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 Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 6:54 am
Day one:
The dragon stood, eyes narrowed, arms crossed, the tuft of his tail twitching silently back and forth. His expression was thoughtful, as if there were something he was debating.
He did not like this, he was not comfortable here, in this place, in these lands. It felt all too familiar, confined to a student form, unable to use his natural form, kept from the abilities that were so a part of his being. No ice, no fire, and while his wings still allowed him flight, he could not fly so high as he wished here. Beyond that there was the matter or trust, or rather the lack thereof. Just what did the horsemen really have planned for them?
He shook his head, he couldn't just stand here thinking about it, nor could he stay in what barely (if at all) passed for a dorm. No, that wasn't what he came here for, he couldn't let his thoughts and fears consume him.
Finally, after some time of debating between the crafting and combat courses for the day (the cave you ask? Dark, cramped, confined space, he was most definitely going no where -near- any cave.), he seemed to have reached a choice.
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 6:55 am
demon_pachabel The Stadium:There is a small stadium for young War Horsemen set up away from the larger training fields, several circles set out for pairs to spar against each other in. A rather rugged looking female stands, dark skinned, light haired, covered in scars and warpaint, her hair unevenly cut in the back to a short length and ridiculously long and braided in the front, wrapped around itself, several feathers tucked into both it and the dark stained fabric, bones from several different types of creatures weaved into jewelry she wears, her wings colored like a golden eagle. On one arm, she has several slashes of paint – what looks like hundreds, trailing down it. After staring too long she finally speaks up:
“There is one for each battle I have won.” She said simply, shifting the pole she held to her other hand before turning to show her other arm, which is spotted with paint of a different color – and much more numerous. “I have one for each battle I have lost as well. To become a true warrior, you must climb your way to the top from the very bottom, and the best place to start is practicing against those who may just be better than you.” She explained, before motioning to one of the circles and an individual that was practicing on their own.
“Go join them.” She says, “If you think you’re ready. If you win, you will be paired up with the winner of another spar. So on, and so forth. After five victories, a break will be allowed for the day.” She says, the only explanation she gives as she hands off a small staff.Mechanics There are 5 roundsRoll 2d8 each post First dice is how hard you hit Second dice is how hard the opponent hit You want to roll higher than your NPC opponent. If you roll a tie roll a tiebreaker between them (same as the above) If you lose a match any matches you roll -for fun- afterwards cannot be counted towards points, but you can keep rolling spars! Please fill in each of your posts with a small summary of how your spar went! It could be more than one hit, despite having only rolled one! Have fun with it! Horsemen Points Distribution [ Horsemen Points Distribution: ] (Select only one option based on your results) You win one point if you get to rounds 1 or 2! You win two points if you get to round 3 or 4! You win all three points if you get to round 5 (or higher if you keep rolling for fun!)
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Amon Larethian rolled 2 8-sided dice:
5, 4
Total: 9 (2-16)
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 6:57 am
This, this was entirely new, he had never before fought this style of combat. In this he had no natural abilities, he could not use his plasma in either frozen or fire. Here he was limited to his physical form, his student form, all the advantages he had he could not use. Was he meant to use a weapon?
!!!!
There had been no chance to ask, his opponent coming at him before he had even realized it! A swift jump away meant he had avoided the brunt of the attack, but that had been far too close. Alright, so that was how it was going to be, fine.
The dragon hissed, crouching low, and then he sprang, leaping toward his opponent. But the horseman was waiting for him, rolling to one side to avoid what may have been a crushing blow had it hit its mark. Another strike, a block with heavily scaled forearms, the battle seemed to go back and forth, neither opponent catching the upper hand.
Then a low sweep, opponent meaning to knock the dragon from his feet. Sheridan leapt, clearing the blow, a midair turn, his tail lashed, landing a powerful strike that at last knocked his opponent from the ring.
(( round 1
Sheridan: 1
Opponent: 0))
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Amon Larethian rolled 2 8-sided dice:
1, 8
Total: 9 (2-16)
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 7:16 am
It was soon far too apparent just how lacking he was in basic hand to hand combat. What had he been learning all this time? Was he really this vulnerable without his abilities?
Apparently so...
