A Start Towards Redemption

[WolfbrotherKronos]

Ignis had never seen Tar Valon.  He had also never seen the White Tower.  Ignis wasn't someone who traveled much.  He had survival skills.  Borderlanders were taught those skills.  Seeing the tower for the first time was still breath taking.  His eyes looked around as he walked through the streets of Tar Valon.  The lack of a jingle from the bells that used to adorn his dirty blonde hair was still something Ignis wasn't used to.   The familiar weight was gone, a constant reminder of his past sins.

 

The Tower itself was grand, and as he arrived at the Tower grounds, he took a moment to admire the building, however, it wasn't long before a guard asked him for his purpose for coming to the White Tower.  "I'm here to train - with the Warders." Ignis told the guard.

 

The guard gave him directions to the Warder's yard where hopefully he could begin his training.  Perhaps here, he could regain his honor.

[_Kynwric_]

Kynwric was in the yard, Loraine was busy with Green business and he'd been tired of being inside the Tower's walls anyway, so to the Yard he had gone. He was hanging out near the entrance, watching as trainees, guardsmen and warders went through the daily routine of training and practice and speaking with some of the other guards who were on duty. He noticed Kilrin watching the same goings on from the small stoop in front of his office. Kyn watched both the Master at Arms and the men from that point on, still wary of him from their previous altercation. When the young man approached and spoke with the guards, who while doing their job weren't exactly welcoming, Kyn pushed himself up. "S'ok, Teller, I'll take him in."

 

"I'm Kynwric, welcome to the Tower and the Yard."

[WolfbrotherKronos]

Before he could get to far, another approached him, telling the guards that he would take Ignis from here.  Ignis nodded to the man in gratitude, accepting his introduction.  Ignis wasn't sure how to refer to the man, and come to think of it, he was unsure of what sort of rank structure the Warders had.  However, Kynwric had been here longer and had the pull of the guards at least.  That spoke of some type of seniority.  Ignis would treat this man as an officer, if for no other reason than to be polite.

 

"It's nice to meet you, Sir, and thank you for the welcome," he said, his posture showing military bearing. "I'm Ignis Caleum, and I'm interested in joining the Warders. If they will accept me."

 

Ignis stood wearing a leather jerkin over his shirt and tan trousers.  A dagger hung at his hips and two swords crossed his back in Arafellin fashion.  Other than the swords, he bore no indication of the life before his self-imposed exile.   He moved to follow the warder and being his new life, resisting the urge to move into Cat Crosses the Courtyard.

[_Kynwric_]

"My pleausure, Ignis, and I'm no knight, and I'd say I'm no Lord, but my wife keeps disabusing me of the notion. But my proper title is Kynwric Gaidin, and it means I am a Warder to an Aes Sedai. You, despite the lack of braids and bells, are Arafellin or had an Arafellin trainer at some point, at the very least... I am going to lead towards actually Arafellin, you walk like a Borderlander."

 

"As for joining the Warders, you can join the Tower Guard, you might be bonded and made Warder at some point. That is really out of yours, my, or even the Amyrlin Seat's control. It all comes down to the individual sisters... and their tastes. You're a pretty enough lad though, I'm sure one of them will take an interest." Kyn said this jovially, and gave a laugh at the end as if he might be joking. "As for actually signing up, you need to go talk to the Master at Arms, sign the book, and then someone, perhaps me, perhaps not will start training you to live through that which should kill you."

[WolfbrotherKronos]

Ignis walked with the Warder, nodding understanding at the use of title.  It was good to know what to call the man.  Ignis looked away as he mentioned Arafel as a slight tension came into his step.  Ignis quickly relaxed.

 

Burn me, he thought.  He had advertised more than he wished, but he was young and still wasn't sure how to deal with the emotions he dealt with inside.

 

Ignis recovered quickly, Kynwric's quip about being pretty helped him relax a little more, and he even chuckled at it.  Ignis summoned the flame and the void, trying to use it to empty his emotion.  It was more successful than normal, but the youth still had much on his mind.

