The Great Warrior! [Training - Solo]

[Markus Andres]

23rd of winter 510 AV It was the usual set up. Markus standing alone in the midst of an army of hideous monsters. A hundred to one. They stood no chance. Their viciousness knowing no bounds as they ravaged and pillaged the noble city of syliras. The only thing standing between them and the grand tree of Syliras and all the women, was Markus Andres. The greatest squire in the world. Wearing the shining plate armor of the Syliran Knights. Adorned with the proud emblem of the order. The Tree! The armor not bothering the powerful body of his. His hair flowing free in the gentle breeze that swept through his golden blond hair. His emerald eyes shining brightly with the powers of good. He advances a step and all the monsters retreated. Fearing the might of the greatest squire of all time. The bow came up at an insane speed. The arrow almost magically appearing on the string. The arrow tearing through the ranks of monsters. Their vicious howls turned to screams of terror as they fled and fell over each other. Trying to flee from the second arrow launched. With the third arrow thinning their ranks. Markus dropped the golden shortbow to the ground and dipped to a knee. Picking up the shield of Syliras. The emblem of the proud squire. Everything he stood for. The shield reflecting the rays of the sun upon the vile monsters. Seeing their doom in the sunlight as the squire stormed gracefully and majestically forward. A dagger whipping out from his right hand. Another monster felt the cold embrace of death as the dagger pierced its heart and the sheer power in the throw sent the monster back into the others behind it. The confusion and terror in their ranks complete. But their evil hearts drove them forward still. Forcing the young godlike squire to draw his famous blade. Said to have been forged in the searing heat of a volcano during the valterian by Ivak himself. Every good god and goddess imparting a piece of their very essences and power in the forging. The blade searing with white hot flames at Markus command, the searing flames made several of the monsters wicked and deformed bodies burn away by the mere sight. Markus brave forward strode brought his shield against the stomach of the monster. Bashing out with the shield. He knocked the monster back. Before it could react. The blade impaled the monster. Markus with a awe-inspiring strength tore the blade back out of the monster. One of the wicked creatures tried to flank him. Markus quickly did a counter clockwise spin with his body. Pushing the weapon aside with his shield and decapitated the soulless monster. There was nothing that could stop the young squire in his desire to defend his beloved homeland. Markus made a strong stride forward. Knocking half a dozen monsters aside with his powerful and unstoppable body. He felt something snap inside one of the monsters. Markus let a good round of laughter eminate from his lips. Bringing hope to those he was protecting and sapping the strength from the heartless creatures in front of him. The white searing blade cut an arm of a monsters. The creature’s neck crunched loudly as the shield broke its puny neck. Markus swung around. His blade searing through the stomach of another monster. He saw the silver glimt from his dagger. He left the godly sword in the belly of the monster and took the dagger out of the creature and stabbed in into the belly of a third monster again and again. It’s black blood smearing the dagger and he turned and threw it at a monster that had tried to sneak up on him. Blasting the thing back. Looking around, Markus saw his godly sword sticking out and grabbed it and turned around. His blade high in the air. Blocking the blade that came for his back. His blade eating through the steel with ease. Slicing off the head of the monster. Or so he thought.

[Markus Andres]

But the blade was held in check in the air in front of him. The blade losing its white searing flames. The chaos around him changed. The grim monsters dissappeared. Markus was looking into the eyes of the monster who had blocked his swing. Some would call him a monster, Markus called him master. That was when Markus withdrew from his fantasy world and looked at what had really transpired around him. One training doll was lying broken on the ground with the shaft of an arrow protruding from its chest. That had probably been the doll he had ”bravely” advanced upon with his strong shield arm. A duo of arrows were sticking out of the ground. Having missed their ”targets” horribly. A second doll head was viciously knocked to the side (if one could see any difference from that, beside the splintered wood around the neck). Its hay arm lying on the ground. It’s other arm had a dagger sticking out from the hay. Markus was a bit impressed that his dagger had actually managed to hit something. Another doll stood headless and another had a dozen stabs into the gut area from Markus’ dagger. A third had been pierced through the guts with his blade. Which unfortunately wasn’t a godlike weapon, but instead, it had ’only’ been an heirloom from his grandfather time as a soldier. Finally Markus turned back to his master. Looking into those eyes defiantly. Refusing to get embarrassed about the mess he had created. ’Sloopy work.’ ”I blocked your attack.” His master, not finding any fault in the young squires logic. Lowered his blade and conceded that point to the squire. Who despite being completely submerged in his own fantasy world. Still had managed to block his blade. ’What are you training? Bow? Blade? Dagger?’ He said as he walked past Markus and withdrew the dagger from the shoulder of a doll and casually turned and threw it to Markus. Who immediatelly proceeded to smack the flying dagger out of the air with a wild sideways swing. Sending the dagger several dozens of feet away from the duo. Markus realized then that his master had tried to be ’nice’ and give back the dagger. ’Sharp reflexes.’ His master mocked as Markus walked after the dagger. Picking it up from the ground and sheathed it under his left arm turned to his master and noticed he had picked up the shortbow and was waiting for Markus to come over and pick it up. Markus took it in his empty right hand and wondered what his master wanted him to do now. It had been over a season since his master had last bothered to teach him anything with the shortbow. Considering him a hopeless cause with the weapon. ’I want you to work out a routine where you can shoot two arrows into the two dolls there, then turn and be able to defend from my attack.’ Then he started to walk away. Markus looked at him with wonder. How was he supposed to do that? His master was standing barely 50 feet away. Hardly enough time to put an arrow in him before he had reached Markus. But Markus reached up for the quiver withdrew and arrow quickly, pulled back the string and put the first arrow right past the target. Grabbing a second arrow as he saw the figure out of the corner of his eyes move at him faster and closer. Markus gulped and set the next arrow directly into the ground before one of the dolls. Taking an arrow from the quiver, Markus saw that the figure was too close for him to even attempt anything but a desperate throw with the arrow. It missed his master badly. And should it have hit, it wouldn’t have done squat to his masters plate armor. His master stopped a foot before Markus. Shaking his head. ’Learn to hit the targets under pressure.’ ”Why don’t you show me how it is done then! For i believe it is impossible!” Markus said angered and flustered by his own complete failure. His master, surprisingly, decided to oblige and show his insolent squire how it was done.

