Smash Rising

Who: Rene and whoever
What: Morale building by which I mean CAPTURE THE FLAG
Where: Around the grounds
When: Monday all day


Two big flags had been put up in front of the school, made of cloth and long, sturdy sticks. The red one smelled faintly of beets, while the orange one smelled like oranges, indicating what they had been dyed with.

On Monday morning, Rene was out standing between them, waiting for people who hopefully had seen the posters she had put around the building.

Once a few people had arrived, she spoke loudly. "Hi! Today we're going to be playing a game. Games inspire teamwork and build morale, and everyone could use both of those! We're going to split into equal teams, hopefully with a mix of dorms, and play Capture the Flag! Does everyone know how to play?"

She continued anyway just in case anyone didn't. "The objective is to track down the opposing team's flag and bring it back here. If you get tagged, you're out! That means you come back here to wait. But we'll have snacks and we can mingle, so it's not all bad. A runner from each team will get a head start to hide the flag anywhere within the established area." She pointed to a map, made in part with her and Shantae's efforts. "The beach is ok but the water is off limits. No hiding the flag up trees, inside the building, or under anything. It has to be visible from at least fifteen meters away. After fifteen minutes of hiding time, the rest of the team starts off trying to find it. As you can see, I've marked the territory of both sides. It's mostly forest but I've included the hedge maze going through both territories."

She gestured to the general area. "If you're in the opposing team's territory, you can get tagged. If you're tagged, as I said, you come back here. If you had the flag when you're tagged, you plant it in that spot, where it remains until the next person grabs it. The game continues until either a flag is returned here or until it gets too dark to see. Either way we'll have an after party!"

With a smile, she brought her feet together with a snap and saluted. "Now! Make your teams! Try to meet new people!"

Who: Rene, whoever else
What: More domestic stuff! Laundry this time!
Where: Around the houses
When: This week

While Rene preferred the ease of a proper beater, a stick would do to beat the laundry. And detergent and soap made the job so much easier.

But either way! The garment goddess was back! There was no reason to keep it secret now--her reputation here was "friendly" rather than "tomboy", so she openly posted for people to put their laundry outside their rooms.

However, help was always wanted. If you want to join in, she's down by the river and she's already strung up several drying lines (oh my are those your delicates pinned up for all to see?). Between loads she's practicing with a soccer ball if you'd like to kick the ball around.

Who: Everyone!
What: FOOD TIMES
Where: Kitchen
When: the 13th

For a few days beforehand, handwritten signs had been posted around the building and grounds. They were worded a little differently here and there, but they all followed the basic theme of getting together for preserving various foods. Do you like pickles? Jam? Pear vodka?

Thanks to a cabinet full of jars found during the cleaning, the fruits and such from the forest could be preserved for extended life. And Rene was waiting in the kitchen, eager to get started. Good thing they had a stove that could be lit with a match!

Who: Rene Randall and YOU
What: Rene blasts in!
Where: Around
When: Starting Tuesday



Everyone was still getting their bearings in the new world, dealing with the many strange and fantastic surroundings. In that situation, a teenager with a piece of paper in her hand may go unnoticed. And she had been, which is why she started going up to people.

"Excuse me," she asked, "I'm looking for a place called Smash Academy. It's supposed to be here, right?"