(The Slums) Training Days... Perseverance is Key.(Cade)

by **Antar** on July 17th, 2011, 2:45 am

The second half of going round the festering dump of the Slag heap, was no better then the first. There was only one good thing about it, as Noth continued with the plodding of his feet, was that at least they would be heading away from the stench eventually. The pallid odor of the trash, burning bodies, and other refuse was enough to bring tears to his, blurring his vision until they reached the crest of the hill again and the first hint of fresh air. Antar kept his pace even as he unlimbered the drinking flask from his back again to take another sip every ten steps. In the state of distance running they were in hydration was absolutely necessary to keep them both on their feet, but there were other things too. He had to concentrate on his breathing, in through the nose, to let his nose hairs filter out the most of the soot and grime, and letting his breath out through the mouth. Each time breathing at a steady rate to bring the maximum amount of air into his lungs for about another twenty seconds before he let himself have another sip of water.

Once clear of the fumes, Noth allowed himself to tilt his head to the side and spit out the disgusting residue he could feel scratching at his throat. Glancing over his shoulder, Antar slowed his pace a little and waited for the big man to catch up before handing back the water flask. They had about a mile and a quarter in the last stretch back to the start and Noth wanted to push himself as best he could for the last amount of distance to finish strong before they went onwards to the next part of what they were to do today.

by **Cade** on July 24th, 2011, 8:16 am

The trek around the slag heap seemed to last close to an eternity but there was light at the end of the tunnel as Antar began to lead away from the burning pile of waste. The smoke continued to burn his lungs and sting his eyes to tears while the stench turned his stomach with sickening disgust. Cade had already tasted vomit on this trek, and feared he might just do more than that....but the feeling subsided the further they legged away from the slag.

Antar had slowed down and extended his water skin to the barbarian who gladly and un hesitantly accepted, taking gulps ever few strides to re hydrate himself and conquer the unease in his belly. This was a challenge, but running will improve upon his wind making him that much more effective of a warrior. Though he didn’t know exactly the purpose of running that close to the slag heap would be any benefit to his health.

by **Antar** on July 24th, 2011, 10:31 am

Halfway out of breath, Noth ceded a question as his will forced his tired legs to plod on towards where they started.Musing aloud, he spoke. "Alright... maybe... we shouldn't... go... near the slag heap on all these runs in the future... don't you think?" Noth knew it wasn't healthy, but he figured at least one point in the future he'd have to run through smoke.

He had hoped to have one more sprint in him for the final push, but nothing came. His body was nearing the point of exhaustion, and he hoped in the future it would improve. But for now, he was somewhat satisfied with the results as they closed the last three quarters of a mile of terrain and almost warily he hopped over the same log as before as a bit of a victory jig before slowing down to a simple walk as he tried to breathe easy. He didn't want to stop cold turkey, it might make his muscles seize up and that would put him out of action for the day and not allow him to continue what he planned next. "Alright big fella, take it easy a bit, and stretch before we go over to start the next task."

Heeding his own advice, Noth began stretching during the 'cooldown' phase of the exercise as he considered what was next on the agenda. There was that old smithy wall, and a bit of the more abandoned places in the slums where rocks were haphazardly strewn about. He had the vague idea they could do a little climbing, and hurdling, if they took the time to set up the strewn rocks correctly.

Besides, lifting stones was one way of working with weights...

by **Cade** on July 28th, 2011, 6:15 am

" Yes, lets keep our distance from that pile of shit from now on" Cade hacked, his lungs burned from combination of the slag pit fumes and the continuous running they had just completed. The large man followed the smaller's lead in the cool down and stretches. He knew that he was going to feel all of this the next day, but that was the point of it....the burn. The pain just let you know that you were doing it right.

" So whats next Noth?" Cade questioned while he extended his right arm over his head, stretching it as much as he could before continuing on to the next. The day was not over yet, and it was smart to keep limber through out the exercise.

by **Antar** on July 29th, 2011, 4:13 am

Noth was sitting to stretch out his hamstrings a moment, cupping both hands around his ankle and forcing his head down to the point it touched his knee just long enough to feel the burn of the stretch itself. He followed that by standing up and dusting himself off before stretching out his arms and shoulders, the right crossed over his chest and pulled back by the left. The rogue duplicated the ordeal for the left arm as well before putting it behind his head. He pulled at the elbow, stretching out the back of his deltoids, and duplicating it in reverse once more. He held each stretch for a good fifteen to twenty seconds, allowing the muscles time to work into the strain.

Straightening to his full height Noth dusted himself off, and turned towards Cade, motioning to him to follow as he began a short, but brisk walk down two deserted streets in town. He took a few back alleys, this part of the slums being in such a state of disrepair that most of the houses here were nothing but a set of walls open to the sky. And very few inhabitants save for the occasional beggar slinking into the cover of shadows to stay out of the two men's way. After a twist and a few alley turns, he came to what he had found before in an enclosed courtyard about 80 by 20 feet wide. On the far side of the courtyard was a large wall, a remnant of an old burned out smithy, and this area had once been a workyard of sorts.

