Solo Testing the blade

[Red Daghul]

Timestamp: 21st day of fall, 512 AV
Location: Red and Daghul's Aerie

The echoing of the wind whipping across the rock of the mountain outside gave Red chills as he moved through his room pulling his simple red clothe shirt over his head. Today had been much to windy for him and Daghul to get any real work done, so instead they both decided to take the day "off". There for in light of that Red went with his simple loose fit shirt, and bryda with bare feet.

Pushing open the door into the common room he was glad to see that the was a new set of coals burning in the middle of the room sending heat through the air. It was comforts like this that threw him off some times when he remembered where he had come from, and where his life had taken him. Walking around the room to the door to Daghul's nesting room the Endal pushed in open.

The feeling of the heat from inside the room leaving into the air of the newly opened room 'everything good on this side' he sent through his mind to his best friend who gave a screech that Red took as a yawn and the Endal let the bird sleep.

Pulling the door closed Red once again circled the room to the next door and paused. Part of him wanted to find a book maybe on the history of the Endal, or of wind reach, but another part of him felt the desire to put to use the room in front of him. The training room. It had been put in by the Endal who lived in these room before him, and Red had be glad he had just hadn't really been able to use the room... till now.

Pushing through the door into a darker room Red lit the first torch which cast the first light upon the round room. Along the walls were racks which could hold different weapons though the lacked them now other then a rack straight across from the door that held Red's Talon sword. Other equipment also hung on the racks for working out, but today Red was intent on the blade in front of him.

Finishing the lighting of the torches Red took focused on the center of the room that the light now illuminated. A round raised stone area that look a lot like a smaller version of a fighting ring. The stone was smooth and polished as not to cut any feet while the Endal trained. The room was one of Red's favorites.

Taking his shirt off Red set it next to the rack where his sword rested, and with a ease that showed how well Red knew the weight of the blade he launched it from one hand to the other from the rack. The blade had a long black hilt that ended with the pommel which was set into the shape of a eagle. The blade was slim and long it's metal reflecting the movements of the torch fires around the room, and there was a seeming perfectness to the curve in the blade. Red inspected the sword closely before stepping onto the round "stage".

The storm could be heard outside, and Red just stood there listening to it's power as he took a deep breath in and out. Moving slowly the Endal drew himself into form. Rising up on the balls of his feet, and bending just a bit at the knees he stood about a shoulders width apart torso inline with his legs and his left hand forward matching his left foot in front.

Then he began the dance of blades imagining a human like foe in front of him he started by slowly tracing with his blade a cut from right shoulder to left hip, then moving the blade back up another line left shoulder to right hip. The movements were slow as he checked his form, two more cuts this time across the ribs right to left, then one left to right. Finishing the slow dance with a thrust straight at the targets chest. It was a elegant dance, and looked simple as Red went over it one more time.

Then like lighting Red shifted gears as he sped through the movements, added foot steps, increasing the speed, and adding different cuts. The Endal's mind eye added more foes running at him, jumping him from behind. Red spun on his feet slashing down, up, right, left, and stabbing forward. The fire danced around the blade as Red cut through yet another unseen foe made up by his minds eye.

The attackers increased in speed again and the Endal spun once again to meet his new foe, in his minds eye he was bigger, faster, wielded some sort of curved blade Red growled low and the two began to bring weapon to weapon at dangerous speeds. Red parried and sent the other mans blade to the left, and sent a slash at the mans ribs, but the men saw this a dodged and sent a cut at Red.

Red pulled his blade up and in his mind he heard the clash of blades as they held it there for a moment before the Endal threw a kick at the man spun and went into a series of simple cuts, but the man was fast and parried away all of them. The man lashed out, but Red caught the blade with his talon sword, and sent it flying. Throwing everything at the man Red went through the cuts he had started with ending with the stab into the mans chest.

Sweat hit the floor as Red stood kneeled half way down in a stabbing motion the man disappeared from his mind, and the Endal was alone as he had been the whole time. Pushing himself back to a standing stance he started to catch his breath thinking over his fantasy battle then grinned as he start to take stance again for round two.

[Red Daghul]

Taking a few steps around the circle stone floor the Endal tested the blade in his hand spinning it through the air listening to the sound of the wind being sliced into, and of course to the sound of the wind tossing outside. The storm would most likely get worse over the next hour, and there wouldn't be any chance of getting out into the sky which held a sadness all it's own.

The yearning for the wind in his face, and the sun beating on his back as Daghul moved with the cool breeze using his power wings to guide the two through the sky cutting across clouds, or shooting through them like a arrow. The feeling of excitement building in his gut, Red forced his thoughts back to the room at hand, back to the grind of training.

