Closed [The Anthonius Fighter's Pit] A Dance of Swords

Serynia decides to practice her sword fighting abilities and finds a partner to spar with

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This shining population center is considered the jewel of The Sylira Region. Home of the vast majority of Mizahar's population, Syliras is nestled in a quiet, sprawling valley on the shores of the Suvan Sea. [Lore]

[The Anthonius Fighter's Pit] A Dance of Swords

Postby Serynia on March 5th, 2014, 5:55 am

15th Day of Spring, 514 A.V.


Serynia made her way down Winthrop Alley, right outside of Stormhold Citadel to the old manufacturing plant that was now deemed the Fighter's Pit. She had passed by it a few times on her way to and from work and had promised herself that on her next day off she would try her hand at sword play.

Her father had taught her the basics of how to use the short sword made of Isurian steel that he had gifted her on her sixteenth birthday. He had wanted to teach his daughter how to defend herself as he knew how dangerous of a place the world could be. But until today she had not had much time to practice. Isurian steel was rare outside of the kingdom of Sultros, being twice as durable and half the weight as well as keeping its edges longer. It was a precious gift that her father had acquired on one of his quests as a Syliran knight and was one of Serynia's most prized possessions as it was the only reminder of her father who had recently gone missing on one of his patrols. She had no idea when or if she would ever see him again.

With the snows melting and the weather warming up, the Fighter's Pit was starting to fill up with many who had the same intentions of working on their sword fighting skills as well. Serynia was dressed in a white cotton shirt and tan pants with leather boots laced up to her knee. Her long hair was tied up in a bun instead of in loose waves as she normally had it. Setting aside her backpack and cloak, she pulled her short sword from its sheath at the belt on her waist and approached one of the training posts.

First she would need to warm up. She held the short sword in her right hand with a firm but relaxed grip testing the weight of the blade. Remembering what her father had taught her, she made sure to align her wrist with the hilt so that each strike had the strength of her wrist behind it.

Next she focused on her stance. She put her right foot in front of her left, shoulder length apart, making sure to keep her balance with her sword up in front of her. Because her short sword did not have the length and reach of a longsword favored by most knights, she would need to rely on her quickness and agility. Thus she tried to remain light and mobile staying on the balls of her feet, ready to dodge or thrust at a moment's notice.

She made some practice swings at the training post. She slashed left to right on a horizontal plane then in the reverse direction. Each time the sword made contact with the training post it left another scar in the wood but she did not stop but instead quickly moved into her next attack. Then she slashed diagonally from left to right in a downward motion and then in reverse in an upward motion. Again she did the same but this time from right to left. Finally she ended the motion with an overhead strike to the top of the training post before thrusting forward at the center of the post with the sharp tip of her blade where the heart would have been had it been a person. She repeated these swings over and over for almost a whole bell until she had worked up a light sweat.

I'm not going to get much better just practicing with a target that can't move. I wonder if there's anybody here who would be willing to practice with me? Serynia thought as she looked around the courtyard trying to find someone who looked as if they would welcome a friendly spar.
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[The Anthonius Fighter's Pit] A Dance of Swords

Postby Rachel Messer on March 5th, 2014, 7:04 pm

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It was another beautiful day in Tavasi's seasonal reign, snow had melted, birds chirping, and green leaves perched on trees. In the open air Anthonius Fighter's Pit, enthusiastic fighters, students, and instructors were already training with each other, some against a wooden dummy, while some against each other. One of the instructors, a blonde human female named Rachel Messer, was standing before a wooden dummy, holding a blunted steel longsword. She didn't use her real sharp longsword in the Pits, but borrowing the ones available on the weapon racks, using sharp weapons here could bring trouble and Gerard Anthonius disliked troublemakers, especially if it's one of his employees. Not that Rachel wanted to, she could accidentally hurt her students if she used real swords.

Steadily breathing to prepare herself, the instructor took a step forward and made a quick strike by swinging her longsword from the right to left, diagonally downwards, striking at the dummy's shoulder. The impact sent vibrations to her arm, then she quickly followed up by a powerful swing by swiveling her body to the right, spinning once, then struck the dummy's waist. "Ha!" She imagined each strike would be parried by the dummy, the instructor followed by a three-stike combo, a side strike, a diagonally upwards slash, then a powerful cleave downwards. "Ha... phew," She relaxed her stance then wiped some sweat with her left gauntleted hand, that should be enough for warm-ups. Walking to her backpack to get her waterskin, Rachel's green eyes then piqued by the sight of a... teen-aged girl with very pale blond hair that appeared white, pale skin, her slender and slim figure contrasted with what she did, holding a beautiful shortsword.

