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    1. Acid Hippie 7 yrs ago

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7 yrs ago
Current Very content with this last produced track B)

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Here! I will be really busy this week though. I'm moving across the U.S.
Smokescreen raised his chin as his eyes peered down on Roxy, shouting at him and calling him an old man. Though he was an older gentleman, he certainly was not considered an elder. But he withheld any comment as the young girl so boldly declared she would handle absolutely any challenge thrown her way. It took much confidence to say such a thing, but then, someone her age should not be here as things were . . . His eyes then traveled and rested on the hands of PN61A, watching as she gathered her cards and returned them to her pouch. Another young candidate, although, with her obvious unique circumstances. This would be quite the test this time around. No one applauded as PN61A prompted, but rather they watched as fire ignited in many of the applicants eyes, ready for the moment they had all been waiting for.

"It is heartening to see that there will be such eager participants applying to The Arc Academy in this triennial event! Now that my introduction is out of the way, let us officially begin the first stage of The Arc Academy Associate Test! The test, as I said, will become more and more difficult. The challenges will vary in objective and require various skills to be completed." Extending his arms out on either side, Smokescreen smiled once again. "The first stage is something I am sure you will all be grateful to complete. Not just to advance on to Stage Two of the AAAT, but to have the strength to do so as well. Yes, the first stage will be to explore this old town of Roontah and find some . . . water!" Pausing for a brief moment Smokescreen let his comment sit with the crowd of applicants, though he knew it would take but a fraction of a second for mostly everyone to immediately become even more motivated than they were before. With everyone fighting dehydration, completing this task was not only essential for the test but survival. However, Smokescreen had more to add.

"While both the prerequisite and actual AAAT must be of such difficulty in order to prove one's worth to The Academy, your death is not the goal. If you feel you cannot continue in your current state, I congratulate you now on the task you have already completed and would say train harder-train harder so that you may have the opportunity to try again in another three year or six years should you find the AAAT location again. That would be a much wiser choice than needlessly harming yourself or risking your life when not ready for the challenge at hand. If that is your current circumstance, have no fear, as I shall provide you with hydration and be sure you are better suited to find your way back to civilization. Once Stage One of the AAAT begins, I will not be able to intervene however." Smokescreen lowered his arms and angled his body so that he could view Roontah as well. "When Stage One is complete, whether all applicants have succeeded and/or failed, or the designated time of two hours has passed, I will be able to once again provide you with hydration and direction. But until Stage One is complete I can not assist you, even should you be on the verge of death. With that in mind, please go ahead and make your choice. Should you decide to proceed with The Arc Academy Associate Test, know that the objective of finding water can be accomplished by everyone present, however the chance of this occurring is rather low. With that in mind, should you wish to continue please follow me to the entrance of Roontah! All others, please remain here and I shall return once the AAAT has begun."

Finishing his speech and warning, Smokescreen began walking towards Roontah. Many of the applicants immediately followed, but fourteen of the crowd remained; unable to move due to dehydration or realizing that the test would be too challenging for them to pass. Smokescreen led the able applicants up the steps and together they all entered Roontah. The buildings, though ancient and beaten by vicious sandstorms for generations, looked unusual here in the vast desert. There was no rubble or threat to the structure of the buildings. In fact, as Roontah was built into the side and quite literally underneath a cliff, there was shade over the village now thanks to the Sun's position. It was still a very different scene today, but it was somewhat more believable that people actually lived here at one point in time.

"Now then." Smokescreen turned to face the applicants again. "It seems there are now fourteen less than the seventy two that were originally here. So that makes fifty eight applicants to The Arc Academy! That being said, as stated before, your objective for Stage One is to locate water. There is enough water to replenish you all, and it will be hidden throughout Roontah the moment Stage One begins. The water can be anywhere, and will rely upon your intuition to be found. And so, I wish you the best of luck. Let Stage One of The Arc Academy begin!"

The applicants took a moment to process what Smokescreen had said, puzzled looks on their faces as they were taken a back by the vague instruction they were given. But then the realization of what had been said sunk in, that this was the challenge they had to complete and that there was water there within the town. It was then that the applicant with a blue coat and small lute bounded forward and into the neat and tightly placed arrangement of stone buildings. Directly behind him were the rest of the applicants, creating a stampede of eager and thirsty competitors that all wanted to be the first to drink the hidden water.

