Intermediate Axe (Open)

[Norin Beldwhig]

Dawn, Era X, early Junctior, autumn

Norin wore his blue Veldar uniform and nothing else. He had no gear and he seemed to be the only one from his squadron to report. He had gotten up and cleaned everything from his clothes to his body while the rest of his fellow soldiers were still sleeping in their beds. The suns of Telath had not yet risen but when Norin made his way towards the dinning hall to eat breakfast, the first light of dawn came over the horizon and he could hear the birds singing.

It was getting cold though and Norin could feel autumn passing by quickly. Norin was guessing that winter would soon arrive although a few months might pass before he saw snow again. It didn't matter, there wasn't too far from his room, across to the dinning hall. He ate and drank and then digested. He waited and then reported to his training. Sergeant Setik had arranged for Norin to get a tutor for his intermediate level of training with his axe. Indeed, after his breakfast, Norin went to fetch his axe right before reporting to the sergeant who was going to be in charge of his training.

His axe was a long two handed dark axe. The head of the axe was formed like two sharp and black crescent moons. A spike was set at the end of the handle. The entire axe was made of dark and thick steel. This axe had been forged by dwarves in Zerdargia several months ago but it already wore the mark of use.

Norin reported out in the field where his sergeant was supposed to be but he noticed that he was too early. He had already digested and instead of standing there doing nothing and waiting for the sergeant, the dwarf began to do exercises to warm up. Both physical exercises but also combat exercises, mostly the basic moves with an axe.

OOC: Anybody who has basic axe and wants intermediate axe may join me in my self-modded training. It will be more interesting the more PCs we are.

[Baldor Dar'alok]

OOC: Can I barge in once my basic Veldar training is done? Not sure when it will be done exactly, though.

[Norin Beldwhig]

Sergeant Thrim made his way into the centre of the training grounds, his dwarf body was in a state of beginning. He had only recently woken up and now he commensed his warmup along with Norin who had stopped to salute him. Together, they were warming up doing some basic axe moves: stances, attacks, defences. They also warmed up physically by performing a series of pushups. Norin was amazed when he saw the sergeant working out. It looked as if he was pushing against a swinging door and that there was no resistance. The two dwarfs were warming up, their bodies getting ready for a month of axe training, their legs sorted out, and their arms beginning to feel the heat of the pushups.

[Norin Beldwhig]

There was little speech during the morning until suddenly, the silence was broken and the two dwarfs began talking in a professional but still friendly way. Norin had started the speech and Thrim had continued it so that conversations and debates were presant.

"Serale Sergeant Thrim. I suppose you already know that my name is Norin Beldwhig."

"Indeed, Private Beldwhig. I do know who you are and you seem to know my name. Please, just call me sir."

"Sir, I come to train with you to become an excellent warrior and guard for our people. I want people to know who Beldwhig is. I have a feeling you are very skilled in the use of the axe by just seeing your warm ups. I'm ready to begin my training even if it takes day and night, I will get it done."

"Good to hear but be careful with that arrogance private. This training will take up the entire month of Junctior. I want you to report here every morning and we'll train till late so you won't have much free time on your hands. I suppose it's the price you pay to become the best."

Sergeant Thrim blinked and the two continued to warm up by doing some of the basic moves.

[Norin Beldwhig]

"Good, private. Now, to finish off our warming up let's take a jog around the ground ten times. Then we'll do fifty push-ups and fifty sit-ups. Afterwards, we'll get into the serious business of training."

"Sir, yes sir." Norin replied.

The two soldiers began jogging around the Veldar Compound still varming up. Norin was sweating and could feel his muscles working. He pushed a little harder, always a little harder to improve himself. He jogged but Thrim seemed to be running around the compound. Maybe Thrim's idea of jogging was a little faster than Norin's.

