Basic Forms, OTA interested.

[Visar Falmaien]

Visar worked through some of the Forms as he practiced with his long sword, thinking about which he should teach to the trainees that would be learning from him today. Boar Rushes down the Mountain? He liked that one, it was aggressive and an excellent form for a beginner, but perhaps the multiple cuts or changing direction was a little too complex to start with?

 

He enjoyed using the stance Swallow Rides the Air, as it was versatile and could attack or defend with just about anything while moving, but many disagreed with him, thinking it too vulnerable a position from a thrust. As if a quick Kingfisher Takes a Silverback couldn't defend against any lower cut or thrust? Visar worked through a few more, choosing some, discarding others as either too dangerous to practice too often, like Heron Wading Through the Rushes, or too dangerous to perform at all in Visar's opinion, like that ridiculous jumping Thistledown in the Whirlwind. That was a good way to get a wannabe swordsman killed in his eyes. Much better to stick with the basics and keep your front facing your opponent at all times.

 

Visar's mind went blank for a while, revelling in his exercise. Then he heard nearby footsteps and paused, sensing that someone was near. Stepping so he could see who it was, he saw that it was one of his scheduled trainees. Excellent!

 

"Good morning! Are you excited to practice some sword forms?" he asked, grinning mischievously. He was not going to take it easy on them at all, but he hoped for their sake that they would enjoy the course too.

[Corlock]

Tandis stepped out from his barracks room, yawning and running a hand through his hair. Rubbing his eyes, he'd slowly make his way down to the yard. Today was his first day as a Trainee in the Tower Guards and he didn't want to miss Visar Gaidin's lesson on basic forms. Realizing the time, he began to trot through the barracks, he'd be early, which was good. He didn't want to risk getting there right on time, though, which was why he trotted. Stepping out into the yard, his trot stopped, and he walked across the yard to where Visar Gaidin stood.

 

Stepping up to the rack of practice swords, Tandis would select one that seemed in good shape and made his way to stand before Visar Gaidin. Scratching behind his ear as Visar asked if they were excited to practice some sword forms, Tandis would nod and respond with a hearty, "Yes, Visar Gaidin." He stood with his feet shoulder width apart, practice sword point down to the ground between his feet, hands resting on top of the grip. More in an at ease position, than a ready position for the moment, after all, the lesson had yet to begin.

[minisamus]

When he came to, he saw Tirzah's face.

 

"You awake?"

 

Ashley frowned with an expression that did nothing to ease the girl, who said, "really, fainting again."

 

"If it's a lecture about eating more, I know already. I just . . . forgot and then the mess hall was closed." he said to his friend "how's the situation?"

 

"Not sure," she shrugged, "but you're now late to your first ever weapons training class!"

 

". . . Aaaah, I forgot about that too!" Now standing up and struggling into his white and black uniform, Ashley took a look at the sky. At least it seemed to be a nice day.

 

"Wait, eat this scone before you go."

 

"I hate something heavy to force down in the morning. Besides I'll be more late!"

 

"So what? You're already late and it's not like you want to pass out in the middle of your class. I'm sure Visar Gaidin would find that more troublesome if he had to carry you to Vera Sedai to heal you."

 

Ashley shook his head at Vera Sedai worrying over him. His entire body made noises. Tirzah really knew which of his buttons to push.

 

"What?"

 

"Nothing," thinking about all those faces staring at him, he concurred "you are right. I'll eat this on the go, thanks!"

 

"The other way, dork!"

 

"Ah, right, the yard's confusing still."

 

Ashley Wilkes

Trainee

[Visar Falmaien]

(ooc: ok, we may have Marquis come in late, but I'll go ahead and get us started, and is it just Ashley or is Tirzah also in the class?)

 

"Yes, Visar Gaidin." Visar nodded at his proper reply, and then went over to where he had some practice swords for the class. He didn't like Tandis's at ease stance much, but the class had not yet begun and Visar was sure that he would get the bad habit of resting one's sword point on the ground out of the trainee soon enough, so he did not reprimand Tandis there and then.

 

A couple more students arrived, and Visar was just about to get started, having given plenty of leeway time for latecomers, when one more young man rushed over, out of breath and still chewing something in his mouth, crumbs spilling out as he tried to apologize for being late with his mouth full.

 

"We are just beginning, trainee." Visar said. "You will speak to me after class about being late." he added sternly.

 

After hearing the man's reply, Visar nodded, then motioned him to join the others to form a line.

 

"Alright, we will begin. If you will all take these steel practice swords to start with. We will not be hitting each other with these, but having a good scabbard to work with is key to getting the first part of the lesson down."

