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Post by Admin on Jul 12, 2008 16:50:51 GMT -5
After the last match had ended so marvelously (or did it?), the next two fighters were ready to make their approach. In a manner, fitting the mood, the announcer cheerfully bellowed the required entrance of the two fighters, Reh Aramil, and Tameni Itaka.
'WELL! Without any further delay, let's start this next match!'
~
Tameni entered, gliding gracefully towards the arena. Despite the great weight of the mighty pendulum strapped to her back, she still carried herself lightly, well mannered, obviously tame. Her shimmering brown hair flowed elegantly down her neck.
Concentrate, Tameni. Concentrate. Remember your training... My style of fighting is much classier than Fale... I have to avoid overuse of stamina... I don't have stamina like her that I can just use in whichever way I feel necessary. Also, I have to concentrate on my points of weakness. I don't have the raw power of mind to fight through pain flawlessly... so I have to try to avoid attacks, and protect my weak spots. Most importantly, I have to analyze my opponents potential attacks. I need to know what could happen if an attack fails... Okay... okay... I'm ready.
She grabbed her hand onto the handle of the pendulum, and raised it into the air. As the glowing metal shimmered into the sun, Tameni called out to the audience, 'I promise you all- a magnificent battle!'
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Post by Griffin on Jul 12, 2008 20:23:21 GMT -5
After years in seclusion, Reh wasn't too excited to be back. He was stronger, but at a great cost. As he stepped into the arena, there was no cheering for him, just cheering for battle. He was a mystery. Sure, people have heard of him, but that was years before he vanished. Now he's back, covered practically head to toe in the mottled green-gray of the Ranger's cloak.
Reh lowered the cowl of his cloak as his opponent made her flourish.
Showoff.
Before he began, he reached into a pouch at his side and pulled out a small silver pin in the shape of an oakleaf. He fastened the pin near the neck of the cloak. It glimmered lightly. He wasn't just fighting. He was representing the Rangers.
The Ranger reached back and laid a hand on his prized silver oak bow. Before he drew it, he concentrated his lessons. Everything his master told him was ringing simultaneously in his ears.
Reh slowly drew his bow and an arrow following. Nocking the arrow to the string, Reh drew back to full draw, maximizing his focus on his target. His eyes analyzed the vital locations that could make this match count.
He spoke no words.
Rangers were men of action.
EDIT: Pay no attention, fixing grammar.
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Post by Admin on Jul 13, 2008 0:20:45 GMT -5
Tameni, absolutely shocked at the lack of words, quickly spun the blade down into a defensive stance, blocking the arrow from her body.
Oh my... so quick. Wait, I know!
Tameni took 3 steps around her own body, combined with a thrashing whipping of the pendulum blade, she spun with great momentum.
Focus on my footwork... okay... and STOP!
Tameni wedged her right foot to stop her momentum immediately, and with a clear concentration of body and magic, her pendulum whipped a small tornado towards Reh.
(Detti Maximum Twister: Tameni swings her bladed pendulum as quickly as she can. After an immediate stop, wherever she's facing, a tornado forms, cutting the target. Not a lethal spell, but can be known to be dangerous.)
Friends... please don't be disappointed in me when I lose... ...But don't pity me if I die... I haven't justified my existance enough to be worth pitying...
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Post by Griffin on Jul 13, 2008 16:00:22 GMT -5
He hadn't intended to win on the first shot, though it would have been nice. Dropping his bow arm to his side and lowering into a crouch, Reh whipped his other hand around to the edge of his cloak and wrapped his body in the cloth.
He was still here, just not there. Reh had appeared a few feet to the left of his previous position. The mottled color of the cloth acted like a camouflage. It was how it was designed. He quickly revealed himself and took time to fire a prepared shot at Tameni's shoulder.
One prepared shot is better than two hasty shots.
These words echoed in Reh's mind. It was one of his first lessons.
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Post by Admin on Jul 13, 2008 19:00:47 GMT -5
Tameni wasn't prepared for that kind of attack. It struck her dead in the shoulder, wedging itself right in the joint of the arm she used to hold the pendulum. Her body slumped, and her vision faded a bit.
...There goes my attacking... Being a little more ambidexterous would be infinitely helpful right now... ...Why can't I ever make something useful of myself? I... don't want to be sheltered anymore. I don't want to be ignorant. I don't want bliss. ...You were right Zofia... I need to grow up... And Set, I hope to survive so I get a chance to thank you for teaching me how to use magic, you deserve thanks, to say the least... ...And you were right, Lilliana... I need to fight more like a boy, and less like an heiress... I won't give up. Corrine... you taught me something too... Money and power doesn't equal hard work... I wont be afraid anymore... Rasu... if I survive, please acknowledge me. Don't let my fight go without purpose... I will prove myself... I won't stop now... No. I won't stop- EVER!
