[Training] Men with sticks (Kane)

[John Griffin]

((OOC: The shields are large wooden shields I should have specified ))

The ex-criminal reacted with the quickness John expected. He didn't know too much about Sunberth, but he new that the slow were the most likely to be killed, so it only made sense that the older man had some speed about him. John's attack was deflected easily. He was not surprised, a child could use a shield to some basic effect, and Kane was an experienced fighter.

Kane's counter attack was low. Too low for even the larger type shield to work effectively. He might be able to crouch and block it, but at what cost? Such a maneuver would unbalance him and leave him at a disadvantage. Instead he withdrew the leg, stepping back so his shield was forward again. Trying something new he thrust straight in, keeping his shield leg forward, his mock blade aimed for Kane's chest.

[Kane Roth]

((No prob man.))

John had proved to be quite the fighter, choosing an option that might've lost him a strike in the short term, but in the long run might've won him the fight. Withdrawing his right leg and drawing his shield side forward, John prepared a strike against Kane, who was now turning about to replant himself, the momentum from the missed swing having cost him his balance. Recovering barely in time to ungracefully dispatch the blow John'd meant for his breast, Kane deciding instead that instead of the offense he should take the defense, considering his advantage in size and strength, believing that it might prove prudent that instead of overexposing himself he might tire out the young Griffin, allowing perhaps for an easier fight later. Still, John had been doing this longer recently than Kane had in years, the last actual stand up fight he'd been part of being at least a year ago, if not longer. Bringing the shield to bear, Kane peered from over its edge, his right hand gripping the wooden blade tightly, ready if John presented an opportunity to strike.

[John Griffin]

John had not expected his second attack to get through, and was glad that it did not. The parry sent his weapon wide and he rushed to get it back into position. Luckily Kane had not pressed the attack, deciding for a defensive position instead. John was perfectly happy to set the pace, as it was his preferred way of fighting, and it would better allow him to judge specific things about Kane's skill with sword and shield. Noticing Kane's eyes positioned just over his shield, John skirted a little closer, hoping the shield would block Kane from seeing his next strike.

The young knight feinted with his shield, as if to thrust it at his opponent. A little too committed, it threw him slightly off balance as he pulled it back. Determined to still go through with the move, he thrust the blade again, this time low, hoping to get in under the bottom of the shield and hit Kane in the sword leg.

[Kane Roth]

Soon enough the fight was beginning to turn to a draw, though John seemed oddly confident with this new style of combat, a style perhaps more suited to armored combat... something John would've been trained in. Kane, in his shortsightedness, hadn’t considered such a possibility, still he’d made a decision and it was a decision he’d have to live with, and so he fought. John began to feint, every now and then, with his shield, though Kane stood resolute behind his own, ready for an opportunity should one present itself. Soon enough it did, in the form of an attack; John thrust again, this time to Kane’s sword leg, low, almost where his shield couldn’t reach. Kane found himself much in a position like John had earlier, he could either attempt to block the attack with his shield or he could try to dodge the strike. Choosing to run with the latter, Kane jumped back to his left, almost tripping on the grass as he did such, hoping that John had overextended himself, Kane dealt what he hoped to be a finishing blow as he brought the blade down from over his shoulder, if he missed he’d be wide open for a counterstrike but the opportunity was too great to pass up, the chance of such a strike might not come again.

[John Griffin]

John was off balance, made even more so by his missed strike. Before he could withdraw back into stance Kane had attacked, bringing a chop down towards him. His options were bleak, try to roll away, which was usually never a good idea, or block the attack from a low position. He chose the block, but added a twist. Instead of simply blocking, he pulled his extended leg forward and rose up, lifting the shield to meet the blow. He put his shoulder into it, knowing that Kane was a larger, stronger man, and that he would need everything to make this work. Rising up, John attempted to throw Kane off balance by simultaneously blocking his attack and thrusting at him with his shield, using all his weight.

If it worked, John would have the advantage. If not, he was in serious trouble, and would probably feel the stinging blow of a practice sword.

