LEADERSHIP EVALUATION

[enodiamod]

LEADERSHIP EVALUATION

Exploring the Riftlands can be a dangerous endeavor, even for Liminals, so it's always important that members of the Explorer Division keep their powers honed, their bodies fit, and their minds sharp. It's also important to ensure that those most qualified to be in charge are placed there. To that end, Samuel J. Thornton has called all the members, both primary and supplementary, together for their first Leadership Evaluation.

Thornton holds these evaluations every few months to determine who will be placed in charge when the Division divides into smaller groups to carry out different missions and investigate different areas. The evaluation has three parts: combat practice, an obstacle course, and the (much dreaded) written strategic/leadership assessment. The evaluations tend to take a few hours and moods among the Division members run the gamut. Some take it quite seriously, studying and training ahead of time and giving it their all. Some act as if it's just another requirement from Thornton and treat it like any other training session to be overcome or endured. Some only show up because they know if they don't Thornton will put them on administrative leave (ugh). Regardless, it's a big day for the Division.

During combat practice, each member will face off against a handful of robotic combatants with customized programming based on Thornton's assessment of their skills. This is held in a moderately-sized training room in the middle of the hall. During the obstacle course, each member will be given places to reach and tasks to complete throughout a maze of obstacles that run the gamut from shifting walls to collapsing floors to blasts with a numbing (and gradually paralytic) effect and beyond. The engineers in Operations and Security have really outdone themselves this year! This is held in the enormous training room at the end of the hall. During the written strategic/leadership assessment, each member will take a long, comprehensive exam designed to assess their reasoning, their empathy, their strategic prowess, and their leadership ability. This is held in a moderately-sized training room at the beginning of the hall that has been filled up with desks.

Non-Explorer residents from across the Station are also welcome to participate if they want to test their mettle, though they may find themselves being recruited by Thornton if they do exceptionally well. Otherwise, they are welcome to show up and watch the action through a series of monitors that line the basement hallway. Even the room with the written exam appears on one screen for some unknown reason. It's a bit of an event. [Non-Explorer Character A] even brings refreshments and has printed up some little flags and trinkets featuring the names of some more impressive (at least in their opinion!) contenders. Are they trying to be supportive or psych someone out or just trying to make a buck? It's hard to say.

» THE EVALUATIONS: Complete the form below to have your character's leadership evaluation scored. Only characters that comment here are eligible for leadership roles.

HOW THIS WORKS

Every few months, the Explorer Division will hold Leadership Evaluations. These evaluations will use player forms and RNG to determine which characters are going to be placed in leadership positions during upcoming explorations of the Riftlands. This doesn't translate to any particular power or authority in the game day to day, but is something for players to play off of and will change throughout the course of the game.

IC all characters in the Explorer Division must complete this evaluation. Even if a player doesn't complete this form OOC, it will be assumed that their character competed unless specified elsewhere.

Thornton is notoriously strict and difficult to please, so it isn't uncommon for evaluation scores to be absolutely brutal. But don't take it personally. He's just trying to help you realize your potential!

Fill out the form below to see how your character handles the evaluation!

<b>NAME:</b> <b>EXPLORER DIVISION?:</b> Yes (Primary/Returning), Yes (Supplementary/Returning), Yes (Primary/New), Yes (Supplementary/New), or No <b>EXPLORER LEADERSHIP?:</b> If your character is a returning Explorer, have they ever held a leadership position before? <b>POWER CONTROL:</b> On a scale of 1-10, how proficient is your character with their powers? Can they reliably control them and utilize them? <b>PHYSICAL ABILITY:</b> On a scale of 1-10, how physical fit is your character? Are they particularly strong or agile? Do they get fatigued quickly? <b>MENTAL ABILITY:</b> On a scale of 1-10, how intelligent, analytical, or strategic is your character? <b>EFFORT:</b> High, Medium, or Low. How hard is your character trying really? <b>ANYTHING ELSE?:</b>

» DURING THE EVALUATIONS: For those lingering in the halls waiting on their results, those watching the challenges play out on the monitors, and anyone else that's hanging around.

» AFTER THE EVALUATIONS: After the evaluations have wrapped up for the day.

» OOC - QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS!

(CODE)

Comments

DURING THE EVALUATIONS

[enodiamod]

DURING THE EVALUATIONS: Enoch Spectates

[imaginist]

Enoch has a tablet and stylus as he lounges in the observation area, silently taking notes on every single person who steps up to be evaluated. He seems equally interested in new and returning explorers—the former for their newly revealed capabilities, and the latter to see if anyone has changed since the pulse. This is not at all part of his job description, but all information has the potential to be useful.

