THE HIGH TABLE
Established: 2023-11-17
Chat room: #BARBARUS
- No holds barred
- Weapons
- Extreme violence
- Blood
- Death
A worldwide organization of men trained for violent, bloody, and even deadly combat. Their competence is indicated by their qualifications, from the lowest to the highest, reserved for an elite.
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Starring
INITIATION
Starring Bladefighter and Blade Beraht
It's a pleasantly warm early summer afternoon, and Zack is starting to close up the dojo for dinner. As he is about to shut the front doors he he hears the unmistakable sound of a Harley approach from down the road. He turns to see who it is.
Bladefighter
*Zack watches as the stranger rides up on his Harley and parks his bike in front of the steps. Wondering what he wants.*
Blade Beraht
*Off the Harley now* I've heard of this place.
Bladefighter
Yeah? Name's Zack. I run this place. What have you heard?
Blade Beraht
That I don't need to be the sharpest knife in the drawer - yet - to .... learn.
Bladefighter
You heard correct. Sometimes a dull blade wins the fight. But that is just anecdotal. It always helps to improve fighting skills.
Blade Beraht
I understand that you are the master of the bladesmen here. Have I been informed correctly?
Bladefighter
Yes, although there is at least one who may want to challenge that.
Blade Beraht
I would imagine that there are always challenges to earn the alpha position.
Bladefighter
Yeah, many are just pissing into the wind. A few are from credible opponents and need to be taken seriously.
Blade Beraht
*nodding slowly* I have been in a few gang rumbles with switchblades. Given the carnage, I seem to have some skills.
Bladefighter
I'll take your word for it then. You are still alive. But until you take your shirt off, I won't know how close you came to being one of the casualties of a rumble you were part of.
Blade Beraht
*grinning and slowly peeling off my tight t-shirt* Would you like to trace the routes of my scars or shall I give you a tour?
Bladefighter
*looks over your muscled torso as your shirt comes off* I'd say you have the strength to be a good fighter.
Blade Beraht
*I nod in appreciation*
Bladefighter
I don't think a tour is necessary to see that you have not come that close to death. You have either been very lucky, you are already more skilled than I assumed, or you have not faced really experienced knife fighters. Maybe a combination of all three.
Blade Beraht
I have no points of comparison to know which of those, or as you say, a combination, spared me more damage. I may imagine that a blademaster may have tests to determine that ... hopefully not trials where a failing grade is death or dismemberment.
Bladefighter
No, that is not how I would end an assessment. If I was to evaluate you further, the answers would come quickly.
Blade Beraht
*looks you up and down* What does it take to have you as a mentor?
Bladefighter
You want to up your chances of surviving? It only takes motivation, commitment, and the right fighting spirit.
Blade Beraht
I would add emotional control. I have found that if I can anger an opponent, he gets sloppy. And ends up with my blade between his ribs.
Bladefighter
What you say is true. A fight out of anger will not end well for the angry fighter.
Blade Beraht
Is this still "if" you take me on or "when" you take me on? *I realize that the duel to test me is already underway. And I intend to pass and be this man's protege*
Bladefighter
Yeah, I haven't decided yet if you are worth the time.
Blade Beraht
*he is goading me, seeing if his indifference will deflect me* You would feel the fool if some other swordsman claims my success as his doing if you rejected me. *I lean in closer, you only an inch taller than me* I will not disappoint you.
Bladefighter
*my eyes narrow as your reply sinks in* I would definitely not feel the fool. I would simply assume that your continued survival was in fact because of those things I already mentioned. Another mentor might or might not make a difference. It really doesn't matter. My reputation is solid.
*I can feel the heat of your body through my shirt and smell your sweat as you lean closer. It is not the scent that fear elicits ... another good sign* You say you will not disappoint me. I have heard that before ... and been disappointed. I do not want to waste my time.
Blade Beraht
*I say softly* Remove your shirt as I have for you. Let me see what the body of a true warrior looks like.
*pausing* Please.
Bladefighter
*This young one knows just enough to keep himself out of trouble, but my eyes stay focused narrowly on the target before me. Until slowly I peel my shirt over my head.*
Blade Beraht
*I reach forward, looking at the scars within the tattoos. My fingertips hover over them. I whisper* May I touch? Do you recall who inflicted each one, or do the fights blur to be indistinguishable?
Bladefighter
*As the shirt clears my head* Yeah, you can touch. And I do remember exactly the details of each near fatal strike. You may have the same experiences some day.
Blade Beraht
*My fingertips trace each of the scars, some that nearly make me wince in phantom pain, but I will not let that show ... the touch against your flesh a gift. I cannot let your indecision led to refusal. I lean in again and almost in a purr, say....* I may someday point to a scar and say this is the one my mentor, Bladefighter, gave me as he trained me.
