Basic Axe Training (Self-Modded)

[Ralzari Malian]

Brightening 9 Cycle 1 in the Month of Imperos, in the Season of Autumn, Era II of the Celestine Mandate, Era XIV Post Fractum

After meeting up with his instructor and the other lughorns Ral got into the line that the other lughorns formed in front of the instructor. Ral was quite eager to start his basic training, especially how to learn how to use the axe, the trademark weapon of orcs. "Listen up ju maggots, dis basic sapat trainin. Ju all on da road to becoming sapats. So jus keep quiet an listen up an we'll ave no problems." The instructor paused for a moment as he took his axe off of his belt. He held the axe out in front of him as he said, "Alright we start wid basics. Dis is da face (as he pointed axe the side of the blade), dis da shaft (pointed to the center of the handle that connects to the head), dis da actual blade (points to the sharpened edge), da face is da whole metal part includin da head an blade, dis da handle (points to the bottom part of the handle/shaft). Not to tough right?" It seemed simple enough to Ral, he did'nt think he'd have a problem remembering it.

"Movin on, now we work on balance. Me know ju'll need elp wid dat," due to the fact that many orcs did'nt have very good balance. "All lat hold the sapat's shaft wid bof hands over jur head, NOW," he said as he demonstrated. Upon hearing this, all of the lughorns quickily grabbed the shaft of their axes and put it over thier head. "Good, now lat stan on one foot, does'nt matter which, an lean as far as ju can to da left widout dropping sapat or lowerin it below jur head." He paused as he waited to see if all of the lughorns could accomplish this meanial task. Ral did as instructed, he stood on his right foot (this was his strong foot) and leaned to the left as far as possible. A clanking sound caught Ral's attention to the left. The orc next to him had dropped his axe. "If ju can't do dis ju gonna ave big problems, try again an dis time don drop sapat," the instructor said slightly yelling at the orc.

On his second try the orc next to Ral had gotten it. "Good now lean da oder way an follow da same rules." Ral stood straight up for a second and got his balance for a moment. Then Ral leaned as far to the right as he could and held this position until futher instructions. Luckily this time no orc had dropped their axe or lowered it below their head.

[Steve]

Looks good.

A daily post is OK if you want to.

[Ralzari Malian]

Once all of the lughorns had demonstrated that they had gotten the basics of balance down it was time to move on. "Now dat lat got da basics of balance, lat now work on keepin balance an swinging. Cause shara not jus stan dere an let lat chop'em in pieces, dey gonna be tryin ta kill lat," the instructor stated in a sarcastic tone. "Everyone spread out, give jurself eonugh room ta swing an not hit jur comrades." With that all of the lughorns spread out and swung their axes around to make sure they had enough room to practice. "Now pretend deres a shara in front of lat swingin at lat. When shara swing lean to da left to dodge shara attack and swing sapat at same time. NOW." Once the lughorns heard now, they all did as intstructed almost in unison. They leaned to the left and swung their sapats at their imaginary foes.

"Good, lat all seem to be geetin da hang of it. Now, hop on lat right foot to doge attack an swing sapat at same time. NOW." NOW seemed to be the magic words, because once the lughorns heard that word they all jumped to it. Probably because they did'nt want to anger the instructor, they all could tell he was'nt one to be fooled with. The lughorns jumped on their right foot, as if dodging an attack to the left and swung their sapats at their "enemies". "Do da same ting but on oder foot." Ral did as instructed and jumped on his left foot to dodge the attack and swung his sapat into his shara.

"Alright, movin on. Now dat lat seem to ave down balance, lat need ta know da basic attack stance. We urak not run into battle wid sapat wavin over jur head like an idiot. Lat get killed dat way an wid sapat wavin over head lat only use half of jur power. Dis da right way to hold sapat when standin still or charging." The instructor demonstrated holding his sapat with his right had mid shaft and his left hand at the bottom of the handle. His left hand was at waist line and his right hand was about mid way between his waist and shoulders. "Holdin lat axe dis way gives lat full power in a swing." He demonstrated how this stance got the full potential of the sapat by swinging it sideways, overhead and diagonal. "Ju also need to keep jur strong foot back an keep weight on strong foot den put weak foot forward," he said as he demonstrated."Now all of ju try it, NOW."

Hearing the magic word again Ral placed his right hand about mid shaft and his left hand at the bottom of the handle. He then lined his right hand up about mid way between his waist and shoulders. Then placed his left hand near his waist. With his strong foot back and with his weight on it and his weak foot forward he felt he'd got it right. After getting into the basic attack stance Ral practiced his overhead, sideways and diagnal swings a few times. "Dis all look pretty good. Jus remember to keep jur weight on lat strong foot jus before ju swing at jur enemy."

