Post by The Stranger on Apr 21, 2008 21:03:00 GMT -5
The snows were deep and the wind merciless outside the inner keep at Winterfell, but still the Stoneborn warriors walked around bare chested, and none worse for it. They were used to temperatures at least thirty degrees colder and winds twice as fierce on their home island; the only occasions where they dressed heavy in their furs were when they traveled deep in the north, past Hardhome and the Antler River, to the very edges of the boundaries on maps.
It was two mornings after the great feast, and the mainland northmen were still wary of the Skagosi. Things were beginning to loosen up, however, and as the two factions mingled in the training yards, techniques on the art of slingshots and steel weapons were being shared back and forth. In the far corner, Mag and Ryk sat, laughing at Maez Stoneborn trying to wield a short sword against a northerner from Deepwood Motte. The Glover man was picking Maez apart. Frustrated, the huge man flung the blade aside as if it was a toothpick. "I need stone weapon! Stone weapon to win!" he bellowed, to the amusement of both the Skagosi and the Glover man. Setting his sword aside, the man, who to Mag and Ryk's chagrin labeled himself as a ser, challenged them to a boxing contest. The two Magnars smiled and accepted, and the man returned with another ser and the bout began. A small circle had begun to gather, each man cheering one of their leaders. Mag had decided to line up against the man who had been battling Maez, while Ryk took the shorter but more muscular newcomer, displaying the mailed fist on his coat. The two traded punches, but Ryk soon used his muscular frame to gain an edge on the northman. Mag on the other hand ducked a wild punch and returned with two stone hard jabs to the gut, sending the man reeling. It was now two on one for a brief second and the Magnars pummeled the lone fighter to the ground, no doubt bruising him something awful and perhaps knocking out a few teeth. The crowd cheered for the efforts, and Mag helped the men to their feet. "Fighting with fists is practiced much on Skagos," Mag said with an apologizing grin.
The two waved it off and the man who had been beaten down left, somewhat ashamed, to the maester's chambers. Soon the training yard was once again full of individual bouts, cursing, laughing, and applauding. Mag saw Valla watching him from a balcony up above and was proud that he had won. He waved to her and smiled. Continuing to walk, he bumped straight into something that came up to his waist. Grabbing the thing for balance, he looked down and was surprised to see Finny Stoneknife. "What are you doing in stone yard, Finny Stoneknife?" Mag demanded, part irritated and part amused. The little girl opened her mouth to speak, then closed it. She smiled sweetly and shrugged. Laughing, Mag patted her. "Good girl. Would you like me to teach you to fight with fist? It is simple, it is all.... technique?" he said, saying the last word in the common tongue questionly. Forgetting it, he sat her down and began to show her. They practiced for nearly an hour, drawing some odd looks of the mainland northerners, seeing this mighty Magnar teaching a frail, ten year old girl.
After a while Finny pointed at somewhere behind Mag. "I wanna do what they are doin', Mighty Mag!" Turning, Mag saw Ryk practicing lunging with his small dagger against another northman, also wielding a small, blunted blade. Before he could stop her, Finny rushed out into the yard, and began lunging at Ryk with a small knife she pulled from nowhere. The men laughed and thought it would be over quick, but the young girl exhibited a startling speed and skill with the blade, as if she had been using it her whole life. Finally, after a full minute of lunging and thrusting, Ryk threw up his hands and laughed. "You good with knives, Finny. I guess that why we call you 'Stoneknife'." The Skagosi found the comment hilarious, while the northman looked around with quizzical expressions.
Finally, Mag left the yard and went to talk with Maleagant Bolton, the Dreadfort Lord he had met at the feast and grown to respect as much as he could respect any mainland man, or even more than that. He talked to him late into the night, teaching him a little of the Old Tongue, and asking questions about the recent battle at Kingsroad Bridge.
Finally, he retired to his quarters, feeling strange sleeping on a soft bed, but his wives, both Valla and Lhyema liked it, so he tolerated it. He went to sleep thinking of his beautiful sister, and how she would be laying with the Lord Stark soon, having his sons. He felt honored to have his own sister marry the Lord of Winterfell; it was a new generation for the Stoneborn. He was proud.
Results:
Mag improves from apprentice to noteworthy fist-fighting.