 

Visar handed each one of them a blunt steel sword, sheathed in a leather-wrapped wooden scabbard. Lathed wooden swords were useful for sparring, but they were too thick and unwieldy to practice Unfolding and Folding the fan with a sheath, so Viasr preferred to use blunt steel for beginners.

 

"The first thing we will learn is to draw and sheath our swords. Get into your preparatory stance like this."

 

Visar stood in Leapard in the Tree, his legs shoulder width apart and his knees slightly bent. His back was straight and one hand was on the hilt of the sword, ready to draw the weapon. Visar made sure everyone got this right, correcting those that were leaning too far forward, or who did not have their legs far enough apart. He then moved on, showing them how to draw the sword.

 

"The form for this is called Unfolding the Fan. You will find that the same motion can be used while the sword is unsheathed for other applications. But for now, we will simply draw our swords."

 

Visar drew his long sword from its sheath at his waist, raising it up and out in a cutting motion to block a potential incoming strike, and then withdrawing to a defensive guard called Lion on the Hill, the hilt held above the shoulder and the point threatening towards the enemy;s face.

 

"When you draw your sword, angle it as if you were cutting from the sheath in the same motion. With a slightly curved sword like some of you have, you will be able to cut out farther, but with a straight blade, merely cut up into a defensive position as quickly as possible. This position is called right Lion on the Hill, and it is a good stance to use for beginners, as it is difficult to break. It will feel a little awkward with crossed arms if you are right handed, but you will get used to it." Visar showed them all how Lion on the Hill worked: the point threatened a quick thrust to the face or chest, its primary value. The flat of the blade also covered well against cuts that came in to the upper right zone, and the guard could be switched to the left side as well to defend the upper left zone. The blade could also be brought back round quickly enough to make a strong, hewing strike capable of cleaving bone, or moved to defend another quadrant from an attack to the lower openings.

 

"Once you have finished your work in drawing the sword and assuming a position of defense, then you will attack with Courtier Taps His Fan, straight out with your arms stretched as far as they can be. Your arms and sword move out first, as if you are punching forward with both hands; your body and leg will follow immediately after, giving your strike power while not telegraphing your intentions to your opponent. This strike has reach and is very fast, and is one of the most useful cuts you will learn, as it can break almost anything that might come at you. Once extended, you will hook and cross your hands moving the blade back to your left," he added, and demonstrated the next step, hooking the crossguard and blade over to the left side. This motion held three purposes: when in a bind with another sword, it could move the other sword safely out of the way to follow up with a second Courtier Taps His Fan. It could also deflect an incoming strike to the left side in a similar manner. But its purpose at the moment was to quickly shake off any blood from a killing strike before returning the sword to its sheath. Visar did so and added, "This is called Folding the Fan. You will then carefully return the sword to its sheath."

 

"That is the first step. In summary: Unfold the Fan, Draw your sword, cut with Courtier Taps his Fan, hook to shake off the blood, Folding the Fan, and then return it to your sheath. Practice this slowly at first and do not muscle your way through it. Stay relaxed. You must practice this thousands of times to master it. So we will do this a hundred times before moving on. If you lose count, you have to start all over."

 

Visar resisted the urge to smile as he heard some of them groan in protest at having to do the same thing a hundred times. It would be dull and repetitive, but unless they practiced it many more times, they would not be able to do it quickly and smoothly when the time came to draw their swords, and chances were you could be dead if you couldn't do it fast enough. He watched them each in turn carefully, sternly correcting each on issues he found.

Edited November 20, 2010 by Visar Falmaien

[Corey LeMoine]

Agardo woke before the dawn and found himself full of nervous energy. The barracks were comfortable even though Visar Gaidin had been right about them being crowded. Of course Agardo had grown up with three brothers and two sisters in a small shack out behind the ranch so he was used to crowding. Still despite the relative comfort of his new bunk, he found that he just couldn't go back to sleep. The Warder had told him to make his way to the Armory first thing in the morning so that he could be ready for a weapons training class. He got up and got dressed before making his way across the mostly empty yards. A few guards nodded greetings to him after seeing his training clothes, though luckily he didn’t think any of them had been at the gates the night before. The armory was still locked up for the night when he got there, so he decided to do some exploring to get his bearings.

 

An hour or so of wandering brought him to the stables, and the familiar smells of hey and horse dung hit him with a wave of nostalgia so strong that it felt like a punch in the gut. He saw a few stable boys were up and started on the mornings chores and Agardo made his way over. He offered to give them a hand, and the boys seemed surprised that he would offer to take some of their work, but like most young lads, didn’t take much convincing. Light but it felt good to work with horses again after all the months on the road. The horses here were well trained and spirited, and grooming them helped to work out some of his nervous energy.

