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Post by Nicademus Delvardus IV on Mar 31, 2019 11:38:40 GMT -8
Nicademus had been so focused on the gym bag that he hadn't noticed Faina walk into the room herself. It was only when she spoke that the Imperial turned to look at the Imperial Knight. For a moment, the male looks at her in solid silence before turning to look at the bag he was punching. Get rid of frustration by working out, ease one's mind by talking... perhaps this was the medicine he sought in his current state of life. He nods curtly a few times before looking at Faina.
It's your order's facility to use as you like. I am merely the guest here, Faina. Stay, talk, and do as you please.
Nicademus walks away from the gym bag to sit down on a bench, pouring some water into his mouth and splashing his face with it. He looks at the bag quietly, his mind pondering on what had been going on. The Galactic Alliance was gone, the Sith were operating on their own, two Knights of Ren were missing or dead, and so much more was going on in the galaxy. Nicademus remembered the galaxy before the First Order, before the fall of the Republic, before the long war that plunged this galaxy into darkness. It had become stagnant and people enjoyed comforts without seeking progress. So many were now involved with moving the galaxy forward, bit by bit. How strange that it took a simple spark to do so.
He then comes back to reality, realizing that Faina was still nearby. Seems she was willing to stick around and talk. It had been a long time since the two of them conversed when it wasn't in a professional setting like in his office or on the battlefield itself. The Imperial looks over at her, thinking of something the two of them could talk about. Then he recalled her recent activity on Agamar and her mission with Clan Bralor.
I hope you found the Mandalorians as fascinating as I do. Faelan Bralor and his kin are good Mandalorians. I am glad the First Order has trustworthy and capable allies like them. Agamar is a strange world though, a mixture of Imperial and Mandalorian culture. It is definitely an interesting mix, wouldn't you, agree Faina?
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Faina Delvardus
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Post by Faina Delvardus on Mar 31, 2019 12:17:54 GMT -8
"Of course," Faina says when Nicademus points out that the training facility belongs to the Imperial Knights, his curt nod seeming to her somewhat at odds with his invitation to stay. Not always the most adroit at reading social clues due to her solitary nature, Faina initially dismisses Nicademus' invitation to talk as mere politeness, and so rather than doing so instead goes to where the ASP-19 training droids are stored and programs five to practice with, guessing that he would prefer to be left alone based on the pensive expression he wears as he sits down on a bench.
Doing some light stretching before beginning her sparring session, Faina is doing side bend stretches to work her inner thighs and obliques when Nicademus speaks again. Nodding in agreement as she stands and shifts to quad stretches, Faina says, "I would, yes. Not often one to speak at length about her thoughts or impressions, Faina does so now with some obvious effort out of a desire to hold up her end of the conversation. The Mandalorians are less . . . uncouth than their reputation as simple mercenaries would suggest, she says before, realizing that she must sound somewhat foolish, laughing at herself and trying to explain, The value they place on loyalty and honor are admirable, both qualities that she herself holds dear. And on family as well, Faina adds after remembering Raicheal's work with orphans and hearing Faelan speak of his adopted daughter. Did you know that Faelan has a daughter? Recalling how speaking of his daughter softened Faelan's usually stoic disposition, and hoping that speaking of his own children will have a similarly uplifting effect on Nicademus, who had seemed almost pensive before he had spoken again, Faina asks, How are Octavion and Fiora?"
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Post by Nicademus Delvardus IV on Apr 1, 2019 14:18:14 GMT -8
Nicademus listens to what Faina had to say about the Mandalorians. The Imperial had never met a Mandalorian until Faelan came to visit Muunilinst. Back then, the sack of the now Imperial Capital, before the First Order, was still fresh in the minds of the citizens. The sack which was carried out by Mandalorians. However, the Imperial set aside what the public may have thought of and brought Faelan forward. A single meeting ensured a longstanding alliance between the two powers.