It seemed the round was over no sooner than it had begun, leaving the dragon dazed on his back on the ground, wondering just what had happened. He hadn't even been able to register who his opponent was, and was now left only staring at the back of the horseman as they walked away.
Epic failure.
(( round 2
Sheridan: 1
Opponent: 1 ))
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Amon Larethian rolled 2 8-sided dice:
8, 5
Total: 13 (2-16)
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 7:27 am
Alright, Sheridan, shake it off, time to get serious, or at least not get your a** kicked quiet so hard.
This time he was resolved not to be caught off guard. No, this time he was the aggressor, taking the fight to his opponent with a charge, a leap, and a kick to the jaw.
His opponent was sent to the floor, but it wasn't that easy, it wasn't over yet. Quickly on his feet again, the horseman launched his own attack, launching strike after strike against the dragon.
Sheridan winced under the barrage. While able to dodge or block several of the blows, he still took many strikes, to the chest, his shoulder, one to his cheek. Enough of this, he wouldn't be able to stand up under this indefinitely, he had to knock his opponent out now.
An angry hiss, Sheridan charged, but not straight on. He first faked right, then leapt over his opponent with a beat of his wings. Turning in midair, he dove, reaching out to catch his opponent to slam them into the ground with the full force of his momentum. Good night.
(( round 3
Sheridan: 2
Opponent: 1))
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Amon Larethian rolled 2 8-sided dice:
2, 3
Total: 5 (2-16)
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 7:37 am
The last match had taken something out of him, he was getting tired. Perhaps going all out so early had not been the best idea. He would have to learn to conserve his strength.
But it was too late for this match, and while he was able to match his opponent blow for blow for a time, he was unable to gain the upper hand or any advantage. In the end, his energy gave out, and in his exhaustion he found himself thrown from the ring and once again flat on his back.
Oww...
(( round 4
Sheridan: 2
Opponent: 2))
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Amon Larethian rolled 2 8-sided dice:
1, 6
Total: 7 (2-16)
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 7:43 am
He was panting, exhausted, whether from the climate or his own lack of experience, it didn't matter. All he knew was that he was tired, and if he had any hope of winning his last chance, he would have to do so quickly, in one move.
Crouching low, a growl, he charged, his head lowered, antlers aimed squarely at his opponent's chest, his intention to ram the horseman and knock him from the ring in one blow. Unfortunately his opponent had anticipated, dropping to catch the dragon by the horns and with a powerful kick flipped him from the ring, effectively turning his own attack against him.
Sheridan was left on the floor to nurse his wounds and his pride. That could have certainly gone better, clearly he had more training to do...
(( round 5
Sheridan: 2
Opponent: 3))
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Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 7:15 am
Day two
Sheridan had left the dorms early that morning after a sleepless night. Sleep, he had all but forgotten what that was, still unable to close his eyes in fear of returning to the nitemare. It was only out of sheer exhaustion that he had last drifted into a restless and fitful slumber. However even that was short lived and he had started awake after what felt like only a few minutes. Wishing to escape the crowd of fellow students, and knowing he would be unable to rest further, he had risen and slipped from the sleeping quarters on his own.
He may have intended to look around more, to explore the structures as far as he was allowed. And yet here he had ended up, at the training grounds, once again debating which course to take.
A twitch of his tail, he'd already been thrown around the ring several times, maybe something less likely to result in him landing flat on his a** and covered in more bruises. Electing to avoid combat for that day, and still not willing to go -near- the caves, he decided on the crafting course. It couldn't be too bad, right?
