Sun Jan 11, 2009 1:24 pm
"You probably blocked it out." Tit for tat. Glenn, well trained to respond in kind, turned back the attack with his dagger. Only a quick high feint now before he made another lunge towards Burel's stomach area. Last time was the face, now he was going low. Best to keep him moving.
"A dwarf trained you to use a sword? You figure a dwarf would have a firmer grip." The Duke wasn't seeing Glenn's banter as friendly? Fine, he'd ask an honest question then.
Sun Jan 11, 2009 5:51 pm
"Dwarves like to use axes and hammers, if you have not noticed. Or at least this clan did." This time the sword did the maneuver, a parry that touched against Glenn's blade and swirled the thing in a circle to defeat it of forward momentum. He didn't withdraw his sword though, unless Glenn would as well. He was perfectly content to leave the two weapons touching.
He hadn't even counter attacked with the scabbard, not yet anyway. "And the grip makes sense for the handle. You will note that it is not straight like your own, hm? The curve to it gives me greater power in the sweeping cuts you need when on horseback. It needs to be agile. Give me a broadsword, or an axe of some sort, and yes, you will see a a firmer grip. Armsmaster Borean taught me to use many weapons, this just happens to be my favourite."
Mon Jan 12, 2009 2:51 am
"Horseback. Pah." Was that some snobbery there? Misguided snobbery perhaps. Ariane Emory had a love for all weapons. Her student has a mild interest in them, but a near obsession with the one in his hand, and the art that came with it. "A well-made weapon can be be useful for many different things, but i prefer specificity." That was a hard word to spit out in the midst of combat and Glenn ended his sentence there instead of actually explaining whatever he was talking about.
Perhaps he would use his blade to explain, following his own style and weapon well. He had already, through habit, endevoured to keep this spar tight, to make it a battle of lunges and thrusts and driving blows instead of sweeps and arcs, though Glenn's rapier did have a sharpened edge as well as a sharpened point. Some did not. Presumably keeping it tight would minimize Burel's strength advantage, and now, as he was learning, might minimize the advantage granted by his blade.
Their weapons were touching now, and it was a brief pause to see which would make the next move. Glenn was eager to keep the offensive, though, and would finally try to slide his sword down the length of Burel's, an attempt to get a touch upon the man's chest. It was a risk only in that it brought Glenn within the range of the scabbard once again, but the potential gain was well worth it.
Mon Jan 12, 2009 1:15 pm
"What's wrong with horses? Just because Ariane has issues with them, does not mean you should as well.... Anyway, I never did like the Rapier to tell the truth. Nor the Schiavona, though Ariane might try to stab me for saying so. True." He paused enough to shift his own blade, a half step backwards to allow Glenn the momentary offensive. The two swords continued to touch one another thus far. Status quo, perhaps. The conversation was amusing enough for the time being. And, evidently, neither needed to prove much to the other. He had that feeling.
"A true master can do many wonderful things with either blade. Especially if you sharpen the length of it like I see that your own is." He saw it quite clearly, really. Could hear it, in the way that the two weapons grated against one another as they continue their little dance. For here, Burel flourished his weapon in a small circle. It would have been child's play for Glenn to maintain the contact had he wished.
"But lunge and thrust. Like I said, raised by dwarves after my parents were slain. I happen to find the cut and the smash more... amusing. Or did, until I had another man teach me about the void, and oneness." It was one of the many reasons he had stopped using the broadsword, as it had been his favourite weapon in his youth. "With myself, that is. Not the swords. Otherwise I'd never decided to use the scabbard as a... device, in combat."
Mon Jan 12, 2009 1:24 pm
"She wouldn't." He thought that over slightly as they continued to position, as Glenn continued to try to push his sword past Burel's guard, forcing contact until he could, never giving too much of himself in the attempt. "Well, if you spoke in a universal sense. If you made it clear it was your opinion, she'd simply let you know that you were wrong." Maybe by dropping him, maybe. It was long past the point where he showed complete religious discretion for his teacher's business. "And you would be wrong, of course. And yes, my sword DESERVES to be sharpened." Even if Glenn's style did not make much use of it, it was good to have, good to always have that option, especially to have it in the mind of his opponent.
"Oneness and void." A year ago, Glenn might respond to that with mockery. Since then, he had trained with strange visitors, with elves, with mind mages. He had forced himself to improve in areas where he would rather not, discipline most of all, an internal sort. "No oneness and void that I have ever encountered encouraged such unorthodoxy. Perhaps if I continue to meditate long enough, I'll kick my boot off in the general direction of your teeth, sir."
Mon Jan 12, 2009 1:34 pm
"Hah. Well said, well said. You should always have options available to you when you are in a fight. Tricks that your opponent is not aware you could perform. Your average sell sword, by rote, will not expect a rapier to be sharpened much beyond the point. Enough to take advantage of a slice or a shallow cut, hm?" The swords continued to dance their metallic dance, even as Burel stepped to the left. Nothing wrong with it, was there? Other than the fact that he knew that Glenn wanted to attack. Burel had, after all, request that the man do just that, hadn't he?
