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Post by Sylas Sage on Dec 16, 2014 17:18:19 GMT -6
The training ground of the Knights Academy was a large field. It was set up with many different tests to train certain skills in certain areas. There were targets for archers and lancers, jousting, fighting in armor, and each area had a small arena for two people to fight against each other. Upon entering, Sylas was put into the classification of "Swordsman" and was put into a group of ten or more recruits. Those who had their own weapons could use them, anyone else was giving a training sword still made of steel, but lesser quality.
Sylas stood leaning against the wall of the establishment where the swordsman group were put to fight against each other to test their initial skill. He was generally uninterested. The swordsman group was rather large ten or so people, but not one of them could use a blade. They were generally young men with money in their families. Sylas doubted any of them has even seen a sword before now. The two in the arena were the perfect example of this. One was a shorter boy around eighteen. He held a skinny longsword that was way to large for his body type. His stance was sloppy and the sword wiggled in his hand. The other was of a tall lanky sort with bastard sword. His arms were way too thin and looked as if he tried to swing the sword, he'd snap in half. A chuckle escaped his lips. The young man never thought himself better than anybody. Gods know their were those out there that surpassed him in skill but none were present today.
"Spread your legs more!" Yelled the instructor, physically making the gesture. "Arms up! Arms up!" The taller boy disarmed the shorter one with a sloppy swing of his his sword. The instructor brought his thumb and index finger to the bridge of his nose and sighed something incomprehensible.
"Okay that's enough. Macintosh, Sage, you're up" the man yelled, looking down to a sheet of paper scribbling some notes next to names. The man named Macintosh was a tall bulky man. He was a head taller than Sylas and at least five years his elder. There were mutters across the crowd. Macintosh has shown the most promise of all of the recruits, however none have seen Sylas in action yet.
The two warriors locked eyes. Macintosh unsheathed a bastard sword strapped to his back. Sylas bit his cheek to keep from smiling. Just as he expected. Height and strength, two handed sword. Relies on shear force with slow attacks. Will be on the defensive. Long reach, avoid do not block, find an opening and strike. This words were not his but his fathers. Sylas drew his companion from its sheathe, the sound gave him a rush. He entered his stance, blade hand out stretched behind him, left leg forward right leg back. Power attack first, find out how well his defense is.
"And begin!"
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Post by Shinonome Morgan on Dec 16, 2014 23:02:44 GMT -6
I'm alive! Though, legally, I was never dead... "Ah, Ms. Morgan, i-if you would follow me, as you can see, our training grounds..." A familiar blonde tuned out the campus guide for the Academy, more than disinterested in the inane facts of the place that the fool seemed to keep spouting. Goodness, he must be the worst guide she'd seen. At the very least, if she were to ask for a personal tour through one of the most prestigious privileges on the goddamn continent, then the school shoulda had SOME decency to cough up a person who knew her. Not this... this basic drivel! She rolled her golden eyes at the sound of the guide's nervous voice, which was starting to sound like a harmony of tubas. Wait. No. Scratch that. A harmony of tubas would at least catch her eye.
What DID catch her eye, however, was when she glanced at a training field and some scrawny son-of-a-bitch was made to fight somebody who looked like he'd had an oak tree stuck up his fat ass. Around the two were aristocrat cannon fodder who decided to drive up a damned storm of murmurs, like they always do. If anything, it seemed like the most useless piece of training ever, at least, to the live-or-die captain. 'Why do they insist on filling our military with wimps? We have literal GOD KILLERS on the loose, and THIS is their emergency planning? The same old shit?' She paused in her step, once more ignoring the guide's pleas to follow the course.
She'd had a frustrating day, so far. Sail to Hyrst to check on military after a recent debacle with pirates and failure of said land military, then come to find out it's nothing but pillow fights made for prissy boys? Honestly, the captain didn't damn care if she were getting in trouble for this, she'd make something INTERESTING happen, goddamn it! Shinonome let out a growl of exasperation, and the guide could only helplessly watch as a VIP guest blasted onto the training fields.
