Open Stupid Blade

[Banir Ironwood]

Banir was a rather single minded individual. He wasn't ungrateful for Vaspira's concern, but it was a little insulting to ask him that. He did have pride, not much and it was easily diminished. But it was still there. Not to mention the fact that socialization was best done outside of situations like their spar. He'd have to make a note of if she wanted to talk then a drink at Garth's would be the best place to do it. Now was the time to test metal on metal and learn all you could, not exchange words of friendship. Maybe he should loosen up a bit though, she was just trying to be nice after all. Perhaps an apology later would be a good idea. Nodding in his hood he focused his red eyes on Vaspira's small form, what she said caught him a little off guard. A bit of lighter red flashed in his eyes for a moment as he felt embarrassment flash in his mind. What? No one had ever said that about his eyes! Of course where he had been only a season or two ago everyone had these eyes. Perhaps this young Kelvic hadn't been out of the Spires? That was probably it, his eyes where nothing special, a whole race of people had the same eyes. If Vaspira spent seven whole days in Avanthal she'd realize just how 'special' his eyes are.

He shook his mind free of these thoughts. Her honeyed words had distracted him long enough. He needed to focus his mind and prepare for the spar. Rolling his large shoulders the metal that sat atop them rattled and shifted as the leather creaked gently against his think muscles. His clawed arm raised in front of him, his armour was his weapon. It acted as his defense and his offense. Protecting him while providing him with his own means of attack that most found out through surprise. He slid his feet apart, one back one forward ready to launch his large bulk forward at a seconds notice. Banir didn't know much about sword play, but he knew plenty about fighting and using everything you could get your hands on as a weapon. Even on occasion actual weapons, though he wasn't very effective with them. His mind was becoming distracted again. When he saw Vaspira was ready and that she verbalized what his eyes told him he gave a light smile beneath his scarf. He enjoyed sparing, and when his opponent was fired up that made it all the better. Leaning forward onto his lead foot Banir used the strength in his legs to propel him forward. Raising his armored arm and bladed hand across and over his shoulder. It was going to be a powerful strike but he would try to make sure Vaspira wasn't overpowered by it should she block it. He'd have to point out later the openings and tell her the risks involved. But right now he wanted to see how she'd react with a full frontal assault coming at her.

[Vaspira]

Vaspira kept her body loose and fluid, ready for his attack. She had seen her default in keeping her body tense, it made it harder to dodge and block. So this time around she would keep her body fluid, so she could easily deflect his blow. It was a good plan, until the large bulky man started running full force at her, she wanted to turn and run and scream, but she didn’t she decided she’d do the best she could do with it. She did not have much time to really think, the large man was pretty face with all that armor weighing him down, so she just leaned down and dug her heels into the ground, with her shoulder out and ran towards him as well, hoping to defend herself from most of the powerful blow.

When they connected it was armor on flesh, and pain bloomed at the side tip of her small shoulder, but the worst part was that his momentum made her soar across the training ground, sliding on the frozen earth. Vaspira jumped to her feet quickly, not wanting to lay there in case the man squished her. Her face was flushed from the humiliation she felt of her tiny body flying from his larger one, and the fact that this man was indeed better and stronger than her. Vaspira winced at the pain in her shoulder. It would have been a lot worse she was sure, if she did not come at him with a force of her own. She shook her arm, trying to rid it of pain, as she raised her gladius in her hand, looking at it with a frown. The short sword wasn’t helping her out much with his hand-to-hand combat, she was too frightened to even use the damn thing, out of fear that she may actually accidentally cut the man. But she kept it in her hand, and rubbed her head, feeling slightly dizzy from the hard blow.

She did not want to be considered weak, although at this point and time she was. Her head felt a little fuzzy from the arse plant on the frozen ground, and her shoulder was killing her, but she’d fight through the pain, just so he would not view her as a weak female. She circled Banir, like she would a small prey, keeping her face emotionless, and her eyes narrowed like a predator, looking for any weakness in that petching armor he wore. She did not see anything except for a little of his chest being exposed, so she flipped the blade in her hand and attempted to hit him there with the hilt of her sword, jumping back half out of fear of a counterattack and the other half because she really did not like the feel of his armor connecting with her flesh.

