Heavy Hands, Soft Step (Raven, Open)

[Andresciel]

He glances at Jonathan "The Warrior Knight here has his weapon and shields. But I have.. well.." He held his hands out, palms up, drawing in his res, before focusing on his djed. Tiny little cyclones formed atop his hands, the element he had an affinity for coming to life. "Arrows aren't too much hassle to blow off course. Blades, well that is where speed comes in Jonathan." He chuckles, watching the male with those dark eyes of his.

[Xalet]

Andresciel had his reason, as well as Xalet had his. Jonathan brought up a good point, and in fact it was something Xalet had considered as a young boy, long before he had ever begun training so diligently in various methods of warfare. Perhaps every young boy looks to pick up the biggest weapon they can with the hope of slinging it against mighty shield and armor, penetrating every layer of defense put before them and slaying their foes. The truth that Xalet found behind combat was much more technical than that, and it was one of the reasons that while he worked hard, he had little natural aptitude. The tactician often outmaneuvered the brute. Strength was only one element, one color with which to paint the canvass of a complete martial artist. Flexibility and agility made up their own pigments, but instinct, training, and fleetness of thought filled in everything between the lines. If someone could be molded into the shape of a sword, those attributes created the edge.

"Different people learn different styles. My style of unarmed combat was learned from my Patron, a Konti and a Sylrian Knight. She has called it the 'Eight Point Style' as it emphasizes eight striking surfaces instead of two or four. I use my feet and hands, but also the elbows and knees, both of which can be used while wielding a weapon and holding a shield." he explained. Although he had yet to draw it, Xalet unsheathed his training blade and felt it necessary to demonstrate upon the original training post he had brought. A physical representation would more likely be of help to Jonathan.

"The sword can strike." the Akalak began, moving his blade slowly against the post, "...and the sword can be blocked." he stopped the blade short, as if it had been parried, "The attack does not need to stop, the arm can be collapsed, the momentum of the forward body can be maintained, and the elbow can complete the strike." As his sword halted his forearm bent inward, as if his sword was being pushed back toward him. From there his elbow jutted outward and with a step forward the point of his mail-clad elbow cut across the post from right to left.

That wasn't all of course. "And, the sword may distract. The shield may distract." he went on further, bringing his sword again toward the post before halting it. Though he did not unsling his shield, he tapped it momentarily with his left hand before affixing his arm in front of him as if he were wearing it to defend. "Then, the attack comes low." when he said that, the actual force of his attacks were seen for the very first time. He through out a forward stomp kick. It wasn't supernatural or an act of the Gods, the simple fact was that with his armor, Xalet weighed close to four hundred pounds. When she put his weight forward and drove his foot into the post, the entire wooden stake literally ripped itself from the ground, pulling up fresh soil and rock with it. None of those strikes had ever landed against Andresciel. The Akalak's were renown martial artists for many reasons, the size of the builds and the strength of their muscles was one.

As his foot came down to the ground beside the uprooted post he slid his sword back into it's scabbard, "These arts are always useful, with a weapon or no. This is the benefit to the Eight Points style." His form was clearly better when he didn't have the pressure of being in an actual spar with a superior, maybe with enough time and training he would land one of those blows upon Andresciel.

[Andresciel]

He nods to the Akalak's explanation, picking up where he left off. "Where I use a varied style of a speed-based art. My own style is known as The Wind-Fist. It combines speed, agility with intelligence. Knowing when and where to strike an opponent is sometimes more useful then the power behind it." He chuckles softly. Most could tell, even with the bulky armor, that Andre was lean, but he held the air of a fast opponent about him.

He dismissed the cyclones, sighing as his body relaxed. "Its a hassle to try and come up with new spells in combat, so rather then use wind as an offensive. I use it like a..well support magic. I wrap it around myself to cut down the resistance in the air, allowing me to move faster, and hit harder then I normally should." He chuckles, glancing down at his leather gauntlets, "Thus why I must constantly wear some type of leather when sparring or training. It stops me from getting wind burns." He winced as he thought back to the first time he had used the Wind-Fist style. He had been red from head to toe.

He shook off the memories of his days as a squire and smiles, "But, to every positive there must be a negative. I can't do this with any other brand of Reimancy." He shrugs, looking at Xalet with a chuckle "And if an opponent can match my wind-infused speed, I'm pretty much struck." He laughs softly as he rolls his shoulder, "I'm not built for brute force or power. I'm built to be fast and agile, light on my feet."

[Jonathon DuFraine]

Jonathon nodded along with their explanation. "I suppose that's all true. I plan on keeping a safe distance from my enemies-" Jonathon tapped his bow idly with one hand- "-but, I also use a short sword, so..." Since he had nothing for his off-hand with that, some hand-to-hand lessons would not go awry.

Jonathon was suitably impressed by Xalet's show of strength, but he was more interested by Andre's magic. He had never seen anything of the like before. "So... you can control the wind with your thoughts? That's... useful, for sure." Jonathon imagined himself, using magical wind to guide his arrows to their targets while disrupting others. But it was magic, far beyond someone like him... right? Then again, Jonathon's father had grasped the concept.

[Andresciel]

"Its a minor use of Reimancy, but yes. I can summon it with a thought, it was the first art I learned." Andresciel shrugged, as he thought the magic no more then any other tool. To be used to aid him in the pursuit of peace. It was not a tool of war. "It is Wind Reimancy, and I might can teach you to tap into it. Though only a small fraction of it." The Knight stated as he brings his hand up, gathering his res, the liquid like substance used to cast magic and applied the heat of Fire Reimancy, creating a floating ball of fire. "Or I can teach you fire." He extinguished the flame by withdrawing his res from it.

