Saint Joseph School

((This thread is intended to host a healthy and friendly RP rivalry primarily between Mao Yi Xing and Arrow Wraith. I understand with it being an interscholastic archery competition, that Nissa Madri will most likely want to post, and a few others may, as well. I fully invte this to occur. Anyone with BVA characters that have accounts in these forums, or who doesn't mind that others know their BVA identities, may also post in here to represent BVA. Please keep in mind that this is an athletic event and one's students do not interfere with another school's gear, or the offending school, as is often enforced in many athletic events forfeits any victory they may have garnered, as well as any acrued points, if points hold over.))

The vehicles came onto the campus at St Joseph's School, with many looking on. There were two Black and red vans from Korvus Academy, a charter bus carried the Bloodvine Academy's team, and three SUV's bore the colors of Hollowell Academy, as well as a modified for civilian use APC (Armored Personel Carrier) bearing the stylized name "Southern Institute for Higher Learning." The vehicles were directed where to go, in order to park, and in their own manners, each archery team disembarked.

With the high pitched whine and growl of mechanical and hydraulic parts, the APC's rear gate lowered, and four cadets, dressed in BDU's, stepped out in lively fashion, and lined up, exactly five feet beyond the ramp, then went into an attention stance. Their team leader , dressed in a parade dress uniform, stepped out, with her eyes scanning the terrain as if she expected to see strategic points of value for herself and her four BDU clad team mates to sieze and control. Shouting for the line to be at parade rest, she and the others went into the said military stance. A man dressed in a drill instructors uniform, bearing a red rope around one soulder stepped out and surveyed the other vehicles.

Hollowell Academy's students, much like most other school aged kids stepped out and stretched, then began quietly joking around with one another as they looked at the host school's campus and students.There were only three of these kids, one being semi-transparent, and almost moved like humanoid liquid. Another had a large crown of thorns, or bony horns that circled the top of his head, and the third stood a full nine feet tall, and had six arms the size of telephone poles. although they seemed alien in appearance, they had a rather jovial air about themselves, and didn't seem to pay the cadets much attention.

Instead, their attention was riveted to the vans as the students seemed to step through rip in reality, where shadows and light played at the openings. There were only two students on this team. An impossibly thin and sickly looking boy, with an odd aura that seemed to hint at whispy things moving about him, and an oriental girl who bore herself as though she were far more important, or that the situation was far more serious than any gathered here could imagine. A woman hopped out of the van, and spoke to the girl, then the boy, before drawing sigils in the air, teleporting their gear in front of her, hovering. gesturing the gear seperated itself amongst the two, and was plucked by them.

All eyes turned to look, as the BVA charter bus doors opened. It was a well known fact that St Joseph's School and the Bloodvine Academy were rivals in many aspects, and in a few non-official arenas, as well. There was a palpable tenseness from the Hollowell boys, and the cadets stared on, impassively, while the Korvus Academy team and coach looked on almost curiously. This year's Bloodvine team was, as of yet, an unknown for many, and that is what riveted so much attention.

The Bloodvine team exited the charter bus, along with a few others, who seemed to be there as spectators. The students, having traveled the farthest distance , looked around as though they expected something, but were let down. With a few words spoken in hushed tones, amongst themselves, they proceeded to where directed.

The cadets from Ontario, Canada watched impassively as the Bloodvines paased them. Upon command from their lead student, the five saluted their competitors with crisp and dignified manor, as they soon did for each of their competitors who passed them by. Regardless of what anyone thought, the Canadians offered equal respect to all of their competitors, despite whispers of their being a bunch of condescending jarheads.

The Hollowell's gathered their things, and began their trek, as well, often being coerced back into movement, when they lingered too long to talk to the students of St Joseph's. It wasn't necessarily their team leader who did this, but the escorts from the hosting school. With a chuckle, or even an outright laugh, they always shrugged it off, and moved along, but always in such a manner as to keep an eye on the kids from the Bloodvine Academy.

The Korvus kids were next, stopping to nod and bow a return of respect to the cadets, then heading along their way to their own personal area. As they made their way, Mao Yi's eyes flittered about, trying to see if her young friend was about, or perhaps if he was around. Disappointed on both counts, she never let the emotion show, instead maintaining her air of a superior person. Her team mate was silent, but looked all about as they went, never once breaking his stride for anything.

After their peers had all passed the lead cadet turned to her team mates.

"Squad! Left. Face," she said with her voice only slightly giving away her scottish brogue. "Forward. March!"

And without a word, the cadets began their trek, as well.

The coaches each assembled at a central location. Some shook hands, or traded salutes, with eager and happy faces, while two just stood impassively by, during the exchange of niceties, only speaking or expressing their emotions so long as they were required to. The rest of the time, they eyed each other, warrily. After a good thirty minutes, they each split off, and went to find their student teams.

