PM to join Clashing or Crashing? (Alex)

[Irathia]

Irathia began to panic as Alex talked to her in a unnervingly calm voice. She tried to twist and turn in an attempt to not get hit once again. She managed to not to trip but Alex kicked her shin as she attempted not to fall. Pain shot up her leg as some tears began to well up into her eyes. She bit her lip and pressed them back as she turned to face you once again. It seems like everything I do is blocked... What am I to do? I mean... I can't seem to land a hit on him and he is hitting me like I am a rolling bale of hay. She felt weak once more, and Irathia became angry because of it... She needed to beat Alex, she needed to impress Ophelia. Irathia chose hiss at Alex, baring teeth once more. She was hoping to freak him out a little as she slammed her hammer onto her shield, trying to get him to go on the offensive for once... She thought making him go on the offensive would change the way she could fight and hopefully make it easier for her... She learned from Ophelia that people change dramatically when they go on the offensive or defensive... Irathia slammed her shield with her hammer again, beckoning Alex to fight her. Which she realized it might not be a entirely good idea. Irathia was new to the order while Alex has been in it for a longer period of time. Plus he has more... Ability to fight, she assumed.

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

Alex felt his heel connect with her shin she tumbled forwards but caught her self-retreating back. He didn’t have time to sink his palm into her midriff. She backed up now. Putting distance between them once again and giving Alex time to plan his next move. He could have sword he’d seen tears in her eyes from the strike. If she was going to tear up after something like that then perhaps she’d best become a non-combatant knight. Alex took the brief pause in the combat to whirl the blade around him. Only twisting his grip but seeing the full range the blades could cover. Though a thought occurred to him. Why wasn’t Ophelia helping Irathia? Wasn’t she supposed to be training her?

He could see the anger welling in her features, the snarl the bearing of teeth. The angrier she got the more likely she was to make a mistake. Alex took his motions slowly circling around her still using the disadvantage of her weapon to his advantage. If she connected fully with that thing it was going to hurt, much like the shield slam had hurt his arm.
“Slow and steady Alex.” Greyheart spoke again, his eyes ever watching though he commented lightly. “Ophelia, you going to give your squire any advice or just stay mute?” A joking tone to the comment but enough of one to let her know it was ok to help Irathia.

Alex shifted his feet in, taking a step forwards with his right foot and swinging the back edge of the blade of the weapon at her hammer arm. He’d then planned to follow this up with a strike from the front of the blade up and over her shield at the side of her head. Intending only to tap it and let her know that she’d have to raise that shield. If either strike was parried he’d motion to move away, if she dodged then not having a full grasp over the blade yet he’d be wide open for a follow-up retort swing from her.

[Irathia]

Irathia's glanced at Ophelia... She was staring at Irathia, her face blank and in thought. Irathia followed her, calming down and putting her face into a blank slate. "Stay focused." Irathia mumbled to herself... Irathia stared at Alex as his Patron spoke about Ophelia's quietness, she saw Ophelia clench her jaw slightly from the side of her eye. I hate that weapon! Irathia screamed in her head as she saw Alex starting to swing for her hammer arm. Irathia, knowing that if she was to be hit hard enough, she would drop her hammer. Irathia jumped back slightly, not wanting to loose her only way of attack. When she regained her footing, she went into a attack position as Ophelia nodded in the side. "Don't forget you footing!" Ophelia shouted. Irathia stepped forward, aiming for Alex's gut as the top of the hammer was launching forward, as she extended her arm like she was about to punch Alex. Irathia hopped this would connect, pretty much all she has done in this fight was crash into the ground and get a single hit on Alex's arm with her shield. Irathia used her shield to block her upper arm and head, so Alex couldn't nail her in the head and stop the attack.

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

The calling of his patron dragged Alex’s attention from the battle. He was prompting Ira’s patron to help? Alright, maybe he could get an actual balanced match. It was with the metal knowledge that he could have some actual training and not just the battle, which he failed to realize his strike hadn’t connected. Swinging the blade back around eh watched her raise her shield to block the rear side of the blade. Oh...Crap…He didn’t focus fully until he heard Ophelia’s voice cut through the air.m He watched her foot close the gap. Oh this is gonna suck. Behind the steel plating he tightened his abdomen muscles and felt the steel tip of the hammer impact into the plate.