Shinonome's feet didn't even touch the ground as she boosted forward via air pressure. When she deemed it close enough, the captain loudly burst into the air, jumping skywards about twenty feet. She then unsheathed her broadsword, Ave Maria, and threw it to face parallel to (who she assumed to be) the instructor. It embedded itself into the ground, startling many students, whose faces became pale white at the thought of a sword planting itself at their feet. The instructor looked at the newcomer in confusion.
Only a moment later, the woman landed on the sword, her feet resting on the hilt with a strong balance. She bore a confident, almost amused face, perched on her own sword as she spoke with bursting charisma. "Oy, oy, is this what's become of the famous Academy of Knighthood? Child-friendly simulation, where half the class gets scared at a flying sword? I must say, this is rather disappointing. They'd learn faster on the high seas, in my opinion." The instructor, somewhat disgruntled at an interruption to the fight, opened his mouth to speak.
He found himself silenced when the captain flipped her sword up and caught it, pointing it at him. Her feet didn't touch the ground, mind you; she stood in midair while retrieving Ave Maria from under her. "Wouldn't you agree, sir?" Shinonome then motioned to the bigger student there, with the greatsword. Her smile was as devilish as the devil could be. "For example, this strapping gentleman is only a couple years younger than me, and yet... he's still learning in school. Meanwhile, at his age, I've achieved national fame for blowing multiple ships apart." Shinonome stopped standing in midair, and achieved footing on solid ground. She tutted and sheathed her sword, putting her hands on her hips as if scolding children. Surprisingly, she then turned to the younger, smaller one, addressing him somewhat jokingly. "Please tell me you've achieved something fantastic with your life. It'd be such a drag if you were all land-licking pansies..." |
MADE BY TOASTY OF GANGNAM STYLE! |
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Post by Sylas Sage on Dec 17, 2014 10:16:54 GMT -6
As Sylas worked to focus his thoughts on the battle something caught his attention in his sixth sense. He could hear the metal whistling through the air until it landed point down into the dirt. Macintosh turned to look in the direction and Sylas decided it was safe enough to lower his guard. Moments later a feminine figure stood atop the hilt of the blade effortlessly, broadcasting her extreme balance. The crowd all flinched like children before a beating and Sylas almost rolled his eyes. The crowd murmured in confusion as to who would interrupt the training. The instructor was no doubt less than pleased.
At second glance however Sylas immediately identified the person. He'd heard stories of that golden locked female with a broadsword. He was surprised that no one else seemed to recognize her. Just how much did these recruits actually know about the military anyway?
The woman approached the arena and stood before the bulky Macintosh. She commented at his age and the fact that he was a recruit. Despite humility being in the knight's code, she boasted without bias. She could definitely back it up though. Turning to face him she asked addressed him directly with a question. Before saying a word Sylas looked straight,feet apart one hand closed in a fist over his heart, offering a military salute. Her question immediately brought up memories of the vicious battle in Domhan Tir. No one knew he was there and he was not the type to boast at all. But the captain asked him a question and he needed to answer.
For a while he stood there choosing his words very carefully. "I have never been one to boast, Captain Morgan."He replied finally in a level and respectful tone, keeping his eyes forward, careful not to over analyze the woman. This was not the answer she demanded but actions spoke much louder than words. Especially among knights. He hoped she would see this and respect the reply. Besides, she probably wouldn't believe him if he told her the story of Domhan Tir anyway.
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Post by Shinonome Morgan on Dec 17, 2014 20:24:32 GMT -6
smells like r. kelly's sheets There was a dazzling gleam, and many wondered if the sun had begun to shine from the ground. In actuality, the light came from pearly white teeth grinning as Shinonome Morgan heard the answer of the boy. Ah, good! A kid who had BALLS around this damned schoolyard. Rather small balls, given he may or may not be bluffing, but they existed. At the very least, his body language implied that he'd seen something rather grotesque in recent years. Good signs, all around.
