Olli
Slave
Rumpleforeskin
Posts: 35
|
Post by Olli on Jun 29, 2005 4:09:15 GMT
"So, my good squire, where do you think our trail is leading us?"
"This is the road to Tyl, as per the sign. Are we going to Tyl?" Simon asked curiously, riding up to side with his master as they usually did once outside the city.
Sir Barbaras shook his head. "No, Simon. Although a fair guess, we are not taking the road all the way to Tyl. Our destination lies a day or so away from Raphoe, and I will tell you a bit of the city while we ride."
"But, my Lord, should we not be cautious? You know I have not traveled beyond the gates of Raphoe since I was 7, but I hear that highwaymen are a sight that is often seen by travelers."
"The rumours are true, highwaymen and other such bandits roam freely around Raphoe on it's roads. But you are with a knight. Knights are not taken lightly as it is not just a simple murder crime if you kill a knight. Charges won't just drop, the search will continue until the offender of law is caught and put to justice. Not that I expect any highwayman to best me in combat, I really expected your thoughts of me to be a little higher." Sir Barbaras said with a playful and teasing smile. He was a man of age, but his humour was intact.
"Of course, my Lord. I apologise, I would never doubt you." Simon said, noting the smile but still clinging on to etiquette as a safety blanket.
The knight and knight to be rode on as Sir Barbaras told his protege of the city of druids, of it's spectacular structure and construction, with it's four levels of importance.
"So the first level is where the bulk of the Tylians live, and the second level is where the slightly wealthier people live and where the main trading network is. The third level is where the nobles live, and one is only allowed to enter if he can show papers of permission from a noble or if he bears the tabard of a noble. The fourth level, the Sanctum, is where Prince Kelios resides in his castle, and where the four great temples are situated, along with the barracks of Tyl." Simon said, finally having it all in place.
Sir Barbaras nodded and then began telling his protege of the mercenary guild and the temples. Simon recognized a good deal about the temples, and stored the names of the high priests in his head. He'd always been good with names and faces, although numbers just weren't his thing. The squire rode next to his master and mentor, dutily listening to every word of wisdom he said. Sir Barbaras kept throwing words off of him and Simon sucked everything up, storing every detail he was told in the back of his head.
After a little while, Sir Barbaras stopped his constant stream of words to halt and take a look at Simon. He frowned and Simon knew he was being measured, but he kept his stone face. Apparently, Sir Barbaras was satisfied because he smiled and dismounted.
"Time for a few drills."
|
|
Olli
Slave
Rumpleforeskin
Posts: 35
|
Post by Olli on Jun 29, 2005 5:03:20 GMT
Sir Barbaras took his horse by the reigns and lead it to the side of the road, and tied it to a branch of a tall oak tree, looming over the road. Simon sat still, but dared to send his mentor a set of curious eyes while he drew two wooden practice swords from a saddle bag. The knight went with long steps over to Simon's pony and gently threw one of the blunted swords to the his squire.
"Dismount if you would please, and tie up your fair pony by Ahannanon." Sir Barbaras said as he turned his back to Simon who dismounted and took his unnamed beast to side with Ahannanon, the great warhorse which had served Sir Barbaras for quite some time now, although Simon was uncertain of how long exactly. He then stepped over to his master who smiled and gave a salute with his blunted sword. Simon returned the salute and Sir Barbaras' smile widened.
The knight then broke into a slowmotion charge, bringing his sword upon Simon's knee slowly so the squire could react and parry the wide swing. He was then assaulted by a swing towards the head and a stab towards the guts, still in slowmotion. Simon parried the blows, also moving slowly of course but still being pressed by his master. Simon had barely received any combat training, and was reacting more out of instinct than skill, but Sir Barbaras recognized this and kept the tempo down. The knight then abruptly stopped and held a hand to signify the break.
"I shall show you a few parries. As it is now, you are almost panicking when I attack, and your instincts are taking over. That is fine since I have not yet trained you much in the art of weaponry, but as a knight, it will not do." Sir Barbaras stated and then waved his squire up close. "Help me get out of my armour, if you would please."
Simon first took the steel plate helmet which hung by a chain around Sir Barbaras' neck, and placed it on his cloak which he spread out on the grass. He then took off the rest of the armour, part by part as his master stood still and the bunch of polished plate mail armour grew until Sir Barbaras stood in his set of quilted cloth, which was made simply to protect against annoyance from the steel plates. It bore his colours and anyone with a sense of Raphian Heraldry would recognize him as the knight he was, Sir Barbaras.
"Good. Now, stand with your feet slightly apart. Wider than that, but the feet should not be that far apart, you won't be able to counter attack quickly enough if you have to drag your back leg all the way up front. Yes, like that." the kngiht said, holding a hand by his chin, rubbing it thoughtfully as he used his wooden sword to give Simon a gentle pat where he would have to modify his stance.
