Size matters (Hwyn)

by **Alexander Faircroft** on February 6th, 2016, 3:39 am

49th Winter 515AV
14:23
Fighters pit.

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

Alex waited. And waited. The time for one woman to get changed was…significant. Alex waited ion the pits his sword whirling around in his hands. He’d stuck the great sword in the ground next to him about an inch or three deep into the sand so it wouldn’t move. He drew one fo the two scimitars at his side. Holding the blade in front of him he found that using it like a straight weapon wasn’t going to end well as the curve of the tip tapered towards him. If he got struck and blocked with it there it was going straight into him if he wasn’t prepped. Or got pressured.

No instead he held it low angling it around his waist hand pointing the tip of the blade towards the floor. His arm at full extension. He brought his arm up and then across chaining the motions together in a simple yet smooth fashion. He wasn’t fluid by any means but a simple cross shape he could manage from two motions. Still time passed and the cold began to eat into him. He stood looking out over the pits watching people from all walks train and learn how to defend themselves even a few of the knights were there it seemed testing out some of the commoners. Alex shifted his feet and motioned towards the edge of the pit. Sheathing the scimitar again he picked up the great sword and rested it on one shoulder as he heard light footsteps approach.

Spinning around he caught her in a much simpler attire. The clothes she’d just bought the clothes looked good on her but he wasn’t going to let that show in his face. Coughing lightly into the back of his hand. “Nice to see you finally turned up. You may regret putting on some fresh clothing might get a little hectic and you find sand where you don’t want it.” He smirked a little the blunted training sword resting on his shoulder a similar size and weight to his own great sword. “Right well hop down and pick up one of the blunted blades. I’m going to see how well you use it.” When Hwyn did, Alex would drop into stance with the blade in front of him and the tip pointed at the floor with his hands in the air in line with his head.

by **Hwyn** on February 7th, 2016, 12:38 am

Walking into the Arena Hwyn put on a brave face, This was the start to something new. Coming into the arena Hwyn eyed the Knight. He was holding a Much longer sword than the type that Hwyn had decided to use. Well, at a glance Hwyn knew a couple things, There was no way Hwyn was going to be ale to wield a sword nearly that size, and that the knight was the type to favor strength over finesse in combat.

“Nice to see you finally turned up. You may regret putting on some fresh clothing might get a little hectic and you find sand where you don’t want it.”
“Right well hop down and pick up one of the blunted blades. I’m going to see how well you use it.”

Frowning at the prospect of having to fight someone Hwyn did as he had been told and searched through the rack of blunted weapons. After a few once overs Hwyn spotted a weapon he figured he would b able to use. A short sword no longer than his forearm that held a fairly light and balanced weight. Walking back into the Arena facing the Knight Hwyn have he weapon a few light swings trying to get a feel for the weight. Hwyn Sighed, the weapon just didn't feel right in his hand, it was an unfamiliar entity that he wielded.

With that in Mind Hwyn decided that it would be best to formulate a strategy. If the knight was a target, How would Hwyn steal from him. The man was laden with equipment even if his armor was light. So Hwyn had a weight advantage and likely a speed advantage though that. Not likely enough but what else was their? The floor of the pits was dirt that had been pounded flat by years of people training here. The area was free of debris and obstructions so using the environment to his advantage was not a particularly viable option. No this fight was a fight to see who could hold their own in Honest combat, something Hwyn knew little of and had experienced never before.

"I Hope you don't plan to bully me too much with that brutish thing n your hand Big brother, that wouldn't be too gentlemanly of you"

Sticking a tongue out at the Knight Hwyn teased him to soothe his own nerves more so than to harass the knight. ending his knees Hwyn held the blade in front of him with his left hand and held his right hand off to his side keeping it out of the way but simultaneously ready if he needed it.

by **Alexander Faircroft** on February 7th, 2016, 12:58 am

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

The pits were sparsely packed after all it was near the latter half of the day and people oft had work to do. An easy way to hold out in the open and not have to worry too much about the wide swings of the sword if he chose to make them. Alex simply waited and watched. Hwyn chose a small blade form the weapons rack. A smaller blade, much smaller than Alex’s own like the blade she’d chosen to pick up in the iron works. She was attempting to fight with speed? Alex began to formulate a plan. The stance he stood in offered him a large range advantage should he be able to keep him at bay. If not then Alex had learnt a couple of tricks over the last few days from the knights in the Anthonius training grounds. Alex began to step around slowly circling Hwyn as she held his sword in her…left?

