• Memory • Memory:Bruised but not Beaten

The capital city of the of Rynmere, here is seated the only King in Idalos.
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Vincent D'Ordyn
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Memory:Bruised but not Beaten

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Timestamp: 31th of Suan, 699
Location: D'Ordyn Estate Training grounds.

"Keep your shield up!" Jarod barked, his practice sword again finding its mark on Vincent's left shoulder before he could raise the shield to block it. His tutor, Jarod, retreating after the blow and easily deflecting Vincent's counter. "To slow boy, you must be quicker." Jarod commented as he side stepped to Vincent's right. Vincent turned his body to follow Jarod's movement. This time when Jarod struck Vincent's shield was there to block the strike, but again his counter attack was deflected away from Jarod harmlessly.

"Your shield is low!" Jarod shouted again, as once more his sword struck Vincent. As Jarod retreated once again, Vincent followed after him, lunging at the small opening Jarod had made in his retreat. Though Vincent's attack was well placed his footing was poor and the strike carried no power, simply bouncing off the mans side. Without a word, or any remorse Jarod landed three more strikes to Vincent's now open body. Causing the boy to fall the the dirt bruised and exhausted.

Shaking his head Jarod walked over to the rack of practice weapons. "That's enough for today. Put your gear away and go get yourself cleaned up." His tutors tone gruff, and full of annoyance. This wasn't the first day Vincent had been so thoroughly beaten by his tutor. As Vincent pulled himself up from the dirt of the training field, his vision swam with tears of frustration and defeat. Jarod was an amazing soldier, on of the few his father trusted to teach Vincent in the ways of combat, but no matter how many times Vincent tried he couldn't seem to get what the other man was trying to teach him. The constant failures had begun to weigh heavy on the boys mind.

With his head down, so Jarod could not see the tears that pooled in his eyes, Vincent walked over to the racks and returned the shield, sword, and padding to their rightful places. Then without another word walked into the estate and the washing room.


Vincent - Them - Others - Thoughts
Last edited by Vincent D'Ordyn on Tue Jun 28, 2016 4:55 am, edited 1 time in total. word count: 362
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Vincent D'Ordyn
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Bruised but not Beaten

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Half a break past and Vincent finally exited the washroom. The dirt from the field washed from his hair and body, but the frustration of the failed lesson still lingered. Silently he moved through the house until he finally found himself in the dining room, his father already seated at the end of the table and his mother to his right. They spoke to one another quietly of something regarding the affairs of the household, but none of it real stuck with Vincent as he crossed the room and took a seat to his father's left.

Soon after he had taken his place at the table, his parents finished their conversation, and turned to him. His mother took in the look on his face and hers shifted to one of worry. She looked to his father, who simply stared at the boy with a look of simple understanding before looking back to his wife and shaking his head. They ate in relative quite, with only small conversation about what had happened that day, and what was planned for tomorrow.

As the meal neared its end Vincent's mother excused herself from the table, and went to see about some order of business, leaving Vincent there with his father. "Rough day on the field with Jarod?" his father asked. Vincent simply nodded in confirmation. "Come, walk with me, tell me what happened." Vincent's father said as he stood, and began to walk away from the table. Vincent follow as he was told and relayed the events of that days training to his father.

"I feel like I am just not good enough to do what Jarod wants. He's so fast and strong, I just can't do as he does. I'm sure he thinks me worthless for not being able to use a shield properly." Vincent finished, he hands in fist as the frustration from earlier returned.

"You're wrong on that Vincent. Jarod is a hard man, and an excellent fighter, he may be lacking in his ability to teach, but what he can teach is very important. He's probably just as frustrated as you. Where you see yourself as a failure of a student, he see's himself as a failure as a teacher." Vincent's father said as he reached down and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Not every lesson comes easily son. Some come at the cost of bruises, others with blood, and the hardest with the loss of life. The true test of your character is learning from those lessons, and becoming better. With that Vincent's father brought him to a stop in the hallway they had been walking down, and turned his son to face him. "Sometimes we come up against challenges that seem impossible, but don't let those challenges become walls. Turn them into a reason to continue, to be better than you were. Never stop trying Vincent. With that Vincent's father gave him a pat on the shoulder and a warm smile. "Off with you now. Enjoy the rest of your night."


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Vincent D'Ordyn
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Bruised but not Beaten

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"Your shield is low!" Jarod shouted as his sword once more slipped passed Vincent guard and struck him in the shoulder again. They had been going for a break straight and Vincent still hadn't landed a single hit on Jarod, though he sported a number of new bruises from the man. With a sigh Jarod dropped his stance, "Take a break, get some water. We'll start again in five."

With head hung low Vincent walked over to where his waterskin hung near the equipment rack. Why can't I get this. Vincent thought as he dumped some of the water in his mouth. As their break was drawing to a close Vincent returned to the field where Jarod stood waiting.

"Before we begin again Vincent, do you know what a shield is used for? Jarod asked, his tone neutral.

"It's used to guard your body from attacks, to ward of blows that would otherwise be damaging." Vincent answered, a confused look on his face at such a strange question.

"Yes, and No." Jarod responded. "A shield is used to protect, yes, but that piece of wood strapped to your arm is not the real shield. You are the shield Vincent. When you carry a shield, it becomes your duty to protect. In combat you protect the man next to you, or behind you. You cover his weak spots and then men around you cover yours. If you fall, eventually they too will fall, and if they fall so shall you. As is with the shield you have on your arm now. If you let that shield fall, eventually you too will fall. Do you understand?" Jarod asked as he again took up his stance.

Vincent followed suit as Jarod's words sunk in. As they continued their lesson Vincent made sure to be aware of his shield at all times, and though it cost him on his other side, he never let the shield lower. Soon, the two were catching blows on their shields and attempting to counter, and though Vincent was never quite as quick as Jarod, he was able to deflect a fair number of the other mans attacks all the same. After another break passed of the two trading attacks Jarod finally called for another rest.

His face still somber the man spoke as Vincent drank more from his waterskin. "I think you've finally gotten the basics of using a shield. Now it's time to work on your bladework." A small smile pulling the veteran's mouth upward, as Vincent broke into a huge grin.

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Vincent D'Ordyn
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Bruised but not Beaten

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Timestamp: 32nd of Suan, 699
Location: D'Ordyn Estate Training grounds.

"You can put up the shield and sword for today, and take of your padding, we are done with sparring for today." Jarod said stepping over to another section of the rack and picking up a long matte black cylinder, roughly the length of a shortsowrd, that was wrapped in leather for a few inches on one side. "You'll use this to work on your bladework form now on." Jarod continued holding the rod out for Vincent as he finished putting away his other gear.

As Vincent closed his hand around the wrapped portion of the rod, and Jarod let go the weight of the tool nearly dragged Vincent off balance. It was shockingly heavy for what it was, and it took almost all of Vincent's strength to hold it as a sword. "Why is it so heavy?" Vincent asked looking at the black metal in his hands.

"It's made from a lead/iron mixture which make it heavier than its size lets on. Using it will help you to build both your strength and speed as we continue your lessons, and you will continue to use one until you are able to beat me in a duel." Jarod finished a small smile pulling on side of his mouth upwards. "Now follow my lead." Jarod instructed raising his own practice sword upward to just above his forehead, and slightly to the left. "This stance is called 'The Ox'. You want to hold your blade as though you were aiming for an enemies face, or thoat." As Jarod explained the stance, Vincent mirrored his mentor. "The Ox", allows for decent protection, as well as allowing you a direct threat with a straight thrust. You can also turn your arms, like so, to cut diagonally downward, or bring it down and around to cut from underneath. Jarod explained demonstrating each of the maneuvers as he spoke of them.

Vincent studied his tutors movements before trying to emulate them himself. "That's good, but widen your feet. You're foundation is too narrow, and limits your balance." Jarod instructed as he watched Vincent go through the motions half a dozen times. "Good, now this is 'The Plow'." Jarod said as he moved the hilt of his sword to just in front of his hip, while taking a half step forward. In this stance you want to angle the blade to point at your opponents chest, or their throat again. This stance permits quick slices and upward thrusts. Overall it both protects and covers very well while permitting all forms of attacks. Jarod finished again demstrating how the stance could lead into attacks and a few different block.

Again Vincent watched as his tutor lectured and demonstrated, and only when Jarod had finished did he himself begin the exercise. Jarod watched on as his student mimicked his movements and corrected Vincent when it was needed. The next stance is "The Fool", Jarod began, adjusting his stance to point the blade at the ground. "From here 'The Fool' is deceptively open and can be used for quick counters." Jarod finished, bring the blade up multiple times as though knocking an invisible opponents blade away before countering.

For the next break Vincent practiced the three stances that Jarod had shown him. Only when the boy was dripping with sweat, his hair so damp it was plastered to his scalp, and his arms so worn out that he could barely lift the weighted rod, did Jarod allow him to retire for the day. After returning the equipment to the racks, Vincent gave Jarod a quick salute before heading back into the house, and straight to the washroom. Soon after the boy was clean and redressed in fresh linens, he made his way to his bed and before he could even touch the pillows, was asleep.


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Vincent D'Ordyn
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Bruised but not Beaten

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Timestamp: 33rd of Suan, 699
Location: D'Ordyn Estate Training grounds.

The next day Vincent once again made his way out to the Training Ground about a break before midday, and like always Jarod was already there waiting for him. It wasn't that Vincent was late, but that Jarod was always early. As Vincent approached Jarod motioned to the equipment rack. "Grab the weighted rod and join me on the field again. We're going to go back over the stances I showed you yesterday."

Vincent did as he was told and retrieved the black rod from the rack, again its weight surprising him. It felt heavier today than it had yesterday, but Vincent merely counted that to the soreness that stiffened his arms from his lesson the day prior. For the next break and a half Jarod drilled Vincent hard on the three stances, correct his footing and form whenever Vincent inexperience or fatigue let it slip. When Jarod finally called for their midday break Vincent was relieved. Taking the time to grab a quick drink of water, and some of the dried fruits and meats that he always brought with him Vincent sat in the shade of the estate wall and relaxed. After about half a break had passed Jarod stood and called Vincent back into the center of the grounds.

"Okay, we are going to continue adding to your stances." Jarod began as he drew his sword. "This stance is called 'The Roof", He continued as he raised his blade above his head. Holding the sword so that he held the hilt almost directly over head and the blade sat almost halfway between horizontal and vertical. "From here, you can both ward against attacks," Jarod said, bringing the sword down in a defensive block, "or strike at an opponent." He finished, again bringing the sword down, though this time in slicing strikes. "You can also easily move from this stance to many others."

Finally there is 'The Tail". Jarod said, taking up a stance that put his sword pointing behind, and slightly downward. "This stance allows for a strong rising cut, that ends in 'The Ox'." With that the two returned to the earlier drilling. Vincent running through all the stances in tutor had shown him, and Jarod correcting him on any mistakes. Jarod had Vincent drill the stances and the way the could flow from one to the next, the way each could be offensive, and the way they were defensive. For two breaks Jarod had the boy run through the stances over and over, until finally Jarod called for another rest.

Vincent happily took the much needed break and stepped to his waterskin to gulp down the cool liquid. Sweat poured off of Vincent, and his hair was again soaked through with it. Even when Jarod had been teaching him the shield he had never worked Vincent like this. Eventually Jarod called Vincent back to the field, and the drilling continued until the end of the lesson.

Jarod continued these lessons for almost the rest of the cycle. Every now and then adding in more shield and sword sparring, along with other forms of conditioning, and combat skills and tactics. Though, as the trials passed he would swap out the weighted rod with another one, almost identical except for the weight, which slowly increased as the training continued.
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Memory:Bruised but not Beaten

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Vincent D'Ordyn

Shielded Combat +3
Acrobatics +1
Combat: Blades (shortsword) +5
Endurance +5
Strength +5
Psychology +1
Tactics +3

Basic Knowledge
Jarod: My Tutor as a Boy

Specific Knowledge
Jarod: A Hard Teacher
Shielded Combat: Keep Your Shield UP!
Communication: Seeing Things from the Other Side
Victory: Comes with Never Giving Up
Shielded Combat: Protection is My Duty
Stances: The Ox
Stances: The Plow
Stances: The Fool
Stances: The Roof
Stances: The Tail


As always, any questions or concerns, if you think anything is missing or are wondering why something is there, send me a PM!
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Very well written! I liked seeing Vincents family life, its nice seeing that he did have such great parents who did understand and empathize with him as well as clearly understanding each other. The lessons were superbly written! I could actually imagine a lesson playing out the way you've written it, and it was neat recognizing some of the stances!
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