[Kendoka Sasaran ] A Better Opponent (Rykanis)

by **Razkar** on October 23rd, 2012, 8:35 pm

It was like felling a tree or digging up a stump, but with a growl and a strain on tired muscled, Razkar heaved the Akalak backwards. His victory was soured a second later by a desperate but accurate mid-air kick from his opponent. The foot only succeeded in a glancing bow against Razkar's ribs, and if that were an ordinary-sized man, maybe that would have mattered.

Against a 7'1" Akalak, however...

The Myrian's growl of exertion turned to a yelp of pain, rib bones briefly pushed upwards on one whole side of his body. But when the blinding spasm of pain passed and he found himself stumbling back, the Akalak was on his back, raising his wooden lakans-

Move.

Razkar darted forwards and to Rykanis' left, neutralizing if possible his right arm by staying out of its reach, bringing his wooden ax in a short, chop aimed at the lakan he holds ouwards defensively.

But not for stick itself: aimed at Rykanis' wrist, seeking to disarm him on one sharp, nerve-illing blow.

by **Rykanis Dakshata** on November 1st, 2012, 10:36 pm

Falling was one thing that Rykanis knew how to do, even with his limited skill in acrobatics. Of course, in his head he had pictured something much fancier, which he probably could have done with enough skill... Pushed off of Razkar as he fell, doing a backward flip rolling into a tuck and spin, rolling on a shoulder, and popping onto his feet, ready to fight, all in one smooth motion... But his body could not quite keep up with his mind, at his current ability. All he managed to do was kick at Razkar, and land onto his back as he pushed off, sliding to a quick halt. Luckily the mat was there...

His push succeeded though , and as his foot kicked out he felt it connect with the chest of the Myrian, giving him a bit of leverage to push off... But not much, the man was just to light for that, compared to Rykanis size and bulk.

The Myrian let out a cry of pain, short but still there, as Rykanis moved to defend himself, as the man quickly recovered at came at him... But Rykanis was not defenseless.

He quickly brought up his lakan, twisting it in midair to intercept the axe. Its smaller size allowed it much greater maneuverability than the larger heftier axe, letting him bring it in swiftly to meet the axe head on, to the clack of wood, as he blocked the blow and pushed back, doing his best to stop the push of the Myrian.

He followed that up with a slash with his previously out of range lakan, trying to force Razkar back, by slashing at his hand. If that did not work, he would kick out with his leg, trying to knock the Myrian's feet out from under him, or force him to jump back.

If either of those worked, Rykanis would lean back, flexing his hips and bringing his legs up higher, and then bring them down as he rocked his body forward, so that he could pop up to his feet without using his hands. A simple move, which nonetheless was a bit tricky in combat. If it worked, he would land in a tight crouch, his knees brought up to his chest. He would keep his lakan out front to defend, while he unbent his knees and stood back up, to his full height.

by **Razkar** on November 2nd, 2012, 1:23 am

The Akalak was quicker than Razkar would have believed, intercepting that strike while his body was still trembling from the impact of hitting the mat. That wickedly-curved wooden blade jerked up and Razkar's arm vibrated as his ax thudded into it. But he didn't have any time to think on it, because the second one came sweeping in-

-he jumped back, out of range, but giving the Akalak time.

Razkar blinked. He saw the big man's legs jerk together into the air, almost vertical, his hips roll, hands still filled with his weapons, and knew what he intended to do.

Get back to his feet without them. An old trick he'd seen before, but hardly ever used in combat, and only by those with a body strong and flexible enough to pull it off. But that was not what flashed through the Myrian's brain. What did, was that for those few brief seconds, Rykanis' vision would be blurred, his balance would be off, and-

Move!

Razkar lunged forwards, knees bent, right arm cocked back with ax in hand. The Akalak's body twisted and jerked in one almighty movement, half-flipping in mid-air, floor trembling as his feet hit the mat, lakan held in front of himself-

-as Rakar ducked low and aimed a blow at the side of the big man's left knee, a split-second after Rykanis righted himself. The Myrian's his own legs were already bent, ready to twist and spin himself back and away from whatever retaliatory strike the Akalak would surely lash out with.

by **Razkar** on December 19th, 2012, 4:41 am

The blow never connected, at least not with the kneecap it was aimed at. Rykanis may not have been a trained warrior, but his reflexes were sharp. Before he'd even fully straightened his left lakan was jerked down to block Razkar's sweep at his knee, wooden weapons thwacking together. His right was already moving, sweeping in to the Myrian's side-

-only for Razkar to jump back on his bent knees and have the training weapon whip through empty air.

Standing six feet apart, Myrian and Akalak regarded each other keenly, carefully, and Razkar tensed again-

"You are both making progress."

The voice was not booming or roaring, but words from the mouth of Mizra Aqdas immediately commanded attention. Both combatants turned their eyes to him (if not their heads) as he strode towards their training mat with calm, poised purpose. Sharp eyes regarded them both as he paused between them, and they knew their sparring session was over.

"Impressive form, Rykanis," the elder warrior-turned-mentor said, his critique of Dakshata apparently at the forefront of his mind, "Flexible and unpredictable. Your acrobatics clearly serve you well. But mind not to rely on them too much. If one such as the Myrian were to get close, as he nearly did, this may have gone differently..."

Razkar listened to the advice as if it was directed to himself: he was here to learn, after all, and learning your enemy's strengths and follies was just part of that. He thought the older Alakak was overly critical, though: Rykanis had fought almost flawlessly, as far as he could see. But Mizra had survived for centuries in countless brawls, battles and duels. If he saw something to be improved, most likely it was there to begin with.

"Razkar," Aqdas said, turning the other way, "A challenge is one thing, but a spry opponent with double your weapons? That is almost foolhardy. Equal footing. If your opponent wields two weapons, you should wield two, or none at all." His eyes glittered briefly, though, as if to counterpoint his appraisal. "That said, you came close, and not just once. Your control over your pain is admirable... but do not let it allow you to become overconfident."

With that, his judgement was passed and he moved away smooth and graceful as the tigers Razkar had seen in the jungles of Falyndar. The Myrian caught his breath and raised his wooden hand ax before his face in a brief salute to his opponent.

"You fought well."

He did not wait for a response; none was needed in his mind. The training weapon was carefully replaced, his own very real steel strapped back onto his body, and his cloak wrapped around it with a flourish. Winter was coming. He would need it, soon.

"Until next time," he said over his shoulder, and then stepped out those thick wooden doors into the sun and tumult of midday Riverfall.