A New Adventure (Attn: Anyone)

[Sunny]

Dakson Torellion Dax had tried to forget how easily Jain had defeated him, but his pride wouldn't let the incident go. It soon became apparent that the overwhelming urge to even the score could not be ignored. A few days had passed, and he still found himself fixating on it when he had moments to spare in the brutal training regime he had taken it upon himself to follow.

He watched the Borderlander closely, gauging his opportunity with care. Finally on a warm spring afternoon, he saw Jain walking into the Gardens. Dax followed him quietly and at some distance, curious to see what he would do. To his surprise, the other man found a spot near the waterfall and sat. There were voices nearby, but they did not seem too close.

Weighing his options, Dax crept closer, years of guarding caravans and creeping through back alleys allowing him to move as quiet as a shadow over the grass. He did not know if he would ever be able to put the man in his place with a sword, but there were other ways to make his point. At this time of year that stream was cold; a good dunking might remind his unknowing opponent that he was human.

The sound of the water hid his steps as he crept closer, until he finally got close enough to move quickly, wrapping an arm around the man's neck and throwing him sideways. He pushed downward with his body, holding Jain in place. "You're good in the practice yards," he growled, "but are you as good when you don't have flat ground and a quartermaster making sure we follow the rules like prissy girls?"

[Steven]

Keiran Taravin Keiran smiled warmly at the newcomer. Eirinn was dwarfed in height by Sinead. Her long brown hair a stark contrast to Sinead's being bright red and Keiran's own, mostly blonde. She seemed timid, her face pale. He thought she looked almost frail, but he knew the Tower would change that. Aes Sedai were anything but frail. "Yes Eirinn, please join us! The cook gave us plenty of food for the three of us." He held up the overstuffed linen sack.

Keiran strode over to a tree, beckoning his new friends to follow. He sat on the soft grass, his legs crossed, leaning back against the bark of the tree. His stomach growled as he untied the sack and inspected the contents. Everything looked wonderful, and Keiran knew he wouldn't starve during his time at the Tower. "Eiri-" he cut off as movement caught his eye.

A man was stalking up behind another, seated by the water. His movement was catlike, as if he were stalking prey. Quickly, he snatched the seated man's neck in his arm and pinned him to the ground. Keiran couldn't tell if they were playing or not. "Sinead, look there!"

[Toma]

Jain found a place near the waterfall and sat down listening to the water flow. He would eventually have to be able to do this on his own, but for now he used the steady sound of the waterfall to help him clear his mind. He had just finished clearing his mind when a weight suddenly slammed into him from behind. He felt the arm go across his neck and the weight push him to the side. Not again... I thought the Grey Tower would be different... and in the Tower Gardens no less! The voice in his ear was familiar, that pretty boy Dax that he had fought a few days ago with steel. The voice growled, "You're good in the practice yards, but are you as good when you don't have flat ground and a quartermaster making sure we follow the rules like prissy girls?" Jain would have shook his head but Dax's arm made it a bit difficult at the moment.

Because he had been seated, the smaller man had the upper hand for the moment and moved his weight on top of Jain, trying to hold him in place. That was just what Jain hoped he would do though. Back home, Jain had never been one to have many friends his age and so he had become the target for ridicule. Other children would tease and get into fights with him so he had a little bit of skill defending himself. Then when he got to the White Tower, the other Trainees had gotten on his case for being an outsider again. It had been around then that he started going to bed with some type of armor and the leather gauntlets, so that he could defend himself. He didn't have the armor or gauntlets but he should be able to handle a single opponent without too much trouble. Jain turned his body to move his arm under himself and with a sudden push forced himself off the ground. The top of his head smashed into Dax's chin and broke the hold he had around his neck enough for Jain to slip out and get to his feet a small distance from the other man.

Jain set his feet in a fighter's stance with his left foot forward and his right hand on the pommel of the greatsword slung on his back, "So, Dax we meet again. You want a fight without rules? I don't think this is the time or place for such a battle. Other people may get hurt and I believe the Aes Sedai frown upon things like that in the Tower Gardens. But if you insist..."

Dax backs away a few steps and puts his hand on his sword as well but doesn't draw, just watches Jain. The seconds stretch and Jain relaxes a bit and glances at the onlookers for a moment.

Dax responds by relaxing slightly and saying, "So what happens now?"