Mandalorians are very known for what you have said. People view them as barbarians, but their way of living is just more... Spartan than others. I have long considered sending Octavian, when he is older, to learn the ways of the Mandalorian and to ensure the relations we share now endure into his reign.
Nicademus stands up and proceeds to put his punching gloves back on. He pauses for a moment when she mentions Faelan had a daughter. He never got to talk to the Mandalorian on a personal level. It was always professional. An interesting note to hear about. On the matter of his son and daughter though...
Octavian and Fiora are doing well with their training and education. Brock is teaching the two of them, at least the basic stuff. The more advanced lessons will come from you in the future, Faina. Fiora seems inclined to science and technology, like her Aunt, Azria. They... ask about their absent mother a lot. I am starting to run out of excuses.
The Emperor visibly exhales at the thought of his absent Empress. His advisors were already starting to hint that she may be gone for good and likely the time was coming to find a new Empress, but he did not listen to them. Yet, with each passing day, it became harder to placate his children.
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Faina Delvardus
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Post by Faina Delvardus on Apr 4, 2019 19:40:40 GMT -8
Offering Nicademus a sympathetic frown when he speaks of how his children miss their mother, even momentarily permitting himself to display a small hint of his own emotions that is still controlled enough that Faina finds herself unable to ascertain precisely what it is that he is feeling, Faina can only imagine how difficult it must be for Nicademus to deal with all that his Empress' being missing must entail when he cannot often step away from being the Emperor and all it demands of him.
Unsure what to say, whether to offer her reassurances she knows she cannot make, to offer her sympathies when it seems to her that they would only pale in comparison to what she imagines Nicademus must feel, or to offer platitudes or advice she feels unqualified to give when she has never been a spouse nor a parent, Faina finds herself remaining silent longer and longer as she watches Nicademus put his punching gloves back on and tries to think of some way she could offer him solace or comfort. Chiding herself for her silence, Faina finally manages to say, "I cannot begin to imagine what you are going through, and am sorry that you are going through it, her tone conveying only sympathy, not pity as she knows Nicademus neither needs nor wants such a thing. Offering those things she feels that she has to offer as his Grandmaster of the Imperial Knights, Faina asks in a tone that still bears enough openness that he will know it is not out of a sense of duty or loyalty alone that she makes the offers, Is there anything I can do? I could send a team of Imperial Knights to search for the Empress, or perhaps to speak with the Knights of Ren to learn what they know, if anything? As she suspects that both of those avenues will have already been explored, Faina's last offering is a simple, sincere one, Or, if you need to talk, or vent, I can listen."
Unsure whether by donning the punching gloves Nicademus was signaling a desire to be left alone, or if their respective roles prevents him from taking her up on her offer, Faina gives the Emperor an easy way to simply ignore her offer to give him her ear by way of indicating that he does not or cannot accept it, ceasing her stretching and taking her lightsaber hilt from her hip as she moves into position to begin sparring with the training droids, slowly enough that it is evident that she is subtly affording him the opportunity to talk more if he wishes to do so.
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Post by Nicademus Delvardus IV on Apr 4, 2019 19:55:54 GMT -8
Nicademus looks at the gym bag, hearing Faina's words. His brother and sister offered the same condolences, but neither were married and they never really liked Illaria anyways. That was something well known to the Emperor; not many liked a Knight of Ren as the Empress. The nobility desired someone from their ranks, the military desired another from their group, and so forth. With the Empress gone, Nicademus knew it would be a matter of time before they sent forth their proposals. Without looking at her, Nicademus speaks calmly to the Grandmaster.
Faina... thank you, but I know Illaria is gone. It's the Unknown Region and I know what lies beyond there.
The Knights of Ren would not divulge information of the one they called Master, the leader of the Ren, the unseen puppet master beyond their ranks. If anyone knew where she went, it would be that man, and no one, but the Ren, knew where he was. The Unknown Region was where he lurked and, certainly, he had a role that played with Illaria's disappearance. If that be true, then there was nothing he could do. He would be merely chasing shadows and stars he could not reach. His Empire needed him more and so did his children.
