Axing Questions and Taking Notes

Log Info

• Title: Axing Questions and Taking Notes
• Emitter: Choler
• Characters: Aryia, Choler, Venom, Seyardu, Lanier
• Place:The Colleseum
• Time: December 14th, 2021
• Summary: The following day in the Colosseum, Choler is practicing throwing axes at a target as Aryia clears up some things with the ring master. Aryia clears up some things from yesterday just as Venom and Seyardu arrive. They discuss Choler's training in a monastery after reassuring Choler that Seyardu wasn't as scary as she looks. Choler departs just as Lanier arrives with his dire wolf companion, Spud. He's looking to do some training, perhaps with a professional. Seyardu volunteers Aryia as a sparring partner, the pugilist happy to be a part of a beating. The two spar while Seyardu and Venom chat on the side. Venom wonders something of Seyardu, but she tables it for later. The spar goes back and forth, but Aryia proves too quick for Lanier, and gets some rather heavy strikes in. The duel is called, and they shake hands. Lanier goes to resume training while the girls go get lunch.

GAME: Choler rolls weapon1: (4)+6: 10
GAME: Choler rolls weapon1: (8)+6: 14
GAME: Choler rolls weapon1: (20)+6: 26 (THREAT)
GAME: Choler rolls weapon1: (6)+6: 12

Another bright, sunny yet chilly day sees a only a few hardy souls plying their trade in the training grounds of the Colosseum. There are even fewer spectators, only the hardiest of fans would visit on an off day in the winter.

A wee Goblin in a red gi practices throwing handaxes at a target some distance away. The first dips low, thwacking into the very bottom of the red and white concentric circles. The second manages a hit nearer the middle, while a third strikes the bullseye solidly. The last, a bit of a lazier toss, goes a little high.

"These things are not set for Gobbos.", Choler huffs. She begins the walk to retrieve her axes.

A familiar looking, scarred mul'neissa woman in a green jacket leaves the arena's offices, her hands up as a half-oruch man wags a finger at her. "Now now, Aryia. Yer doing better, but pleas' fo' the love o' Kor, try ta be a little cleaner next time. Ridin' a lil' too close to tha' line there of getting tossed out with those moves."

The mute sighs, gives a thumbs up, and waves goodbye to the ringmaster.

She ambles through the training grounds, kicking at some sand idly before her attention settles on the little gobbo in a red gi. She tilts her head to the side, and walks on over, journal already out and scribbling.

She presents it as she arrives, making her presence known with a soft two note whistle.

The writing reads: "Hi. Sorry about last time. I meant nothing bad by it."

Choler turns, clutching at four handaxes, and blinks at finding Aryia there. She leans in to squint at the writing. Her cheeks flush once more, and she looks down at her boots. "It's okay. It was just a surprise, that's all. I uh am not super at sharing feelings or having other people know that I uhm... like someone."

The Gobbo continues back to where her backpack is set upon the ground. "I thought maybe Thurid would keep it close to her chest, I mean, people see us together, it might be obvious. But uh, figured she wouldn't mention it."

Aryia, this time not donning a face mask, lightly smiles. It's clear as day as to why she is unable to speak: the mangled scar on her throat telling the whole story. She scribbles some more.

"Thurid and I were drinking, and we were discussing relationships. Don't worry, I've told no one."

At that last bit, she pretends to zip her lips shut, lock it, and toss the key behind her.

GAME: Choler rolls weapon1: (10)+6: 16
GAME: Choler rolls weapon1: (18)+6: 24
GAME: Choler rolls weapon1: (9)+6: 15

Meanwhile, another social butterfly arrives within the cold climes of the Collosseum.

Venom moves with her usual regimented grace through the training area, scanning about with a notable pivot of her veiled head. In short order, she clearly sees the two speaking, as her course alters onto what will likely be bringing her two them within a short while, though she is still a ways off yet.

GAME: Choler rolls weapon1: (6)+6: 12

Three axes are shifted to her left hand, while her right prepares the fourth for a toss.

"Good. Would hate to have to axe you questions later.", she says, with a firmness in her voice that doesn't match to the cheeky grin on her face, or mischievous look in her eye.

Wiggling the axe in one hand, she checks to see the way is clear, before she quickly tosses the axes, one after another.

Aryia snorts at the joke, her looking off to the target as the exes fly. Her attention makes her look up slightly, and her lips twitch upwards into a warm smile that gets subdued into a lighter one. She raises a hand to the veiled woman in the distance in greeting.

Scribbling something, she waits for the flurry of axes to be abated, and she shows the page.

"Funny that. I do have some questions to axe you. It regards your training."

Watching the interaction from that range doesn't quite give Venom much detail, though the relative postures talk a fair bit.

She lifts a hand to wave as Aryia offers one her way, continuing to close to join the Mul'niessa's side whilst Choler buries the hatchet a few times.

A look between the two ensues, given the turns of her head, but she doesn't interject anything just yet.

"One sec!", the Goblins says, as she dashes off to retrieve her axes. One's practically dead center, two others are fairly close, while the last dipped low. "Is it the wind?", Choler wonders out loud. She returns to where Aryia stands, and seeing Venom along the way, the Gobbo shuffles her axes to one hand and waves.

Choler then squints at the page, canting her head slightly. "Oh? I suppose I could answer. Maybe if I can ask you some questions in return?"

Aryia gestures some as Venom approaches, "Hey. How are you?" she asks, the finishing hand nudging a knuckle against an arm.

Turning back to Choler as she retrieves her axes, she gives a light shrug, uncertain if the wind was effecting it. The mute wasn't one to throw things aside from hands. Such hands scribble down something else after flipping to a new page.

