Post by The Seven on Jun 13, 2008 7:43:51 GMT -5
Joshua Arryn had just finished watching his friend, Damon Redfort, be sent to the ground by his cousin Alayne.
Men watching howled in laughter, breaking through the midday air, as the stakes of the match were that the loser wears a dress.
Not to Joshua's surprise, Damon got up, laughing, and dusting himself off. He and Alayne exchanged a few words, which were drowned out by the crowd, though Josh had a feeling at what they might be. "You two have fun!" he shouted after them, though he doubted they could hear him. He was yearning for a bit of a battle now too, after being disappointed with the quickness of that one. While people followed the two out of the yard, to heckle them, Joshua stayed behind, absorbing the area around him.
It was strangely quiet now, as the others had left through the halls, drowning their taunts. The only people remaining in the yard were Joshua and two men, who seemed to not approve of what just happened. "A woman should never beat a man," one said to the other.
"Aye, how embarrassing," the other shook his head.
"Would you like to see true, embarrassment?" Joshua said, speaking above them. He did not like when others disrespected his friends and family.
The others laughed then, obviously not aware at who Joshua was. "Better head off, boy, unless you're looking for trouble," one threatened.
"No, it is you who has asked for trouble," Joshua declared, picking up a bastard sword, before twirling it in both hands. "The both of you, now," he said, as the other's faces became enraged. They came at him almost instantly.
Joshua checked both blows, before twirling to the side. "You two are truly pathetic. I could have taken you five years ago," he taunted, making their faces turn a deep shade of red. They came at him more vigorously now, hacking at him, rather than trying to spar with him. Joshua, however, parried their attacks, eventually catching both their blades, and using his weight to push forwards, sending the others back.
"Six years, actually," Joshua laughed, this time pushing the attack. The men were intimidated now, as they struggled to even keep up with the footwork.
Joshua was in his element, as he moved through the air like an unearthly being, flowing like a river, and striking like a snake. He seemed to have wings himself, as some sort of beast lived through him, gracefully moving around him as the sparring match turned into a dance. Joshua's flow slowly quickened, as he closed his eyes, and began using both hands independently, overwhelming the two men, yet maintaining a heightened sense around him.
The dirt shifted under his feet, and the dust sprang up with every movement he made. The air, warm and sharp, blowing past his hair and ears, tickling his senses, and feeling it's slight resistance as he moved. His sweat began to come then, as his breathing became short bursts with every movement and strike, his body moving quicker and quicker, never slowing.
High, low, side, above, his attacks reigned down, as the men struggled, and he gave them enough space to just barely keep up, while maintaining his pace.
The animal inside him came out suddenly, as he opened his eyes, and his view was far greater than any normal man. Moving as if on air, and moved quickly, and attacked sharply, sending one man screaming to the ground, as his sword collided with the back of his helm, denting it and knocking out the man before he hit the ground. The second man had fear in his eyes now, as Joshua's full attention turned to him.
In one last attempt, the man screamed a desperate cry and brought his sword around in full swing, trying to get lucky. Joshua was not phased, as he saw the man's body move right away, and stepped forwards, holding out his forearm and stopping the man's swing entirely as the two's forearms collided.
The dance was over now, as the man was wide eyed looking at Joshua, who ended it quickly, twisting his sword and bringing the pommel of the blade up into the mans chin, knocking him out instantly, and sending his eyes into the back of his skull, as he fell.
Joshua smirked then, as his body relaxed. Almost naturally, his vision seemed to pull away from him, through an endless vacuum, before stopping high above, as he observed the land around him, as he always did after a fight.
He could see as far as he wished, and as closely as he wanted. The hues of visioned changed, though only slightly, as he soared through the open air, letting the breeze engulf him, surround him, and relax him.
Now they know what embarrassment is, he thought, giving out a victory screech. He looked down to the earth again, and followed Alayne and Damon as they rode across the land, headed for the Eyrie.
