faderift | You'll fight and you'll make it through

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You'll fight and you'll make it through

WHO: Hermione and OPEN!
WHAT: Catch-all for the month (let me know if you'd like a particular starter)
WHEN: Wintermarch, going into Guardian if need be
WHERE: Throughout Skyhold
NOTES: Feel free to assume prior minor CR between them, especially if your character would have taken/taught any classes involving magic or Thedosian history/culture. I'm willing to handwave more major previous CR if that would make the thread move along more easily, but we can hash out those details either via PM or on plurk (

StarryOblivion).

Archery range

To her credit, Hermione was trying.

Her magic still wasn't coming along as seamlessly as she would hope, and so she'd bitten the bullet and decided that she'd need to learn other ways of defending herself, since she couldn't rightfully stay within the confines of Skyhold forever. Most weapons were too large or heavy for an untrained person of smaller stature, and the ones that weren't would force her to get much closer to an enemy than she would want to, especially if bloodshed was going to be involved. Given all that, archery seemed the best bet. She could stay a safe distance from most of the fighting and also run with her weapon without it tripping her up or throwing off her balance. And besides, she'd used a bow and arrow before.

Once.

For fun.

And she hadn't been very good.

Which explained why she'd raised the bow before the arrow was properly nocked, resulting in the arrow unexpectedly flying loose with an almost comical twang! and a gasp from the startled young witch. She widened her eyes as she instinctively looked around, hoping that no one had seen that, before realizing that she should be more concerned with where the arrow had gone and fervently hoping it hadn't managed to somehow hit someone.

Perhaps she should stay away from weapons for a while?

Training Grounds

She'd made it quite clear to anyone who offered to spar with her that she didn't know the first thing about fighting without any sort of magic, but even so, Hermione wasn't really going to leave anything to chance. She'd been tortured before, and while no physical injury could match what had been done to her, she still wasn't a big fan of pain and was in no hurry to subject herself to any injuries that may require more than a quick visit to the healing tents.

Long hair pulled back into a bun and wearing as much light armor as she could get away with without hindering her movement, Hermione always stood stiffly as she eyed her opponent, looking for weaknesses. She was small and fairly fast, so if she could assess her situation before the match even started, she could try to use that to her advantage and end things as quickly as possible. Still, she was here to learn, and one didn't learn without asking questions, so there was no shortage of those as she awkwardly went through the motions each and every time.

"Is my stance all right? Where should my hands be while I'm defending myself? You're not going to actually hit me hard, are you? I don't fancy a broken nose, and I'm not looking to hurt you. You know I'm only looking to defend myself, don't you? You'll stop if I ask you to, won't you? What should I be doing with my feet?"

On and on it went, and if she couldn't get herself used to any kind of bare-handed combat, Hermione was just going to have to get her hands on her own staff and start practicing a different sort of sparring, assuming that her mage friends wouldn't mind showing her how to use a staff in a less traditional sort of way.

The Baths

While she always did what she could to keep herself clean, Hermione had managed to avoid the baths for an extended period of time. It was easy enough when making water was one of the only spells she could still reliably do, and she'd been forced to get used to limited hygiene during the year she'd spent on the run. But now that she was actually involved in regular physical activity, she couldn't really make do with a quick wash or a mostly-clothed dip in the bath.

Though it always seemed like most of the people she would see down there relished their time in the water, Hermione had never exactly enjoyed communal baths. Still, she did happen to go down there while it was mostly empty, and there was no rule saying she had to be completely nude to get herself clean. She was a grown woman, and if she wanted to sit in a bath with her underwear on, she was surely entitled to it.

Besides, the hot water felt good on her sore muscles (she was getting muscles now; when did that happen?), and so it was easier for her to relax than she might have thought otherwise. So long as no one tried to engage her in conversation while their privates were less-than-private, she could almost enjoy soaking in there for a bit.

Library

The drawback to not having your own small, private, contained bath was that you couldn't read in the tub, and despite her newer hobbies, reading will always be Hermione's first love. While she might not be as much of a fixture in the library as she used to be upon her initial arrival, anyone looking for her could simply hang about the vicinity long enough and she would find her way back there before too long. These days, she mostly read for the various classes she was taking, but she still found the time to read one of the "lighter" books available in Skyhold's library. Sometimes, these books were written with a very marked biased, and whoever might be sitting close enough to the young rifter might be drawn into a heated discussion over said bias. It was all right, though; she usually kept her voice down, given that it was a library.