Jain stands up and lets his hands fall to his sides thinking for a moment. "I know. We face each other as The Creator intended... sportsmanlike. No tricks, no weapons, skill against skill alone."

Dax responds, "You mean, you'll put down your sword and I'll put down my sword and we'll try and kill each other like civilized people?"

Jain laughs at the phrasing and says, "More or less." Jain starts to remove his swords and puts them off to the side near a tree where they won't get in the way.

Dax removes his sword as well and says to Jain in passing, "You know I think the odds are slightly in your favor at hand to hand fighting."

[Sunny]

OOC note: As per my comment in chat, I understand WHY you had Dax say that last line, but in terms of actual character, that is not a thing he would ever say. So I'm going to proceed as if he did not.

----

Bloody Borderland pride is going to get this man killed someday, Dax thought as he placed his sword on the ground near Jain's. Then he straightened and shook his arms out, rolling his head to loosen his shoulders. He noticed out of the corner of his eye that two novices and a soldier were watching. He gave them a cheerful grin, then faced Jain.

The dour man had his chin in his right hand, his left hand across his belly. He looked more pensive than aggressive, but Dax knew better. There was little he could do that his opponent would not be able to block and counter from that position- a classic posture that anyone who had ever been in a fight knew to use. The counter was a risk Dax was willing to take.

He closed the distance between them, his right hand darting out for a straight punch to the man's nose. Jain knocked the blow to the side with his right hand, his left coming up in a left hook. Dax ducked down and to the side following the curve of the punch. He came up behind Jain's right shoulder, and shoved backward as hard as he could with his shoulder and arm to push Jain off balance and give him some space. He used the momentum of that shove to spin to the left until he stood lightly on the balls of his feet, knees slightly bent and fists raised to protect his face against whatever Jain might try.

The familiar rush of blood and adrenaline blocked all outside sound; the rest of the world faded as he focused on his adversary and calculated his next move. There were many options, and they all depended on how Jain responded.

[Laura]

"I see you, Eirinn. I am Sinead, and this is Keiran. We arrived together earlier today, and were exploring our new...home."

Eirinn smiled at the friendly response, already feeling just a bit less homesick at finding some fellow newcomers to explore with. And the redhead’s greeting also confirmed a hunch Eirin had that she had been doubting. Her speech, hair, the way she carried herself, I do believe she may be Aiel! Eirinn thought excitedly to herself. Tales of the Aiel were becoming quite popular amongst the gleemen and news carriers coming through Caemlyn. Some of the stories had to be far fetched but it had started a bit of an Aiel craze at home. It was said that a single Aiel could kill a whole village of people and that they ate trollocs for breakfast. Eirinn didn’t believe that though. Yuck, who would want to eat one of those things? She had heard descriptions, though had never seen one and they sounded utterly disgusting. Searching in her mind for the little bits she had heard that she did believe Eirinn responded.

I see you Sinead. May you have shade this day. And help Kieran. It’s nice to meet both of you.” She hoped she had not botched the greeting, She didn’t remember everything by heart. The three did certainly make an interesting group being different in height, hair color, and at least in Sinead’s case, region. She would have to ask Kieran where he was from.

"Yes Eirinn, please join us! The cook gave us plenty of food for the three of us."

Eirnn’s brown eyes light up. “Thank you. If you are sure there is enough, I would love to!” She could not think of a better way to spend her first day in a strange place,, and though she did not want to admit it, her stomach had begun rumbling just a bit. “So Kieran, where are you….” Her words trailed off as he called out to Sinead to look. A fight seemed to be breaking out. A smaller man had come up and placed a strangle hold on the one sitting, who happened to be armed to the teeth. She he;ld her breath as the tension in the area grew. When one put his hand on his sword Eirinn could hear her pulse beating in her head.

“Do they truly intent to kill each other?” She asked aloud to her companions quietly.

The tense moment passed and no sword was drawn. The slightly smaller of the two men even flashed a smile in their direction. Eirinn was unsure what to make of it as they each threw one punch at the other. Surely if this were serious, someone would stop them. She didn’t think Hama Valon would be such a lawless place to allow bloody brawls just everywhere. That was the sort of thing that happened in the Foregate area of Cairhien. But then again she had seen her brother and his friends play-fighting like this since they were children. Perhaps they were just old friends practicing and testing each other? She watched another moment or two, debating on what she should do and just how serious of a fight this was going to be.