Sighing in relief outwardly, the woman put on a carnival to showcase the recent speaker. She acted like they were all toys, but there was a subtle feeling of favor towards Sylas, and Shinonome flashed a genuine smile of acknowledgement at him for a split second. "Ah, behold! At least one person who's slightly above average. Only slightly. A drop. Or, a speck? I never put in the time to figure that out, whether a drop of water or a speck of dust was bigger. What do you say, boy?" She put her face uncomfortably close to the nearest pansy she could find, who now seemed to have seen death in the eyes. After two seconds of bored staring, she reeled her head back, pacing back and forth very cartoonishly. "Of course you don't say anything. Because you just stared at a mass murderer in the eyes, no? Or perhaps Your Highness simply doesn't think the mass murderer has the right to speak to you. Or both. OR YOU'VE WET YOUR PANTS!"
Suddenly, she held an open palm towards the pansy, almost as if she were holding an invisible blade. For a moment, the boy seemed scared, but he had a nanosecond of assurance of 'there was no sword in her hand'. But! Ave Maria seemed to come out of the sheath on it's own and snaked around her body at lightning speed. The sword was alive, it's cold steel slithering about before it's hilt reached her hand and it's tip settled itself a centimeter away from the pansy's neck. All within a few seconds. Shinonome smiled in amusement as the pansy just stood there, frozen, while a sound and smell of water gushing was sensed from all in the arena.
It took the pansy five seconds to stop urinating in his place, and as soon as he was done, the boy ran back to the barracks, embarrassed to death. Her foot twitched, and a good pile of sand covered and neutralized the piss on the floor. She then turned to the one with potential, who seemed so dutiful and righteous. "How about I issue you a challenge, boy?" Her gloved fingers twirled Ave Maria as if she were a schoolgirl with a pencil as she spoke.
"Right here, right now, this training arena. A swordfight, yes? With real swords, our own preferred steel, not these wooden swords for children. The first to land a solid blow wins. Of course, you're still in school, so I should probably handicap myself. How about if I..." She let go of the blade in her hand and let it snake around her arms and shoulders before it found itself in her left hand. "Use my weak hand? Now, we'll be even. So, do you accept, boy?"
Of course, none of that mattered. She was ambidextrous with her blade; you had to be, to get out of tricky situations. However, she did not consider herself a knight of honor and code and honesty; she was a but a dog. A bitch! A scoundrel of the high seas, the one who fights pirates by acting like a pirate! And besides... if this kid lived up to his stance, and wasn't a very good bluffer, then he could take her. She saw one shimmering star in this classroom of stupidity. Hopefully, it wasn't just some stray lantern. |
MADE BY TOASTY OF GANGNAM STYLE! |
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Post by Sylas Sage on Dec 17, 2014 22:11:14 GMT -6
It would seem the captain accepted his answer. Sylas released a mental sigh of relief. As she spoke on and addressed the crowd the young swordsman bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from smiling. It would seem he has earned her favor which was a good thing at this point. The crowd of recruits seemed petrified to stone. The woman was in all ways frightful and intimidating with her demeanor and obvious skill. Sylas knew the stories of her well. As he did all military officers.
This captain was the farthest thing from a traditional knight. She played dirty and respected no rules but her own. It was obvious she earned her place and her prestige by skill and experience alone. There was honor in battle, even for pirates.
As her back was turned to him Sylas finally revealed the faintest glimpse of a smile as she scared a poor sap into soiling himself. He bit back a chuckle. There was no brass between that boy's legs and it was evident from the beginning. He wondered if she would try to frighten him in the same manner. No doubt the woman was a devil of the seas but she was nothing compared to the real devils he has seen in the past. Nothing could frighten him anymore.
The woman turned to him and issued a challenge that Sylas couldn't help but smirk at. The chance to fight an officer, it was a great honor indeed. Finally, a real challenge. The young swordsman watched as she moved her blade from her right hand to her left to 'handicap' herself lest she be to skilled for Sylas to take her.
"I accept your challenge." He responded in a level tone. He glanced at his father's longsword in his hand with much admiration. It has gotten him through much, he had no doubt it will get him through this today. Increasing his grip around the authentic leather handle he twirled the blade in his right hand, testing its balance then slowly dropped into his stance.
