[The Bazaar] Adventure Ahoy [Stitchimus]

[Rhuryc]

It worked? Rhuryc was surprised. He had expected Stitch to kick him, or move, or something, but the other man was at his mercy. Rhuryc felt a tightness around his waist (one that was most unwelcome from his own gender), but he ignored it, quick as he was to assess the situation. He heard Stitch's breath take and his arms tensed. When they hit the ground he felt a shudder from his opponent, a pain that he was all too familiar with. From here Rhuryc knew he could end it. A few pounds on the head and the brawl would be over; maybe one or two shots to the side to stun his opponent and he could bash his head into the ground. The thought did occur to Rhuryc. Instead he did nothing. The hand grasped his face - he almost laughed as it did - and suddenly he was 'blind', unable to view the actions of his companion. Out of habitual reaction he pulled his head back and was unable to react as a palm flew forward, taking him in the face and busting his bottom lip. Pain seared across his jaw and a grunt escaped his throat, some queer guttural sound that was a mix of anger and burning. Anger that he would not act on.

Instead of pressing his advantage or even so much as adding to the fight, Rhuryc drew back farther. He shifted his arms out from under Stitch and pulled them under the man's tights, flexing and pushing outward as he broke the hold his opponent held on his torso. The action was one of mercy. Perhaps for both of them. Rhuryc's body shifted once more and once he was free he rolled aside, tumbling free from the grapple in an effort to put some distance between himself and Stitch. Even from there he could hear the ragged breaths of the blind man, hidden well, but otherwise evident. The idea was to get an idea of the other's strength, not cause permanent injury.

Palms pressed against ground ad Rhuryc lifted a boot. He drew himself up to a knee and raised his head, eyes easing as he looked to Stitch. Neither had known a thing about the other's way of combat, and now Rhuryc was sure that he was outclassed. His gambit only worked because Stitch was unfamiliar with how he fought. A common brawler, no technique or style, just a few punches with whatever he could get his hands on. In truth the sword suited him all the better.

"I yield this match, friend. Mayhaps we should reset ourselves for another?" Rhuryc spoke in kind. Loosing did not concern him and neither did the blood that trickled down his chin.

[Stitch]

Stitch had to gulp in the air, his own pained rasps like a death rattle to his ears. He knew Rhuryc would be able to hear them, and he was betting the man would act on it. The palm he threw out was purely thrown out of desperation, and he was glad when Rhuryc struggled back. His next blow made contact, and he hurriedly threw out another, starting to wiggle a bit in the blacksmith's grasp. Priskil, he was strong, and Stitch was barely able to move at all. He was almost starting to think he would have to purely depend on his freed right hand, and that wasn't good at all. It meant he would have to dip into a skill that he wasn't apt at using, and that could prove more harmful than he wanted. Yet, the man had said to use all that he had, right? That it was a fight to see how the other would handle each other, correct?

Breath, Stitch. Don't stop breathing. Ignore the blossoming pain in your bones, and simply focus on the breathing. Can you see it, with those special eyes? The flow of the Djed, coursing through your veins. Simply tug it in, then let it go back out. Combine the un-natural with the natural, until it all becomes one. Pull the Djed from your arms, from your legs, and gather it in your chest. Flow it back to where it belongs, and let your body resume it's natural course. Breath again, and once more pull all that energy from your veins. Gather it in your stomach.

It was the exact thought he had qouted to himself, so many dozens of times.

He started as he realized Rhuryc was moving; or rather, had already moved. The man was releasing him? Why was he doing that? Stitch had half a mind to take advantage of the situation, to strike out with a sharp kick perhaps. Instead, something inside of him said otherwise, and Stitch was content to merely roll away. He quickly hopped to his feet, a total opposite of Rhuryc's calm and collected rise from the dirt. Stitch mentally eyed the man with some caution, not yet raising his guard, trying to figure out what was happening. The man was full of surprises. Was he just going to try and tackle Stitch again? Stitch was so confused at the moment, that it actually might work.

