Out by the lake: Elaine's sword lesson

[the_lioness]

*Alanna stands by the lake, humming and examining a set of throwing knives. Elaine's next sword lesson is scheduled to start soon, and Alanna keeps an eye on the bar door in the hopes that George, Svava and Archie put in an appearance as well.*

[OOC: Anyone is welcome to come watch or join in. :) ]

Comments

[balletrat]

*Meg is used to practicing on her own.

She watches what Alanna and Faith are doing, and then gamely turns and attacks a nearby tree.*

[the_lioness]

*Alanna ceases her attack on Elaine and bursts out laughing at Meg's furious attack on the tree.*

Meg! Now what did that tree do to deserve that? Come over here.

*After watching Faith and Svava for a moment, she turns back to Elaine.*

It's always better to attack than defend. Remember that. Keep your blows steady and quick, always looking for your opponent's weakness. Despite your opponent's intentions, you should look for opportunities to disarm, not stab. Stabbing might knock you off balance. Instead, step into blows and knock their blades to the side, as we discussed. Attempt to throw them off balance. Then slide your sword around theirs and twist.

*Face impassive, Alanna darts forward again, whipping her sword around and in, disarming Elaine with a deceptively simple flick of her wrist.*

Like that. Make sense? Attack me. Anyone.

[maid-of-astolat.livejournal.com]

Elaine is actually quite surprised to find her sword on the ground, and picks it up.

Then nods and attacks Alanna. Her face is an intense mask of concentration and she is watching as much as she can, to see where Alanna leaves herself open.

[balletrat]

*Meg waits intently, slipping en pointe without even realizing it, waiting.

As soon as someone is disarmed, she'll take her turn.*

[the_lioness]

*Grinning recklessly, Alanna defends in earnest, delivering the occasional counter blow to keep Elaine on her toes. The sharp sound of blade meeting blade rings through the night air, and Alanna feels better than she has in days.*

Meg? You two are sparring as soon as Elaine disarms me.

*Eventually, she begins to block clumsily, moving much too slowly for an effective defense. She crosses swords with Elaine and backs off, countering with a swift stab toward her midsection.

Exactly what she just said not to do.*

[maid-of-astolat.livejournal.com]

Elaine sees her opening and disarms Alanna, sending her sword onto the ground.

[the_lioness]

*Alanna grins.*

Excellent. It all comes down to watching for your opponent's weakness. Wait for them to make the mistake. If you have to, dodge more blows than you block so that you don't wear yourself out.

Meg? Elaine? Cross swords. Do honor to the laws of chivalry. Have fun.

*Alanna retrieves her sword and lightly rests the tip on her boot.*

Oh, and don't hurt each other.

[balletrat]

*Meg grins, a little.* I hear and obey -

*Her sword comes up, firmly. That bit she can do all right. It's the parts that follow that she has trouble with.*

[collects_ears]

George strolls over, one dagger in each hand. "May I join you, ladies?"

[maid-of-astolat.livejournal.com]

"Right," Elaine mutters, and brings her sword up, readying herself. And waits for Meg to attack.

Because she's fair that way. They both should have the fun of attacking!

[the_lioness]

*Alanna beams at George.* Of course. *All of a sudden, she has two daggers drawn too.* As long as you don't mind fighting me? These two are rather evenly matched I think.

Elaine, attack her on her left side. Go!

[maid-of-astolat.livejournal.com]

And Elaine does it, going towards Meg's left side, attacking.

[balletrat]

*Meg raises up her cutlass quickly, spinning out of the way, then goes for an attack on the right side.

She's better at attacking than defending. By a lot. After all, trees don't really fight back.*

[maid-of-astolat.livejournal.com]

Elaine meets the attack on the right side quickly, blocking and pushing and attacking again.

[balletrat]

*Meg is easily pushed back - after all, she is quite small - and ducks away again, spinning behind Elaine in a circle and attacking on the other side.*

[maid-of-astolat.livejournal.com]

Elaine turns, overshoots herself, and loses balance, leaving her sword unguarded.

[balletrat]

*Meg's eyes spark, and she brings her sword down on Elaine's. Unfortunately, the jolt makes her grip on her own weapon loosen, and her fingers slip -*

[the_lioness]

*Alanna looks over and quirks an eyebrow.*

Tighten your grip, Meg!

[collects_ears]

He grins. "Mind? Hardly." He immediately enters a fighting stance, watching her for even the slightest hint of her forthcoming movement. Her honoured rules of chivalry don't apply to the kind of fighting they're going to be doing.

[the_lioness]

Oh, come now. Aren't you even slightly nervous about facing your best student? *Grinning, Alanna drops into a crouch and keeps her eyes glued on his blade. She circles him, lunging forward with a downward slash.*

[collects_ears]

A downward slash which he evades easily. "If we were fighting with swords instead of knives, I'd be scared witless," he says truthfully, feinting forward, making as though to slash at her ribs with one blade, while bringing the other towards her shoulder.

[the_lioness]

You don't give yourself enough credit, George.

*Alanna hurriedly spins to the side, easily avoiding his blade. Moving quickly and very much on her guard, she blocks one of his arms and brings her other knife up toward his chest.*

[collects_ears]

"So first I should be nervous, and now I don't give myself enough credit?" he quips, twisting quickly away from the knife coming toward his chest, and ducking around behind her.

[the_lioness]

I'm simply trying to throw you off guard is all.

*Alanna whirls, determined not to lose sight of the knives in his hands. To do so would spell death in a real fight. She feints left and lunges forward again.*

[collects_ears]

He laughs.

Recognizing the feint for what it is, he whirls away, to keep himself out of her reach. He brings one dagger towards her throat, watching all the while for the real attack he knows will follow.