Frostblades [Garnet/Marle/Aleth]

[Garnet]

The cold crisp air of the Illian afternoon assaulted the threesome as they left the inn. Emmeline's Crossing may have some sun for now, but it was still plenty frigid for the Etrurian swordsman. Near to the house of lodging, the red-headed swordsman was glad to find an open area of sorts for use. Marle was going to learn swordcraft, and he'd hate to have to watch her practice in a confined space. Too much risk for accidents.

"Yeah. This area should do nicely." The vigilante's voice carried around the area, as he looked around. He slung his shoulder off his back, to an out of the way spot on the ground. The large two-handed sword and its sheath quickly followed. After removing the extra gear he started stretching out a bit, twisting and pulling on his arm and back muscles to get them fully ready again.

"Using a sword," Garnet started, unsheathing his sword from the rig on his left hip, "It's easy. Take the weapon, and either stab, or slash your opponent with it." He took the weapon old weapon for a spin for a bit, twirling it and whirling it in ways that exploited how manueverable it could be. Alright. Enough showing off. They weren't here for an exhibition.

"Actually mastering its uses, and learning to truly manipulate one takes longer than we have today, though I'm expecting good things from you, Captain." Taking his slimsword by the center of the blade, he passed the handle to Marle, You could easily tell that it had been through a lot, but the material was still tough enough to be of use. Scuffs and nicks covered the edges flat of the single handed sword's blade. All in all, it was a fairly short weapon, made more for quick strikes and precision than for sweeping hammering blows.

"Aleth's weapon will be designed differently than mine, I believe, but the same battle concept will exist for it." He'd noticed that her weapon seemed larger than his light weapon was. He was still interested in it though, sneaking the occasional glance at the handle.

[Marle Daviau]

Marle stood with her chest and shoulder plate off and put to the side. Her arms hung by her sides as she gave a small nod of her head, and watched Garnet. She was glad that Garnet's explination was simple and refined, not like how she had heard soldiers taught that it was a part of their body, and so on. That made you too reliant on a sword's capabilities. She knew it was merely a tool, an elegant tool, sometimes, but a tool to do combat.

Marle gave a small nod after she watched him maneuver the blade, and somewhat frowned at Garnet as he put emphasis in time management on training. Why should she have to rush her learning? She was physically strong enough to weild a sword, even a blade weapon, easily. Learning to use it would take time, however.

Taking the sword in hand, Marle felt it's weight. It was much, much lighter, and differently balanced than her lance. In one's hand, it would be liek comparing a knife to a sword, really, but she said nothing as she looked over the well-used blade of the weapon, while her fingers grabbed the comfortable, yet worn hilt of the slim sword.

"I see.." She said, as she swung the sword powerfully, up, to down in a diagonal manner crossing side to side. She needed to feel the weight of the weapon in attack uses.

[Aleth]

Aleth followed the two along, taking note exactly where they were heading. Truthfully she didn't have much to do after all. The clearing was a good spot to practice especially for a newbie. It also brought back her memories from when she first set out. Her eyes moved over to her hair, she wondered why she let it grow out that long. She was always a tomboy type maybe it was just her age showing. Shaking her head, she still considered herself young at 22.

Garnets explanation was true enough. Practice always made perfect for her though. She didn't really know her style of fighting but it worked for what she needed to do. She hasn't fought where someone is evaluating her for a long time now. Her parents always nagged about her posture, stance, etc. She was at least smart enough to leave after she finished her blade training. Then she had to go along and almost die luckily only losing an arm. She was barely left with a stubble, at least she got to keep her whole shoulder and an inch... Although the inch wasn't much it helped keep itself hidden.

Her slim sword was actually larger than the standard but it was for the sake of increasing her power especially with the fact that she is incapable of holding it with two hands. It also had some blade design in respects to making it just as easier to stab and pull like if she had both hands. Some might find it more difficult to wield with two hands than one. It didn't matter, it was made for her and worked. When Garnet pointed her blade out, she unsheathed it with her usual quick skillfulness and placed it into the ground for display if he needed any comparison. Marle already seem to get the concept at least and she wasn't completely sure what her part was in all of this.

[Garnet]

Garnet watched as Marle began getting a feel for the weapon. He'd used it for a long time. Every nick. Every scrape. Every rough patch on the handle. He'd put them there. Or, been using it when it was put there. It felt a bit strange to see it in the hands of another.