"I am curious as to how you were taught. And feel free to ask whatever you want."

Venom busies her hands responding to Aryia's question with several flexes, splays and twitches, "I'm well, and you?" <handspeech>

The veiled woman turns back in time for Choler's wave and returns a little bow, then her hands vanish under her poncho, likely to retrieve her own writing implements in case questions come her way as well.

GAME: Choler rolls weapon1: (14)+6: 20
GAME: Choler rolls weapon1: (10)+6: 16
GAME: Choler rolls weapon1: (19)+6: 25
GAME: Choler rolls weapon1: (6)+6: 12

"I uhm had trouble when I was much younger. My parents couldn't handle me and they were worried I uhm would kill them all in their sleep or something.", the Gobbo says, her face hardening as she lines up an axe upon the nearby target. "So they sent me away to an orc tribe. From there, I ended up in a monastery. From there, it was your standard 'work hard at this one task over and over until muscle memory makes you do it in your sleep'. Unless you have more.. specific questions, I am not sure what you're after."

Four axes are thrown, rapidly one after the other. Once again she manages a decent cluster around the middle, with the last one still dropping low. "Dammit.", she mutters.

"I wonder... did you kill the fucker who took your voice?", she asks in a whisper.

Aryia gestures a simple, "Fine," to Venom as the veiled enigma settles in beside the mute woman. <Handspeech>

She blinks at Choler's answer, her pinching her brows and nodding, bringing her book back to write some more clarificatio- blink blink. Did... that really just get asked?

A sigh leaves her, and she slowly nods, writing down more than she anticipated. It was only fair, since she knew something a bit secret about the goblin she only just recently met. Scribble. Present.

"I've never been to one of these monasteries, I don't think. What was that like?"

And under that: "Yes. They cut my throat. I stabbed their heart." Simple, and to the point answer.

A gloved hand gently bumps the Mul'niessa's arm as Venom catches sight of Aryia's scribed note. That hand then cycles through gestures to relate, "It has a direct charm." <handspeech>

her head pivots back toward Choler, then gives a little thumbs up.

The Gobbo nods at Aryia, having squinted at the written words. "Good.", she says coldly, "Someone who does that deserves death."

Choler sighs then, and rubs at her face. "Most who studied at the feet of my master were orcs, or human, for my master was an orc. They didn't tolerate misbehaviour, or even childhood exuberance, and they train, cajole, threaten and beat such things out of you. They break you down, and build you back up. They teach you things without you even realizing that you're learning."

Choler smiles faintly. "If you are patient enough, and stick with it, you learn that everything is connected. One exercise, simply punching a standing log, toughens your skin, so that even punching metal is relatively pain free. Another, where you punch at a ball on a stretch rope, which immediately bounces back in your face, or hits you from behind... you learn to duck, or move, even before you've realized you're doing it."

Aryia blinks, then frowns slightly, shifting uncomfortably on her feet. A quick scribble.

"I do hope such beatings were not overly necessary." A glance to Venom, with a sympathetic look in her eyes.

Though, she nods along, and writes some more.

"Interesting. I've never heard of these training methods or exercises. Though, I do punch brick walls for training. I've been running out of walls, as of late."

The colosseum district, where many came to practice fighting. A sikple way to put it, but everyone who needed to know how, had to keep training to keep on top of things.

And when being a cleric made direct confrontation even when she was working uncommon, The silver sith-makar did need to practice more elsewhere. She had her armor on, and a large billhook in hand as she wandered into the colosseum, looking for what she might do that day.

Venom's posture is very steady, probably statuesque under the silhouette smashing cloth she wears, as Aryia glances her way.

She transfers everything to one hand so that the other may respond, "Comply efficiently or else." <handspeech>

She nods then to Choler, but doesn't have anything to write just yet. She sort of wandered into the conversation, after all.

Her chin lifts a touch, and the hand not bearing her speech aids lifts to wave to the glimmer of silver scales she spies in the distance.

"Depends on whom you ask.", she says softly. She holds up a finger, and runs to grab her axes from the target. Returning to where Aryia and Venom stand, the Goblin begins sliding the axes into little holders on her backpack.

"My master said everything done was necessary. The ten year old me would disagree. At twenty? I still disagree."

She cants her head and shrugs. "You are punching faulty walls then. Find dwarven construction, it will resist you. If it does not resist you, it is not really dwarven. If you have to, punch mountains."

Aryia shudders at the signs, and rubs her neck. Perhaps... best to not ask about that any further. So she let that part of the topic drop. Though, she does tilt her head to the side. The walls were... faulty? She couldn't help but pout a bit at that. Scribble scribble.

"Hey, those walls were pretty sturdy. But, honestly, punching a mountain doesn't sound like a half bad idea."

She looks up, then smiles, waving to Seyardu from the distance with her pen in hand.

Seyardu ambles her way over slowly, and she waves to the monk, the other monk, and a likely third monk she did not recognize. "Peace on your nests, Venom and Aryia. I do not recognize the other, but offer greetings as well. You are resting after training? I am likely late to do so myself today, so there is none for myself, yet."

Choler looks from Aryia to Venom, and back, her expression one of curiosity.

"If you are able to punch through them, I would argue they were not all that sturdy. This is not a knock on your skills or power, it's a knock on the wall's builders." The Gobbo grins cheekily at Aryia. "I would suggest you work up to your full strength, and to not hit it full out the first time. It is likely you'll break your hand."

Choler blinks at Seyardu, and is quick to step behind Aryia, peeking out from behind the Mul'neissa at the Sith.

Venom folds her hands a moment about the notepad and pen, giving a little bow, then she parts them to sign, "Hello, it's nice to see you about. You look well."

