Closed Ebb and flow, tactics in motion. (Poppy, Archie)

Branch from Archailists turning tables thread, Poppy and Alex training under Archies guidance.

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Ebb and flow, tactics in motion. (Poppy, Archie)

Postby Alexander Faircroft on April 4th, 2016, 2:26 pm

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Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"


Meeting his kick with one of her own was a smart way to stop it. However the voice of reason Archie spoke out again. Speaking the truth. He’d cottoned on to what Alex was saying. It wasn’t going to end in her favour if she lingered nearby for too long. He had seasons of experience in the armour, and he’d taken a lot of lessons from Archie personally. Which explained why Archie was coaching Poppy more than him.

As they clashed, a shocking pain ran down Alex’s leg from the point of impact, but nothing worse than he’d experienced before. Pushing his eight on his word he hauled himself back to full standing. She quipped back at him that he should polish his armour more. What was the pint in that with the amount of blows he took against it on a regular basis? Alex still managed a small smile though as Archie continued dishing out advice like free candy. Spacing, footwork, and keep some distance. Excellent advice. And Alex as listening to each and every piece of it. Alex took the initiative on opening up some space. Sliding out of her attack range with several well practiced regrouping steps.

He wasn’t retreating, just hoping to give the false impression of it. Trying to draw her in to make her think he was running out of ideas. Out of tactics. Behind the visor, his face hidden he was in fact smiling as usual. His left arm drooped to his side and his right arm lifted his sword to his shoulder. He was presenting an opening. A large one which could have been intentional it could have been absent minded. The only one who’d really know was him, and possibly Archie might have had an idea.

He was deliberately trying to bait her in, to usher in an attack, to force her to take the opening. If she did he’d use his shield arm to parry the blade and then take a large overhand strike with the pommel of his blade to her helmet. Changing up his area of attack, both of them had been trying to de stabilize the other. Now he was going to try for disorientation. Low gravity would mean she’d have to crouch opening up attacks for him from above. He was going to drill into her that she had to watch for an attack from anywhere. Because as he’d attempt the strike with his sword to her helmet his left hand would try and drive the point of his shield into her forearm and disarm her.

A strong point of Alex fighting style at least over the last couple of days was his aggression. A focus Imass had beaten into him, and one that he was trying to mix with his own already very technical and technique focused style that Greyheart had refined. Archie he knew could see through everything he’d try, but Archie wasn’t always here. So he was open to try much riskier gambles, with bigger pay offs.

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Ebb and flow, tactics in motion. (Poppy, Archie)

Postby Poppy Blackburn on April 5th, 2016, 3:48 pm

Poppy had no intention of turning the spar into a kicking match, it just sort of happened. As their pycon instructor’s voice rang out among the din of combat, the lass returned to her senses, and halted the kicks that may have been on their way. He had advised her to to get entangled and her mind quickly processed the information, seeing the logic and reasoning in that. Alexander was way bigger than her in both height and weight, which would put her into serious disadvantage if they were to both fall, especially if it were him onto her. She could really suffer some seriously painful injuries there. She knew that it was not worth it, taking in the clay squirrel’s advice to heart and mind, backing off and beginning to put some range between her opponent and her.

It was time to play smart, especially since she could start to feel the effects the exertion of training with a full set of plate armour, and it was clearly taking a toll on her. She needed to slow herself down a notch, and play it strategically, and instead of swinging around like a blind bat. Spacing and footwork. That was another great advice by the pycon. She was glad that she had come to this training session today, and that Archie was willing to share his insights with them. Zoning into the next piece of advice before the pycon bounced away, Poppy began to distance herself from her opponent, lowering her centre of gravity as she hunched slightly, getting into a defensive stance her shield raised in defense, her blade up and angled, waiting for an attack to come.

She had clearly taken note of his moves to try and trick her, but the brunette was not fooled. Perhaps, if he had done something like this at the beginning of the spar, she might have been tricked then, but his rather impressive display of skill, the very notion of him trying to act weak or that he could clumsy was a poor attempt at trying to deceive her. Poppy wasn’t the smartest or most skilled squire in town, but anyone worth their salt could see the poorly disguised maneuver. Through all that great defence he had shown, to now have an exposed area for her to strike?, That smelt like a trap, more than anything else. Being far-less skilled than he was, being in close-quarters right now was to be on a good path to defeat, and Poppy didn’t want to lose.

Alexander probably thought that he’ll outwit her with that, but fat chance. She had made the mistake of thinking that she could have gotten through his web of training and experience, by launching surprise attacks, but those attempts have proven to be largely unsuccessful so far, and so she had to come up with a new strategy, and Archie had provided her with a really good one at that. The trick was to remain close enough that he would been able to perform any rush attacks, but yet far enough that she would be able to see and react from incoming blows and strikes. Realising that she may have been a little too far, Poppy stepped forward a couple paces, and resumed her defensive stance, watching out for any attacks, ready to defend and counterattack.
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Ebb and flow, tactics in motion. (Poppy, Archie)

Postby Alexander Faircroft on April 5th, 2016, 4:43 pm

Alex took a moment in his much looser stance. He’d presented an opening a large display of open action and now because of how he chose to stand he took a breath. A moment of pause to regain some of his lost stamina. Unlike her who was consistently on guard Alex had displayed a large variety of skills and was taking advantage of the brief pause due to her wariness and fear of attacking such an obvious weak point. Now letting out a visible hunch and roll of his shoulders he let her know her mistake. She gave him breathing room. His sword resting on his shoulder and his shield lax by his side. He had time even a few ticks to put things back into focus.

