Training Ground (Present Day Mittelmarch)

[Sir Nichtmar]

(map of mittelmarch)

It’s a time of peace in Mittelmarch, Telemachus and Karn have gone into hiding. The new arrivals, the Jovian empire, have still been quiet and we have not broken their request of being left alone. The Mittelmarch Guard has done some light traveling aiding other realms in need. But today is just another day in Mittelmarch.

Just north of the arena in the open area, many days and nights are spent there sparring and practicing group tactics. The sun is will soon set, but Nichtmar is eager to spar. He’s wearing his grey tabard with black trim, held tight by his dark-red belt. His Dragoon leather sash and his squire sash, given to him by Sir Richter of Pentwyvern, hang from his belt. His squire sword is strapped across his back. He stands with a gladius in his hand ready to spar.

“Come on you lazy, mucks. Somebody fight me!”

[Baethor]

Baethor sat at the side, puffing at his pipe, seeing the young recruits unwilling to stand against the imposing ogre. chuckling he let out a long stream of smoke from his nostrils and reached out to his Dwarven shortsword. The runes etched into it glowing slightly at his touch.

"Right! If you young'uns are afraid te face the ogre, I'll show ya how its done!"

The dwarf tightened his belt against his bright red tabard and stepped into the circle, squaring off against his old friend.

"Ah'll give ye a chance nichtmar, I'll use a sword this time around! Ah'll leave the axe by the side."

Chuckling again he centered himself and held out his sword to touch nichtmars

[greybeardabbot]

"Hail to camp!" Comes the old voice of an old friend.
The grey pilgrim limps in among the Mittlemarchers. leaning rather too heavily on his staff, it would appear that the grey one has gotten older, (if that wer possible) for he appears more stooped and moves with an arthitic sluggishness.
"I see that nothing changes among the naves. Still better than Gravy are you Nictmar?"

[greybeardabbot]

Distracted by Greybeard's unannounced arrival, Baethor turns round in surprise...
"Greybeard!" he sounds in joyful voice. Moving his sword to his left hand he extends his right in fellowship and takes a step toward the old monk.
SMACK!
Nichtmar takes advantage of Baethor's turned back to swat him one upon his unguarded posterior.
"let that be a lesson, dwarf, not to turn your back on me." His broad smile shows no malace and while Nichtmar laughs, Baethor can only smerk at his wounded pride and turn both thier attention to Greybeard. Nichtmar, friendly hand on Baethors sholder steps boldly past him to welcome GB., when he becomes aware that the Greyone is more grey than usual and walking with a sigificant limp.
"What is this? What news Greybeard?"
"Tis nothing actually. I was not mortally injured, that's all. It was a short black dwarf with a great effing club. It was bound to happen sooner or later. It is an amusing story actually, ask me about it again later. But the long and short of it is that my left knee is a bit unstable and I've had a long... recovery. But don't let me interupt gentlemen... let me take a seat and watch . We can chat while you spar if you can stand the distraction.

[Sir Nichtmar]

Nichtmar stood awkwardly for a moment.

“I apologize, Baethor. I’m really not sure what came over me.”

His gaze passes on to Greybeard, a smile crosses Nichtmar’s face. He spikes his gladius into the ground and jogs over to him embracing him like a brother. They’re brothers by the Dragoons, but Nichtmar always seemed to see a fatherly figure in him. Though their paths rarely cross, when they do, Nichtmar is reminded of what goodness is meant to be. There are few people that Nichtmar aspire too, though squiring to Sir Richter, Greybeard is held in high regard. Nichtmar backed up.

“It’s good to see you, friend. If you’ll excuse me I have a little problem to deal with.”

Nichtmar grins as he turns to his old dwarven friend Baethor and rips the sword out of the ground.

“Shall we?”

[Baethor]

Baethor rubs his rump and grumbles loudly. "Yeh, yeh..."

Baethor bowed politely to greybeard and glared at nichtmars short joke. "hah, funny ogre! Its good te see ye can speak whole sentences now." The dwarf smiled broadly and took his stance away from the ogre, holding his shortsword out and clinking it agaisntnichtmars own.

"Ah'll let ye make the first move."

[Aidan Furey]

*Standing quietly, leaning upon a large cart drawn by two Very-Large, Aethenric-breed draft horses Furey stood quiet watching the scene unfold, just as Nichtmar moved towards Baethor he spoke*.*

Now ye'canna remmember he's a moight bet'sharter then ye'? Swing more et'a downard angle aye? Smash'tha vermin aye?

*With a hearty laugh, Furey began to walk towards the sparring field.*

[greybeardabbot]

"Ach... yah... You'd be the man to give advice Lord "Flurrey". Here comes a snow job for sure."

[Sir Nichtmar]

Nichtmar pauses for a moment to give Furey a nod.

“Evenin’, Furey. Good to see ya”

Then Nichtmar explodes with a low swinging shot towards Baethor’s feet. Baethor slides out of the way and strikes back. The two block and counter countless times.

“Your blade work has improved, Baethor.”

With a grin, “Are the axes getting too heavy for you?

