Amaya Blackstone (
special_rabbit) wrote in
fandomhigh2020-06-11 04:46 am
Entry tags:
Weapons 101; Thursday, Third Period [06/11].
This was a lesson that Amaya may have usually held off until later in the session, but, well, the end of a session could sneak up on a person, and now that Diaz was out for a little while, Amaya didn't see any reason why not to hit her favorites as well as the ones that she could actually teach the students how to use on her own. So the field they were in today was much more open and wide than usual, and there was a castle (it's only a model!) sitting on a gently sloping hill nearby, and the weapons they were using today were definitely not going to fit on a table or a rack as usua
"Siege weapons!" Amaya 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. And before anyone asks, no, we will not be flinging each other, even if it is the danger shop." Not even you, Beaker! "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 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, especially since most of the students seemed to actually be interested in her little rambling lectures, and it was kind of her job, anyway.
But she also knew that they'd likely be itching to go break down some fake walls on that nice stately castle (even if it was only a model), because she felt that way, too. "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."
"Siege weapons!" Amaya 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. And before anyone asks, no, we will not be flinging each other, even if it is the danger shop." Not even you, Beaker! "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 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, especially since most of the students seemed to actually be interested in her little rambling lectures, and it was kind of her job, anyway.
But she also knew that they'd likely be itching to go break down some fake walls on that nice stately castle (even if it was only a model), because she felt that way, too. "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."

Sign In - Weapons, 06/11.
Re: Sign In - Weapons, 06/11.
Re: Sign In - Weapons, 06/11.
Re: Sign In - Weapons, 06/11.
Re: Sign In - Weapons, 06/11.
Re: Sign In - Weapons, 06/11.
Re: Sign In - Weapons, 06/11.
Listen to the Lecture - Weapons, 06/11.
Get your Siege On! - Weapons, 06/11.
Or just wonder what all the fuss is all about when the ballista is clearly the best.
Re: Get your Siege On! - Weapons, 06/11.
Okay, the ballista was pretty cool too, and had that more personal touch that he enjoyed with his violence.
Talk to the Teacher - Weapons, 06/11.
OOC - Weapons, 06/11.