Frarin is Angry

[Frarin(#31050)] It is lunchtime and most dwarves would find themselves comfortably arranged in a pub or at home, but the restless traveller in Frarin rarely makes for a quiet mid-day meal, especially after a morning in the forges. But one of his habitual routes to wander at the lunch hour is right through here, where the active sparring of others is entertainment enough to occupy him.

He is still in his forge clothes, a blackened apron about his middle and his fingers still stained. He carries a clay mug and hunk of bread as he comes to entry of the Hall of Dodin, an absent, distracted expression on his face. But amidst the few still here, Ranol stands out. Frarin blinks and frowns, watching the huskarl for a moment, but he looks as if he will turn away from the hall in a second.

Ranol appears very focused in his training, but he seems to notice Frarin almost immediately. The huskarl pauses in the middle of a routine and offers the smith a smile. "Hail, Frarin!" He calls cheerfully. "Care to teach me a thing or two about what I'm doing wrong?" He asks with a grin, holding up the hammer.

[Frarin(#31050)] Frarin's expression at first doesn't change when Ranol turns and spots him, then invites him over. The silversmith continues to lean against the doorjamb, dark eyes watching Ranol. Finally he pushes away from the entryway and comes towards Ranol, taking a sip from his drink as he does so. He frowns at Ranol. "Still trying to learn the hammer?" he says finally.

Ranol may not be the most emotionally tuned khazad around, but he'd be empathically blind to miss the attitude of his friend. His smile fades to an expression that's more troubled. "Aye.. Still working at it. Why would I quit?" He asks, lifting his hand to rub at the back of his neck.

[Frarin(#31050)] Frarin only shrugs and shakes his head at Ranol's question. He halts a few feet away from Ranol, looks at the huskarl a second, then turns abruptly away. But not to leave, for he leans down and sets his mug and lunch to the side. He goes to the weapon's rack and selects a plain iron hammer, his own being still at home. "Have you been working with Lord Gimli still?" says the silversmith, not looking at Ranol as he ties a pad about the head of the hammer.

"Aye.." The huskarl answers in a quieter tone, still watching Frarin with some concern. He says nothing though, and double-checks the padding on his own weapon to be sure it's secure. "I still have much to learn." Ranol adds, slowly walking over to a more open space.

[Frarin(#31050)] "Mm," Frarin muses, testing the weight of the foreign hammer. He draws a deep breath, as if resigning himself to something, and follows Ranol into the open space. But the silversmith says no more as he takes up a battle position, the weight of his weapon resting in his right hand. He nods to Ranol to indicate the huskarl begin when he is ready.

[Warven(#26511)]
         Slowly walking into the Hall of Dodin is the Barazin Stonewright Warven, dressed in his ringmail and a small shield slung over his shoulder, resting upon his right shoulder and heavily padded is a War Hammer, it is obvious this Dwarf has come to train and spar. As he enters the room he looks about with a smile on his face, spotting the Huskarl and the Master Silver Merchant he begins to make his way over towards them.
 
          Giving a small wave and a nod of his head the Stonewright stops a good distance away giving the pair room to spar and then rests the head of his War Hammer upon the ground and leans upon it waiting for the match to start.

Ranol seems to come to some sort of decision, because his concerned expression is replaced with a more determined one and a faint narrowing of his brows. He lifts the hammer, and once Frarin is ready the huskarl steps forward with a sweeping attack at the Barazin's midsection. He's not putting all his strength into the swing, Frarin isn't wearing armor.

You blindly attack Frarin with your War Hammer...
Your attack against Frarin mildly wounds him!

[Frarin(#31050)] Frarin's own expression doesn't change, remaining as that same blank frown and narrowed eyes. He settles into the defensive position and then Ranol is coming towards him, sweeping his own war hammer at the silversmith's midsection. And it hits. It catches Frarin just until the bottom of his left ribcage and forces a gasp of breath from him. But then he is likewise swinging, the head of his hammer flying for Ranol's left hip.

Frarin attacks you with his War Hammer!...
...and he hits! Ouch!

[Warven(#26511)]
          Still leaning against his own War Hammer the Stonewright watches as the two dwarves trade blow for blow, winces for them both as their opponents strike home, removing his helm and setting it upon the handle of his War Hammer he continues to watch the match unfold shouting "Go low" and "That's it"

Frarin's hammer smacks against Ranol's hammer, the chain links ringing from the impact. The huskarl backsteps away from the silver merchant so that he can build up more momentum. Again he is mindful of not wanting to hurt his friend, despite his irritation. He spares a quick glance for Warven before Ranol swings in again with a sweep high, at the Barazin's shoulder.

You blindly attack Frarin with your War Hammer...
Frarin dodges your attack.

[Frarin(#31050)] Frarin quickly withdraws his hammer once it makes contact and Ranol's step away allows the silversmith time regain his own position. Warven's shouts of encouragement likewise catch Frarin's attention, but he spares not a glance, his expression still and ever the same, intent and somewhat grim. He skips away to the side as Ranol swings in from on high and the huskarl's weapon misses Frarin's shoulder by a few inches. As he steps to the side then, Frarin swings his hammer up at Ranol's midsection.

