the taste of things to come |
Summary: | Jarret tries to alleviate some of his issues through physical combat. |
Date: | 9th July 2018 |
Related: | http://eternalcrusade.wikidot.com/log:1874-7-10-might-be-better |
NPCs: | Unfortunate Guardsman |
Players: |
Training Field, Alnburg, Sokar Duchy |
Room description |
1874-07-09 |
It has reached the time around mid-day, and there's some happenings in the courtyard of the fortress, where people are training, preparing themselves for the possible war with the Partharian forces. One of those doing a spar there is Jarret, who is currently going up against one of the guardsmen. IT would seem that they have been at it for a long while, with the Sokar currently having the upper hand. He's using a blunted practice weapon similar to the poleaxe he usually uses, frowning as the guardsman tumbles over. "Up again!" he growls. "But my lord, we've been…""UP AGAIN!" The guardsman sighs as he gets to his feet, rather slowly.
Dertan walks over to the edge of the practice area and quietly folds his hands behind his back. His eyes flick across the exhausted guardsman, Jarret and the surroundings, but it seems he's not ready to react just yet.
"Continue!" Jarret calls out to the man. "Come on, do your best!" It would seem the guardsman is quite exhausted for now, but he still stumbles forward, practice sword in hand.
Dertan watches this until the guardsmans first attempt to parry "Jarret. Would you not prefer a fresh opponent? I am certain we can find a knight who would love to match swords with you."
As the guardsman goes down again, Jarret lets out a breath, hearing Dertans words. "Are you offering?" he remarks, words far lighter than his expression.
God no. "I can. If you wish." Dertan takes another step forward. "I just doubt I will be much of a challenge." his eyes flicker to the guardsman. "But I am at least fresh." He holds his hand out for a waster.
The guardsman offers a grateful smile to Dertan, as he hands over the weapon. "Thank you, my lord…" Meanwhile, Jarret watches carefully for now, eyes a bit narrowed as he watches. "Yes, yes. This is not a bloody game…" That last part spoken loud enough so the others training there can hear it as well.
"A buckler please." Dertan says to the guardsman even as he lifts one of his eyebrows at Jarret. "Of course it is a game Jarret."
"In case you didn't notice," Jarret growls, gesturing to the south. "There will be a huge fleet coming, wanting to kill us all. That's why this is not a game. We need to be sharp to hold them back." Watching as the buckler is brought to his cousin, he frowns, letting the other man attack first.
Dertan takes up the buckler, tests out the sword a moment and then eyes Jarret. For a while thats all that will happen because he expects Jarret to attack first as well. But, once he gets the idea, he moves to step in and attack. He's sticking with good old tried and tested methods. Nothing fancy.
Nodding a bit at that attack, Jarret moves the polearm to face it, trying to counter with a solid strike to the buckler. "Ah, come on! You can do better than that," he offers, offering a brief grin.
Dertan just lifts an eyebrow slightly again at the comment but it clearly works since his next move is an attempted sidestep under, and past, the polearm so that he can jab at Jarret's flank. "Its not like you to be so hard on your soldiers."
That strike sneaks past the polearm, causing Jarret to step back a few more steps. "They need to be prepared!" It's all that he says, as he attempts a strike towards Dertan's legs, frowning as he does.
Dertan hops over the sweep, backing up and eyeing Jarret warily. "How can a man be prepared if he is so exhausted he can barely lift his sword?"
"Battles don't stop just because you're tired," Jarret replies, moving in for another strike now, this time going for the buckler again.
Jarret's polearm slams against the buckler hard enough that Dertan suppresses a wince and retreats three steps before rallying and once again pressing forwards. "That is true." He admits as he tries to duck and sidestep again, aiming at Jarret's shoulder this time. "But nobody won a battle they started exhausted."
This time, Jarret manages to step out of the way of that attack. "The harder they train, the more they will endure." He moves in attempting a full sideways swing for Dertan's side, before turning it once it's close to the other man, moving down to try knocking him off his feet instead.
Dertan manages to fend off that sideways swing with reasonable competence but when its followed up with a sweep the lack of innate talent with this particular type of combat shows. His blade is still out of position, recovering from the side swing, and his feet are still planted so that he can manage the power that Jarret has.. of course non of that helps, at all, when the polearm slams into his lower legs and he tumbles. He's starting to stand again fairly quickly. His agility doesn't get showcased very often but moments like this make it absolutely obvious.