Nicademus lifts his fist to hit the gym bag but stops himself. Slowly, his hand lowers as the Imperial glances in the direction where Faina was.
I know you will keep your oath... but promise me this, since you offered to do anything for me...
The Imperial turns fully to look at the Grandmaster, his eyes fixated upon her.
...Never leave my side, Faina. Even if I tell you to go away, never leave my side. Even if I threaten death upon you, never leave my side. An Emperor is ill-afforded few friends and I know you are someone who I know I can count on as more than just my Grandmaster, my sword, and my shield.
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Faina Delvardus
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Post by Faina Delvardus on Apr 4, 2019 20:58:51 GMT -8
A slight furrow appears briefly between Faina's brows when Nicademus states that he has accepted that Illaria will not return, the control in his tone and comportment, and the finality of what he says paining her in the way that knowing of a heavy blow having been dealt by fortune to someone held close in our affections often can; for as one who does not often permit her emotions to hold sway over her, she understands well how Nicademus' external calm might conceal whatever suffering or grief or anger he feels beneath it. Like Nicademus, Faina was not oblivious to the facts that Illaria was not beloved by all, and will not be mourned by some in the Empire who might see her absence as an opportunity; just as she understands that those things will not offer any solace to Nicademus, nor to his children who are now bereft of their mother as he is now deprived of his wife and whatever else Illaria was to him.
A small smile appears briefly on Faina's lips when Nicademus asks his promise of her and speaks of her as more than his Grandmaster, not a smile of amusement or happiness so much as a smile that suggests that he has for quite some time been more to her than her Emperor and, as such, that what he has asked of her is something that he has possessed all along even though it has not been spoken aloud. The smile fades as, holding Nicademus' gaze steadfastly with her blue-grey eyes, Faina tells him in a solemn, unequivocal tone, "An easy promise to make, for I never would leave your side, Nicademus, even were you to command it of me. Death alone will take me from it, this I vow to you."
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Post by Nicademus Delvardus IV on Apr 8, 2019 13:13:53 GMT -8
Nicademus remains quiet, listening to Faina's words. Her smile was comforting at this time in his life. All had been well, for the Imperial had everything that any could desire. Yet, it never went to his head. He had an Empire to rule, citizens that idolized him, a military of his own creation, and much more. The Emperor's dream of a dynasty to succeed the Fels had been achieved when his son and daughter were born from an unlikely mother. Now, there was a vacuum left behind by her departure. His duties as Emperor and his children kept him moving, but there was always that black hole that lingered beside him.
He always wondered how he managed to fall in love. Nicademus had always declared that he was married to his duties, ever since being a part of planetary security for Eriadu. The Imperial remembered some old dates from his time back home, women of high status that... were rather intolerable. Illaria was simply a Knight of Ren who had seduced him, but Nicademus knew that he had done the same to her. He had been reflecting much since her departure.
Leaving those thoughts behind, Nicademus turns slightly to see the open space where the Imperial Knights drilled. It was a familiar space, for one on Aargau had been where Faina, back when she was a Knight, had sparred together. A place where she learned more of his background and his ambitions and he learned of her. Nicademus gestures to the ring nearby the two of them.
How about a spar for old times sake? We haven't had a good match since that one time on Aargau, wouldn't you agree? Our duties prevent us from... interacting much, but no time like the present, wouldn't you agree?
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Faina Delvardus
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Post by Faina Delvardus on Apr 19, 2019 18:12:52 GMT -8
Allowing herself, if only briefly, a small smile when Nicademus reminds her of their sparring session on Aargau long ago when she had first realized her dream of becoming an Imperial Knight, Faina nods, both to agree that they have not often had the opportunity to practice or interact together on a more personal level since that time and that there is no reason that they should not avail themselves of the chance to do so now when the have the rare chance to do so. Aargau seems almost a lifetime ago to her, though Faina supposes it is only because it feels to her as though so much has changed since then; the successful expansion of the First Order, Nicadmus becoming the Emperor, her own personal trials and tribulations and elevation to Grandmaster of the Imperial Knights. Yet, for all that has changed, Faina has the impression that she and Nicademus, while they have grown and learned and taken on new roles and the challenges that come with those roles, have not been fundamentally altered deep down, that they instead have only become more essentially what they have always been as they have pursued their individual paths, linked by their shared belief in the Imperial way of life.