He coughed hard taking an instinctual step back after the initial strike. Ok…Think. He paused a moment dropping to one knee a small distance away. She’s blocking her face but what worked…her legs! He let out that creepy smirk again and the unnerving calm flowed from him. Crawling back up to his feet he let his cool green eyes sit on her. The stark jade, boring into her. His abdomen hurt but he had a plan.
“Alex! You know what to do right?” Greyheart called out and Alex just slowly nodded stepping forwards. As he did he darted to the side and brought the end of the sword high faking a strike from above and at the last second he’d swing the lower half of the weapon at her ankles again. Below the shield line. If this worked he’d have the upper hand. They were fighting on stone which wasn’t the best place to try and knock her feet from under her but he could at least try and give it a shot. Putting his body weight into the strike he followed through if this worked then he’d spin back round just in time to bring the high edge of the blade down on her torso. If not then he’d be wide open again for another strike straight to his back.

[Irathia]

Irathia stood, feeling proud that she managed to get a good hit in. "Focus!" Ophelia said, noticing that Irathia was getting distracted in her pride. Irathia shook her head and held up her shield, preparing for Alex's strike to her head when he stopped. Irathia just stared at the air as soon as the wooden sword stopped right before contact with her shield. Oh gods. Irathia thought, realizing she was being faked with the over head strike... She heard the slight sound of the wooden blade as Alex clearly put all of his weight into a strike. Irathia whimpered in pain as a flaring pain shot up her leg as the wooden pole connected with her ankle, causing Irathia's leg to buckle and be pushed out from under her. More pain, though duller as the second wooden blade smacked her back, dispersing the pain among her entire back. This caused her to be pushed down slightly as she fell onto her hands and knees, her hands propping her body up as she looked up at Alex. Irathia quickly pushed herself up, her ankle pulsed with pain. Irathia stood in place, breathing heavily slightly as she prepared her self in a defensive position... Irathia's face was blank, not showing the pain she had in her leg... Irathia just stared at Alex, her back was in pain as well, the scars on her back were sore, way more so compared to the scar that the pole actually hit. The skin there feeling like it was on fire. Irathia's mind was surprisingly calm, she appeared to be a statue of sorts, the only movement was her slightly bobbing of her breathing.

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

Both strikes had connected and Irathia fell, she caught herself on her hands and knees though. Alex pulled back awaiting some tactic, and attack from the lower angle. It’s what he would have done. Strike out whilst in a vulnerable position. At least, that was his style. The shield was a flat wall to absorb blows and that meant you could focus harder on attack. Alex shifted his weight onto his back foot. Holding the blade in front of him. The wooden steel core weapon was surprisingly versatile. Even more so than he’d anticipated.

Alex then watched her rise. Slowly deliberately. Something was different now, even Greyheart could see it. Alex took a moment to pause in his strides. Watching her face for any flicker of emotion. Any fragment of rage, a hint of intent. Nothing. He waited and watched. No movement. He moved now side to side slowly circling her as she stood there.
“Alex. Careful.” His patron spoke Alex nodded as he looked at the figure of Irathia. His chest rolling and falling as he took slow breaths. She was waiting for him to move. For him to make an attack. Alright then he’d oblige.

Alex stepped forwards taking his sword around, the large double ended blade he brought to her front first, attacking from her side seeing as she wasn’t moving to face him. The front of the blade brought towards her front and her shielded arm hoping to occupy her shield before he’d roll the blades rear side towards her back angling a second strike to hit layered over the first. His attack motions were simple but not deliberate. If she’d watches she’d see that he didn’t step into the strikes effectively halving their power but allowing him to keep some modicum of defence. This was a situation he wasn’t familiar with. People always moved to avoid the pain and the attacks. Seeing someone stand stock still was…Odd.

[Irathia]

Irathia was acting like she used to when she was in Xy. When she was around her master she used to stay still and show no emotion, acting like a moving statue. She discovered it usually confused them, or beatings would become shorter... Irathia just stared at Alex as they seemed to be having some sort of a staring contest. Alex made a move, and Irathia blocked the first strike with her shield, shoving the wooden pole off of her shield as she quickly stepped forward. "Be careful!" Ophelia said, noticing that Irathia was limping a tiny bit when she stepped forward with the foot that was hit. Irathia jumped back, realizing that she could easily get hit with the second blade. "Think Irathia! Think!" Ophelia shouted. Irathia stood still as her eyes scanned Alex, thinking of what to do. She hates that damned weapon, it was hard to predict with the whole two blades things, it can be used in so many ways that it annoyed her. Though Irathia did not show that on her face as she began to pace to the left, circling Alex, looking for a opening. She knew that she might loose, her leg seemed to pulse when she put pressure on it. If Alex were to hit it once more she might yield... Of course Alex would need to hit as hard as her did before hand...

