#ed1717
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Annasiel
At last, my peace. I found it in her eyes.
369
Aug 13, 2015 22:40:06 GMT
August 2015
annasiel
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Post by Annasiel on Jan 21, 2016 2:01:35 GMT
The turnout was less than expected. Even among such turbulent times, it was thought the promise of honor and prowess displayed in the ring would be enticing. But the dark rumors, running tensions, and talks of darkness in the streets must have swayed the public against the joys of combat's spoils. As the orange glow of dusk descended on the stone arena, twinkling across the grains of crystal sand untarnished, a murmer rose among the few waiting watchers who did come. A thin, reedy man with a glorious moustache stepped into the Coliseum grounds, smiling and waving at those in the sparse stands. When he arrived in the center of the ring, he cleared his throat. "Welcome one, welcome all to the Coliseum of Etirath!" he bellowed in an announcer's crystal tones. "Today you shall witness the first grand fight for this marvelous battlegrounds to entertain!" The whispering civilians whooped and cheered, and a good few of them clapped. "To consecrate this land as a place for the people of the kingdom, whether it be to train, brawl, or merely spectate, we have decided to open the night with something... slightly out of the ordinary." The laudation died, replaced again by barely audible murmurs. "I ask to you, people of Etirath... who among you thinks themself brave enough, worthy enough, to hold the honor of the first fight?!" Silence. Then a voice, bold and booming, echoed from somewhere in the stands. "I challenge!" Ser Godfried Lelmont As the owner of the cry came into view, it was apparent he was one well accostomed to battle. Garbed neck to toe in shining armor, a cruciform longsword sheathed at his hip, and bearing a shield of ornate design on his broad back... this was a knight, or at least, seemed to be one. He pushed his way to the front, hopping the short partition that divided the main stands from the sandy pit. "I am not a native to this place, I must admit," he said to the announcer, "but I wish to become one in time. And surely one of the best ways to enamor myself to you is to win in swords..." "And win the hearts of our lovely ladies, while you're at it?" the moustachioed man interjected. The knight laughed. "Alright, alright! Now, seeing the tight lips of tonight's crowd, who do you see fit to challenge you, ser..." "Godfried. Ser Godfried Lelmont, my good man." "Yes, noble Ser Lelmont! Who catches your eye among those gathered here today?" "Why, I see a fine man rearing for battle right there near the forefront of the stands!" Godfried's gauntleted hand extended towards a green-eyed boy nearby. His aquiline eyes, noting the wooden practice sword in the boy's hand, shifted to somewhere in the crowds. "Lenore! Bring this young man a real weapon!" Lenore Dimsied, Esquire A youthful woman with a sad face approached the red haired lad, bearing a second longsword in her gloved palms. "Do you... do you really think this is the best idea...?" the announcer muttered. "I shall test the boy, but if he falters, don't despair. I will not be winning this fight... tonight belongs to the warriors this fine kingdom has to offer," Lelmont replied. "Alright, alright..." The announcer raised his voice once more. "And who is this bright-eyed fighter Ser Lelmont has singled out to challenge?" he called out to the boy.
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Aze
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Posts: 39
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Aug 14, 2015 22:16:44 GMT
August 2015
aze
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Post by Aze on Jan 21, 2016 2:48:56 GMT
Drake practically lept out of the stands, la ding with a gentle thud as this Godfried man called him out. Furst dusting humself off before stepping forward, slowly yet confidently clad in black padded armor reaching Lenore. Accepting the real weapon, taking a moment to get adjusted to the weight in his right hand. He lowers his right hand, along with the blade, inhaling deeply through his nose before speaking, " I am Drake Cromwell." His tone loud enough for those in the crowd to be heard, but nor in a yell or a roar, " Born here 16 years ago to Michael and Julie Cromwell." The entire time he talked he was cautiously sizing up his opponent, taking note of small things that he might use to win the battle despite the apparent gap in skill. 'Heavy armor huh, between the weight and my own agility I might be able to pull this off,' he thinks before exhaling. Raising both his hands, right arm pointing behind himself with the tip of the blade following the same direction, his left ahead of him slightly, " Whenever you're ready Sir Godfried." Drake knew in that moment only one desire, to test how much he'd grown during his own training.