“Perhaps they are only playing, like my brother and his friends…” she mused aloud. But in this case, their weapons were all too real.


OOC: Admin note: I removed your disclaimer info, Laura <3 ~Jaryd

[Toma]

Jain didn't really want to be in a hand to hand fight with Dax as he preferred the sword to really anything else, but he also didn't think much short of death would prevent him from constantly seeking him out. At first, he hadn't taken much notice of the man after their sparring match but he had noticed Dax seemed to be around more often than Jain thought could be a coincidence.

He set himself in a stance he had learned would help in a formal unarmed battle but didn't really know much formal fighting when it came to hand to hand combat. He had learned in the proverbial streets and had fought to stop his opponents from wanting a rematch or to really continue the fight beyond the first few moments. Dax jabbed at his face, and Jain did the predictable thing and blocked it to the side. He followed up with a left hook that Dax ducked under and and came up behind him and pushed him with his shoulder. Jain stumbled away but turned quickly to face Dax again, ready to confront whatever attack he came up with next. From their sword battle, Jain knew he had the upper hand in strength and that Dax had the upper hand in speed, even if the margins were small. He knew that if he could hit Dax straight on, he could probably break through his guard so Jain moved forward and tried a few jabs at Dax's face and chest, all of which he easily blocked or moved around. Jain blocked a few punches as well and decided to try something different. The next time Dax looked like he was going to block, Jain lunged forward, putting his weight behind his back arm and aiming it for the middle of his opponent's chest.

[Sunny]

Dakson Dax faced Jain, the outer world a blur of green and distorted sound. All that mattered was the green-clad form facing him, the tightening of muscle, and the air whistling in his ears as he dodged blows. The Borderlander was in it to win as quickly as possible, every blow packing power. The thing about power is that you pay for it in speed, Dax thought grimly, the thought skittering across the bubble of peace in his mind.

Jain pulled his right arm back, aiming for Dax’s chest; as his fist snapped forward, the Tairen stepped into the blow, his left arm snaking around Jain’s arm and pushing his fist to the side. The impact of his right shoulder hitting Jain’s chest made the world shake, and then he had his right arm around Jain’s side. He pulled down with his left arm, twisting his body around and ducking at the same time, and the momentum of Jain’s own punch sent him rolling forward, over Dax’s shoulder to the ground.

Dax dropped to one knee, intending to pin Jain and end it, but a split second later the other man rolled toward him, left fist aimed at his face. Dax caught the blow with the palm of his right hand and pushed it away, but had to release his grip on Jain’s arm to do so. Jain scrambled away, and Dax stepped back, raising his hands and adjusting his feet.

A moment later, what seemed to be a blur of white cloth and pain broke between them. He got a glimpse of red hair and fierce green eyes, and then the strange woman’s foot connected with his jaw. He felt a sickening pop in his neck, and fell back, his vision momentarily going dim and flat.

The woman who had intervened spun to face Jain, moving faster than Dax had even believed possible. Her leg hooked Jain’s feet from beneath him, her left palm smacked his chest, and her right knocked his chin skyward as he fell.

Dax gathered himself and faced her, noting as he did so that in addition to being the fastest person he had ever seen, she was also the tallest…and the sight of long pale legs beneath a short ragged skirt of white distracted him so thoroughly that he didn’t even see the blow that knocked him out.

[Sunny]

Sinead “Sinead, look there!” The Aielwoman blinked at the sudden urgency in Keiran’s voice. She had let herself be drawn into the peace of the Gardens, and it took a moment to recollect herself and look where the Andoran pointed. Two men in green were clearly having a "disagreement" a small distance away.

“Do they truly intend to kill each other?” Eirinn asked, her voice shaking a little. “Perhaps they are only playing, like my brother and his friends…” She did not seem certain of the truth of that statement, and Sinead gave her a half-smile of reassurance.

“They are not playing,” she said calmly. Green eyes watched as the two lumbering wetlanders flailed at each other, and she took an involuntary step toward them. She stopped immediately, realizing she would do no good in the imprisoning skirts of her novice gown. “Give me your knife, Keiran.” Had he been allowed to keep his because he was a man, or because it was smaller than hers? It didn’t matter, truly, but it grated on her that she had to ask for a weapon. He hesitated a moment, and she flexed her fingers impatiently. He gave it to her, and she matter-of-factly began to saw through the folds of her dress.

