Sword and dagger

[tinkerheart]

Who: Fëanor, Ignis and OTA
Where: Storage car, near the infamous wall to the engine. Nobody break more bones on that one please.
When: Bassoon, Day 17
What: Sword and dagger lessons for all interested.
Warning: None, for now.

Fëanor and Ignis agreed during the council meeting to provide combat training in their respective fields. Those will be swords and daggers.

Comments

Train with Fëanor

[tinkerheart]

Anyone expecting to handle an actual sword would be sorely disappointed. For they will be presented with what amount to a stick. This might or might not have been a handle of a broom or a mop previously.

Should anyone comment on the unusual provenance of the weapon Fëanor just raises his own in response.

"Then come and try to beat me with it."

To others, he'll explain his choice more thoroughly.

"This should work as a training weapon well enough. It has the correct weight and is not too awfully balanced. I am not giving you a real blade until I'm sure you're not going to hurt yourself with it."

Re: Train with Fëanor

[myblueskies]

"Okay sir!" Romeo hadn't commented at all, just nodded as he had been given his stick. But he was ready!

Or at least somewhat ready, he did attack but the stick was more like a staff and he knew how to use one of those, so his attack was very much a polearm attack rather than one you would make with a sword.

It was an attack though, a low sweep towards Fëanor's legs.

[tinkerheart]

The attack was not what Fëanor was expecting and yet Romeo is not facing just about anybody but an Elda, and one born in Aman under the light of the Trees. So he has no trouble dodging the blow.

"Not bad," he says and gives Romeo an approving nod. "I see that someone has already instructed you in the past but you'll be better off with a lance or a spear."

Fëanor changes the grip on his stick. "Alright, let's try with a spear then."

His own attack is aimed at the boy's throat. Nowhere near even his usual speed, much less force. This is training after all. For now, he's testing how much the boy already knows.

[myblueskies]

"Okay sir!" He did know the spear much better than the sword. He's never fought with a sword before but he's practised lots with a spear. He still has a lot to learn though!

He shifted his grip and pushed the spear upward to block the stick coming towards his neck. Fëanor might not be using his whole force but it was still enough to have Romeo stumble backwards a pace or two. He planted his feet and kept his stick high, watching carefully for what he might do next. He had to be ready!

[tinkerheart]

Fëanor drops his stick immediately when he sees the boy stumble.

"Are you alright, child?"

That definitely didn't go as he planned. He really needs to be more careful. It all went too fast and too strong. The humans are so delicate. Especially, the children. He has to remember that they're not half as hardy as elflings.

[happyends]

No, Madoka is actually really, really glad that there aren't actual swords involved yet. She's doing her best to try out various fighting styles, so she figured she had to try sword fighting at least once too, but she really didn't want to end up accidentally dropping the sword on someone's toes and slicing them off, thank you very much.

So she appreciates the stick. The stick is great. And harmless. This is her new best friend.

"Alright." She nods slightly. "Is there a specific way I should swing it..?"

[tinkerheart]

"First, you should learn how to defend yourself. That means blocking. Try to watch your opponent, not his weapon. If you pay attention he'd tell you what he's planning to do and his sword would follow his intention."

Give it to the elves to explain sword fighting and they'll make poetry out of it. But isn't it? More like a dance though, or a conversation, and yet an art unto itself.

"If, for example, I do something like this." Fëanor raises the sword above his head. "This should tell you I'm going to strike from above and that's when you should also raise your sword so you can intercept mine before it reaches you."

Ideally, she should have a dagger in the other hand but that's a little too complicated for now.

[happyends]

The girl may lack experience when it comes to combat, but she is at the very least a very good listener. She patiently listens to what he's saying, trying to absorb the words as well as she can before she freaks out and forget them during actual practice.

The example is easy enough to understand, and Madoka nods before raising her stick to slightly above her head and turning it sideways a little.

"So then my sword should be like this to block it..?"

[tinkerheart]

Fëanor nods.

