I need to go further (Solo)

[Keido]

5th-Fall-511 AV

His experiences for the past few days taught him that he needed a way to fight in longer distances. Keido could no longer rely on just his fists and kodachi. Some enemies needed something else as Shale had shown him earlier in the season. And from that match, Keido decided to buy a spear and net of his own.

The only place he knew with weapon's was the colosseum but would Shale give or lend him the weapons. Not only that but without any strings attached? Keido did not want to risk it. Instead choosing to to look around the city. He thought of the Bizarre but that was no good for specialized goods and experience. After much walking around, Keido finally ran into it. Kitrean Krafts.

Going in he asked an isur about what he wanted. A net for fighting in the arena and a spear to keep his opponents as far as possible. Apparently one of them had seen him in action at the arena earlier when he fought the woman. Knowing why he asked the question, they recommended that he take the long spear and the net for a total of twenty-five gold mizas.

Keido happily took his purchases with him. Thinking of some place to practice them. Because of the range he needed to practice them, he had to go to a large place. The Womiyu, the ones he knew protected Alvadas trained in the Ristage Caverns. Maybe that was also where he needed to go.

He was excited to test out his new purchases and ran through the city to his destination. But it was a treacherous trip. The net dragged along the ground, threatening to get caught on something or someone. The long spear behind him sometimes started to fall off his back, nearly tripping his legs. Keido had to take care. And finally he decided on how he should run with his weapons.

It was a strange way to run. Keido keeping one arm high up behind him holding on to the spear. And the other was lifted high up in front of him holding on to the net. But it kept the weapons out of the way during the long run. But leaving his arms fixed like that unable to co-ordinate with his leg's movements was bad. Also because of the obstacles which were his items, his legs had to move awkwardly. Moving as straight and as low as possible to avoid them. At the end of his run, Keido was left with aching arms and a hurt back. So he sat down and rested for a while before he could continue.

With no one about, Keido decided to try and test out his weapons. he started with the net. Testing to see if it had that same feel. The weights were a good point to start and he grasped them. Then he pulled his hands up, allowing the net to follow. Once the net reached midway, he pulled his hands down. Forcing the net to come straight to the bottom once it reached its peak. Without waiting for the net he pulled his hands up. Keido did this over and over again until he was sure of the net's weight in his hands and that it followed his movements. Keeping an eye on a spot in front of him, he pulled his hand's up and released the net. Allowing it to fly towards it.

Satisfied with the net, Keido picked up the spear. The net was already spread out on the ground so Keido thought it would not be a waste to use it to test his spear. His eyes went from hole to hole. Planning how his spear would hit it. He pulled back his spear and pointed it at his first target. After waiting to see if his aim was sure, he threw it in front and pierced the spear into the ground into a hole.

Straight after, he pulled back the spear again. His eyes scanned around for the next target and the spearhead followed. It went down, to the side until it was facing yet another hole. Keido threw the spear forward again into the hole. He repeated this over and over again for a while until he got a better feel of the spear.

[Keido]

Having enough Keido tossed the spear away. He had to get used to switching between the two in the middle of battle. If he could just get the movements down, then fighting at a range won't be a problem for him either. All he would have to do to finish a fight was to throw his net at an opponent and quickly draw his spear to strike. But to even think of trying that he needed to get good with the net too.

Keido already spend quite some time practicing to lift up the net for today earlier. Now it was time to practice its accuracy. He took out his Kodachi and placed it roughly where he wanted the net to land. Now that he was done, he took a few steps back. Keido took his net down, took it up. Took it down and took it up again. When he felt that the net was flowing along with his movements, he released his hold over it once it reached the top. Allowing the net to fly over and dropping towards the kodachi.

He missed this time when it landed in front. But he had lots of time. Not like a real battle now. Keido went straight up to the net to pick it up before taking a few steps away from the kodachi again. He had to adjust his body and strength so that the net would fall where he wanted. Keido went through the same motions. Lifting and dropping the net again. He figured that the secret would be his strength and he flapped his limbs harder. But there was something wrong. Keido did not know what just he just felt it. There was nothing to it so Keido just angrily released the net into the air and it landed in front of the kodachi again.