"Just for reference, she tried to get me to trade out this piece of work for a similar blade before the events at Orvere. As I said then, not much use on the back of a horse. Still holds the same now, hm?" Burel relaxed his shoulders a notch, a little smile still playing across his face.
"However, the Oneness? It is not about... not being unorthodox. It is about being aware of everything around you by subsuming all your emotions within. To float, as it were, in a bubble of purity of purpose. When you can focus yourself to pristine a level, anything is possible... Such as throwing your boot at your opponents face." A grin, enough to make the creases of his face twist and a sparkle to flicker through his eyes.
Mon Jan 12, 2009 1:52 pm
"What's the point of having a sword if you're just going to swing it at people haphazardly from horseback. No art. Skill. No art." In fact, now Glenn was attempting more and more daring attempts to make it past Burel's blade. He still wasn't openly exposing himself, but he was getting closer with each attempt.
"What is it then, sir? A lack of emotion or rage quickening your step? I prefer the latter in most things, personally. Perhaps not in this, though." Glenn Burnie wore his heart on his sleeve quite often, even when trying to press for information. "No, I don't think I'd like that void of yours at all, though."
Mon Jan 12, 2009 1:59 pm
"When you are in the melee, Glenn, art and skill... Not as important as staying alive. This is where the unorthodoxy comes from. I have been in ten major engagements in my life, and numerous skirmishes, not counting any tomfoolery I may have found myself in during my visits to Myrken. Skill, yes. Being able to read your foe, but the art? Better to be focused and let into the simplicity of battle. Better to learn to ignore the pains that float across the shoulders, down the thigh or up from the foot, by being in the void, than being slain because your combatant speared you in the belly."
Glenn was trying, and each were impressive little bits of swordplay. Burel would never say it, of course, but he actually had to think about how to counter each little maneuver, rather than just letting it all be rote mechanic and muscle-memorized motion. Ariane did not skimp when it came to training someone, as long as they actually paid attention to the lessons. That almost pleased Burel more than Glenn accepting.
"Though, admittedly, not being in the void leads to it's own unorthodoxy, does it not?" Here, then, as Glenn made another motion to defeat Burel's guard, the Duke would simply step forward instead of reversing like he had the last four or five times. Inwards, and truly into the dangerous range of that dagger. That was fine, wasn't it? Especially as his scabbard had drooped and acted in much the same way as the weapon Glenn had. He'd move to drive Glenn's, and his own, sword upwards. As if over their heads.
Mon Jan 12, 2009 2:10 pm
"I enjoy this, Duke. I enjoy this a great deal, but I never, ever go looking for it when death is on the line. I fight with my mind first and foremost. This is secondary and thus, as of yet, it has been able to stay pure." Snobbish? Perhaps, but Glenn did not live as long as he did in Myrken actively looking for battle. Passively, perhaps, and even then he would be quicker to fight with his tongue.
Finally! Finally Burel made a move. Glenn had been waiting for it. It had taken all of his void and oneness and control and whatever else the Duke had been talking about but Glenn had waited patiently, exposing a bit more of himself each time. Now, as Burel tried to force his sword upwards, Glenn would not attack with his dagger. No, instead he would swiftly lift his foot up, intending to press it to the Duke's not-so-tall chest, to push Burel back with it. Just how good was the man's balance when he wasn't expecting such a gambit? Because really, sometimes there was nothing quite as artful as a well-timed foot.
Mon Jan 12, 2009 2:37 pm
"If you ever have to draw your blade in anger, Glenn..." It was all he got out as the other man rose his foot to plant the thing in the Duke's chest. Something that Burel would allow, his feet setting themselves firmly upon the ground. Solid muscle beneath a layer of leather and cloth. That is what Glenn would feel, if he could feel aught through his boot. He would also find that the Duke was very stable.
Oh. It wasn't to say that he didn't scoot back an inch or two, his current assault paused by the motion made by the Mapmaker against his torso. "Also a thing to note, Master Burnie. Having been tested in the crucible of battle, I am prepared for many things you would not believe. Like a foot to the chest. I like it though... I really do." At least he didn't betray the fact that it had come at a point he had not expected it. He expected much, because of what he had been through during his life. The Schism, the Restoration. The Baron's War not too long ago. Overe! But a foot to the chest was never truly expected. At least he didn't fall over. That would have truly been embarrassing.
So then, he'd do the one thing he really could in this situation. And that was to swing his scabbard around to lay the flat of it against the inside of Glenn's leg. It was swift, but the intent was clear. Oh, he could poke him with that dagger all he wanted. But the Duke could main something else important. The question was, of course, how much did Glenn care about reproduction?
Mon Jan 12, 2009 3:44 pm
Ah, things expected and things not expected. Glenn Burnie, who was always running here and there, who had developed quite a bit of strength in his legs, who was certain that he had taken the Duke by surprise with real initiative, a move that he actually never actively tried before, had not expected to be pushing his foot up against a stone wall.
Ah wait, that was Burel. Hell.
A moment's hesitation. A meeting of the eyes. Well, then... this was ... unfortunate. It took about a second and a half for Glenn to make a decision. Use what you've got available, right? What else was there to do?