Wildcard!

Choose your own adventure!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Watching how she adjusts her stance, he finally nods. She looks a little more ready for a proper defense than before. "Good, much better."

He can only agree with her idea about being widely skilled. "You never know when you might end up losing your primary tools of battle. Not long ago, I was at the Winter Palace, unarmed, and had to make do with what I could get my hands on." He frowns at the memory. They'd all been taken by surprise, but he's not about to go unprepared anywhere again. "Magic is very strange though, who knows how it differs between the worlds? It's good to be prepared for anything that may happen."

"Daggers," she replies, focusing more on holding her form until he directs her further. A brief moment passes before she realizes that context is in order. "Hide at least two daggers upon your person if you're going to an event where you may be forced to give up your weapons. After they find the first one, they usually won't search for a second unless they have reason to believe you have ill intentions. Or are an assassin." Once again, there's the briefest of pauses before she glances over at him. "I read it in a book. It was the only thing in that entire story that sounded plausible."

As it is, she hates the idea of cutting someone, but it's something to keep in the back of her mind as a back-up plan, in case both magic and self-defense fail her. And speaking of self-defense.... "We have a spell back home that would disarm our enemies from some distance away. It... sort of works here, but it goes awry. What would be the quickest way to disarm someone who tries attacking me with a small- to medium-sized weapon?"

"That sounds like it must have been a guidebook for rogues... assassins tend to start their training in that fighting style. Still, it's not a bad idea. Better to have something than nothing whatsoever." He's never been as fond of lighter knives and such, but he could probably get by well enough if it came down to it. In desperate times and all... one had to improvise.

"As for disarming... well, for one, you can always kick them." He says that in a dry tone that could be taken as joking, but he follows up, "I mean that seriously, if you see any vulnerable spot, punch or kick with all your might. Surprise alone would be on your side, no matter the size or abilities of your enemy. There are also some techniques involving grabbing your opponent's arm and twisting it back just so... but that takes quite a bit of training to pull off right. I could demonstrate if you'd like."

"A novel," she replies. "By someone named... Tethras something-or-other. Or perhaps Tethras was his surname. At least, I assume it was written by a man. There were distinct tells in the style, from what I managed to get through." Before it had become complete and utter smut, that is.

She frowns a little at the mention of kicking someone, and she's even less fond of the thought of twisting someone's arm. She'd much rather get through this sort of thing without touching someone, even if she knows that's a naive thought. "I... suppose it wouldn't hurt to learn. Unless it would hurt. Either way, it's probably for the best to go slowly."

There's an almost-amused look when she says the name. Just one of the facts of being native to this world, knowing names and such... even if he himself isn't personally acquainted with the man. Though he knows he's been involved with the Inquisition. "Thethras, as in Varric Thethras?"

"Anyway, it's probably your best bet... even if it may take some getting used to, especially since you're not a physical fighter." He shakes his head, "And don't worry, this shouldn't hurt. It'll somewhat hurt or startle your opponent if done right, of course, enough for them to drop the weapon."

"Perhaps," Hermione replies, clearly not thinking too hard on a random author in the midst of all the other books she'd read. Especially not when the author in question isn't particularly talented, in her eyes.

Still hesitant, Hermione tries not to chew on her lower lip as she replies, "Right, then. Where do you suggest we start first?" She certainly isn't going to put her hands on him without direct instruction, even if they are doing something inherently physical.

"He's a writer of romance novels and the like... it's not my preference, but many others are into that sort of thing." Kain would sooner just read about all dragons all day, if it were possible.

He pauses, assessing her stance again. "Here, stand like this, as if you're about to attack. Do you have any weapon with you to hold onto for a moment? Anything will do? I'll come at you slowly with the disarm, so you see how it's done."

"Everyone has their quirks," Hermione responds absently, though the slight wrinkle of her nose proves that romance novels aren't exactly her preference, either.