[Banir Ironwood]

When Banir saw her greatly displaced by a hit he had intentionally softened he felt rather worried. As his eyes turned a gentle turquoise he thought of her health and safety first as she was on the ground. Had he harmed her greatly? Did she break something? Though once the small woman was on her feet and holding her sword up once more. He was worried about her physical status. Perhaps she was simply just that light? Maybe she just needed to get some muscle and weight on her. As Vaspira began to circle around he figured his concern's should be addressed later. If she was willing to get back up on her feet and keep her sword raised at him. Then he may as well respect her choice to continue on and fight. Raising his bladed claw he prepared to move in for another strike. Since Banir had no sword and the only metal he had was on his person. He had to use it like a sword. Perhaps not the best strategy but, given this or a stick he'd chose this. Unless he got lucky and found an unusually sword shaped rock this was his best option. He watched as Vaspira drew in close, switching her grip so her blade was pointed away. As she bore down he saw a few openings but decided to let her have the hit. The solid thud as it impacted his muscle made him groan. This could be his payback for not being a little more careful with his strength. He knew she told him not to hold back. But if he just let go then things, things would get ugly. With a nice pulsing pain on his chest his mind seemed to sharpen up. Watching her dash away his mind set to work surveying.

Banir examined the battlefield once more, putting to work his experience with being a brawler. His weapon was his surroundings and everything he could grab hold of. She was near a few trees, but beyond some ice, snow and the frozen ground there wasn't much he could do in terms of surroundings. Not with just training anyway, if this where a fight he could have pushed her against the trees. Or maybe trip her and land full force on her but again. This was a spar, she was here to learn, he was here for practice. Carefully he followed her watching the surroundings and her. Maybe if he could get her to move towards the rocks again he could regain an advantage? Slowly he circled closer trying to push her back. The minute she got in range he swung his arm in a strong bladed back hand. It was a little more lazier than before, hoping not to send her flying this time if it did connect with anything.

[Vaspira]

Vaspira was slightly dizzy from the humiliating fall, though she pushed through the fog that wanted to shroud her mind, pushed through the pain that radiated and throb on her rear and shoulder, and she watched Banir, as he began to circle her, trying to push her back. Vaspira went forward when he swung the back of his bladed hand in her direction, thanking her lucky stars that she was slightly flexible and bent backwards, the blades cutting off a few strands of her hair.

Of course, it had to be her beautiful hair, her lovely hair. In that moment it seemed that everything around her froze, she glanced at her ebony hair, lying prominently on the snow covered ground, and then she looked back at Banir with a slightly shocked and angered expression on her face. A low rumbling growl formed in the back of her throat, as her eyes narrowed in on Banir. He just sliced off her lovely hair, sure it wasn’t much, and not that noticeable, but still it was her hair! No one messes with a woman’s hair and gets away with such an incredulous act!

At that moment the world seemed to melt away from Vaspira, she wasn’t really felt with rage, as it would be a distraction in fighting. No she was slightly pissed at what just occurred, but she calmed herself and made her body fluid once again, and in one swift movement she struck out, once again, with the hilt of her blade at Banir’s slightly exposed chest. Every part of a human’s body was fragile, just that some were more fragile than most. Keeping that in mind she kept her arm that did not hold the sword up to block, her legs slightly apart, and her body fluid.

[Banir Ironwood]

With his large bulk and size he had a strong advantage in the fight. His combat experience gave him an almost unfair advantage. He couldn't predict someone's movements, he could only try to react in time but that was really fifty fifty. But when he did manage it, it was amazing. Looking at Vaspira he thought he saw the signs of rage, something he could recognize well. However she didn't seem to be acting on it, regardless he kept his arms up. Making sure the armoured arm was up and in front of himself. Keeping his defense but it did leave a spot open on himself. He was about to try and make a move to get her back into those rocks however he found himself under attack. She was coming for him again, he didn't know what she was doing but he was ready. Watching as she raised her arm to strike, trying to use her speed against his might. Thankfully his arms where up and he was able to react in time to her action. He brought his right arm up and managed to take the blow on his armour with a ringing pang. He could feel the vibrations in his arm but the cold iron hardly had a dent in it. Moving back he pulled away from her, keeping his body steady but ready to spring at a moment he started to come in at her again. Watching her move with her sword, the stance she chose and that she was using her free hand for defense.

It wasn't a bad strategy to use, unfortunately she didn't have the physical strength or swordsmanship to effectively use it. He had warned her to use two hands while defending against a larger opponent like himself. If she was going to ignore his advice he'd show her just what happens when you use only one hand. Moving in he reeled back his unarmoured left hand, the brought it across his chest and with as much speed as he could muster and charged. At the last moment he suddenly twisted, putting his feet into the ground hard. Using more weight than strength he unleashed a solid punch towards more at her blade then her. That is if it hit, he tried to focus on accuracy by using his weight rather than his strength. Letting his muscles control direction, but still Banir hadn't quite done this before. He was confident in his skills but it would it was still a bit of a gamble on his part. His muscles tightened ready in defense as his thick skin and strong for an assault. His right side kidney was exposed for her free hand to strike.

