Giant Dorin, Titan Sword (Dignitas)

[Orkashak]

Post Fractum XV, Winter, Dianara, Mid-Brightening, Kalendryas, Eighteenth Brightening of Era I

Orksashak had just bought himself some new equipment. While he was warring with his enemy clan, the only weapon he had used was a rusty tribal dagger, and this massive sword seemed almost too much too handle. The war was bloody, and he regretted it had ever begun... He was glad he fled. On his first day in Imperia, the shame he felt for leaving lessened a little. It was not like a Dorin to flee from battle, but his family had been killed. He was the last one who could continue his family name. He could not be killed over a feud one of his tribe members had begun.

One of the sailors that Orkashak had come over with was talking to him about blades training while they sailed to Imperia. He said he had been in the army before he became a sailor, and knew a thing or two about long blades and claymores. Orksahak knew that the sailor would likely be at the harbour, where he had last seen him, and decided to go to him and perhaps learn a thing or two about how to use his new blade. He did not want to accidentally hurt someone with his titan sword.

He made his way down to the docks through the Imperia streets. It was not as hard as finding the armoury since he already knew where it was. His feet clicked along the planks as he walked along, looking for the boat that had dropped him off. He gazed around, noting that the boats looked very similair to one another, until he noticed the sailor whom he had spoken with at the end of one of the piers, speaking with a fellow sailor. Orkashak approached him, the sailor noticing him before he was in front of him because of his massive size.

"Hey Joe, how are you?" Orka asked.

The sailor told him he was doing well and asked him why he was back at the boat. Orkashak presented him the claymore, showing off it's big glinting blade.

"You were saying on the way over here you could weild such a weapon? If you have the time, I was wondering if you could show me a thing or two with it. I have not weilded such a big weapon before."

[Dignitas]

Seeing the dorin approach Joe excused himself from the other sailor and turned to wave to Orkashak. Flashing a friendly smile he stepped down off the boat and made his way over to meet the recently arrived dorin. If Orkashak was large for a dorin, then it was certain that Joe was large for a human. Being around 6 foot 5 inches he stood taller then most other humans. He was also very well built, possessing the strength necessary to one who had been out a seas dropping anchors and pulling rope all his life. His demeanor was friendly, but he was a sailor which as many knew, had a certain affinity for crude words. Coming within conversation distance with the Dorin he patted Orka on the arm. "Hey my furry friend! How's Imperia treating ya?" his baritone voice rang out, used to crying over the sea's fury and waves.

Joe had a cutlass on him, but as Orka probably knew the sailor also owned a claymore himself. Smaller then the titan sword that Orkashak carried, Joe's claymore was more of the military variety used to be both short enough to be maneuverable but long enough to outreach any opponent. Joe didn't carry that on him however, as the claymore would be too large a hassle to do his usual duties aboard the ship. Upon the explanation of what the Dorin wanted, Joe let loose a hardy, yet friendly laugh. "Ah, want to learn about the way of the long blade huh? Well, I suppose I got time to teach you a few things." Joe turned around and started to head back to the boat. "Just a moment, let me get mine". When he came back he was carrying his old Legion issued claymore.

Putting the blade through a few moves as he warmed up and stretched he asked the Dorin a few questions. "Well, first of all I need some answers Orka. Why do you want to learn the use of the claymore? What do you expect to learn from this little training sessions? Have you wielded blades before?" Joe went through a few stretches and warm ups as the Dorin answered. Depending on what Orkashak wanted to learn and more importantly why he wanted to learn would decide how Joe would teach him. Everyone learned for different reasons and had different priories of course.

(ooc: I need a more specific timestamp. At least the day, in addition to the month and era. Thanks!)

[Orkashak]

Orkashak noted that Joe had his cutlass with him, and waited expectantly while he fetched his claymore. He stood with the massive blade in his hand, glancing around at the docks. The sea air seemed almost invigorating eventhough he had only been away for two hours after the long sea ferry. Orka then understood why sailors were so accustomed to being seamen; the thought of adventure, the smell of salt water and being on the bouyant boat all must have appealed to them. Orka's mind was in another place when Joe returned with his own blade.

"I would be honoured of anything you wish to teach me with the blade." Orka replied.

He watched Joe go through seemingly simple maneuvers with his blade and tried to make a mental image for reference, but he could not remember the moves well enough without actually knowing how to preform them. He lifted his own blade and stared at his reflection, and looked back at Joe when he asked Orka the questions.

"I've heard Imperia is a dangerous place. I'll need to know how to disarm or disable an opponent, kill an opponent and defend myself using this big steely sword here. Before this I've only ever used a simple dagger but I had no training with the thing. I was just told to slash and stab and keep my nose out of the way." Orka replied.

Orka remembered the elder telling him not to get his nose into anything that hurt. That was common sense, any animal, sentient or not would know this. He laughed at the time, but the elder bore a scar on his own nose. He told Orka that the advice was given out of wisdom, because he himself had experienced it. Orka apologized for his laughter and left the elder's tent. Ever since then he had kept his nose out of anywhere it didn't belong. He squared his shoulders remembering this advice and looked Joe in the eyes with his bright green orbs.

