OTA;

[a_noble_flame]

[What comes first through the flung open door of Alice's communion is warmth. To some a warm spring day, to others an inviting hearth banked to a low, slow fire. Or maybe it's a campfire, a ring of bright light against the encroaching darkness. However it is viewed it's inviting, calling for rest and calm.

She's nudged her way into several communions by now but she's never opened herself up at large and it shows. Or maybe it's just that Alice is never one to hide much save the emotions she keeps buried away beyond the light of her fire and warmth.

Alice herself ... well, her image of herself is fuzzy. Ever present fire eats at her heels and in times of passion might silhouette her. She herself though is only as sharp as her mental image of herself and she's obviously not that great at conjuring it up.

At least she still feels warm though? And her tone of voice is the same even if her words are quite business-like.]

I apologize if I'm doing this wrong in some way.

[Apology given, she dives in.]

I would like to find someone to commission a sword from. I wish to be prepared for future fighting and in order to do so I really do need to keep up my training with my other weapons as well. My current weaponry can only offer so much in terms of weight and distance.

[... Should she give an example of what she wants to commission? She's drawn up something by hand, exact specifications given from memory and years of handling this particular weapon of hers.

Amusingly -- or maybe not -- Alice's mental image of the Mähne is much clearer than her mental image of herself. It's a good six foot in length, two longswords butted end to end with grips between them.]

I have saved up some for this and am willing to work off the extra should what I have not cover the cost fully.

[... How do you close these out? Just ... leave it open for communication? There's a sweep of heat as Alice flusters just a touch.]

Th-thank you. I appreciate any assistance that can be offered.

Comments

[warmare]

That is a strange blade.

[Which... might sound rude, or harsh, just words-wise, but.

It is said more in the "... I give you the opportunity to explain why it is not strange" sort of way.]

[a_noble_flame]

[Alice is happy to oblige!]

The Mähne is traditionally a weapon used by cavalry knights. Using a sword on horseback comes with the problem of leaving one side unguarded. Likewise there is the problem of the horse's neck potentially being in the way of swings or switching weapon hands. With the Mähne a knight could defend themselves and their mount on both sides.

It's a weapon one must keep in constant practice with or you risk not being able to handle it's weight after a while.

[warmare]

[Hmm.]

You hold it with you on the saddle, then, and simply lean left or right to attack enemies at either flank with it as needed?

[a_noble_flame]

Exactly. You can be a bit more fancy with it if you like but the idea is to minimize how often you need to try to avoid your mount themselves.

I've typically used it off of a mount however.

[warmare]

[Foreign as it looked, the idea seemed... sound enough. On a mount. Off of one??]

What possible reason would there be then to use it unmounted?

[a_noble_flame]

The reach and range for one. I'm sure a normal longsword would give you a similar reach but having a weapon like this allows you to switch sides very effectively even on the ground.

[She pauses a moment. Mentally she can visually the weapon in her hands given she's practice with it so much.]

You can pass it between your hands very easily so no matter where someone attacks from -- your right, your left, behind or in front -- you can move in that direction without wasting too much time switching hands.

[She moves through a practiced set routine. A pass over her shoulder with the downward slash before her, a pivot on her heel for an upper slash behind. The Mahne is always in motion, grips passing between her hands.]

[warmare]

[... The visual helps, even if Hayame had once been the type to recoil from having to see other people's thoughts and images through Communion. She is more used to it now.]

I admit it is not something I would have thought of. I am interested in seeing it in person.

[Just! Cause you know! Communion could be lies, it's best the check!!!]

[a_noble_flame]

I'll definitely demonstrate it for you once I do have it commissioned if you like. I need to gauge my strength with it now after all.

[warmare]

In that case, I will await notice.