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The burdens of nobility (Cheshire X DLS)

Joined
Jan 19, 2009
"You?! Weapons Master?"

The frustrated guard spat on the floor and pointed a finger at Vallios, a look of absolute indignation on his face. The man stomped his plated foot against the floor of the training hall and then reached for his spear. Vallios sighed quietly and turned to face the interloper, waving a hand dismissively at the gathered 30 trainees. Vallios merely smirked and shook his head, clearing away the waist length mane of raven hair from his face. When he spoke, he did so with an accent that echoed the frigid tones of the northern winds.

"If you think yourself more fit for the title...Pick any three weapons. I will use them to combat you. You may choose as many weapons as you wish." Vallios responded calmlly.

Every weapon in the training room was an edgeless copy, perfect for maximum training with minimum lethality. The Ahn'kir chamber guard chuckled softly and began to rummage through the weapon racks, looking for the most unwieldy combination possible, along with the most outlandish weapons. From the gathered arms he picked a Kama, a heavy broad bladed falchion, and an eight foot long chain. He set them on the bench, and then retrieved a sturdy pike, a large tower shield, and a longsword.

"Have fun with that, Weapons Master."

The guard placed mocking emphasis on the title. Vallios just shook his head and swaggered over to the selected weapons. With practiced ease he wrapped the chain around his waist and upper legs, then he retrieved the kama and settled it in his off-hand. He picked up the falchion, swung it in circles a few times and then turned to face his opponent, assuming a ready and balanced stance.

"Whoa!"

"By the gods, how can he hold such a heavy weapon like that?"

Most of the gathered trainees were new recruits, who'd never seen what being a Weapons Master meant. Even the challenger was a bit taken aback at the ease which Vallios adapted to the situation. Nevertheless he struck his longsword against his shield once, twice, and three times...The traditional sign that he was ready.

Surging forward, vallios lead the assult with his offhand. The challenger lunged and swung wide with his shield, hoping to knock the other off his feet. Vallios twisted his wrist and slammed the square pommel of the kama on the center of the oncoming shield, while kicking for his opponent's exposed knee.

The guard reacted in time to step away from the kick, surprised that Vallios had countered so readily. Once more he knocked blade against shield, taunting Vallios. Vallios took the bait willingly, coming in with an arcing slash from the falchion. The guard forced his shoulder forward and then thrust with his sword, going for Vallios' apparently exposed ribs.

But Vallios had his offhand ready. Easily he caught the blade in the curved edge of the sickle-like weapon and forced the guard's main hand high. Vallios stepped inwards and caught his opponent with a vicious elbow to the ribs, followed by a fierce kick to the chest.

Vallios moved forward, whipping his falchion up and then down in an arcing slash that the staggered challenger barely managed to block. A loud clattering filled the hall as both falchion and kama hit the floor, it appeared as if Vallios had been disarmed... But that wasn't the case. It'd been a ruse, which became apparent as that chain was swiftly unwrapped from his waist.

Then an abrupt change of stance, from the heavy centered focus of before to a more fluid and mobile step. The chain arced and cut through the air, quickly working itself into a dizzying curtain of certain death. Working both ends Vallios struck, hands spinning and twisting in the large circular links that served as handholds for the exotic weapon. Now Vallios had the severe advantage of the reach.

The challenger realized the advantage and took several rapid steps back, retrieving his pike. The guardsman continued to step back and around, waiting for Vallios' advance. And so Vallios began to strike, displaying astounding proficiency as he hurled the chain out to it's full eight foot length and then snapped it back in vicious slashes. Steel slammed against wood floor, and the metal links howled a shrill song, every strike seeming to hold the fury of a condensed storm.

And somehow, through the onslaught Vallios did not tire. With every strike he worked closer, the chain shortening as both ends began to work. Eventually, the desperate guard found himself overwhelmed and he began to thrust with abandon, hoping to strike a decisive blow.

