Sparring

[The date is December 30, 4289. It is now mid-afternoon.]

Practice Room
A large room has been devoted to the training of the Royal Guard. There are weight stacked across one wall while another is devoted to a long weapon rack and a huge training mat. People move about in constant activity, always training, playing or patrolling. You can go out the steel door, up the staircase or under the archway.

Augustin walks down the stairs.
Augustin has arrived.

Augustin steps into the practice room, nodding to a guard or two that he knows, and moves toward the rack of weapons, there to select a broadsword with some care, likely finding one that's close in weight and heft to his own.

Julius walks down the stairs.
Julius has arrived.

Julius slips down into the practice room, his cloak slung over his arm, seemingly coming to practice.

Antha perks a brow at the arrival of Augustin and Julius. She pulls herself out of a meditation position and stands.

Augustin turns from the weapons rack, and blinks when he spies Antha, then smiles a bit shyly and bows to her. "Good day, m'lady."

Julius tosses his cloak somewhere where it won't be bothered, off to the side, and is obviously here for one purpose. He does, however, bow to Antha. "Good day, My lady, and my lord." He offers in a regal tone, his bow rather courtly.

"Likewise, Augustin." Antha purrs. She gives Julius a fond smile.

Is that a blush touching the knight's cheeks? It surely is. Augustin clears his throat a little. "I'd been meaning to get back to you sooner about that ride you mentioned. I do apologize for it taking so long... When would be good for you? If you're still interested, that is."

Antha asks both men: "Do sais not exist in D'Image?"

Augustin says, "The three-tined Lopanese fighting blades? You can have them made, though it will probably be a bit pricier than a normal dagger. There's a couple of fine smith's about." You paged Julius with 'Sai. Three-pronged dagger. In length, it is from elbow to thumb and index finger webbing. Think Daredevil's Elektra.'.

Antha nods, storing this information. "But in general, swords and axes are the dominant weapon of choice?"

Julius moves off to the far side of the room, but turns at the question. "I think I've seen one... perhaps. But only one. They are made indeed, but a rare sight." He offers, while moving to grab a practice longsword. He seems comfortable around Antha, they're friends obviously. "Swords are the general weapon of choice, yes, Axes I actually don't see often."

Augustin chuckles. "Yes. And bows. We're frightfully unimaginative, here, aren't we?"

Antha chuckles. "You said it, not me, Augustin."

You sense: Julius offers you a wink and grin before shifting to begin his practices.

Augustin says, "There was one fellow, some years ago, that wielded a staff with two blades on it. He called it a... a lajatang, I believe. Frightening weapon."

Antha says, "Where was he from?"
Antha glances every now and then to Julius, watching his movements with absent study.

Augustin thinks for a few moments, then shakes his head. "I can't remember. I was only a squire, then, and only saw him once or twice."

Julius lets the two talk, and he begins his practices, taking a dual wield defensive position and beginning to block and fend off multiple opponents, his hair back in a ribbon to stay out of his face. His movements have a dancer's grace, but a master swordman's deadliness.

Antha hmms. "D'Image has such diversity, yet they are so stuck in their ways. Some weapons are better than others for certain challenges." She shrugs.

Augustin nods his agreement. "The sword is functional, and fairly easy to teach the basics in. Simplicity is usually best."

Matakana walks down the stairs.
Matakana has arrived.

[Matakana:

This tall, muscular woman is wearing men's leather clothing, despite her clearly female appearance. She has short brown hair, with hazel eyes that seem to never stand still for very long. Her chest is large and her hips are well-shaped underneath her pants. She is not wearing any jewelry or apparent metal armor, just her hard leather clothing and boots.]

"True. I've always found it so, yet every weapon has the basic, simple principles there. It's just a matter of varying styles" Antha says.

Julius is off to a far side of the room to stay out of their way, practicing with one sword in one hand, his elvish fashioned sword, and a practice longsword in the other.

Matakana glances around, looking at the various people practicing here.

Augustin nods again. "Developing a particular style is the work of years for most. Decades, even. Some have greater talent than others for such things. Myself? I'm a tactician first."

Antha cants her head. "Tactician?" She clearly is not familiar with this word.

