Dancing the Forms ATTN: Riahana

[Prew]

As he strode across the Yard, the early morning sun casting shadows in his path, Prewtez d’Grayson practiced holding the Emptiness. It was coming easier to him now, the essence of his being having fundamentally changed after the catharsis of his Survival Test. He sensed more than saw things around him, a mouser with its prey outside the stable doors, the muted laughter as two guards shared a joke near the gates. Moving in near perfect balance, he wasn’t the master of this quite yet, he placed a hand on the pommel of his sword. Two Drin stopped and saluted, fists to chests, as he passed. Strange, he had become accustomed to such deference while an officer but it was different here in the Grey Tower. Then, troopers had saluted the man, now they saluted the rank. That was fine, the way it should be. There were others here more capable of command than he. All he desired now was to one day bond with an Aes Sedai, to devote his life to protecting hers. Light but he hoped it would be with one that did not wish to spend all her time in the Tower. A Green or Blue, perhaps, even a Red, though that idea still brought him pause. The Red Ajah here at the Grey Tower was obviously different from the one at the White! Thinking of White he recalled the Accepted he had met. She seemed eager to get out in the world herself. Odd, that… weren’t they just concerned with logic and philosophy?

Arriving at the sparring grounds he noted that Riahana Gaidar had yet to arrive. No wonder, he was early and she had duties. Taking the opportunity, Prewtez began his breathing exercise while silently reciting his mantra. His dark hair, streaked with grey, was tied in the back and hung perfectly still. As the void came upon him he embraced The Swallow Rides the Air, drawing his sword and moving in one fluid motion. He took up The Heron Wading the Rushes, checking his balance before pivoting. He knew this was not truly a combat form but it was perfect for loosening up his body as he focused on the sword before him. He danced through several other forms, countering the strikes of his imaginary foe and thrusting forward with his own. It was good, this dance of steel and shadow, it was natural, it was right.

He turned as he heard his sparring partner approach, raising his sword vertically before him in salute.

“Good morning, Gaidar Captain,” he said with a smile, “I hope to show you some progress today.”

[Roan]

Each day brings a new lesson. It is up to us to understand what that lesson might be.

Riahana offered Prewtez a small smile when he turned around, "Good morning to you, Ji'alantin. Given the work I know you've been putting into your swordsmanship, I do not doubt to see progress." As was her habit, Riahana had her sword at her hip, but they would spar with practice blades once again. She unstrapped her sword belt, and laid it at the edge of their sparring area before grabbing one of the practice weapons.

Inwardly, the Gaidar Captain knew what she hoped to see in Prewtez. He came to the Tower knowing how to handle a sword, but what he was not so well versed in was footwork and the sword forms that turned a simple sword fight into a deadly dance. Some would argue you did not need the sword forms to be a skilled swordsman, and there was a touch of truth in the statement. Knowing the forms meant you could move from strike to parry to counter-strike without hesitation. Even the smallest of pauses gave your enemy the upper hand, and if one was intimately familiar with the forms, then their muscle memory could kick in and allow them to counter a kill strike.

"Do you need to warm up, or are you ready to begin?" she asked as she moved to where she'd begin the sparring match. She'd already spent the last two hours working with Lex and her sword-work from horseback. "And perhaps more importantly, aside from showing me progress, what do you hope to get out of this sparring session?"

[Prew]

“No, Riahana Gaidar, I’ve already gone through some of the forms and am ready,” he replied, unstrapping his own sword belt and placing it by hers. There was no need to ask if she needed time to get ready, she was gaidar, and those were in a perpetual state of readiness. Taking up a practice sword bundled in lathes, he continued:

“I have sparred with several since our last time, and have devoted hours a day to working on the forms,” he had needed as much time as he could find as well. Most of his combat experience had been from the back of a horse and, while there were certain sword forms for mounted combat, most of those he fought were not skilled enough for him to need to use them. This meant that he was unpracticed in dueling afoot when he had arrived at the Tower. So much of his energy, therefore, had been devoted to improving his footwork.

“As you know, the best way to improve is to test one’s self against a formidable opponent. Practice is all very fine, but I’ve found the best way to learn is by observing one’s betters.” And that was a primary reason he had looked forward to sparring with her again. He knew she was hard but fair, and a better swordsman than himself. Beyond that, however, was another motive, one he didn’t speak. He was a different man since his Survival Test. He didn’t know if others had experienced the fundamental change that he had, but he knew that the man who had come to the Grey Tower months ago was no longer who he was. Along with a better defined sense of purpose, he also was now at peace with himself. The demons that had haunted him were finally laid to rest.