Pressure. Always put on the pressure, never give your opponent a chance to recover, force a mistake. Words of his father rang in his head. Alex smiled beneath his visor. He had outwitted her the moment she fell into a defensive position. He’d dropped the majority of his offence and defence to set up a bluff. A false card. And now he was feeling more rejuvenated from a few short deep breaths.

Now it was Alex’s time to put on the pressure. He raced in the tip of his sword still dragging through the sand, his own left hand raised in front of him and open, like he was charging a line. He was attempting a bull rush to try and barrel through her defence at full speed and power relying on his armour alone for defence. However at the last moment before his sword would be in range he instead chose to pull his hand across and place both hands on the handle of the blade, simultaneously guarding his chest from any oncoming strikes and gripping his sword with both hands.

He swung.

And he swung hard. His intent wasn’t to break through her shield but put pressure on her shoulder to make her think twice about guarding his sword. Force her to think that dodging and shifting away from his blade was in fact the better move. And drain her stamina through that series of actions. However this was all dependant on whether or not his sword hit her shield. If his attack missed he’d spin with the force of the blow and need e moment to recover from his strike. If the blow was parried by her sword however then he had another plan on his mind.
Last edited by Alexander Faircroft on April 6th, 2016, 1:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Ebb and flow, tactics in motion. (Poppy, Archie)

Postby Poppy Blackburn on April 6th, 2016, 5:16 am

Distance. Creating distance between the two of them have brought along with them its own host of advantages and disadvantages, although Poppy now realised she may have been in a more disadvantageous position that before. Alexander didn’t seem to be any more tired than he had been, and despite the short and brief period of rest created by the distance she had caused when she backed out of his range, it was not nearly enough. She had held her own pretty well so far, not really being successful in any of her attacks, but on the defence side of things, she had not let anything through just yet.

The result of these actions were beginning to take a toll on her, and she could feel her heart beating rapidly as she tried her best to calm down. Her stance was ready, in a defensive position, waiting to see if she could hold and possibly even counterattack back on her own, although she doubt that in her current state, she would be able to pull off such a maneuver. Stamina drained, body exhausted, coupled with extra heat and weight generated from being encased in a suit of plated metal armour was starting to slow her down. Despite her best attempts to slow down her breathing, they were largely unsuccessful, and her breaths still came in ragged gasps.

Then it came. Alexander charged, rushing like a bull towards her, and Poppy raised her shield forwards in anticipation of the slamming strike that would come soon enough. But no slam came, as the charge didn’t connect. It had been nothing much than a gap-closer, and her exhaustion had failed to see that coming. Instead, her opponent had gripped his weapon with two hands swinging the blade towards her upper torso region.

Using the last vestiges of her strength, the lass corrected the position of her shield, absorbing the full brunt of the blow on her shield directly. The blow had came hard and fast, staggering her backwards as it was far more powerful than any of the strikes so far which sapped the remaining strength out of her with the last bit of defence. Totally spent, Poppy began to collapse on the ground, with a heavy ‘THUD’, the sound of the plated armour striking the sun-baked ground. Her shield still remained clasped onto her hand, raised close to her chest, but her other hand lost her grip on sword, letting it fall, clattering onto the ground with a clank.

That same hand to push up the visor of her helmet, sucking in breaths of fresh air in ragged gasps for the first time since the fight started. She was beaten and she knew it, but she had done the best she could against a far better skilled opponent. For now, all she was content with was to gaze at the sky, her heart still pounding against her chest, threatening to escape from its confines. A rest, a rest was all wanted now. She had lost, the spar was over.
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Ebb and flow, tactics in motion. (Poppy, Archie)

Postby Alexander Faircroft on April 6th, 2016, 1:23 pm

A success which still felt like a failure. That was how Alex’s mind summed up the events which had just transpired. His tactics had worked, he’d charged in and pushed her out of her standing. He’d attacked with everything he had. Using both mind games and skill to pull out a victory. But deep within himself he felt as if he was the one who’d actually lost. Frustrated with himself that he’d needed to pull out so much against her. That he’d needed to vary his attack pattern so much.

He was above all angry at himself that this was how far he’d come in over two seasons as a squire… Still struggling to hold his own against a much fresher squire. He slid his bastard sword into its scabbard. The hilt meeting the edge of the sheath with a loud and angry click. He composed himself before flicking his visor up to see Poppy. Seeing as how he could now hear her heavy breaths beneath the steel.

“Helps when that’s up, you can actually catch your breath. Nice technique though Poppy.” He smirked and as he pulled back he let his arm hang in front of him. Hand open and extended, he was offering her a helping hand up. Something that not many knights or squires he’d noticed were willing to do. “I didn’t mean anything bad by the comment earlier. When I said what I did it was tactical advice. Archie isn’t the only one you’re learning from. He’s the overall teacher, but your sparring partner can teach you a lot, both about how to act against someone else and where you personally are lacking.”

