Spar in the innyard

Breelands Weather

The midnight winter air is cold and dry around you. Moist snow, perfect for snowballs, falls down from the sky. The moon is above the horizon and in its waxing crescent phase.

Inn-yard

An open air inn-yard is enclosed in the center of the Prancing Pony\'s compound. The yard is ringed in by the north and south wing of the Pony, and the eastern section of the building, which is set back into Bree-hill. On the fourth side bordering this yard is an archway, beyond which lies the Great East Road. The stables, which comprise the lower level of the south wing, are accessed through a set of large double doors.

Contents:

Nob

Obvious exits:

Kitchen leads to Kitchen.

Downstairs Hallway leads to Short Passage.

Double Doors leads to Stables.

Archway leads to Under the Archway.

[Frarin] Mid morning in the town of Bree and the streets are strewn with the soft, fluffy sort of snow that makes winter half-way fun for the young folk of the town. It falls gently from the sky, with none of the usual bitter wind to make it unpleasant. Already a blanket of it has covered the open inn-yard here, though there are a few tracks through it, most leading towards the common room or the stables.

One person there is, however, who lingers in the yard itself. The dwarf Frarin is seated upon a pile of wood waiting for chopping, or half-seated rather, for his right leg is extended and bears that portion of his weight not upon the woodpile, and his left leg is set casually upon a short, smooth log. He is wrapped in a cloak, with the hood drawn up, but across his lap is his familiar blue war hammer. He seems taken in thought at the moment, but his fingers run absently upon the haft of the weapon, drumming now and again the square head.

[Nob(#16122)] A young boy runs around the corner of the Inn, laughing exuberantly. He bends while on the run, scooping up a handful of snow and hurling it over his shoulder, then comes to a halt and peers back, disappointed. \"Aw, chicken!\" he shouts, and kicks the ground. The main door of the Pony slams shut in answer.

[Ovor(#20753)]     Coming out of the Pony itself with one of his Huskarls is the Thane Ovor. The snow is of little concern to him, though he seems slightly more at ease than he has in the recent past -- since, oh, they arrived in Bree. The Thane and his Huskarl seem to be in quiet conversation about some thing or another.

Frarin is not the only one that is armed, for the Thane has his own hammer upon his back, likely out of habbit. As the Thane catches sight of the other Dwarf, however, he pauses in his conversation and raises a hand briefly. \"Hail, Master Frarin!\" Anything else Ovor might have to say is cut off by the shout of the boy and the slamming shut of the Pony door, causing the Thane to turn to see the cause of the disturbance.

[Frarin] As Frarin\'s rough fingers absently inspect the corners of the mallet in his hand, a familiar voice bids him a greeting and brings the merchant\'s gaze up. \"Hail, Thane!\" he answers, rising to meet Ovor with a bow. But the bow does not come, for indeed Frarin\'s attention is momentarily given over to the arrival of a lad at full speed and the silversmith\'s brows lift in mild surprise. But with a frown, he shakes his head and look back to the Thane, completing his bow.

\"Good morning, my lord,\" says Frarin, resting his hammer absently at his side, though notably not using it as a support for his left hip now. \"How fares you and yours this day?\"

[Nob(#16122)] With another, more vigorous, kick at the snowy ground, Lek shoves his hands in his pockets and turns back towards the Innyard, ambling towards the stable and scowling. But he is barely into the yard before deep voices prick at his ears and he looks up. A grin crosses his skinny freckled face, and he waves eagerly to Frarin, looking at Ovor curiously.

[Ovor(#20753)]     \"We are... well enough.\" Is the Thane\'s rumbling response to Frarin as he looks back to the silver merchant. \"Things could be better, but they most certainly could be worse.\" The Thane shrugs slightly before he speaks again. \"And how does the morning find you this day?\" Then the Thane\'s eyes flick back towards the lad, an eyebrow arched momentarily.

