More Swordplay
Characters: Aikuen, William
Location: Moldeep
Moledeep: Training Arera
It's early in the morning again. And it's time for another private lesson. This time its a certain rat who claims to know how to fight. Aik will soon test that theory. And give him some pointers. He leads the male rat into the deep thicket into the training arena. They area is littered with broken sacks and barrels. And javelins for some reason. He heads over to one of the empty barrels as he takes off his habit, and starts his breathing exercises. His eyes are very bloodshot and the bag under them could carry bags of their own.
The afore mentioned rat may have some learning to do as far as fighting goes but it's not like he's a stranger to the concept. There were days he remember when he could go a single step without begin attacked by somebeast. He stretches a little as the otter does his breathing thing. Will'd left his cloak inside as he wont need it. The chain holding his wedding band is hidden under his tunic to keep it from catching on anything, soon he wont need the chain.
Aikuen places his paws in front of him. His right fist pressing into his left palm. Centering himself. He then takes a deep breath and says, "Okay..." he walks over to the center, where a barrel pyramid is set. He picks up one of the bags with an angry face and places it on top. He points to it, "Kill it..." is all he really says. And he steps back to watch what happens.
William draws his sword the takes to the bag the same as he would a real beast. His style if you will isn't very fancy but it's fluid and, in the past, has always been effective.
Aikuen watches and nods, "Good... Very good..." The bag is easily 'dealt' with. Little explosion of leaves. But all in all a clean kill. He walks over and says, "Okay. Now show me your stance..." then he will get to the training at hand.
The rat stops when the otter tells him and hesitates a little before getting into a sort of stance. It may be a bit off he's not sure. He's never had to think about it before, it just was automatic. He's basically just standing there, upper body lowered slightly clearly ready to fight. It the same position he always returns to when fighting or needing to watch his back. For a long time this was the way he always stood. "... This may not be right but it's what I've always done. ... I mean I never had any real training before I met you and this is that worked then so I stuck with it." the rat says trying to explain away his lack of training as if the otter didn't already know all this.
Aikuen rubs his chin and says, "Actually. The reason why i asked why. Is because i wanted to see what what your style is. We both use a short sword... Since you have a semi one, I'm going to work off that... Watch my stance..." he pulls out his sword and places it toward the enemy, above his head. Making a circle with his arm. He then places his palm straight forward and slightly bent. And then. He bends down low, bending his knees greatly and then resting on the balls of his feet. He says, "My stance is all about equal offensive" He slices quick and low. Then goes into second position, "And defensive..." he blocks forward and moves his left paw in a circle motion, as if disarming an opponent. He gets out of his stance, "Your natural stance. Puts emphasis on defence... Rather than offensive. Its very natural as a starter." he then moves into position. Looks to be the same as Wills stance. Except his back is straight, and his sword slightly bent at his side.
He then grunts as he moves into three blocking techniques in the blink of an eye, before twirling on his feet to face backwards. He nods, "Do you understand this concept?"
William watches the otter closely then moves a ways away to try and copy what his father'd just did. "I think so." he says answering the otter at last.
Aikuen nods, "Good... Now. If you have any question about anything. Please don't hesitate to ask. Even if it sounds stupid. The sword is very unforgiving to those who don't know how to wield it..." he spins the sword in his paw. Which is a feat, without some sort of basket to go with it. Her nods, "Alright! Assume... Your stance... Lets run some drills. Just follow me, and try to motion it. Don't worry if its not perfect. That's why its training..." he nods and gets into first stance.
William moves into the stance without too much trouble. He's need to not think about it so much and just do it. He nods to otter when he's ready as he's not sure if saluting is called for or not.
Aikuen watches Will and nods, "Okay. First attack is simple..." he slices up and the the left, "Then just bring it back..." He slices horizontal, "Practice that. Then we will work with free paw movements..." he nods.
William nods again and gets to work. It's not hard at all. Up. Left. Back Up. Left. Back. Horizontal. Up. Left. Back. Horizontal. And on it when. Up, left, back. Right. Left. Up, left, back. And so on.