Reset? He yielded the match? What? Stitch's hands fell to his side, and he cocked his head at the man, very visibly confused. He took a step forward, getting a little closer to the man, opening his mouth as if to talk, then closing it again. The man was yielding the match because he had put Stitch in a dangerous position, perhaps? Stitch thought that he had been handling himself quite nicely! Was the man trying to be valiant? But that ruined the point of the excercise! That, and Stitch couldn't shake the feeling that even though Rhuryc had conceded the match, Stitch was actually the one who was losing. He would never admit it, but he didn't like it that way. His jealousy at the rather polite situation also left him feeling like a little boy. He cocked his head further, erasing the feeling from his stomach, letting a smile fall onto his face. Rhuryc was being nice about it, and it made Stitch feel a little ashamed that he had been about to use the Flux.

"Deal. And this time, you don't have to stop, milord. You were in trouble anyways." Stitch flashed the man a winning grin, and just suddenly moved. It was a simple move, unexpected, and dangerous. It was a snap kick flashing straight up between Rhuryc's legs, no matter if he was still kneeling or standing. It wouldn't land on the privates, unless Rhuryc was unlucky enough to position himself that way. It would certainly land on the inside of either thigh though, and hopefully wobble the man. Stitch was casual about it, the smile still on his face, his hands still held slack.

[Rhuryc]

Rhuryc watched Stitch. The confusion was amusing at first, the opening and closing of the mouth a humorous spectacle, but there was a hint of irritation in that gaze. Rhuryc could not see auras, read minds, or even pretend to dip beyond the realm of human, but he knew people. Was his opponent shamed? Annoyed perhaps, the blacksmith had the advantage only moments previous and yielded for fear of causing injury. In retrospect, Rhuryc imagined he would vexed himself were the tables turned. But the intention was not to go all out. Already he knew more about Stitch; his reactions, gasps, and tenacity allowed a deeper look to the man's character. The veil of polite musing and nativity was slipping away. Nothing was so honest as battle, all one had to do was have the wisdom to understand it.

And maybe pay attention.

Rhuryc was not one to be taken off guard. Not now. With how Stitch responded initially to their little brawl he expected something quick, sudden, but even if he knew it was coming that did not mean he could stop it. The kick shot out and Rhuryc moved to avoid it. He shifted his weight to his left leg, his bod turning but too late as Stitch's footwear connected with the inside of his thigh. What a peculiar target. He grunted at the impact, but as he was oft to do, Rhuryc stumbled on ahead, the pain thrust out of his mind the instant it began. His balance was off, sure, and he felt his weight shift back to his right side with the other unable to account for the stress. One might say he was wounded. Fortunately, that one was not Rhuryc.

A step brought him closer. Angling with his left, the brawler lowered his shoulders again and brought his arm down, his elbow held low and close before a fist came from beneath; a powerful, direct strike aimed to take Stitch in his right side. His opposing arm remained aloft and forward, palm half opened with his fingers curled inward, bent and low as if he were ready for another incoming strike. While Rhuryc did not move with a dancer's grace or fight with a master's technique it was clear that he knew the basics. Keep your arms in, expose only your strength, protect the weak points on your body. Lessons learned from experience, no doubt.

[Stitch]

Stitch felt bad. He knew he had been bested in the first round of combat, but Rhuryc had been a good sport about it. Stitch had allowed bitterness to take a hold of him, along with a good amount of shame. It was a bad emotion for a fighter to have, especially when he was supposed to be simply trying the other. Here Rhuryc was, attempting to help the two of them learn something, and Stitch's pride was getting in the way. He would never admit it, at least not now, but his sudden kick had channeled a bit of that anger. He now tried to force it aside, tried to make the soft smile on his face a true, actual smile. He was thankful for Rhuryc's company, and thankful the man was being patient with him. The blacksmith had likely noticed that Stitch had been a bit miffed, but he hadn't pointed it out, or reacted in any way. He had simply gone about the spar like normal, as if nothing had happened in the first place.