Speed would not be the determining factor of this event however, as they would all soon learn . . .

The time frame to complete the task of finding water was two hours. The town, though not as large as modern cities, still had a good number of buildings to explore. It's rooftops also grew in height as the town elevated the closer it was to the cliff side. This meant there were different levels of the town. In addition, though the homes were ancient the participants would soon learn that inside the homes were various pots, crates, and other places of storage the water could be stored. There were even stairs that led to lower depths within the home, creating dark basements. With little instruction besides finding water that could be located anywhere within Roontah, this task would not be so simple. One was not going to find water simply lying around or inside the first pot they reached in.
Half-way through the post, will have it up later today (Sunday).
Not sure where @Blight Bug is but just want to let you all know that this has been a really busy week for me and I'm moving in a few days. So bare with the slower pace for now please! I'll try to get a post in tomorrow if not tonight. I appreciate your patience guys!

@tipssyCalibrator@Hammerman
No worries I've been MIA. Busy week for me, and I'll be moving in a few days. But yeah, I live in the tropics currently lol. It never gets cold in Florida.
Never had to deal with a snowstorm myself. It never snows or gets cold where I live. Will be dealing with snow from time to time very soon though!
@Hammerman

Hey, just wanted to mention in regards to Miki's qi ability; the plan was that none of the characters would be adept at using qi. I know Miki's grandfather taught her about qi, but I expected it to mean she knew about it but couldn't really do anything with it. I'm okay with her physical ability and endurance being enhanced but for the sake of the story I want all the characters to start at relatively the same level of instruction with qi. I know you mentioned she scanned something for qi earlier, and I'm okay with that so long as her perception is really low and requires greater focus.
"Splendid." The man in the coat smiled as PN61A agreed to include him in the show. He listened intently as she instructed him further, requesting his name and a fact. At this point, the applicants were watching with mixed emotions shining through their eyes. They were battling between impatience and the desire to begin the task they were so desperate to complete; more so now then they were upon the start of their trek to Roontah. Now the man's eyes moved from PN61A and focused on the group of weary applicants. "Very well then." Removing his pipe from his lips, the man blew smoke from his mouth until a giant cloud formed above everyone.

"You can call me, Smokescreen. And as for a fact-I am the official examiner of this triennial Arc Academy Associate Test!"

Those who had left the crowd earlier now rejoined the group as they were made aware of the examiner's presence.

"It's about time." One of the applicants grumbled as he made his way to the front of the crowd, though he didn't seem particularly exhausted nor upset. Rather, he seemed like he was bored. He was also one of the first twelve to arrive at Roontah.



"I congratulate you all on finding this location. This was a rather difficult challenge." Smokescreen continued. "If it is not already evident by the difficulty of the preliminary requirement of locating and reaching the city of Roontah, I am reaffirming now that The Arc Academy Associate Test will be extremely challenging. The tasks before you will only become increasingly more dangerous. There is a chance that you may lose your life, though I hope we can complete this test without any deaths!" Smokescreen had a sincere smile on his face still, his warning of danger entirely honest and without exaggeration despite him being equally genuine about wishing for everyone to survive.

Kenric


Kenric felt a sense of relief, though it was short lived as it was overwhelmed with his eagerness to start the AAAT; his gradual build up of determination and whatever energy was left in him. This was the moment that he and everyone else had been waiting for. He wondered how longer the examiner had been there watching them though. Did he really appear when they saw him? Or had he been hiding the whole time? Did I get here too early or was he assessing the candidates after we all arrived? But then, if that were the case, that would mean that those who arrived while he was observing had arrived too late and failed. And he didn't mention anyone failing the test just yet.

Shifting his gaze from the examiner back to the girls, Kenric wondered how capable they would be as actual candidates. They seemed to be bustling with a good amount of energy still, Miki leaping over the crowd without any reservation. Roxy arrived a bit later but she was still shouting her lungs out and giving her full effort to tasks that had nothing to do with the AAAT. PN61A . . . well she obviously wasn't quite a normal human being. Kenric really didn't know what to expect from her. Considering them and the rest of the unique crowd that had gathered here, this test would be just as interesting as it was challenging.
Glad you're okay! @tobiax
@tipssyCalibrator Thanks for the bump, waiting on @Blight Bug to post.
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