Emulation

Training Yard(#16063Rto)

This large enclosure is surrounded by high walls and the yard is quite barren. Archery targets are lined up near the south wall.

[Bernar]

The last rays of the evening\'s light find Bernar with his sword on the ground in the training yard. He is sidestepping quickly back and forth across the line the blade marks in the dirt of the yard. He is in his full armored ensemble, and his shield leans against the nearby wall of the barracks. From what can be seen of his face, it glistens with sweat in the light of the two lanterns sitting some distance away, also on the ground.

As the sun\'s light fades, the lanterns become the only illumination in the yard.

Gerik walks towards the training yards. The soldier seems a bit more limber then the last time he was walking here. The Karrath enters into the training yards nodding giving a salute even though the other is busy. \"M\'lord.\" he says in greeting as he steps off to the side to not be in the way of the other.

[Bernar]

Bernar\'s puffing breaths form an intermittent mist in the air, rising in front of his open helmet. He stops upon hearing himself addressed, taking a moment to regain his breath. He laboriously and carefully bends at the knee and waist to pick up his sword by the hilt and pluck his shield from the wall.

\"Lord Gerik,\" he says, finally. \"What I told you last time we were here goes for me, as well - I need better footwork.\" He swings his sword. \"Care to see how our work has improved us?\" He grins widely.

[Gerik(#30871)] The young man is feeling fairly good at the moment not wanting to freeze up in the cold. He continues moving the best that he can, he seems to ponder the question a brief moment before nodding \"Sure M\'lord it would be good to not freeze up after watch in the tower.\" Gerik approaches a bit more but waits for the other to prepare before he makes motion to do so.

[Brev(#30997)] Perhaps it\'s the lanterns that draws Louse here, perhaps she\'s simply bored. In either case, in she slips: a rather scruffy-looking figure in a cloak that is .. brown? No, wait, there\'s a hint of some other colour beneath. Perhaps it was blue once. She watches the huffing Bernar curiously for a moment, then sidles off towards a rack of wooden practice weapons and surreptitiously tugs down a wooden sword, trying to stay out of the light and remain unnoticed.

[Bernar]

\"Then draw your weapon and heft your shield,\" says the Lord of Karath. He settles his weight down a bit, knees slightly bent, shield held out in front of him and sword-arm to the side, up and at the ready. \"I await you,\" he adds.

Focused on Gerik as he is, he notices little outside the lanterns\' glow.

Gerik nods he reaches to his side. The sword is brought forth fluidly a quick twist to make sure his grip is firm. He reaches back to his shield removing it from it\'s place there and attaching it to his arm securely. Once his armor is checked for tightness and that it\'s in good upkeep, he turns back to the other approaching closer \"You may strike first m\'lord.\" he offers as he moves within dueling distance with the other.

[Combat(#13388)] Gerik unsheathes a mighty sword, and its blade slices the air it yearns for the battle to come.

[Combat(#13388)] Gerik puts on Metal Shield.

[Brev(#30997)] Louse, having managed to retrieve her \'sword\' without too much in the way of clatter, grins and shuffles sideways a bit, perhaps trying to see better. Then, a frown of concentration on her face, the girl sinks down into a half-crouch and sticks her \'sword\' arm out sideways in imitation of Bernar. She doesn\'t have a shield, so she settles for putting her left hand on her hip in a cocky gesture. Her opponent, in lieu of Gerik? Air. Let the lesson begin!

[Bernar]

Bernar waits only for the other to finish speaking before taking a step closer and bringing his sword forward in an arc, a broad swing aiming the flat of his blade at the shoulder of Gerik\'s shield-arm. He slips his shield back to his side as he twists his body with the motion.

You attack Gerik with your Longsword...

[Combat(#13388)->Bernar]

Your attack against Gerik mildly wounds him!

Gerik tries to move back quickly but isn\'t fast enough perhaps. The blade slapping against his shield arm stings a bit but he\'s able to shake it off, he takes a defensive fighting stance trying not to get caught off guard. He side steps quickly making his first strike sword arched high then swung back around if landed a smack to the leg of the other.

Gerik attacks you with his Longsword!...

...and he misses!

[Brev(#30997)] Any action performed by that great fat bear of a man should be easy, right? Louse, however, twists too far and whilst the air may bleed, she stumbles slightly and the tip of the blade thwacks against the wall of the yard. Just as well that the slap of steel on leather covers it. Scowling ferociously, the youngster watches unmoving for a little while. Perhaps Gerik will be easier to copy?