Deciding to try something a little different Red stood in the middle of the circle his sword pointed down with his hands resting of the pommel. Taking a deep breath Red let his mind place a figure in front of him ready for a fight, and there standing on all fours in front of him stood a Evenstra Warm Wolf standing 4'6" off the ground, and it's coat was a dark brown. Red had met a beast that he believed to be one of these a few weeks ago, and had almost lost his shoulder to it.

Letting go of the breath he held the Endal jumped to form his left foot finding the lead as both his hands drew the talon sword in front. Normally had this been a man, and not a animal, Red would have used cuts that would aim for vital organs on the chest and torso, but this was different the head being the vital part of the body to try and hit. Seeing how this was all in Red's imagination he made the first move.

Sliding his left foot a foot forward he swept himself towards the beast trying to bring down the talon sword upon the head of the wolf. The beast saw this and jumped to the side launching a attack with it's teeth aiming for Red's arm. Seeing no way to block the offence with out possibly having his weapon removed from his grip Red tried to roll away to the side. Of course in this battle seeing how it was Red whole controlled both sides he made the escape.

Now finding himself closer to the ground with one foot extended, and the other on it's knee Red was more on the level of the beast. Turning on it's hind legs it jumped at the Endal seeking to push him over. Seeing the fatal attack that would allow the wolf advantage of being on top of the man. Red quickly rolled to the side and jabbed at the wolf letting the talon sword sink into his foe. Then just like that the room was empty, and quiet save for the sounds of the wind howl away outside.

The Endal pushed himself up to his feet bringing the talon sword to his shoulder where it could rest as he himself let his body catch itself. Closing his eyes and taking in a breath Red started to work through his movement, and wondering if he had portrayed the beast correctly. Surly not, he couldn't even really say that what he had fought that night out in the unforgiving was a wolf which is what he based his thoughts on the attacks from. Most likely it was something else, but he had called it a wolf, and till he knew other wise it was to him.

Setting the talon sword back on it's rack gleaming still in the light off the torches the reflection seemed to capture him in drawing him into a thoughtful mood. It wasn't like there was something on his mind or anything, he was quiet and peaceful his body felt worked and that was good. Releasing a breath he didn't even know he was holding the Endal decided to take a break and check on Daghul.

Walking through the common room the Inarta was happy to see the embers were doing their job keeping the room toasty and warm. Looking around Red decided that his living space could use some more stuff. "hmmm, might be nice to make it more homey I guess" and with that he slipped into a cave like room where Daghul kept his nest.

The room had a high ceiling maybe fifty or so feet up if not more, and it was wide with lots of places for Daghul to perch, or move around. It even had a mirror that was left by the eagle before him Red guessed as a gift. "I know you can't still be alseep" Red said out loud, which was more common when they were alone.

'no...' the bird sent as it stretched his wings out showing a beautiful display of power and glory 'just resting' the Eagle seemed to be bored, but then again of course he was they were inside forced to the ground till the wind stopped.

"well, I guess I understand that" the Endal said more to himself, but the bird still gave him a strange look. Well, it was more of he looked at Red and the Endal knew that the bird was glaring at him. "haha, fine have it your way you were resting" he grinned his life with Daghul hadn't been to long and yet he knew that he may never have a closer friend "anyways, I figured we should try and do something...". Truth was Red was totally blanking on what they could do and was hoping Daghul would have the idea.

'well, you been working on your blade work I noticed' Red remembered the first few times Daghul had told him what he had been doing when the bird was no where to be seen. It took time to get used to having a connection like that in your head.

"yes, your right" the young swordsmen answered "and what did you think?" though he may down play it sometimes Red trusted Daghul's thoughts more then anyone he had known.

'you could use some work, sometimes you allot yourself to much room in how someone would act in a battle' the bird paused to let the idea sink in 'but in a real fight they might have already struck you down before you dodged their blow'. The thought made a lot of sense, and it must have been Daghul's doing because the memory of the claws sinking into his back became clearer.

The two talk for a few more minutes about his form, and things that he had been told he needed to do better by others and where he stood in regards to that. Mostly though Red was thinking about the first commit, and how he could help change that. Soon after though Red decided to go train some more after getting something to eat, and he told Daghul he would have something brought up for the eagle as well. Then just like that the Inarta shot off.

[Red Daghul]

'There's nothing like a good meal after a hard work out to set the heart right' The Endal thought as he climbed the stairs that lead up to the Eagle aeries where his warm home waited. The air still seemed filled with winds that could tear the fur off a bears back, and Red was starting to be real glad that he and Daghul had decided for a day off.

Coming close to where his front door was he seemed to relax a bit. Red hadn't even noticed how much stress he was feeling this season had been odd, and some of the Dek were acting up nothing terrible, but still things that bugged him. Pushing the front door open he was met with a slightly warmer room which seemed to invite him in. The Endal swept into his home pushing the door behind him, and soon the Endal found himself sitting next to the burning embers of the fire pit.

