19549/Amazon Training: The Sword

Amazon Training: The Sword
Date of Scene:	05 December 2024
Location:	Courtyard and Arena
Synopsis:	The art of the sword, as performed by the Themyscirans, at the Themysciran Arts Center. Much training is had, much clanging was clanged!
Cast of Characters:	Diana Prince, Monet St. Croix, Tabitha Smith, Betsy Braddock, Lois Lane, Belinda Gutierrez, Audra Meridian, Caleb Dykstra, Stirling Winchester, Cassie Sandsmark

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Diana Prince has posed:
Everyone has been here for most of the day. This was a large training event, set on schedules, and everyone was early to arrive, and expected to be late in to the evening before they were released. Amazon training days, were no joke!

For those who had put down that they had no experience with sword fighting what so ever, they were the ones who were to arrive the MOST early in the day. Once they did, they were brought out to the arena, and instantly began their training in breath work, and preliminary footwork. Working closely with several of the well armored Amazonian warrior women who were all over the arena floor today, those earliest to the training session were the ones worked with the most so far. Those who had varying levels of experience with a blade, were permitted to come in later, and join the rest of the class as it developed in to the day. There had been breaks for food, and water, of course too. The audience seating had been growing in numbers of people observing the training session today too, with the ever more increasing numbers coming as the sun got higher in the sky. It was a chilly day, but the physical exercise was enough to keep most warm, while braziers lit with fires were a great place to stand, to warm up while not in physical motion.

EVERYONE was setup with a set of light Amazon armor too, even the men were given sets to accomodate their needs. All participants in this event were dressed for the part.

The arena was subsequently filled with all manner of gladiators today, whether it being Amazons of Themyscira, or the guests from the rest of the world. Of course, many of those guests had been adding their own flare beneath the armored skirts, and various other pieces of the fine sets of light armor.

What followed after the breathing and footwork lessons, came with gripping the swords, and learning how to hold on to them. This was also a lesson for the more inexperienced would-be-soldiers, and it lasted for quite awhile all in itself. From there, the lessons moved on to striking, and slashing. How to properly MOVE the sword. This is when Diana arrived, and by this point, the sun was at its noon position in the sky.

Diana had arrived, with a host of other Amazons behind her, and through her arival, she had started to move from student to student, watching them swing their assigned blades. The trainers were giving pointers, and guidance on how to improve one's stance, and how to keep moving, to keep one's self actively on-guard. Stances, mixed with the footwork, and throughout it all, more students would begin to arrive who had registered under the pretense of having more advanced training.

This is where the group is now, in the early afternoon, with the sun shining down on to the sandy floor of the Themysciran arena. Audience members were recording the training on their various tech devices, while Amazon trainers were both barking orders, and speaking quite kindly to many of the trainees. Everyone was split in to groups, and Diana was moving between the groups. Dressed in her iconic armor of red, gold and deep blue, the Princess of Themyscira came to stand before a set of training totems, each one marked with wooden limbs, wrapped in a sturdy metal casing.

"Before we continue, I wanted to thank all of you for coming today. Some of you have been here for awhile already, while others are just now arriving." She showed a warm smile to them, her hands resting at her sides, wrapped in supple leather across her palms. "This class is meant to serve as not just a reason to learn how to wield a blade, but it is also hopefully an exercise in how to wield one's mind. A sword is an extension of our own willpower, our self control, and our ability to move our bodies fluidly, soundly, and with purpose. This is as much a mental exercise, as it is a physical exercise, and for those of you who know the Themysciran people well, you know that we employ as much of one, as we do the other."

Diana swept her gaze across those gathered, as a chilly wind

Diana Prince has posed:
Diana swept her gaze across those gathered, as a chilly wind rushed across the arena floor, and with it the flags hanging from the tall flag poles gently swayed and flapped against their ties, while the flickering flames in the fiery braziers danced behind their brass containers, providing warmth against the December winds.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet rarely wore Amazonian armor - her body was more durable and the armor did little most of the time. But for this, a formal training, she would put on one of the suits that the others of the public and superhero community were wearing. She was in the same state as all of them - here to learn and to have things demonstrated. And by 'learn' it meant doing the same motion several thousand times to build muscle memory, use it against a warrior of Themyscira, be instantly defeated while demonstrating how her technique was off, train with the motion several thousand times more.

Monet makes just a small adjustment as Diana comes to brief those that are present, moving to stay ever so slightly out of line of sight of one of the Amazons that was a particularly -nasty- drill sergeant (to Monet's standards, of course) to hopefully let the woman put someone else through the paces. However, her normal passiveness and arrogance is not present on her face - there's a small amount of revealed excitement. She's come to treasure the time she's spent with the Amazons as an initiate and under Diana's tutlage. And she's sure she'll learn something here. She goes to watch over the others, hand holding the wooden blade and moving to adjust the grip. And also her own mental positioning of it.

If called upon making sure to mentally adjust to treating it like a real sword as far as mass went, adjusting to the far lighter wooden one. Listening attentively to Diana and positioning herself with one of the moderately skilled groups. Holding the sword in one hand, the shield in the other. A set of bracers on her wrists made out of wood as well and strapped on to give her a more familiar sense of positioning.

Tabitha Smith has posed:
While far from any kind of mastery, Tabitha Smith, the loud and explosive mutant known as Boom-Boom does actually have a decent share of experience when it comes to combat.

That said, the young woman does enjoy getting all that precious practice in whenever she has a chance to. Sometimes it isn't at the Xavier school.

In this case it's with the Themyscirans. Any excuse to get sweaty with an Amazon.