[Ralzari Malian]

"Time ta move to lat next lesson," The instructor said in a booming voice. The lughorns had to be able to pick up and understand the instructors lessons quick, because he did'nt stay on any one lesson for too long. He was probably ready to go to the beer tent and throw back a few, can't blame him, Ral was ready to do the same. But still he was glad he was learning how to use his sapat. "Fer dis lesson ju'll need ta ave a tree or bush in front of ju. Lughorns move over to dat area," he said pointing over at a group of trees, bushes and whatnot.

After the instructor and all of the lughorns moved over to there instructed area it was time for the new lesson. "Now we learn da basic sapat attack, da overhead strike. All sapat attacks stem from dis single attack. So ju all better get it down." The instructor positioned himself from the tree and Ral noticed he had gotten into the basic attack stance. "From basic attack stance, whip jur arm back an den bring it forward over lat head. Make sure sapat not go below jur head," he said as he slowly demonstrated the attack. The instructor brought his arm back and then swung it over his head and penetrated the tree in front of him. He did this a few more times and sped up each time. "Now all ju try it."

Ral positioned himself far enough away from the tree, so he would be able to properly hit it and then got into the basic attack stance. Picturing the demonstration in his mind he whipped his arm back and quickily and powerfully swung the sapat over his head and sunk the blade deep into the tree. "Remember, when fighting shara aim for da forehead," the instructor bellowed. "Lat can also do dat same attack, but at angle, as if aiming for da shara's ear." After that he demonstrated the same overhead strike, but with an angled attack instead of overhead. "Now all of ju try it."

"Dis easy. Me ave sapat down quick," Ral thought to himself. Still in the basic attack stance, Ral whipped his arm back, only this time when he swung forward he angled his attack to the right. After pulling his sapat out of the tree, Ral did the same attack, but this time he angled left instead. Once he'd swung overhead, left and right, Ral practiced these attacks again, in that order. Overhead, left and then right.

[Ralzari Malian]

Upon seeing that the lughorns had seemed to have gotton the overhead strike down pretty well, the instructor wanted to make one more statement before moving on. The instructor gave out a loud yell to call the class to attention. "Lat all lookin good, now can lat see dat da overhead strike gid mos power. But, power alone don win battles. Lat need ta know dat ju should never use da overhead strike as lat firs attack against shara, it too dangerous. Lat'll be dead before jur sapat cracks through da shara's little head." Hearing this gave a brief comic relief, as all of the lughorns begun laughing upon hearing this. "But really, dis is a big mistake many lughorn make and end up wid a sword in dere guts. So remember never use overhead strike as firs attack." Ral's laughs quickily ended after hearing his instructors last statement, as he pictured the sword of a shara piercing through his stomach and he would'nt let that happen.

Ral observed their instructor as he stood in front of a tree and held his sapat out with the sapat blade touching the tree. From this position the instructor yelled,"Lughorns gader roun." Ral had already been near the instructor, so he was sure not to miss a thing. But once the other lughorns gathered around the instructor,"Time fer nex lesson," he said as he stood in front of the tree holding his sapat in both hands. "Now we learn ow ta measure distance." He stood in front of the tree and held his sapat straight out with its blade touching the tree and then he took two steps back. "Member, lat not no how far jur sapat will reach when ju firs move toward shara in battle. Ju also don no how long da shara's weapon is compared to lat sapat. Ta fin dis out ju mus measure da distance. Now get in front of tree an do dis," once again he held his sapat straight out with its blade touching the tree. Then he took two steps back and said, "Lughorn try now." Once his instructor was finished, Ral held his sapat straight out with its blade touching the tree and then took two steps back and got into the basic attack stance. He was'nt sure if he was supposed to, but it made the most sense to him. After the lughorns were all finished it was time to keep on truckin.

"Jur shara foes won jus stan dere an wait for urak to fin da right attacking distance, so lat hab to fin distance fast. About two steps from shara, lat swing sapat flat, straight across dere waistline, directly in front. Got it," he paused and looked at his lughorns faces,"Did'nt tink so, so ju all watch." The instructor backed away from the tree and moved far away enough from everyone that his sapat would'nt hit anyone. Then he demonstrated swinging his sapat in a horizontal arc, from right to left. Then he froze, "Notice me right arm across ches an sapat at left waistline." He unfroze from that position and demonstrated the same attack only from left to right. Once again he froze in that postion, "Now left arm across chest an sapat at right waistline. Lat can also start from dis position about four steps from jur shara an measure distant by swinging sapat in opposite direction." He then swung his sapat horizontally from right to left while taking a step forward. "Dis show ju how far lat have before ju make next attack. Measuring distance meant to setup urak for jur deadly attack, it not meant to hit shara, so don get to eager."