[Markus Andres]

Markus picked up his shield and drew his sword. Stomped the 50 or so feet away from the archer. It was roughly 15 yards less than the distance between his master and the dolls. Putting the targets at a good 30 yards distance. Something his master would be able to hit with ease. But not in time! His master drew the first arrow and Markus immediately began to run forward. The blood pumping through his legs as the powerful leg muscles brought him forward in long strides. Markus watched as the first arrow slammed into the first target. Protruded from the chest of the doll. Markus gulped and started to sprint forward. Getting within the thirty feet zone when the second arrow left the bow. At this time, Markus couldn’t see if it hit the target or not. But his master dropped the bow and reached for his sword. Easily capable of drawing it before Markus got within striking distance. Markus let out a howl and swung at him anyways. His master parrying the strike, knocked the blade aside and Markus raised his shield and felt the blow strike the sheet of metal. ”Damn you.” ’We’ll do this until I see improvement.’ ”Yes ser.” Markus grudgingly sheathed his sword again and reached down for the bow and accepted the quiver from his master and secured it on his back. Placed the shield in an upright position against his left, leading leg. Waited for his master to walk the distance and then before his master had turned around and had assumed the ready position. Markus drew an arrow from the quiver. Took aim and let the arrow fly. Scoring a hit! Striking the gut region of the doll. But a hit was a hit. His master noticed what was going on and was quickly running the distance. But Markus didn’t bother with that and drew another arrow. Pulled back the string with the arrow. Judged the distance. Still roughly 30 yards. Piece of cake! The arrow was let loose and it strafed the head of the doll and continued far behind the doll. It would not have stopped an attacker, but it would have slowed him. Good enough for Markus. He let the bow drop and drew his sword. But before he could clear it from the sheath. His master was on him. Even with the trick Wystern had shown him, he couldn’t draw the blade in time. The flat side of his masters blade slapped his right hand. Making him involuntarily let go of the blade. ’Again.’ His master walked away again and Markus contemplated pulling the same trick again. But his master turned around 10 yards before the spot and was watching him. Markus smirked and waited until his master was prepared. Then reached back and pulled out a duo of arrows. Sliding one between his fingers on the left hand and then stringed the other one. Let the first arrow fly and it hit the first doll in the shoulder area. Once again, not fatal. At least not immediately. Markus took the second arrow, it was a lot faster with it being in his left hand rather than on his back and the second arrow scored a hit on the second doll. Before the arrow had hit, Markus began to draw the blade. This time the tip cleared the sheath before Markus found a blade at his neck. ”Damn it!”

[Markus Andres]

This continued for a while, until Markus had sweat dripping from his forehead and his arms beginning to get sore from the continued bow-use. Markus gave one of his unorthodox plans a chance this time. As he had done the last many times, he drew two arrows every time. It gave him a fraction more time to aim at the targets, who had several arrows protruding from seemingly random spots on their ’bodies’. The first arrow hit the doll right in the head. Where an away would usually be on a human being. The second arrow slammed into the solar plexus of the doll. Markus threw the bow aside and reached down to his side and instead of drawing his sword this time, he drew his dagger. The thing whipped out in a straight path for his master who blocked it with his shield. But it slowed his stride considerably. Which gave Markus the time to prepare the trick Wystern had taught him to quick draw his blade a long time ago and for the second time that day. Markus’ blade stopped his masters attack. A smile crossed the young squire’s lips when he realized he had finally managed to accomplish the task his master had set for him that day. A good thing too. For Markus was out of arrows and his arms were getting really tired. ’About time. Clean up this mess and then we’ll go get dinner.’ This made Markus smile ever wider and he nodded to his master. Eager to return to the castle he was quick to clean up the ’mess’ and retrieve all of the arrows and his thrown weapons. He wasn’t feeling like receiving any more practice that day. When Markus was done after 10 chimes of stashing the wooden dolls inside one of the lesser used training places outside Syliras. Markus was still a bit surprised that his master had found him there. For it was lesser known because it was used less time. But apparently his master had a knack of tracking him down. The two walked over to the horses and Markus swung his right leg over and sat down comfortable on the horse. Before riding towards Syliras. It wasn't more than a good bell's ride away.

[Leviathan]

Thread Award! Markus   Skills Skill Gain Info. Weapon (Shortbow) 3 -- Weapon (Throwing Knife) 1 -- Weapon (Shield) 1 -- Weapon (Sword) 1 --   Lore Markus the Great... Dreamer