The Desk Of Knight Commander Norrington

[judgemewhole]

Notes and IC journal conversations can go right here

Comments

action, sometime.

[exequy]

[ Wherever James works these days, he’ll at one point find Kostos hovering outside, looking surly—because surly is his version of unsure—and immediately launching into, ]

I have questions for you.

[ Introductions are for the weak. ]

Re: action, sometime.

[judgemewhole]

[James jerks his head up at the statement - because that certainly wasn't a question. He narrows his gaze suspiciously, quill half raised from the inventory report he was writing.]

I might have answers, if I know what the nature of the questions are.

[exequy]

[ They’re probably questions about kittens! Rainbows! Flowers! ]

Abominations.

[ Nope. ]

What you have seen them do. What it took to stop them.

[judgemewhole]

[Oh Come On. No one is ever going to ask James about Kittens. Or Rainbows. Flowers ... all right Merrill probably would.

Abominations, however? Yes, that was in his wheelhouse.]

I have seen them tear mages limb from limb. I have seen them set squads of Templars ablaze, leaving nothing but ashen stains on the ground.

[He paused there, considering the second part of the statement, and then stated simply.] The most effective way I have ever used to kill an abomination is to call upon my faith, and tear the creature's ability from them, then rend them with the Maker's Holy light.

[exequy]

[ It isn't like hearing about his people being torn apart. By the time they're possessed, they're already dead. But it is a little like hearing about their bodies being torn apart after the fact—more of a trial for a Nevarran than most, perhaps—and unclenching his jaw to continue isn't easy. ]

How many men would you need to deal with one?

[judgemewhole]

[... James will probably not tell Kostos that the abominations he spoke of were tearing apart mages who just happened to be in the crossfire.

Probably.]

It depends on the strength of the abomination, and the strength of the person facing them. People with no martial ability would have no chance against an abomination of weak ability. I, on the other hand, can take down abominations all on my own of most strength.

[One eyebrow raised.] So, I have trained the Inquisition forces, since they lack Templar abilities, to handle them in groups of four.

[exequy]

It is a wonder we ever needed Circles at all, [ Kostos says, flatly and not very kindly. ] What do you advise your groups of four to do?

[judgemewhole]

One would imagine to keep the abominations on killing the hundreds of thousands of people who aren't trained warriors. [Is James's equally flat response.]

[He exhaled, going back to professionalism.] Compass Point Formation. Surround the creature on four sides. Close in on it and don't let it get past you. Even better to get it up against the wall, but some of them ignore walls so keep to what works.

[His gaze narrows.] This is for normal abominations, and not multiple. One. Not for something truly monstrous.

[exequy]

Single, normal, not truly monstrous abominations.

[ Repeating it for memorization's sake. ]

What is the difference between a compass point formation and a square?

[judgemewhole]

Square has more fighters in it. Formation of eight as opposed to four.

[He leaned back, feeling himself getting into the rhythm of the conversation, despite his reservations.]

You can do that with an abomination - but they do like to wreck havoc on as many people as possible.

[exequy]

So I've heard. [ He folds his arms behind his back. ] I have also heard that they have magic that goes beyond that of a mage, and I do not know many mages who could not handle four men with swords if they wanted to.

[judgemewhole]

Which is why it is better if those four men are Templars, with the training and abilities to void out that magic.

[James said dryly, before he sighed.] However, we are fewer in number and we cannot send out a Templar with every Inquisition squad. As much as I would like it to be so.

[exequy]

[ Mages can dispel, can drain one another's mana or turn it on each other to harm, which is the point of this line of questioning, if anyone asks. They've been given permission to try governing their own people. Proving they can handle their own people when they go bad is part of that. ]

And when there is more than one—a circle formation?

[judgemewhole]

[James narrowed his gaze on Kostos, because answering questions is all well and good, but this is starting to sound less hypothetical and more ... 'we're going to try something risky and not tell people about it.]

Before I go into that - can I ask what precisely this is regarding?

[exequy]

[ Does he look like someone who ever asks hypothetical questions. ]

The Inquisition has given us permission and resources to—correct our own problems. If we are able.

[judgemewhole]

[He looks like he has been sucking on a lemon from birth, but considering that is usually James's default expression he really can't be that judgy.]

Ah! [This has to deal with mages policing mages. Excellent, now he felt a lot better about this conversation.]

Well then, if you would allow me, I'll write you up a report of different attack formations you can use. My former First Enchanter also had a very through walk-through for any young mages going through a Harrowing, if that is something you would like as well. I managed to save her journals before the fire took our Circle.

[exequy]

A walkthrough for young mages? Telling them what?

[judgemewhole]

What to expect in the Fade, how to counter various spirits, that sort of thing. I imagine many of the Circles recorded this knowledge, but the First Enchanter liked to use the experiences as practical training. We Templars also offered up what we knew of demons outside the Fade, to better prepare our charges.