Challenge as that may be in cold winter weather.

Dressed in one of her X-Uniforms. Bodysuit One piece pink halter top and full length legs in synthetic leather, red boots catching the tucked in cuffs. Hair up in a ponytail, green tinted pit viper shades atop her head leaving her blue eyes uncovered. Sure her arms and shoulders are covered pretty much by a dusting of freckles, but it lets them breath and move at her own pace. Though the occasional wisp of steam wafting off bare skin despite the occasional complain about the cold shows she's still affected by the colder weather even if she's probably providing warmth for everyone else while she goes through the moves.

Betsy Braddock has posed:
Betsy was, admittedly, not used to Amazonian armor. She typically wore her own when the situation called for it, but in this case, she decided to go with that of her hosts, wearing that over her standard X-uniform. Her long purple hair was tied back in a ponytail, keeping it out of the way so she could avoid having it used against her in a fight.

She does, however, bring her own sword to play with. An English longsword, in stark contrast to the Amazonian blades, but something that's quite suited to Betsy as she looks quite skilled already. Still, there's always something to learn, and she wouldn't mind teaching and training some of the others here that might need a bit more seasoning.

Lois Lane has posed:
When attending the training was mentioned to Lois, it was actually a great idea for her. A chance to be able to get in some good exercise, spend a little time with one of her friends, and just step away from being a reporter for the evening. She had arrived at the arena in a warm pair of sweats, and walked in to a situation where she needed to don 'armor' and well, she wasn't quiet ready for that. But she was patient as she went through the dressing process, and then when asked her skill level she asked, "Is there one below Novice?" she asked cheekily.

She did have a little laugh with the training. It reminded her a lot of how her dad was after her mom passed. It was a bittersweet memory, but she's trying to turn it into a positive. Her cheeks were warm with exertion, the sheathed sword held across her shoulders, arms folded over it as she watches the more experienced students at work.

There are probably so many stories here that she could search out. But just observing? Observing is nice for the reporter.

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
For Belinda Gutierrez, the morning was early. EARLY. Earlier than many realize-- she showed to the training arena in sweats and proper exercise gear, without letting fully on that she had been awake for hours already (morning run!), delighting in the classic moments. Enjoying the footwork (like dancing!); less so enjoying the sword familiarity (never living down sword accidentally thrown into the archery range. Bullseye, though!) And keenly aware that if Professor Stadler learned what she was doing.....

Looks of disapproval. So many stern looks.

Plus many more training items on the Unseen Agenda, whether realized by the Amazons or not. Hard work and exercise throughout the day. New methods and means of said exercises. Improving coordination, the way of weapons and positions. And ignoring the scent of food-- don't look towards the food, smell the food, hear the delicious sounds of food being set out, or the chicken, bacon, pork, olives, bread, was that bacon---?

Audra Meridian has posed:
Audra Meridian had two main experiences with combat. One being when she could make these Amazon training sessions, and the other being the heroic escapades of her alter-ego. Which on occasion has involved dealing with goons and villains using swords and other weapons. Considering that situation, knowing more about how weapons are fought with would also help one to better handle fighting against them, and being prepared for such occurances was something she preferred to be.

Besides, an Amazonian training day was one hell of a workout whichever way you looked at it.

So Audra is one of the those that's been here since the early start, working her way through the different steps and sessions as they were presented. She had the share of bruises and bumps to show for it, but between being accustomed to a physical lifestyle and having the wits to analyze what instructors were saying and demonstrating, she got a decent handle on the basics with little issue. While working up a sweat despite the cooler season, a workout was still a workout!

As a bonus learning to move in the provided armor also meant that maybe she'd consider putting a bit more protection on Windrose's suit once she's comfortable enough with it to not hinder her movements. But that was later, after all the combat excersizes.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
Among the students is one who seems to stand out with a long black coat over his shoulders, and underneath a black bodysuit. This would be Caleb Dykstra, who some of the people here gathered may already know. He nods to some of the familiar faces - Monet, Betsy, Belinda, Lois...

And he returns his attention to Wonder Woman as he readies himself, adjusting straps and checking for pocket contents.

Stirling Winchester has posed:
What a great day to be alive! There a few things Pathfinder enjoys more than learning new combat systems. In fact, he's early for the event to get started, clad in the camouflage uniform, armor, helmet and tactical gear when he shows up fifteen minutes before the new swordsfolks are supposed to start. Thankfully, he left his weapons at home so he doesn't need to try to secure them while training with the Amazonian equipment.

When he's told to put on the armor he chuckles and quickly gets changed, only leaving on his mask, gloves and boots. That breastplate and armored skirt look great on him (he thinks), and show off muscular definition and more than a few scars. The sword he's instructed to use fits his hand well as he appraises the weapon.

This particular vigilante knows his way around a sword, unlike most of the folks who got up early. He's not trying to interfere with anyone's learning, he's going along with the beginners at the pace set by the instructors. Amazonian sword combat systems are new to him, and Stirling likes to start from the beginning when possible.

He's an attentive student, watching carefully every time anything is demonstrated before he attempts to repeat it himself. The man is in his element, however. Every movement is copied with precision thanks to the warrior's control over his body. His mind, on the other hand, is full of helpful ancestors telling him to ask the Amazons for their socials. He has been muttering back to them under his breath, "I didn't become a superhero to find a spouse, darling loved ones. I am sure as hell not going to get mangled for hitting on Wonder Woman in her own embassy." Living with dead relatives can be a pain in the ass sometimes.