The instructor took a short pause to crack his back, arms, legs, neck and fingers. "Hit da spot," he said grinning. "Now if lat do manage to hit shara in jur measuring swing dat nuting but bonus, but dis swing meant to get in position an clear away da shara sword attack if it attack firs when jur approachin em. Dat is if he brave enough to," everyones head grew a little bigger after hearing this.

"Now lughorns get back to jur trees an measure distance from it, but don attack till I say." Hearing this Ral got in front of his tree and once again, starightened out his sapat to where the blade was touching the tree. Afterwards, he took two steps back and got into the basic attack stance and awaited for the instructor's command. Once everyone was in position they all heard,"Now." With that Ral swung his sapat from right to left in a horizontal arc, as he stepped forward. Once his foot hit the ground and his sapat was at his left side, Ral instantly swung it again and took another step. This time from left to right, still in a horizontal arc. Ral was now the perfect striking distance from his tree, so he gave a mighty overhead swing dead into the center of the tree.

Once everyone attempted this a few times and seemed to have gotten it down the instructor yelled, "Lughorns over here." They all ran over to the instructor ready for their next task. "Lat need member dat lat need to change da angle of da measurin swing when shara change angle of swing.

[Ralzari Malian]

Sapat training was nearing an end, then it would be time for even more training. Learning how to use the sapat meant that the lughorns were ready for battle on the front lines, but they still were not quite finished. "Lat all lookin impressive. Now lat no how use sapat in battle an maybe do some real damage. But against shara armies and legions urak get killed quick fightin alone, dat why ju all need to learn to fight as one, da Great Might of da Horde. So now we learn da horde battle array. Every urak to battle fin an pair wid anoder urak to make many groups of two. Lat always need someone to watch back in battle. Now lughorns, pair up an wait for instruction." The instructor stood and waited as everyone pair up. Ral had paired up with another orc slightly shorter than him and said,"Look like we partners."

After all the lughorns paired up there was still one remaining orc that had no partner, so the instructor pointed at him and said,"Ju over here, we demonstrate to oders how battle array for uraks work." The instructor paused for a moent and collected his thoughts and then said, "Alright da sapat an lughorn status make up da firs ranks on all four sides of da great horde. Ju may tink dis is cause Gothmog Ushtar wan low rank to die firs, but I tink its cause it gives ju more battle experience. An look on bright side ju get ta kill shara firs and ju likely to shead more shara blood den da rest." This really pumped up the recruits. After hereing that the group let out roars and grunts of excitement. "Member lat important part of da horde, ju not arrow fodder."

"Lughorns dere is no greater glory den to kill as many shara as possible before ju die, but to do dat ju must rely on da person next to you." The instructor stood to the left of his partners side and then took a step back. "Da basic battle array is combination of the measuring swing, an overhead strike an a followup swing. All sapats an lughorns start in da basic attack stance. Da urak on left make da measuring swing, da urak on right make overhead strike at lat target. Den da urak on left make finishing swing at any target trying to counter attack him or his partner, while lat partner recovering from da overhead strike." Ral watched and tried to picture in his mind how it would work and he was sure that he understood what the instructor was talking about.

The instructor moved to the right side of his partner and said, "Now we demonstrate. Make da measuring swing." The orc got into the basic attack stance and swung his sapat from right to left at a horizontal arc in front of him. Once his sapat was fully to the left the instructor said, "Now lat can see if ju need to make a distance change, den attack." He slowly demonstrated the overhead strike an stopped his sapat once it was at eyesight. "Now da finishing attack," after hearing this his partner swung his sapat into their imaginary shara, completing the battle array. "Da attack may look simple an not effective, but picture da entire horde chargin at lat doin same attack. Doin dis da shara maybe kill one urak, but urak kill many shara an if da shara ju kill is da key to holding dere ranks den dere done for. Now sure all practice dis attack.

Ral and his partner moved away from everyone so they would'nt bludgin a fellow lughorn. After they were far enough away Ral stood to the left of his partner and got into the basic attack stance, as did his partner. Then Ral swung his sapat from right to left at a horizontal arc. Once his partner saw that Ral's sapat was to Ral left, he made the overhead strike and Ral quickily delivered the finishing blow to their "shara".

