smk_network | A LONG AND COMPREHENSIVE PREP VIDEO

dr_riley posting in

[The video opens typically, with a close-up of Drake leaning over the screen with his arm extended over it, as many self-recorded videos tend to do. Once satisfied that he's broadcasting, he steps back and the room around home comes into view. He's still in his green fatigues - thinks it makes him look authoritative - and has his name patch on for the benefit of anyone who doesn't know him and tunes a little late. The room is plain and unremarkable, but there are crates and piles of equipment behind him.]

Hello, everyone. My name is Doctor Drake Riley, and this broadcast is for those Apprentices who've signed up to join the search parties being organized in order to find... [He closes his eyes for a moment with a little sigh, unhappy about having to say such a ridiculous name out loud and with a straight face.] ...Dreamfinder.

First things first. I'd like to reiterate that I cannot recommend this errand to the inexperienced. This will be a test in wilderness survival and endurance. The environments are dangerous and unpredictable and there won't be anyone but your team to help you quickly if things go sideways. That said, I'm aware that each team will have what passes for a medic. You'll also want to decide on team leaders. When things get hairy, you'll want someone to look to for direction. That isn't to say you shouldn't work together as equal members of a team - only that you won't want everyone yelling different directions in the heat of an emergency. A good team leader will consider everyone's input, but will have the final say.

As for equipment, I'm afraid I was unable to acquire everything I wanted for your packs, so I beg of you, please be careful, take the time to really consider this mission, and use your supplies wisely and sparingly. Oh, and if I mention a thing that isn't provided, write it down so that you can find it for yourself, because some very important things are not included.

All right. Onto equipment. I have a backpack for everyone. Comes in two parts. [He holds the frame up for display.] Heavier than I'd hoped for, but the external frame should allow some air flow and help reduce back pain. Your storage will be a canvas bag that's been waterproofed. Each team will have two tents, crowded, I know, not my decision. Make sure you have larger members of the group carrying them. Canteens for everyone, children get the smaller ones. Mesa, you'll have sunglasses and sunscreen. Jungle and Bayou, you'll have fishing kits. [He holds a little tin up to the screen and opens it, revealing two hooks and a spool of line.] I tried to get you some ponchos, but I guess this place doesn't have rain or something.

Torches - or flashlights, for you Americans - are nearly useless. [He holds up one of the tiny keychain penlights.] Medical kits are equally insufficient, so for God's sake, don't twist an ankle. [mutter] Which you wouldn't have to worry about if I'd been able to get sturdy boots... All I have for you is gauze, tape, and antiseptic. And I've got some rope, tissues, and glow sticks. Apparently, you'll have to provide your own toiletries. Don't go crazy; soap and toothpaste ought to be enough. If you have lightweight, shelf stable food, like dehydrated meals and small, high protein snacks, bring enough of those for two or three days. [He holds up one of his own powerbars in one hand and an MRE in the other as an example.] Something like these.

[Lastly, he displays a few of the glow sticks, glasses, and bracelets.] The glow sticks are not toys. I mean, I suppose, technically, these ones are, but don't go snapping them for fun. These are for testing the depth of a place when a torch can't reach that far - like down a hole or in a cave or cavern you're unsure of. You could also use them to mark cleared, safe areas, or to attract the attention of other team members. Their use is up to you, but try not to waste them.

As for communication, I couldn't get radios, so you'll have to use your mirrors. I've been told that they can be used like radios, though, in that you can tune multiple devices to one channel. So do that. I want every group to decide on their own channels for communicating amongst themselves, and I want all groups to have a channel dedicated only to communicating with someone here, like Lydia or Mr. Crackshell - wait, I think they're both going... I don't know, someone here, like myself, who can organize a rescue party if one of the groups is in distress. Does that make sense? I'm not sure that makes sense. Okay, for example, Jungle stays on channel 13, so that if someone's been separated and is getting eaten by a snake, they can call for help and only the other Jungle members can see it and respond, see? You don't want chatter from the rest of the network. If the whole team is in trouble, broadcast it on, I don't know, channel 4, to which someone here will be listening. Let your leadership decide on what channel to isolate to and stick to it. Lydia, or Mr. Crackshell, you decide on what channel the teams should use if they need outside help and make sure they know what it is.

Next up, packing! I am not going to be packing your bags. But I'll put one together here in this broadcast so you get an idea of how to do it. [He maneuvers the mirror to focus on the floor and kneels in front of one of the canvas bags and a lot of equipment that's been laid out around it. The first thing he picks up is a rolled up tarp.] Heavy, less used things go in first. If you have a cook kit or extra socks, which I wanted to give you but can't, they go on the bottom. Camp stove, also on the bottom. Also not provided. Food and rope, going in. Glow sticks. Try to pack so that heavier things are nearer your back. Rain gear, which - again - you'll have to bring for yourself, goes on top. Strap your tent to the top, like so- [He puts the tent underneath the top flap and cinches it tight.] I wasn't provided sleeping bags or mats, but if you have them, the mat should be at the bottom of your bag, and your sleeping bag can strap to the bottom using a Canadian jam. [He pulls the loose end of his rope back and forth, tightening it around the bag every time.]