He flashed a smile, an honest and full one. He wasn’t malicious or ill intended towards her she’d put up a darned good fight and if he’d missed. It very well could have been him on the ground. He was still internally angry with himself though. Perhaps it was simply the fact which Archie had spoken to him on. Too much variety, not enough solidarity. Perhaps he’d spread himself too thin when it came to his training. And he was relying too much on his tactical mind and logical thought patterns, not to mention unnecessary risks and gambles to carry him through. Much like he had here yet again.

If poppy took his hand to help herself back up, after doing as much Alex would reach down and hand her back her sword handle first. Before giving her a hand towards the nearest bench to have her take a break, get some air back into her lungs and rest. He however would stand. Taking an opportunity to simple watch the other fights around the area. Learning from those around him as well as Archie. Something that seemed to escape the minds of many of the people nearby.
“Poppy, make sure you take note of those around us. Even whilst resting, it behoves you not to learn from those who’ve trained longer and harder. Especially Ball and Garland. Those two are quite possibly going to be the best spar to watch. But Avrial and Imass would possibly be the easiest to follow with some good technique on display.”

Alex didn’t stop watching. Didn’t stop learning. Even whilst his partner was out for the count for the time being there was plenty to glean. Plenty to learn and plenty to refine. Not to mention Archie was still dishing out advice left, right and centre. It wouldn’t do if he didn’t take in even more from the squirrel.
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Ebb and flow, tactics in motion. (Poppy, Archie)

Postby Poppy Blackburn on April 7th, 2016, 11:21 am

Rest. Poppy lay gazing at the sky, the clouds moving ever so slowly as they danced about her vision, with her heart still racing about in her chest. She was entirely exhausted, totally spent and without any energy to go on. The sounds of other fights remained in the background, no longer of focus and concern to her. Her fight in this was over, and all she would like to do was to gaze at the white fluffy clouds in the azure blue sky, despite feeling the rays of Syna shining down onto her. Her view was soon blocked, as a large shadow moved into place, and the figure of Alexander appeared with his visor raised up, and his arm extended, his hand raised downwards to give her a hand in getting up. The lass stared at him for a couple of moments, wondering why he was obstructing her view of the wonderful sky, before she got back to her senses, and raised an armoured arm skywards, gripping his plated gauntlet, using it as leverage to pull herself back up.

Poppy said nothing as he complimented on her technique, simply noting that he was just being gracious, as she didn’t think that she did all too that well. Then he seemed to be lecturing her on something, though she wasn’t paying full attention, she grasp several parts of what he was saying, something about Archie being not the only one she had to learn from today. That was fine with her. She’ll learn from anyone that was willing to teach. There was no problems there. Then she saw him smile. It was good to see Alexander smiling, he should do it more often.

He handed her weapon back to her, and she gripped it in her hands, as she made her way towards one of the nearest sitting area. Removing her helmet, Poppy freed the drenched locks of her hair from the confines of her helmet, instantly feeling more refreshed than she had been in the last bell or so. Gradually regaining back her focus, she could now focus more on what Alex was saying. Lifting her head to look at him when he spoke once more, the brunette saw that her fellow squire was focused on observing some of the other fights that were still going on in the vicinity.

Exhaustion had not taken him as he had taken her, and the lass was pretty amazed by the fact, as the respect for him went up another notch in his regard. He advised her to watch the rest as well, to keep an eye on what they would be doing as they sparred with each other, particularly two other squires by the name of Ball and Garland. She’d heard of Ball. He was one of the most senior squires around, and a pycon as well. These pycons were indeed a force to be reckoned with. Alexander had also recommended keeping an eye on the two knights sparring, the woman from the Stalinsa family and the akalak, who he was a temporarily squire for. Interesting indeed.
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Ebb and flow, tactics in motion. (Poppy, Archie)

Postby Okara on September 3rd, 2016, 11:25 am

Grades and Awards


 
Alexander Faircroft
Experience
Rhetoric 1
Tactics 4
Bastard Sword 4
Shield 2
Acrobatics 1
Unarmed Combat 2
Teaching 2

Lores
Tactics: Weighing an Opponent’s Advantages and Disadvantages
Tactics: A More Aggressive Fighting Style
Poppy Blackburn: Likes to Taunt During Spars

Shield Points
+5 (training thread)

Notes
If you are wondering about the relatively few lores I awarded, I read through your lore list and you already had most of what I would have awarded for this spar. This was a really well written technical spar thread, I was able to follow all of the movements of the character and the flow of battle which isn’t always easy to convey in writing. I believe I caught all of the skills used but PM me if you think I missed something.

 
Archailist
Grading has been withheld due to inactivity. Archailist, if you return please resubmit for grading.

 
Poppy Blackburn
Grading has been withheld due to inactivity. Poppy, if you return please resubmit for grading.



Please edit your post in your grade request to reflect that it has been graded. PM me with any questions.
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