Inclining her head towards where the five ASP-19 training droids she had programmed are standing idle, Faina arches an eyebrow as, permitting her demeanor to be marginally less professionally composed than usual in light of the fact that Nicademus' invitation seemed to be as much to spar as to interact with one another on a more personal level, she asks, "Should we spar against one another, or together against the ASP-19s? With a shrug of her shoulders to indicate that she has no preference as to which choice Nicademus makes, Faina unclips her lightsaber hilt from her belt as she proposes a final scenario for him to consider, Or you could fight alongside the droids against me?"
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Post by Nicademus Delvardus IV on Apr 26, 2019 21:35:58 GMT -8
Nicademus contemplated on the options given by the Grandmaster. Given the circumstances that the two could run into, it was best that he choose the first two options. Nicademus needed to improve his technique, especially when fighting with Faina or against an opponent of her skill level. The Imperial Knights had tried to assassinate him and so did the IGBC with a servitude droid as the middleman. Both attempts failed; the former had Nicademus utilize commandos that were perfectly placed and the latter... well best to say that Nicademus and his quick thinking and determination to live, with some luck, helped him. Anything could happen and the Imperial needed to be ready for anything, whether he had protection or not. Unlike previous Emperors, and more like the Fels before him, Nicademus wanted to be an Emperor that could still protect himself.
Nicademus walks over, grabbing hold of a practice electrostaff that could be used. Been awhile since the Imperial had utilized a melee weapon so it seemed best to use this for practice. He walks right on up to stand beside Faina, looking at the ASP-19s. He nods at them.
Let us fight together and then spar against each other. I don't think I would ever have to worry about fighting you, Faina, but I still need to practice. You are my most loyal knight, after all, the sword within my right hand and the shield within my left. You are the role model for my son, Octavion, and for your fellow Knights to follow.
Nicademus twirled the staff once before activating it with the crackling sound of electricity on both ends of the weapon.
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Faina Delvardus
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Post by Faina Delvardus on May 7, 2019 19:43:25 GMT -8
Faina nearly laughs aloud when Nicademus says that he does not imagine he would ever find himself in an actual fight against her, the amused glint in her eyes and the half smile accompanying it conveying just how improbable and absurd she finds the possibility herself, the smile shifting subtly afterwards to one that hints at the deep and abiding pride she feels when he refers to her as his sword and shield.
"I look forward to meeting your son, she says while motioning for him to join her as she moves towards the ASP-19 droids so that they can begin their practice session, when the time comes. Once she and Nicademus have reached the point she has selected as where they will make their initial stand against the droids, Faina reaches over to touch his arm to indicate they should assume their opening stances, and then shifts into a middle stance with her hilt held in a two handed grip as she calls out to signal the droid to activate, Begin."
Igniting her sliver hued blade as the droids, activating their red hued blades, begin their advance, Faina sees that they are somewhat predictably attempting to move to encircle her and Nicademus, and so decides to deny them the opportunity by going on the offensive before the droids can complete their encircling maneuver. Lifting her lightsaber into an overhead position to make her threat more obvious in an attempt to draw the majority of the droids attention to her, Faina charges forward and engages the droids in the center of the formation, slashing downwards and to her left to block the blade of one droid, using the leverage provided by her grip, combined with the momentum and strength of her slash to force their interlocked blades, keening and wailing, into the path of the lightsaber of a second droid that aimed an attack at her hip. Shifting her weight onto her left foot, Faina launches a side kick at a third droid that attempts to move past her side to try and get behind her, knocking it onto its back several feet away and leaving Nicademus with, for the moment, only two opponents to concern himself with . . .
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Post by Nicademus Delvardus IV on May 7, 2019 20:24:28 GMT -8
Nicademus looks at Faina and gives her a smile back before activating the electrostaff as the ASP-19 droids came to life. The Emperor had a particular dislike towards droids, given a servitude droid turned into an assassin and then a mechanical bomb that almost ended his life. There were few droids in the First Order, as a result, ninety-nine percent of the military was organic with droids being utilized for medical needs and other non-military roles. Nonetheless, this was practice and sparring, nothing more.
Nicademus noticed the two charging at him, causing him to swing the right side of his staff upward to block a blow before a kick was used to keep the other one back. He then moved the other end of the staff to slam against the other droid back and then used the end to slam the butt of its staff against its torso. The Imperial caught the sound of the other droid approaching from behind. He waited till the last second, diving downward as the droid slashed overhead. His staff slammed into the legs of the potential backstabber, causing it to clank to the ground. A good slam on the chest caused it to be electrocuted, ending one threat. The Imperial grins at the last target, twirling his staff a couple times.
He parries the blows from the droid, backing up slightly before going on the offensive, forcing the mechanical being to back up and give ground. Nicademus waited for an opening before slamming his staff down on the arm and then whirling around to slam the other end into the droid's head. The machine fell to the ground with a thud, ending the spar with droids. The Emperor pants slightly, looking over at Faina.
Feels good to kick some clankers around eh?
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Faina Delvardus
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Post by Faina Delvardus on May 7, 2019 22:29:22 GMT -8
As the droid she had knocked off its feet begins to get itself up, Faina maintains the lock on her lightsaber and those of the two droids in front on her while sliding her right foot around behind her left to adopt a side stance. Once her stance has shifted, Faina lunges backwards while lifting her lightsaber overhead so that it is freed from the lock she had initiated, immediately darting forward to attack anew, swinging her lightsaber down in a feint for the droid on her right's shoulder only to reverse the trajectory of her humming blade as the droid moves its weapon to block the strike, dropping her left hand from the hilt and pivoting her wrist so that the silver blade arcs out for the droid's unguarded neck. As the droid clatters to the floor, undamaged by her lightsaber save for a scorch mark across its neck as her weapon is on a low setting in light of the fact that there is no need to actually damage the practice droids but reacting as though beheaded as it is programmed to do, Faina swings her left arm up and out so that her gauntlet, composed of cortosis, intercepts the strike the second droid has set out towards her side, the red blade winking out as it meets the gauntlet.
Pivoting to face her two remaining opponents, one now effectively disarmed while the other, having regained its feet, begins to advance towards her, Faina stabs the disarmed droid in the chest to seemingly remove it from the battle. As the droid begins to fall, however, Faina opens the fingers of her left hand to send a Force push towards it so that it sails back, crashing in to the last of her opponents, and then, before the last droid has the chance to regain its footing, darts nimbly forward and deftly swings her lightsaber out at the level of its waist to, were it a real battle, perform a sai tok.
Looking over her shoulder to see how Nicademus is faring in time to see him send an end of his staff into the last of his opponent's head, Faina arches an eyebrow with a near smile as she agrees, "It does at times, doesn't it? The near smile almost becomes an amused one as she attempts a rare joke, asking in an intentionally dry tone that is rather amusingly not far different from her usual inflection, Need a moment to catch your breath, or shall we move on to the one on one duel?"
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Post by Nicademus Delvardus IV on May 10, 2019 13:09:51 GMT -8
Nicademus watches, for a moment, as other servitude droids came out to clean up the defeat ASP-19s. Certainly some of the models would need to be replaced after the spar. Faina's question made him look over at her. The sparring exercise was something he needed and the spar with the droids had been motivating and a good way to unwind. Nicademus felt he didn't need a break, so he shook his head before replying.