[Kane Roth]

The young knight had made a daring move, having chosen to try to deflect his blow instead of dodging out of the way. It made Kane a bit nervous actually, usually smaller opponents he faced in the arena would opt for a fleeing-battle, but John's stand and fight kind of stance... it unnerved him, unnerved him quite a bit. Still, there was a fight to be fought, and Kane would sit and think the whole time, and so, in response to John's soon to come deflection of his blow Kane prepared to pivot on his right foot, bringing his left to bear. Almost too quickly it came to pass, John's deflection of the blow and Kane's pivot, bringing his shield into proper range, and with a hearty shove, Kane forced himself against John, sword at his side, ready to strike. Perhaps the young knight had had time to prepare, to recover, but then again, he might've put all his money into the deflection that the shield might've offered. Only time would tell, and that time was fast approaching.

[John Griffin]

John was thrown off balance when his upward push met nothing but air, and then even more so when Kane came at him from the side, using a similar tactic. John spun and met shield with shield, but he was smaller by far, and also off balance. Kane's shield rush sent John back several yards, his feet backpedaling with a quickness, try to regain his stance. Off balance as he was, he could still swing his blade, and did so three times to cover his hasty and forced retreat.

He adjusted his grip on both his shield and blade as he finally stopped his backward momentum. Taking a few steps forward to get back sloe to Kane, he suddenly leaped forward at a diagonal towards Kane's shield side again, his own shield ready to block. This time he came in from and angle, and swung down with an overhand chop aimed for Kane's shield arm.

[Kane Roth]

The shove had worked, throwing John back several yards, though it didn't work to its full effectiveness as it had many times in the arena, partly due to John's boots and his training. Though Kane was unable to pursue and drive home the attack as John provided several hasty swings, swings which probably would've dealt superficial damage but Kane didn't want to risk such, preferring rather to sit and wait for John's next move, gripping the leather-bound hilt of the training sword tighter, prepared to take the fight to John, though before he could notice it John had already closed the distance between them, and had already begun to attack, bringing a chop from over his right shoulder, Kane, unprepared, only stood idle, thinking the fight to be over, though for a brief moment Kane could've sworn he'd heard... cheering. Perhaps his mind's ears thought the situation so similar that it might prove prudent to try and replicate the old motivator, though whether or not it was needed, it worked. Kane took his shield arm and held the shield horizontally just over his head, his forearm supporting the length of the shield, rushing to get it into place before John's blow landed. With speed, and perhaps a bit of luck, Kane managed to deflect the blow and force the blade over to the left.

Pursuing the advantage he'd managed to create, Kane forced his way in, bringing his shield close to him, and using the pommel of the mock blade to pinch the edge of John's shield between the pommel and Kane's wrist and with a shove he hoped to send the shield wide, hopefully creating a momentary window in which to attack, though if John recovered with his right arm Kane would be finished. Still, it was all just a game, not like the cheering was real...

[John Griffin]

John's attack failed, Kane blocking it and forcing the knight's blade wide. The larger man surged into the gap and did a move John had never seen before, pinching his shield with his wrist and pommel, and pushing it wide as well. There would be a wide open window if he didn't act quickly. Thinking of a move that his mentor, William Erindale, had used on him, he spun into action. His sword arm wide, but recovering, he went with the momentum of his shield, using Kane's push to speed the move. Spinning back and to his left, he flipped the shield around and held it behind him to cover his back. Having never practiced the move, only seen it once, it was performed less than well. The weight of the shield effectively pinned John's arm behind his back in a weird position. The first window of attack for Kane was closed, but another was looking particularly good as John spun back around to face his opponent. Blade only a little at the ready, John struggled to untwist his arm before Kane attacked.

[Kane Roth]

Quickly John tried to work his way out of the situation, and Kane was overly pleased to see that he hadn't chosen to bring his blade about, at least not yet. He seemed to go into a spinning action that, and this struck Kane particularly, if he'd done it of his own accord instead of necessity it could've finished the fight earlier, not to mention make Kane look a fool with such an easy win. Still it provided Kane another opportunity to exploit, though he was wary of any sort of tricks that John might pull, considering that this whole action could've been a feint of sorts, hoping to draw Kane in with his guard lowered, though Kane could see that John wasn't the type for tricks, he was an honorable fighter... perhaps such would be his downfall someday. Still, as John came about Kane readied his shield arm to meet John's strike as he readied his own from over his shoulder, sending the chopping swing forth--hopefully--before John could ready his shield.