The morning is young as Ricin trots out to the training grounds, readying to give some of the fighters a lesson. Now, some might say that the light blue boy doesn’t know much about fighting but this is not true. Having a brother who is an avid fighter and hunter, he has picked up a few tricks. Straw wolves have been set up around the dirt covered area and clear lines mark off where the rings for sparring are.

Poking a couple of the straw dummies, he nods to himself before tipping his head back to call for his group. They had been warned the day before that there was going to be training and now it is time. Moving to center of the nearest sparring ring, the tall, blue boy takes a seat and waits for the group to file in.

Once everyone has arrived and settled, he greets them, “Good morning everyone! Today we are going to do some fight training! First, I want you to tell me what the best place to strike a killing blow is and why.” Crimson eyes scan his students, waiting to hear each of their answers and reasoning behind them.


"Ricin Dauner"

Desponia had bristled a little at the idea of taking a lesson from a child, she hadn't given the boy any indication of her irritation but it made her movements stiff as she moved to answer his call, for all her resentment about the situation she'd made up her mind to at least play the part of a dutiful pack member for now and so she would go to the lesson regardless of her personal feelings. She didn't like it even more that it was Ricin who was giving the lesson, she was sure he was a perfectly fine young man but she didn't trust anyone who seemed so devoted to her sister.

The woman swept into the training area and settled herself before the boy, doing her best to not look as on edge as she felt. She made a point to only glance as everyone else shuffled in and had to stifle the desire to roll her eyes as Ricin asked the gathering where the best place to strike for a killing blow was and why. She felt like a pup being walked through the basics when she was significantly more knowledgeable than that. Still, she was here. "The throat, it has one of the most important veins. That is assuming your opponent isn't smart enough to protect their throat."

Speech

Image by Lipton23

His first training in Elysium had been called. Ifrit didn't know anyone in the pack yet and had no clue who was who outside of Manea and Alastor. He had to admit, however, that those he did see in passing were rather colorful. He had yet to see a wolf in the pack with bland colors, mostly purples, blues, and reds. He didn't stick out like a sore thumb, and that was something he appreciated. He was still learning the ways of the pack, so he decided he would attend the training even if just to see how they worked.

He arrived to find a...yearling? Leading the training today. He wasn't sure how to feel about that, but he wasn't about to judge the kid. After all, Ifrit was still young in terms of age, and he knew even younger wolves had the potential to be really good at certain things, so maybe this was one of those situations. The blue yearling greeted them as they arrived, and as Ifrit found a spot to sit, he listened to the question posed to them. The purple woman would answer first. It wasn't a hard question, honestly. "The throat, as she said. Or the heart, if you can stab it and your aim isn't off. Both options make for a quick kill."

"Speech"

Fia could remember Ricin from the long time ago at the festival, and she had seen him around the pack here and there but with her own homebody nature she hadn't gotten out to know him or anyone else very well. She was starting to get older, grow responsibilities and what not. And she wanted to do good for her family.

Joining the few that gathered here she stayed quiet, and let Ricin start the lesson. Before she could respond, Desponia had answered in just the way she was thinking. She too wasn't so innocent in her young age and she certainly wasn't boisterous. At the very least she wasn't annoying so she supposed the older group should be thankful for that. She did squint a little at Desponia's reactions to Ricin and the question but wouldn't speak up. Instead turning a side eye to Ifrit as he agreed and added on a little more.

The throat would have been Fia's answer, and even with both the same answers given one would have been enough for her. She didn't say a word. Just sat amongst the little group looking down at the ground between them.

"Fiametta"

Albion looked up and scowled at the morning light as he was called to lessons that morning. His pale eyes squinted as he made his way to the group, fixing his features into more neutrality when he arrived to find the all too chipper Ricin leading them today. He spoke his question, the wolves gathered seemed in consensus that the throat was the best place. Albion waited and finally answered himself, "The base of the skull.” He answered, slightly contrary to popular opinion though he was in the same general area. "A quick snap of the neck and they’re gone.” Besides, he was one of the tallest wolves and he struck from above.

"Albion Klein"

Standing in a group of mostly pups and yearlings attending a training led by a boy that hardly looked to be the type to go charging into a fight felt ridiculous, but at this point he was doing pretty much anything to get his sister off of his back. He had forgotten how much more peaceful life was when he was the only one that could tell him what to do, but now he was in too deep to back out. Perhaps if he hadn't met Ikigai and he hadn't found himself in this marriage that made this important alliance he would have rethought this decision to join his family again, but since that wasn't the case he figured he should do the song and dance of going through these trainings and such until he proved himself. He sat back on his haunches, listening as the question of where the best place to land a killing blow was. Several agreed on the throat—which wasn't a bad call, of course—but the pale brute that he had seen hanging around with his niece mentioned a bate at the base of the skull. "That's always been a favorite of mine as well," he agreed, giving Albion a small smirk before he looked back to Ricin to await their next question or point.

