Timeskip Log

[oathshackledbird]

Diarmuid Ua Duibhne (Lancer) COURT Seelie (Neutral Leanings) TITLE Knight of the Golden Cadre Maskhunter/Hartslayer Shield of the Cothromach Champion of Redgate OCCUPATION Knight/Trainer ABLE TO FAST-TRAVEL Servant ability to travel at up to 100 times normal human speed. A ring given to him by Alyosha that allows him to teleport himself only pretty much anywhere. A ring given as a boon that will allow him to teleport to the side of any Seelie shardbearer if their life is in immediate danger. COMMUNICATION METHODS A magical compass from Rin. Messages sent by birds. A necklace enchanted by Rin to allow contact with Seelie/Unseelie. RESIDENCE IN 2,701 Cu Chulainn's castle, Dun Dealgan, south of Daonna, his rooms at Alyosha's villa, and occasionally his rooms at Caer Glaem when he is working on his personal training ground. RESIDENCE IN 2,702 His rooms at Alyosha's villa, and occasionally, his rooms at Caer Glaem when he is working on his personal training ground. As of May, he will be invited to move into Flora's villa in Leathann. MAJOR EVENTS MASTER/SERVANT BOND CREATED W/ALYOSHA. [ ✖ ] SETS UP HIS PERSONAL TRAINING GROUND AT CAER GLAEM. [ ✖ ] CSI: DAONNA. [ ✖ ] BECOMES A CAPTAIN IN THE RED HAND. [ ✖✖ ] MAJOR CHANGES POST BATTLE: His right arm is missing at the shoulder. There are several 'bleed over' effects from his Master/Servant bond with Alyosha because various factors. These include: When his emotions are high (especially when he is angry) he will grow fangs and the pupils of his eyes will slit like a snake's eyes. He will crave blood whenever his energy levels are low or whenever Alyosha is strongly craving it herself. This is partly because of her being a vampire, but also because on his world, blood is one of the things that carries magical energy and so he knows it is a source of gaining that energy should he need it. Because of Alyosha's shadow magic, when Diarmuid uses his fire ring, the fire summoned will be shadow tinted instead of normal. Unspecified bleed over from the sigil magic that is so tightly tied to her. POST TIMESKIP: No longer introduces himself as 'Lancer.' Instead, he uses his real name. Diarmuid's fighting style shifts to something reminiscent of Capoeira. His right leg is used as much as possible in place of his missing right arm, and as a result of that, his right leg now is lightly armored from knee to foot with armor that is much like that which was once on his left arm. His boot has also been modified with a hidden blade. The blade can be released with a certain tap of his foot giving him a second weapon should he need it.