"..." The instructor was taken aback by the girl's divine beauty, shimmers could be seen on the girl's skin, was her eyes playing tricks on her? As she squinted her eyes to examine further, the shimmers... they looked like scales for some reason. What manner of human was she? Wait, was she even human? Rachel then remembered about Madame Calyn, the Konti caretaker of the Sunset orphanage she lived in, the woman had similar pale blond hair, unnatural beauty, and shimmering scales. "I see..." Rachel assumed this slender swordswoman was a Konti as well. Rachel decided to examine the Konti's performance, her grips and stances weren't that good, the mark of a novice, her slashes were lacking in energy and control, but deep gash marks were left on the dummy. Wait, is she using live weapons?! By Priskil, that shortsword looked sharp enough to cut a man's head clean off his shoulders in one strike, this girl could get in trouble, especially with that kind of skill.

Priskil help me Hoping the girl wouldn't be offended for having her practive interrupted, Rachel approached the Konti from the left, making sure to keep her distance, she coughed to get the Konti's attention, "Excuse me, Miss," The instructor gave her a polite smile, "I'm Rachel Messer, a combat instructor here in the Pit, and I... noticed you are using your own weapon, it's beautiful and sharp, but... we avoid using real weapons here, to avoid unnecessary problems," Rachel tried to be as respectful as she could, "As an instructor, I can see that you still lack proper form and balance, if you are willing, please sheathe your sword and pick up one of the practice weapons over there," Rachel gestured to a weapon rack, filled with all manner of blunted blades, including a shortsword.

If the Konti heeded her, Rachel would offer to help her and ask for her name of course, "If you let me, Miss, I can offer to teach how to wield your blade, at least the very basics, since I have little experience in shortsword, my specialty is the longsword," Rachel gave an idle wave of her left hand, "And you don't have to pay for it since I'm doing this as a sparring partner, not as an instructor." A proper instructor should hold competency in the subject she was teaching.
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Note: Radiant here, Syliras have an AS, so I'm getting her back up. ;)
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[The Anthonius Fighter's Pit] A Dance of Swords

Postby Serynia on March 6th, 2014, 6:17 am

Serynia turned to face the female human who had coughed to get her attention. The woman had shoulder length blonde hair tied in a bun with a blue bow and bright green eyes. When she introduced herself and explained that real weapons weren't used to train in the Fighter's Pits, Serynia blushed a deep red. She should've known that it was too dangerous to practice with real weapons.

She sheathed her sword and pulled the weapon from her belt placing it next to her cloak and backpack on the ground. Walking over to the weapons rack that Rachel had pointed out, Serynia picked out a practice shortsword with a blunted blade.

"Thank you for letting me know. It's my first day here training so I'm not familiar with the rules. Is it so obvious that I'm still just learning?" She chuckled. "I truly appreciate your offer and gladly accept. Avalis knows I could use any help I can get!"

Serynia thought to herself, It must be my lucky day. Here I thought I would just find another beginner to spar with and instead an instructor offers to help teach me. And for free too.

"My name is Serynia by the way. It's very nice to meet you Rachel." She held out her hand to the instructor who gave it a firm shake. Even if Rachel hadn't announced that she was an instructor at the Pit, Serynia could tell by her calloused hands that she was well experienced with how to wield a blade. While Rachel had mentioned that her specialty was the longsword, the basics of sword fighting should be similar for both weapons.

"Should we begin?" Serynia asked as she held her sword out in front of her with a firm grip and lowering her body into a fighting stance with her legs apart. She knew that if there was anything wrong with her form that Rachel would be sure to point it out.
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[The Anthonius Fighter's Pit] A Dance of Swords

Postby Rachel Messer on March 6th, 2014, 2:41 pm

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The Konti's next actions, sheathing her sword and the awkward blush on her cheeks, indicated that she didn't know about weapon safety... yet. Rachel would change that soon enough, she didn't want any good citizens to needlessly injure themselves, sure healers were just a walk away in the Soothing Waters, but injuries were never to be inflicted on purpose. There was a difference between pushing oneself to pointless injuries. The pale blonde listened to her, a good first impression, she would make a fine student. Rachel examined the shortsword that the Konti picked up, one of the worn and blunted weapons, useless as a real weapon, perfect for practice.

