[Iron Fist School]Glory of a Gladius[Savio]

by **Ssafirsotibones** on June 16th, 2013, 8:48 pm

53 Summer 513

Bones took in a deep breath, as he got out of bed. He had been considering going hunting today, but he had found out last night a student had signed up for a morning weapons lesson with him.

He of course could do training with either blades or fist, but he did not often get called on for a solo weapons training session.

He got out of bed, and pondered his gear, as he slipped into his sandals, and tossed aside his robes. He did not need them today, and it was not cold out. It took him a bit longer to study his blades, and decide which he would take. He supposed he was safe enough in the school, without a weapon... But he just felt naked without them nearby.

He finally settled for leaving his newer gladius behind, while strapping his fathers gladius across his back on a right handed draw. He doubted he would need it, but still he brought it along.

As he headed out the door the sun was just peaking over the horizon. It was early, and the air was still a bit cool, but it was still nice enough out. In a few bells time the sun would be up above their heads, and it would be hot out.

Heading into the training hall, Bones looked over the racks of weapons, and then sat down in a corner with his legs crossed, waiting on his student to enter, back to a wall so he could see him as he entered.

by **Savio** on June 17th, 2013, 3:20 am

Savio yawned as his eyes fluttered awake. The headache he had been feeling for the last couple of days was finally starting to lessen as he attempted to sit up in bed. He hissed in pain as he felt his body protest against the movement. He looked down at his bare chest to see the greenish-yellow bruises that coveted most of his skin. At least they looked a lot better than yesterday and the day before.

With a groan he finally stood up and got dressed in a pair of shorts and a plain white shirt. No need to wear his boots since he was going to be training indoors today. He quickly groomed himself and ate a light meal of water, bread, and dried meat before heading over to the Training Hall.

It was still pretty early, but he could already hear Ximal practicing outside. With Sayren perhaps? It was most likely her. Savio hadn’t seen any other students inside the school since he came here. As it turns out, Ximal’s school was a lot newer than Savio would have guessed. No wonder he has such a hard time finding it.

It didn’t take long for Savio to find the large room and walk in. When he finally entered, the first thing he saw was a man sitting upon the floor. He appeared to be around Savio’s age if not a little older, perhaps he was another student?

“Hello there, have you seen…um…” Savio stumbled over the memory of the teacher's name. What was it again? By the gods, Savio had a terrible memory for names.

by **Ssafirsotibones** on June 18th, 2013, 2:18 pm

Bones sat in silence, focusing on the day at hand, until a voice cut into his awareness.

He opened his eyes to see a boy before him. Well, not a boy by human standards, for them he was a man. For Bones though, he was but a child compared to his years. Soon his birth time would once more swing around, as it did every year. In less than a seasons time, he would be 132 years old. He barely looked like he was in his mid twenties, if even that. Needless to say, Dhani aged well.

Bones looked at him with his piercing glare, inspecting him.

"I am Bonesss. I sssuppose you are to be my ssstudent for today, in armsss? And you are?"

Bones got up, and walked over to him.

"Isss ssisss your firssst attempt at usssing weaponsss asss sssuch? And have you desided what weapon you want to ussse? I ssspecialize in my own weapon, sse gladiusss, but I could likely help you wiss osser sssimilar bladesss. Perhapsss if nossing elssse I can help you weigh sse prosss and consss of different bladesss. Which have you consssidered usssing?"

As Bones mentioned his own weapon, he had reached behind his back and drawn it, with a slick of metal on leather. He held it out before him, to show to the boy man human, holding it horizontally across his palms. Its bone hilt would stand out strikingly, from its steel blade, with its razor honed edges and fierce point.

speech :

by **Savio** on June 18th, 2013, 8:03 pm

Savio was taken aback with surprise from the man’s eyes. They were sharp and precise. Quite frankly, Savio felt like prey under the watch of a predator. When he spoke to reveal his identity, the man demeanor made sense to Savi. But he had such a strange accent. Savio had never heard such before and he had to listen very closely to understand what the man was saying.

Savio felt embarrassed at forgetting the teachers name and he bowed his head apologetically. “Forgive me on forgetting your name, Master. And yes, I am to be your student if you will have me, in armed combat. My name is Savio Cazzola.”

The man then stood up with fluid grace and walked over to Savio, examining him. It made the young man shift uneasily. Bones spoke again and Savio struggled to fully understand what he was saying. He had a deep lisp, but after a short moment Savio was able to figure out what he was saying and was able to answer his question. But he eyed the weapon in Bones’ hand; it looked interesting and small enough to be able to be used with his speed.

“I never really had a need to learn a weapon before. So yes, this would be my first attempt. A weapon like yours would be great to learn. I had wanted to learn a weapon that is small and fast; something that would be appropriate for my strengths.”

by **Ssafirsotibones** on June 18th, 2013, 10:03 pm

Savio Cazzola. A student of armed combat. Bones shrugged at his apology, not really caring if he did not know his name.

