Let's Train in 100 Times Gravity

[shineinside]

Who: Anyone who wants to come by! Tag in, thread with Yuka, thread with each other, whatever you want.
What: Combat training/practice.
When: Sunset, each night for a week minimum.
Where: East end of Islet 1.
Warnings: Possible blood if things get out of hand, implied 80s training montage songs

Yuka chose this location because the ground was level, there was enough space for people to move around, and nobody was really using it for anything else. No wild beasts, no fish people to disturb, no strange psychological effects... the ideal place for people to gather for an hour or two and get some good-natured fighting in. The snow on the ground wasn't ideal, she supposed, but that stuff was everywhere, so they'd just have to make do. It'd probably be snowing during the invasion, anyway.

Each evening, as the sun inched towards the horizon, Yuka set her other tasks aside to come out and wait. Jug of wassail sitting at the edge of the space, bundled in warm clothes and scarves, Yuka paced, wondering if this was really going to be worth the time. Are there people willing to spend that much time to train others when there's so much else that needs doing? Can someone even learn enough to make a difference in this little time? For that matter, are these shadow monsters something you can even fight with your fists? If nothing else, it would be good to do some physical activity in just to get her mind to stop going in circles.

For those who arrived early, there would be less to do, but even just talking through what different fighting skills people had would be useful for later on. Once more people arrived, those who use similar weapons could work together, and those with more combat experience could work with those with less. Or, people who know each other or are curious about each other's abilities could seek each other out for a sparring match.

So: Fight, teach, learn, take breaks, drink, chat. Bring your own wassail if you can - Yuka's can only stretch so far.

Comments

Magnus | OTA

[proficienciesouttheass]

[ The guy's been here for five days. And, in five days, he's gotten some of the lay of the land, he really couldn't pass an opportunity to show off help people with his fighting skills!

So, on the first evening, you get this big, burly man, shield strapped to his back, enormous ax in one hand, jug of wassail in the other (he wanted to contribute to the drinking portion of this! Because that's Responsible), looking around and finding the first person he can approach.]

Hey-- is this where the training's happening?

--

[ Throughout the week, you may find him excitedly sparring, trying to measure his strength to that of his opponent's. Sometimes, though, it's hard to dial it back, but he's polite enough to help someone up if they need it.


He's also weirdly excited about something this...bad? And serious? Feel free to question him about it. ;)]

[lightlessfuture]

[ The knight always fought out of necessity, not for enjoyment, but with no risk of having to kill their opponent for some reason or another, they find a certain peace in the rhythm of fights.

And since everyone is bigger than them, as usual, they don't feel a need to hold back too much with other warriors. Magnus is one such person; though they prefer to dodge, using their size and speed to their advantage, it might be a surprise when Magnus lands a hit that they parry instead.

They lock weapons, their tiny, gleaming sword against his comparatively large axe, staring up at their opponent.

It's kind of hilarious. ]

[proficienciesouttheass]

[ Magnus didn't really take it seriously at first - can you blame him? It probably took some insisting and a gradual escalation of a battle to get him to fight the Knight with any sort of serious effort. And color him seven shades of surprised!

Certainly, a fight full of confusion and expletives and growing excitement, until he's bringing his A game - the non-lethal kind. And when he brings that huge ax down on his new little buddy, unable to stop the part of his brain that gets scared he might hurt them this time, he's surprised again, a big huge grin flashing on his face. ]

Damn, buddy!

You're real good at this!

[achievementhunter]

[Chara looks over-- and then up at him, quirking a brow at this burly human man. Another new one, they suppose, and it's a mental cross to their intent to keep count of any new arrivals that come.

Their own jug of wassail is next to them, but unlike his, it's nonalcoholic. Alas.]

I would assume so, sir. If not, we're all in the wrong place.

[proficienciesouttheass]

[ Woof. There's something about this kid that gives him the weebie jeebies for a second there.

But he doesn't really get why, so they're easy to push aside. ]

Awesome!

Is Ren around?

[achievementhunter]

Around this? [The small area full of people fighting each other? Ren?

They try, so very hard, to keep their face neutrally cheerful- but the crinkles at the corners of Chara’s eyes give away their laughter, to the perceptive eye.]

No, I don’t believe she is.

[proficienciesouttheass]

Oh, huh, okay.

[ No, seriously, something about this kid is really weird. But Magnus will be polite... ]

You got a name, kid?

[achievementhunter]

Kidwun, sir. A pleasure.

[The introduction is accompanied by a low bow. Weird kid they may be, but never let it be said they don't know their manners.]

I assume you are here to spar, mister..?

[proficienciesouttheass]

Kidwun.

[ Alright, he'll keep it in mind. ]

Magnus. And, huh, yeah. Where's that happening?

[achievementhunter]

Right here, sir. In fact-

If you haven't found yourself a sparring partner already, perhaps you would be willing to have a practice bout with me.

