Alex "Ace" Matthews sat on a smoothed log next to the small fire in the clearing. His face still had the youthful look of his 16 years, but his eyes looked much older. His compound bow sat in its familiar place at his side, never out of reach. His eyes continually scanned the surrounding area of cleared land while he absently watched the two children sitting in front of him.
"Look!" Ben "Builder" Carter held up a complicated contraption of wood and paracord before gingerly setting it on the ground. Alex leaned forward with interest.
"What do you have there?"
"It's a new type of trap!" Ben's expression was proud and gleeful. "We can set it anywhere and it'll catch anything as big as a…" his eyes scrunched in thought as he tried to remember an appropriately sized animal that would be living in the rough, mountainous terrain of Northern Idaho. "... a Pikachu?"
Alex threw his head back and laughed, then ruffled Ben's hair. "I think you mean a Pika. And yeah, that looks big enough to catch one of them. Maybe even a rabbit!"
Ben's excitement doubled. "Oh! But look what it does so they won't get away!" He inserted a stick into the noose and pushed on the line. With a loud snap the noose cinched closed and the large, barbed pieces of wood shot into the ground around the trap. "Try to pull it out!"
Alex reached down and gripped the trap where the animal would be, then tugged. His eyes went up in surprise as it stayed moored to the earth. He pulled harder and actually felt himself grunt as the trap pulled out of the earth, dislodging huge chunks of the hard-packed dirt with it.
"Wow, Ben, that is amazing! No animal would be strong enough to pull that out!"
"Even if they were, they couldn't get the… leverage! They couldn't get the leverage because I put a piece of wood under the trap. They'll just push against the wood and not the ground!"
"I had never even considered that," Alex said honestly. I know the badges don't give abilities on their own but they must do SOMETHING. This is pretty advanced for a kid his age. I seriously doubt he would have been able to make something like this a month or two ago.
"Do you think this will be enough for me to finally get a synergy?" Ben's eyes looked so hopeful that Alex's heart ached for him.
"Maybe, Builder, maybe. I'll tell you what - you make a few more of these and we'll plant them on the trap lines. Catch a few dinners and, if it doesn't earn you a synergy, I'll… I'll… I'll eat a sock!"
Ben burst out laughing. "Gross!" He sprinted off, shouting to the rest of the troop. "Alex is going to eat a dirty sock if I don't catch a rabbit tonight!"
"That's not what I said!" Alex shouted, his words lost to the woods. If a put-upon, unprepared child-leader shouts his objections in the woods and no one listens, does anyone hear it?
Shaking his head and chuckling to himself he marveled over the creation in his hand. When The System arrived they had been camping as a troop. The woods came alive with dangers and the adults had done everything they could to keep the children protected. It worked, for a while, but the longer they spent on the mountain the more attrition thinned their ranks. The last adult had died facing off with a massive bear, his ax carving huge chunks out of the bear with each swing. They never saw what happened to him after he yelled at them to run, but he'd never found them after. Alex had searched, but found only blood and trampled foliage.
The last remaining members of Troop 276 had huddled together in the dark that night, the cold stone escarpment above them the only protection they had against the noises surrounding them.
They survived the night and continued surviving, even earning badges as they did. Alex didn't know why The System gave them badges, or why they didn't match the ones they'd earned before, but one day they'd all woken up to find their sashes empty of the mundane, cloth badges. Over the following months new ones had begun appearing in their place. The more they practiced the survival skills they had learned, the more badges appeared. The first time a badge synergy appeared his eyes had gone wide with shock and an unexpected knowledge had filled his mind.
System Description: Badges and Badge Synergies
Overview:
The Badges and Badge Synergies system is designed to reflect the learning and skill development of scouts within Troop 276. Each badge represents a specific area of knowledge or expertise that a scout has mastered. When certain combinations of badges are earned, they unlock unique abilities or powers called Badge Synergies. These synergies enhance the scout's capabilities by combining the knowledge and skills from multiple badges.
Badges:
Badges are earned by scouts as they demonstrate proficiency in various areas. Each badge represents a specific skill or area of knowledge. The badges signify the scout's competence in that domain and will boost the Scout's skill in that skill. The badges do not provide any special powers beyond increasing the Scout's ability in that skill or area of knowledge.
Example Badges:
Archery Badge: Proficiency in using a bow and arrow. First Aid Badge: Knowledge and skills in basic first aid and emergency medical procedures. Survival Skills Badge: Mastery of essential survival techniques such as building shelters, finding food and water, and navigating. Environmental Conservation Badge: Understanding of ecological principles and active participation in conservation efforts.
Badge Synergies:
Badge Synergies are special abilities or powers that are unlocked when a scout earns certain combinations of badges. These synergies represent the integration and enhancement of skills that come from combining knowledge in multiple areas. The more badges a scout earns, the more powerful and versatile their synergies can become.