 

When he made it back to the armory, it was open and there was a man on duty there who walked him through some of the weapons, explaining their function and trying to get a feel for what would fit Agardo. For his primary weapon they settled on a sturdy one handed long sword. It was wide at the base next to the, Agardo had a hard time remembering the terms, quillions and then tapering down like a long thin triangle to a wicked point. They paired the longsword with a solid metal buckler for his left hand. It was a good five pounds of steel with a hard reinforced edge. Well if this sword business doesn’t work out, I can still throw a mean left hook with this thing. For his secondary weapon he chose a small bearded axe maybe about two feet long. On the side opposite the blade was a short sturdy spike that the attendant said was made for crushing both helmets and skulls. His third weapon choice was based on hopefulness. It was a heavy carving blade on the end of a long shaft, it was called a glaive if he remembered correctly. When he asked what sort of blade was useful from horseback the attendant had pointed out several options, and the glaive was the one that appealed to Agardo.

 

After all of this, it was nearly time for the class with Visar Gaidin, and Agardo quickly stored his weapons back at his bunk, taking the longsword and buckler with him to the courtyard. He wasn’t the first student to arrive, but neither was he the last. He was certainly glad the he wasn’t the student who had come in late. Visar Gaidin did not seem like a man he wanted to disappoint.

 

He watched closely as the Warder went through the forms. He tried to pay attention to why each movement was done the way that it was so that he could keep it in mind when it came time to practice. Agardo wasn’t slow witted, though folks often thought it of him, he had just missed out on a lot of book learning. Also, what he did learn he usually took the time to make sure that he got it right. Just like picking up a new job on the ranch, you wanted to make sure that you got it right before you got put into a dangerous situation. When Visar Gaidin gave the command to practice the forms Agardo heard some of the students quietly groan but he was relieved because he’d have time to really get it right.

 

He began by assuming the stance Leopard in the Tree but his posture had to be corrected several times. Keeping his back straight and his knees bent at the same time was tough, and worked muscles in his leg that he hadn’t known were there. His first attempt at Unfolding the Fan was clumsy, and he nearly didn’t get the sword out of the sheath. He fought down embasment as some of the other students smoothly drew their swords. Likely many of them had done some practicing already. His next attempt went better and he drew the sword out and into a high defensive cut. Visar Gaidin had him turn his wrist outward a hair, and the position felt much more natural. He moved haltingly into Lion on the Hill and struck out with Courtier Taps his Fan but his arms were bent and lacked proper extension. He repeated the whole process from the beginning and managed a passable strike this time. For a wonder Folding the Fan went relatively well on his first try. Ok, one down and ninety nine to go. He took a deep breath and set to work.

 

Over the next one hundred repetitions, his form got better and better. He took any advice he could get during the process either from Visar or the other students. About halfway through, a strange thing happened. The combination of physical work and mental concentration changed something in Agardo. He began to focus on the task at hand and forget about everything else. He forgot about the months of fleeing from Tear and the worry for his sister. He forgot about his own nerves and fears of not being good enough. The only things left were his body and the sword. He only stopped doing the forms when he realized that he had counted to one hundred and fifty. He looked around and hoped that he hadn’t held the rest of the class up, but there were still one or two students working on some aspect or another.

 

Agardo Renar

Trainee

[Visar Falmaien]

(ooc: Apologies for the delay, Tandis and Ashley still waiting on posts from you but I have waited long enough, and am moving on)

 

Visar watched carefully and gave plenty of time for them to practice the Unfolding and Folding the fan routine a hundred times. Then he called on them to stop what they were doing.

 

"Alright, you know how to draw your swords and strike from them. Good. Draw your swords and assume Lion on the Hill." Visar waited until everyone had done so. They looked alright, for beginners.

 

"Let's explore our options from this guard, shall we? We will start with thrusts, as that is the fastest thing you can do. Let's try this one: The Falcon Stoops." Visar drew his sword, assuming Lion on the Hill, and thrust straight out at face level quick with the Falcon Stoops, returning instantly to his defensive position afterwards.

 

"If your opponent charges at you, you might be able to catch him off guard with this quick thrust to the face before he can hit you. This also makes a great feint, as almost anyone will react towards a threat to their face. You can use this as a feint to the face, and then strike around at another opening if they flinch and draw their guard out. Practice this a few times."

 

Visar waited for them to do that, then moved on, keeping the pace of the class relatively quick this time.

