School of hard knocks ( ricky)

[Ximal]

48th Spring 513AV

Leaving the confines of the hostel, Xi began another look around teh city, the vast expanses of this large city was just too much tl leave alone, a simple life for simple people. However this was more of a military city than a religious one, the monks held the power, the elite fighting force of the city. Xi sighed and looked for something to do with his time, he could go training but after events past he really didn't feel a want to go and explore so much as go and think. heading down towards the western quarter away from the major hustle and bustle of the early city. The monks were the city's power house, but then again that meant there wasn't much crime so guards were in short supply so for once Xi found himself with nothing to do, he had some time to himself, to think to learn to grow to train or even help other people. It was strange, the moment he was given the freedom to act as he wanted he didn't know what the heck to do with it, it wasn't like the could go and train with the monks most were strong vastly superior to his lowly skill, but then again he couldn't train by himself either, what with him looking like a monk and ever five minutes hearing someone say that he should be paroling the city instead , until they saw his face and immediately looked down theri nose at him.

[Ricky Maze]

Ricky was lost. He had NO idea Nyka would be this big. The city was new to him and he was still figuring out what laws where abided here. The monks surely proved intimidating enough whe he saw them, and what was even worse was the fact he still had two broken ribs. That's Sunberth for you though, and Ricky had learned a very important lesson from it. The good thing was that the dark circle from his left eye was hardly even noticable. Almost gone for good, but still noticeable all the same.

He wasn't sure where to begin when he started looking for her, but his idea of making a clockwise circle took him to the western area. From there he would begin asking people if by chance they had seen the woman he was looking for. This continued on until he needed a break, which led him to ask a man who was dressed like one of the monks of the city.

Sorry to bother ya sir, I'm lookin for a lass see. She's about," He took a moment to consider her height to him and his hand was about midway to his chest, "yay high with red orange hair. Probably had a sassy attitude if ye heard or spoke to her." He wasn't sure what other information he could give that would help, so he waited to hear the reply of what he believed to be a monk.

[Ximal]

As Xi was sunk in thought he took a moment to think about the events that had befallen him, the things that had happened in the aperture... Some how he'd survived but now he was here in the middle of a city that didn't care about anything other than order. Being honest with himself he felt...A little alone. Then a voice Asking him if he'd seen a woman. Flicking his eye's up from the ground he saw the figure raise his hand to about level with his chest before continuing on to say. About this high. Xi glanced at him before rising to his feet and standing over the smaller man. Then he caught sight of the man's face, a broken or what looked to be broken nose, a black eye. "Sorry i haven't seen someone like that, hough everyone's kinda that height to me..." Tiling his head slightly Xi glanced down at the man again. "I'm guessing you've been in a fight, The remnants of a black eye tell me that much. What exactly happened ?"

[Ricky Maze]

"Sorry i haven't seen someone like that, hough everyone's kinda that height to me..." When Ricky looked to the man's eyes his height was particularly outstanding. This would be the second time this season he actually met someone that towered over him, therefore making him feel puny to them; even though he stood a little higher than the average height. "I'm guessing you've been in a fight, The remnants of a black eye tell me that much. What exactly happened ?"

"Ah yes well," Ricky rubbed the back of his head feeling a little embarrassed, "Long story short, few guys back in Sunberth gave me the warm welcome to their city." He wasn't necessarily ashamed about the incident, the fact that he had to bear the sign that he was beaten down did have that effect however. He may have felt lesser of a man inside, but at the same time he felt more of a better person. For he refused to fight such rabble without a cause, and therefore he wore his black eye and red nose with pain and embarrassed pride.

"They wanted a fight because I was a foreigner, so they decided to press the issue on me. Ye can see how that turned out." There was a small grin that he couldn't hide, one that proved he was glad to have refused. Being beaten down may have hurt sure, but the fact that he stuck true to his morals and made out alive was something to feel proud of.

[Ximal]

Xi listened to the man before him explain the situation regarding the nose and the eye, a stop in sunberth...Not exactly the wisest choice to make however given the facts...He may have not had a choice. Xi sucked in a deep breath, pulling back the hood from his head, revealing the hard and rather firm features. "Sounds lie sunberth...I should know after all it's my home city. Not the best place in the world, but if you want to learn now to survive? Well then there is no-where better. As the man before him continued Xi couldn't help but ponder. Had he refused to fight them ? because that was the only reason they would have " pressed further." Though the foreigner issue wasn't exactly a major one given the fact sunberthians fought anyone at the drop of a hat. Xi sighed lightly and brought a hand up to press the bac of his neck lightly and ease some of the tension from it. "Well mind if i ask, but why'd you turn em down ? after all, that's the only reason they would have pressed. Most people from that gods forsaken city deserve to get an ass kicking once in a while.Though if your not fond of killing people just use your hands." Xi was a little perplexed to say the least. What exactly had this fella denied in a fight, he should have at least heck the whole world should have at least gotten dome form of way to fight without a weapon. It's a much safer way to fight, using your hands that is. As you can control wether or not you kill someone with greater ease. Eitehr pacifying them or killing them out right."

[Ricky Maze]

"Sounds like Sunberth...I should know after all it's my home city. Not the best place in the world, but if you want to learn now to survive? Well then there is no-where better." Ricky chuckled as he couldn't agree more, which led to him wincing as his upper right chest felt the sharp sting. Laughing was something he tried to avoid for a while, it was bad enough both sides would hurt occasionally. Sunberth was a place he never would've went to, but the amount of time to trek the Wildlands would've been far greater than travel by ship.

In a way Ricky was ok with the beating he took, to him it was just something he had to endure in order to get here. "Well mind if i ask, but why'd you turn em down? After all, that's the only reason they would have pressed. Most people from that gods forsaken city deserve to get an ass kicking once in a while. Though if your not fond of killing people just use your hands. It's a much safer way to fight, using your hands that is. As you can control wether or not you kill someone with greater ease. Either pacifying them or killing them out right."

Before Ricky realized it slight smirk appeared on his face. Sure the he could've defended himself proper, but what good would that have done? To him that would've just given the rabble what they wanted, a fight with a random stranger. "It was because I wasn't gonna allow myself to be like them. I didn't wanna lower myself to their standards. I'm better then that and I know it, so why give them what they want." He spoke with confidence in his voice, almost as if he were proud to accept such a beating. Even though that wasn't the case at all, his way of looking at the situation was what allowed him to remain in control; he wasn't going to let himself blackout like he did in Fall.

I never really was good at fighting with my hands, swordplay I'm a bit decent. Other then that I really ain't a fighter." He admitted with a content expression. "Plus after the first hit landed, everything was just kinda sudden afterwards."

[Balderdash]

Delicious rewards! Happy days and jubilation!

Skill	XP Awarded
Observation	1
Socialization	2
Storytelling	1

Lores: Nyka: It's Big!, Asking Giants For Help, Sticking To Ones Guns... Even If They Might Get Broken, The Thug Life Chose Me, Then I Punched It In The Face. By Not.

Items and Consequences: Nil.

A pity the thread was cut short. Oh well!

If you have any questions or concerns about this grade, please PM me. A happy you is a happy Balderdash!