Ariadne shrugged,  chuckling wryly
"Sure, why not?"

Fenton nods approvingly at Ariadne's attitude.

"I want to see you with an axe."

He leans a tall old wooden shield against the wall, walks her the exercise he wants to see her do--and wishes her to end with throwing the axe at the shield (the target).

(Go ahead and roll Strength again, -1 penalty still in place. Then roll Dex for the throw, no penalty.)

"We could use the training Master Fenton. We appreciate this, everything will help us against these Gray men." Jade was tired she didn't hide it but she also knew she was a Princess of Amber and would not give in before her fellows.

"Let us see how you would 'thwack' with the 'shiny club'," Fenton says to Jade. He sounds very dry, but so he hands her the club, and shows her a few moves to try--walking her through how to hold the weapon in order to get the most forceful blow, etc.

(Strength roll please, Jade!)

Jade lines up and begins a series of swings with the shiny club.



19:43, Today: Jade rolled 6 using 2d6 with rolls of 2,4.  Strength.

Ariadne works on using the axe with balance and precision,  and ends with a hurl at the shield

OOC:
20:48, Today: Ariadne rolled 12 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 5,5.  Dex.
20:48, Today: Ariadne rolled 8 using 2d6 with rolls of 5,3.  Strength .

Wow Ariadne is really good with Axes. She is a natural !

*nods* "Yes, Sir, that would be a big help." Jon is tired and a bit sore, but his tone reflects only respect and his posture is still a relaxed ready stance.

Jon's next group of exercises is not with a blade. Instead, Fenton asks him to use a short spear and shield.

(Go ahead and roll Strength, -1 penalty still in place... Meant to tell that to Jade too but looks like no difference anyway :sheepish:

Summary/naration of everybody's rolls to follow Jon's!)

Jon puts on the shield, selects one of the spears and does his best to follow the routine outlined.


OOC: 14:44, Today: Jon rolled 8 using 2d6+1 ((2,5)).
STR is normally +2, with with -1 penalty = +1

The axe is once again Ariadne’s time to shine, her glory. The drill itself is challenging, and she still feels that she is correcting herself, that it takes something out of her to do the work—but she does so unerringly, and what feels so good as this kind of work?

Come time to throw the axe at the shield, and everything comes together—as if Ariadne were the axe, and the axe were Ariadne, and it went exactly where she wished it to go. If she wanted to show off, to split a hair in two—she did so. The axe struck the shield dead center of the dead center, poetry.

“Very good,” Fenton says, and now it’s Ariadne’s turn to be whispered about amongst the guardsmen later on—a subject of some jealousy. “You have a precise hand.”

—

Jade is struggling, weariness coiling through her limbs and making her as imprecise as Ariadne is precise. She’s an Amberite, and there’s a certain power in even her clumsy blows. The club, she might feel, is not her weapon—it’s much more difficult for her to switch over from the other exercises than she’d like, and she accidentally thwacks herself in the back with the club during a certain blow—it doesn’t even leave a bruise, but … Well, she’s tired.

Fenton corrects her grip a time or two, and then says, “Next time, I will see you with a trident. They are popular in Rebma, are they not? What about spears or other polearms?”

—

And Jon… The exhilarating perfection when he was engaging with Fenton, when the weariness was sharpening him, is gone and he knows it's gone, but he still does very well with spear and shield, adapting to the new exercise quickly enough. His overenthusiasm or excitement at first causes him to be corrected a time or two, but eventually he settles into a steadier rhythm. Fenton nods.

"I have seen enough," he says.

Jade nods, "Yes the guards use tridents and some spears. I was not a guard but I can certainly try with such weapons on another day."

Jade while she may be harboring a bit of jealousy is still if anything a friend and heads over to Ariadne, "You were amazing, the Ax is your weapon. I think your mother chose it, but it chose you." She gives a brilliant smile.

She then approaches Jon, "Great work, I think even Master Fenton was getting winded with the sword play. The both of you acquitted yourselves like true Amberites."

As long as no one clapped her on the back she made her leave sighting the need to shower and change for tonight's concert.