SHe gives an overt look to the bill, then to Seyardu's shell, "What are you intending to work on?" <handspeech>

She lightly touches a knuckle to Aryia's arm on the shudder, but her attention returns to Choler, glances down and writes a note:

Or punch packed sand, first.

Aryia signs to Seyardu. "Never to late to train," she points out. "I was just talking to the ring master. Making sure I'm still in good graces." <Handspeech>

She looks down at Choler, her tilting her head to the side. Scribble scribble show.

"Hey, its okay. Seyardu is our friend. She's nice."

On the next line: "I tend to break the steel plating on the targets, my hands are fine :P".

"As well as I can be, I have found my rest much more, restful, of late." She replies to the veiled figure first. "Things are relaxed for the time being, which means that now is the time to prepare."

She raises a brow in response to the goblin hiding and takes a step back. "It is alright, I know that I can appear unsettling. I am a friend of Aryia and Venom. I hope you are still welcome here, even if the training dummies set up are off limits. I have seen her punch through several, and, sometimes it's like it is not solid metal or stonework."

"Don't let pride blind you to another's strength.", the Gobbo says softly, still peering out at Seyardu curiously from behind Aryia. She nods to Venom. "That could work, but it is hard to get sand to stand up high enough so that you can punch it straight on. And punching bags filled with it tend to rupture easily."

She shrugs at Seyardu. "You are a giant.", she says softly at the silver-scale. "And heavily armored. I am just a wee Gobbo."

Venom glances to Aryia as she scribbles, but doesn't remark. Instead, she nods to Seyardu, signing in reply, "Proper rest is good. So is your thinking."

She glances between Sith and goblin like watching a ball being passed back and forth before she scribes her own reinforcement to the collective reassurances:

Seyardu has a good heart.

Pack the sand in a reunforced bucket, or barrel. Punch down into it for a time. You hands will toughen over time, like walking barefoot, or doing hard labor. After that, hitting stronger things does less reciprical damage.

Aryia smiles at Seyardu. "That is good. Same here, I've been able to rest easier. I am welcome here, I just have to take it easy on some of the contestants now." <Handspeech>

She looks down at Choler, her expression softening More scribbling.

"I know. I know that very well. But it's okay. Seyardu is probably the nicest person I know."

The mute elf peers at Venom's practice methods. Huh. She's never thought of that before.

At the comment, The silver makari chuckles, and shakes her head. "I am small for my kind, very much so. And rather clumsy. I know gobbos who would be more dangerous than I am."

All the reassurances about her being a good person make the cleric chuff. "Words are good, but actions and intent are better. I would not ask you to be accepting of me right away. As for the training with sand? I have heard of that, it is an interesting idea. For my kind, we tend to do more strengthening the muscle and tissue underneath. Exercises that strengthen grip, make the hands beneath the scale hold up better."

The Gobbo grins at Venom and Aryia. "She will just break the bucket. And you still have to kneel or something to punch the sand. A big rock is easier to get at." Choler shrugs. "But if it works for you, have at, yes?"

Peering up at Seyardu, she nods. "Your people have an advantage in having a tough outer shell. Good at punching things already."

The Gobbo hefts her backpack up from the ground and swings it over her back. "I have to head off. Nice to see you two again.", she says to Aryia and Venom. "Peace on your nest.", she says softly, to Seyardu. Offering a brief wave, she turns to head towards the way out.

Venom shakes her head slightly, then looks down to start scribbling some more.

Now, that is true.

That would be for preliminary training.

Aryia blinks as Choler takes off, her giving a light smile and waving as she goes. Yeah, the mute would probably break the bucket in the process.

She looks between Venom and Seyardu. Silence for a moment, then, "... so... what's up?" she asks, putting her journal away. "I've never considered going to the mountains to punch stuff. I might do that now." <Handspeech>

"Ah, peace on your nest." She offers in parting before they are quickly on their way. "I have a ways to go to be more approachable, it seems." The cleric sighs. "As for what is up? You already know what is up. But, as for the more mundane, well, things are good. I have been taking the time to relax, check in in mictlan, but have been neglecting training. And I do not wish to be caught off guard."

Venom waves after Choler as the goblin takes off, then, seeing as it's unecessary now, she returns the writing gear to it's place under her poncho.

She steps closer to the silverscale and reaches out to bump knuckles against her arm before pivoting slightly so she can regard the pair at once, signing, "The mountains are a long walk."

There's a glance to Seyardu, then Aryia, then back with a cocked head then she goes on with more signing, "What was there?" <handspeech>

Aryia snickers, putting one hand in a pocket as she gestures freely with the other one. "I see. I've been in Mictlan a decent bit as of late. Egg watching is... an experience." She glances to Venom, a brow raised. "What was where? Mictlan? Mictlan is a sith-makari community to the north."

She does nod some. "They are. Or I could punch the mountain next to the noble district. Keep them up at night." <Handspeech>

The cleric returns a knuckle to Venom's arm. "We stopped by the office of one of the magistrates in alexandria, and convinced them to take a second look at the case of a half-sil boy accused of being a spy. They agreed that the information provided was lacking, and some of it fabricated, and they are likely dismissing the execution planned. This is excellent news, I would say. They are, not the most pure hearted of youth, but I think that they will be able to be educated and cared for off of the streets, now."

Venom cocks her head a touch the other way at Aryia's reply, then shrugs and nods, "It isn't something I've done."

She looks to Seyardu, "That was nice of you." comes her appraisal of the matter, "What onvinced you he wasn't a spy?" <handspeech>

Aryia blinks at Venom. "... it's something you probably wouldn't want to do. It's certainly... testing." She sighs, rubs her face, then nods at Seyardu. "Yes, thank you for speaking for me. I'm terrible in those kinds of places."

