Rahden Katheg – Basic Shortsword Training

[Rahden Katheg]

Just after Mid-Brightening on Aslanica, the 5th brightening of Imperos in the season of Autumn of Era III of the Celestine Mandate, Era XII Post Fractum, the First Era of the Reign of Empress Arabella the Just

Rahden Katheg had awoken early in the brightening in his new home. The unfamiliar sounds of Barrack 5 reminded the new recruit of his first brightening in the walled city of Nexus Prime. Fort Incolumnitas felt cold, alien, and far too busy, just as Nexus Prime had felt that first brightening only seven before, for the simple country dwarf born and raised in the southern Midlands east of Daltina. Rahden stood dressed in the standard uniform of a recruit of the West Wardens, wearing a leather chain-linked brigandine over a grey shirt, brown woolen trousers, a pair of dark brown boots, and a dark green snug-fitting cloak. In his right hand was a short, shortsword designed for the reach of a dwarf and in his left hand was a circular wooden shield with iron trim and his conical helmet. Rahden had considered wearing his helmet, but had dismissed the idea since navigating the new surroundings was complex enough without trying to wear the helmet.

The dwarf had left his barracks with the passing of Rosyun, glad to have a brief meal before exerting himself, as he expected to, for his training. The dwarf briefly looked up to the sky, wondering if his decision to become a soldier would make him be more like the revered warrior-god Aslan. Rahden had taken his childhood lessons to heart and did indeed wish to do good with his deeds, but still he wondered. He didn’t wonder if he would do good with his deeds, but he did wonder if he could do good with his deeds like his grand-father Brin ‘Orgefighter’ Katheg. The officer had mentioned that Rahden was one of many new recruits in the recent era, but for all his recent unusual introspection, the dwarf could have been alone in his own squad. The soldier’s life hardly seemed solitary, living in barracks with other recruits, eating with soldiers, training with other soldiers, and going on patrols with other squads, all of these activities were communal. Surely the West Wardens would provide Rahden with opportunities to join a larger community which Nexus Prime really couldn’t offer.

The new recruit had asked a fellow soldier where he could go for his training, since the officer who had assigned him to Barrack 5 hadn’t indicated exactly where the training fields might be in the walls of Fort Incolumnitas. The soldier had known that the dwarf was a recruit, not only by his question, but also by his manner, and had taken pity on the dwarf. The directions offered brought Rahden right to the fields from Barrack 5 and the dwarf now seemed ready to begin his new training. Rahden set down his helmet and shield, pulling his sword out from it’s sheathe. Not one to flail and test his new toy, Rahden did, however, cautiously lift the blade with his right arm and then his left arm, testing the weight of the blade. Rahden had always imagined wielding a hefty double-bladed axe for the Allerian Military, but he supposed that learning to use a blade would be satisfactory too.

[Maddyn]

Standing at four feet tall and almost as wide as he was high, the Sergeant was quite obviously of Dwarven descent with a broad form and almost comically large features. A neatly trimmed beard of black hair, eyebrows that needed a trim badly and almost black eyes stared impassively at the area directly in front of him - awaiting the new students with a watchful manner.

After a while another pair of Recruit showed, both Dwarfen. One dark and the other homely in appearance and for all signs and portents, appeared male. The darker of the two in colouring had his beard in braids and seemed to have a broken nose that hadn't been reset properly. The other however had tucked his sandy brown beard into his belt and seemed barely into adulthood from his appearance.

"Serale and welcome to the West Wardens, Recruits. My name is Sergeant Hjolnirson." the Dwarf stated, moving towards a pile of equipment stationed nearby before offering Rahden a dulled steel training blade - wooden blades quite simply were rarely used given that they forced a student to relearn to adjust to the comparitive weight and speed differences. "If you have any questions, now is the time to speak out as we've got a busy couple of candlemarks and a lot of knowledge to cram into your skull Recruit."

[Rahden Katheg]

Rahden Katheg observed the dwarven sergeant with a mixture of awe and attentive curiosity. Rahden sheathed his short-sword and stood off to the side of the imposing figure with indecipherable eyes. The two waited, the Sergeant knowing full well they were waiting for more recruits, while Rahden waited to be told to do something. Though the Sergeant had not spoken a word while they waited, his mere presence seemed to shout command and authority, something that was lacking in the appearance of the two recently arrived dwarven recruits. Rahden observed the pair critically not able to contain his scorn for the younger-looking one's inattentiveness toward his beard. Rahden could not imagine such disrespect for his own beard and unconsciously stroked his meticulously cleaned and groomed beard, not feeling sympathetic toward the other recruit who probably was more green than he was.