[Suihaden]

(OOC) I hope no one minds me getting started in RP

(IC) One of the latest recruits, a Welshman by the name of Suihaden sits in the grass watching the sparring of the veterans. He is astonished at their skillful moves. "Where have I been all my life!" he thought comparing his crude fighting methods he learned in Rys to the fine methods of the tried warriors of Mittelmarch. "Watch and learn." his mind advises him and Suihaden relaxes, taking in the wisdom of the elders.

[Baethor]

"Pfeh! My axe is more suited fer cleaving through an opponents helmet! I would ney wish that upon yer fragile kneecaps Ogre!"

With a hearty chuckle Baethor throw in a quick thrust, parried easily by nichtmar, both fighters feint and are forced to mistep by the other, each digging into the ground with there blades.

[Sir Nichtmar]

The dwarf and the ogre take a break and head toward one of the trees. Nichtmar grabs his water sack that was hanging off one of the limbs. They drink.

"My friend I hope that Isen is up for the task of King."

He checks his blade and sheaths it on his back.

"The Jovians retained the scepter of Isg' Bel, if they learn to wield it's power we could be in serious trouble. And I've heard rumors of gnolls..."

ooc: you're fine Suihaden, anyone may join in at the moment I haven't noticed you.

[Kotaro]

Kotaro sat cross-legged at the edge of the field, observing the warrior's motions.

So different than my own training, he mused. I'm glad I've found this realm of Mittelmarch.

He stood and approached the now resting warriors.

[Suihaden]

Seeing Kotaro stand up and apprroach the ogre and the dwarf, Suihaden spang to his feet demonstrating agility that among men only the inhabitants of wales posses. Following Kotaro the two approach the resing sparrers.

[Baethor]

Ah've known isen fer only a short time ogre, but he's seen this land mold and shape itself inte what it is. And as long as you and I are here, what can stop us, eh? Hah!"

Baethor took the waterskin and took a swig, pouring a little into his hair. Before looking over to the young warriors.

"Hehe, well lads. Tha's how REAL warriors fight. Now how about you show the other recruits what ye can do, go pick up a wodden training sword over there, along with a shield, or whatever else ye need and give it a go."

[Suihaden]

Suihaden nodded and armed himself. He then turned to Kotaro and asked "Art thou willing to fight?"

[Kotaro]

Forgoing the shield and instead arming himself with two swords, Kotaro turned to Suihaden.

"Are you?"

[Suihaden]

Touching his sword to one of Kotaro's, Suihaden replied, "certainly, ON GUARD!"

[Kotaro]

Kotaro began to circle Suihaden, never taking his eyes off his opponent.

[Sir Rune]

(gets up from where he was resting on the edge of the training grounds)

Telling those lads that the dancing you two were doing was actually fighting will get them killed one day, if they ever do see real battle.

Trouble with the Jovians only means that that chance is more than likely to happen. I'll do what I can, but, I'm busy out keeping tabs on the Jovians, making sure they don't get close to Mittelmarch. I broke off 4 good jav's in a party the other day. They are becoming more aggressive with the unusual weather that we are having. What do you two think we should do about it?

[Suihaden]

Suihaden souted his war cry "Cadarn Calon!" and sprang forward, trying to smother Kotaro's swords and strike himwith his. Kotaro, merely blocked and dodged around him. The two exchanged countless blows, Suihaden's lack of experince beginning to tell.

[Tatsumura Masamune]

As the others stand there talking or fighting, Masamune approaches a log, some 2 feet in diameter, and standing 6 feet above the ground. The beating marks of bludgeoning weapons evident. Masamune crouches down into his draw stance, and with a flash, his katana suddenly displayed unsheathed at the end of the attack. As he turns, beginning to walk towards the group, he shealths his katana. As the blade clicks to lock in place, the top half the log suddenly flys off, making a loud thud as it hits the ground.

"Rune is right, my eyes in the mountians have noticed quite a bit of activity. We should be perpared for anything."

[Herz'ag Malurg]

It had been a long time since his eyes had been set on the small hamlet known as Mittelmarch. He walked between the great stone walls that the city was built up of. Far too long had he been in recluse somewhere near to that deep green beast known as Fangorn forest. Herzag, ever so slightly aged and even more plumped, strides into town with a lazy walk, almost a limp that had been character to him. From a wee off he could see two young members sparring. It did his eyes good to see a competition between two men of the sword.
Stumbling closer, seemingly unnoticed by his longtime comrades he stands a while in thought at what a great city Mittelmarch had become. What had changed? He could almost taste an the change on the air. He noted to himself that he had not seen the two lads ever before. Perhaps it was the new blood the village had acquired. He had no way of being sure but proceeded even closer. Upon being nearly within earshot in a heavy crowd he noticed that some familiar faces were around still.
"Nichtmar! Baethor! Rune! Greybeard! Furey! How're you doing you bunch of lumps?" He let out a heavy laugh that came from deep within his stomach."
He drops his bags near a stray stone and swaggers closer to the group swinging his lanky arms at his side, his long tattered hair blowing in the breeze.

[Suihaden]

Suihaden made a surprise swipe at Kotaro's legs, hoping to score a hit. As the others watched, there was a flurry of activity, which ended with Sui on his back counting clouds. Slowly he climbed back up and told Kotaro, "let's try that again."

[Kotaro]

Kotaro adjusted his grip on his swords, saying, "Very good. I think we can both use the practice." With that, Kotaro charged, attacking from two directions.