"Deimos Medacium"

The fighters begin to arrive and Ricin remains seated, offering each of them a small smile as they filter in. Once everyone has arrived, he greets them, posing his simple question to the group. Desponia seems bored or angry at this whole thing but speaks up, offering the throat. Nodding, he looks to Ifrit as the huge male speaks up, offering the same idea and another; the heart. Another nod as his ruby gaze slides across the group, spying the quiet yet observant Fia among the ranks. Albion speaks up next and his gaze moves to the pale boy, nodding to his addition of the base of skull before moving to Deimos who agrees with Albion’s answer.

When it is clear there will be no more options, Ricin says, “All great options there! And they would be the best ways to kill an opponent. However, today’s lesson is about adapting and figuring out how to kill an opponent in full armor.” A grin splits his maw as the boy stands, moving over to five straw dummies that are covered with furs. With a flourish, he grabs the closest fur and reveals the dummy underneath. The normal straw wolf has a thick hide helmet that covers its face and a ring of chainmail attached to it that covers the neck. For the body, hard leather armor completely covers it and the parts of the legs that attach to the body.

Looking back to the class, he says, “Alright, everyone come up and claim a dummy. I want you to point out weak spots or gaps in the armor. Only that for now. Wolves, to your dummies.” Ricin grins and retreats to where he can watch and hear their observations without being in the way and settles in to listen.


"Ricin Dauner"

Deimos raised a brow with a bit of curiosity as the blue boy that had become today's teacher confirmed their answers, but then told them that their lesson would actually be on how to take down a wolf cloaked in full armor. He hadn't had a set of armor himself since he began his travels—nor had he really found himself in organized combat—so the thought wasn't one that had immediately come to mind. His gaze followed the smaller young man as he moved to a grouping of covered dummies and revealed one with a slightly over dramatic flourish. The straw dummy that loosely resembled a wolf had a leather and chainmail helmet covering its face and neck and heavy leather armor that covered the rest of its body and parts of the legs.

He glanced toward Ricin as he gave the next set of instructions and Deimos gave a quiet grunt of acknowledgment before stepping forward, choosing one of the dummies at the end of the row and beginning to look over it's armor and deciding how he would approach it. He reached a paw up, moving the flexible chainmail away from its neck a bit, and replied, "It wouldn't be all that difficult to get up under the chainmail here to get to the neck. Also, the lower legs and inner thighs are pretty exposed as well." He already knew how he would approach the attack, but since his only instruction was to point out the weak points he stoped there, waiting for the next part of the training.

"Deimos Medacium"

Ricin agreed that the options presented were probably the best ways, but then he added a twist to their training. He pulled the fur off the standing tool to reveal a wolf-like dummy wrapped in leather armor. One for each of them. Albion’s pale paws took him to the furthest dummy out and his glass eyes glossed over the ridiculous thing. He tilted his pale features as his gaze meandered over the cracks and crevices between the leather. Where was the weakness? Deimos mentioned underneath the chainmail and the inner legs, but you’d have to work hard to do that in the heat of battle. Albi tried to think outside the box a little.

"I think the biggest weakness is how immobile the armor makes you. Without the relief points you’d be far less maneuverable.” He spoke after another beat as he took one last long glance at the ungainly armor.

"Albion Klein"

Fia stays silent as Ricin reveals the next part of the training, stepping forward to the dummies that were hidden at first. She only looks around at the others for a moment, listening to what everyone else has to say before giving a response herself. She was more interested in how everyone else's mind worked rather than trying to figure it out herself.

She came along beside the dummy, sitting and pointing a paw more to the side of the wolf but was suggesting under, "Underneath." She was much smaller than anyone else here at this training, but that was simply because she was younger. She knew that, but she also imagined she'd be more able to knock someone over when she was bigger and done growing, and did some more physical training of course. "I'd knock them over to break the latches and get the armor off." Maybe not the most logical answer, maybe not logical at all. But Fia had never been in a real battle with anyone, and especially no one in armor like this before. Her ideas wouldn't work so quickly in a real fight but it was the thought that mattered she supposed.

"Fiametta"

He watched in amusement as the blue male unveiled a set of practice dummies cloaked in full armor. Listening intently, he smirked slightly as he wondered what ideas the others would come up with. Good options, he supposed. While he was no expert, he had come up against a foe or two that were cloaked in gear. He didn't have any of his own, preferring to use his own natural weapons both offensively and defensively, though perhaps it wouldn't be a bad idea to consider some sort of armor at some point.

Moving over to a straw dummy of his own, he looked it over for a few moments before deciding. "Here, if the opponent moves in a way that exposes this area, even briefly," He pointed at the spot where the foreleg connected to the body, where the armpit area would be. "Here," He indicated again, pointing at the belly, "If you can knock them off their feet and get them on the ground," Then he walked around to the back of the dummy, a mischievous grin on his face. "While it won't kill them, there's free access to the balls, at that point I think they'd prefer to die."