Finally, the ten rounds were done. Thrim was barely tired. He was indeed in a good shape. Norin was almost out of breath although his earlier Veldar training kept him going. Together they did the push-ups and sit-ups and this tired Norin much more. He had never really trained his muscles that much to do such a large quantity of activity but they would grow and so would his strength. All he thought about, all he focused on was to get all fifty done. Both push-ups and sit-ups.

[Norin Beldwhig]

Norin was a soldier and he was used to pushing himself over the limit to improve himself. This training was no exception. Norin did the exercises with a smile although they were quite hard.

Norin began to sweat as he did the exercises and grunts also emerged from his bearded mouth. Still, he pushed forth and his body could take it. It had been trained for this kind of thing. Norin focused on the job at hand while smilling and grinning as much as he could. This was kinda amusing. He hadn't thought that he would endure more training after his advance training at the Veldar and here he was. Indeed, this was amusing.

Norin just smiled.

[Norin Beldwhig]

Thrim was pleased to be training with another dwarf, a soldier who had an endurance almost similar to his own. He would have to improve Beldwhig's fitness but it would come, at some point.

"Private, we will work on your endurance to improve it. A good fitness is always important in combat. This we shall complete as we continue through this training regime. So we will first complete a little recap of the attacks that you should have learned in your basic training. The first attack I would like you to show me is a slash attack from the left swinging the blade to the right.

[Norin Beldwhig]

Norin taught back to the time he had joined the Veldar Elite. He had had to pass the basic training first and that was when they had taught him how to use an axe, a real axe. He remembered the long hours of constant training and now he would need them once more.

Norin rememebered Setik's instructions, partly. He adopted the basic stance, feet shoulder length apart, left foot forward, and leaning forward to gain maximum balance. Norin took hold of his axe, one hand almost at the end and the other one half way up. He then brought it into the box and made a sign to Thrim that he was ready. Then, he brought the weapon down. He swung it down left as to cut but a few inches into an imaginary foe. He would continue the move but wasn't instructed too and thus decided to follow instructions rather than show off his arrogance once more.

"Sir, this is the most basic move and only half of it. Was it fine or should I try again?"

[Norin Beldwhig]

Sergeant Thrim watched the move with some smirk across his face. It was always fun to do a quick recap of those things that may have been forgotten, or even try to rmove nay bad habits that had formed over the time since the last training took place. As it was Thrim could find no fault with the attck so it was going to be a case of try the next one then.

"It was a good move, Private. That was a fine strike. Now then perhaps you can show me the over head, split the person into two, cleaving strike attack."

[Norin Beldwhig]

Norin laughed.

"Hahaha, split them into two you say. I've always been taught never to get my axe stuck in an enemy but I'll do as you wish, sir."

He was enjoying every second of his training. Two dwarfs working together seemed to be working for him. His drill sergeant had been sergeant Setik, a halfling. Working for a halfling had been a little uncomfortable. But being with a fellow dwarf they could joke around, but at the same time work hard and be serious.

Norin scratched his head trying to remember this attack. He remembered that he had not been allowed to stuck his axe into any bodies but he was taught how to cleave through a body, although that wasn't too easy. If he was to cleave the head off, he would have to aim for the neck and that was what he was going to do. He thought for a second and then tried the cleaving strike attack.

He grabbed the bottom of the axe with his left hand and his right hand in the middle of the axe. He didn't forget his footing. Then, Norin brought the axe above into a swing around his head without leaving the box as he had been taught. It would be silly to try to cleave an enemy who then killed you because you opened up. While it came back infront of him, it came at neck height. At this point Norin remembered that cleaving an opponent required a large amount of strength and he remembered the tecnique to do it. He started with his feet then worked upwards and finally out into his arms. His entire strength, weight, speed, and scream was put into that one single blow, which made him spin around himself a few times so not to strain any muscles.

"Sir, I think on that swing I felt a bit uncomfortable. I would prefere to have a target to train on. However, was it right, sir?"

[Norin Beldwhig]

The sergeant looked at his new student and wondered what the heck was going on.

