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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2013 5:59:03 GMT -5
Hoplite sighed, looking back to Watermark, "Well, thanks for the food, I guess. Something tells me you didn't invite me here after training just to eat, though." Hoplite took a moment to sit down near the table, awaiting somewhat impatiently for whatever Watermark was going to say next. He figured that chances are he'd go on to say something nonsensical or move on to idle chatter, but he absently hoped - knowing it to be a fool's hope nonetheless - that this 'meeting' would end faster than the last one, at least that way he could avoid getting angry with the zebracorn.
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Post by Red Charge on Aug 11, 2013 6:04:30 GMT -5
"Actually, I had a reason to invite you here." Watermark said, "But I'd rather if you finish your stew first." The unicorn instructed, "First pleasure then business." He added, drinking the rest of his stew in one long gulp. His entire face turned burning red and big puffs of steam erupted from his mouth and nostrils. "Aww, yeah..." He sighed, before beginning to create forms in the steam, creating all sorts of forms from monsters, to griffon flagships and to ponies.
"We're putting them in gradually," He said in response to Hoplite's earlier remark, "You'll be seeing a lot more of them soon. Just be patient, I know you all want to take on the Diamond Dog generals single-hoofed, but give it time eh? You couldn't beat one, you own't be able to overcome it if I keep putting more in."
He created a puff with all sorts of Diamond Dogs of all shapes and sizes, "Don't worry, I've plenty of surprises left for you."
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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2013 6:11:51 GMT -5
Hoplite sighed, "Yes, I'm sure you do..." he replied, pulling the stew over and lightly chipping away at it, taking delicate and slow spoonfuls if only to try and keep the compounding spice from overwhelming him.
Minutes later, he finally finished, his nostrils having been leaking smoke the whole way through. Hoplite nudged the empty bowl forward, sighing audibly. "Well, that was...interesting to say the least," he commented before adjusting his posture, "So then, what did you invite me here for?" he asked expectantly.
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Post by Red Charge on Aug 11, 2013 6:15:19 GMT -5
"For..." Watermark began, "A joke. A pony and a zebra are on a hot air baloon with a pilot. As all balloons do, it tore and they began to plummet. The pilot announced that there are only two parachutes and since he is the pilot, one goes to him by default. However, he does not want to come out as a racist, so he will ask both the Zebra and Pony a question and the first to fumble, won't get the parachute. So he asks the pony, "Say, how many ponies live in Equestria?" So the pony thought for a moment and gave the correct answer. The pilot nodded enthusiastically and turned to the Zebra, "Say, how many Zebras live in the Zebra Territories?" So the Zebra thought for a moment and gave him the correct answer, to which the pilot replied, "But buddy, I need the names." Watermark burst out laughing from his own joke, each fit blowing steam into Hoplite's face.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2013 6:19:12 GMT -5
Hoplite squinted through the steam being blown into his face, inwardly finding himself ever more disappointed. Rather than do what he really wanted to do, which was to try and guide Watermark to a proper subject or just outright leave, he had something that probably would've had a much better impact than either of them.
Rather than respond, he sat there expectantly, as if waiting for either another joke or for something else Watermark probably invited him for, hardly cracking a grin at the supposed joke.
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Post by Red Charge on Aug 11, 2013 6:20:40 GMT -5
"Ooh, a stare down." Watermark said, accepting the challenge, pressing his snout against Hoplite's and staring wide eyed into Hoplite's eyes. "I'm the best at those." He said, steam still coming out of his nostrils and mouth, probably would keep doing so for a while.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2013 6:24:32 GMT -5
Hoplite cringed inwardly. Great, I set him off again, he thought to himself, Well, better give the colt what he wants...
Hoplite blinked, backing away a bit. "Well, you won, Watermark," he started, "So...was there anything else, then?" he asked calmly. He inwardly hoped that this joke wasn't the entire reason he had been called down, surely if it was just a joke he could've just pulled him aside immediately after the session rather than set up this 'meeting'.
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Post by Red Charge on Aug 11, 2013 6:26:10 GMT -5
"Joke and good food among friends, isn't that the best? Last time you told me all those stories, you can tell me more now if you want." He said, pouring himself some more stew and sipping, looking at Hoplite in anticipation. "You must have more stories in you yet, right?"
