the Rift


[JUDGED] Head up, stance low, eyes sharp [Training Spar - Liit]

Torleik the Bloodskald Posts: 354
Outcast atk: 4.5 | def: 8.0 | dam: 7.5
Stallion :: Unicorn :: 16.3 :: 11 HP: 66.5 | Buff: SWIFT
Irelyn :: Plain Griffin :: Molten Dagger RedGod
#1
Torleik
The beard of glory...


Torleik had met the mare he was to train today but briefly a short while ago. There had been a gathering, he had been intrigued because Ulrik had been spotted amongst those present. Then he'd found out his idiot cousin had knocked up Illynx, and...well. Now there was that to deal with because Ulrik was apparently a barely functioning being outside of working on his machines. It was like babysitting a physically mature toddler, sometimes, Torleik felt. The things Ulrik just...walked into without any idea of what the outcome would be.

The Bloodskald sighed, knowing he was being harsh on his cousin. But he was family and he loved him, and he wanted far better for the Engineer than Illynx. A leader did not a choice mate make. Though if he knew Ulrik well at all, he knew the bronze and black stallion had very little concept of love, utterly no concept of a monogamous union, and had merely been duped into sating his more basic needs. Torleik could empathize, he thought bitterly as his mind drifted to Brisa.

But he pushed such thoughts aside when he saw the white, dual-horned mare approach, on time. Good. Punctuality was key in many aspects of life. Too early or too late and the results could be vastly different. "You are on time; that is good," he vocalized. The rabicano believed that teaching was a combination of praise and punishment; depending on the student, of course. However, he felt that Liit's quiet personality indicated a likelihood of preferring a gentler style rather than a more unforgiving one.

"You said you were a medic in training, yes?," he inquired, remembering the brief conversation they had shared after the group with Varath, Illynx and the others had broken off. "It would be most useful for you to have defensive knowledge, then, to keep yourself safe, alive and viable in the middle of a battle or invasion in which you will be needed," he rumbled.

Torleik motioned with a nod of his head that she should follow him to a more open, flat space, and he turned to face Liit when the destination was reached. "The first thing you should always check is your stance. Make sure your footing is secure, you are able to move any direction quickly and comfortably, and your center of mass is held slightly lower than normal," he instructed, waiting to see if she would mirror what he told her. Meanwhile, he had slipped into the stance he had indicated, preparing himself. "When you are ready, attack me, and watch what I do."



@[Liit]

"talk talk talk"


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OOC: Setting is the Heavenly Fields, early morning to avoid the Tallsun heat. There is a slight breeze and no chance of rain. This is a purely IC training spar.

WC: approx 437|Magic and Companions allowed|(0/3)

Credits: Image by Schwartze @ DA
[Image: 531c0b471919e]

No man is an island.
Pixel by: Tamme :D


Please tag me in all posts! Thank you!

Liit Posts: N/A
Unregistered
:: :: ::
#2
every day the gods are flipping coins

She was uncertain about what it was that had kept her in the Basin once she had stepped into it. Perhaps it was the promise of being able to live comfortably in the midst of a herd that promised to be ignorant of whatever lies she had been fed since she was a child, or maybe she had simply grown a little lonely in her wanderings. Whatever it was that pulled her in a little deeper was seemingly irrelevant now, as she had started taking steps towards becoming a more important chess piece in the cooler sector of Helovia, and with that came different sorts of responsibilities.

On top of being needed to be helpful and being willing to learn more at the hands of others, it was understood that there would come a time when she needed to protect herself. As she wandered in the direction of the field that she had been told to meet the stallion in, she pondered over just what was likely to swoop down on the Basin during her stay there, and whether there were unpleasant wheels in motion or not. It seemed as though she had gotten a little lost in thought and had managed to find herself before the bearded stallion shortly after the mid-morning sun had risen.