Nodding a bit as he sees Dertan getting up again fairly quickly, Jarret moves forward again with another of those swings for the side. This time, he doesn't change direction, continuing with the forceful swing.
Dertan nods to Jarret as he notes the fact that he's been allowed to recover his footing. With the simpler attack he manages to meet it solidly, grunting under the effort of the force as he tries to slide his waster down along the pole as if trying to remove Jarret's fingers.
Twisting the pole around to make sure the waster can't follow it, Jarret shakes his head a bit. "Going for the fingers? Really…" He doesn't bring the weapon around this time, instead trying to sweep a foot in to trip the other man up. Not the most honorable thing, but still.
"A weakness of your weapon." Dertan is saying in half-apology as Jarret goes for his legs again. He steps back, trying to rap the wooden blade against Jarret's boot as he does so. "I don't know why you are surprised. You know this honorable one on one type of combat is not how I fight."
There's a moment when Jarret seems to be torn about how to react about that rap toward his boot. He doesn't try to avoid it, instead focusing on bringing his polearm in forcefully in an attempted strike against Dertan's side. "It's okay. Honorable fighting usually gets you killed," he replies, with a ghost of a smile.
Dertan's blade makes contact with a little tap before he is forced to turn into that attempted strike, hoping to have it land against the buckler rather than his ribs. "I feel much the same." He admits, trying to bring his waster up in a sudden sharp strike towards his cousins jaw. "I would never have shot one of Bennart's opponents."
There's no answer from Jarret, as he throws himself backwards since that's the only way he can avoid getting hit by the waster. "Ah, good…" he mutters, after hitting the ground, one hand going to scoop up some of the dirt.
Dertan takes a couple of rapid steps forward as Jarret falls so that he can jab the other man in the gut with the tip of his waster. Hopefully at least. "How long have you been fighting?"
As that jab approaches, Jarret lifts the hand with the dirt, attempting to throw it in the direction of Dertan's face, while trying to roll out of the way from the jab. This causes him to roll over the shaft of the polearm, wincing a little. He doesn't answer the question yet.
Dertan recoils from the thrown dirt, lifting the buckler to protect his eyes. Jarret has rolled out of the way before he once again goes to follow, prowling along towards his opponent. "Are you done?"
"Done?" Jarret mutters a bit, reaching for the polearm, but it's out of reach now. Looking towards Dertan, he waits to see if the man comes into range for an attempted kick.
Dertan stops a short distance away, waiting to see if Jarret is going to reclaim his polearm and return to his feet. "Are you done fighting yet Jarret."
"I don't know…" Jarret replies, taking the offered hand and getting to his feet. "Haven't been sleeping well, lately…"
Dertan gives Jarret a small nod. "I have not been sleeping well either. There is a lot to think about and make ready and the added frustration from not knowing the exact timescale." He pauses briefly and then asks. "Is there something I can do to help?"
Jarret lets out a bit of a grimace. "I don't know… I think it's what I've already done…" He sighs, "It must just have been me seeing things… the stress…"
Dertan doesn't reply to this for a while, instead studying Jarret. "I would like to go down to the river for a swim." he says. "Would you care to join me?" The waster is handed away to the guardsman but the buckler he keeps, hooking it onto his belt. "It has always been one of the best ways to spend a summers evening. Would you not agree?" He studies Jarret for another moment and then turns to start walking down that way. He'll remain mostly quiet, except for talking about the weather and other such pleasantries, until they are almost at the shore or Jarret has made it clear he wont be going.
"I… I should go trying to get some rest…" Jarret replies, after a few moments of pause. "Enjoy the swim…"
Dertan frowns at Jarret's reply. "Then let us talk Jarret. Or promise me that you will speak to Lianna at least? I am sure she is better equipped to help than I am. There is a herb i was given once before that helps."
"Yes, yes… talk… Tomorrow?" Jarret replies, before he adds, "And don't tell Rowena. She probably worry too much about me already…"
Dertan gives a reluctant nod after a moment. "I will not tell her. Not unless you avoid me tomorrow."
Jarret grimaces, before he nods, "Tomorrow…" That said, he heads back towards the keep."