"When you're handling a sword, don't choke it. Energy won't move easily through tense muscles, so try and stay relaxed. Especially in the shoulders." So many fighters had trouble with tensing their shoulders, and they didn't even know it. It became so natural to them that they couldn't feel it. Garnet was no exception, but he knew of it. Had it repeatedly corrected in him. When he fought, he always tried to relax himself. He led with his arm and weapon, rather than a twitch of his shoulders. Or at least he tried.

"You hear people preaching proper form all the time. So much, in fact, that I think people often forget what it's for. The goal of teaching specific motions is to maximize efficiency, and mobility. No form can account for all situations though." He strode around the area, casting glances at Aleth's sword (which looked like it was made to maximize weapon power without sacrificing too much maneuverability), and continuing to stretch out.

"Basically, what feels comfortable is probably the best. You need to be able to move through combat in a way that is easy, and not forced. Also, in a way that matches the profile of your choice of weapon. Swords of a sacaen origin, for example. You could think of then like a fruit knife, cutting cleanly through the target. Broadswords, and other similar straight blades, would be more like a steak knife." The red-head smiled at his comparison. He knew what he wanted to eat later. In the meantime though....

"Aleth, why don't you give the Captain something to swing at. Not to heavy now. Just need to get the idea of what it feels like to hit something." That, and he had a feeling that if Marle was to swing full force, she might break it. Practice was light, so that it didn't wear down your weapons without purpose.... He should have a smith take a look at his weapon.

[Marle Daviau]

Marle was initially confused, when Garnet instructed her not to choke the weapon. Her eyes fell to the blade, and noticed it was only a one handed sword...and she was translating the 'choking' part like she would a lance, which meant holding it higher, but, for a sword, that made no sense. As she listened on though, she nodded. This made sense. She knew how to fight, and the transition was much like fighting with a lance, except the lance was cumbersome, and harder to manipulate since it's larger length and size.

Marle adopted her relaxed state, and she rolled her shoulders, and neck in unison. Trying to gain a better balance of the sword, she did a small twirl of the blade using only her wrist, she wasn't that good that she could do it with merely her fingers yet...and the fact she was wearing metal gloves wouldn't work with that.

Marle already had a type of sword in mind, it would be rather plain, but she knew it would do the job. She didn't like these light, slim swords, she needed something with a bit of power behind it. As she was dragged out of her thought, hearing Aleth's name brought up.

Looking to Aleth with a bit of a raised eyebrow, she then looked at Garnet, wondering if he was sure about this, but more at Aleth, wondering if she was up to it. This was practice, and Marle probably wouldn't be able to fight Aleth properly for real, not without a lance just yet. Nodding at Garnet, Marle turned towards Aleth again, and kept her blade low, and put her shoulder forward, like she would fighting sword and shield combination.

[Aleth]

Aleth listened to Garnet's instructions and all of it seemed quite true at the core. In more practical sense for her, she had to modify what she was taught to work for her. After she had lost her arm, she had developed different moves for her own sake. She glanced down upon her blade, taking in the look and material. Then she snapped out of it when Garnet mentioned her name and swing. She wasn't fully sure what to do thanks to her distraction and decided that was an order for her to attack.

She picked up her blade and made a swing at Marle's blade.

[Marle Daviau]

Marle was a bit surprised, as she saw Aleth just suddenly attack her. Garnet had instructed for the knight to do the first swing, but clearly, the one armed woman wasn't paying that much attention. Doing what reacted naturally in defense, Marle brought her sword about, and stopped the larger blade on the more narrow one, giving a bit of a grunt as she felt the strength of Aleth through that one arm.

She couldn't tell if that was a full power swing, but she could tell already that it more than likely wasn't. Pushing back on the blade to throw it back, Marle followed through. She took a step back, and also one handed, Marle swung in a most practical manner in an overhead chop, coming down left to right.

[Garnet]

Garnet bit back an oath of surprise as Aleth swung at Marle instead of waiting. He may as well be the target himself if she wasn't even going to listen! He'd not even been able to get to anything about parrying and blocking yet. Some weapons would be fine without specific training, like his blade, but his one-hander was not his blade.

"Hold!"

Garnet was quick and precise. Reaching up, he caught Marle's downward slash, catching her hand in mid swing. At the same time he pressed a gloved hand against the blade on Aleth's weapon, before turning an annoyed expression on the white-haired swordswoman.

"What are you doing? You got dirt in your ears?... Don't be so impatient."

He shook his head, and stepped back, pulling his coat fully closed, and crossing his arms over his chest. After a moment, he sighed, and spoke again.