"What in Veldar's name was that. I asked for the split 'em down the middle strike, but what you gave me, me private, was no way a good strike. It would seem that I chose right to complete a quick recap, as ye seem to have learned a bad habit for that attack. So ye needs to have a strong hold on ya axe, towards the base of the handle, and then bring it up and hold it above ya head, like so.

Sergeant Thrim performed the move so that Norin would be able to see how to hold the handle correctly. Both hands being quite close together and with good grip. This was clearly not a cleaving strike but a "cut them in two" strike. A new tecnique.

Then bring the axe down straight as ya can. So perform the attack as I have shown you.

Sergeant Thrim performed the rest of the manoeuver so that Norin could see how it was done. Then he asked the soldier to perform the attack again.

[Norin Beldwhig]

Norin was frustrated. This was not a basic move. Sergeant Setik had made it clear that it was only a disadvantage to get the axe stuck in the body of your opponent. This had to be an intermediate trick. Still, he was not about to start a discussion or dispute with his superior and decided to follow orders instead. If Thrim thought it was a basic move, then it was a basic move although Norin put it under his intermediate moves. Norin nodded to Thrim, showing him that he understood what he just showed him.

This time Norin tightened his grip, which he thought was good enough. Then, he slid the axe behind his back sliding his grip so that both hands were near the edge. With the axe above his head and outside the box, Norin gave a little warcry and slammed it downward with much strength.

"Sir, I failed you once but this should be an improvement. I will try not to forget any more moves, sir."

[Norin Beldwhig]

Sergeant Thrim smiled at the new attempt that Norin made at the overhead slice and dice attack. The axe-master couldn't help but be impressed with the attempt. If anything had been in the way of the attack then it would now be in a state of being two seperate halves, of whatever it was. Sergeant Thrim smiled as he praised that last move.

"Wel, Private. It waould seem ya found the right attack that time. Now if ya apply that energy into all the rest of the attachs that ya make, I'm going to need to get meself a new training room; this ones gona get wrecked me lad. So ya have made a good left hand attack, one directly over the head, and now I would like ya to perform the backhand swing attack to bring the right hand attack. I'm sure ya will know what to do for this one, but if ya do need further recap of the method of the attack , then pipe up lad, and I'll show ya how to do it. So perform the right hand attack for me now private."

[Norin Beldwhig]

Norin seemed confused on the attack, but the attack seemed not too hard. He didn't want to fail the sergeant again so before he did the attack he replied.

"Sergeant Trim, I dont remember this move much, but I will sure try. Forgive me if I fail this attempt."

From what Norin noticed about the sergeant was a strong hard grip. He then with his left hand got a strong grip at the base of the axe. With his right hand he grabbed in the middle. Twisting the blade so it would be facing Norin. He bent his knees and twisted his hips. Norin then swung the axe to the side of him to the right, showing that he was back handing the enemy with the axe.

" I hope that is what you were looking for sir."

Norin smiled hoping the attack was a success.

[Norin Beldwhig]

Sergeant Thrim smiled at the attempt that his student had made. There were ways in which all dwarfs could improve, and Thrim was going to make sure this one would certainly be one of the most deadly in what ever fight that he may find himself in.

"Private, you have the basics of that attack sorted, but we will build on this as we progress through the training that I will put you through. Now then I wonder if your previous tutor had the good mid to teach ya the nastiest move a dwarf could learn as basic training. Ya know the one I mean, Private Beldwhig?

Norin must have looked a little nonplussed because Thrim tutted, under his breath.

"I da' know, what is the realm coming too. The attack I was trying to explain to ya was the upward strike to the groin. Ya know the split the difference strike. Now if ya haven't performed this before then I better show ya. Ya take your normal offensive stance and then bring a circular swing around and towards the lower section of the opponents body, which become nasty, because you change the angle of attack like so, and hit the ratbag right between the legs. So have a go Private.