Completed [Anthonius Fighter's Pit] A turn in the Pit

[Fallon]

11th Fall 513AV
Mid Morning; about the 10th Bell

It was with the distinctive dull ring of blunt steel upon steel that the squire was released to on this occasion. Unlike previous times in the training grounds where wooden weapons were used instead, Fallon Skylar had taken herself to become familiar with fighting on a more realistic level. Not that a simple spar was unrealistic, it was more along the lines of being predictable. She needed something else than simply swinging a sword about and attempting to block with a shield. And so, she graced the fighting pit.

Be it for better or for worse.

For a while she had been an observer, watching from the side lines as she watched the others. Waiting almost for the opportunity to step in and chosen for training – or receive a good kicking. She felt the weight of the shield on her arm, it had been a while since she last used it, but with her weakness now gone she was prepared to take it up once more and use to as a tool to defend. Or attack as she watched someone bash another aside with their own shield. Her lips pursed as she felt the bar grip in her hands, arm twitching almost in anticipation.

Or at least until she watched the same man clip the other firmly across the head. There was a wince, followed by the distinct clatter of steel upon the ground as he promptly fell to the ground with a mighty crash. There was a twitch, a moment of movement from the fallen, before he seemed to begrudgingly get to his feet and skulk away to one side.

So that is a proper shield bash? Right… she looked at the straps that held it in place, the way her knuckles gripped around the handle. She positioned it before her studying almost how she could mimic it. Treating the arm as a hinge at first seemed a viable option but really that would seem to only good at brushing things aside and thus leaving her open. The other option would be throwing her weight into it and having the blunt surface crash against the opponent.

Which in turn came with its own issues. She knew she did not have a lot of strength, and she also knew there was not a lot of weight. She gave a quick glance as she looked about the Pit, and then promptly worked on stretching out her limbs readying herself for a potential bout. One could come at any moment after all she had to be ready. Though, she did have the distinct feeling she was going to be left waiting for a long time before anyone who saw a slice of potential in her showed up.

Bet they can smell novices a mile away.

[Sei Tendo]

Sei poked around the corner, a mass of crowds was gathered at the Fighter Pit, and when he came up a man used a sheild bash to disable his opponent. The opponent sulked away, and the man left. There was now a young woman in the pit, and apparently she was looking for a match. He wasn't going to just stand there, and his instinics to fight kicked in, as he walked over to the pit and stepped in the ring. He put his rucksack and his equipment to the side, and all that remained were his gauntlets, one spiked and one studded. He stepped into the ring with a playfull smile, and an easygoing expression. He walked forward and gave her a nod.

I guess I'll be your opponent, but I won't go easy on you because your a girl."

He put up his hands and waved at her. He then hardened his expression, and waited for a response. The girl was bold, coming to the fighter pit, and by the looks of it she wasn't that skilled. But there was one thing he couldn't do. Turn down a chance to fight. He then realized his actions and held up his finger to signal her to wait. He removed his gauntlets and stuck them in his pocket, and came back to face her. "By the way, I'm Sei. Sho might you be?" He asked.

[Fallon]

Fallon was approached for a fight, nothing more or less. The one who asked for it was a man who appeared around her age with a mane of dark hair framing his face. Her lips pursed together, her brow knitting slightly as he made himself ready with the distinct promises that he would not go easy on her. Not that she exactly wanted him to go easy on her. She needed everything that could be thrown at her if she was destined to get better and eventually become a knight.

Eventually she swallowed and pushed herself off the arena side. Fingers wrapped around the hilt of the tulwar the small shield coming up and between them on her left side. Her eyes however bored down upon him, tracing his structure and build as she weighed up her options. There was the plain simple approach, charge in, swipe and batter. Then there was the option of holding back, letting the attacks come to her. He seemed confident in his ability after all. Perhaps too confident. She was just a girl after all. It was with a gentle movement she drew the blade, steel grinding free from it. She gave it a testing swing, her arm feeling heavy weight of metal in her hand. Fingers turned around it, her grip tightening slightly before she turned her gaze once more to Sei. There was a blink, shortly followed by a response, "Fallon."

Once finished clicking herself out, Fallon readied herself. She moved the shield arm to the front, knuckles gripping tightly to it, whilst the tip of the Tulwar glinted over the edge. Her knees bent slightly, her left foot pointing forwards whilst her rear, right foot stood at an angle. If a blow came she was ready to try and absorb it, or move to the side and work her way round. But before that she needed to judge his ability for herself.

"Ready when you are."

