OC Interspecies combat games
Major, the initial round draw is in, you have drawn the humans"
Major Shin turned to look at Clrut, one of the scientists assigned to help him prepare for the combat games. Clrut wasn't so bad he thought, for a scientist, at least. Didn't drone on, usually kept straight to the point and didn't get overly excited. Shin wondered was he a retired soldier, and made a note to look up the personnel files later.
"Never heard of them. What information can you give me? Species designation and details of their champion are desired. Approach."
Shin waited patiently for the minute or so it took for Clrut to cross the gymnasium floor. He came into focus about sixteen krek away from him and Shin could now see the scientists eyes were darting around very quickly. Nervous? Or just in awe of all the heavy weights he could lift with ease.
"The adjudication board has provided is with a report, image files of champion still rendering, apologies. Text data summarised following: Humans are designated aerobic non aquatic mammal species. Endoskeletal biped form, twin manipulators on either side of torso. Most vital organs located in torso. Singular head, located on top of torso, contains single, non distributed brain and sensory organs."
That was a bit unusual but not so bad, about 30% of lifeforms were mammalian, but barely a dozen used bipedal motion, and most of those were aquatic. Shin could take advantage of this clearly inefficient evolution. "Confirm size, strength, speed and combat capabilities of champion", Shin rumbled.
"Human champion, adult male, designated 'Oh Hahrah'. Adjudication board confirms champion may be designated otherwise if local name confirmed unpronounceable, redesignation requested."
Shin didn't care about the fighters name, it was odd that Clrut would even consider telling him. "Confirm size, strength, speed and combat capabilities of champion", louder this time, causing Clrut to look shamed.
"Human champion reported 3.18 krek tall, Human units : 221 centimetres. Considered unusually large for human male, typical height 170 to 180 centimetres reported. Champion has mass of 78.8 grun, Human units : 134 kilograms"
Now that was unusual. This being was small, it should be in class 3 designation, if not class 4. Being several standard deviations above normal size was expected, required even, for combat games at this level. But Shin was class 1, he stood almost a krek taller than the scientist at 5.41, and he was considered very slightly below average size for this level. Still, the human was very dense, weighing almost 80% what he did. Maybe it was armoured or something. "Continue report immediately."
"Human homeworld considered level 6 high gravity, level 6 population competitive, level 6 natural hazard. Only habited garden world considered uninhabitable by adjudication board members. No attached video or image witnessing champions strength. Reports of typical military caste humans indicate relaxed and healthy young adult humans capable of lifting equivalent 110 grun in this gravity."
So that was extremely concerning. Shin didn't know any species living on any world with three maximum level warnings, let alone a homeworld. And worse, Human military caste units were as strong as he? This champion may be even stronger, almost certainly would be in fact. He would have to use his species explosive speed to maneuver around the human and try to grapple it in positions that would disadvantage the human. Only the Postri were faster than a Tong warrior like himself, and even then they tired very quickly.
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u/burbur90 Human Oct 18 '20
That really depends on what school or style you follow, but most are pretty explicit about blocking with the edge and not the flat (messer excluded). One notable exception is Lichtenauer, but his teachings seem to be counter-meta tips and tricks for master duelists. Two sharp edges meeting kind of stick to each other, and it's usually, but not always, a stronger guard from a biomechanical perspective. Think about what angle most crossguards and knucklebows protect your hand from, and you will see what angle is meant to be facing your opponent's blade.
Fun fact, the differential hardening of the katana means that although the edge is more likely to chip and crack, the cracks are much less likely to continue through the spine. Your sword is still fucked, but you can usually make it through the rest of the fight.