[Kendoka Sasaran] Whetstone (Cephei)

by **Razkar** on January 17th, 2013, 8:26 pm

The spar had become predictable, which Razkar would not tolerate for long. After he gave Cephei those two whacks her style had become more defensive, her strikes more... pedestrian. She was changing it up, true, but none of the fluid movements that she had tried before.

He rather missed them. But no-one could become a master in one session.

Ah, then she kicked out, and he knew she was trying something different. He winced ever so slightly as his thigh burned, but forced her back before she could capitalize on it, hacking left and right and not letting her gain any momentum again.

Then he hacked low to her left, bending down, forcing her weapon down to match him-

-and kicking out with his left leg, catching her in her bruised forearm, knocking her weapon out her hand.

The Myrian let a smile of victory flash over his face, raising his gladius for the killing blow to her chest or head-

-and then Cephei shamed him once again by spinning gracefully while crouched, one leg cocked out-

-sweeping his remaining leg out from under him with her own and knocking him on his arse.

by **Cephei** on January 17th, 2013, 9:46 pm

Cephei felt pretty good at how the spar was going. She actually gaining confidence and becoming slightly proud of herself. Then her Djed ran out, the shield only lasted for 10 chimes, she was still a novice so she knew it wouldn’t last that long anyways.

Her confidence diminished when Razkar kicked with his left leg, connecting with her bruised forearm. Her weapon soared out of her hand, clanging to the ground. She saw that smile of victory and it heated her up inside, he raised his weapon in the air about to deal the last blow. Cephei dropped down quickly in a crouch, with her leg out, sweeping his leg out from under him. He tumbled to the ground, and Cephei wasted no time in this opportunity. She pounced on top of his hard body, straddling him with her legs, squeezing his sides with her small thighs, leaning down holding his wrists to the ground. He wanted to play, so she would play, time to mess with his mind.

Cephei leaned down slowly, her nose inches from his own nose, her violet eyes penetrating his dark ones, and began to whisper, her voice coming out in a soft sultry tone. Having fun? She asked simply, with a playful smile tugging at her lips. Sure she could of punched him, but she wanted to miss with that warrior mind of his, and she saw no better time than now, being in such a seductive position that their bodies were in. Cephei wiggled her hips on his and smiled down at him, slowly licking her top lip. Sometimes it was best to gauge the weakness of your foe, sometimes it wasn’t a physical weakness they had, sometimes it was an emotional weakness, a mental one, or a lustful one.

by **Razkar** on January 17th, 2013, 10:15 pm

Having fun?

Razkar had to try hard to remember the last time he'd had a woman's body pressed against him like that. It was familiar, though, and he felt his body stiffen under those soft curves as Cephei straddled him. Fortunately, he could not see anyone else but her at that moment.

If he did, he would have noted Mizra Aqdas' eyebrows shooting to the top of his head.

Her words were like a purr, gentle and soft and musical to his ears. She wriggled her hips and he realized just how little material was between them. Strong hands gripped his wrists and he had a flash of what he could do to her at that moment, what he could take and whether or not she'd be unwilling-

Then he blinked, and those black eyes were as dark as stone again. Where once Cephei saw surprise and the embers of fierce, animal arousal, now she just saw her reflection, staring back at her.

And nothing else.

You are not her, female.

He moved fast, gnosis burning on the back of his neck. His arms snapped out and straightened on the ground, ripping free of her hands, and the second he was free he rolled to his side, taking her with him-

-reversing their position, with him on top, left hand pinning her right wrist-

-his right holding his gladius against her throat. His eyes bored into hers, and as her free hand twitched slightly into a fist, he pushed down, ever so slightly.

"I am having fun." He said, voice all but a growl. Cephei would have to go to the deepest, sickest dives in Sunberth to find those who would find that tone sexual. "But not probably have chance to make eyes or smile in battle. Some might. Might work."

He eased up the pressure slightly, tight smile on his face, but it never touched his eyes.

"But not man like me. Best think all men like me. In real fight, not work to be... flirt. I think that is word. Was very good move though. But next time-"

He rolled off her and after the second roll plants his foot down, getting upright and turning.

