(Throwing plot lines out there, hope not to run into this for a while.)
The former Apprentice blocked the punch, and threw his assailant onto the floor. The elf jumped up, and charged the Apprentice again. This was countered with several swift jabs of the quarterstaff to the ribs, and a powerful one to the nose, bringing him to his knees. "You must be quicker than that."
His assailant tried to rise from his knees with a punch aimed at the chest. The Apprentice merely grabbed the fist, squeezing it until there was a loud crack and the other elf screamed. "How many times must I tell you? You must make your opponent hurt, use pain to make them surrender! You yourself must be impervious to pain, or you will be destroyed. Go dip your hand in the salve and come back when the bones have repaired."
"Yes, my Ithera," said the elf, bowing.
After a lengthy training session, the former Apprentice dismissed all his pupils and replaced the staff on the weapon rack. He went out to the north courtyard, where the iron plate was nailed to the wall. Now he began his evening regime; 500 punches to the plate. Today's demonstration had been sad. Would those students ever learn? Cifano-Amoru was not merely a new way of fighting. It was a philosophy, a way of life. Pain-Mastery.
He understood the true message of the goddess, unlike that fool, the old master. Those words of the goddess, about mixing pain and pleasure, until they became one? There was truth there, but not in the literal meaning. Such words were a trap for simpletons and unworthy fools. He saw the meaning underneath, the true purpose of those words. What the goddess taught was not a new, more perfect understanding of the world, but rather simple common sense that most people were still too stupid to see. Pain for others, pleasure for yourself. One must inflict pain, thus gaining respect and fear. In this way the wills of others may be controlled. When those who stood in the way begin to act in accordance with your desires, you shall share your pleasure with them. In this was the wills of others may be controlled as well.
It was so pure and simple, really. Rewards and punishment. It was the secret to true power, not any magic or trickery. The one who is feared most and can inflict the most pain shall be the master. Pain must be applied carefully, strategically. Too much pain can make on resistant. One must become resistant to pain, lest they be susceptible to the domination of others.
497, 498, 499...
With a loud crack, the iron plate sheared in half under the last punch. One day, he thought, the whole world shall bow before me.
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Topic: If Bay Forum were a Mountain Hall, continued... FULL DISCLOSURE (Read 265640 times)