[Training] Rough Day (Solo)

[Kh'ryll]

19th Day of Fall, 510 AV

Sour dreams had plagued Kh’Ryll tonight. He had dreamt about inspecting a cave in the jungle, a cave that lead him deep into the earth. He remembered fearing the darkness and its possible dangers that lurked inside of it. He hadn’t fled, although he was scared he kept pressing onwards into the cave. For reasons he could not tell he had to explore it ‘till the end. After a long time of slowly inching forward with a hand on the slimy inner wall of the cave as a guide he finally reached the end, an illuminated chamber. It contained a rack of weapons, some masks and clothing hung upon another wooden rack. But the most peculiar was a tomblike structure in the center of the room.

Kh’Ryll had grabbed one of the torches that were placed in their iron shackles against the walls. He approached the tomb and tried to read what was written on the sides. It was in a weird language that he didn’t recognize. Granted, he doesn’t know any other language than Common. He pushed at the thick stone plate that was put on top of the tomb to try and see the insides and to his delight it worked.

The insides were revealed, together with a cloud of dust. As he peered over the edge a skeleton arm reached out and grabbed him by the throat, denying him any air and striking him with unparalleled fear. His eyes, first fixated on the arm then on the torso and then on the skeleton face which turned and looked him straight in the eye, spoke in a tongue unbeknownst to him yet he in his dream he knew what he was saying.

‘ You are not worthy! ‘

[Kh'ryll]

In his dream he was about to choke to death, it was at that time, seconds before his eyes were rolling back in their sockets, that he woke up. Bathing in sweat and shivering by what he just saw, he kicked off his sheets and put on his kaki pants and vest before sliding his feet in his sandals. With an angry face he left his cottage in search for either a hunting party with a spot open, someone with ‘loot’ that he can use to practice Malediction on or a sparring partner.

The latter was the one he found, still incompetent at fighting with his wrist razors he challenged another man to a spar. Mtah was up for it and together they armed themselves with their weapons and heavy chainmail armor so that nobody would get hurt. Mtah armed himself with a shortspear and shield while Kh’Ryll put on both his wrist razors after putting on his armor.

He needed to vent and it was written all over his face, Mtah had noticed it and smirked mockingly.

‘ Fool, you think you can beat me? I’ll give you something to rage about. ‘

“ Your skull will make a fine item to practice on. “

Replied Kh’Ryll, still with a face marked with anger. Mtah’s expression went from mocking to serious. He knew Kh’Ryll and what he practiced, it was not something he understood completely but he knew the basics, enough to not appreciate that statement.

‘ No more wasted words! ‘

[Kh'ryll]

He said while stancing himself in such a way that his shield was hiding most of his upper body and his spear aimed at Kh’Ryll. Kh’Ryll couldn’t agree more, keeping quiet he readied himself. Positioning himself with one arm placed bend in his side and the other close to his neck, with fingers aiming to the ground and his knees bend slightly aswell, he awaited Mtah’s initial attack. He knew Mtah was a skilled fighter and hunter and would most likely beat him, but at this time he didn’t care. He wanted to fight, more than that, he wanted to kill. The dream had infuriated him on many levels. ‘Not worthy...I’ll show you worthy! ‘ He thought to himself, further riling himself up.

He stood in a cat-like position ready to pounce, yet he waited. Mtah came closer and closer, shield raised high and spear ready to strike. Close enough to lash out, he thrusted his spear forward, aiming for the chest, with the speed of a striking serpent. Kh’Ryll could barely deflect the blow by turning his bend, stretched arm inwards and pushing the spear aside so that it pierced the air next to him.

Kh’Ryll lashed out with his right arm but it had been kept too close to himself and before he had fully stretched his arm Mtah’s shield had already blocked its path causing it to be deflected downwards, not given the time to reposition himself Mtah had pressed on with his shield, pushing the lashed-out arm inwards so that both Kh’Ryll’s claws were aiming to the left of his body and he was unable to retract them.

Mtah’s head was close to Kh’Ryll and before he could cut himself loose somehow Mtah gave him a fierce headbutt and retracted his spear to strike again. But Kh’Ryll, with his freed hand lashed out again from the leftside and forced Mtah to jump back out of its range.

