I. SEMI-CLOSED.

[letterandspirit]

WHO: Marcus Kane and people of personal interest.
WHAT: A slow appraisement of the Inquisition begins the subtle hunt for one mage in particular.
WHEN: The rest of the Emprise du Lion campaign.
WHERE: Emprise du Lion
NOTES: This log is a catch all for specific starters for planned threads, and hence semi-closed, but entirely open for planning! Please let me know if you'd like to meet Kane and we can divine some kind of encounter.

Comments

early morning. alayre sauveterre.

[letterandspirit]

Kane is a morning person, as most military inclined tend to be, and so is true of many in the Inquisition. It's at this hour that young men and women receive their breakfast to ensure they don't wind up with the scraped, burned morsels at the bottom of the cookware, and others train.

Having already eaten from his own supply, Kane finds himself where soldiers have claimed some ground for informal training and drilling. It's easy to pick out the Templars from the rest, the way they wield their sword and shield, the precision and the stances geared towards fending off magical attack than simply their sparring partner's sword and shield. He doesn't join in, but finds a place to sit and watch.

He isn't dressed as a Templar, having traded away his standard issue armor a long time ago, but he is in sturdy leathers and iron, armed with a good sword and sturdy shield. He's also new, gaining a glance here and there from those who've grown accustomed to seeing the same faces, day in and day out.

[equanimiti]

Alayre was always up at the crack of dawn. It's a habit of his since his childhood days in the orphanage. He can't sleep past sunrise even if he tried. It's like he had an internal clock. Alayre could tell without looking what time of day it was. It's just his thing.

Already up and about sparring with a fellow swordsman, Alayre hadn't noticed the newcomer at all. Much like the other Templar, Alayre settled for dark leathers and furs to keep the bitter chill off. Alayre kind of wished he dressed lighter for the sake of the spar. All this exertion was making him sweat and he felt terribly hot sparring against this young upstart. Something about being the only dual-wielding Templar made him a prime target amongst aspiring swordmen but Alayre honestly doesn't mind.

The telltale sound of swords clashing in this oddly serene but deadly rhythm won the attention of a few onlookers. Alayre had to act quick to avoid his opponent's blade when the man swinged his sword towards his head. The Orlesian blocked the blow by crossing his swords upward to catch it. He then shoved the swordman back with a noisy grunt before attempting to knock the man down.

[letterandspirit]

It's a peculiar style, enough of such that Kane's wandering gaze settles for a time on where the swordsman fends off his opponent. He's fought all his life with a sword and shield, his musculature has adapted to the bearing of the shield, useful against the onslaught of the usual fare of demon and apostate, and the wielding of blade, and both have done him immense favours.

But who knows. This is, after all, Orlais.

The thought makes him smile, just a twinge, and permits himself to stand amongst the onlookers to see if the younger trainee will get the satisfaction he seeks against the two blades he fends against.

[equanimiti]

The trainee was holding his own against the dual-blading Templar, that was until Alayre finally gained the upper hand. He parried the trainee's blade with the Iceblade which hindered the Templar's movement due to its enchantment. As soon as his opponent's blade struck his, the trainee's arm went stiff. Normally, Alayre would've followed up with his smaller sword and cut the man's arm clean off. However, he would do no such thing here since this was just a spar. Instead, Alayre merely tapped the trainee's shoulder with the blunt end of his smaller sword to signify his victory.

A sound of distaste left his opponent's lips but so did a few bits of laughter. There's some humor to be had here at least. The dual-blading Templar certainly seemed to made his point loud and clear among the rest of them. Alayre may not use a traditional sword and shield style, but he could still get the job done.

"That's enough for today." He said once he sheathed his swords. "Can I please enjoy the morning in relative peace?" That request won a few chuckles. The poor man looked so accosted by the endless challengers he faced since dawn. Alayre hadn't known a moment's peace since breakfast.

[letterandspirit]

Kane settles in to watch the next nearest fight once the two-bladed swordsman claims his victory, only just hearing the last of the exchange on the wind amongst all the conversation and clamour of the training grounds in general. The experience levels are as patchy as one can hope for such a diverse outfit, full of trainees and men of experience, Templar mingled with mercenary and budding recruit alike.

He can usually pick out his brothers, and despite Alayre's unusual technique, he can identify him amongst the rest.

When Alayre's next passes by--

"Very sporting," he says, in what could be a Free Marches lilt. Not Starkhaven, by any means, something that is more borderline dwarven, for all that he is clearly a human.