Odd most people were right handed however perhaps that was also something to throw him. Either way Alex continued to circle watching the smaller feminine figure opposite him. He circled like a predator stalking prey. Alex stepped in slightly now Bringing the sword sharply to the left. Aiming at Hwyn’s ankles, as he did though he stepped back attempting to keep range as he rest from the strike. If the hit worked then he’d have a good place to press from. He didn’t intend to bully her but he was going to test her against a real life combat situation. An instance where her life would be hanging in the balance. If she fell to the ground then he’d have a strong point of comparison to work from.

Her jibe about him bullying her set in a little. Right now this wasn’t about showing a gentlemanly nature this was about making sure that if she came with him out into his planned stake out. That she could at least hold her own and wouldn’t hold him back.

by **Hwyn** on February 7th, 2016, 7:56 pm

The Knight wasted no time in charging Hwyn stepping in a preparing an attack. Reacting as quickly as he could Hwyn jumped back attempting to avoid whatever the blow was. The attack came in the form of a sweep aimed at Hwyn's ankles. Hardly managing to move out of the way Hwyn felt the air moved by the blade against his left ankle. Taking the knight's swing as an opening Hwyn ran to the man's right side away from the side he had swung. The idea being that if he had swung left it would take him a moment to recover and bring the blade to his right side.

As Hwyn Passed to the right side of the man He aimed a wild slash at the man's ribs hoping to nick him in passing before withdrawing. Continuing to run Hwyn ran a good fifteen paces from the man before turning around to face him. If Hwyn could keep his distance he could focus on reacting to the man's attacks Something Hwyn felt more confident doing than making his own attacks against the man. Again gripping the unfamiliar blade in front of him Hwyn watched his assailant with a sharp glare. Bending his knees slightly s that he could again run when necessary. Their was nothing wring with winning by method of coward when fighting a stronger opponent in Hwyn's eyes.

One thing Hwyn had noticed is he wasn't exactly pulling his punches when practicing with Hwyn If that blade hit it was going to hurt, a lot. Not something Hwyn wanted to experience again, his body already had too many scars, why add to the collection if he could avoid it. How could Hwyn get out of this without getting any new wounds? Perhaps if he could outlast the knight then he would end their training session? Make it a contest of stamina.

by **Alexander Faircroft** on February 7th, 2016, 8:38 pm

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

The initial swing at Hwyn’s ankles was something that Alex assumed would hit but no Hwyn leapt back instinctually. An interesting choice. Still his arms had only taken a short motion. A small swing of his hands equalled a large swing at range. Something he had learnt both in his fight with Ball and with Garland. Still as Hwyn closed the gap towards him Alex brought the blade around his hand gripping the blunt blade itself much like he’d be able to do with the sharpened one in his plate gauntlets and took the steel across to feel all of Hwyn’s strikes sing against the sword. Before the flail had even finished Hwyn had darted back to put a large gap between them.

Clever. He was changing the distance so Alex would have to move. Alex continued walking at a slow pace. Unlike the clearly panicked Hwyn before him. He was calm. Almost at ease within this environment. Alex stepped into range of his blade again. Slowly carefully. She’s speedy. Keep low, and keep tight swings. Use the length of the weapon to your advantage. Alex exhaled slowly looking over his opponent. Eyes of someone who’d been in life or death situations before. In dark corners. In bad places. But of someone studied. Someone who knew how to control things. How to control an environment to suit him. Alex smiled and made the same motion with his arms as for his first strike. But only as a feint, a small ruse he hoped Hwyn would be looking for. Instead he brought his left arm jarring down and snapped the blade up hard trying to catch Hwyn in the chest with the flat of the blade and knock the wind from her.