Prewtez saluted Riahana with his practice sword, tip to his forehead, and then assumed The Hawk Surveys the Plain. The last time they sparred, Prewtez had been on the defensive, unsure of just how superior his opponent was. He didn’t think she had held back against him, he believed she would not insult him in such a fashion, even if he did not realize it. But this time, he would be the aggressor first.

Once he saw her take up her stance, he attacked, flowing into Stones Falling Down the Mountain, sword striking swiftly against her guard.

[Roan]

Riahana knew Prewtez had been spending a great deal of time practicing, and expected to see improvement. The first thing that became clear was an increased confidence as he went from his initial stance to striking. Riahana moved from her guard stance to The Kingfisher Circles the Pond to parry his overhead strikes. She could give distance to the side with the move, but while she'd never held back on Prewtez, she felt he was ready for her to press further. What was the point of their sessions if she didn't continue to challenge?

Using her move to close ground and get within the Ji's guard, Riahana then transitioned into The Wolf Lunges, where she thrust the pommel of her sword towards his midsection as the first part of the strike. She followed up as she brought the blade down in an overhand strike.

With the Void firmly in place, the Gaidar Captain held focus on her opponent, though she was aware of what went on around her. The chill in the air meant nothing as the pair wound up their sparring session. Warmed up, but not yet breaking a sweat, she knew this would be an interesting session. How far had her student come?

((OOC: I leave it up to you whether the blows landed. ))

[Prew]

The Gaidar Captain was quick, her transitions flawless. The advantage Prewtez had in size and strength were offset by her speed and experience. The pommel of her sword struck his midsection, forcing air from his mouth. But his hours of practice were beginning to pay dividends. Without truly thinking, simply reacting, he recognized the form, one he had used himself in the past, and his body adjusted to meet it, his sword rising to parry her stroke.

He automatically moved into The Lightning Strikes the Oak, keeping his blade engaged with hers, attempting to use his strength to advantage while his feet moved, one leg forward to try and trip her. She was the better swordsman, but he was closing the skill gap between them he felt. No longer did his mind plot out the forms in advance. Now he flowed from one to the next without conscious effort. His footwork had improved as well, though still not as quick as his opponent’s. But now muscle memory took over as his feet moved almost of their own accord.

Had Lorena lived she might have commented on the improvement in his dancing ability. Just an added bonus from his practice with the sword!

OOC: Oh, he still won't win, but he might put up a better fight this time!

[Roan]

Grasping the Void came so easily to the Gaidar that she wore it like a second skin. Even during a sparring match where she was mentor to her opponent, she grasped it easily, and the comfort of it allowed her to focus on what was before her. Sword work, and the associated footwork came easily to her, and while there were those in the Yards who could best her, she was more than adept and capable of holding her own against most she might face. It was not uncommon for her opponents to be bigger than she...be it taller and/or broader.

Her Great Grandfather, the former Master of Arms, and Freak of the Yards, would never allow her to use her side as an excuse for why anyone might best her. Nimble and quick-footed could be as much an advantage, or perhaps a bigger advantage to size. Her years in the Yards also meant she was stronger than many would give her credit for, and she was fine if her opponents underestimated her.

Prewtez had crossed swords with her before, and had a feel for her cadence, yet he hoped to use his size to his advantage. She smiled inwardly as she noted his improved footwork, and was pleased to see the forms come more naturally to him. Muscle memory should never be underestimated.

Lightning Strikes the Oak is a mainstay in Riahana's repertoire of forms, and one where she often catches her opponents off-guard given the size differential. As Prewtez used his blade to engage hers and attempted to side step, Ria knew what he was attempting to do and let her feet dance as she avoided his attempt to trip her. Using his move to engage her blade, Riahana stayed within his guard as she executed The Grapevine Twines to then dip the tip of her sword under the hilt of her opponent's before giving a quick twist of her wrists in an effort to disarm her student.

[Prew]

Although he had executed Lightning Strikes the Oak well the opponent he faced was not likely to be fooled by his attack. It was no surprise she was able to avoid Prewtez’s attempt to trip her.Her counter strike was executed perfectly as she flicked his sword from his grasp.

