| Sword and Sword; European dude and Japanese chi- I mean dude | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Mar 23 2013, 03:45 AM (264 Views) | |
| Professor Doctor Science II | Mar 23 2013, 03:45 AM Post #1 |
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Science.
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It had been a long day. Far too long in Fenris's opinion. A skirmish with barbarians was a brilliant start, especially when it was so closely followed behind with rigorous training and a dinner with the incredibly humble Lord Gallan. After it was all over, Fenris was sure he'd be able to make a tale out of it. Perhaps he would write it now and share it with the tavern down the road. Come to think of it, he couldn't remember the last time he wrote a song, let alone perform. All this training had really been getting in the way of his bardic craft. If he expected to become a Lore Master, then he would have to find a way around the constant practice. No, stop thinking like that. You're a knight in training now. You have to focus on what Sir Yonda gives you. He sat down at the grindstone and began sharpening his blade once more. Outside the weather was rather pleasant for the winter. Normally, it would be snowing non-stop, but the sun shone brightly, reflecting off the light blanket of white that covered the hills. In the small town, people went about their business normally, children darting between their legs. Why Sir Yonda was needed in such a serene place was beyond Fenris. Well, that was until the battle earlier in the day. He paused for a moment to inspect his claymore, determining if it was adequate. Pleased to see that he had managed to get the angle just right, he returned the sword to its sheath and went to work on his armor next. Beside the heavy plate mail sat a delicate tea cup, decorated in ornate patterns. He lifted the china and looked out from the smithy to call out. "Rika! You left your cup." He looked down at it again. "And you didn't finish it!" |
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| Alice Sinclair | Mar 23 2013, 06:07 PM Post #2 |
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Boo.
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"Patience." The word, calm and just firm enough not to fold to a stiff breeze, was accompanied by the light crunching of snow under foot. Moments later, their origin arrived in the smithy: a still-armored Rika. This was not an uncommon practice for her, especially in towns. It made things easier. Traveling with Fenris, combat training, and... The adorned warrior bit down on her lip, a slight frown forming. 'And more, but that is enough.' Turning her attention to the meticulously decorated tea cup, Rika adjusted her face guard and then picked it up with the sort of care normally reserved for jewelry. "Few precious things lie openly without retainers nearby. In this case," She paused, sipping from its contents ever so softly. The sweet taste brought a smile to her face and much needed warmth to the rest of her. "Not but a few steps." The snow was beautiful to look at and, as the earlier battle had indicated, exceptional for avoiding an ambush, but the chill and wind accompanying it brought a perhaps unfair share of shivering upon the adorned warrior. "The fortifications here will remain stable for some time." The recovery and refortifying efforts were precisely what Rika had stepped out to oversee and occasionally advise on. Her experience had taught her much in ways of thwarting an opposing army, but that did not necessarily encourage others above her station from listening. Whether this was due to differing goals, ideas, budget, or... Rika bit her lip again, electing for another sip from her tea to ease away her frustration. 'Regardless, they have their reasons. Some things simply cannot be helped.' Some things indeed. Going back to a related topic, the adorned warrior looked at Fenris. "How long does your lord expect to stay?" Much as she was tolerant of traveling with Fenris in the service of her nation, rivaling authorities made Rika deeply uneasy and foreign ones much more so. One cannot serve two masters, after all. |
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| Professor Doctor Science II | Mar 23 2013, 08:05 PM Post #3 |
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Science.
