Closed [Fighters Pit] Practice Makes Perfect

[Crystal Nightshade]

Crystal Nightshade

1st of Summmer, 516AV
8th Bell, 36th chime

Elbowed in the gut.

"Urk..!"

Swing back, miss.

"Petch!"

Block oncoming fist, fail. Land on back and roll to gasp in pain. Success.

"Are you done little girl?" The woman above her sneered. This whole fight, this whole troublesome ordeal, started because she couldn't keep her cool. Eyris be witness, she would not allow herself to lose under such conditions. The woman above her chuckled as crystal tried to get up. "Look hun, if you couldn't handle a fight, why did you accept?"

A twitch.

"Oh, now you're listening? I told you before you were pathetic, so why you hoped to beat me I'll never know."

No reaction. Crystal just laid there, not moving, except an occasional throb of pain. This woman, this unimportant, insignificant woman. She goaded Crystal, and she dare talk such nonsense. Crystal was no stranger to combat, even if she wasn't the best. And yet this woman bested her. Why? It was because Crystal was fighting fair.

This woman had no since of dignity or self respect. At least, that was Crystal's perspective. How could this woman fight dirty when she'd been nothing but fair? Was something not clicking with her? Either way, after another round of insults Crystal couldn't take anymore.

Fine, then I won't play fair either.

"--so I guess you're just a weakling-"

Snap.

"Will you shut the petch up?! That mouth of yours runs faster than anyhting ever before! I'm so sick of your ignorant rambling if you're not going to back it up." The ebony growled angrily as she forced herself on one knee. The blond woman clicked her tongue and scowled, making her way over to crystal and leaning down to her level.

"Stupid little wretch, let's finish this!"

"My plan exactly." Crystal said just at the woman noticed her smirk. Crystal crossed her left hand over to the right of her head, and reversed the position while spraying dirt into the woman's eyes. he woman let out a loud shriek and a string of curses. Crystal tried to stand as fast as she could, but the woman was wiping at her eyes just s quickly. Thinking it a waste of the time, the blond opted to instead reach for Crystal, and once successfully latched she put her in a head lock.

"Stupid Petcher! You'll pay for th-!" The blond was soon cut off however. Crystal was more than prepared for this the headlock, especially once she noticed what an opening the woman created. Think Crys, what can you do? With that, she reared her head back with as much force as she cut, smacking her head harshly against the other woman's' mouth. As the woman recoiled, she forced her fist into the woman's' stomach, and a sharp punch to the mouth made her opponent dizzy enough with pain to fall.

"I thought I told you to shut up. You haven't said one intelligent thing this entire time." The woman growled, but Crystal simply shrugged and turned away. "Besides, if I'm a weakling - which whom you lost too - what does that make you?"

And with that the other woman left. Crystal was grateful that the woman hadn't stayed for another round, because she had exerted herself much further than she should have. The spectators, who were keen on seeing her get tossed like a ragdoll, now departed and moved to other fights. Crystal grunted as she began to move away from the area. Her stomacher like petch and she knew it would bruise. Her lip was busted, and the adrenaline was dying down to make way for pain and exertion. She was damp rom perspiration, and her breathing was heavy. Deciding it best, she hobbled as quickly as possible toward a bench.

Intellectual Seeker

[Garland]

Garland sat by the side, he had to be somewhere else later today, but that didn't mean he couldn't sit and watch a few bouts in the pits.

He wasn't about to join in though, he needed to be in form and getting his face bloodied wouldn't be good. Garland sat on the lip of the pit, watching an interesting fight happening.

There weren't really a lot of female fighters here, some passing through, some leaving before they really get hurt, but there were a few that became quite well-known in the pits.

Despite a good fight, or rather because of it, one of the fighters could barely stand. Garland saw the fight, it was good, but the purpose of sparing is to better yourself in fighting and technique, using underhanded tactics were counter-productive, he would use those types of attacks and tactics if life was in danger, but for training, sparing and official matches, he wouldn't even consider them, he would take a defeat with honor.