Liit isn’t entirely sure what to think of learning how to defend herself as she had lived a very passive, peaceful life right up until this moment. The acknowledgement of her timeliness is appreciated, and she gives Torleik a small nod in greeting before they get down to business. The pale mare understands everything that the stallion explains, quickly becoming aware to the sort of desperation that seemed to come hand in hand with battles and invasions, and just how impertinent that it was that she stay on her feet during such situations.

Now, as the real lesson begins, Liit heeds the stallion’s guiding words, and starts to correct her stance. Ensuring that her hooves had a sturdy footing on the grassy ground beneath her, she lowers herself a little bit. It almost felt similar to being ready to bolt or take off in any random direction, and for a second she is grateful to be able to position herself in a way that she was accustomed to. When Torleik tells her to attack him, she feels a rock drop in her stomach and she stares at him for a moment, completely uncertain of how she was to attack him. “I’ve… Never attacked anyone before.” She thought she sounded foolish, admitting that she had never participated in a physical struggle before and that she had never had to defend herself. Taking a moment to process just what to do, she tries to remember what she had seen other horses do in her herd, and how they had gone about striking out at each other.

With a quick, forward burst she starts her attack. It is a clumsy movement, not as fine-tuned or carefully calculated as it should be, but it is an attack nonetheless. As she pushes forwards, she rises up as high as she can on her hind legs before reaching out with her hooves in the direction of the stallion’s chest. The stallion was much taller than herself, and perhaps it would be dumb luck if her beginner’s attack had managed to strike against his breast at all. She wasn’t entirely certain how this would end, and if she would receive more tough lessons than the sort of soft-handed guidance she was used to.

word count: 592

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Torleik the Bloodskald Posts: 354
Outcast atk: 4.5 | def: 8.0 | dam: 7.5
Stallion :: Unicorn :: 16.3 :: 11 HP: 66.5 | Buff: SWIFT
Irelyn :: Plain Griffin :: Molten Dagger RedGod
#3
Torleik
The beard of glory...


Torleik had indicated to Irelyn that regardless of what happened, he did not want her to join in this fight. It was merely a spar, and he felt it unfair to make this mare deal with the attacks of his companion as well as his own. Magic, however…he hadn’t yet decided if he would subject her to that experience. The upbringing of the stallion differed starkly from that of the mare’s, being raised as a fighter just as much as he was anything else. To him, this was like breathing, but he could see in her eyes the fear that came with never having perpetrated violence on another body before. Usually, amongst his people, the children looked that way the first time they were told to fight an elder member of the herd. It seemed he would have to treat Liit as a child, then. That didn’t bother him. Children were bright and impressionable. At least she was willing to learn.

Both in a ready stance, the Bloodskald’s expression softened slightly when the mare admitted she had never attacked anyone prior to now. “To learn defense, one must also learn offense,” he instructed. “I will teach you the basics of defending yourself by teaching you the basics of attacking someone else. Now, attack me,” he urged once more, waiting patiently for what he assumed would be a cautious, hesitant attempt. The seconds ticked by, the sun rising ever higher with each passing moment and the world awakening a fraction more before the pale mare finally moved.

When she did, it was as the Viking expected: clumsy and unsure, though swift and not uncoordinated. That was good. He wouldn’t have to teach her how to move on her hooves entirely. Liit’s speed surprised him, and by the time she had raised up on her back hooves and kicked out, the larger, harder to move stallion struggled against his inertia to haul his body out of the way. One of her hooves caught him square in the chest as he dodged to the right, briefly numbing the muscle and causing his left foreleg to disobey his brain. Instead of landing squarely on his feet, he stumbled on his last step and grunted as this put strain on the offending joints, making them ache unhappily.

“Good!” he praised. “You’re quick – use that to your advantage!” the general instructed while he regained his footing and sized up their new positions, his decision for his retaliation made in but a few seconds. His somewhat failed attempt to avoid the mare’s attack had caused him to stumble further to the side than he’d originally planned – which worked in his favor. Torleik was now almost perpendicular to Liit’s left side. He would give her no warning and test that quickness she seemed to possess. Dipping his head and aligning his horns in her direction, Torleik pushed off his hind legs, thrusting the bony weapons on his head towards the soft area just behinds Liit’s left shoulder. No need to use that left foreleg that throbbed angrily when his very much uninjured head would do.