The burning mixture of shame and irritation in Stitch's stomach was dying down, and he forced his mind off of it. Remember that this was a learning experience for the both of them, and that there was no need for "winners" or "losers". He obviously had been spending too much time with Damien, who was convinced that everything in life had to have clear winners and losers.

The blacksmith had staggered, once more taking a blow in stride. Stitch didn't attempt to pull his kick back after it landed, merely stepped forward to fully engage Rhuryc. Stitch's foot planted itself between Rhuryc's feet, and as the man stepped forward to deliver his blow, he would find the two of them in extremely close quarters. Rhuryc angled, lowered, and fired a strong blow right at the blind man's right side. Stitch twisted at the waist as the blow came in, pulling his right side back and out of the way, and thrusting his left side forward. Stitch's left hand shot out, palming the striking wrist and giving it a slight push. He was merely trying to aid the momentum of the blow in a direction that was a bit outside of it's original path, which would also continue to bring Rhuryc just a bit forward. If all things went well, Rhuryc would have to contend with that same left arm suddenly snapping out an elbow, attacking the sternum with the already bent limb.

No matter if the hits landed or not, Stitch was quick to hop away. The guided deflection of the punch was meant to throw Rhuryc off balance, and the elbow strike was meant to knock him back. Stitch had no interest in keeping close to the big man, and was keeping his right hand reserved for any tricks the blacksmith may have.

Rhuryc didn't seem like much of a tricky person, though.

[Rhuryc]

Combat was a dance. A violent, improvised dance, but the steps were there. Each participant claimed their own rhythm, weaving in and out from one another in a mesh of bizarre movements. It took only a keen mind to to puzzle one's own style. Rhuryc knew his. Slow and cumbersome, he wrestled like a blacksmith. His movements were pointed, disciplined in their dedication like a soldier, trained to do the most efficient job possible with whatever resources lay in the surroundings. He was taunt, tough, and strong, he utilized his stamina over his speed and matched the common ire of his opponents with a quiet ferocity, overcoming unfavorable odds through little more than sheer force of will. In contrast, Stitch was his opposite. Light and smooth, the other man moved with a fluid technique, seamlessly transitioning from one step to another, his dance a graceful set to baffle his opponents. The blind man burned as little energy as possible, redirecting Rhuryc's strikes and connecting as often as he could to throw the smith off his game. And his balance. The differences left Rhuryc very few options, he mused. He would have to get in close like before.

He grunted again. The elbow slammed into his chest with more force than he expected and his already unfavorable balanced wavered. A hand met with his wrist and Rhuryc felt his strike go awry, cast aside with a minimal degree of effort. That would get annoying. Although he took the hits, Rhuryc did not react as expected. Instead of stepping back, he stumbled forward as he attempted to grab a hold of Stitch, his right arm lashing out at his target's shoulder in a wild flurry to grasp a shoulder. The movement was queer. Rhuryc felt himself go forward but he was unable to control his motion, his momentum sent ahead with a uncontrollable burst. The Smith's body lashed forward, aided by his ill-considered grab, and the man was sent tumbling into his opponent with little means to halt himself.

[Stitch]

Another tackle.

The man had done little more than pause as Stitch had landed an elbow into him, but it was a little less surprising this time than last. The blind man was intrigued, if anything. Rhuryc was amazingly skilled at taking blows without so much as a flinch, and Stitch couldn't help but to be impressed. Even though the man was lumbering about like a street brute, there was a certain... violence to it. There was some sort of beauty in it, some pristine show of simplicity. Even though the man was nowhere as elegant as Stitch, nor did the man have even a drop of technique... He was using what he had to continue lumbering straight at the blind martial artist, no matter if he was met with fist or foot. It was an admirable sort of willpower and strength that Stitch somewhat envied. Stitch knew he wasn't able to take blows like Rhuryc was, but deep inside, he wanted to. It was a facet to his fighting style that could be considered a weakness, yet to Rhuryc, it was his greatest strength. Stitch had felt the shock from that shoulder strike travel up his arm; he had felt all the power behind it. The man had already been stumbling forward, so that had only aided the power of the strike. Yet when Stitch had made connection, it had felt like slamming an elbow into a tree trunk. The blacksmith was built like the very steel he wielded.

