I DID IT! I DID IT!

Yesterday was a first for me in my training. I came running from the city gate up the walk toward the knights camp. I jumped and hit the wall running, beyond the first circle, and ran all the way to the other side to the circle there, taking all 3 corners at a run without falling off!

So it's very silly to be so excited, I know, but those darn corners have been giving me so much trouble, and I've been trying so hard! Yayyyyyy!

~Lady Elysa~

The excitement continues

Well, I've had an exciting, fun-filled day! I almost got capped by Jaril this morning. I don't even know why! I was just standing by the city gate watching the slavers and the undead and the knights all fighting (I have no idea why, but everyone seemed to be fighting everyone, all over the place) and suddenly she came at me! I didn't even hesitate, but turned and ran for all I was worth! Better even Arian or Damien, than Jaril! Fortunately, a certain slaver I know {{{blush}}} told me just the day before, if I am being chased, to run in a straight line as much as possible. So that is just what I did, and managed to make it inside the city walls just in time! That was truly an escape for which I am most thankful..

I did have some real fun though a bit later! Arian offered to spar with me in the arena! on his word that he would not kill me. So I agreed and we went, and it was way fun, trying to keep my focus on him and swing the sword at the same time. It was also very good practice for me, to have a moving target to chase after. The sparring ended when I killed him. Unfortunately, I had to let him go (well, darn!) because a deal is a deal, after all! heheheh. But it was a splendid time, and I now have 2 kills and my skill level has increased :)

I'm still having trouble on the parapet, when it comes to the corners. At a walk I am fine, but at a run, I still fall off maybe 2-3 times of every 5. I am getting very frustrated with that. But I can now approach the wall and leap up onto it at a run, nice trick! it's just the corners that are so much trouble for me. I'm still running around the tents too, but that's getting kind of boring now that I have gotten the hang of it, but I still do it for the practice.

Speaking of Arian, yesterday we actually fought for real. He capped my best friend's sister and I had to fight with him for him to free her. I haven't written about it because it was kind of traumatic for me, but there is a positive side to this, which is why I'm writing this at all. Despite the fact that I lost the fight (well, duh! Arian has the highest skill for a fighter, I the lowest), due to the training I'd been doing it was not the complete disaster I thought it would be. I mean... I know I can't fight, and hated thinking I would make a fool of myself in front of all the people around watching. I assumed the fight woud be over in just a couple of minutes, and it was not... indeed, I did much better than I expected, and gave Arian a good fight before he capped me! Looking back, now, I am very pleased with how well I was able to defend myself, given the circumstances. What I need is practice... a tricky proposition here in Ireem, if I want to stay free and alive (I do!). A sparring partner would be ideal.

~Lady Elysa~

Close Encounters of the Arian Kind

In the last 2 days, I have barely escaped capture by Arian, not once, not twice, but three times! The first time he came almost out of nowhere, and I was startled and unprepared. He was on me before I knew it, and I had on time even to call for help. However, I had just been talking with Jason, and there were other knights around, and they fought him off while I made my escape, but it was a very close thing. Just a few hours later, he came to the knights camp where I was alone, practicing, and this time I was close enough to the city to get inside. Today though was the worst of all... I'd just come into Ireem and was making for the city gates, and he came across the desert. I saw him coming and RAN FOR IT! Fortunately I've learned a few tricks from my training with the knights, and was able to make it into the city, but my health was very poor, my pulse pounding!

Of course, matters are not helped that Mirna and I put out a bounty on him {{{grins}}} and when WongFei capped him, we turned Arian over to Damien for punishment. But since Arian had already been trying to cap us... word is, he even tried to trade a capped knight to the knights for us! ...we didn't have anything to lose, you know? But now he's even more determined, and seems to chase me on sight! I can tell you, I barely made it to the city in time today, that was a very, very close-run thing, and no rescuers in sight... although this time I did have time to call for help as I ran.

I need to train more. Hopefully soon I will be ready to start working with my sword... though I would never dare to face Arian in a fight... my best bet is to just run!

~Lady Elysa~

My first sparring!

I had my first sparring match today, out in the desert beyond the Knights' camp. I didn't do too badly, I capped my opponent, yeay! Of course, he didn't do too badly either, because he capped me at the same time! LOL. We were both at 0%! I was honestly very pleased with myself; I'd expected to be pretty bad at it, so it was nice to see I could at least hold my own (for a short time, at least). I've actually been able to master running around the tent; though the corners of the parapet still are a difficulty for me, even at a walk...but I'm getting very good at jumping back up onto the wall {{{laugh}}} I've been practicing using mouselook everywhere I go, and can now make a not too bad u-turn while at a run! Next Ringo wants me to run around the campfire... not so easy! But I'm not going to give up; I'd never have thought I could get as far as I have, in the short time (less than 24 hours), and if he can do it, so can I... with lots and lots and lots of practice, of course ;) heheheheh. It's quite exhilarating, too! I am starting to feel as if I at least have a miniscule chance at escaping, should I ever have someone coming after me (depends on who it's with, of course).

Oh, and I had my first real chase today! I made it to safety, just barely a breath ahead of the slaver pursuing me, and whoo, was my heart pounding! I can honestly say that I see the excitement that the chase holds for the slaves... but taken all in all, I do not want to be captured (or anything else) and I remain very glad to be a citizen in Ireem.

~Lady Elysa~

MIrna is home!

I am soooooooooooooo happy and relieved! I don't know who, or how; everyone (knights) had been gathered for a rescue, and I was ready to go in with them again, but so much time passed, and then a slaver showed up, and ...well, to be honest, I gave up in despair. I finally left the area by the slavers camp and was on my way home when I heard the news that she had been rescued. I rushed to the palace, where I was allowed the priviledge of being one of the few people allowed to see her. It was wonderful to know she was free, but even better to actually see her with my own eyes, I am so grateful. She was exhausted and careworn from her ordeal, but the Lady Kerri said she would be fine. I am happy now!

After Mirna lay down to rest, I went on home to do the same, able to sleep peacefullly for the first time in 2 days. I do not want to go through another 2 days like that! (I bet Mirna doesn't either!) When I awoke, I went to the knights' camp for news about the war (or any news, for that matter). I mentioned in passing to the knight Ringo that I wished I knew how to use my sword better. He instantly offered to show me some skills. My pathetic attempts should have made him laugh, but he was very kind, and he took me back to a basic skill I had been unaware of... Mouselook! So instead of swinging my sword, you may in the next few days see me walking circles around the tents in the camp, and walking the parapet. Ringo tells me that next I'll be running along the parapet. Uh-huh. Given my current attempts at walking along it, I venture to say that I'll be running it about, oh, say, the new year ;)

~Lady Elysa~