SUMMARY OF KNOWN DETAILS If Diarmuid was confused going into the battle, he is even more so coming out of it. Both castles lie in ruins, untold numbers are dead on all sides, and who knows how many worlds went with them? What good came of all of it? None. None that Diarmuid can see. As a result, he is pushed even more toward favoring the neutral side. Deep down, he no longer fully considers himself Seelie. The golden cloak that marks him as a knight of the Golden Cadre is not a badge of honor, but a reminder that even knights can take the wrong path. After he recovers from losing his right arm and spends some time learning to fight again, he will focus on strengthening his bonds with his family and friends. It doesn't matter what side they are on for he does not see them as Seelie or Unseelie. They are family. They are friend. That is all that matters. When not helping Alyosha, his new Master, and fighting the Neutral fight, he will also spend time training others, building his personal training ground at Caer Glaem, and...breeding bandersnatches? Well, at least trying. Who knows if the bandersnatches will cooperate... Of course, all of that will be put to the side when it comes time to spoil babbins and mercenar-- Err, wait, that should be spoiling babbins and LEADING mercenaries. That's better... PLANS Recover from his injuries both physically and mentally. Adjust to his new Master/Servant bond with Alyosha and the bleed over. Learn to fight again. (Looking into a new arm will come later.) Work on getting the personal training ground he has been granted built to his specifications. Meet with Lancelot to discuss worries etc about Tarz's tactics. Keep in contact with his Unseelie friends. Find ways to meet with them despite the crack down on cross court interaction. Spend more time with Grainne. Teach fighting and shard training as requested. Tag team fighting with his new Master so they can learn to be badasses together. :-D Do whatever he can to help the Neutral side. Go hunting for new bandersnatch friends with Alice. TIMELINE OF EVENTS Things Occurring THROUGHOUT the Timeskip Working on his training grounds at Caer Glaem. Learning to fight again/Practicing with his shard.(Alyosha and Lancelot will help.) Training others to fight/use their shards. Becoming used to his bond with Alyosha and the overflow from it. SPRING IN 2,701 (Mar, Apr, May) MARCH - Ask Rin to enchant the necklace he got from Merida so he can contact all Seelie/Unseelie with it (Late Feb). Talk to Politezerker about his arm. (Late Feb) Recovery from losing his arm. (Both mental and physical.) Visits the new Barrel. Check in on Kayneth. Meet Gilgamesh. Visit Zuko at Azure to help unfreeze things and for fire training. More unfreezing and fire training with Merida. Finds a strange and very large egg... Begin work on his training ground in Caer Glaem after a handwaved talk with John and Lancelot(Flora will help with terrains). Long talk (and cry session) with Grainne about his arm, her losing the baby, and other things from her time back home (handwaved). Talking to Lancelot about Tarz. Check in with Saber now that she has had time to calm down. Go hunting for bandersnatches with Alice. APRIL - Travel to the Cothromach and renew his vows to it and Sansa. Talk about ferry system work. Meeting Aslan at Caer Glaem (Training Grounds). Teach Hikaru (Lucifer) to use her(his) shard @ the Station. Trip to the Barrel to celebrate his birthday. The strange egg hatches right around his birthday. Congratulations Diarmuid! It's a fluffy green bird?!? Well, at least it's not a dinosaur... MAY - Map out the waterways around the Cothromach for Sansa & the ferry project. Hunt golden swans with Thrall (get at least two--one for Caer and one for Aengus) Start training Oscar the bandersnatch to hunt. Work on the training grounds with Flora. Drop into the Art Gallery Opening in Parrais. SUMMER IN 2,701 (Jun, Jul, Aug) JUNE - Training for those who wish it: Gilgamesh-shard. Goes to the Treun tournament. Observes, but does not participate because of his arm. Bonds with Merida. Meets Javik at the tournament. Acts as Alyosha's witness at the duel between her and Hermione. JULY - CSI: Daonna (Quest)--Sent to Daonna after the hangings to investigate for Waver. Interview Alice, Merida, Faolan. Work with Sara & Politezerker. Lén accompanies Diarmuid to help. AUGUST - Fire training with Merida. Talk with her about battle/Master stuff. Meeting Remus Lupin. Golem hunting with Javik. Visit the Cothromach's Markets. FALL IN 2,701 (Sept, Oct, Nov) SEPTEMBER - Heartbreak: Grainne is sent home from the Drabwurld. Language kerfuffle! Just how close to Gaelic is Drabbish anyway? Help Alice with her orphanage. Training: Gilgamesh/Work on the Training Grounds OCTOBER - Samhain! Meet the Black Shuck Meets Sam. Anniversary of his arrival. NOVEMBER - Hunts inmates. Protects others from the inmates. Meets up with Lancelot to talk. Becomes co-parents to a bunch of mercs with John Grimm. WINTER IN 2,701/2,702 (Dec, Jan, Feb) DECEMBER - Yule! Silliness with Fox Merida. Hunt the White Hart. Slays him with Katsa. Reward: 200 gold pieces, a while cloak and the title of Hartslayer until the next hunt comes around. Anniversary of the Fox Hunt. JANUARY - Shard Training. Working on his Training Grounds. 'Learning' to relax a little with Kaldur. Meeting up with Gilgamesh at Caer Glaem. FEBRUARY - Runs into Grell at the Noa Woods for sparring. Goes to Parrais for the Ostara Feast. 1 year anniversary with Alyosha. SPRING IN 2,702 (Mar, Apr) MARCH - Fight zombies. Visits Lumina's Chocobo Ranch and does some undead removal. Gets a new friend for Aengus? Learning to fight again complete. APRIL - Shelters his fairy groupies to keep them safe. Work on his training grounds at Caer Glaem finishes.

( codes by whambam )

Comments

[oathshackledbird]

"It was, especially for one like me who is so used to being balanced. It was also one of the first things I focused on. It had to be. Lose balance and you lose everything," Diarmuid settles into a ready stance again, watching to see what Lancelot's next move will be. "But I am not the only one good at adapting. You have adapted quite well yourself. Increased speed is not an easy thing to master when you are not used to it. Nor is increased strength and you used them very well in that first attack."

"Whenever you are ready, strike again. We will do this a little while and then I will switch to attacking you, if you would like."

[knightscode]

Lancelot's lips curl into a smile as Diarmuid speaks, a little pleased at the compliment, and he dips his head a little in thanks.

"A little while," he echoes playfully, "assumes I will not adapt quickly once more. Perhaps I will have you on the defence sooner than you think."

He adjusts his footing a little, studies Diarmuid and the way he balances his weapon with one hand for a moment before bracing and flitting forward again -- darting around the side he holds his weapon. It's harder, he thinks, to guard with that hand than it is to cross the weapon across your body. Harder when you have to tilt awkwardly away from yourself or turn quickly. At least, he imagines it should be -- it would be with a sword.

[oathshackledbird]

"As a teacher, I will be very happy if you are able to do so. It is always a glad day when the student can surprise the teacher..." It is true some teachers become offended when their students best them, but Diarmuid has never been that way. Being bested by a student just means that student is that much more likely to survive the battle field.

Lancelot's strategy is not a bad one. Many people would have a lot of trouble blocking someone attacking from that angle. However, Diarmuid has so much experience that a simple attack with no feints will not fool him. Smoothly, he leans back and away from the attack. He doesn't try to bring his weapon around to block, though. Instead, his armored right leg comes up to connect with the weapon. All of his weight is then leaned into Lancelot in hopes of unbalancing him and pushing him back.

