[OPEN] Haven Games and Air Show!

[winged_knight]

WHO: OPEN!
WHERE: Games Caldera, Nexus Territory and other parts of Haven
WHEN: Starting Friday (7/05) and running for three days.
WHAT: A festival of games not unlike the Highland Games with a 'junkyard eclectic' carnival feel.
WARNINGS: None, but subject to change.

((ooc: Putting this up early since I'm not sure I'll be able to on Friday. And it gives people a chance to get sub-threads up.))

Over the past few weeks there's been a bustle of activity in an area southeast of the Hub, deeper in Nexus territory, within a crater the First Forged has granted use of for a very specific purpose: the first Haven Games and Air Show.

Now the time has come. Signs are posted on the Link, in every temple and at the Hub, all pointing the way to this location. A path, worn smooth and wide enough for both multiple vehicles, leads from the Hub to the north edge of the Caldera, winding its way down into the crater's basin with twists and turns. That's only one of many paths though--albeit the largest--that allow access to the floor of the crater which serves as the primary grounds for the festival of games, with events spread throughout its large expanse.

Nearest to that wide road entrance is what looks like a start or finish line with a staging area off to the side, set aside for the Scavenger Race. Along the south-east crater wall lies a shooting range, with safety precautions taken into account, where the Marksmanship Competition will occur. To the south-west lies a straight track of sorts and a make-shift sled--something like a barge with skids--filled with useless items from the Junk Pile. Obviously this is where the Hauling Challenge will take place.

The rock walls of the entire north-western section of the crater have been carefully sculpted into basic stadium seating, giving a clear view of the sky mostly unmarred by the Lambda. There is a small platform stage for presenting at the foot of stadium stands, dead center, and far above it on the lip of the crater a special place of honor has been crafted. A seat larger than the rest reserved for Nexus Prime himself, as promised, bracketed by tall pennant flags of tattered blue cloth. It appears that various events could make use of this space, attendees will have to check the program and see.

Interspersed throughout these areas are smaller booths, tents or roped off areas with simpler games like ring toss, potato sack racing or kites to fly, all unmanned but waiting for visitors to start playing. There's even a few areas where people can pick up simple refreshments. Much of what's here is clearly re-purposed from the Junk Pile; very little in the way of precious raw building materials was used.

★ First Annual ★ Haven Games and Air Show Located at the new Games Caldera, Nexus territory, a crater southeast of Haven's Hub. Three days of games: skill, chance and talent. Some food and refreshments available. Medical services onsite if necessary. Program of Events ☆ DAY ONE ☆ Event Time & Location Presider   Opening Ceremonies Morning at the Games Caldera Stadium Wing (with Barricade)   Drag Race Late morning near the Hub Knock Out A short race on the closest thing Haven has to a road, located outside the Hub.   Talent Competition Afternoon at the Games Caldera Stadium ?? Showcase your talents in this friendly competition. All performance acts (legal and safe) are welcome and judging will be by audience participation.   Air Show: Fireworks over Haven Evening at the Games Caldera Stadium Swoop Come and enjoy the spectacle of airborne feats with a little extra flash brought to you by Swoop. (fire retardant clothing suggested for organics) ☆ DAY TWO ☆ Marksmanship Competition Morning at the Games Caldera, south-east Strelok If firearms are your thing, join Strelok and others in a competition for the best aim, be it straight shooting or trick shots.   Scavenger Race Early afternoon at the Games Caldera, north Drift Test your skills as a hunter, both with speed and resourcefulness, in this cross country race to find various items from around Haven. Teams of two are required: One mech and one organic.   Karaoke Evening at the Bar Ravage and Glit A talented voice is suggested but not required for this friendly little singing activity. Pick a song and sing the lyrics provided, hopefully it's one you know! One additional drink beyond the usual ration will be granted per song sung! ☆ DAY THREE ☆ Paintball War All day at the Games Caldera, the Hub & the Junkpile ?? Some mysterious benefactor seems to have left some paintball equipment--some of it Cybertronian weaponry that's been hastily modified--along with some colored strips of cloth that could be worn as sashes or headbands, in a tent next to the Marksmanship Competition.   Hauling Challenge Morning at the Games Caldera, south-west ?? Test your strength by hauling a load of junk! (exciting, we know) See how far you can haul a weighted sled in a specific amount of time. Cross the finish line in time and proceed to the next round with an even heavier sled.   Air Show: Courtly Flight Afternoon (Dusk) at the Games Caldera Stadium Wing An intricate display of sky dancing custom choreographed for this very special event.   Closing Ceremonies Evening at the Games Caldera Stadium Wing + anyone else with well wishes.

