Training: Basic Weapon Care
Characters:Aikuen, Will
Location: Moledeep
Moledeep: Berke's Shed
It's a bit cooler today. Cool enough in fact, that the oldest otter decided that it might be high time to check on the axe and saw situation going on around here. Aikuen is all by his lonesome today as he scrounges around the dusty and dilapidated garden shed. Outside is his pack that lays open, and a small hatchet. Its not great. But its something. Aikuen coughs as he kicks up some dirt as he searches.
William is outside again, this time minus Amy who decreed it too cold to go outside today. The rat has been roaming the clearing of Moledeep and even briefly the woods just outside it. As he walks passed the rose garden for the forth time today he spies the otter's pack by the shed and the axe as well. He walks over and peers into the shed at the otter, "Hi, Pa. What're you up to?"
William grimaces when the otter's head hits the shelf and his ears fold back as it's contents tumble down. He gives the otter an apologetic smile, "Sorry, Pa. Want me t put that stuff back?"
Aikuen now puts both paws on the oversize handle as he tugs it from the debris, "Its okay... Just didn't expect to have anyone out and about today... Yah sure... go nuts..." he points to the... Well... It can only be classified as junk. It was probably something at one time. But rot and mold got rid of that.
William just moves the fallen junk to an out of the way spot since he doesn't see a reason to put it back if it's useless. "Don't see why not. It's not that cold out yet. And when it does get real cold that when th snow'll come." The rat is pleased as he thinks of the coming winter. "So what are you doing exactly?" he asks the otter.
Aikuen scratches some of the dirt from his nose, "I meant around here... The shed is not something people go out and see on a daily basis. Thought i was the only one... around here..." he motions around, in the shed. He tugs on the handle and it comes out slightly. Seems its either stuck or buried, "I'm getting ready... for winter... " he gives it one good hefty tug and it pretty much pops out. The otter goes flying back a little bit, landing on his bum, as he holds in his paws a great size looking axe. Fit for a badger, "I got it..." he rubs his backside now.
William chuckles a bit, "You sure did. I was walking around and saw your pack by the door of th shed and wondered what you were up to. That's a big axe. Of course there is a badger size door or two around here so shouldn't be suprised they'd have more badger sized things laying around. Can you lift that?"
Aikuen stands up and holds up the handle letting the axe head rest on the ground. The axe head is about the size is pretty darn big. It was once steel, but has rusted considerable since then. Looks like it could have been used as a weapon at one time. But its more likely used for cutting trees. Which is what Aik is looking for, "Aye it is a big Axe. I was hoping to find one... need to cut a tree... and with my dinghy little battle axe, it would have taken all season..." he pats the top of the handle which is just shy of Aik's neck, "Suspected to find something like this... just needs to be... oiled and... probably sharpened..." he wields it with both paws as he slowly bring is up and hefts it on his shoulders like a staff.
William nods, "Might be something t sharpen it with around here or in th smithy maybe."
Moledeep
Aikuen slowly walks outside. Seems he can handle it pretty well. Right now. He goes to sit in the grass right next to his pack, "We could sharpen it in the smithy. But we are just sharpening it. Not refolding the metal." he pats the space next to him. If Will so chooses to join him, "You said you wanted to learn some stuff... like training and junk... well how about I teach you how to take care of your weapons..." the axe is pretty much that.
William plops down beside the otter. "... figured that'd come up sooner or later. I've gotten a little better at it though." It's true he doesn't wear his sword to bed or when swimming anymore unless they're traveling.
Aikuen places the axe in his lap, the head just off him. He drags his pack over and pulls out a few objects. A clear vial with orange syrup looking liquid. A dirty rag, and a funky looking rock. Its rectangular in shape on one side, and rocky looking on the other. He places them on the ground next to him, as he pulls out a piece of cloth, "Rust is the number one killer of blades... Its important to oil them, after heavy use. Or once a season." he splits the cloth into to and hands him a piece.
William hmms. He's had his dagger for about three seasons now but it's in better shape since Kentar remade the blade for it earlier this season. He draws his dagger and lays it across his lap, "Ok. I know you use a whetting stone or th like t sharpen blades so how's it work?" he asks. The otter had said he could have his dagger remade if he wanted and he hopes Aik remembers saying so
Aikuen stops removing the rust and points, as he tell him what to do, "Take just a bit of the oil. Drag the cloth over the blade, just to get lubricated. That will keep the stone from jagging the blade. Then, if you have a good grip on it, start from the bottom, and lightly drag the stone on the edge. At an angle that you need... That blade will need to be more sharp than strong... Ill show you with the axe... Though ill need more strength then sharp..." he goes back to cleaning. Most of the rust has been removed, leaving odd splotches in the metal. But at least it will be rust free.
William nods a little he figures his dagger had been sharpened when it got a new blade but it has been a while since then. He watches the otter a while, "My blade's fairly clean what'll do I need t do to it?" he asks. It's true there isn't a lot of rust on his dagger but that only because the blade is so new. Before there had been a good amount of rust on it but that
Aikuen takes the dirty rag and does a light cleaning of the axe head. Removing as much of the unwanted stuff as possible. He then takes the the orange liquid and drizzles a bit on the head. The smell of the oil is overwhelming, but it doesn't smell like the oil you put in lamps, "Aye... a whetting stone..." he nods to the funky rock, "Used to sharpen a blade. When the edge has become dull... Very important..." he takes the clean rag and starts to rub the rust out. He continues, "You scarape the edge of the blade at a certain angle. The steeper the edge, the stronger it will be, but the less sharp. Need to find a nice even balance..."