The mute elaborates. "He didn't act like anyone from Charn that I've ever met. Seemed like a kid living off the street, not some miserly spy." <Handspeech>

"It was the right thing to do. I could not leave things like that." Seyardu sighs. "As for what convinced me? It just did not feel right, like Aryia stated. The only evidence they were a spy, was the desperate confession of an actual slaver from charn, marked and everything, and two guards who enjoyed inflicting pain and punishment more than a small amount. They seemed genuine, and at the very least, the investigation deserved a second look. Especially given the track record of the city with executions."

"Mictlan really is not that bad. Though, yes, it would be trying. Aryia very much does not like being sniffed, I noticed. And yet, I could have sworn I noticed her wearing some form of perfume before. Perhaps I am wrong."

Worth noting, Venom supposes.

Her hands come together for a moment, but pause before framing any particular concepts, but then, with a look to Aryia, she nods and replies, "I'll trust you on that."

The rest of the conversation warrants her looking to either woman in turn as they speak.

A pause to let Seyardu's musings linger for a moment, then, "It isn't something a lot of us do." she explains. <handspeech>

Aryia nods to Venom, her sighing slightly. "Yes, it was refreshing to see /someone/ actually give a damn. That magistrate was nice. And his assistant was funny."

She glances between makari and enigma. "... no, it's not. Not very often at least. Unless, you know, someone needs to go the bathhouse."

She blinks, then smacks her forehead. "Ah, shit, I need to make those clothes for the owner! I have a free bath pass on the line!" <Handspeech>

Seyardu has partially disconnected.

"They were certainly reasonable, and I did not talk to the assistant enough, but both seemed to care about their work. I wish I could have spoken to them more about their leg, though." The makari sighs. When Aryia seems concerned about the offer though, she just chuckles. "I do not think there is some rush to get the clothes made for them. And you can continue to pay the few coppers necessary to use the bathhouse until then. Take your time, I would not wish you to give her rushed clothing after how excited she seemed by the prospect."

Canting her head a little, Venom watches Aryia explain her stance on the affair, her head pivoting ever so slightly toward Seyardu every so often, apparantly trying to indicate her attention is on both of them.

It's only after everything is said that she deigns to frame her reply, "Do you need anything for that?" is turned toward Aryia.

"I have been remiss on recent events it seems." is, in turn, turned Seyardu's way, though it could apply to Aryia as well. <handspeech>

Aryia sighs, nodding. "I know, I know," she motions, tapping the side of her head. "I'm not going to half ass it. I just have to get some cloth for it. Though, I need Irshya's measurements."

"The TarRaCe owner," she clarifies to Venom before it can be asked.

Then she looks at Venom. Then looks at Seyardu. Then back to Venom. "... uh... yes there was... a lot that happened in the past few days..." she signs slowly. "The death of the big demon fucking everything up, some progress towards finding my sister, and well...."

She stares at Seyardu. "... time bullshit." <Handspeech>

Skielstregar has reconnected.

"Only one of those I had involvement with, and it seems to be the one that went the most poorly." Seyardu notes, leaning a bit on her polearm as she sighs again. "I say that, as it feels the one the least resolved. But, I did not know this about Aya, it is wonderful news. I, among others, owe it to them to find and help them."

"I am sure that Irshya will be free when you need her. I do not know what she does in her free time, though."

Venom's arms spread to differing heights, each seeking a shoulder for a gentle clasp. She doesn't have a lot to say in her current nurturing posture, but she looks between her companions, giving each shoulder a light squeeze before her hands return to her own person to begin signing once more, "We will figure something out." <handspeech>

Aryia's mood picks up a bit at that, her bringing a hand up to rest over Venom's own for a moment before releasing it. "Yes, of course." <Handspeech>

"I am certain that something can be sorted, yes." Seyardu agrees. "No matter what, with Eclavdran out of the way, we can figure out a solution. We will need to be careful, still."

"It is good to be able to plan openly with less concerns about the person behind it. I still hope that someone has been keeping the body of the one she had slain preserved, however. I, I do not know what to do, it was outside the realm of my capabilities before."

There is a mute nod from Venom, and she looks between the two women once more. There's a slight shift of her weight to the other foot, then she starts to sign, "The head is gone, the network may still have mechanisms in play. Also, there is now a power vacuum, there may be some chaos as upstarts try to fill his boots."

She doesn't have anythin resembling experience with returning the dead to life, though the notion does put a momentary flutter in the corners of her shroud.

Reasons.

-<handspeech>

Aryia shrugs. "I don't know. I haven't heard a word about the body. But at least now I can breathe easier." The mute pugilist nods towards the veiled woman in agreement. There might be some fallout, hence why she was worried about the difficulties of retrieving her sister. <Handspeech >

"Well, when it comes to that, we will figure things out." Seyardu nods. "No matter what happens, I am not sure. But if she wishes to bring them back, then I am hopeful it can be done. As for the power vacuum, I suppose that would depend on if they have an interest in the city themselves or not. Hopefully the chaos is contained to the chaotic plane they come from."

"Which also means, the sooner we can get them out of there however, the better."

The approach may be more attention grabbing than the two that actually approach themselves. There's a tall, broad, but unassuming man with a greatsword strapped across his back, yes, but next to him trots the absolutely hulking form of a dire wolf. The man opens the gate, being the one of the duo having thumbs, admitting both himself and the wolf into the training area. The man, Lanier Vaylan, takes a quick look around and then speaks aside to the wolf, "Go lay down, Spud. Stay out of trouble."

With a huff, the wolf peels away without acknowledgement. Unslinging the scabbard he wears along his back, Lanier settles the sword across his shoulders, heading towards the practice area with an almost road-weary gait.