When Sergeant Hjolnirson broke his silence and introduced himself to the three recruits, Rahden immediately stopped his silent pondering and focused solely on his commander awaiting his training. The soldier easily caught the handle of the dulled training blade and placed his sheathed short-sword with his wooden shield and conical helmet outside of the recruit's training area. He could not guess that others in the Allerian Army might train with wooden weapons, though he had seen and played with wooden weapons as a child. Such an exercise would have seemed pointless to the dwarf, not because of the differences between the weights of wood and steel, but because wood was not for weapons, but for hearths. Rahden had re-joined the two other dwarven recruits, only to step back and test the weight of this newest sword. Examining the blade, Rahden could clearly see that the blade was in desperate need of being sharpened, but still he tested the weight of the blade, first in his right hand and then in his left, moving it with the full extent of his arms.

Lowering this practice blade, Rahden once more re-joined the group and nodded while Sergeant Hjolnirson asked if they had any questions. Remembering the question which he had posed to the Officer when he had acquired his military equipment, Rahden considered his earlier concern, “Should’n I ask ‘bout trainin’ wifh an axe. Seems us dwarves ‘ould do better wifh ‘em any way?” Rahden was ready to begin his training, not wanting to waste the time of his commander, but he was still quite curious. For only the briefest moment after getting his trainer's attention, the dwarf was silent, torn between his two choices. His curiosity had won.

Rahden addressed his commander with a stiff look of concern on his face. He spoke and asked, “Recruit Katheg, sir. I’m glad ta be trainin’ wifh swords instead of ‘em spears we was giv’n, but wold’nt us dwarves be more fearsome swingin’ axes.” Considering his words for a brief moment, the recruit qualified his question to something closer to a simple statement, “I’d wish ta learn ta use an axe... after we're finished 'course mind ye, but if'n ya don’t mind?” Rahden had not intended his question to be insubordinate, but his words rung out awkwardly, burning his ears with stubborn embarrassment. Rahden stood with his sword in his right hand with the blade pointed downward, waiting for an answer to his questions, though also ready to begin his training. He looked briefly at the two other recruits, wondering if they had questions of their own.

[Maddyn]

Tilting his head to the side at Rahden's request and then glancing at the other Recruits expression, it seemed as if the belief about an axe or something otherwise more appropriate for a Dwarf was of general consensus. Shortsword however was standard equipment for the Wardens, and Sergeant Hjolnirson wasn't one to shy away from protocol. Still... some concessions could be made.

"Axe, throwing axes, and use of hammers I can be arranging lessons if there be enough students. Keep in mind, it'll be on your time off - not rearranging the roster while you're still Recruits. We'll talk about this afterwards though given you're bound not to be the only three interested..." the Sergeant mused with a thoughtful tone. "Recruit Rahden, you've just volunteered yourself to speak to the Commander about the creation of an auxilary unit for sappers and a reguard, defending seige engines and the like... places where a shortsword isn't feasible in combat."

There was probably a smile being shown underneath the swathe of beard - it just wasn't the easiest expression to see. Not when the Sergeant's face was two eyes underneath bushy eyebrows, a large broken nose, and then beard with a hint of cheekbone. Some people just didn't do expressions well at all. "If there's nothing more, then we can continue, now this is a simple enough matter where normally we'd select your Squad Leader based upon capability in arms and a grasp of the fundamental basics." Sergeant Hjolnirson stated, moving up and down the line of sadly, a singular Recruit. It just didn't have the same effect as desired.

"Now then Recruit, I want you to show me a basic stance for swordmanship when you're ready." Sergeant Hjolnirson stated, keeping everything nice and simple given that this wasn't the most difficult of tasks. Most of the matters after all relied on Seprafel and his grasp of what was being asked of him. "Take your time, there's no wrong answer. Well there is, but it'll be wrong ina way I can show you how to fix and why there's better stances available... show me some fethin' melodramatic stance from a play however and I'll have yer... ahem..."

[Rahden Katheg]

Recruit Rahden Katheg had risked a glance around to view the reactions of the two additional recruits and was heartened to see that they seemed to agree with his suggestion that they, as dwarfen folk, should learn to wield more typical dwarfen weapons. The recruit, however, brought his attention back to his sergeant, focusing solely on his commanding trainer and giving the fellow dwarf his due respect. Rahden was not entirely disappointed to know that they would continue training with their shorter than human short-swords, especially since it was the weapon offered to him by the officer handing equipment out to the recruits. Rahden supposed that once he was taught, he could effectively wield the sword like an extension of his arm. A true weapon to be feared.

