Morning Training Log!

[awokentospring]

Characters: Everyone!
Location: Training Ground, Shibusen
Rating: PG-13 for violence of the training sort
Time: 6am to 9am
Description: Training takes place every morning in the park to prepare the guests of the city for the ongoing war. It's handwaved most days, but approximately once a month this gets played out in a log. This log takes place on May 4th.

Official areas:

FAQ: In need of help or answers? Come here! Staffed by Neji.
Breakfast: The incentive for coming to Morning Training for those who actually don't care about Death City. All food providers are given funds to buy/prepare the food and are then paid for the time they spent cooking/preparing. Provided by Saya and Fabiola
Cake Stand: A place for delicious treats; only the best cakes by Betty Crocker! Staffed by Condesce
Combat Instruction: One can learn and improve on fighting techniques! Staffed by Cloud and Genesis
Sparring: A bunch of people are there. You show up and pick one to fight. Staffed by Hanabi (beginners), Fabiola (intermediate), Amaterasu and Cloud (advanced), and Overseen by Neji
Weapon Transformation: New Weapon? Unsure on how to transform into a weapon (or how to transform back)? Go here! Staffed by Bakura, Aqua, and Gray
Soul Perception: Find out more about your soul, what they are, and what they potentially may do.
Partner Training: Learn how to work as a partner!
Weapons Handling Training: Learn how to handle sharp things and not so sharp things! Staffed by Auron
Shooting Range: Learn to shoot a gun, not at quail though, so expect your face to come out of this just fine. Staffed by Sarah Kerrigan, Naoto, Giroro, Duo Maxwell
Meister Ability Helpers: Learn about your Meister ability and how to use it. Staffed by Edgeworth
Finding a Partner: Unpartnered Weapons and Meisters meet each other here! Additional help by Liz
Medics: A place for medics to hang out, recruit and aid the injured - especially if they get shot in the face by accident. Staffed by Rosalia and CR-S01
Watch: This is where members of the watch meet up, chill, recruit and train! People interested in the watch welcome!
SEES: This is where SEES members hang out, and recruit!
Hug Brigade: A begrudgingly still opened squad dedicated to hugs of encouragement. Thank Lee for this! Staffed by Lee
Novelty Class: None this time around. 8( Anyone interested in hosting a Novelty Class should sign up next time the Training Log Plot Post goes up!

And of course, as always, feel free to make your own threads!

Open Character threads (I'll try to keep on top of this, I swear!):

Sendo
Bumblebee
Matt
Saya Takagi
Demona
Ushiromiya Ange
Bakura Ryou
Meenah
Cupid
Naoto Shirogane
Cloud
Mr. Legend
Raidou
Amaterasu
Re-l
Oswald
Hades
Asura
Neji Hyuuga
Sephiroth
Johan
Auron
Yami Bakura
Keroro
Obito Uchiha
Genesis
Kanji Tatsumi
Azusa
Atem
Aranea

Comments

[consider8]

[With that the troll just smiled and tilted her head curiously. She seems to try to read and gauge the feelings of the person she's conversing with, and who knows what sort of decisions come from it. She takes a step forward and smiles.]

I'm not sure of it's origins, but have you ever considered the possibility that our souls may perpetuate it's existence?

[vintage_magic]

[Lily blinked and glanced at her, perplexed. Other than the few times she encountered it so far and Lezard's unfortunate reaction to it, she knew rather little about the Madness Wavelength.]

Our souls? No, I don't follow...

[consider8]

[Aranea knew that look and reveled in it. A curious mind was definitely one open to discourse.]

Ahh, I see. Yes, I can understand how the concept of madness may seem alien and foreign if you do not consider that it's origins lies within.

So, let me know, before I get too invested into any possible tirades, what do you know of the origins of good and evil?

[vintage_magic]

Um, not much. I know they exist but that's about it.

[Since she never properly finished her training, she was fuzzy on the history of the craft. She knew that evil existed but why or how it came to be were questions she didn't have answers for.]

[consider8]

Alright, then, allow me to explain.

Now, there are many numerous ideologies and beliefs about the mechanisms that underlie how universes function. Among these, of course, are the physical laws of nature. Bound certainties that allow for specific functionality. Suns illuminate and glow at extremely hot temperatures, while gravity allows for the stabilization of orbits and celestial bodies. As you may know, time is another important factor, as it provides the means of change. Motion and substance.

These fundamental principles are not unique and are pan-universally understood. One of the first challenges of fledgling societies is understanding these laws and that they are both observable and measurable and not dictated by the mercurial whimsy of deities, spirits or other such things both fantastic and terrible.

Actually, the workings of all the things that people mistakenly believe causes things to function is another fascinating area of discussion as it involves a huge wealth of misconceptions, unbelievable creatures and rather intricate understanding in primitive people's psychology! But let's go back to the topic at hand.