Example Badge Synergies:
Skill: Precision Shot
○ Synergy Requirement: Archery Badge + Athletics Badge
○Description: Allows the scout to make exceptionally accurate and powerful shots with a bow, significantly increasing hit rate and damage.
Skill: Rapid Response
○ Synergy Requirement: First Aid Badge + Leadership Badge
○Description: Enables the scout to provide swift and effective medical aid under pressure, improving the healing rate and morale of their team.
Spell: Elemental Barrier
○ Synergy Requirement: Survival Skills Badge + Environmental Conservation Badge + Weather Prediction Badge
○Description: Grants the scout the ability to create a temporary barrier using natural elements, protecting against environmental hazards and minor attacks.
Implementation:
Badge Earning: Scouts earn badges by completing specific tasks, projects, or demonstrating skills in that area. The System assesses and awards badges based on successful actions taken by the individual. Unlocking Synergies: When a scout earns the required combination of badges, the corresponding synergy is unlocked. This will be done automatically by the system but can be guided by the skills the individual chooses to learn or excel at. Utilization: Scouts can utilize their synergies during scouting activities, training exercises, or real-world scenarios where their enhanced skills provide significant advantages. Note that the more impactful the actions taken the stronger the synergy becomes, so high-impact scenarios net a greater gain than training scenarios.
Benefits:
Skill Development: Encourages scouts to diversify their learning and develop a broad range of skills. Teamwork and Strategy: Promotes teamwork as scouts with complementary badges can combine their skills to unlock powerful synergies. Engagement and Motivation: Keeps scouts engaged and motivated by providing clear goals and rewarding them with unique abilities.
Example Application:
Scenario: The troop is on a survival exercise in the wilderness.
Scout A with the Survival Skills Badge and Athletics Badge unlocks the Skill: Endurance Runner, allowing them to cover long distances quickly to scout ahead. Scout B with the First Aid Badge and Environmental Conservation Badge unlocks the Skill: Nature's Remedy, enabling them to create effective herbal treatments from local plants. Scout C with the Archery Badge and Stealth Badge unlocks the Skill: Silent Hunter, allowing them to move silently and take down targets from a distance without being detected.
In this way, the Badges and Badge Synergies system not only reflects the individual achievements of the scouts but also enhances their collective capabilities, preparing them for a variety of challenges and fostering a strong, cohesive unit. Note that there is no limit to what badges can be earned, the synergies that are developed, or the types of badges and synergies that can be created. The actions of the individual set the course and two individuals with the same badges can develop different synergies.
His troop, because now they were truly his troop, was equal parts excited, scared, and befuddled. It had been difficult to explain to the younger kids what this meant, so he'd resorted to keeping it simple.
"You're still going to earn badges, only now it's not us that gives it to you, it's The System."
"Who is The System?" Mia had asked. At nine years old she was the youngest, her gentle demeanor and soft voice only firming Alex's resolve to keep them all safe.
"I don't know, Mia," he'd answered honestly. He hated when adults lied and he felt deep down in his core that if they didn't know the full truth then he was putting them in danger. He needed to prepare them for whatever this System was. There were too many dangers lurking in the woods for them to play coy, and he needed to keep them alive until they could find their way out of the wilderness into one of the small towns of hearty survivors that clung to the sides of the harsh mountains. If he could just get them to a town the adults would know what to do.
"It's," he started, not sure where to go with this. "It's like a video game! We keep practicing our skills and getting better and the game will make us stronger."
"But I don't like video games!" she cried. "I'm bad at them!"
"That's why we have each other. We stick together and we protect each other. The big kids will keep the little kids safe and the little kids will…" he looked around at a loss for words. What will they do??
Mia sniffled so Alex pulled her into a hug, then kneeled on the ground to meet her eyes. "What do YOU think you can do? What are you good at?" He patted her head comfortingly, her long, glossy black hair somehow able to stave off the twigs, leaves, and snarls that had already started appearing in everyone else's.
"I don't know. I guess I can…" she reached up and grabbed his hand with hers absently, her fingers gripping his as if searching for some solidity. Her eyes lit up then. "I'm a good listener! My mātā and pitaji say I'm a great listener! They always say I make them feel better after they talk to me! I can put on bandaids too, and help clean up scrapes and cuts. I know girls are supposed to be scared of blood but I'm not!" The pride in her voice made Alex smile.
"Well then," he said, "it sounds like we have a very good listener for when we're scared and a very brave girl for when we are hurt. Do you think you can do that?"
She nodded enthusiastically and bounced away happily. Alex was about to get up when the second-youngest kid in the troop seemed to appear from behind her.
"I can build things!" he said. "I'm very good at building things. And I already learned all the knots - even the hard ones!"
Alex ruffled his hair. "Then you can be our trap maker. We will need to eat and your job will be VERY important. Can you do that?"
