[CLASS QUEST] Jerarda

[Suhuba]

This Quest is for Jerarda in her attempt to become a Blade.

OOC
||. You may not control any NPCs or other characters; Jerarda must face her trials alone.
||. Respond to the prompts given as you would any other RP.
||. Your responses may be as long or short as you feel necessary.

IC
It was evening, the sun's golden haze just beginning to fade from the Sauti air. It was a cool night, much less humid than the evenings in Jauhar; different... but still comfortable.

Yansa was seated on one of the region's many boulders, cross-legged, arms resting gently against her knees. Her eyes were shut, a serene expression on her face. Her body was turned towards a pond, one of many that could be found in the region, if one knew where to look. The water was clear and still, reflecting the oncoming night as well as the Alkidike woman seated at its edge.

The leader had requested the presence of one of her sisters, to meet her at this spot. It wasn't too far from the place they had designated as their temporary home, and so Yansa was hoping it wouldn't be too difficult for Jerarda to find.

But Jerarda's moods could be unpredictable; there was no telling what the young woman might be feeling, regardless of whether or not she found the tranquil pond with ease.  

[jayoku]

Jerarda was being summoned by the elder Yansa and though her mood was on and off lately she was going to make sure she didn't keep Yansa waiting this time. Moving quickly she had her hands at her side with light fists. Having an inkling to why she was being summoned the alkidike couldn't help but be excited to prove herself. It was about time after all.

The place she was being summoned to was luckily a pond she had found herself once before it took her little time to relocate it and spot Yansa sitting on the boulder before it. Moving up to her she gave a small tilt of her head in recognition of her rank.

"You summoned me Yansa?" She inquired trying to sound aloof as if she had no idea what this was about. Of course one could sense the energy just brimming from her body.  

[Suhuba]

Yansa took a deep breath as Jerarda approached, speaking to her. A smile upturned the edges of her lips, but her eyes remained shut, her expression serene. ”Yes, thank you for joining me this morning.” The woman allowed a few moments to pass in silence. The energy radiating from the Prentice was almost palpable, despite her rigorous attempts to seem aloof.

”Have you ever practiced meditation before, Sister?” She asked, eyes still shut, arms relaxed, laid palms-up on either of her knees. ”It truly helps to gather focus, to become more aware and in control of both your emotions and your body; important skills for a warrior to possess.”

Yansa motioned to the rocky earth across from her. ”Why don’t you join me?”  

[jayoku]

Jerarda watched her elder sister trying to remain vigilant but finding her attention waning even now. Her eyes were still closed and part of that irked her, wouldn't she not open them to acknowledge her properly?? Still Jerarda managed to say nothing on the matter. At the question of meditation, the woman nearly laughed, though managed to turn that laugh into a cough.

"Ah...no sister. I fear life always keeps me with my eye's open as I charge ahead." Jera didn't realize the double meaning in her words. How instead of making it sound like what she was doing was a good thing...but rather a bad one. A look of a grimace crossed her features as she was asked to join Yansa in meditation.

Hopefully they could get this over quickly. "Yes...Yansa...I will....but...why are you medating this morning? Are you thinking up battle strategies? Or perhaps thinking of getting ahead of the other tribes in the discovery of our lands?" Jera was truely terrible at meditation. As she joined her sister on the rock cross legged and tried to mimik her pose she found her mind too full of questions and her body too eager to be moving. Twitching her grimace seemed stuck in place as she closed her eyes.  

[Suhuba]

Yansa listened patiently as her Sister spoke, but her expression had turned blank, slowly falling back into her meditative state. ”I meditate every morning. It helps me to connect with reasoning and patience.”

“It is also the ideal way to prepare to enter a battle.”

Yansa finally opened her eyes, smiling gently at Jerarda. ”Come. Join me. And then we will talk.”  

[jayoku]

Jerarda listened if...half heartedly, this was not what she was expecting upon being summoned by their leader. Though she was trying to be patient everything Yansa spoke seemed like a pale echo to her friend Phenyo and right now being reminded of Phenyo was just another irritation she didn't want to deal with at the moment.

Jerarda had to refrain from groaning as she was asked to join Yansa in her meditation. Though you could tell by her words she was not very enthused about this idea.

"Yes....sister Yansa...I will...join you..." It sounded almost like the woman was being tortured or something.  