As for what a Canadian jam is, [gets up close to the mirror with a length of rope for a brief demo] it's essentially two slipknots. You need a stopper knot at the end, and you can just make a little overhand knot like this, or, preferably, use a slipknot you can pull out easily. This loop here is a bight. Now make the same knot - a simple overhand with a bight - but make that bight much bigger. That's what you can tie around things, and just like you can pull a slipknot out by pulling the tail until the bight comes through, you can pull on this loose end and the loop gets smaller. You can cinch it very tight, very easily. Loosen it by pulling on the stopper knot.

Tuck any loose cords or rope away, tie your canteen to the outside of your bag for easy access. Other things you'll want easy access to are your torches, fire kits, and med kits, and others should know where your med kit is if they need to help you. Not everyone will get a knife, so you'll have to share. [He holds up the knife, unsheaths it and turns it around for viewers to look at, then resheaths it and ties it to the side of the bag.] You can tie it to the bag, put it inside on top, or keep it on your person, but make sure you can get it quickly if you need it.

[He finally heaves a great sigh and rests his hands on his knees, looking right into the mirror.] I really wanted a lot more for you. This isn't nearly sufficient, even for an experienced hiker or reconnaissance team. I mean, there's not even a bloody water filter or fire starter. I strongly encourage all teams to communicate with each other and provide each other any missing equipment they can scrounge up. If you have a tarp? Bring it. Two? Please let someone borrow it. Matches, firesteel, water tablets, etcetera, please, please share. Actually, here's a list of what I wanted for you, but couldn't get:

[He shuffles a few worn and crumpled looking sheets of paper and reads off of them.]
Water filter or tablets.
Fire starting kits, or waterproof matches, firesteel, lighters, a piece of flint, someone who can-can....magic it into existence, whatever you need to start a fire. Important: If you can't find something to purify water, boil it. But not in your canteen, you'll need to use a cup or something. Which brings me to...
Mess kits, camp stoves, and fuel.
Bug spray and ponchos for the wet environments.
Goggles and respirators for Progress, in case of poisonous fumes or gases.
Meals ready-to-eat and ration bars or small snacks.
Actual tor- ...flashlights. And extra bulbs and batteries for them.
Whistles.
Gloves.
Extra socks and sturdy boots.
Sleeping bags and mats.
Field medication, such as painkillers, antibiotics, fever reducers. All you need is someone contracting scarlet fever.
Binoculars.
Soap and toothpaste.
Flares. Optional.

You can come and pick up your supplies, such as they are, at the Mission board. I'll be there from 9am to noon tomorrow, and if you miss me, stop by the Emporium because I'm not lugging this into my living space. I encourage everyone to come and communicate with each other in person about what extra essentials they might have and be willing to share.

That's it, mates. Best of luck. You're going to need it. [He gets up, reaches forward, and the video ends.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

az_shrimp_horny

[To start there is a lot of staring. Then she groans, covering her face with both hands. She'd been nice and patient, but her patience was wearing really fucking thin.]

Dude... Aren't you forgetting something? Here? You're inexperienced. You're giving advice like you've been out there and know what the fuck you're talking about. I get that you want to help, I do. But you're gonna fucking confuse people and that's not helping. These mirrors don't have "channels" they're fucking magic smart phones. You just set it to whoever you want to talk to.

From:

dr_riley

Wow, language much? I do know what I'm talking about; I've been trained in wilderness survival and hel-lo! This is what I do! Someone's got look for the worst that can happen because it doesn't take much for a situation to turn ugly. I mean, one minute you're - you're happily splashing around on a boogie board at the beach, mum and da' making sandwiches from the picnic basket and the next thing you know, WHAM, you're getting body slammed by a great horrible fish that-that-that drags you down and- and ...............look, you just need to prepare for the damned sharks, okay? Always be on guard because if you're not, people die.

As for the mirrors, perhaps I was misinformed, because I was told they could isolate to a single feed - call it a chat room if you want, smartphones can access chatrooms. Regardless, one person needs to be able to reach the rest of the team all at once, hello, mayday, jungle team, come and get me, not have to go through one person at a time. You're being eaten by a snake, you don't have time for that.

From:

az_shrimp_horny

Now is not the time to judge my fucking language.

Try minding your own business when your friend gets swallowed by a 20 foot catfish. It happened. And we saved him with magic... and a fishing pole.

[She takes a breath, trying to calm down. He's trying to help...]

Listen... All I'm saying is you can't prepare for everything. Not in this place. And, I mean, scarlet fever? They can cure that shit with magic. We need to be more worried about the corruption. And there's no way to prepare for that.

From:

dr_riley

Minding my own- What're you on about, minding my own business!? Scarlet fever was an examp-

You know what, fine. Alright. I take it all back, go out naked, you'll be fine. Magic will take care of everything. Have fun, and do write me a lovely postcard.

Riley out!

[friendly little wave]

[What's not seen is how he throws his mirror across the room in a temper]

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