• Solo • Zin'mataa I: Force

[Aeodan]

8 Saun 717


Aeodan swallowed hard, trying to quell the anxiety that was rising in him. He'd been waiting ten bits, maybe, and still Judah had not arrived. Perhaps the guard was not actually interested in helping the Burnett boy, or worse: It was a sick joke. But still, Aeodan waited, hoping against hope that the guard would actually show up.

Why shouldn't he? He and Aeodan had gotten along very well, especially after being trapped in the barrow together. It was only break and a half, but Aeodan thought the two of them had connected. And when Judah had sent for him, Aeodan met with him happily. Judah's head was stitched, but other than that, he was the same positive person he had been. The wound did nothing to dampen his spirits. Instead, he offered to help Aeodan learn to defend himself, to train and guide him so that he may be better prepared in the future. Without really understanding what that would entail, Aeodan said yes.

He wasn't sure why.

A noise behind him startled him, and Aeodan leapt to his feet. Adrenaline surged through his body, but if he were under attack, he'd surely lose. He spun on his heel, but realized it was just Judah. The guard was dressed in loose-fitting clothes, a black pair of pants and a white shirt. The stitched wound on his forehead was the only part about his person that did not look like it had been carefully crafted by some intelligent omnipotent being. He came unarmed, which caused Aeodan to frown. He thought Judah was going to teach him to defend himself.

"Hello, Aeodan." He smiled, not mentioning why he was late. Aeodan did not care, though. His breath caught for just a moment at Judah's voice, but then he returned the smile.

"Judah. Thank you for meeting with me. But... I thought you were going to teach me how to defend myself." Aeodan's eyes fixed on Judah's. The soldier's eyebrows rose slightly.

"I am. Oh, you were expecting a sword?" He laughed, a deep, clear sound. He held his arms out and tilted his head to the side. "I don't think so. Your constitution isn't designed for a sword, especially one as heavy as mine. An epee or a rapier, perhaps, would be more your speed. But I am not nearly proficient enough in a piercing style. I tend to hack and slash." He grinned.

"No, instead I'm going to teach you how to defend yourself with a weapon you can never lose: Your opponent." He carefully studied Aeodan's expression, which did not change from the confusion it had taken on at the absence of a weapon.

"I don't... What do you mean?" Again, Judah grinned.

"In combat, there are two constants only: Your opponent, and you. What each of you brings are variables, and they can help determine the outcome. But simply put, the two things that always remain are you and your opponent. And what do opponents always bring?"

He paused, looking at Aeodan. When the young twin realized it was rhetorical, he screwed up his face in thought.

"Weapons?" He asked, and Judah laughed again. This one was full, coming from his belly, and lasted longer than the first. He shook his head, calming down slowly. Judah held his ribs as one more small fit of laughter overtook him.

"You'd think. No, the only thing the opponent brings to combat is himself, and his own body. No matter what weapons he wields, or what armour he wears... An opponent always brings his own force. And that brings us to tonight." He held out his arms, surveying the large space in the ducal gardens. "Tonight, I teach you how to defend yourself from the opponent's constant."

He moved to a wider space, bending his knees slightly. With a knowing smile, he beckoned Aeodan to him.

"Rush me. Attack me." When Aeodan hesitated, Judah grinned. "Will you just trust me? Attack me!"

With a hesitant shrug, Aeodan charged at him. He braced himself for impact, lowering his shoulder to plow into the larger soldier. He doubted, even if he did hit Judah, that it would damage the bigger man. Instead, Aeodan never truly connected. Quickly, the world turned upside down as Judah bent his knees further, catching Aeodan's torso on his shoulder and flipping him end over end. The young boy crashed into the ground, the breath blasting from his lungs.

"Aeodan Burnett, this is your first lesson in Zin'mataa. We'll call this lesson Force." He smiled as Aeodan glared from the ground. A powerful hand outstretched, and Aeodan used it to climb back to his feet.

[Aeodan]

"They say Zin'mataa started in the east, after some of the people there were being raided by their neighbours. They were physically weak, with no true standing army, and their belongings were being burned and stolen. The invaders were larger, more numerous, outfitted better... And so these people, the Zinzea, developed a martial art that could allow them to subdue and defeat their opponents. Using their opponents' force, they could direct the flow of combat and handle themselves through a series of throws, strikes and locks."

Aeodan nodded, still focused on Judah as the two circled each other. Judah stepped in a step, Aeodan moved back a step.

"Good, keep the space. The only time you close the space is to ensure you're in position to take control. The Zinzea used the three main tenets of Zin'mataa, called The Tilao, to train their bodies, and eventually their minds, to think in the vein of Zin'mataa. The first Tilao is Balance. 'Keep your feet rooted, even in the air' was taught. It was a meditation technique that allowed the Zinzea to always know their footing, even if they were not familiar with the terrain. Having a firm base allowed them to maintain their control. Attack."