Aikuen steps back and watches his son. Nodding and critiquing, "Good. Remember to keep your arm slightly bent. Smooth motions. Don't force the blade. Your blade will cut no matter what power you put behind it... That's right... Okay. Next we are going to add paw movements. Take this part slow, until you get the hang of it don't want to chop off your arm..." he chuckles, "Okay. First stance. And when you move the blade up and left. Move your left paw up. Like your raising your paw. Your forearm perpendicular to your shoulder.... Then. On the horizontal slice. Follow the blade close behind. With your paw flat that moves with it. Make sure to keep it a good distance away... But keep it close... Alright your turn..."
William does as the otter instructs him, slowly, getting a feel of the new technique. He continues like this til the Aikuen tells him to stop then waits for further instructions.
Aikuen nods, "Good good. Now. The reason why we do this. While attacking. Your going to be blocked. That's obvious enough. The short sword cannot hold against an opposing attack with just one paw. We do this... To add more strength against the blade when it is blocked." He places his paw on the flat of the blade and pushes back, "Its just a precaution. But most of your attacks will follow this pattern... Okay. Before we begin the next thing... Any questions?" He asks going toward the barrel he through his habit in.
William thinks a moment but can't come up with any important questions so he shakes his head to show he's ready to move on.
Aikuen listens for an answer. But he doesn't get it he nods, "Right..." he pulls out a stick and tosses it at Will, "Training stick... Shape and weight of a short sword..." he pulls out another for himself, "Attack me. With that move I just taught you. I promise you wont hurt me... Believe me..." he steps up and takes a stance.
Will sheaths his sword the takes the training sword. He weighs it in his paw a bit before going into the first stance and attacking the otter
Aikuen is completely ready for the attack and blocks each one without much trouble. But he is not blocking with much force as he normally would, "Good. Harder! Faster! Do it! Gogogo!" he yells at the rat.
The rat slowly increases his speed, putting more force into his attack as he grows for comfortable with this new method of fighting.
Aikuen blocks each one in turn before saying, "Okay... Now I'm going to try to break through your defence. This is where the paw movements come in handy... When you feel me pushing back. Put your paw on the blade and try to push me back..." he then puts a heavy amount of force in the first block. And if the rat didn't do it right. He would lose his sword, or be thrown back.
William seems to be holding his own at first but then down he goes. He manages to keep a hold of his 'sword' though and moves it up to block any further attacks as he gets up.
Aikuen reaches up and with a swirl. Dragging the blade across the rats. And he easily disarms him. Its much easier when their down. He then places the tip of the stick near Wills throat, "Very good try. Now get up. And we can try again..." he moves the stick away and kicks Wills stick near him. Going back in a stance.
William's arm hurts from having his stick sword taken away. He'd held on to it the same as he would a real sword. Ow. When Aik removes his stick point from the rat's throat and kicks his 'sword' near the rat grabs the stick and rises going back into first stance.
Aikuen smiles, "Good. Now. Pay attention. My block will not be the same as last time..." and he waits to block. When the rats starts to go at him again. He waits until about the third pass this time. To try to knock him back again. Using the same ferocity as before.
William nods and tries again. He is determined not to get knocked over this time. He moves his left paw to the flat of his blade as Aikuen had showed him and pushes back against the otter with all his might.
Aikuen smiles as he is pushed back. Well. Held back. He nods, "That's it... Now push! KNOCK ME BACK!" He leans forward putting most of his weight into pushing the rat back.
Will is trying but the otter is bigger and no doubt heavier than he is. This may take a while if he's to knock Aikuen down but the rat isn't giving any ground in the meantime
Aikuen chuckles, once he knows how this will end. But he is happy for that "Yes... Okay. Now. When we are like this. As you can see. Our waists down are un-protected..." he lets go and jumps back, "And that is how you defeat an opponent like me. I am bigger than you. And just sheer weight. I will win... Trip me. And get me on the ground..." he nods, "Okay son. That was excellent. Take a minute breather. Then we will work on the next set..." he says as he sits down in the slush.