"I shall be in my colors, I think I shall add blue as well, the last of my colors which I don't wear as much. If anyone wishes to coordinate."
This message was lightly edited by the player at 19:47, Thu 25 Mar 2021.

*nods* as he finishes the routine and returns the spear to the rack.
"Are we suitable enough students for you to take us on and train?" he asks with respect and genuine curiosity, perhaps even a bit of concern on his face as he asks while removing the shield and placing it along the wall.

Jon visibly brighten as Jade complements him.
"Thank you Jade.  You did great as well." he says with a smiles and from him it is not an empty platitude, but a heartfelt and sincere as evident in his eyes.

Looking of at Ari, "I agree, the Axe is definitely your weapon."

The axe seemed like such a clumsy thing,  so bulky and awkward.   But she had to admit that it felt natural now.  She smiled at the praise and decided to make axes part of her life.

"Suitable enough? This was not an audition," Fenton says. "You three do not seek a job as castle guards, correct? I will spend the next day or so considering a plan for each of you to sharpen your skills. You are royals, and may ultimately do as you please..."

...unspoken, but very clear from his mild expression for anybody who takes a moment to look if they goof off on the exercise regime he sets them, he will be very aware that they are wasting his time, and his opinion of them will be low.

If they have no further requests, Fenton leaves them there after showing them how to put away their equipment. He has some difficulty pulling the axe from the wooden shield and requires Ariadne's help with it.

And that's it for Fenton unless you guys want to ask him anything before he leaves.

Gives him a formal bow "Thank you Master.  We look forward to the program.  Once Ballad returns, I'll bring her up to speed and find you so that you can get her setup as well."

"I may have a special weapon when next I see you Master Fenton. Custom made by myself and a master craftsman from Begma. Just to let everyone know I will be scarce for a few days I have a mission for the King I am about but I shall let you know Master Fenton when I am well and truly back. I don't want to miss too much training but I want to also take my duties importantly too."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:47, Fri 26 Mar 2021.

"What weapon?"

He doesn't question any of the rest.

"Parasol." Jade said plainly.

Fenton gazes at Jade, waiting for the punch line. He half-glances at Ariadne and Jon.

Then: "A circular canopy of cloth or wood slats on a folding metal or wooden frame supported by a central rod, used as protection against the sun, is your special weapon?"

"It worked out well against the gray men with my encounter against them. Though it wasn't sturdy the new one I have designed will be a lot more capable, and rugged. Even my old one was no normal parasol." She usually would have smiled or laughed indicating a joke but this was no joke so it was easy to maintain a straight face.

*nods* "Definitely not a joke." Jon says serious.  "Thought we might be upgrading it further with some custom materials for the canopy as well."

Ariadne smiled wryly
"I know that it sounds a bit eccentric,  Master Fenton, but a parasol that is reinforced and weaponized has definitely practical uses, one has to admit.   I would look conspicuous wandering around the castle's and city's social events with a battle axe on my shoulder,  but a lady and her parasol fit in nearly anywhere without raising nary an eyebrow.   And, if trouble were then to raise its ugly head at one of these functions,  the lady's already armed and ready for trouble"

*smiles* "Oh Jade, what time is the Concert tonight?  And do we know how far a trip it is from the Castle? And congrats on the mission." he then turns to Ari "If you want to go, we might have to postpone finding you father until tomorrow. I know I need a bath if I am to be decent for a formal function."

Jon then looks at Master Fenton. "Jade's idea and Ari's assessment are sound.  And with the right skills and dexterity it can become both an offensive and defense weapon" Jon adds to the ladies discussion of a 'battle parasol'

"I was given this contact in the castle for all the details on the concert. Sandwyn will most likely meet with us and we can take carriage there. Sounds like it will be at a Nobles estate. Your father might be there Ariadne, owing to his relations. We have time to bathe thank the Narwhal." Jade smiled brightly as even Ariadne saw the wisdom in why she chose a parasol. It may be very conspicuous to talk about here but not conspicuous in public to carry.