[Frarin] \"Well enough as well,\" Frarin answers with a polite nod. \"I was just contemplating--\" But whatever he was contemplating, he does not say it, for he follows Ovor\'s glance behind him and turns again to regard to newly arrived lad. And with Lek now slowed beyond a blur, recognition registers on Frarin\'s weathered face. \"Ah, good morning, young Master Lek,\" says Frarin with what might possibly be a semi-fond half-smile. Yes, semi-fond half-smile. He imitates a shallow bow to the lad. \"What brings you out into the cold this morning, lad?\"

He glances back to the Thane though, nodding again as he finishes his train of thought. \"As I was saying, I was meaning to practice with my hammer a bit,\" he says, hefting up the blue war hammer for emphasis. \"I have not done so since my hip was broken in August, and I fear that I have grown out of practice.\"

[Nob(#16122)] \"Aw, he ran off,\" Lek says disgustedly. Then, abruptly called to manners by Frarin\'s polite greeting, he also bobs an awkward-looking bow sort of half-way between the dwarves. \"Good morning to you all! I hope...\" Manners, politeness, all are forgotten. \"Can I watch?\" he asks eagerly. \"I won\'t get in the way, I /promise/!\"

[Ovor(#20753)]     \"Practise is always good to maintain.\" The Thane nods, running a hand through his beard for a moment. \"And, ay, you have been abed for a while. Always best to figure out how well one is before a battle.\" This brings a brief, quiet chuckle from the Huskarl accompanying the Thane as Ovor swings his hammer from his back.

\"I would be happy to assist in this manner.\" As the Thane falls silent, he turns slightly to look at Lek, nodding his head after a moment in greeting the Huskarl takes a few steps away from the Thane, in case there will be a bout.

[Frarin] Frarin\'s brows lift and he gives an appreciative nod at the Thane\'s offer. \"I would be grateful, lord. Hitting wood is very little like combat with live opponents, I fear.\" The silver merchant turns away from Ovor and towards the woodpile, where his usual leather bag still rests. From it Frarin takes a large square of cloth and a length of twine. He limps still as he moves, though by no means as badly as in previous weeks, crossing the yard towards the open doors of the stables.

Over his shoulder, Frarin calls back to Lek. \"Aye lad, you\'re welcome to watch. But you keep plenty out of the way, hear? This isn\'t staves we\'ll be fighting with.\" He disappears for a moment into the stables and returns a second later with a handful of straw. Once he comes again to the woodpile, he binds a portion of the hay about the mallet of his blue war hammer with the cloth and twine, then offers the remaining straw to Ovor.

[Nob(#16122)] Lek\'s smile widens into brilliance, and, lost playmate forgotten, he races for the wall of the stables, clambering up on top of a pile of wood, where, wide-eyed, he can see all the proceedings.

[Ovor(#20753)]     The Thane takes the straw while his Huskarl retrieves a piece of soft leather from a pouch soon enough, the Thane\'s own hammer head is wrapped for saftey. Hefting his hammer with both hands, Ovor takes a few steps back and bows slightly to Frarin. \"I shall let you have the honour of going first, Frarin. Let us see how out of practise you are.\"

[Frarin] Frarin\'s eyes follow young Lek as the boy races up to his perch, safely out of the way of the soon-to-be sparring dwarves. He checks also to ensure Ovor\'s Huskarl is a safe distance away as well. A hand is reached up to release the clasp of his cloak and the heavy material sheds snow as Frarin pulls it away and tosses it towards the woodpile. The blue war hammer is taken in both hands, the left at the base of the haft, the right midway up.

The silver merchant places his legs apart to give him better balance, but the injured left hip prevents that leg from bearing exactly equal weight as its partner. Indeed, Frarin gives a noticeably greater amount of weight to his good right leg, which stands slightly back from the other. Then with a nod to the Thane, the spar begins. Crouched in his careful position, Frarin approaches Ovor slowly at first. Then with a grunt, his hammer swings out, both hands sliding to the base of the weapon so as not to bring Frarin too close to the Thane, and the mallet soars for the side of Ovor\'s left thigh.

You blindly attack Ovor with your War Hammer...

[Combat(#13388)->Frarin]

Ovor parries your attack with his War Hammer!

[Nob(#16122)] Lek leans way forward, reaching out to snag Frarin\'s cloak and lay it in a muddled heap beside him. Then he props his elbows on his knees, chin in palms and watches the on-going match.

[Ovor(#20753)]     The Thane, seeing the swing line of Frarin\'s hammer, pivots slightly and brings the head of his hammer in the way of the silver merchant\'s. He quickly brings his hammer back, widening his stance slightly, before thrusting the head of his hammer towards Frarin\'s right knee.

The Thane\'s Huskarl has, indeed, stepped back, crossing his arms as he watches the spar.

Ovor attacks you with his War Hammer!...

...and he hits! Ouch!

ARB: You\'ve been injured for 1 hp\'s by Ovor\'s attack...

...you have 96 left. Please RP this injury accordingly.

