Training won't raise my white flag
For Tal
Sohalia Lumaris
the Luminary
Cartographer

Age: 20 | Height: 5'6" | Race: Attuned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 4 - Strg: 17 - Dext: 18 - Endr: 18 - Luck: 21 - Int:
TARAK - Mythical - Griffin (Fire Breath)
Played by: RayoDeSoleil Offline
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Posts: 1,056 | Total: 2,063
MP: 3230
#1
Sohalia Lumaris
They'd returned to Sohalia's shop after Tal had finished sharpening his dagger, taking their time to return to the city. Soh placed a closed sign in the window, and together, they cleared a practice area in the shop. After running upstairs briefly to grab a few butter knives, Soh returned down to the shop and offered one to Tal. She was tired from their exertions thus far that day, but she was eager to see what he had to teach her about daggers.

"So," she said. "What should I know first?" She stood somewhat awkwardly, holding the butter knife in one hand and feeling rather ridiculous and certainly not in the least bit threatening. Not that she wanted to be threatening, but if she was going to be fighting, she figured she probably should be, right? "Does it feel different with a real dagger? I feel like I should be getting ready for dinner," she joked.
Talyson Seawright
the Messenger
Courier

Age: 27 | Height: 5'10" | Race: Accepted | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: King's End
Level: 10 - Strg: 44 - Dext: 46 - Endr: 50 - Luck: 52 - Int: 1
BOREAL - Mythical - Dragon (Fire Breath)
Played by: Cirago Offline
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MP: 10170
#2
He'd helped move the furniture and then flipped his Dagger thoughtfully in his hand until Soh had returned with weapons more practical for practice purposes than live steel. He wasn't confident enough in his own teaching ability to ensure no injuries otherwise, but the butter knives made for ideal stand-ins for the real thing.

He went to the hearth and eased a charred piece of wood onto the stones, then used it to blacken the edge of his knife before doing the same with Sohalia's. "Well, you've already got the right idea," he assured her with a grin. "Y'should be hungry-- for winnin'! ...Or at least, gettin' out of trouble alive." He stood and waggled his knife at her in demonstration. "Most important lesson is: the sharp, pointy end goes in t'other guy. Or girl. Or critter. Whatever." He waved off the distinctions airily.

"If somethin's got a lot of armor you're probably screwed tryin' t'hit 'em with a knife, but on the flip side, they'll be a lot easier t'run away from. An' that's the real secret t'fightin' with daggers. Most cases, y'don't have t'kill anyone or anythin'. Y'just have to injure or slow 'em down enough so you can get away. So, where would you try t'hit me, knowin' that? Show me an' then tell me - I'll try an' dodge it," he encouraged.
Sohalia Lumaris
the Luminary
Cartographer

Age: 20 | Height: 5'6" | Race: Attuned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 4 - Strg: 17 - Dext: 18 - Endr: 18 - Luck: 21 - Int:
TARAK - Mythical - Griffin (Fire Breath)
Played by: RayoDeSoleil Offline
Change author:
Posts: 1,056 | Total: 2,063
MP: 3230
#3
Sohalia Lumaris
Soh watched with interest as Tal went to the hearth and rubbed charred wood on the knives; she caught on quickly, nodding with approval at the idea. With marked knives, it would be easier to see where they hit each other (or, in her case, didn't). She accepted her knife back with a word of thanks and giggled as Tal assured her that she had the right idea. "Stick 'em with the pointy end. Got it," she teased. But she did listen closely as he explained, nodding periodically to assure him that she was following along.

She frowned, hesitating before trying to land a strike. If she was trying to get away from someone, rather than trying to kill them, where would she target first? With a staff, she would target the torso, trying to knock the wind out of them. But with a dagger, aiming for the torso could easily kill someone, and that wasn't what she would want. Plus, people were more likely to be armored on the torso. She wouldn't want to aim for the head for similar reasons - she was trying to maim, not kill (although she'd rather not even do that, in truth).