Another nod, as the shrouded woman flicks a simple sign of, "Agreed." before gently setting her other hand back on Aryia's shoulder, looking to the mul'niessa's face to try and read her mood better.

She doesn't like the idea of the dead, well, certain dead, coming back.

There's a look to Seyardu as she speeks, but, the veiled head cants instead as she notes a pair approaching.

She flits a sign of, "Incoming." then nods indicatively toward the fellow and his really large canine. <handspeech>

Aryia sighs, stuffing a hand into a pocket as her other one gestures for her. "I think she would. To right a wrong. Cesran is doing his best to track her down. I may end up going to try and find her, I might not. Just depends on how dangerous it is. I have to live to see her, you know?" The mute's mood was straightforward to pick up: hopeful, but weary.

"I think they're becoming less of a problem, and they'll stay where they'll belong," her gloved hand says before falling to a hip. A heavily scarred mul'neissa woman in a verdant green buckle jacket leans back some from their little group at a gesture the veiled woman motion. A torch-bright gaze settling on who enters. She raises a brow. That is... a big dog. And it certainly wasn't a shaman pretending to be a big dog, either.

The shadow elf gives the man an up-nod as he ambles towards the training grounds. <Handspeech>

"Well, if anyone can find them, then it is Cesran. That is good that they are looking for them. As for being safe to go, I am not sure. If it is not, then I will need to trust them in that case." Seyardu offers.

She looks over at the warning, and blinks, before waving to the figure. "I hope you are correct, Aryia. Peace on your nest, I do not think I have seen you before. Are you here to train? It looks like you are a bit tired to be doing so."

Lanier finds his spot not too far away, taking the greatsword off his shoulder and holding it out in front of him for a moment. He settles the point of the scabbarded greatsword on the ground and returns the nod offered to him. He then takes a deep breath, lifts his foot up behind him, and grabs it with a hand. His opposite hand holds himself steady via the hilt of the greatsword. For all know that, should you pull a hammy in the Colosseum, the Korrites shall surely laugh at you.

Aryia, the scarred shadow elf, glances between the silver scale and the newcomer. She tilts her head to one side, sizing him up idly. Curious if he heard Seyardu's question, as well as the answers to it.

"Ah, so you are here to train, if I am understanding correctly. Or you simply wish to stretch because you wish to, which is understandable. But, given the fact you came to the colosseum, that seems unlikely."

"We came here to train, Aryia is taking a break, and I haven't actually got around to it myself, as there was a lot to talk about. If Aryia does not recognize you at the colosseum though, I take it you are new in the city? Or has it been some time since you trained?"

Lanier looks towards Seyardu quickly, blinking his eyes fast as the reality of the situation impacts him. He responds calmly, but quickly, "Hello. I'm sorry. My mind was elsewhere." He pauses for a moment, switching legs, "I did come to train, but I don't usually come to the Colleseum to do so. I was wondering if there were going to be any worthwhile fights to participate in, and decided to come in to speak and train with some of the professionals." He then tilts his head, a thoughtful expression modifying the shape of his emerald eyes, "I heard a little bit. Did I hear someone mention that they needed someone tracked?"

Silently, the veiled woman regards the man as Seyardu strikes up conversation. She also checks out the great beast he travels with, but she doesn't offer any musings aloud.

Instead, she nods, throwing up a little thumbs-up as if in a 'no harm no foul' manner.

His query puts a bit of a list to Venom's head, but she maintains her vigil unbroken.

The question makes the mute woman cross her arms for a moment. Unsure if he could understand her, she tests the waters. Gloved hands twist and flick through the air. Gestures with meaning behind them. "Your offer is appreciated, though we have people on it." It wasn't that she didn't want help. It's more that she didn't know this person. And the subject was a touch sensitive to her.

She looks up at the veiled figure beside her. Curious as to the inner thoughts behind the enigma's cloth facade, but she doesn't mention anything. <Handspeech>

"Tracking? Ah, yes, the offer is appreciated, but it is being handled, and I would not ask someone I do not know well to look into it. They may be incredibly dangerous if found, and that is unknown, so it is not worth the risk."

Seyardu seems to think, then she chuckles, and puts a hand on the mul'niessa's shoulder. "If you are looking for someone worthwhile to fight, then Aryia is an excellent sparring partner, and would definitely consider her a professional at this point. That line is well in the distance, now."

Regarding Aryia for a moment, Lanier watches the hands for a moment and then simply shakes his head, "I'm sorry. I don't understand the handtalk..." Looking back to Seyardu, his eyebrow raised before he grunts and nods, "I see. Please let me know if you change your mind. Between my eyes, and Spud's nose, we can find most anything." He then looks back to Aryia for a moment and then responds, "I have no doubt she's right, but unless they have a blunted practice sword or a quarterstaff I can use, it might not be a very good idea." He then adds, to both this time, "I appreciate the offer none-the-less."

Venom's hands disappear under her poncho for a moment, emerging with a notepad and writing implement, the latter soon dancing along the surface of the former. As her chin lifts to align what is probably her eye level with the man's gaze, she flips the pad around to reveal her elegantly scripted:

They should have practice weapons about.

Perhaps the armsmaster?

I'm Venom.

Hi.

Aryia waves a dismissive hand and gives a thumbs up, as if saying 'it's fine.'

The proposition and the hand on her shoulder makes her grin slightly, the mute elf rolling her shoulders and cracking her knuckles. But such a challenge was politely declined.

Eh. That's okay.

Another thumbs up, unknowing what the veiled woman wrote down and showed.

