Rapier Training - Private, Yeavin

Crayin · September 29, 2004, 01:35 AM

The field's long green grass swayed gently with the soft breeze flowing over the hills beside the town. The dark blue sky showed that it was getting fairly late out, with the sun near the horizon, and the moon already able to be seen. On this particular hill, one could see the roof tops of the city, mainly the Battle Institute, because it was the closest set of buildings to the hill. The path leading to this area was rocky, and well kept. The edges of the gravel path seemed perfect, with a flower once in a while along the way. About half the way up the hill, there was a fair sized garden, made with a variety of flowers and plant.

At the top, there was a dorin standing there, waiting for someone. At his side was a small package of items on the ground, consisting of two dull and ball pointed rapiers, a small checklist, and a rusty lantern that wasn't lit yet. He was leaning against a large rock, about seven times his size, covered in chunks of green moss. His eyes were closed, seeming to catch up on some sleep he left behind hours ago.

Yaevin Ralahir · September 29, 2004, 07:34 PM

EDIT: DAMMIT, seems like i forgot to swap accounts....grr...anyway this training is meant to be for Raphael Vampyler not Yaevin!

Ashkan Vampyler · September 30, 2004, 02:32 AM

The night was his field, it was his field due to circimstance he could not control, his race. The vysstichi were at home with darkness, the harsh glare of the suns burnt their eyes horribly. He walked in, still wearing his old and dirty cavalier. The cavalier wasn't anything special, it had once had a beautiful red feather, this was the time when it was new and still relatively clean. It still served its purpose by keeping the unforgiving glare of the sun away from his eyes, he still wore it in the night because he did not know how long they would be training before it hit daybreak.

As he came to his instructor, the so called dorin whom would teach him how to use a weapon for a week, he derailed his train of thought, he was thinking about his family, his mother Ciarra Vierrene, whom had just told him of his real father, an assassin by the name of Louis Vampyler, he had then noticed in the herald, the name Epicurus Vampyler, whom was offering jobs as mercenaries to who ever wished for them, he had decided that in a week or so he would head out to meet this family he did not have in the morning.

"Serale, you must be my master for the next week, my name is Raphael Vampyler", His voice was heavily accented, in a tongue distant from his own, he did not bring his own weapon for he did not have one and hoped that the instructor had brought some, indeed it looked like he had. Now it was just a matter of setting the course in motion.

Crayin · October 1, 2004, 05:43 PM

The sudden speaking startled the dorin, making him open his eyes and quickly get up off the rock of which he was leaning on. The dorin had just been day dreaming of climbing a high mountain on a warm summers day with a slight breeze. He looked at Raphael, studying him for a moment. His eyes went over him, then met Rapaels eyes. "Serale," The dorin said in a friendly voice. He stuck out his left hand to shake Raphael's. "My name is Karten. Im glad to meet you."

Karten's eyes were warm and welcoming, dark blue that almost seemed grey. The fur around his face was the color of hazel, with black marks and stripes placed in seemingly random places. His clothing matched the color of his fur, since he was wearing a tanned leather vest, grey tunic, a black sash, and brown pants. On his right hand, black rope wrapped around, in the fashion a boxer would tape up his hands.

"Well, sir Raphael, I'm guessing you'd like to get started..." Karten bent over, picking up the two dull swords. He took one by the handle, one by the blade, offering it handle first to Raphael.

Ashkan Vampyler · October 3, 2004, 04:29 AM

Raphael looked around, his violet eyes seeing as if it were day to other races. This would be a perfect spot for their training over the next week or so. Or so had the clerk said when he had paid 100 crowns for the training, a small price for an almost vital skill.

He grasped the handle of the training rapier, coiling his hands around the hilt of the sword, it was a good training rapier he thought, he would need to buy his own quite soon, the only thing he had was this ornamental dagger which his mother had only given him today, a gift from his real father, Louis Vampyler, in a week or so, when he had finished training here, he decided he would head off to Medonia, where his long lost so called relatives were held.

He washed all thoughts from his mind, his mind seemed to be wondering a fair bit tonight, he said at the masters note to get started, "Shall we? he said", signalling for his master to start.

Crayin · October 3, 2004, 06:37 PM

Karten held his rapier with a firm grip, with his thumb on the top of his hand and his fingers pointing down. "The grip is practical, hold it in a way it feels comfortable. A firm and tight grip is also good." Karten then shifted his body so he was facing to the right of Raphael, his left shoulder in Raphaels direction. "It's best to keep yourself as small of a target as possible, so you should turn to the side, and point your shoulder at your enemy; the shoulder which is attached to your main hand. I myself am left handed, so I turn this way, with my left foot in front of the other."