With narrowed eyes he analyzed his opponent. Broadsword, one handed. Slash and stab type, short reach but quick precise movements. She's fast and will probably go for the first attack. I have superior reach but my heavier blade may become a handicap when blocking. Parrying and dodging are my best bets. He realized how she held her blade in her left hand. She said it was her weak hand, however the sword did not waver or tremble in her grip. There was no handicap at all. She was bluffing.
The young Sylas exhaled sharply, warrior's confidence growing in him. Around, everyone in the training field had come to watch the recruit fight the officer, even the instructors watched closely.
He locked eyes with the woman. He would let her strike first, analyzing her fighting style and adjusting accordingly. He stared into her golden orbs, silently signaling he was ready.
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Post by Shinonome Morgan on Dec 17, 2014 22:39:25 GMT -6
*john cena intro music plays* He accepted. Not a big surprise. However, his tone was confident, confident enough to put up a fair fight. At this moment, Shinonome decided that this kid would become somebody on par with Captain Redhead herself, given enough time and experience. So, she decided to pull out all the dirty tricks she had in this fight. If anything, it'll be the kid's first step into dominating the Hyrst scene, if nothing else. The boy made a stance, strong and broad, and seemed like he was calculating her.
Heh. Not like she gave a crap.
She made her own stance; it was made for speed, it was made for versatility. But, if somebody knew Shinonome Morgan by heart, then they'd know she wouldn't dare keep a concrete fighting style for more than ten seconds, much less an entire battle. Smiling, she tipped her hat to him before beginning to trace the movement of his sword with her eyes. Again, anybody who knew her by heart would know she wouldn't keep this aim for too long; a bit longer than her stance, admittedly, but she'd be very focused on many other things, including his blade.
She kept eye contact, seeming almost honorable at the moment. "Alright, then. On my mark, we-" Suddenly, her sentence was cut off as a thick plume of dust was kicked up from around the surface of her feet. The plume covered the area that Sylas was in. "Huh?!" Shinonome voice acted, as if something had gone wrong and she was fairly confused. Hey, it was a shot in the dark, and probably wouldn't work on the kid. But! The 5% chance was still a chance, so it was worth a shot. Besides, you don't tell Shinonome the probabilities. That'd ruin the magic.
Then, she threw her hat and blade at him simultaneously, the hat spinning like a disc with it's witch shape, and the blade spinning vertically, as if it were an overhead slice. Her sword also had a glove attached to it, sticking at the handle as if her whole arm had come off. So, if you were to see this in the dust, it'd look like the silhouette of Shinonome's hat, sword, and forearm holding the sword was performing a light downward attack on Sylas. The captain was still outside the dust.
As her projectiles flew towards the student, the Morgan glided silently above the air once more before launching powerfully towards the general position of the boy headfirst. Her body was horizontal, her back to the sky, and her chin was barely grazing the ground. Moving at a similar velocity as her fake-out illusion, Shinonome extended her arm so as to clothesline Sylas around the lower body, if her own attack connected. If her fake blade attack was blocked, then she had a better chance of clipping him in either the stomach or the knees. If not? Well, she'd keep flying forwards, so as to exit quickly out the other side of the dust plume. Worst comes to worst, she'll do a U-turn and fly by the student, picking up her sword in the process. |
MADE BY TOASTY OF GANGNAM STYLE! |
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Post by Sylas Sage on Jan 2, 2015 11:58:50 GMT -6
For a second, no a fraction of a second, the plume of dust that enveloped Sylas surprised him. He glanced around quickly but could not see through the dust. So, he did what any reasonable warrior would do, he took a powerful step backwards several feet away from the cloud. The captain however was not in sight. She was one of trickery and illusion if memory served. He'd heard the stories. What trickery was she using now?
