Post by TheGratefulNed on Jan 27, 2008 14:22:27 GMT -5
It's an unusually clear morning in the Cage, looking up you can almost make out the individual bashers going about their business on the other side of the torus. Gl'Fnak hobbles toward the Great Gymnasium from the direction of the Clerk's Ward wearing just his grey leather armor, a small belt pouch and a wicked-looking scimitar with a large claw design pommel. He silently heads for the front gate to the Cipher's headquarters, pausing momentarily at the weapon check to hand over his blade to the young human manning the station. Looking across the way to a seminar being given at the opposite end of the open field in front of him, a broad smile spreads over the tiefling's face.
The training field is especially busy today, nearest the gate two Masters of the Heart demonstrate fighting with mock battle axes for a group of namers. After a few minutes, the Masters stop and step aside, without a visible signal the green members pair off and begin practicing what they just witnessed. An asuras in loose-fitting clothes stands alone between two of the large pools going through a very complex series of martial arts katas. By the base of the stairs to the Portico of Learning two aasimar and a githzerai are fighting a giant blue-skinned humanoid. People of just about every conceivable race, age and size walk between the changing rooms and pools, baths, massage rooms and steam rooms. A middle-aged woman walks to one end of the Portico carrying an easel, canvas and a small cloth satchel. Hauntingly beautiful melodies pour from one of the music rooms palpably invigorating the air and inspiring everyone that hears it.
The ashen-skinned tiefling enters one of the changing rooms, emerging a minute later in just a loose pair of shorts. He limps determinedly to one of the bath rooms, removes the shorts and cringes slightly as the large, deep wound on his right leg enters the warm, fragrant water. Lowering himself until the water is up to his chin, the Baatorian born cutter relaxes into a corner of the large marble pool. After soaking for nearly an hour, Gl'Fnak sighs and climbs out of the water slowly allowing gravity to re-exert itself on his bruised body. Slipping on the comfortable short pants he walks to the nearest steam room and enters the warm mists. He nods in acknowledgment to a half-orc as he sits down on an open stretch of bench beside the green-skinned basher.
Emerging some time later, the coal-eyed fiendling walks up to a rack of practice weapons and selects a rattan scimitar. Approaching an impatient looking half-elf woman holding a wooden axe and shield, Gl'Fnak raises his weapon toward a nearby open space and arches his ring-strewn brow. A simple nod from the half-elf and moments later the two of them are in fighting stances, the pain in his leg either gone or forgotten. The two Ciphers circle each other, weapons at the ready. A minor twitch of Gl'Fnak's shoulder and the half-elf shows she's not an inexperienced fighter as she raises her shield to block where his blow would have landed had he followed through with it. Demonstrating slightly quicker reflexes the tiefling instead pulls the shot in and tags her lightly on the ribs. Taking what she thinks to be an opening, the young woman swings her axe at the rogue. Catching the axe's haft on his forearm, Gl'Fnak tries to throw an elbow but finds it solidly blocked by the edge of her shield. Good, she's not just some berk learning how to fight. As the tingling pain works its way up and down his arm, he strikes the center of her shield with an open palm, momentarily pushing her off balance. Sweeping one equine leg under the young woman, she falls flat on her back and takes two wheezing gasps before kipping up and resuming her assault. The tiefling's grin broadens as he nods approvingly at her resilience and tenacity. A sudden and unanticipated shield punch from the half-elf sends Gl'Fnak back a few abrupt steps as the pain flares through his leg again. The scaly-skinned cutter seems to lose his balance, but uses the fall to his advantage tumbling toward his sparring partner while narrowly avoiding a strong overhand slash. Seeking to press her momentary advantage over the grounded Cipher, she unleashes a rapid series of axe slashes and shield strikes. While doing his best to ward off the barrage, Gl'Fnak notices a particular striking pattern and grabs her weapon arm, pulling her to the ground at the cost of a glancing but forceful headshot from her shield. After a moment of grappling and rolling on the ground, both combatants get to their feet. The half-elf spins about wildly, stopping her hit less than an inch from the shoulder of the tiefling's weapon arm. "I think that would pretty much be the end of it, you put up a good fight," she smirks. Gl'Fnak bares his pointy teeth in an even bigger grin, nods and glances downward. As the woman looks down she sees the tip of his wooden scimitar gently pressing on her shirt right at her solar plexus. "Indeed," is all he replies. The woman lets out a sigh and claps Gl'Fnak heavily on the shoulder, "I mighta taken your arm, but that woulda penned me in the dead book for sure. Let me buy you a drink, cutter." With a nod, the smiling rogue says, "I'd suggest the Open Shell Inn. The proprietor is a great man and it's not far from here." Without giving her a chance to respond he returns the mock weapon to its rack and quickly changes back into his clothes and armor. The young woman simply pulls on a robe and waits for him to return.
