Lessons In War

Chephirah paces along beside Sephar, steady and solid.

Sephar is floating alongside Chephirah, those that know it well would probably note that it's just a bit jittery, as a few wings and limbs are fiddling a bit, but it moves along at a steady pace.

It is a pleasant saunter across the Eternal City from the Halls of Worship, to the borders of the Groves. Great trees rise, their branches whipped by the ceaseless Wind, their roots in the unmoving Stone.

Sephar steadies a bit with Chephirah so solid beside and the beauty of it all touching it with a heartdeep blessing.

Chephirah pauses at the edge of the Groves, just before the first trees. "I'll wait here for you?" she suggests, great amber eyes warm.

Sephar looks up at the trees at the pause and then focusses all its eyes on Chephirah, and smiles, "That would be very nice."

Sephar gives Chephirah a warm hug, whispering softly, "I hope they don't mind if I'm afraid."

Chephirah murmurs, fondly, "I don't think you'll have been the first one, dear."

Sephar chuckles and bobs a nervous nod, "Probably." and floats on in with one last glance and waves at Chephirah.

It is a short way through the eternal trees to where the Servitors of War have their tents and practice grounds. The sounds carry through the air, steel against steel, flesh against flesh, cries of attack, softer words of encouragement.

Sephar pauses just a moment, shakes off once, and keeps going.

Sephar mutters softly to itself, "I have to learn."

Sephar emerges through the trees on top of a class, where a muscular-looking soul is busy walking up and down a line of Mercurians and relievers who are practicing with staves, and trying to work on not hitting their own ankles.

Sephar peers down.

Sephar goes down, looking for someone that isn't looking too busy to ask for Merab.

Another class seems to have just broken up. A Kyriotate is busy examining itself multiply for bruises, while a Cherub and two Malakim stack weapons and chatter.

Sephar floats over the chattering ones and helps with the stacking of weapons, a bit uncertainly.

The Malakite calls, "Thanks!" as with Sephar's help, he finishes sorting the blunted swords. "New here?"

Sephar bobs a nod, "I'm looking for a Merab?"

Sephar uses its multiple hands and multiple eyes and attentions to help with the sorting.

The Malakite frowns, then his brow clears. "Oh, right. Merab." He points over at a group of tents. "That one, in dark green and silver. I think I saw him going that way just now. If he isn't there, someone else should find him."

Sephar says "Thank you."

The Malakite nods.

Sephar floats happily over towards the tents, looking for the dark green and silver, looking around it as it goes so that it doesn't get in anyone's way.

The dark green and silver tent is quite visible. Most of the tents seem to be in chosen colours, and are set in clusters here and there. Interspersed at various points through the practice grounds and tents are rough stone arches.

Sephar goes over promptly and wonders what to do about knocking on a tent for a bit before just saying, "Hello? I'm looking for Merab?"

One of the panels in the tent folds back, and a winged panther peers out from the tent. "Would you be Sephar, Domination of Lightning?"

Sephar bobs a nod, "I am."

Merab purrs, "Please come in," holding the tent flap open.

Sephar floats on in, blinking about itself.

Sephar also watches for an attack, having been probably told countless... uhm... somewhat exaggerated stories about War's uhm... aggressive tendencies,and it feels mildly foolish about it, but also mildly wary.

Inside, the tent is larger than it looks from outside, with large cushions scattered on the floor, a small niche holding a glowing Heart, a go-table, a set of jigsaw boxes piled in the corner, and a pike in the corner.

Merab preens a wing slightly, then settles onto a cushion. "I understand you've requested some martial training?" He doesn't _look_ aggressive.

Sephar gives a very soft mouse-chirp of surprise and delight at the go set and the jigsaw boxes, and bobs something that's between a nod and a bow to Merab, "Yes, please. I..." it swallows and thinks a bit, "Just earlier today, I think, I was caught in Hell with two other angels, and we couldn't get out because of some kind of tether holding us. And while there I knew how to look out for danger, but I had no idea, no real concept of what I could do to keep us safe if someone did jump us. That was an awful feeling."

Merab nods, relaxed. It props its chin on a paw. "We'll be glad to help, if we can. I'll probably try and give you some basic training, and then send you on to a Kyriotate of my Lord for advanced training in what you Dominations can do."

Merab's voice is a purr. "Of course, I'm very curious about what you were doing in Hell... but I won't pressure you. Just to get that out of the way from the start."

Sephar smiles, even though its voice shakes just a bit, "Yes. It was a curious thing, but yes, the training sounds just like what I'd need. I don't intend to get caught in such a situation again, but... it would help with the feeling, I think."

Merab purrs, "Just as you'd feel better about handling a server crash if you could program in, ah, Basic, was it? Or C?"

Merab clearly does not realise that his computer terminology is inaccurate.

Sephar chuckles, "Yes, quite."

Sephar also pretty clearly is not going to correct Merab, but does instantly seem to be a bit more at ease.