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Lifting his armor, Fenris gave Rika a smile. "Maybe so, but just think of how crestfallen you would have been had I not seen it." He set the plate mail next to the forge and began heating some steel needed for the repairs. "I might have just smashed it on accident." Slowly, he began to mend his armor, mending the small dents and cracks. During the fight earlier, someone managed to land a good blow to his pauldron. Luckily it didn't cause any major damage to his body, but less could be said for the armor. Even with the extra steel he could use, he still feared that he would have to have an entirely new piece forged. "As for how long we're staying, Master Yonda said that it should only be one more day. He wants to do one last thorough inspection on the new walls." Fenris reached for a strip of leather and used it to replace the tattered one on the shoulder. "And for the last time, he's not my lord. He's simply a veteran knight training me in the way of chivalry. He doesn't even have a title beyond 'sir'. Not that he would mind you calling him a lord. Everyone knows he wants his own land." Through some miracle, Fenris managed to repair the large crack in the pauldron. He inspected his handy work and began hammering it back into proper shape. "So, now that you've seen a proper battle, what do you think? Impressed at our military might yet, or do you still believe your nation is superior?" |
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| Alice Sinclair | Mar 23 2013, 09:38 PM Post #4 |
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Boo.
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"How dreadful," The adorned warrior paused, taking a sip from her tea to hide a smile more amused and emotive than was proper. "Your observation holds yet more mysteries, banishing away one nefarious plight after another." While not explicitly thanking her companion, throwing him a bone of some kind was in order. It was a worthy point, although barely so. Rika trusted him enough not to break the few possessions she owned. 'So one more day. Still too many, but...' Nodding slowly, Rika elected to concentrate more on Fenris's objection than dwell on that matter further. "I see. Would you would also call a sword an axe then?" The distinction was never one Rika agreed with and such equivocating seemed pointless. The adorned warrior was about to take another sip of her tea when Fenris popped his battle questions. Much as she tried, Rika could not stop herself from scoffing. "You and your people fight like degenerate beasts, engaging in barbarity with war as a pretense," The sheer bluntness contrasted sharply with the almost-serene expression on her face. Taking another sip of her tea, the adorned warrior continued. "You fight without honor and believe it 'proper'. I am no more impressed by your warfare than the cleverness of a bird or savagery of a bear; might is meaningless without proper guidance in the ways of warriors. Further, unlike your nation," Rika took another tea break, both to collect herself and ease a parched throat. So much talking. "I serve a nation united, one never conquered by outsiders and other foreign devils. You have already lost in any sort of comparison." The adorned warrior spent a bit of silence looking contemplative before speaking again. "At least you can mend your own armor." |
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| Professor Doctor Science II | Mar 25 2013, 04:09 PM Post #5 |
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Science.
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Most men would be driven insane by the way Rika talked. Most would drive a blade through her heart at how infuriatingly horrid she could be. Fenris was different. His instincts may have told him to lay her out with a well-aimed fist, but he instead smiled and shrugged it off. If she wanted to talk in riddles, so be it. It was probably more natural for her, considering where she hailed from. Although, the way she almost constantly insulted his land was more than he could abide. "An axe and a sword serve different purposes, as do a lord and a knight. It's the chain of command, friend." The squire checked the thickness of the repaired section and then started to buff out the rough areas. "The way we fight also serves a purpose. It may not be as showy and elegant as your... What was it? Bushy dough? But we fight with courage and valor, with an endless fire in our hearts that keeps us pushing onward. We are willing to do whatever it takes to win the war." Now that he could actually see himself in the pauldron, Fenris put it down with the rest of the armor and stood to stretch. "And of course I can mend my armor. What kind of knight would I be if I couldn't?" Edited by Professor Doctor Science II, Mar 25 2013, 04:15 PM.
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| Alice Sinclair | Mar 29 2013, 06:47 PM Post #6 |
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Boo.