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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2013 6:28:20 GMT -5
Hoplite shook his head, "Not much worth telling, really. Grew up here with my siblings, tested out Sawmill's creations, watched Long Haul leave and watched dad leave his woodworking in favour of working the fields, then joined the militia. Basically you already know just about every mildly interesting thing thus far, I should think."
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Post by Red Charge on Aug 11, 2013 6:30:12 GMT -5
Watermark scooted over to Hoplite again, "Fine, then what would YOU like to talk about? You always have so many questions bottled up inside. Who knows, I might even answer them?" Watermark said with a non committal shrug. He either wasn't forward with why he called Hoplite here, or he simply really had no reason other than share a stew and a joke.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2013 6:34:29 GMT -5
Hoplite sighed, truth be told just about every question worth asking lately was either pointless or already asked, and given Watermark's track record there was next to no chance in Watermark actually answering the main one.
"Honestly, Watermark, not anymore. I've already asked the biggest question the other night when we were chugging down cider, I've asked it what feels like a week ago. I've honestly got nothing worth asking of you right now, nor do I have a subject worth talking about," Hoplite replied, "Well, anything else in particular you needed to see me for?"
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Post by Red Charge on Aug 11, 2013 6:39:06 GMT -5
"How about... a toy soldier game then?" The unicorn asked, conjuring up two small armies of toy soldiers, Hoplite had ponies, Watermark had Diamond Dogs. "Each of us will command our forces against each other, winner gets a prize." At that the soldiers jumped off the table to a newly formed ice battlefield, Watermark laid down on his side and began ordering his troops already to fortify their positions. There were two bases on opposite sides of the field it was obvious that the team who captured the bases won. Hoplite noticed that all of his ponies were actual militia members, even he and Phalanx were in there. In fact, the entire battleground was Hoofington, the Diamond Dogs' base was just inside the woods outside of Hoofington.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2013 6:47:40 GMT -5
Hoplite sighed, he had already mentioned his reputation as a terrible tactician in terms of large-scale combat and here Watermark was - a *proven* tactician and highly adept pony - basically conjuring up a sort of game of chess.
Hoplite sighed, guiding his ranged units into guard positions around the town, setting up soldiers as sentries and compiling his spellcasters in the centre of town, each caster accompanied by a melee unit. The sculpture Bodkin took up the watch nearest to the Diamond Dog's base, Lightning Blitz was in the dead centre of the mass in the miniature town, and Hoplite and Phalanx stood at the ready side-by-side on sentry duty, on the east side where their usual post used to be before the invasion. He wanted to set up defences in the unlikely event that Watermark sent a prod or chose to invade, preferring to use the home-turf advantage of knowing the town as opposed to storming the Diamond Dog's base.
In essence, just like he had done when he was younger, he had his units turtle...and just like before, he kept his ranged and spellcasters either in the centre or on watch. He looked to Watermark's side almost expectantly, figuring that Watermark was more than likely to employ his usual strategy of 'defy expectations' and instead either wait for Hoplite to make a move or surprise him with some sort of stealth action. To be fair, being sneaky would be pretty accurate considering he's taking command of the Dogs...
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Post by Red Charge on Aug 11, 2013 6:56:48 GMT -5
Watermark sent a scouting party around the town to try and flank them, but even as Hoplite was able to deflect them a whole bunch of Diamond Dogs popped up in the headquarters, taking down all of the guards he had put there. But how? Looking over to Watermark's side, which was partially concealed by the woods, he noticed the clever distraction. The scouting party Watermark sent to flank was used to capture Hoplite's eyes, while it seemed the rest of the units stayed in the base, while in fact they dug under the surface and straight into the rear courtyard spreading from it and capturing the headquarters. It didn't matter that Hoplite still had forces in the battle, the base was captured and he had lost.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2013 7:01:07 GMT -5
Hoplite sighed, shrugging widely and looking to Watermark, "Well, big surprise, the tactician won," he remarked, clapping his hooves together lightly, "Can't say I didn't see that coming, to be honest."
Truth be told, even in hindsight Hoplite didn't see an effective means of victory in this scenario. The Diamond Dogs had the stronger fighters and a stronger tactician as well as the offensive edge. If Hoplite sent in his units to try and attack, either they would be deflected or the opening would be exploited, with the Diamond Dogs rushing underground into the emptied town. If he split his forces to attack and defend, the Diamond Dogs would overpower the attackers then overtake the defenders moments later.
The battle was over before it began. "Can't say I'm in the mood for another round, either," he added.
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