"-try to-"

Cephei had already scrambled to her downed blade and was swinging it towards him. She was learning.

by **Cephei** on January 18th, 2013, 7:56 am

Cephei smiled at the look of shock on his face, but it quickly went away and was replaced by an emotionless stare. Obviously this did not affect the warrior like it did most men. Maybe he had a woman already, or maybe he was just that, a warrior, and did not let anyone or anything stand in his way of the ultimate goal.

He ripped free of her hands, easily of course, and rolled their bodies. Now he was on top, he was in the dominant position and Cephei could not help but feel worried at this. She did not like him having that power over her, she was only teasing, trying to find a weakness. And just because her body was not his weakness, did not mean he didn’t show a weakness to her. It obviously pissed him off, she just needed to find out why it did, and that would be his weakness. If ever they became foes it was good information to know about someone, though she preferred to make friends and not foes in Riverfall. But one doesn’t always get what he or she wants in life, Cephei knew this too well.

The man’s gladius bared down on her threat, pushing down ever so slightly when her small hand balled up into a fist. Cephei stared up in those cold calculating dark eyes as he said “I am having fun.” she knew he wasn’t, that she over stepped a boundary with him, which made the spar all the sweeter to her. He went on to say something else, but Cephei did not really understand it, so she just stared up at him with an emotionless face as he spoke, waiting for the right moment to surprise him again.

He eased up on the pressure a little, a smile on his face that did not reach his eyes, it was a rather fake smile, as she spoke again. "But not man like me. Best think all men like me. In real fight, not work to be... flirt. I think that is word. Was very good move though. But next time-" He did not finish his sentence, as he rolled off of her, standing up. He said something about “try to” She wasn’t sure really, she didn’t waste time with it, as she scrambled to her downed blade and swung it towards his exposed tender side as he was speaking, cutting his words off as she connected with where his kidney was located. She swung with enough force to cause pain from her attack, but not to do any damage to him.

She swung again, in hopes to hit him on his left arm; whether or not she would succeed she did not know. She was filled with rage now, she was not a flirt, she was not a harlot, she was a fighter and he would see that. Her actions before was not meant to be sexual, she meant to gain information about him, to use against him if she ever had to in the future. Everyone in her eyes was viewed as foes, unless otherwise proven wrong. She would not suffer from the pain of other’s, and trust was not freely given, it was earned.

by **Razkar** on January 18th, 2013, 6:06 pm

The blow in his kidney felt like it had come from a pissed-off Akalak. A jolt of agony shot up his side from his waist to his shoulder, twisting him to that side-

-just in time to get the blow that smacked onto his left arm.

Razkar backpedaled away in something close to desperation. The Konti's face was a mask of fury, flushed, eyes wide and raging. He was reminded about what his mother used to tell him about a woman scorned. He jerked his gladius down to stop he next roundhouse swing, impact of the blow sending vibrations down to his damaged kidney. He staggered, backing away quickly-

-and she was right on his heels.

She aimed a swing at his head and on instinct he dropped to one knee, rolling forward at the same time, under her swing, coming back up on his feet behind her-

-and she was already swinging in a near-full arc from her front to her back.

Razkar swayed back and the blow missed him, mind racing. Rage. That was what drove her now, not logic or confidence. He had insulted her, offended her prickly feminine pride and he was being punished for it. Well, that didn't bother him. One of the greatest lessons Mizra had taught him was how easily rage could be turned against an opponent... and one's self.

Let's put it into practice.

He laughed. Laughed in her face and shook his head, condescension writ large on ever line of his face. He saw her bare her teeth again and lunge towards him, swinging wildly-

-he swayed back, sword swinging in front of him-

-and he twisted his body as he jerked his left hand out, grabbing one of her wrists, holding the tulwar in the air-

-and slashing vertically down at her thigh with his gladius. Hard.

She yelped in real pain now, just as planned. People always underestimated just how debilitating a blow to the thigh (or, rather, the quad muscle under it) could be. A few hundred pounds of pressure in the right place and it would shut down, numb out, take a whole leg away from a person. Razkar's blow was close to that; not quite, but it served its purpose.

Her leg wobbled and shook and he pulled her own move on her, sweeping with his left leg to take her other leg out from under her, making her topple onto her back-

-and he fell with her, dropping to one knee, gladius at her throat yet again.

"Not be angry." He said, words calm despite the sheen of sweat on his face. "Be angry in fight, man use that. You angry, yo not think. And then you die."