Peanut Gallery Sneaky Drinking Game (open++)

[beautyfull]

Crysta has very little better to do with her life than come watch people take tests, so she does in fact do that. She's all set up to camp in the hallway with a little lunch cooler full of white claws and canned cocktails so as to make this a real spectator event. She's handing them out wrapped in layers of paper towel to "keep the cool in" (read: make at work drinking just a little less obvious.) She's also handing out little pieces of paper that read:
"DRINK WHEN: 1) Someone gets fucked up by Robot
2) Robot loses limb
3) Weird power explosion
4) Weird Power Impotence
5) Tears
6) If anyone rips up the paper test you have to finish your drink."
This is probably the Real Competition. Have fun.

Peanut Gallery Sneaky Drinking Game (open++)

[bwnedpronouncedboned]

"You're not a cop, are you?" Zeke asks, taking a drink from her anyway. If she's a cop, he might as well earn his disgrace.

Peanut Gallery Sneaky Drinking Game (open++)

[beautyfull]

The look of pure disdain she shoots him is phenomenal and she a little considers snatching back the drink, but that feels like something a cop would in fact do. "Are you a cop??" She shoots back instead.

Peanut Gallery Sneaky Drinking Game (open++)

[bwnedpronouncedboned]

Zeke snorts at the idea, but also he is a security guard. Does that count?? Like half of his coworkers have worse records than him.

"Nah, just a normal bastard." He takes a drink, despite nothing on the drink sheet happening. "Who d'ya think is gonna be the first to cry?"

Crysta & Enoch

[imaginist]

Enoch refuses the drink, but she knew he would. He does take the little piece of paper, which he reads with a completely unamused expression. (Crysta may detect the slightest quirk of his lips as he fights to not smile at her drinking game rules.)

"This is serious," he scolds. "People risk their lives in the Riftlands. These absurdly dangerous evaluations—" He gestures to the monitors with his stylus. "—are the only time these meathead explorers get to feel useful."

Crysta & Enoch

[beautyfull]

She rolls her eyes twice within three seconds, once because he didn't accept her very kind offer of hospitality (she knew he wouldn't,) and again because she knew this all already. "So like actually. If you think about it." she counters, "I'm celebrating their dedication to dying in stupid ways in the exact way they'd wanna be celebrated? Like gladiators. Or footballers."

Crysta & Enoch

[imaginist]

"Submit a request for them to build audience stands next time," Enoch suggests. "Hearing your shrill voice heckle them in real time can only provide motivation."

Next time implies that he's accepted that Crysta will be at the Station indefinitely, an idea he's still getting used to. But they've agreed to a truce, and so he won't fight it. (Not as much, anyway.)

On the screens, a new person is starting their combat practice against the battle robots. "Have a favourite contender yet?"

Peanut Gallery Sneaky Drinking Game (slidin' in and out)

[nolitangere]

Halfway through the evaluations, Jack comes over to Crysta. He gives her a brief little smile—the kind that says, 'Don't mind me!'—and squats by the cooler like he's looking for a bottle of water. While he's doing so, he surreptitiously slips the $50 she gave him yesterday down into the cooler.

When he's finished "looking for water," Jack stands back up and gives Crysta a brisk wave goodbye. Then he's back off to where he was standing on call.

Peanut Gallery Sneaky Drinking Game (slidin' in and out)

[beautyfull]

Huh. Weird. She does find it, sooner than later, and makes a point to put a water bottle on his chair when he's not looking, at least.

Drinking Game Participants Open Challenge

[rainbowfish]

Raine gets roped into this against his better judgement, and then somehow also drinks two (2) absolutely disgusting prepackaged wine cocktails from Crysta's cooler. He's not a fan but doesn't seem to realize that abandoning the drink or picking something different is an option.

"If any of you go run the course right now I'll give you twenty dollars," he offers the nearby and tipsy after mostly all of the actual explorers have gone.

Drinking Game Participants Open Challenge

[stgermaine]

After a long, thoughtful pause: "I'll raise that with another twenty."

Drinking Game Participants Open Challenge

[rainbowfish]

Raine lifts his buzzball (which despite Crysta's best efforts is neon green and no longer covered in a paper towel) in a toast to Isaiah.

Drinking Game Non-Participant (but curious anyway)

[stgermaine]

"You're all going to be trashed by the end of this," Isaiah chides the group. As they watch, he takes sips from his water bottle to feel as though he's still somehow part of the ritual. If he's actually just here to make sure to deflect suspicion off the sneaky drinkers, he's not about to admit it.

Drinking Game Non-Participant (but curious anyway)

[beautyfull]

"Yes." She hears out of the corner of her ear and responds, because that is in fact, Isaiah, the entire point. She claps when he joins in, very much sensing her terrible influence is infecting even the non-drinkers here.

DURING THE EVALUATIONS: Jack on call

[nolitangere]

Jack is present in case anyone gets injured during the combat or obstacle portions of the evaluation. He's working, so he won't be drinking and he's very seriously watching the proceeds.