Rahden Katheg listened carefully as Sergeant Hjolnirson explained how and when they might be offered additional training. The recruit was pleased that his request was well received. Rahden was also pleased to be given an additional responsibility. It seemed to the simple dwarf that speaking up was among the ways to be noticed by his superiors. The dwarf did not want to shy away from this additional duty and instead he embraced his chance to present himself as a valuable, if inexperienced, recruit among the West Wardens. He took careful note of the sergeant’s specific instructions, “I must fin’ tha Commander. I must asks him ‘bout the creation of an auxiliary unit ta protect siege equipment f’r sappers and members of a’n rearguard. Soldiers that ‘ould wield some’in ‘sides tha short sword we was givin’.” Rahden considered asking where he might find the Commander, but the hidden expression on the sergeant’s face and the progression of the training prevented him from doing so.

Rahden Katheg considered the deceptively simple request demanded by Sergeant Hjolnirson. It seemed that their performance was tied to more than just their honor, responsibilities, but also to their advancement among their fellow soldiers. To advance, Rahden had to show that he had a firm grasp of the fundamental concepts of wielding a short sword. His attention wavered for a moment as he considered the possibility that he could become a Squad Leader. Such a prospect was a strange thought for the usually reserved, sheepish dwarf. This new thought, this goal, though small and insignificant against the backdrop of the immense multitude that was the totality of the West Wardens, focused the recruit’s attention and inspired deep concentration in him. This thought was a radical departure for the previously tentative, even un-ambitious dwarf. It represented his first foray into training and wielding a weapon of war.

Rahden Katheg had already tested both his assigned weapon and the dull lack-luster practice blade, but he had not considered how and where he might stand while he wielded the short sword. The recruit stood with his shoulders to his sergeant and wondered if such a position, as awkward as it was, was fit to engage an enemy with. Rahden addressed his sergeant trainer, “I am ready, sir.” Rahden then turned his waist slightly away from the sergeant, bringing his legs unevenly away from his imagined opponent. Rahden raised his arms, pulling them away from his sides and held them near his waist. The recruit thought to bend his knees and now stood in a different position, one that more closely resembled a runner reading to sprint at the beginning of a race. Though, perhaps, the posture might more accurately be compared to someone about to engage in a wrestling match with an opponent: shoulder’s square, knees bent, and feet apart and not in line either horizontal or vertical. This was his thought as Rahden stood in front of Sergeant Hjolnirson and wondered if the other recruits would offer similar fighting postures. Rahden could not have explained the benefits of his stance, not really knowing if it was right or wrong, but feeling that it was more natural to present himself ready with his arms upraised and his shoulder’s square.

[Maddyn]

Shaking his head from side to side as he watched Rahden and the Recruits move into the stance, it was at least a simple enough means of correction and one the Sergeant knew was exactly the purpose of this exercise. "Good defensive stance, but under normal conditions you should shorten it lad to shoulders width." he stated to one of the companion Dwarves with the darker colouring. "It's a center of gravity thing Recruit, too wide and you're just as unbalanced as if the stance was too short. Bend the wrist so that the sword points directly forwards as if you were going to thrust with it, to raise your arm so you'd be slashing downwards." The Dwarf continued after a moment.
"Recruit Rahden, Thangrimm, that's satisfactory. Shortsword's a close range weapon, don't bother too much with downward strikes. Rather you're going for thrusting motions and hiding behind a shield, or slashing downwards at an angle so the stancework has to reflect that."

"Recruit Rahden, how many ways do you think you can swing a sword in a single movement?"

[Rahden Katheg]

Rahden Katheg beamed when the sergeant noted to the three recruits that his stance was satisfactory. The words seemed important enough to boost his growing confidence. The dwarf had not known if he had the intangible elements that make an effective soldier in the West Wardens, but perhaps the new recruit did. Rahden listened carefully and silently repeating Sergeant Hjolnirson instructions on how to fight with a short-sword, “Tha short-sword is a weapon f’r close range, so I can’t use downward strikes like an axe. I have ta use thrusting attacks and defend me’en self by hiding behind a shield. I’ll slash downwards, not straight up an’ down but from one side ta tha other or “at an angle.” So me’en “stance-work” has ta be good.” The dwarf had not realized that he would have to change the way he swung his weapon depending on whether it was a sword or a different weapon, but when he made this connection it seemed only too natural and foolishly easy for him to have missed it before.

