Open A Hard Day's Hitting Things

[Jantys Vane]

Dyers District, Training Area
Season of Spring, Day 17, 513 AV

Jantys rubbed at his brow with his shield hand, tired already. He glances around surreptitiously, wondering if any of the squires or knights training nearby were snickering at him, but they all seemed focused on what they were doing. He had only been at it for five minutes, shyke, he had used the first four to adjust his armor, and already he felt tired. That was no surprise. Nowadays, he always felt tired.

"Blasted, ugly, stupid, petching armor," he mumbles, raising his sword hand a bit lethargically and hacking at the dummy in front of him. The dummy didn't respond, other than looking slightly more untidy.

He grumbles a few more choice sentences, directed at the dummy, the Knighthood, his current position, and, of course, a favorite standbye, the awful, petching, hot weather. It really wasn't THAT hot, but the armor was insufferable. He adjusts his shield, still wondering why he was even WEARING the thing, the dummy wasn't going to strike back, and takes another swing, his movements slow and clumsy.

"Okay, okay... come on... you remember some stuff, right? That's not how you do it." He slides his hand a little on the sword's handle, getting a more firm grasp, and swings, the sword whipping through the air to strike at the dummy.

The dummy looked back dolefully.

"Gah." Jantys sits down, staring at the dummy in boiling frustration, the sword lying by his side. He felt ridiculous, hot, and stupid as all hell; as ridiculous, hot, and stupid, in fact, as a thirty-something man, hardly in shape, training to be a knight, SHOULD feel.

[Rinn Emris Ohm]

Rinn watched carelessly yet amused by the mans struggle with his armor and weapon. The mans sweat was pouring down his forehead and rusting his armor. Rinn just watched, It was what he was good at. Although after a while, watching is no longer fun is it? Rinn slowly floated over towards the man who obviously hated that dummy. "Do you hate that dummy so much because it reminds you of yourself? At first it was hard for me to distinguish the two of you." Rinn chuckled. "Maybe its the layers of useless weight. No sense wearing all that metal if you can hardly fight in it is my opinion." Rinn blinked over towards the dummy and gave it a quick hit with his soulmist projection. It didn't do much except wiggle it a bit. "Not much of an enemy is he?" He said sarcastically.

An idea went off in his head. "Perhaps you would like a moving target? I doubt your weapon can hurt me... plus I'm quite bored-so here's the game." The excitement in Rinns voice escalated as he blinked back towards the man. "I'll be the target, and every time you miss I'll touch you. It'll be no more than a prick I promise, and every time you land a hit I'll pretend to get hurt. Not a bad game right?" Rinn said excitedly.

[Jantys Vane]

Jantys sighed, standing up to try again, when he hears an unfamiliar voice. Yanking off his helmet, he looks over, only to see... Was that a ghost? He knew they existed, of course, and had met several, but he never talked to them very long. They were known to be capricious, dangerous, and sometimes even deranged. Thus, he watches the ghost float about with a healthy amount of reservation.

His first thought it a 'petch no, go find someone else to play with'. But this ghost could be dangerous, and refusing the game could be more hazardous then playing. Besides, it seemed simple enough, so long as it doesn't break out possession or something similarly disturbing. Still, one thing he had learned in life is that the easiest way out of a situation you don't want to participate in is to whine. He picks up his sword, watching the ghost.

"Hey, at least I can actually wear things," he grumbles a bit, not able to restrain a comment. "Sounds like a terrible game, really. You can float all over the place, and are, well..." He frowns, trying to pronounce and remember the word. "...Inte... Intangible. I can't actually land a hit on you at all." He tilts his head to the side, cracking his neck. "Besides, games have to be win-or-lose, or there's no point." After all, if there was no way to win, the ghost would probably keep him here all day.

[Rinn Emris Ohm]

Rinn glared at the man insanely. "Well I can see what luxuries wearing 50 pounds of armor can do for one so soft a squishy to the touch." He mocked. Laughing out loud in admiration for the mans observation. "Yes it is quite useless, but weren't you doing technically the same thing before with your doppleganger?" Rinn blinked right in front of the mans face. His cold aura seeping down the mans metal chestplate. "Perhaps what's lacking is the presence of danger in your training?" Rinn whispered before circling around the man casually scratching his own chin in thought. "You have a thing or two to learn about us. Yes you cannot hurt us with that... thing you call a blade, but it will still be able to hit some part of me. Imagine running a stick through a pool of water, the water is unharmed, yet you still felt resistance no?" Rinn walked straight through the man to show a bit of an example. "Like jumping into a pool of ice water no?" He laughed.

Rinn was starting to grow bored with this man. He did not want to teach, he wanted to play. He could easily do both if necessary. "Very well I'll even the odds." He stopped floating and let his feet touch the ground. "I shall not blink, nor shall I float. Cross my heart and hope to die." He said with a smirk. Rubbing his face to form the mask he likes to wear when causing mischief. "See we can wear things too" Rinn chuckled. Walking up towards the man once more and giving an elegant bow. "As for consiquence and realism, if you don't at least try to fight... I shall wear your skin for this evenings tea time. Deal?" He laughed insanely before stopping himself mid-laughter "oh! By the way, my name is Rinn... Rinn Emris Ohm at your service."