When Wonder Woman gives her address to the folks assembled Pathfinder gives her a deep nod. Good words, thinking before, alongside and after action is how you keep yourselves and your siblings in arms alive. Under his mask he's grinning, glad for such an amazing opportunity to train with such fearsome warriors!

He says to the group he's in, "This is so cool! I might have to start carrying a sword sometimes."

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
Cassie is here, really!

While briefly absent from the main gathering in the courtyard, when she emerges, a little hastily, from one of the many adjoining buildings, she's already in her armor, worn as it is over more modern athletic clothing, the typical breastplate, pteruges (the leather skirt thing!), greaves and of course her ever-present Amazon bracers, which suggests she'd always planned to be in attendance. Indeed, she's got her shield on her back and her sword sheathed at her hip. She's all ready to go!

"Hey Di, sorry about that, mom wanted some last minute help with some planning for the Haloea event we're doing." That's the Amazon (well, all of ancient Greece) Christmas, or at least, their winter solstice celebration. As she arrives at her mentor's side, she gives a little tug at one of her armor straps, making sure everything is in place, given the presumably rushed process.

After that, she looks out toward the gathering. "Got someone you want me to work with? I see some repeat customers." Is she gonna bully Monet again?!

Diana Prince has posed:
Diana stood between two of the fire braziers, the flames from either glinting off of the reflective surface of the armor points worn across her body. Though the Princess had a fair amount of skin showing, the chilled winds seemed to have no effect on her what so ever. She simply ran her eyes over those gathered, and held a faint smile upon her red hued lips. She pulled her sword from the scabbard on her back, as Cassie arrived, and with a small smirk shown to her protege, Diana nodded toward the totems. "Get them lined up." She commanded, as she looked back to the students gathered here this afternoon.

"These totems, they will represent an expression of what you have learned so far, and what skills you have brought with you here today. Set yourself before them, and a trainer will come to your side, and prepare to time you. Your goal here is to strike the totem at its designated marks." She says, her sword aimed toward a few indicated positions on the totem to her left.

"You will strike these points as rapidly, as cleanly, and as quickly as you can. Remember not to fight the weight of your sword. Utilize it. Let the sword's weight bleed in to your own body's motion. Let it blend with your momentum, and follow the lessons you have learned today. Breathing, footwork, moving, and the slashing, striking, stabbing strikes."

The line of Amazon trainers assigned to each student step forward, and begin to motion for their student to come to their presented totem.

In the audience, the guests viewing the fighting hold up their phones, while a hushed murmur falls across them, preparing to watch the show of the ramped up escalation in the sword play on display today.

Diana nodded to each student, as they were preparing to begin. "Remember, that there are no expectations here. We simply are refining our skills, together, as my people have for ... a very long time." She showed the hint of a slight grin, before she glanced toward Cassie again, and motioned her toward Lois, hoping that Cassie will keep Lois on her toes, and well... not stabbing herself. She liked Lois too much to have the reporter make a bad blunder!

"When you are ready..." Diana said, as she looked to all of the trainers, and nodded once. "Begin."

Each trainer would set in to motion their timers, as they started to lay out commands to each student to start their strikes!

Monet St. Croix has posed:
It's a fairly standard training regimen. Strike quickly along each target. Slash up and down to hit quickly and in patterns. A good warmup, a good way to enhance focus, and a good way to see how they were doing. Something that required control, attention, and awareness. Of the spots, of your own body, and of the blade that you held.

Monet's strikes are.. Slow. She's holding back a little bit to try and get into the routine, the pattern. So this results in two strikes aimed at an overhead slash at the neck bouncing over, hitting a shoulder. The light armor on the target deflects the main force of the strike, which forces her to add more power to it. This leads her to overcorrect some as her slash over the torso is staggered. The blow has the blade partially deflected off the armor of the targetting dummy. In a real fight, Monet would be vulnerable over to a counter while she was exposed.

This leads for her to take a quick step back to brace over with her shield to hold off the quick strike she would have gotten otherwise. Then she move sto counter-slash, quickly moving to switch up shield and sword as her next attack goes over at a thigh. The strike is a little more acceptable, hitting the point where normally armor would hang off above the knee to allow for mobility.

Her next attack is not part of the normal pattern, but a shoulder slam over with the shield that would send the target back several steps while they were vulnerable. And then another slash over the torso. Monet finishes her first go along the targetting dummy with a frown. At best adequate. One of the Amazon trainers would have killed her at least five times over that.

Tabitha Smith has posed:
Should Boom-Boom be wearing armor? Probably. But alas she might be eschewing it on account of having one of those figures that might look good. Actually getting a whole thing to fit and match is a challenge.

The problems with off the rack costuming for the curvier mutants.

"If you can conceal it. Law kinda gets really tetchy when you open carry a big fricking blade. Try getting on the subway. Transit cops be pouncing like instant. Straight annoying!" The blonde points out. Not that she lacks the ability to conceal something like a sword or a big honking gun. "Though being a telepath helps with that." she grins and snappoints to Monet and Betsy, two of the more experienced psychics she knows.

Cassie shouting out with reasons. And moms technically count as reasons, not excuses. Tabby grins. "I know that one. That's the one with all the 'scupltures'." she air quotes that last word. "Ladies only, lots of booze, lots of swearing. Amusing NSFW snacks! Probably making fun of the sculptures!" she might have stumbled on Greek festivals trying to figure out Roman ones on account of Magma as a kid.

"Baby got Bacchanalia!"