Rahden also briefly considered the comments directed to the two other dwarfen recruits. Rahden wanted to learn all that he could from his trainer and it seemed important to pay attention to each detail, whether or not a comment was directed at him. Rahden was not entirely sure what the sergeant meant by “center of gravity,” but the recruit did understand that the way they stood while engaging an enemy was a part of how they would defend themselves and keep themselves upright as they fought. Rahden thought, “I don’t want me’en feet too far wide or me’en self too far short. I have ta stand wifh my arm wifh tha sword pointed away from me. The point at tha enemy, so me’en writs will be bent. An’ I got ta member ta hold it away from me.”

Rahden stood for another moment in his defensive position, feeling the odd position and studying the specific places of each of his limbs. His left elbow was tucked close to his ribs and in his left hand was his circular wooden shield. His right arm was slightly bent holding his sword pointed upward away from his body. His legs were set a shoulder’s width apart, slightly askew in a “defensive position.” Rahden seemed to understand why this position, if slightly awkward, was called a “defensive position”; the recruit felt as if he could defend all of his vital organs from attack. The recruit turned his wrist and pointed his short-sword forward as if he were readying it for a quick thrust forward. The movement slightly strained his shoulder and forearm muscles, but the dwarf grunted and held the position a moment longer before standing upward, moving out of the position and relaxing for a brief moment.

Rahden considered Sergeant Hjolnirson’s new question with the same focus he had applied to figuring out what stance he should use while holding his short-sword. The recruit considered the question and thought that if he were thrusting he would only be able to make one thrust before he would have to pull his sword back and try again. He noted that this was much like an axe, though a thrust from a sword was meant to be a quick blow, something to be repeated again and again, while a swing from an axe was meant to be done one with debilitating effects. Sergeant Hjolnirson, however, had also mentioned attacking with a downward swing from one side to another. The sergeant was asking him about both, the recruit realized. He responded accordingly, “Sir. If’n yer attacking wifh a thrust forward then ya can only push forward once before ye have to pull back an’ try again. But wifh a swing at ’n angle ye can swing ‘gain if ye avoid yer shield.” Rahden had spoken quickly and wondered if this answer was sufficient. He didn’t mind making mistakes since he was a recruit, but he was stubborn and did not want to look foolish now that he was slowly gaining confidence.

[Maddyn]

Close, but not quite the answer I was after - even if you did give it in simpler terms Recruit Rahden." Sergeant Hjolnirson stated to the trio. "Those are the only types of strikes but they arn't the listing of angle." and it was here that the Dwarf paused, scratching his beard thoughtfully before realising the error was likely his own. "Should have asked for the fethin' variable angles, but the types eh? There's nine angles, all of which fall as a Thrust, Slash or Cut depending on the sword in question."

Stepping into a middle guard position that'd been shown earlier rather than the upper guard, Sergeant Hjolnirson released the hilt of his shortsword with one hand so that it was held in just his right. His left was held up as if a shield would have been slung to the arm. One by one, Sergeant Hjolnirson went through the strikes, stating what each was before continuing.

"Right, here we go lads!:

1. Right slashing to the Left
2. Left slashing to the Right
3. Up slashing Downwards
4. Down slashing Upwards
5. Diagonal Upper Right slashing to Lower Left
6. Diagonal Upper Left slashing downwards to Lower Right
7. Diagonal Lower Right slashing to Upwards Left
8. Diagonal Lower Left slashing to Upwards Right
9. Middle Thrust

"Now, given this there is a limited number if viable movements in that a sword can be swung. In addition to this, there is a limited number of angles that you can strike, and be struck at in any given scenario. On top of this however it also means that there is a limited number of mistakes that you can make that can be prevented by your own knowledge, a comrade's aid and the use of a shield." Sergeant Hjolnirson stated, lowering the tip of the sword to point towards the ground once more. "Standard combinations are three tier, more elaborate ones however are of course possible. This however is bare basics for now. I want you all to show me a Left to Right slash, hold, then return to a guard position and do a Right to Left slash."

[Rahden Katheg]

Rahden Katheg was disappointed that he had not been able to get the right answer, but while Sergeant Hjolnirson explained about the various possible limitations to each of the nine strikes, the recruit realized that he had anticipated an important point. Just not the one they were currently talking about. He had not clearly thought about the question originally posed to him; he had been stuck on the idea of thrusting his sword which was only one of many possible swings. Rahden had indeed been confused by the Sergeant’s question, assuming that the trainer had wanted to know how many different directions a person could swing a sword before stopping, but instead the trainer had wanted to know how many different ways a person could swing a sword in one direction. While Sergeant Hjolnirson explained that there were nine directions, the recruit stared, confused until the sergeant began to demonstrate each of the various strikes for the three recruits to see.