But, no such luck. One end of the chain wrapped around the pike and with a wicked tug Vallios ripped the weapon free from his opponents grasp, and then released a flurry of blows from both ends of the chain. It was fortunate that the weapon was barbless, otherwise the challenger would have been literally torn to bits.

When the beaten man crumpled to his knees Vallios stopped the assault and stepped back, his breathing measured and calm. He cleared his throat and turned to address the class, acting as if it had been nothing more than a demonstration.



"Weapons are not but an extension of the will; The will to kill, and the will to survive. You must adapt to every weapon you hold, allow it to become your arms, it's blade, it's weight your fingers. Allow it's limits to become your own, and then overcome them."
 
"Congratulations." Eloise gave a short set of claps, Each perfectly ladylike, however they seemed a bit forced. Although she was doubtless impressed, the ladylike quality with which she walked, clapped and even spoke did not seem to be the real her.

Eloise was an unlikely candidate for a ruler, short and very thin, her small chest and bookish looks fit her personality well, as she would rather read about Monsters and dragons and act out such battles then attend to affairs of state. Do to the nature of her lesson she had finally been allowed to choose her own clothing, a short skirt of lightweight mail over a tunic and trousers. She smiled, and walked through the lines of weapons, ignoring the trainees as she marveled at the variety, running her hands over the more exotic type until she picked up one that always fascinated her. Blowing a strand of blond hair out of her eyes she picked up a Kusari-gama, a length of chain with a sickle at one end.

realizing she still hadn't announced her presence she decided to have a bit of unladylike fun. Standing in the center of the training room she gave a soft smile. "I am the one day ruler of this house, Eloise Ahn'kir..." She smirked. "And i have come to surpass you Vallios."
 
"I am charmed by your challenge, though I am well aware of who you are."

All heads in the classroom turned to watch Eloise and Vallios, intrigued by what was transpiring. Eloise had came dressed for battle, which was fitting enough. Vallios, however was in his customary garb. A thick bear-fur vest, a close fitting thin black wool shirt, a belt of scaled metal, pair of dark tan leather leggings, their outsides studded in tight patterns to provide protection against invading blades, and a pair of black knee high leather boots, strapped together and fastened by gleaming red iron buckles.

With a tilt of the head Vallios gave Eloise a once-over, the movement causing his mane of raven hair to slide away from the right side of his alabaster face, revealing the markings beneath. 3 scars, thick at the top stretched from Vallios' right eyebrow down too his jawline, tapering to detailed points. The scars had been treated with dyes until they'd blackened, marks of honor and distinction in battle. All the higher-ups of House Ahn'kir knew of Vallios' heritage, knew that he hailed from the nomadic barbarian tribes from the frigid northern edges of the world.

His build however, defied the hulking barbarian stereotype. he was roughly 6'4, his body sleek, muscles corded from years of weathering nature's harshest conditions. If one could imagine the rest of his kin as lions, he'd be a panther amongst them. Less bulky and noticeable, but just as powerful, just as deadly...


"Perhaps there's hope for you."
 
Eloise admired the man's physique, and his heritage, in one of her stories he would have been a dragon slayer. Her choice of weapon was for a simple reason, it resembled a beast's tail. Eloise had trained intensely with a small variety of weapons, always in private during the small amount of time her aunt gave her for her own activities. She had developed a fighting style that imitated the beasts from her books.

Gesturing to the guard she barked a short order. "Up, you're in the middle of the training grounds." She said with little compassion, not trying to be a bitch, she just had no regard for commoners.
 
"You are in no place to give orders. Your rule and authority ended when you crossed that threshold." Vallios said softly.

Though his voice was quiet, it was stern. The trainees sat down mid-rise, acknowledging that Vallios held precedence over Eloise here. Anything militant, that was the Weapons Masters' grounds, and as Vallios was the ascendant, this was his court. In this room, Eloise was equal to the other trainees, and would be judged not according to her blood, but according to her martial prowess.
 
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