She hesitates a bit when he asks if she has a weapon. After a few moments, she slowly moves over to the side where she'd left her bag on the ground and roots through before withdrawing what might look like a small, delicate-looking stick. Normally she'd carry it around with her, but if there's a chance of her getting purposely hit or falling, she hadn't wanted to risk it breaking; it's already damaged enough as it is.

Resuming her position by Kain, she holds up the wand and almost sheepishly asks, "Does this count?"

"All too true." He looks at the 'weapon' she pulls out curiously, not familiar with it. It takes a moment for it to click just what it probably is, considering he's more used to seeing the staves that their mages use here. After all, if she's a mage, then... it only stands to reason she'd have some sort of weapon to channel the magic, that's how it works. "Ahh... a wand of some sort? Yes, that would count."

He retakes his position as well, preparing himself. "So... it's like this... you have to be quick about it..." He moves forward with a deliberate motion, to grab her arm and wrist just so, to try and twist and pull such that grabbing the weapon away could be easy... though he's far more careful about it than he would be with a real attacker, showing the general move and not actually attempting to hurt her. "...like so. That's the basic idea. Locking their arm like that is critical. You can always throw in a kick afterward at such close range. It may not stop them entirely, but... even if they're debilitated long enough to buy you some time..."

The fact that he calls if a wand and not just a miniature staff makes Hermione inexplicably relieved, if only because it shows some form of open-mindedness on his part. That relief only lasts for a moment, though, since she can't help automatically tensing up when he grabs at her. She has to resist the urge to simply do a spell to get him to back off, trying to pay attention to just what he's doing.

"Would it be feasible to do something to get the weapon out of their hand?" she asks, though she tightens her grip on her wand so she won't actually lose it. "I'd feel safer about making them drop it and then kicking the weapon away. It puts us on a bit more of a level playing field."

He's seen wands, if only in images and things, so he knows they exist, or could exist. It doesn't surprise him too much, seeing something a little different. Being a Warden and mingling with all kinds got him ready to deal with the odd variety when it comes to rifters.

"Yes... if you can grab and twist like like this, or this... or even this..." he shows a couple of possible grips. "It'd make it more possible to dislodge the weapon, same for kicking, or any other form of startlement that could make them drop it. The important thing is to think fast. It's not the kind of situation where there's room for taking your time." In many ways, that's why he enjoys being in battle, there's no room for a lot of the usual doubt and so on that he has about most things.

Hermione has difficulty with battles for the same reason Kain seems to excel in them. She has to think things through, has to have a few moments to follow each potential action to its logical conclusion, or else she loses her most valuable asset. Being the smart one doesn't much help when she doesn't have the opportunity to strategize.

That's why she frowns a little as she observes his movements, trying to study each of them to the point where she could see where she'll be in a fight should she go that route. "I suppose that will be easier for me to really wrap my mind around when I'm in the moment. As it is, it's hard for me to act before I think, even with what little practice at it I've been forced to have."

He demonstrates each of the moves again, taking time with them, listening as she mentions that about acting in the moment. Fighting is something he's trained in all his life, something he's always known he would do. He's had a lot of experience, too, so he's pretty used to it all. It's strange to think back to a starting point of sorts.

"Keep practicing. In the heat of battle, a demon won't give you any time to second guess anything, after all. Eventually, it'll become more second nature, you won't have to overthink it."

Hermione had virtually grown up in a library. Even after learning she was a witch, most of her time had still been spent on books, to the point where she hadn't even gone on the run from dark wizards without taking half a library with her. The practical application of fighting is lost on her, much as she understands why it's so vital, particularly in Thedas.

"I'm not so sure I believe that," she replies dubiously, trying to commit all of Kain's movements to memory. "But then, I'm less concerned with second nature and more concerned with at least being able to fend off any lethal injuries until reinforcements can come in. I know my strengths, and fighting will likely never be one of them. I just don't want to be dead weight on a battlefield."

"Which is still a very good idea. A wise one, in fact. Most people prefer to pretend they're stronger than they are or braver, but then when it comes down to it... they're not any good in a fight. So you have the right attitude. Know your strengths... and weaknesses."