Back to training Tabby's form is decent enough it won't get her killed in a real fight. She's even showing a look of actual focus as she goes through the stabbings, slices and cuts. Having the skills is handy when powers might be on the fritz. But then it might also be giving Tabitha ideas when she turns her focused expression into one more wicked.

The glow of energy in her eyes might possibly be a bit disconcerting.

Lois Lane has posed:
Lois stood in the training grounds, the sun gleaming off her Amazonian armor. She tightened her grip on the hilt of the training sword, the leather wrap biting into her palm as she took a steadying breath.

Facing the sturdy wooden totem before her, she shifted her stance. Alright, Lane, time to show 'em what you've got!!. With a warrior's cry that felt far more natural than she expected, Lois surged forward, raising the blade high. The strike came down with all her might, her muscles taut, her focus sharp. The clang of the impact echoed around the field, followed by a sickening thunk.

The totem didn't so much as wobble.

The sword, however, remained firmly lodged in the dense wood. Lois released the hilt and took a step back, staring at the blade buried up to the guard. "Really? Stuck?" she muttered, hands on her hips.

"Alright, big guy, you win this round," she grunted, planting her boots and gripping the sword with both hands. She yanked harder, her hair sticking to her forehead and her armor rattling slightly. The sword gave no sign of budging. "I'm so glad I'm not writing an article on this," she muttered through gritted teeth, glancing around to ensure no one had a camera.

Betsy Braddock has posed:
Betsy does look a bit out of practice with the broadsword, as she seems more attuned to the lighter blades of her imprinted ninjitsu training. Still, she is proficient enough, striking home with the weapon.

Her attacks are still not quite as effective as she'd like, but on the other hand, she doesn't sacrifice her guard with her shield for the strikes either, so the counters can't get an opportunity to land home even as her own attacks are not the most effective.

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
With gung-ho and gusto, Belinda awaits her turn at the totems impatiently, all but vibrating on her feet before the word is given. Howling a cry in spite of herself, she delights in leaping towards the first target, swinging her blade with a ringing clang!

Points for eagerness. Less so from hitting with the flat of the weapon rather than the edge.

'Barely adequate' pretty well describes the entire attempt. Skill replaced with determined blows and attempted brute force-- precisely not quite the proper way of fighting with a blade. A few sparks and some splinters later, Belinda glowers at the Totem standing innured to her attempts at a good (or even decent) strike.

"...Dios," she mutters darkly, eyeing the Totem as though it personally, personally was an affront to everything she held dear.

Muttering in Spanish, she retrieves her blade, passing by. And somewhat cheekily aiming a back-handed swipe at the target's helmet.

Which misses with a delightful 'woosh'.

Audra Meridian has posed:
Audra Meridian cants her head up towards Diana as she explains the next part of the session. Then glances at the totem dummies. Okay, sounds basic enough. Though that doesn't mean it's going to be easy. She takes the spot indicated for her, wiggling fingers a few times to adjust the grip on her sword while the Amazonian trainer gets into position for the timing. A slight shift to balance, repeating the breathing readiness as they practiced earlier. Then the signal to start.

Audra stepped up to the totem and swung. Which only grazed the totem, but it gives her a moment to shift her stance and step closer, using the momentum to wind up and swing back in the other direction to make a more solid strike. Slash. Chop. A stab to the center of the totem. A chip put into one of the prongs. A badly angled strike does more of a dent with the flat than actually cut.

In the end she manages to hit ever mark, but it takes longer as she falters or misses enough that it takes two or three attempts to properly strike a marker enough to register as a proper hit. In the end she gets through the excersize, but it's taken longer and less precise than she would of liked.

But that's the point of practice, isn't it.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
Caleb closes his eyes, takes a deep breath as he clears his mind... And in front of him is not a dummy, but an enemy he is to face and take down.

And, when the word is given, he advances and, with shield in one hand, he uses it to deflect - if not break - the dummy's arm holding the sword. The added, spinning momentum puts him just in the fine position to hit the dummy on the flank, and use his weight to try to topple it.

Efficient, but a risk of being hit or stabbed by an opponet's weapon. Yet, it would get the job done.

Stirling Winchester has posed:
Though he'd been doing great so far today, when it comes to this practical application of skills Pathfinder isn't doing so hot. Because he's arguing out loud with the uncle telling him to settle down with the instructor helping him, though its pretty quiet, "Tio, I will go to church and find an exorcist if you don't stop pestering me!" That comment was perhaps not quite as quiet as he wanted it to be.

When Tabby comments on carrying a sword, Pathfinder can't help but chuckle, "You'd think with all the crime they'd give people in this town swords and stuff. I figure knowing anybody on the street's going to stab you if try violent crime would deter a lot of bad actors. I don't ride the subway in costume, though. Haven't figured out how to telepathy yet, but I'm working on it."

When Stirling's up with his sword he's bouncing before settling into his fighting stance. On his first strike, a left to right slash, the soldier's blade cuts effortlessly through the air and into the totem and then stays right there, lodged stubbornly. He'd noticed another person with the same problem. Grasping the now unmoving sword, Pathfinder starts working on getting it out the target without damaging the striking surface more than necessary, "That's great." Wiggle. Wiggle. Yank! The sword comes loose and the veteran takes a moment to look over the blade before getting ready to get back to it. "Guess its a good thing I'm practicing, right? Could you imagine how it would suck to get your weapon stuck in a bad guy in the middle of combat?"

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
"You heard the lady! Line up!" Suddenly, the blonde is really barking. "I don't want to see any slacking here! Or any grandstanding either! Nothing showy, we wanna see your FORM."