 

"The Tower Guard," Ignis said. "I could do that.  With your permission, Kynwric Gaidin, I would like to speak with the Master at Arms as soon as possible.  That is, if if he available."

[_Kynwric_]

Kyn made note of the young man's changes in posture, and wondered why he'd be so bothered by anyone knowing he was Arafellin... and also one without braids and bells in his hair, he'd have to ask about that sometime. 

 

"That is easy enough, the Master at Arms is right there" Kyn pointed to Kilrin, on his stoop, and gestured. "Just go tell him you wish to join and he'll have you put your name in the book... you have weapons, you have the look of one who can at least hold them correctly, it should be easy from there."

[WolfbrotherKronos]

((OOC - Can I mod Kilrin, or is he played by someone else?))

[_Kynwric_]

He's a NPC, you can control him in this case.

[WolfbrotherKronos]

Ignis nodded in thanks to the Warder. "Thank you Kynwric Gaidin. Please excuse me for a moment."

 

Ignis excused himself into the building and found the Master at Arms, a man named Kilrin.  Ignis approached.  "Hello, Sir," he said, holding himself with military bearing. "I'd like to join the Tower Guard."

 

The man looked him over, and nodded and pulled out a book. "Sign your name here."

 

Ignis did so, and answered a few questions for the Master at Arms.  Of course he had to tell him where he was from, which he answered reluctantly, earning a look from the officer.

 

"Alright, Ignis," he said, examining the book. "I'll have you added to the duty roster.  You'll start tomorrow."  Kilrin wrote on a piece of paper.  "There is your barracks assignment.  Don't forget to see the Quartermaster before you start your duty rounds."

 

Ignis acknowledged the order and went back outside. "That was easy enough," he told Kynwric.

[U4ea]

Edana watched the wide-eyed youth stride through the Gate and paused, leaning against pell with a grin on her face. Kynwric seemed in a rather good mood as he escorted the kid to Kilrin's office. Edana crossed the Yard and eyed the door. "Are you excited to have some new bodies to pound away on in the name of 'training,' Master Kynwric?" Her grin never slipping. "I seem to recall you preferring pells that move, as opposed to the stationary ones. What duty do you think the Kilrin will add him to? If I smile and wave, it'll be latrines. Should I smile and wave?" 

 

The door in front of them opened and nearly burst out laughing at his, "That was easy enough."

 

"I suspect it'll be the last time you say that for a while," she grinned. "Should I say welcome or buy you a conciliatory beer?" 

 

~Edana

[WolfbrotherKronos]

(ooc: sorry about the delay - I started a summer job and have been busy - I'll respond asap))

[WolfbrotherKronos]

((OoC: Again - sorry for the delay))

 

A woman had approached and she stood with the deadly grace of a Warder. Ignis nodded at her in greeting, and a slight smile appeared at the corner of his mouth as she spoke.  This made Ignis glad to be here.  At the very least, he liked these two.

 

"A welcome would be fine," He said with a smile. "I'm not sure I've been here long enough to warrant a beer. I'm Ignis."

 

Ignis looked around.  A few worked at their forms in the nearby yard, more experienced ones offering suggestions and the like.  "I think I might take some time to practice my forms.  I don't start my duty until tomorrow. Maybe I'll earn a beer." he said with a grin.

[U4ea]

"I'm Edana," her smile widened. "And if you think writing your name in that little book didn't earn you a beer, I'd truly hate to see what you deem worthy of one. Either that or your perception of beer is far from reality and you set the bar really high for earning one because of it."