[Vaspira]

Although to her novice mind she thought the hit should have connected, since it seemed so hard to move quickly in such armor, it did not connect. The sword slightly vibrated in her hand when it hit the metal of his blasted armor, but she kept her defense up, waiting for his next move.

Once again Vaspira was amazed at how quick the bulky man in the heavy armor could move so quickly. She thought maybe the armor would be a disadvantage when it came to speed, but obviously it was not. The man once again was barreling towards her, and in the back of her mind she knew it was going to hurt. Then the man suddenly twisted, putting his feet into the ground. Punching out towards her blade, it connected and the blade went flying across the training yard. Of course Vaspira disapproved of this move, a little irritated that he did such a thing. But she quickly observed a weak spot in his move, and she decided she would go for it.

Since she had no armor to weigh her down, and her body was rather small in size, it was easier for Vaspira to use her agility against the man, and that is what she did. She struck out at the bulky man, her fist connecting with his right side, and then she jumped back and away from the man, and circled him, moving away from what was behind her, and putting herself closer to some trees, that could work in her advantage if she wanted them to. Vaspira’s breathing was coming out in small ragged breaths. She was tired, her body was already aching, and her heart was pounding rhythmically. She briefly wiped at the sweat that had formed on her brow, and winced as the pain bloomed in her shoulder from the movement. She would push through though, at least until her body could not take it no more.

[Banir Ironwood]

Banir was starting to feel the weight of air in his lungs as the spar was dragged out a little longer. Sweat was on his brow as he hadn't expected to work this hard. Though this was the result of a strong performance on his part he was proud that his training was paying off. The loud ping of metal sounded and he thought he hit the blade. He had warned her before it was best to use two hands against a stronger opponent. Hopefully she'd learn from this and try to follow the teacher rather than- He paused as he felt the flair of pain come from his side, his thoughts stalled. A moment of weakness as he felt a knee buckle under him. However rather than fall he curled into himself and landed on his shoulders, his momentum carrying him back to his feet. Banir had rolled only a few feet away, the pain still in his side. He had felt pain before and knew how to deal with it rather well. With his mind focused on the spar he got back and made sure his feet where planted solid on the ground. It had been a good hit and he was actually a little proud she had chosen to go for his exposed weakness. It meant that she was learning and that she had listened to him. Against someone who wasn't too experienced in dealing with pain that blow would have had them stalled for more than a moment.

He realized he should probably offer some praise to her, however he had a bit of a problem finding her. Looking around he saw her by some trees, ready for his next charge. Smiling beneath his scarf he instead paused and held up a hand, his thumb aimed towards the sky. His gruff voice breaking past his scarf, a bit of pain from his quickened breath. "That was a, good hit, good job." He let a moment pass as he got back into his brawlers form and examined the battlefield again. Those trees where rather advantageous for hit and run strikes. But again this was a spar not a fight, the footing in there was pretty good so long as you minded the roots. Though perhaps it was time to call the spar to an end, they've been going for quite some time. Not to mention the fact she was looking rather tired and she'd used quite a bit of stamina. Maybe he can give her an extra bit of advice rather than trying to give her combat experience. Besides that was enough for today, although he liked a good physical workout perhaps it was time to show her some more weak points. Standing upright again he mentioned for her to come over. His gruff voice spoke out, the mild strain still in it from the pain. "Come over here, I want to, show you, something else. Then we can call it a day." He let his breath catch up with him, using long calm breaths to control his breathing. Rolling his shoulders to let out the tension he was starting to feel the days training in his muscles.

Banir wanted to make sure she knew soft spots. Should she get that certain level skill with her blade on her own. It would help if she knew some lethal areas to strike. Well he didn't know if those hits would be lethal, but he knew they'd hurt enough to make someone fall over doubled down in pain. He went over the locations in his head, a spot where ribs met the stomach flesh. That place was soft, hard to hit, but hurt a lot when you did get hit there. The sides where rather obvious due to the lack of muscle. However there where also spots in the legs and arms that where soft and hurt like crazy to be struck. A gift of knowledge he had 'learned' from his father. The underside of the arms and the back of the knee where also great places to hit. With the list in his head he knew what to say once she was over here. He just needed to vocalize his thoughts.

[Vaspira]

Even though they were sparring, and all was fair. Vaspira still felt a slight twinge of guilt seeing Banir buckle from her punch to his soft spot. She quickly dismissed this feeling though, trying to stay focus on what they were doing. Then Banir surprised her, he held his thumb up in the air, telling her she did a good job. Her chest swelled with pride at those words, she was enthused that she was doing well in such a trained individuals eyes. The fact still remained though, she was tired. Her body was sore and slightly stiff, sweat glistened on her body, and the thought of it freezing to her skin passed through her mind.