Merab nods, and snorts briefly, whiskers twitching. "What you'll be learning may have some application on Earth as well, in terms of awareness, strategy, attitude, and so on. How effective it'll be will depend on your corporeal strength as backup."

Sephar says "I have no corporeal strength. None. Which comes to the second training request..."

Merab flicks an ear.

Sephar says "... I'd like to learn a bit about corporeal firearms. Enough to be safe. Not enough to be a perfect sharpshooter, but at least enough so that I don't hurt anyone if I need to use one."

Sephar says "Uhm."

Sephar says "Hurt anyone on my side."

Sephar says "I'm afraid of guns."

Merab nods, slowly. "That's very sensible. We can manage some sorts of training up here, but it might be better to put you in touch with one of our people below, so you can practice down there."

Sephar smiles and relaxes just a bit, "Thank you. that would be perfect."

Sephar relaxes just a bit more on seeing that the admission of fear isn't changing how Merab is talking to it, so listens and watches quietly.

Merab purrs, softly, "It's far more sensible for us to have people to train who admit that they're not sure how to use guns, than to have heroic James Bond imitations thinking that all they have to do is point them and pull triggers."

<> Liz says "Merab wouldn't be thinking of me, would he?"

Sephar chuckles softly. "Good." puts a hand up, "That's me, cautious and ignorant, I know, at least what it is that I don't know."

<> Sephar giggles at Liz so much.

<> arcangel chuckles at Liz too. That's gonna be in the Judgment gossip for *centuries*.

Merab smiles, as a panther smiles. "Excellent. And as a Servitor of Lightning, you'll be ready to listen to your instructors and follow orders?"

Sephar says "Yes, Sir."

<> Sephar does not say, "So long as they make sense."

Merab says, "Where are you based on Earth at the moment?"

Sephar says "In D.C."

Merab nods. "Our nearest Tether there is the Marine Corps War Memorial. You can check there about corporeal weapons practice - I'll send a message down about it."

Sephar says "I might need a Host as well. I think the tricky bit might be trying to fire accurately in different Hosts, but I'm not sure."

Sephar says "Or should I try and find a Host before reporting there?"

Merab says, "I'm not sure how they'll handle that. They may have some facilities there for dealing with our own Dominations, so I'd suggest you come along in a Host, then ask once you're there."

Sephar bobs a nod at that.

Merab says, "Would you also be interested in some classical texts on strategy and warfare?"

Sephar says "Oh! I would... but... I don't know if I'll have the time."

Merab says, "Well, I can give you the names and titles, and you can look them up if and when you have the time."

Sephar says "My main concern is bodyguarding and protection of small groups, so if you have anything htat specializes in that..."

Merab looks thoughtful. "Would... no, no, Xenophon getting his troops safely to the sea probably doesn't qualify as that."

Sephar has no idea that that is probably what one studies in order to assasinate a single person or a small group.

Merab says, "I'll have someone see if they can find any appropriate texts. In the meantime, I'd better see what your form is like." He rises from his cushion, padding over to the tent flap.

Sephar says "Certainly."

Sephar floats after Merab, now only mildly in watchful state, relaxed, but still in a new place and situation.

Merab leads Sephar across to a free area of the practice grounds, with various curious timber erections set around it.

Sephar goes after, looking around, peering a bit at the erections.

Nearby, a mixed group of Stone and War Servitors are working through barehanded maneuvers, led by an Oriental man with an umbrella tucked under one arm.

<> Demiurge hums a tune. You get a prize if you guess which one. :)

<> Demiurge fondles her Once Upon A Time In China videos. ;)

Merab considers the various implements. He points at one, which has a large leather-padded surface. "Try punching that for a solid minute or two while I watch. Use as many hands or arms as you think works."

Sephar says "Uhm... okay..."

Merab settles back on his haunches, watching.

Sephar peers at the implement a bit, figures out it looks pretty solid, and kinda throws itself at it, five hands in fists hitting various bits of it.

Sephar then remembers the solid minute or two and backs off a bit and just kinda whacks at it with the five it thought of the first time, in pretty much asynchronous time, whenever it thinks of a particular fist.

<> Sephar grins and wonders about an initial Roll, or if it's necessary. It has *no* form, no idea what to do with cloud leverage, punches are likely with bent elbows all teh way through the force, probably sideways thwacks instead of using the leverage of an arm, with the rotational motion...

<> Sephar is probably standing way too close, too.

<> Demiurge says "I think that yes, Sephar is standing too close, but has enough raw Will that is managing a decent amount of strength."

<> Sephar nodnods.

<> Demiurge says "But yes, Sephar is probably making most of the usual mistakes. (Which I myself am not educated enough to know.) :)"

Merab says, after the minute is over, "Plenty of raw muscle there. Nothing to be ashamed of on those grounds. We can improve the technique, though."

<> Pat says "You're standing too close. You'll get blood all over you."

<> Demiurge says "Hush. We don't want to frighten the Lightning-Servitor away. ;)"

Sephar smiles, "Cool. What should I be doing?"

