That's a shield in your hand, block with it!

[perseverances]

WHO: Cullen Rutherford and you!
WHAT: Cullen's decided to step in and get hands-on when training some of the newer recruits.
WHEN: Mid-Haring
WHERE: Training Grounds, around Skyhold
NOTES: Obviously after the Abomination attack. Apparently distractions, people falling off walls, who knows.

Cullen had been down in the Training grounds this early winter morn, for several reasons, actually. One was to make sure that they were keeping up to pace with where they should be, and two, to make sure that the older soldiers kept up their training. They did not want to be caught unprepared with anything that should happen outside or within Skyhold. They should be prepared for anything, including one of their own falling victim to anything that should happen.

A few of the newer recruits couldn't tell the hilt from the pointy-end, and even after explaining that 'you stick someone with the pointy end,' a few of them might be lost causes. Not everyone is good at first, he has to remind himself, and instead takes a sword from an older soldier to explain what he does. "Grip it firmly, but allow it to move with you. Too firm a grip could be a downfall."

He shows the recruit a few ways to stand while holding the sword, placing his feet shoulder-width apart to make sure that he plants his feet for better footing. A few good swings and thrusts, then add the shield in. You block with it, obviously, but they're used to push enemies off. The hands on approach seem to be working with the new recruits until someone asks for a demonstration, and while Cullen is all too fine to bow out, some of the elder soldiers try to egg their Commander on until he relents. Despite the chill in the air, Cullen disrobes and removes his armor as well, allowing him full movement to show the recruits his actions. They form a circle around the Commander and someone brave enough to go up against him. It's a quick battle to the spectators, but throughout Cullen is giving advice to the man up against him. The soldier ends up on his back, but with constructive criticism. More offer to step into the ring with the Commander, and in each spar, he shows the recruits what needs to be done in order to not get killed.

Feel free to watch the sparring, challenge the Commander, offer pointers to the recruits, or catch Cullen afterwards.

Comments

During!

[the_effect_she_has]

Katniss had been hanging around Skyhold for a few days, waiting to see if she could find a way for them to save the villagers. Perhaps with magic, or not magic, or prayer. As it was, she was currently trying to track down the Commander, and was coming from the Great Hall when she saw one of his messengers -- what was that man's name?

Oh, forget it. "Messenger!"

The messenger paused as Katniss approached, blinking at her, "Yes, ah, Scout Everdeen?"

"Have you seen the Commander?" Katniss asked, putting as much professional briskness in her voice as possible.

"Oh! Yes, he's down in the training circle, working with the new recruits." He nodded towards the front steps, "Right down there -- watch the fourth step on the second flight down, I think it's broken."

"Thanks." She nodded, before scanning the circle to see if she could spot Cullen -- and she did. Sans armor ... sweating, going through what looked like a dance with sword and shield ... hair mussed, light in his eyes and ...

She completely missed that fourth step, and found herself stumbling right down the stairs, right towards the very hard stone railing.

Time slowed as panic immediately evaporated to thought, as training and muscle memory took over. Control the fall. Ara's voice, clear as a bell, and so she tucked her head in and turned it into a roll, then as she came to the landing, thrust out with her feet to send her up to the stone railing, flipping up. Zevran's voice was next, smooth as butter, Make it look good, Bella.

So she used her arms to balance on the stone railing before pushing herself up and over, so she could do one more flip and land in the midst of the now gawking-at-her recruits, and one of them pointed at her ... with the pointy end of the sword, nearly taking off her head. She rolled out of the way, coming into a ready crouch as she gave the soldier a wry look as she straightened, slightly breathless.

"Try not to point and gape with a naked weapon in your hand." She advised, putting one hand on her hip as Mia coached her in her head, Composure, dear, always composure. "I like my head where it is."

The soldier stared at her, stared at the sword, and then turned to look plaintively at the Commander. "Ser? How are we s'pposed to hit someone who does something like that?"

Katniss looked towards Cullen, and something of a mischievous feeling slipped through her as she stated, "Well, I am sure the Commander could show you some moves, if he wants to use those moves on me."

[perseverances]

Half of the recruits have the gall to stop mid-training to stare at the entire spectacle, and when it's all over, instead of outright responding to anything, Cullen simply laughs. He can't help it. It was a wonderful recovery on her part, something he was sure that only Zevran could have done.

"If you're complaining now about that, then you'll have no chance against the Red Templars in the field, soldier."

Cullen smirks at her remark, "Are you volunteering to demonstrate, Scout Everdeen?"

[the_effect_she_has]

Now that was something he could do more of. Along with the wearing of less armor and the sweating. She was glad she was already flushed, no one could see her blushing. She tilted her her to the side, seemingly to think about it before she moved towards the training circle.

"Certainly, Commander." She leaned on the railing for a moment, meeting his smirk with one of her own. "I volunteer as tribute."

Then she grabbed the railing and jumped over, nothing fancy. She had the feeling she was going to need the energy. "Would you prefer with or without the bow?"