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

The hard smack of wood on wood echoed out as she moved. Finally. She’d blocked the initial leading strike. She then stepped into his space before he could swing the other end around. Something was different. She wasn’t putting her full weight on her- His thoughts were cut off as Ophelia shouted out again, cautioning her. A small instep it wasn’t as aggressive it had been earlier on. She’d closed the distance but hadn’t capitalized on it. And then she leapt back putting herself back into his attack zone. Strange. She didn’t seem to have a grasp on how to fight nor how to use range to her advantage.

“Alex. Finish it.” Greyheart spoke with an assurance. As Ophelia spoke, calling out to Ira telling her to think. He whirled the weapon in his hands just back and forth across the front of his body. Getting a feel for the rotational motions he could pull off. He wheeled the sword around attempting a flourish but then Greyhearts earlier words crept into his mind. Fancy stuff once you’ve got the basics. Alright then.

No pomp, no ceremony, no flourish. He stepped in using the rear blade of the sword like a spear, hoping to get her attention focused on the tip of the blade and expect a thrust. He then would swing his weight around with the blade aiming for her other ankle with the actual fore-blade. He noticed the limp, the sentiments. He was going to rob her of her ability to stand and end the battle that way. If she was unable to continue she wouldn’t have to yield and could hold up some form of honour in front of her patron. And embarrass neither of them. Alex would step into the strike, hard and with a sharp heel turn. If it hit she’d be on her ass, but if it missed he’d be beyond open, having to hold the blade in the air or risk letting it fly out of his hands.

[Irathia]

Irathia stared at Alex and she pulled off her shield, holding it's rim as she watched the blade of the dual bladed sword. He sure likes to spin that thing a lot. Irathia thought as she watched him spin the weapon. It was sort of funny to look at, Irathia kept staring at the blade though, determined to not get distracted by the spinning and flourishing dance thing Alex was doing. Irathia's eyes narrowed as she saw Alex to what appeared to be a thrust... Irathia knew that he is willing to fake out attacks so Irathia was extra cautious. Alex suddenly began to swing, Irathia tried to block as quick as she can with her hammer, for her shield was not on her free arm anymore. Irathia barely missed, the head of the hammer barely skimming the pole and slamming into the ground as it connected with her ankle. Irathia's jaws clenched as pain shot up her leg, Irathia dropped her hammer as she fell, using all of her strength to sling the shield at Alex... She knew she was a terrible thrower, but sense the shield was so big she felt like it could make it into Alex. Though she couldn't see the result as she finally on her back, stretched out due to the amount of weight shifting she did to do a throw with her shield... All she did was look straight up as she began to breath heavily, feeling both of her ankles pulse with pain.

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

Alex watched Irathia take her shield from her arm. What was she doing? She was giving up her only advantage! Still though he was already part way through his motions he watched her push her hammer down and try to block the blade with the smaller object. Her angle was off however and his blade sailed through and connected with her ankle. Immediately her stance gave ay and she began to tumble to the ground. Still she hurled the shield as hard as she could. Alex was actually astonished at her choice. So much so that the shield dug into his chest the edge of the wood clanging when it connected with the steel of his chest plate.

The sheer force of the strike knocked Alex’s feet from under him. He groaned as the shield continued on its path but he dropped like a stone falling flat on his back the sound of ringing steel against stone echoed. As he fell he tucked his head in. His back taking the brunt of the impact. It wasn’t the first time he’d been thrown or knocked to the ground and it certainly wasn’t going to be the last. But sill he’d learnt to fall, landing with a hard smack. He took a half tick to catch his breath knowing it was safe with Irathia immobilized. He rolled to his side pushing himself to his feet again. The grip on the double blade in his hands loosened largely, due to the pain in his shoulders. He groaned again looking over at Irathia. He’d won but somehow it didn’t feel good…It felt empty, like beating up someone who couldn’t defend themselves.

He looked down at but not on Irathia. As Greyheart spoke he coffered his hand to help her up. “Ophelia looks like your squire can’t stand…Give her a hand to the healers.” Alex paused offering his hand with a look of regret in his eyes. He didn’t realize just how inexperienced with all this she was…