In service to Yahweh.

[OneoftheLost]

In his name.

Lynn Vanick threw a fast punch, trying to duck under the swinging arm of his opponent.

For we are a reflection of him.

The wooden stick caught him just under the jaw. Lynn threw himself backwards. Landing on his back he rolled.

For... we are one.

Lynn propelled his body upwards, swinging his legs over him, and landing in a crouched position.

The dummy stopped swinging, the stick's would only swing when he punched the center. Long ago the ceiling had caved in during some storm. Instead of put it back up, the Bendu had taken out the floor and planted grass. Now the Relaxation area was home to the many apprentices and hopefuls of the Bendu Orders. These children of Yahweh lounged about the courtyard, studying, talking, or just resting. Many of them occupied the stone benches along the walls, others sat at the foot of the massive tree in the center of the hallway. Lynn sat down heavily. He had been practicing on a dummy he had brought in. Josiah had been busy these last few days. So Lynn was studying the Bendu history. He had taken a break, practicing various strikes. Having yet to learn the way of the sword, Lynn often practiced using his fists, and speed. It kept him in great physical shape, and helped him focus.

The other apprentices were a strange lot, everyone had their own story to tell, each of them had recieved the call, yet they had all come from very different walks of life, different backgrounds and ideas had led to a very diverse group.

Come to think of it, Lynn didn't really know anybody here, he was naturally very shy, but still, youd think after all the time spent here he would have gathered some names.

Ah well, better to work for Yahweh then his children, they each serve in their own way.

Lynn stood back up, sinking into his familiar stance, he almost leaned forward as he pulled his fist back and tucked under his shoulder, he would twist when he struck, throwing the fist and twisting it back upwards, making quite an effective, extremely quick strike.

Lynn studied his wooden enemy.....

 

[Ser Gregor]

"Good punch. But you're throwing yourself off balance when you strike, if that wasn't wooden, you'd be on the ground." A voice echoed, a tennor boom that lifted over the murmer of the Hopefuls, somewhere above Lynn. Mordecai had been watching the kid train on the wooden dummy for some time, and he was impressed to see someone else as skilled as that. "It's a miniscule amount, but a skilled combatant would take advantage of it. Just throw your left foot out an inch or two." Mordecai said, laying lazily on his stomach on the tree's thick branch; Basking in the sunlight.

 

[OneoftheLost]

Lynn was startled. The voice was deep, and gave way to an inner strength...
"It's a miniscule amount, but a skilled combatant would take advantage of it. Just throw your left foot out an inch or two."



Looking up, Lynn found himself staring eye-to-eye with a big man. He looked like he knew what he was talking about.

Lynn only nodded. He resumed his stance, weary of the apprentices now watching him....

His left foot slowly creeped forward. His fist drew back. He breathed in.

In his name.

The punch shot forward almost lazily, then he twisted his wrist upwards, catching the dummy under the jaw. Lynn saw the wooden arm coming torwards him. Snapping his head backwards, Lynn brought his other arm up, then he let himself drop to his haunches. The wooden arm sailed harmlessly overhead. Inching his right leg backwards, he leaned back, then stood up. The arm was coming around again. Lynn stepped forward, closer, his first strike was a little off balance, but his second was perfect, hitting the dummy square in the face. Again and again he struck, then he leaped backwards, hurling himself away from the wooden arm. Hitting square on his back, the boy rolled backwards, and leaped up into a crouching position.

Lynn panted. Sweat dribbled from his brow down his face. The sun felt good. Lynn found himself looking up at the apprentice in the tree.

"Hmm.. show me."

Lynn stepped back from the dummy, giving it room.

 

[Wing]

*Marius watched the two other Bendu apprentices near the wooden dummy. They seemed to be practicing their hand-to-hand skills. All apprentices here were different, coming from diffrent areas of the planets. Marius himself was raised in the mountains, as a hunter. He was dressed in a navy blue tunic which was tattered, showing he was a peasant and a one of many people suffering from poverty. He then walked up to the two other apprentices at the dummy, watching them closely.*

 

[Ser Gregor]

"Show you? Alright." Mordecai replied, his arms and legs still draped over the sides of the tree. Lazily pushing his body up with one arm, he leaned far to the left, flipping off the tree and landing with a light thud on his feet. Removing all but his pants, he shook his body of the kinks. "I'll first do basicaly what you did." He added, positioning himself in the same way Lynn had before hand, and initiated the attack. His body being a fair bit larger, Mordecai had to fall to the ground practicaly onto his stomach when the dummy's arm came around, before kicking himself back up before moving in close and throwing his fist into the dummy's 'jaw' before raising his right arm to block the dummy's second blow, the wooden limb slamming into Mordecai's tensed forearm. Shaking off the blow with a flick, he set the dummy up again.

"Now, if you moved your left foot out like so," He said, showing the minute displacement of his left foot, "It've increased your balance and physical prowess, although your punch would have knocked most people out." His body tensed as the dummy wheeled to life, and when he saw the opening, he attacked, after his initial attacks, it was apparent he was moving with more speed and power, and as he arose to from the ground again, his foot were at the precise distance apart, and when his punch connected, the dummy's face litteraly cracked and split, and when the arm came around a second time, he let it hit him, his movements absorbing the force of the impact and allowing him to easily manouver around it, before sending a knee into the 'back' of the dummy, another long crack appearing along it's surface.

