Post by The Stranger on Jul 30, 2008 23:12:21 GMT -5
Byren sighed, looking up from the book. Battle formations and techniques buzzed through his head like a swarm of bees. Flanks are the weak points of an army… A strong vanguard means a successful battle… without strong lines a battle runs into disarray… siege warfare is to be used as a last measure, when all other options are exhausted or out of the question… when assaulting the walls of a castle a plethora of siege weapons are needed, from ladders to shields, from rams to catapults… Byren stood up, shaking all the thoughts from his head. He stretched out his arms, and stood on his toes stretching his legs out. He walked over and picked up his blunted blade which was leaning up against a pole of his tent. Byren exited his tent, and asked Valarr to join him for sparring.
“I thought you’d never ask. You’ve been cooped up in your tent reading those books too long.” Valarr responded grinning, as he picked up his blunted blade. The two left to go to the training yard.
They heard the yard before they saw it, a giant mass of men sparring and training in the lake of mud. Valarr and Byren stood several feet away from each other, and raised their blades up in a defensive stance. The two stood there facing each other for a good ten seconds until Valarr grew impatient and pressed the attack, which he soon regretted. Byren brought his sword forward, clashing with Valarr’s. Byren showed his superior skill, making a broad sweep to move Valarr’s sword to the side and create a large opening. He threw his blade forward, smacking it against Valarr’s chest.
“You, my good ser, are now dead.” Byren stated, barely managing to suppress laughter. Valarr responded with a no-less light hearted response.
“I’m only warming up, just wait for when I’m truly ready.” He boasted, stepping back and bringing his sword back up.
This time Byren was the one to initiate the melee, his sword swooping down to smack Valarr’s shoulder. This time Valarr was ready, and brought his sword up to parry the blow. A flurry of blades ensued, Byren not only skillfully, but artfully swinging his sword. Valarr did his best to keep up, but his arms could not move as fast as his eyes and he soon received a large bruise on his arm.
“If we keep this up you’ll look like a bloated fish!” Byren jested.
“I’m done taking it easy on you, Selmy. I’ve finished warming up.” Valarr stated, growing more serious. He took a deep breath and took another defensive stance, this time concentrating every ounce of his being on Byren.
Byren rushed forward overconfidently, his blade swinging. Valarr watched the blade carefully, almost slowing down his thoughts. He raised his sword and sidestepped, bringing his blade down onto Byren’s with full strength. He lunged forward, knocking into Byren with his shoulder, and brought the flat of his blade straight across Byren’s chest. Byren fell to the ground, the wind knocked out of him.
“Who’s laughing now?” Valarr laughed, dropping his sword.
“Go…goo…Oh fo..forget it.” Byren mumbled, regaining his breath. “I think I need some ale.” He stated laughing, standing up.
“Agreed, and you’re buying!” Valarr responded with joy.
--------------
The two men sat around a fire, both holding full flagons of ale.
“Good show tonight, Valarr, you did well to best me. You’re getting good. Too good for my tastes, in fact.” Byren finished matter-of-factly, beginning to show signs of being drunk.
“Thanks..” Valarr muttered, watching the flames rising from the smoldering coals. He had always been fascinated by fire, ever since being a young child. Such a strong substance, so deadly, so powerful. It had spurred his joining the temple of R’hllor to become a red priest, and been his solace for a weary mind. He gazed intently into the flames, soon falling into a sort of mesmerization. He faintly heard a friend calling to him, but it seemed to distant…so weak……
The flames spoke to Valarr, showing him many signs. The shadow of a dragon…a golden crown….A man with a red sword…. All these he sees and more, in the wondrous flames.
Results:
Ser Byren Selmy goes from Expert ++ Sword Fighting to Expert +++ Sword Fighting
Ser Byren Selmy goes from Expert Battle Command to Expert + Battle Command
Valarr goes from Noteworthy Sword Fighting to Expert Sword Fighting
Valarr goes from Apprentice Fire Sight to Noteworthy Fire Sight
“I thought you’d never ask. You’ve been cooped up in your tent reading those books too long.” Valarr responded grinning, as he picked up his blunted blade. The two left to go to the training yard.
They heard the yard before they saw it, a giant mass of men sparring and training in the lake of mud. Valarr and Byren stood several feet away from each other, and raised their blades up in a defensive stance. The two stood there facing each other for a good ten seconds until Valarr grew impatient and pressed the attack, which he soon regretted. Byren brought his sword forward, clashing with Valarr’s. Byren showed his superior skill, making a broad sweep to move Valarr’s sword to the side and create a large opening. He threw his blade forward, smacking it against Valarr’s chest.
“You, my good ser, are now dead.” Byren stated, barely managing to suppress laughter. Valarr responded with a no-less light hearted response.
“I’m only warming up, just wait for when I’m truly ready.” He boasted, stepping back and bringing his sword back up.
This time Byren was the one to initiate the melee, his sword swooping down to smack Valarr’s shoulder. This time Valarr was ready, and brought his sword up to parry the blow. A flurry of blades ensued, Byren not only skillfully, but artfully swinging his sword. Valarr did his best to keep up, but his arms could not move as fast as his eyes and he soon received a large bruise on his arm.
“If we keep this up you’ll look like a bloated fish!” Byren jested.
“I’m done taking it easy on you, Selmy. I’ve finished warming up.” Valarr stated, growing more serious. He took a deep breath and took another defensive stance, this time concentrating every ounce of his being on Byren.
Byren rushed forward overconfidently, his blade swinging. Valarr watched the blade carefully, almost slowing down his thoughts. He raised his sword and sidestepped, bringing his blade down onto Byren’s with full strength. He lunged forward, knocking into Byren with his shoulder, and brought the flat of his blade straight across Byren’s chest. Byren fell to the ground, the wind knocked out of him.
“Who’s laughing now?” Valarr laughed, dropping his sword.
“Go…goo…Oh fo..forget it.” Byren mumbled, regaining his breath. “I think I need some ale.” He stated laughing, standing up.
“Agreed, and you’re buying!” Valarr responded with joy.
--------------
The two men sat around a fire, both holding full flagons of ale.
“Good show tonight, Valarr, you did well to best me. You’re getting good. Too good for my tastes, in fact.” Byren finished matter-of-factly, beginning to show signs of being drunk.
“Thanks..” Valarr muttered, watching the flames rising from the smoldering coals. He had always been fascinated by fire, ever since being a young child. Such a strong substance, so deadly, so powerful. It had spurred his joining the temple of R’hllor to become a red priest, and been his solace for a weary mind. He gazed intently into the flames, soon falling into a sort of mesmerization. He faintly heard a friend calling to him, but it seemed to distant…so weak……
The flames spoke to Valarr, showing him many signs. The shadow of a dragon…a golden crown….A man with a red sword…. All these he sees and more, in the wondrous flames.
Results:
Ser Byren Selmy goes from Expert ++ Sword Fighting to Expert +++ Sword Fighting
Ser Byren Selmy goes from Expert Battle Command to Expert + Battle Command
Valarr goes from Noteworthy Sword Fighting to Expert Sword Fighting
Valarr goes from Apprentice Fire Sight to Noteworthy Fire Sight