"That is correct."

A good listener and a fast learner. He lowers his stick and comes closer to push the tip of Madoka's "sword" just a little downwards.

"If you do it this way whatever hits you from above would slide down by the force of its own momentum and not push you back or break your block. You're then using the strength of your opponent against them."

He goes back to his place to demonstrate how it would work in practice.

FOREVER LATE

[seawanderer]

If anyone should expect to use a sword, its Feanor's own sons. But Maglor will use whatever his dad wants him to, and prove he's as adaptable as ever.

There's a slight smirk as he stands ready. Perhaps his stance is more refined than Feanor remembers, but war does that.

"Perhaps I should be the trainer?"

no later than I always am...

[tinkerheart]

Fëanor would have had a sword... if he kept the one that he reforged on that last world. He's actually quite content of himself that he was able to return it. It was only about half-finished in his opinion. Working, yes, probably the best sword that man's entire family has ever seen, much less owned, but so unpolished. And yet, he had to. He didn't have another week to work on it and it took an immense amount of self-control to return anything so imperfect.

Or at least daggers if he didn't lose them in the mood slide. It doesn't mean he's defenseless. He smiles.

"By all means do."

Oh Makalaurë, don't think your dad is all rusty and out of practice. He could still beat the living daylights out of all of you even if only with a stick.

/smooshes

[seawanderer]

Maglor's also proud of his father for giving that sword back. They can always make a new and better one later, when materials and equipment come available, or they make it available.

He finds himself smiling back at Feanor, and while they both know the outcome of this spar, it won't make it any less fun. And for that, he holds himself to a wooden sword that has a fair enough balance to not throw him off horribly.

Feanor isn't the greatest of them for no reason.

It just doesn't stop him from doing his very best to mop the floor with him. MUST MAKE PAPA PROUD! And so he launches an attack, seeking to disarm Feanor.

/smooshes right back

[tinkerheart]

The outcome is not the point. The process is.

There's no exaggeration in the statement that Fëanor is unmatched in anything he puts his mind to. And as he perfected the weapons that he made, he similarly perfected their use. All sword duels are more like a dance to the music no one else but the fighters hear. It can be intricate and harmonious or brutal and dissonant but there's a melody to any encounter.

And there is one son of his that is a true expert on music. Maglor was always a good fighter, swift in his moves, precise and graceful. It is a joy to watch he actually improved on those qualities. Even if Fëanor is painfully aware of the circumstances that fostered that growth.

Ignis

[faithfulsupport]

The advisor summoned his weapons so he couldn't just hand them over even if he wanted to. But he'd gone along with the whole stick idea because it made the most sense. Training his team was his priority as he'd told Madoka, but he was more than willing to help someone else.

Because of who he was, Ignis would wait until the stick was picked up and he was charged at. This would be done to test the strength and ability of his opponent. Depending on how good they were, or their skill set they would either be facing his advanced lance or his daggers.

"I also have some healing if needed, so no need to worry about that." Or him. Anyone who really challenged him would of course make him work harder and might see him High Jump but that again depended on who fought him.

Re: Ignis

[deductionrival]

Heiji couldn't pass up a chance to do some sword fighting! He was the champion of kendo at his school. He sort of recognized the man from often being in the kitchen, but he'd never met him directly.

"Oi Ossan! I actually don't need to learn how to use a sword, but I'd love some practice. Is that something we can do in these classes?" (The first two words might translate as 'hey, uncle'.)

[faithfulsupport]

Ignis looked up at the boy coming over to him. The 'oi' he could figure out, but the 'Ossan' he would have to ask about or wait to ask Reigen.

The dirty blonde head nodded. "We most certainly can. Do you have a sword of your own?" The kid didn't look much younger than Noct but practice was always a good thing to do. And there was no reason as to why they couldn't make this a regular practice as well.

[deductionrival]

He grinned at that and gestured toward the sleeper carriages. "My roommate made some practice swords. I'll go borrow them!" He hurried off before Ignis could say anything one way or another.