Rahden Katheg watched the trainer with untrained eyes, but one focused on making careful note of the details. While Sergeant Hjolnirson demonstrated each of the various swings, Rahden noting to himself, “That ‘ne starts out left and goes right…,” even while the trainer named each of the swings according to their start and finish. Rahden wondered how each of the swings felt. He was reminded of the slight strain from holding the sword forward in the position of a thrust and the recruit could not help but wonder if some of the other swings also caused such strain. Rahden concluded, “Each one is a simple strike one way, but there are more of them ‘an I thought. I wasn’t ‘ven thinkin’ of’n swings across. I ‘onder which is Slash, and which is a Cut. The’m Thrust must be’en the last one. Like what we ‘ere practicin’. Pushin’ forward wifh tha sword. Wha’d he call it… Middle thrust. Yea… But them others…”

Rahden was pulled from his conclusion by a new idea, “Them swings match each other…” It was indeed true that the swings matched one another in pairs: the “Right slashing to the Left” matching the Left slashing to the Right,” the “Up slashing Downwards” matching the “Down slashing Upwards,” the “Diagonal Upper Right slashing to Lower Left” matching the “Diagonal Lower Left slashing to Upwards Right,” and the “Diagonal Upper Left slashing downwards to Lower Right” matching the “Diagonal Lower Right slashing to Upwards Left.” The revelation made the grouping of swings much easier for Rahden to understand.

The recruit could almost see the trail left by each swing in his mind’s eye as he reviewed each swing with its opposite in the matched pair. He could see the first two pairs of swings overlapping the second two pairs of swings, showing Sergeant Hjolnirson swinging each strike in fluid motions around the four cardinal points and four diagonal points. This image added new dimension to his understanding, since now Rahden could see that each pair had a matching perpendicular pair. The recruit saw each image for brief moments, only faintly grasping the larger significances of each swings relationship with it’s opposite, but the recruit, after all, was only in basic short-sword and really only needed to be introduced to the sword.

While the trainer finished showing the various swings to the group, Rahden stroked his own beard and considered his renewed understanding of the explanation. If had become easier to understand the movements and now the recruit could more fully appreciate Sergeant Hjolnirson explanation that their movements would be limited depending upon each fighting situation one encountered. Rahden thought, “Well… I’d already figure’d tha shield would get in tha way for swingin’, but it seems if yer fightin’ wifh friends then the’d get in da way too. ‘Course that makes sense, no good swingin’ near friends…” At first, the recruit was not sure how he could make less mistakes with more soldiers around him, since he suspected that in his first tests with combat he might accidentally swing at a friend, but the recruit considered what it might be like in a battle and figured that he would probably be more careful than he gave himself credit for. At least, Rahden hoped so. He was not combat tested and he worried that he would make a fatal mistake for him or a comrade.

Rahden now needed to show that his renewed understanding could help him to proper wield the blade. Understanding would not get him training, but practice would. Rahden hefted the dull practice blade once again and reviewed Sergeant Hjolnirson’s instructions, “He wants us ta show him a Left to Right slash, then ta hold the place, return to our guard position an’ then ta do a Right to Left slash an’ hold.” Rahden nodded and said, “’Course sir.” The recruit first slide his feet back into a guard position which was slightly more natural this second time. His feet spread just shoulder width apart and askew with his left foot ahead of his right foot. Rahden then adjusted the circular wooden shield held in his left arm and hand, raising the additional defensive armor to a height that matched Sergeant Hjolnirson’s previous demonstration, at middle guard position.

Finally, Rahden began his swing. The recruit began by slowly lifting his sword up in front of his shield, slightly off to his right. Rahden then tiled the blade of the short-sword and dragged it parallel to the ground, across his body from the right to the left. While he moved his shoulder and arm from the right to the left, he turned his wrist forward so that the weapon’s point arched outward starting by pointing to the right but ending by pointing to the left. The movement had indeed held some minor strain, but while he held the sword aloft parallel to the ground across his body and shield, Rahden felt the strain increase with each moment. Rahden realized that he needed to swing the opposite strike and began once again. He started by turning his arm and wrist so that his thumb was facing toward him, instead of away from him as it had been with the previous strike. He started by dragging his shoulder and arm from the left to the right. This second time, however, Rahden didn’t turn his wrist until the end of the swing. Rahden stood holding his position with his short-sword held out to his right, feeling the muscles of his right arm straining just a little more with the exertions.