After a moment's thought, Soh gripped her knife in her dominant hand and lunged towards Tal's thigh. If he couldn't run, he couldn't chase, and then she could get away.
Talyson Seawright
the Messenger
Courier

Age: 27 | Height: 5'10" | Race: Accepted | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: King's End
Level: 10 - Strg: 44 - Dext: 46 - Endr: 50 - Luck: 52 - Int: 1
BOREAL - Mythical - Dragon (Fire Breath)
Played by: Cirago Offline
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Posts: 1,869 | Total: 7,219
MP: 10170
#4
"An' don't accidentally stick it in yourself while you're at it," he added in response to her teasing, his grin turning wry before he launched into his lesson. The first 'quiz' had a number of answers, and given Soh's relative inexperience in fights Tal had expected her to go high - either for the large target of his chest or the smaller but closer targets of his hands. Head and legs were possibilities too, but he'd guessed they were lower down the list.

When she went for his thigh Tal was surprised enough - and overconfident enough - that he was caught the next-best-thing to flat-footed and he shifted back a fraction of a second too late. It wasn't a clean strike; he was fast enough to dodge the plunge, but the butter knife ran down the outside of his trouser leg, leaving a long black score mark behind. "Hey! Not bad!" He was pleased in spite of - or because of - her success. "That's one good answer! Can y'come up with another?" His grin was challenging as he bounced back in front of her, weight up on the balls of his feet as he extended his own blade teasingly towards hers.


Age: 3 | Height: | Race: OOC Account | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
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#5
bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones.

You've encountered the OG random event! This allows you to skip one levelling requirement with the character in this thread. (Unfortunately does not count for characters over level 10, how sad.)
Sohalia Lumaris
the Luminary
Cartographer

Age: 20 | Height: 5'6" | Race: Attuned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 4 - Strg: 17 - Dext: 18 - Endr: 18 - Luck: 21 - Int:
TARAK - Mythical - Griffin (Fire Breath)
Played by: RayoDeSoleil Offline
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Posts: 1,056 | Total: 2,063
MP: 3230
#6
Sohalia Lumaris
Although Soh's experience in fighting was thus far limited, she was a quick learner, and she'd been taking lessons with her staff in recent weeks. A great deal of those lessons had been focused on theory as well as practical applications, and she remembered what she'd learned well. Applying it to knives, however, was more challenging, and she was relieved when Tal praised her answer, even if she winced slightly as she made contact with his leg. It still made her stomach turn to imagine the result if she'd had a real blade in her hand.

But Tal was almost chipper as he bounced in front of her, waving his butter knife in her general direction, so the young woman took a deep breath and shoved thoughts of blood and death to the back of her mind. Instead, she looked Tal over, considering her options. The next thing that came to mind was a distraction, rather than incapacitating a foe, and she lunged awkwardly towards Tal's arm that held the knife. Maybe she could make him drop it?
Talyson Seawright
the Messenger
Courier

Age: 27 | Height: 5'10" | Race: Accepted | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: King's End
Level: 10 - Strg: 44 - Dext: 46 - Endr: 50 - Luck: 52 - Int: 1
BOREAL - Mythical - Dragon (Fire Breath)
Played by: Cirago Offline
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Posts: 1,869 | Total: 7,219
MP: 10170
#7
The butter knives weren't even going to leave a bruise, at least not with the glancing blow Soh had struck so far and it was easy to be cheerful about the practice spar when nothing was hurting. Truth be told the courier was used to far more dangerous training bouts with Sah or Ru, when live weapons and magic were very much in play even if everyone involved was trying to avoid serious injury.

He was more concerned about why Soh was wincing and looking so grim, and for a moment his grin twitched down, momentarily subdued.

He wasn't given too much time to ponder what could be eating at his friend before she was moving again, giving an answer he'd been hoping to tempt her into with his little knife-taunt. This time he was ready and pulled his knife hand back while reaching forward with his opposite hand to lightly shove her wrist off her line of attack. "That's the right idea! But it'll take practice t'get good enough t'hit such a small, fast target." His praise came with a side of caution this time, even as he nodded in satisfaction. He hadn't realized that she'd been aiming to distract, not wound. "Give me one last target for gettin' away. This one's only for last resorts, if your opponent gets up close'n personal," he warned, then suited action to words by taking a quick double step towards her and reaching out as if to grab her shoulder - though he'd stop short of actually touching her if she failed to dodge.
Sohalia Lumaris
the Luminary
Cartographer

Age: 20 | Height: 5'6" | Race: Attuned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 4 - Strg: 17 - Dext: 18 - Endr: 18 - Luck: 21 - Int:
TARAK - Mythical - Griffin (Fire Breath)
Played by: RayoDeSoleil Offline
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Posts: 1,056 | Total: 2,063
MP: 3230
#8
Sohalia Lumaris
If Sohalia thought too hard about how easy training with her was in comparison to Tal's other, more capable friends, she would likely have been too embarrassed to continue. Despite her firm belief that everyone had to start somewhere with any new hobby or skill, it was much easier to tell others that and much harder to apply it to herself. Luckily, she was too busy being appreciative of Tal's knowledge and willingness to share it to give it much thought. She was nothing if not eager to learn, after all, even if she was unsure of the applications of her learning.