The wind blew cool air past him, making Karten shiver. It was getting cooler out, which the dorin liked over the heat. He was fully awake now and on the job.

Yaevin Ralahir · October 4, 2004, 12:30 AM

Raphael took his rapier and gripped it how his master had said so, gripping the light blade with his slender grey fingers. He flicked his wrist a few times, trying to get used to the weight of the new blade. A fickle wind passed, spraying his almost sparkling silver hair backwards, making the sword in his grip tremble, he held the blade taught, clinging it to himself. He positioned himself in the proper stance as the dorin had instructed. He placed his feet a shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent, one hand off to the side. His body positioned at an angle 90 degrees away from his master who was doing the same, he held his sword out, thinking that's how he should do it, awaiting his masters next instruction.

He looked at the practice blade, he wondered, something like this has the power to take life, such a simple device, such a devastating effect, he would need to learn the responsibility, as well as the skill. Something which would only come with maturity, experience and knowledge.

Ashkan Vampyler · October 4, 2004, 12:43 AM

Raphael took his rapier and gripped it how his master had said so, gripping the light blade with his slender grey fingers. He flicked his wrist a few times, trying to get used to the weight of the new blade. A fickle wind passed, spraying his almost sparkling silver hair backwards, making the sword in his grip tremble, he held the blade taught, clinging it to himself. He positioned himself in the proper stance as the dorin had instructed. He placed his feet a shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent, one hand off to the side. His body positioned at an angle 90 degrees away from his master who was doing the same, he held his sword out, thinking that's how he should do it, awaiting his masters next instruction.

He looked at the practice blade, he wondered, something like this has the power to take life, such a simple device, such a devastating effect, he would need to learn the responsibility, as well as the skill. Something which would only come with maturity, experience and knowledge.

Crayin · October 4, 2004, 12:44 AM

Karten nodded. "Just... raise your sword up to a 45 degree angle, so you're pointing in between the sky and the ground. That is the proper starting stance. Karten Pointed his Rapier in the direction he had just mentioned. "It's good for defense, and can access any move quickly and assuringly. As Raphael did this, Karten twirled his sword in his hand.

"I will start off by teaching you the first basic attack; a thrust. The first thing to do is to bring your sword hand down to either your waist or your chest, and then push your sword outwards, aiming for something vital on the enemy. This attack is simple, therefor easy for your enemy to block. It should usually be used on un-trained enemies, or in special occasions such as when the enemy is recovering from his last move." Karten brought the hilt of his Rapier to his torso, right beneath his rib cage, and then moved his whole body forwards in his attack.

Ashkan Vampyler · October 9, 2004, 02:01 AM

Raphael complied with Katern's instructions, he was still in his fighting stance, showing as little of his body to the enemy as possible, lowering the chance of any hits being received on his end.
He lowered his hand and thrust out like his master had ordered, keeping the sword horizontal at all times, twisting his wrist as he did so making sure that it was so. He lashed out but he hesitated at the last minute and the thrust came out sloppily, he stopped and the blade arched down a little, he had failed his first attempt. He stepped back for a second try, keeping the distance between him and his master greater, he needed a bit of space to try.

Again, he brought his arm down and lashed out, this time the thrust was much more recognizable as an actual thrust, the blade was thrust forward, but the blade had ended up on a slight angle, dammit, he thought. He tried again, and again and again, wanting to make sure he had the technique of a thrust nailed down firmly, this was not something to be taken lightly. This would one day help preserve his life, and it was no laughing matter, he thrust again, completely ignoring his master or anyone else outside, the only thing that mattered to him was to get this technique down pat.

Crayin · October 10, 2004, 01:17 AM

Karten slowly walked around Raphael as he practiced, and watched his every move. "You're thinking too much about keeping the sword straight. Keeping it straight usually matters when the enemy has armour on, but if they have nothing on, making contact is the main thing that matters. Imagine a target standing there, in front of you. Try stabbing at that. In time, you will gain experience and will be able to hold it straight out."

Karten againt stood right in front of Raphael, "I'm not saying pushing it straight out is not important, it is. I'm going to let you go home and practice for the night. Try attacking a tree or an area of a wall. That might help. I personally am going to go home and have some cookies and cream. Tomorrow, you may come half an hour later. It will be darker then, and I think you will like that. I will let you keep the training rapier for the night."

