Blue's Awakening and Lia's Training

After hours studying in the Cathlemet estate Nadin adresses Blue.

- I hope you rested, to many refreshments already. Come, pick your house sword and let's train elsewhere.

Nadin arrives with Blue at the training area of the Akh'Velahr barracks.

- Here we will not be interrupted and we have room too. Come, restart all the series you've been training for the last weeks, from beginning, I want see how you are.

After a good time of Blue making the movements of the fatal dance, Nadin would surprise him holding a 10 foot pole with a small cushion in point.

- Now let's fix this posture, you're still dancing like a rock, this way you will not dodge anything. Restart from beginning.

As Blue attempts to make the moves he would feel the point hitting him as Nadin walks around Blue checking his posture, and if greater the imprecision harder would be the pole, and in worse cases almost making Blue fall.

- To many books eh? Not dancing for a good time too I suppose. Knee in front, knee behind, flex these legs, invert position, relax the muscles. Allow the music flow throught you, feel it. Go down, jump, run and return, parry high, parry down, left, right, back, relax this spine, you dont want your chest with a lance. Parry down, right, down, left, right, high, down, right, right, left, down, high, jump, go down. And the elf continues this way for a few hours until see Blue is exhausted, than he would press him a bit more, testing the elf limits.

blue would train as nadin said

ocasionaly he would make a comment directed as an answer.. dance *smirks* I haven't dance since my wedding the last time not really.. so that's what it is huh.. he stops changes style to a more free flowing though its obvious it still needs some work the moves are more flowing not seemless yet into each other but close..

after being poked and knocked down his eyes flash he takes a minute holding his sword up in front of him head leaned in on the blade eyes closed he would mutter a prayer to corellon and enhance his inner peace quelling the fire with in to a controlled level..

forgive me master I am ready to begin again..

he would restart from the beginning he would take a deep breath relax.. and start.. as he goes through the moves he picture something in his mind as he does so on occasion he enters a peaceful state his mind is empty and his moves become more fluid seamlessly flowing into one another so much you can almost not tell where one begins and the other ends.. on occasions he would get poked by nadin when he had a thought cross his mind distracting him..

he obviously needs more work on this but when his mind is empty his body takes over as if instinct..

his mind opens for a minute and he falls in mid move..

he practices his parry as well and striking after or at the same time as parrying.. he dodges twists and turns sidesteps crouches getting in an attack or tow both magic and physical..

he slowly begins to enter a trance like state as he goes back to the beginning and starts again..

he would take up a half relaxed half firm stance and begin his dance again.. he attacks one dummy spinning and attacking another leaping in the air spinning with his sword and landing a hard blow that takes the dummies arm off. with out missing a beat he turns and cast a lightening bolt at another dummy at range.. he then does a low spin (like a foot sweep) and comes up with his sword guarding his back and the other hand hitting the dummy smashing it face.. he turns and send a sound wave into another dummy that is about mid range. he heads back to the middle in a swift motion.. he gages his remaining targets  looks about..  he sidesteps lunges stabbing one in the heart throws a spell of fire into another kicks yet another kicking it so hard it heads tilts to the side and takes his sword and throws it across the training space and hits his last target sword sticking through it.. he uses his magic and pulls the sword back to him before resuming the starting position.. he pulls the sword straight in front of him touching his head lightly.. as he stand straight.. he looks over.. again yes master? he seems to be loosing up and relaxing his self a bit allowing the moves to flow natural and less forced but still as precise as a military strike.. all this happens with a speed un seen by blue before..

- A troublesome aspect you know, obviously you're still not controlling the intensity of your blows, as dummies are used to training, and not to be reduced to pieces. Anyway you're improving and this is good; before your decision you looked like an ogre attempting ballet, and now you're in the way to not look like one anymore.

- We had enough for today, go get some rest, restart all the basic maneuvers from beginning until you get tired and rest again, than do what you have to do in your occupations, and than we meet to train your dodge abilities against diferent fighting styles.

blue would nod and smirk at the analogy and go do as he was told..

he would walk out saying.. I wonder how much im going to be charged for those *laughing lightly* but I will work on controlling it more.. or using less strength or maybe speed as momentum add to the force..

hmm much to think on..

thanks keeper and if I get the chance ill dance with an ogre to see if the analogy is accurate.. *grins and walks out*

*Only when Blue turns his back Nadin would smirk, and after he's far enough to hear, Nadin would laugh lighty* - Good one.

blue heads out at the times he is not training he can be seen about town and a beautiful elven female either always just behind him or walking next to him..

as he goes to train if it is an area to rough for her he parts ways and she goes to study or shop for daily supplies or just look about..