"Petch! Enough of this shyke." he cried out at his rotten luck as he went to retrieve his net.

In a real battle it was not like he had time to flap the net around. He might even only be able to use one arm for it needing to keep a weapon on the other. But he will take it one step at a time. Two hands first. From the front, he pulled back the net to his back. He had seen this before. He had done this before. And he could do it now again. From his side he pulled his net forward which followed his arms. Once it reached the front, it flew to the kodachi again but this time going far behind it.

If the secret was strength as he thought, Keido would have to control himself to be weaker now. What kind of fighter purposely makes himself weaker? While Keido did not like the idea, he had to try and get better in using his new weapon. He went through the steps again. Keido pulled back the net as far as possible before throwing it forward. This time when his arms moved to the front, he used some of his strength to hold it back as well. And instead of releasing it right away when it reached the front, he waited for the net to drop for a while. Only then he let go and allowed the net to fly at his kodachi.

Keido continued doing this over and over again. Each time adjusting his strength and the position of his limbs to where he felt it was comfortable. Everytime he released the net, it got closer and closer to his target. once he finally was able to trap the kodachi, Keido committed the act to memory. And continued to do it the same waya few more times before finishing off. Today, he learnt how to cast a net.

Now that he was done, it was time for another switch. Keido kept his net away and picked up his spear. The switch was not as fast as he wanted, but this was practice. Then he wondered. Should he try for another accuracy practice of just have a few test thrusts?

[Keido]

In the end, Keido decided to try to get a feel of his new spear just like he did with the net. He lifted it up at the heavy shaft with his arms. How has he seen other spear users use it? He should try it with two hands first. Which was what he did as he stood at ready.

There was no target. He just wanted to see how far he could go with his spear. Keido pulled back his spear and thrust it as far as his arm could let him send it without allowing it fall. Then he took another step in front. At the same time pulling back his spear. He took yet another step to the front and thrust his spear at the same time. Again and again with each step he pulled back and thrust his spear spear alternately at a different direction from the last. In a real fight each step should allow him to continue pressing forward and keeping the pressure of his attack on his opponents with each thrust which followed.

It was tiring of course. But what training would this be if it was not. Keido fought past how tired he was. Using how tired he was as an excuse force himself to push his limits. He stopped for a moment to catch his breath and take up his stance. One foot forward and one foot back, spear pointed straight ahead. Prepared to rush forward at a moment's notice.

With a shout, the foot at the back pressed back into a push. Keido was running forward in a charge. His feet were moving too fast compared to previously. But that did not change the fact he had to keep moving forward. His spear moved front and back as fast as he could move his own arms. But that was not enough. He just could not synchronize the movements of his legs with his arms. It took three to four steps just to complete one repetition of pulling back his arms and thrusting the spear forward. The movements felt very awkward to him.

"Gah!" A sudden yell came when Keido came crashing to the ground.

The opposing movements of his legs going one and the arms going the other was one thing. But add that with the weight of the spear. That was Keido's downfall or the cause of his fall. Keido struggled to get back up again. Holding on to the spear firmly to the ground besides him. He needed to be able to strike at an enemy from far immediately. So he just had to get the basics of this down at least.

He took a few deep breaths before taking a stance. If movements were a problem he should prepare them together before moving. Keido started to lazily sway his spear back and forth in front of him slowly. His arms on a limp without and strength. Then his legs followed. Taking steps in place up and down. At first his movements were erratic and random. He continued to breath. His breaths pacing himself and making himself sure of his timing. Slowly he brought his arms faster and faster to match his own breath. The spear point coming forward each time his chest did. His legs continued still stepping in place. But one step for inhaling and one step for exhaling.

Once he felt that his body was as in tune as it could ever be, he was off. No more was he running in place. Each foot took a step forward instead of taking a step down. The spear continued its forward movement. But this time with a purpose. And that purpose was to follow through with the rest of his body instead of going at it alone. Keido ran forward and without stopping, he turned to the side to go around. Trying his best to let the long spear follow without resisting while he tried to twist his hips to face the side and follow his legs. Then he ran back to where he began again. Always the spear and his feet went forward. Never stopping even when he turned and twisted again.