[Xalet]

Oh no, Jon was showing an interest in magic, this wasn't good. From what the Akalak knew of the man, he was relatively mundane, just like Xalet. Not in the sense that he was plain and uninspired, but rather untainted by the blackness of magic. Magic just seemed to corrupt nearly everything it touched, and history was filled with even the most strongest of wills and the most brilliant of minds breaking under the stress of the art. That had to mean that it was quite simply unnatural, and not meant to be wielded by man. Instead, Xalet was of the belief that a focus on the mind and the body could overcome a lack of abilities in the way of Djed manipulation.

The Akalak took amount to lifting up the stake he had removed from it's previous position, and with a heavy thrust from his shoulders he hefted the thing up into the air before jamming it back into the softened earth. With a plate clad foot he kicked some of the dirt back around the base, packing it tightly and tested it's security by gripping the upper most portion with his hands and shaking it vigorously.

Once he felt his training device had been appropriated, he turned back toward the conversation Andresciel and Jon were having, hoping that Raven wasn't similarly enamored with the prospect of such a thing. Xalet wasn't about to come out and tell them not to put their interest in something so impressive, he wouldn't have ever disrespected a Knight in such a way and, beyond all things, it was simply his opinion. There was something...particularly unsettling about magic however. All things had a cost. Over-extending his body would result in bruising, pulling a muscle, or even perhaps heat stroke. Over-extending ones self past their magical means could do so much more, madness included. Some people simply spontaneously started bleeding. To Xalet that wasn't the balance his Patron had taught him about, that was a gamble. At the very least Xalet could make mention of a way to at least have someone overseeing Jonathon at all times if he did pursue a life of magic, "You know Jonathon, if you're particularly interested we're always looking for more squires and Knights. It's up to the enlistment officer of course, but there's always a need for those skilled in the wilderness as far as I know."

[Andresciel]

Andresciel nodded to Xalet's words. "You should enlist in the Mage Corps." The Knight Magister stated as he smiles, tapping his chin before he began to wander off, seeking his faithful companion, the little fox, Avara. She had been a gift, and one kept secret even from the most basic of minds, but she did not belong to him, nor he to her. So he never claimed her on any sheet, or to anyone. "Good day all."

[Jonathon DuFraine]

Jonathon was certainly intrigued, especially after the display of fire, but he wasn't sure if he should go for it. The honest truth was, the man named Andresciel, with his knightly demeanor and soft aura of mystery, didn't seem like the average man. By extension, magic itself didn't seem to Jonathon like the common man's art; it spoke more of an advanced tool. Jonathon laughed. "Teach me magic? An interesting idea, but I think I will remain non-magical for the time being. I know enough of those arts to be aware one doesn't enter them lightly."

Jonathon was similarly amused by Xalet's offer. He'd been offered a squire-hood before, several times before, in fact. He understood the importance and greatness of the Knights, like any Syliran, but Jonathon simply wasn't the law-and-order type. He also wasn't the type to bog himself down with duties to the people or training. If there was a more free position, as a ranger or wilderness guide or something available, Jonathon might consider that. "Thank you for the offer; I've considered it before, but the rigid structure of the Knights isn't for me. However, if you or anyone else needs help out in the wilds of the Bronze Woods, I'm your man. I know these woods better then I know myself."

[Xalet]

"A fair statement. There is a strength is structure as well though. A strong sword or a sturdy bridge is made so only by the perfection of it's building blocks." Xalet leaned one hand upon the training post as he set some of his weight into it's side, the wooden pole that made the large post creaking slightly under the stress of all that weight coming at it from a sideways angle. "But the life isn't for everyone. There's always room for...consultants though. Anyone who lives for the betterment of Sylira is every bit as valuable in my book." Knight or not, Syliras was made strong by the people that lived and worked to make it the strongest, largest, and most dependable city in all the world.

"A wise choice in the way of magic as well. Magic has a long history behind it, I've never been too ready to trust it myself. I feel it may be good to perfect oneself first, before trusting in something to enhance your skills." the large man's heavy shoulders struggled before he removed his hand from atop the post and backed slightly away from it, preparing to get back into his training exercises, "I don't know much about magic myself though. Just that it hurts, on occasion. That as it is, I'm going to get back to my training, if you wish to try out the post or me, just feel free to let me know. If you're going to be back on your way, then it's always good seeing you, Jonathon."

OOCJon or Raven, if you want to do anything further let me know (I left it open if you did), if not we can close it out and I can submit everything to Templar!

[Emblem]

Congratulations! You Get Glorious Experience! Xalet Skills Unarmed Combat- 5 XP Tactics- 2 XP Lores Defense Against Reimancy Wind Fist- Basic The Con of Heavy Armor Raven Skills Observation -5 XP Unarmed Combat- 1 XP Lores Wind Fist- Basic Eight Point Style- Basic Knightly Combat Jonathon Skills Observation- 5 XP Unarmed Combat- 1 XP Lores Wind Fist- Basic Eight Point Style- Basic Knightly Combat Andresciel Skills Reimancy- 5 XP Unarmed Combat- 5 XP Observation -1 XP Lores Eight Point Style- Basic Comments : A really great sparring thread, it was highly entertaining. Went ahead and gave a point of unarmed combat to both Jonathon and Raven for watching the entire fight. If you have objections, PM me and we will talk!