Matakana speaks up. "One who is good at planning battles."

Antha nods. "A strategist, then." She smiles a greeting to Matakana. "More interested in divide-and-conquer, diversion-there-strike-over-there thing?"

Julius keeps to himself, practicing on the other side of the room, his hair eventually fighting free from the ribbon's captivity, the long waist-length raven strands ending up dancing around his form as his moves.

Augustin nods. "I'm better at looking at the big picture than at single combattants. I'm a fair swordsman... all knights need to be... but I'm much better at judging big situations, and planning for them."

Matakana watches Julius move.

Antha looks at Augustin with...newfound respect, perhaps?. A moment later she comments: "Do you know what it means to be a general Augustin?"

Augustin nods. "Yes. When I was a page, I sometimes got to work for the general."

Antha lowers her glance to the floor. "I mean /really/ understand?" Her tone is even, yet her eyes are sincerely concerned.

Augustin nods again. "Yes. All the responsibility for every man would be on my shoulders, ultimately, in every engagement. Only the King or Queen of any land ever carries more weight."

Antha bites her lower lip, the concerned look still there, thinly veiled. "You will have to knowingly send men to their deaths so that others may win the fight. If you try not to get anyone killed, you get everyone killed. Can you really carry that burden?" Her voice is genuinely curious.

Augustin nods. "I think I can, but the real test of it won't come until I'm given the opportunity to do so."

Antha mimics the nod. "Indeed. None know what they are capable of until it comes to pass." Her tone carries a cryptic note to it. She offer you a lopsided grin and says as much: "How's that for light-hearted conversation?"

Augustin chuckles a little. "The kind I'm used to, really."

Antha bites her lower lip, again, in a flirtacious manner. "Now what are you trying to do? Turn me into a person of depth?" She wags a finger. "We can't have that."

Augustin moves to fold his arms over his chest, and is suddenly reminded that he's holding a wooden broadsword, when he thwaps himself in the cheek with it. Blush. Lower practice blade. "And why not? There's nothing wrong with substance..."

Antha simply smirks after you slap yourself with the wooden sword. She shrugs, still gazing with that amused expression. "I thought you said you knew how to handle your blade?" she says finally, a brow quirked.

Augustin says, "I do. I meant to do that." Damn, he's a horrible liar. "Got you to smile, didn't I?"

Her smile grows in size at the latter comment. "You have a talent for that" she says. Then, pointedly: "What other talents do you have?"

Augustin shrugs a little. "I play the flute?"

Antha scoff/laughs. "Do you now?"

Augustin nods, apparently missing the joke. "Yes. All knights are required to have some sort of musical ability. I chose the flute as my instrument because it's easily portable, and sounds cheerful. It's often a good travelling companion. Especially at night."

Antha hmms. "I didn't know of that requirement. Are you any good?"

Augustin says, "I don't flatter myself with thoughts of greatness, but the Royal Bard, Aditu, has said I'm quite good."

Antha smirks. "I should hope you handle your flute better than that wooden sword."

Augustin lifts the blade again. "Well, if you'd like to see how I do with this, and then hear me play..."

Antha quirks a brow.
Antha nods. "I would like to see."

Augustin moves to the pells, and squares off against one as if it were an opponent. "Then you'll be able to tell me which I'm better at..." Then he sets to, hacking and whacking at the pells with the wooden blade. As he said earlier, he's a fair swordsman, and, in this instance, he's obviously pulling out all the stops, even doing some rather showy moves that, in a real fight, would probably get him killed.

Antha observes quietly, her eyes moving over you (as well as comparing your skill to that of Julius') in natural study.

Matakana also watches, observing your skills silently.

Knightly and noble-born training is, in general, superior to that given to commoners, though some commoners are just plain gifted with blades, and can surpass those upper-class bought skills. Augustin could, if he had a shield as well, probably hold his own against Julius for some time, but the difference in styles, and Julius' obviously more single-minded approach to the blades would give him a distinct edge.

Antha seems to relish to sight of Augustin's fluid movement. She quickly recovers and her expression is neutral.

Augustin finishes off his display with a well-placed 'neck shot' on the pells, and steps back, his breathing only slightly heavier than when he was at rest. Good stamina, he's got.