Nope, let's just jump right into the sparring.
He proceeds to take his electrostaff over to where he had gotten it. However, the Imperial stopped and looks over at Faina.
Speaking of which, do you want to use weapons or do it like we did before and just perform hand to hand combat?
Whatever decision was made, once she said her answer, Nicademus would take his place in the sparring ring and stretch a bit. It had been a long time since the Imperial had had a chance to spar with Faina. The last time they did, she was a simple Knight and he was a Supreme Commander. The First Order had kept him busy after all, so to spar with a trusted member of his ranks was something he definitely needed.
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Faina Delvardus
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Post by Faina Delvardus on May 12, 2019 14:06:33 GMT -8
Though her natural inclination is to defer to Nicademus' wishes as to whether or not they will make use of weapons or not, Faina takes the question as an invitation to relieve him of the what must at times be the burdensome task of always being the one to call the shots, and so replies, "Hand to hand, smiling briefly yet warmly as, recalling their first meeting fondly for its having marked the beginning of her journey as an Imperial Knight as well as of what has proven to be a relationship with Nicademus that she values for having provided her with strength, she explains in a rare expressive tone that suggests some of her thoughts, If only for the sake of nostalgia."
Once they have moved to the ring and Nicademus has completed his stretches, Faina waits for him to indicate he is ready before assuming a loose opening stance in the center of the ring after he has moved to face her; her left side facing Nicademus, her feet slightly wider than her hips with her weight evenly distributed on them, her rear elbow close to her body to protect solar plexus, liver and ribs while her front arm is slightly in front of her body so that it can act as either a first line of defense or offense, and her head tilted slightly forward with her chin tucked close to her collarbone to protect her nose and eyes.
Rather than wait for Nicademus to take the initiative, Faina does so, advancing quickly while drawing back her lead arm as though intending to open with a punch or palm strike; as she is drawing the arm back, however, she plants her weight on her forward leg while launching a rapid roundhouse kick with her rear leg, lifting it from the ground with fluid grace, bending the knee, and then twisting her hips and quickly snapping her knee to generate power as she aims the kick at Nicademus' midsection to catch him off guard and knock the wind from him, or to drive him back and on the defensive should he prove capable of seeing through her feint . . .
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Post by Nicademus Delvardus IV on May 27, 2019 7:01:33 GMT -8
Nicademus watched as Faina took the first moves. In that moment, the Emperor recalled his youthful days on Eriadu; spars like this happened between him and his brother Baltasar, with hired trainers, and with Security Force Training as well as after. His father, Cyrus, had noted how agile his son was and was approving on the speed that Nicademus had over his brother, Baltasar. However, training at the academy had helped with his core strength and holding his own sturdy defense. He remembered once having to tackle a criminal on the streets, resulting in some fist fighting before Nicademus slammed his foot on the man's leg and then kicked him in the back, knocking the wind out and securing the perp for arrest.
His thoughts vanished though as Faina drew closer, eyeing her movement quietly. In the end, he seemed to be moving back slightly, but then halted his move. Instead, the male moved back but then went around her kick, ensuring her exposed side was available to his own counter. The Imperial then went low, sweeping his leg as an aim to either off balance or hit her square in the forward leg that she pivoted with. If she were to be off balanced, Nicademus would follow up with a move to pin Faina, in an attempt to disable her movements.
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Faina Delvardus
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Post by Faina Delvardus on May 31, 2019 7:09:49 GMT -8
As Nicademus moves deftly to avoid her kick, Faina brings her rear knee back in preparation to rapidly execute a side kick without dropping the leg, bending her forward leg to account for the fact Nicademus has dropped into a lower stance. Observing the movements in his body suggesting that Nicademus is beginning to attempt to sweep her forward leg, Faina fluidly adjusts her strategy, using her planted foot to spring upwards so that Nicademus' intended target is removed from the threat. Using the momentum of a leftward twist of her upper body and hips after her quick hop up and out of harm's way, Faina launches a downward spin kick with her rear leg aimed for the side of Nicademus' head, hoping to, if his low stance is stable enough to keep him from being knocked down by the force of the kick, stun him briefly so that she can capture the initiative by following the kick up with additional attacks . . .