Alex would then step in shift his right arm down the sword and bring the flat of the blade across in a much shorter arc to bludgeon Hwyn’s chest again. Two short motions with a blade that was designed for bid sweeping cuts. By simply changing where he held the sword he changed the entire dynamic of the baled. Right then speedy. Get out of this. Although the initial strike was something powerful if it missed he’d still have time to do the second. If both missed he’d have a brief pause between the swings and getting his grip back to normal allowing a small window of attack.

by **Hwyn** on February 7th, 2016, 9:23 pm

The knight approached slowly, like a cat stalking it's prey waiting on it's moment to pounce. Waiting on the next blow to come Hwyn prepared his next escape tactic. He needed to dodge again and perhaps take another swing at the knight if the opportunity arose. The knights approach was disheartening to say the least he looked as if he had a plan as he closed the gap he made another swing like the one he had previously made. Going through the same steps he had made to avoind it before hopped back only to suddenly feel an impact against his ribs as the sword made a spontaneous change in direction and hit him.

Stunned by the impact Hwyn was unable to do anything as he next blow hammered into his chest. Knocked off of his feet Hwyn tucked the shortsword in his own hand so that he didn't hurt himself with it when he fell. Landing flat on his back Hwyn scrabbled back up using his momentum to come back to an upright position. His back leg taking a knee while his front leg dug into the ground ready kick against the ground to doge another oncoming blow.

Hwyn's chest really hurt, and the knuckles of his left hand had started to bleed from scraping the ground when he'd fallen. Fixing the knight with an angry glare Hwyn struggle back to his feet waiting on the next blow. Should he run? Hwyn's mind was fading back to so many of the beatings he had received in the past, the answer then had always been run. Why should it be any different now. Readying the Shortsword Hwyn prepared to counter whatever the knights next attack was. The blow had Hwyn winded and sore but not yet broken.

"That.. really... hurts.. ya... know.."

Fixing the knight with a glare Hwyn locked yes with the knight to hopefully gleam some bit of information onto what his next attack might be.

by **Alexander Faircroft** on February 7th, 2016, 9:53 pm

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

The strike was a success. Alex felt the impact course through his arms as the flat of the blade collided with Hwyn’s ribs. The follow up strike also found purchase as Hwyn tumbled backwards onto the ground. Alex held the blade in the air again, shifting his grip and getting back into stance was Hwyn took a moment on the ground. He managed to crawl onto his feet and take a knee. Bracing himself for the next round of strikes. In the small pile before him Alex saw a shadow of himself. The smaller greener, less attuned kid he once was. He felt a burning tightness in his hands. And a fire light within him. Hatred. Burning loathing hatred. It only burned brighter as he saw the anger in Hwyn’s eyes. Alex watched the events, and suddenly something hit him. He dropped the sword onto the sands as Hwyn spoke. Looking at his hands he couldn’t do anything.

He felt dirty, unclean. Up until a few moments ago he’d felt fine normal even but now he felt this thick layer of murk crawling over him. He just paused frozen in place. Oh…dear gods…no. NO! The slow breathing and the clam in his eyes flew into a wild rage. Not directed at Hwyn but internal. Something had alerted him to what he was doing. He grit his teeth and with each heavy breath he could feel his shoulders and plate heaving. His open hands closed into fists. He kicked the sword away. No. No I won’t be like that. I won’t do what they did. I won’t lower myself. He looked over at Hwyn. A deep, deep seeded regret washed over his face. As he just let his arms fall. “Sorry…I can’t do this. Not to you.” He didn’t even bother to pick the sword back up and turned to walk towards the edge of the pits.

Hoisting a leg up over the edge he started to walk away. His face expressionless as he realized just how close he came to becoming something he never wanted to be. To someone he never wanted to be. He fished around in his shirt and pulled the symbol of kihala up from the loop. And slowly muttered to himself so softly and so quietly. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

by **Hwyn** on February 7th, 2016, 10:20 pm

The knight's face contorted as he stared at Hwyn as if he raged some internal war within his own mind. Dropping the blade and kicking it away the Knight looked at Hwyn his face showing something akin to a great sorrow. The change in demeanor was both scary and concerning.

“Sorry…I can’t do this. Not to you.”

With that the knight turned around and began to walk away from Hwyn his shoulders slumped and his former swagger of confidence broken. Seeing this Hwyn was only filled with anger. The Knight was not going to get away scott free from this. Leaving his own practice sword behind Hwyn Chased after the knight as best he could.

