You gulp down air like a thirsty man gulps down water.  Conrad thumps you on the back.

"Good job Young Master."

The two of you just ran two laps around the Covenant.  Last year, you'd barely been able to complete half a lap.  Really, it feels like your legs are about to fall off after three quarters of a lap.  But over the past week, Conrad has insisted on two laps around.

You suspect that Master Coscrach is still upset.  A few months ago you'd started helping him in his laboratory.  He mostly had you cleaning things.  Pouring liquids into glass jars and telling you to learn what this liquid was as opposed to this other one.

It hasn't gone well.  You've mixed things up.  Spilled things.  Lost something called a focus, which you still aren't sure you did or know what it was.

Then last week you dropped one of those jars.  It shattered and Coscrach had beaten you a bit more than was usual.  He hadn't called you to the lab since then.  And your morning runs with Conrad have gotten more intense.

While you are hunched over, catching your breath, Conrad goes to the well and pulls up a bucket of fresh water.  He slogs it over to you and hands you the dipper from it.  The water tastes particularly cold and crisp.

When he catches your eye, Conrad grins and nods his head over to one side.  There, against the wall, is a small table.  It's piled with weapons.  Well.  Wooden versions of them.  Wooden swords.  Maces.  Spears.

"Master Cam says you are supposed to start weapons training today.  I mean real training.  Go over and try them out.  Get a feel for them.  The first thing we need to do is find the weapon that suits you best."

First, Tristan reaches for the sword.  He swings it playfully a few times.  Then he frowns as he considers the implications of this.  Has his master given up on his real training?  Because he'd gotten a little clumsy?  The more he thinks about it, the more sullen his frown becomes and the more violently he swings the wooden sword.

"I think I'll start with this.  Whom or what shall I kill first?"

In reply to Tristan (msg # 2):

Conrad bellows a laugh.  "Quite the bloodthirsty rascal, ain'tcha?  Well.  I suppose you can kill a man with a practice sword.  But let's just use it for the basics.

"Right.  First thing you need to do is get used to swingin' the damn thing."

What follows is pure hell.  Conrad has you practice swinging the sword.  For hours.  Your shoulders feel like they are about to come off.  Your gut hurts from being sucked in.  And your legs feel weak.

By the time Conrad calls it quits, you're ready to fall over.  The sword feels like it's as heavy as a hay wagon.

Conrad takes it from your trembling hands and guffaws, slapping you on the back.  "Don't fret Young Master.  Give it a few months and you'll be calling this a warm up.

"Master Coscrach can swing around mace with one hand. And waves his other hand around and makes big darts come up out of the ground.  I bet you'll be doing that too soon."

"Maybe he will."  The sardonic voice oozes out from the area behind you.  When you look, Teacher is there, leaning against the wall of his house, studying you with an amused look on his face.

Conrad bows and walks a bit away.  Coscrach nods his chin at you.

"Well?  Something to say to me?"

Tristan briefly considers using the practice sword in such a way as to minimize Uncle Master’s reproductive opportunities, but ultimately decides against.  That whole mace and darts-from-the-ground image is rather discouraging.  “Any chance I can get back to work in the lab soon?” he asks simply.

In truth, being separated from the lab was more painful to him than any beating.  He had literally been having nightmares about trying to get back in and being unable to.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:26, Tue 28 Nov 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 4):

Coscrach wastes no time in shaking his head.  "No.  Not until you can show me you can rely on your body as well as your mind."

He studies you a moment, and then scratches the back of his head.  "You seem to think this is a punishment.  It's not.  I am a warrior.  It's part of me and my magic.  And that is something I will pass on to you.

"You recall what happened with the Frogs, eh?"

Conrad had given Uncle/Master a run down on what had occurred.  Coscrach managed to convince you to tell him the rest.

"Would you have handled that situation the same if you had known your way around a sword?  Or known some magic that could allow you to fight?

"Or better yet...both?"  He considers and then nods, as if he's agreeing with some voice you can't hear.  "Tell you what...I'm not an unreasonable fellow.  And some things are easier to see than to hear.

"There's a village on the main isle next to ours.  It's where we buy some of our supplies.  There's a boat going there at the end of the month.  Train with...you chose a sword huh?  I'd recommend picking up a knife and a spear for now. But that's just me...anyway.  Continue to train until the boat goes.  You'll go with it.

"This town usually has a problem with a certain fox.  It's been bugging them for years.  It's not a fae fox.  So no worries there.  But it's quite cunning.

"Bring me the pelt of that fox.  Or.  You can train with Conrad until summer ends.

"You'll come back to my lab after one of those two conditions is met.  Your choice."

Tristsan shrugs and picks up the spear.  He decides to take Uncle Master’s advice concerning weapons.

Since the only way out of this is through, he trains as hard as he can, and then agrees to go on the hunt for that fox.  His only concern is that he’ll fail and end up getting stuck training with weapons even longer.

He does also ask his master if it would not have been a mistake to try to deal with the frogs by force… after all, when dealing with a numerically superior foe, isn’t subterfuge a better strategy?
This message was last edited by the player at 04:52, Wed 29 Nov 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 6):

Coscrach considers your question about the frogs and then shrugs.  "It's hard for me to say for sure.  I wasn't there after all.  But you bring up a good point about numeric superiority.  However.  I didn't say necessarily you would need to wade in, taking on both armies, sword swinging.

"Trust me.  When you are a fully trained wizard...one in your prime...an army isn't as high a hurdle as you may think it is."

---

Conrad runs you through several drills.  Somedays you work with the knife or the sword.  But usually it is with the spear.  By the time you are to board the boat, you seem at least to know what end you're supposed to hit things with...

For now, assume you have a score of 1 with Single Weapon (short sword), Brawl (specialty dagger), and either Great Weapon (spear) or Thrown Weapon (spear).  Let me know which one of those two you pick please.

Conrad goes with you, as well as another Grog you haven't seen before.  A large fellow with paler than ice skin named Rulf.

Conrad leans against the bowof the boat and says, "Me an' Rulf are just supposed to make sure you don't die Young Master.  The huntin' will all be on you.  You feel up to it?"

Tristan chooses thrown spear.

“No, but I’ll try.  I did a little hunting down on the farm, but nothing like this.  Can you at least give me some advice?”

In reply to Tristan (msg # 8):

Conrad and Rulf exchange looks, and then Conrad shrugs.  "Well.  You're tryin' to hunt a particular beast.  Not just goin' out to catch the first thing you can for dinner.

"So you might think about figuring out what this particular fox does.  Is he goin' after a particular chicken coop?  Is he stalkin' one side of the village as opposed to another?"

Rulf speaks in a deep, gravelly voice.  "'ou migh' also wanna try foll'win' 'is tracks like."

Conrad nods.  "I'll be honest.  It's harder to hunt down a particular animal.  'specially them foxes.  They're a clever bunch.  It's possible ya can set a trap for 'im.  But you gotta have an idea of where he's gonna strike for that to be effective."

He narrows his eyes, and after making sure no one can overhear you, leans closer.  "Can ya...you know...magick it up like?"