Meet Me in the Pit, Korrin edition

[gatheringstorm]

FORM: Sending crystal
SENDER: Korrin Ataash
RECIPIENT: Everyone/Also, private message for Adalia. 
WHAT: Looking for sparring partners.
WHEN: Now
WHERE: Gallows training area.
NOTES: Not doing a separate log, any action can happen in individual threads here. 

[Her tone is brisk, though not unfriendly. She's just eager to get down to business.]

Korrin here. I always love sparring with anyone interested, but now it's for more than just the hell of it. If you're not part of the Forces division and don't mind going toe-to-toe with a giant horned mage, hit me up. I swear I'm less intense than I look. 

Not that it should need to be said, but rifters are more than welcome. I'm always curious about what you can do. If you can pull a surprise out of your ass that'll knock me on mine, I'll buy you a drink. 




[Private to Adalia]

I have something different to ask of you. You're a storm mage, right? You have the same affinity with lightning that I do? 

Comments

[swordproof]

[ Six's lips twitch a little and she moves, adjusting her weight. She's not used to being quick and fast - she uses her strength and her spells to her advantage and, given her size, that often works. Here she has to try other things and it's the adaptability that years of fighting have forced on her. ]

Not usual, no, but I can adapt.

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin halts abruptly as she realizes Nari's unprepared, too late to stop her magic as it's unleashed. Wincing, she lowers her staff and looks her friend over for anything beyond risen hair.

"Sorry! I thought you--it doesn't matter, I'll always call it out first beforehand. Do you need anything?"

[gatheringstorm]

A vital skill, that.

[Realizing she should change things up, and it's also worthwhile to see how Six reacts when on the defensive. So instead of waiting for Six to come to her, she'll relentlessly push forward and test another potential blind spot with her blade, checking to see if Six will be able to counter in time.]

[nadasharillen]

"You're fine!" Nari says in response to the apology, and then "I'm fine!", and then as she's getting back up, dusting herself off with a chuckle, "We're fine." Her hair tickles the tips of her ears in a very unfamiliar way, and she reaches to smooth it down; it crackles a little under her hands and she grins.

"How much longer have we got before this tonic runs out?" she asks, rolling her shoulders. The one makes her wince slightly, but it's nothing a hot bath and some time won't fix. "I can try two in a row if I know that's what's happening."

[gatheringstorm]

"They last about three minutes each. I don't think doubling up extends the duration, so be careful about the timing." Nari should still have some time, they've only gone through a couple of spells, but she wants them to remain aware of the passage of time. "If we make this a thing, you might be better served with a belt of resistance, so you won't have to track time. Anyway, do you want me to continue?"

[nadasharillen]

She hums thoughtfully about the belt idea, but time's running out, so she files the possibility away for later and nods at Korrin.

"Sounds good-- quick question though. If I dive low enough towards you, do you know if the spell will catch me or continue on to where you aimed it first?"

If she doesn't know the answer, they can always try it. Everyone learns something new!

[gatheringstorm]

"It depends on the spell. Lightning bolt will catch you, so will that energy barrage...chain lightning has a chance of missing if you're very quick." She resumes her stance, waiting for Nahariel to give the nod before casting anew.

[swordproof]

I had to learn.

[ The change in pace is unexpected but she does her best to match it; there's a stumble as Korrin goes for her weak side and she almost misses it, barely clipping it with her sword and forced backwards because of it. Her eyes flick up and she grins. ]

I must learn faster.

[lyriumcarved]

Which I'm glad for. There are few mages I'd care to have along in my company, but you're one of them.

[Mages who don't act like mages are the best kind. Or who don't act like magisters, anyway, who aren't in love with their power for its own sake, but view it as a battle tool. That's why he's always gotten on so well with Korrin, really.]

[gatheringstorm]

You will.

[She grins back, her tone one of calm assurance though still pretty satisfied with that outcome. She won't take for granted a chance to put a trained warrior off her guard, even if it's just for a moment. She paces to the side, readying her weapon for another pass.]

[swordproof]

[ It makes Six laugh, which seems like a rare enough occurrence that she's delighted with her own enjoyment. It's been some time since she fought for practice, for fun, rather than for her life, and she takes it in her stride. She's quick to push herself, however, moving forward and swinging, hard, with all her strength - which is considerable. ]

[gatheringstorm]

[That strength surprises Korrin, who though tall and well-muscled is still a more mage than warrior. And even then, her training is with a lighter blade and no shield. She tries to block that hard swing but Six is just that little bit faster, and the practice blade smacks her arm instead. That will be sore later, but for now it's bearable.]