The right hand came forward, groping for Stitch's shoulder, and the martial artist instantaneously reacted. As his elbow came back from the original strike, he turned at the waist, still using that single movement. His left hand caught the awkwardly flailing wrist, yanking it hard, once again using Rhuryc's momentum against him. At the very last second, before Rhuryc's face and body crashed into Stitch's own form, the blind man brought his other arm into play. Twisting back into his original position, he brought his right arm around, flinging his entire body into an attempt to forearm smash right into the side of the man's skull. He wasn't so sure if Rhuryc would take the blow, dodge it, or come up with some other supernatural feat of pure willpower and strength. The man was impressing him, for sure.

If the blow landed, Stitch would press it, bringing both of the men to the ground. If Rhuryc managed to duck it, or respond in some other way, Stitch would likely find himself in the position he had much earlier in the fight. On the ground, with the blacksmith about to pummel him to shreds.

Stitch was almost hoping he would. A smile had risen to Stitch's lips, and a new excitement was flowing through his veins. There was something intoxicating about the way Rhuryc fought, and Stitch was tempted to try it. The forearm smash had been a bit of a slip for him, as the blind man had wanted to try something new. He had wanted to ditch his discipline for just a moment, and attempt to use brute force. To use power, and muscle. To simply fight, just for the violence of it. To beat Rhuryc at his own game.

[Stitch]

He took it, and he took it really hard. Rhuryc must have been tired from the previous scuffle, because he tried to dodge. He managed to pull back just a little bit, and he managed to yank his hand from Stitch's grasp... But he simply wasn't fast enough. Even as he leaned back, Stitch was homing in, smashing that forearm home. With a sickening thunk sound, Stitch violently connected. Rhuryc's head snapped back, and man stumbled, struggling to regain his balance. He was obviously injured, and stunned. No matter how big and strong the blacksmith was, he had just taken a full strength blow to the temple.

Stitch didn't pause, either.

Again he leapt forward, pulling the forearm back and then thrusting it forward. His hand found the shoulder of the dazed man, and yanked him into the oncoming blow. Another sharp thunk sound, and the man's head snapped back once again. Stitch continued his onslaught, holding the man steady, too caught up in the brawl to notice he was winning. Only when he pulled back for the fourth blow, did he notice that Rhuryc was slipping from his grasp.

"Milord!" Stitch let out the strickened cry, releasing the blacksmith from his grip. The fellow fell, slumping to the ground, out like a light. Stitch followed him there, falling to the ground, slapping at Rhuryc's cheeks. "Milord! This one is sorry! This one got a little caught up in our scuffle!" Stitch hurriedly slapped at him, glancing around for help. Seeing no one nearby, he refocused his gaze on the man, trying to see if he was okay.

Rhuryc let out a soft groan, and twitched a bit, one eye flickering open. Stitch broke out in a relieved grin, laughing, thankful he hadn't gotten too carried away in their scuffle. "You had me scared, milord!" With another chuckle, he gave the man a friendly thwap on the back of the head. In his relief, he thwapped a bit too hard.

And knocked him out again.

Stitch's cry could be heard throughout the streets. "Ah, milord! Again, I am sorry!"