[Bernar]

Perhaps his earlier dancing across the blade still has his legs warmed up, for Bernar himself sidesteps quickly as the other\'s blade nearly finds a spot on his thigh. \"Keep moving lightly,\" he says encouragingly, as he brings his blade down in a motion similar to Gerik\'s, but lower: this blow aims at Gerik\'s lower legs, testing his quickness.

You attack Gerik with your Longsword...

[Combat(#13388)->Bernar]

Your attack against Gerik mildly wounds him!

[Gerik(#30871)] The soldier tries to pivot but alas he\'s just not quick enough right now, and is slapped by the flat of the blade another wince which he manages to not show too much at least. \"I guess i\'m not quick today either.\" Gerik says side stepping and making another swipe with the flat of the blade.

Gerik attacks you with his Longsword!...

...and he hits! Ouch!

[Brev(#30997)] Picking up on both men\'s earlier low-aimed swings, Louse too lowers her \'sword\' tip and hacks at a forest of imaginary legs, still keeping an eye on the real action. She\'s mimicking Gerik\'s side-steps, so that she\'s turning in a rough circle. Gradually that frown of effort is replaced by a slow grin as she picks up the rhythm of this \'dance\'.

[Bernar]

Gerik\'s aim is true, for Bernar, opting not to sidestep but to take the blow fully on his shield, misjudges the angle of the attack. As Gerik\'s blade swats into his shoulder armor, Lord Karath smiles. \"Do not judge too quickly,\" he says. \"Fighting at night is much harder.\"

They have come nearly full circle, now, with their sidestepping. Bernar reverses the movement, moving his sword in a backswing to catch Gerik in the sword-arm while stepping counter to their previous circling. The result of his movement is that they are almost too close for fighting with such long blades. Great care will be required - or evasion.

You attack Gerik with your Longsword...

[Combat(#13388)->Bernar]

Your attack against Gerik mildly wounds him!

Gerik tries to bring his sword and shield along but isn\'t able to do so in time and gets another whap to the arm. It takes a moment to shake this last off and he steps back to his starting point shaking off the few blows he\'s taken a bit of a sting lingers. \"M\'lord I yield.\" he chuckles shaking his head.

[Brev(#30997)] Wait, they\'re going in the other direction now? Louse, taken by surprise, crosses one foot over the other and nearly overbalances - as it is, a moment of windmilling arms ensues, accompanied by a soft muttered, \"Bugger.\" Belatedly the girl realizes that Gerik\'s words mean they\'re about to stop, and glances round for the nearest object to take cover behind. Unfortunately there aren\'t any.

[Bernar]

Bernar lowers his sword first and then his shield, as Gerik steps back. And he can\'t help but notice the small figure with the practice sword. \"You are faster, Gerik,\" he says with a nod. \"And that was a solid blow you landed. I\'m certain you are weary after a day on duty.\"

He gestures with his sword at their observer. \"Is that you, Louse?\" A small smirk quickly fades into a more serious expression. \"Strengthen your arm until it is as swift as Gerik\'s, and do some dancing, and you will go far.\" He winks, then turns his attention back to Gerik, bringing his sword to his chest in a salute. \"Always a pleasure, Lord Gerik. Thank you for.. the dance.\"

Gerik nods \"I must train sometime not after duty.\" he chuckles removing his shield and replacing the sword back at his side. \"Thank you, m\'lord I look forward to learning more when ever I am able.\" He says with another salute and nod. The other is given a look now as he turns that way. \"Dancing is good for battle light feet my friend.\"

[Brev(#30997)] Louse freezes in position, eyes darting toward the entrance arch. When Bernar, at least, doesn\'t seem angry she relaxes and even dares a bit of a grin. \"Aye aye, sir,\" she answers, bringing the wooden sword up in a salute no doubt copied from Tristan (it\'s not like the Watch go in for such things).

When Bernar\'s next words, however, are echoed by Gerik, a rude noise escapes her. \"I ain\'t dancin\'. That\'s for /girls/.\" She glares at the two Lords fiercely.

[Bernar]

\"And nobles!\" Bernar retorts. \"But do as you wish.\" He resheathes his blade, and slings his shield carefully onto the leather straps crisscrossing his back. \"Back to the Manor, Gerik? I\'ll walk you. And you best leave the yard, too, Louse,\" Lord Karath adds. \"And leave the practice sword.\"

[Brev(#30997)] Well, noone could accuse Louse of having a single drop of noble blood. At Bernar\'s injunction she nods and saunters nonchalantly across to the rack to replace the wooden sword, as though she couldn\'t care less about either this weapons lark or the reprimand. The alacrity with which she scuttles out of the Yard afterwards, however, suggests that the latter at least carries some weight. Off she goes into the streets of Laketown.