Ben beamed and, with that, their little troop started its path of synergistic teamwork. It may have been a product of the badge system, the need to cooperate to survive, or just a group of individuals that were too young to have learned to be self-serving in the face of group survival, but The System decided that this experiment was worth playing out. They knew nothing of levels or individual skills, they weren't aware of the individuals around the world fighting and competing to become the strongest on their own, and it never occurred to them that they would be better off going it alone. They became the first true Squad under the new system, even before any country's military or any congregation of church. Even before a family that had been striving to work together since the day The System had arrived.
They were individuals that may have been weak alone, but that thought didn't bother them. They already knew they were weak alone, so the thought of selfish individualism never occurred to them. For this small troop of children who hadn't yet learned the independence of adulthood it was a fundamental truth: You survived or died together.
Character Sheet Chapter: Scout Troop 276
Alex "Ace" Matthews (Age 16) - Eagle Scout
Badges:
Patrol Leader: Demonstrates leadership skills and enhances group coordination. Survivalist: Knowledgeable in survival techniques including fire-starting, shelter building, and foraging. First Aid: Proficient in administering basic and advanced first aid. Navigator: Skilled in map reading, compass use, and celestial navigation. Weapon Specialist (Bow): Trained in the use of a bow for hunting and defense.
Badge Synergies:
2 Badges (Survivalist + Navigator):
Skill: Pathfinder's Instinct - Gains an intuitive sense of direction and the ability to find the safest route through any terrain.
3 Badges (Patrol Leader + First Aid + Weapon Specialist):
Skill: Guardian's Resolve - Temporarily boosts morale and provides a defensive shield to the group during combat.
4 Badges (Survivalist + First Aid + Navigator + Weapon Specialist):
Skill: Wilderness Guardian - Enhances survival capabilities, including improved hunting, healing, and navigation in the wild.
Samantha "Sam" Green (Age 15) - Senior Patrol Leader
Badges:
Signaler: Proficient in signaling and communication methods. Nature Guide: Knowledgeable about local flora and fauna. Craftsman: Skilled in crafting tools and useful items from natural materials. Strategist: Capable of planning and executing complex strategies.
Badge Synergies:
2 Badges (Nature Guide + Craftsman):
Skill: Nature's Artisan - Able to craft tools and items from natural materials with enhanced durability and effectiveness. 3 Badges (Signaler + Strategist + Nature Guide):
Skill: Battle Coordinator - Enhances the group's coordination and communication during combat, increasing their efficiency and effectiveness.
Liam "Techie" Johnson (Age 14) - Scout
Badges:
Tech Enthusiast: Skilled in repairing and repurposing electronic devices. Engineer: Proficient in building and maintaining simple structures and mechanisms. Navigator: Expert in map reading, compass use, and GPS navigation.
Badge Synergies:
2 Badges (Tech Enthusiast + Engineer):
Skill: Gadgeteer's Touch - Enhances the functionality and durability of electronic devices and mechanical structures. 3 Badges (Tech Enthusiast + Engineer + Navigator):
Skill: Tech Pathfinder - Gains the ability to create and utilize tech-based navigation aids, improving the group's overall navigation capabilities.
Emily "Em" Parker (Age 13) - Scout
Badges:
Camouflage: Expert in creating and utilizing camouflage. Tracker: Skilled in tracking and scouting. Creative Problem Solver: Capable of coming up with innovative solutions in critical situations.
Badge Synergies:
2 Badges (Camouflage + Tracker):
Skill: Shadow Scout - Gains enhanced stealth and tracking abilities, making it easier to move undetected and follow targets. 3 Badges (Camouflage + Tracker + Creative Problem Solver):
Skill: Infiltrator's Cunning - Able to blend into surroundings, track targets, and devise innovative solutions to overcome obstacles.
Jake "Chef" Rivera (Age 12) - Scout
Badges:
Camp Chef: Skilled in cooking nutritious and morale-boosting meals. Forager: Knowledgeable about edible plants and food sources in the wild.
Badge Synergies:
2 Badges (Camp Chef + Forager):
Skill: Nature's Bounty - Enhances the ability to find and cook nutritious food, boosting the group's morale and physical condition.
Olivia "Liv" Thompson (Age 11) - Scout
Badges:
Animal Handler: Skilled in handling and training animals. Swimmer: Proficient in swimming and water rescue.
Badge Synergies:
2 Badges (Animal Handler + Swimmer):
Skill: Aquatic Ally - Gains the ability to train and utilize aquatic animals for various tasks, enhancing water-based activities and rescues.
Ben "Builder" Carter (Age 10) - Cub Scout
Badges:
Mini Architect: Capable of building sturdy shelters and structures. Knot Tying: Skilled in tying a variety of useful knots for different purposes.
Badge Synergies:
None.
Mia "Medic" Patel (Age 9) - Cub Scout
Badges:
Junior Medic: Basic first aid skills. Caregiver: Provides emotional support and care to injured or distressed team members.
Badge Synergies:
None.