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Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 7:16 am
Sosiqui Weapon CraftingWhile the Horsemen of War can summon their Clan weapon to them at any point, many take pride in mastering a variety of mundane weaponry as well, both combat and manufacture - no sense in limiting oneself to only one mode of battle, after all! Even 'decorative' weapons bear a brutal edge. The Crafters' Den is a sheltered platform halfway up a massive pine, with all the materials one might want, other than metal. The head Crafter, a sharp-eyed older Horsewoman, carefully watches all students under her care to ensure a.) nothing goes missing and b.) nobody gets stupid. "You can have enough to make one knife," she grumbles. "And don't waste it, either!" Can you impress her with your craftsmanship? ... Probably not. But it's worth a try. Phase One: Weapon Creation Create a weapon of War and test its mettle. If your craftsmanship is good, you may be victorious and gain the head Crafter's favor. For a minute or two, anyway. In your first post, roll 3d4 to determine what your knife is made of, how well it is made, and how it is decorated.First Dice: Material - 1: Wood (+1 point) - 2: Seashell (+2 points) - 3: Bone (+3 points) - 4: Stone (think flint or obsidian; +4 points) Second Dice: Craftsmanship - 1: You're in a bit of a hurry, so... (Shoddy: +1 point) - 2: You throw something together. It looks kinda close? (Mediocre: +2 points) - 3: You spend a bit of time on it, and come up with something okay. (Acceptable: +3 points) - 4: You throw yourself into your work with passion, paying close attention to detail! (Awesome: +4 points) Third Dice: Artistry - 1: It's a knife. Does it really matter if it's pretty or not? (Ugly: +1 point) - 2: You wrap the hilt in leather. Good enough. (Decent: +2 points) - 3: You wrap the hilt in leather and add a feather. Pretty! (Shiny: +3 points) - 4: You wrap the hilt in leather and add stylish strands of beads and feathering. That is one cool knife. (Stylish: +4 points) Roleplay out your knife's creation! At the end of your post, put the specifics of your knife's creation (i.e. Shoddy Stylish Wood Knife) along with the total score (the total of your dice roll).Phase Two: Weapon Testing In the Clan of War, there is no such thing as a decorative blade! Even weapons destined to hang on the walls of huts are finished to battle-ready quality. You must test your knife and prove its worth, attacking the simple leathery mannequin kept in the Den for that purpose. Take your knife's point score from the creation post. This is your knife's HP. You must now do battle until your knife breaks! The number of posts your knife survives determines the number of points you get. To Do Battle:Roll 2d4 in each post. The first dice indicates the number of damage your knife does to the test target (for RP flavor!). The second dice indicates the amount of damage your knife takes from the attack. Battle ends when your knife shatters. Aw. (And yes, this means you can't take it with you. Sorry!) Point Distribution [ Horsemen Points Distribution: ] (Select only one option based on your results) You win one point if: You finish your knife (with filled-out RP) and last one or two rounds of testing. You win two points if: You finish your knife (with filled-out RP) and last three or four rounds of testing. You win three points if: You finish your knife (with filled-out RP) and last over five rounds of testing.
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Amon Larethian rolled 3 4-sided dice:
4, 2, 2
Total: 8 (3-12)
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Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 7:18 am
The scent of the pine filled his nose as he glided to the platform, landing lightly on the wooden plants. Tail twitching, he looked around, his gaze drifting over the various furnishings, 'decorations', and materials spread throughout the 'room' (if one would call it a room).
A knife? Well he was certainly technically inclined, he could build a computer, a model, or a robot of sorts, he could draw a star chart, a blueprint, he could pick out a star in the sky or solve a physics problem. But a knife? That was a craft he had never tried, and he was not feeling especially confident his abilities to do so now. Don't give up before you even start, Sheridan, you'll never succeed if you don't try.
A resolute nod to himself, Sheridan moved around the platform, his tail flicking behind him as he searched the materials, wondering what he should use or where to even start.
Hmmm....
Ah, his eyes had settled on a fair sized piece of dark stone. He leaned over to pick up the stone, feeling it's weight in one hand, then shifting it to the other before shifting back to the original hand. It was comfortable in his hand and had a nice weight to it (or so he assumed, he'd never crafted or even held a weapon before).
Deciding the stone would work nicely, he settled to sit on the platform floor, looking over the stone in his hand debating where to start. And there he was stuck, he had the material, how did he turn it into a knife? It was stone and thus it was hard, how did he carve it? Experimentally he tapped it with a talon, then raising it to his eyes to examine the surface more carefully. Hmm, it appeared glossy, almost like glass, reflecting the light in muted colors. His head titled, he thought he recognized this stone, or at least one similar to it.
Remember the books he had read, he struck the edge of the stone along the edge of the platform, watching in curiosity and satisfaction as a shard of the stone splintered off to leave a sharp edge behind. Ah, maybe he could do this after all.