Razkar shot back to his feet and circled her slowly, rocking his head from side to side and trying to work out the aching pain in his kidney. And his arm. He flexed it a few times and worked out most of the numbness, then waited for her to get back up.

"When ready, mistress..."

by **Cephei** on January 19th, 2013, 4:34 am

Cephei struck out in anger at the feeling of being underestimated. She did not like to be viewed as weak, she wanted to be viewed as equal. Perhaps fighting with anger wasn’t the best idea, but she shrugged that off quickly, and continued with the heated assault against Razkar. It was going pretty well until Razkar jerked out his left hand, grabbing her wrist and holding her Tulwar in the air. She tried to yank her wrist out of his hand but the effort was futile.

Razkar slashed his gladius down on her thigh, harder than she thought he would, making her yelp loudly in utter pain. That was going to leave a mark, and her leg would be sore for probably a week or longer thanks to that blow. She wobbled on and started to stumble, she tried to get her footing under her, but before she could steady herself Razkar swept his left leg making her fall to her back, she heard her air rush out of her lungs at the fall, and the pain just pissed her off even more, and the gladius at her throat did not help temper her anger.

Before she reacted though Razkar’s voice brushed her ears, Not be angry. Be angry in fight, man use that. You angry, you not think. And then you die. Cephei just looked up at the man, her anger calmed instantly by his wise words. He was right, and she knew he was right, she was just too blinded to want to see that truth in the beginning.

She did not have time to respond to him, as he shot back to his feet, circling her body on the floor like a bird circling a dead animal. When ready, mistress… Was all she needed to hear, and she shot back up to her feet as well, circling with the wise man, waiting for a few chimes before she decided to strike. During that time she stretched her muscles the best she could and relaxed her mind. Razkar was looking to get restless and he struck out with an inward cut, Cephei blocked with a downward thrust of her sword to his forearm, and used her free hand to punch his midsection.

They started the fluid dance again, she found her calm, and they went in a fast circle, their attacks becoming faster and what seemed more powerful as well. Thanks to the shortness of her Tulwar and his Gladius they could both transition between attacks fairly quick.

Cephei saw an opening during the dance of their swords, and decided to take advantage of said opening she blocked his downward thrust with her forearm, ignoring the pain from the wooden sword, and brought the hilt of her Tulwar down on his solar plex hard (the area directly between the two bones right below the pictorial muscle) exposing one of the human bodies soft spots. She came back a few steps getting in a defensive position as she watched the man’s reaction of her hit.

by **Razkar** on January 19th, 2013, 5:20 am

The Konti had apparently taken his words to heart, which Razkar appreciated, but it was proving a double-edged sword. Her movements now were more calculated, precise, without the raging thoughtlessness of before. She was learning, and more than that, applying her experience practically.

Still, that was the point of the Kendoka Sasaran, and a sub-par opponent was no challenge at all. But his solar plexus was the one that paid for it.

Her block turned into a blow and she found out she could use all of her sword as a weapon, striking with the hilt of her tulwar. The blunt bottom of the sword hurt more than the tapered "blade", a shattering impact to his chest that exploded the air from his lungs. He reeled back, nearly doubled over, free hand jerking instinctively to his chest as his right swung back-

-but by then she was gone. She wasn't over-reaching, wasn't being over-confident. She had struck her blow and was studying him - not looking, but seeing - what kind of damage it had done.

Razkar smiled through his pain, and this time, it touched his eyes.

"Getting better."

And then he came on, sliding to his right, but tossing his gladius to his left hand, catching it and thrusting towards her stomach-

-which she blocked swinging her tulwar down in an arc to knock it away-

-but leaving her open as he pivoted his body to the right and planted his fist into her left kidney. She gasped again and backed away, not risking another injury by recklessly trying to retaliate. Razkar nodded his approval again.

And came on.

"Not get angry, but not let up-"

He swung from above and she blocked it, but his gladius flashed to the side, driving her back.

"Not until enemy is dead-"

She kicked out with her right, making him twist to his left to avoid the kick-

-and she straightened her tulwar, arms snapping from bent to straight, nailing her tulwar's tip into his bruised solar plexus, a moment before his gladius could block it. Razkar nearly choked that time, grunting with pain and backing away-

-and now she came forward again, taking advantage of his weakness like a true fighter, swinging her longer weapon and forcing him on the defensive, blocking blows as quickly as they came, not giving him a chance to make one of his own-

Until a vertical sweep went off-center, and he sidestepped adroitly to his right and then forwards, slashing horizontally towards her stomach as he moved to her right, arm moving under hers-

-and stopped his wooden weapon just shy of her navel. A real sword, and it would have neatly disemboweled her.