this day he is alone so he heads out to train going to various places.. later she comes out to shop or make her way to the library..

he makes his way to train and spends the rest of the day training and gathering materials..

he practices what he has learned though in battle he does not work on controlling the power and force behind his blows.. he takes on three and four enemies at a time..

at times when he feels able he gathers more enemies around him by using his speed to run through slapping them with his sword getting their attention.. as they chase him he smacks a couple more and continues until he feels he has enough gathered..

once he stops he takes up a spot in the center seeming to close his eyes as he waits for them to surround him.. once they are gathered around at various ranges he takes up his stance..

slightly crouched comfortably sword over head and angled in one hand his other out stretched and likely taunting them telling them to come on..

he closes his eyes briefly as he recalls something personal and private that calms his mind..

then in a split second his eyes open his sword swings in a circular path back wards to the front as he charges the first slicing it open in and upwards path through its center line of its body.. he follows seamlessly with a half turn slashing at an angle left to right down wards on another.. he feels an energy flying at him he side steps it allowing it to pass him and hit another enemy as he attacks the enemy that cast it.. he does a back flip with a half twist as an enemy attacks so he is facing the opposite direction as he lands he performs a upwards slash followed by a down word angle slash on another which is immediately followed by slashing one behind him legs as he is crouched.. He spins standing and pierces that same one through its chest at the same time using his magic with the other hand and flinging a force at another sending it flying into a tree.. he moves with a quickness jumping at half the distance bringing his sword straight down impaling the enemy against the tree through the head with such force that as he pulls his sword out it pulls the head off with it.. he quickly turns into a nother stance with such speed that the sudden stop flings the head from his sword into another enemy face as the hulking mound looks at it falling in his hands blue strikes at range with fire spell as he moves with speed striking cutting the hands off followed by a forward thrust through its midsection.. he sends his yet another flying flinging his at mid range flying into another and fireballs quickly the one in mid air as the one falls he dashes over grabbing his sword in mid run and stabs the one on fire now as it falls.. for good measures he sends a final thrust two handed through the on he hit with his flying sword.. he walks around gathering any materials he can find and leaves the area..

where he goes to a new spot to train..

blue heads out to train taking ny'onna with him this time though they are stopped after dealing with insults by a couple of air gensai seeming to be brothers and explained to them the error of what they were saying and trying to do in buying elven females..

I suspect they were told to do so but as it seems they finaly understood and appologised not knowing it was against our ways not to mention our laws.. the need for blood shed was sedated and they even aided us when drow attacked..

while they are knew to the area and unknowing of they ways they come across and our laws maybe they hold a reasonable mind and may become allies later on..

the specific training for ny'onna was never made as the attack of drows took president and they were dealt with and blues training continued though these drow seemed different and were able to hit him and do damage at the same time while the others were not..

but non the less they were dealt with and healing began..

blue writes in his training log..

I have trained in my usual areas and practiced daily the more I write in it the less time I have to train..

today I could have sworn I heard a sound come from sword maybe its was the wind who knows anymore it all seems one big blur training seems to blend together into one mass of blows given and taken and parried..

I think if I did hear the sound come from my blade I have found the right combination of skill, speed, an movements..

I think I will train one more day and I shall only chronicle it if anything new happens or I hear the sound again..

(april 11th - may 2 = 3 weeks)

*he sits in md and hovers the log book over a fire debating to burn it or not..*

he decides not to burn it and keeps logging in training when he feels like it.

(2 events 4k xp each 2 quests round 3000 total xp 11k in a few days)

his skill has improved much over the last couple weeks.

he is parry, dodging, side stepping almost ever attack now..

his dance improves drastically, his moves much more fluid and seamless almost as if natural, his magic failing less and less now as well.. his speed and control has improved 10 fold.

his sword even begins to sing at times as it slices through the air as his moves change so does the tune..

as if it we a reflection of him and singing to only him he writes his song every time he dances. his art grows new moves pop up adding to the melody oh his blade..

A letter would reach Blue in his estate, not signed

I'm waiting for you at Akh'Velahr barracks, theres some dodge training in the way.

blue shows up at the barracks disguised non magical as an old man with some scarring wrinkles and so forth he is stooped over hunch a bit as his skin looks wrinkled and old by appearance this man would appear ancient far past his time..

then man shakes feeble as he raises a hand to deliver a letter to the keeper his voice old and feeble nearly gone as he speaks.. "for you my last delivery" he would turn slowly and weakly using a staff to walk.. he is dressed in old ragged but thick clothing and an old brown cloak with a hood pulled up as he leans over the hood falls to cover his head.. his staff is normal gnarled piece of wood not even worth looking at let alone burning to keep warm.. except it would give off a weak magical energy obviously the only think this man has that is of worth..

blue if busted he would chuckle and begin training..

if not he would mockingly poke his staff at the keepers foot intending to miss each time but gets close making it look like he is clumsy..

blue trains with celidian at his estate.. the spar for a bit. it doesn't take long for the defender to knock him down a couple times gauging what he needed to work on..