Panting heavily, he turned to where Lynn stood, studying the movements. Another had joined them. "Hey." He said to the newcomer, nodding his head ever so slightly.

 

[Wing]

*Marius nodded to the bigger individual. Marius then went up to the dummy, and began attacking it using Echani techniques learned by his ancestors who lived on other planets, and brought the style with them when they moved here. He kicked the dummy and jabbed at it also, and dodged the stick it was wielding. When he attempted a constant attack of jabs, the stick hit him, knocking him to the ground.*

 

[OneoftheLost]

Lynn's brow was furrowed in thought. He walked over to the other newcomer. Bending over he extended his hand.

"Here, those are some strange moves you have, I have never seen them before."

As he helped Marius to his feet he turned to Mordecai.

"You know alot, may I ask where you learned how to fight?"

 

[Ser Gregor]

"To be honest, I taught myself... it's all I did when I was younger, for I was not well liked by my village's populace. And to be frank, what I did was in a controlled situation, where I was in no serious threat. I wouldn't know if I could keep my calm like that in an actual battle." Mordecai replied to Lynn, strands of his red mane of hair sticking to his sweat covered face. Walking over to the tree, he placed his back against it and allowed the gentle swaying of the branches to calm him and lull him into a pleasent state of peace. "I'm also skilled with the blade, but I do not keep it with me within the confinds of the Bendu sactuaries."

Realizing he had yet to introduce himself, Mordecai sat up slightly, staring at the man. "My name's Mordecai, Mordecai Tolen Dagda." He added, holding out his hand to Lynn.

 

[OneoftheLost]

Lynn nodded, looking him in the eyes.

"Name's Lynn. Lynn Vanick. Don't know much about swords, father taught me a lil' about the fist arts. Nice 'ta meetcha."

Grabbing the other man's hand, he shook, putting just a little pressure, just to show he wasnt a complete weakling.

 

[Lillianne Crasse]

Lillianne had been walking the halls for hours now, trying to adjust herself to her new home. Most of the other students within the halls seemed nice enough. Yet, after their morning prayers, they were off flitting around like the insects who pollinate the beautiful flowers, always busy.

Turning the corner, her eye caught a few of the students around a peculiar figure. Curious, she plopped herself down and watched, while biting into her bit of fruit.

 

[Wing]

*Marius realigned himself to the dummy in a Echani style fighting stance, then attacked the dummy again. He jabbed at it furiously, and dodged the dummy's stick. He then backed up near a bench, which laid a long folded piece of cloth. He picked it up and underneath it was a Echani made sword. Marius than ran back to the dummy and kicked it, and slashed the sword at the dummy's stick. The sword and stick made contact, causing the sword to cut halfway through the stick. Marius then backed up, and put his sword in a sheath at his side.*

 

[Johnnysaurus Rex]

Isiah had been walking around aimlessly as was his fashion. He found such walks to be able of clearing his congested mind. The secenes captivated his gray matter allowing him to focus on one thing clearly. Isiah's eyes opened and his head perked up when he heard the noises of those training. He weighed it in his mind a little before deciding to go join his fellow Bendu. First noticing Lillianne he slowly walked up and stood beside her.

"Well what's going on here?"

 

[Ser Gregor]

Accepting the man's shake with an equally firm grasp, Mordecai glansed out his peripherals. It appeared they were garnering a crowd, something Mordecai never felt comfortable in. Eyeing the newcomers warily, he nodded his head in acknowledgment. He watched the Bendu train on the dummy with his sword with mild interest, he had no wanton to spectate. He never had. Moving over to the tree, he grabbed a low hanging branch and swung himself onto it, where his over cloak was resting. Putting it on, he grabbed his hair and tied it into a ponytail, before jumping back to the ground. All the while he was silent, and tried not to make eye contact with the group.

As he moved across the flattened grass, made so by many pair of feet over the years, he glanced at a young man with striking orange hair. He carried a very large blade, and Mordecai wondered if he could even competently wield the sword. Moving to sit on a stone bench just off the side of the large courtyard, Mordecai produced a small book from the confines of his robes. It read A History of the Bendu, As Recorded by Ussej Padric Bac III was printed, quilted in fine gold letters. He looked at the few Bendu that stood out once more, before opening the book a third the way through.

 

[OneoftheLost]

Lynn yawned, stretching, he watched Mordecai leave, he was soon reading a book. Lynn decided he'd better do the same, he knew how distracting it was trying to train with a crowd. The other apprentice sure had talent. He seemed to know what he was doing, and he was starting to draw a crowd. Lynn still didn't have any swordsman training whatsoever. So as the other apprentices started to chat with Marius, Lynn took his leave. Quietly backing up, Lynn put his back against the wall, then he slid down, almost a crouching posistion. Closing his eyes he steadied his breathing. He felt his thigh muscles start to burn almost immediatly. Ignoring this, Lynn started to meditate.


