Poi 01 - Do you have any bags?

[the_aunt_general]

[Amaya is immediately signing as the video comes on. Luckily, the SCAs provide subtitling, or even dubbing if you prefer. Since most of her viewers don't know sign language.]

Hello, everyone. For those who don't know me, I'm General Amaya, Team Purple. I'd like to make an offer and ask a question, if I may.

First, the offer. Regardless of your team, I understand you all often find yourself in some pretty hairy situations, ones that aren't really well-organized until you hit the ground. What I'd like to offer is my experience and expertise. I'll be starting classes in basic tactics and small-unit actions, which are the sort you're most likely to be encountering.

First tip? Columns. This one's for everyone. If you're in a group, travel in a column, rather than all together - spread out. It means that anything targeting you from range can't hit everyone at once - doesn't really matter if that's arrows or catapults or whatever space weirdness you're facing.

Now, what I'd like to do is offer alternating classes - hand-to-hand combat strategies and basic tactical ones. Let me know what you'd want, and I'll see about arranging them.

Now, to the question: do we have sandbags?

[To emphasize what she means, she holds up her hands, forming a rectangle, then indicating a rough measure of depth. Then she starts signing again.]

I can hear you saying: why do these matter? Because we need them. A cart full of sandbags is a defensive position in the making. They can stop a lot of projectiles of a lot of different sorts - you can use them to fortify buildings, close off bridges - trust me, they reduce casualties and make life a lot harder on the enemy. So.

Do we have them, and if not, can we get them?

Comments

video

[kumoko]

[ Wait, it translates sign language? Why didn't she use that back when she had no vocal cords...

Oh, right, because she didn't have hands. Hm. Still! Something to remember for later. ] Bags are easy, but... sand? Ehhhh...

[the_aunt_general]

[She shrugs at that.]

Bags now, grab sand later? I mean, dirt will do in a pinch. If you've got a couple people with shovels, it's not a long process.

[kumoko]

[ Next mission better be on a planet with soil, she's gonna grab a bunch! ]

As long as I don't have to hold the shovel..! Well, it's fine. This spider-girl is on it! How big? Do you need them enchanted?

[the_aunt_general]

[She holds up her hands, indicating a rectangle. Then she frowns, moving her hands with a questioning look on her face.]

How can one enchant a bag?

[kumoko]

[ her human torso twists around, to grab the silk thread that is, as always, being spun out from her butt.

Well, not actually her butt. But! Ta-da! ]

Why, by using magical thread from a powerful monster, of course.

video

[blitzcheer]

I dunno how many missions you've been on, [ maybe one?? two? ], but we end up spread out anyway. I mean, we don't move in big packs.

[ Not in his time. They weren't close like that in general, people stuck with one or two people, themselves; that was his experience on most of the teams. ]

But, uh... you want us to carry sand around? What, in the arms bands? Or bags? I mean, we could, but...

[ He's not finishing that 'but'. Mainly, he's trying to figure out how many times they've wanted to close off bridges.... ]

Re: video

[the_aunt_general]

[Pretty much the objection she'd anticipated, she nodded.]

Well some for practice, I was hoping. But pretty sure it'll be common almost anywhere we go. Dirt might do in a pinch, too. All we'd need is the bags and some muscle power.

You can build a strong point with them, shore up a wall, create a safe space to treat urgently wounded who can't be dragged from front-line danger. Whatever you want.

And does everybody know about spreading out? You know, in case of artillery? Figure it's a useful tip regardless.

[blitzcheer]

If Webs's willing to make the bags, bags'll be easy to get. [ Hmm, but- ] Maybe there's something else too? Uh, something easier than bags. I was talking with Wei Wuxian about some wards he can make - for camp protecting. Maybe those'll be good with your bags or whatever set-up out away from any camps?

[ He's trying to imagine what Amaya's set-up to the missions he's been on. It's a little hard, but he doesn't want to just dismiss it. ]

But if you want a bunch of stuff moved and easy, Trunks and Bulma, they're can get these small capsules - [ he makes a size with his fingers, not bigger than a small medicine bottle ] - that pop out everything easier.

[the_aunt_general]

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<small.[She shrugs before signing again.]</small>

<i>I've seen enough magic to know it's impressive, but I think a practical backup is always good. Spells can, as I understand it, be countered. But good to know, thank you.

[blitzcheer]

Is carrying bags around always gonna be practical? I'm not talking about relying on just spells - we should get other stuff too. Easy to move around and carry. Other tech.

Mix and match for the occasion.

