Completed [Solo] Another Day, Another Reminder

[Ashar]

25th of Summer, 497 AV The Tuvya Sasaran Once again, Ashar's father was too busy to accompany him. Just like every other day for the past two years. It didn't bother Ashar anymore that whenever he walked into his father's study all he got was a friendly dismissal. Two years is a long time for a child of any race, but he knew it wasn't the same for his father. Frankly, Ashar would be worried if his father were to leave the room with him. Perhaps it was for the best. Father could hardly stand the stench of sweat anymore, and though blunted by incense Ashar could smell the aroma even from the front door. Stepping forward, the young Akalak opened one of the sideways-opening doors so he could slip inside, parting the intricate symbol painted on the front of the building. He tiptoed inside, closed the door behind him, and turned to face the long hardwood hall that split off in either direction. No one greeted him, and the only acknowledgement he received was a nod from one of the instructors accompanied by a pointing finger to one of the practice rooms. Ashar didn't return the nod, and instead hurried to the sliding door while hopping out of his boots and socks. He set all his footwear aside, breathed deeply, and entered the room. This time when he slid the door open, the smells of incense and sweat were much more powerful and fulfilling. Seven other Akalak children about his age were around the small training room, observing their instructor as he demonstrated on one of the practice dolls some technique. Kashar received no welcome here either, but he didn't expect or ask for one. "Every joint is a weakness," said the instructor, his blue skin glistening with a light sheen of sweat as he repeated the same move over and over. A quick chop with the edge of the hand straightforward into the practice doll's waiting arm, where the elbow would be. Kashar's eyes followed closely the movement of the warrior's arm, which muscles tensed when to produce the forward power to stun an enemy's fighting arm. "Armed or not, it is more difficult to fight with only one hand to use, especially if that hand is the offhand. This stuns your opponent for a short time, but it is not the same as a finishing blow. Once you have the advantage, press it. Be relentless with your fists and don't let the enemy recover." The action was repeated, the Akalak's arm moving at an incredible speed delivering thwack after thwack/ to the unsuspecting doll. Ashar watched each strike hit its target, then rolled his shoulders when the technique continued without change. He would have preferred the instructor let loose with a barrage of attacks like he had said, chops and punches flurrying the dummy, making it bounce around like a ragdoll in a storm. But the reality was that same movement repeatedly, a quick chop to the inner elbow of the right arm. Even in combat lessons, it was difficult not to yawn. One last loud thwack came from the instructor's practice dummy before the instructor himself turned around. "Alright, let me see what you've picked up." He gestured around to the other dummies, and what he wanted was obvious. There must have been more of the lesson that Ashar missed - well, that much was obvious - but nonetheless he stepped forward to one of the practice dummies and raised his arms. The other children did the same around the room, while the instructor began to wander the room and observe how they were doing. He was on the other side of the room, so Ashar didn't have to worry about a lecture just yet. There was time to fail. Shallow breaths, loosen up the body before tensing then - thump. It was nothing like the sharp, crisp sound that came from the dummy when the instructor hit it. This one was dull, almost lethargic in reaching Ashar’s ears, and lazily mocked his efforts in its own way. He tried again, thrusting his arm out the way he thought he saw the instructor do it, and was rewarded with the same dull thud. Frustration building, he did it again, more sloppily this time to compensate for the wild strength with which he swung, and this time the sound was indeed louder and more satisfactory. He continued his wilder punch, swinging until his hand slipped over the top of the dummy’s arm and sent Ashar nearly colliding with its wooden frame. That was enough to anger him, and Ashar’s fists began beating the dummy without discipline or reason, venting his frustration. They weren’t jabs, no fast movements, just wild hooks that were made to punish the infuriating device.