[Nisaba]

Grade Complete: XP Award! Name: Rhuryc Naravane   XP Award Brawling- 1 XP Unarmed Combat- 3 XP Wrestling- 1 XP Observation- 3 XP Teaching- 1 XP I gave one point in Brawling because Rhuryc considered wailing on Stitch after the tackle, which is a brawling move- even if he thought better of it. Unarmed combat was the skill I saw most in the sparring matches with the focus based around Rhuryc using his body for both offensive and defensive purposes. The take-down was both a wrestling and brawling move, but I gave it a point to wrestling because he learned a bit more about the consequences of tackling an opponent with practiced technique- to me, teaching him more about wrestling. Observation, obviously, was awarded because of Rhuryc’s gauging of Stitch’s fighting skill and technique, as well as paying attention to the interactions in the market. Passing on his knowledge of acceptable rations was a sort of informal teaching.   Lore Award Waiting for Companions Best Rations for Journeying Honesty is the Best Policy Taking Blows Staying Calm in Battle Knowing When to Stop Fighting Uncomfortable Wrestling Positions with Another Man Getting Knocked Out Twice in a Single Fight (Ouch)   Ledger -7 gold mizas for Rations -2 copper mizas for apples Make sure to add the rations to your equipment, as well. Additional Note Injury- Rhuryc will definitely have a headache after this. Bruises will form near his temple, on his arm, and on his inner thigh, so those will be weaknesses during any other sparring/fighting done in the near future. Riding a horse will also be uncomfortable, rubbing against the sore leg. I really enjoyed the fact that Rhuryc’s fight was realistic. He took hits, felt the pain, and reacted. It was refreshing to see that, compared to some scenes where characters always seem to ‘just barely’ get away from any sort of attack- which makes reading about fights boring. I would have liked to see how Rhuryc reacted at the end of the scene, get a little more closure to the fight, but I understand that things in RL can come up and push writing to the back burner. Overall, great thread.

Grade Complete: XP Award! Name: Stitch   XP Award Hand-to-Hand Combat, Martial Arts- 3 XP Auristics- 3 XP Flux- 1 XP Observation- 2 XP Wilderness Survival- 1 XP Brawling- 1 XP I gave Stitch points in Auristics for his examination of the different types of foods in the bazaar, as well as his use of the skill in reading his opponent’s emotions and movements during the sparring session. Since it was a skilled used continuously throughout the thread, I gave it three points. Martial Arts, of course, was a given- seeing as it was used in the sparring match so extensively. Flux received one point because Stitch began the preparation for the skill, which seems like it would give him knowledge in how to control it- easily starting and stopping the process at will. Stitch did observe a lot from Rhuryc’s combat technique, which gave him a couple of points there. Learning about the rations, however, I placed in wilderness survival. This skill includes the planning of ventures, which Stitch took care in doing: planning ahead, buying rations and medicines for the journey (which he learned specifics from Rhuryc), and adding horses to the list of purchases to increase speed and decrease danger of being caught by bandits. Brawling, of course, came into play during sparring match when Stitch used the ball (whatever weapon was available) at the beginning, as well as when he decided to let his style slip a bit and use brute force at the end. Please let me know if you disagree with any of this rationale.   Lore Award Chastised by a Child Intense Enthusiasm Can’t Travel without Candy Keeping Secrets is HARD Not a Good Liar…at all Explaining Sparring Rules Don’t Let Me Win!!! Getting Carried Away in a Fight   Ledger -7 gold mizas for Rations -3 gold mizas for Traveler’s Stock Additional Note This was a really fun thread to read. It had humorous dialogue, a bit of education, and a lot of action. I really like Stitch’s reactions to things- he’s such a sweetheart, but one I would never EVER want to take on in a fight. Although I would have liked to see more closure at the end of the sparring match, I understand that you were wrapping it up- plus, I especially liked Stitch’s over-the-top reaction to knocking Rhuryc out. I was a little confused over the bolding in the conversations. Sometimes Stitch’s lines would be bolded, but occasionally they were not. Was there a reason behind this? Overall, I truly enjoyed reading about this little market/sparring adventure and can’t wait to see more.