"Now, I will attack. A blow to the head, arcing upwards. It is quite an often sight and the parry can be used against this strike, as well as one to either shoulder." Sir Barbaras slowly moved forward and was about to swing his sword when Simon moved his front foot backwards, flinching as the sword came.
"Wrong. Do not change your stance unless I tell you to, and you must not move until the attack has arrived. Again." Sir Barbaras once more motioned to attack and was pleased to see that his protege learned from mistake, he stood still and awaited the blow. However, he was less than impressed by the almost panicked parry presented to him.
"Right, not like that. Attack me and I will show you." the knight said and quickly drilled himself back into the position, awaiting Simon's blow which came considerably faster, although it wasn't the fastest Simon could swing. Sir Barbaras swiftly parried the sword away as if with the flick of a wrist and brought his sword up close to Simon's neck. He smiled and let his squire loose.
"Did you see what I did?"
Simon blushed slightly and shook his head. "I apologize master, I did not quite see it."
"Do not fret, good Simon. We have much time to practise, try and attack me again, a bit more slowly this time so you can see what I am doing." Sir Barbaras said and beckoned for Simon to attack. He did, and this time he dutily noted all of the knight's movement. Sir Barbaras brought his sword swinging down to the left, circling upwards and catching the sword before it collided with his head. He followed Simon's sword down to his right and stepped forward while bringing his sword to Simon's neck.
"This time, did you see what I did?"
"I do believe so, Sir."
"Are you ready to try again?"
"I am, Sir."
Sir Barbaras smiled and attacked, slowly enough for Simon to react and parry as his mentor had done, bringing his sword around in a circular motion, catching the oncoming sword and following it down, stepping up and stopping his sword by the neck of his master. Sir Barbaras smiled and nodded, stepping back and saluting with his sword again, signalling his attack. The drill continued and Simon parried five times before Sir Barbaras stopped him again.
"Progress, but you are still flinching. Do not let your opponent know that you know what to do, then he might consider a different attack. Stay still until the split second before the sword hits your head. Again."
Sir Barbaras continued to attack and Simon continued to parry until the knight stopped his stream of swings, and held up a hand to halt Simon.
"Good, have something to drink and we will practice a few other parries."
|
|
|
Post by Brad the Inhaler on Jun 29, 2005 7:14:22 GMT
OOC: nice, 35xp
|
|
Olli
Slave
Rumpleforeskin
Posts: 35
|
Post by Olli on Jun 29, 2005 13:26:28 GMT
ooc: Cheers!
ic: After taking a single swig of water, Simon turned to Sir Barbaras again, ready to continue. The knight smiled at the young man's enthusiasm and drove a hand through his hair. He then went forward and saluted Simon with the wooden sword again.
"Right, you have mastered that parry and you won't improve more with it until you try it out in combat or a duel. Now, for parrying blows to your upper body, where you will find most attacks targeted." Sir Barbaras stated, pointing his practicing sword at Simon's torso.
"Excuse me Sir, but why aren't the most attacks directed at the head? It seems to be the most vital point."
"It is, but think of the size of a head, contrary to the size of your upper body. It is harder to hit and easier to protect, so you will find many attacks coming towards your torso. Now, make a stab at my chest if you would please." Sir Barbaras explained and dropped into his stance.
Simon took a step forward and stabbed out with his wooden sword, taking note as Sir Barbaras easily parried it by twisting his wrist and followed Simon's sword out to the left before following up with a counter stab. Simon nodded, signalling he understood and Sir Barbaras saluted with his sword, then stabbed forward. Simon tried to copy his master's move, but failed and his attempt resulted in a rushed circular motion with his entire arm. It worked but was less than elegant. Sir Barbaras didn't comment on the sloppiness but just saluted again, and stabbed out. This time Simon got it right. The pair continued working the parry a fair number of times before Sir Barbaras stopped.
"Good, and now for a horizontal blow to the chest. Attack me if you would please."
Simon did as told and Sir Barbaras raised his elbow, and met the sword with his own, stopping it.
"Yes, and repeat to the opposite side."
Simon struck out again, swinging his sword from the left as opposed to the first time when he swung from the right, and again the blow was parried with a minimum of effort. Without a word, Sir Barbaras saluted with his sword and they practiced the parry a number of times until Simon was somewhat confident with it, on both sides.
"For a swing aimed at the legs, simply do the same parry as the body blow, and lower your arm a bit. We won't have to practice that, it is fairly easy to comprehend." Sir Barbaras explained, Simon just nodded and wiped his forehead from sweat.
"Now, with that over with, let us mount our beasts again and ride. We will rest by nightfall. My armour." Sir Barbaras said smoothly, as Simon began taking the steel plates and strapping them on to Sir Barbaras, together forming the impressive full plate around the knight. He smiled and stashed both wooden swords in the saddle bag once again, then mounted Ahannanon. Simon went over and untied the horses and then mounted his own pony, dreaming of the day he had the money to buy a war horse himself.
"Let us set out to our destination, we still have a good way to travel."
|
|