 

Edana looked over her shoulder around the Yard. Since coming home with the heron marked blade, her opinion of things had drastically changed. She didn't practice forms, anymore. She cornered Masters and arranged regular sparring matches, instead. She hit pells regularly, though even that had changed. The pells had faces, now... She shook her head and stretched her smile back out. "Have fun with that and the duty, as well. I'm so well loved, they tuck me on the Gate in the darkest part of the night to hide all this wit and charm. Personally, I think it's so I don't find the tavern the Captain disappears to when he leaves the Yard. Just makes me want to find it more, though. As it is, I best get cleaned up and rest before my shift at glaring at the stars." She dipped a snarky bow. "Gentlemen."

 

~Edana

[WolfbrotherKronos]

Ignis smiled at the woman in greeting. "Ignis," he said, smiling at her little quip.

 

He didn't actually find it funny.  A beer was really a simple thing, but like many things, he didn't deserve it.  The woman excused herself, and Ignis bid her farewell, before turning to the man.

 

"I think I am going to practice a bit," he said. "If you would like, I would be willing to accept any advice you may be willing to give."

 

Ignis knew he likely had more training and experience than most new recruits, but he was also aware that the day you stopped learning was the day that you lost limbs to a trolloc blade.  He wasn't full of himself enough to think there was nothing for him to learn.

[_Kynwric_]

"I don't have anything more pressing to do, I'd be happy to begin your training. But first we should see where you're at..." Kyn set aside his sword belt, hanging it from one of the posts of the sparring ring, and took up a bundled lathe. He gestured for Ignis to take up he wished from the collected trainers an waited for the younger man to step into the ring first. 

 

Once they were inside, Kyn settled into his comfortably familiar stance, sword held down by his side as if it were in a sheath. "You're a borderlander, I don't expect I'll have to show you how to hold a sword, or which end to use, so first thing is Stance. Get into your normal fighting stance."

[WolfbrotherKronos]

Ignis nodded, removing both of his his blades and getting a lathe as well.  The familiarity of the training ring came back quickly to him.  Others around began to watch, both students and teachers alike - the students wanting to size up the newcomer and the teachers evaluating his skills. Ignis kept himself from going into Cat Crosses the Courtyard.  There was no need to be arrogant.  Even so, Ignis walked with a wariness that showed that Ignis took this seriously.

 

Ignis nodded at the man in acknowledgement of his order. He set himself with one foot back, keeping himself firmly grounded.  He drew the training sword and brought it in front of him in a defensive posture.

[_Kynwric_]

Kyn nodded as he appraised the young man's posture and stance, he hadn't yet fell into his own defensive posture.

 

"You usually fight with two blades, no?" giving Ignis the opportunity to arm himself as he wished, however, as he said it he did bring his lathe up into a defensive stance, it wasn't quite Unfolding the Fan, but it was close enough that it was recognizable. 

 

Once they were both armed properly, Kyn said "begin," and settled fully into his defenisive posture and waited on the younger man to attack. It was an old style of training, to let the new comer exhaust themselves on his defense and only strike when a true error had been made, but he'd found it effective over the years. Just telling someone how to fight dod not work nearly so well as first showing them you credentials and then beginning instruction. 

[WolfbrotherKronos]

Ignis nodded.  Fighting with two blades was standard for him.  He had been trained with two blades.  In fact, he had arrived with two blades strapped to his back in the Arafellin style.  As much as he wanted to distance himself from his background.  He couldn't completely do it.  Wordlessly, Ignis retrieved another training sword and back into his stance. 

 

It was a practice session similar to many he had been in before.  The teacher would expect him to attack, allowing him to tire himself on offense.  Ignis found it to be very effective.  He recognized the form the Warder used. At least it was some variant of Unfolding the Fan.

 

At begin, Ignis did so, approaching the Warder with caution.  Just because he was on the offensive, didn't mean he couldn't assess his opponent as well.  Moving into Parting the Silk, Ignis attacked.

[_Kynwric_]

Kyn was patient, he had never rushed a fight if it could be avoided, and he wasn't the one being trained here and so needed a judge of the boy's skill before he attacked. He adjusted as Ignis approached and readjusted as Ignis shifted his feet to try and move himself around Kyn's defense. Good, he's not a woolhead when it comes to a fight. The attack wasn't unexpected, it was the obvious choice for the defense that was being presented, Kyn dodged the slash, taking a step backwards and to his right while maintaining his defensive posture. He waited for Ignis to continue. 