[Keido]

A lot of his energy was already spent on practicing his new weapons. Maybe now it was time to go back to the ones he is familiar with? Being in the state now if he can push himself, Keido might very well reach another level of his swordsmanship. His kodachi was on the ground. Quickly he went up to take it.

But what can he practice on? At his level he needed something new. Something challenging. It would be better if he can practice with another and get real battle experience like in the colosseum. But to go there today would only mean a horrible defeat and risking injury, or worse. Keido would have to make use of whatever he could over here.

His spear and net could help again with this. Keido took up his spear. He would need it to stick up from the ground. Keido pushed it down and down, but only managed to chip away at the dirt. Strangely enough a spear he knew was capable of piercing through a body if done right. The dirt was as soft as a body. So why can't he think of the dirt as a body? At least he might be able to get some practice out of it too.

Keido held on to the shaft and lifted the spear over his head. With his remaining strength he stabbed the spear at the bottom making a little incision. But that was not enough. So Keido heaved the spear again before plunging down the spear. Again this was not enough so he did it again. Keido started to get tired, but he was not making any progress. He needed to go higher! He placed his hands nearer to the spearhead and started to bend his knees. Then he leaped into the air, bringing the spear down again.

But the jumping made his strike less accurate as it only made a shallow hole in the ground besides the first. Keido can't have that, so he held on to the spear again, sticking the head into the ground as he did and bent his knees. Keido extended them into another jump, keeping his eyes on the hole and moving his arms he adjusted the position of the head to fit right into the hole. It worked, but all the force was giving a strain to his arms. But he was half way through. Keido put the spearhead into the hole. It was already fully buried. One more for good measure. Keido bent his knees for the last time. Leaping up as high as possible and on his way down, he plunged the point aimed straight into the hole.

Keido hung his net on the top of the spear handle. The weights dangling down around it. Those will be his targets. He drew out his kodachi and had a crouching stance facing the his target. He leaped to the side of the spear and just as he was about to pass through, he shot his left arm which forward which caused the kodachi to clank against hitting the weights. His other hand caught the ground he landed on stabilizing him as he made another jump to his side. This time stabbing the kodachi he had to the back aimed right at the weight. He missed hitting nothing but thin air. That was very hard. Trying to hit a target behind him in mid air.

He still needed to continue. Keido took a leap back. his kodachi crossed over to his other side and when he was about to pass through, he flicked his wrist forward to make a quick stab at the weight. When he missed this time, it got stuck at the net and Keido had to stop, stand up and try to untangle it without damaging the net.

That was his practice for the rest of the day. Four sides around the spear he had to jump to. Each time he did, he had to try and his the weights of the net as well. First time to the left of the spear, he made a slash. Second time to the front, he made a backwards stab. Third time to the left, a stab across and finally when he was facing it he slashed the front. Keido leaped before each attack. After each attack landing the leading foot in front first and the following foot next to catch himself from falling. Before the day was done he was striking his targets a lot better.

The day ended with Keido very tired as he started to walk home. There was no more running today. He was exhausted. But more confident that as time passed by, he will become a lot more better with his weapons. If it all went well, he might even be able to catch a few opponents unaware the next time he went to the arena. Thinking this, a smile formed on his face while he tried to keep the same weapons that he was proud of away from tripping him.

[Fallacy]

XP Award! Name:Keido XP Award: Running- 2 Net- 5 Spear- 5 Kodachi- 2 Acrobatics- 2 Lore: The Womiyu Testing new weapons One step at a time How to cast a net Challenging yourself Creating your own practice dummy Long days training Notes: -25 GM For purchases Really liked this training thread I love the creativity you put into each of Keidos threads and your effort really shows. So, I am rewarding you with full points in Net and Spear. I really liked how you created your own practice dummy. Youre creativity constantly impresses me. Good job! Any questions or concerns about the rewards gained please send a PM