Merab proceeds to give Sephar an educated martial artist's critique of its movements, then guides a few armstrokes to show how they should be done, and how to work on the leverage.

Sephar watches closely, follows where it's able, asks for repetition, sometimes surrounding Merab with eyes on many sides to see the motion clearly, and repeats nearly clinically precise, on the inanimate objects.

Merab is a good teacher. He repeats the motions until Sephar has got the idea, and is putting the right level of leverage and force into its punches.

Sephar unconsciously holds back if Merab asks it to hit the Cherub.

Merab isn't asking Sephar to try hitting it yet, just the wood and padding.

Sephar happily whacks at the wood and padding with the amount of Will asked for.

Merab eventually nods. "Okay, stand easy."

Sephar stands back panting mildly.

Merab purrs, "Well done. You pay attention. That's good."

Merab purrs, "Now, we're going to need you to train in certain patterns of attack and defence, so that you fall into them automatically. The way you type without looking at keyboards. We're also going to have you practice against other people."

Merab asks, "Are you comfortable with this?"

Sephar blinks mildly. "Other people? Uhm..."

Sephar blushes just a bit silver, "I don't mean to say I'm... uhm... dangerous, but what if I hurt them?"

Merab purrs. "Sensible, but we'll try and pair you up with someone who can handle themselves."

Sephar smiles, "Okay. And the reaction bit makes sense."

Merab shifts the position of a wing. "It's the only way to learn to fight somebody _else_, to react to their movements, to strike first. I've heard your people are working on hologram stuff, but even that isn't the same as fighting another person."

Sephar bobs a quiet nod.

Merab stretches in a long curve of back. "If you're going to be coming here regularly, we'd better arrange session times. You can visit the Tether earthside to sort out weapons practice."

Sephar says "I don't know how regular I can be. Duties have been strange lately, but I should probably try to schedule something."

Merab considers. "We can arrange this hour every day, perhaps. If you can't make it, send up a message if possible. Try and practice what you learn in your spare time. Practice in company, even." He smiles the panther-smile again.

Sephar chuckles, "Yes, sir, I'll try. Is there something I could try against a wall or door or something that wouldn't require a wood smith to make me something to practice against?"

Merab thinks. "Celestially, or corporeally?"

Sephar says "Celestially, I think. I don't know if I'll worry about corporeal until I have better control. I don't want to hurt a Host by making a stupid mistake."

Merab says, "You could probably arrange something with a good thick mattress and a sturdy backing."

Sephar smiles, "Okay."

Sephar . o ( Mattress in the Halls of Lightning? We don't even sleep... hrm... )

Merab pauses. "Or a nice thick layer of insulation, or something."

Sephar says "Ah. That would work out much better."

Merab purrs, "I'm glad you came across, in any case. The more people who know how to defend themselves, in the current situation, the safer we all are."

Sephar smiles, "I'm glad. And thank you for teaching me. I will do my best to come tomorrow at the same time, or warn you if something... happens."

Sephar thought 'Bad Goes Down' but thought it better to avoid that wording.

Merab nods, and flicks his tail. "Watch your back. Good to meet you."

Sephar rolls a Kyriotate bow.

Merab bows his head, then rises, with the ease of any cat. Even a large winged panther.

Sephar smiles and floats out the tent happily, back towards the edge of the Groves and Chephirah.

Sephar murmurs softly, "Hey, I can watch my own back." and chuckles to itself pleasedly.

<> Demiurge | Sephar : Hey, Chephirah, look! They didn't maim me!

<> Sephar says "Hey, don't go stealing my lines! "

Chephirah is waiting patiently, just where she was left.

Sephar whirls before Chephirah, "I made it!"

Chephirah purrs openly, and folds a little space beside Sephar in her wings. "Good for you!"

Sephar beams and is mildly sweaty and happy. "Thank you. You were right. And I'm *learning*. This is keen. And I'm supposed to be back tomorrow at the same time and place and if not I need to leave a message but it should be pretty okay, but I'm a little worried about hitting other people, not that I think that I can hurt them..."

Sephar ahems mildly. "Sorry. That sentence got away from me."

Sephar bounces once and then settles by Chephirah contentedly and much more steadily than before.

Chephirah rests her wing over Sephar, mother-henning as much as a feline can. "It was a rather excitable sentence," she says comfortably. "I think you'll get over your worries soon enough, at least for practice."

Sephar hugs Chephirah a bit gingerly as it's sweaty and somewhat aware of that fact, and smiles a lot. "I hope so. Thank you. That would be cool. I now know I can at least practice so that's good."

Chephirah is, at least to all appearances, not particularly upset by Kyriotate sweat. "Oh, yes. Practice is everything - just as it is in Lightning's halls, isn't it?"

Sephar brightens muchly at that thought, "It is. And it's always useful to learn from the mistakes one makes in practice, too..."

Chephirah nods, deep and smiling just a touch. "And to watch how one makes fewer mistakes over time."

Sephar says "Yeah!"

---

Fiat Justitia