 

 

 

OOC: Write the fight, you can assume Kyn will dodge or parry anything Ignis attacks him with at this point and will only strike if Ignis is completely out of position. 

[WolfbrotherKronos]

Kynwric dodged the slash. It was an expected move for one as experience as his teacher was.  In fact, Ignis didn't expect to make a hit at all.  Having some training had it's advantages.  Those new to the sword or any weapon of war fought two dimensionally, but Ignis utilized the ring around him, choosing to move towards the side to strike.  Rather than back and forth, the bout moved in a circle.

 

Ignis came in with an over head strike that was parried by Kyn's own weapon.  Using his other blade he struck from the side, and the Warder dodged the attack.  Balance was something Ignis was good at and it showed in his footwork.  Rather than stopping his motion, he continued moving with the missed strike.  Keeping the momentum going, he brought in another strike from the side.  Another parry.

 

Each time Ignis released a strike, the Warder parried or moved.  It was just enough for Ignis to keep track of the warder's movements. As of yet, the Warder hadn't struck. He kept on the defensive.  Ignis knew the game.  He wouldn't attack until the younger man made a mistake. It was a good training method. The fight itself was beginning to wear him out.  Soon Ignis would falter.

 

Whether Kyn was catching on to Ignis's style or not, Ignis didn't know, but it happened when the Warder feinted to one side and moved in another that the young man's first mistake was made.  The Warder chose this time to strike.  Ignis barely compensated in time, barely catching the Warder's blade.  However, as Ignis moved to counter, an opening was left.  Ignis's lip twitched slightly as he knew he couldn't prevent the next hit. 

[_Kynwric_]

Kyn moved in measured, precise steps and took simple movements to parry or dodge each strike. Ignis did an admirable job of keeping himself covered even while attacking, but the inevitable happened and he left an opening. Kyn took it, moving to his right to first draw the younger man's defense over while striking out with his lathe, pinning both of Ignis' in place with the heavy strike. Then moving slightly, a slide step and a lean, Kyn stuck home with his training weapon into the now completely exposed side of Ignis' ribs. Kyn then pushed himself back and continued his movement to the left to bring his defense back in line and prepared for any strike Ignis might have decided to launch. When he was settled and safe, "Good, that a strong foundation. Something to work with."

[WolfbrotherKronos]

Ignis took the blow as it came.  He couldn't stop it, but pain was a good teacher.  Next time, he would do better. Kyn worked back, remaining defensive until he was sure no more strikes would come from Ignis.  Kyn told him he had a strong foundation.  Ignis knew that, but it was nice to hear it from a better.

 

Ignis relaxed only a little, but his posture still held a wariness.  His own lathes could come up in a moment.  It was an easy trick to see if someone completely lowered their defenses, and the Warder hadn't really said that the training was done.

 

"Thank you, Kynwric Gaidin," Ignis said with a bow of respect. "Is there anything I can do to improve?" Ignis was after all here to learn.

[_Kynwric_]

A good question, one Kyn spent a moment thinking on before answering. "Don't allow yourself to be put in  position where both your weapons can be controlled at once, particularly with only one of an opponents, that will take time to master, but is the most glaring need, right now. Also, general piece of advice, spar regularly with those who are above you in skill. But don't neglect those below you, either, anyone can learn from everyone no matter the respective skill levels."

[WolfbrotherKronos]

Ignis nodded at the Gaidin, giving a formal bow.

 

"Thank you Kynwric Gaidin.  I will take these lessons to heart.  With your permission, I will get myself settled in.  I do afterall, have to be at my post tomorrow."

 

((Ooc: unless you have something else to tell him, a reply isn't necessary. Just let me know :D))