Dustown
Autumn 75
Bax
Sav had pointed out numerous spots with in the Northgate sewers that Bax could use as meeting spots to spar and discuss magic in relative privacy. But she had very clear in explaining that patrols do still monitor the sewers, albeit infrequently. Regardless, she urged discretion where it was possible.
Since being shown this spot yesterday, Bax had worked to set up a series of torches in a circular pattern to create a ring if light. It still smelled of mildew and stale water, but this would be an excellent area for loud magic if a demonstration was allowed.
As Bax waited for his partner to arrive, he could faintly hear the bustling streets of the early afternoon market somewhere above them. Hopefully Astarael would be arriving shortly as he could feel himself getting a little antsy being down here alone…
Astarael
Astarael was pleasantly surprised when Sav told her that Bax wanted to meet up for a sparring session. So far, she had been doing some training on her own, but it would be nice to have some practice with someone else. Besides, she hadn’t gotten much of a chance to get to know Bax at the gathering the other night, and all the better to get some idea of his abilities. If she learned anything from their fight against the Inquisitor in the sewers, it’s that going in with a good sense of the strengths and weaknesses of your allies goes a long way to being successful.
However, Astarael was NOT thrilled with Bax’s choice of meeting place. A spot in the sewers. She was not eager to go back down there anytime soon, but she trusted Sav’s judgement, and Sav had been the one to tell Bax of the location.
Hopefully there won’t be any surprise Swans or Inquisitors who wander through today.
She cautiously slipped her way into the tunnels when no one was looking, and made her way to the place Sav had described. Astarael no longer had issues seeing in the dark, so she didn’t bother with a torch to light her way. But she could see up ahead that Bax had illuminated part of the tunnel. She didn’t want to surprise him, so she called out a greeting softly as she approached.
“Hello Bax.”
Bax
Bax could hear light footsteps in the distance before an announcement from the shadows. “Hello Bax.”
Under different circumstances, he would have felt exposed and concerned for himself. But a wave a relief washes over him as a figure breaches the shadows beyond the torch light. Astarael walked forward and cut an imposing figure as the flickering light bounced off her pale skin.
“Astarael? Hey, good to see ya.” He walked toward his recently arrived ally to meet her in the center of the torch ring. “Glad you could make it! Happy to see that Sav was able to get that message to ya.”
Astarael
“Of course. Sav told me a bit about your meeting yesterday. Based on how badly things went in the sewers the other evening, I think this a great idea. It was my first time fighting alongside others, and I feel like I was no help at all.
“I’m happy to demonstrate what I can do, and I’d love to get some sparring in, if you’re up for it. But showing you my magic might be difficult. Most of what I can do involves hurting people. Or, could be a bit traumatic to endure. Is this what you had in mind?”
She looks around at the illuminated space, and at Bax for an answer.
Bax
“Ah well that was kind of her. Saves me a bit of time then!” Bax steps over to a bundle and unties it, revealing a series of makeshift wooden weapons of varying sizes and shapes.
“I wasn’t sure what kinda weapon you fight with, so I just brought everything I have.” He picks up his own staff and returns to the center of the ‘ring’. “Grab whatever looks good to ya and we’ll get started. I wanna get a look at how ya fight and we can talk a bit as we go.
“And don’t worry too much about showing me magic right now. Let’s get a few hits in and then we can figure that part out later!” He stretches some, then takes his position, legs bent and feet spread, anticipating Astarael’s first move.
Astarael
It’s been years since Astarael has sparred with someone, and she’s looking forward to learning the fighting style of her new friend. She glances over the pile of weapon facsimiles Bax has brought, and selects one that is a close representation of her shortsword.
She sheds her cloak and tosses it off to the side, then turns to face her opponent. She takes a fighting stance of her own, knees bent, her left foot forward, “sword” at the ready. Like she was taught.
She observes Bax briefly as she readies herself. She takes careful note of his own stance, where he places his weight, how he holds his weapon, where he might leave an opening for her. He wears a cloth covering one eye, and unless it’s to preserve dark vision, she knows he will be at a disadvantage for judging distance. This might provide her with some useful opportunities.
She says, in a serious but playful tone, “Let’s see what you’ve got!”
And she lunges in.
Bax
Astarael suddenly lunges towards Bax but he was prepared for the sudden attack. He counters her strike, knocking her weapon off course from it’s target. He then swings the haft of his staff up to her head but she ducks down and lunges the tip of her sword toward Bax’s chin.
He narrowly avoids the thrust, falling backwards and jumps back ten feet. Bax centers himself and to take a breath.
She’s quick. Not afraid to get up on someone when an opportunity opens…
He then runs a wide arc to Astarael’s side and suddenly sprints directly at her. Bax sweeps with the haft again and as before, she ducks. He’s ready for her counterattack this time, and as she lunges at his chin a second time, he jumps to the side, swinging his staff down hard towards his opponent.