[Jantys Vane]

Jantys was quite convinced that he didn't want to be playing this game. Nope, not at all. This ghost was obviously off its rocker, completely insane, and was making threats to boot. He could try running and finding some fellow knights for help, but what good could they do against a ghost? He had heard of some with special powers that could be used against such beings, but he had no idea where to find them. Maybe the knights might, but his mind did not really take to getting help from them at this point.

He gulped a bit, shivering from the ice-cold feeling, but quickly revitalizes, taking in the fresh sunshine and breathing out a slow sigh. Summoning up the foolhardy courage that was once lost, he raises his sword, squaring his shoulders. "All right, Rinn. I'll play your game. Prepare yourself." Not bothering to wait for him to actually prepare himself, he aims a diagonal slice, quick as he could (not very quick) at the encroaching ghost.

[Rinn Emris Ohm]

Rinn was caught off guard, but his armor was noisy and the swing was fairly slow. He stepped back almost tripping up a bit. He was not used to actually walking for quite some time and that paid him dearly when the very tip of the blade managed to scrape away leaving a trail of mist tracing the blades path. "Lucky shot!" He laughed. He was starting to enjoy himself. If he had a heart it would be pumping wildly right about now!

Rinn danced around the man, trying to find a blind spot. He didn't actually know swordsmanship so he just watched for any quick movements in the mans arms. Moving towards the mans left, Rinn reached out his tendril to attempt to touch the back of the mans neck. "See isn't this fun?!" Rinn shouted.

[Jantys Vane]

Jantys' swing was by no means graceful, but he was rewarded by seeing a small part of the ghost sliced away. A bit surprised, he didn't expect the strike, and shivers and straightens his back at the ghost's touch. Whirling, his sword swings in a haphazard but broad horizontal stroke, his shield raising reflexively as he resolved to keep an eye on the wayward spirit.

I've had public stonings that were more fun than this, he thought silently, but he continued concentration, not speaking back. As much as he loved to run his big mouth, it would only spur the ghost to greater lengths, and considering the circumstances, it was only a matter of time before he tired out, leaving the ghost unsatisfied (and possibly prone to hurting somebody) (who might be him, moreover).

[Rinn Emris Ohm]

Rinn quickly ducked as the blade swept across neck-height. He was about to use a tendril again but noticed the man kept his shield raised and followed his every movement. Not allowing him to get behind anymore. Rinn was hesitant to attack head on since every attempt to use his soul projection leaves him vulnerable to get injured. He wasn't exactly sure if the man knew that, but he wasn't going to test that theory so quickly. Instead, he played a bit of a dirty trick by detaching his mask from his face and leaving it to float on its own while he used the distraction to dance towards his blind side.

"Isn't this so much better than hitting a dummy?" Rinn asked the man. He watched carefully for another strike from the man. By this time he could tell the human was at his limits, sweating profusely and panting heavily. Rinn thought to himself if he should stop, he really didn't want the Syl knights to go after him for accidentally killing a sqire during training. "Do you call in a forefeit friend?" He asked the man with a genuinely honest tone.

[Jantys Vane]

Jantys may not be the most intelligent man, nor the best swordsman, but he had a certain cunning granted to him from brawls in the past. He didn't fall for the mask trick, deciding to play defensive as opposed to swinging all over the place; that would just tire him out more. However, as he was turning to better defend against the ghost, he has an idea.

Carefully monitoring his own footing and positioning, he steps forward and aims an awkward jab at the mask, instead of turning to the ghost's position. Then, immediatly afterwards, knowing the ghost would try and strike at his weak point, he whirls around in another haphazard strike, this one at about hip-level, his face contorting into a snarl. The momentum is a little much for him, unused to all this heavy equipment, and, hit or miss, he stumbles and flops on the ground, face forward, the sword skittering away.

"Ah PETCH," he growls, then turns, mopping at his brow with the back of one gauntlet gingerly. "I didn't want to play this stupid petching game in the first place." He remembers the ghost's earlier tone, and softens his slightly, fear bringing prudence. "Yeah, I'm just about done, thanks."

[Rinn Emris Ohm]

Rinn just stood there in amazement before bursting out in laughter. "Hahahaha what exactly do you plan to achieve without pushing yourself?" Looking down at the man on his knees. "Do you think everyone you come across will act like that dummy and play fair? You need to expect the unexpected..." Rinn bent down to the mans level and removed his mask. "I didn't... that why I'm dead." He spoke gently before sitting on the floor and crossing his legs. "Look, I just want you to realize what your getting yourself into. I picked you out of the others because your older... so I figured you should be wise enough to realize how much death you will face." Placing the mask afloat beside him, he started to spin the spectral object on its end. "If you can't deal with one death, how can you deal with a career in death?" Rinn's face saddened, remembering how horrible it can be to witness two people tearing eachother apart purely out of hatred for one another.

"I'll leave you be now, I've had my fun." Rinn said as he blinked to his feet. Putting his hand out forward as if to help the man up. It was a joke, but it still had meaning. "Promise me you won't get yourself killed and everytime we cross paths, I'll buy ya a drink!" He chuckled. "I know a pretty good place called the Rearing Stallion!"