The thing about dirty tactics and fighting is that because of how effective it is, people relay on it a lot. If someone doesn't fall for dirty tricks, well it would be a short fight.

Garland hopped down into the pits and walked over to the fighter. "Good fight, but try not to rely on dirty fighting to win your battles. I'm..." Garland paused, he debated if using his real name would be wise, but he sighed, the pause was enough to say that whatever chance he had of passing off as a some fighter has passed. "I'm Garland, I haven't seen you around before, are you new here or maybe we come here at different times. I don't usually come here this early."

He sat down beside the woman and looked around, it seemed like everyone was leaving or getting ready to practice their own combat skills. "I doubt you came here to just beat random people up. I'm guessing you're here to train?"

[Crystal Nightshade]

Crystal Nightshade

Just a Crystal sat, she noticed someone coming towards her. Thinking that the person was after another, she let herself relax. She took a few deep breathes before closing her eyes. Not my ideal way for training... She'd won, but not the way she had hoped. She soon found someone speaking too her. She chuckled a bit before she spoke. "It was never my intention to play dirty, but I did. Doesn't mean I thought it was right however."

She would've preferred a fair win, but she could only take so much taunting. She had remained fair for the most part of the fight, but afterwards she had snapped. "I guess you could say I'm new. I'm not really accustomed to fighting human opponents. I figured I needed to learn something new, so training here was my best option."

She blinked after taking in his appearance for the first time. Dark hair, equipment. She wondered if he was decent in his swordplay. She herself wielded only a dagger, and she had yet to purchase a sword of her own. Of course she had plans to, but she had yet to do so. "My name is Crystal by the way. I'm guessing you come here often then."

She leaned back against the bench, hoping to recover a bit of stamina now that her breathing had regulated itself. It had been a short fight, but it had proved how much she needed practice more. If not for her own foul play, she would've undoubtedly lost.

Intellectual Seeker

[Garland]

"Not often enough actually. This place may not have the best equipment or training enough weapons in their arsenal but the different styles of fighting make this better than the Training Grounds by a little bit." He let a bit about him slip up with that. Only squires and knights are allowed on the Training Grounds.

He looked up to the sun, it was still early, he had time before he was heading out. "Right, how about I give you some tips on fighting. What's your weapon of choice, or do you prefer fists?"

Garland pulled out his blade, it was just a regular Bastard Sword, though it looked like it had fought plenty of battles, it was still strong and taken care of. "I'll admit I'm not really good at teaching or anything other than fists and swords, but I'm more than willing to teach you."

The only unusual thing about Garland's sword was the snake style hilt and pommel. It had seen it's share of wear and tear, looking much older than the blade itself.

"There are training dummies over there, and a few weapons as well. Let's get to it then." Garland said and walked over to the dummy. "Judging from the fight, you know where the weak points of the body are." He said using his sword to point to the groin, neck and stomach of the dummy.

"My trainer would say strength was not everything and she is right, though unlike a real living person, a dummy is fixed on the ground and is very difficult to knock one to the ground."

Garland planted the blade on the soft sand and dirt of the pits and placed his leg on the back of the dummy and his arm on the dummy's neck, and his other arm to hold off the Dummy's arm. "If you push your arm down and forward while your push your leg back, it would trip up your opponent. Getting into this position is difficult if you have a perceptive opponent, but if you're fighting someone too busy with their own footwork or techniques or are inattentive of you then this would be an easy move to do. You don't need much strength, to knock them down."

With that Garland stepped off. "When your opponent is down, do not sit on them and throw your punches like a madman. It would certainly hurt your opponent but that could easily turn against you, flipping both of you over and you ending up under your opponent, the best way to fight a downed opponent is a quick decisive strike rather than a flurry of blows, one to the neck to block the air flow and suffocate them, and collapse the ribs if you feel you're strong enough. Oh.. Umm... That is if you're fighting to the death, if not, just give a quick kick to the stomach and back off. Just because someone is down, does not mean they're out. they can trip you up by pulling your leg or kicking your knees."

