ANNOUNCEMENT & IM

[chiron]

[ You'll find yourself looking at a grave centaur first thing this morning, just before the Romans start their training. ] Campers, I've an important announcement to make. Now, you know very well that we have protective borders around Camp Half-Blood. After last summer's incident, we've taken great care to ensure that we have several lines of defense with both force and Mist.

Followers of Lycaon - wolves - have been spotted just outside of camp. It is believed that they continue to align themselves with Gaea.

There have been no attacks, but I trust that all of you will keep your eyes and ears open for any signs of trouble. No campers will be leaving. [ Have a pointed look for some of you. ] However, we must keep our wits about us. Prepare accordingly. The Athena cabin has necessary information on the followers should you choose to educate yourselves on the matter. I hope you will.

[ The feed ends. ]





( mod note | Open to discussion. Plan your patrol groups, change up your training tactics. Welcome to the first plot of 2014! )

Comments

[notthatjason]

[Jason was glad that more people from the other pantheons and camps were joining in on Roman Legion training exercises. Romans did have the advantage when it came to fighting wolves since, after all, their initiation involved surviving among them for a time.

A pack and a legion are not so different in some regards. Especially when dealing with wolves like the ones coming to camp.

Jason was just pocketing his magical coin when he sees Hephaistion approaching. He nods to him.]

Thanks. You did well yourself. I noticed you're starting to pick up on some of the short hand orders in the drills, despite most of them being in Latin.

[somatophylax]

[Hephaistion still holds his bronze shield over one shoulder as he gives Jason a nod of his head in recognition of the compliment. The shield spends most of its time as Hephaistion's notebook, but it has a few dents in it that needed to be repaired before its form is released, a testament to how much he'd actually been training recently.]

In truth, I've studied some Latin even before-- when it was only Greeks in the camp. It doesn't come easily, but I am glad the drills give me an opportunity to hear it spoken. More importantly, I'm glad to be able to train with the Legion. Your techniques are, I must admit, very impressive. [and history shows that the Roman army was very good at what it did]

We've never formally met. I am Hephaistion, son of Athena. [he tilts his head to the side slightly] And I'm afraid I must ask your assistance with something.

[notthatjason]

Reyna and I have done a lot to perfect the drills over the years. There is a lot of strategies that are still surprisingly effective. [Jason pauses, smiling slightly since he's speaking to one of the Greeks.] Though, I'll admit I think we should try implementing some new techniques. We're supposed to be coming together as pantheons, so I feel like that could only make us stronger if we integrate them properly.

[As a son of Athena, Hephaistion would have pretty decent knowledge of strategy and combat. Jason was pleased he had taken the time to come speak with him.]

It's nice to formally meet you Hephaistion. What do you need?

[somatophylax]

[Jason will have to ask him outright for his help, but Hephaistion would absolutely love to help integrate certain Greek techniques into the Legion's morning training. Not as a matter of pride, but a matter of efficiency and effectiveness.]

[He nods] I would be inclined to agree that integrated τέχνη-- Oh. Sorry. [he looks embarrassed for a moment for slipping up] battle techniques would be a very beneficial common ground for all the pantheons. Not that I would daresay training drills that have survived for centuries need any improvement, of course.

[but to the point] I'm afraid I would like to ask you about wolves.

[notthatjason]

[Jason blinks at the foreign word. Of course, Hephaistion makes up for it quickly enough so Jason doesn't have to feel foolish about asking for a translation. It does occur to him though that perhaps he should work on some of his Greek. So he doesn't say anything and waits for the explanation. Finally he nods.]

That's exactly what I would like to work towards, yes.

[But, let's focus on the topic at hand. Jason is serious now.]

Because of recent events? What would you like to know?

[somatophylax]

[Because English is not his first language, accidentally slipping into Greek is particularly a bad habit of his. He doesn't want to accidentally make any non-Greek feel foolish by not understanding him. He has occasionally been known to do it on purpose, but not today. Hephaistion nods. At a later time, they can talk more about training]

Yes, because of the recent events. I've researched all I can on my own, but I'm curious about your Roman upbringing concerning wolves. Whatever is proper for a non-Roman to know, I would like to learn more about, although I have no specific questions. To be honest, even if it seems a bit irrelevant, the more information, the better.

[notthatjason]

I guess the first thing you should know is that all of our demigods start their journey at the Wolf House. It's a sacred place in California where Lupa judges whether or not we're even worthy to seek out the Legion and the camp itself. Some of us don't come to the camp until later in life. Others can be called at a really early age.

[Jason lets that sink in before adding.]

It's only after Lupa deems you strong enough to endure her training that she'll actually accept you into her pack and teach you some basic skills to survive. Keep in mind that this is all before you ever get to camp and receive any proper Legion training. You either survive Lupa's training or you die and were not worth the trouble of taking to Camp Jupiter.

[somatophylax]

[He really hadn't had any idea more than a passing academic interest about any of this until recently. Hephaistion is quiet while Jason talks. The Roman camp had such a different way of dealing with their heroes than the Greeks did. Hephaistion found himself pretty impressed, intimidated... maybe a little jealous?... but he won't be letting the praetor know any of that. He listens attentively, absorbing all he's told. "A really early age." That's not easy. Really, there was no wonder why there was tension between the Greeks and the Romans when the camps merged, ancient history aside.]

Lupa is the same wolf who fostered Romulus and Remus? She must be magnificent, if you don't mind me saying so.

[notthatjason]

[Jason nods.]

The very same. She's a very important part of the founding of Rome which is why she's important to us.

[He smiles slightly.]

I guess magnificent is one way to put it. She's certainly different from any other creature I've met.