Matakana stands up. "Not too shabby."

Antha bites her lower lip again, grinning simultaneously. She obviously noticed the stamina. Her gaze moves over to Matakana, who has said very little during all this and who she had almost forgotten was there at all. "What do you say? Can you beat that, my lady?"

Augustin bows slightly to the two ladies, and moves to put the broadsword away again.

Matakana smiles. "Easily." She walks over to a dummy. She unleashes a horrific yell, and slashes at the dummy with her sword, her sword flying everywhere around it, one foot sweeping up into a kick that lands firmly in the front of its "head", finishing with a low sweep from her sword and a punch from her left hand.

Antha makes a 'hmm' expression with her lips. "Augustin, why not spar with her? I think it would be interesting."

Matakana walks over to the rack, and gets a wooden sword.
Matakana says, "You up for it, Augustin?"

Augustin reclaims the blade he just put away, and selects a body shield, as well. "Certainly." He doesn't seem at all daunted as he moves to the open practice space. Impressive, she was, and fast, but there are ways to counter that...

Matakana grins, and makes a beckoning gesture to Augustin. "Whenever you're ready."

Antha takes a seat on a nearby bench, stretching her legs out on it. She is silent for the moment.

Augustin advances quickly, leading with his shield held at midling height and angled slightly downward, not striking with his sword, but moving right in to get close to Matakana. Too close for her more mobile style to be as effective, is the hope. Up close, his superior size, weight, and most likely strength, ought to hold the edge. Tactician.

Matakana grabs the knight in a grappling hold, getting ready to flip him.

Augustin grins, and drops into a crouch, apparently having anticipated that attempt, and heaves himself up and forward in a bull's rush of a charge, shield still leading, and sword coming around its right side to thrust.

Matakana takes the hit, and rolls away, her grin still there. She jumps into the air, leaping clean over Augustin, and spins around, her sword swiping at him.

Augustin gets his shield back around to block most of the sword-strike, though a good stinging welt will rise on some of his bicep later on from what he doesn't catch of it. He looks more surprised by the jump than anything. He's well over six feet, and she did it without a run... He falls back into a defensive posture while he adapts further to her style and mobility.

Matakana presses the attack, her sword-blade blurring as she swings at multiple areas on Augustin's body.

Sword and shield work with remarkable harmony, considering their size and weight. Such is the training of the Knights of the Dragon. While not the best among the order, Augustin is no slouch, either. He keeps most of the strikes from connecting, and those that do tend to be minor while he bides his time, waiting for just the right opening...

The baron was practicing, but he pauses, a bit sweaty, to watch the spar. He remains quiet, watching both of their skills.

Antha gestures with a wave of her hand for Julius to come sit beside her on the bench.

Matakana performs another jump, this time backwards, where she takes up a defensicve position.

At Antha's gesture, Julius moves to sit next to her, laying his sword and practice longsword next to the bench, settling next to Antha quietly.

Antha whispers into Julius' ear.
You whisper, "Who do think will win, Julius?" to Julius.

And the jump is the opening. As soon as Mata's feet leave the ground, Gus is in a charge again, swiping high with his sword, and then following quickly with a shield-bash attempt as the woman descends. This had better work, because after his previous skill display, and her nearly relentless attack routines, even his considerable endurance is near its end.

Julius grins and whispers back.
You sense: Julius playfully places a kiss on your ear, to get you back for your teasings before this day, on the last meeting. "Never underestimate the power of a woman."

Matakana is similarly tired from her own movements, although less so, and though she manages to knock the sword aside with her left hand, she is struck by the bash, and knocked over. She rolls off to one side, then launches into a desperate-seeming attack once more.

Antha gives Julius a sly grin. She simply makes a 'hmm' sound, and scoots closer to him. She whispers back, her lips just as close to his ear as his was to hers.
You whisper, "You sound like you speak from experience, my lord." to Julius.

Julius chuckles softly and returns the close whisper.
Julius whispers: I've been beaten by a woman a few times, My lady, I learned not to underestimate them." His voice almost sounds sultry... and sensuous.

