|
|
Post by Saera Malorian on Nov 12, 2014 19:49:14 GMT
An area to the side of the camp is designated as the training grounds. As well as serving as a drill space for the troops, it also functions as a place for the men and women of the Ashen Band to participate in individual or group combat training. Archery butts, quintains and straw men are set up on one side of the grounds.
|
|
|
|
Post by Saera Malorian on Nov 12, 2014 19:52:50 GMT
Saera Malorian stood watching a handful of her company in combat. She had taken out the least skilled members of the group and was making them undertake an extra training session. She had paired them off and was giving advice to each pair in turn
"Move faster," she snapped at one man. "You're too slow. You need to get in there, quick. And you, keep your shield higher. You'll die if you keep it low. And make sure your grip is firm. You'll be beaten down for sure if you don't hold your shield properly if it comes to the battle of the shield wall."
|
|
|
|
Post by Jano Turott on Nov 12, 2014 19:54:38 GMT
Jano wore his usual black boiled leather uniform, with his arakh slung across his back he sat on a corner feeding little nuts to Maelys, appreciating his training comrades in arms and subordinates.
|
|
Mara
Recruit
Illamaravendre
Posts: 36
|
Post by Mara on Nov 12, 2014 20:00:10 GMT
Mara entered the area, intent on practicing her archery, but when she saw the group training she stopped and observed, not looking impressed. She did not look unimpressed either, it was just that she had no expression on her face at all. Her wide rimmed hat kept most of the sun out of her eyes, but the angle meant one of her cheeks was beginning to tinge red.
"why are they dancing?" she asked, not looking at the commander.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ibbit Jib on Nov 12, 2014 20:01:17 GMT
In the middle of the training field a rock shaped object lets out a loud snore, and starts to stir from a nap that he had taken among all the people training.
|
|
|
|
Post by Saera Malorian on Nov 12, 2014 20:06:24 GMT
Saera gave Mara a strange look. She was a bit suspicious of the two Asshai'i in the Irregulars and so she didn't often talk to Mara, though there were times when she thought she probably should, since there were far more men in the company than women.
"They are not dancing," she said coolly. "Unless that is how your people dance in Asshai. I am giving my men a lesson in the fighting arts. Every company has its weaker members and these are mine. They are not as experienced as the rest. I am not content to see them fall behind their comrades. They will improve, if they want to survive their next battle."
One of Saera's men let out a shriek as Ibbit started to move. Unsurprisingly, it cost him the fight, when his opponent smacked him over the head with his (fortunately padded) mace.
"Don't lose concentration!" Saera yelled. "Jib, move yourself away from my men! Turott, best keep hold of your creature too. My men need to focus."
|
|
Mara
Recruit
Illamaravendre
Posts: 36
|
Post by Mara on Nov 12, 2014 20:10:34 GMT
"Should you do it, or would you prefer I?" Mara asked, genuinely unimpressed now that it turned out they were "fighting". She took out one of her bladed weapons and offered it to Saera, looking intently at the defeated man.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jano Turott on Nov 12, 2014 20:15:49 GMT
At the very moment that Saera commented on the presence of his lemur, Maelys darted towards the big sleeping men, starting to pick his head after lice.
"Goatdammit, Maelys. " He exploded in his native language, and got himself on his feet before greater harms could be done.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ibbit Jib on Nov 12, 2014 20:15:51 GMT
Ibbit stirs more and opens his eyes squinting to help shield them from the sun. "Puny men use me as obstacle, me sleep more." He said putting his head down, and reaching up to grab the lemur and bring it into his sleeping embrace murmuring something about a soft bunny.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jano Turott on Nov 12, 2014 20:20:07 GMT
"Hey, big boy." Jano called, with his heavy accent, sneering at the prospect of someone else touching his pet. "Be kind and put the lemur down."
He approached the ladies, joining their conversation.
"We don't do that to our own men, Mara. Unless they deserve it."
|
|
|
|
Post by Saera Malorian on Nov 12, 2014 20:20:46 GMT
"I find it best for discipline if i deal with my own men," Saera remarked, declining the blade with a shake of her head. "Serjeant, see that man is given twenty lashes when the session is finished. Next time, he will not lose."
She moved among the men as they finished their bouts, pairing victors with victors and losers with losers, saw that Ibbit hadn't yet moved.
"Get that oaf away from my men. Someone is likely to trip over him," she called over to Jano.
She then looked back at Mara. "I see that you favour small blades. Did you never learn sword work? Your friend carries a blade, I know."
|
|
|
|
Post by Ibbit Jib on Nov 12, 2014 20:22:41 GMT
"My bunny." Jano can hear mumbled from somewhere within, but Ibbit sure enough moves his arms so that the lemur can go scurrying back to his owner.
|
|
Mara
Recruit
Illamaravendre
Posts: 36
|
Post by Mara on Nov 12, 2014 20:26:02 GMT
"A weak link can bring down a whole thick chain, one man who is not enough, reduces the whole group more than his worth should he be competant." She said, voice even in Valyrian, "If you want to prepare them for battle, one on one is not good enough, you should have them all attack one, so they can see what it is like to be set upon by their foes." She was speaking to the both of them, then looked directly at Saera, taking her attention off the man who had been bested.
"Friend?" she asked, clearly not understanding the word, she has never heard it before and she thought her Valyrian was quite good. "Small blades make for a more intimate kill, arrows make for the least."
|
|
|
|
Post by Jano Turott on Nov 12, 2014 20:31:58 GMT
"Go there yourself, mistress." Jano told Saera as he helped the Lemur back to his shoulder.
"Agreed in most, Miss Mara... But if we go around killing every men who takes a blow, we'll be short of them quite fast." He acknowleged. "
|
|
|
|
Post by Saera Malorian on Nov 12, 2014 20:53:58 GMT
"We cannot afford to kill our own men unless they are guilty of desertion or cowardice, or of killing an officer," Saera said firmly, agreeing with Turott. She glared at Ibbit as she said to Mara "You may be sure I assign my men many different training sessions. Today it is one on one, tomorrow it shall be melee combat with the company split into two. "I thought the Nightwalker was your friend. The two of you spend much time together, and he is from your homeland," she explained.
|
|
