Work Text:
SLAYING
WHILE
SLAYING
-or-
Wielding a Scythe with Grace
A Girl's Guide to Reaping
written by
Susan Sto-Helit
original transcription by
Myra Poleo
Eorzean translation by
Quta'wo Qhonda
Chapter 1: The Scythe and You
You, a woman of culture, have been called to wield a scythe against a foe. It matters not if this calling was a matter of aesthetics, necessity, or mere a fit of pique. You will doubtless find that the use of such a large and unwieldy tool will tax your strength and balance far beyond what you have anticipated. Oftentimes, both the handle and the blade of the weapon will match or exceed your own height. How can anyone, let alone a woman of diminutive stature, hope to employ such a thing? Remember this: You are stronger than you think! Most (untranslatable city name) women have been conditioned to believe that their strength matches their stature. This is patently untrue and you shall be yet another proof of this.
A scythe must be wielded with both hands (otherwise, it would be a sickle-sickles are fine for some people I suppose but you and I have grander aspirations). Use your stronger arm to lift the scythe by the grip in the center of the handle. Assuming your scythe was properly constructed, this handle is at the exact center of balance. Swinging the scythe is a matter not of direct force, but of pivoting the handle to swing the blade. You will find that pivoting your weapon from this center of balance is far less taxing than you imagined.
However, you will also find that the thing seems to have a mind of its own and seldom swings where you wish it. For this reason, your other hand should be positioned at the end of the handle. The purpose of this hand is to guide the direction of the blade. By being as distant as possible from the center, you will find it relatively easy to use the leverage available to you to guide the blade. To recap: Your stronger arm pivots the blade; your weaker hand guides it. By employing them properly, you will have little difficulty dispatching your targets.
You will, of course, have difficulty timing the pivot and the direction together at first. Would that there was an easier way to master this skill, but there is simply no alternative but practice. You will have to spend hours upon hours striking targets. I suggest you start with larger ones and, as you improve, begin honing your skills on smaller items. Fruits and vegetables work well and this can serve the additional function of cutting them for cooking (so long as you aren't particular about how precisely they are cut). My grandfather has the ability to cut a single blade of grass at a time, a level of skill few will ever attain. But do not despair: Unless you find yourself arrayed in combat against a single blade of grass, this is unlikely to hinder you.
The other thing that practice will provide is strength. As I mentioned, the scythe is not a weapon of brute force, but it is undeniably a heavy weapon and if you wish to swing it often, some level of endurance will be required. You'll find that it comes easily, but as with the matter of aim, there is no substitute for practice. I know, I know. It is terribly dull when you wish to be slashing at marauders or beasts, but with practice, you may find that your swinging against marauders and beasts is far more effective (and fun!).
Warning: You will likely encounter many men who will find cause to mock you for your choice of such a heavy and apparently "manly" weapon. It is as unfortunate as it is unavoidable. Such is the ignorance regarding what is ultimately a weapon of balance and timing. While men may have the advantage in raw strength, it will avail them nought when it comes to wielding this weapon. However, it does make them a far easier target...
Chapter 2: The Scythe and the Dance
Perhaps we should get right to it. I have mentioned already that the key to effectively employing a scythe is correctly balancing the weight. What does that mean for you, the wielder? It means that, once you have the correct grip, the weapon should feel nigh-weightless in your arms. The single most important thing to remember is that you do not want to upset this balance. Striking a blow is not a matter of waving the blade around, it is all in your hips and legs. A graceful pivot will bring the maximum force to bear on your target. Turn on the balls of your feet, use your lower body, and let the blade take the lead. Perform the moves correctly and you will sever the hardiest flesh without breaking the slightest sweat.
If this sounds more like a dance than combat, then you have understood me properly. One of the best ways to practice the weapon is to dance. Start with a thin pole, which is more forgiving of accidental movements, and work your way up to a scythe. You'll find that the movements remain the same; only the punishment for error increases. I cannot stress enough the importance of treating the movements as a dance; you'll find that the difficult part is not in the swing, it is knowing what to do after the swing. Recovery and setting up for the next strike are the key to successful usage of the scythe.
What role do your arms play? They maintain the balance and make subtle adjustments. They are not for heaving the thing around like a battle-axe. Start with the scythe raised and allow it to drop in an arc. Stand on the balls of your feet and allow the weight of the weapon to swing you around gracefully. There is no need to generate additional force; if what you are striking requires more than the weapon itself generates, then you are likely in a very bad spot indeed and it is unlikely adding the heft of your arms to the swing will make a telling difference.
(the excerpt ends here)