 

"This is fast but it might lack the full reach and power of a good, straight thrust. So let's do a few of those too. This one is aimed straight at the chest usually, though in a real fight you would also aim at the throat or face. From Lion on the Hill, you will have to uncross your arms on the right and thrust straight out with the blade sprouting from your center. Try Hummingbird Kisses the Honeyrose from Lion on the Hill, but know that you can use this thrust from other guards too."

 

Visar allowed the trainees time to practice this thrust as well before moving on.

 

"On Lion on the Hill, you might seem vulnerable to a thrust or strike at your belly, and many swordsmen will do so if they see you take this position. With The Falcon Stoops or the Hummingbird Kisses the Honeyrose, you might take them in the face at the same time they strike lower. However, you will both be hit, and this is unacceptable unless you believe the gain is worth the risk, a concept called Sheathing the Sword. So let's try something that will defend ourselves first, and then return the favor."

 

Visar performed the Kingfisher Takes a Silverback, his sword blade darting down to make a barrier guard against a cut from either side, or a quick deflection against a thrust, and then followed in almost the same motion he angled his hilt down and thrust out to an imaginary opponent's abdomen.

 

"With this, you can defend that low cut or thrust, and then quickly retaliate. This is the Kingfisher Takes a Silverback. Pair up and practice this. Take turns: one of you thrusts straight to the belly or cuts at the side, and the other does the form to defend and counter."

Edited November 30, 2010 by Visar Falmaien

[Visar Falmaien]

(ooc: BUMP! Anyone that was in this still around???)

[Toy and Minion]

(ooc: I'll join up if no one minds.)

 

Icar wandered around the practice yard, searching for a place to begin. He walked over to a rack where various wooden weapons were stored. Choosing a single sword, the blade curved slightly. It was the type of sword found on most Warders, Icar had noticed. It would do for him. He had to start somewhere. When he turned, he found a familiar face. The Warder Visar who had allowed him entrance and given shown him his quarters. Icar felt weary around the man. Something about him made Icar feel as if the man could see his every thought in his eyes. But he was also the friendliest face he had found since entering the Tower. As friendly as an eagle on its roost, but preferable to a badger in his den. Or so Icar hoped.

 

Visar was teaching a few other students, some who seemed to be naturals, others who seemed to be struggling. Icar only hoped he could keep the weapon in his hands.

 

"May I join the class, Master Visar?" Icar asked, as sincerely as he could. He added a slight bow to his stance. Only women received more extravagant, unless he was being mocking. Mocking was the least of his intent.

[Visar Falmaien]

The class was winding down it seemed, a couple of the students losing interest. Others seemed to get the basic forms down just fine and were bored. Well, let them be bored, Visar thought. Learning how to swordfight was all about doing the same thing over and over and over again until it was instinct. And if they drifted off, they would only hurt themselves.

 

A newcomer addressed him. Visar thought the face was slightly familiar but it was hard to place exactly. Had Visar met him before? Why was his memory playing tricks on him today?

 

"You want to learn some forms? Well we're about finished. I believe I have enough time for a solo lesson though. Class dismissed for now," he said to the others since they probably weren't going to learn much more today.

 

"What was your name again, trainee?" Visar asked, and Icar replied. "Ah, trainee Icar, of course. You've already picked up a wooden sword then? Good. Show me your stance..." Visar began, and then he would teach Icar how to draw and sheath his sword, the slightly curved longsword that many Warders around here preferred. A simple yet effective blade, especially for use in dueling or unarmored defense because of its ferocious cut.

[Toy and Minion]

Icar took the sword in both hands hesitantly. Taking a breath, he bent his legs at the knees, left leg before right, and held the sword in both hands, point up and slightly forward, hands at waist level. The warder studied him while he held the stance. For far too long nothing happened. Sweat began to form as his leg muscled spasmed. It was becoming increasingly uncomfortable. How long would the warder just stare at him? What has he supposed to do? No answers seemed to be forthcoming, so Icar held the stance, brow furrowed and teeth gritted against the pain.

Edited February 1, 2011 by Toy and Minion

[Visar Falmaien]

Visar watched Icar for a while. Some elements of his stance were good. He seemed ready to draw the sword, and yet after a while he seemed to be fairly tense. After an almost unbearable silence, Visar finally spoke.

 

"I want you to practice that stance in your own time. Work on being completely relaxed so that you can hold it for a long time. For now we shall move on: let's see how well you can draw the sword. Unfolding the Fan."

 

Visar drew his sword to show Icar how it was done, and added with a slight variation on his normal draw to accommodate Icar's curved sword draw.

 

After letting him practice that for a while, Visar added the cut, Courtier Taps his Fan, and the sheathing technique, Folding the Fan to the demonstration.