[Suhuba]

Yansa smiled at Jerarda, nodding approvingly as the younger woman agreed to join in her meditation. The Alkidike leader smoothed over her face, holding back a chuckle. The Prentice needed to learn patience, but the way it seemed to be physically hurting her… really, closing her eyes and re-entering that tranquil state of mind was all Yansa could do to contain herself.

The woman allowed a fair amount of time to pass, darkness had overtaken the land before she finally made any sort of movement.

The woman stood, slowly and silently. Her own spear was laid up against a nearby rock. A second lay at its side.

”I hope your mind and body are as prepared as your will, Jerarda.” Yansa grinned, tossing the extra spear towards the Prentice. ”Now, we fight.” The Alkidike leader wasted little time in springing into action. She would not aim to injure her Sister, but was certainly moving with the goal of disarming her.  

[jayoku]

Perhaps the only reason Jerarda managed to stay still this long was because she was not really meditating but dozing. She just found this so boring, and she was dissapointed that this was what she was doing with the elder. A bit of a delayed reaction she was started out of a of her 'meditation' when Yansa stood up.

Eye's snapping open she hoped that Yansa didn't notice that she was almost asleep there. Trying to suppress a yawn she managed to pull it off when Yansa went over to where two spears lay. Another grimace on her face, she had no experience with such a weapon and the idea of looking foolish was not exactly what she would enjoy doing.

Standing slowly she stretched and then moved over to where the weapons lay. Gingerly she picked one up, it felt heavy and awkward in her hand and she immediately disliked it. Though given enough time to gather the weapon Yansa sprang into action and Jerarda immediately reacted, if poorly.

Dropping the weapon she dropped and rolled to the side, of course if she had been thinking she could of held onto the weapon while doing this...but it was so unfamiliar in her hands, she had acted on instinct. Groaning as this would be reflected on her poorly, it also meant she would need to retrieve the weapon at some point during this fight.

Growling mostly out of annoyance she studied the situation, given how barbaric she often lived life you'd think tactics would be beyond her...and yet...no. She may rush ahead but she wasn't an idiot, her stance was low as she was still crouching from her roll an arm out as if pretending a weapon was still there and in her opinion her fist was just as good a weapon as a spear....

Moving forward she lunged forward trying to grab the spear off of the ground.  

[Suhuba]

Yansa was nothing if not graceful. Watching her move, especially when in battle, was like watching some sort of intricate dance. She made it look easy, as if fighting were a gift she was born with, not something that she had been rigorously trained in from a young age.

Her brow furrowed as Jerarda tossed the spear aside in her attempt to dodge. What was the woman’s tactic here? Yansa has heard of Jera’s preference for using her fists and feet in battle, but was that truly a wise choice against a spear? The elder Alkidike would easily be able to impale the younger woman before the Prentice got close enough to strike.

The elder woman felt as though she was moving at half speed. Had this been a true fight, this would have been a perfect opportunity to simply end it for her opponent; Jerarda had made a mistake, she was vulnerable and unarmed. She could have aimed for her Sister’s body as she lunged across the ground, trying to retrieve her weapon. She could have won immediately.

That wasn’t what Yansa wanted. It would have been too fast. Jerarda would have easily been able to say that the match wasn’t fair, that she had been defeated while utterly defenseless.

So instead, the older woman turned down her pace. She stepped to the side, giving Jerarda enough time to retrieve the weapon before moving in for another attack. Her spear was pointed diagonally down, hoping to get under the Prentice’s own weapon and dislodge the weapon from her grip once again.  

[jayoku]

Jerarda felt mighty proud of herself as she managed to grab her spear, as she then readied herself once more this time holding onto her spear as she faced off with her elder Yansa, she was about to strike when suddenly the elder's spear came forward and was quick to disarm her again.

The spear flew from her hands, clattering as it skid across the ground, gritting her teeth her flashed her elder a look that could kill. Jerarda was getting frustrated and this particular woman annoyed and angry was not one that thought things clearly.

Weapon back on the ground she was tempted to grab and yank the weapon out of Yansa's hand, instead she found that she was moving back towards her weapon stiffly....she felt that she was being toyed with and made fun of. Growling mostly to herself she picked up the spear and turned to face the woman again.

Jerarda wanted to state something rather snarky to the elder, but instead she clenched her teeth and tried to ready herself again. Noting how Yansa was holding her spear and her fighting stance, she was a quick study if she tried and so she thrust forward trying to keep herself level headed.  

