Post by Horas on Dec 19, 2008 1:01:38 GMT -5
Howland fumed practically all the way to the Bronzehall, where he found Brandon sitting in the training yard watching his son spar with some other squire. Balor was getting his ass handed too him, but tried admirably. Using his reach to the fullest and trying to block most of the strikes. He knew when he was outclassed and thus didn't try to counter any attacks. The squire was going easy on him not using his advantages to the fullest, for what good would it come to him by defeating such a kid when it was obvious he was the better of the two anyway?
Howland walked up to Brandon after picking up a blunted sword, "Get yourself a sword old man". His big brows were furrowed as was usual when he was angry and frustrated. Brandon sighed and found a sword, using his time so that Howland would get even more frustrated. While finding a sword that was nicely balanced he looked at his son frowning. Balor was obviously getting tired, sweat was streaming down his face and his sword was held lower than it should be. "Get your guard up," he yelled. Balor lost his concentration when he tried to look at his father. The squire was tired of playing around and used the distraction to attack. Balor dropped his sword and had to roll away from the attack.
"Enough stalling," Howland said and prepared a strike which Brandon blocked. "Patience is a virtue, Howland," Brandon said playfully and danced away. Howland growled slightly and pressed on. His blows came faster and harder, but Brandon parried them all. He occationally counter attack to show Howland where he had made a mistake. On the other side of the courtyard the squire was having problems fighting against Balor now that Balor was free to attack with his hands and feet. Loosing weight due to not having to carry the wooden sword all the time and being smaller than the squire he was moving faster than the squire could keep up with. Feet crashed against tighs and hands jabbed at the swordarm, it was not too last as eventually the sword crashed against Balor's padding causing him to fall on the ground. Balor though was smiling like a fool.
Brandon chuckled as he watched his son, slight sweat could be seen on his forehead but he was probably more winded than he let on. Howland though was barely breathing hard and caught Brandon of guard. Brandon's sword flew through the air and as Howland's sword approached his chest Brandon ducked under it and swiped at Howland's feet. The younger Lord Royce didn't fall though and tried to bring his sword down on Brandon's helmet. The elder Royce rolled away and got up on his feet way more agile than a man his age should be allowed to be. As it happened to be Brandon was standing right next to his sword now. He flicked it up with his right foot and caught in with his hands. He smiled and went to attack Howland. Howland managed to block most of the strikes but a few snuck past him. Brandon brought his sword down and as Howland met to parry the strike he realised that the strike wasn't particulary hard. The old man had dropped his sword and now his fists were travelling towards Howland's chest. The first one caused his abdommen to flex while the other caused the air to be knocked out of him. A foot tangled his retreat and Howland found himself on the ground after a push to his shoulder. "You're getting better," Brandon said smiling. "At least you're not frowning any more".
Results
Howland increase sword to master
Brandon increase hand to hand towards master
Balor increase sword to novice
Howland walked up to Brandon after picking up a blunted sword, "Get yourself a sword old man". His big brows were furrowed as was usual when he was angry and frustrated. Brandon sighed and found a sword, using his time so that Howland would get even more frustrated. While finding a sword that was nicely balanced he looked at his son frowning. Balor was obviously getting tired, sweat was streaming down his face and his sword was held lower than it should be. "Get your guard up," he yelled. Balor lost his concentration when he tried to look at his father. The squire was tired of playing around and used the distraction to attack. Balor dropped his sword and had to roll away from the attack.
"Enough stalling," Howland said and prepared a strike which Brandon blocked. "Patience is a virtue, Howland," Brandon said playfully and danced away. Howland growled slightly and pressed on. His blows came faster and harder, but Brandon parried them all. He occationally counter attack to show Howland where he had made a mistake. On the other side of the courtyard the squire was having problems fighting against Balor now that Balor was free to attack with his hands and feet. Loosing weight due to not having to carry the wooden sword all the time and being smaller than the squire he was moving faster than the squire could keep up with. Feet crashed against tighs and hands jabbed at the swordarm, it was not too last as eventually the sword crashed against Balor's padding causing him to fall on the ground. Balor though was smiling like a fool.
Brandon chuckled as he watched his son, slight sweat could be seen on his forehead but he was probably more winded than he let on. Howland though was barely breathing hard and caught Brandon of guard. Brandon's sword flew through the air and as Howland's sword approached his chest Brandon ducked under it and swiped at Howland's feet. The younger Lord Royce didn't fall though and tried to bring his sword down on Brandon's helmet. The elder Royce rolled away and got up on his feet way more agile than a man his age should be allowed to be. As it happened to be Brandon was standing right next to his sword now. He flicked it up with his right foot and caught in with his hands. He smiled and went to attack Howland. Howland managed to block most of the strikes but a few snuck past him. Brandon brought his sword down and as Howland met to parry the strike he realised that the strike wasn't particulary hard. The old man had dropped his sword and now his fists were travelling towards Howland's chest. The first one caused his abdommen to flex while the other caused the air to be knocked out of him. A foot tangled his retreat and Howland found himself on the ground after a push to his shoulder. "You're getting better," Brandon said smiling. "At least you're not frowning any more".
Results
Howland increase sword to master
Brandon increase hand to hand towards master
Balor increase sword to novice