Lanier looks towards Venom, leaning forward to look over the script written on the notepad. He nods his head slowly, "I'll check with the armsmaster for a practice weapon. That would make a sparring match much easier." He then looks up towards Venom and then nods, "I'm Lanier Vaylan. Hello." He then smiles towards Aryia and shakes his head, "Looks like we might be on. No kicking me in my two moons, okay?" He then blinks, "Or punching." He drops his foot from the stretch, putting his sword over his shoulder once again, "Give me a minute. I'll be right back..."

With that, the formerly road-weary ranger takes off towards the armsmaster with a renewed sense of zeal.

"Ah, so be it, but Aryia is excellent at fighting. At least, I think so, and relation to most." Seyardu replies. "Ah! My name is Seyardu, shaman caste. And, it seems you are off to speak with them." She adds when they are taking off. Seyardu looks to the Mul'niessa, and chuckles. "Do not go too hard on them unless they can handle it, alright? I do not know yet, but, gauge how it will be, first."

Venom folds an arm at her midriff and tucks the toes of a boot behind the other heel before she folds slightly in a bow.

As he takes her advice to heart and lays a request for a ground rule, she turns on her heel to regard the Mul'niessa and signs, "Is he asking you not to punch him in the ass?" on the sly. <handspeech>

Aryia blinks, her making a surprised face with her lips bunched together and her glowing eyes wide. She looks up at Seyardu and gives a sharp thumbs up.

It is now that she gets the joke, her grinning and shaking her head, kicking the sand. She silently giggles at Venom. "He's asking me not to hit him in a certain vital spot."

She splays two fingers, pointing downwards in an inverted V-shape. Then flicks another finger into the midst of them. "Kind of a cheap trick in the Colosseum. I got thrown out for it before."

Readying herself for a challenge, she takes a few steps forward, and rolls her shoulders. <Handspeech>

Seyardu was confused as well, but it seemed Venom asked and was answered for her. The cleric joins her by the side of the arena to watch. "Ah, that makes sense. I understand the confusion, Venom. What with how many softskins refer to them when 'mooning' someone. But they refer to others as stones sometimes as well. It is all very confusing." The silverscale muses with Venom. "How has your training been going, by the way?"

Evidently the dire wolf that Lanier travels with is very good about staying, even when Lanier himself is not. He return a little bit later, holding a staff across his shoulders, "This is the best the armsmaster could do, but it suits me just fine. Rather have a stick than nothing at all..." For truly, the quarterstaff is only perhaps just a little longer than the greatsword he carried. Grasping the quarterstaff in two hands, Lanier gives one last quick stretch before he ventures out into the training circle, "Any other rules you want to set down before we begin sparring?"

Venom cocks her head a touch for a moment or two as Aryia clarifies the misunderstanding, then nods.

She turns to watch Aryia take up position to await Lanier's return, while the engima herself assumes a sort of parade rest stance.

She nods to Seyardu's words in regards to her own conceptions of the man's slang, and further avenues of colloquialism. It's after the silverscale inquires to her own training that she replies, "Aryia has shown me a few things I have been exploring, since. I think it's coming along well."

She glances to Seyardu, then makes a slow sign, "FRelent." then after a pause, goes through a quick series of gestures after, "That should signify that Aryia has had enough. Help him understand, and choose a word to indicate he's done, please?" <handspeech>

Aryia tilts her head to the side at the weapon of choice. Been a while since she went up against something like that.

Speaking of nothing at all...

The mute arms herself. Despite being nearly an entire foot and a half shorter than the human she simply steps out into a further open circle with nothing more. And shakes her head.

No other rules.

She raises her fists. And she sported no other weapons. From the cuts and callouses on her hands, this was a bonified pugilist through and through.

As his opponent for the evening squares up on Lanier and raises her fists, Spud rises quickly to his feet, the dire wolf alert to an impending attack on his long time companion. Lanier spots this out of the corner of his eye, stepping back for a moment. He looks towards the dire wolf, his speech slipping into a lyrical Syldanyari, "Spud, down. It's okay. Down, Spud." He then nods as the dire wolf settles back into a seated position. Alert, but seemingly willing enough to go along with Lanier's orders.

Stepping forward again, Lanier regards Aryia and grunts, "I'm going to regret that 'I'd rather have a stick than nothing else' comment, aren't I?"

The ranger takes a deep breath settling into a stance that utilizes the quarterstaff more like the greatsword he's used to than the staff that it is. With a nod of his head, he signals his consent to begin.

With her addendum put forward, and the pair squaring up for the excercise, Venom folds her hands and waits to see what transpires.

In either case, it should be educational and informative.

Behind the veils, there is a glance toward Aryia, but the rest of the enigma's frame is steadfast as iron.

Let the games begin.

GAME: Lanier rolls 1d20+13-3: (14)+13+-3: 24
GAME: Lanier rolls 1d6+1d6+6+3: (4)+(4)+6+3: 17

Lanier advances smoothly once the consent to begin is given, getting the jump on his unarmed and dangerous sparring partner. His hands slide across the staff, switching to a reverse grip as if the tip of his sword had pointed down, with one hand reversed on the hilt and the other hand on the blunted portion of the "blade" of is sword. With lightning fast precision and jarring strength, the quarterstaff flies arrow-straight towards the midsection of the monk, Lanier's eagle eyes firmly on a false target, a casual feint in this sparring match.

GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0: (1)+15: 16 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0: (17)+15: 32
GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0-5: (16)+15+-5: 26
GAME: Aryia rolls damage0: aliased to 2d6+3: (5)+3: 8
GAME: Aryia rolls damage0: aliased to 2d6+3: (3)+3: 6

Aryia was, to be honest, underestimating the man's speed as it cracks against her torso. A lesser man would have doubled over. The elf doubles her efforts.