“What are you doing?” Eirinn sounded scandalized, and Keiran’s face had turned a deep shade of violet.

Sinead ignored them both, and the sounds of the fight, until the tent-like folds of white fabric fell to the ground, leaving a fringe of white that did not quite hit her knees. She handed Keiran his knife back with a grave “Thank you.” Her legs covered the distance between their group and the two fighting men in two breaths, her companions forgotten.

The strangers were easy enough to subdue; neither of them even saw her coming, and it was clear neither had practiced against algai'd'siswai tactics. The prettier one noticed her legs and lost track of himself; sighing, she knocked him down. Wetlanders! What was their issue with seeing bare skin?

Mere moments later, both lay on the ground, and she cracked her knuckles, staring down at them coldly. “I may be new to the Grey Tower, wetlanders, but even I know you shouldn't be fighting each other on Tower grounds,” she told them calmly. "Have you no honor?"

[Toma]

Jain focused on his opponent almost exclusively and to a lesser extent, the small area of the Gardens they were fighting in. Sword or fists, Jain figured the Oneness could be learned to assist with any type of weapon. He kept throwing relatively heavy handed blows, any of which would make a significant impact on his opponent should they land. He wasn't having much luck making any decisive blows against Dax's jaw or chest but he knew his arms and shoulders must be starting to feel the strain involved in blocking his punches.

Dax stepped into his next blow and threw him over his shoulder which ended up with Jain on the ground. This wasn't uncommon for him in a fight so he knew to roll towards Dax and aim a punch for his face. Dax would either need to let go of his arm, or risk a broken nose. When he was free, he scrambled away to regain his feet. A moment later, there was a flash of white in front of him that knocked Dax to the ground and a moment later, Jain found himself on the ground as well, courtesy of the white flash. When his vision cleared from the momentary daze, he looked at his new assailant and saw an Aiel woman standing there. She was taller than Lianna and obviously further along in her training and aging. The way she held herself made Jain believe she may have even been a former Maiden. Jain noted that her dress was much shorter than was customary for a Novice and it looked as if it had been hastily cut with a knife of some kind. He saw her relatively pale legs but didn't stare. He had seen enough of Lianna's to not be surprised at the drastic change in the coloring from legs to face and hands.

The Aiel woman cracked her knuckles and stared down at Jain and Dax saying, “I may be new to the Grey Tower, wetlanders, but even I know you shouldn't be fighting each other on Tower grounds. Have you no honor?"

Still seated on the ground, Jain shook his head gently. "Pardon, Novice but Master Dax and I are Warder Trainees and our fighting on the Tower Grounds is somewhat encouraged as long as we are not fighting a duel with the intent to kill or seriously injure one another... As for honor, we both agreed to the fight and were not breaking any rules of battle that I am aware of. You probably should be a bit more concerned about what the Mistress of Novices will be saying when she hears about your dress..."

[Steven]

Keiran gaped as Sinead swiftly closed the distance between him and Eirinn and the fighting men. She moved with a catlike grace, as if she were a dandelion floating across the grass, only to explode at the end in flurry of kicks and jabs. Keiran sheathed the knife she had used to ruin her Novice dress and casually stepped closer to hear the words they were exchanging.

"...should be a bit more concerned about what the Mistress of Novices will be saying when she hears about your dress..." Keiran rose his eyebrows and watched Sinead's expression. He expected her to retaliate with a kick to the man's face in his seated position, loosening a few teeth or cracking a nose. Instead she merely eyed the man as she would a child. She would make a good Aes Sedai yet, with that face of stone.

Keiran reached in his pocket and pulled out a clean white cloth. He handed it to the pretty brown eyed one nursing a sore jaw, a thin trail of blood dripping from a split lip. The green eyed one, a tight leather woven band around his head- which Keiran knew marked him as a Malkieri descendent- sat glowering at Sinead.

"From what I saw," Keiran interjected, "you two share no love of one another. The force of your blows didn't look like sparring. It looked like revenge." He turned his attention to the one with the Malkieri band, "I would venture to say unsanctioned fighting carries a harsher punishment than ruined skirts. What issue do the two of you have anyway?"