"Is that satisfactory? I'm ready to begin whenever you are."

[Dignitas]

Joe laughed to Orkashak in good nature. "Yeah, its good enough." he replied in regards to the Dorin's question. Joe moved over the middle of the pier they stood on and held his weapon up about chest level for Orka to see. "First things first..." he said, twirling the weapon over as he spoke. "You have to understand your weapon. I mean, really understand it you know?" The sailor smiled as he realized he wasn't really be specific. "What I mean is, you have to get a feel for your weapon. Understand what it's about and where it comes from. Have to bond with it."

Joe looked around the docks for a second before turning back to Orka. "The claymore is a weapon of brute strength. Its about skill, grace, and balance. You respect it, and it will respect you. You should strive to not merely wield the weapon, but become the weapon. The claymore knows it possess the most strength of any sword; it doesn't respect those that don't possess the same strength in spirit."

Joe looked at the dorin and laughed deeply, realizing he was probably talking crazy to Orka. "Well...anyways what I'm trying to say is just to get a feel for the weapon." He twirled the sword by its handle expertly. "Ok now, we'll start off with a few basic stances. First though, I want you to show me your stance as it is now. Just show me what comes naturally to you." Joe waited for Orka to comply. A sailor, he had seen many battles. He also saw more then he wanted of fighters killed. He would try to train Orkashak as well as he could; so that he wouldn't have to worry about the Dorin in a fight.

[Orkashak]

Orka listened attentively as Joe told him about the claymore. While Joe was speaking he looked down at his own claymore, seeing why it was considered such a brute weapon. All the other weapons, strapped to the waists of soldiers and the populace here he had seen seemed like knives in comparison. Orkashak smiled as he realized that the weapon was perfect for him. His size almost complimented the blade and the sword complimented him. He grasped his sword on the hilt and held it in one powerful hand.

He figured the blade would respect him as long as he respected it. He couldn't go flailing about with such a large weapon and not expect to hurt himself in the process. Orka had no doubt about his own spirit, though tragedy had struck him and his family and tribe he always had remained vigilant and assertive. His most valuable trait was persistence. He waved the sword slowly in front of him and back again, feeling the weight of the blade in his hand. He held it with both hands now, slightly swinging it but still respecting Joe's space.

The blade fit him well. The weight was not too heavy to be able to fight with, at least for a short while. Orka realized in a long battle he would probably be unable to weild the blade for the entire duration, for he was still not used to the weight of it quite yet. He cleared his mind of such a battle, such bloody fights were behind him now.

At Joe's command, Orka widened his stance. He crouched slightly, so he could spring and move around, bent his elbows and held the sword directly in front of him. He squared his massive shoulders and looked down at Joe.

"This is how I would stand were I attacked right now."He states simply.

"This is how I would stand if I were fighting with fists too. I've never had any proper training like I said before."

The blade glinted and reflected the light from the water that splashed over Orka's snout. He looked for Joe for further advice.

[Dignitas]

Joe looked over the stance and nodded. "Not to bad Orka" the sailor commented, impressed with the natural way most of the stance had transferred to him. In fact, the stance was almost exactly what the sailor was going to show the Dorin. "Good, now a couple of things..." he said pointing out some tips. "First of all make sure you build up your legs so you can stand on the balls of your feet." as he said this Joe demonstrated by leaning forward a little on his feet. "This way you're ready to move and move quickly too. Secondly, make sure you keep your arms in front of you free like. This way yor arms extend a little and you're not holding the blade close to you. It will sap your strength, but this way if you have to block the blade won't be slammed into you. Which can happen with a weapon of this weight."

Joe mirrored the stance with his own weapon. A thing he also did was put his right foot out forward which helped to distribute some of the weight of the blade and body. "You'll find that in battle with the claymore you'll tire easily. You'll need to train your strength to be effective." Of course, for Joe and the Dorin who were both large for their respective races it would be easier then say a gnome or dwarf. "Now, go ahead and repeat the stance with some of the tips I told you. Get a good feel of how this should be so you can mirror it when you need it. After this I'll show you some basic parries and blocks."

[Orkashak]

Orkashak listened attentively as Joe explained to him his advice for the stance of a claymore. Orka took this to heart, trying to mimic the sailor's stance as best he could. Orkashak was a big Dorin, but as he held the claymore out in front of him, he could see what Joe meant when he said that this would sap his strength. The weight of the sword seemed to double, and it took Orkashak more effort to keep it from dropping to the ground. He leaned forward on his feet, for movement, as he expected that in a fight he would indeed need to move around, not be as still and stationary as a gargoyle.

Orka hopped around a little, testing the mobility of the stance. He found the more he moved the heavier the weapon seemed, but he was persistent and kept the blade out in front of him. The sword was heavy, but Orka had the strength to keep it up at least. He realized he wouldn't be ready for a long battle with the blade, but seeing as how the streets were vicious with criminals and other such potential enemies, learning how to weild a weapon would be the most important thing he could do for the time being.

Is this right Joe? he asked.

He figured he was doing it correctly, as the stance already seemed more mobile and effective.