Got me good, there.

[Which means she has to return the favor.]

[swordproof]

[ Six grins and digs her heels in this time; rather than attempting to move or dodge she steels herself, preparing to just take the hit and use the - hopefully - shock of it to retaliate. ]

I'm learning.

[thunderproof]

❰ !!!! THIS SOUNDS AMAZING ❱

I would be so into that, oh my gods — absolutely, I'd love to help you! When would you like to start? Can I see the book first?

[gatheringstorm]

Absolutely. How about we meet tomorrow, in the library? Once you're caught up, we can always make a field trip to the Wounded Coast, find a spot that bandits haven't claimed...or clear one, if there isn't.

[nadasharillen]

"Try the bolt?" Nari asks, still a little wary of that barrage. She rolls her shoulder and hops on her toes again to make sure she's able to give the exercise her best effort still, then nods.



[let me know if/when you want to wrap up, since I was delinquent and May is here~]

[gatheringstorm]

[Probably after this bit?]


"Right." Korrin acts quickly after that nod, concentrating and summoning forth a lightning bolt near Nari that promptly streaks down toward her. Here's hoping her reflexes hold.

[nadasharillen]

Remembering the motion from earlier, Nari leaps at what she hopes is the right time. The bolt itself misses her, but unlike the chain lightning that had come before it, this one apparently has an after-strike radius of some sort that sends a brief tight wave of paralysis up through her that locks her up mid-leap long enough to completely wreck her chances of rolling out of it. She lands stretched out with a solid thud that knocks her breath out, wheezing rhythmically once the freeze passes in a way that could either be laughter or sobbing.

She raises an arm slowly to motion that she's fine, turning her head towards Korrin. Ah--it's laughter.


[sounds good! haha I think she's about done]

[gatheringstorm]

The sharp scent of lightning permeates the air, but Korrin's more paying attention to the fact that Nari wasn't quite able to get out of the way. The Vashoth rushes over when she drops, covering ground in three strides. That movement and laughter provokes a flood of relief from Korrin as she crouches down, inspecting her.

"I'll help you up, but take it slow. And I think that's enough for today."

[nadasharillen]

"I think you're right," Nari replies with a lopsided grin, gratefully accepting Korrin's help to her feet. "Although that was certainly less savage than the time I got hit when Sam was being targeted. I thought it missed me, what was that aftershock?"

[gatheringstorm]

She smiles back, encouraged. "Well, the point is to paralyze. The other part...it's not harmless, but I'd say it's more to get your attention, keep you focused so you don't think to look for what happens next. Lightning magic isn't just about pure damage, but using the element against people. If you've watched me cast Static Cage, you'll know what I mean."

[nadasharillen]

Nari hums thoughtfully. "I honestly hadn't thought about much in the way of spellwork besides dealing or healing direct harm." That and Keeper's magic. After all, Sina had used to trip her with vines and roots when they used to spar. Before everything. She thins her lips, remembering the fierce joy on her clansister's face as the earth came to the call of her hands. Nari blinks quickly until the cobblestones stop fuzzing.

"Sorry. I-- just thinking about something Sina used to do. I've not seen Static Cage," she says with an only slightly strained smile. "Tell me more about it some time? I'll buy the drinks next time if you let me pick your brain."

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin rests a steadying hand on Nari's shoulder, just in case she needs it. Mention of Sina has her raising an eyebrow, curious but wanting to give Nari leeway so that she doesn't feel it necessary to answer.

"Absolutely, and you can tell me about Sina's magic...if you want and it's something that can be shared with non-Dalish. I don't want to take that for granted."

[nadasharillen]

"I'm sure if there was anyone Sina wouldn't mind hearing it would be you," Nari says, lifting a hand to touch Korrin's. "Not that my stories would help you much if you meant to turn them to study. I think the best way to put it would be that the earth came to her call the same way the sky comes to yours." She crosses her arms over her chest and looks up at the blue. "If she'd been able to come to her full strength, had ever been able to stand with you on the battlefield..." although perhaps without the young First's tragedy none of their history with the Inquisition would have come to pass.

Nari raises her eyebrows and huffs a laugh of respectful awe through her nose, "I'd pity Corypheus's forces. If I had any care for their welfare, anyway."