Bladefighter
*My nips harden and my cock stirs in my jeans. But I don't know if the reaction is to his fingers on my chest or the thought of leaving my mark on his attractive body .... forever.* You will have to be more convincing than that. Because you have already failed the first test. I expected you to use your head and take advantage of every opportunity, every weakness, presented to you.
Blade Beraht
I step back, taken aback* Then teach me, what opportunity did I miss? To pull a knife and stab you? *I realize I have allowed you to rattle me and breathe to calm down*
Bladefighter
Yes. I thought you were a street fighter not some graduate of a fencing class. You may not be as hopeless as you appear. When my hands were fully occupied peeling my shirt off, and it was covering my head, I did expect you to pull your knife. Not to stab me, but to thrust the handle into my torso simulating a fatal strike.
Blade Beraht
I thought to be more than just a street fighter.
Bladefighter
You want to be more than a street fighter? What exactly do you want to become? An Olympic champion. The Alpha Bladesman?
*pauses, and then not waiting for an answer* Do you think our Special Forces Operators fight the enemy burdened by some honor code that gives the enemy advantage?
*pauses again before continuing* Do you think knife fights operate under some Marquis of Queensbury rules? If your mentor, whoever that might be, teaches you some false honor code, I will mourn you one day before long.
Blade Beraht
Perhaps, yes. Perhaps the Alpha one day. You feared I would - and have already - disappointed you. You disappoint me. *I turn as if to walk away, then quickly pivot to plunge my fist with an imaginary blade into your abs, pulling it upwards as if to disembowel you*
Do I get extra credit for that?
Bladefighter
I .. *and before I can complete my sentence you strike. like a coiled rattlesnake. Lightning fast as I knew you could. My left forearm blocks your wrist mere inches from my exposed navel, while my own fist jabs into your side.*
"Yeah, you definitely get extra credit for that. I was hoping you would try." and I smile approvingly.
Blade Beraht
*your fist jabs into my side in our "knife fight", as you block my strike, you feel my fist push up between your legs and press against your taint. I hiss....* Did you think I only had one knife? We would join each other in death.
Bladefighter
I will not underestimate you in the future, trainee. You do not disappoint me any longer. *pulling my hand from your side and placing it on your shoulder*
Blade Beraht
Your first lesson tonight was valuable and shows why I wanted you as my trainer. I am already better because of you .... how would you like me to address you as my mentor?
Bladefighter
What do you think fits your present attitude?
Blade Beraht
*I think on the question* When I trained at the dojo, I used "sensei." Would that be acceptable to you.... sir?
Bladefighter
It is more important that it be acceptable to you. We will see if and how it might change over the course of instruction as you progress.
Blade Beraht
Sensei is good. All relationships evolve, and so should the terms we use for one another.
Bladefighter
Yes, I agree. Again you do not disappoint. * I can feel the heat and energy from your shoulder radiating into my hand, and I grip your muscle firmly.* You will not be a waste of my time.
Blade Beraht
Sensei, do I have permission to touch you as you touch me? I do not want to overstep my bounds as your trainee.
Bladefighter
Yes, it may complete a circuit of power exchange.
Blade Beraht
*I grip your bicep and waist* I feel the energy between us.
Bladefighter
That is good. It will help a lot in your training. Welcome
Published: 2026-08-16, viewed 61 times.
minotaur21560
2026-08-16 15:52beautiful and multilayered - nice to find a story where remarks cast shadows... can easily imagine this spinning out into a world!
Blade Beraht
2026-08-16 21:13(In reply to this)
Thank you, Minot. Zack's and my relationship promises to be .... complicated.
ErikAtlas
2026-08-16 07:32Deep exchanges... I like the sexy focus on scars. Well done
Blade Beraht
2026-08-16 07:38(In reply to this)
Thank you, Mister Atlas. I have learned much from your writing. And I was playing Madonna's "Beautiful Scars" while we wrote.
Freaker
2026-08-16 07:19A Harley at the door, two scarred bladesmen facing each other, and a conversation that feels as dangerous as any knife fight! The sharp dialogue turns a simple meeting into a tense psychological duel filled with challenge, attraction and mutual fascination. Bladefighter’s controlled authority and Blade Beraht’s bold determination create excellent chemistry, suggesting that this new relationship could become something powerful and dangerously intense. Thank you, Bladefighter and Blade Beraht, for publishing this gripping initiation in THE HIGH TABLE!
Blade Beraht
2026-08-16 07:36(In reply to this)
Thank you, Max, for your comments. I appreciate that you realize that knives and swords are not the only weapons in a fighter's arsenal.
Aric Thorson
2026-08-16 07:26(In reply to this)
This was a compelling introduction to a relationship that could go anywhere. I'm excited to see what the next chapter will reveal.