[Frarin] Indeed, it seems that the silver merchant\'s fear of being out of practise is well founded. That perhaps, and his weak left leg make for a successful blow from Ovor. Frarin pulls his hammer back and spreads his hands over the haft again as the weapon is deflected by the Thane\'s quick parry. But as Ovor brings round his own hammer for a retaliatory strike towards the merchant\'s right knee, Frarin instinctively shifts his weight to his left leg to skip away. The move costs him, for he grunts and his jaw tightens in pain, and his right leg moves only a fraction of an inch.

As the Thane\'s padded mallet glances off Frarin\'s knee, the silversmith moves quickly to strike a return blow. He places his weight upon his left leg, intentional this time and thus he is prepared for the barb of pain in his hip. Up comes the blue hammer, swinging over Frarin\'s head and falling towards Ovor\'s right shoulder.

You attack Ovor with your War Hammer...

[Combat(#13388)->Frarin]

Ovor dodges your attack.

[Ovor(#20753)]     The Thane pivots again, cloak flapping out as he crouches low and turns swiftly avoiding the hammer of the merchant. \"Close, Master Frarin!\" A brief grin is flashed by the Thane as he stands, thrusting the head of his hammer at Frarin\'s right side.

Ovor attacks you with his War Hammer!...

...and you parry his attack with your War Hammer!

[Frarin] Only a grunt does Ovor receive in reply from Frarin, for it seems that the solemn silver merchant is as grim and serious in combat as he is in all other things. His eyes narrow as he swing finds naught but air this time, but he carries the momentum through. Thus, although an even greater weight is place upon Frarin\'s weak leg, his hammer is swinging still towards his right side, catching the Thane\'s own weapon before it can strike another successful blow.

The hammers clang as they meet, but Frarin takes the opportunity to shift his weight once more to his right leg, looping the mallet of his weapon around for a return blow to Ovor\'s left knee.

You attack Ovor with your War Hammer...

[Combat(#13388)->Frarin]

Your attack against Ovor mildly wounds him!

[Nob(#16122)] Lek gasps as the hammers slam together, and nearly starts to slide off the wood. He hurriedly shuffles himself backwards, eyes never leaving the combatants.

[Ovor(#20753)]     The Thane is not quite quick enough this time on his pivot nor in bringing back his weapon, and Frarin\'s hammer lands home upon his knee. A grunt escapes from the Thane as he narrows his eyes a moment as he brings his weapon back, pausing. Then, with a shift of his weight, he aims a swing of his hammer at the merchant\'s left side.

Ovor attacks you with his War Hammer!...

...and you parry his attack with your War Hammer!

[Frarin] Another jolt of iron upon iron rents the peaceful atmosphere of the inn-yard as the hammers meet. Ovor\'s momentary pause allows Frarin just enough time to withdraw his weapon after its successful blow and it soars down to meet the Thane\'s own, slamming the offending hammer down towards the snow-padded ground. Frarin again seeks to continue his momentum and the blue haft of his hammer sweeps in a broad circle over his head.

Again extra weight is placed upon the merchant\'s left leg, but it seems the spirit of combat has quickly returned, for though his jaw remained tightened, his eyes are dark and intent upon his quarry. Up and over comes the blue mallet, swinging this time towards the side of Ovor\'s upper right arm.

You attack Ovor with your War Hammer...

[Combat(#13388)->Frarin]

Your attack against Ovor mildly wounds him!

[Nob(#16122)] \"Ohhh!\" Lek cries out as Frarin parries another blow. And he stands up, balanced precarious, and lets out a cheer. \"Go it!\" his voice shrills across the courtyard.

[Ovor(#20753)]     With weapon knocked towards the snow, the Thane cannot bring it up in time to block the attack. He does, however, manage to turn slightly to lessen the impact, though it still brings a quiet growl from him. His eyes seem to flash briefly as he brings his hammer up and in a sharp swing towards the merchant\'s left knee.

Ovor attacks you with his War Hammer!...

...and you parry his attack with your War Hammer!

[Frarin] Still onward Frarin carries his hammer\'s momentum again. It strikes Ovor\'s arm perhaps, but the Thane\'s slight turn causes the merchant\'s weapon to glance away rather than strike it fully, and as such Frarin\'s hammer is not stayed. It carries downward where it clangs again with Ovor\'s upward stroke, again knocking the Thane\'s weapon towards the ground.

Frarin does not attempt another circular swing, however, perhaps for fear of becoming predictable. With sweat just beginning to bead at his temples and brow despite the cold morning, the silver merchant brings his hammer across to the right and loops it around. A grunt and Frarin sends the mallet soaring toward\'s Ovor\'s left hip.

