a spark to light up the darkness [ video ♐ 004 ]

[kindlings]

[ Why hello there, Tranquility. Starting off on the video feed, as the picture forms, is the redheaded, pyrotechnically-inclined Wildling, otherwise known as Ygritte. She's standing before Jon Snow's bed, upon which several medieval-looking weapons are strewn over the soft comforter.

Normally she'd be smiling, having been kept in a very good mood since the end of last month, but not so now—not after what she's recently seen, and heard that others have seen, in the depths of the ship. Her features are stern, lips pressed together firmly as she nods into the camera. Today, she is all business. ]


Space training's all well and good, don't take me th' wrong way.

But 'fter what we've seen—and I think many of you've seen things that y' normally wouldn't, in the last coupl'a weeks here, not just myself—I think it's time we had some other kind 'f training.

[ She holds this up, to show to the camera. ] This is a dagger. Carved m'self, entirely from ox bone. Meant for close-handed combat, not t' be used as anything but a last resort, if your enemy sneaks up on you. Pref'rably, y'want something with serrated edges such as this, t'do the bulk of the cutting—the edges will make sure that y'get tearing through the skin and sinew. Even if it's not steel and can't cut through bone, you can still give your enemy a fatal strike 'f you aim for his entrails. Kills 'em nice and slow.

[ She sets it down, and picks up another weapon lying nearby. ] This is an axe. Not just any ol' kind 'f axe, neither—this is a battle-axe. [ She grabs the haft, the handle of it, and swings it in the air to demonstrate. ] Arm-length, 'though they can be longer, but arm-length is good for throwin' too if need be. Some o' my clansmen wield one in each hand, for fightin'. Steel bit makes the blade lighter, easier t' swing—but we don't got much steel north o' the Wall, so many times we use wrought iron, which's heavier—but if y'swing good and true, it'll land a heavy blow. Can crack 'n undefended skull, easy.

An' lastly, the weapon you should be starting with, for longer-range—the shortbow. Mine's made o' weirwood, the trees most found o'er the Wall, and in the godswood o' Winterfell, I hear. [ A slight smirk, just a quirking upwards of her lips, before she schools her face seriously once more. ]

[ She notches a grey goosefeather-fletched arrow in it, drawing back the string to demonstrate. ] Only three feet long, rawhide string. Smaller size is common for us spearwives, since we tend t' be a bit shorter than the menfolk; but it's also easier t' maneuver around with, during a hunt, when y'need t' be light on your feet.

[ There's a quick thwap sound, as she looses the arrow and it sings through the air, landing hard in the wall on the far side of the room. ] Shoots fast an' hard, for a small bow.

[ Setting it down again on the bed, she addresses the video feed once more. ] If anyone'd like t' do some one-on-one training with any o' these, I'd be happy t' show you how it's done. [ She cracks a smile. ] Shit, bring your own weapon and we can practice in that ...indoor trainin' field, whatever 's called.

But I think it's important we learn t' defend ourselves, now...all 'f us. That goes for th' younger Starks, 's well. Any babe who's no longer on his mother's teat should be learnin' this.



[ ...because what is decorum, Ygritte. :/ ]

Comments

video omg

[rickon]

I want to fight!

video; where's that wagon, mister?

[kindlings]

Y'do?

[ She laughs, grinning at him. ] What d'you want t' fight, then? I can teach you the best weapon for th' job.

[shadowbinder]

[It may well be hard to guess what it is that Melisandre is thinking, as her features appear calm and neutral.

She picks up things though. One doesn't always need magic to know answers, although the trappings are what is important.]

My faith is all the protection I need.

[kindlings]

[ Ygritte remembers the red priestess from meeting her immediately after the last jump, and her talk of the Lord of Light. ]


Y' might feel differently 'f you're faced with a shadowcat beyond the Wall, though. Unless your faith's got razor-sharp claws an' teeth, 's well.

video

[mansuetus]

[ The Fiery One! She tilts her head at her explanations, foreign to these words in her silks and jewelry and golden hair. A woman has no weapons in her world, or at least, not those kinds. A lady's weapon is her charm and her grace, the careful manipulations she can conduct. ]

Are all women in your world ferocious fighters, Fiery One?

video

[kindlings]

[ She remembers Lucrezia, and the way she charmingly defused Ygritte's acerbic sassiness earlier...so she gives the golden lady a winning grin. ]

Not all 'f them, I'm 'fraid. But spearwives're known t' be some of the most fierce, 'specially out of the Free Folk.

...You've never handled any such's these? [ Oh dear. Ygritte may have to work extra hard to make a spearwife out of you, Lucrezia. ]

[bruxisms]

[ for the time being, he says nothing.

instead, he gives her a solemn look of judgement as he moves his teeth from side to side.

there is something amiss here. ]

[kindlings]

[ And of course Ygritte will have something to say about it. ]


Fixin' t' sharpen a blade, there, y'Lordship?