"It isss not of import Sssavio. Namesss are jussst labelsss, which do not affect learning or fighting. If I named a blade "rock", would ssat make it any lessss a blade? A weapon or ssstudent will earn itsss worss by itsss own merit, regardlessss of itsss name."

Bones nodded as he said this would be his first lesson in using a blade. He also nodded again when he said he would like to use the same blade as Bones, a gladius.

"A gladiusss isss a ssspecial weapon, in a group of itsss own. Do not confussse it wiss a sssimple ssshort sssword, which isss but a longer dagger like ssing, or a baby of a sssword. It isss a imitation of two ossers, not a weapon of itssself. A gladiusss isss not sssome weapon massss produced, it isss made by a ssskilled crafter, wiss care and precisssion. A balanced weapon ssat isss truly deadly to ssose who can ussse it."

Bones made sure he was clear of Savio, and then made some demonstrations with his blade, doing the motion each time he did one.

"A gladiusss worksss in sssome waysss like a ssshortsssword, it isss sssmall and easssy to ussse in a cramped sssetting, or when reasssonably clossse to a foe. Ssough it doesss lack sse reach of longer bladesss. However it isss better honed, and can be usssed for ssslashing and cutting. If usssed properly it could chop off limbs, cut open a mansss chessst, or decapitate a foe in one blow ssrough meat and bone."

"But it alssso can ssrussst, and ssstab, like a dagger or osser ssshorter weaponsss, wissout breaking. Ssat isss one danger of longer bladesss, ssey are not meant for ssstabbing, and cannot take asss much force sssincce sse ssshorter body allows for a ssstronger blade wiss lessss flexx. Longer bladesss need more flexx, ssso ssey don't asss easssily sssnap, but ssat makesss ssem poor for ssstabbing."

Bones slid his gladius back into its sheath on his back, and then headed over to the weapons rack, picking up two wooden practice gladius.

He tossed one to Savio, and then motioned him forward.

"Go ahead and ssshow me what you can do. Come at me."

speech :

by **Savio** on June 19th, 2013, 2:57 am

The man’s movements were deadly and graceful. He wielded his weapon skillfully and efficiently. Savio couldn’t help but watch in awe. He listened to Bones talk as he continued to show Savio examples of how to maneuver the blade. Punctuating the things he said with corresponding exercises.

When he was done with his examples and sheathed his gladius, he retrieved a wooden model of his own weapon and tossed it over to his student. Savio caught the wooden weapon and examined it first. Then he readied his footing and rushed the teacher, swinging the weapon more like a club rather than a blade. First he swung at the teacher's left, then his right. Then Savio attempted to stab at Bones' chest. Savio's form was terrible and his footing was almost as bad.

When compared to the normal person, Savio was pretty agile thanks to his training in acrobatics. But he had very little knowledge of combat, and even less knowledge of armed combat. The wooden blade felt foreign and strange in his left hand.

by **Ssafirsotibones** on June 19th, 2013, 2:36 pm

The boy man human Savio rushed at Bones, who reacted by instinct and training. His body loosened and stretched, sinking into a stance to take the oncoming force of his attacks. His legs bent at the knees a bit, readying him to jump or move or sidestep. His arms bent at the elbows, making them loose and fluid, ready to lash out and attack and counter like a snake snapping its head at prey.

As he swung the wooden facsimile of a gladius at his chest, Bones took a step back to avoid the first blow, watching as it swished by inches from his chest. he took another step back, avoiding the next one. Then he made a stab at Bones. He could have sidestepped to avoid it, but this time instead he made a slash of his own.

Bones brought his blade down low, and as the stab came in at him, he brought it swinging upward into the path of the wooden blade. It knocked it up and blocked the blow from striking him. But he did not stop there.

Bones made a strike with his empty left hand at Savio's open side, darting his hand out suddenly, attempting to make a palm strike against his side. It would smart a bit if it struck, but would not do any real damage.

Then Bones would press the initiative, and make some attacks of his own with his wooden gladius.

A low back handed slash aimed at his right thigh, and a middle blow aimed in a cut across the left side of his chest.

by **Savio** on June 20th, 2013, 10:21 pm

The teacher, Bones was able to dodge every single one of Savio’s clumsy attacks. Dodging the first, and the second, but when Savio attempted to make a stabbing motion Bones easily defected Savi’s weapon with a swift single swing of his wooden blade. His actions knocked Savio’s weapon away, leaving him wide open for attack. And attack Bones did.

While Savio had been distracted by Bones’ gladius, the teacher had easily sneaked a strike in with his bare hand to Savio’s unprotected side; knocking the student back a few paces. It hurt but it shocked the young man more than anything else.

That was only the first blow of Bone’s offence. He moved towards Savio quickly before the young man could recover his defensive posture, hitting Savio’s right thigh and then followed it with a cut across the left side of Savio’s chest.