A kind heart beat in his breast, but kindness had no place in battle. Not if you wanted to live.


@[Liit]


"talk talk talk"



---------------------------------------------------------------
WC: 537 | (1/3)

Credits: Image by Schwartze @ DA
[Image: 531c0b471919e]

No man is an island.
Pixel by: Tamme :D


Please tag me in all posts! Thank you!

Liit Posts: N/A
Unregistered
:: :: ::
#4
every day the gods are flipping coins

She is thankful that the stallion seems to understand her apprehension in attacking him, and had noted prior to her striking out that he had explained why it was important for her to grow more accustomed to lashing out at someone. Liit saw the logic in needing to know how the turns of battle went, and now saw the benefit in learning more about fighting in order to better defend herself.

When she darted forwards, she found more speed than she was aware she was capable of. In the past, she had used her agile skills in order to flee from threats or other horses, finding that it was easier to turn on her heels and run than to stay and fight. Surprise found her eyes when her hooves met with the meaty part of the stallion’s breast as he shifted to the right. Finding her footing once more as she dropped down from her rear, she turns her head about, ready to swing her hips away in hopes of facing him once more.

He praises her, and she is thankful, though somewhat off guard. Liit knew little of how quickly battles can transpire, and soon found the stallion dipping his head and throwing his body towards her shoulder. Before she has time to smile in appreciation of his observation of his quickness, she is off. With a loud, sharp, squeal, she finds herself in the fleeing position once more, darting forwards as quickly as she can. While the stallions pointed horns did not find the meaty flesh of her shoulder, she had bolted far enough forwards that his broad face found purchase on her flank, just past her belly. The force was enough to shove her off balance, preventing her from getting away and making her hooves dig into the soft dirt beneath her, leaving divots in the earth.

It was instinct that told her what to do next; strike out and get away. Now she does the only thing she can think to do, which is lash out with her heels. Still moving, she throws her weight forwards and kicks out sharply with her heels in the direction of where she assumed the stallion’s head would be. She hoped to still be quick, but she could already feel the stiffening of her thigh muscles surrounding the area of impact where Torleik had hit her, and hoped that it would not slow her so much as to ruin the only thing she thought she had going for her.

@[Torleik]


word count: 419 / 2/3
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Official Posts: 847
Administrator
Stallion :: Equine :: ::
Official
#5
3 weeks have passed. This battle defaults to Liit.

Liit has earned 0.5 VP, however incomplete judging may be requested, which might change the outcome.

Official Posts: 847
Administrator
Stallion :: Equine :: ::
Official
#6
Spar is continuing, 0,5VP has been deducted from Liit.

Torleik the Bloodskald Posts: 354
Outcast atk: 4.5 | def: 8.0 | dam: 7.5
Stallion :: Unicorn :: 16.3 :: 11 HP: 66.5 | Buff: SWIFT
Irelyn :: Plain Griffin :: Molten Dagger RedGod
#7
Torleik
The beard of glory...



The fact that he missed, though not entirely, irked the Basin General greatly. That ire, however, was quickly replaced with a chuckle that rumbled up from his breast despite his best intentions: Liit's squeal was just too entertaining; he simply had to laugh. The sound was like a small child being caught nicking sweets, startled by their parent suddenly swooping down on their misbehavior.

His laugh was cut short by the impact of his thick head to the latter half of her body. Torleik felt her form give way due to his greater strength, but it was still jarring to suddenly headbutt when he expected to stab. Brains rattling around in his head, the Bloodskald squeezed his eyes shut to block out the sensation that he was suddenly no longer subject to gravity and her unforgivingly constant nature. Instinct demanded he open his orbs once more and his eyelids snapped apart, seeing the flash of Liit’s hooves and feeling the bits of soil and grass she flung up pepper his face and neck. Grimacing and turning away, Torleik grunted as one hoof landed a glancing blow on the left side of his jaw, a hollow SHHWCKK offering up an unsettling soundtrack for the action.