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For a few moments, Rika was silent save some delicate sips from her drink. Much of this was respectful consideration - not liking someone's ideas usually didn't merit insistent and reactionary responses. Usually. - and, of course, thinking how to best formulate her own rebuttal. 'Of course, he is always like this. I'd sooner succeed in stilling the seas, but...' The adorned warrior's pondering left a slight frown, quickly erased as she realized the proper course. If he wanted to equivocate, so be it. "They are more similar than different." Her tone wavered, betraying tiredness hidden behind the adorned warrior's typical serenity. The foreign pronunciation of bushido, however, was just enough to elicit some uncharacteristic tittering. "Bushido, friend," Rika enunciated the word slowly, almost looking like she was trying to teach a young child the word. Her smile, however, revealed this to be a good-natured jab. "Endless fire, is it? Fire is easily led astray by capricious winds." The adorned warrior's echoing seemed mired in thought. "Courage and valor are a constant amongst honorable soldiers, but to do anything?" Though Rika had seen the horrors of war, particular individuals - necromancers, specifically - came to mind. Rather than articulating this, however, the adorned warrior simply let the question hang. A breeze streaming into the smithy elicited Rika to shiver and subsequently break the permeated air. "What kind of knight indeed." She sounded amused at least. Were Rika to call herself a knight, she might have even taken offense. As it was, the adorned warrior just experienced another expression fly over Fenris's head and willingly let it go uncorrected. |
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| Professor Doctor Science II | Apr 5 2013, 12:37 AM Post #7 |
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Science.
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Fenris opened his mouth to respond, to say that, yes, they would do anything, but then he remembered how quickly mages were hung for their blasphemy. All but the divine miracles were rooted out, magic openly preached against, and any heretics were executed in typically gruesome ways. "No, I suppose there are a few things my people wouldn't resort to." He never liked thinking about the discrimination against magic users, and opted to change the subject rather than linger on the current one. "Alas, I think I have made the needed repairs to my equipment." He piled his armor against the wall, carefully placing each piece, before grabbing the scabbard for his short sword and buckling the belt around his waist. "Shall we pay the tavern a visit? I hear that the bard has gotten over his illness and can once more sing and tell us tales." A twinkle in his eyes shone as he thought about what magnificent stories he might hear. For a brief moment, he thought about bringing his harp to learn the songs as well. |
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| Augustina Marchand | May 4 2013, 01:36 AM Post #8 |
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Marvelous Magician!
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Rika seemed to visibly relax just a bit when Fenris conceded his point, a small smile cracking on her face. "I see. That is indeed a relief." In truth, the adorned warrior was more relieved that Fenris had limits than that he agreed with her. "Ah yes, your equipment. What defines your knighthood." Another jab, a serene and almost innocent look on her face. "It is good you do not need it examined by another then. That may take time." The prospect of visiting the tavern was met with a quiet sip of her tea as she contemplated it. "A suitable resting activity. Would you remain a spectator?" The adorned warrior was not unobservant; she knew he played, if only by how enthusiastic he seemed to be. |
| Bear WITNESS to the GLORIOUS GOLD STANDARD! | |
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| Professor Doctor Science II | May 6 2013, 02:40 AM Post #9 |
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Science.
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Like many of Rika's jabs, the jab went right over Fenris's head. He thought, for a moment, that there was more to it, but he brushed that feeling off. Why would Rika feel the need to lace such a well-meant comment with subtle negativeness? Besides, her face was that of an angel, so wholly innocent and honest. There could be no way that her words were meant as a means of making fun of him. No way at all. Fenris quickly stopped thinking about how there was absolutely no way that Rika could have possibly just insulted him, and instead began to think about the tavern. As soon as they arrived, he had checked it out, to see about learning some local lore. It was something he did in every town he visited, and he usually found one or two things that really caught his interest. However, the barkeep had told him about the bard's illness and he had become crestfallen, having been told by practically everyone there that the bard was the one to talk to. Now that that particular detail had resolved itself, Fenris could barely keep himself from sprinting there. "Perhaps after I learn a story or two, I shall join in. Perhaps I'll tell of the time that Sir Yonda and I fought a drake, or the time we battled twenty brigands!" His mind raced with stories, a wide smiling appearing on his face as he thought of the many tales he had to tell. "Should I bring my harp?" His eyes wandered over to the corner where it sat, the light gleaming of it's gilded form. He bit his lip as he debated with himself on the idea. |
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5:45 PM Jul 10