If Burel was going to be an unmovable wall, then Glenn would use the man for leverage. He would simply propel himself back against said human wall. His leg tensed and he pushed his body backwards. Oh, it might cost him a nasty bruise against his leg or kneecap, if the duke responded with that scabbard quickly, but it was better than the alternative. Glenn had no love at all for his family or its name, but he did have real affection for its jewels.
Of course, even in the best of situations, this little gambit, propelling himself backwards in such a way, would leave him upon his back, or, if he was lucky, in a skidding, sitting position. If there was no major blunt trauma (likely from said scabbard) midways, Glenn would, upon landing, attempt a backwards roll to his feet with some real speed and agility, though not perfect fluidity. He had to show real care with both of his weapons after all, so as not to take off a limb. Unfortunately, such acrobatics would leave him in quite possibly the world's clumsiest stance, though at least not COMPLETELY facing the wrong direction with barely any distance at all gained if Burel had followed him with even a little haste.
Mon Jan 12, 2009 4:25 pm
"Excellent, Master Burnie. Excellent." He wanted to pant, really. It didn't do his chest very well to have someone propel themselves from you by using your body as a springboard. Really, it's what he would have done were he in the same situation, but it didn't mean that he was all that prepared for it. There would certainly be a bruise upon his chest from that, but all in all, it was better than a dagger to the knee or anything like it.
In any case, Burel made no attempt to deal damage to Glenn like he would were this a true battle. Instead, his sword swept in a flourish and was sheathed without the man sparing a look towards the weapon. He didn't move towards Glenn, however, as the man still had his weapons at the ready. Also, the Duke didn't quite seem to be ready to quit the whole ordeal. He simply set himself into a different stance.
"Now. That was truly something I had not expected. Your legs, Glenn. Very strong. Lenore might be wondering what the Hêl I have been up to today." A smile, his left foot slid forwards a notch. "Again, I compliment your balance. You took your training well, most definitely. That is as much the student as the teacher, hmm." Again, a slight shift of his stance. A little step to the side. "Do you wish to continue, Master Burnie?"
Mon Jan 12, 2009 4:41 pm
Panting? Glenn was doing a bit of that himself, mainly due to the adrenaline flowing through him than anything else. His body had moved very much upon its own, with just the slightest bit of thinking and prodding, but that didn't change the fact that the young mapmaker realized that he had just done something extremely out of character. His heart was pounding, even as he quickly scrambled to face the right direction, to get his feet right. It was a long moment before he calmed down enough to let reflex settle in. His footing followed shortly thereafter. "What? Oh. Uh... Of course, sir. Absolutely." It had taken another moment yet for him to recover his train of thought well enough to successfully answer the Duke's question.
Suddenly, a mortifying though came over Glenn. He would turn sharply towards the door, needing desperately to be reassured that Ariane Carnath-Emory was not there, that his teacher hadn't just seen that. It was so very unlikely but word HAD gotten out about this spar and with his luck... There could be no continuing until he was absolutely sure.
Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:44 am
In the second it took to make his decision, Burel hoped that Glenn did this on purpose. Looking away that is. Especially after saying that he wished the little scuffle to continue as it had been thus far. Because, if he had, then he hoped for a wonderful little counter to what was transpiring. If not. Well.
In whatever case it was, Burel moved the moment Glenn's eyes started to move, and as his head followed, the Duke was fully in motion. He didn't utter a thing as he did so, only the sound of his boots upon the ground would announce that he was surging forwards. His antics were thus.
The hand that held the scabbarded sword shot out ahead of him and then swept inwards for Burnie's midsection. Not to hit with the long end, that is, but to sweep the rounded and tasseled end across his center-line before his hand shot out and dragged the sabre-like sword free of it's casing. The third action was to jab that tasseled end into Glenn's stomach, whilst at the same time bringing the flat of the sword 'round to, perhaps, catchin him across the temples.
You wanted to see how fast the Duke was, yes? And here it was, a four step attack that was done in the time it took Glenn to turn his head and gaze that hopefully, hopefully, Araine was not there to look on. It was almost too bad, Burel would think, that she was not. He'd love to urge her into the ring as well, and perhaps duel the pair of them at once.
Wed Jan 14, 2009 1:16 pm
Well at least it didn't seem as if Ariane had seen that, because really, it was NOTHING that she had taught him and... HELL!
He had been daydreaming. No. Not daydreaming, no matter what Agnie might say. It was really a bit more like dread and he had paid for it. His grip tighted and he just barely parried and sidestepped. It meant a nasty rip in his clothes as well, though not an embarrassing one. That is, his pants were in no danger of falling. Thankfully, one doesn't wear one's best clothes in such a setting, even when dueling with a duke.
No, more important was the fact that he couldn't even mount a counter, couldn't banter, couldn't even get his footing how he wanted it. All he could do was allow Burel the offense and direct which way his steady retreat would take him. In fact, if Burel WAS to keep up the offense, he would find Glenn methodologically retreating towards the training dummy. A little bit of interference between them would go a long way right now.
Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group.