One look around his cabin and he saw Luke was no where to be found. Oh well, Luke wouldn't mind him borrowing these. He swiped them and came racing back to the gym. They were nice, long, wooden practice swords that someone had obviously put effort into making. He offered one to Ignis. "I'm Heiji Hattori, by the way." Ignis might note, since he's observant that the translator seemed to reverse his name as he was saying it from 'Hattori Heiji'.

[faithfulsupport]

The advisor had been about to draw his lance when the other took off and so he stood there a few moments, puzzled.

When the boy returned, his green eyes looked over the wooden sword but nodded at the name. He had noticed the difference but again maybe this was something Reigen would be more familiar with.

"Ignis Scientia and I have my own weapon, but thank you." He wanted to ask about the weapon the other was using, but manners forbade him. That was simply none of his business. "Are you ready for practice then?"

[dredefulchilde]

Joscelin brought a treasure back from the High Fantasy Goblin World: a dagger. And quite a nice dagger, at that. Even sick and exhausted as he’d been, he’d managed to knick it off the belt of one of the human adults at the feast the final night. Joss doesn’t think he’ll miss it; the man had been too drunk to notice the theft.

He’s twirling it expertly as he walks into the “training” car.

“I don’t need a stick, thanks; I’ve got this. Are we going to train or what?”

Yep. Joss is feeling better and back to full brat mode.

[faithfulsupport]

Seeing the newcomer, Ignis smiled as he readjusted his glasses and gloves. The boy had good dexterity if he could flip the dagger as he was doing. "If you're skilled with your blade, I'll match you."

Within a moment, the advisor's blades materialized but he refrained from elementally enhancing them. This was to mostly see what the other knew.

Getting into a defensive stance, he nodded.

"Ready when you are."

[dredefulchilde]

“That’s a neat trick.”

More odd magic. He really needs to just sit back and let the weirdness wash over him. He’ll probably enjoy it a lot more than constantly comparing it to his own comfort zone.

Suddenly, reaches into his pocket and grabs a small kitchen knife, which he throws in a lazy arc towards Ignis’s shoulder. He rushes the man with the dagger, relying on his small size and inhuman speed to make up the (vast) difference in reach.

Sword f..fi... something | Closed to Reigen

[tinkerheart]

Early in the afternoon, Fëanor goes to search for one man he really wanted to see on the training sessions he has organized but who never showed up.
It's so helpful they have name tags attached to their cabin doors. He only has to cross to the second carriage to find the right one.

He knocks at the door.

"Hello, Reigen. Can I have a word with you?" he says after the door open "Two words actually. In the storage carriage if I may."

Re: Sword f..fi... something | Closed to Reigen

[internetsexsymbol]

Fortunately (or maybe unfortunately), Reigen happens to be in when there's a knock on the cabin door, and he opens it to find the tall elf man from the mountains who talked to him about torches.

"Oh, uh--" It takes him a minute to find the name. He remembers he's not supposed to make fun of it, he didn't get the joke... "Fëanor! Hey, Fëanor! What's up?" Reigen really hopes that he's not going to the storage carriage because he's gotten in trouble with the elf man, and that his severe expression is just how his face is.

[tinkerheart]

No trouble. What trouble? That's totally his normal expression. Haven't you noticed? He always looks like this. Especially, when he's mad at people. Well, maybe mad is too strong a word. He's not mad, why would he?

Maybe just a little ...

simmering...

"Do follow me if you may," Fëanor says with a smile.

If that can even be called a smile. That's not how you smile at people. At least not those you want relaxed and unterrified. And that is not exactly a request. Requests don't sound like that. Orders on the other hand. Oh, they do sound like that.

[internetsexsymbol]

Reigen comes out of his room and follows, but he doesn't quite feel reassured. Halfway there, he stops walking and points at Fëanor for emphasis on what he says next.

"Tell me why we're going into the storage room. Is there something you can't talk to me about out here?"