The crash against her kick starts her, the mute spinning around, blundering a lash out on a leg, but two, heavy hitting yet pulled jabs smash against an arm. Ebb and flow. Wash away the mountain.

The elf is incredibly quick on her feet.

Seyardu leans back and watches with the veiled woman carefully, how the two were moving. One brow raises as they begin to fight.

"Perhaps I did not need to tell Aryia to hold back as much as I did, but she seems to have figured it out." She notes to Venom. "She has been teaching you things? Well, I hope that has been going well. Aryia has some pretty harsh training at times."

GAME: Lanier rolls 1d20+13: (2)+13: 15
GAME: Lanier rolls 1d20+13-5: (14)+13+-5: 22

Lanier seems almost equally taken aback by the speed in which he was countered. Lifting a knee to take the lash out at his leg on the thicker part of his boot. He's already setting up for his next attack, the quarterstaff whirling in the air above his head as the ranger displays a fleetness of foot not usually exhibited by someone of his mass. The two jabs to the arm cause him to reel back, turning into an underhanded slash that archs into an overhead slash. Neither, due to the interferance, finds their target. Through gritted teeth, he announces, "She's not!"

It takes a moment or two for Venom's hands to part, but in time, they do, even as the engagement continues.

"Hard training isn't new. It's been good for her, too." <handspeech>

The veils make her expression unreadable, and the poncho does much the same to the subtleties of her postures as the hits go back and forth.

GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0: (2)+15: 17
GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0: (1)+15: 16 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0-5: (3)+15+-5: 13

Aryia lightly gasps as the staff swings back, her twisting one way to evade, then leans faaar back until it seems like she'll topple over. The hit to her gut slowed her some on the return strikes, her drilling down center mass with blow after blow, but each glanced or whiffed. Aryia did not look discouraged by this development. The elf was sussing out how he works.

She affords a moment in the fray to sign a simple, "I am." <Handspeech>

"Ah, yes, I am sure that you are used to training. I am just concerned whenever she speaks about punching down walls. And, you are quite capable yourself. Sometimes I forget due to that thunderbelcher you carry around that you can hit nearly as hard as her." Seyardu notes as she watches the brawling, and the blows going back and forth. She wasn't holding back, was she?

"It would not be fair for me to do any sparring. What with how much I rely on my magic. That, and, Aryia knows me. All she would have to do is get be in one chokehold, and that is that."

"We come to blows differently." Venom remarks through her hands. Her head takes a subtle camber, and, after a pause, turns fully toward the sith, "She said you know..."

Another pause, then, they resume as she gives a nod, "I will explain, but not here." <handspeech>

GAME: Lanier rolls 1d20+13: (17)+13: 30
GAME: Lanier rolls 1d20+13-5: (8)+13+-5: 16
GAME: Lanier rolls 1d6+7: (2)+7: 9

The last flurry of blows that Lanier took has seemed to have slowed the Ranger, sending the breath out of him and causing him a moment's hesitation. The moment's hesitation causes the first swing to go wide, but allows the momentum of the miss to carry around into a downward slash with the quarterstaff that threatens to at least delivery a glancing blow.

GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0: (7)+15: 22
GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0: (11)+15: 26
GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0-5: (14)+15+-5: 24
GAME: Aryia rolls damage0+damage0+damage0: aliased to 2d6+3+2d6+3+2d6+3: (7)+3+(7)+3+(8)+3: 31

Aryia manages to get out of the way of the first swing, but quietly gasps as another hit strikes her atop the shoulder, the mute stumbling some.

Then it sort of seemed like that's all the elf needed to get a read on Lanier. She bobs a few times, weaving to and fro. And just as the staff comes up once more, the pugilist is already on Lanier's flank, two pulled punches smashing into his ribs. She twirls around his front, somehow a leg snapping out of it all and lands solidly against the side of his neck.

She pivots back, fists raised as a glowing gaze peers over the top of her knuckles. Bouncing on the balls of her feet, she breathes. In. Out.

GAME: Lanier rolls 1d20+13-3: (3)+13+-3: 13 GAME: Lanier rolls 1d20+13-3-5: (2)+13+-3+-5: 7

The kick to the side of his head (where did that come from) sends Lanier spinning down to the ground, but it seems to be more of a balance issue than a loss of consciousness issue. He rolls lithely up to a knee, striking out in a wildly aimed thrust of the quarterstaff, before he rises up to his feet with lightning quickness to aim (to use the term loosely) yet another thrust. Both clearly go wide of the quick-moving monk.

Seyardu blinks, and shakes her head. "That is probably enough, for both of you, before someone gets hurt badly. If either of you need healing whatsoever, just let me know, and I will provide aid. While you are both conscious, so I do not need to make a decision for you."

GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0: (7)+15: 22 GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0: (12)+15: 27 GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0-5: (2)+15+-5: 12 GAME: Aryia rolls damage0: aliased to 2d6+3: (8)+3: 11 GAME: Aryia rolls damage0: aliased to 2d6+3: (6)+3: 9

Aryia dips under one swing, then hops over the other, only to land and deliver a one-two punch. One on each thigh, deadlegging the human. It's now obvious what she's doing. Moving around the man to wear him down, bring him low to her level. And to finish him off.

Yet, she doesn't surge forward to do so. Instead, she drops her fists, wipes a bit of sweat off of her brow, and holds a hand out to shake.

The pugilist knows when to call it quits.

Venom takes Seyardu's bypass as something in flux to be resolved later, and returns her attention to the festivities.

Blows are traded, some sounding rather familiar, though she doesn't show any real indication of alarm.