William plops down to rest a little before the next lesson starts. "When do you think th snow will be gone?" he asks.
Aikuen scratches his chin before going to pick up the snow, and let it drop back to the ground. Its definitely slush, "A few more weeks. Probably two more. Glad to have it gone. And things will start to grow again." he hums, wiping his paws on his pants.
William hrms, "Well it was nice while it lasted. ... Not much left of it now." He scoops up a small pawful of slush and lets it slide through his claws. "Ready?" he asks standing up again.
Aikuen chuckles, "You're silly. Aye. Come on." he gets back up, "Okay hand me the stick. We are going back to the blade for now..." he goes over to the barrel, "This next one. Is another attack move...." using the stick this time he goes into first stance, "Alright straight down... Then straight across and back again. Its kinda weird the going back. As all the motion you used to move it forward. You need to go against, to move it back. But make the last slice count more than the other." he does it a few times, "Okay. Go for it."
William hmms as he passes the stick back to Aik and draws his short sword again. He assume first stance and strikes at the barrel down and then to one side and back. Then again with more force in the last swing.
Aikuen nods, "Good. Now it may seem simpler than the first one i taught you. Because. On the back swing. You cannot follow it with your paw. So you must. You must. Only make that last swing. If the first two swings manages to knock back the opponent. Or else you will be completely open to an attack. a few more times..."
William nods and attacks the barrel again and again following Aikuen's advice. Down, side, more force left paw up other side. He does this several more times.
Aikuen says, "Alright. Catch..." he tosses the stick back, "One more round with me. Then we well call it in for lunch..." he goes into position, "After a bit. I will integrate both attack skills... Ready?" he says. Going in for the first, yet when the rat is ready.
William resheathes his sword and takes the stick sword from the otter. He's going to try to do better this time.
Both sticks clash against each other. The otter starts off with the second move. Slowly going into the first move. The rat is able to move from each situation with relative ease. Then they go stick to stick again, and Aik pushes him back quickly. But the rat could keep himself up. If he tried.
William does try and pushes hard against the otter planning to trip him up once he has the chance.
Aikuen grunts as he is about to throw the rat back when his leg gets knocked out from under him. He ergs as he loses balance for a few seconds. But his years of experience kick in, and he manages to stay up. By making a very swift twirl on his other paw. Then with his chance. He lowers himself to the ground and makes a sweeping motion of his rudder, under Will. Unless the rat was expecting that. And jumped up at the right time. Will would be knocked off his feet.
William wasn't expecting Aik to be tripped easily and does except some kind of sneaky otter trick. He does jump, but even though Aik didn't trip him the otter may have gotten an opening anyway. Will lands and goes into third stance whether he should or not. He thinks he's ready for anything the otter may try on him.
Aikuen was hoping to knock him down, and that would be the end of it. So he is slightly surprised when the rat is still up. So the opening left by the rat is lost and his head tilts at the stance. Aik smiles, going into his personal stance. And he goes into an attack not seen ever by the rat. But he is going in slow on purpose. So the rat can move an' adjust. Active learning.
William switches to first stance a little unsure of how to fight the otter but at least he'll do it a bit more properly now. He put his recent training to good use while jabbing at the otter when he can. His eye glances sides right then left slowly to see if maybe he could use some of the equipment to his advantage in his fight.
Aikuen bats at him left and right. But the rat is able to to defend himself quite well. The otter nods, "Alright. Good. Very good. You will be able to handle yourself quite well... Three two one..." he bats hard with a right and the rat flinches his paw. The otter than bats at it hard with a left then a down. Knocking it out of his paw, and the rat to the ground. He goes over and says, "You are very good... Come on. Lunch time..." he reaches down and helps the rat up. He pats the slush off him, before putting a paw on his shoulder, leading him back into the hall, "I think that's it for today... Come on... I see hardtack in our future" he chuckles, before the leaving the clearing.
Groups:
