The days went by, painfully for some. Paul and Fast clashed nearly constantly. The more he used it, the more he insisted the blade worked for him, and Fast made him pay for the choice, but no price seemed high enough. Their energetic bouts, with equine against hominid, would draw the occasional crowd, sometimes of those not training. Passerbies off the road would come to watch them fight viciously. The shouted words of encouragement or advice from the actual warriors only seemed to add to the spectacle.
By the third day, others stepped forward to go a round with Paul or Fast. "There's no point," said one, "In learning how to avoid one warrior. You'll be fighting the whole damn world, so ya might as well get used to it." He used a pair of axes and swung them with worrying skill. "Don't worry, I got sleeves on em. Won't do more than bruise ya, but remember, every bruise is a time you coulda died, so let's not get too many of those, hmm?"
Fast let Paul crosstrain with others, busying herself with more practiced warriors. Though loath to admit it, there were some there at the arena even more skilled than herself, magic lance or not. She wasn't the only fighter there wealthy enough to have powerful tools, and having it turned against her was a harsh reminder that she had growing of her own she could be doing. One insufferable soul could slide forward as quickly as she slid back, preventing her from ever getting the room to bring her lance to place and forcing her to rely on her spiked shoes, a weapon she didn't practice with nearly as much.
It was a productive week, for the both of them.
Tree watched them with mild concern, serving as a doting medic to them both, and any other warrior that took a nasty blow. Even in training, accidents could happen that'd send a combatant to the ground with a serious wound. Her presence was quite welcomed as an addition to the lone healer that the arena provided, who didn't even employ magic. Healing was not a strong point of the magical understanding of the city.
Maud sat the first few days out, watching them, but on the evening of the second day, she was approached by a man wearing as little armor as she. "You carry yourself well, and watch your allies intently and sharply. Perhaps you wish to not make a display? But it would be an honor to cross ways with you. We may improve in our personal follies."
She tilted her head at the man as he took a fighting stance. "I only fight when I have to."
"That's a very good attitude to have," agreed the man. "Fighting is only a means to an end, not an end to itself. I practice to hone myself, to understand myself, and through it, the world. When your friends rely on you, can you say you will always be skilled enough, no matter what they may face?"
Maud rose to two legs and imitated him, standing in a ready footing. "Are you sure you want this?"
"I am. If I lose, then that is my failing, and my pleasure. I will learn from it." He made a beckoning gesture. "I hope you will accept it the same way."
They came together like a dance. She struck with lightning fast motions, and he moved around them, flowing against her. His strikes met toughened hide, deflecting hooves and sudden motions that started before he could finish his motions. They were well matched, and a new crowd began to gather, watching them perform a work of art as much as any battle. With a low thump, she scored the first true blow and he jumped back a foot. "Well placed." He bowed to her, and she returned the gesture with a little less certainty. The fight resumed.
The encouraging shouts were entirely lost on them. They were in their own world, their own waltz, and there were only two members in it. He landed a blow on Maud, only to have it returned. She ducked under a spinning kick, only to have the same leg suddenly brought down on her. She grabbed the leg and swung to toss him aside, and he flipped through the air, coming down and bouncing off the ground back at her. This man. Maud realized something as she sparred against this man that made her sweat with exertion. He wasn't going all out. He was holding back. She couldn't explain why, but this infuriated her. "Faster." Her words held none of her emotion.
The dance did speed, and his skill became more and more apparent. The more she urged him, the more blows he managed to land on her. The more it became clear that she was not this man's equal. She was as a student to a master. She thought she was one of the best fighters around. Even the unliving feared her. Even the dread rust monster had been brought to its knees. In a sudden rage, she grabbed for him, grabbing his arms. With a sudden twist he swung her up and slammed her into the ground, planting his elbow into her chest painfully. "You lost because you lost yourself."
She rolled to her hooves, panting for breath. "What do you mean?"
He settled on the ground, cross legged and calm. "Even in the most trying of conflicts, we must master ourselves. When we lose ourselves, the battle is already forfeited."
Maud gave a little nod. It didn't entirely make sense, but there was wisdom there, and she wouldn't give up yet. They would meet many more times over the week. Unlike the other warriors, their fights never resulted in blood, only lessons, given and received in quiet determination.
One morning, Fast awoke with a stretch, shaking herself out. "Time to collect on our things. Let's see how badly this shell I've commissioned slows me down."
Paul smiled brightly. "I'll be trying on some fancy duds m'self. Let's get t'going."
They ate breakfast in good cheer. Tree smiled at them all. "You've all been practicing so hard. I'm totally behind you all."
Fast rose a brow. "Do you mean in support, or lacking in skill? You have not been entirely idle, Tree. Still, there's no replacement for true survival in real conflict."
Tree waved a hoof. "You say that, but I can see you've all become better. Paul, like, man, you've become a real fighter. When we started, you were a little awkward, but now you swing that sword like you were meant to have it."
Paul went red in his cheeks at the compliment. "That's right kind of ya t'say, Tree. I wouldn't be this far without yer carin' hooves when I get the snot beat out of me. Just wish Flint was here ta see it."
Maud reached across and put a hoof on Paul's shoulder. "He'll hear the story from you."
"Yeah... He will. So, uh, who's the guy you keep meetin' up with?"
Maud drew her hoof back. "He's alright. His name's San Wei." Feeling the need for nothing else, she chewed at her breakfast.
Tree tilted her head at Maud. "San's moves with you are beyond my understanding. The way you two move is just trippy to the max. I can't even try to get it, sister. He's really challenging you?"
"Is that bad?"
"No!" Tree clopped the table. "Not at all. You're faster than you were before, which I didn't think was even possible."
Bright cawed out a sudden word, "Possible!"
All eyes turned to him. "Possible, Possible!"
Tree smiled slowly. "Righteous. You're such a clever bird, Bright. Are you listening to us?"
"Possible."
Fast pushed from the table and rose. "It seems to be we're preparing nicely. Good. We have many miles to cover before we reach the edge of the pony empire, possibly more, depending on how badly it's deteriorated." As the others rose with her, she guided them to the door. "We have a lot of walking ahead of us, but let's take at least one more day to try out our new armor, and to arrange fresh horses. Speed will be our ally. We've certainly spent enough time."
Maud turned away from the group. "I'll say bye to San."
Tree hesitated, then moved to follow Maud without saying anything. They went off together, leaving Fast and Paul. The shopkeeper awaited them with a smile on seeing them. "Ah, you're really going to like what I have for you!" He gestured back to three sets of armor, two equine in shape, one human. "With the funds you gave me, I had a little left over. A gift for your friend. Where is she? You know the one I speak of, with the faraway gaze. The druid."
Fast gestured to the east. "She went with our other companion to settle affairs. What did you make for her?"
He pulled a mannequin in the shape of a pony over with the armor. A ponnequin? "Well, bring this to her. It'll keep her pretty hide safe when things get ugly." It appeared to be made of plates of bone as if from a giant beetle's back. "It covers all the vitals, and no metal is used. I know how particular druids can be about that. I never understood it, mind you, but the customer is always right."
Paul reached for it, pulling it free of the stand and turning it around. "It looks right nicely made."
"I should think so." The shopkeep smiled with pride. "There wasn't enough money to enchant it, but it's well crafted and should serve her."
Fast raised a brow. "I get the idea you wanted to keep all the money given."
"Do you not want it?"
Fast snorted softly. "We'll take it. What'd you do with ours?"
He drew forward what looked like a statue of a pony made of steel and waved over it. "Behold. It'll keep you safe from a dragon's angry teeth, and still smell fresh after a week wearing it." Fast raised a brow. "I'm not spinning tales, madame. It will keep itself cool or warm as needed as well. It's made to not just be protective, but comfortable. I see you're still doubting. Here." He reached back and brought out a small cup of bright blue paint. "Watch." He splashed it across the armor and the ground behind it. While the paint stuck to the ground, the paint on the armor began to run off it like grease, soon leaving it as clean as it began. "I trust you are satisfied?"
Paul laughed with a childlike amazement. "That was amazin'! Does mine do that?" When the shopkeep nodded, he grabbed the shirt and breastplate hanging over it and soon had it on, covering his torso but little else. "Why isn't mine the whole thing?"
Fast raised a brow. "Because it becomes more obvious by the day that you need to be able to move. Your fighting style will only be hampered being in this much armor. You are a rushing wave, ready to crash into and destroy things with that sword of yours." She gestured at the armor. "Now would you be a gentleman and help me get into this?"
Donning a full set of plate armor proved more intense than it first appeared. Every piece of it had to be removed and fit into place, and most of her clothing shed to make room. With Paul's helpful hands and fingers, she was soon enough snugly fit into her new armor. "Now this is armor... You've outdone yourself."
The shopkeep smiled. "Excellent. If you need anything else, you know where to turn, though I get the idea you may not be returning to us for some time."
"Truth." Fast turned left and right, getting a feel for her heavily burdened self. "This is going to take some practice before I get to full speed again, but the armor's worth every coin. A good day to you." She turned away from the shopkeep and regarded Paul critically before rearing up and fussing with his plate, getting it centered just so. "There we are. Now, help me get my things back on." They got her saddlebags slung over and her rack secured, lance inserted. Everything was in order for the both of them, with Tree Hugger's armor slung over Fast's back.
They were ready for one more day of sparring.
This was a cool training montage, with the addition of foreign fighters that outclass the party, even.
So... Paul. A barbarian, huh?
... I like it. Fits well with his proclivity to huge smashy weapons.
I can't wait until his first rage.
6695029 Their sheet is updated :)
6695081
I noticed!
I did have to search through the previous comments to find it, though...
Multiple training montages? You can just see Pinkie wandering round the edges with her small cart, selling cupcakes inna bun.
Thats some serious kit already, which means theres larger bandit groups and most unpleasant monsters in the near future.
Back to sparring, and shopping.
Only one typo and one continuity error that I can see, the rest are just comments.
extra space
When? Fast beat Maud in the arena.
First, precarious magic buildings, now no healers. These wizards seem to be riding for a fall.
Haha. Now he just needs to learn how to say "nevermore" and they can use him to freak people out. Can animal companions actually learn to speak lucidly in Pathfinder, or is he stuck parroting them? (not that you couldn't do whatever you want anyway)
I am getting more and more confused about Fast. The original line about immortality makes it clear that she has died at least once since the time of the queen's reign. On the other hand, she is/was friends with Under Score and Steel Prism in this life (since she said she doesn't remember past lives). Therefore, the queen's death must have been recent. If Fast decided the pony empire needed to be saved, she must have already seen the deterioration, right?
I know, right? Someone needs to definitively answer this question.
6695029
I think we've already seen his first rage, and maybe his second and third as well. That boy is just a walking mass of emotion.
6695415
Smart birds like crows or ravens have actually been known to repeat words similar to that of a parrot. So that is entirely possible what he is doing.
6697410 A druid is forbidden from performing the trick while wildshaped without specific animal-talkee feat, but their companion? It's up to the GM, and that's me!
6697410 I know they have the physical capacity to imitate human speech. I was more curious whether an INT of 5 allows him to learn a language.
6697536 An int of 3 is enough to take a rank in linguistics and learn to understand the language. Speaking is up to the GM and allowing a raven/parrot to actually speak it or not. For most animals, understanding is as good as you get.
Passerbies - Passers-by
[qute]Maud rose to two legs and imitated him, standing in a ready footing. "Are you sure you want this?"
"I am. If I lose, then that is my failing, and my pleasure. I will learn from it." He made a beckoning gesture. "I hope you will accept it the same way."
-Jing Woo, Jade Empire.