Ryk improves from apprentice to noteworthy fist-fighting.
Ryk improves from beginner to novice dagger fighting.
Finny Stoneknife improves from apprentice to noteworthy knife fighting.
Finny Stoneknife gains beginner fist fighting.
It was two mornings after the great feast, and the mainland northmen were still wary of the Skagosi. Things were beginning to loosen up, however, and as the two factions mingled in the training yards, techniques on the art of slingshots and steel weapons were being shared back and forth. In the far corner, Mag and Ryk sat, laughing at Maez Stoneborn trying to wield a short sword against a northerner from Deepwood Motte. The Glover man was picking Maez apart. Frustrated, the huge man flung the blade aside as if it was a toothpick. "I need stone weapon! Stone weapon to win!" he bellowed, to the amusement of both the Skagosi and the Glover man. Setting his sword aside, the man, who to Mag and Ryk's chagrin labeled himself as a ser, challenged them to a boxing contest. The two Magnars smiled and accepted, and the man returned with another ser and the bout began. A small circle had begun to gather, each man cheering one of their leaders. Mag had decided to line up against the man who had been battling Maez, while Ryk took the shorter but more muscular newcomer, displaying the mailed fist on his coat. The two traded punches, but Ryk soon used his muscular frame to gain an edge on the northman. Mag on the other hand ducked a wild punch and returned with two stone hard jabs to the gut, sending the man reeling. It was now two on one for a brief second and the Magnars pummeled the lone fighter to the ground, no doubt bruising him something awful and perhaps knocking out a few teeth. The crowd cheered for the efforts, and Mag helped the men to their feet. "Fighting with fists is practiced much on Skagos," Mag said with an apologizing grin.
The two waved it off and the man who had been beaten down left, somewhat ashamed, to the maester's chambers. Soon the training yard was once again full of individual bouts, cursing, laughing, and applauding. Mag saw Valla watching him from a balcony up above and was proud that he had won. He waved to her and smiled. Continuing to walk, he bumped straight into something that came up to his waist. Grabbing the thing for balance, he looked down and was surprised to see Finny Stoneknife. "What are you doing in stone yard, Finny Stoneknife?" Mag demanded, part irritated and part amused. The little girl opened her mouth to speak, then closed it. She smiled sweetly and shrugged. Laughing, Mag patted her. "Good girl. Would you like me to teach you to fight with fist? It is simple, it is all.... technique?" he said, saying the last word in the common tongue questionly. Forgetting it, he sat her down and began to show her. They practiced for nearly an hour, drawing some odd looks of the mainland northerners, seeing this mighty Magnar teaching a frail, ten year old girl.
After a while Finny pointed at somewhere behind Mag. "I wanna do what they are doin', Mighty Mag!" Turning, Mag saw Ryk practicing lunging with his small dagger against another northman, also wielding a small, blunted blade. Before he could stop her, Finny rushed out into the yard, and began lunging at Ryk with a small knife she pulled from nowhere. The men laughed and thought it would be over quick, but the young girl exhibited a startling speed and skill with the blade, as if she had been using it her whole life. Finally, after a full minute of lunging and thrusting, Ryk threw up his hands and laughed. "You good with knives, Finny. I guess that why we call you 'Stoneknife'." The Skagosi found the comment hilarious, while the northman looked around with quizzical expressions.
Finally, Mag left the yard and went to talk with Maleagant Bolton, the Dreadfort Lord he had met at the feast and grown to respect as much as he could respect any mainland man, or even more than that. He talked to him late into the night, teaching him a little of the Old Tongue, and asking questions about the recent battle at Kingsroad Bridge.
Finally, he retired to his quarters, feeling strange sleeping on a soft bed, but his wives, both Valla and Lhyema liked it, so he tolerated it. He went to sleep thinking of his beautiful sister, and how she would be laying with the Lord Stark soon, having his sons. He felt honored to have his own sister marry the Lord of Winterfell; it was a new generation for the Stoneborn. He was proud.
Results:
Mag improves from apprentice to noteworthy fist-fighting.
Ryk improves from apprentice to noteworthy fist-fighting.
Ryk improves from beginner to novice dagger fighting.
Finny Stoneknife improves from apprentice to noteworthy knife fighting.
Finny Stoneknife gains beginner fist fighting.