"Speech"

Desponia rose reluctantly to her paws and dutifully lined herself up in front of a straw wolf, giving it a few careful one-overs with her gaze. She listened as each other wolf gave their observations and the woman sighed as it fell silent for a moment. Finally, she lifted a paw to tap at joints, shoulders, knees, and ankles. "There have to be openings on joints otherwise the wearer can't move, and they can be exploited. But can't be too eager to jam weapons in there, if you snap a blade in an enemy's joints you'll actually staunch the blood." It would only help an armored enemy to have your weapon stuck in them at that point, they're not freely bleeding and now you're down a weapon.

Speech

Image by Lipton23

Ricin looks around the group, moving to first Deimos and listening to his explanation. With a nod of agreement, the boy says, “Yes, that is true. However, if you don’t have a weapon, which area would you go for first? While the chainmail on the neck might be easy to get to, would it be easier to go for the inner thighs?” These lines of inquiries are meant to help the students question their critical thinking and challenge their convictions. Deimos made good points but, in the heat of battle, which area would he strike first?

Once, Deimos gives his explanation, the boy then moves to the large pale male known as Albion and listens to his thoughts. Dipping his head in agreement, Ricin asks, “Since the armor makes them less maneuverable, how would you use that to your advantage? Would you try to select a certain type of ground to fight them on? If so, why that ground?” Dark backed ears perk as he listens to the explanation, offering the male a smile before moving on.

Next up is Fiametta, the daughter of Manea and Alastor. A gentle smile is on his lips as he listens, again nodding in agreement before asking, “How would you knock them over if they are taller than you? What about if they are smaller? Once you flip them over, would you need to break off armor or could you go for the exposed belly?” Eyebrow raises slightly as he queries her, offering another nod before moving on to the next wolf.

Coming to stand near Ifrit, he listens to the huge male, giving a soft chuckle at his idea before asking, “What if it is a female wolf? What would you bite then? If you bite that area of the foreleg, would you hit anything important? What would happen?” head cocks slightly as he listens, nodding in approval before moving to the last wolf in the group.

Desponia speaks about the joints in the armor and Ricin offers her a wide grin, saying, “How could you prevent that from happening? Are there any traps you could lay to slow them so you could get access to the joints?” Patiently, he listens, offering her a warm smile and dip of his head before moving back to where they can all see him.

Turning to face the group, Ricin address them once more, “Fighting is more than just biting and hurting. You have to adapt at a moment’s notice. In a spilt second you have to decided how, when, and where to attack. Because of this you need to sharpen your minds as well as your fighting skills so that you can see all these things and change tactics as needed.”

Allowing his ruby gaze to roam over them, he offers a huge grin and says, “Okay, try out your techniques! Once you are done, remove the armor from your dummies and you are free to go! Any questions, don’t be afraid to ask.” With that, he releases the class to do what they want before heading off for the day.


"Ricin Dauner"

Albion’s gaze continued to rove up and down over the test dummy, continuing to suss out weakness before Ricin turned his attention back towards him, Goading another question as he encouraged more critical thinking. He mentioned something about terrain, but really that was the last thing on Albion’s mind. He had even less say over the terrain they fought upon than he did what kind of armor his opponent was wearing.

"I doubt it would be as easy as choosing my own preferred terrain.” He answered in his usual monotone voice. "I’d just have to move faster and use my natural fleet footedness.” Despite his size, and the weight of his bones, Albion was lithe and quick on his paws. That seemed enough to satisfy Ricin as he moved on to the next wolf. Eventually the lesson was brought to a close and all of them were dismissed.


"Albion Klein"

Fia didn't dislike Ricin, in fact she quite liked him. But the setting of everyone around and Ricin expecting different inputs and putting his sole focus on each and every one of them, that's what Fia didn't like. She'd look rather unenthused as he started to go around and question everyone's responses. Eventually coming to her which didn't change her attitude at all.

She just sat there, letting him give her the added thoughts and concerns. She took it in, she understood, but she really just looked like she'd rather not be here. It was true. He'd move on and she'd still be listening, she wouldn't let up on that. It would just appear that wasn't the case. He'd tell them all to try their techniques or whatever, but she didn't quite do that either. She took a walk around her dummy, inspecting it, looking around at all the areas of easy access given the armor. And after a moment or so she'd take off the stuff like Ricin had asked and she'd be on her merry way. Back to lay around her den, and she'd look forward to helping Avacyn with something tomorrow.

"Fiametta"

He had to admit, Ricin had a point. He glanced back at his dummy, imagining now that it was a female and not a male with balls. He hadn't really thought about it before, but now he had to think of another way. It would hurt to get hit on the inner thigh, right? He raised a paw and flexed his claws, wiggling his toes as he looked from his claws to the dummy and slowly reached forward as if testing the spots that might do some pretty good damage. The belly, the inner thighs, the tendons in the ankles...all spots that would send a wolf - male or female - to the ground, he was sure. After listening to the questions he posed to everyone else, Ifrit did as he was bid and removed the gear from the straw dummy and...well, set it down. He wasn't sure where else it was supposed to go, so he piled it somewhat neatly against the dummy before nodding to the instructor and headed off to think about other things he could potentially try in a fight...and to perhaps go on a hunt.

"Speech"