 

"Now I want you to practice those three forms together until you're bored out of your mind. Then practice it ten more times and we'll move on." Visar instructed, resisting the urge to grin sadistically. He waited then, offering advice or minor corrections if needed.

[Toy and Minion]

Trying to copy what Visar had done, Icar swept the sword from its sheath. The blade got caught half way out and Icar stumbled, losing his balance. Clenching his teeth, he fell back into stance and pushed the sword all the way back into its sheath. Taking a breath, he tried again. The sword came out and slashed upward before he swung it around to hit himself in the head as the weight of the blade betrayed him. Slamming the sword back home, he grunted, blinking his right eye in time with the pounding of his heart - as the pain shot through him at precisely that rhythm. Trying again, he swept the blade out and up into a guard position as Visar had shown. His form was more than a little jagged, but he had succeeded. He smiled. He practiced Unfolding the Fan a few more times, before he felt comfortable with it. It was far from perfect, but he was just a beginner.

 

Visar held up a hand, and Icar re-sheathed his sword and waited for more instructions.

 

Unfolding the Fan into The Courtier Taps his Fan. He stretched out his arms, sword extended out toward the imagined opponents head, before taking a step forward for power. This form was much simpler, and Icar did not have much trouble, he thought. Visar had yet to call him on anything, anyway.

 

Next was Folding the Fan. Icar hooked the blade to his left and tried to sheath it in the same motion. The blade missed and sent Icar down on one knee. Standing up, he tried again, more slowly. He was never able to do it in one motion, like it was supposed to. He just hoped that practice made adequate.

 

Once done practicing them all separate, he was told to combine them.

 

"Now I want you to practice those three forms together until you're bored out of your mind. Then practice it ten more times and we'll move on."

 

Icar almost retorted back by saying that he was already bored with the forms. But he bit it back. Besides, he wasn't bored. And he would do it more than ten times after he was.

 

Unfolding the Fan into The Courtier Taps his Fan into Folding the Fan into Unfolding the Fan into The Courtier Taps his Fan into Folding the Fan...

 

He practiced with a focus he had never had before. His Warder trainer faded into the background and became a distant matter. He did not need to become the best, only good enough to become a Tower Guard. He knew this, and yet he drove himself ever on. When he made a mistake, he started over by Folding the Fan then Unfolding. He continued until his fingers turned numb and he had to blink the sweat from his eyes. And then he only paused to wipe his face before starting again.

[Visar Falmaien]

Visar watched Icar carefully as he learned, wincing slightly as the man hit himself in the face the first time. But gradually he grew better at it, and soon he was set into a rhythm, drawing, cutting, and sheathing his sword. The young man had such a focus to his practice, Visar thought it would be no time before he was an excellent swordsman if he kept this up.

 

Letting the trainee focusing on his own drill for the time being, Visar went over to scold another pair of trainees who were wrestling recklessly on the ground, their lathed swords forgotten in their attempts to beat each other up. Breaking up the fight, Visar made them switch partners. That should keep them from injuring each other for now; he would talk to them later.

 

Coming back over to where Icar was practicing, Visar counted ten times as Icar drew the sword into guard, cut from it, and sheathed it. Visar clapped his hands twice to get the trainee's attention.

 

"Looks good, keep it up on your own time." Visar complimented. "Alright we're moving on to the next part. Come over here." Visar led the already exhausted trainee relentlessly to a row of wooden posts called pells.

 

"Now you get to actually hit something without holding back! We're going to work on angles of strikes. You already know the first one, the Courtier taps his Fan, which is straight out and down like this," Visar took a practice sword and cut straight out, hitting the top of the pell cleanly with the part of the blade just a hand under the tip.

 

Visar had Icar try that a few times before motioning he had something to add.

 

"You can also cut horizontally, like this." Visar cut out in Arc of the Moon, hitting the pell about where an opponent's neck would be. The post shuddered in the ground when Visar hit it, and a small chip of wood flew off. "And diagonally, like this." Visar cut out with a diagonal cut, and the post shuddered even more under the power of the blow.

 

"Now if you alter how you throw out your diagonal cut, by pulling down your hands to your hips instead of going all the way through, you can cut defensively. This clears another vertical or diagonal cut, while at the same time putting you online for a thrust. So when you throw a diagonal cut, practice both all the way out to cut your enemy, and pulled in like this. This defensive motion is called Parting the Silk. When you practice against the pell, pull your cut short and then thrust out."

 

Visar showed the forms again to Icar to review. Courtier Taps his Fan, vertical. Arc of the Moon, horizontal. Parting the silk, defensive diagonal cut.

 

"Think you got it? Then have at that thing! Hit it as hard as you can!"