Vaspira backed up further to the trees; she figured she would climb up the tree if he charged her again. It would provide her with rest and an attack of surprise, and she doubt that Bani would hit the tree, although he may since it is hard for someone as large as him to stop there tracks all of a sudden in a charge, then the frozen ground would also provide for a slippery environment. She abandoned these thoughts when Banir told her to come over towards him, because he wanted to show her something else. Of course Vaspira’s Kelvic mind went on the defense. Is this some kind of battle tactic or something..? Vaspira thought as she nodded her head and walked over to Banir slowly.

She stayed on the defensive as she walked slowly to where Banir stood. She wiped the sweat off her forehead and inhaled a deep breath, trying to calm her erratic heartbeat. ”What is it that you’d like to show me Banir?” Vaspira asked a little wary. She kept a slight distance between them, not wanting to get too close in case he did indeed try to attack her. Her shoulder was pounding with pain, it was going to be a nasty bruise that was for sure. She rolled the shoulder, wincing slightly from the pain this caused her. She had to work out the soreness, the pain, though. She coughed slightly from the cold rush of air to her lungs, lungs that were tired from working furiously to keep her breathing calmed. She cleared her thought quickly and looked up at those shifting eyes Banir had, waiting for him to show her whatever this something else was.

[Banir Ironwood]

Banir's clothes protected him from a lot of things, namely from the people around him. It was an armour that helped block more than swords, arrows, blows or even words. The clothes he wore blocked the gaze of others from his face. Something which prevented his rage from exploding everywhere and at everyone or anyone unfortunate to be in his way. He hated the armour but loved it deeply at the same time. It meant he didn't have to hurt others because of his own lack of control. It also helped keep out the cold that surrounded him currently. While Vaspira made her way over he took time to slowly even out his breath. Letting air come to his lungs once more, focusing on keeping it at a steady pace. Like he had done while running the times before, to keep a steady breathing pace helped focus your mind. Taking one long and final breath he exhaled slowly, a small plume of steam leaving his scarf. Feeling like he could handle a good long talk he closed his eyes for a moment. Opening them slowly he felt his heart skip and his right armoured hand twitch out of reflex.

”What is it that you’d like to show me Banir?”

There was a moment and his mind stalled as he felt like he was forgetting to tell her something. It took him a chime for him to realize what he had called her over for and he shook his head a little inside of his hood. Right he needed to get started with this! Taking his hands he held them up showing he meant her no harm. "I think that you, and I are done, for today. You look rather, tired and I myself, am becoming hungry. You did a good, job keeping up. However I think that, your tactics might be, better suited for brawling, rather than swordsmanship. As you use your sword, more like a weapon fresh, from the ground. In fact you focused, more on striking my, weak points than, parrying my attacks. I'm not saying you should, that is merely my own, observation." He took a moment to rest his throat, Banir knew about combat, better than most. He was far from an expert and he knew that, after all Ximal could pretty well beat him with an arm behind his back. However Banir was able to look around his surroundings. Pick out weapons, where to position enemies and put them into a disadvantage in the environment. She seemed to do similar things, considering she was aiming for hiding in the trees. Then deciding to use a rock at random to do a ranged attack. Brawler tactics definitely.

He took another breath before continuing on. Focusing his mind as he remembered his prepared words and opened his eyes. "Before we do end, this spar I just, wanted to let you, know some weak points. That will work on, just about anyone." His gruff voice spoke as he turned to show her his side. "This one you already, know but I'm not, sure if you know where, to hit." He paused as he took her hand and put it on his side and made her push. Right between his hip and rib cage just barely behind his side. "Unless someone has a, lot of muscle, or is of Isur blood. This is a good weak point, to aim for. Usually best done when, behind someone or your, attempting a flank. Never directly approach someone, and aim for this, weak point. Its most likely, going to be difficult to, reach in a head on, fight." He took her hand and then extended his arm. Taking her hand and basically hitting himself with her fist into the soft spot. Just below the bicep and just before the elbow. "If you manage to, dodge an opponents open, swing. Hitting them here is, your best chance of, causing a lot of, pain and stall them. Its best to make, use of this when your, just about to be, attacked. It might not work, all the time though, against lesser opponents, however. You can just about, win the entire fight. You already know about, the weak spot on, the back of the, knees. I just thought, you should know, these for future, fights." He let go of her hand and sighed slowly letting out a long breath.

