Training [se] between the embers and the stars
Deimos Ignatius
the Resurrected Sword
Warden of Halo / Guildmaster

Age: 33 | Height: 6'4" | Race: Hybrid | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 14 - Strg: 72 - Dext: 72 - Endr: 73 - Luck: 80 - Int: 3
BELIAL - Mythical - Peryton (Blend) ZURIEL - Mythical - Unicorn (Healing)
Played by: Heather Offline
Change author:
Posts: 6,554 | Total: 10,647
MP: 9824
#1
if you don't terrify people a little then what's the point
Notes sent between wings and ravens led him back to Torchline, despite recent alterations in leadership. Trusting the summits could last without them for a day, and leaving it in capable hands, the Sword’s journey along the ocean lines contorted rapidly in paws before feet, the need to unfurl and unravel for a few moments eventually lessening as muscles plunged into sand. By the time he spotted Evie along the shoreline, the chill still gathering along seaglass and coral scarcely mattered; his features leaning heavily into the vibrant tenors of the cold breeze, unbothered by its salty sharpness.

He'd long since rolled up his sleeves anyway, tucking his bag over his shoulder as he purposefully jostled his shoulder into hers, matching steps, immersing a low rumble beside her ear. “So much for the palm fronds and sticks,” with perhaps a ghost of a laugh, even if that only masked the residual dread.
DEIMOS
Evie Ignatius
the Evergreen
Warden of Halo / Apothecarist

Age: 34 | Height: 5'5 | Race: Abandoned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 8 - Strg: 18 - Dext: 20 - Endr: 30 - Luck: 30 - Int:
MICAH - Regular - Tide Jaguar
Played by: Brit Offline
Change author:
Posts: 1,182 | Total: 6,168
MP: 9427
#2
Evie

Even the new burden of leadership cannot keep her from completing Frey’s quest. Time is dwindling, and now as Warden she has all the more reason to strengthen herself and utilize the tooth in her possession to craft an item capable of protecting more than her own person. Though the scenery is foreign to her, having explored little of Torchline, the lingering freeze makes her feel more at home. All the same, Deimos’ arrival helps chase away those feelings of being out of place.

His rejoining bump of their shoulders is met preemptively with a knock of her own, but his comment makes her huff a sad attempt at a laugh. “Don’t take them off the board entirely - we could always make them our official crowns.” Surely both rulers could instill respect in their people even while wearing gaudy, tropical headdresses. From her back she unlatches the small, basic shield she has been practicing with in preparation for their spar. “I’ve been carrying it around to try and get used to the weight. Think I’ve blinded nearly everyone I’ve walked past with the sun glinting off it; do you think my shield will have the same texture and appearance as the tooth?” Evie had seen all manner of aesthetic embellishments on God-gifted items, but she isn’t familiar with Frey’s style. Maybe she’ll even miss the convenient annoyance of blinding people with steel.
a golden cage, for all its worth and beauty
is still just a cage
Deimos Ignatius
the Resurrected Sword
Warden of Halo / Guildmaster

Age: 33 | Height: 6'4" | Race: Hybrid | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 14 - Strg: 72 - Dext: 72 - Endr: 73 - Luck: 80 - Int: 3
BELIAL - Mythical - Peryton (Blend) ZURIEL - Mythical - Unicorn (Healing)
Played by: Heather Offline
Change author:
Posts: 6,554 | Total: 10,647
MP: 9824
#3
if you don't terrify people a little then what's the point
A loud snort erupted through his lungs, enough to startle a few Hels away from their residual perches amongst the rising dunes. “Maybe for another festival instead,” for all jocular notions aside, he knew neither of them would ever think to actually craft themselves diadems for any other occasion – newly reigning besides. The arrogance wasn’t in them.

His eyes roamed towards the shield snatched and snagged away from her back, inspecting it casually. The token reminder of their impending spar caused the very briefest glint and hint of mischief to curl along the fringes of his mouth, before it disappeared, looming elsewhere, so that he might inspect the metal. “It could,” - imagining some carving wake of ivory instead of varnished silver, and arching his brow, with the lightest of teasing coming through, he angled his head with a distinct jut of his jaw. “Are there particular aesthetics you are looking for?” The Sword supposed Frey could take the request (whether or not they would listen and adhere to it was another thing altogether).