Frarin attacks you with his War Hammer!...
...and he hits! Ouch!

[Warven(#26511)]
          Seeing the Huskarl's near miss the Stonewright shouts "OOOO That was a close Ranol, you got him" Quickly thereafter as Frarin's attack strikes home he is shouting again "Great form Master Frarin" Leaning upon his War Hammer with all his weight the Stonewright is getting into this match eyes watching their every movement.

Ranol is too slow to recover and block the next swing from his opponent. He takes the hit to his stomach, grunting. Warven's encouragement seems to be falling on deaf ears for all the reaction that the huskarl is showing. He narrows his blue eyes and attempts to quickly retaliate, moving in closer to try and shove Frarin back with the head of the hammer.

You blindly attack Frarin with your War Hammer...
Frarin dodges your attack.

[Frarin(#31050)] Frarin carries on moving to Ranol's left even after he strikes the huskarl a second time. "Your movements are jerky, Ranol!" the silversmith barks, speaking for the first time during the spar. And as he moves around to Ranol's left side and back, his hammer swings again, aiming for the left side of Ranol's lower back.

Frarin attacks you with his War Hammer!...
...and he hits! Ouch!

Ranol tries to twist around to meet the attack, but his head isn't entirely in the spar and he stumbles off-balance as Frarin smacks him again with the hammer, wincing briefly if only in anticipation of a bruise later. His armor plus the padding is absorbing most of the strength from the merchant.

Ranol allows himself a wider swing with the hammer in counter-attack, swinging the weapon around in a wide arc at Frarin again.

You blindly attack Frarin with your War Hammer...
Frarin dodges your attack.

[Warven(#26511)]
          Once more the Stonewright is shouting encouragement, "Come on Ranol, your getting close, just keep at him!"

[Frarin(#31050)] "You're giving me time to anticipate, Ranol!" Frarin barks again, some of his pent up temper working itself out in the spar. The huskarl's hammer swings by him again as Frarin skips back swiftly, though he keeps his own war hammer held low and before him. Without wasting time to build a swing, he punches the top of the padded head at Ranol's midsection once the huskarl's swing is past him.

Frarin attacks you with his War Hammer!...
...and he hits! Ouch!

Ranol is struck once more, the air pushed from his lungs by the solid blow to his midsection. He backs off and doesn't move in for a counter this time, shaking his head. "I don't pretend to know why you're so angry with me, Frarin." The huskarl states quietly, his expression a mix of irritation and concern again.

[Frarin(#31050)] Frarin backs away, breathing somewhat heavily now, dropping the head of his hammer to rest on the ground beside him. He wipes the back of his hand across his brow and looks at Ranol from under his brows. "Your learning the hammer has nothing to do with whether I am angry or not," he says gruffly, making a poor excuse and avoiding the issue at once. He glances sidelong at Warven and nods to the stonewright. "Hail, Master Warven," he greets, almost as if nothing is amiss.

[Warven(#26511)]
         Hearing the words of Frarin the Stonewright approaches and says bows his head to the pair and says "Was a good match, Ranol here is getting better with the War Hammer wouldn't you say. He even stuck you once in the beginning" ending with a grin towards Ranol.

Ranol gives Frarin a steady look. He gazes at the silver merchant for a long time, doubt and almost an expression of reproach on his face. Finally the huskarl turns away, speaking quietly. "Okay, thank you for the spar, Frarin." He speaks in a level tone, moving to where his gear is piled to take up the small jug and help himself to a drink of water.

Alas, Warven's cheery disposition is not immediately acknowledged by the Bundazanul. He's standing quietly with a frown on his face as he catches his breath.

[Frarin(#31050)] Frarin stares back at Ranol with as long a look as the huskarl, save that his own expression is dry and his eyes narrowed. He says nothing once Ranol turns away, but looks to Warven and nods. "Aye, he did. He improves," Frarin says, busying himself with something or other about his hammer rather than looking at Ranol when he compliments the huskarl.

Without a word, he hangs the borrowed hammer back up on the weapon's rack. "Thank you for the spar, Ranol," he echoes the huskarl, still saying nothing of the obvious divide between them. Retrieving his lunch and drink, he gives a quick bow to Warven and Ranol, but his expression remains dry. "Have a good day, cousins." And with that he is gone.

[Warven(#26511)]
          Bowing as Frarin leaves the Stonewright looks to Ranol and says "You look ill at ease, you should not worry about him.. Besides your getting better with the War Hammer, that is always a good thing." Resting his own War Hammer upon his shoulder he looks down at the Huskarl's gear and says "Give it time, you will be as good with the War Hammer as you are with the Sword."

Ranol watches Frarin leave without saying anything further. The huskarl has his brow drawn, obviously unhappy with something. When he turns to look at Warven he stares at the warden blankly for a moment, then says, "No, I should not worry." He says carefully, though he sounds as if he is doing just that. Ranol smiles faintly, "I am not upset about my skill with the hammer. I have only been learning for a few months, after all."

 -- Warven's Internet Died, Fade Out --