Solo [Kendoka Sasaran] Becoming Riverian

Vanator takes the Kuvan test

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Built into the cliffs overlooking the Suvan Sea, Riverfall resides on the edge of grasslands of Cyphrus where the Bluevein River plunges off the plain and cascades down to the inland sea below. Home of the Akalak, Riverfall is a self-supporting city populated by devoted warriors. [Riverfall Codex]

[Kendoka Sasaran] Becoming Riverian

Postby Vanator on December 4th, 2013, 3:29 pm

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Timestamp: 8th Day of Winter, 513 AV
Location: Kendoka Sasaran
Purpose: Kuvan Test

His intention had been sincere. In the Spring, Vanator had gone to the The Riverfall Citizenship, Housing, and Labor Aid Office to gain status as a Kuvan. The Drykas had lived in the vicinity for three seasons, had settled at the Sanctuary, and had fought in the streets of Riverfall in its defense. He had decided it was time to adopt the city.

Once he received the approval to take the Kuvan trials, Vanator delayed in following through. Much had happened over the Summer and Fall, Sybel arriving, Kavala pregnancy progressing, and the tests were pushed off. Now, as Winter set in on the city, Vanator decided to complete the citizenship process, as his sister had already done.

Vanator Denusk reported to The Kendoka Sasaran. The Drykas was to be evaluated on his skill with the battle ax, his weapon of choice. He had brought the better of his two battle axes, a cold steel ax he had purchased from a trader in the Zhongjie Warren. Pushing one of the large doors to the school, Van stepped into an organized madhouse.

He had heard that many of the folks in Riverfall were rushing to gain Kuvan status, hoping to participate in the Winter Council meeting. Anyone who lived in the city knew the strange and often troubling incidents that had befallen the town since the Djed Storm were addressed at such meetings, from the discovery of Leo Varniak to the mage who summoned the bone-dogs. This season's meeting will certainly include the dilemma of the women who resisted the Navikak laws, the same women he had helped rescue.

The open area within the Sasaran was clumped with groups of students and those being tested, a variety of weapons, real and wooden, wielded among them. Most where not Akalaks, attesting to the influx of those wishing to gain citizen status. Of note were two Akalaks whose bearing indicated they over saw the facilities activities. One, a giant with a lakan on each hip, paced the length of the building with massive arms crossed over his chest, 0bserving. A second, younger warrior with a staff in hand stood nearby. He barked at a human in Tukant, sweeping his foot under the student's leg and knocking him to the ground. It was this instructor that turned, seeing Vanator enter, and approached the Drykas.

"Sohryn Nurhahj," the Akalak stated in way of introduction, looking the Denusk up and down, eyes stopping at the ax in the man's hand, "I assume you are here to be tested for Kuvan status."

"I am." Vanator replied, producing the document given to him in the Spring authorizing the test. Taking up the paper, Sohryn glanced at it only briefly before handing it back. "Grab a comparable practice weapon from the rack," gesturing to the array of weapons displayed along one wall, then pointed to a corner where several young Akalaks were sparring, "and meet me over there."

With a nod, Vanator moved to the racks, carefully selecting from the practice weapons. He found a wooden ax similar in style and length of his own, one with a metal core similar to the one he used fighting in the Spring tournament. Making his way across the hall, the Drykas leaned his own ax against the wall as Sohryn herded up the Akalak youths and directed them towards the center of the room. As the young men passed, the trainer grabbed one of them by the arm. "Janak, You stay."
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[Kendoka Sasaran] Becoming Riverian

Postby Vanator on December 20th, 2013, 2:49 pm

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The young deep purple Alakak Sohryn had accosted was a good sized brute, easily as broad and muscular as Vanator, with a spiky mohawk. The Sasaran trainer gestured towards the Drykas, nodding in understanding. The student Janak had been training with his lakan, but Sohryn pointed to a wooden broadsword leaning against a support beam. The young Riverian picked up the weighted practice sword and squared off in front of Vanator.

"Show me what you got." Sohryn instructed the human.

The Akalak student was anxious to prove his own worth against a human, and as soon as the instructor spoke, Janak lunged at Vanator, thrusting the wooden sword at the Drykas' gut. Vanator was caught off-guard, seeing the telltale dip of his opponent's shoulder just in time to lift his training ax, sidestepping to avoid a direct hit and using the haft of the ax to deflect the incoming blade. In one fluid motion, Van gripped the ax handle in both hands, one near the end, one near the head, and shoved the butt end at the Akalak, striking him in the stomach with enough force to cause him to stagger. As Janak took a split tick to gather himself, Vanator twisted his torso to bring the the ax head up and around before the Riverian could raise the practice sword, pulling the strike only when the wooden edge of the battle ax dented the powerful muscles of the Akalak's neck.