Burn it all! He knew the cause of that. Lorena. That random thought of her had penetrated his Void and broken the oneness he had with his blade. He knew this was a weakness he would need to work on overcoming. She was long dead and he had come to terms with that during his Survival Test. Yet she could still break his concentration unless he was mentally on his guard. No random thoughts next round, he vowed to himself.

Picking up his sword and giving Riahana a smile and a bow he asked “Best two out of three?” He began to move slowly, once again invoking the Void. Holding the blade in a relaxed grip he began to move it up and down always returning to a low guard. The classic Apple Blossoms In The Wind stance as he awaited her answer. Since he began the attack last time he gave the Gaidar Captain the opportunity to strike first in this round.

[Roan]

Riahana returned the bow, "Of course, Ji'alantin. If you find yourself in a similar situation, your best counter is to put space between you and your opponent. By committing to attempting to trip me, you shifted your center of gravity, and your balance. It is a good move, and one I have used often, but it is risky. If you over commit, your opponent can do as I just did. There is a balance between committing yourself to the move, but remaining nimble and flexible to adjust if your opponent counters. If you attempt to side step away from me the moment I bring my blade in to bind yours, you may have been able to prevent me from twisting your weapon out of your hands."

The Gaidar Captain stepped back, "Your footwork is well improved, though, and it is clear you have become intimately familiar with some of the sword forms, as you are more fluid than our first sparring match. Well done."

Without anything else to add at that moment, she took up another of her favorite stances, The Ox Lowers His Horns and put weight on her back foot as she eyed him from just over the hilt of her sword. The form was partly about intimidation, combined with the power one could achieve when pushing off from their back foot.

Holding the form with the Void wrapped firmly around her, Ria watched Prewtez for what might have seemed like minutes. With a burst of speed from her back foot, she launched into The Moon on the Water, executing a powerful downward thrust towards her opponent's chest.

[Prew]

Even within the Void he inwardly beamed at her compliment while filing away for future reference her advice regarding their first round. He had allowed himself a moment of distraction, just one small moment, but that was all that an experienced swordsman needed and the Gaidar had taken advantage. He vowed not to repeat the mistake.

With his mind in tune with his sword, fear removed, Prewtez and his opponent as one, all being the now, he watched her as she watched him. Two in the Void, the two as one. It came as no surprise to him when she launched her attack. A month ago, the last time they sparred, he would have been totally unprepared for the speed and power of her thrust. He had not yet then mastered the technique, had not effectively performed The Flame and The Void. But today was different.

As her sword made its downward thrust he flowed into The Kingfisher Circles the Pond, parrying the thrust with the flat of his blade while quickly stepping to the side. He immediately assumed The Rose Unfolds, rotating his wrists as he thrust his blade forward and down, twisting it, then stepping back into Lion On the Hill.

[Roan]

Riahana was not one to give false praise to those she mentored with bow or sword. She saw real progression with the Ji', which meant forms came more easily to him as he gained the predatory grace expected of those wishing to gain the Fancloak. For the Gaidar Captain, it meant sparring with him was more of a challenge as each of his moves came faster and flowed easier from one form to another. She'd been no slouch, though, as not only did she spend a great deal of time going through forms on her own, she worked with a number of drin', ji' and others who wished to improve their blade work.

The Gaidar Captain felt as if she learned more through teaching than she'd done as a student. Helping her own students with their form reinforced good form on her, and forced her to understand the importance of posture so that one could flow flawlessly from guard, to attack, to counter and parry, to guard. . .or however it might go. In the real world, you often had no time to think, but do. . .sometimes, thinking would get you killed.

As he begain The Rose Unfolds, Ria countered with The Falling Leaf, letting her sword sweep his to the side, using the flat of her blade. Without hesitating, she flowed into Rain in High Wind, testing her opponent's stamina and endurance as she launched a series of powerful side strikes. Staying light on her feet, she gave no quarter, and looked for any stutter in his counter.

Strategy and tactics could come into play with swords, though everything tended to happen so quickly, that any weakness seen should be taken advantage of sooner rather than later. Within the Void, nothing slipped by the Gaidar, and any weakness seen was noted, though she waited to take advantage. Patience was just as important as strength, endurance and form. . .so long as one did not wait too long to strike.