Solo A Broken Dummy

[Septimus]

Fall 60th, 512AV (Early Morning) Just two days ago, Septimus had come across a terrible sight after trekking up on the way back from the bay in which she was at now and that did not go to well. Septimus had already placed the worn practice dummy into the sand with a very hard thrust. Her muscles had recovered from it all since yesterday she had taken it easy on herself. Resting had helped her body heal, it had helped her body recover. The recovery process was important in Septimus' life right now especially when her muscle building rate was at its highest that it had ever been in her history. To prevent any pulled muscles the Kelvic stretched her arms and legs, even popping her large back. In the process, she took into account of how much her muscles had grown already. Damn, was I that out of shape?!? Her thighs were toned as she bent down, rolling her hands down her legs to relax and calm the tissues inside for the burning sensation they were soon about to feel. Septimus did this with her arms as well, feeling every bump, every hill, and every notch in her arm. She was getting to her ideal vision of a trained Squire for the Kelvic had not reached that very important goal in her life just yet. Septimus had decided that she needed to try new tactics to fight. New successful tactics that wouldn't fail her. She already had the Triangle Stance as well as the Screening technique in which both involved her shield and sword. However, what if either of these weapons and defendants were ripped from her tight grip hands? She would be left with one or the other and this was quite a reasonable possibility in the world of combat and fighting. However, needless to say, Septimus would not be forgetting these stances. As a matter of fact, the Kelvic was practicing the Triangular Stance right now, then cutting into the wooden put together in the chest area like practiced. With every time she practiced she would notice that her strikes grew every bit more accurate. Every hit grew more powerful as well, as she would find something to trigger that special explosion every time that was adrenaline infused. Whether this gun powder be thoughts of the slavers taking her family away or even the aged man from two days ago, it pulled back the trigger, sending that bullet through her body then hitting and causing that explosion. The practice dummy now had many cuts, dents, nicks, and bangs all around it, even in the back part of it where she had gotten just enough energy to come around and practice the sneak attacks. Perhaps that was another thing to practice today? She hadn't practiced her sneak attacks very much at all and maybe that was just another thing to add to her list of training techniques. Perhaps she could perfect it and soon work with it enough to the point where she might could become stealthy enough to use it in her work. Yes that was it, a sneak attack! Brilliant plan if she could stay quiet and keep her large self from making any sort of sound waves that could reach the ears of her victims, the enemy. Maybe she could even teach it to others if it got good enough when the time came. But how exactly would a sneak attack help on the frontline? She would be facing them head on, not from behind. Just push it away for later, Septimus. It might possibly come in handy. Septimus shrugged then stepped in front of the dummy, tracing her fingers over one of it's most deepest ever marked wound. After this, her stretched muscles and mind were ready. She was prepared physically and mentally then she struck the dummy with full force leaving another mark but not quite as deep as the one her finger had previously traced. That was her problem. She needed to explode so much that a new mark would be born and become deeper than that one. The question was, what had caused that explosion? What was something that angered her so much to make that mark? Was she even thinking about it at the time? How could she even remember for she could not remember things when she was angry. Maybe large obvious stuff but not the small and intricately woven details that made the story an interesting one to tell. Remembering everything that had angered her all at once and together, she then took a deep breath, then struck again, which created an even deeper mark than the one she had been examining. A mark that was three times deeper. But this explosion would not work forever. She needed something else to cause an explosion. But hopefully in battle, the adrenaline would provide all the gunpowder she would ever need.

[Septimus]

