Outlying Farms.

Tue Oct 18, 2011 8:30 pm by Brynden Skirata

*A few small islands near to Shoc'yaim where many families have their farms and ranches.*

Tue Oct 18, 2011 8:56 pm by Edric Skirata

*There it was, my prey. I watch as it moved, a repetitive motion, its arms seeming to work the earth that was below it. I noticed each twitch, as the muscles worked the tool in its hand. It had eluded me thus far, but I was a hunter, I was the best, and it wouldn't evade me this time.

My prey looked up, gazing at the horizon over the land and farm that he thought was safe. Little did he know that his demise was lurking just out of his reach. I slowly reached down and pulled out the ancient Mando Heavy that I carried with me everywhere. It had been set to stun before I even began this mission, the job was to bring the target in alive, and I never let the client down. I wasn't a bounty hunter, but I was Mando'a, and it was time to prove that to my prey.... it was time to gain my honor.

I reacted quickly, raising my weapon to firing height and standing. I stared down the night sites that my father had upgraded my weapon with and lined up the shot. Without thinking I pulled the trigger, a smooth, long pull ensuring my aim would remain true. I felt the recoil before I saw the bolt fly from the barrel, and it felt good. I waited for my target to fall, and my victory was all but assured.

It was then that the prey did something I never expected: he moved. The target simply stepped left, almost as if he knew the shot was coming before I even fired it. As the bolt passed by the man's tool dropped from his hand and he spun. It was then that I noticed the projectile flying towards my midline. Within miliseconds it contacted, throwing me onto my back and the air escaping my lungs.

I heard it, it was the voice of disgust, the worst sound in the world. My Father leaned against his twi'lek, looking down upon me with a mix of pride and desire, while still holding that glint of anger: I had failed him. Slowly I stood, my head hung low, not looking my father in the eyes, I had failed this test, and surely I would be punished.*

=Lor'a=

What did you do wrong Ad?

*I slowly risked looking up again at my father, letting his eyes bore into me. This was my punishment, and to learn I had to face it.*

"I was too confident Kanricko'adenii. I thought one shot would be enough, didn't expect a dodge or that my presence was known"

=Lor'a=

No, confidence is not a crutch! You should be confident in your shot! You were wrong because you did not move with ease. You blew cover, instead of taking the shot from a safe but manageable distance. We have gone over this before Ke Ad. You must learn if you are to become Mando'a.

*Then, without warning, he swung at me. His hand struck out faster then I could raise my own to defent and the back of his hand sent me spinning to the ground again,*

"Stand and Defend! You must always be cautious, or else you will never gain kote. Enough lessons for today, now the fields are calling us. We cannot sustain our family on training, the crops must be tended too as well. Despite what I have said you have done well Edric, no matter how hard I have been on you. The time for play and sneaking is over however. Tomorrow we will begin you actual training, no more play. How does that sound?"

*I couldn't help the smile that jumped to my face. Trying to hold it back though it turned into more of a smirk. These were the words that I had been waiting to hear since my father first taught me to hunt the wildlife of Lehon. It was finally time to take up the family name and armor, and carry on our legacy as warriors in this Galaxy. I would listen to my father's words and would tend to this field, but I knew that I wasn't made for this farm work... I was made to fight!*

Wed Oct 19, 2011 3:05 pm by Edric Skirata

*I didn't sleep. There was no way I was going to sleep at all tonight, yet I laid there, in my bed, admiring the ceiling above me. My minds eye was wandering however, I envisioned myself besting my father in my first battle every. I saw the look of pure joy on his face, that moment that he realized his son was ready, was a grown man. I flashed forwards to my first battle on the front lines. I was rushing in, my Heavy blasters held in front of me. My opponents were unidentifiable but they all fell in my wake. I took the top of the hill, the path of destruction behind me and I was the best. No one could touch me.

I awoke from my glassy eyed stare long before the sun rose. I didn't need sleep, warriors didn't, so I sat up and walked to my closet. There I pulled out the only piece of armor my father had ever given me. They were two gauntlets, made out of non-mando metal, painted a dull yellow. They were not my fathers, they were not perfect, having bumps and tears across their face, but they were mine. I used them when fighting the local boys, and they were effective at keeping my arms safe while blocking.

I sat with them in my hands for some time, polishing the surfaces until they gleamed. It was then that I heard my father leave his room, and I was at the door. My gauntlets on and a look of sheer determination on my face.*

=Lor'a=

Eager I see, good, good. However, work comes first, then training. The fields need tending.