You attack Ovor with your War Hammer...

[Combat(#13388)->Frarin]

Your attack against Ovor mildly wounds him!

[Nob(#16122)] The watching boy is so carried away by this small strike by his hero, that he loses his balance on the logs, and comes tumbling to the ground. He is up again in an instant, and stands, back against the woodpile, hands feeling behind him for holds. He can see better from up above, but the anguish of deciding! In turning to climb, he will have lost precious seconds of the fight!

[Ovor(#20753)]     The Thane brings his hammer back, but not quite quick enough to deflect Frarin\'s own. A slight grunt comes from Ovor as the hammer hits his left hip yet, he goes with it, moving right after the hit. Closing the gap between his hands, the Thane swings his hammer at the merchant\'s right shoulder.

Ovor attacks you with his War Hammer!...

...and he misses!

[Keldean(#23332)] Another snatch and grab from the kitchen has the boy sneaking out into yard with a handful of cookies in his grasp. When he realizes the yard isn\'t empty, Keldean does his best to hide in the shadows of the building, quickly stuffing his prize into his pockets hopefully before anyone notices.

[Frarin] The sound of young Lek tumbling down from his perch on high distracts Frarin for a moment. The silver merchant does not turn to look on full at the excited lad, but his head does turn enough to catch the movement of Lek standing again in his peripheral vision. It is fortunate then that Ovor\'s next swing is high, for Frarin takes the opportunity to stoop and avoid the potential blow rather than parry it with his own weapon. He does, however, give a muffled cry as he ducks away and to the left, putting unexpected weight upon his bad leg for a second time.

Eyes narrowing, Frarin brings his blue war hammer up and to the left, opposite the swing of the Thane. The padded mallet cuts the snow-filled air, striking for the outside of Ovor\'s right thigh.

You attack Ovor with your War Hammer...

[Combat(#13388)->Frarin]

Your attack against Ovor mildly wounds him!

[Nob(#16122)] Lek\'s hands are white-knucked around two bits of wood that stick out behind him, and his eyes never leave the dwarves. He gasps again excitedly as Frarin hits Ovor he doesn\'t notice the older boy creeping into the yard, cookies in hand.

[Ovor(#20753)]     Again, the Thane is hit. Yet, it would seem this time he did not bring his own hammer to block no, rather, he has brought it back in preperation of his next blow once his own has failed. He moves back to the left, rather than standing, so as to lessen the impact of the hit. His own hammer, meanwhile, has been trust toward Frarin\'s left knee.

Ovor attacks you with his War Hammer!...

...and he hits! Ouch!

ARB: You\'ve been injured for 1 hp\'s by Ovor\'s attack...

...you have 95 left. Please RP this injury accordingly.

Keldean realizes what\'s going on and stays right where he is, watching with keen interest. He\'s never seen dwarves fight before.. He\'s never seen anyone really fight before. He idly chews on one of his stolen cookies, forgetting about his need for haste at the moment.

[Nob(#16122)] Some edge of movement in the corner of his eye makes Lek turn his head - but he doesn\'t look far enough to see Keldean as he refuses to stop watching the two dwarves. \"Hit \'im!\" he shouts. \"Get \'im!\" And he lets go his hold and dances up and down in place. \"Go!\"

[Frarin] Frarin\'s reaction is not quick enough this time and Ovor\'s hammer strikes hard upon the silver merchant\'s left knee. Padded though the mallet may be, the blow twists his left leg awkwardly and apparently pains his still sore hip, for he gives a harsh grunt this time and his jaw tightens even moreso than before. He steps away to the right, giving his weight to his unhurt leg, but barely allows the space for a gathering breath, lest he give his opponent time enough to recover.

To the right Frarin steps and from the right he swings. The blue metal of his war hammer glints in the white-blanketed yard, swinging up from belong for the Thane\'s left elbow.

You attack Ovor with your War Hammer...

[Combat(#13388)->Frarin]

Your attack against Ovor mildly wounds him!

[Ovor(#20753)]     Ah, the jolt of something hitting the elbow does different things to different people. For the Thane, it causes his arm to go up so too, then, does his hammer. A brief grunt and a slight hiss comes from him as well before he reverses the direction of his hammer. Now, it is falling towards the middle of Frarin\'s left arm.

Ovor attacks you with his War Hammer!...

...and he misses!

[Keldean(#23332)] Facinated, the teen continues to watch the spar. Only because Lek is so animated does he assume that this isn\'t a real fight. He moves to stand near the boy, gaining a better vantage of the two dwarves in combat. He shoves his hands into his coat pockets, breaking another cookie into bite-size pieces with his fingers.