Augustin jerks his shield back into line with the coming sword, just a smidgen too slowly, and finds the blade bound up in its straps with his arm. If her sword were steel, he would now be shieldless, and lacking the use of that arm, but as the blade is wood, he yanks even harder, trying to wrest the woman's blade from her hand. Guaranteed, at least one more welt on that arm from this maneuver, even if it fails to get her blade from her.

Matakana is getting more tired out, and releases her sword.

Augustin steps back, lowering the tip of his broadsword in the traditional signal for a break, or a cease to the combat, while his other arm shakes, trying to get the woman's blade out of his shield straps.

Matakana lowers her arms to signal that she understood. "Wanna call it a draw?"

Antha smirks, gazing at Julius from lowered lashes. "Beaten in combat or otherwise?" she teases. Julius laughs softly, and offers back in a teasing tone, with a roguish smile. "Both, but both tales are best not told in public, I'm afraid."

Augustin nods readily to that. "Certainly. A draw is acceptable." He racks his broadsword, then struggles more with his shield and the blade tangled in it. "Damn... it's hung up on my shirt, too..."

Matakana removes the blade by the simple expedient of snapping it in half.
Matakana says, "That work?"

Antha gives Julius a light, playful push on the shoulder. "None of your stories are suitable to be told in public!" she jests.

Julius grins a bit, and pokes Antha playfully in the side. "And your point is?"

Augustin lets out a bark of pain as his arm is jerked almost out of its socket by Mata's sudden (and unwarned of) assistance. The blade does come loose, though. You'll have to forgive Augustin for not looking extremely grateful, though.

Antha's smile is so pointed and...provocative that it is impossible to miss her meaning. She whispers to Julius again.
You whisper, "We need some stories of our own." to Julius.

Julius raises his eyebrows and offers a whisper back.
You sense: Julius grins a bit. "My suite is empty for the time being. Plenty of room for 'sparring' in our own terms..."

Matakana blushes. "Sorry about that."

Augustin cradles his shield arm with his uninjured one, and says around gritted teeth. "Think nothing of it.... pain builds character, neh?"

Antha tosses her hair over her shoulder in a mock-haughty fashion. "I'll consider that."

Julius smirks a bit, and glances back to the combatents.

Matakana says, "You should probably go to the Infirmiary to get that looked at."

Antha seems to notice just now that Matakana and Augustin have finished sparring. "Who won?"

By appearances, Augustin lost. He's got more bruises, and is cradling one arm. "We called it a draw. She landed more blows, but I disarmed her." He gives a bit of a rueful grin. "And then she tried to disarm me... more literally."

Matakana is still kinda sorry about that..."I got my sword stuck in his shield, and when I broke it to remove it, I just about busted his arm by accident."

Antha appraises Augustin's arm and lets out a short laugh.

Julius hmms softly. "Well battle is never... Easy on a person." He tries to keep from making any other comments.

It is now evening.

Augustin releases his injured arm, and gives it a few experimental flexes, making sure it still works properly. Ooo. Ow. Hiss. But it still seems to bend in all the right places. He looks at Matakana. "Monk's training, I assume?"

Antha says something to Julius. It isn't a whisper, yet the pitch of her voice is low enough so that only the man beside her might hear.

Matakana shakes her head. "My whole family were unarmed fighters. I was just the best, so I started training in armed fighting, too."

Augustin nods a little. "But where did they learn?"

Discreetely, you mutter to Julius, "It's getting late. Would you accompany me to my quarters? It can be dangerous outside when it's so dark. I'll protect you."(the last statement is clearly a joke)

Matakana shrugs. "Not too sure...my grandmother said something once about a God, but I think she was senile."

Augustin chuckles a little. "Probably religious monks, then."

Julius arches a brow and laughs at Antha's mutter. He rises and offers his hand to the lady to help her to her feet properly, and moves to return the practice sword to it's home and resheaths his sword on his left hip before moving to claim his cloak.

Matakana nods. "Say, you wouldn't happen to know anyone whose blazon is this, would you?" She holds up a tattered bit of cloth, with a dragon rampant on it.

Antha follows behind Julius, watching and studying his movements for no particular reason.

Julius clasps his cloak around his neck, letting it fall down behind and around him gracefully. He offers his arm to Antha with a court-like manner. "Shall we, M'lady?"

Augustin is distracted from Mata by Antha's departure. "I guess you'll hear me play another time," he says, though not very loudly. She may even not hear.

Antha takes Julius' arm, offering him a warm smile. However, she has not forgotten the shy knight. She nods to him. "Another time, I suppose." The statement is chock-full of innuendo and she gives him a discreet wink.

Augustin nods a little, and works the shield off his arm, putting it back on the rack with more force than is really necessary.

**OOC note: by this time Antha and Julius are far enough away not to be able to hear Matakana and Augustin's conversation***

Matakana watches silently, then speaks. "Jealous?"

Julius blinks lightly at the knight. "I'm just walking her home, no reason to get mad." He offers to the knight with an eyebrow raised.

Julius slips to the stairs with his comment given, and up they go.
Julius walks up the stairs leading out of the practice room.
Julius has left.

You walk up the stairs leading out of the practice room.

Stairway
Guttering, russet torchlight replaces the soft, golden glow of candles, as you stand in the stairwell of the north wing of The Castle. The landing is built from good, solid stone, expertly fitted together by dwarven masons. A few tapestries dot the walls, adding a touch of color and warmth to the drab stone. Shadows chase each other across the walls, and you sense that this place is a transition, rather than a room as such. Up the stairs, you can make out the softer glow of candlelight, while downstairs, you can hear the clash of weapons.

Julius begins following you.

You walk out of the shadowy stairwell...

North Hallway
The light in this segment of the hallway takes on a different, more effervescent quality. Instead of candelabras, small globes hang magically suspended against the walls, near the ceiling. They shed a light, invigorating illumination over the hallway, not unlike sunshine. There are no coverings to darken the white marble walls, and, as a result, the hall is bright and fresh. Small golden urns hold mysterious herbs, which fill the area with the scent of lilacs. You are filled with a strange joy and energy. The hallway continues back to the south, and to the east lie the polished wood doors of the lounge. To the west is a stairwell, and to the north, a guarded door leads outside the Castle.

Julius walks in from the stairway to the east.
Julius has arrived.

You walk south, toward the main foyer.

North Corridor
Pools of golden light shed by the candles that line the walls collect along the marble floor, adding warmth to the cool stone. The candelabras are made of finely carved gold, gracefully arching arms of light. All along the great vaulted ceiling hang the banners and arms of the royal families of the realms, their colors and designs a testament to the variety of peoples in the land. Just north of the ballroom door, the east wall is replete with windows, a veritable wall of glass looking out onto a serene, tranquil garden beyond. Your footsteps echo against the marble as you walk down the corridor, muffled only by the tapestries that line the walls. These tapestries depict several scenes from D'Image history and from the mythology of the land. Obvious exits: Infirmary Ballroom North Main Foyer Julius continues down the hall from the north. Julius has arrived. You paged Julius with 'thanks'. You stroll southwards into the main foyer. Main Foyer(#13RaJS) The Main Foyer of Castle D'Image is an impressive room, black and grey marble columns stretching along the walls to the high vaulted ceiling above. Between the monumental columns are padded marble benches for the comfort of those who would socialize here. The marble floors shine gently in the illumination from everburning tapers that provide a flickering light. The recesses of the immense entryway are still, however, shrowded in shadows. To the west lies the impressive set of double doors leading into the throne room, and at either side of them are stairs leading up to the foyer balcony. The east end of the roomis dominated by a large gateway leading out of the castle. To the north lies the library, and the north wing. South, an archway leads into the banquet hall, another hallway goes down to the general quarters, and an alcove for recent arrivals can be seen.

Julius enters from the corridor to the north.
Julius has arrived.

You head out onto a well trodden road.

Gateway to the East
Above you to the west, a grey silhouette against the night sky, is the Castle, set in the side of an immense mountain. The light of the archway casts a faint glow here, by which you can see that you are at a crossroads, a road leading to the south to the market place, another down the mountain to the flickering torchlight of the village, and a third leading north into the darkness. The ground is covered with snow, but the roads have been cleared by frequent travel. The sky is grey-black, moonless and starless. Human eyes can distinguish the snow from everything else, and not much more: every shape that isn't snow-covered is a black shadow. The air is damp and cold. There is little wind.

