The tests were scheduled on a good day, although should rain visit their site, the Keep, Byron had gotten the Commander's permission to use the Great Hall. Although there didn't seem a need to. Clear skies blessed the Keep for today and a couple of warden hopefuls had gathered.
A human and an alienage elf. Both males, although from far away, one might have trouble telling with the elf, he seemed limp-wristed, although he sported the clothes of a mercenary. A rogue from the looks for it. The human held his staff with easy confidence, and he wore the scars of one who had tasted steel far too often.
Byron waited patiently for the others to come, he had been informed an Avvar would be joining them just for fun. That he certainly looked forward to. The gruff dwarf took a flask from his hip, sipping the drink while he waited.
A human and an alienage elf. Both males, although from far away, one might have trouble telling with the elf, he seemed limp-wristed, although he sported the clothes of a mercenary. A rogue from the looks for it. The human held his staff with easy confidence, and he wore the scars of one who had tasted steel far too often.
Byron waited patiently for the others to come, he had been informed an Avvar would be joining them just for fun. That he certainly looked forward to. The gruff dwarf took a flask from his hip, sipping the drink while he waited.
Runt was seen walking to the grounds, his heavy steps only assisting in making his presence even more obvious. His greatsword remained tightly strapped to his back, It's wide blade shielding most of his back. He noticed the dwarf standing by, sipping his flask before walking over.
"Greetings. I am Runt. I was told there would be a sparring session today..I am hear to participate." He stated. Runt had never met a dwarf during his travels, he didn't realize they would be so..Small. While he admired that most people were smaller than he was, dwarves seemed to be even smaller.
"Greetings. I am Runt. I was told there would be a sparring session today..I am hear to participate." He stated. Runt had never met a dwarf during his travels, he didn't realize they would be so..Small. While he admired that most people were smaller than he was, dwarves seemed to be even smaller.
Feeling considerably refreshed after a wash and a bit of rest, the elf was more than ready to put her skills to the rest by the time she arrived. She had daggers and shortswords, and a buckler. Directing a brief nod toward Byron, she made a wave of greeting to the others, "Morning." Or afternoon, if that was more appropriate. She was familiar with and tolerant enough of dwarves, if only because she found them useful at times.
Janella stated, "I am here to have my abilities tested," she said, her manner was confident and as courteous as she could make it. Glancing up toward the skies, she was relieved that it didn't look like it was going to rain today.
Janella stated, "I am here to have my abilities tested," she said, her manner was confident and as courteous as she could make it. Glancing up toward the skies, she was relieved that it didn't look like it was going to rain today.
Byron nodded his head at the arrivals, ticking their names off a leaf of paper he had. If anyone peeked, it would have their description as well for easy identification. The dwarf cleared his throat as he examined the four of them.
"Right. Now maybe some other strongholds can take folks who can't fight, but not this Keep. The commander needs men or women..." A brief pause and a nod was given towards Janella's direction as the dwarf spoke. "Who'd know enough to wield a blade. Not just to get the point part into the enemy, but to make sure that they don't get up. We'll be dealing with darkspawn soon enough and we've seen what they can do during the Fifth Blight. When it comes down to it, we'll be standing between them and everyone else on Thedas."
The dwarven warrior rubbed his beard a little before looking over at Janella.
"Well then, ladies first. Pick who you'd like to spar against."
There was Runt, the elven mercenary and the mage.
"Right. Now maybe some other strongholds can take folks who can't fight, but not this Keep. The commander needs men or women..." A brief pause and a nod was given towards Janella's direction as the dwarf spoke. "Who'd know enough to wield a blade. Not just to get the point part into the enemy, but to make sure that they don't get up. We'll be dealing with darkspawn soon enough and we've seen what they can do during the Fifth Blight. When it comes down to it, we'll be standing between them and everyone else on Thedas."
The dwarven warrior rubbed his beard a little before looking over at Janella.