Sohryn barked a scoffing laugh, simply adding, "You underestimated him Janak. Go again."

both human and Akalak resumed their fighting postures, Vanator holding the ax in both hands with a wide grip, Janak now gripping the long hilt of the wooden broadsword in two meaty hands. This time, Vanator took the initiative, lifting the ax and swinging it in a horizontal arc at Janak. the Alakak lifted his sword in a successful, jarring parry, strong arms deflecting the weighted wooden ax. Seizing an opportunity, Janak leveled the sword and thrust it again towards Vanator's own neck. The Drykas was able to elbow up against the flat blade enough to keep the dull point from colliding with his throat. But the Akalak did not halt his momentum, and as his blade slid past its mark and they became locked, Janak drove his body shoulder against Vanator, forcing the Denusk to back pedal until his back slammed against the wall with a solid thud.

The blow all but stole Vanator's breath, and the haft of the ax locked with the sword to keep it at bay. But as the Akalak leaned against Vanator to pin him, powerful arms shoved against him, the haft of Van's weapon began to press against his own throat. Vanator's eyes bulged, veins popped as he felt blood and oxygen slow to his brain. The Akalak grit his teeth in a grim smile. A few ticks longer and the human would lose consciousness.

With a loud growl, Vanator mustered his strength and slammed his forehead against the bridge of Janak's nose, causing the youth to yelp and throw his head back. Then Van drove a knee into the Akalak's groin, causing him to release Vanator and double over. The Drykas then, still holding the ax with a wide grip, shove the sputtering Janak back and raised the ax, bringing down another pulled coup de grace against his young opponent.

"Enough!" Sohryn called out. "Janak, return to your group." The Akalak youth grimaced with a bloody nose before turning to join the other students. Vanator's head ached, and soon a bruise and knot appeared on his forehead. "Well done, human." The veteran Akalak warrior studied Vanator for a long moment. He was skilled in gauging fighters, and finding weaknesses. Vanator was strong, fast and wielded his ax skillfully. Technique wise he excelled. Perhaps there were other aspects of the Drykas that exposed weaknesses.

Turning to a passing human carrying a practice shield, Sohryn grabbed the man's tunic and ordered in Tukant. "Bring me Shatha." The man seemed to almost twitch at the name, but nodded and turned to dodge the sparring students to the far side of the school.
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[Kendoka Sasaran] Becoming Riverian

Postby Vanator on January 2nd, 2014, 8:22 pm

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Sohryn nodded at Vanator and gestured to a large waterskin hanging from a peg at the end of one of the weapon racks. "Catch your breath, get a drink." The Akalak instructed, turning to bark at a group of youths sparring with wooden lakan. Van's head still hurt from headbutting his Akalak opponent, his throat stinging from the press of the ax handle against his neck. Van stepped over to the skin, lifting it from the peg and tilting it to his mouth, letting the cool water trickle down his throat. He took only a few sips before returning it to the peg.

When the Drykas turned around, Sohryn had returned, with what he assumed was the Shatha he sent for. Shatha turned out to be a rather imposing Myrian warrior. A woman, but several inches taller than Vanator himself. A thick, tawny-hued body corded with muscle was clad in a simple brown shift, split up the sides and held in place by a wide leather belt. She was as adorned as his old friend Razkar, with tattoos and piercings of her homeland, her black mane shaved at the sides of her head, the wide strip across the top of her head long and plaited with an assortment of beads, bones and trinkets.

A feral grin revealed strong white teeth as predatory green eyes flashed. In her scarred hand was clutched a spear haft, a weighted dull head at the end wavering before Vanator. Sohryn too had a grin that appeared mischievous. He spoke something to Shatha in either Myrian or Tukant, Van couldn't tell, then gestured to an open area. "again, Vanator."

Vanator stepped forward, wooden ax in hand as Shatha squared off against him. They stood staring at each other for only a breath before the Myrian woman exploded into movement, the spear, held in a wide double-handed grip, swung around until the butt almost smashed Van's head. he managed to get the ax up in time to parry the blow, but with a swift shuffle of bare feet, Shatha snapped the tip of the practice spear around and slammed the flat of the wooden head against the Drykas' head.