The stopped. Froze. The Myrian and the Konti locked eyes, both breathing heavier after their chimes of exertion. How long had it been? Five? Ten? Thirty? He didn't know, and didn't care. Time was irrelevant. Only the knowledge gained during it, the experiences undergone, the challenges triumphed. Only they gave it texture and meaning.

And even in a simple spar, you could find them.

Razkar smiled and lowered his weapon. He stepped back and bowed, gladius at his side.

"I think enough for one day. Unless you want more?"

OOCOK, I think we've maxed out as far as the XP we can get for this particular thread. Not sure, but we've put quite a lot of effort into it. Still, up to you.

by **Cephei** on January 19th, 2013, 5:51 am

Her exposed flesh was sheen of glistening sweat at the end of their spar, her breath coming out heavily, her body sore, and her muscles cursing her for the tedious training. Still though, she had fun, more fun than she had in a while. The feeling of being utterly worn out, and knowing that she tried her hardest, was the best feeling in the world to her. This Myrian man was a great partner to learn with, the master selected wisely, of course.

When Razkar stepped back and bowed, with his gladius at his side, Cephei bowed back. She thought it was the right thing to do, out of respect for the spar and the man. I think enough for one day. Unless you want more? Cephei peered out one of the windows that lined the wall, and noticed that sundown was not too far away, and she needed bathe in the moon light to feed her celestial body, like that of a flower of the night.

Cephei gave the Myrian a broad smile and nodded her head. “I agree with you. Not saying that I could not handle more mind you.” Cephei winked friendly at Razkar. “But I believe I should not push my body any more than I need to today. Besides the sun will be setting soon.” Cephei turned and placed her wooden Tulwar sword back where it belong and then turned back to the man. “Thank you for the learning experience Razkar, it was a pleasure to fight with someone so skilled as yourself, although my body is cursing you right now.” Cephei chuckled at the end talking while donning her clothing. Once her body was covered once again she slung her cloak on her shoulder and smiled at the man. “Until we meet again friend.” She looked hastily at the window and then back at the man and waved, turning and walking towards the door, depositing 5GM in the donation box, then leaving hastily, trying to get to a private area to enjoy her time with Leth.

OOCI agree with you. I believe we have gained plenty enough XP on this thread. Thanks for the training thread!

by **Razkar** on January 19th, 2013, 6:02 am

“I agree with you. Not saying that I could not handle more mind you.”

Razkar couldn't help but smile at the wink she tipped him. A fiery one, this Konti. Not a strutting blowhard, but one just... eager. To live and to learn, in equal measure. The confidence of youth. He remembered what that was like; he still had plenty of it roiling around in his breast...

“But I believe I should not push my body any more than I need to today. Besides the sun will be setting soon.”

... speaking of which, he rubbed his solar plexus when she replaced her weapon. His arm, his chest, his side... all burned and complained, and he felt his older wounds groan like elderly men complained. By the morning they would blossom black and blue and purple. He allowed himself a smile: he would not be the only one.

“Thank you for the learning experience Razkar, it was a pleasure to fight with someone so skilled as yourself, although my body is cursing you right now.”

She echoed his thoughts as she pulled on her clothes, and he did the same. By the time she had finished, so had he. His cloak was wrapped back over his shoulders, tunic and breeches under it. His weapons laid heavy on his waist, a reassuring burden that he always welcomed.

"Good journey, Cephei."

And then she was gone, walking out into the setting sun. As he expectd, Mizra was waiting for him by the time he reached the door. The Akalak had an irritatingly knowing expression on his face, eyebrow cocked and arms crossed. Razkar put up one finger, but his face simply couldn't be too serious.

"Not one word, master."

"Not a word shall you hear, Myrian..."

by **Traverse** on February 2nd, 2013, 5:51 pm

Thread Awards!

Cephei :

Razkar :

Additional Notes :

Questions, Concerns? PM me and we'll be to the bottom of it. Safe Travels!

Closed [Kendoka Sasaran] Whetstone (Cephei)