[Maddyn]

"Good! Now we're going to be keeping everything simple. Get your wrists loosened up a bit before moving into sparring partners to get a hang on what it feels like having two swords impacting against one another. This ain't no play lads, because by the end of the brightening your shoulders are going to hurt like Aeternia I assure you all!" Sergeant Hjolnirson continued, smiling, as best as was visible behind the bushy beard.

"Now then, Downwards strike followed by a diagonal strike aiming up to the right. Hold position. Count to three, then downwards mirror the strike - downwards diagonally to where the blade was before before aiming in an upwards slash. You'll find it easier to use backhand movements occassionally - don't force the blows but rather make them flow. Once you've done that hold a guard position and wait for the final basic drill."

[Rahden Katheg]

Rahden Katheg could already feel the strain of his under-utilized muscles stretching and pulling awkwardly beyond their traditional use. The dull, throbbing pain in his arms and shoulders had only increased more by performing the routines for Sergeant Hjolnirson, but the strain was most evident when Rahden held the sword away from his body aloft in the air. Rahden had done alright with the limited complexity of the initial sword swings shown to him and his fellow recruits by their trainer, but, nonetheless, the dwarf was glad to hear Sergeant Hjolnirson explain that they would keep things simple from now on. Rahden thought, “I can handle simple.”

Following the orders from his superior officer, the recruit loosened the grip he had on his dull, practice sword and gently tested the movement of the sword in his wrist. Rahden noted with some disappointment that the sword seemed to move ever-so-slightly. The recruit clenched his fist tightly around the hilt of his sword and felt the muscles in his forearm tense with the exertion. He relaxed the tense grip and tested his wrist once again. The sword remained stationary in his hand while he moved his wrist first up and then down before moving it left and then finally to the right. The recruit hoped that this exercise was what Sergeant Hjolnirson had asked for while the officer explained that they would be sparring against one another. Rahden had not expected that the recruits would be given a chance to clash swords with one another, but he had not quite expected it on the first brightening of his training.

Satisfied with his grip on the hilt of his practice blade, Rahden turned to see that he had a dilemma before him. Sergeant Hjolnirson had explained that they would pair off into sparring partners, but with only three recruits, there couldn’t be two pairs. The numbers were not even, but numbers were one of Rahden few intellectual strengths. He looked his fellow dwarfen recruits and decided that he would spar with each of them and then they could spar with one another. The idea, while not complex, would require some explanation. Rahden looked back to Sergeant Hjolnirson for a moment, deciding that he could take the lead of this three recruit group and direct them.

Rahden addressed his fellow dwarfen recruits, “Serale. I’m Recruit Katheg, Rahden Katheg, actually.” He paused, allowing the two to introduce them-selves before he continued. “We can’t be’en makin’ two pairs wifh only three of us recruits, so I think we should each pair off wifh each other.” He paused and then realized that he had not made his explanation completely clear. Rahden continued, pointing first to the homely, youthful dwarf with his sandy beard trapped in his belt, “I’ll spar wifh you first. Then I’ll spar wifh him, over ‘ere,” and pointing second to the darker dwarf with the crooked nose and braided beard. With the directions given out to the two dwarfs, Rahden waited a moment for them to acknowledge before continuing onward.

Rahden stepped in front of Recruit Thangrimm and set his feet into the defensive stance he first showed to Sergeant Hjolnirson. He remembered the trainer’s caution to the other dwarf about his ‘center of gravity’ and that he needed to keep his feet from becoming too wide or too narrow. Rahden set his feet apart, askew with his right foot slightly in front of his left foot, but with a shoulder-length between their diagonal. Rahden then raised the practice blade up so that it was parallel with the ground, pointing directly at his intended target, Recruit Thangrimm. Recruit Katheg paused looking at Recruit Thangrimm to confirm that the other dwarfen recruit was ready before lifting his sword up in the air and proceeding with his first downward strike. The motion of his blade moved through the air above his head in a high arc before striking downward against the solid metal of the opposing recruit’s blade. The ringing sound resonated in the air around him and in the depths of his ears, but Rahden continued with his motion, sliding his practice blade off of Thangrimm’s practice blade with the added sound of their blades grinding against one another.