Vanator reeled at the blow, which was immediately followed by a sweeping foot that took out the unbalanced Denusk's feet, sending him crashing to the floor. In a flash, the Myrian was hovering over him, the point of her spear at his throat. To one side, Van heard Sohryn laughing loudly.
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[Kendoka Sasaran] Becoming Riverian

Postby Vanator on January 6th, 2014, 5:45 pm

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Shatha stared down at the prone Vanator with her smile, the lack of mirth in her eyes making her countenance appear more like a grimace than a grin. The wooden spearhead retreated as the Myrian stood straight, a calloused hand reaching down to offer the downed Drykas assistance. With the faintest of smiles in return, Vanator took the warrior woman's hand and marveled at the ease at which Shatha hoisted him to his feet. The Myrian's face once again darkened as she resumed her fighting stance, waiting wordless for the Denusk to reset. From the corner of his eye, Van saw the Akalak proctor of his test watching intently. If Sohryn believed Vanator would hesitate in the least because his opponent was a woman, he would be mistaken. Shatha was certainly a woman, but more so a formidable opponent, as sturdy and able to take a beating as the Drykas had proved to be.

Vanator resumed his own stance, assessing his latest opponent. She employed the spear very much as he did his ax, utilizing not only the deadly head, but used the whole weapon, from the shaft to the butt as a weapon. Her spear was short, and with the fighting style she used, the reach advantage she could have had was negated. Van had also sparred with Razkar, reminded now of the speed the Myrians had in combat. Wide swinging arcs of the battle ax would not work well against Shatha.

This time, Vanator initiated the fight. He chose an unusual, and hopefully unexpected, attack by crouching and striking forward with the ax, head first, at Shatha's abdomen, much like a spear. The assault did seem to take the Myrian by surprise, who was able to drop the spear in time to deflect Van's ax. but not block it. The top of the weighted wooden ax smashed into Shatha's thigh causing her knee to give and she foundered for a moment. Vanator Twisted enough to slam his shoulder against the Myrian, sending her stumbling backwards and then onto her back, Van stepped forward, lifting the ax and bringing it down at her head. As he anticipated, Shatha lifted the spear in a wide double grasp and blocked the ax with the spear shaft, inches from her face.

Both combatants turned to look at Sohryn as he clapped, letting out a laugh that sounded more like a war dog's bark. "Excellent! I could watch this go on for a while, but I have seen enough here, we need to move on." He explained. "Shatha, you may return to your class. Vanator, meet me, with your Strider, out in the Orchards in half a bell. Bring your ax."

Vanator lifted the wooden ax and stepped back, offering his hand to Shatha in kind. He helped the warrior to her feet, nodding in acknowledgement. Shatha gave the Drykas a firm smack on the shoulder and headed off. Van gathered his things and headed back towards the stables.
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[Kendoka Sasaran] Becoming Riverian

Postby Vanator on January 9th, 2014, 1:34 pm

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Vanator had returned to the stables near the gate, where he found Sirocco freshly groomed. Nell always took special care of Van's Strider, whom was rather fond of the Drykas woman. Vanator went ahead and paid her for the full day, unsure if he would be returning after his test was complete. After strapping on his yvas, Van rode out of the gate and veered right into the orchards. The trees were all bare of leaf and fruit, giving the rows the appearance of a flora graveyard. Van knew well that the trees were not dead, and come Spring, blooms would again adorn the grove.

He found Sohryn near the far end, where there was an open area at the end of the rows of trees. Vanator halted Sirocco before the Akalak warrior, curious as to his next test. He wondered if all potential Kuvan's underwent such thorough testing, or if Sohryn was just curious how skilled the Denusk man really was. The Riverian nodded in greeting, his large arms unfolding from across his chest, one lifting to point at half a dozen short poles driven into the ground, one at the end of each row of trees. Van's eyes followed, seeing that a pottery vessel was fastened to the top of six of the posts, at intervals. He had assumed the containers must have held some substance related to the orchard, maybe oil for small fires or a pesticide. Whether they were there for some agricultural purpose, or the test alone, Van couldn't tell.

"I want you to ride to the front of the orchard. Then back along the edge. See how many containers you can break with your ax as you pass by, without stopping," the Akalak proctor instructed. Van again offered Sohryn a nod, then gave Sirocco's barrel a squeeze with his knees. Horse and rider trotted to the end of the line of posts, then turned back. Sirocco stood still, aside from an impatient tap of his right front hoof, as if the Strider sensed the pending test. Van slid his cold steel battle ax from its loop in the yvas. The weapon's haft was long enough to wield two-handed, but balanced enough to be swung with just one as well. While on horseback, one-handed was the form employed.