[Sei Tendo]

"Ah. Happy to make your acquaintance, Fallon." Sei said with a smile. From the looks of her armor, she wanted a sword fight. She clenched her shield and raised her sword. Now he understood. This girl was a squire. He smiled and unsheathed his own sword, and began to speak. "I was hoping for hand-to-hand, but id-f you want a swordfight, that's fine to I guess. Just.. Be careful. I'm not very skilled with a sword." He said with a laugh. He held the blade in front of him, and made sure not to point the edge at Fallon. He inhaled deeply, and swallowed.

Well.. here goes nothing!

He charged the girl, keeping the sword in an awkward angle so he wouldn't drop it. He arched the sword in a semicircle, and slashed slowly at the girl. To his expectation, he was unbelievably slow, and wasn't the slightest bit accurate. When he slashed at the girl, his blade was at least a foot away. He had misjudged his timing, and his face was red with embarrassment. He stepped closer, and swug the blade upward, and let gravity add force to the blade by forcing down. He didn't have a shield, but if he needed to defend himself, he still had a hidden dagger on his person. "Sory if I'm not a worthy partner!" He said, not waiting for a reaction as he twisted the sword so the blade was to the sky, and heaved it upwards. "I've never used a sword in my life!" He said apologetically.

[Fallon]

Fallon looked at Sei, eye brow raised, “You were the one who said you were going to go all out.”

As he charged, the squire simply stepped back and to the side, letting it arch round hopelessly. She cared not for his face or his expression, for her eyes had found their target and that was his own eyes. They bore down upon him, unflinching, unblinking and unmoving. She stepped back again, bringing the small shield between her and the wild flailing sword before her. She was certain it was more of a danger to him than to herself. As the blade swung upwards however did she close in on him.

Tilting the shield so it was at an angle facing upwards to the sky she brought the blade round, pommel first and aiming for his stomach. She was still not comfortable with using a live blade, but she was certain she was going to make the blows hit. It was the best way to make people learn after all. Even if the blow did not connect, her next step was to simply move once more away from the heavy long sword that was already working its way down. Once out the way she would go to strike with the broad flat edge of the blade across his back.

“Less talk, more action,” she kept her focus upon him where possible, her brow knitted in concentration, “Keep the grip light, treat it like a joint in the arm. If you hold it tight, you will be stiff,” Once more she backed away, this time with the sword arm leading and the shield in close and snug to her body. She gave a turn of her wrist, the tip hovering there slightly, ready almost to curve in and defend, “No need to brute force either. Even the subtle swings can cause lots of damage, that and it is easier to defend with them.”

[Sei Tendo]

"That's because I thought we were going to do hand-to-hand though!" Sei replied. As he charged, she stepped to the side, and kept her eyes on him. She didn't even blink. He brought the sword down, and she simply putting her sheild between her and his sword. As he brought the sword up, his moves were slow and clumsy, and she tilted her shield and blocked it. She the took the pommel of her sword and drove it into his stomach. He felt the air escape his lungs, but shook it off in time to escape the knock to his back. He looked at her intently, his hard expression was playful, and he had a happy smile on his face. "I always talk to my opponents. It's a great way to understand them." He said playfully.

He listened as she explained a bit and followed her instructions the best he could. He lightened the grip on his sword, and charged. "Alright, here goes!" He exclaimed. He sidestepped at the last moment, and held the blade firmly, but a little loose, and swung it for Fallon's left side. She would block hopefully, so when he went in for a headbutt, it would come as a surprise. He took a step back, and tried to mimic her, using the dull side of the blade to circle to her right side. "Is that light enough? I can't tell if I'm doing it right!" He said with irritation.

[Fallon]

Fallon gritted her teeth and prepared for impact. The sword ricocheted off the shield the Tulwar withdrawing back and out of range. There was a stagger when the head made contact with her temple, a full blow head butt. For a chime, her world spun, dipping into a white noise and a distinct squealing hum. She withdrew, forcing herself to twist so the shield would once more be struck upon. She gave a stagger, a firm shake of her head as she forced the world to return to her. Eyes gave a burn, before she gave a nod almost in approval. The grip was fine, and it was a sign he was perhaps getting to grips with it.

It was time to make things a bit more interesting.

Shaking away the ache of the blow, the squire made an advance, shield first, with the tulwar held back. There was a quick step in, feet acting quickly to close the gap. The tip shot forward, a teasing thrust designed to keep her opponent Sei on his toes. She continued pressing onwards, fingers flexing gently before she went in for a second lunge, armed shoulder facing towards him with the hilt held in close this time. The small shield brought in flat to her torso, her eyes fixed upon him. The squire knew she would still have to take things slow where possible, but in order to push herself further she would have to try harder.

