A knight's determination

[stupidhonor]

[1, shortly after the mission]
With Lord Moswar's death, a moot will be organized. He has left no one to call an heir, so his titles and the Lord's Arm will be given to others - all knights of Ankaia can participate in the moot and decide on that and other important matters.

But his death is just an excuse for the moot to gather. The real reason for the gathering will be to make a unified decision regarding Earth. Lord Moswar's faction lost its head. There is yet possibility of peace.

In the meantime, I will remain here. Lord Moswar's actions were against Earth's good - and Ankaia's as well. I made a vow to guard the innocents against him and the likes of him. I will not break that vow, so until that time...


I hope you will allow me to fight by your side.

[2]
[There is one more thing that a lot of people will probably ask Sielje about. The title Moswar used to refer to her, that made her so angry...]


Lord Moswar had in his grasp - the secret of Power Within. There used to be a time when that was the case for every of Ankaia's warriors, but nowadays only a few chosen know its incantation. The ultimate technique of self-actualization, any knight may use it once and once alone.

The reason for that is it draws upon the life force of the one who uses it. An old or weak person's life may become quickly extinguished... and even if you survive, you are not the same. Your strength, potency, are but shadows of their former selves.

Such a survivor is known as a Burned Out.


[3]
So the weapons of Earth are not powered by their wielders' might? Of course, they are not made from hide and bone of beasts of Ankaia... but does it not allow for even a weakling to excel in combat, if his or her tools are good?

[Sielje asks this question while sitting atop of a Genoace - the mobile suit took only a few steps from where it stood before losing balance and collapsing. You can probably guess who was the pilot, since she was the one who left the cockpit...]

Comments

2

[majestic_keiki]

What do you mean that people's strength is a shadow of their former selves?

[stupidhonor]

I am talking about a human being's might. It is... more than just your strength, though it can be trained by exercising your body, and your will.

[Sielje hesitated before continuing.]

Once Inner Power dissipates, it takes most of that with itself. It is burned out, forever. Even the mightiest of knights can hope for, at best, to be reduced to the level of an ordinary person.

[majestic_keiki]

Ordinary people can be pretty impressive and seem almost superhuman to the rest of us. Do you mean that Ankaian knights have superpowers or does it weaken you in general?

2

[reactorhead_russians]

"So you once tapped into this Power Within...and survived?" Sasha asks.

[stupidhonor]

...

[If you thought Sielje looked nervous or embarassed any time you talked to her before, you saw nothing yet.]

Can, can we not talk about this?

Please...

[reactorhead_russians]

Sasha nods, knowing better than to pry.

...

Well, she'll try and pry a little. "Was it worth it?" Sasha asks. "Did you achieve what you wanted?"

2

[lostamigo]

It happened to you, didn't it.

[stupidhonor]

You are... the armored man, from before.

[Sielje stares up at Daniel's massive robotic frame.]

[lostamigo]

Yes. And you are the armored woman.

3

[a_louse]

Just because a weapon doesn't require raw strength to use doesn't mean everyone can wield it equally well.

[Roger glances at the Genoace. It's proof of his statement.]

[stupidhonor]

That is true, but... these are tools. They should serve as an extension of their user's will.

Does Earth's method not create those who are good at using their machines first and foremost, as opposed to those who grew strong and as such, are good at using their machines?

[a_louse]

It's not like there are any other methods. Besides, even in melee combat skill and practice are more important than strength. A hulking brute with no training is only good for lifting weights.

3)

[in_over_his_head]

Eeeeh... something like that. Weapons are still weapons. They're only good if a person knows how to use them.

[He simply just looks at the downed Genoace.]

Some are easier to use than others.

[stupidhonor]

All weapons require practice. From a simple knife held in hand, to the mightiest Lord's Arm.

However...

When you use one of your machines, does the wielder's strength power the force of its blows? Does it make it better in any way?

[in_over_his_head]

Not many I think... I'm no expert in that field but that sort of control system usually tends to take too much time to make or puts too much stress on a pilot long term.

Honestly its less about strength... more...

[Calvin ponders on how to phrase things. He snaps his fingers as things click as he recalls a phrase Luther mentioned that was passed around in the Valkyrie tests, nevermind the man never passed the,.]

Its one part endurance, two parts training, three parts quick thinking, four parts daring with a dash of luck.

1)

[tillallareone]

[Sielje, you find one of the machines that had fought alongside you against Moswar standing before you. Without any fanfare Optimus lowers himself to one knee and extends a hand towards you.]

Though the circumstances of your arrival were less than ideal, it is an honor to have you fight alongside us.

[stupidhonor]

Thank you.

[Sielje looks at the hand. How unusual, it'd be much more conveinent if the pilot would leave his machine... but she tries to grip it anyway as best as she can.]

I will not falter.

2

[a_monetized_mind]

...So that's what that meant.

...What makes someone survive it? Obviously Moswar didn't...

[stupidhonor]

He was... not young, and his body has taken many wounds during his life. The strain must have been too much.

3

[keep_your_dignity]

EXCEL? NO. TO EXCEL YOU NEED DRIVE, TRAINING, ABILITY, AND A HOST OF OTHER THINGS.

IT SIMPLY GIVES THEM A CHANCE TO ACTUALLY DO ANYTHING.

[There's a rather large robot moving through the hangar, but Sielje might not have expected it to suddenly break into monotone speech when she asks the question out loud, the faceless head vaguely turning towards her]

[stupidhonor]

Ah.

[Sielje's surprised, but more in the "didn't see you coming" way. Is everything even vaguely humanoid actually alive and talking in this place?]

Ability and training... in using those machines, yes?

Even the mightiest and most skilled of fighters would find their strength and skill useless when forced to battle not on foot, but inside one. Is that not the case?

1

[totallyhonest]

What's a moot? Is that some sort of trench around a castle?

[stupidhonor]

It is a gathering of people. All of Ankaia's lords, and even knights, can come and have their voices and opinions heard.

An event such as this is huge and will last many days. Possibly a week or more.

3

[dolorous_sensei]

Well, yes, more or less. And that's not the worst thing about it.

[stupidhonor]

What is the worst, then?