Duel with Grimarch the Orc (Kenna's Tale).

I've went on searching for adventurers to go into Orc lands to challenge Grimarch. They would be an escort in case of orcs' foul play, and witnesses to the duel.

Then guard approached us while we sat in Peltarch's commons and said that orcs by west gate of Peltarch shout my name.


'Kenna! Kenna!' ...

-=- Approaching the Orcs. -=-


We went to to see and group of armed orcs who stood there said that Grimarch will arrive soon.

He did, and we agreed to rules of engagement - potions allowed, and that the fight is only between Grimarch and me. Rest would leave in peace. Earlier we agreed that this duel is to death, as well.

Following the rules of engagement was matter of honor since then.


I drank the potions and attacked.

Duel was quick and gritty, I barely survived, he died first.


Not sure how, but Grimarch resisted my attempt at final blow... and walked away.


Mister Reemul, one of witnesses (and the one who gave me earlier my Katana sword - Jitsugetsu no Ken) said that by avoiding death orc broke rules in a dishonorable manner. And that this would mean that we do not need to be honourable against him anymore.


I have feelings that this is not the end from him.

Challenges & Lessons (Kenna's Tale).

While on my pilgrimage to Kara-Tur earlier in my life, I've picked up morality of eastern warriors named Samurai.

Honor is important for me, and the Bushido code explains how to live honorably.

Anyway, two things happen around these days that are about challenges, honor and learning.

1. When training in orc cave I've met an Orc named Grimarch that challenged me to a duel.

I'll need to assemble a party with whom I'll go to the orc lands, and where I'll have one-to-one duel with Orc Grimarch. We should be able to get there without the fight, as Grimarch provided me with papers that any Orc will honor and will let us pass. But who knows what will happen after the duel?

This duel is matter of Honor for me, and a way to build up my reputation and fame.

Should help to attract students to my Dojo.

2. I've decided that I'll organize an event - will invite martial artists, weaponmasters and fencers from lands all around, from far east (Kara-Tur) to the west. We'll share lessons about martial combat and exchange lore about culture of the lands all around the world.

That about it.

I am preparing myself for the duel. As soon as party assembles, we'll go there.

Wealth (Kenna's Tale).

Do I run my Dojo for gold coins?

No, not at all - I just want to share lessons, to propagate ideas flow and to have battle-hardened friends.


But then, I am a wealthy woman, not every Martial Artist has luxury of earning for living outside running a training hall.


I earn gold coins when I adventure, when I kill bandits or other monsters ... and I sell spoils of adventuring in my shop.

How much wealth I have?

Well, currently, roughly estimate is:

1. About 160 000 gold pieces distributed between Peltarch's Bank and my coin-pouches,
2. My Dojo, worth about 100 000 gold pieces,
3. My Katana Sword - Jitsugetsu no Ken - worth about 1 000 000 gold pieces,
4. My Half Plate Armour - Worth about 200 000 gold pieces,
5. My Belt - worth about 200 000 gold pieces,
6. Rest of my equipment - worth about 400 000 gold pieces,
7. Items in my shop - worth about 120 000 gold pieces.

That would be around 2 200 000 gold pieces.

Best thing about having coins is that one doesn't need to care for wealth anymore.

-- Kenna, Wealthy Adventuress.

Lost in Mists (Kenna's Tale).

I've been training in my Dojo, and exchanged lessons with our dear Sensei, Haitn.

I should do some unarmed fighting training to get rid of my unhealthy attachment to my katana sword, at least a little bit.

How unhealthy my attachment is?

Like that of the 5th Dan Kendo Master's.

Word: 'Kendo' means: 'The Way of the Sword', and 5th Dan means 5th Mastery Level. After initial training of basics, there are 10 Mastery Levels to attain.

By the Enlightened Masters of Kara-Tur, the amount of attachment that I have, would be considered quite unhealthy.

It's not so easy to separate me from my katana sword.

--
Anyway, when i took a walk outside to get some fresh air and calm my mind, I noticed that night is cowled in mists. Weather by Icelace lake can be whimsical. People were talking in hushed voices, and i've overheard a talk between Wavebreaker Lietentant Feron and Seafarer named Larel. About 30 of seafarer people were missing then found dead, and Larel established that involvement of Wavebreakers is highly unlikely. No particular pattern about murders was found either.

I've volunteered to try get this matter solved, and first thing that came to my mind was to look around and collect gossip. Larel agreed to send me Seafarers' robes in which i'll loiter around the docks. We agreed that when i have something and want to contact him, i'll leave notice at seafarers that supply of crossbolt bolts is wanted, then he will find me in my dojo.

If i succeed, i'll get a reward, will be considered an investor in the Seafarers' business.

Wavebreakers and Seafarers are two guilds that do some trading over the Icelace.

Icelace is a lake, but it's VERY big, almost like sea.

Atemi & Ki (Kenna's Tale).

I've been training more and more difficult techniques of Katana Sword Combat recently.

Had a little time for unarmed lessons, but did enough to not get out of shape, at least.


First technique of Katana Sword Combat was about hitting vulnerable points on enemy's body, doing critical wounds in process.

In Shou, langage of Kara-Tur, it's called: 'Atemi', which means: 'Striking at Vulnerable Points'.


Second technique of Katana Sword Combat is known in Narfell as: 'Power Attack', but sometimes it's called: 'Ki'. It's about sweeping cuts, striking hard, striking while directing Ki energies to the enemy's body to cause more damage. It's more difficult to make such attack connect with enemy's body, but when it hits, damage caused is considerable.

In Shou, word: 'Ki' means more or less: 'energy', 'force', and sometimes also: 'deadly strength'.


Then i've tried to join these two techniques into one, synergic technique.

(Word: 'Synergy' means: 'More than Sum of All Parts').


I have a satisfaction that recently these techniques start to work well, even in real combat, not only in training.

And it's good to know that I've learned all of the lessons required to advance to 5th Dan Black Belt, 5th Level of Mastery in Katana Sword training.

(There are 10 Training Levels and 10 Mastery Levels in Katana Sword School that I belong to).


-- Kenna, Adventuress on the Way of becoming One with Katana Sword.

Along the Way (Kenna's Tale).

I've been practicing a difficult technique with my katana swords.

It's name is: 'Round Slash to the Heavens'.

Usually I combine it with two focused slashes at first, then move a bit to the side and execute a rotating jump while slashing from bottom-right side to left and upwards.

I've been travelling with a modest nice girl from Kara-Tur, trying what I learned in real combat. Her name is Xiulan Ming. The cold road and long road offer nice challenges of us two.


Also, did some training dummy exercise near old Jiyyd, near the Legion Hall.

One of the Legion members watched me train and praised me and my efforts.


I've started to feel the inner energies, Ki energies. I can feel and direct energies, direct where I need them, to fight for long before fatigue overcomes me.

I am sure that it is because i've included Qi Gong exercises in my training.

Qi Gong is a martial arts lesson of working with energies.


Someday i'll consider myself one with my katana sword, for now I am just on the way to reach that goal.

-- Kenna, Adventuress on the Way of the One with the Sword.