Preferably without causing too much harm to her current sparring partner. Soon, she would force herself back. And from there once more she would play upon the defence, unless Sei demanded otherwise. Then she would simply act as she was expected, with the little knowledge she had as a novice of sword play – something she was certain she was drastically better in than him.

[Sei Tendo]

Sei was surprised he had managed the headbutt, and when she gave him her approval, he was pleased with his clumsy work. He still wasn't used to the vibration of the sword, or the constant ring in his ears from the clash of steel, but he would manage the best he could. But by now, his arms felt like lead, and his ears still stung. He was enduring the match, but without further practice, he couldn't win. He tried to focus on Fallon as she charged, and loosened his grip on the longsword. She charged shield first, with her tulwar tucked in behind, and used her feet to close the gap between them.

Here she comes!

She thrust the tip of the blade forward, and he jumped back a step, escaping the tease, and watched as she quickly closed the distance once more. Like Sei, she was fast, and in his eyes possibly faster. She flexed her fingers, and went for a second lounge. This time, the hilt of her sword struck out, and she had her sword flat agaist her torso. He put the longsword diagonally across his chest, and winced as the hilt of her sword smacked agaist it. His ears rung, and his arm stung, causing him to lose his balance a bit. He regained his center, and surged to the offensive. He tried his best to make a smooth, clean, semicircle with his blade flat, but it was unbalanced. The blade wavered, and the clumsy circle was just barely a decent slash. Positive that Fallon would block, he put his foot out so the toe of his boots would hit the bottom of the hilt, hopefully knocking the sword from her hands.

[Fallon]

There was a distinct ring of metal on metal between them. Swords clattered and blows tentatively struck at each other. She gave a stagger when they struck, throwing a foot behind her for support whilst the rest of her clawed at maintaining balance. There was a brief scowl, the bringing forward of the shield as she resisted throwing her arm back to compensate. Fallon stepped back and away, a slight sway from side to side as she gave her arm a firm shake. Steel was indeed a heavy substance to wield, and her arm was beginning to quickly realise that. It was not like wooden sword, it was completely different. Live, heavy, steel.

Her blade arm went far back behind her when the wavering sword came clattering round. It struck against the shield, the brute force hitting against it. There was a second stagger, and his rising foot pushed her back even further into a forced retreat back. The foot struck against her, her balance lost and her back arm left flailing. The shield however was forced firmly against her torso. The stagger, turned into a stumble, her back for a moment exposed as she righted herself. A heavy breath escaped her lips, a slight heave of the chest at their attempted sparing. Fingers turned around the hilt, her back clicking as she eyed Sei once more up and down. How long would this go on for? A few ticks? A few chimes? Longer?

She turned to face him, rolling her shoulder thinking about what she could exactly do next. She could go in and attack, force him back on the defence and attempt to overpower him. Or, she could just simply hold back. Play on the defence and allow him opportunity to recover and to attack. She brought the shield forward once more and peered over the top, with the tip of the Tulwar peeking over it. Defence it would be. It was with slow careful steps that she worked her way around him, circling gently and slowly, her eyes constantly peering at him. Shoulders hunched in, her knees bending slightly. She was ready to absorb impact should it come her way. Or, dart quickly out the way. And judging by his current haphazardness with the weapon it would most probably be getting out the way as opposed to blocking it.

And so, Fallon readied herself, sticking to playing on the defence.

[Sei Tendo]

Sei's arms were getting spasms every time his sword made contact, and to keep himself from losing his grip on the long sword, he had to keep attacking. He watched intently as Fallon blocked his attacks, and was confused as she circled him in a defensive manner. Her shield blocking her front, and her sword behind it. Occasionally, she would peer over the shield, probably to keep aware of his movements. He loosened his grip, and charged her, keeping the sword held low until the last minute, and striking down of the shield. He winced at the spasms in his arms, and backed away.

He was getting tired, and his heavy breathing was all the proof he'd need, but he swallowed his exhaustion and thrusted the sword at Fallon. He jabbed the sword striking the shield, and winced at the pain shooting up and down his arm, but ignored it and brought the blade flat upwards, and let gravity pull it back down. He didn't stop there, and instead went in for a thrust with the sword hilt. He stepped back dizzily, and his vision blurred a bit. He was exhausted, but he had to keep going. He held his sword were the tip of the blade was level with his neckline.

He watched Fallon with determined intensity, and waited for the woman to fight back.