Arrow glanced at the clock on the wall and frowned. Kris snuggled again him and then opened her eyes," what's wrong?". Tony sighed and answered,"The teams from the other schools are already here...I'm late babe." He disentangled himself from her and got off the couch, "Next time we watch a dvd, we'll try to actually watch it,ok?"He kissed her on the forehead and then jumped out the open window,becoming a blur before he even hit the ground.

As Nissa sat in the window of the church tower looking down on the courtyard she saw the other teams arrive on campus she sat there wondering if she’s good enough to perform down there in front of all those people but she thinks that 150 years of practice is good enough for her so she started down the tower jumping her way from top to bottom and landing on the front steps of the school. As she walked in she walked to her locker where she keeps her Bow and Arrows.

“Well…as the trolls say ‘time to get this party started’”

Mao Yi meditated with her incense burning, while Victor looked out the window. He had changed into his Carpathian Yeoman's garb, redone to match the Korvus Academy's Black and Crimson, as was Mao's robes of the Mandarrin Court. She, unlike many, could hear the whispers of the darkness spirits that were anchored to the boy, and was not to overly distraught by them. It was much like looking into the Shadow Realm, which lay between Earth and the Celestial Courts. Today, however, her focus was not upon furthering the Art of the Shadow, but upon focusing her Chi for archery. Her Brass Whistlers had been replaced with more traditional Bronze Competition Tips, and she needed to be focused to compensate properly.

"They seem like such a lively bunch, these St Joseph's students," Victor said in marvel. "I envy them. Noone should know what lies ahead."

"You are overly dramatic, Victor. Come. Sit with me and meditate. It will help you focus upon your impressive skills."

"Oh, no no no," he replied quickly. "That will just make their words louder, and I need that like... Well... Something bad."

A knock at the door sounded from their coach. It was time to go, and face their opponents, and peers. Standing, Mao Yi turned and bowed to the statuette of Confucius, then joined Victor who stood with a grin.

"One of these days, Mao, some guy will bring you down to Earth, and you'll be able to know what it's like to be with the rest of us," he chided.

"And someone hasn't already," she asked.

"Oh? Who's the lucky guy?"

"Nobody you know, Victor. Besides," she reasoned. "He has yet to make his intentions known to me."

"Whoa. You're in love?"

"Victor!"

"Alright," he chuckled.

Moments later, the two entered the field of competion, and took their respective spots for their team. Almost all of the other teams had assembled, and the stands were already looking to be filling up. This was, indeed, like an Imperial Competition. Only Mao had only experienced this from the spectator's viewpoint, not the competitor's.

Karlof finished the last bit of notes as the Bloodvine team stepped off the bus. Smiling a bit he grabbed the packet of papers that had arrived at the Academy weeks before. Following behind them, he waited at the bottom of the steps of the bus until the Saint Joeseph's escort approached him with a puzzled look.

"Ah, Guten Tag. I am here an behalf of the Academy on a sort of Press Pass. It was in our administrations best interests to get some photos and recounts of events for our next enrollment packets. I present to you the invitation sent by your own Headmaster, and ask recognition and invitation under the terms therein. This is acceptable, ja?"

Karlof's reputation was known all too well by many within the Saint Joeseph School, but it was true that the Bloodvine students had been invited to attend the event.

"Yeah, I guess if you agree to all this, you're welcome to come to the event..."

With a smooth and calculated smile, Karl stepped foot onto the Saint Joeseph's School grounds.

"Danke for your hospitality. I look forward to the competition."

Kris bought her ticket, and took a seat. She was ecited to see the whole thing. And there were so many schools, too! Nothing like all of the gab had been saying! Everyone made it seem like it was only going to be St Joe's and Bloodvine at the tournament, but there were five schools here! Picking up her binoculars to look around, she spotted the Bloodvine section, fairly quickly, along with the Hollowell section. Quite a few of them had come in and were sporting their colors with pride. To her dismay, they even had a pep band! She prayed Arrow would show well enough to make people take notice. She just knew he could do it.

She charged up the bleacher steps two at a time, shaking the thin aluminum.

“Where’s the fire, Stasi?” She grinned at Seraph on the way by, gratefully accepting the hand up. The risers were not kind on the thighs, no matter how in shape you were.

“Somewhere in Steel!” she tossed over her shoulder. A smattering of groans followed as she pounded up a few more steps, scanning anxiously before finally spotting her girl. The tanker swung into the row, cheerfully apologizing for the toe squashing. She plopped down next the Kris with a crow of triumph and flipped her tartan scarf out of her mouth.

“Made it, Kris! Betcha thought I’d get lost again.” She hunched over and stared excitedly down the field. “Did I miss anything yet? Have you spotted Arrow?”