To dodge his attack, Astarael follows though with her thrust and rolls away from where the staff strikes the ground.
“You’re really quick! And good with that sword too! Are you trained or have you learned on your own?”
Astarael
Astarael is impressed with Bax’s fighting skills. He’s doing a good job of predicting her moves, and countering. She came here with the intention of some serious training, but she’s actually having some fun too.
“Thanks! I was trained.”
She swings her sword at him, and he blocks the blow. She’s hasn’t fought against a staff as much as other weapons. The sword takes more time to swing, and she’s given him the opportunity to strike her foot with the end of the longer weapon. She can see she will need to adjust her strategy.
“My aunt taught me how to handle a dagger, when I was younger.”
She feints high, and as Bax raises the staff to meet her, she ducks down and lands a blow on his legs. She’s ready for him bringing the pole down on her head, though, and dives and rolls out of the way, ending up on her feet in a crouching position.
“The sword I learned later, from someone else. That was much more difficult.”
She stands again, resuming a ready position.
“I had to learn how to fail, before I could win.”
She sets up a few basic movements, getting a sense for Bax’s style, a simple parry and block. Then she goes low again, but purposefully does not duck out of the way, as he easily brings the staff down to hit her in the head. This time, she raises her left arm, letting it catch the blow, standing back up with full force, and at the same time, reaching in with her sword to catch Bax in the chest.
She smiles at him. This is fun.
“So, how did you learn to fight? You’re really good too!”
Bax
Bax takes several steps back to catch his breath after Astarael’s strike against his chest. She lunges again and this time he deflects the blow, throwing her off balance slightly. He takes the opportunity to swing at her side, and pushes her away as he steps further back.
“I just kinda learned. My father showed me how to hunt, and after the Swans attacked, I just kept using the spear till I could fight.”
He dashes forward and the two begin to trade attacks, dodging and countering one another. Between grunts Bax continues their conversation, “I also heard about your mission with the others in the sewers. I’ve heard from Sav and Vanja, but can you tell me what happened?”
Astarael
Astarael pauses, taking a beat to collect her thoughts while her body rested. It was cold, but she was sweaty with the exercise. She nods in approval at Bax’s response to her question. He has lots of talent for fighting, if he was mostly self taught.
“It seemed like a good idea, at first. Go down and scope out the situation, see if we could regain access to Sav’s old hideout. But it quickly became clear that there was a much larger Swan presence than we expected. It would have been better to hide for a while, wait until there were fewer enemies present, before we made our way back out…but the presence of an inquisitor complicated that. Talith saw an opportunity to potentially capture this inquisitor, maybe get some vital information, and he jumped down from our hiding place. I followed, because I knew he was headed into serious danger, and I was not going to let him fight alone. Vanja came as well. We grossly underestimated the power of the Inquisitor though. It was a close call for Vanja.”
Astarael looks down. She’s a bit embarrassed.
“I made some mistakes of my own in that fight, and I don’t think I was very helpful. Also, that Inquisitor was strangely resistant to my lightning powers. I can only do so much magic before it tires me, so at least I know the next time I run into him not to waste my strength trying that kind of attack.”
Astarael looks back at Bax, and raises her pretend wooden sword again. She’s rested enough.
“At least we all made it out ok. Even though they learned some things about us, I learned a lot that night too.”
She takes a quick maneuver, circling around to the side where Bax’s eye is covered. She’s trying to utilize his blind spot, and she lunges in, hoping to strike a place that is vulnerable with many kinds of armor- just below the arm.
Bax
Bax watched as Astarael circled around to his blind side. A move he has become familiar with as he fought with an eye patch growing up. It was a common maneuver that he had learned to always be prepared for. He anticipated the next attack, and as Astarael thrusted, he made a wide sweep with his staff, catching her in the side as she stabbed under his arm.
He quickly rolls away to prepare for another attack. “There’s nothing to be ashamed of. You weren’t ready to fight as a group and you weren’t prepared to fight the Swans. I think it’s amazing you guys managed to pull through and escape.”
Bax leaps forward and thrust the head of the staff at his opponent. She deflects the first and second strikes, but as she prepares to counter, Bax swings the haft around at her side, knocking some wind out if her lungs. He continues the assault, forcing Astarael to back away until she ducks and strikes at Bax’s chest twice.
His chest stings from the attack and he swifly steps away to take a breath. “What’s your opinion on the mission? On the group? What could’ve been done to make things work out better?”
Astarael
Astarael is momentarily inhibited, when he knocks the air out of her, and she retreats a little as he forces her back, but she recovers quickly, and lands two blows. They both take a moment to recover, and she thinks about his next questions.
“I appreciate you saying that. I am relieved we all made it out alive. As for the mission? You will find I am very motivated to help. I want nothing more in life now than to make it as difficult as possible for Tyr Isendel to accomplish her goals. I feel fortunate to have ended up here. Not only does Northgate seem to hold some strategic value in the Baroness’s plan, but I’ve found all of you. I’ve spent most of my life on my own. Fending for myself, learning to survive. But Eirlys taught me that sometimes you need the help of others to accomplish something. I know I can’t fight back all by myself.
“Watching Sav in combat taught me a lot about the strategy of a group, versus a solo fighter. She stayed back, and did lots of magic that slowed down our enemies, giving the rest of us a chance to hit. I think there may be a few things I can do like that. This way, working together, we gain an advantage. And as we all get to know each other more, we can learn where our strengths and weaknesses lie, and play off of those more.
“I’m also glad to learn that there are people who can use magic to do good things. I mean, I can fight back with the powers I have, and do good that way. I can make some short illusions, become invisible, or create total darkness for a while. All useful in their own way. But I can’t do any healing.”
She’s been leaning against the wall of the tunnel while she talked, absentmindedly twirling the wooden sword in her hand. Now she looks up at her new friend.
“Do you have any powers of your own, Bax? And I know that you and your friends have been together since childhood. How do you feel about us new folks joining your cause? I know a little about what you’ve all been through together. Forced to flee your homes because of the Swans. But why do you fight back? Why not run away?”
Bax
Bax cocks his head slightly listening to Astarael talk about herself and the mission.
She talks kinda funny. Like the people in those shows Talith performed in…
As she finishes her questions for Bax, he feels a bit caught off guard. He had planned to discuss tactics and magic, but reasons for him fighting? Or his feelings towards the new group members? Those felt like loaded inquires…
“Uhhh…those are kinda heavy questions…” He scratches at his cheek absent-mindedly, pondering his answer. “Well I mean I haven’t really gotten to know any of you guys yet. I’ve known Vanja the longest but I had met her before our ‘rebellion’ started.
“But you all seem nice! Sav was really cool when I talked with her yesterday, and you’re easy to talk to. I don’t have any issues with anyone joining us. Calling it a ‘cause’ feels a lil strange though…
“I can’t really say for everyone else. But for me at least, a cause is somethin you choose to fight for. We never really got to choose. They invaded our town, killed out families and stole our neighbors. They never offered us a choice. And so we fought.
“Then we ran. We ran for years, moving from city to city, doing what we could to avoid drawing attention to ourselves. But no matter where we went, the Swans were there. They either discovered us or forced our hand. So for me at least, I fight back because I don’t have much choice. If I don’t fight back, people die for no reason. I fight back for the chance that there’s a future for all of us that doesn’t include always looking over our shoulders…”
Bax goes silent for a moment after he answers. He hadn’t planned his response and it surprised him slightly. He was absorbing what he had said when his eye goes wide and he blushes.
“Oh and my magic makes me hit stronger, run faster, or hide better! Or I can make others run faster or hide I think! Sorry I kinda rambled and forgot to answer your first question…” He chuckled gently and rubs his chest, still sore from Astarael’s attack.
Astarael
Astarael is embarrassed when Bax says she’s asked some heavy questions. She really has no concept of what is or is not appropriate to ask. It’s not like she’s had many friends to learn such things with.
She’s let herself slide down the wall of the tunnel, and now she’s sitting on the ground with her back against it, knees pulled into her chest, arms wrapped around them.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I…didn’t really have much opportunity while growing up to talk to people, outside of my own family. I’ve learned a lot, since leaving home, but making friends is still new to me.
“Part of the reason I met with you today was to both learn more about you, but also show you that I am capable and willing to help all of you. I believe that trust and respect should be earned, and not given blindly. So, here I am. I appreciate you trusting me enough to meet me here at all. I hope to earn your friendship as well, and the friendship of the whole group.”
That magic of yours sounds very useful! I suspect it’s something you need quite often these days. Between fighting Swans, and going off hunting too? All an excellent skill set to have.”
She looks wistful for a moment.
“And I don’t agree with you on one thing. You always have a choice, Bax. You chose to fight back, and live. Not all would even try. And that’s what sets us apart, I think. That we’re willing to try and fight back. If not to create better lives for ourselves, then to give the opportunity for others to live theirs without fear.
“In the end, none of us have control over when we die. But we can always choose to try and keep on living.”
Bax
Bax pauses, watches as Astarael slides to sit against a wall. She speaks of earning trust and and friendship. Of choosing to fight when it felt as though all choices had been aggressively stripped away. As she speaks, Bax stares into the distance. His eyes wild while his mind races, stuck on something she had said.
Wait shit were we not supposed to trust each other yet? I thought that was the point of that whole mask meeting thing that Ethan has set up! That we were joined up to fight the Swans together. No but that’s dumb of course I shouldn’t have trusted any of the new members yet they could be spies…!
Astarael raises an eyebrow, watching as Bax goes from silently staring off to quietly mumbling to himself. He seems to stop and realizes that she’s staring at him.
Bax straightens up and clears his throat and speaks up more loudly than he previously had been. “Ahem! Right! Of course, very important. Us all gettin to know each other and all. For trust. Yep.”
He can feel himself starting to sweat, a sudden pressure of looking like a fool weighing on him. So he clears his thought, eases the tension in his back and lowers his voice to try once more.
“Look I didn’t mean to make you think that you asked bad questions, cuz they’re not. I’m just an idiot and don’t think about these kinds of things y’know?
“I mean, you may have a point in that I always have a choice. But like, the choice always seems to be that I either run or my friends die. And to me, that’s not a choice. Cuz the right decision is always obvious. I’ll always do what I can to save everyone.”
He steps over and holds a hand out towards Astarael. A gesture to help her up. With a wide grin he concludes, “And that includes you guys too!”
Astarael
Astarael finds herself smiling back at Bax, as he helps her to her feet. She nods in response to what he’s said.
“I promise that I will always do what I can too. We need to look out for each other. And you don’t seem like an idiot to me. Clearly, I don’t think about these things either. I guess we can just figure it out together.
She absentmindedly twirls the wooden sword in her hand.
“I’m glad to have you watching my back, Bax.”
Bax
“It’s a deal!” Bax excitedly exclaims.
He steps away to spin his staff around similar to Astarael. He crouches, waiting for his training partner to continue when he suddenly shoots to again with a sudden realization.
“Oh wait! What about your magic? What all can you do?”
Astarael
Astarael had enjoyed talking about magic with Sav, and she was excited to share what she can do with another person she can trust. She smiles.
“Well, I can make small illusions appear, or a false sound for a short time.”
She crouches down, and for just a moment, a large boulder appears in her place. She stands, and the boulder becomes faint, almost transparent, before disappearing completely.
“Most of what I can do would be difficult to demonstrate, though. I seem to have powers tied to thunderstorms. I can create thunder and lightning in a few forms. I can even create a sword made of lightning. That can come in handy, but it’s not something I can do when I don’t want to reveal my magic.”
She stops to think for a moment, then continues.
“Some of my abilities take a lot of effort on my part, so I can only do them a few times without some rest, but when needed, I can become invisible. It’s been useful for getting around town unnoticed. Or for a short term advantage, I can make a small area become totally dark, which a regular torch can not illuminate. But, I can still see through it, allowing me to attack, or escape. Something I wish I had thought of doing the other night.”
She looks pensive again, and without realizing it, she’s begun pacing. She stops before Bax and looks at him.
“I told the whole group the other evening a little about my past. How I was once a prisoner of the Inquisition, in Galoring. Well, while I was there, I acquired a few new skills. I don’t like using them, because I think being subjected to it can be…horrifying…but if needed I can try controlling a few people with a simple command, or holding someone in place. I do it reluctantly. Being subjected to someone else’s will is not a thing I wish on anyone else. I don’t take it lightly. But if it can aid us, then I will use it.
It’s the same with taking a life, be it human or animal. I only cause harm when I feel it’s absolutely necessary. For my own survival, and now, to protect all of you as well.”
Bax
Astarael explains her magical abilities, Bax is enthralled, his eye wide and sparkling in bewilderment. The power to summon thunder and lightning are astounding, and he has to force himself to not ask for a demonstration for worry of how much the sound of thunder on the sewers would draw immediate attention to them. Similar to when he had the opportunity to fly with Sav. The lack of experiencing these examples of magic firsthand was becoming a theme frustration for him.
She continues, describing another ability, one that allows her to assert a level of control over another being. Something like that could prove helpful in turning the tide of a battle.
“I can respect that. Not wanting to use a power unless you really need to. I hope we don’t wind up in many situations forcing you to use somethin your aren’t comfortable with. I’ll help when I can to stop that!” He gives a reassuring smile, hoping to convey a sense of camaraderie.
“I think I’ve learned what I can about that mission. I’ll need to contact Talith and Ethan. Hopefully I’ll be able to get in touch with them soon.
Bax resumes his crouched stance and faces towards his opponent. “I really wanna see your powers. But I suppose for now I could settle for more sparring. Ya ready?”
Astarael
“I suspect you will have plenty of opportunity soon enough to see my magic. Hopefully not too soon.”
She shifts her feet into position, and raises her weapon. She smiles, narrows her eyes at him, and says,
“I’m ready.”
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