[Nob(#16122)] Lek has begun to encourage his favorite with body language, twisting desperately out from under the falling hammer, sighing with relief when it misses.

[Frarin] Frarin retracts his outstretched left arm with a grunt at the quick movement and he manages an awkward skip back, faltering on his left leg but managing to maintain his balance with his right. And as the Thane\'s mallet head flies past Frarin\'s face and meets naught but air, Frarin steps back again and holds a hand up to stay the spar.

\"Enough,\" he says, breathing heavier than before, but not out of breath. He rests the mallet of his hammer upon his foot, rubbing ruefully at his sore hip as he wipes the new sweat from his brow. \"You fight very well, my lord.\"

[Ovor(#20753)]     The Thane flashes a brief grin as he brings his own hammer back his Huskarl steps forward to take the weapon from Ovor, removing the leather cover and scattering the hay. \"I thank you you do not seem to have lost much from your being abed.\" Rumbles the Thane as he takes his hammer back from his Huskarl, slipping it onto his back before wiping his own brow.

Keldean glances over at Lek, then turns his brown eyes back to the dwarves. Wasn\'t this the same one that Frarin was having that discussion with in the Inn the other day? Interesting. The teen pops another bite in his mouth with a curious expression on his face, hanging around for another moment, hoping there might be another round.

[Nob(#16122)] As soon as the weapons are lowered and the talking starts, Lek darts away from the woodpile. \"Can I hold it?\" he begs. \"Just for a minute?\"

[Frarin] \"Thank you,\" says Frarin with a nod, steadily bringing his breathing back to normal. \"It is many months now since I lifted the Old Lord in combat--\" and he lifts the blue war hammer as he speaks its name \"--but I am glad instinct has not left me. Even if my leg does not yet serve so well.\" He ruefully pats his pained left hip again and shakes his head unhappily, but says no more on the subject.

Indeed, he has no chance to, for at that moment Lek has clambered down from his woodpile and excitedly begged for the chance to hold the revered weapon. And then, despite his seriousness in combat and most everything else, Frarin gives Lek a smile. He frees the blue hammer of its padding, letting the hay fall to the ground as Ovor, then offers the weapon to the lad, the heavy mallet and spike head upon the ground so that the haft sticks up into the air. \"Aye alright then, but carefully now, lad. That\'s seen me through more than one fight.\"

[Ovor(#20753)]     The Thane gives a brief bow to Frarin, chuckling quietly. \"Instinct will only leave with death, as my instructor used to say.\" A brief pause before Ovor speaks again. \"Yet, if you will excuse me, I have some things to see too.\" With that, and a brief nod of the head towards Lek, the Thane turns and walks back towards the Pony, his Huskarl beside him.

[Combat(#13388)->Frarin]

You train Ovor in war hammer and he learns quickly.

[Nob(#16122)] Lek eagerly, yet almost reverently, puts his hands around the handle. He simply holds it for a minute, before trying, first gingerly, then with all his strength, to pick it up. He cannot, though it budges a bare centimeter from the dirt before thudding back into place again. Red-faced and heaving, he finally gives up, looking at Frarin with an engaging grin. \"That\'s heavy!\" he says admiringly.

Keldean grins when he watches Lek try to lift the heavy weapon. He\'s confident that could fare better, but he\'s not feeling outgoing enough right now to ask. Instead the teen moves on for the stables, his original intended destination.

[Frarin] \"Good day, my lord,\" says the silver merchant in farewell to Ovor as he departs, bowing after the Thane. Then, as Lek makes a valiant effort to lift the heavy war hammer, Frarin raises his brows and gives a knowing nod. \"Aye,\" he says, mildly amused. \"And it does a great deal of damage when it needs to.\" Without a word he lifts the hammer with ease and slips it through an iron loop on his belt.

\"But it does not need to today, fortunately. Come on, you\'ll be neglecting your duties, I don\'t doubt. Hurry along and tell Master Barliman you were helping me with something, and I\'ll be in the common room waiting for a mug of beer as soon as you\'re free.\" He retrieves his cloak and bag from the woodpile, thereby turning his back on the stables as to unknown watcher Keldean slips by. Waving Lek back towards the kitchens, Frarin makes in that direction himself, likely relishing the thought of a warm fire and pipe.

Keldean enters the Stables.

Keldean has left.

[Nob(#16122)] Lek, finally seeing Keldean, waves to the other lad, before scampering off into the Pony as bidden.