He will be available to heal injuries, but note that he'll have to physically touch you, which means you'll be subjected to his brainworm song of the day. He also doesn't really have a ton of anesthetics on hand (just topical lidocaine and some aspirins), so if he needs to work ya body beyond superficial cuts and scrapes, it may feel uncomfortable to painful.

Finally, he does feel an odd little pull when Annie's up for combat practice. He jerks forward before he catches himself and then makes a frownie face. Hm. Didn't like that.

DURING THE EVALUATIONS: Jack & Raine

[rainbowfish]

Raine's been here less than an hour and he's already not doing too well with his personal resolution to stop bothering the Waldingers, so he decides it's time to turn his attention elsewhere. Maybe towards someone who is more annoying than he is. Someone who seems like a likely candidate for the mystery gifter, even. So, comically undisguised drink in hand, he sidles up to Jack in a quiet moment between evaluation participants.

"Having fun?" he asks, even though it's clear that Jack is not treating this like the spectator event everyone else thinks it is.

DURING THE EVALUATIONS: Jack & Raine

[nolitangere]

Jack turns to Raine, surprised. Annie told him Raine was one of her closest friends at the Station—involuntarily, Jack grimaces in anticipation of screwing this up. Because Annie also told him that Raine didn’t appreciate people trying too hard with him (too late for Jack), and that Raine was like a cat in that way. Jack gives Raine a once-over, wondering if Raine is about to do the sensible mid-sized sedan equivalent of biting his ankles.

“It’s a little stressful,” Jack answers truthfully. “I guess I never really thought about how dangerous it is out here.”

DURING THE EVALUATIONS: Jack on call

[coulee]

rory offers jack a perfectly professional thanks-for-having-our-backs sort of nod when he passes by, as though they haven't butted heads multiple times already this week.

DURING THE EVALUATIONS: Jack on call

[nolitangere]

Just two professional guys nodding at each other at the killer battlebot showdown.

DURING THE EVALUATIONS: Jack (on call) & Dorin (...not)

[dorinlee]

Dorin isn't here in any sort of official capacity. Instead, he'd come along to be supportive and to follow the lead of his peers. Unfortunately, it's all a bit harder to watch than he'd expected. His well-honed caretaker instincts are making him fidget as each assessment unfolds and every non-trivial injury that's inflicted makes him frown or flinch subtly. Even his tentacles are twisting around restlessly on the inside.

Spotting Jack further up the hall, however, he does feel a small pang of relief. At least there's someone around that can help quickly and efficiently if it comes to that. He hesitates but gradually makes his way over to Jack, hooking his hands together behind his back as he offers the other man a small, tense smile.

"This is...something, isn't it?" he says quietly before clearing his throat and adding with what he hopes is a brighter tone, "They're all something. I mean. They're...very good at what they do."

DURING THE EVALUATIONS: Jack (on call) & Dorin (...not)

[nolitangere]

Jack glances at Dorin as he approaches, not really thinking—his expression still a little tight with the residual tension of watching yet another one of their colleagues run headfirst into a trick wall. Jack will readily laugh at himself, but he's never been one for schadenfreude. Seeing someone else get hurt makes him uncomfortable. But once he registers that it's Dorin coming his way, Jack relaxes into a proper smile. He notes that Dorin has his hands behind his back, though whether it's out of habit or intentional, Jack can't tell. Either way, he's grateful for the gesture.

Some are a little better than others, Jack thinks, but that wouldn't be polite to say. Instead, he makes a noise in the back of his throat, something like agreement, then exhales heavily. "Director Thornton really isn't messing around, is he?"

"It makes you wonder what's out there, doesn't it?" There being the Riftlands, whatever remains in Burlington.

DURING THE EVALUATIONS: Isaiah Observes

[stgermaine]

Isaiah's slightly irritated to find that he's a mirror image of Enoch: tablet out, taking notes on each participant, looking incredibly serious and unfun, etc. Both of them have a logical reason to be doing this, considering their positions on the station, but it's almost enough to put Isaiah off his notetaking. Almost.

He also observes that Crysta is here, and for Annie's sake he watches the siblings' interaction. The exchange looks tense, but maybe that's normal for brothers and sisters? The actual content of their conversation (what little he can overhear in the crowded facility) seems to be mostly small talk.

And thirdly, the boyfriend is present, loyally watching from the sidelines. He'll have to tease Annie about that later, all the while continuing to pretend he doesn't think the match is strange.

DURING THE EVALUATIONS: Linus Lowe

[crawlwaller]

Linus was planning to conveniently mop and snoop right outside the evaluations while quietly dying of FOMO and THEN he found out he could watch on the monitors and he immediately dropped off the mop and THEN he found out he could PARTICIPATE IN THEM and he immediately disappeared only to reappear on the monitors themselves.

Was this information available to him before today? Did he just completely miss important communications? Maybe! Reading? Not his strongest suit, as the written assessment will soon prove!