This time, Aeodan came in more cautiously. He'd no formal training, but he understood how to throw a punch. Apparently not well, for as his arm came along, Judah grabbed his wrist and locked his arm, twisting so that Aeodan's whole body came over his shoulder. Aeodan crashed heavily into the ground, and Judah smiled above him.

"Balance. It's a counter to your opponent's force. If you are balanced, your opponent must crash over you, like a wave, or go around you like a river. And either way, you remain like a mountain. Stand."

Judah lifted him and planted him firmly on the ground. Aeodan rubbed his lower back, frowning.

"I thought you were going to teach me how to defend myself, not throw me around." He grumbled, and Judah chuckled.

"You must learn why before how. The Zinzea were staunch believers in the natural world. After all, what was stronger than a mountain, stronger than the sea, more enlightened than the air? They respected and revered the elements, and thus they strived to be like them. Balance was modeled after the Mountain. Try to push me over."

"Are you going to throw me again?" Aeodan's voice was accusatory, and it brought a smile to Judah's face. He shook his head in response.

"Not this time. Just trust me." His voice was light. Aeodan suspiciously stepped forward, placing both hands on Judah's shoulders. The soldier smiled and nodded.

"Okay, ready?" Another nod.

Aeodan shoved with all his force, and Judah's feet never moved. His center of gravity shifted, and he instinctively dipped low. Aeodan wasn't expecting it, and he almost toppled over him. He didn't though, and he smiled.

"Force is only as good as the weakness of your opponent. If they are rooted like the Mountain, you will not push them over. However, when you attacked me and were not rooted, you were easily thrown. Ground yourself, and stay grounded." He smiled and nodded. It was not his wisdom, but it was wisdom nonetheless.

"The second Tilao is Patience. Often, I think, this is misunderstood. Patience does not mean waiting, it means expecting. When practicing Patience, the Zinzea would build their endurance, for they knew that they would face often insurmountable odds."

Shrugging, Judah reassumed his position.

"The key to winning a battle of attrition is being more prepared than your opponent. By allowing the opponent to exhaust themselves, you are conserving your own energy. That is patience. Expecting them to be able to outlast you, and then outlasting them. I can't teach you endurance, it's something you'll have to discover on your own."

Aeodan smiled and nodded. He understood what Judah meant, and knew that he'd have to work on it.

"And the third Tilao?" Aeodan's curiosity was beginning to bubble to the surface. Judah knew that he'd be interested in the knowledge behind the martial art, even if he wasn't happy learning the physical aspect.

"The third Tilao is Focus. Keep your mind on the task at hand, and you shall never be defeated. Allow your discipline to waver, and you've already lost." He smiled, knowing that his mind was Aeodan's greatest strength.

"Now, are you ready to learn the physical aspects?" Judah grinned, and Aeodan just shook his head.

"It's necessary, so... Yes." And with that, the two reassumed their positions.

[Aeodan]

The air blasted from Aeodan's lungs as he slammed hard into the ground. A groan escaped behind it, prompting a laugh from Judah. Aeodan angled his head to glare at him, which just drew the laughter from the soldier even more. Aeodan rose and stretched, trying to alleviate the ache already growing in his lower back. He bent his knees and resumed a combat stance.

"That is called a 'shoulder throw'. You allow the opponent to close the distance, gathering their own momentum. When they outstretch their arms to either swing or grab, you duck beneath. Simultaneously, you grab their dominant wrist with both hands, twisting and locking your shoulder under their armpit. In one fluid motion, you've dodged their attacked, halted their advance and used their own momentum against them. With your shoulder locked in their armpit, you allow their forward momentum to carry through, and twist with them. You become the fulcrum over which they are thrown."

Judah smiled as Aeodan nodded. The both understood how he was being thrown. He just needed to learn to replicate the motion. And he needed Judah to stop dropping him on his back and head. He'd be so sore, he may not be able to do the next excavation in the coming trials. Still, that was a problem for another time.

"Are you ready?" Judah asked, and Aeodan nodded. The larger man stalked in, dashing forward quickly. He kept his arms in until the very last moment, lifting them to shove Aeodan when he got close enough. Aeodan did not quite expect the speed and technique, and was caught unawares by the shove. He went flying, landing once again on his ass. A growl came from him.

"Again." The determination burned in his eyes like a wildfire. With a half-smirk, Judah rushed in, repeating the same ploy. Aeodan anticipated this time, and when Judah's hands came up, the younger twin twisted and ducked, grabbing his wrist. With surprising agility, Aeodan flipped Judah over his shoulder and dropped the larger man on the ground. A pained chuckle rose to meet Aeodan from Judah's prone position on the ground.

"Very good, Aeodan. However, lock into the armpit, not against the rib cage. I could have applied my weight further down and lowered my center of gravity, and all you'd have done was throw yourself off balance. Let's try again."