The minor pause had ended. Her ominous/glazed look faded into a more vicious, driven gaze. Tameni grabbed the arrow sticking out from her shoulder, grasping it in her hand. 'I have two arms, don't I?' And she ripped it out from her shoulder.
Grabbing her pendulum with her left hand, she felt a warm glow synchronize with the blade of the pendulum.
(Skull Splitter: Tameni raises Detti, and the blade emits a fiery white smoke. The next contact the enemy makes with the pendulum blade, they receive fire damage as well as damage from the blade.)
Tameni gripped her feet into the ground, and charged Reh, swinging the pendulum from below to strike him with a rough vertical blow.
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Post by Griffin on Jul 13, 2008 21:54:10 GMT -5
Reh was surprised at the girl's resilience. He slung his bow onto his back, not trying to avoid the inevitable close-range assault. Moving his cloak from his sides, he drew the two Ranger knives hanging from the double scabbard around his waist.
In his right hand was the thick, stronger "saxe" knife, and in his left was the wedge shaped throwing knife. Tameni was in range now, but Reh wasn't expecting a vertical attack. He was prepared for a horizontal block, but quickly spun sideways to the left. The hastiness of the evasion kept his arm out and the blade caught edge of his saxe knife, knocking the powerful blade from his grip.
He came out of the spin stumbling, but also came out with his throwing knife glowing. He didn't have a steady shot, but with a strong flick of the wrist, he hurled the glowing knife at Tameni.
~Silver Light Blade~ Using the same principle as his bow, Reh crafted his throwing knife of silver. Charging it with magic, it flies through the air lightning quick and powerful. The enchantment can only be used twice, save he doesn’t recover the knife after the first.
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Post by Admin on Jul 13, 2008 23:23:42 GMT -5
Tameni was thrown off but the mans quick reflexes. The knife half-wedged itself in her neck, but dropped to the ground. Tameni chocked a bit, but caught sight of the two knives on the ground. She knew the potential on the one which just struck her, making it unpleasant to have lying around, unfortunately, having only one arm available for use, she was forced to ignore the both of them. Her balance was noticibly awkward. The bloodloss was getting severe, since the strike to the neck was nearly fatal.
...I... can't... do it... Maybe... it's not too late to quit... Ugh... why can't I fight? I'm not thinking... I need... to analyze...
Why can he attack, but I can't? Hmm... Primary weapons: Long range, clearly... though... his ability to handle himself in close-range better than I do is clearly a flaw that I have, that I should have tested out more quickly. In my current status, I'd probably be able to dodge better from a longer range... though... I have no long-range techniques that could do anything other than hinder his attacks... My previous advantage would have been having the ability to send the pendulum back into the handle, since I could move much more quickly than I do now... but... since I'm going to progressively lose my depth perception, balance, vision, and hearing due to blood loss, that'd be a pointless choice of attacks... Equitable Division is also useless, since I've taken more damage...
...What would someone like me do? Who do I know who also has a heavy weapon? Hmm... Zofia... What would she do? ...She wouldn't be in this situation... ever... I can't think... What about Corrine- Oh yeah... heavy scroll... but she has magic... Hmm... the only person I know who wouldn't give up would probably be... Elle... ...! Elle was in this situation! What would she do!? ...THAT!
Tameni sent the mighty blade of the pendulum into the handle, and stuck it in the belt of her billowy white dress. She charged at Reh, and leapt towards him, ready to latch her body onto his back, bite her wicked, fang-like teeth into his neck, and restrain one of his free arms using the one good arm she had.
(Pendulum Transform: Everything past the handle of the pendulum can receed into the handle, thus, making Tameni much lighter. Tameni can now fight with martial arts, and can return the pendulum at any time, but in her lighter form, she has no magic skills.)
As she made her leap, she thought... I hope this works... I hope you're watching this Rasu... Even if I die, I want to prove that I'm alive. I want to be alive... to you.
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Post by Griffin on Jul 14, 2008 14:09:08 GMT -5
Reh smiled in pleasure to see that his knife struck home. It was a nice throw, something his master would have been proud off. He didn't bother to retrieve his saxe knife. After coming out of his stumbling spin, he drew his bow and nocked an arrow.
But it was pointless. He saw her sheathe her blade, but never expected her to do what she did. It seemed almost childish. But, for the time, it worked. Reh shamed himself as he panicked at Tameni's charge and hastily fired his shot as she jumped at him. He braced himself as her body weight crashed onto his back.
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Post by Admin on Jul 14, 2008 14:48:31 GMT -5
Tameni bit onto him, feeling helpless. Her right arm dangled freely, and her left one struggled with deterring his arm. The arrow had wedged itself in her ribcage, and as she gnawed as viciously as she could into his neck, she sputtered combinations of his blood and her own out of her mouth.