Joshua advances in Swordsmanship (+2) and Wargging (+5)
Men watching howled in laughter, breaking through the midday air, as the stakes of the match were that the loser wears a dress.
Not to Joshua's surprise, Damon got up, laughing, and dusting himself off. He and Alayne exchanged a few words, which were drowned out by the crowd, though Josh had a feeling at what they might be. "You two have fun!" he shouted after them, though he doubted they could hear him. He was yearning for a bit of a battle now too, after being disappointed with the quickness of that one. While people followed the two out of the yard, to heckle them, Joshua stayed behind, absorbing the area around him.
It was strangely quiet now, as the others had left through the halls, drowning their taunts. The only people remaining in the yard were Joshua and two men, who seemed to not approve of what just happened. "A woman should never beat a man," one said to the other.
"Aye, how embarrassing," the other shook his head.
"Would you like to see true, embarrassment?" Joshua said, speaking above them. He did not like when others disrespected his friends and family.
The others laughed then, obviously not aware at who Joshua was. "Better head off, boy, unless you're looking for trouble," one threatened.
"No, it is you who has asked for trouble," Joshua declared, picking up a bastard sword, before twirling it in both hands. "The both of you, now," he said, as the other's faces became enraged. They came at him almost instantly.
Joshua checked both blows, before twirling to the side. "You two are truly pathetic. I could have taken you five years ago," he taunted, making their faces turn a deep shade of red. They came at him more vigorously now, hacking at him, rather than trying to spar with him. Joshua, however, parried their attacks, eventually catching both their blades, and using his weight to push forwards, sending the others back.
"Six years, actually," Joshua laughed, this time pushing the attack. The men were intimidated now, as they struggled to even keep up with the footwork.
Joshua was in his element, as he moved through the air like an unearthly being, flowing like a river, and striking like a snake. He seemed to have wings himself, as some sort of beast lived through him, gracefully moving around him as the sparring match turned into a dance. Joshua's flow slowly quickened, as he closed his eyes, and began using both hands independently, overwhelming the two men, yet maintaining a heightened sense around him.
The dirt shifted under his feet, and the dust sprang up with every movement he made. The air, warm and sharp, blowing past his hair and ears, tickling his senses, and feeling it's slight resistance as he moved. His sweat began to come then, as his breathing became short bursts with every movement and strike, his body moving quicker and quicker, never slowing.
High, low, side, above, his attacks reigned down, as the men struggled, and he gave them enough space to just barely keep up, while maintaining his pace.
The animal inside him came out suddenly, as he opened his eyes, and his view was far greater than any normal man. Moving as if on air, and moved quickly, and attacked sharply, sending one man screaming to the ground, as his sword collided with the back of his helm, denting it and knocking out the man before he hit the ground. The second man had fear in his eyes now, as Joshua's full attention turned to him.
In one last attempt, the man screamed a desperate cry and brought his sword around in full swing, trying to get lucky. Joshua was not phased, as he saw the man's body move right away, and stepped forwards, holding out his forearm and stopping the man's swing entirely as the two's forearms collided.
The dance was over now, as the man was wide eyed looking at Joshua, who ended it quickly, twisting his sword and bringing the pommel of the blade up into the mans chin, knocking him out instantly, and sending his eyes into the back of his skull, as he fell.
Joshua smirked then, as his body relaxed. Almost naturally, his vision seemed to pull away from him, through an endless vacuum, before stopping high above, as he observed the land around him, as he always did after a fight.
He could see as far as he wished, and as closely as he wanted. The hues of visioned changed, though only slightly, as he soared through the open air, letting the breeze engulf him, surround him, and relax him.
Now they know what embarrassment is, he thought, giving out a victory screech. He looked down to the earth again, and followed Alayne and Damon as they rode across the land, headed for the Eyrie.
Joshua advances in Swordsmanship (+2) and Wargging (+5)