"You're not strong, I'd admit, but smart punches are better than strong slogs. Try fighting the dummy." Garland stepped off to the side and took his back from the ground.

[Crystal Nightshade]

Crystal Nightshade

Crystal looked at Garland before turning her gaze away. So he was a squire? Or perhaps a knight? She didn't dwell on either though for long, instead focusing on what he was saying. "Good question. I've only acquainted myself with a few weapons. I guess in a spar or fight I'd chose a dagger or a short sword."

Proud of herself for having remembered the swords name, she looked at Garland before realizing she had just agreed to having him train her. She could easily object, but there was no harm in learning something new. As Garland pulled his sword, a bastard sword as he called it, the young woman observed it.

A serpentine based hilt and pommel? How odd. Plus the hilt seemed more worn than the blade, prompting her to wonder if the hilt was attached to the blade after a while. While she was flattered he thought she knew weak points, she was glad for the explanation anyway. She knew eyes were a weak point on the body. Apparently so is the neck, groin, and stomach.

She had followed Garland to the dummies after picking up a short sword. The dagger strapped to her would be used later hopefully. She nodded to his explanation of tripping her opponent. So they can't be perceptive? Or maybe with enough intelligence she could find a way around them?

From what she was hearing decisive blows to certain parts on the body could cause major damage or slow down the opponent? Crystal's eyes narrowed when her strength was questioned, but shook it off. Instead of being met with arrogance, the young woman nodded and unfurled her brows. She herself was never physically strong, so there was no point in pretending to be.

She released the sword in her grip, placing it on the ground beside her. "I'm not exactly sure what you want me to do to it. I've never fought anything other than animals." She just wanted to make that clear before she made a fool of herself. She did however want to try the hold Garland had practiced.

She held her right arm against the dummies' throat, put her leg behind it, and grabbed it's arm. She had to admit, she felt more than out of place without her Shortbow. She scanned the position she was in silently. It felt awkward being watched now for some reason.

Releasing her position, she stared at the dummy for a few ticks, trying to figure out what it was he wanted her to do before throwing an punch at it. She aimed slightly about the neck. Her form was terrible as was her strength.

Intellectual Seeker

[Garland]

Garland walked around, eyeing up Crystal's form. She didn't really show any promise, but skill is earned not inherited.

"Try to keep your balance while you throw the other person's off." He said and stood back, and looked at the girl's weapons. "I know the basics of daggers, not a lot but I do know which end you stab people with." He joked and watched as she gave a punch at the dummy, he couldn't help but analyze it.

"There are ways to make use of weak punches. A flurry of blows if you feel like you have the stamina, or using your opponent's momentum against them, we can't really practice that with a dummy here, but keep that in mind when you have some a sparring partner." As much as fist fights are physical battles there was still a mental fight going on, a battle of psyches.

"By the way, I noticed in the fight you had that you're quite the hothead. Don't let their taunts get to you, and in the heat of battle that would be difficult. I've had my fair share of rage in fights. Depending on how you fight it could be a pro or a flaw. On one hand, you fight with more viciousness and ferocity, on the other hand, you think less clearly and are less careful." Garland said and thought about the times he had lost it.

Ball was just so infuriating to fight against. He's just so small and smug and strong, everything Garland is but better! "Anyway, one way to keep calm is returning the insult with one of your own. Basically rather than get mad, be a smartarse."

"Anyway, there's not much I can teach you with an actual spar, and someone you can actually throw and punch. I would offer myself, but I actually need to be somewhere else soon and I wouldn't have time to clean myself from the dust and dirt if I did spar with you, so I'll give you a bit of advice. Balance is more important than power, being able to stay standing while your enemies fall is essential to a good fighter." He said and picked up a blunted dagger from the weapon's rack.