"A light sparring match is probably a good idea, actually.... Marle, when you need to block, try to catch the opponent's weapon on the center or lower of your blade. It's stronger there. Also... Oh, nevermind." This was getting too detailed for a first lesson. Proper blocking. The difference between blocking and parrying. More complicated movements.... They could all wait. Let them have some fun first.

"Just don't hack yourselves to ribbons."

[Aleth]

Aleth was glad that she had aimed for the blade as it was an obvious mistake from her side. It was rare for her to lose her attention but it happens to everyone at least once in their life she would think. When she realized her mistake, she slid her blade down into the snow. This might not have been the best time to lose herself especially when she just got hired by Marle. As she recalled attacking your employer without notice was never a good idea or was pranking them not a good idea... Regarless she made quite a mistake.

"Sorry, I really wasn't paying attention," Aleth said with an apologetic tone.

"I blame the warm weather, it has been warmer up here then usual," she continued, her voice actually serious.

[Marle Daviau]

Marle was quite surprised in being caught by the wrist, looking to Garnet with a bit of wonder as to why he stopped them, she thought this was the whole part of it. Frowning, she relaxed a little, and pulled back into her easy stance. he seemed upset, but wasn't this the point of learning to fight? To actually...fight? She was confused.

Nodding at Aleth, as she completely agreed, it was warmer than usual, especially for this time of day. It was weird, but Marle didn't question it, it may have been a warm front coming from the south, either way, it was nice to experience.

"Well...alright...do we just, go back to fighting now?"

[Garnet]

Garnet couldn't help but griping under his breath at the two Illianers. Their "warmfront", felt like deep winter to him. He was cold. Just cold.

"Fine. Yes. Go back to fighting. Try to avoid blocking edge on edge to much though, Marle."

If she broke his sword... well... at least she'd never be able to live it down to him. He settled back in to watch, and possibly administer first aid, Elimine forbid anything to go that wrong.

[Aleth]

Aleth considered what to do. At least they were allowed to go a little crazy, just not enough that they don't hack each other to pieces at least. Garnet was the instructor here, although she wished her teacher in the past was nice like him. Deep inside she was crying about all the abuse she went through for doing something wrong like a simple mistake of the footing.

Now she wasn't going to charge at someone that could use two hands for a blade, that would be stupid. Sure she had an arm left that can lift heavier things than most people could thanks for spending years with it but the fact remains, it was still an arm.

"Marle, sorry for charging at you, I'll let you swing this time," she said. Yeah that was the fair thing to do and the best for her.

[Marle Daviau]

Marle gave a shake of her head as she gave a small laugh, still trying to get a use for this weapon in her hand. It was weighted different clearly, from her lance. Much lighter, and less awkward to hold, but not as long. She would need a longer blade than this for sure, and wide to boot. For now, it would do as she gave her wrist a small twirl, while nodding at Aleth.

"Well, it's okay, but if you insist!"

Marle stepped carefully towards Aleth. The way the other girl held her other arm kind of messed with her. Something was up, but she did not speculate, maybe it was to offset her balance. As the knight closed in, Marle began to speed up her pace, until she came in distance of that blade, but swung levelly, and rather plainly at Aleth's midsection.

[Aleth]

Aleth was surprised how easily Marle swung at her. It wasn't perfect but more than she expected. It was her new employer after all. She brought up her sword in defense and she felt herself being pushed back as metal met metal.

She let out a grunt and shifted her weight to go along with the flow of the blade. As he body moved she slid her sword along the other and jumped back to recover from the blow. Thank goodness she didn't lose the edge of experience. It would have been certain kill if she had only just begun using her blade with one hand.

"Phew, nice one," she remarked, moved her body to a better counter position.

[Garnet]

The swordsman decided it would be best if he just moved back and stayed out of the way for the match. His slow and steady approach, mixed with a measure of cautiin was out of place here. It would probably be best to just let them go at it. Instead of getting involved any more than he was, Garnet decided to watch for awhile.

The mercenary swordsman stepped back, studying how the women moved. He couldn't help smirking and pinching the bridge of his nose for a moment in a mix of amusement at that thought. It was very unprofessional, but he still considered himself fortunate to work with two beautiful young ladies in his age range. He only allowed himself indulgence in such thoughts occasionally though.

In fact, there was much more to his observation. Some people held a belief that combat was the purest form of self expression in existence. Garnet didn't know if he agreed with that, but it was interesting to see different people's combat tactics and tendencies in action. As they clashed, he watched the two. Marle's direct efficient movements minimizing wasted energy, and Aleth's odd one-handed control somehow incorporating her entire body's motions into her weapons movements. Contrasting these styles with his quick, precise, sometimes flashy strikes was interesting.