Or maybe not... It was one thing to know a theory, another entirely to apply it. It was the application he was currently having trouble with, muttering in frustration as another strike against the platform split the stone in a way he had not intended and ruined the edge he had been trying to create. Sigh, this was a lot harder than he'd thought, the several nicks on his hands and shards of stone on the floor around him a testament to his struggles. If he kept going at this rate, there would be nothing left of the stone and he would have no knife.
Alright Sheridan, stop, just stop, you're just going backward now. The knife had an edge, or at least a point, and still had some weight to it. It wasn't as nice as he would have liked, but it at least looked like a knife. It wasn't bad for a first attempt, right? Right? It would have to do.
But the knife was still a little bare and harsh in his hand, maybe he should add something to it. He searched around again, finding a long strip of tanned leather. Alright, that would do, wrapping it around the hilt would make a nice grip and keep the stone from cutting into his own hand. Alright, not the prettiest knife, but there it was.
(( Knife stats:
Stone mediocre decent
score - 8 ))
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Amon Larethian rolled 2 4-sided dice:
2, 3
Total: 5 (2-8)
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Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 8:52 am
Okay, so he wasn't done yet it seemed. He had built the knife, now it was time to try it.
Standing to his feet, knife in hand, he walked the few steps toward the target dummy. A pause, he looked from his knife to the dummy, then back to his knife. It was stone, it should be fine, right? a deep breath, he drew his hand back then struck swiftly, plunging the knife point first toward the target.
!!!
As the tip pierced the leather of the target, a large chunk of the stone split off and fell at his feet. That...was not a good sign.
(( HP: 5/8
Damage: 2 ))
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Amon Larethian rolled 2 4-sided dice:
1, 2
Total: 3 (2-8)
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Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 9:01 am
Clearly his knife crafting skills were lacking. A fact he was quickly coming to realize as a slash at the target caused another shard (though thankfully smaller than the first) of the knife to split off. Was he even doing any damage to the target itself?
Leaning closer, he examined the leather of the target. There were a couple marks he had left, one more obvious than the other. Well, at least he hadn't failed completely, he had done -some- damage.
(( HP: 3/8
Damage: 1 ))
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Amon Larethian rolled 2 4-sided dice:
1, 2
Total: 3 (2-8)
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Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 9:09 am
(( HP: 1/8
Damage: 1))
This time he had switched the knife to his other hand, plunging a stab at the target's 'neck' in a downward thrust. Ah-hah, he had pierced the leather! Oh...
Pulling the blade back from the target, he soon realized another piece of the knife had splintered off, this time remaining embedded in the leather it had struck. Shaking his head, he looked at what remained of his knife, which was considerably less impressive than what he had started with.
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Amon Larethian rolled 2 4-sided dice:
4, 1
Total: 5 (2-8)
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Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 9:13 am
Frustrated and disappointed, he plunged the knife into the target with the full force of a downward strike, growling as his tail lashed in his irritation.
Whoa! His eyes widened as the blank sank deep into the leather of the target and into the material beneath, with a satisfying rip followed by a snap. Unfortunately for the knife it would be the last strike it would ever land, shattering under the force of the impact and sending several shards of dark stone scattering through the air and across the floor.
A huff, the dragon crossed his arms before turning away from the target. Damn, he would have liked to have kept that knife.
(( HP: 0/8 *shattered!*
Damage: 4 ))
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Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 7:38 am
Day three:
Morning had again found him at the sparring grounds. There was a change in his posture, a sternness in his stance that had not been there before, a determined snarl in his expression. He had come here to learn, to train, to find that strength in himself he so desperately sought.
But now there was something more, now there was pride. Now he had something to prove, to prove that he was not weak, that he was not a child, that he was not worthless as many of the horsemen may have thought. Though he lacked the training and his skills were far from honed, he still had strength, he had heart, and he had fire, a fire that was quickly rising and growing to a roaring inferno.
Gone was the shy, reserved dragon he once had been. No longer would he hold back, no longer would he be pushed down or give in to doubt and fear. From now on, he would stand strong with all he had, and he would fight, fight for himself, fight for his friends, fight for his home.
His tail lashing with a determined snap, Sheridan entered the ring. He was ready.
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