Suddenly a loud ringing was heard throughout the courtyard. Lunch. The apprentices all swiftly got to their feet... and were stunned to see several priests walk into the courtyard. They all held baskets, and judging by that smell...

Priestess Roan brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes, she studied the apprentices and hopefuls with a keen eye.

"The Bendu Order has decided to give you a bit of a break. The priests have several matters we need to attend to. Do not worry, training will resume in several hours time! Enjoy this break while you can!"

With that the priests layed out several dozen blankets, and put a basket on each one.

The bell gave a final ring, and lunch was served.

As the priests turned to leave, Priestess Roan stopped at the entrance leading back into the temple. She held the door open, looking back.

"Oh, and apprentices? I suggest you study...."

A mischeivious glint twinkled in her eye, and then she shut the door.

 

[Lillianne Crasse]

Lillianne smiled up at the newcomer and let out a tinkle of laughter.

"It seems that device there has offended one of them. That other fellow," she pointed toward Mordecai, "was showing him a more efficient way to beat it," she added, clearly not one who had embraced fighting before..

Finishing her piece of fruit, she wiped her hands on her robes and stood up, extending a sticky hand.

"I'm Lillianne," she said with a charming smile.

Before she could say anything else, a bell rang through the Temple and she watched as all of the students stopped what they were doing and turned toward the sound. A graceful woman moved with purpose as she surveyed all of their faces. It was a face Lillianne had never seen before in the halls. However, that was not saying much at all. Her time here had been very short so far.

Listening to the Priestess's words, she took them in and read the hidden meaning within. They would be facing a challenge or test soon it would seem. Unfortunately, she had not brought her book with her. Turning around, looking at the various students gathered, she watched as many sat off by themselves reading and enjoying their lunch. Few were gathered together using the time to socialize.

Biting her lower lip, she knew she better return to her room and retrieve her manual.

"Excuse me," she finally said to her companion with regret and turned to hurry off.

 

[Darth Nyne]

Darien walked the halls after his arrival, he hadn't been approached about his testing to know whether he'd even be staying here or not, but the place was well designed and seemed like something he'd like to own one day. He continued walking when a girl, probably an apprentice, dashed past him. He spun about to watch her for a moment, thinking to himself "How rude not even the courtesy to nod, doesn't she know who I am?" but quickly shrugging it of and went back to the day dream of owning the place.

It was then he came upon a door, he peered out and saw that it led to a courtyard, he had a feeling about him, a sense if you will that this was the place that he needed to be, this was where he would find out what was to happen to him, or at least a place where he could get some laughs. He never could tell what the feelings meant, just that they were there and they always led him somewhere, he never knew for what, but he had always stayed away from the places they had led him, fear had always held him back, the deep fear of rejection that he held within himself.

That was it, he'd let fear lead him this far, he decided to take over for himself and soon crossed the threshold into the courtyard, noting the wooden training dummy and the many students eating and reading obviously this was a downtime from the rigors of physical training, but he'd heard that the Bendu believed as much in knowledge as they did physical prowess, that could work out well for him. He'd excelled in learning, at least in his own mind, but was never very strong. "This is the place." he thought as he peered around the courtyard taking account of each thing he saw. Too the outside world it must appear that he was lost, or in a daze.

 

[Wing]

*Marius attached the sheath containing his sword to his belt, and then sat on the bench. He opened his book, A History of the Bendu, As Recorded by Ussej Padric Bac III, which made him appear to be studying. However, inside was the book he brought from his home, Hunting in the Mountains, by Tom Leoric.*

 

[Johnnysaurus Rex]

Isiah just stood and scratched his head as he saw Lilianne walk off. If he had ever had a brief conversation before then that would be in the top 3. He also pulled his book out to study. Isiah didn't read it though, prefering to read whenever it suited him. For now he just moved his eyes along the words.

 

[Lillianne Crasse]

Lillianne quickly hurried back to the courtyard, her manual clutched against her breast as she tried to find the boy she had spoken to earlier. Seeing him amid the crowd, she made her way toward him, smile beaming from her face.

"Sorry," she said as she came up beside him. "May I sit with you?"

 

[Darth Nyne]

He'd decided to walk the courtyard, looking at each individual with a hidden indignation "If only they knew how great I was going to be, they'd be swarming me at this moment." the thought brought a smile to his face, one that seemed kind and gentle but truly hid the feelings he had for all of these individuals, the fact that he would soon be among them, and faster than that be above them.

He simply knew his destiny had to be great, he knew that it had to be better than theirs, because in his sense of things he was better than them. His skills in diplomacy let him know that he couldn't out rightly show them how he felt, it would only make things harder on him, but thinking of it and secretly relishing in the thought could do no harm.

When he snapped out of his self righteous trance he was standing behind Marius, slowly he peered over his shoulder, smirking as he saw the book inside the book, this proved his feelings to him, if these sentients couldn't manage to keep their mind on their studies how could they ever be better than him. Pulling himself down to his haunches behind him he reached his hand over his shoulder and pointed to the page Marius was looking at.

"I'm pretty sure this will get you in trouble, looks like everyone else is studying."