[Ralzari Malian]

The instructor watched on as each group practiced their battle array and gained a little more experience for battle. Although they did now know how to use the axe, they still did'nt know enough to be really effective. The rest was up to each indivdual lughorn to gain more experience and knowledge to gain rank and become an effective member of the horde. As each group of lughorns finished up their training the instructor yelled, "Alright lughorns over here." Once all of the lughorns were around their instructor he had a few more things to say before he ended training. "Well now lat no wat jur doin wid da sapat, dat mean ju now get serve on da front lines of da Horde. But member dis, if lat wan stay alive long enough to gain ranks an power, den keep lat wits in battle. Help jur commardes, cause in battle, dey da only freinds lat got. Watch each oders backs and don let shara catch ju or jur commarades off gaurd. Member dis an lat kill hundreds of shara an den come back an tell jur buddies in da beer tent over a few dozen angry brews," the instructor, Ral and all of the lughorns roared, yelled, and grunted in approval upon hearing this. "Now class over, lughorns back to Orckon." On his way back to Orckon Ral felt a sense of accomplishment and pride, but his instructors words about keeping your wits and watching over commardes ran through his head like a halfing running from a giant.

[Ralzari Malian]

After awaking to the sun coming down directly onto his eyes, Ral got out of his cot and woke up with one of his rations and a flask of water. After his training yesterday it did'nt take him long to finish off his ration and then he quickily chugged his flask of water (mainly because he did'nt really like it much) then got up and headed towards the training field. As he walked onto the field he went to the far side of the field and began to excercise before all the other lughorn awoke. Ral started with 25 sit-yps and then moved on to 25 pushups. As he stood to his feet he stretched his arms, then begun his 3 laps around the field. The first two laps were hard, but noy too hard. After he'd finished his last lap, he was about ready to give out, so he sat down for a few moments. After a couple minutes of resting, Ral was ready to start his days training.

The basics was what Ral was starting with. As he looked at the differents parts of his axe Ral said their names in his head. "Dis da face, den da blade, den da shaft, an las da handle," Ral said to himself as he looked at the different pieces. Next thing he was going to work on was balance. Ral grabbed the shaft of his axe and held his axe above his head. Then Ral stood on his right foot and leaned as far as he could to the left and then he leaned as far as possible to the right. As he finished the basics and the balance part of his training Ral kept on going, moving onto the next lesson.

The sun was well up and now all of the other lughorns awoke and were making their way on to the field. Ral brought his attention back to his training and moved onto balance and swinging. Still on one foot Ral leaned to the right to dodge an imaginary attack and swung his axe at his fake opponent. Standing on both feet Ral faced his "opponent" and jumped right as his opponent attacked. As he landed on his right foot he swung his axe into the torso of the "shara". As the next attack came at Ral He jumped to the left and as he landed on his left foot Ral swung his axe into the imaginary mans side.The basic attack stance was the next lesson, so Ral held the axe with his right hand between the mid-shaft and handle. And with his left hand he held the end of the handle. As for his feet, Ral moved his left foot to the front and he put his weight on his right foot, which he'd moved back.

Moving on, now it was time for the first actual attack, the overhead strike. For this lesson Ral walked over to the part of the training field where there were a line of small trees, which were used as targets. Standing in front of a small oak tree, Ral got himself into the basic attack stance. Quickily, he whipped his axe back and lunged it forward, going over his head and sinking into the top of the tree. Upon finishing the overhead strike, Ral kept on with his review by moving onto measuring distance. Ral held his axe straight out in front of him until the tip of the blade was touching the tree. Following this Ral tokk 2 steps backwards and then swung his axe from right to left in a horizontal arc. His left arm came across his chest and his axe came down to his left waistline. Following up the measuring swing, Ral sliced the oak with an overhead swing.

The last review of the day was the horde battle array and for this review he would need a partner. So Ral waited by the treeline, until an orc came over there and needed a partner. Once he noticed an orc headed his way and Ral said,"Me need partner ju up for it." Upon hearing this the orc replied,"Jeah, me need partner too." So Ral and the orc got into position and began the lesson. Ral was on the left so he started the array. Once he was in the attack stance Ral made the first attack by swinging his axe from right to left and horizontally,performing the measuring swing. Then his partner continued by performing an overhead strike and then Ral followed it up with the final strike, swinging his axe diagnally from left to right sinking the blade into the tree. Once they were finished they switched places and his partner started with the measuring swing and then Ral followed it with an overhead strike. Once he saw his partners axe finish the attack Ral took a step forward and let down a mighty overhead strike into the tree. And his partner finished the array with a diagnal swing hitting the tree at about neck/elbow level.Finally they had finished there days review, so Ral walked off the field and back into the barracks to take a quick rest.