"Well then, ladies first. Pick who you'd like to spar against."
There was Runt, the elven mercenary and the mage.
Janella did not seem to have been expected to go first, figuring that Runt would be chosen first since he had arrived first. The elf responded as graciously as her lack of charisma allowed for, picking the elven mercenary without any hesitation. She didn't seem too intimidated by the task. The matter of fighting Darkspawn was causing some apprehension for her, even if she was confident in her abilities and well accustomed to ensuring that her opponent did not get back up after their fight.
Stepping forward and gesturing toward the elven mercenary, she said, "It's been a while since I've had a friendly spar, been looking forward to it."
Stepping forward and gesturing toward the elven mercenary, she said, "It's been a while since I've had a friendly spar, been looking forward to it."
Byron nodded and turned to Runt, gesturing for him to take on the mage.
The elven mercenary nodded his head in greeting towards her as Byron gestured for them to take one end of the courtyard so that the two sparring sessions would not interrupt each other.
"Rules of the spar, anything goes. No killing each other. Winner is determined by first blood or when the other cries Uncle," Byron said as he took another swing of his flask.
"Good day to you," the elf greeted Janella. His voice held an Orlesian accent before he moved towards one end of the area designated for them. He withdrew his daggers, giving them a slight twirl for a bit. He didn't seem bothered or hesitant that Janella was a lady. Lacking in chivalry this one.
"Shall we dance?" he said before he sprung into action, darting forward, his hands whirling about. It wasn't a real strike. No, the elf was trying to determine what sort of fighter he was dealing with, testing the grounds. His strikes were not meant to strike anything, his movements seemingly careless but each dart and feint was carefully planned to watch if Janella favoured any particular side.
As for Runt, the maged turned to face the Avvar.
"Tall aren't you?" the other asked. He was a few inches shorter than the warrior although he regarded the other carefully. "Haven't really seen your kind much but do the Avvar have mages?" he asked as he made his way towards their section. Ferelden from the sounds of things.
Despite being a mage, he made to draw a dagger from his side, although it wasn't poised to strike Runt. Unlike the mercenary, the mage wasn't eager to make the first strike.
The elven mercenary nodded his head in greeting towards her as Byron gestured for them to take one end of the courtyard so that the two sparring sessions would not interrupt each other.
"Rules of the spar, anything goes. No killing each other. Winner is determined by first blood or when the other cries Uncle," Byron said as he took another swing of his flask.
"Good day to you," the elf greeted Janella. His voice held an Orlesian accent before he moved towards one end of the area designated for them. He withdrew his daggers, giving them a slight twirl for a bit. He didn't seem bothered or hesitant that Janella was a lady. Lacking in chivalry this one.
"Shall we dance?" he said before he sprung into action, darting forward, his hands whirling about. It wasn't a real strike. No, the elf was trying to determine what sort of fighter he was dealing with, testing the grounds. His strikes were not meant to strike anything, his movements seemingly careless but each dart and feint was carefully planned to watch if Janella favoured any particular side.
As for Runt, the maged turned to face the Avvar.
"Tall aren't you?" the other asked. He was a few inches shorter than the warrior although he regarded the other carefully. "Haven't really seen your kind much but do the Avvar have mages?" he asked as he made his way towards their section. Ferelden from the sounds of things.
Despite being a mage, he made to draw a dagger from his side, although it wasn't poised to strike Runt. Unlike the mercenary, the mage wasn't eager to make the first strike.
Janella was not going to expect any chivalry, that shit was for proper ladies. She relied on her agility and precision, since she was lacking in strength. Wielding her own twin daggers, she often tried to wear her enemy down by making small strikes to annoy them, trying to fool them into making a mistake so she could exploit it. If her opponent proved too clever for such, she often tried to fixate on a vulnerable spot and duck under her opponent's reach to get at it.