With only the briefest pause to exhale, Rahden Katheg lifted up his elbow, simultaneously turning his wrist with his elbow so that his thumb pointed down at his left foot. His practice blade in a new position, Rahden began his second strike, pushing the short=sword up and to the right in a diagonal strike that extended Rahden’s arm and wrist far to his upper-right. His opposing sparring partner once more offered his blade up to parry the carefully choreographed strike. Clang! The sound of the blades striking against each other was a sound that symbolized sword training and this particular sound resonated deep within Rahden, but the sound of the two blades slipping and sliding against one another was a more piercing, distinctive sound. The recruit performing for Sergeant Hjolnirson and his fellow recruits, held the blade aloft, silently counting the three breaths which had been ordered. Time passed slowly while beads of sweat dripped down the creases in the recruit’s furrowed forehead.

With a second, deeper exhale of his breath, Rahden Katheg began the second part of his performed strike. The recruit turned his wrist once more so that his thumb pointed away from his body and his blade downward. Rahden pulled the blade of his practice short=sword downward at a diagonal along the path which he had pushed it upward only moments before. The blade swept down across the width of his body and struck against the blade of Thangrimm’s practice blade once again with the resounding ‘clang.’ To finish his swings, Rahden simply had to bring his blade upward, but he noticed that this was his most difficult swing. He took a deep breath and turned his blade outward, away from his chest, turning his thumb so that it pointed down at the ground beneath the two sparring dwarfs. In an awkward position, Rahden decided that this would be the best way to swing his short-sword upward, even if it did not feel natural. For a brief moment, the recruit understood more fully why the short-sword was designed for stabs and not slashes or chops. Rahden began by extending elbow so that he pulled his blade upward, but when his elbow stopped and his blade only extended half-way up in his strike, the learning recruit began to lift his shoulder, turning it upward to finish off his stroke. One final time the blades of the two sparring dwarfs clashed with a resonating ‘clang,’ and its ever-present accompanying sounds of two grinding blades. Rahden pulled his blade back downward and held a guard position, blade forward turned ever-so-slightly across his chest from right to left. The dwarf looked at Thangrimm and nodded, fully expecting the dwarfen recruit to continue the drill by swinging his practice sword against Rahden’s.

[Maddyn]

"Just a slight problem." Recruit Thangrimm conceded as he looked at Rahden and his fellow Recruit Thuenen. "Pleasure to be meeting you though" the Dwarf mused, tugging his beard gently in a thoughtful manner. "Come from the Clans up near Zerdargia, and this here be Thuenen, just near Coldmoon way north of the ruins." the Recruit stated, gesturing towards his rather silent companion who simply nodded and made a half bow before getting on with the lessons.

Taking a position before Rahden, tenatively he stepped into a guard position while his lips moved in a replication of what the Sergeant had commanded and then trying to figure out how to defend against the movement. With a certain amount of care, Thamgrimm stepped aside rather than trying to defend against the first vertical strike before swinging the sword around to guard against the diagonal. Following Rahden' own movement and swinging his sword down low again to defend against the next diagonal slash before side stepping to again avoid the vertical slash. Avoidance rather than trying to block everything however did draw a noticable, but unreadable expression from the Sergeant.

"Alright... I'll start now..." Thuenen stated, giving Rahden time to adjust before stepping forwards and striking down at him. Waiting a second between each movement as he then slashed diagonally upwards, then down before stepping backwards with a vertical strike in an upwards direction. Turning his wrist at the end of the strike to return the blade to facing forwards and into a guard position.

OOC: Hopefully not too confusing, Thuenen's the name you gave to the other Recruit right? (saw the name in the I Spy, wasn't entirely positive >_>)

Cheers, Maddyn

[Rahden Katheg]

Rahden Katheg was glad to meet both of his fellow dwarfen recruits. He thought, “That makes two on each of th’em last two brightenin’s.” Rahden had met two fellow recruits residing in Barrack 5, Seprafel and Verus on the previous brightening and this brightening had met two more. The two seemed likable, if Thuenen hadn’t really said anything and Thangrimm had his beard stuck in his belt. The conversation, however, had to be limited by their present orders to spar and show their newly-taught skills to their trainer, Sergeant Hjolnirson. Though he had heard of both the cities of Zerdargia and Coldmoon, Rahden, as a country dwarf, had been raised in an isolated dwarfen farming community far from the larger settlements of the dwarfen race. Rahden briefly wondered if living in a city of dwarfs would be like living in a village of dwarfs. With his limited experience with the city of Nexus Prime, the newly-arrived recruit could imagine that the hustle and bustle of every city changed even the common dwarf’s sense of hospitality.