It's only at the end, as things wind down as it were, that the enigma steps forward, lightly bumping a knuckle against Aryia's arm before continuing forward to the human's side.

Here, she gives him a thumbs-up before offering him a hand up for him to take, or decline, as he chooses.

Lanier does indeed drop to one knee, deadlegged by several of the punches. He holds himself upright by virtue of the quarterstaff hitting the ground point first before he does. He grunts as he splays a leg out, then simply laughs. He grins, looking up towards Aryia, "I knew I'd regret that 'I'd rather have a stick than nothing at all' comment." He reaches out, taking a hand and shaking. He takes a moment, but he then pushes himself up to a standing position with the help of the quarterstaff. Nodding to Venom with a quick smile, Lanier replies, "Thanks, but I'm alright."

Turning towards Aryia with a smile, "You are a nightmare."

"Ah, so be it, if you are both alright." The cleric shrugs. "You were not holding back, at least in regards to your blows. That was closer than I expected, but you never know who will show up in this city."

She turns to Venom after, and bows her head. "Apologies, I was caught up in the fighting, making sure neither were doing anything too dangerous. Of course, another time, I will listen Venom."

Aryia gives the hand a firm shake, her throwing a smile towards the man, as well as to the veiled woman that bumps her shoulder. She rolls her neck and smirks lightly, nodding while puffing out her chest in pride.

Well that was a hell of a compliment that she'd be riding for the next few weeks.

She looks over at the silver scale cleric, her gesturing, "I was holding back though. He doesn't have anything broken..." she slowly mentions. <Handspeech>

Venom returns the shake and nods again, but relents on her grip as it becomes clear he wants to rise on his own steam. It was their way, too.

SHe steps back, drawing up near Aryia, first, quickly surveying the Mul'niessa, then giving her another bump.

She turns to Seyardu, as she returns to their conversation and the veiled one gives a nod.

In time, then.

Lanier looks towards Venom for a moment, tilting his head. He then looks towards Aryia and then back to Venom, "What did she say?"

"She said she was holding back, as none of your bones are broken. I suppose that is true, for certain." Seyardu begins to explain. "That being said, it is easier for someone to hold back with their fists. You do not need a magically enhanted polearm, afterall."

The cleric looks at the others again. "Well, that was a good match between the both of you. I would not be surprised if you drew more than a bit of attention between you two."

Aryia dips her head and points at Seyardu with a thumb. She does turn towards Laneir, her giving a slight bow at the hip. She steps towards Venom, and stands beside her. The mute seemed fine, perhaps a bit winded, but would recover in time. The elf bumps the veiled woman's arm back.

Venom dips her hands under her poncho for a moment, withdrawing her writing tools once more and begins to scribe some new message.

In time, she presents it to Lanier:

You did well.

The woman cocks her head a touch, looks to the Mul'niessa, then spends a moment quickly editing her note, then revealing it again, revealing the word 'well' was underlined.

Twice.

Lanier looks towards Seyardu as the explanation comes from the cleric. His eyebrows inch up his forehead and then he takes a moment to simply shrug, "That makes sense." Turning aside, he looks over the notepad and then squints. His mouth twists sideways for a moment, and then Lanier deadpans to Venom, "Please contain your enthusiasm. I'll start to get notions." He then straightens up, "Thank you, though. It highlighted a few things. Like how I'm becoming reliant on that moose over there to put forward to effective fight. I'll need to rethink some things." To Aryia, he adds, "Thank you for that."

"Perhaps things would be better if your companion joined you, but sparring with animals, it is a lot more difficult. They are not always able to control their bite strength after all, and end up not doing as much, or too much." Seyardu notes with a quiet chuckle. "But I am sure in actual combat they are quite an assitant. Many hunter back home go out with swiftclaws, either as mounts, or to harry prey with them."

Aryia gives a sharp nod and a thumbs up to Lanier. She pulls out her own journal, scribbles something down for him. The elf presents the page.

"You're welcome. You hit hard, but you need to be in a position to use that to your advantage. Try knocking over, or, blinding them."

The mute looks up at the sun, squinting some. "Getting near lunch time," a hand idly comments. <Handspeech>

Not the response she was expecting.

Troubling.

The veiled head lists again as Lanier quips at her, and she seems frozen that way for several seconds before looking to Seyardu.

Her head recambers slightly to as she notes Aryia signing, then gives a little nod.

"It is." a pause, then, "Should we get food?" <handspeech>

Lanier shakes his head, "Yes and no. As you say, they don't have a concept of pulling their bites unless you force them to. It's not in their nature. Do that too often for anything but the most desperate of reasons, and you just confuse them." He then adds, "However, they can participate in sparring with a careful handler. Generally they participate in more of a harrassing and intimidating role, which is useful for them to learn how to be intimidating and harrassing. It also helps them practice their discipline about waiting to be told to attack before attacking. It helps form a more cohesive unit." He looks down to Aryia's notepad and then smiles, "Indeed." He then points towards the dire wolf, "Spud and I are a team in a fight. He's been trained to do just that. Bite and then drag, whereas I use very large weapons which leads to rethought life choices, in what little time the unlucky one has left." He then adds, "I'll think on the knock down part. That's certainly an idea."

He then glances towards the dire wolf for a moment and then adds, "Speaking of, it's getting to be Spud's lunch time."

"Aryia knows all sorts of techniques for getting the upper hand in a fight. I am glad I do not need to deal with them, usually."

It was a good thing that other Aryia had not tried to.

"Lunch, yes? I should have a late lunch, since I have put off training here incredibly well talking to all of you. It was good to meet you Lanier, and, Spud? Peace on your nests. And always good to see you both, Venom and Aryia. Take care you two, I am sure I will see you around another time."

-End Scene-