It seemed like she favored her right side, but as soon as she started letting him think that she began to favor her left. A mischievous grin flashed across her features, one had to wonder if she was doing it on purpose if they caught the fleeting look.
It seemed like she favored her right side, but as soon as she started letting him think that she began to favor her left. A mischievous grin flashed across her features, one had to wonder if she was doing it on purpose if they caught the fleeting look.
"It is rare to meet a mage with a blade, interesting." He said calmly,"..I look forward to our battle. As for mages existing among Avaar..It is not unheard of."
Runt followed mage, making sure to maintain a respectable distance between them until they went to their respected sides of the training ground.
"Let us enjoy this battle, mage. Do not hold back."
Drawing his greatsword and running a thumb along it's sharp edge, allowing his blood to slide onto the blade,"Valik..Guide me..Lady of the Sky..Grant me sight.." he whispered to himself before finally getting into his stance, keeping the blade close to his left side ready to be dragged along his side.
Runt followed mage, making sure to maintain a respectable distance between them until they went to their respected sides of the training ground.
"Let us enjoy this battle, mage. Do not hold back."
Drawing his greatsword and running a thumb along it's sharp edge, allowing his blood to slide onto the blade,"Valik..Guide me..Lady of the Sky..Grant me sight.." he whispered to himself before finally getting into his stance, keeping the blade close to his left side ready to be dragged along his side.
(Apologies! Its been a hectic week)
The elven fiend darted in and out of Janella's strikes, matching them with his own and deflecting them. It seemed that he had been trained enough for that... although he was no Crow. The Crow's ploy in attempting to trick him seemed to work to a degree, for he started angling towards the left... only to find that she was equally skilled in that. This took him by surprised and he pulled back, quickly reassessing what he could do.
"Skilled," he muttered in slight awe before he returned to close the gap between them, seeking to strike at her left... but it was a ploy... because if he managed to get close enough, he'd try to cop a feel while having an impish grin on his face. Would that distract her enough for him to land a strike?
The mage chuckled softly at Runt. "Not that odd," he said as he drew a line across his own palm. Blood magic. If Byron had any objection to that, he didn't voice it, but he was watching the mage carefully, notching a crossbow at ready and aimed at the mage... but placed so nonchalantly that it seemed he was placing it there to take the weight off himself. Just in case.
The mage grinned and took up a stance before flinging a ball of fire towards Runt.
The elven fiend darted in and out of Janella's strikes, matching them with his own and deflecting them. It seemed that he had been trained enough for that... although he was no Crow. The Crow's ploy in attempting to trick him seemed to work to a degree, for he started angling towards the left... only to find that she was equally skilled in that. This took him by surprised and he pulled back, quickly reassessing what he could do.
"Skilled," he muttered in slight awe before he returned to close the gap between them, seeking to strike at her left... but it was a ploy... because if he managed to get close enough, he'd try to cop a feel while having an impish grin on his face. Would that distract her enough for him to land a strike?
The mage chuckled softly at Runt. "Not that odd," he said as he drew a line across his own palm. Blood magic. If Byron had any objection to that, he didn't voice it, but he was watching the mage carefully, notching a crossbow at ready and aimed at the mage... but placed so nonchalantly that it seemed he was placing it there to take the weight off himself. Just in case.
The mage grinned and took up a stance before flinging a ball of fire towards Runt.
The she elf brought her daggers up to deflect his strike, but it didn't happen. She expected him to try and hit her elsewhere, her maneuver turning defensive, ready to ward off a slice from another direction. Her opponent was successful in his attempt to cop a feel.
Janella was disciplined enough to keep from glaring and cursing at him, but whenever she fell for his ploy and felt his hand on her chest, she surely reacted. Her knee immediately jerked up, striking toward his groin, but she would settle for his knee or thigh. The bony joint whipped out quickly to try and crack against his flesh, the corners of her lips turning up into a smile of mischief.