Rolling his shoulders thereafter, considering potential, Deimos asked her the inquiry he often began with in trainings – echoes of appeals and preferences again. “Magic or weapons?”
DEIMOS
Evie Ignatius
the Evergreen
Warden of Halo / Apothecarist

Age: 34 | Height: 5'5 | Race: Abandoned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 8 - Strg: 18 - Dext: 20 - Endr: 30 - Luck: 30 - Int:
MICAH - Regular - Tide Jaguar
Played by: Brit Offline
Change author:
Posts: 1,182 | Total: 6,168
MP: 9427
#4
Evie

He’s entirely accurate in his assessment, but seeing the humor return to his face is all Evie had intended, and her success has her grinning. In time maybe ruling will blend together in endless days until it does not seem so dreadful a fate, but for now she is happy to be there to lighten his mood in the early weeks of transition. She would aim not to forget herself, but his presence alone has already achieved that.

“A dragon head with bloodied teeth and gemstone eyes,” she deadpans, only her eyes dancing with the spirit of mirth until she deigns to grin and tilt her head modestly. “I wouldn’t mind either way. Frey and I’s shared thing is plants, so I won’t be disappointed if that’s what they choose.” Utility means more to Evie than aesthetic in the end. Beauty wouldn’t change the reality of a battlefield.

Stifling a groan (unsuccessfully) at how quickly the hour of her death draws near, the Evergreen straps the shield to her forearm reluctantly and mulls over which option is less painful. “Weapons are probably best. Ascended and any other non-Abandoned will be using some form of projectiles.” Plus blocking a gust of air with a shield isn’t something she wants to contemplate the mechanics of.
a golden cage, for all its worth and beauty
is still just a cage
Deimos Ignatius
the Resurrected Sword
Warden of Halo / Guildmaster

Age: 33 | Height: 6'4" | Race: Hybrid | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 14 - Strg: 72 - Dext: 72 - Endr: 73 - Luck: 80 - Int: 3
BELIAL - Mythical - Peryton (Blend) ZURIEL - Mythical - Unicorn (Healing)
Played by: Heather Offline
Change author:
Posts: 6,554 | Total: 10,647
MP: 9824
#5
if you don't terrify people a little then what's the point
The response wasn’t what he’d predicted – and for a moment his face altered into a bewildered stare, piercing gaze going from her, to the shield (perhaps imagining the draconic head, teeth dripping red, and the coordinated, matching eyes), and back to her features. The reality of the deadpan notions settled soon after, and he gave an abrupt snort again, shaking his head and granting an undignified roll of his eyes. “Sounds gaudy,” and entirely unlike herself – so he matched her grin as the joke flickered by. “Maybe vines. Tree branches.” Pine needles and boughs etched onto the side, nettles, thorns, petals, rising stems; had she asked him at all for any glimmer of creative notions, he probably would’ve segmented those.

Besides, today mischief would reign, and vengeance was likely to be swift. There was no masking the grin this time, positively demonic, as she hastened to which means to an end she preferred. Either one would have sufficed; content with the merciless and ruthless wake of the incantations pulsing beneath his skin, or the wake of a weapon in his calloused hands. “Good. I can practice with the spear again then,” which might’ve been fortunate for the Evergreen – merely because he simply wasn’t as experienced with that current armament.

Though he’d been practicing.

With an aloof gaze, he took several strides away from her, breaking them apart so that they could form stances and defensive means, another level of amusement beginning its torrent from his mouth. “I will even let you keep your clothes on,” though if the tilt of his head and the weight of his eyes meant anything, he wouldn’t argue against it either. “When you are ready,” pulsed thereafter between beats of wickedness, snagging at the piercing instrument, and waiting for her preparation.
DEIMOS
Evie Ignatius
the Evergreen
Warden of Halo / Apothecarist

Age: 34 | Height: 5'5 | Race: Abandoned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 8 - Strg: 18 - Dext: 20 - Endr: 30 - Luck: 30 - Int:
MICAH - Regular - Tide Jaguar
Played by: Brit Offline
Change author:
Posts: 1,182 | Total: 6,168
MP: 9427
#6
Evie

Her poker face must be improving, because his surprise is plainly obvious. Unfortunately it’s that exact expression that breaks her own into a pleased, triumphant smile. For all the years she has hidden her magic, it seems she’ll never succeed at hiding and misleading for very long with stakes so low and juvenile. It’s worth it all the same for the huff of his amusement, and the smug air she holds for a brief moment over having pulled one over on him as she so rarely could. “I’d like those,” she agrees, a faint smile on her face. She isn’t holding out hope that Frey would go the extra mile to include any form of beauty for an Abandoned, but what matters is the power behind it. “Nothing that can’t be painted even if it’s left plain.” Bone or steel, there were ways to adorn it with her own hand.