*I followed, slightly defeated that I wouldn't be sparring right away, but what Lor'a says, goes.*

Sat Oct 22, 2011 2:19 pm by Edric Skirata

*I watched, anticipated every movement. I knew that this was a test, that my father would just start training at some point during the working of the land. I had seen him do it before, before I had even started my official training. Now, after my first time at war working the supply lines, he had been more and more prone to attacking me. It taught me to keep on my guard at all times, or at least that is what he said it was supposed to do. It was time for him to teach me another lesson about being "on guard".

I was focused on my work. I was pulling weeds around the vegetable strips that the carbine we used missed. I knew where my father was, he was only five meters away and to my front. When I was hit in the rear then, I was absolutely taken aback.

My natural skills took over, as I shoulder rolled to my feet. The sudden twist threw off my attacker which allowed me to right myself before seeing who it was that attacked me. It was a local boy, Arin. He had always liked picking on me, so I can understand why my father enlisted his help in this. That doesn't mean I would just let him take the advantage. As he came back in, trying to improve his standing after I was so surprised, he rushed for another spear like attack. I took it in stride and side stepped, bringing both hands together and hammer swinging my fists down, trying to use his momentum against him and bash him to the ground. Somewhere in the back of my head I could hear my father laughing at me.*

Sun Oct 23, 2011 11:12 am by Edric Skirata

*He ate dirt as his momentum threw him to the ground. I had executed perfectly, however I felt like I had still made a mistake. That was my conscious, reminding me that Arin had me by 39 lbs and a year and a half of experience. I knew I could win though, I had to win.

He gained his composure quickly, righting himself and starting back in. This time he obviously wasn't going to rush, so I seperated out my feet slightly and awaited the onslaught of blows that were coming my way. And boy did they come. Arin moved in and sent a 5 punch combo in at my midsection. Jab, Jab, hook, jab uppercut. I moved with him, letting the jabs hit only my bracers, then sweeping my arm out to take his hook at its outer point. The upper cut was a simple dodge to the left, and that left him open. I drove forwards, trying to force him to the ground and turn this into a grappling match, where his reach advantage would be lost.

He fell, my weight forcing him down and knocking some wind out, but even with that I saw him smile. It was then that I realized my mistake, he knew how to wrestle, and he did it really well. Before I knew it I was in a head hold and being choked out. As blackness seeped in, I heard my fathers voice and the constriction around my neck lessen. As my vision came back I looked up at my father who was looking down on me, both proud and concerned. It was both a comfort, as well as a burden. I had failed him though, that is all I could think about.*

Mon Nov 07, 2011 7:29 pm by Edric Skirata

*I stood up, the grin on my opponents face was driving me crazy. All I wanted to do was pummle him. I knew that I had better reach, and could get him in a straight up battle. Something inside me however seemed to stir, it wasn't a lack of confidence, but a sort of survival instinct. He had me at this time, but I knew that I would be able to get him later. I just needed training.

When my father saw me do this, he nodded his head then went back to his work. I took that as a sign and went back to my farming that was needed. He wasn't teaching me how to fight, first he was teaching me how to think. This epiphany made me have a deeper respect for my father, and I knew that now I would need to to do whatever he said, even if it was boring. He definitely got the message across.*

Tue Jan 17, 2012 2:25 pm by Edric Skirata

*Weeks had passed and still it was the same. He wasn't teaching me to fight, he wasn't teaching me how to move silently in my armor, or track an enemy. All he did was test me, work my mind first. Most of our days were spent in silence, others he would pose questions on tactical lay outs, or how to best approach a type of enemy. Today was different though, today he brought out side arms.*

"You have the mind of a warrior now, we just need to give you the skill. Take this, it is your gramps old balster from the war. Since the harvest is almost done I think we can devote one full day to training."

*He tossed me a side holster which I caught and belted around my waist quickly and in a fluid motion. One thing that working with crops helped with was that you understood how your body worked. One wrong move with the sythe or any of the tools really and it could end badly. Then my father pointed to targets that he had set up out in the distance. Giving him a nod that I understood I rushed forwards over a distance of about 400 meters to close on the first target.

My breathing was erratic, I had run to fast so as I drew the side arm my front site post was wabbling. Trying to time it right I squeezed off a shot: wide left. So I tried again: high. Again: Post holding up the target. And finally I hit on my fourth try. As I proceeded to move towards the next target my fathers hand enclosed upon my shoulder stopping me.*

"Try again. Do 25 push ups and then try to shoot again. You need to control your breathing. Shoot at the top of your breath, or at the bottom of your breath, do not guess. Now, again!

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