Uniformed members of the Royal Guard stand watch on either side of the Gateway.

Julius emerges from the main foyer of The Castle.
Julius has arrived.

Antha looks above at the sky. "It's pitch-black out here, isn't it?"

Julius glances up, and nods gently, not seeming to mind the coldness of the outdoors. "Just a bit...,yes."

Antha gives an obviously fake shiver (purposefully obvious). "I'm cold" she murmurs, lifting her head up to meet your eyes.

Julius slips his arm from you and slides it around your shoulders to pull you into his protective form, wrapping his cloak around you as well to encase both bodies inside it.

Antha hmms. "That's better." She heads toward the village.

You wander down the path, leaving behind the castle and entering the little village of Waes.

Village of Waes
This lovely little village stands in the shadow of Image Castle. Most of the local peasants reside here, working the fields and carrying out their daily lives under the protection of their lady of the castle. The cobblestone path veers off into darkness southwards towards the marketplace, most of the stores now closed for the evening. Torch sconces illuminate the buildings and the narrow path, shadows cast all about. Few people can be seen on the path, however the Reavers Latitude seems to be busy, the noise from inside echoing out onto the street. A thin blanket of snow covers the shops and nearby homes, though the path itself is cleared from the constant travel to and fro.

It's cloudy, cold, and damp.

Julius wanders down the path from the castle.
Julius has arrived.

Antha flicks a glance at the boarding house. "Well, here we are."

Julius chuckles gently, and holds you close as he walks next to you. "Want me to take you inside, or leave you be?"

Antha snuggles her body closer to your own. "How about I take /you/ inside. You need to be allievated of those clothes."

Julius blinks lightly and chuckles faintly. "Lead on."

You open the door and enter the boarding house.

Foyer, Waes Boarding House
The foyer of this elegant old home has been turned into a reception area for those wishing to rent a room. Along one wood-paneled wall, a series of hooks have been placed to afford residents and visitors alike a place to hang their cloaks. Windows with lace curtains, placed on either side of the door, 'look out' to the street.

Near the door to the parlor is a reception desk, where Sylvia waits to help you. Ask for 'Sylvia help' if you wish to check in or out, or 'look register' to see which rooms are available and who is staying here.

Through the door, the cheery parlor serves as a meeting place for all and sundry. The deluxe guest rooms can also be found off the parlor. Guest rooms on the upper floors are accessable via the stairs.

Julius comes in from the street.
Julius has arrived.

You head upstairs to the guest rooms.

Landing, Waes Boarding House
A hallway stretches out from the stairway, with rooms on either side. Walls and doors have been left a natural, dark woodgrain. The light coming in through windows at either end of the hallway help alleviate what might otherwise be a shadowy passage, in the daytime. At night, the soft light of a few wall lanterns helps residents find their way. On each door, a brass number has been affixed.

Julius comes up from the foyer.
Julius has arrived.

You go up the stairs to the attic.

Attic Landing, Waes Boarding House
The hallway is narrow and dark, despite the few wall lanterns. The ceiling is not all that tall, either, just a few inches over six feet. A brass number has been affixed to each of the closely spaced doors that line either side of the hallway.
Obvious exits:
Room 11 Room 12 Room 13 Room 14 Room 15 Room 16 Room 17 Room 18 Room 19 Room 20 Stairs

Julius comes up the stairs from below.
Julius has arrived.

Antha leads you before door #17. "It's this one" she remarks.

Julius glances at the door, and hmms softly, reaching to open it. "Shall we then?"

Antha smiles suggestively. "The bed is stiff and definitely needs the kinks worked out of it."

You open the door and enter Room 17.

Room 17, Waes Boarding House
This small, windowless garret room is clean, but small. The sloping roof makes for a certain diminishment of space as one approaches the outside wall. There is a bed that is not quite double, but big enough for two if they like each other well. A plaid blanket serves as the coverlet. On a table near the door, where there is the most room, sits a small pine table with an oil lamp. On the other side of the door, some hooks will accommodate the resident's clothing.