(I think most of my needs at the moment can be met with some training montages, so, I'll start those. Spectra and Barusa will require more unpacking though so, probably get to that later. For now, Sin and Melissandra get training with their pupils...<img alt=";)" src="./images/smilies/wink.gif" title="Wink"/>)<br/><br/><br/>The demon tools were quite the strange, yet seemingly necessary distraction, as it reminded Sin of something she had intended to remedy before. As Spectra had pointed out after their first failure, she never properly trained the group. Well, with Barusa in Spectra's care and Zal and Valspan keeping the ship on course, that really just meant Seydon and Wiska were the two students in need of training.<br/><br/>Sin would handle Seydon's training personally. She would gather the big man, and his big new sword for sparring practice. Though not on the nice and open deck above, no... They would meet in one of the cramped and claustrophobic hallways below.<br/><br/>"All right... I realize I've been putting this off, but it's time I taught you to properly fight. You've probably had some training with your royal guards and think that and your new fancy big-ass compensation sword is more than enough to handle most anything. But, pirates don't follow those nice little rules your royal dualers set up, and you can't just go swinging a blade like that around indiscriminately on a ship. Damage the mast or cut too many of the riggings and even if you win the battle, we're dead in the water, defeating the point. So that's why we're here. You're gonna learn to use that thing with some precision and finesse, otherwise it's as good as useless. Nothing more than an oversized hammer." She said, as she raised her arms, her two combat bracers appearing covering her hands and arms in a protective gold armor. "I'm a hands-on kind of teacher, so don't expect much talking. You'll get some pointers here and there, but for the most part you're gonna learn by doing. I'll try not to hurt you too bad." She said with a grin. "Now, first thing to realize, a big sword like that, you can't even turn it in a hallway like this, so forget about even trying to swing it, you're gonna block, and jab. Remember that... Block, and jab. Now, first lesson, when you finally manage to hit me, we can move on..." She said as she rushed in using her fists to attack.<br/><br/>Seydon would be at a huge disadvantage at the moment. Compared to Sin who was simply using her hands, for the inexperienced with such a large weapon he might as well have been tied up. However he would eventually learn what she was saying, using the hilt of his sword to perform quick and precise jabs. Using the blade at his side like a shield to deflect and guard against attacks.<br/><br/>Once he mastered one way, they would adjust and start again, each time with the blade in a different position. On his left or right side, with the blade pointing backwards, or forwards. That way no matter how it might be positioned when he got into a tight spot he would be just as capable of wielding it effectively. After all, in the open with plenty of space, it was easy. Big weapon like that, you simply swing it and whatever's unfortunate enough to be in the way is basically done for. But in tight spots, it might as well be an anchor weighing him down. If he could learn to use it in those situations though, learn to use the beast of a sword with precision and finess, for refined and skilled attacks, why he'd be practically unstoppable. And lucky for him, Sin happened to be very skilled at fighting in close quarters. So, though her methods may, most assuredly, leave him going to bed with many bruises, he had thick skin so he should be able to handle it, and by the time they were done, he would be a significantly better fighter. She could even begin to train him on combining the uses of his two primary weapons. using his rake to draw enemies in close, before using his blade to shut them down.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>"Ahem... Well, the captain said she wanted to help with your training, but... She doesn't exactly know anything about magic, SO she entrusted that duty, to me." Melissandra said, standing next to a cauldron on a countertop wearing a fancy new hat on her head and with a tiny black dagger strapped to her thigh, as she looked at Wiska... Her intended pupil.<br/><br/>"Honestly, until she said that I wasn't even aware you WERE a sorceress... So, the first thing to do is, figure out what level you're at. Hmm... How about a test then? How would you go about making a potion to stun your enemies? We have plenty of supplies here so, go ahead and show me what you've got!" She said with a smile, encouraging the catfish to, literally, work her magic so she could see what sort of skills and knowledge she employed and begin properly training her, as her mage had done for her.<br/><br/>( Honestly, I could see those two's training playing out like a Tom and Jerry cartoon. Mostly because their styles are so different, and because Wiska might be jealous of Melissandra knowing that Seydon is also protective of and close to the little mouse woman as well. Plus Melissandra is used to doing magic, by the book, and Wiska probably uses a lot of 'downhome' tricks. So I imagine they have a lot of bickering back and forth over which way is proper, probably more cartoonish chases around the kitchen, etc. Followed by them finally reaching a stalemate and talking things out as Melissandra describes the 'proper' way to do things as written in wizards tomes for generations, while Wiska follows up with alternative ways to do things when you don't have a fully stocked supply room to work with. Resulting in both of them becoming more skilled in more situations. )