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Post by Nicademus Delvardus IV on Jun 13, 2019 14:54:19 GMT -8
Damn it, thought the Imperial as he noticed Faina's movements. He couldn't move away without becoming unbalanced and was forced to raise his arm, taking the blow from her kick into his forearm. The shock resonated through his arm, but still Nicademus held firm against the blow. That was quite the power to be deflected, likely something he couldn't do again with this arm or else he might break it. Nicademus had to think quickly in order to regain the advantage. The male thinks quickly, moving forward suddenly. His hand suddenly gripping her leg that had struck his arm. The Emperor pushed himself forward, aiming a punch right at her good arm's shoulder. Blunt it at the shoulder and it should weaken her, thought Nicademus.
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Faina Delvardus
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Post by Faina Delvardus on Jun 24, 2019 19:28:04 GMT -8
The pace of their contest having escalated more and more as their respective strategies have resulted in both of them being left in less than ideal positions, Faina feels herself shift into a more instinctive mindset; permitting her training and gut assume the forefront rather than continuing to rely on tactics.
Countless observations of an opponent's movements during battles past enables Faina to anticipate the strike Nicademus sends towards her right shoulder on some level of her consciousness, and her response to the threat is nearly just as instinctive; dipping her shoulder so that her shoulder pauldron absorbs the force of the blow, Faina does not stiffen her arm, instead letting it slide backwards enough to give Nicademus' punch a path to the outside of her body to follow. Recognition of the fact that Nicademus, with one fist occupied with his punch while his other hand is occupied with gripping the leg she had used to send her failed kick towards him, has no easy way to defend his head, leads Faina to lash out and down with her left hand, sending a chop towards the side of Nicademus' neck where his greater auricular nerve is located; should the blow land accurately, it will be both painful and result in a three to seven second stun effect.
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Post by Nicademus Delvardus IV on Jul 20, 2019 12:30:27 GMT -8
It definitely had that desired effect that Faina had. Nicademus had made an error in his movement and left himself wide open to the counter that struck him in the neck mere seconds later. The pain was instant and brutal as it coursed through his neck, gripping his muscles. He flinches once before using his foot, aimed at the floor, to propel himself backward to give himself some room. 'Damn it' thought the Imperial as he grab his neck with one hand, keeping his eyes trained. Yet the pain was causing him to flinch away from Faina as the pain continued to pulse through him. Nicademus had only a few seconds to think up a strategy before Faina was certainly going to go on the offensive again.
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Faina Delvardus
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Post by Faina Delvardus on Aug 14, 2019 19:09:56 GMT -8
Knowing that she has only seconds before Nicademus recovers enough from the blow to regain his literal and proverbial footing, Faina denies him the distance he endeavors to put between them, moving swiftly towards him as he backs away. Under other conditions, Faina's natural instinct would be to follow up her previous attack with one intended to decisively and almost certainly painfully end the combat capabilities of an opponent, but the fact that she and Nicademus are only sparring leads her to choose a less vicious alternative, and so she instead elects to incapacitate him.
Deftly moving to Niacademus' left side, her right foot sliding forward to sweep his feet from beneath him, Faina's right palm darts towards his left shoulder to knock him to his back while she moves her left forearm over to cross his throat and grip his right shoulder so that his upper torso is pinned as she follows him to the floor and then sits on his chest to keep him from drawing enough breath to try to extricate himself from the pinning maneuver. As Nicademus lands on his back, Faina leans forward to enable her to pin his legs with hers, and appears briefly flustered when she realizes how close their faces are, though she dismisses the thought quickly enough, arching an eyebrow as she asks in a tone that, for her, is nearly playful, "I believe you have little choice but to yield at this point, would you not agree?"
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