The brash drill instructor routine is no doubt something Cassie picked up from her Amazon sisters; although a few years can seem like an eternity at her age, it really wasn't that long ago that she was in the position of the trainees. They have a drill yard just like this, at the palace in Themyscira, and to say that the instruction was -intense- would be an understatement. She came through it with a lot of blisters and sores, bruises, muscle aches, and not a small amount of grit in her teeth (especially when they did the drills on the beach). However, these are at least in some part civillians, and the Arts Center is about outreach so...

Well, no one is getting their face pushed down in the sand today. FOR NOW.

"You earn the right to party like an Amazon when you can fight like one!" she shouts back at Tabitha, still in-character, before admiting: "Well, no, the one here we're doing is open to the public. So it will also be SFW, thank you very much!" Wait for it... "Cool people can do the afterparty on the island." There we go!

After her general shouting is done with, she soon comes to stand near Lois, to watch her take her turn with the training dummy. Obviously, there'd be no point in pairing them in an actual spar, but to offer some pointers to a newbie? That is something that Cassie can do. Because again: she was a newbie a lot more recently than the centuries-old Amazons in attendance. And... oh boy is it the right call.

"Lemme get that for you." It's not really skill at play when Cassie puts her hand onto the grip of the sword where Lois is struggling with it, and gives it just the very lightest pull to yank it free - superpowers are kinda cheating like that. She offers the woman her weapon back.

"So, for starters... you're not Conan the Barbarian. Let's focus a little bit LESS on the rargh smash and a bit more on the technique. Typical Amazon swords like this are pretty light, they're meant for precision and finesse- if they want to cleave someone in half, they'll bring out the labrys. So with this-" Once she's returned Lois' blade, Cassie draws her own, while also pulling her shield down off her shoulder so she can adopt the proper stance, in profile with the shield guarding and sword held just above it. "-you want to go for quick darting jabs or cuts."

And thus she demonstrates, stepping forward and making a precise jab over the top rim of the shield, and then, sequentially, slashes across the top to the left and right. On a person, they'd be at neck-height. On the dummy? They just cut a series of clean gouges in the wood.

She continues for a little bit, going through a full sequence of standardized forms and motions. Despite appearances, her technique is pure Amazon precision.

Diana Prince has posed:
as the strikes began on the totems, the audience continued to stream, or record what was taken place on the sandy arena floor. The fire braziers continued to flicker, offering additional light underneath the sun that was heading toward the obstacle that was the high stone arches of the arena's peak above, insinuating the fall of shadows across the arena coming soon.

"Your sword is not a hammer!" Diana called out. "It is the current of a river. Blend in to its flow, and do not fight it!" She said, as she passed behind Lois and Cassie, her eyes roaming over that of Belinda, Caleb, Monet and Pathfinder.

The flat side of Diana's sword whacked at the outside of Pathfinder's thigh. "Your footwork is slow and heavy. Be lighter upon your feet!" She said, her voice stern, laced with her Themysciran accent, and purposeful in its meaning for everyone here, not just the one person she called out.

To Betsy, Diana watched her form, and nodded softly. "Good. I am curious where you learned from, but we can speak on that later." She said to the dark haired woman, as she saw the timers reach their marks, and the students finish their session with the totem dummies. The trainers barked out the words to finish, and everyone was motioned back.

"Rest if you need to." Diana said, as she offered Audra a small smile. "You did well, but there is much yet to improve upon." She noted, before she looked to everyone again. She allowed them a moment of rest, before she motioned her sword to the open area of the training floor. "It is time for a more active partner. Exchange your weapons for these safer variants." She motioned to a table of blunted swords, each one waiting to be replaced by one of the combat ready weapons that the trainees had been using.

"Your trainers will pair you off, and we will begin our next phase of active sparring. This will likely leading to some bruising. Perhaps some cuts and scrapes, but it is to be expected, when dealing with martial weaponry, and if you are to continue your Amazon training past this point? Then you best prepare much of this yet to come." She said, as she drew in another breath, and waited for everyone to exchange their weapons.

"Once you are ready, trainers will partner you. Pair up, prepare your stances, and wait for the command to begin your spar."

The Amazon warrior women, clad in their well worn gladiator armors, moved to motion different students together, and offered small words of guidance on how to properly square up for their impending battles against one another!

Once everyone was ready, a hush fell across the arena, and then commands to fight began to roll out from each Amazon trainer!

Lois Lane has posed:
Lois took the blade from Cassie with a small, sheepish smile, brushing a lock of sweat-dampened hair from her face. "Thanks for the assist. I'd say I loosened it for you, but we both know that's a lie." She stepped back a bit, watching as Cassie demonstrated with effortless grace, her movements fluid and purposeful.

As Cassie's sword darted and slashed, leaving precise marks on the practice dummy, Lois couldn't help but marvel at how much she still had to learn. "Alright, point taken, less 'barbarian,' more 'precision surgeon.' Got it." She shifted her grip on the sword, glancing down at it like it was some strange alien artifact.

Lifting the blade experimentally, she tried mimicking Cassie's stance, bringing the sword up just above her shield and planting her feet firmly. "So, quick jabs, not wild swings. Got it." She glanced at Cassie, brows raised. "Don't expect miracles, but I'm game to give it a shot."

Taking a deep breath, Lois stepped forward, aiming a tentative jab over the rim of her shield. The motion was clunky but improved from her earlier swing-for-the-fences attempt. She followed it with a slash to the left, then the right. The cuts weren't as clean, but the effort was there.

Lowering the sword, Lois turned to Cassie with a wry grin. "I feel like I just took my first steps on roller skates. Tell me I didn't completely embarrass myself?"

And then Diana is calling for people to pair off and Lois laughs. "That would be my cue to sit this dance out. If it comes down to me using a sword, things are really really bad." After all, everyone knows her power is the friends she knows. "I'm going to take a breather, you have fun!"

Betsy Braddock has posed:
Betsy smiled over at Diana, "That... is a long story, would love to tell you sometime." She winked over at the Princess, then turned to face Cassie, shifting her stance a bit as she thinks about things for a moment.

She could do all manner of ninja tricks, or even telepath tricks. But that's not why she's here. Win or lose in this fight, she's going to do it straight up.

So she comes in, looking to draw in a sword strike and return a counter to hit Cassie where she doesn't expect it...

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Fighting an Amazon even in a spar never goes well. Monet St. Croix goes to look over at the array of women that she had fought with and been trained some by. As someone with some basic training, it meant that the Amazons wouldn't feel like they had to hold back so much.. So when the transition goes over to them fighting with others she goes to let out a sigh and inclines her head while moving to take her weapon over in front of her.

The stance she goes to assume is a rather basic one. Shield braced on arm, twisted forwards rest upon her forearm. Bands tightened hard even with it just being a training shield and held in by loops of hemp. Training sword held over in other hand in something more of a fencing style than one fitting a broadsword. Monet is focused over now, turning her body slightly to the side to minimize her profile. Then she goes to fully spin around, leaning fully forwards on a knee to put her shield entirely in front of her. The heavy shield blocking essentially her entire body from any form of attack that wasn't going at her lower leg. The loss would be that she would have much less power to use with the training blade and far less of a reach..

But, with her longer arms that made up for those loss of inches. Her attention is focused entirely over on her opponent.

Then she goes on the attack. Sword striking out from the side, treating the blade more like an epee. Springing forwards using her back foot to get some extra momentum and move faster. Strike quick and guarded, aimed over at shoulder of opponent. Whehter or not it hits, it's followed up by a quick kick of her leg that had just been used as a springboard, going to try and kick along to hit the side of a leg. Holding back so that it would if it did impact only be a minor blow.

This is followed then by her going to swing about her shield to use it as a close range bludgeon, an attempted slam with it using her full mass behind the blow to hopefully keep her opponent on the retreat and off balance, going to give them no time to recover. For once, Monet has oneness with her weapon and shield. Her strikes are rapid as she switches to the best she can approximate of the traditional Amazon style but holding herself back to normal levels of power. Quick, powerful strikes from a wide variety of angles. Interspercing with shield to limit the ability to maneuver and try to spread the hand with the weapon away to the point it was useless. Quick kicks, punches, and slashes with the sword would continuously swap out to try and make sure that her opponent had no ability to hold her back. Whether she would go for a ring out or just what would be an 'incapacitory' blow.

For once, no matter how it goes, Monet feels confident with herself. For just one moment she finds peace and focus coming together.

Tabitha Smith has posed:
"But can the Amazons party like me!" That's totally a challenge right there out of Tabitha. She probably could do with less talking, more stabbing and slashing as befits the training.

Did the sword glow during the last few seconds. The sound of the target dummy being struck getting more smack like might hint a bit that she's adding a little to her swings.

When the time for sparring comes up. A blunt sword, tested via fingers tapping the dulled blade is switched out while she makes another flash of power in her eyes. Lining up, the blonde aims a grin at her opponent Stirling. "Hi, I'm Boom-Boom. So like, you move like you've actually done this stuff before. Cool. Not my first milspec type dude trying to smack me around." she offers in introduction.

She might get yelled at but the blonde's sword glowing again in her hand. She might just have a plan.

Which might just involve playing defensive with the sword while using it to conduct and channel bombs all around him to go off with about as much force as a heavyweight boxer's punches. And about as loud as popping paper bags in Stirling's ear.

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
"Si!" Belinda sings out, exhaling under her breath. "No martillo, not a hammer. Comprendida. Like a river, a stream, be water my friend...."

Focus. Concentrate. Bacon? Strike /hard/!

Her first slash/swing/strike is met with a tooth-jarring clang of metal on metal, with 'sword maneuvers' out of such classics as Errol Flynn, Star Wars, Zorro, or any of a dozen old movies.

Aren't you supposed to aim for the opponent's sword? Tis what the movies say!

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
"Hey, you got it in there in the first place, that's pretty good!" Despite the earlier approach, Cassie is more encouraging with Lois than she is harsh taskmistress. "No one's expecting miracles. It's easy to think about something like this as, well, some crazy epic thing that you just can do or not, but ultimately it's a skill like any other. So the answer is mostly practice, practice, practice. You gotta build the particular muscles, the memory to go with them, all of that stuff."

After that, she stands back to watch, as Lois puts the demonstration to work. "Not embarassing at all. Plenty of things to work on still, but that's what the repetition is for. Just do that a couple thousand more times and you'll be all set!" She flashes a wide smile at the last, making light of the effort, even though it is by no means an exaggeration.

With Lois' instruction set and done with, the next task up is actual spars. Fortunately, Diana DOES re-arrange the partners, so poor Lois doesn't end up with a blonde sitting on her demanding she say 'uncle.' Instead, she's paired with Betsy, who... she probably doesn't know much of, but even in her peripheral vision can easily mark as someone who actually knows what she's doing with a blade in hand.

Appproaching, she squares up, and bangs her blade on the rim of her shield in a sort of half-greeting, half-challenge. Not unsurprisingly, her curiousity is the same as Diana's: "I wanna hear where you learned that stuff, too."