A slightly dismayed, begrudging expression twists humorously on her face as he reveals his chosen weapon. “I was hoping it would be projectiles, those are easier.” She doesn’t whine, but it’s a very close thing. Maybe just a little, if you listen really closely. Her arm was going to be so bruised.

His departure shakes her into a mindset she isn’t used to inhabiting, but which comes easily despite herself. Double checking the straps and flexing her fingers around the smaller hand loop, the Evergreen plants her feet in preparation - and then has to bury her face into her shield forearm to laugh, cheeks pink with memories of the night he conjures up. “How kind of you, it’s quite cold after all.” But the flint of blue eyes over the curve of the top of the shield says she’d be more than happy to risk a little cold. Forcing herself to focus on the spear in his hands instead of his hands themselves (a necessary distinction, as one was far more distracting) Evie nods her head sharply. “Ready.”
a golden cage, for all its worth and beauty
is still just a cage
Deimos Ignatius
the Resurrected Sword
Warden of Halo / Guildmaster

Age: 33 | Height: 6'4" | Race: Hybrid | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 14 - Strg: 72 - Dext: 72 - Endr: 73 - Luck: 80 - Int: 3
BELIAL - Mythical - Peryton (Blend) ZURIEL - Mythical - Unicorn (Healing)
Played by: Heather Offline
Change author:
Posts: 6,554 | Total: 10,647
MP: 9824
#7
if you don't terrify people a little then what's the point
Notions of the shield and its future adornments could be fair enough; but he let the matter fizzle and drop for the sake of other miscreant accords. “When have I ever made anything easy for you?” segmented into a juvenile snicker, tilting his head, watching as she assembled her motions and movements, a ready stance for impending trials and tribulations. In some part, even along the foolish portions, they both knew anyone and everyone in their realm had to be prepared. War wasn’t the unknown, but the potential onslaughts were, and if he was going to be dragged out to somewhere else, Deimos wanted to be certain those he cared about knew exactly how to defend themselves.

If it led to amusements along the way, then that was a bonus.

Hearing the laughter echoing behind the shield lent more seditious credence, and they could grow bolder and bolder still thereafter. Upon her announcement, the Sword gave a singular nod, before he was moving.

Given multitudes and lifetimes of experience in sand, his motions were swift and keen, intrepid and sure-strided by design. While his definition, bulk, and physique shouldn’t have permitted the rapid nature of his being, primordial practice had enhanced the way he covered the ground, predacious, minatory, and overbearing. Within an instant he was before her, and swept the spear low, towards her legs, to see how she’d decipher and defend herself.
DEIMOS
Evie Ignatius
the Evergreen
Warden of Halo / Apothecarist

Age: 34 | Height: 5'5 | Race: Abandoned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 8 - Strg: 18 - Dext: 20 - Endr: 30 - Luck: 30 - Int:
MICAH - Regular - Tide Jaguar
Played by: Brit Offline
Change author:
Posts: 1,182 | Total: 6,168
MP: 9427
#8
Evie

“I can’t recall any times you have, so I’ll sayyy…never,” she declares brightly, like it’s wonderful news. Maybe the faux optimism will buoy her through the beating her arm is about to take. Though she submits her body willingly to the rigor of training - a habit instilled through years of being reminded every year of her own mortality and helplessness - she would never chase its high the way others seem to. Never relishing in the burn of muscle as proof of dedication. No, Evie’s life had shown her that even the smallest pains were not worth celebrating, only alleviating.

But it is a pain her magic can fix in the end, and so it is that she strives to learn, to grow, to become stronger with each moment so that others did not have to. Being able to enjoy it however possible was merely a bonus - and if she knew how closely her thoughts dovetailed with Deimos’, she’d laugh all the more for it.