Ashkan Vampyler · October 10, 2004, 03:55 AM

Raphael took the Rapier, and placed under his arm as he peeled his dirty cavalier off and stroke his hair backwards with his slender grey fingers, he put his cavalier back on, trimming its edge with his fingers and then moving onto look up at the skies, then decided to part with his master, giving a subtle nod of his head as a bow, he moved off, his hand gripping loosely to the hilt of the rapier. He said something as he left, but it was a whisper and something that his master would of not picked up, nor understood even if he did hear it, "Hasta la manana", there was a pause between those words and what followed, a quick but strong "...senor", the words meant, "i'll see you tomorrow....master", in a foreign language which had originated from somewhere around the daltinian lands.

He ventured home, not spending too long skimming the streets and the such, he returned home and sat outside for the next hour practicing the move, he was determined to be able to perform the technique flawlessly by the time he got back to his master the next day, he decided to practice with the rapier on the tree like his master had instructed. So he kept his ground next to the tree and practiced and for that hour it was as if the gods themselves couldn't shake his determination. He trust, again and again and again, until he was happy with the manoeuver. It was after an hour, when he was sweating from the determination and work, his hair was soaked in sweat. In the middle he had stripped down to just his trousers, exposing his toned stomach and chest. He decided that was enough, he walked up to the pitcher on the outside table which he had place for a refreshment for when he was finished, he only drank a little portion of it and drenched the rest of it over his head, cooling him down almost instantly, the cold kicked in and chilled him, the feeling of refreshment spread only as quickly as the water did. He took his sword in one hand, pitcher in the other and he walked inside, throwing a towl on his back once he put the pitcher down and he got to his door, it had been a good night, he had thought.

The next night

Clothed as he was the previous day, Raphael came, half an hour later as instructed, he was probably late though, not knowing the time and working on his judgement, he worked his way back to where his master would be waiting, ready to tell him "Serale, senor, i have perfected the move, as asked" at his first opportunity.

Crayin · October 10, 2004, 08:35 PM

Again, Karten was at the same rock. This time, reading a small red book, titled, "The art of Zinn'Ka." Kartens eye's were half closed, as if sleepy, and his body was stretched across the bottom of the ground. He was sitting at the base, where he could usually be found. This time, he was wearing a grey coat, to protect him from the night's cold. He was wearing baggy pants made of a heavy type of cotton, and large leather boots, the same as the past day. Karten looked up at Raphael as he approached. "Good day... uh... night, to you." Karten said, then leisurely took out a book mark, put it in the page where he was reading, and set the book down with all the other items that were beside him. This included two rapiers and a small sheild.

Karten nodded, "Ah, good. I think you will find that move very useful sometime." Karten's eye's drifted down to the rapier he had lent Raphael, "Oh! I forgot I lent that to you! I guess we wont be needing this old stick...." He said while pushing one of the swords out of the way with his foot. Anyways, show me this thrust, or stab of yours." He stood back to watch.

Ashkan Vampyler · October 10, 2004, 08:52 PM

"Zinn'ka", was the first thing to cross his mind, he knew of what it was, it seemed to be quite a popular hand to hand fighting stance, the next assumption which he made was that his master was actually a master of many styles and weapons, born to fight, or teach, one or the other.

Raphael focused, he took his sword and got into the starting position, he took his sword and pointed it forward. He thrusted, wasn't the best thrust, he was barely warmed up, well only a little, save the slight run he took on his journey here tonight, he thrust again, he pulled his arm down and lashed out with his sword, before snapping it back to starting position almost immediately. "Is this acceptable, senor?" his alluring accent showing through. He looked around, eyeing a shield, or what seemed to be a buckler of some sort, what was it's purpose he thought, in his mind. He peered back at his master, patiently awaiting his next instruction.

Crayin · October 10, 2004, 09:05 PM

"Hm..." Karten said as he watched the move. "You'll be very good someday," He said with a smile apon his face. "No, today I'm going to show you another really important move. Let's call it the slash." Karten put his foot under his sword on the ground, and flinged it up to his finger tips. He backed away from Raphael a bit, then got into the fighting pose, his left shoulder facing Raphael, his feet apart, and his sword facing in the proper direction. He brought his sword down to the ground to his right, the tip almost touching the ground, and swung upwards, diagonally, towards the sky.

"There are many different ways of doing this, practically, you're just swinging your sword, sharp end first, trying to wound your enemy." He then lowered his sword from where it was to about chest level, and swung it horizontally, to the right. "This is, unfortunately, another easy move to block." From that postition, he moved his sword above his shoulder, and brought it down hard towards the ground, stopping it before it hit the ground.

Now, let's see you try it."