And then? She rushes forward! Like Betsy, she reins back her powers, no super-strength or speed, but unlike with Lois, she does put on a real effort otherwise, not holding back on her own skill. If there's an advantage to be found, it is perhaps that these are the exact weapons that she trains in, unlike the sometimes-ninja?

She opens quite offensively, showing the potential for swift aggression in Amazon training. There is likely to be a lot of CLANG CLANG of clashing swords. Yet the incessant agression may give Betsy that opening she's looking for, to draw her counter...

...where Cassie's practice with the shield comes into play. The riposte strikes against a block which Cassie follows by using the shield itself as a perhaps unexpected weapon, bodily battering into her foe!

Audra Meridian has posed:
Audra Meridian lets out a sigh, and nods to Diana. "Yeah. Sounds like a good idea." She's been here since the early start, a break is probably isn't a bad idea. "Sometimes the knowing when to step back for a bit is the hardest part." But does give her a moment to get some water and wipe off some sweat before they move on to the next segment.

So she's at least got some steam back by then, walking over to hand off the sword she was using to one of the trainers and retrieve a 'safety' one.

"Well, looks like you get to play with me." Audra steps into position opposite Belinda, gripping the dulled sword. Who gets right to swinging. Though she brings up her own sword to intercept, metal clanging against metal. And again. And again. And again, even as Audra steps back a foot to better brace herself.

Belinda keeps swinging sword against sword, which keeps Audra from getting a chance to make any decent swings of her own.

Stirling Winchester has posed:
"Roger that!" Pathfinder takes the correction swiftly and adapts, smiling beneath his mask that he's special enough to be personally thumped by The Princess. His eyes close for a moment so he can focus himself, then he nods, ready to proceed with the training.

He swaps out his live blade for a trainer when it comes time to spar. That his opponent is Tabby seems to suit him just fine, "Alright! Nice to meet you, Boom-Boom. Good luck, have fun, and try not to leave any bruises on my face. It's my money maker." He is still wearing a mask.

As their fight begins Pathfinder demonstrates his skill, already being pretty solid with a sword before today's training. He's trying, still to mostly use what's been taught by the Amazons. Also, he's super fast and strong and trying to not just use sheer physical ability to overpower his sparring partner. This is supposed to be educational for the both of them!

Someone should have told Boom-Boom that. Pathfinder suddenly finds himself inundated with noise and explosions that set off his super senses. He's dodging blows that aren't there, actually kind of ignoring his opponent as he tries to dodge threats that show up out of nowhere!

Yep. By the time he's figured out that they're somehow coming from Boom-Boom, which explains the name, Stirling's been soundly thumped by his sparring partner. His dark eyes focus on the blonde's face for a moment before laughter can be heard behind the mask, "Very clever! If you ain't cheatin' you ain't tryin'." He extends his fist for a fist bump, "Did you know I have super hearing and stuff? Like, either way the concussive blasts from those explosions would mess just about anybody up. I felt like I was fighting three people at the same time! That was wicked."

Diana Prince has posed:
As Lois joins Diana, the princess raises up a thermos of hot tea, and poured them both a cup inside of small metal mugs. She offered one to Lois, steam rising up from the liquid. She showed her friend a warm smile, mirroring the soothing tea all in its own. "You did good." She tells her. "I am proud to see you here too. I would hope to see you here more often, but I know this is a bit off of the beaten trail for you." She quietly said, as the sparring matches began.

Cassie and Betsy got a fair amount of her attention, as the way that Betsy moved intrigued Diana. the woman was not holding her punches, per-se, but there was something graceful about her that couldn't be denied. She was deadly, and was not using her full skillset...

For Monet and Caleb, Diana called out. "Keep sharp, Monet. Caleb, you are doing great, but you need to stay lighter upon your feet!"

Diana sipped her tea, as she watched Belinda and Audra perform their moves. "This is as much a dance, as any given celebration event has here at the Arts Center. Study your opponent, and predict their next move!"

The audience was offering hoots and hollars at the combatants, as some of the larger, and more flamboyant moves drew attention, and camera devices to focus on them.

For Sterling, and Tabitha, Diana frowned when the boms came in to play. "Foul. Tabitha! You cannot rely on that when it comes to your training. Pathfinder gets the win by self elimination!" But still, the use of her mutation was mildly amusing to the Princess, even if she knew it was entirely off the point of what was happening here today.

Another sip of her mug of hot tea was had, before Diana set it aside, gave a glance to Lois, before she walked toward the sparring matches, as each one came to a close, judged by the Amazon trainers who had been overseeing each student today.

"This is good." The Princess surmised. "There is much work to be done, but I am liking what I am seeing..." She gave Tabitha a sharp WHAP to the back of the girl's bottom, and continued. "Except for the bombs." She chided the bombastic blonde.

She moved toward Sterling, and offered him a sympathetic expression. "You did well, though. I would have you change sparring partners next, as well as the rest of you." She said, drawing hers eyes across those gathered. "We will take a break, recover our energy and get back to it with swapped partners. I want you all to reflect on what you feel you are strong at with your swords, here today. I want you to work on the weaknesses, and speak to your Amazon trainer about them. Come to me personally, if you must, as I am eager to hear from each of you on where you wish to go with this."

She drew in a breath, as a cold wind swept across the arena floor, casting her long, wavey hair across her bare shoulders. "Have a rest, have a drink, and return to the sparring ground in fifteen minutes, for round two."

The audience whistled, applauded, and cheered, as they really seemed to enjoy the fights more than any other element of the training yet so far today.