The Sword shouldn’t be able to move so swiftly, but Evie has been taken by surprise by him one too many times to not anticipate it now. Far too inexperienced for grand gestures such as a jump, the Evergreen does a short lunge back to prevent her legs from being hit. And though her nature is more defensive already, Deimos has trained the art of offense well enough into her that she brings her shield down towards the spear, hoping to hit it and plunge its tip into the sand.
a golden cage, for all its worth and beauty
is still just a cage
Deimos Ignatius
the Resurrected Sword
Warden of Halo / Guildmaster

Age: 33 | Height: 6'4" | Race: Hybrid | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 14 - Strg: 72 - Dext: 72 - Endr: 73 - Luck: 80 - Int: 3
BELIAL - Mythical - Peryton (Blend) ZURIEL - Mythical - Unicorn (Healing)
Played by: Heather Offline
Change author:
Posts: 6,554 | Total: 10,647
MP: 9824
#9
if you don't terrify people a little then what's the point
Deimos smiled in return – though his ranged from seditious to impish, given the nature of their antics and the maneuvering of forms. He was amongst the many, fortunately or not, who esteemed from the depths of training and the highlights of thorough, careful, meticulous precision in might and persistence. It sculpted and refined the sculpting of bare bones, knotting and gnarling around the core of his essence, why he persevered, why he calculated, why he remained after years and lifetimes. Scars were merely reflections of those severities and adversities, in how he ignored the suffering of his own figure, to ensure no one else’s did the same.

There were no need for words for a mere moment, eyes catching, watching, some proud little moment snagging at his mouth when she aimed the shield to regard the spear into the sand. Were he not experienced, but some green, fledgling soldier, it might have stopped him, with a gaped jaw and a following bombardment. Instead, however, he nodded, rumbled a slight intonation from his chest. “Good,” to regard the esteem of the Evergreen’s cleverness –

And then undo it.

He rotated the weapon, digging the serrated proportions straight down into the dunes, lifting upwards, and rapidly gave chase with the wooden hilt, completely unbothered. Perhaps anything in his hands could be made an armament – given his predilections. At least with this end she wouldn’t have to worry about the serrated angles; but the timber coming towards her shoulder told a different tale.
DEIMOS
Evie Ignatius
the Evergreen
Warden of Halo / Apothecarist

Age: 34 | Height: 5'5 | Race: Abandoned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 8 - Strg: 18 - Dext: 20 - Endr: 30 - Luck: 30 - Int:
MICAH - Regular - Tide Jaguar
Played by: Brit Offline
Change author:
Posts: 1,182 | Total: 6,168
MP: 9427
#10
Evie

His pride is her pleasure, and though she’s given only a mere moment to revel in it, it lends a confidence to her grip on the shield that’s undeniable. Praise was the best indicator for success, and the greatest encouragement to achieve it. Though she’d considered lunging forward to try and bowl him backwards once the spear had been struck, Evie hadn’t wanted to do too much too fast with an unfamiliar instrument. It’s both to her benefit and detriment when Deimos whirls the spear to strike with the opposite end from above.

Evie - with the instinct of any human - raises her arms to protect her head. The shield goes with it, but good instincts don’t mean perfect form, and she stumbles backwards with the percussive force of the blow. Her arm aches, but she has the arm strength necessary to have blocked the blow instead of sending the shield crashing into her own face.

Small mercies.

Evie plants her feet first thing, and tries to shove with her shield to force the spear hilt to crest off to either side so they aren’t stuck in a game of reversed tug-of-war that she is certain to lose.
a golden cage, for all its worth and beauty
is still just a cage
Deimos Ignatius
the Resurrected Sword
Warden of Halo / Guildmaster

Age: 33 | Height: 6'4" | Race: Hybrid | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 14 - Strg: 72 - Dext: 72 - Endr: 73 - Luck: 80 - Int: 3
BELIAL - Mythical - Peryton (Blend) ZURIEL - Mythical - Unicorn (Healing)
Played by: Heather Offline
Change author:
Posts: 6,554 | Total: 10,647
MP: 9824
#11
if you don't terrify people a little then what's the point
Natural and instinctive, the Evergreen blocked the incoming blow as anyone might have – raising the shield. The downfall could’ve been any number of things to that effect: too much of the shield could ensure eyesight was hindered and obstructed, muscles could grow fatigued and tired when not used to that form…

Evie stumbling backwards caused a slight grin to form along his lips again – not smug, but certainly amused. “Think about your angles,” he uttered in response, for not every motion had to be straight on; she needed to find a sufficient means that worked for her. “And how to use it offensively too,” as she’d done in the previous move. Each action could, and should, be considered to the best of efficiency.