(done in game and rped it out very well deserving some reward if allowed)

he would grin lightly though hidden by the hood and hand the guards the letter to deliver it to the keeper.

if they delivered it he would wait outside for a response the guards would have been told it was his last delivery.. and he asks to see the keeper personaly.. to receive the response..

Checking the letter Nadin would be confused at the man description, and would decide check by himself. Arriving he would check the old man

- Well, I dont remenber any ancient elf in house Cathlemet, and I know Blue would not give willingly such document, so this let only few possible explanations.

Without think twice the Keeper unsheats his crystal blade making a full circular high movement gaining speed, while the blade whistle softly and than dangerously decends towards the old man

The old man looks up with a grin *raising his staff to block* as he does the illusion ends on the staff and appearing in his hand was his long sword *blue would laugh*

wise indeed master wise indeed.. *grins wide*

he would take his stance not attack just block an move

The sun elf would stop his sword less than 1 inch to be blocked and do a soft grin of satisfaction

- Very well, come to the training branch, as I said, today we will have dodge lessons.

In training area Blue would notice several martial weapons in a few weapons display

- So pupil, I hope mathor Celedien helped you, her knowledge in several elven fighting styles is specially usefull to train kin, besides this improves your knowledge in ancient traditions of the quessir. If you have opportunity, go with her in patrols.

- Now about dodge, I do usually say there are at least three ways of an effective dodge, one using the mind, calculating your enemy moves and allowing his attacks pass away from you, the other is by muscular reflex and cunning dexterity, and another is by luck. While these three ways can be similarly effective, the main way an el'tael dodge is done is by using the mind and predictiing your enemy moves, even if this is not the case of all bladesingers, this is my style, what is too particularly common amongst el'taels that favor the blade of the Father, like you and me. Any questions before we continue?

blue walks in listening pulling his disguise off little by little grinning from ear to ear..

kind of like when I side step an attack throwing them off balance.. or spinning dodging the attack and stroking in the process.. or when they attack the trip or stumble over a rock or their own two feet..

of course these can all be planned ahead by knowing the terrain..

kind of like taking a position in a field with a tree at your back rocks on the ground and grass high enough to conceal the rocks from their view..

the tree keeps from being attacked from behind as well it can be used to take a blow instead of you the rocks aid in making their move more off center and off balance as well as make them clumsy some can picked up and thrown and the grass if high enough can conceal your attack or hide your self in sa,e as the tree.. it all depends on the circumstances and move of the dance..

just like training in water sure it slows you down provides resistance but it improves your conditioning and strength while allowing you to see your moves in slow motion spotting what you need to improve on and by slowing you down and making you use more strength to do moves a side effect is you grow faster with speed as well..

then again I could be over thinking things again part of the normal for me..

do continue master..

oh yes she helped a lot yes..

- Hm I see, come here than *showing the dummies he positions Blue between two*

- I will run at your direction, first attacking in chest line, run to your back and attacking in neck height. Block or dodge using the dummies the best way you see, we will repeat after.

*disregarding how Blue chooses to do Nadin would repeat exactly the same move dozens times*

blue would side step change positions as it got closer to the dummies he would use them spinning behind them and having a wooden sword for practice as he spins around them swing with the sword never hitting stopping short of the keeper..

every now and then he would hurl a magic spell at the dummy though not blowing them to pieces just low spells.. on occasion he would stab through the dummy usualy under the arm..

he dances around dodging side stepping grabs a dummy head switching positions pulling it in to be hit by nadin as blue swing from around using the dummy to take the blow meant for him and conceal his move at the same time..

or he would dance around using them as tools to take place of some one he is protecting.. in this case he would deflect the blows or doge side step moving them around as he goes deflecting attacks shielding them and taking advantage of any opening that presented its self.. weather it be a spell opening at range though he controlled the magic and took some of its power away or used it as a simple distraction
technique to through the keeper off and create an opening..

every time they restarted he would do something different even side stepping sticking his foot out to trip the keeper or make him stumble and tap him on his back lightly to show he been hit..

doing this time should nadin adjust the charge or counter blue may or may not take a hit now and then due to a slight miscalculation on his part.. but he would continue training..

occasional he would flip of nadin and land behind him or twist in a small jump and strike a blow low to nadin mid section or his leg though with no power as he learns to hold back..