Tackling the knight from behind Hwyn wrapped his arms around the knight's waist. He was not getting away from Hwyn that easily, he didn't have a single mark to show for the encounter. Some form of reparation was due.

"Hey you jerk of brother. You don't get to leave me like that!! you promised me a day and the sun isn't.... even.... halfway.... down yet."

The running and yelling at the knight in conjunction with the beating Hwyn had just received all compounded into a feeling of extreme ,exhaustion. The small amount Hwyn had been eating in the past few days also compounded into Hwyn's reserves of energy being blow. Falling to his knees Hwyn hung on to the belt of the knight.

"I don't care that I can't... fight... I'm not letting you get.... away from me so.... easily"

Slumping his head against the knights thigh Hwyn tried to maintain and reserve what energy he had.

by **Alexander Faircroft** on February 7th, 2016, 10:53 pm

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

Alex walked slowly, the padding of his feet in the stone walkways, He couldn’t hear anything couldn’t focus on anything his mind clamped around the figure held in his hands. Just repeating the words ‘I’m sorry’ over and over and over again. A repentance that wasn’t his to fulfil but it still weighed heavily on him. Everything he’d seen, assisted in done live through. He felt…Hollow. Empty. And between steps he felt a hard slam in the small of his back as Hwyn clamped his arms around his waist. Alex glanced over his shoulder and spotted the kid. Snapping him back to reality. He wasn’t in Ravok, nor Nyka, Nor Sunberth. He wasn’t that kid anymore. He wasn’t that child. He was the man who’d opened his mind to learning. He’d promised to repay his failures tenfold over. To defend those who couldn’t defend themselves.

He felt a thread of hope burning in him again. And found some solace in the knowledge that Priskil had shown him a ray out of his black pit again. His hands released the sapling lightly just long enough for him to pick up the sigils of priskil, Yahal, and Eyris. He paused a second praying to them. Thank you. For showing me a way. For showing me how to be a better man than my father. And letting me realize where I was going and what path I was headed down before the road got too dark. Thank you. He then heard Hwyn speak. He was right he’d just walked away from her after promising to spend the day with her. He sighed softly letting the sigils fall and tucked them back into his shirt again. “Your right I’m sorry I walked away.” As Hwyn slumped down Alex turned and picked her up by the wrist lightly delicately and then flung her over his shoulder. Used to walking in a heavy suit of plate carrying her with just his weapons on was a breeze. Her waist pressed into his shoulder he walked on. “Looks like you’re exhausted, I’ll get you home just tell me where you live.”

He smiled lightly not in the knowledge of anything other than he’d been saved from a dark path, and that the size of his ego had been kept well in check.

CreditMassive thanks to Fire for this awesome template.

by **Hwyn** on February 7th, 2016, 11:43 pm

Letting himself be carried Hwyn frowned at the knight who was trying to take him home.

"I live in the travelers row, if you must know"

Not that He had any intentions of returning home yet, he just needed to catch his breath and maybe acquire some form of dinner. Being carried by the man wasn't entirely pleasant until a breeze struck and air channeled up Hwyn's knee length tunic and cold air struck his derriere. A veritable shiver ran up Hwyn's spine at the unpleasant sensation, not to mention that there was a fair chance that anyone facing the knight was going to get peek at Hwyn's new under apparel.

"Uhm... Mr. knight... Bro.... The way your carrying me.... is a bit more revealing than i'd care for."

More so than that the position became increasingly uncomfortable as the knight's shoulder dug into Hwyn's stomach and lower chest where bruises where already beginning to form. Yes the sensation was most unpleasant from all angles, but at the same time Hwyn was mildly happy to be doted on, even a little. It felt familiar to a more painful, but stable time in his life. Was living in pain worth it if you knew food and a bed where going to be constants in your life? It wasn't something Hwyn had ever really thought about before, but now that life was moderately safer. What sort of life did Hwyn want to live? He wasn't anyone daughter anymore... but that merely took away a title he once had, now he was nobodies nothing, a much lonelier station to hold. One particularly jarring step made Hwyn's new bruises throb.

"you know... oooww... your pretty strong..."