She didn't let up or show him any mercy. Both her daggers came toward him in a vertical slash, one after the other, and she tried to slam the hilt of her dagger into his face.
Janella was disciplined enough to keep from glaring and cursing at him, but whenever she fell for his ploy and felt his hand on her chest, she surely reacted. Her knee immediately jerked up, striking toward his groin, but she would settle for his knee or thigh. The bony joint whipped out quickly to try and crack against his flesh, the corners of her lips turning up into a smile of mischief.
She didn't let up or show him any mercy. Both her daggers came toward him in a vertical slash, one after the other, and she tried to slam the hilt of her dagger into his face.
OOC
You're fine, I've been working three and four nights in a row, it's a struggle to keep up with posts at times x.x
Runt quickly ran to the side of the projectile, circling his way around to the mage, he knew he was at a disadvantage, but this was something his people lived for. It was something he lived for.
The Avaar gripped his sword tightly as he closed in, swinging his sword upwards across the mages torso in attempt to deliver a mighty blow.
The Avaar gripped his sword tightly as he closed in, swinging his sword upwards across the mages torso in attempt to deliver a mighty blow.
Now the elven fellow wasn't expecting such a quick retaliation and Janella's knee found her mark. There would be a cry as he doubled over and this was followed swiftly with the hilt of the daggers to his face. The material connected with a sickening cracking noise as he collapsed on the side, blood oozing from his nose.
"First blood!" Byron called out from the side as he observed the fight grinning... and laughing. Served the fellow right in his opinion.
The Avvar's swing was met with a solid 'thwack' noise as the mage blocked the blow with his staff, although he slid back from the force of it. The retaliation was quick. Frost this time and aimed at the ground below his opponent's feet. For a blood mage, he surely wasn't using certain techniques but perhaps he had been warned earlier about it.
That being said, his casting was still quicker than the average mage.
"First blood!" Byron called out from the side as he observed the fight grinning... and laughing. Served the fellow right in his opinion.
The Avvar's swing was met with a solid 'thwack' noise as the mage blocked the blow with his staff, although he slid back from the force of it. The retaliation was quick. Frost this time and aimed at the ground below his opponent's feet. For a blood mage, he surely wasn't using certain techniques but perhaps he had been warned earlier about it.
That being said, his casting was still quicker than the average mage.
Janella felt no remorse whatsoever, looking at the male with no compassion or mercy as he doubled over. She'd added insult to injury, or perhaps vice versa, by causing the nosebleed. The she elf also didn't gloat or tease him, even if she felt like she was well within her rights to.
The elf backed off at the proclamation of first blood, sheathing her daggers to show that she didn't intend on taking the fight further. Satisfied that she had exacted punishment, she looked impassive and merely nodded to Byron and her opponent politely.
The elf backed off at the proclamation of first blood, sheathing her daggers to show that she didn't intend on taking the fight further. Satisfied that she had exacted punishment, she looked impassive and merely nodded to Byron and her opponent politely.
Runt, still utilizing the momentum of his swing tried to push the mage downwards, but realized that the magic user had frozen the ground, making it harder to maintain his balance. No matter. It didn't stop him from continuing his assault.
The Avaar continued his relentless swings, his fury building, if one paid attention they could see a blood rest ring of mist surround the two.
He couldn't move as quickly as he would have liked due to the chance of slipping, but he could hit harder as a substitute.
The Avaar continued his relentless swings, his fury building, if one paid attention they could see a blood rest ring of mist surround the two.
He couldn't move as quickly as he would have liked due to the chance of slipping, but he could hit harder as a substitute.
Byron grinned as he watched the Crow and the elf. Well that went surprisingly well, expected from a Crow though. The fellow was but a mercenary.
"Ha... get yourself to the infirmary. You deserved that one. Was a good fight," the dwarf said as he took a swing of his flask as he spoke towards the fallen elf. A glance was given to Janella and he gestured to a space beside her if she wanted to sit down to watch the sparring between the mage and the avvar.