[Ashar]

Ashar The instructor noticed Ashar's violence easily. “Calm yourself,” he ordered, and Ashar reluctantly obeyed, eyeing the dummy intensely. His purple muscles still tensed, not letting go of his anger just yet. “You must always remain disciplined and in control of your actions,” the instructor said, getting into a favorable stance to repeat the lesson. Ashar breathed deeply and closed his eyes, forcing his frustration out of him so that he could observe the instructor more closely this time. Feeling this attention, the instructor began again, making more pronounced movements and moving slower that Ashar might better learn. The instructor’s naked arm tensed as it slowly moved forward, in a direct line toward the supposed inner elbow of his target. His arm straightened and he moved forward slightly to close the gap so that the edge of his outstretched hand touched directly on the spot. “Power only achieves so much,” the instructor continued. “Victory is decided by strength, precision, and discipline. Just one of these elements is not enough.” With that, he returned to surveying the room, leaving Ashar to practice once more. Of course it was all about discipline. Every Akalak knew that, including Ashar, but for some reason he let it go without a second thought. He had surrendered control so easily that it worried him, and even more worrying was that he knew this wasn’t the first time. Nonetheless, he returned to a stance similar to the one his instructor had taken and emptied his mind. His eyes focused on the spot of the arm he was supposed to hit, and he turned his body so that he could come at it the same way as the instructor had. Stepping forward, Ashar lashed out, straightening his arm and delivering a solid blow to the elbow. A nice dull thump. It did not deter him this time, and Ashar repeated the action. Again and again, he extended his arm in a quick jab and let the edge of his hand snap forward into the dummy’s inner elbow, jostling it in its frame. He felt a twinge of irritation with each dull noise that came from his wooden adversary, but he was careful to retain his control. Again and again, he extended his arm. Repeated attacks the same way, switching the targeted elbow and his attacking side to make sure he had rounded his experience. He stepped forward and thrust his arm out enough only to deliver ample force to the elbow and no more. In doing so, he avoided repeated his prior mistake of going right over the arm. Precision and discipline, that was his goal. Precision and discipline. Precision. Discipline.

[Ashar]

Ashar The sun was setting over the Suvan Sea, casting shadows of orange over Riverfall. The Tuvya Sasaran’s hemp windows didn’t offer a view of the beautiful sunset, but they lit up in the gentle glow of the sunset and bathed the interior with its warm color. Many of the students had already left, as had a few instructors, but Ashar remained at his same sparring partner dutifully hammering away. He stepped forward, ducking to one side and delivering an uppercut into the underarm of the dummy, driving his fist and knuckles against where the tendon would be on a living being. Little beads of sweat slipped down his purple skin, staining his trousers as he practiced and adding to the overwhelming aroma, even more powerful because of the incense burning out. He bounced on his legs gently, repeating the action again and on both sides of the mannequin, each blow pushing the dummy up in its frame before jingling back down again. Whatever noise, disappointing or not, was long forgotten, though this was due more to fatigue than actual discipline. Brow furrowed and body aching, Ashar mechanically continued the same routine on the poor battered dummy, beating it to the void and back. Even though it hurt to keep going, the young Ashar did so anyway. Not because he was disciplined, but because he wanted something. Badly. Suddenly, there was a hand on his shoulder, keeping him still. “That’s enough.” Wearily, Ashar let his arms droop as he looked up at his detainer. It his instructor. “It’s not good for someone as young as you to burn yourself out too often, otherwise you set a bad precedent for future training.” Ashar didn’t quite understand why that was, but he wasn’t going to argue. He bowed quickly to the instructor and left the room, sliding back into his boots and shirt in the main hallway of the Tuvya Sasaran. Taking a moment to catch his breath, he thudded along the hardwood floor toward the main entrance, eager to come back tomorrow. The sunset greeted him as he slid open the entrance, a dazzling cloud collage of pinks and yellows. Standing there in the late evening sun made Ashar almost forget his fatigue, looking forward to the next day where he would get even stronger. It couldn’t last though, and as he looked down on the street he quickly returned to earth and felt the fatigue seep back into his skin. Sighing, he stepped out and closed the door to the Sasaran, taking a moment to look at its pitying symbol before walking home alone.

[Ragdoll]

Grade Awarded!

Skills

Skill	Points
Endurance	2
Unarmed Combat	3
Observation	2

Lores

• Combat: Every Joint is a Weakness
• Combat: Don't Let the Enemy Recover
• Combat: Precision and Discipline

Comments

Would've liked to see this thread go on a bit longer. As it was, there wasn't much I could award you. Try to put more detail into your posts-describe how Ashar feels, what he smells, sees, tastes, hears. Can't wait to read more from you, though! ^-^

Don't forget to edit your grading request! Though I try my hardest to award you what you deserve, I may occasionally mess things up! If there's something you'd like to discuss about your grade, then please don't hesitate to send me a PM and I'll be happy to work things out with you.