Giving his head a shake in an attempt to dislodge the pain, the stallion focused on the retreating female. He supposed that if all the wanted was to defend herself, striking out and retreating was a good enough strategy. An opponent like that was annoying, like a fly that kept coming at your eye and couldn’t be caught and dealt with. Torleik’s lips came together in a terse line as he cantered after the white mare, trying to calculate her path, anticipate her movements. The point, he reminded himself as some anger began to cloud his strategy and push him towards heavier, more violent attacks, was to make her defend herself and nothing more.

The general considered using his magic, but thought better of it. His was one that could be avoided if Liit ran far enough making it not all that helpful as a learning tool. Besides, not every horse had magic. He was teaching her the basics here; magic was a little above that. Drawing close and seeking to keep the distance between them workable, Torleik briefly slowed his gait for a tic, tock, tic – then leapt forward, using his power to drive his swiftness for this particular movement. The abrupt lurch was made with intent to cut off her forward movement, and when he landed on his front hooves again, Torleik immediately pushed off in her direction, raising himself up enough to bicycle-kick his hooves towards her face and chest. She had tried a similar attack earlier, so why couldn’t he? Maybe he’d do better than just an awkwardly executed headbutt this time.


"talk talk talk"


--------------------------------------------
WC: 470 | (2/3)

OOC: Omg I live.

Credits: Image by Schwartze @ DA
[Image: 531c0b471919e]

No man is an island.
Pixel by: Tamme :D


Please tag me in all posts! Thank you!

Official Posts: 847
Administrator
Stallion :: Equine :: ::
Official
#8
Default win to Torleik since Liit hasn't logged in since July. Torleik wins 0.5 VP but can request judging to earn full VP.
(So keep this up for a bit)

RedGod the Rectifier Posts: 4
Junior Administrator Banhammer
Mare :: Other :: 5'10" :: 25 Buff: Hunter
RedGod
#9
I would like to request this battle be judged for the opportunity to earn full VP. Thanks!

Official Posts: 847
Administrator
Stallion :: Equine :: ::
Official
#10
By my verdict: TORLEIK is the winner!

LIIT
Realism [+3.5]
You have a great grasp on the attacks, defenses, injuries, and timing. I would have liked to see more mention of the surroundings, although I know they were basic ones, and an inclusion of which side she is in relation to her opponent and what side she’s attacking on - this was left very open in the first post. Otherwise great use of breed references, especially in the first post.


Emotion [+2]
I loved reading her hesitation and worry all throughout.


Prose [+4]
Each post had great flow and style.


Readability [0]
Everything was readable, especially in the first post, but in the second post there were some errors that came up which brought your overall score down
“Liit knew little of how quickly battles can transpire, and soon found the stallion dipping his head...“ - tense change
“Before she has time to smile in appreciation of his observation of his quickness…” - her quickness, not his
“While the stallions pointed...” - stallion’s, with an apostrophe


Finally tally: 42+(9.5*2)= 61 HP

*******************************************

TORLEIK
Realism [+4]
All your attacks, defenses, injuries, and timing was great! I would have liked to see more mention of the scenery, although I know it was a pretty basic one, that means it should have applied good footing which could have been worked in to make it more realistic. I liked the inclusion of breed differences throughout and how there was motive for each attack Torleik carried out.


Emotion [+2]
I enjoyed seeing the fatherly, teacher side of Torleik and how he struggled to control himself when her moves would at times surprise his warrior side.


Prose [+4]
Well written all throughout with nice flow and style.


Readability [+3]
Everything was readable and held good grammar and typing.


Finally tally: 47.5+(13*2)= 73.5 HP

Official Posts: 847
Administrator
Stallion :: Equine :: ::
Official
#11
Torleik wins the full 1 VP


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