From inside the cloud the dust seemed to be moving apart as if something moved through it in high speed and the captains hat and blade burst through the dust. Sylas reacted quickly lightly bringing the edge of his blade to the spinning blade, stopping its momentum and tossing it to his right. It clanked on the ground. But where is the cap-. The captain seemed to be.. gliding over the ground? She came quickly toward the young swordsman, arm outstretched to tackle him to the ground and end the fight. Sylas waited for her to approach then side stepped quickly avoiding her flying arm bar by inches. He raised his blade as to strike her in the back but stopped himself. Code of honor in battle: Never strike an unarmed foe. He lowered the blade and turned to face her for when she got up. "You almost had me." He called out then smiled. He would wait for her to pick up her blade. "No more games." He would say.
Sylas noticed by the fake out attack that if he could keep her in one place and unable to trick him he might, just might be able to over power her in battle. Assuming he possessed greater skill. Underestimating her would be a mistake and he knew it. However, if he continued to let her trick him he would never be able to gauge her skill with a blade. There was a decision to be made. Either he waits until she forwardly attacks him, no trickery, or he attacks her and forces her to fight him.
He did not have the time to weigh the pros and cons, he had to do something. Once she picked up her sword he would crouch low then dash forward and deal a powerful horizontal slash to test her reaction time and he was ready to cross blades with her. He decided to be on the offensive. Hopefully it wouldn't get him killed.
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Post by Shinonome Morgan on Jan 6, 2015 12:09:37 GMT -6
YOU BITE THAT SWORD GIRL The bastard! It seemed he was quick in his step. She tried to trick him THREE fucking times in a row, but none of her attacks made contact. Horse shit! This kid was made of something else. It was unrealistic, surely. But, then again... she probably shouldn't point fingers, eheh. She started to make her U-turn an called out back to him. "What games? You're fighting the equivalent of the worst pirate! The scurvy of the seven seas! You shouldn't expect any of that stupid honor on my part."
Wait. Idea. Her eye caught that steroid-ridden muscle of a human over by the side, holding his greatsword with one hand as he watched. She stopped flying and skidded her way over to him, where he blinked in confusion as she approached him. "I'll borrow that sword, please." Shinonome said while holding open her hand. The muscleman handed over his sword in confusion, and Shinonome weighed the huge thing for a bit. Oof, it was... what, five feet tall, one foot wide? Fair enough. Both hands gripped onto the hulking greatsword (with no pressure, notably) and she simply strided over to where the boy was.
Her mother died twenty years ago. She'd been on the sea for nineteen years, watching as men died from great beasts, leaving their swords abandoned by their masters. She gained her gifts of pressure eighteen years ago. She started learning the art of the blade seventeen years ago. She became first mate of the Ophelia seven years ago. She became a living legend, Captain of the Ophelia, Hydra of the Hyrst Navy six years ago. And she was twenty six! She didn't burn out at twenty six. With utmost confidence in herself, her abilities, and all the aces up her sleeve, Shinonome Morgan walked into the dust cloud and expelled a burst of air pressure around her. The dust quickly dissipated.
Soon, she stared at Sylas Sage in the eyes, looking at him with a smile and eyes that burned as bright as the sky. "Now, let's try this again." Shinonome walked slowly towards him. Each step seemed to make another mark on the hard dirt of the academy grounds. You could hear the sound of her boots in the silence of the arena. Ave Maria laid there, waiting on the floor, while Shinonome wielded a sword that wasn't her own. Soon, when she was close enough to trade blows, the captain went into a fighting stance...
Before promptly just throwing the giant fucking sword at Sylas, using all the power of her pressure to launch the hunk of metal that could probably smash through a brick wall. Meanwhile, as the huge sword went flying point-blank at eighty miles per hour at the student, Shinonome dolphin dived for Ave Maria and wielded her once more. Still on the ground, she aimed the tip of Ave Maria at Sylas's shoulder and fired an iron shard at the speed of a musket shot. This all went by in the span of four seconds. |
MADE BY TOASTY OF GANGNAM STYLE! |
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Post by Sylas Sage on Jan 6, 2015 12:46:39 GMT -6
The captain did not do what Sylas expected. It was strange enough that she was gliding over the ground but now she didn't even make an effort to retrieve her blade. The confusion this put Sylas through almost had him completely over look something that could effect the outcome of the battle. The captain was gifted. Sure, he's heard tales of this before but he also knew that if warriors did anything, it was over exaggerate battles. This was something he had no doubt of however. And it suddenly made him realize it was he who was handicapped. Well.. not really.. Since his lost of control of his gift he made no effort to call upon it anytime soon. It would kill him just as soon as help him.