[proficienciesouttheass]

Huh.

[ Magnus stares blank-faced at the...very much smaller kid.

You've think he'd learn that size and age don't usually matter when it comes to being an apt fighter, but he's still caught off guard. Besides, most of the kids he's met that are good at fighting are more into magic fighting than physical. ]

I, huh, I dunno, kid. I mean--I guess? But huh...

[achievementhunter]

I assure you sir, despite my size, I am relatively competent with my own weapon of choice.

[Don't doubt them buddy they will genuinely stab you to make a point, all puns intended. Glancing about, they gesture to the open space beside them- enough of a clearing to have them a good several paces to fight in close quarters.]

Shall we?

[proficienciesouttheass]

[ Magnus still looks wildly unsure, but if this kid is anything like the Knight, he probably shouldn't make assumptions.]

...yeah. Yeah, fuck it.

So, huh, what kind of fighting...? [ He considers his ax and his hatched, but...maybe hand to hand? Nope, that still seems weird.]

[achievementhunter]

How about something freestyle, so to speak? You choose your weapon of preference, and I shall choose mine.

[proficienciesouttheass]

Huh...

[ He's really going to fight a goddanmn child. Magnus, what is your stupid life?]

I'll just use my....aaaax? I guess?

[achievementhunter]

[An interesting one, that's for sure.]

Wonderful. In which case, I shall use this.

[Reaching behind themself, Chara pulls a hunting knife out from its place at the small of their back.]

I am ready. Please, feel free to not hold back.

[ =) ]

[proficienciesouttheass]

Oh.

[ This is a thing. This is a thing that's happening.

This is a small child with a very big knife and Magnus is having a lot of complicated emotions about this.]

Sssssure, huh...how about you go first?

1/2

[achievementhunter]

If you insist.

[They pause for a moment, staring him down and turning the blade over in their hands.]

[achievementhunter]

[Then they dash forward, dropping low to the ground and aiming to slash at the back of his knee- with the blunt edge of their knife. Not that it'll stop him from getting the...point.

Time to move, Magnus.]

[proficienciesouttheass]

Holy--

[ The surprise almost costs him his knee. Good think he's quick enough to throw himself to the side and out of the way, or this would be a really dumb way to lose partial leg function.

He takes a quick few steps back, holding his shield in the defensive, ready, though startled.]

Holy shit.

[ That is one stabby child.]

[achievementhunter]

[A burst of laughter, bright and almost proud- there's no other response, aside from the widening of their grin. Didn't anyone ever teach you that talking is a distraction to yourself, Magnus? Gosh.

It is a training session- and he did dodge, so Chara doesn't push for the advantage. Slowly circling around him with watchful eyes, it's fairly clear- his move. Is he going to wait it out?

Or is he about to rush in?]

[proficienciesouttheass]

[ Well, right now, he's going to sidestep, keeping up with Chara, eyeing them carefully and maybe rethinking that whole 'taking it easy on them' thing.

That is not a kid trying to just be tough, is it? Because that feeling sure did just wash away.

He holds his ax at the ready, eventually his unsure look replaced by furrowed brows and an attempt at concentration. He's a tank, not so much a strategic fighter, but... man, this is a really weird training session.]

Well alright then.

[achievementhunter]

[Correction; this is absolutely a child trying to be tough, Magnus- the major difference from any other child being hundreds of deaths, a good thousand murders, and several months of tactical knife training.

So not much at all, really.

His change of expression is truly welcome, Chara allowing a few more moments before deciding that he won't be taking the opportunity to strike first. That's fine. They can keep ACTing.

And they start, initially, in what seems to be the precise, same motion- going for his knees, before they veer away at the last moment. So long as he's quick, their knife shouldn't strick its destination- his unprotected side.]

[proficienciesouttheass]

[ With the shield on his other side, he can't cover himself quick enough. The kid's small and fast, making it much easier for them to strike whatever parts of Magnus aren't covered up, and that spells trouble.

Magnus does want to believe that this is just a really weird training sesh, but a tiny part of him at the back of his head has a tinsy winsy little bit of a legitimate fear that he might get stabbed by that very big, very sharp knife.

Instead of stepping back, he slides back with the foot on the unprotected side, turning on his other heel, attempting to use his shield to knock Chara off their feet with blunt force. About, huh, 50% of his strength. Still a small kid, after all. ]

[achievementhunter]

[His concern about that knife striking true is, unfortunately, rather legitimate- if that's what it takes for him to take this seriously, then Chara absolutely will. Their luck is about to run out, however, the advantage of his surprise wearing into nothing at all when he starts to parry their attack; the shield collides with their shoulder, pushing a grunt out of them as they're flung a few paces away, catching themself with one arm.

Not pleasant. They've had far worse.

But he doesn't know that. Which is why they don't bother getting up, making a few small, sad noises, as if they're about to cry. Gosh Magnus, what a villain you are. How could you.]