Van hefted the ax a few times in his hand, the smell of the cold metal seeming to make the Strider even more impatient, and the horse shifted slightly. Van leaned down towards the stallion's ear, which twitched and angled back."Run straight and true, my friend. Lets show this city man how the grasslanders fight."

The Drykas leaned back, legs clamped firmly around the Strider, right hand holding the ax, left one out slightly for balance. Then, with an imperceptible signal, Vanator urge Sirocco forward. Hooves thundered against the cold ground as they rode towards the first post. Van's body engaged in a practiced motion, one that was loose enough to match and flow with the horse's gait, yet firm enough to maintain control over the Strider. They neared the first post, Van guiding Sirocco to the left of it. The Drykas raised the ax, just before they passed the pottery. They were a bit far out, and Vanator had to lean and reach. The ax swing was leveled at the container, the head catching the upper lip of the vessel and breaking off a shard at the top.

Vanator grunted as he righted himself in his seat. it was not a clean strike, and the Drykas immediated fine-tuned his mount's approach to the second post, steering closer. The approach was closer, and Van again raised the ax. He swung at the container, this time catching it just below its center. The blade bit into the hardened clay, shattering it into scattering pieces and sending the water inside splattering out.

Horse and rider thudded towards the third vessel, smashing it, then taking out the fourth and fifth containers. Approaching the sixth, Vanator guided Sirocco to the right of the post. The Denusk raised the ax over his head, twisting his torso. As they passed the last vessel, Van swung the ax across his body, catching the pottery container with a glancing blow, shearing away half of it.

Van brought the Strider to an abrupt halt, the giddy stallion bouncing a bit off his front hooves as he made the short stop. Then horse and rider turned and trotted back to Sohryn, stopping before the Akalak. The Riverian warrior nodded, a small smile crossing his scarred face. "Very well, you pass. Meet me back at the Sasaran and you will receive your papers."

"Thank you."
Vanator replied, using some of the few words he knew in Tukant. With that, he turned and rode back towards the gate.

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[Kendoka Sasaran] Becoming Riverian

Postby Vanator on January 10th, 2014, 4:33 pm

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Taking his leave of Sohryn, Vanator rode through Riverfall's gates, taking a right back to the stables. Nell once again took charge of the Strider stallion, and Van headed back over the Blue Vein bridge to the Kendoka Sasaran on the other side of town. There was still a dull pain in his head, residual from the head butt against the young Akalak student, that would linger until evening.

Entering the stone combat school, the scents and sounds of sparring once again assailed the Dyrkas, the smell of sweat and the clanging of wooden weapons and grunts of combatants a mimicry of battle. Vanator spotted Sohryn, who had come from a small table at the far end of the floor. Approaching Van, the sturdy Akalak held out a slip of paper, then extended his other hand towards the human. The Denusk took the paper and clasped the larger warrior's hand. "Well done, Drykas. Take this to the Citizenship Office. They will give you a permission slip for an official citizenship tattoo." Without further niceties, the instructor turned and resumed his work.

Vanator left, retracing his steps back over the bridge. He looked down at the evaluation approval form in his hand, though it was written in Tukant and he could make no sense of its content. It still amused the Drykas that, after demonstrating his prowess in actual combat by joining Riverfall's defense against the bone dogs and snarlwings, and the nearby dig site from glassbeaks, he had to pass a test with wooden weapons to earn citizenship. But Vanator understood rules, from which he was no exception.

Entering the The Citizenship, Housing, and Labor Aid Office, Vanator presented his evaluation to Malin, after waiting for the Akalak to finish a painful conversation with a Benshiran who's mastery of any language besides Shiber was appalling. The Riverian civil servant confirmed that Vanator was still gainfully employed at the Sanctuary, then offered Vanator a permission slip to be presented at Riverfall Ink to receive his citizen's tattoo and officially join the ranks of the Kuvan.
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[Kendoka Sasaran] Becoming Riverian

Postby Gossamer on January 16th, 2014, 7:22 pm

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The Fates Have Spoken.


Player: Favchean
XP: Battle Axe + 5, Observation +3, Planning +2, Riding +1
Lores: Combat: Reading An Opponent’s Tells, Battle Axe: Using it In Unconventional Ways, Mounted Combat: Managing A Horse While Fighting.


Notes: As always, I enjoy reading your threads.


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