Never use a longsword to trim your nails. [Basic Longsword - Reijin]

[Nydardomond]

Kalendryas, Winter, Era XIV Post Fractum Paradigm: Gala of Empress Michelle held in Alleria Prime

Soon after acquiring the constable uniform and gear from the guardhouse armory, Nyd led the new recruits to the Arium Citadel where they would begin their training in their weapons of choice as the constabulary required all recruits to be able to handle a weapon without killing themselves. Nyd met up with Reijin during the early hours and together they made there way to the Citadel. It occurred to the half-orc that new recruits were rather young yet the need for fresh blood and youthful drive was needed; not to mention the fact that the constabulary was also in serious need of recruits to cover the openings created upon the funding cut nearly an era ago. Although young, Nyd knew that such work would mature the recruits quickly.

Nyd and Reijin arrived in little time at the Citadel. As they passed through the gates, they soon entered the courtyard. The trainer Nyd had arranged to meet with them was running behind and hadn't arrived yet so there was just enough time to take Reijin on a quick tour of the facility.

In military circles it was known, in hushed whispers and seldom rumours, as the Abyss. Everyone knew it existed but there were few who ever wanted to go there. It was not a thing most were willing to talk about. Its very existence had become a myth, a superstition. Some would talk of people returning from the Abyss and never ever being the same again. No one who went there ever spoke of their stay there. Some said mystics erased their memories of the place once they were done here, others that the memories of what had gone on down there were simply to awful for anyone to utter.

Its formal title was the Nexus Prime Imperial Gaol. It was the worst prison one could possibly find in Nexus. Here the military were crammed in with the commoners. But there was no doubt that the military were the only ones who were sent into the lower levels of the Abyss. This was the cause of their fear.

The Gaol was part of the Arium Citadel. A huge fortress placed within the city walls of Nexus Prime. It was built out of rough, grey granite. Great slabs of which had been mortared together by expert dwarven hands. It had been built to last. It was two things, a fortress and a prison. It also stood in, whenever the Governor's mansion was not good enough, as the seat of the Arium Government. It was designed to be impenetrable. It was herein that the Questioners, the most shady members of the Prefecture of Nexus worked.

The Gaol itself occupied the lowest levels of the building. Everything was below ground the only light that came into the cells came through small openings at the top of the cells, perhaps large enough for a gnome to squeeze through, but precious little else. It was a dark experience being incarcerated here. Those below ground level only got to see light whenever the guards brought meals down here. Others were granted light often enough in the well lit dungeons of the Questioners. From here screams issued throughout the building, sometimes even to be heard on the outside. Prisoners who were believed to be holding back were not treated lightly in here.

There was only one way into the Gaol, a thick, steel-bound door leading into a long corridor with another door on the other and a portcullis located in the middle of the hallways. From there steps lead down. For those who are only guilty of smaller crimes the descent ends quickly, for those less fortunate it continues down into the natural caverns beneath Nexus Prime.

A natural maze, supposedly inhabited by old inmates who have gone feral acts as a last safeguard. Eventually though the maze ends in another reinforced door. Here half a dozen guards with crossbows watch and await the arrival of new blood. Generally the only people allowed down here were other guards, Questioners and the Prefect and the Governor. So when someone other than this showed up the guards down here were generally fairly twitchy and willing to fire their crossbows at anyone approaching.

After the tour was over, Nyd brought Reijin back to the courtyard where the constable who would be teaching the boy how to use a sword had finally arrived. As the pair approached the trainer, Reijin could see that the man was a short, broad shouldered man with long hair tied back in a tail and tired looking eyes. He was dressed in the blue constable uniform and carried a longsword in a scabbard on his back. In each hand he carried a wooden training sword.

"This is Hoyar, one of our senior constables and also one of the more skilled swordsmen. He will show you how to use that sword you got there without stabbing yourself." Nyd smiled and gave a nod to Hoyar who grinned back. Hoyar had been one of the few who had not looked down upon Nyd for being a half-orc when he first started as a constable. Although Hoyar wasn't actively against Nyd at first, he also wasn't terribly happy about Nyd becoming a fellow constable. In time however the old man got to know the half-orc and the two became something of friends.

"Don't worry 'bout us, topknot, I won't hurt him too bad." Hoyar said to Nyd with a chuckle before tossing one of the wooden swords to Reijin.