[ Because she won't call you Your Grace. ]

[action]

[wolfinthesnow]

[He comes in after, and looks at the state of his bed]

Are you opening a weaponry?

[action]

[kindlings]

[ She looks down at the bed, and then back at him, and snorts with amusement. ]


With these? Hardly enough t' arm a single spearwife. [ She cants her head in the direction of his greatsword in the corner. ] Mayhaps I should've shown them how t' wield Longclaw, too.

( video )

[purrfectlycute]

[ It actually takes Nepeta a few minutes to even muster the resolve to respond. If this had appeared before she was thrown into a nightmare and had her head bashed in, she probably wouldn't have this forced, sad smile and quiet voice. ]

Sometimes... weapons don't help.

[ Or maybe they do if you don't hesitate. Well, no use dwelling on those thoughts, much less pushing them on the awesome human lady with the rough accent. Nep sighs loudly and shifts gears to a more cheerful mood. ]

But on the whole that's a great idea! It's actually surpurrising how few people aboard know how to handle a blade. And yours are lovely! The one made of bone has to be my favfurite from your collection.

I hope this isn't too purrsonal, but--you said you're beyond the Wall? The one from the same world as Winterfell. [ chinhands ] What's it like? The stories I've heard have only skimmed the surface of it. Purrticularly the parts about wild people.

( video ) ...is it too late to jump into your SH log? :3

[kindlings]

[ Ohh Nepeta, if Ygritte had known, she would've immediately tried to reassure you. D:

Nevertheless, she can tell something's a bit off about the kitty troll's forced cheery mood.

She ducks her head in gratitude at the compliment. ] 'F you'd like t' borrow it at any time, you're free t' do so.

Aye, I'm from beyond th' Wall, same one 's what borders the lands north o' Winterfell. You know of this from Robb Stark, then?

...What'd y'say your name was? Don't believe I caught it. I'm called Ygritte. Them south o' the Wall call us Wildlings, but we refer t' ourselves as Free Folk—and free, we are.

video; encrypted like 15% because brendan sucks

[dirtyword]

[ Now this lady--Brendan watches and he's struck by three things: one, she's quite pretty, probably something to do with just how blunt she is. Two, she can kick his ass, and three (and probably the most important part), she's offering lessons.

So have a 17 year old kid with glasses and a mop of curly hair nearly hiding his face, Ygritte. ]

You got a schedule yet? Could use some sorta training to take care of my doll.

video; encrypted - that's better than what ygritte's capable of, though

[kindlings]

Your...doll?

[ ...Modern nicknames totally floor her. Ren Faire, and all. ]

...Why would y'want t' learn about fighting, just t' take care of some stupid puppet?

Video

[justdumbluck]

[The loss of his knife has made his homesickness even worse, and he's a bit envious to see someone with so many weapons of her own to keep her company in this place. Some of that feeling evaporates as he watches her rather impressive display; most people he knows just use fists or guns.]

You made that knife? And you can fight with all a' those?

Video

[kindlings]

I did, an' I can. [ She's irrationally proud of both things. ]

You familiar with weapons?

video;

[grandseigneur]

My, my, someone's been busy.

video;

[kindlings]

[ Fancy seeing you here, Captain. She gives him a small nod and a grin. ]

Just showin' off, some. You've kept busy, yourself?

[voice]

[wolfdreamer]

We were taught arms at Winterfell, some.

[just so you know.]

[voice]

[kindlings]

So I've heard; your brother Robb mentioned he'd taught y' such.

[ Grins. ] With what weapons?

[northerner]

[ DAMN IT MORE PEOPLE GIVING RICKON IDEAS ]

And you speak of my house by name. Should I take thsi as flattery?

[kindlings]

[ Eyeing, a little warily. There's still some residual weirdness after that disastrous jump log. ]

...Y'should take it however y'like, Robb Stark.

video

[stacked]

[ faith lets out a low, impressed whistle. ]

Decent collection, not gonna lie. Sup, Red?

video

[kindlings]

[ Sup? ] ...Aye, I've just eaten.

[ She grins at her fellow knife enthusiast. ] Not 's impressive as your steel, though.

[video]

[doggedly]

[First, he whistles--impressed, definitely impressed!]

Hullo, miss, can I ask for one-on-one training? There's no age restrictions, are there?

[video]

[kindlings]

Aye, if you want, I can show you how t' use most of 'em.

...You're askin' about lower age limit, or higher age limit?

[ Because honestly you don't look like you'd fall under or over either, Sirius. ]

video

[upheld]

You have quite the arsenal.