[Training]Mace and Weight

[Godah]

OOC: This will be peer-modded if i can find a mod or self-modded. Posting this to not waste a whole season because of lack of mod.

Thirtysecond brightening of Immanis, Spring of Era II of the Celestine Mandate. Era XIV after the Aethergem Fracture. Fourth candlemark after sunrise.

The yester brightening, Godah paid a good sum of crowns to the temple and was to start his training finally. The dorin who turned his life into a new direction since he passed an era in the goal of Alleria Prime, felt the need to feel his muscle strain again and feel the pain through training. It had been a long time since he did training, long enough to make him have some apprehension. He got up early in the brightening and left the inn toward the city proper. He would find his way to the training district; he began to get used to the place. He finally stood at the entrance of the temple, a temple devoted to his guide Aslan. It has been a long time since he spoke the last time to The Father and he felt the guilt invade him.

He would put all his efforts in training-at least for the coming cycles-and purify his soul with pain. Training was working toward the perfection of his battling art and it was the art of Aslan in truth; Godah trained all his life to become the powerful servant who would be able to bring the will of Aslan-Maj the Father. He knew that the will of the god was not what he used to think; it was not bringing order into the world but making it fairer to the true people. He would do whatever it took to set a just world even if it would mean crashing a lot of lives.

When the dorin found finally his instructor he greeted the bald man and presented himself. He was ready to start the purification.

[Godah]

OOC: self-modding this if this is OK.

IC:

The bald man who was named Evvram stood at the centre of a circular sand-covered training area; he seemed in his thirties, which was far old by human standards especially for a warrior. Godah who didn't take training since a long time was silent at first trying to retrieve the feelings and sensations one felt while receiving the lessons of his instructor. The dorin has always respected those who saw more than him and faced dangers he did not yet imagine; he always considered that, however information theories and tactics were capital, experience was the only measure that could describe reality. It was with that thought that he fought battles and went to the field before thinking about plans; that would seem dumb to much officers and politicians but Godah was not an imperial politician but a dorin one and that was the difference.

Anyway, Evvram did not suspect any moment that the dorin he was going to train was the former thane of Arakmat and a member of the Imperial intelligence. He gave a look at the furred creature, thinking that the dorin was in fact well built for the art of mace wielding and that he would more focus on the techniques rather on the physical preparation.

"All right! I am Evvram and only Evvram to you. What is your name dorin?", he said seemingly not putting too much formality between the two. He would teach that dorin how to crash enemies' defence and how to push forward even against the most shielded opponents.

"Shahef El Hattar. Arakmatan", the little precision was the only truth. Godah was feeling as brightening passed that Shahef was invading his life and controlling more and more of his destiny. Godah could only exist in the shadows or in the bare deserts of Arakmat.

"Now, tell me what experience do you have. I see that you entertain your health."

The bald man knew well that the dorin was already a severed warrior and that the scars on his body were trophies of previous battles.

"I am a professional wielder of great swords and I have seen many battles. I have fought all races and ages.", answered Godah mixing his words with dorin pride and warrior's energy. He was a veteran already even though he never fought in the ranks. The dorin was a corporal of the arakmatan military but his battles were at the dies of friends and against the evil in its true nature.

Evvram nodded and pondered; he would first start by making the dorin do some warming while he would prepare the training weapons. He was glad to know that the dorin was experienced in great sword; even though mace was one-hand handled weapon, the power that it needed to be used was nearly similar to that a great sword demanded.

"I want you to warm. Do some stretching and prepare to receive your first lesson.", he said leaving the dorin alone in the centre of the sand circle. Godah started by executing flexions to prepare his legs muscles and his abdomen ones too. He used his own weight to act on his legs by stopping for a short moment at his lower position only sustained by his thigh muscles then he would stand again.

When he was done with a series of flexion he would stretch his body relieving the tension that built in his body. He would then repeat the exercise until he would feel a pain in his lower muscles. When the dorin felt satisfied with his first exercise, he started doing semi-circular movements of his upper body pushing it to its limits and then spinning to the other side.

Then finally, he came to warm the main part of his body that he would use: his arms. The grey furred dorin started by executing circles with his arms each one for a certain period; he, then, crossed them horizontally and one above the other, alternating, and did that until he could feel the heat waving from his body. The warming was already doing its effect as the dorin gapped his muzzle trying to cool the heat that coated him-dorin could not sweat.

It was then that the instructor appeared again, bringing wooden weapons that were nearly the same as maces except for the steel flangs. He was pleased to see that Godah was already warmed and ready to start his first lesson.

"Ready to start.", said Godah in-between heavy breaths.

[Godah]

Evvram nodded to the dorin and was satisfied with the way things were moving. He would take advantage of the experience of the dorin in wielding a sword even if the two weapons were not of the same family; some principles were common to all hand wielded weapons. The bald man took two training weapons formed of a wooded handle identical to the real ones but where the blade was meant to be was reproduction of wood that was similar in all views but the lethal edge.

"These training maces are not as dangerous as real one as they don't have a metal end but they are still enough to make you regret any mistake"

The voice of he instructor was clear and serious; one strike of the quite heavy mace would do great damage to both wielder and target if not directed correctly and the man was not ready yet to report an injured dorin as of the first lesson. Stepping to stand in front of the dorin at a good distance preventing any accident, Evvram took the mace in one hand tightening his grip on it; Godah could notice the digits of the man pressing against the mace arm with such a force that the dorin was sure Evvram fought a lot and many battles before.