"Alright boy, first thing's first. Show me what end you think you hold that thing by." Hoyar winked at Nyd as the half-orc chuckled softly and waved as he headed back outside the Citadel.

[Reijin Van Ellise]

" Ok, this is my first training... I hope this goes well " Reijin said to himself in his mind and smiled at the thought of learning something new.

He smiled after Nyd introduced Hoyar to him and Nodded. He found his teacher (trainor) to be unquestionably strong and a master in his own art.

It's expected in training that you'll get hurt. Reijin hopes he'll not get injured or fractured.

He caught the wooden sword with two hands on it's wooden blade. If that was a real sword, he probably would have wounded himself.

He gripped on the wooden swords handle but have confused himself after his trainor asked him "what end you think you hold that thing by" .

" Huh? "

What end? he thought. Does he mean what hand he'll sword his sword with. He'll hold his sword with his right hand cause he's used to holding it with right.

Still confused, he just gripped the handle of the wooden sword with both hands with the right hand closer to the blade. He don't know what his trainor would say so he asked... " Is this right? " with quite a serious look in his face.

[Nydardomond]

Hoyar waited patiently while Reijin took a moment to think and get a feel for the training sword. The weapon was weighted just a bit lighter than the real thing but it was balanced and served its purpose. The wood was smooth in his hands even if the 'blade' itself was notched in many places.

When Reijin appeared ready, Hoyar nodded to the boy. "That's correct. Now, before you do anything else with that thing, we need to make sure you get a feel for moving around while holding it. Footwork, quickness and strength are all essential."

Hoyar, although reaching his late, middle eras of age, he was in shape and it was obvious by the way he carried himself. "Of course with the sword, there are countless stances, styles, steps and all but we will get you started with the basic stance."

Taking the other training sword in his right hand, Hoyar assumed what looked to Reijin to be a combat stance of sorts. His right foot was out about six inches in front of his right shoulder with his other foot positioned under his body. "Now, do as I do. Stand like this and try to put most of your weight on your back foot while keeping your front free to move. Your lead shoulder should face outward and your lead foot will point in the same direction. Keep your knees bent and flexible; lock them up and your open to death." Hoyar nodded and waited for Reijin to take the stance as instructed.

[Reijin Van Ellise]

Reijin was relieved when he learned he was holding the sword correctly.

Reijin looked at Hoyar as he demonstrated how the basic stance looks like. He observes his teachers stance as he listens to his discussion and followed as he discussed.

He placed his right foot forward, roughly copying how his mentor does the basic stance. Although it's difficult at the beginning, he tried to balance his weight and put more at his left foot. He raised his right sole slightly to do so.

Reijin bent his knees. " Is this correct? " he asked and adjusted slightly to copy what his teacher's stance was like.

[Nydardomond]

Hoyar nodded his approval at Reijin's stance. "Not bad, not bad. Now stance isn't all there is. You need to be able to move while in it. Your opponent isn't going to just stand there and let you dance around him swinging a sword. You have move."

"The stance you got there is a defensive one. When you move, don't cross your steps, shuffle them. Front foot moves in front of the back one and so on and so forth. Stay off your heels and on your toes. Like this." Hoyar, still in his stance with his training dagger in front him, began to shuffle his feet in a circle around Reijin. He appeared to move lightly with his weight on the front of his feet and toes as he bounced around as if weightless. He then moved his hind foot backward and followed with his front foot, moving away from Reijin.

"Falling back is not always meant as a retreat yet it can serve as one if needed. Keeping your opponent wondering is key. Move around, never let the enemy be able to predict your actions. Now move, show me what I just did!" Hoyar shouted and kept his stance while waiting for Reijin to do as instructed.

[Reijin Van Ellise]

He saw what is being instructed and it is up to how he understands what his instructor told him that he'll be able to do it. Moving like what he was told, front foot in front and back foot at the back, avoid crossing steps. On some steps he may lose his balance or fall but after a few times of trying going around with the said movement, he soon was able to go with it.

He may have lost his stance after some steps but later he managed to move and retain the basic stance.

Hoping he didn't fail his teacher, he tried again and again until it was easy for him to do it. Sweat may have shown up on his face but still Reijin was becoming more energetic and was on to mastering what is being taught.