Comments

Marksmanship Competition

[gtfostalker]

Strelok has been on a scavenger hunt to get the competition together. He never managed to get ahold of the Perceptor that Wing had mentioned, but he'd managed to dig up a few Cybertronian firearm manuals in Alpha Trion's library. Even with that setback, he got everything set up.

He's set up several tests already for both Cybertronians and the smaller residents - taut ropes fifty feet away from tables stocked with ammunition, targets twenty-five feet away with the addition of a mirror on the table for backwards shooting... and for the very bold, blindfolds with targets at a similar distance to the backwards. He even managed to scrounge up clay pigeons and the firing mechanism for them for anyone that wants to try their hand at moving targets.

The biggest set-up, though, is a cabinet full of items ranging from golf balls to milk jugs (full of colored water since the milk had spoiled) to everything in between, with papers tacked under with distances ranging from ten feet to two hundred feet, with numbers adjusted upwards for Cybertronians. On a table adjacent is a small variety of weapons - pistols, rifles, and shotguns, mostly. There is a sign posted next to the cabinet: Call Your Shot. Pick your target and your distance, and your weapon if you so choose, and test your mettle.

Strelok is standing by to award points for each category based on shot difficulty and accuracy.

[sword_redemption]

Drift hasn't fired a gun in a long time: since Theophany, really. But he can't help but feel a little twinge at the sight of all the firearms. He wonders where Perceptor is: it would be fun to compete against him.

He crosses to one of the tables, a hand lingering over one of the combat pistols. Should he...?

[gtfostalker]

Strelok is incredibly fond of firearms. Even the ones that are nearly bigger than him. He just got lucky that he's pretty good at dragging things. Cybertronian rifles were really something else to pull.

He raises a hand in greeting when he spots Drift, smiling. Hello huge robot-person! "A pistol, eh? Very good choice. You will have to pick something to use it on."

[gunfondlingbattlestat]

Ah, marksmanship. As if Perceptor could resist this siren's call. Although he's been trying to stay out of the way, to be inconspicuous as he attempts to sort through the confusion of the status between himself and Drift and Wing, this is simply too tailor-made for him to be able to resist.

Especially when he spots Drift hesitating by the table of weapons.

"A pistol?" he remarks with a teasing hint. "Well, if you aren't up for the challenge of something more... substantial." He smirks faintly, and pulls his rifle from his back.

"I'll use my own, if that is acceptable?" he asks Strelok.

[gtfostalker]

Strelok nods. "Of course. I would not deny someone their own weapons. Though I hope something on the course will still be a challenge for such a weapon." He'd hate for the whole thing to be automatically obliterated, though if that's how it goes, that's how it goes.

Still, the stalker gives Perceptor a good squinting at. "And you are Perceptor, I believe? Wing had mentioned you."

[sword_redemption]

And suddenly, in the face of the other's obvious enthusiasm, here's Drift holding a gun again. It's been, wow, a long time. Since Theophany, really.

Well, if it's going to be a trip down memory lane, he might as well go all the way. "Water jug, I think." Because what's the point of shooting things if you can't make something explode?

[gtfostalker]

Strelok clicks his tongue in acknowledgement, heading to grab and heft the jug. Not too difficult, with the things he's carried before. "These always explode the best, if you ask me. Aside from explosives, of course." But that's a smidge dangerous, even considering the, you know. Live rounds in weapons of multiple makes and origins.

"How far out? The distance can make all the difference."

[sword_redemption]

Drift laughs. "You sound like a Wrecker." Not a bad thing, in his opinion. He considers. "Been a long time since I fired one--how about you decide and we'll see?" Because this is for fun, for him. Just to see how much he remembers, how deep it was in his programming.

[gtfostalker]

"I cannot say I know of the Wreckers, but if they are like stalkers, they are not so bad." Strelok chuckles himself. Two different groups with similar opinions? Not bad at all. "Ah, adventurous. Very well. I will be back, then." He'll run it out to about a mid-range. Even just for fun, he doesn't want to make it too easy for the guy.

[sword_redemption]

"I don't know what a stalker is." Beyond, you know, something that stalks. Drift will never be accused of being too subtle.

He knows enough to wait till the other comes back. In his day, he could probably have shot it over Strelok's head, but it's been a while and he's not going to ruin Wing's games by causing a fatality.

"How many shots do I get? You know, unfamiliar weapon and all."

