Weapons 101; Thursday, Fourth Period [08/19].

[special_rabbit]

There was really no building up to their last lesson in this class with a dramatic reveal, since the topic of the lesson was a little hard to miss, and so Amaya didn't bother, and was going to jump right into it.

"Siege weapons!" she announced proudly, excitedly, gesturing to the small collection of various delightful mechanical wonders around her. "Specifically, petrary weapons, which are a classification of siege weapons that involve flinging heavy objects or missiles, typically large stones, though not always. I figured, since Detective Diaz couldn't make it into class today on account of other obligations, this is a good one, because siege weapons is the one area of weaponry where I've got significantly more practical experience than she has. And before anyone asks, no, we will not be flinging each other, or buildings!," since that was a thing now!, "even if it is the danger shop. I'll admit, they're not exactly the most practical of weapons in this particular day and age. They're not really the most practical of weapons outside of war, if I'm entirely honest, but we all know now that a catapult can be used in unexpectedly useful ways, and I dare anyone to give one of these a try and then look me in the eye and tell me that they didn't have a good time with it.

"Petrary weapons were developed as a way to break down fortresses and walls to gain points of entry into enemy strongholds. Some of them are gravity operated, like a trebuchet, where a large counterweight is used to propel the missile, or they're tension operated, like a catapult, where the throwing arm is pulled back and then released.

"Today, you'll have the chance to give four different petrary weapons a try: the classic catapult, the traditional trebuchet, a biting ballista, and the more manual mangonel..."

And if anyone in particular was wanting a complete and detailed dissection on exactly what made each one different in painstaking detail, you were in luck! Because that was exactly what you were getting now, as Amaya launched (ha!) into how each one was made, how to use one, what the benefits and downfalls of each design was, and all the thrilling science behind it all. Look. They were both weapons and machines. She was going to geek out about them. It was just her job, really!

But she also knew that if she were a student in this class, she'd be itching to go break down some fake walls on that nice stately castle on the sloped hill in the distance (it was only a model), so she eventually got around to wrapping it up. "If anyone wants me to go over anything again once they actually get up to one of the machines and start to figure out how to put all of this into practice," she said, "just let me know. But I think you're ready to give it a try, so go ahead and let's get our siege on."

Bardic Inspiration - 5th Period - Thursday

[ohvalleyofpenis]

Class was back in the trusty, reliable tavern, complete with numerous heavy wooden instruments. No reason. Ignore how anxious Jaskier looked about them all.

"Welcome to the last class of the session," Jaskier said, putting on a brave face. "It has been a pleasure to have you all even if our time was cut short at first."

"Probably because our time was cut short." Be nice, Cara. "But you've all performed adequately." Pun possibly intended.

"So, today, for our last day, our lovely Cara decided to pick what we were going to do." Could you tell how nervous that made Jaskier? Could you?

And she hadn't even prepared a bonfire this time. Cara was feeling so attacked right now. No actually, that would be the NPC she'd just smacked across the face with a handy lute.

"Bar brawl!"

Jaskier shamelessly yelped and dived under a table to hide his pretty, pretty face from harm.

Try Not to Die, Thursday, August 19, 2021

[sith_happened]

"Apologies for missing classes last week," Anakin said. "I was unavoidably delayed by Portalocity retrieving my daughter from our galaxy. They are trying to get back in my good graces by sending us someplace nice today. It will not work--"

Ben snorted softly.

"--but appreciate Italy anyway," Anakin concluded. "We're going to Palermo."

English Poetry, Thursday period 1

[nuclear_snide]

The Danger Shop today was set up like a cross between a traditional class and a medieval scriptorium, with high wooden desks and reams of paper and quills and pencils at each. Bob was smiling. Did that mean you should all worry? Probably.

"Today is our final exam," he said, still smiling. "I'm sure you can guess what that is."

He gave them a moment to try, then clapped his hands together. "Poetry! Write one. Sonnet, free form, even an idiotic limerick. Write us a poem and read it."

He made a shooing motion. "Well, go on."

How to Ride a Bike | Thursday, Period 2

[defenderofdesmoines]

"Good morning!" Annie cried out sunnily, from in front of a bank of bikes.

Of course, since everyone had totally gotten a message to meet outside today...they were actually real bikes. As were the very real helmets, and the very real baskets that could be affixed to the bikes, and the bells, and the streamers, and so on.

"So, first of all, today your final is that we're gonna take a bike ride around the island. Yes -- over the stairs." It would be a challenge! And she had training wheels if anyone needed them. "But also, these are yours to take home. Thanks for being such an awesome class -- everyone should have a bike, and now you all do, too."

One of the benefits of having a teacher who was also a gazillionaire who had no idea how to spend her money: she went a little above and beyond the whole 'maybe donuts for the last day of class?' thing.