" Have I done it right already. " Reijin paused and looked on his instructor.

[Nydardomond]

"Lookin good, lookin good. Keep doing that though. Keep working at it. You need to have those moves ingrained into your very being. I want you to feel it in your sleep!" Hoyar kept Reijin going through the routine for just short of a candlemark. By the time he called a halt to it, Reijin felt as though his legs may crumbled beneath them. His muscles burned and his body throbbed with a dull ache that would not cease. It was about that time that Nydardomond returned. Hoyar was just about to dismiss Reijin for the day when the half-orc arrived. The two constables spoke briefly with one another and Hoyar retrieved the training weapons.

"That will do for this brightening, son. Nyd here has some official stuff to go over with ya and I got to be getting off to a late breakfast. I will see you back here this time tomorrow and we will continue. Good job today." With that Hoyar finished gathering his gear and made his way out of the citadel and off for wherever he was going to eat.

Nyd nodded to Reijin and called the boy over to a nearby bench.

"I hope things went well so far. I have a few things I need to speak with you about before you head off. First, the class on law will have to wait for a few cycles or so as we are short on staff to be able to instruct. In the meantime though, there are a few things you need to know. First, you will be on patrol in the Serenity Hills district. It is a middle-class neighborhood with a large katta population. It isn't overly active with crime but there are a few minor things here and there; enough to warrant keeping an eye on." Nyd pulled a folded piece of paper from his pack and opened it to reveal a map of Nexus Prime. He pointed to the section on the map for Reijin to see. He also pulled out a small, leather-bound book and handed it to Reijin.

"This is the Annarian Code of Law. Study it as it will be the basis of all that you do as a constable. Also, when the time comes, you will be tested on its contents. In addition, there are a few things on laws specific to Nexus Prime. Nexus prohibits the wearing of the colors black, purple and red, except for people with a specific status. For instance, black is only for nobility, those failing to produce a writ of nobility will run the risk of having their black clothes torn off and being fined. The same thing goes for the other two colors. If you fail to have the necessary status for them, you run the risk of having your clothes torn off in public." Nyd smirked at the last part but continued with a serious tone.

"You are responsible for assessing fines to those whom break the law. Too much and they may challenge you, which could cause a problem. Too little and it isn't much of a punishment. Also, never fear requesting aid from other constables. You are young and your age unfortunately could cause some to doubt your authority. Also, if you need to arrest someone, bring them here for processing and also request assistance as well as not too many wish to spend time in the gaol. Any questions?" Nyd waited for Reijin to process what had been said and fielded any questions the boy had.

[Reijin Van Ellise]

Hoyar's class ended and he felt he have to practice more with his footwork until he masters it. It would be easier if he masters the basics little by little.

But before anything else, Nydardomond needs to talk to him. He bowed in salutations and thank for his teacher, Hoyar before he proceeded to Nyd.

He bowed and greeted with a smile before he sat on the bench. He then listened to Nydardomond as he discuss. When a book was handed he took it with his right hand.

Questions were generated in his mind so he started to clear things out after Nydardomond was finished talking, before he can say he truly understands it.

" I've got something to ask... Just to clear it out, about assessing the fines, whom should I give these fines to after I got them. I really don't like to keep money which are not mine. "

[Nydardomond]

Nyd nodded at Reijin's question. "I will be honest with you. The fines you assess are yours to keep. You can give some to the constabulary if you wish and to be honest, we need it. When it comes down to it though, you don't get paid all that much and the fines help make up the difference. I don't know much about business but even so I guess you could call the fines a commission of sorts. It isn't illegal and it is how we constables are able to make a living and continue being constables." Nyd was a simple man and normally donated all of his fines to the constabulary as he did not have much in the ways of expenses. Every so often though he would keep some of it in order to have a little extra money now and then.

"Myself, I don't exactly give out many fines. I am on the brute squad on the night shift at the docks. I usually break a few arms, smash a few heads, and drag the sorry dogs to the gaol. Of course in the process, I nab what coin they have on them and usually give it to the constabulary while keeping a little for myself." Nyd's arms bore the evidence of his encounters at night as many scars, some rather harsh looking, were easily seen marring his greenish flesh.

"Any more questions you have?" Nyd fielded any further questions the boy had before sending him off for the rest of the brightening until the next one arrived where Hoyar would be there to continue the training.