The dust cloud separated and disappeared, revealing the captain with a smile stretched a mile wide on her face. In her hand was a blade almost as tall as him and about a foot wide. There is no possible way she can use that. Her body proportions aren't right. Needless to say Sylas made the error of underestimating her once more. She walked slowly toward the young swordsman, menacingly.
Sylas watched her carefully with his face a mask. Was he afraid? Hell no. But this woman was full of surprises.. What would she do no-
The thought was cut off as she raised the hulking blade over her head in a fraction of a second and cleaved it forward in another.
At this distance the blade would cut through even the quickest and most agile of warriors. A terrifying revelation dawned. She's trying to kill me. This was no longer a match to gauge skill, this became life and death. The games ended here. He could not side step as it would take too much time, he could not block the attack because the weight and speed would snap his arms..
The faintest burn in his stomach signified the only emotion he felt right now. Fear. Fear and something else. He felt something familiar coursing through his veins in fractions of fractions of a second and then, the explosion.
Crossing his arms in front of him, as if cowering from the blade, his body expelled a righteous pulse of energy like a shield. The immense blade collided with the ethereal pulse of electrical energy and the sound tore through the air like thunder, bringing up dust and dirt in its wake. The blade was flung in the opposite direction, narrowly avoiding cutting an innocent bystander in half, until it dug tip first into the soil.
The sound of metal ripping through clothing and flesh was barely audible through the sound of thunder still rolling about the land. Sylas clenched his teeth. What looked like a metal dart had come from his side and grazed his right arm, cutting a moderate gash, blood poured from the wound.
As the dust cleared slowly, Sylas' image became visible through the cloud. The people in the crowd were statues and the silence was deafening, the only sound came from the thin branches of electricity that arched and crackled about Sylas's person. Sylas glared daggers into the captain, his eyes still tinged with an emerald hue and his eyebrows low.
He dropped down into his stance slowly and silently. The fight just became personal.
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Post by Shinonome Morgan on Jan 6, 2015 13:03:51 GMT -6
and just as soon as shit starts to get real... Shinonome wasn't as surprised as she should have been by the electric explosion. Sure, it made her realize 'huh, he was gifted, cool', but the gods were giving out powers like candy recently, given that one of them just died. Luckily, the boy was still alive. ...In hindsight, she probably shouldn't have done that, given that it probably WOULD HAVE killed him. But it didn't, so ha! And judging by that injury, she won the match on technicality.
Completely and utterly ignoring the the seriousness of Sylas, Shinonome gave a laugh, got on her feet, and pulled out a canister of gin. "Oh, would you look at that. I've won! Judging by that solid blow on your arm, anywho." She started sipping her booze, but secretly had an eye on the boy. Electricity and an angry mood did make annoying, bitter opponents. Meanwhile, she walked into the crowd nonchalantly, ensuring her human body shields and protection were there. The girl put away her alcohol before she plucked the greatsword from the ground, handing it over to the stunned burly male who owned it. "Thanks for the sword, by the way. Really helped my gambit."
Finally, the captain turned to Sylas, unphased by the power he emitted. And then she started chattering. "Good match, boy! You didn't go down on first attack, so that's commendable. I'd totally let you on my ship, if you didn't have such a hard-on for honor, that is." She waved the tip of Ave Maria at him before pulling out her gin and drinking. A beat. Then she swallowed. "...Mmn! Might treat you out to dinner, as well. ...After you get that wound checked. But in all seriousness, I'm just happy there's at least one person of you lot who actually knows how to fight." Shinonome glared at the crowd of stunned, shocked, and absolutely frozen students. |
MADE BY TOASTY OF GANGNAM STYLE! |
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