"You're very welcome, Miss," Since the woman looked younger and she didn't know about the Konti's lifespan, Rachel called her based on her appearance alone, "Well, welcome to the Fighter's Pit!" Rachel excitedly gestured to the Pit, both men and women sparring with each other, in swordsmanship, unarmed combat, archery, even wrestling, all manner of combat arts. Rachel winced when she saw a particularly bulky man being kicked in the crotch by his opponent, she awkwardly chuckled and shrugged it off, returning her attention to the Konti, "Ah, forgive my impudence, but may I ask about Lady Avalis? Is she... your patron God or...?" She didn't know Avalis was a Goddess, it was her first time hearing the name. If she turned out to be a benevolent God, then Rachel would gladly share her own faith in Priskil, benevolent Divines surely would know each other.

"An honor to meet you, Miss Serynia," The instructor warmly received the gesture by shaking Ser's right hand, soft golden light emitted from her palm, filling both of them with courage and eating away at their anxiety, if the Konti accepted the light of course. "Of course, but heed that my instructions are based on my experience with the Longsword, you will experience differences and I'm afraid, you have to adjust it on your own, forgive for my lack of competence," She truly needed to broaden her knowledge about weaponry, but right now, she had a spar to do. Rachel examined Serynia's form, thinking about advices she could give that would conform to the shortsword, since her sword was smaller, logically, it would be lighter, but the woman was slender and unless the Konti had unusual powers, Rachel assumed Sery had lower physical strength than her.

"Alright, first, your stances," She began, Rachel pointed to Sery's legs, "Be more firm, put your right foot forward, then," She gestured to her arms, "Hold the sword diagonally with both of your hands, right hand on top of left hand," It was a basic stance called the 'middle stance', Rachel assumed it applied to bladed weapons similar to the longsword, "With the weight difference, I imagine you will require adjustments... feel free to alter your stances until you feel comfortable in which you will feel you are ready to move swiftly and not straining any muscles."

After that, Rachel would on to grips, "I don't know about your preference, but I can only give pointers in two-handed grips as it's the one I'm confident with."
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Note: Radiant here, Syliras have an AS, so I'm getting her back up. ;)
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[The Anthonius Fighter's Pit] A Dance of Swords

Postby Serynia on March 7th, 2014, 7:08 am

When the instructor Rachel asked about Avalis, Serynia was more than happy to explain. "Avalis is the mother of the Konti, my people. She is the goddess of Visions and Divinations. I and most of my sisters on Mura where I am from worship Avalis and her twin sister Rak'Keli, who is the Goddess of Healing. I actually bear a mark of Rak'Keli on my shoulder and work as a healer at the Soothing Waters."

Serynia had been feeling a bit apprehensive at the idea of sparring with an instructor who's skill at the sword was obviously much better than her own. But when Rachel had shaken her hand, she had been surprised to see a slight glow from her palms and her fear had seemed to dissipate from that moment on.

Listening carefully, Serynia tried to adjust her stance based on Rachel's advice. She put her right foot forward and held the sword diagonally with both hands. It felt a little awkward at first to hold the short sword with both hands. She could see how with the heavier longsword that using both hands might be necessary but the lighter shortsword seldom required the need for both hands. However, using both hands might allow her to swing the shortsword with much more strength so Serynia decided to try it for now.

"I'm more accustomed to using a one handed grip I'm afraid," Serynia confessed. "But I will try with two hands and see if that makes a difference." She made a couple of practice swings at the air. Each time, she made small adjustments to her stance and grip until it felt a little more comfortable.

While she was getting used to swinging her shortsword with both hands, she felt curious to know more about her instructor. "How long have you been teaching at the Anthonius Fighter's Pit? Are you from Syliras? And which gods or goddesses do you worship?" Serynia hoped she didn't offend Rachel with the barrage of questions. Her curiosity had often gotten her into trouble but it was a bad habit that she had found was difficult to break.
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[The Anthonius Fighter's Pit] A Dance of Swords

Postby Nightmare on May 4th, 2014, 2:19 pm

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Rachel :
Skills Amount
Weapon: Long Sword +1
Diplomacy +1
Rhetoric +1
Observation +1
Teaching +1


Lore
Longsword: Three strike combo
Longsword: Side strike
Longsword: Diagonal slash
Longsword: Downward cleave
Serynia: Konti
Avalis:Mother of Konti, Goddess of Visions and Divinations
Rak'keli: Goddess of Healing


[/table2]



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