The old smithy wall was stone, and brick. Old, and worn by the wind and time, yet still seemingly pliable to climb. Indeed he saw the state of disrepair had crumbled holes in a few of the bricks, lending ample hand holds for climbing. He had done so, in fact this very morning before joining Cade, climbing to the top three floors to secure a rope around an old chimney stack. It was a rope of sorts, something for them to catch or hold onto if one of them slipped, and he was thinking to use it a bit more today after the simple climbing to practice walking up and down the wall, or even sideways.

Turning to the overly large fellow, Noth smiled and asked, "So you up for a climb?"

by **Cade** on September 9th, 2011, 8:13 pm

The barbarian, drenched in sweat, looked up the wall Antar was hinting at climbing. Cade's body was screaming for the end of this day but his pride and motivation overruled the body's complaint. He looked back down at Antar and gave him his signature predatorial smirk of challenge before opening his mouth " After you Noth!"

The myrian half blood will wait tell Antar was part way up before following his smaller accomplice. He wanted to watch where the man placed his grip and footing so he would not make to much of a fool of himself falling the first few meters up.

by **Antar** on September 9th, 2011, 8:32 pm

The climb wasn't that arduos, in fact it was pretty easy there were plenty of handholds in the old smithy wall, the real problem was having to lever oneself up and look into each one to check for rats or other creatures that might not like someone sticking a hand or a foot in their nests. Ever the cautious one he stuck as close to the rope had tied as possible. Knowing that if he fell on the thirty foot climb on the rock wall a quick grab might save him a broken foot.

Each time he ventured another step, another foothold or handhold he began to pull his body upwards, supporting his weight on at least three anchors before reaching up with a leg or an arm for the the next hold. In the aftermath of the run his muscles burned with every motion , but he figured he could go a bit more. In about three chimes, he had made it a good twenty feet before grabbing onto the rope to steady himself... Looking down to see Cade standing there on the ground, Antar decided to use the rope to slowly walk down the wall before jumping back on solid ground. "The ascent is pretty easy there on this part of the wall big' fella. Don't let it scare ya'. Why don't you give it a go?"

by **Cade** on September 21st, 2011, 8:37 pm

Cade watched his smaller companion make short work of the 30 foot stone wall and then descend back down with the rope. Cade looked over to Antar with a devilish grin on his face but worry in his eyes " I was hoping you fall, so atleast i would look good at this" He chuckled before getting closer to the wall. The barbarian leaped up grabbing a ledge as he lifted his body up using just arm strength before finding a nook for his feet to gain support. Once his feet were in position Cade then extended his left arm out to reach for the next hold. His left hand had a proper grasp on the ledge as he began to left himself upwards so his right hand could reach the next ledge.

Then the familiar screech of a rat echoed to Cade's left as a sharp knawing pain ripped through his left hand. A rat bit the barbarian's hand forcing the big lug for a short free fall landing on his ass. Visible mad and verbally enraged, Cade lunched himself back up the wall to very hole the rat had attacked him. Snarling causes of all types in myrian and in basic, Cade had plunged his dagger into the hole, over and over tell the rats squealing ended and only blood streamed over the ledge. He sheathed his blade and just held there for a few moments.

The barbarian took a few deep breaths to calm him from his embarrassed rage before he continued up the wall. Like his smaller counterpart he made it up the wall, grasping each ledge and hold and using his strength the lift himself up. By the time he made it to the top Cade's muscles burned with over use while his lunges longed for more air. A few moment break was all that took Cade to recoup from the ascension before he grasped the rope and descended down the rope a little to fast. The half blood myrian cussed at the slight rope burn and the rat bight on his hand. He looked up at Antar, his eyes fired with rage but his smirk was a contradiction of humour.

"You lied to me noth......you said this was easy" He slightly chuckled wiping the blood of his hand.

by **Antar** on September 21st, 2011, 9:12 pm

Antar just shook his head ruefully, before giving the myrian a friendly slap on the shoulder. "Now come on big fella', I never imagined that you'd have to deal with an animal trying to gnaw on you Cade. I'm sure if you ask that poor dead creature, it would figure you just wouldn't taste good enough for a second bite." Struggling to keep a straight face, Noth brazenly continued, "Anyways, I think we should call it quits for the day and head back to camp to bind that up a little. You can regail Canali and the rest of how you slew a giant rat. Play it up a notch if you want, I promise I won't tell your fibbing. Tommorrow, we have a job to do."

The myrian looked at him for a moment puzzled, but Antar quickly explained. "Bit of a blood feud in some of the lesser gangs, bit of bloody work but pays right enough. We should be fine."

Turning on his heel to march back towards camp, Noth cracked a small hint of a smile on his face before trekking off... at a brisk walk of course. He'd run a little too much today and all he wanted to do was get back to camp, ensure Cade's wound was bound, and take it easy for the rest of the day.

But he knew that wouldn't happen, In two bells or so he'd make his way out to work and spend the rest of the long hours chopping down trees in the forests.
~Fin

Thanks for the read

Cade's Skill Requests: :

Antar's Skill Requests: :

by **Cachet** on September 28th, 2011, 3:06 pm

Antar :

Cade :

Conclusion:
In all it was interesting to see how the terrain was used for a training exercise.