Rahden nodding and completing his adjustment to a guard position standing and looking at Thuenen, waiting with increasing anticipation as time slowed slightly before the fellow dwarf’s first, downward, swing. When the edge of the dwarf’s dull practice blade struck his own, slightly raised horizontal blade, the recruit felt the impact of the blades turn his wrist inward. His arm, strained with the effort of practice, rung with the impact and his muscles constricted with increased effort. The defending dwarf didn’t have time to think of anything except the required movement of his arms and legs to reposition his body into a new guard position. Rahden adjusted his feet, moving his left, lead leg, behind his right leg making his right leg his new lead leg. The dwarfen recruit had given a half-step to his opponent, but this position seemed more natural for blocking the upward-diagonal strike. Again, the sound of the blades rung loudly across the practice field. Rahden held his wrist upward and his blade upward, blocking the upward swing without turning his wrist.

Again, Thuenen paused between his swings, just as Sergeant Hjolnirson had commanded them to and Rahden took a deep breath, relaxing and contracting his arms muscles once again. Thunen’s downward strike came faster than Rahden had expected it too, but the defending dwarf managed to get his blade between himself and his opponent’s blade, though not horizontally as he had hoped, but vertically at an awkward angle to his opponent’s blade. Had Thuenen pushed his offensive, instead of stepping back for the upward swing, he could have thrust forward and landed a blow on Rahden’s exposed mid-section. The dwarfen defender, however, had a moment to position his sword while Thuenen gave back the previously won half-step and Rahden positioned his blade horizontally sliding upward and away from his body as Thuenen swung upward.

With sweat caking to his brow and matting his usually well-kept beard, Rahden stepped back and lowered his practice blade, breathing a big sigh of relief. Even though the group of three dwarfs was only sparring, the recruit felt his muscles scream for relief from the strain of wielding his blade. Rahden knew that he would need to become accustomed to practicing with his blade every brightening if he was to become competent enough to save himself in a real battle or to further advance in his training. The dwarf stepped back away from his fellow squad members and watched as they began to spar, finishing the third and final pair. Rahden watched Thangrimm and Thuenen take up their swords with Thangrimm as the aggressor and Thuenen the defender. Rahden, taking a few more moments to gather himself for further training, looked at Sergeant Hjolnirson to observe the trainer’s demeanor. The trainer had not said a single thing while they sparred and the recruit wondered what thoughts were going through his mind. “I hope this get easier’ wifh practice ‘cause I haven’t felt this exhausted since arrivin’ at the walls of Nexus Prime after travelin’ though the gut of the Empire ta get me ‘ere.”

[Maddyn]

Leaving the Recruits to repeat the pattern for another couple more turns, after a while the Sergeant motioned with a waving gesture to halt things "Back into lines Recruits!" and gained a flurry of movement.

Once everything was done to satisfaction, only then did Sergeant Hjolnirson continue. "Good, no injuries and showing the kind of merit that's perfect for the training fields. Just remember, this is training, in the field what we teach is next to fethin' useless. Opponents don't hold back their blows, slow down to convenience your partner and tend to fight dirty and vicious. Keep in ranks, watch each others back. We don't expect you to be veterens in a cycle, but we do expect teamwork." Sergeant Hjolnirson stated calmly, looking at each of them one after the other.

"Don't defend unless you have to, don't swing wildly, avoid combat, avoid blows. Swinging a sword for half a candlemark is an exhausting ordeal. Swinging it for bloody four candlemarks in the heat of battle will teach you stamina better than any Hayan you find. Impact! Two weapons hitting each other when you're trying to kill someone and vice versa will fethin' hurt, your shoulders and wrist will jar, and you will end up with problems in the long run serving Arium. Any questions before we continue Recruits?!"

[Rahden Katheg]

Rahden Katheg felt a deep, dull ache of his arms and legs. The half candle-mark of training had worked the dwarf to his physical limits. At the beginning of the training session, the recruit had casually swung his training blade with vigor and eager anticipation, but for the final few exchanges with Thangrimm and Thuenen, Rahden had slowed his movements, conserving as much of his energy as he could by concentrating of the precision of his blows, rather than on exerting as much force on the blade as possible.

While he stood in line with his fellow dwarfen soldiers, listened as their trainer, Sergeant Hjolnirson, explain the limits of their training, Rahden felt his breathing labor through several harsh intakes before he had enough air in them to loosen his muscles and slow his beating heart. The training had been a grueling activity, and while Sergeant Hjolnirson spoke of battles lasting four or more candle-marks, Rahden could only imagine the most well trained soldiers wielding swords for that amount of time. He knew that as a recruit, he had a lot to learn about his place as a soldier of the West Wardens, but now he knew he also had a lot to