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#ed1717
2
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1
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Annasiel
At last, my peace. I found it in her eyes.
369
Aug 13, 2015 22:40:06 GMT
August 2015
annasiel
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Post by Annasiel on Jan 21, 2016 3:09:04 GMT
"Well, aren't you the eager one," Ser Lelmont shouted, innocent joy on his chiseled face. "Alright, my good sir, let us see if you are as strong as you look and talk!"
The knight strode confidently towards Drake, his sword undrawn, his hand still resting on the pommel. Every step was announced by the clunk of armor and thud of a heavy footfall. A few feet away from the boy, the warrior stopped, a gentle breeze wafting his soft hair like the breath of a mother on the down of a newborn child. A bright smile seemed to radiate from Godfried, a warming glow that hid some weariness deep inside his wrinkled eyes.
"Prepare yourself, my friend," he said simply... then immediately launched at the boy with speed an armored man would be unexpected to possess. He simultaneously thrust the pommel and handle of his sword forward, pulling it partway from the scabbard, in an attempt to bluntly hit Drake in the chest while the boy's sword still pointed away. If this move was to be dodged, Ser Lelmont would slide to a halt and draw his sword to full extent in an underhand grip, blade and arm angled horizontally in front of him. If the move was to be blocked, parried, or otherwise met by an infringing blade, the knight would quickly spin out of his charge, moving away from the sword's range. In either scenario, he would also slide his shield onto his offhand, holding it angled to the left.
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Aze
Commoner
Posts: 39
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Aug 14, 2015 22:16:44 GMT
August 2015
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Post by Aze on Jan 21, 2016 3:22:47 GMT
Drake was suprised, but not horribly so by the man's speed. With out much of a moving start he pushes both legs to the right, leaping into a slight roll as the man's pommel missed it's intended mark. Upon landing he immediately goes begins to move at his opponent in a serpentine fashion, hoping the additional movement would be enough to keep the an from successful attacking. Once within range Drake twists his wrist so the blade faces forward, and swiftly albeit non effectively thrusting at the armored man's left arm. He kept on his adversary's shield, mostly out of a sense that the first battle held within the Coliseum shouldn't be one aimed directly at bloodshed. If the tactic didn't work he'd slide as to attempt to go underneath his opponent to avoid any obvious counter attacks such a straight forward attack would face.
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#ed1717
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Annasiel
At last, my peace. I found it in her eyes.
369
Aug 13, 2015 22:40:06 GMT
August 2015
annasiel
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Post by Annasiel on Jan 21, 2016 3:37:32 GMT
The boy dodged, and the knight reacted in turn, digging his boots into the ground and drawing his sword. He held it longways in front of his body, the tensile strength of his torso bound and ready to release at any minute. The weight of the sword awkwardly-held strained greatly on his wrist and forearm, but Godfried did his best to ignore it, keeping his eyes on his sinuous adversary. He had to hand it to the kid, the footwork was pretty impressive. Definitely worthy of respect. A standard novice mistake to dodge in direction of the off-hand for a shield wielder, though. As he had planned, Ser Lelmont slipped his shield onto his left arm, raising the flat-topped kite to meet the boy's thrusting lunge. The blade skirted off of the metal with a resonant clang. As soon as Godfried felt the contact, as soon as all momentum was gone from the boy's advance, he spun his torqued torso. The underhanded sword swept in an arc in Drake's direction, the blade extending a good foot and a half beyond the knight's elbow. To gain more range, Ser Lelmont lunged towards the boy, his body passing by the hopefully still-extended sword, the last few inches of his own sword sweeping towards Drake's midriff. Godfried made certain to raise his shield as well, keeping it between the boy's sword and his otherwise exposed neck.