He's seen new recruits to the Wardens, even fighters who first take up the sword and... it can end in a lot of pain and disaster. With the things they're facing, it's even more important now than ever to have a good sense of what one can and cannot do. Sure, he might have some problems sometimes with pushing his own limits, but there are some lines even he wouldn't cross.

Hermione would prefer to think of herself as perfect in any field she might attempt. However, if she goes in believing that, she'll never strive to improve herself. And that's what this is about.

"Those are likely people who've had lifelong ambitions to be a fighter, or who don't think their actual strengths are helpful. I just want to be able to keep myself alive so I don't have to worry about someone else risking their life on my account. So long as I can keep myself breathing until I can get the proper research done or cast the right spell, I'll consider this training a success."

"Good, then you're very likely to survive. Living through a battle is just as much about thinking quickly and often simply improvising in the moment as anything... If you can think quickly on your feet, you'll make it. Experience helps, too."

Not that it's necessarily a good thing that there's so many enemies out there to bring down, so many fights yet ahead for them all. Still, the way he sees it, there are always going to be people or creatures out there to fight. There will always be darkspawn to deal with. A Grey Warden's work is never done.

Hermione grimaces just slightly in response. "I never said anything about being able to think quickly while on my feet," she admits, hating what she sees as her biggest weakness. "When I think, I usually require a few books and some parchment to work out an idea and perhaps a cup of tea to settle my nerves. Improvising, while not impossible, is far from my strong suit."

Granted, she's been forced to get better at it over the years, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's her preference, or that it ever will be.

That's definitely the opposite of Kain, who's trained all this time to think fast on his feet. He can't help but think of Inessa, though, when she mentions needing a few books on hand. That sounds about right for her, too. "Not everyone is naturally used to that sort of thing, admittedly. Just... try not to overthink when in the heat of the moment... your intuition may surprise you."

"The trouble with that," Hermione muses, "is that it's hard to replicate 'the heat of the moment' in a training scenario. I'm fairly confident you wouldn't mean me actual harm in the middle of a lesson." Of course, she doesn't know Kain all that well, so she could be entirely wrong, but she likes to believe she isn't.

That really can be a problem, he understands that. Sometimes he forgets what it was like, starting out in his own training. But he's seen this sort of thing in new recruits too. "You're right, of course. The idea of training is to get the motions into your head well enough through repetition... then when the real moment of need arises, you're able to just act. It takes a lot of time and patience to get to that point..."

"I can't really be expected to memorize a dance and then simply make up my own steps when the time comes," she points out dryly. "I suppose I shouldn't expect more than a basic overview from whatever I may or may not learn here, unless you have other ideas."

"But when you have it so committed to memory, you won't have to think... just act, you'll unconsciously know what to do. It becomes embedded in your mind. And it's far better than a mere dance." He steps back, taking out his two-handed sword to demonstrate some of his moves, slashing and stabbing at the air. Well... ok, maybe it does resemble dancing. He'd often noticed the similarity between the two.

"All you'd need are a couple of good basic moves to take your enemy by surprise... and something light weight to carry. Perhaps daggers wouldn't be such a bad idea, as we spoke of earlier? The rogues train extensively in such weaponry."

Hermione likes having to think, and she isn't particularly fond of the idea of being in a situation where that might work to her disadvantage. Of course, she doesn't bother saying that; she's been in enough of her share of fights to know that Kain is right. The only reason she's even still alive is because she'd manage to improvise her way out of more than a few tight spots.

Still, she can't help looking at Kain's demonstration of swordplay a little skeptically, hoping he doesn't expect her to be able to do anything of that sort. She's a fast learner, but she never had been particularly physically adept.

"I'd been practicing with archery lately, but that's more in the hopes that there would always be some distance between myself and the fighting. I've seen often enough what happens to archers who aren't prepared for a close attack. I... doubt I'll ever quite reach your level, but I'd at least like to be one of the ones who isn't left unprepared."

"And that's all you'll need... just enough skill to keep yourself alive. I've trained in the sword since I was a boy, it took a long time to learn all of this. But even the basics..." He glances at her thoughtfully, considering what she's said so far, the way she seems to prefer to fight. "The bow may suit you very well, all things considered. Of course, you'll still want to spend a lot of time with target practice..."

Anything will take a great deal of time to even learn some basics on.

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