"Like I said I don't know much about daggers but I know the basics and it's always good to keep those in mind. Daggers are made to be easily hidden, or attack quickly and precisely. Unlike large swords like mine who are better at cutting people in half rather than jabbing them in the gut. Go for quick strikes where it would hurt and if you can't hit those parts, try to make an opening. I always have a dagger on me, somewhere I can reach easily in case of emergencies, a habit I think everyone who wants to live should have. Anyway try to work on your stamina or balance before learning techniques, it would certainly help."

[Crystal Nightshade]

Crystal Nightshade

"Then we're basically in the same boat. I've never used it as a weapon." She said with after turning to him. She didn't know why he was so keen on teaching her, maybe because the earlier fight? Did he think her weak? Or did he want to see her improve? She didn't know, but it was bugging her how he observed her form. He didn't look much older than herself, yet here he was giving her tips. She was grateful, yes, just disappointed in her lack of knowledge in general.

So she needed to train her balance? Or use her opponents momentum? It sounded easy enough. And back to her shortcomings. She was weak apparently, and needed to control her temper? She could manage that, or at least she'd try. He was basically telling her to channel the rage more efficiently. "I suppose so, but that would me I need to improve my balance, correct?"

It was rhetorical, but she'd hear the answer if he did reply. Garland seemed capable of taking more than his fair share of hits, so she was willing to trust and take his advice. Perhaps she could even improve on it. She looked at the dagger attached to her. So it was meant to be hidden then? She looked at Garland and nodded.

Quick and decisive blows to vital areas? Was he training her for a spar or for murder? Be grateful, she reprimanded herself before speaking. "If I can use my opponents momentum or improve my balance, will it make up for my lack in physical strength?"

Intellectual Seeker

[Garland]

"Yes, it would help if you're well balanced and use your opponent's strength against them." Garland started pacing back and forth. "You said you were a hunter, right? Well I know a squire that might help you with balance and technique, you should find Alexander Faircroft, he's not as adept as me in unarmed combat, but I think he would be a better teacher."

Garland had pretty much shown Crystal everything he knew that didn't involve too much strength, and without sparing. "Fighting with daggers and fists pretty much have the same principle, move fast, and strike where it hurts."

There was one other person that might be able to help Crystal in the dagger department. "Well, like I said Alex can help you with balance I think but if you're looking for someone to teach you about daggers, you have to do a bit of searching and she might require payment." He said, he didn't want to give out any names yet, since Sayana wanted to stay hidden, she didn't tell anyone she came back to Syliras and it was only chance that he found her.

"Ask around for a lady with six arms if you want to know more." He said rather cryptically. "Anyway, you have a dagger, get use to the weight and how you hold it. I don't really know how to hold a dagger, I just know how to draw my dagger quickly in case of emergencies." He gave a smile and started twirling the dagger he took between his fingers, it wasn't fast or impressive, he just wanted to keep his hands nimble.

"So, I've got some time before I go, what now?" He asked and looked at Crystal's bruises and cuts. "We should probably get those healed and treated wouldn't you think?"

Secret :

Sorry it's kinda short, feeling a bit off today

[Crystal Nightshade]

Crystal Nightshade

Huh. So Garland knew Alex then? She supposed it was likely since they were both requires. She didn't bother telling him she already knew Alex, but contrasted nodded. A lady with six arms? Was Garland delusional? He seemed serious though... She shook her head ardently before nodding to Garland again. "I guess I should get them cleaned."

Now that she thought about it she had briefly forgotten about her aches and pains, no less the bruises and cuts. She was pretty certain they weren't to bad, but a little disinfecting couldn't hurt. Crystal relaxed herself by exhaling. It had been a long day today for sure, but there were some good points. After collecting herself she spoke again.

"Thank you for the tips. I'll keep them in mind." She extended her hand. Garland could either grip or leave it, either way she would put her hands to her side afterward. She would review the information later. "Do you have time to stay in chat, or do you need to be on your way?"

