Sulo Banaka

[EdTheKet]

Name; Sulo Banaka
Race: Human
Age: 25
Class: Fighter/Weapon Master (not entirely sure about level division, once I switch to WM I will not switch back)
Deity: None in particular, depends on the need of the moment.
Alignment: Lawful Neutral Born in Tiburn, in the Kingdom of Roldem, Sulo was surrounded by weapons from the start. His parents, both weapon instructors in the Roldem military, took him to their practice yards as soon as Yasmina, Sulo’s mother, was able to teach again.
At first, little Sulo did not receive training himself, but like all little kids, tried to emulate what he saw every day, so quickly he was runnig around, chasing other kids with a wooden stick.
Hurrin, Sulo’s father, decided he’d have an easier time watching his kid if he was teaching him as well, instead of just letting Sulo run loose and hit other kids with his stick. It did not start well, Sulo had much trouble maintaining his concentration when fighting, and was easily distracted. It just looked as if his heart wasn’t into it. Until one day, a Rodezian noble came to Tiburn, to persuade Hurrin to return with him to Rodez, to train the Rodezian troops. One of the noble’s guards had a weapon that looked curious to Sulo, it looked like a sword with two blades. He couldn’t keep his eyes from it, and later, when Yasmina and Hurrin discussed the possible move to Rodez, 14-year-old Sulo told them they’d had to, he wanted to use a sword just like that guard wielded. The enthusiasm in their son was the deciding factor, so Yasmina and Hurrin decided to take the Rodezian up on his offer and the Baneke family moved to Rodez.
There, Sulo got training from an old man named Shiro, as his father never wielded a two-bladed sword before.
Sulo wanted to get started right away, of course, but Shiro wouldn’t let him, first, he needed to master his body and his thoughts before he could master a blade. And so his training began. Shiro made him get up at first light every day, making him run around Rodez’ walls, doing chores like chopping wood, polishing armor, sharpening other people’s blades.
Shiro also taught him mediation techniques to clear his mind: “Only when the mind is not clouded by other concerns can one truly become one with one’s weapon.”
After a couple of months, one could find Sulo meditating outside in the pouring rain or the blazing sun, he did not appear to notice it in any way. This taught Sulo discipline. Then, about 2 years after his tutelage had started, practice began in earnest. First, with a wooden version of a two-bladed sword. It started slowly, going through various moves and figures slowly, feeling how every muscle in his body was used in a different way, depending on the move he executed. All these moves and figures were part of what Shiro called the Dance with the Blade. As with the learning of all dances, the basic steps are taught slowly, but eventually the pace picks up and the figures grow more complicated. After Sulo had grasped the basics of the Dance with the Blade, it was time for the next step, what Shiro called the Ball of Battle. “Dancing with you Blade is not enough, young Sulo. It is only at the Ball of Battle, where you will face others who Dance and will need to adapt to the pattern they’re Dancing, looking for a flaw. It is during the Ball that you will find combinations of moves and figures and truly master your skill.” And so, still practicing with his wooden two-bladed sword, Sulo now had to practice against other men, instead of just going through the moves and figures. Needless to say that the first time he fought another man was far from a success. Sulo opened combat with the “Flight of the Crane” figure, then wanting to combine it with “ Charge of the Bull”, a combination he was used to do when practicing the moves alone.
Even before he had completed the first part of “Charge of the Bull” he got hit on the side by his opponent. He ended up with some bruised ribs and a stern lecture from Shiro “You were thinking and planning too much! Clear your mind and observe the other’s Dance, and make that the basis for your counter moves!” It took several months of bruising before Sulo managed to actually defeat somebody. It was now time to put the wooden practice materials aside and switch to metal. Sulo continued to train under Shiro until the day of his 25th birthday: “I can teach you no more, young Sulo, but that does not mean that you have mastered the Dance. As long as there are people, there will be new variations in the Dance.” Placing his hands together in front of his chest he bowed deeply to his master “It was an honor to be your student, Master.” "Now that your training is complete, you have earned this." Shiro went inside his hut and came out with something wrapped in black silk. "Your own Two-bladed sword."
Sulo knelt in front of his master and held up his hands "You honor me too much master." Shiro placed the weapon in his hands "I would not give it if you had not earned it, young Sulo."
Rising slowly, Sulo removed the silk and tested the weapon's balance. He stared his Master in the eye, put his hand on his heart and bowed one last time. Then, turning briskly he went to say goodbye to his parents. As he left Rodez, two-bladed sword on his back, he suddenly found himself in front of a dragon....

[NitaThompson]

Approved