[Suhuba]

Yansa wanted to chuckle as the self-proclaimed champion shot her a death glare, but she did not wish to infuriate Jerarda more… if that were possible. And so, her face remained calm, passive, waiting for her Sister to make the next move.

Although the Prentice’s anger was apparent, Yansa was certainly not trying to make fun of her. This was an opportunity for the younger woman to prove herself, to show the mightiness and strength that she so frequently boasted of.

Of course, for one so proud, Yansa could understand the growing rage…

A small smile upturned the edges of her lips as Jerarda changed her stance, mimicking Yansa’s own. She nodded gently in approval, before initiating another attack. This time, her goal was not to disarm Jerarda. Instead, she aimed for her sister’s chest. If Jerarda blocked the attack, the fight would continue. If she did not manage to do so, Yansa would pull her blow; she certainly would not risk bringing harm to her Sister.  

[jayoku]

Jerarda took this 'battle' perhaps a trifle too seriously, as the spear came towards her chest rather than be surprised she brought her spear up to deflect the blow it jarred her hands, but she clung onto the weapon with all her might and side stepped, the weapon was solid. Trying to use it as an extension of herself was beyond her, she craved to use her hands...and feet to win this fight. After all it was what she was good at.

Still she moved off to the side, the tip of her spear angled downwards as the tip of the weapon hovered just a few feet off the ground. Jera's mood had soured considerably, but she didn't throw a tantrum though she was thinking frantically for a way to turn the tables.

Jerarda could figure out the point of this weapon, it was meant to keep your enemy at a distance to strike before getting too close. It had great advantages and though Jerarda could understand that she frowned at it. Keep your enemy at a distance huh? Well once that enemy broke past the length of your spear you had to retreat else you'd be the one in trouble.

Growling lightly Jerarda took a deep breath and tried to attack as Yansa had done. Trying to dis-arm her opponent.  

[Suhuba]

Yansa leapt backwards a step as Jerarda blocked her attack, pleased to see that the Prentice had managed to hold onto her weapon. Despite the anger that could easily blind her, it was clear that Jera was a natural warrior; she was determined to continue this battle, despite the obvious disadvantages burdening her. In all honestly, it was a bit refreshing. Very few Prentices would even fight Yansa, coming up with some excuse about respect, when in truth, more often than not, they were just frightened, feeling inadequate.

Jerarda was nothing if not determined.

Hoping to relieve some of her Sister’s anger and also to teach a lesson, when Jerarda attacked, Yansa allowed the spear to be taken from her hands. The weapon clattered to the ground a few feet away. However, there were ways to recover from being disarmed.

Spinning on the spot, Yansa reached out, hoping to take hold of the weapon in Jerarda’s hands and, through surprise and sheer force of strength, be able to pry the spear out of the Prentice’s hands and to retrieve it as her own.  

[jayoku]

Jerarda's pride swelled as she watched the weapon spin away from Yansa's hands, only later would she realize it had been perhaps a bit too easy to do. Still her moment of glory was short lived as suddenly Yansa spun and then reached forward and grabbed ahold of her own spear.

Doing what Jerarda had only thought to do, the surprise on Jera's face soured into anger quite quickly, the tug-of-war only lasted moments as the spear was wrested from the alkidikes hands. Jera enraged at being disarmed for a third time seemed to do the unthinkable. Stepping forward rather than back and away, Jerarda was using this moment, just before the elder could turn that spear around and jab it at her, to strike out at the elder and..punch her....

Oh Jerarda...her patience had worn thin and apparently this was as good an opportunity to strike as any other, weaponless or not. She had been aiming her blow for the woman's upper left shoulder, the likeliness of her hitting was however rather slim.  

[Suhuba]

Yansa pulled the spear towards herself as Jerarda released her grip. The elder woman was, of course, surprised by the Prentice’s next move. Thankfully, she was well-versed in battle. If she wasn’t, she wouldn’t have been trusted with such a delicate mission, as leading a group of young adults all across Tendaji.

The woman knew how to handle surprises.

Still dancing, Yansa spun again. Jera’s punch missed her older Sister’s shoulder. Her fist grazed, instead, a number of the long dreads that cascaded down the Spear-wielder’s back.

Yansa flipped the spear in her grip. With the bladeless bottom of the weapon, she made an effort to sweep the staff under Jerarda’s feet, hopefully knocking her off-balance, perhaps even all the way to the ground.