Judah climbed to his feet as if the fall hadn't hurt him a bit, and Aeodan just smiled ruefully. Judah's physical condition was significantly better than Aeodan's, and it was evident. Without warning, Judah rushed forward, this time swinging at Aeodan. Instinctively, the boy stepped into the blow, giving himself the closeness to grab the wrist and lock his shoulder into Judah's armpit. A much tighter, much heavier throw came and Judah landed flat on his back, with Aeodan standing directly over him.

"Bravo! What a move. What inspired you to step into the blow? Many shy away from getting closer to damage." He grinned from the ground, his upside-down features seeming strange to Aeodan.

"I don't know. I analyzed the situation and realized that if I did not step in closer, I would not be able to reach your armpit. I'd have had to use your elbow as a pivot point, but that would have given you my back." Aeodan said it as matter-of-factly as possible, as if it was normal logic. Which it was, but not for many who had no combat training.

"It was the right instinct. Did you feel how much more controlled that throw was? If you had wished, you could have pivoted and dropped me anywhere in this area. That's useful to know if you're fighting over dangerous terrain or on the side of a cliff." He laughed and sat up, brushing dirt from his shoulders. The Duke's gardens were nice and well manicured, and the terrain was level. It made for a wonderful training ground for the basics, but did not offer Judah any way to train Aeodan for difficult terrain.

"In our next lesson, I'll teach you how to combine that throw with a lock that may eliminate and subdue any singular opponent. For now, though, let's continue to learn this throw. 'Practice it one thousand times, and no man shall do it better.' That's an old Zin'mataa proverb." Judah bent his knees again, facing Aeodan. "Rea--." Before he finished, he charged.

Aeodan was set back on his heels, but recovered well. Judah closed the distance and grabbed Aeodan by the shoulders, but the Burnett boy spun anyway. He grabbed Judah's wrist haphazardly, and braced himself under the heavier soldier's weight. A quick lock of the armpit, and Judah went over him. However, Aeodan had not set his feet and he lost balance, crashing down on top of Judah. The larger man yelped in pain as Aeodan's knee tore free the stitches on his forehead.

"Faldrun's balls! That hurts!" He grunted, and Aeodan rolled away in horror. A smear of Judah's blood slickened his pants, and Aeodan's heart pounded in his chest.

"I am so sorry! I did not mean to, I wasn't..." He frowned, and Judah's eyes flashed at him. Still, the soldier kept his composure.

"I know. It's not your fault. It'll be fine, just have to play through the blood..." He wiped away a thick line of it across his forehead, smearing it to a faded nothingness. When Aeodan made a face, Judah's eyebrows shot up, causing the wound to pool. "Oh, you're afraid of a little blood? What will you do when the opponent coats his knuckles or sword in yours? Just get queasy? On your feet."

The command was sharp, and Aeodan obeyed instinctively. Judah climbed to his feet as well.

"Again." And he stalked in, more cautious this time. As he got close, he swung, and he almost crushed Aeodan's head. The smaller boy ducked at the last trill, and Judah missed. Rather than stop the assault, he came on, glaring at Aeodan. He swung again, and Aeodan stepped into it again. He completed the throw, slamming Judah into the ground. When he released, he leaped backwards to avoid a counter attack. Instead, Judah just laughed.

"Calm under pressure, even. You'll do well with this, if you pursue it further." He breathed heavily as he stood. Smiling at Aeodan, he wiped away the blood.

"You weren't pissed? You're a bastard!" Aeodan's indignation only spurred Judah's laughter.

"Untrue! I know my father. I just don't get on with him." He quipped, and now it was Aeodan's turn to laugh. His anger deflated, and the two went back to practicing the shoulder throw.

[Pegasus]

Aeodan

Overview

I have to preface this by saying that combat training threads are my least favourite kind of threads to review, because I often feel kind of lost in them. But, that said, I loved this thread! I love how you portray Aeodan as slightly awkward, a little bit oblivious to what he's doing and what it means, really, but doing his very best. When he answered "Weapons?" to Judah's question of what do opponents always bring, I chortled aloud. You write in a manner that is both detailed and accessible and I love that Aeodan is (of course!) learning the history of the martial art and the cultural significance of it, too. Great fun, I've changed my mind about combat threads after this one! If you've got any questions, drop me a pm.

Points

XP: 10 (solo)

Fame: Nope
Devotion: Nope

Loot

None

Knowledge

Unarmed Combat, Zin'mataa: The Three Tilao
Unarmed Combat, Zin'mataa: Far Eastern Combat Style
Unarmed Combat, Zin'mataa: Balance is the most important Tilao
Unarmed Combat, Zin'mataa: Shoulder throw
Unarmed Combat, Zin'mataa: Instinctive reactions
Endurance: Repeatedly being thrown on the ground hurts

Judah: Prefers to fight with his hands
Judah: Prefers to spend time with you
Judah: Is cheeky
Judah: Likes jokes