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Aze
Commoner
Posts: 39
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39
Aug 14, 2015 22:16:44 GMT
August 2015
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Post by Aze on Jan 21, 2016 3:47:07 GMT
Drake realized his mistake in going for his off hand, seeing the blade moving ever closer to himself he did the only thing he could think of, swinging his blade, facing downward while still holding it properly he swings his torso, feeling the blades collide as he pushes the blade away. He knew that the block he performed was intended for thrusting, but it still worked all the same. Pushing forward with the flat of his blade, simultaneously with his feet he leaps back. 'Mental note don't go for the shield users shield,' he thinks as he begins a different tactic, a straight charge, no serpentine movement. Once he got to about 4 feet in front of his target he ducks down low, and swings low hoping that maybe he had enough momentum to knock the an off his feet, or at the least off balance.
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#ed1717
2
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Annasiel
At last, my peace. I found it in her eyes.
369
Aug 13, 2015 22:40:06 GMT
August 2015
annasiel
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Post by Annasiel on Jan 21, 2016 4:08:11 GMT
First he attacked the shield, now he was charging a suited knight head on. Either this boy was an absolute idiot when it came to combat or a greater tactician than Godfried could comprehend. Ser Lelmont braced, his left foot forward and his right back, shield tilted in the direction of the incoming adversary. At the same time, he spun his longsword back into an overhand grip, and held it next to his shield to hopefully fend off the advancing opponent. Unexpectedly, the boy fell into a crouching lunge, swinging his blade at the knight's front-facing leg. Taken by surprise, Godfried toppled forward onto his knee, his back foot sliding away to match it. The jolt when his patellar thumped into the earth was painful, and the momentum transferred by the blade kept the knight falling sideways. Thinking as quickly as he could, he fell into his shield, catching himself on his forearm while his longsword still pointed in the air.
"Enough, my good man! You have bested me! Etirath proves as strong a place as legends tell it!" Godfried called. He lowered his sword, and graced the youth with another smile. "One day, you will become a great warrior. Your skills and stances still lack the refinement only years and experience bring, but your determination and passion shine as bright as the iron on that blade you hold."
The knight gestured to the blade.
"It's name is Gleanedge, a good sword, though I suppose you may want to change that moniker to your own liking. Keep it. It is yours. Just promise me you will continue training, and come fight an old knight every know and then, eh?"
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Aze
Commoner
Posts: 39
inherit
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39
Aug 14, 2015 22:16:44 GMT
August 2015
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Post by Aze on Jan 23, 2016 2:40:30 GMT
Drake couldn't believe his plan had worked, nor that he'd get to keep the blade that he held. Despite all attempts to keep his composure, a toothy grin still appears on his face. " Thank you Sir Godfried! " he said in an excited tone. " I'd be happy to spar again some day," he says this time much calmer. " So does this mean you'll be sticking around town?" He asks with genuine curiosity, not that he Drake never planned on leaving for 'survival training' or even to hunt dangerous criminals, but rather because he'd much rather have someone closer to home to believe in him.
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#ed1717
2
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1
5
Annasiel
At last, my peace. I found it in her eyes.
369
Aug 13, 2015 22:40:06 GMT
August 2015
annasiel
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Post by Annasiel on Jan 24, 2016 3:18:44 GMT
"Of course, my friend. This is as grand a kingdom as my sad eyes have seen, and already it holds a special place in my heart," the knight replied. His smile turned from joy into something more like reminiscence... or longing. The sad expression quickly fled Ser Godfried's weathered face, replaced again with kindly contentment. "I must be on my way, dear warrior. Train hard, and keep my offer of a rematch in mind. I would hate to grow lonely."
The man departed, and the spectators parted for his passage. Lenore tagged closely behind. As soon as the pair was out of earshot of the others, a whispered conversation was held.
"Sir, that was my sword you gave him."
"Hush. I will buy you another weapon when the time comes. Worldly possessions are bane to be coveted."
"We don't have the money to get another sw..."
"If you press the issue, child, I will gladly give you my own blade."
"That's hardly necessary..."
"Then please, be happy with the jubilation we have that young man. Take pleasure in the excitement of others, and stop dwelling on your own angers and misgivings."
"Is that how you live with yourself? With what you've done?"
The knight responded only with stern silence.
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