Of course, the Amazon warrior sparring would begin in roughly one hour... and because of it, even more guests to the Arts Center were making their way in through the archways from the interior corridors of the large public facility.

"Good work, everyone. Your blades will be swift, and your enemies will fall before them. If ... you remain diligent, dedicated, determined and ... ready for what is to come."

Monet St. Croix has posed:
All right, she did decently well. Acceptably, even. Monet manages to hold down that moment of complete pride over in herself to keep it almost out of her face as she glances over at Cassandra and gives her a nod, then DIana.. And watching the replay of Cassandra fighting with Betsy in her mind. She snorts inwardly at the comment thrown at Tabitha by Diana, even as she sends her fellow mutant a note of mental agreement on it, telepath to telepath that Betsy could probably pick up on.

Then, as she's breathing and going through her routine another of the Amazons comes up over to her and takes her towards a combat stance. Uh-oh.

She's given just enough time to readjust and brace herself as the other Amazon attacks her. Quick, frenzied blocks and counterstrikes do Monet little good as the warrior with severalt housand years of experience effortlessly holds her off as Monet backpedals. Sometimes, you just have to give ground. But it also puts her on the backfoot - rather literally.

So it's within but a few tenths of a second that the spar starts that a strike goes through her guard, hits her elbow, then a kick hits the inside of her knee, buckling her, and the third hit goes between her ribs, dropping her and 'skewered'.

The Amazon smirks down at her and then yanks her back up to her feet, and goes to say a word that even for those that don't know the language can understand.

'Again'

Tabitha Smith has posed:
The sparring starts and it's probably clear to most everyone that actually knows her, that Tabitha has no problems skirting rules, bending or breaking them. Especially when against someone that might actually be more capable a fighter than she is.

But being a former street rat, fighting clean often is the fastest way to get wrecked badly.

The fistbump gesture is returned when Tabitha eventually appears to come out on top against Stirling. A playful grin on her features while her sword hand. Her left rests the blunted blade on a bare shoulder.

"You kinda had that trying to not be twitchy look. Head on a swivel type deal. It can be messed with, even without the super senses." she explains just as Diana mostly saves her praise for Stirling and a swat on her rump.

That gets a jump and a yip though Boomie is more amused at it than annoyed. "Hey, least I'm not using my words. Way more distracting than my bombs!" she says with mock indignation. It'd probably take a bit more oomph to actually make that rump sting.

After snack break, Tabby's back on the training floor. Bouncing and shaking out any impending stiffness from the break before she lines back up with someone new. "Okay, let's rock!"

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
Belinda's assault comes fueled by eagerness, delight at the new experience, relentless as the clang-clang-CLANG of metal on metal continues, enough to make any blacksmith weep. Or fume at idiot trainees enjoying themselves far too much for reason.

"Just--" Clang. "--a little exercise--" Clang. "--before lunch!" CLANG.

The idea of 'not a hammer' seems to have flown by the wayside; Belinda steps forward after her sparring partner, pushing and pressing and driving back and back and back. Singular focus coupled with instinctive drive-- sweat gleams as the sword blows rain down unendingly. Aimed at the blade, but continuing at their eager intensity long after signs of tiring should show.

Audra Meridian has posed:
Like a dance. Like a river. Or maybe in Audra's case a better metaphor would be like a wind. Swift, smooth, but able to propel considerable force once it's going.

Whatever methodology that goes through her head, it and the bit of coaching from Diana does seem to help. It's noticably different as instead of stepping back and defending Audra steps into Belinda's attack, swinging her own sword to strike against hers instead of just blocking it. And then trying to follow through by thrusting at her with the point instead of drawing back to defend again, trying to get a hit in before Belinda winds up with her 'hammer' swing again. Even if it means she's probably going to get whalloped by it.

That's what the armor is for, right?

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
ClangclangCLAK-- Belinda's ferocious swinging comes to an abrupt end as Audra's counterstrike manages to jab through, a punch to the abdomen to drive the air briefly from her lungs. Fingers loosen, quiver; metal and hilt go sailing from weakened grasp, sailing off and away....

...back into the archery range. Oops.

"...Dios!" Belinda manages, gulping a few quick draughts of air before she breaks down into rampant, sheepish giggles. "Lo siento, sorry about that. My first sword."

Stirling Winchester has posed:
Pathfinder starts off strong on his bout, demonstrating what he knows about disassembling people with a sword. His opponent is on the defensive most of the time, being steadily driven back by the superhero's superior swordsmanship.

Eventually, Stirling gets the advantage and with a twist of his wrist sends his opponent's blade flying off to land harmlessly a few meters away. In his haste to strike a blow before his partner can do anything, Pathfinder brings up his sword for a short overhead chop and his eyes widen as he feels his gloves, now more than a little soaked in sweat, lose traction on the hilt of the sword. The weapon spends a moment in the air before the warrior facing the vigilante snags the weapon and successfully whacks the camo clad combat connoisseur.

Pathfinder can't help but laugh again. This is why training is important! Grip tape on the sword hilts for sure. He'll fist bump his opponent and congratulate them on a fight well fought.

As that particular bout winds down, Winchester will say, "This was one hell of a day, but I am in dire need of a shower Gatorade. It was good to meet you folks. I look forward to more days like this!"

Audra Meridian has posed:
Audra Meridian meanwhile drops her sword with a wince and shakes her arm out a few times. "I think I felt that contact in my entire body." Rolls her shoulder. "Yeah, I think maybe it's time for a proper break."

Though first she walks over and offers the other less sore hand to help Belinda up out of the range.