Each blow knocking Savio back more and more. It was all Savio could do just to keep his balance and not fall to the floor. Once the attacks had let up, Savio stuck back with attacks of his own. He aimed a slash at the teacher’s right arm, near the shoulder. Then he quickly feigned to the left before jerking back to the right to jab his wooden gladius at Bone’ side and the back of his thigh. In all reality, Savio was attacking blindly, and without any form what so ever.

by **Ssafirsotibones** on June 21st, 2013, 12:38 am

Smack went Bones hand against the humans flank, shocking him it seemed more than doing any real damage, as intended. His eyes shuttered open wide in shock, for a moment.

His follow up blade strikes also scored hits, one meant to debilitate, the strike to the thigh. It would not prove immediately fatal, but likely would have knocked him out of action should it have been a real hit. He could have lived with it, though he would need to see medical attention.

His other strike to the side of his chest though, would have been much more serious. If it had slid between his ribs, chances are he would have hit something important, or made him bleed out by the heavy cut. If it had caught on the ribs, it likely would have broken one or two, maybe even shattering it. That could be just as bad.

Either blow would have put him out of action. If it had been real.

Bones however was not fighting full strength, that would have been really bad for the boy man human. He was limiting his own strength, closer to that of a human, perhaps a bit stronger than Savio, but no were near the full strength his compact constrictor muscles could muster.

Bones could have pressed on, but instead he paused and gave Savio time to attack once more. Stopping after those two swipes of his blade.

Happily enough, Savio did counter, attacking back at him with a wild untrained frenzy. He blocked the blow aimed at his arm, holding his own gladius up in its way to guard against the slash.

He then attempted a feint, which Bones was able to read, it was a bit simple, and sent his real blow aimed at Bones side and hip, with a stab.

Bones jumped back a step out of the reach of the blade, and then carelessly swiped his own weapon across the path his foes blade was taking, attempting to knock it wide.

Then Bones would cough, and look at Savio.

"Alright, a ssshort paussse here."

Once Savio stopped, defending himself if he had to, in case he did not stop right away and was to far into the fight, Bones would speak.

"Ssat wasss not bad for a firssst try, ssough you can do better. Now for sssome practice. I want you to go to sse dummy, and do sssome movesss. Make 10 ssrustsss aimed at itsss head, ssen 10 ssrussstsss at itsss chessst. Ssen I want 10 ssslashesss aimed at each of itsss 4 limbsss. Once you have done ssat, come back. 10 by 6."

Bones pointed out a training dummy across the hall, using his gladius as a pointer.

"While you sssstrike, I want you to ssink. What do you do, when you face a foe wiss sssuperior ssstrength? Or what if sse foe hasss sssuperior ssspeed? How would you change your fighting? I want a anssswer prepared for me when you return."

speech :

by **Savio** on July 12th, 2013, 7:42 am

Once again, not a single one of Savio’s attacks got through Bones’ defense. The man was simply too fast, and batted Savio’s Gladius away like it was nothing. Perhaps it was, since Savio was clearly untrained and ignorant of the ways of the weapon. Bones easily dodged Savio’s real attacks after the feint, and with a final flick of the man’s wrist he knocked the gladius from Savio’s hand and sent it to the other side of the training hall.

The young man stood there, stunned and slightly out of breath. Bones then easily righted his form and cleared his throat as though nothing at all had happened. The man wasn’t even the slightest bit out of breath, wear as Savio was already slick with sweat and breathing hard. Bones’ spoke once more, signaling the end of that short and pitiful spar.

Savio leaned over, his hands resting on his thighs so that he could calm his breathing while he listened to Bones’ new task that he had for Savio. That was a lot of repetitive motions that Bones wanted. But the man was the teacher, so he has to know better… Right?

Savio nodded and stood back up correctly and rushed to get his fallen weapon before trotting over to the dummy. He readied his stance and begun striking out with thrusts aimed for its head. While he attacked, he allowed his mind to start thinking. What would Savio do if he was facing an enemy with superior strength or speed? Obviously in such a scenario, running would be out of the question. So what other options would Savio have?

The young man could use his environment against an opponent. Savio just had to be observant. Normally Savio was quick on his feet, and had a decent amount of balance thanks to his training in acrobatics. How could he incorporate what he already knows into something he was just starting to learn?

It took Savio a while to finish his assigned task but when he was done, he had formulated a semi-response to Bones’ questions. The young man walked back over to his teacher and looked the man in the eyes.

“If I was facing a foe with superior strength or speed, I would have to be observant of them. I would have to avoid their attacks long enough to find some form of weakness. Perhaps I could use my surroundings as an advantage. I would need to incorporate all of my talents and skills to fight them. It would depend on the situation, their weakness, and how I can use my skills.” Savio flushed. He really was drawing blanks, and that’s all he could manage to come up with.

Completed [Iron Fist School]Glory of a Gladius[Savio]