History in Action, Wednesday, 3rd Period

[hera-rises.livejournal.com]

As students filed into the Danger SHOP today, they were surrounded by...trees. Lots of trees. In fact, it appeared they might be in the middle of a forest. A lightly-trod path led them to a clearing where light filtered in through leaves shifting in a breeze. It was really a peaceful place. Which explained the bows, arrows, and swords leaned up against chests near where Professor Roslin stood on the far side of the clearing.

“Welcome to England, circa 1200,” she said, grinning. She had cast aside her usual clothes for period clothing, creating a somewhat unusual effect. For all her effort, it was very apparent she didn’t belong in this time period; she simply didn’t…fit. “It’s been a rough century for England. Many sons have been lost to the Crusades; the reigning monarch, Richard, had been captured, held, and ransomed by an Austrian count. England struggled to pay the ransom. Once free, however, he returned to England for about two months. He then charged off, back to the European continent, taking on his cousin, Phillip. He died in 1199, leaving his brother, John, to take the throne.

“But John’s leadership,” she continued, “was quite different from his brother’s, and a lot less popular: While the bards and poets were content to romanticize King Richard’s derring-do, John grew to be despised and hated. The taxes levied to help recuperate the losses to Richard’s ransom, and to pay for the continuing war against France, contributed to this; his military losses in the north of France -- of lands titled to his mother and father -- certainly didn’t help.”

Laura folded her arms, leaning back against a stack of chests. “His dealings with the High Church didn’t help either…especially when he was forced to back down under threat of excommunication by the Pope. If anything, this punctuated his ineffective leadership and overall weaknesses...both of which the English barons exploited.

“Your assignment today, then, is to assist the barons in...convincing King John to sign a few documents, key among them being the ‘Articles of the Barons.’ These same documents will eventually become known as the Magna Carta.”

Standing, Laura gestured to the bows, arrows, and other things. “A royal convoy will be making its way through here shortly. You are to use any means you choose – short of assassination – to make your point.” A wry grin twitched across her lips as she paused. “He needs to be alive to put his seal on the document, after all.

“As always, I’ll be hovering nearby to answer what questions I can. If you need archery practice, a small area has been set aside to my right.”

With that, she left the class to their own devices...for good or ill.



[OCD threads coming up!]

Comments

Sign-In

[hera-rises.livejournal.com]

Laura decided to take visual roll this time around. Quill pens and parchment were really too messy.

Re: Sign-In

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

Annette Hargrove

Re: Sign-In

[im-afrog.livejournal.com]

Adam Park

Re: Sign-In

[ktarian-wildman.livejournal.com]

Naomi Wildman

Re: Sign-In

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

Evie Carnahan

Plotting, Planning, and Archery Practice

[hera-rises.livejournal.com]

While the professor was available to answer questions, the class was to be left to their own devices for this one. And she thought there may be a few people with experience in such things...

Re: Plotting, Planning, and Archery Practice

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

Evie is hungover. Still. But.

MAGNA CARTA! YES!

For this, she can become awake, but drinking all of her Caff-Pow in three gulps.

Re: Plotting, Planning, and Archery Practice

[im-afrog.livejournal.com]

Adam was intrigued by the bows and arrows. Archery was something he'd be willing to try, though he had very little practice in that area.

Re: Plotting, Planning, and Archery Practice

[1ordinarygirl.livejournal.com]

Ooh, bow and arrows! Buffy brightened. She hadn't really had a chance to use any since last years workshops. She wondered if she still had it.

Re: An Easy Target?

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"Should we block the road, perhaps?" Evie said hopefully. "Pull brush and logs across the road so he has to stop?"

Re: An Easy Target?

[1ordinarygirl.livejournal.com]

Buffy nodded. "That sounds good. That's what, like, the police do, right? Do you think he's going on horseback or in a carriage thingy?"

Re: An Easy Target?

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"Carriage," Evie said definitely. "King John wasn't much for war or exercise, reportedly. Plus, it makes a more dignified impression, so yes." She bounced on her toes, looking gleeful, then looking around for equipment. "Axes, axes, or maybe just ropes..."

Re: Plotting, Planning, and Archery Practice

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

Bow and Arrows! Annette was still trying to hide from everyone, but...Bow and Arrows! Of course, she had no idea how to even begin to use them.

Didn't matter. She's seen enough TV to get a basic idea.

At the practice area, she bit her bottom lip, trying to get the arrow in the bow thingy, and pull back on it, and aim for the target... "Where's the targ--" Uh-oh. She let loose her arrow accidentally and she stood still, watching as the head buried itself in the ground four feet from her. "Crap."

Re: Plotting, Planning, and Archery Practice

[senor-chado.livejournal.com]

Chad thought about taking notes, but he was too busy looking a little forlorn and rubbing the robe burns on his wrists.

Archery could also be a problem with the wound of his. Plus? Didn't want to be a stupid little Quincey. Damn you, Ishida....

Re: Plotting, Planning, and Archery Practice

[stuckeyboy]

Warren picked up a sword . . . and nearly stabbed himself in the foot with it.

Re: Plotting, Planning, and Archery Practice

[robinthefrog.livejournal.com]

"You should be careful with that." Robin advised him. "You don't want to hurt yourself."

Re: Plotting, Planning, and Archery Practice

[stuckeyboy]

"Gyah!" Warren shouted. Because, you know, somehow despite the fact that this was the third week of classes, he'd managed not to know that Robin was in this one. "Holy crap, a talking frog."

Re: Plotting, Planning, and Archery Practice

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan ignored the bows and arrows in favour of a sword. He would much rather have had a spear, but a sword would definitely do.

Re: Plotting, Planning, and Archery Practice

[robinthefrog.livejournal.com]

All the weapons were too big for him, but Robin did find a weetiny Robin Hood hat.

An Easy Target?

[hera-rises.livejournal.com]

The carriage drew near, eventually coming into view from the horizon. Two mounted guards in the front; two to the side; and two in the back. It was entirely possible the king was also riding with a bodyguard or two.

Re: An Easy Target?

[im-afrog.livejournal.com]

Adam took note of the carriage and how it was being guarded, wondering exactly how he should go about this, as he hid so as not to be seen just yet.

Debrief

[hera-rises.livejournal.com]

"Well... did you get the king's seal?"

Questions, Comments, and After Class

[hera-rises.livejournal.com]

Laura hovered in the general area during and immediately after class.

OOC

[hera-rises.livejournal.com]

Out for the day tomorrow, but I should be able to pick up tags tomorrow evening.

Re: OOC

[notafairmaiden.livejournal.com]

*flails*

Gwynn will not be in class due to being in the clinic with a chest wound.

Which makles me sad since this is the EXACT time period where she is from and she would have a great many things to say on this.

She would also love to talk to Ms. Roslin about how her and her father's men along with King Phillip defeated Prince John and stopped him from being crowned King. :)