There was a sense of relaxing that came over the man and his mind started to drift as his mind floated away and he lay on a bench next to the warm fire.

Shadows crawled around as a mist seemed to cover the round stone floor, and Red found himself standing in stance with his talon sword in hand. images flashed around in the darkness. These images were of his past before he met Daghul. One started moving to his left it was of him and his little sister before she went missing. The two of them were looking for food, and some other kids started pushing them around.

Red had tried to stand up to them then, but he was not what he was now and the image faded with him on the ground. Anger swelled in Red's heart and flames burst into being around the round stone floor and there in front of the Endal stood a shadow of a man with a club, then two more appeared with short swords.

Red moved first bringing his sword in full circle over his head with both hands cleaving it down at the first man, but the other two moved and parried his attack away. Rage seemed to burst in the Inartan, and he swept his foot under the shadow on the rights feet make him fall. The other sword wielding shadow took that chance to jab at Red, but there was a new speed in the Endal and he parried and brought the talon sword right through the shadow which vanished.

The second shadow was now back on his feet, and he jumped at Red grabing his neck and started to knee the Endal in the gut. Feeling the pain swell in his body Red brought the talon sword around the mans back and pulled him into a embrace, then dropping his weight threw the shadow across the floor and into the flames, and the second was gone.

Coughing the Endal pushed himself up to his feet bring his talon sword up letting the light reflect of it. Tightening his grip on the hilt Red gave a low growl as he looked over to the last shadow who seemed to mock him. They both pushed off the ground Red spinning around bringing the deadly sharp blade in a fast arc as the shadow started to bring his club down. Both struck at the same time.

The Endal sat straight up his heart racing as he scanned the room for danger, but only finding the room he had fallen asleep in quiet and peaceful. Feeling some pain in his hand he looked and saw that he was griping white knuckles to the bench he was sitting on and he slowly released them which relieved the pain. Rubbing his forehead 'strange dream" was all that the Endal said as he once again peered into the embers much more awake now.

[Red Daghul]

Red sat for the next hour and a half staring at the embers as they burned dimmer and dimmer his mind on the dream that he had. It was odd he hadn't thought about that day in a long time, and it's sudden resurfacing had him puzzled, but it was that memory that fueled his passion and desire to protect. The desire to be the best Endal he could be, and the desire to destroy those who harm the defenseless.

Standing to his feet Red went over to a stack of wood and took a few pieces of wood and added them to the fire, and then took his seat again rubbing his face trying to remove the feeling of sleep that had taken over. Red had a strange desire to talk to someone, but at the same time felt oddly out of place and after some thinking decided it he would just work the thought out with some more training.

Making his way back into his training room he stood back in the middle of the room staring at the sword on the rack in front of him. The sword blade danced in the light, and Red found memories of seeing his first Endal with his sister then it hit him. The memory from the dream just after Red had made his stand that day a Endal stopped the fight rescuing Red's sister, and him. That was the day Red decided he would be like that man.

Red felt a urge to fight building as the feeling of rage seemed to run through his veins filling him with the need to act. Setting up a few dummies around the floor Red looked around to judge where to put the last one. The idea was that moving the sword through the air might help him better with the blade, but he needed to feel the blade make contact with something to understand the resistance in battle.

Moving to the rack that held the talon blade that seemed to mark Red as Endal, for it was the weapon he chose to use. Taking the black hilt into his hand he felt powerful, and with only a moment of thought the Endal engaged the dummies in mock battle. The talon sword fell from the sky landing on the head of the hay dummies sending straw through the air, and with out a second pause the blade shifted again this time slicing across the chest of a target to his left.

It felt good to use the blade, and Red felt the need to move faster his rage, anger, his very need to act fueling his body. Thought's of his sister, and other being hurt flooded his mind as he allowed the passion to burn through his heart.

Moments later Red stopped moving kneeling down on one knee leaning on the talon sword to support his body as sweat poured down from his head. There was a burning in his body as he slowly rose to his feet studying the flood around him. The dummies were destoried, and their padding littered the floor. Red breathed heavy, and all at once he found a peace for he knew he was on the right path towards who he was meant to be.

[Invictus]

Experience Award! Red Daghul Skill XP Earned Lore Earned Weapon: Talon Sword +3 Talon Sword: Holding An Old Friend Acrobatics +1 Talon Sword: Basic Techniques Meditation +1 A Dream of Battle A Bad Day To Be A Dummy Comments Hey there, Red! Overall this was a pretty straightforward post minced with a bit of interaction with Daghul which I love with Endal. You did a nice job of giving me a good mental image with the theoretical battles, and made it feel like I was actually in the room with him watching. If you feel I've skimped on points or have some Lores in mind that I didn't give you, please let me know. Again, I enjoyed reading this and look forward to reading future threads with you in them.