The mage blocked most of the swings although one could see that he was having trouble with each resulting swing. Unlike the warrior, he was not built for long lasting combat. He needed the warrior to back off. The red mist was unnoticed by the mage. At Runt's next swing, he'd feel a shock of electricity when the blade connected to the staff. The mage was hoping that was enough to shock him off his relentless attacks.
"Ha... get yourself to the infirmary. You deserved that one. Was a good fight," the dwarf said as he took a swing of his flask as he spoke towards the fallen elf. A glance was given to Janella and he gestured to a space beside her if she wanted to sit down to watch the sparring between the mage and the avvar.
The mage blocked most of the swings although one could see that he was having trouble with each resulting swing. Unlike the warrior, he was not built for long lasting combat. He needed the warrior to back off. The red mist was unnoticed by the mage. At Runt's next swing, he'd feel a shock of electricity when the blade connected to the staff. The mage was hoping that was enough to shock him off his relentless attacks.
Upon his last swing, Runt felt a surge of electricity rip through his body, stunning him temporarily. The burning pain lightly singed his skin a bit, allowing the mage to back away.
Smoke billowed out of the Avaar's mouth as he merely stood there, his muscles twitching. It was in that moment, he noticed an owl flying over him, was it a sign from the Lady? Was this the moment he would regain his sight? The owl slowly circled around him, he hoped it would grant him his vision. Eventually the Avaar looked over at the Mage, nothing had changed. Everything looked the same..He was still blind.
During the midst of his short paralysis, Runt's ring only grew a deeper shade of red. One could see the rage slowly building on his face, his struggled to lift his blade up, his sight focused on the mage, inhaling a deep breath.
Smoke billowed out of the Avaar's mouth as he merely stood there, his muscles twitching. It was in that moment, he noticed an owl flying over him, was it a sign from the Lady? Was this the moment he would regain his sight? The owl slowly circled around him, he hoped it would grant him his vision. Eventually the Avaar looked over at the Mage, nothing had changed. Everything looked the same..He was still blind.
During the midst of his short paralysis, Runt's ring only grew a deeper shade of red. One could see the rage slowly building on his face, his struggled to lift his blade up, his sight focused on the mage, inhaling a deep breath.
The mage backed away, breathing hard. The physical exertion was taking its toll and so was the loss of blood. He didn't bother about any owl or so, his gaze focused on Runt. With a roar, he'd make a sweeping motion with his staff, sending a lightning bolt arcing towards the Avvar.
As the mage cast his spell, Runt released a mighty roar, the ring surrounding them became a brighter red as he charged. One would beleive that he had lost the fight, what was he thinking? Why charge into the wave? It wasn't until one saw Runt stab his blade into the ground and catapulted himself over the attack that caught their attention.
Leaving his sword in the mud to absorb the lightning, Runt continued his charge at the blood mage, delivering a heavy punch across his opponents face. At this point, Runt was in a blood frenzy and was prepared to continue attacking.
Leaving his sword in the mud to absorb the lightning, Runt continued his charge at the blood mage, delivering a heavy punch across his opponents face. At this point, Runt was in a blood frenzy and was prepared to continue attacking.
The mage was not prepared for the sword to take the assault and he stared somewhat dumbfounded before there was a nasty 'crack' noise as Runt's fist connected with the other's face. The force was enough to throw the mage off balance, and he lost his staff in the process, the weapon rolling a few feet away.
To his credit, the mage tried to recover, although he was definitely disorientated as he tried to get up.
To his credit, the mage tried to recover, although he was definitely disorientated as he tried to get up.
Runt ruthlessly turned the mage onto his back as he sat on top of him, grabbing his collar, and holding a fist above him,"Submit..!" He yelled.
The Avaar threw another punch to show he was serious,"Submit!!"
The Avaar threw another punch to show he was serious,"Submit!!"