fandomhigh | Diplomacy, Relationships & Tactics: the Art of War [Tuesday, Period 3]

As the students entered this week, they would see a passage on the board:

Sun Tzu said: We may distinguish six kinds of terrain, to wit:
(1) Accessible ground
(2) entangling ground
(3) temporizing ground
(4) narrow passes
(5) precipitous heights
(6) positions at a great distance from the enemy.

"Terrain. Which I am sure you are all dreadfully sick of hearing me talk about," Ghanima announced as soon as the last student was seated. "However, if you do not know where or how you stand, in any battle, you will lose. I cannot stress this enough. It doesn't matter if you're facing a troop of Sardaukar on Salusa Secundus, or trying to make dinner plans with a cranky significant other. If you cannot understand the terrain under your feet, you will find yourself on the wrong end of a metaphorical or physical blade."

"This all goes back to what we discussed that first week of class, "'Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt.' To know your soldiers, you must know yourself. You must be able to assess both the capabilities of your fighting force, and your own ability to command them in terrain before you. If you cannot give the soldiers what they need, even the most elite squad in the Empire can fall against a small handful of women and children." Not that Ghanima would know. At all.

"First, however, I want to hear how you did over the last week."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Victoriously! (or not, depending on your week.)

Astrid Magnussen

Shuri

Alara Kitan

Adora

Lana Beniko

It's short, but take notes, pass notes, whatever tickles your fancy.

Tell us how your assignment went! Handwavey is fine.

Edited 2021-03-23 16:17 (UTC)

Honestly, Astrid had been so distracted by everything going on with her meeting later that week that she'd forgotten there even was an assignment. Thankfully, she had a plan before Friday threw it out of her headspace, and she was hoping a quick, sneaky text was all she would need to get it back in motion before her turn came around.

"Does it count," she then said, once she had confirmation, "if it's not happening until tonight?"

She knew it was just some dumb assignment and she probably could have just admitted that she forgot, but she sort of wanted to seize at least one victory before everything got underway.

"Part of a successful campagin is knowing when to make your attack," Ghanima pointed out, not bothering to hide the amused quirk of her smile. "It counts."

Yes, Astrid, she could tell you had forgotten, but a quick save was part of any battle strategy, physical or emotional.

"Okay," Astrid nodded. "Then Troy's taking me out for pizza."

So this was also, clearly, an excellent use of the resources one had at hand ~~in more ways than one~~.

"Let's talk about the Tzu's classifications of 'ground,'" Ghanima said smoothly, "and try and sort them out into interpersonal situations you may be involved in. What sort of event might be called 'accessible ground'? How about a 'narrow pass?'"

"The funny thing about terrain," Ghanima said, "is that it can shift without warning. What was a dry creek-bed may suddenly become a flash flood. Entangling ground may shift to become a narrow pass. You cannot count on your battlefield staying the same, and this is especially true when dealing with other people."

"Negotiation, however, is startling efficient in bringing parties to a common ground, where your 'battle' can be on more equal terms."

Nevermind that Ghanima's personal idea of 'negotiation' was simply manipulating the other person until they came around to where you wanted them.

"Which is why, this week, you will be in groups of two or three. You will spend a minimum of forty-eight hours together over the next week. It does not have to be consecutive, although you may try and power through the assignment if you wish. However, you must spend time together, and each chunk of time must be at least four hours in duration."

"Whenever possible, you will visit your teammates' places of employment, and, if it is acceptable to their other teachers, attend classes with them. You will probably get on each others' nerves, and hate me before the exercise is over. However you will learn, hopefully, how to negotiate. Where and when are you spending time together. What is for dinner? What aspects of your lives are off-limits? In the process, you'll learn more about your classmates, practice your negotiation skills, and quite possibly learn new things about yourselves."

"Find a partner or two. Good luck."

Well, Astrid was pretty quiet and easy to get along with, so she figured whoever she paired up with would have it easy. And maybe they really liked flowers and Squishies?

Either way, her eyes passed around her classmates to see if anyone seemed like an easy one for her to pair up with, too.

Lana nodded to Astrid. She liked her, and at least she knew her roommate wouldn't mind having Lana around. "Would you like to pair up?"

Yeah, Astrid could think of maybe a reason or two why Lana might not terribly mind having to spend some time in spaces where Astrid (and Astrid's roommate) usually were.

"Sure," she said with a small smile. "I think we could survive forty-eight hours around each other."

"Probably," Lana agreed with a smile. "I never mind looking at art, for one thing. Even if I don't much understand Earth's references sometimes."

If she's there!

Lana is here! And wondering what Sardaukar on Salusa Secundus are.

Feel free to flail at her and WTF. She won't mind.

Welcome to the 'diplomacy' part of the class. Have fun getting hands-on!

Also, if you are planning on going to classes together, please remember to get OOC permission from the teacher! OOC = love!

Diplomacy, Relationships & Tactics: the Art of War [Tuesday, Period 3]

Sign-In #11

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During the Lecture

Report!

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Discussion: Metaphorical Ground

Lecture II & Assignment

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Talk to the TA

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Talk to Ghanima

OOC