One of the most widely believed but not entirely understood principle of the universe is the notion of good and evil. These two notions are both vague and powerful, as they prescribe what is believed to be proper behavior and how an individual and community will conceptualize the world around them. It also differs from society to society. For example, a rather pragmatic culture may view these notions as simple utilitarianism. A common understanding that I wish to maintain what it is that I owe and are attempting without harm or disruption while I maintain the same principles for the other person. This, in turn creates a series of mandates and rules that govern all possible infringement of harm and abuse.

Other cultures, meanwhile, hold good and evil to a higher level of importance. These individuals understand that good and evil are not only behaviors but qualities of the person, being or thing. A good person would perform good behaviors -- altruism, patience, piety, respect, faith, substance, abundance, among others good things. A bad person, meanwhile, will perform bad behaviors -- greed, impatience, disrespect, irreverence, doubt, consumption, death. The question that this poses, however, is determining whether an individual is good or evil, as a good individual can do evil things, while an evil individual can do good things. Simplistic notions can be quite polarized in this respect -- one is either good or evil, with no opportunity to be the other again or both. This lies with one of the fundamental difficulties of the notions of good and evil: a mindset that seeks to observe and determine whether an individual or actions are good and evil.

Even deeper than the person, however, is the notion of the soul. It has been presumed that the soul itself dictates the direction of goodness and badness. When a soul aspires for good things it can be viewed as radiant and pure. And when a soul aspires for bad things it can be viewed as distorted and corrupt. In one such story the very presence of this disruption was enough to change the very fabric of reality. Madness is that distortion, and it is present in all souls. All of our anger, frustrations, maliciousness, potential for cruelty, fear, insanity, and despair. Most of the time the corrupting effects of our own darkness is not enough to overwhelm our soul. But occasionally we succumb, and the evil takes over. We are capable of great cruelty and blackness, then. Both to ourselves and to others.

[vintage_magic]

[Lily blinked, trying to take it all in.]

...Um, were you some kind of teacher where you came from? [That mini lecture made her think of a college professor or, at least, what she imagined a college professor might sound like since she never finished high school. She wasn't sure if she understood it all but she did latch onto something towards the end.]

So, you're saying that Madness comes out of anger and other negative feelings? [Her lips turned downwards into a small frown as she thought of how her magic tended to go out of control when she was angry back home.]

[consider8]

I was never a teacher explicitly, however I have had quite the time to make quite a few observations of a lot of things and I am more than happy to inform [everyone] interested audiences on any topic. I find a great number of things fascinating and take great joy in sharing my knowledge [even if they don't want to].

That is one place that madness arise from, but it is much more complicated than that. Any action, thought, or ambition can become poisonous. The easiest example to understanding is killing. The act of murdering of another living being may be horrific, even nauseating at first. But as one perpetuates the act that was once a deed of complete malevolence over time it's horrendous nature mutes into normalcy. We can only tolerate so much exhaustive emotions, but while we may not feel it the act of killing could potentially dull the senses and cools the heart to the pain and suffering of those around us. Apathy. A less direct example could be seen in ambition. Actions directed toward goals, even one whose intent is the betterment of society, such as the construction of a very nice theme park that everyone can enjoy can consume the mind and distort the senses. In this example, suppose the ambition of the theme park causes the person to commit crimes for the sake of their ambition, or when any obstacle is met with ambivalence and disdain, then the corruption begins to creep in and the soul is in peril. When that happens -- when the act of pursuing the goal becomes greater than the harm it does to oneself or others, or when it blinds our vision to another person's pain, then we become prey to madness.

[vintage_magic]

[Maybe, she should consider taking it up as a career!]

Then, you're saying even a positive goal could lead to madness if gone about the wrong way? I guess that kind of makes sense. [Graciela had always warned her against "God syndrome" and that had been why she couldn't simply give some criminal to La Llorona when she needed to trade a soul to get little Jessica back.]

[consider8]

[But that would mean she'd only be teaching a smaller group of people! The world is her class! ::::)]

Oh, yes! Very easily, I should say! Some of the universe's most egregious acts were done with the best of intentions. And the greater purpose that they are attempting to pursue is used as both goal and justification.

[vintage_magic]

Huh. Then, are you saying you think the folks here might have gotten caught up in some obsession that's making them hostile? Or that they're just getting carried away by their anger?

[Even if it meant there were demons around influencing people's actions, it still wasn't the most reassuring thought. She'd had enough experience with angry mobs back in her hometown!]

[consider8]

That's a good question, isn't it?

[She had several theories, of course. But no answers. Frankly the general of ignorance, as a certain human girl she once knew would attest, was quite appalling.]

[vintage_magic]

Well, I'm afraid I haven't got any ideas about that. [She had seen the graffiti around town but she hadn't been aware the locals were getting violent enough to attack people.]

[With a small nod, she excused herself.] And I should be getting back to work, I reckon. Be careful about practicing, okay?

[consider8]

Oh, I will. Thanks and I hope that you have a great day at work.

[Aranea watched the young woman leave before resuming the changing sequence.]