"You have speed now. You must use it. Do not come at me with just one attack. Chain them together. Box me in. Give me too much to react to. That is how you will win."

[knightscode]

Chain them together. Box him in.

Lancelot, surprised by Diarmuid's agile use of his leg, darts back -- tilts his head at the man as he considers this. As a sword fighter he had always relied on speed and strength, but never had enough to continually chain and box someone in. More likely he would make someone else work hard, tire them before he made his own move.

Diarmuid, he thinks, is not likely to tire before him.

So he inclines his head in understanding, adjusts his grip on his sword.

"Just make sure," he warns, "that you do not lose a leg that way. I'm hoping that armour is strong enough to hold but you're in no state to risk losing another limb."

He jerks an eyebrow, flickers an amused smile (even if, he thinks, that would be far from funny if it happened) before flitting forward again. He doesn't throw all his strength into one attack this time. Instead, moves to slam his sword into Diarmuid's side and keeps moving regardless of if it hits -- turn to swing it the other way and keep striking out. Chain them together and box him in -- well, he has no idea if he's fast enough compared to the other servant but Lancelot is always willing to try.

[oathshackledbird]

Diarmuid laughs, "Believe me, the armor is very strong. I have no intention of losing anymore limbs." He is especially careful with his legs since so much of his skill lies in them, "Worry less about my limbs and more about your plan of attack. Pick your moves with reason, not at random."

That last piece of advice given, Diarmuid waits for Lancelot to attack and he is not disappointed when the attack comes. The first two attacks he dodges and blocks, but after that it becomes harder, just as Diarmuid wanted them to. No matter how good a fighter someone is, the longer they have to react instead of take action themselves, the more likely they are to make a mistake, get distracted or just plan out slip up. It is true that Lancelot would not be able to get him to the point where he is too tired to keep up the fight, but that isn't the only way to end a confrontation like this. A Lancer's stills cannot be used fully when boxed in like this. They need room to move, to duck in and out, to fly. This kind of attack prevents all of that, very effectively pinning them down without being faster, stronger or even less tired than they are. It is only a matter of time before something slips through...

When one of Lancelot's thrusts opens a shallow cut across Diarmuid's arm, he knows it is time to call an end to this exchange. He drops into spirit mode, vanishing and moving a few steps away from Lancelot before reappearing again.

"Very well done! That is exactly it. Can you see now why that is so much more effective than just attacking with one attack?"

[knightscode]

Lancelot blinks as Diarmuid vanishes and then re-appears, blinks after him before slowly lowering his sword and nodding.

"I can. It is a different style than I am used to, but then again -- so is much of how we fight here. I suppose I shall just have to keep adapting, and hope that I adapt fast enough to stay ahead of others and keep myself alive."

He sighs, flickers Diarmuid a small smile.

"You are a good teacher."

[oathshackledbird]

"That is one of the biggest things to remember when you are a warrior: Keep adapting or you will die. I am not too worried about you, though. You are very good at adapting. It's it very natural for you."

And of all the natural talents for a warrior to have, that is one of the best ones.

"Thank you, but I can't talk all the credit. You are also a very good student."

[knightscode]

"I've spent a lot of time adapting for one reason or another. Training is something I believe can never be truly finished, after all. You are right in that -- we must always be adapting, for we must always be learning to stay ahead."

Lancelot sheathes his sword, steps forward to offer a hand -- to clasp Diarmuid by the arm.

"You adapt well yourself. I admit, a part of me feared for how you would cope with the loss but... you are formidable still. I am very glad I can call you a friend, I should hate to be on the wrong side of your anger."

[oathshackledbird]

At the same time Lancelot sheathes his sword, Diarmuid dismisses his spear, and he is glad he does, so that he can turn his hand and return Lancelot's gesture, "It was not easy, that is for sure and sometimes people unknowingly made it harder by saying something or taking an action that reinforced my own doubts. There were reasons that I pushed so hard in March that I nearly lost myself, but that is all passed now and I am stronger for it."

"I am glad also to call you my friend. We are men who believe deeply and fight passionately. Getting on our bad sides is never a good idea..."

[knightscode]

He laughs at that, bright and friendly, and claps Diarmuid on the shoulder with his other hand -- squeezes it gently.

"I certainly hope so, I can little do with more trouble. Deterring it would be in my favour."

Releasing him finally he steps back, dips his head a little.

"Thank you for the match. Now, since we are both warmed up how about I return the favour and help some with your building. I may be no expert, but extra help never goes amiss in my experience. Put me to task and I will do do what I can."

[oathshackledbird]

"Ah yes, I think we could all do with less trouble in our lives," Diarmuid looks from Lancelot toward the rest of the training grounds when his friend changes topics. "Well, we were going to see about doing some work on the corral today. How much do you know about horses?"

He is a little surprised that Lancelot does not wish to spar more, but they can always spar again if the man changes his mind. After all, it seems like his men get cranky if he works more than a few hours on things anyway...