He had finally managed to say his piece and his throat was hurting rather badly. He still had just a little more to say before the end of this, taking a deep breath again he felt his words a little more difficult to find. "Thank you for this, spar I always, like a good, fight." He groaned gently and slipped a hand under his scarf. Gently massaging his sore throat.

[Vaspira]

Vaspira frowned slightly at Banir, as he was silent for a chime. He seemed to be lost in thought for some reason, and it made Vaspira slightly nervous. He held his hands up, showing her he meant no harm to her person. Vaspira instantly relaxed her body, as he began to speak. Banir began to tell her that her swordsmanship was poor; this she knew all too well, it was obvious. Though she was not going to give up on it, she would not learn it without training first of course. It may have been easier if he too wielded a sword, but he was a combat person, so she did not know how to really use the sword against it, yet anyways. Plus she was frightened to use the blade against the man, harming him unintentionally, since she was a novice it would have probably happened.
”You’re correct about that. I will keep training with the blade though, and hopefully I will become better, and learn how to actually use the petching thing against someone who uses their fists like you.” Vaspira smiled a weak smile, the pain in her shoulder was becoming slightly over bearing. She went silent again, to listen to the more seasoned fighter as he began talking about the weak spots on a person’s body. His gruff voice was still shocking. She expected to hear a kind and soft voice come from the large man for some reason, not a gruff pausing voice, though it was strange, it still suited him for some reason.

Vaspira nodded when he talked about the side, she knew that one from being hit there before, it really hurt if hit the right way. He paused and took her hand; she flinched slightly at the contact, but allowed the man to guide her hand to his side, making her push in. Vaspira tried to keep her concentration on what was being taught, but at the same time a light pink blush bloomed on her cheeks, that she would quickly blame on the cold if anyone ever asked. She was slightly shy about touching the man for some reason, maybe it was because he was a male, but it was just to show her about fighting, nothing more so she abandoned the thought and cleared her throat as she listened to the man. So she should aim for the area between the hip and rib cage, specifically when behind someone. What is a Isur? Vaspira thought casually, then dismissed it, as he went to explain further. When he made her hit him on the soft spot she gasped slightly, a little surprised that he did that to himself, and looked up from her fist to his red eyes, as he continued to talk. If she managed to dodge an open swing, she should hit a person below the bicep and before the elbow. This was a new spot she did not know of and she made sure to commit what he said to memory, she did not want to lose this knowledge.

When Banir let go of her hand she let it fall to her side, and she nodded and smiled at the man. ”Thank you for being kind of enough to take the time to teach me these things Mr. Banir. You have my gratitude for such things. Most people would not waste their time on a novice like myself. Though I know one more soft spot, maybe not how to utilize the knowledge but I still know of it.” Vaspira wanted to share this information with Banir, because he shared his information with her, and though she was indeed a novice did not mean a more competent fighter could not learn something new from her.

Vaspira placed her hand on her sternum area, ”Right here is a soft spot as well, your Sola Plexus, Vaspira said the word somewhat foreign like, not sure she was saying the correct name, I think that is what it is called anyways, but it is good to use in a fight. I wish I could show you how to hit it, but I am not trained enough to do so. I just thought I would let you know… You know… In case you could use it one day… Since you are better at this then me.” Vaspira spoke in a soft tone, almost a whisper, feeling a little foolish that she was telling such a man like Banir about a soft spot. The blush remained on her face, feeling slightly humiliated, but she blamed it quickly on the cold air. Banir’s thanked her for the spar, but then he groaned rubbing his throat as if it were in pain.

I wonder if he is sick and his throat is hurting…. Or maybe he got hurt in a fight?... Vaspira thought with a slight frown. He did mention he was hungry, maybe he also needed some warm liquid to help ease his throat.

”Would you like to accompany me to Grath’s Rest. I notice you rubbing your throat as if it is hurting, so you do not have to speak, just nod or shake your head. I am a Kelvic after all, so I can understand you if you do not speak, since I have to make people understand me when I am in my feline form. I am not saying I am an expert… But you do not have to strain your throat anymore then you have to. I will even buy you something warm to drink to ease your throat and your supper; it is the least I can do to thank you for teaching me so well.” Vaspira said these words in a tone that she saved for friends, a calm and soothing tone. She hoped the man would accompany her, she felt like she owed the man for this spar, for this teaching.

She waited patiently though, looking into his red eyes, his special shifting eyes that he held. They were indeed a curiosity that she wanted to know more about, though she was not one to pry into other’s personal lives. We all have skeletons in our closets… Vaspira thought on a soft sigh, watching the white little puff cloud dissipate in the air.