William nods and takes a rag and the oil and starts to work on lubricating though he waits for further instructions after he's finished since he doesn't know what angle he needs to use the stone at for his sword.
Aikuen hums lightly as he cleans the last bit of it. He smiles, "What a crusher this must have been..." he chuckles as he wraps the oily rag around his paws, then putting the rock in as well, "Okay... for more strength. The edge need to be steep." he holds the straight side of the rock at about a 60 degree angle and he starts at the base. He slowly drags it across the edge. It makes an almost screeching noise. But it's very quiet, "Twenty times... while keeping the angle... flip sides every three or so..." He counts to three and drags the rock on the underside. He repeats this for quite a bit, until the screeching noise disappears into more of a light scrapping noise, "That's... how you can tell..." he chuckles.
William watches closely and nods/ "Ok. And what do you do differnt to make it sharp instead?" he asks.
Aikuen says, "Simple... instead holding the rock like this... you do this..." he tips the rock, so its making about a 30 degree angle now, "Then just do the same thing...twenty, every three, change..." he tosses the rock to Will, "Learn by doing mate!" he chuckles.
William smiles, "I plan to. But I don't want to ruin my sword if I don't have to."
Aikuen snorts and nudges Will a bit, "Ruin it? Heh... Unless you decided to break it for some reason... you can't actually ruin it... Just try it out, and practice... and if you still can't get the hang of it. I'll fix it for you..." he chuckles and check the axe's sharpness, by placing his thumb on the edge. Not moving it up or down, or at all. Just right on it, "Ah... that's good right there..." he then reoils the new edge.
William blinks a bit at the otter's comment but he didn't tell even Kentar how his sword had gotten broken. H shrugs it off and takes the stone trying to copy the otter's motions on his dagger. He holds the stone at a near 30 degree angle and drags it across the blade's edge slowly as Aik had done before keeping count silently as he does so before turning it around trying to do the same on the other side.
Aikuen watches as Will works on his blade, "Very good... Now turn the rock a little toward yourself... You're other yourself... There yah go... Nice even strokes... There! Now yah got it! See! It's easy!" he chuckles and pats his son on the shoulder.
William grins and nods a little doing as the otter instructs.
William says, "Thanks, Pa."
Aikuen winks as he sets the axe beside him, "No problem son... Okay. Now the next part is to test your blade. You do that by placing a claw lightly, right on the blade edge and then feeling, what it is. If it feels like its burning your claw, that means its sharp. And i mean Sha-arp!" he chuckles, "Remember to not move your claw at all. Or else you might cut yourself. Just right on it... Give it a try!"
William nods and lightly touches a claw to his dagger's newly sharpened edge, good it's sharp, he did it right. He moves his claw away from the blade the same way it had come and smiles over at Aik. "It's sharp. And I didn't cut myself on it."
Aikuen snorts, "Aye you did! Lot better than i did when they first taught me that..." he moves his preferred thumb, and makes the mouthing of pain. He chuckles, "Now... Lets see... Oiled... whet... test... Hrm..." he smiles and nods, "I think that's it... For blades anyway... Just keep it oiled, so it doesn't rust..." That goes double for otters, "And sharpen it when you need too..."
William smirks at the otter's miming then nods as he gets more instructions. "Ok. Anything else you want t show me?" he asks wiping his sword off with the rag a before sheathing it.
Aikuen gets up and dusts off his rear, "Not at the moment! That's your lesson on basic weapon care... For completing it with such... goodatude?" he snorts, "Well... you know what i mean... You can have the whet stone and the oil... Take good care of your weapons, and they will return the favor..." he hefts the heavy axe in his paws.
William grins and nods, "Thanks. Where're ya going now?"
Aikuen ahs and finds a tarp, covering the axe. He rub his chin for a minute before snapping his claw. He starts to move junk all around the tarp, successfully disguising it... as well... more junk!, "Aye I will find out soon enough. Wheelbarrows are pretty simple to repair..." he guesses. He then smiles warmly at Will, "You were going to build a wagon for the baby?" he grins stupidly, "Aww... Now aint that sweet of yah!" he steps out of the shed and rubs his sons head fur before heading toward the entrance, "Well... you can always go back to the abbey to find out... Just tell us before you go!"
William's head is rubbed and he shrugs, "We were gonna make it big enough for a small Tazan otter and a mini stoat to share and for hauling wood and things part of th time. I will, don't know if he's worked much on it or not. He was gonna work on it when he isn't doing chores for th order. I'll have t find time t go over there before too long and tell em about th twins."
Aikuen chuckles, "Heh! Well now we have twin Tazan otters. But I'm sure they will all fit... and if not, one can ride my rudder if they really wanted too!... Well whenever you go... You know... Note or tell us! Tell Benar I said 'hi'. And he is welcome to come see the twins anytime he wants too" he grins as he disappears into Moledeep, "See yah later Will!" he is off to find his lovelies!
William says, "I know. I will tell or leave a note first before I go over there. Flicky might have told some of them already. I'll see ya, Pa." The rat waves a little and goes off to sit a while in the rose garden while there are still some roses left in it.
Groups:
