40th Ashan, Arc 717
"Tutor Dialogue"
"Xander Dialogue"
Xander's duel with the Warrick teenager just twelve trials earlier had helped him realise just how important it was that he train more and learn to better defend himself and those around him. So, he had called for a tutor to come and teach him, unfortunately he had been unable to contact Doran this time. The man had been a superb teacher and also an interesting chap, Xander wished to one day meet the man again. Part of him hoped to get the man's support in his future endeavours and to question him about how heh ad gained so much control. When he had met the tutor he had seemed to controlled and calm, something Xander hoped he could acquire over time. If he had learnt anything besides needing to get better with a sword from his fight it had also been he needed more emotional control.
It was odd that he would observe such a thing, maybe it was not a lack of control but instead he was not used to them. Before Celeste had come along he had been very much lacking in any real emotions, sure he had expressed false ones but generally he had suppressed anything real. In the end it did not matter what it was, he just knew he needed to not let his emotions get the better of him again, it was completely possible that was why he had lost. Maybe if he had been thinking more clearly he would have been better able to fight and not make the foolish move he did that had gotten his calf slashed. The wounds were still finishing healing, luckily they had not gotten infected.
That was why he had planned the lesson for today, to improve his skill and that was why he was stood opposite a frail looking man with a wiry frame. He did not look like much of a fighter but Xander tried not to judge the book by its cover. He had not imagined the boy to be a great fighter either and yet he had equalled him in single combat. Xander waited opposite him in the hall, the fires a warm protection from the sleet that fell outside. "How would you like us to begin?" Xander looked at the man, his face calm and collected as he tried to keep everything ready and concentrated on the task at hand.
The tutor nodded and stepped forward closing some of the space between them "Draw your sword, I am going to teach you a skill you will likely not have heard of today." He smiled as he drew his own sword and waited for Xander to do the same. Xander mirrored his teacher and drew the sword, pulling the blade out across in front of him and making sure to keep good form before setting his stance and holding the longsword with both hands out in front of him. The man opposite him nodded and seemed to inspect his form, a slight look of surprise in his eyes at the nobles skill. Although there was clearly something he was unsure on as he inspected Xander's hands and the way he held the sword out. "You have great form and your stance is good. I have only one question. Have you been taught about guards?" He stepped out in front of Xander and waited so hear his answer.
Xander simply responded with a shake of his head as waited for the man to explain. He seemed a little surprised Xander had not learned guards and would therefore slightly alter his lesson plan. He could tell the tutor was caught off guard by this but being a fast learner Xander was sure it would not be a huge issue. "That's fine, I will teach you five guards, there are many more but you will figure them out and learn them as you progress." The man smiled as he began to ready himself into the first of the guard. He placed the sword pointed forward with the hilt around his bent leg and around the knee area with the forehand and the crotch with the back. "This is called a Plough (Pflug) guard, it is good for performing thrusts from and keeping an opponent from charging you." Xander copied the hold, it was similar to his previous hold, however, he immediately felt more in control of the blade. The sword was closer in and his stance was a little lower with more stable and bent legs.
The tutor progressed to the next one, raising the sword in one fluid movement from the plough guard letting his hand twist and right slide around the hilt. The left hand also turned around the handle and to rest before his face. This guard also kept anyone forward at bay but was easier to twist around into a strike from. "Ox (Ochs) guard, good again for keeping enemies from charging but also easy to move into a cut with." Xander copied the motion that lead to the guard and then the guard itself keeping the point forward and the blade parallel with the ground.
Next was the guard with the blade held above the head, with the opposite leg from before, the left leg, forward. "This is Roof (Vom Tag) guard, well designed for powerful strikes and quick movement to parry." Xander nodded as he copied the position, twisting around the blade to bring it over his head and to place his left foot forward. The tutor nodded happy with Xander's copying and then moved onto the fourth guard. He lowered the sword and placed it out in front of him, leaning his body forward and pointing the tip at the floor. It was a seemingly silly way to stand but there was obviously some reason for it. "Fool's (Alber) guard, named mostly due to the fact it invites people to attack you and many who do not know it will assume you know little about fighting. Instead this guard allows you to lure your opponent in and you can simply raise the tip for a thrust or move your body to one side and pull the blade up into their stomach."
Again Xander copied the guard and thought it might one day come in handy in a fight, even with its down side. Xander watched as the last guard was shown. This guard is the tail (neben) guard, not one I usually recommend to use but like fools guard it can have similar uses more psychologically." Xander copied it anyway, placing the sword to his rear and leaning his upper body back. "These are very interesting, I assume I should practise in my spare time." The Tutor nodded and smiled, he was still scrawny but clearly he knew his stuff. "Yes, you should practise moving between them and making sure you can perfect each stance so you don not have to think about them." Xander nodded and he would certainly do that.
Xander could feel his muscles aching a little but he ignored them, making sure to keep steady breathing and not let himself get tired out. The main reason he was feeling the burn was due to the holding on the stances anyway, keeping the relatively heavy sword raised in odd positions. Xander did keep it down currently though to rest the arms and be ready for the rest of the lesson. He spent the few moment break to commit all the guards to memory. They weren't quite done yet, the tutor appeared to still wish to teach Xander some more and he was willing to learn. It was important that he be ready and able to fight when the time came, so he listened as the man continued.
Finally the man continued and he looked at Xander ready for the inevitable surprise that would come to his face. "Now, take your back hand and grab the blade of your long sword about two thirds the way along." Xander's eyes widened as he looked at the man like he was joking, surely that would result in nothing but him slicing his own fingers off? Clearly the tutor had anticipated this, and simply did it himself showing Xander he was serious and not at all worried. "Pinch the blade within your palm and fingers, hold tight and in this grip there is basically no way of cutting yourself if you are confident and hold tight."
Xander gulped as he copied the man, holding the blade in front of him and pinching the blade flats between his palm and fingers. With this grip the edge didn't even touch his palm and it wouldn't when half-swording in this may. Xander looked at the man for reassurance and he nodded. "This is especially useful for armoured combat, this adds a huge amount of accuracy to your thrusts, allowing for the blade to find gaps in the armour and to get through them with your increased precision." Xander nodded as he raised the blade up, gripped tightly and practised thrusting the blade in this manner. This technique would likely come in handy with the future Xander had planned, he had no doubt he would be fighting battles in armour and facing with other opponents in full plate, at which point this would all be very useful. War was somewhat inevitable in his future, to create a free independent Krome there would definitely be fighting at some point.
"There is much more I could teach you, Longsword skills are never ending and you can never stop improving. You can know everything there is to know and still get better. Always strive to improve." Xander acknowledged the tutors advice, he knew that growth and challenge were important. He knew that he would never stop learning and that he would forever keep improving, until he was unable to fight any longer. "This has been an eye opening lesson, I have learnt a lot and I have certainly discovered that I have a lot to work on. If I wish to ever challenge the great swordsmen such as Malcolm Krome and the likes of him in skill and tournaments then I must practise much more." The tutor nodded as he returned his sword to its scabbard and looked at Xander with a curious gaze. Maybe speaking of besting someone so high was an odd thing to aim for but Xander covered it well with a smile and a look of good intent.
Many people dreamed of being great swordsmen after all, having the ability to win any fight and to gain glory and respect. To fight in a tournament and show that you were the best and although this was not Xander's aims with learning to fight it could be his excuse for those he did not wish to reveal his plans too. Xander went over to a chest of draws at the side of the room and retrieved a coin purse, the Golden Nel within clinking as it was lifted from the wooden draw. Xander placed it into the tutors hand and smiled, nodding happily as he gave the money the man had most certainly earned teaching him. There was a final shaking of hands as Xander said his goodbyes to the man and let him leave.
Off Topic
I would just like to make clear that the links within this thread do not have to be followed but for any reader who wishes to see an image or video of what I am explaining for better understanding can feel free. This is due to the somewhat complicated or specific things I am explaining, do not feel obligated to follow them as they will likely interrupt the flow of the read.
"Xander Dialogue"
Xander's duel with the Warrick teenager just twelve trials earlier had helped him realise just how important it was that he train more and learn to better defend himself and those around him. So, he had called for a tutor to come and teach him, unfortunately he had been unable to contact Doran this time. The man had been a superb teacher and also an interesting chap, Xander wished to one day meet the man again. Part of him hoped to get the man's support in his future endeavours and to question him about how heh ad gained so much control. When he had met the tutor he had seemed to controlled and calm, something Xander hoped he could acquire over time. If he had learnt anything besides needing to get better with a sword from his fight it had also been he needed more emotional control.
It was odd that he would observe such a thing, maybe it was not a lack of control but instead he was not used to them. Before Celeste had come along he had been very much lacking in any real emotions, sure he had expressed false ones but generally he had suppressed anything real. In the end it did not matter what it was, he just knew he needed to not let his emotions get the better of him again, it was completely possible that was why he had lost. Maybe if he had been thinking more clearly he would have been better able to fight and not make the foolish move he did that had gotten his calf slashed. The wounds were still finishing healing, luckily they had not gotten infected.
That was why he had planned the lesson for today, to improve his skill and that was why he was stood opposite a frail looking man with a wiry frame. He did not look like much of a fighter but Xander tried not to judge the book by its cover. He had not imagined the boy to be a great fighter either and yet he had equalled him in single combat. Xander waited opposite him in the hall, the fires a warm protection from the sleet that fell outside. "How would you like us to begin?" Xander looked at the man, his face calm and collected as he tried to keep everything ready and concentrated on the task at hand.
The tutor nodded and stepped forward closing some of the space between them "Draw your sword, I am going to teach you a skill you will likely not have heard of today." He smiled as he drew his own sword and waited for Xander to do the same. Xander mirrored his teacher and drew the sword, pulling the blade out across in front of him and making sure to keep good form before setting his stance and holding the longsword with both hands out in front of him. The man opposite him nodded and seemed to inspect his form, a slight look of surprise in his eyes at the nobles skill. Although there was clearly something he was unsure on as he inspected Xander's hands and the way he held the sword out. "You have great form and your stance is good. I have only one question. Have you been taught about guards?" He stepped out in front of Xander and waited so hear his answer.
Xander simply responded with a shake of his head as waited for the man to explain. He seemed a little surprised Xander had not learned guards and would therefore slightly alter his lesson plan. He could tell the tutor was caught off guard by this but being a fast learner Xander was sure it would not be a huge issue. "That's fine, I will teach you five guards, there are many more but you will figure them out and learn them as you progress." The man smiled as he began to ready himself into the first of the guard. He placed the sword pointed forward with the hilt around his bent leg and around the knee area with the forehand and the crotch with the back. "This is called a Plough (Pflug) guard, it is good for performing thrusts from and keeping an opponent from charging you." Xander copied the hold, it was similar to his previous hold, however, he immediately felt more in control of the blade. The sword was closer in and his stance was a little lower with more stable and bent legs.
The tutor progressed to the next one, raising the sword in one fluid movement from the plough guard letting his hand twist and right slide around the hilt. The left hand also turned around the handle and to rest before his face. This guard also kept anyone forward at bay but was easier to twist around into a strike from. "Ox (Ochs) guard, good again for keeping enemies from charging but also easy to move into a cut with." Xander copied the motion that lead to the guard and then the guard itself keeping the point forward and the blade parallel with the ground.
Next was the guard with the blade held above the head, with the opposite leg from before, the left leg, forward. "This is Roof (Vom Tag) guard, well designed for powerful strikes and quick movement to parry." Xander nodded as he copied the position, twisting around the blade to bring it over his head and to place his left foot forward. The tutor nodded happy with Xander's copying and then moved onto the fourth guard. He lowered the sword and placed it out in front of him, leaning his body forward and pointing the tip at the floor. It was a seemingly silly way to stand but there was obviously some reason for it. "Fool's (Alber) guard, named mostly due to the fact it invites people to attack you and many who do not know it will assume you know little about fighting. Instead this guard allows you to lure your opponent in and you can simply raise the tip for a thrust or move your body to one side and pull the blade up into their stomach."
Again Xander copied the guard and thought it might one day come in handy in a fight, even with its down side. Xander watched as the last guard was shown. This guard is the tail (neben) guard, not one I usually recommend to use but like fools guard it can have similar uses more psychologically." Xander copied it anyway, placing the sword to his rear and leaning his upper body back. "These are very interesting, I assume I should practise in my spare time." The Tutor nodded and smiled, he was still scrawny but clearly he knew his stuff. "Yes, you should practise moving between them and making sure you can perfect each stance so you don not have to think about them." Xander nodded and he would certainly do that.
Xander could feel his muscles aching a little but he ignored them, making sure to keep steady breathing and not let himself get tired out. The main reason he was feeling the burn was due to the holding on the stances anyway, keeping the relatively heavy sword raised in odd positions. Xander did keep it down currently though to rest the arms and be ready for the rest of the lesson. He spent the few moment break to commit all the guards to memory. They weren't quite done yet, the tutor appeared to still wish to teach Xander some more and he was willing to learn. It was important that he be ready and able to fight when the time came, so he listened as the man continued.
Finally the man continued and he looked at Xander ready for the inevitable surprise that would come to his face. "Now, take your back hand and grab the blade of your long sword about two thirds the way along." Xander's eyes widened as he looked at the man like he was joking, surely that would result in nothing but him slicing his own fingers off? Clearly the tutor had anticipated this, and simply did it himself showing Xander he was serious and not at all worried. "Pinch the blade within your palm and fingers, hold tight and in this grip there is basically no way of cutting yourself if you are confident and hold tight."
Xander gulped as he copied the man, holding the blade in front of him and pinching the blade flats between his palm and fingers. With this grip the edge didn't even touch his palm and it wouldn't when half-swording in this may. Xander looked at the man for reassurance and he nodded. "This is especially useful for armoured combat, this adds a huge amount of accuracy to your thrusts, allowing for the blade to find gaps in the armour and to get through them with your increased precision." Xander nodded as he raised the blade up, gripped tightly and practised thrusting the blade in this manner. This technique would likely come in handy with the future Xander had planned, he had no doubt he would be fighting battles in armour and facing with other opponents in full plate, at which point this would all be very useful. War was somewhat inevitable in his future, to create a free independent Krome there would definitely be fighting at some point.
"There is much more I could teach you, Longsword skills are never ending and you can never stop improving. You can know everything there is to know and still get better. Always strive to improve." Xander acknowledged the tutors advice, he knew that growth and challenge were important. He knew that he would never stop learning and that he would forever keep improving, until he was unable to fight any longer. "This has been an eye opening lesson, I have learnt a lot and I have certainly discovered that I have a lot to work on. If I wish to ever challenge the great swordsmen such as Malcolm Krome and the likes of him in skill and tournaments then I must practise much more." The tutor nodded as he returned his sword to its scabbard and looked at Xander with a curious gaze. Maybe speaking of besting someone so high was an odd thing to aim for but Xander covered it well with a smile and a look of good intent.
Many people dreamed of being great swordsmen after all, having the ability to win any fight and to gain glory and respect. To fight in a tournament and show that you were the best and although this was not Xander's aims with learning to fight it could be his excuse for those he did not wish to reveal his plans too. Xander went over to a chest of draws at the side of the room and retrieved a coin purse, the Golden Nel within clinking as it was lifted from the wooden draw. Xander placed it into the tutors hand and smiled, nodding happily as he gave the money the man had most certainly earned teaching him. There was a final shaking of hands as Xander said his goodbyes to the man and let him leave.
Off Topic
Loot: -100GN for the Longsword lesson.