Kris laughed. She had thought Stasis might not make it, but was relieved to see she had. Handing her the binoculars, Kris pointed the to where Arrow and Nissa were awaiting the arrival of the judges and the targets.

"Glad to see you came," she almost squeeled. "Look how many schools are here! I'm way impressed!"

Arrow Wraith had not been as late as he thought, but smiled to himself at the reason for his lateness. Nissa was scampering back and forth checking out the other teams, so he waited focusing his Chi and relexing his mind. He could almost feel his girl in the stands watching him. With his eyes closed he gave a thumbs up in her direction.

Mao Yi Stood impassively by her station, and nodded consent when Victor was overcome by his desire to mingle before the match. The boy had scarcely viewed the nod, and was gone. Mao wondered if he would be accepted. Someone who had seen the halls of the dead, but never ventured across their threshold. Of course his true curse or burden to bear were the spirits of vengeance who constantly whispered to him.

As she stood, she sensed the chi of her opponents, and knew there were five here who were indeed formidable. Turning her head, she saw the dark skinned boy raise a thumb toward the stands. As far as she could tell, he was the only archer that matched the vision she had in her dreams. The one who would be there to test her. If this was the case, then she intended to test this boy, in return.

As Nissa Looked at all the other teams that where there she noticed it would be no cake walk the other teams where Big really big and not in size but the size of the other teams players. As Nissa walked back to take a seat she sat next to Arrow and wished him the best of luck

"hay Arrow, Good luck out there im sure you will do really well out there" She said as her ears perked up and a smile came across her face

She almost dropped the things, thinking they’d be heavy but they weren’t. The binocs were surprisingly lightweight and nearly slipped through her fingers before she tightened her grip. Hopefully Kris hadn’t noticed the fumble but who knows. Stasis raised them gingerly to her face.

After a couple of seconds she took her eyes away and started rotating the middle dial, on the assumption that the big one was most important. Raised them to her face again and started scanning left to right.

When that failed to give her anything but a truly impressive kaleidoscope she went for an up and down motion. Then started running a circular pattern while surreptitiously flicking the volume control. She was so into it that she nearly brained the guy next to her with an elbow.

“Um, Stasi? Having .. uh, trouble?” Kris didn’t wait for an answer, taking the ocular lenses out of her hands to focus through them. She was grateful, really. A few expert adjustments later, Stasis was gleefully counting Nissa’s nose hairs.

Eventually that got boring so she started scanning the other competitors. There was this pretty cute guy in Bloodvine colors, not that she noticed that stuff or anything, currently talking to one of officials. She watched for a minute but didn’t see any money change hands which was kind of disappointing. The Hallowell contingent was a pair of surprisingly young twins; if they were more thirteen she’d eat her armor.

Reminded of Hallowell though, she zoomed to the far left to look for her friend Dewshine. The world dissolved into an impressionistic painting but she’d watched Kris this time and confidently twirled the big dial and the little one underneath.

A few minutes later she sheepishly handed the distance viewers back to Kris. “Hey. I’m looking for a girl named Dewshine in Hallowell. She’s got blonde hair, sorta short.” She gave a kilowatt smile. “I’ll give you a cookie if you can find her.”

"A cookie, huh? Wow," Kris laughed as she began scanning for any Hollowell girls with blonde hair. "I guess Meri' rubbed off on me, huh? Oh! Is she tall, Stasi?"

As she was scanning she saw a blonde in the Hollowell colors, and the girl was statuesque to say the least. But, she also saw another very close by, who may also have fit the bill. Handing the binocs back to her friend, Kris pointed to where she thought she saw the girl.

Mao Yi saw the judges nod to the final official, who arrived with the targets. Whistling in two bursts, she caught her Carpathian team mate's attention, and he trotted back to their area.

"Ja," he huffed as he arrived. "What you need?"

"The targets are going out. Prepared to do our school a just and honorable job," she said flatly, reaching to take her bow from the hands of a shadowy form that seemed to form from out of nowhere, and brought her weapon to her. I suspect the St Joseph's Students, as well as both the Hollowell and Southern Istitute teams will prove difficult adversaries upon this field."

"Mao," Victor asked. "Why are you referring to them as the enemy?"

"They are not our enemy," she replied. "They are merely the obstacles our enemy has placed between us and victory."

"Our enemy," he asked. "Are you getting deep zen on me again?"

"Perhaps, Victor," she smiled, bowing to Arrow Wraith, as they caught glimpses of one another.

Turning, Mao's head dress made tinkling sounds as the metal tassles struck either the head dress or one another. Her smile faded, and was replaced with a reserved and professional impassivity taught by her master of the Imperial Courts.