Longsword Training - Demetri - Private

Bladvyx · February 7, 2004, 07:16 AM

After a few moments of walking, the thëlyri and the human were at the place that was, apparantly, their destination. It was not more than a small area of grass, devoid of any hindering obstacles. The three suns of Telath cast their magnificient rays upon the area, giving an enchanting view. Much could be seen from this spot, which served as a great vantage point. The mountains, the sea and the forests of the island, and their beauty enhanced by the beautiful winter weather. Milthrandir took a deep breath, and used a few moments to enjoy his surroundings.

Not far from the two, there was a small box that seemed to contain wooden weapons, obviously used for the training. The interior consisted of steel, to ensure that they had the right weight, but to protect those who fought with them, the exterior was made of wood. The elf smiled at Demetri. "So, what makes you want to learn the art of swordsmanship? It truly is a worthy skill to learn, but the purposes for learning such a skill are very diverse. Is it the search for power? The ability to defend your home-land? Or what is it? What drives you to learn this skill?"

He ambled towards the wooden box as he spoke, only giving Demetri half attention, but his words were easy to understand none the less. He spoke clearly, and loud. He grabbed a wooden longsword with either hand, and by that time it was clear to Demetri that the interior had been made of some other material, to give it a more realistic weight. Milthrandir strolled back again, towards the young adventurer, with an inquisitive look upon his face.

Demetri Valentine · February 8, 2004, 05:16 PM

The wind kissed Demetri's face as they landed at the training grounds to be. Glancing at the surroundings, which appeared to be a central viewpoint of the land. Much could be seen from all directions, mountains, the forests, the waters of the land, most of the beautiful elements.

Another wind swept past the human, making him realize it was indeed winter again, and not some dreamy landscape he was dazed in. Pulling his cloak tight, he followed the elf near a box. Small and worthy, it contained the two training swords for the occasion. Watching the thëlyri pick two of the obviously wooden makeshift longswords, he caught Milthandir's words as they were spoken.

Why... Well, I'm in need of some protection, everyone is aren't they? With all the attacks everywhere lately, all of Telath should be equipped with some training. Not power, Milthandir, just interest and for my own protection. What makes you want to teach this skill, thëlyri?"

Grinning at the elf with a questioning eye, he loved to shoot back questions at those who wondered about himself. He enjoyed the elves company, he seemed nice, courteous, despite the merfolk attacks. Of course, he could be hiding his fear, elves are good at hiding emotions. Waving his cloak behind his back, he readied his broad hands for the training to commence. He couldn't wait to get into the subject of Longsword with the elf, who could in turn teach him what he could to wield the weapon.

OoC: hehe, can't wait, your descriptions made me feel like I was there

Bladvyx · February 8, 2004, 05:49 PM

OOC: Thanks :P

IC:
The thëlyri gave a smile. It was not often that he found a student who even dared to ask him questions. Of course that was due to the fact that some more arrogant teachers would find it insulting and belittling... Some wanted to clearly state that they were the masters, and the one they taught was an apprentice. But Milthrandir admired boldness and confidence, and did not think of himself as superior to his student. And it was not a hard question for him to answer.

"Very well... a good reason indeed. Your own survival should be the most important matter to you. Some choose to learn to fight, and choose a cause worth dying for... Unfortunately, that can only be done once. Staying alive is much more desirable, in my opinion.

Milthrandir gave a slight chuckle, and then handed Demetri the pratice sword, before continuing. His pause could have been long enough for the human to doubt whether he would answer the question.

"As for my reasons for teaching it. It would be great if I was able to say that my only reason was so I could serve my city, and prepare others to do the same. That I was completely selfless, and wanted nothing but the welfare of others. But no, that is not the case. Naturally, I care for the city of Demios, but training is still my job, and therefore my main reason it profit."

He handed one of the wooden swords, with metal interior, to Demetri as he spoke. ”Well now for the basics. This is the rather dull part, but valuable knowledge none the less. This, of course, is the blade”, he expained, pointing at the blade of the sword. “This is the hilt, which is divided into a cross-guard, or lower guard, grip, and pommel, also called the upper guard.”, he pointed at the different areas of the hilt of the sword, as he spoke. ”The point of the cross-guard is to prevent your hands from slipping onto the blade, and the point of the pommel serves both to make sure the sword is not dropped, and as a weight, to move the centre of balance closer to the hilt of the sword.”

Demetri Valentine · February 10, 2004, 02:52 PM

OOC: I cancelled training in Vers for this, so you can redo your posts hehhe

I want both so bad but Longsword if you could, Bladvyx my good man. Take it away from my next IC post.

IC:

He listened to the elves wise words. Milthandir seemed good with carrying his lore, and Demetri hoped he was as good a speaker as he was a trainer.

Catching the wooden sword with his right hand firmly, he soon realized the weight of the Long Sword. Be it wood, the blade still carried a nice burden. Drawing up his old strengths, Valentine lifted the sword with one hand and pointed it towards the sky, then almost dropping it, he lowered it to his hip.

So, Milthandir, where do we start?

Grinning at the elf with his sparkling eyes, Demetri was full of joy and anxiety. He couldn't wait to start sparring... learning technique... getting the experience he longs for. Gripping the splintering weapon in hand, he examined the edges with his other hand, checking to see if everything was in order.

Bladvyx · February 10, 2004, 03:50 PM

"One of the most important aspects to sword fighting, is the fighting position. Stand with your right foot slightly in front of your left, and keep your feet a shoulder-length apart. You can now easily shift your weight, leaning backwards in defense, and forward in attack", he explained. "And before I forget, the most common way to wield a blade such as this, is two-handed, like so.