[gtfostalker]

"I'm a stalker." Not like that. "We are, ah... adventurers, you may say? We explore the places others are scared to go." Well, one particular place, but it counts. He explored here too, after all! He remembers that much... sort of.

Strelok is quite glad that Drift is willing to wait until the firing range is cleared. He's not a fan of being shot around. Especially by guns that big. This is supposed to be fun and games, after all.

"As many as you need. The points are determined by a lot of things; accuracy is only one." The size and range of the target, the gun, speed...

[laharl]

Competition? Laharl was up for that, though he believed he could beat almost anyone anyway. He was on his way to being a Supreme Overlord (tm) after all.

And while he was not one to really use guns much, he figured he could just blow up the entire target and win anyway. Which is also why he dragged Death the Kid along with him.

He obviously needed a witness for his victory, and Flonne was off being a cheerleader for something shiny.

"Aahahaha! No one will be able to defeat team Laharl!"

He then quickly paused.

"And maybe you should try too, Kid."

[symmetriphiliac]

The choice of attending the festival hadn't been Kid's choice. He hadn't put up much resistance admittedly, but this was more the sort of thing that Liz and Patti would have enjoyed. The thought of the two sisters left him with an uncomfortable ache in his chest, much the way the memory of Lord Death had on Father's Day.

"I don't have my Weapons," he replied simply.

Not that he wasn't an excellent shot without them. But somehow, competing without them didn't feel quite right - and he doubted they would have a pair of pistols that were anywhere near comparable.

"I wasn't aware that you knew how to use firearms."

[laharl]

Laharl snorted in response and pulled his sword out magically from under his scarf. He twirled the overly large weapon around before just placing the blade downward into the ground. He wouldn't be needing that.

"Who needs a firearm when they have the power of an Overlord! Ahah ha ha ha ha!"

He held out his hand where a crackling pinkish-blue ball of light formed soon after.

"Victory will be mine!"

He would have thrown the energy ball by this point, but he ended up getting distracted by posing over-dramatically.

[symmetriphiliac]

... This had to be some alternate version of Black Star.

He cocked a brow, not quite as impressed as Laharl was undoubtedly hoping for.

"If you're going to enter a marksmanship competition, do it properly. You can't blow up your target - it's about precision."

[laharl]

"I know that! I'm not stupid. I'm going to blow it up with excellent precision."

He was serious about that too, which is why he gave Kid a crocked glance. And also why he continued to just hold onto the glowing ball -- he needed absolute attention on what he was doing so Kid could clearly see his stunning victory.

"Besides, isn't the end goal to destroy the target? That's what I plan on doing, so what does it matter?"

[symmetriphiliac]

Oh, he definitely had Kid's attention. How could he think that marksmanship was so... simplistic? Barbaric even! There was no way that he could possibly win with those tactics.

"It's not about destruction. It's about executing your shots with absolutely perfect aim!"

... He... wouldn't actually win, would he?

[laharl]

"Well, how's this for perfect aim?!"

The ball got slightly bigger when he raised his arm above his head, but not by much. With a smirk he flung it forward releasing it towards the target in distance.

When it finally made impact there was a mini explosion, but only about half of the target was destroyed. Laharl apparently slightly missed.

"..."

[symmetriphiliac]

... No. No, he would not.

"You may want to practice before entering the competition."

He didn't quite hide the haughty smirk, his hands on his hips. The jagged, half-ruined target tipped to the side, further proof that precision and accuracy were the proper way. Had he had his own weapons, he would have further illustrated that point; for now, the results of Laharl's poorly executed attack would have to speak for themselves.

"Maybe next time."

[laharl]

"W-what?!"

How did he manage to miss?! Either way it should have made a large crater in the ground. There was only one explanation for what happened.

His expression shifted from shocked to dismissive in a matter of seconds.

"Obviously this competition is rigged."

[symmetriphiliac]

"What?"

The baffling conclusion probably shouldn't have surprised him, but... how could that possibly be-

"... How could it be?"

[laharl]

"If it wasn't, I wouldn't have missed."

This was simple, Kid, keep up with Laharl's abstract logic.

"What else could it be?"

[symmetriphiliac]

"You missed because you weren't aiming at the target!"

This wasn't logic, this was insanity. Clearly, Unicron's madness had affected him.

[gtfostalker]

Did Strelok hear someone call his competition rigged? Oh, now that's just rude. Also, that was half a target that took a long time to dig up.

That's okay, he knows how to deal with this.

"Hand cannons only count if your hand converts into an actual cannon." And you aim for the cannon targets, obviously.

"And I cannot rig your shots with your own plasma balls, not that I would."