A slight smile turned up the corners of her mouth at Tal's praise, despite the fact that she hadn't landed her hit. As he lightly shoved her hand to the side, she realized just how difficult it would be to hit someone on the arm, especially if they were really trying to hurt her.

Despite Tal's instruction, Soh was unprepared when he took a quick step towards her and reached for her shoulder. Surprised, she forgot about the knife in her hand and tried to dodge; she tripped over her own feet and fell backwards, landing on the floor with a thump. It didn't really hurt, and she laughed as she looked up at Tal. "I suppose that's not what I'm supposed to do?" she asked, making a face. But since she was on the floor, she swept her legs beneath her and tried to surge upward, aiming her knife at Tal's belly, prepared to pull back if he didn't dodge.
Talyson Seawright
the Messenger
Courier

Age: 27 | Height: 5'10" | Race: Accepted | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: King's End
Level: 10 - Strg: 44 - Dext: 46 - Endr: 50 - Luck: 52 - Int: 1
BOREAL - Mythical - Dragon (Fire Breath)
Played by: Cirago Offline
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Posts: 1,869 | Total: 7,219
MP: 10170
#9
As much as he wanted to praise her instinct to dodge, he was too bemused at how Soh tripped and landed on her ass to find the words that it deserved. He fought the grin that threatened to turn into a laugh until his friend laughed at herself and then he stopped trying to hide it, laughing with her. "Well, that's one way t'dod--HEY!" His outraged yelp was still shaking with laughter as she lunged up and took him by surprise. She would have left a nice black line in his shirt, right above his belly button, if she hadn't pulled it short. It was Tal's turn to try to backpedal a moment too late, and he ended up on his ass still trying to catch his breath.

"I see how it is!" He mock-glared at her, waving his 'deadly' weapon at her threateningly. "No more mister nice guy!" And with that he flung himself across the floor towards her in a belly flop, attempting to 'stab' her closest foot with his knife and pretending to pin it to the ground before rolling away again.
Sohalia Lumaris
the Luminary
Cartographer

Age: 20 | Height: 5'6" | Race: Attuned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 4 - Strg: 17 - Dext: 18 - Endr: 18 - Luck: 21 - Int:
TARAK - Mythical - Griffin (Fire Breath)
Played by: RayoDeSoleil Offline
Change author:
Posts: 1,056 | Total: 2,063
MP: 3230
#10
Sohalia Lumaris
Somehow - and Soh would never be able to repeat this if she tried - she managed to nearly hit Tal. He was saved only by her instinct to draw up short. Yet he still managed to end up on his rump, in nearly the same position that Soh had been in only a moment before. Soh giggled as Tal mock-threatened her, then shrieked playfully as he lunged for her foot. Given how disadvantaged he was from his position on the floor, Soh was able to skip to the side; Tal's knife instead left a black mark on the floor. "Hey!" Soh teased. "No need to attack the shop!"

She watched as Tal rolled away, trying to decide her next move. In the end, she decided on trying a little misdirection. She lunged for Tal's side, at the last moment trying to arc her knife to the side to 'stab' him in the other side instead.
Talyson Seawright
the Messenger
Courier

Age: 27 | Height: 5'10" | Race: Accepted | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: King's End
Level: 10 - Strg: 44 - Dext: 46 - Endr: 50 - Luck: 52 - Int: 1
BOREAL - Mythical - Dragon (Fire Breath)
Played by: Cirago Offline
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Posts: 1,869 | Total: 7,219
MP: 10170
#11
Damn! He'd hoped his unorthodox angle and position would have surprised her enough for his strike to land, but Tal had underestimated how awkward his launching point was, and Soh had plenty of time to react before he reached her. His knife struck only wood and he scowled at his miss but he was already moving, trying to get enough distance to safely pop back up to his feet.