On the way out the front gate, Gl'Fnak and the half-elf retrieve their checked weapons before emerging back onto the crowded streets of Sigil's Guildhall Ward. "By the way, my name's Myritrea." "Gl'Fnak," he replies. "Maybe I can show you around the Civic Festhall after that drink if you're not busy." The tiefling simply nods and continues leading the way to the inn.
The training field is especially busy today, nearest the gate two Masters of the Heart demonstrate fighting with mock battle axes for a group of namers. After a few minutes, the Masters stop and step aside, without a visible signal the green members pair off and begin practicing what they just witnessed. An asuras in loose-fitting clothes stands alone between two of the large pools going through a very complex series of martial arts katas. By the base of the stairs to the Portico of Learning two aasimar and a githzerai are fighting a giant blue-skinned humanoid. People of just about every conceivable race, age and size walk between the changing rooms and pools, baths, massage rooms and steam rooms. A middle-aged woman walks to one end of the Portico carrying an easel, canvas and a small cloth satchel. Hauntingly beautiful melodies pour from one of the music rooms palpably invigorating the air and inspiring everyone that hears it.
The ashen-skinned tiefling enters one of the changing rooms, emerging a minute later in just a loose pair of shorts. He limps determinedly to one of the bath rooms, removes the shorts and cringes slightly as the large, deep wound on his right leg enters the warm, fragrant water. Lowering himself until the water is up to his chin, the Baatorian born cutter relaxes into a corner of the large marble pool. After soaking for nearly an hour, Gl'Fnak sighs and climbs out of the water slowly allowing gravity to re-exert itself on his bruised body. Slipping on the comfortable short pants he walks to the nearest steam room and enters the warm mists. He nods in acknowledgment to a half-orc as he sits down on an open stretch of bench beside the green-skinned basher.
Emerging some time later, the coal-eyed fiendling walks up to a rack of practice weapons and selects a rattan scimitar. Approaching an impatient looking half-elf woman holding a wooden axe and shield, Gl'Fnak raises his weapon toward a nearby open space and arches his ring-strewn brow. A simple nod from the half-elf and moments later the two of them are in fighting stances, the pain in his leg either gone or forgotten. The two Ciphers circle each other, weapons at the ready. A minor twitch of Gl'Fnak's shoulder and the half-elf shows she's not an inexperienced fighter as she raises her shield to block where his blow would have landed had he followed through with it. Demonstrating slightly quicker reflexes the tiefling instead pulls the shot in and tags her lightly on the ribs. Taking what she thinks to be an opening, the young woman swings her axe at the rogue. Catching the axe's haft on his forearm, Gl'Fnak tries to throw an elbow but finds it solidly blocked by the edge of her shield. Good, she's not just some berk learning how to fight. As the tingling pain works its way up and down his arm, he strikes the center of her shield with an open palm, momentarily pushing her off balance. Sweeping one equine leg under the young woman, she falls flat on her back and takes two wheezing gasps before kipping up and resuming her assault. The tiefling's grin broadens as he nods approvingly at her resilience and tenacity. A sudden and unanticipated shield punch from the half-elf sends Gl'Fnak back a few abrupt steps as the pain flares through his leg again. The scaly-skinned cutter seems to lose his balance, but uses the fall to his advantage tumbling toward his sparring partner while narrowly avoiding a strong overhand slash. Seeking to press her momentary advantage over the grounded Cipher, she unleashes a rapid series of axe slashes and shield strikes. While doing his best to ward off the barrage, Gl'Fnak notices a particular striking pattern and grabs her weapon arm, pulling her to the ground at the cost of a glancing but forceful headshot from her shield. After a moment of grappling and rolling on the ground, both combatants get to their feet. The half-elf spins about wildly, stopping her hit less than an inch from the shoulder of the tiefling's weapon arm. "I think that would pretty much be the end of it, you put up a good fight," she smirks. Gl'Fnak bares his pointy teeth in an even bigger grin, nods and glances downward. As the woman looks down she sees the tip of his wooden scimitar gently pressing on her shirt right at her solar plexus. "Indeed," is all he replies. The woman lets out a sigh and claps Gl'Fnak heavily on the shoulder, "I mighta taken your arm, but that woulda penned me in the dead book for sure. Let me buy you a drink, cutter." With a nod, the smiling rogue says, "I'd suggest the Open Shell Inn. The proprietor is a great man and it's not far from here." Without giving her a chance to respond he returns the mock weapon to its rack and quickly changes back into his clothes and armor. The young woman simply pulls on a robe and waits for him to return.
On the way out the front gate, Gl'Fnak and the half-elf retrieve their checked weapons before emerging back onto the crowded streets of Sigil's Guildhall Ward. "By the way, my name's Myritrea." "Gl'Fnak," he replies. "Maybe I can show you around the Civic Festhall after that drink if you're not busy." The tiefling simply nods and continues leading the way to the inn.