Video

[yondu]

Sandbags do work real well. They even hold back blaster fire an' I don't like drivin' my arrow through 'em 'cause it slows it up too much. Couple of layers an' it's crawlin'. I figure it'd be best to grab the bags an' fill 'em up on site.

People usually got arms bands for their teams. A pack of bags would be easy to stow. Have someone with ya that can fill it magic style? Not a bad plan for a quick defense.

Re: Video

[the_aunt_general]

[She nods. This one gets it.]

Haven't had magic on my side before - that'd be a nice change of pace. Great idea.

I'm Amaya, by the way.

[yondu]

Yeah, I mean. I seen people make water out of places where there was no water. Surely someone can make sand happen. And I'm generally a fan of havin' whatever on hand, especially if you can consolidate it to easy to transport size.

I'm Yondu.

Actually I should probably pick up at least some basic warnin's in that sign language so I don't need to check my SCA in the middle of a fight.

[He normally doesn't offer this to people, just because he's wary. But...] Centaurian has some long-distance call-outs you might be able to do. [He whistles a couple of words. And the way he whistles, the SCA translates because it's actual words. Just an "over here" and "danger" type of 'feelings' behind the sounds.]

[the_aunt_general]

[Well, at least they translate, before signing again.]

Bags are easy, yes. If someone can summon up sand from, I don't know, a pocket dimension or whatever magic users get their things from - we could fortify good and quick wherever we needed to. Even a dugout shelter in case it's the elements we're up against.

And I can certainly teach you some basics. And now I can at least see yours.

[yondu]

Do they match up with any in that book Devero left in the library about signin'? I know some languages line up around here. Either way I'm up for learnin' some. Makes it a hell of a lot easier to fight by people.

Uh... Y'know what? Got this good friend. Bulma? Smart lady. She can do these little containers that pop into bigger buildin's. Way quicker than a dugout for a secure set-up. Might wanna hit her up too. Her husband's a real long-term born-into-it military type so she gets the importance.

voice

[stonefvced]

Have you experienced a mission?

Re: voice

[the_aunt_general]

[She signs back]

Here? Not many - but quite a lot back home, if this is one of those experience questions.

[stonefvced]

It's not, you speak like someone with experience but a certain type. Column formations work but not for all battles. I can't say much either, I've not experienced a single mission as of yet. I hear, though, they vary widely in objectives. It may be more useful to survey the current roster of experience and knowledge.

[the_aunt_general]

[She shakes her head, signing again.]

Not for battle - transit to and from frontlines, cross-country...anywhere the enemy could strike at range. We don't have the numbers for anything fancier, I don't think.

But that's the sort of difference I'd like to teach. Like how a square can defeat a cavalry charge, done correctly. And we can adapt based on the knowledge people bring in.

[stonefvced]

This still depends on the field but I see where you're going. I have more experience with less numbers, personally-- makes stealth entry and travel easier. ( He still thinks its worth a survey of people's ability. If someone has the ability to create a field of darkness, for example, this makes travel quite a bit easier. Given powers remain in tact as was mentioned below. Best to prepare for all options, though. He's not about to push though until he knows more about how this person functions. )

Regardless, I have an interest. ( Gods know if he doesn't do something with himself its going to be Edo Tensei 2: electric boogaloo. When innovators get bored, weird and dangerous things happen. )

video

[blue_ice]

...I've thought about it too. I know not everyone here is combat-trained, at least half my team isn't. The train usually tries to herd the noncombatants away from battle, but we've been ambushed a few times and preparation would be welcome.

I'd like to focus on adding technology to our defenses. Bulletproof vests would be helpful...and I'm working on inventing other solutions. The constraining factor is parts availability. Magic and spiritual abilities seem to be disabled on half the worlds we visit, so I wouldn't encourage people to rely on them.

[the_aunt_general]

[She nods, makes perfect sense.]

At least some good scattering tactics, sure. As for parts, I'm sure you can procure or scrounge parts on some of the worlds you visit.

[There is a pause where she decides how to put this next part.]

Or, like in the cases where I needed to equip, feed, or tend to my soldiers and nothing was forthcoming...scrounged what was needed.

[She'll use air quotes after she finishes. Hopefully that gets across the idea that, in extremity, you do what you have to in order to keep your people alive.]

[blue_ice]

There's a small team of us working on scavenging, but there are limits to what we can carry.

True, we might get desperate. But on most missions we're sent to help local people, and it's usually in our best interest to maintain positive relations with them. Which means bartering.

Let me know when you're ready to train. I need to learn.

[stonefvced]

I have a fix for that limit.

[blue_ice]

What's your price?