The ebony wouldn't mind keeping Garland company for a bit, after all, he had helped her out today. She didn't want to seem rude, so the offer would stand should he chose not to stay.

Intellectual Seeker

[Garland]

Garland looked over to one of the young boys that helped around the pits by cleaning weapons and making sure everything wouldn't break if struck too hard.

"Hey you! Mind getting a clean rag and some alcohol, not the drinking kind, the rubbing on your wounds kind. Oh and some gauze well." He said and looked over to Crystal. "Well, I guest I can stay and chat for a few chimes."

He sat down on a nearby bench and waited for the boy to come by with the rubbing alcohol. "Well, why don't we introduce each other properly?"

Soon enough the boy returned with a clean rag, some gauze and some alcohol. The boy gave them to Garland and saw Crystal and gave another nod and ran off to do his work.

Garland dipped the rag into the colorless liquid, soaking the tip and starting rubbing it on Crystal's wounds. "I'm Garland, I'm a squire of Syliras and in all honesty I tried to hide who I was before for... personal reasons." Softly Garland rubbed the wounds making they wouldn't get infected just because she had a small spar with someone.

"Been a squire for... a little more than a year." He pulled the rag away and took the gauze and wrapped it around Crystal's wound. "I went through a trial by fire as my first day as a squire. Rather unlucky for me and if it wasn't for the others that stood beside me, I think I should be dead right now." He gave a weak laugh and started working on another cut near her eye.

"Don't flinch." He gave a comforting smile and started dipping the cool rag on the wound slowly. "I was telling you about my first day as a squire. Well, it was the same day the gates were destroyed and the city was attacked, first of fall around two years ago."

Something was a bit odd about Garland's tone while he treated Crystal's cuts. Maybe not odd, but something you wouldn't expect from someone in the knighthood. Comforting, loving, fatherly-like even. "I was on my way outside the woods to train with my patron, never got there, lucky for me I wasn't any closer to the gate or I would have been incinerated. There was a huge flash of light that destroyed everything, all the buildings and the people... I was knocked back a few feet and hit my head on something, I don't remember what it was, but I was knocked out for a while, until other knights started running to the gate, I don't know how long I was out, but I don't think it was too long, the attack had only begun."

He paused, the memory wasn't painful or anything, but he had blocked out most of it all he remembered was his first kill. "I pulled myself up and grabbed my sword and joined the fray. I was a new squire and everyone knew it, I grew up with this sword, the only thing my parents left me, so I knew how to use it, at least knew how to swing and hold it. I spent most of my time here when I was growing up now that I think about it. But during the fight, I was like a child fumbling my weapon as soon as someone came close to me."

He finished cleaning up Crystal's cut above the eye and started working on her cheek. "I wasn't meek though, a few other squires that wanted to help formed a line behind the main battle, in case any of them broke free ran into the city. One large brute, like I dunno around six foot high, ran through the battle like a raging bull. Everything was a bit blurry after this part, but I think I tackled him, knocking the weapon out of his hand and he did the same to me. I was seventeen, a boy, and look at me! I'm quite short, I think I'm shorter than you... Anyway he took me by the throat and started strangling me like a chicken, felt about ready to pass out, but as a last ditch effort I shoved my gauntleted fingers into his eyes, kicked him away and kneed him in the jewels. I stomped his throat, crushing his windpipe."

The caring tone from before, slipped away as soon as his story reached the battle, it was almost like a different person in front of Crystal, it was a tone of someone who got lost in the battle, someone who tasted blood and let it control him. At the end of the story the caring tone returned, like it never left. Garland didn't notice anything different though. "After that I think I vomited and I grabbed my sword and limped back to the shield wall the squires had made. I don't remember anything else after that, I seem to have forgotten."

"So yeah, there isn't any test to join the squires, but if there was that battle would be mine." He gave a weak laugh and finished treating Crystal's wounds. "Well, I've told you about myself and a story, anything you'd like to share?"