He placed the grip of the sword in his right hand, where he grasped it with his middle, ring and small finger, keeping the other fingers loose. "As you can see, I'm only holding it with three fingers, the other two are only grasping when you strike a target. Grasp the sword with your other hand, close to the pommel

He was no standing in an excellent fighting position, grasping his sword in two hands, ready to strike.

Demetri Valentine · February 10, 2004, 03:59 PM

Following Milthandir's words closely, Demetri clenched his wooden sword with two hands, and tried to posistion himself accordingly. One foot in front... Shoulder length apart... Demetri seemed to be doing okay, the surroundings really did help, what with such grace and glory.

Next came the 3 fingers part. He slowly tried to manuever his broad fingers around the blade and into the same posistion as Milthandir. His blade started to plummet to the ground, but the human managed to catch it before it touched, and he re-esmbled himself, hoping the elf didn't see. He was now standing, in what he thought, was the right posistion.

Is this right, Milthandir?

Bladvyx · February 10, 2004, 04:08 PM

Milthrandir's elven eyes carefully inspected the human. At first they fell upon his feet, where it was clear that nothing was wrong. "Good stance..., he quietly mumbled, as if to himself. "Move your hands slightly further apart. Otherwise very good. But you wont achieve much if I just stand here and explain it all to you. Swordsmanship is about instinct. I will attempt to make a slash at you, and you will block it at your best ability. Afterwards I will guide you, telling you how you could improve."

"Ready?"

Milthrandir waited a couple of seconds, and proceeded with a rather slow diagonal cut, from Demetri's left shoulder, towards his right foot.

OOC: Hehe! Just remember that roleplaying speeds up the process, and keeps unwanted maiming/loss of limbs away.

Demetri Valentine · February 10, 2004, 04:33 PM

Listening to the elves words carefully again, he caught, attempt to slash at you, and Demetri got nervous. Gripping his sword with the three finger technique, Demetri replied, "Alright, but be easy!" This was too late, and Milthandir had started his strike. Bringing the longsword up his right frontside (broad end up), he attempted to ricoche the elves attack upwards, so that later he could attempt to thrust the sword to his abdomen. All his hopes were that he made the right decision, and carried out his plan.

Bladvyx · February 10, 2004, 04:53 PM

The swords clashed, but obviously not with the typical sound of metal, usually associated with such a happening. The dull sound of wood striking wood was heard, as Demetri parried the blow. "A good first attempt, though you have to remember to shift your weight to the left leg, for better balance. This way might both be too slow, and could possibly put you off balance, and exposed to a hit. The idea that you would open up an oppertunity to strike your opponent was good though. The movent of your feet is just as important as the movement of your sword."

Without much warning, he suddenly made a horizontal slice, towards Demetri's left side.

Demetri Valentine · February 10, 2004, 05:05 PM

Intrigued by Milthrandir's comments Demetri was caught offguard by a surprise attack. This time, from side to side, very quickly. The human brought his sword striaght upwards, so that the attack would again richoche off the flat end of the blade. While he sent his sword upwards with force, he shifted his legs to suit the blowback, he then waited to see if his guard would open the elves right side to a slash attack of his own.

As much as the trainer attacking Demetri was interesting, Valentine wanted in on the slashing fun, so he had to try something to impress the agile elf.

Bladvyx · February 10, 2004, 05:37 PM

"Much better!", the elf enthused, giving a wide smile. "Your defence is rather good for a first-timer, let's see how your offense works."

With these words, the elf reassumed the defensive position, placing most of his weight on his left leg, ready to block with his wooden sword. "Now hit me!"

Demetri Valentine · February 10, 2004, 05:52 PM

Chuckling to himself rather joyfully, Demetri pondered about what attack he should conduct... Up.... Down.... Left.... Right.... where to go? Thinking as fast as he could, he just decided to do something with as much force as he could heed. Tightening his hold on the blade further, he heaved his sword upwards and to Milthrandir's left shoulder, in a diagonal. It was a lifting motion, hopefully not as easy to block. While he swung, his legs shifted farther front to back, for more lift, aswell as his knees lifted a bit to launch the confilct. "Try this! Demetri yelled with pride. He was having a pretty good time, and this was training!

Bladvyx · February 10, 2004, 06:01 PM

But as expected, Milthrandir would have a counter for almost every attack that the young human might think of. He merely took a slight step backwards, and flicked his wrist, forming a cross with the two clashing blades. "Not a bad attempt, go on, keep trying to hit me", he said, waiting for the next attack from Demetri.

Demetri Valentine · February 10, 2004, 06:12 PM

Sweat started to curl itself down Demetri's scruffy face. He stepped back, and replied, "Heh, well I can see this will be a joke for me!" Then, pretending to have stopped his attacking, the human tried a quick thrust of his blade, attempting to stab the elf. He knew that it wouldnt harm him as much since the sword was wood, but this surprise attack would be his only hope.

Again, checking his foot stance, he lunged them into the attack posistion, roughly more apart from eachother, but the idea was there.

Bladvyx · February 11, 2004, 06:16 AM

Milthandir leaned his weight backwards, and pushed Demetri's blade to the ground with his own. With a swift, elegant movement, he feinted a thrust, which he ceased inches before Demetri's heart. Had this been an actual fight, Demetri's heart would've been impaled with the elf's longsword.

"While the element of surprise is a powerful ally, you shouldn't overestimate it. Your attempt, if failing, as it did, leaves you very exposed to attacks. And obviously, such an ally will not always be there for you in situations of combat. Remember to lean forward on your attack, to give you more power and reach for your slash or jab. Are there any questions at this point?"