"Your first lesson will be handling the weapon. Mace can be tricky if you don't master its force of weight. You better strengthen your arms and wrists to master this weapon"

First steps were often away from the heat of battles and consisted of simple exercises that were not spectacular but utterly necessary for a good preparation to battle. Exercises such as slicing with a training sword a hundred times during a brightening were useful to acquire the dexterity and to make movements become instincts.

Evvram pointed to a couple of packed armours that were on the floor not far from Godah. Each pack was containing full heavy armour and boots.

"Grip them each by one hand and lift them to you chest height. Stretch your arms each side of you and I want your hands to be the extension of your arms, keep them straight. "

As the man spoke, Godah realised what the aim of the exercise was: to strengthen his arms and wrists before beginning the technical side of the training.

"Keep them the longer you can. When you feel that the pain is unbearable, take a short pause and start again but try to last longer"

The voice of the instructor was commanding and the dorin knew from past experience that he better apply then discuss. He moved closer to the two packs, examining them and realising there were handles of sort that he could use to grab on. He took two short breaths and then grabbed one pack then the other; he filled his chest with air then expiring loudly he lifted the two packs. They were not too much heavy and at the beginning the dorin felt comfortable but he knew that the exercise was more about endurance than power burst.

He stretched his arms, the muscles tensing and feeling the strain of the weight for the first time. He straightened his hands and his wrists supported the weight of the packs. He would remain so until he could feel the pain invading his arms.

"Repeat this exercise for this brightening. I will see you next brightening"

With those words, Evvram left the training ground leaving Godah with his packs and the pain building in his arms.

[Godah]

The brightening went on for the dorin with repeated exercise cut by short episodes of rest and stretching. Godah was tired and he could feel the strain in his arms when he tried to articulate his fingers. The waves of pain that such attempt sent through his upper arms and reaching to his shoulders was enough to tell the arakmatan was not yet as prepared as he first thought. He would need further practice after the training ends; he couldn't accept the thought he was weak. The pink skin under the fur shaped to suit the muscles contracting to the effort of lifting the weight. He started again a new series of exercises and put more power and endurance into his arms and fists.

Godah's night went with pain and aches everywhere on his body; it seemed he lost the habit of such efforts. Damn politics! He thought before changing side on the hard bed; he could feel the needles of pain strike from all over his skin. Oh yes, the night was sleepless. He cursed the brightening he decided to learn wielding a mace.

The next brightening, rays of light cleared through the window and washed Godah's room at the Lingerer's Inn. The dorin was already up and preparing his first meal. He had slightly different meal schedule than most of allerians and he preferred to eat something just as he got up. He left his room a candlemark after and he headed toward the training area.

Eventually the dorin was greeted by his instructor who had a fresher face than his trainee.

"How was your darkening?", he said with a knowing smile on his face. He met many veteran soldiers who stopped for a reason or another from training and he knew the pain they felt when starting a new training.

"Good. Just not used to the place"

Godah's answer was not what the instructor expected but it did make him chuckle slightly. Dorin's pride was as true as people thought to be. Evvram was not one to follow a useless honour rigid path, preferring to be pragmatic, but he respected the dorin who chose that path especially in the army. Those were soldiers you could count on and rely on their loyalty.

"Alright then. We will start by warming. When you are ready we will begin your new lesson"

Evvram began his own stretching and warming without any further word. Godah started to stretch and made warming movements similar to those of the yesterbrightening. When both were ready Evvram stood a step from the dorin. He handed him a training mace while he kept one in his hand.

"Now, make some swings with your mace. Try to control its direction slightly. Put enough effort to guide the weight but keep it smooth", said the instructor.

Godah looked at Evvram and tightened his grip on the handle. His muscles contracted as he felt the weight of the mace. He started by lifting it to a height of his chest and trying to swing it slowly. The mace was obeying to his command with reluctance as his body started to react to the weight of the weapon. It would be a while before the dorin accustomed to his weapon. A first attempt to swing a slash of the mace, he was surprised by the momentum of the mass and he almost lost his balance; he remembered the words of Evvram, he would need to control his efforts and put less momentum for the time being.


He gained again his position and with a short glance he noted the smile on Evvram's face. He knew how much common that sighting was to his instructor. He would not let that smile rest to long on his face; the dorin was enough strong. He adapted his stance pushing his left leg a shoulder apart from his other leg. That would give him a better base and permit him to swing the mace without loosing his balance.

His next attempt was better controlled and he could feel the mace gaining speed ad momentum but he contracted his forearm's muscles just at the best moment and with the right amount of effort. He made another swing and then another. He started feeling better and comfortable with handling the weapon.

[Crimson]

 

Peer Moderation. This Thread has been approved for Peer Moderation, assigned to Peermod Dartalion under the authority of Game Master Crimson, as per the accepted Modplan. Participants are advised that conditions and circumstances may be adjusted to ensure fairness and balance.

[Dartalion]

Evvram nodded to his pupil "good you seem to be getting used to the weight now I want you to swing it in one direction then reverse the direction this will be a little more difficult, and remember the weight of the mace will want to keep going you must make it turn the way you want use the momentum to change the direction don't fight it." He said and took a few steps back.