And now, like a large, annoying gnat, his strides and pace took him on swift turns around her, contemplating, calculating, where to poke and prod and irritate. With the spear properly rotated and its hilt back in his grasp, he lunged along her side, making the movement appear as if he might be aiming for her back, before pushing it downwards, towards the length of her legs instead.
DEIMOS
Evie Ignatius
the Evergreen
Warden of Halo / Apothecarist

Age: 34 | Height: 5'5 | Race: Abandoned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 8 - Strg: 18 - Dext: 20 - Endr: 30 - Luck: 30 - Int:
MICAH - Regular - Tide Jaguar
Played by: Brit Offline
Change author:
Posts: 1,182 | Total: 6,168
MP: 9427
#12
Evie

His input is never derogatory or snide, it never has been, even when Evie was impetuous and half-fake with the facade she used to face the world with. It makes her think, changes her perspective, and she rolls with it like sand within his tide.

She turns loosely as he prowls around her, not keeping herself head-on this time out of preference. She didn’t like the way it forced her to hunker down and bear an attack with no good way to get out from behind it, nor the way it reduced her options for rallying and parrying. So when he strikes, she takes his advice, and utilizes her shield in a way that is more helpful than merely stopping an attack dead. Swinging hard with her shield arm in a swiping motion, angled only slightly, Evie aims to knock the spear to the side and off course. The large diameter of the shield means she barely has to lower her arm when his feint is registered, a bonus Evie hadn’t counted on.

This time, she doesn’t hesitate, and shoves forward with her forearm first - supplying the entirety of her body weight behind it - to try and force the spear up into Deimos’ chest now it had been countered.
a golden cage, for all its worth and beauty
is still just a cage
Deimos Ignatius
the Resurrected Sword
Warden of Halo / Guildmaster

Age: 33 | Height: 6'4" | Race: Hybrid | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 14 - Strg: 72 - Dext: 72 - Endr: 73 - Luck: 80 - Int: 3
BELIAL - Mythical - Peryton (Blend) ZURIEL - Mythical - Unicorn (Healing)
Played by: Heather Offline
Change author:
Posts: 6,554 | Total: 10,647
MP: 9824
#13
if you don't terrify people a little then what's the point
His instructional prowess had always been instilling independence. He wanted soldiers who could think for themselves, who could see traps unfurling beneath their feet, who could instinctually bend and move with the rising tide of danger and trepidation. If they could only follow orders, if they could only nod their heads along to commanding officers, if they had no forethought, no rationale, no perspectives, and no experience, then it was only a matter of time before their demise. And that had never been the Sword’s goal.

He wanted them to live.

Evie’s alterations instigated and invoked a feral grin along his lips, amused, as she shoved herself towards him. The intentions were quite clear, and if it had been someone not of Deimos’ caliber, strength, might, and menace, it probably would’ve worked.

He shifted, turning his shoulder into the metal shield, pressing his monolithic weight and brawn into hers. While the spear remained free, his momentum, speed, and power should’ve been enough of an assault for her to rally against and around. Much like a towering, battering ram, he intended to make her own shield immobile for the time being, and possibly knock her back on the sand and have a good laugh, or to see what else she came up with.
DEIMOS
Evie Ignatius
the Evergreen
Warden of Halo / Apothecarist

Age: 34 | Height: 5'5 | Race: Abandoned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 8 - Strg: 18 - Dext: 20 - Endr: 30 - Luck: 30 - Int:
MICAH - Regular - Tide Jaguar
Played by: Brit Offline
Change author:
Posts: 1,182 | Total: 6,168
MP: 9427
#14
Evie

Following orders has never been much Evie’s style, and perhaps that’s why they work so well as teacher and student. The Evergreen has always chosen to hone her instincts into deadly arrays instead of trying to overcome or rewrite them. She doesn’t anticipate Deimos countering her shield with the strength of his own shoulder, but like the tree she has been compared to, Evie is nothing if not stubborn.

Her feet create scores in the sand as he shoves her backwards, her own legs never faltering even when the earth beneath them did. Despite the way resisting makes her winded with effort, she can’t hide the grin of exhilaration, the brightness of her eyes as they lock with Deimos’ over her shield. He’ll knock her on her ass in the next moment, so Evie goes willingly all at once - spinning to the side to try and disengage from his shoving, and aiming a kick to the back of his knee.
a golden cage, for all its worth and beauty
is still just a cage


Forum Jump:


Users browsing this thread: 2 Guest(s)


RPG-D