Both men stood within fightingrange and they didn’t spare eachother a moment. They launched themselves into a close-range battle, which should give Kh’Ryll the upperhand but thanks to Mtah’s fighting experience and shield he was actually at a disadvantage.

[Kh'ryll]

Kh’Ryll slashed his claws repeatedly through the air or against the shield, in a whirlwind of claws Mtah stood strong. Having noticed Kh’Ryll’s lack of timing and expertise with wielding two weapons at once he easily outmanoeuvered him and managed to strike a blow at his rightknee with the shaft of his spear.

Effectively dropping Kh’Ryll momentarily to one knee before he stood up again and swung in every direction at high speed. Against someone with less skill than Mtah he might have been able to hit his target but against Mtah it was to no avail. The attacks that he couldn’t dodge, he blocked with either his shield or spear. Mtah’s attacks were much fewer in number but way more dangerous and effective.

Kh’Ryll got hit a few times and even got his face bashed with the shield but he kept attacking, fiercer than a lion he assaulted him. Then the miracle happened, by sheer luck the curved claws of his right wristrazor had caught the backside of the shield’s border and with a roar he pulled the shield out of Mtah’s hand and stabbed him in the upperchest with his lefthand claws.

It caused Mtah to stagger backwards with a painful expression on his face. It had been a hard blow and had it not been for the chainmail it would have certainly pierced his flesh and caused internal damage.

[Kh'ryll]

‘ Tsk, lucky blow! ‘ Mtah growled

Kh’Ryll remained silent but he had a look on his face that said he was pleased, which infuriated Mtah in return. He wanted to beat the living soul out of Kh’Ryll but he knew those claws were dangerous. He couldn’t let himself get lost in his emotions.

He readied himself and launched another attack against Kh’Ryll, this time slower and more cautious because he only had his spear and reflexes to keep those claws at bay. Still, even without the shield it was clear to anyone witnessing this spar who was the more skilled fighter. Whenever there was an opening Mtah was there to punch, kick, stab or strike Kh’Ryll.

Were it not for the armor Kh’Ryll would have been dead ages ago. He felt dead though, this fight had dragged out for too long and both fighters were nearing the end of their stamina.
Kh’Ryll had only managed to succesfully land two blows. The upperchest-strike and a kick against the inner side of Mtah’s leftleg.

Realizing he had to fight more with his whole body and not just with his hands Kh’Ryll started alternating his swings with kicks and knees. Proving much more effective than just slashing away, by hitting Mtah repeatedly in the legs and sides, Kh’Ryll was again fired up. His attacks had grown weaker and slower though, but Mtah’s attacks aswell. Still neither of them let go.

The ending of the fierce fight came as an elbowstrike from Mtah to Kh’Ryll’s temple. It made him fall to the ground with a quarter turn by his upperbody. As quickly as he pushed himself back up but as soon as he stood he fell on his behind.

Mtah seated himself aswell and the men stared at eachother with angry looks on their faces before suddenly both laughing loudly.

‘ You fought well Kh’Ryll, I’ll be your sparring partner any time. ‘

“ You too Mtah, your skill is of great level. Thanks for the fight, it was just what I needed to get it out of my system. “

‘ Anytime ‘

Mtah repeated before standing up and offering Kh’Ryll a hand. Both men grabbed eachother’s wrist as they pulled, heaving Kh’Ryll off the ground. Nodding eachother off they parted ways, both beaten up but in a good mood nonetheless.

[Rage]

GRANTING OF XP Kh'ryll Observation - 1xp Intimidation - 1xp Weapon: Wrist Razor - 3xp Unarmed Combat - 1xp Tactics - 1xp Lores: Curiosity Killed The Cat Taunting Using Malediction Use of Curved Ends of Wrist Razors Sparring Partner: Mtah Contact: Mtah - You may use Mtah as a sparring partner in future threads. He is a static NPC and cannot follow you around in adventures. He has the following stats: 25 - Shortspear 15 - Shield 10 - Unarmed Combat Restrictions: You may only use Mtah as a sparring/training partner in Taloba. Notes: A good read for your first training threads. I've already sent you a PM regarding my other notes, please keep them in mind. Other than those things, this is good. I look forward in seeing how Kh'ryll develops in the future.