Much to his shock (and unexpected pleasure) Soh was faster than he anticipated and followed up instead of letting him break away to regain the upper hand of his height and reach. She came after him and he caught her rush out of the corner of his eye. He tried to anticipate her attack and twisted himself to one side to avoid the incoming knife--

Only for it to land on where his opposite side had been. Except thanks to his attempted dodge he had shifted right into where she was really aiming. The blade slid home between his ribs and arm and he clamped his arm tightly against his side to trap the blade, reaching over to wrap his hand around the handle - and her fingers, if she didn't let go - crying out dramatically. "Oh no! I'm hit!"
Sohalia Lumaris
the Luminary
Cartographer

Age: 20 | Height: 5'6" | Race: Attuned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 4 - Strg: 17 - Dext: 18 - Endr: 18 - Luck: 21 - Int:
TARAK - Mythical - Griffin (Fire Breath)
Played by: RayoDeSoleil Offline
Change author:
Posts: 1,056 | Total: 2,063
MP: 3230
#12
Sohalia Lumaris
She could tell that Tal was trying to get back to his feet, and for a split second, she was at war with herself. The part of her that wanted nothing to do with knife fighting wanted to let him get up and prepare for her next attack, but the part of her that was actually beginning to have fun wanted to follow up with a quick counter. In the end, the latter won out.

Similar to Tal, Soh was both shocked and pleased when her staff lessons paid off; she was fast enough to arc her blade around and 'stab' Tal in the side, just as she had planned. Oh no! I'm hit! Tal cried as Soh's knife was pinned between his arm and ribcage, and the young woman giggled at his theatrics. His hand closed over hers on the hilt of her knife, and she blushed faintly, more accustomed to physical touch than she had been, but still not completely used to it with Tal. "I'll call the doctor," she teased, tugging at the knife in case it was a ruse to get her to lower her guard.
Talyson Seawright
the Messenger
Courier

Age: 27 | Height: 5'10" | Race: Accepted | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: King's End
Level: 10 - Strg: 44 - Dext: 46 - Endr: 50 - Luck: 52 - Int: 1
BOREAL - Mythical - Dragon (Fire Breath)
Played by: Cirago Offline
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Posts: 1,869 | Total: 7,219
MP: 10170
#13
"It's... too late for me..." Tal continued his dramatics, coughing weakly. "Tell Boreal I... left dinner in her bowl..." A loud draconic snort of skepticism and amusement came from outside the window, where the dragon had curled up to nap in the sun. Tal paused to shoot the window a glare for the interruption to his performance, then caught himself and flopped back, eyes closed and tongue sticking out for a ten count before he surrendered to his grin and cracked an eye up at Sohalia.

"Not bad!" He squeezed her hand before letting it go and pushing himself up to sit on the floor. He crossed his legs and lifted his butter knife, flipping it towards his own body as he demonstrated a few cuts. "If y'can get a headwound in they bleed like a bitch." He drew the blade in a line in the air an inch away from his forehead. "Not usually fatal, though. Skulls are hard an' if you're just doin' a cut an' not a stab, you shouldn't have t'worry. But anythin' above the eyes will bleed down into 'em and blind the sucker, so don't be afraid t'aim high if someone gets in close on you."

He cocked his head, watching her to see if she understood before he moved on to the last part of the day's lesson.
Sohalia Lumaris
the Luminary
Cartographer

Age: 20 | Height: 5'6" | Race: Attuned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 4 - Strg: 17 - Dext: 18 - Endr: 18 - Luck: 21 - Int:
TARAK - Mythical - Griffin (Fire Breath)
Played by: RayoDeSoleil Offline
Change author:
Posts: 1,056 | Total: 2,063
MP: 3230
#14
Sohalia Lumaris
Boreal snorted at Tal's antics as Sohalia giggled helplessly. As an only child, she'd never had much opportunity to be silly with siblings, and she hadn't grown up with many friends. In many ways, Tal's playfulness awakened a sort of childishness inside her that she hadn't known existed. When Tal flopped back dramatically, Soh poked at his side, wondering if he was ticklish, to see if she could get him to break character.

Soon enough, he sat up, praising her abilities, and she sat on the floor beside him. "It's the staff training," she said. "I'd never have managed if I hadn't been training." She listened carefully to his instructions, nodding. She'd never have considered blinding her opponent, and she tucked the knowledge away in the back of her mind, hoping that she'd never have to actually use any of this. "Head wounds equal blood. Got it." She made a face, distaste coloring her features. "How do you do it? Fight this way, I mean. I think I'd just feel bad hurting somebody."


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