A slight breeze blew through the air tossing her unguarded and shiny blonde hair to the wind. There was no adrenaline in her her body at all. She was having to practice on her own man power with her own energy with no aid or help. This is good, Septimus. You need to train without any help so then when the time comes and you do receive extra help, you'll be better then when you started receiving that help. To sum that up, you'll be stronger than before you were when you began training without the adrenaline. Just continue, Septimus! The Kelvic chuckled slightly at her inner conscience then got into the triangular stance once more. Her left leg behind her shield was put forward like practiced, with her right leg (being on the side of her broadsword) put back out of the reach from her opponent. She did her hips like she was taught, then transitioned her weight forward which allowed the Kelvic to gain momentum going forward. Septimus bent her legs to help some of the impact then protected her very important soft parts with her shield and she struck with a hard and sturdy force behind her broadsword, cutting at it's chest area once more delivering a deep cut mark. The Kelvic repeated this strategy quite a number of times before becoming satisfied with the amount of ass she was putting into it. Tossing her shield aside, she used both hands with the sword for these next new moves and maneuvers she was attempting to put into her list of adequate and usable techniques. Septimus placed the sword on her shoulder, then spun, using the momentum to throw out her sword with force, then turn rapidly and strike at the dummy, making sure to cut effectively. Despite this being successful Septimus didn't like the feel of that random move and decided to discard it. It leaves too many open points for the enemy to strike while you're spinning. Don't use it unless you want to become freshly sliced Kelvic meat. Septimus took a deep breath after that was thought and considered, then cast her sword aside, picking up her shield to begin with it. Now that her sword was on the ground, she switched her shield to her right hand so it was more sturdy and experienced with precise and wanted hits. The Kelvic stepped back then charged, rolling her hips and transitioning her weight into the shield for harder impact and a stronger hit on the dummy and that's exactly what happened. From the repeating attacks in the lower area of the torso on the dummy, it had grown weaker than Septimus had first thought and if she would have known this prior to the technique she would've never performed it right then for the dummy snapped in half. "What the petch?" But it was already too late for when it snapped, she kept going and landed on the rough and grainy sand with a groan. She rubbed her head, wiped her eyes, then stood back up only to later pick her shield right back up. Smooth. Now what, Septimus? Spitting on the sand, she examined the broken dummy through hard eyes and back up. What would she do with it now? It was broken wood, there was no use for it! Sighing, she pulled out the flint and steel she had been carrying around in her pocket then tugged the new wooden stake out of the ground then put it's other half beside it. From ash to ash. Septimus pulled a loose string off her pants to use as a starting fuel for the spark the flint would create then crush it all up into a very small and tangled ball on top of the wood then struck the steel with the flint several times before producing any thing helpful to her benefit. The Kelvic then watched as a very small flame caught on the small ball of string then spread to the canvas of the dummy. Luckily, the smoke was white so it wouldn't cause any unwanted attention before expanding and disappearing into the air. Once she saw that the fire had almost already engulfed the wood, she caked sand around it so it wouldn't spread then sat beside it, enjoying the warmth and also supervising it to make sure it didn't spread. Septimus would occasionally blow on it to increase the production of the fire then sit back and watch it do it's purpose. Soon the small pieces of wood were down to their lowest point and the fire went out. Septimus kicked sand on it to smother any hot coals then buried the remnants in the sand. Sighing, Septimus gathered her shield, the rope, and her sword, then began to walk in the direction of the path leading up to the higher tiers of Riverfall. Septimus knew she was low on mizas and couldn't afford to buy another dummy. And that was another problem! She was running low and needed to find work that would pay. Perhaps she could ask around and see where she could go? Now that she didn't have anything to train with besides her muscles and bodybuilding, maybe she could put that to the test when she worked.

[Septimus]

Septimus' mind had been clouded with thoughts about training and the battle that she hadn't seen Riverfall's beauty too closely. But now that she had no training to worry about, that somewhat left a slot that could be filled. The images she was seeing would soon find themselves fitting that slot. Especially now that she was actually looking at the city, trying to find help. First things first, Septimus dropped her shield off at camp, keeping her sword at her side then she began walking around for help. A young Konti was soon stopped by Septimus to ask for a good workplace, preferably one to do with equine related issues. With this, the young and pale faced Konti replied with "The Sanctuary." Septimus was then pointed in the direction of the Sanctuary and given directions to the location along with a brief description. However, Septimus didn't really hear the description part for she was stuck still memorizing the directions. When the Konti was finished, Septimus nodded her head and simply said "Thank you ma'am. Have a great day." The Kelvic then hastily made way for the building. The sooner Septimus found work the sooner she could get mizas and the sooner she could buy a dummy for training. The sooner this, the sooner that. It was all Septimus was worried about now a days. The sooner to please your Patron, now come on! Pick up the pace! You have brighter moments ahead to reach! Following the directions, Septimus soon found herself at the Sanctuary in which she walked in. Continued--> Right here!

[Calavera]

Your Reward Has Arrived! Septimus Skills: Broadsword +3, Observation +2, Shield +1, Wilderness Survival +1, Bodybuilding +1 Lores: Breaking Your Belongings, Looking For A Job, Memorizing Directions, Is Being Sneaky Worth It?, Channeling Your Anger Additional Notes: Short, sweet, and to the point! It was easy to read, which is a really good quality to have for your writing. I gave you a point in wilderness survival for lighting that fire, and one in bodybuilding for carrying the target and sticking it in the ground. The bodybuilding was a bit of a stretch though. I think one thing you need to work on is your detail. Too much can make things stale and cause people to not want to read your work, but too litter makes you lose experience you could have gained. At Septimus' level, for her broadsword and shield skills, she pretty much needs to stink at them for the most part. Giving more detail like how the sword feels in her hand, if its heavy, or maybe occasionally loosing her grip on the sword and dropping it would make things that much more interesting and realistic. Especially if she's hefting a shield at the same time! It may not seem like it, but failing is good! At least until you master something, then you can be like "HA! Dropping my sword? That's for ninnies!" Try and give yourself a learning curve. It can actually be really fun, knowing the more you practice the less your PC will fail. It's like watching them grow! All-in-all, this was a good solo! I sometimes have trouble making myself read threads, but I didn't have a problem with yours. So, keep swinging at those posts and good luck. If you have any questions or comments about the grading or anything else, don't hesitate to message me! Oh, and by the way, I absolutely love the swords you incorporated into the titles of your CS! So jealous!