her place. "Hey, Captain. How're you enjoying losing?"

They could be winning, actually, for all Ruby knows. Mostly she's just enjoying the banter, brows raising a little, expectant.

"I can scout." Pel is dressed in white, blending with the snow and her silver hair.

Pel is dressed in white--a garment that can be bleached, fortunately, after all the coloring it's going to go through. However, she's a small enough target and quick on her feet, so it will take good aim to hit her.

She, meanwhile, picks her way through the snow, choosing her winding path carefully as she heads out to scout enemy fortresses. Her face is dead serious, her gaze keen; she clearly intends to win--if not the war, then at least this encounter with you.

Cole is, perhaps, more startled than anyone. Even when a person storms up to him, he never really assumes they're trying to speak to him. In this case, he's caught so off-guard that his usual aversion to accepting any kind of gift gets shoved aside, and suddenly, there is cider in his hands. Cole curls his fingers around the cup. It's warm.

"They want to," he remarks, turning to watch the action with a much more passive expression. "So they're trying. Someone should."

There's Merrill between her and a flag, and Pel isn't allowed to fade-step. That makes it a great deal more exciting, really, that there's risk involved. Is this what she was missing out on as a kid? This sense of danger that isn't danger at all? For as long as she can remember, fear was always bad. This fear is different. This fear makes her laugh at all her other fears.

She launches herself toward Merrill, sprinting as fast as she can when Merrill is looking elsewhere. Her goal is to overshoot Merrill, take the flag, and keep running.

"Best rule idea ever," Pel growls, leaning forward to leverage Ruby back into the snow. "Where's your nearest flag?"

Cole, standing a short ways away with an untouched cup of cider in his hands, turns toward the ongoing fight to consider the question.

It's hard to judge. He doesn't entirely understand the rules — he knows it's like a battle, but it's all for fun, and there are points involved that have to do with flags. Since it isn't a real fight, the winning team will not necessarily be the ones with the best warriors.

"I think it might be Merrill's team," he says. "She knows the most about having fun. She's very serious about it."

Once the battle begins, Korrin -wearing Araceli's antaam-saar around her arm as a ladies' favor- wastes no time in doing her part to secure her team's victory, on the move to secure as many flags as she can get away with. Sure, it's just a game, but it's a game that the Vashoth woman intends to win. She doesn't need magic to prove herself, though it will be difficult to resist the urge not to Fade Step whenever she has the chance. But not wanting to be kicked out, she'll behave herself...more or less.

The tall, horned woman only has one opponent on the battlefield larger than herself, so Taashath will be sought out for a tackling whenever she spots him and his attention is elsewhere. Otherwise, she'll be on the alert for smaller people mistakenly thinking of her as an easy target in that area. While she'll hold back on her strength enough to not actually harm anyone, that competitive streak ensures that she won't make it easy for them.

She's not just looking out for herself, but her teammates as well. Providing cover -or a distraction- for whoever needs it, she'll run interference with that shield while they get closer to nearest enemy flag. Eirlys will be a particular focus, though anyone who looks like they need her assistance will get it.

Edited 2016-07-13 17:24 (UTC)

"Sorry, my ass! I'll show you 'sorry'."

The dramatic red splatter is all over Korrin's chest, and from a distance it might seem as though she's now sporting a gasping wound. That thought makes her smirk, and almost wish she was on the side with the bloody snowballs of doom. But she'll remain loyal to her team, underlining that with tossing the seamfoam-colored snowball in her own hand. She has a couple more tucked behind her padded shield before regular snow will have to do.

Ellana is having a lot of fun, and she's glad there's no penalty for being pelted with snow, because if the goal was to not get hit, she would have been sitting on the sidelines within the first few minutes. As it is, her hair is soaked, even in its braided bun, her pants are streaked with colors from the melted snow, and she's dashing from hiding spot to hiding spot, forming new balls as she hides. At one point, she jumps out of cover and shrieks, because Merrill is right there, but someone behind her had been very loud and she couldn't hear her friend coming up on her. So she tosses a snowball at her and ducks behind cover again.

"You scared me!"

When Adelaide comes to their fort, Ellana is up on the walls, throwing balls downward. She knows it's not doing much, both because of her poor aim and the enemy's shields, but it's at least fun.

Ellana then gets down on her knees and sets her shield in front of herself, curling behind it, ready for Adelaide to retaliate. She waits for a gap in Adelaide's throws, then lobs a snowball back without looking to see where she's aiming. It's really not that effective.

"Hey!" Ellana yells, shying away from the impact of snow against her shoulder. At least it wasn't straight to the face. "You are not!" Have an apricot colored snowball being flung back at you, Ruby.

Being the biggest person in the entire snow war, Taas was not allowed to tackle anyone and therefore some people might think he was fairly safe to avoid. The fact that he couldn't hear any attacks from behind also helped with that underestimation part... but he had tricks up his sleeves.

The Friendly Giant | Teammates

All the tackle banning and deafness aside, it didn't mean that Taas couldn't do what he was bred to do - conquer. Being a big, massive shield for his teammates to hide behind, he continues forward in utter hails of snowballs to get those flags.

By the time he's toppled by snow, his team should be able to go grab whatever they needed and run off.

The Still Friendly But-Technically-Your-Enemy Giant | Enemy Teams

Taas might not be allowed to tackle anyone, but he can make pretty damn big snowballs and has a long range with those strong arms. He's scooping up and hurling snowballs with a big grin, and smiles just as much when he's hit right back.

While he tries to always have a teammate at his back, it's still possible to sneak up on him and shove snow down his pants. Just because.

All Is Fair In Love And War | Cyril

Cyril and the warrior seem to work very well together, communicating over the battlefield in short sign. Most of the time, it's the elf the qunari has watching his back, and he makes sure to shield him from the worst barrages.

"So, do you want me to throw you like that Dalish girl?"

Wildcard!

Edited 2016-07-13 18:38 (UTC)

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 1 of 54

the kids'll blow dandelion fuzz

SNOW TEAMS.

EVERYONE ELSE & maybe also snow teams.

merrill | team raspberry | ota

Avery | That Sweet Cider Hookup | OTA

ADELAIDE | TEAM VIOLET | OTA

It's a Bird, it's a plane, it's an elf- it's a problem!

Morrigan | Kieran & Doghren in an ugly mascot shirt | ota;

Beleth | hot chocolate and snowelves | ota

ruby | team raspberry | ota ( prose or brackets totally fine )

James || Team Goldenrod || OTA

Benches, OTA

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Pel | Team Violet | OTA

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no subject

b

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Korrin | Team Seafoam | OTA

a.

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a

Taashath | Team Golden Rod | OTA