I just need to cut open his neck a little more... just... a... little... more...
Tameni struggled to stay on. Her body felt incredibly heavy, and she was stained with her own blood. She deperately clawed into his shoulder, desperate to maintain her grip onto him.
I can't win with basic technique now... I have to focus on this one point... this single point... All I need... is... just... a little... more...
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Post by Griffin on Jul 14, 2008 16:07:22 GMT -5
Reh yelled out as Tameni sinked her teeth into his neck. It was a sharp, nagging pain and he hunched over from the reaction and weight and instinctively began to try and shake her off. Her fingernails dug into the shoulder of his leather armor and kept his bow arm struggling to regain use.
Thinking quickly, Reh stopped trying to shake her off. Instead, in his hunched position, he bent his knees and swiftly jerked up with his lower back muscles, hoping to use Tameni's own body weight to flip her over Reh's head.
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Post by Admin on Jul 14, 2008 16:30:31 GMT -5
Tameni didn't have the strength to hold on, she ripped off sloppily, pulling off the skin she had killed, and striking the ground with a bitter thud. Tameni was puddled in mostly her own blood. Laying on her back, she could see perfectly where the arrow had entered her. It had locked itself into her ribcage at an awkward angle, doing only flesh damage. Still, the blood loss was becoming dangerously bad.
...I hope... this... works... I have to play my resources in whichever way I can...
Still lying on the ground, Tameni timidly drew the pendulum handle from her belt, held it towards Reh's legs, and recalled the blade out quickly, desperately trying to cut the muscles in Reh's legs.
(Pendulum Transform: Everything past the handle of the pendulum can receed into the handle, thus, making Tameni much lighter. Tameni can now fight with martial arts, and can return the pendulum at any time, but in her lighter form, she has no magic skills.)
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Post by Griffin on Jul 14, 2008 18:15:13 GMT -5
The Ranger sighed with relief as the girl flew off his back. He rolled his shoulders and cocked his neck from side to side, cringing from the pain at his neck. Blood trickled down through his armor and stained his chest.
He looked down at his foe who looked thoroughly defeated. He simply leapt back when she held out her weapon. The blade came out and missed his body entirely. In his mind, Reh refused to kill her. Rangers did not kill those who do not deserve it. He pulled out an arrow and dipped the head into the poison in his pouch.
Nocking the arrow, he pulled to only a quarter draw and shot the arrow and Tameni's good arm. The lack of speed from the quarter draw would cause the arrow to just penetrate the skin, allowing the poison to enter the bloodstream. The numbness from the poison would render both her arms useless, forcing her to surrender.
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Post by Admin on Jul 14, 2008 19:20:48 GMT -5
Tameni watched carefully. He saw his move perfectly. He poisoned the arrow. Tameni's eyes lit up at the very sight.
...This could be... ...my chance.
Tameni writhed slightly to avoid having her arm struck. Instead, it struck her in the side of the ribs. She wheezed as she felt her lungs become numb. Almost beyond comprehension, she managed to quickly scramble to her feet and with her left hand, pulled the arrow from her side.
Carrying the arrow like a dagger, she charged Reh with as much concentration and focus she could muster. This might be her last chance. She made a mighty leap again, and in a vicious swinging motion, aimed to stab the arrow in the exact spot where she had bitten.
...judging... from... my lung... it numbs the body... if this hits him in the neck... it should... numb his spine... ...and according to theory... ...he couldn't move... ...if... I miss... ...I'll... likely... pass out... ...and soon after that...
...die...
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Post by Griffin on Jul 14, 2008 23:16:48 GMT -5
OOC: Damn, she don't give up! lol
Reh, frankly, was growing tired of this fight. Although he respected Tameni's willpower, she needed to learn when to give in. Reh made some steps back as she got to her feet and merely sidestepped to avoid the reckless blow.
Last-ditch strikes are usually reckless.
Reh swung his body and brought one arm to clutch the back of her neck and the other to restrain the arm with the arrow in it.
No one would die.
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Post by Admin on Jul 14, 2008 23:46:29 GMT -5
Tameni fell faint. '...I... ...d-don't... ...I... ...ref- *cough* -use... ...to... ...survive... ...this...'
...I lost... ...Zofia... ...I was your worst student... ...Rasu, did I ever tell you that I loved you...? ...Did I tell... anyone? ...Corrine... ...you were... my best friend... Fale, Set... I'm sorry I couldn't see you through to the end... ...I- ...I-... ...I should have... know... ...I had no talent from the... day... I... was... ...born...
Tameni fell forward violently, slipping from Reh's hands. She coughed and vomited blood profusely, meanwhile, suffocating on a combination of shallow breathing and blood in her lungs. Her neck, still bleeding, her flesh- torn to ribbons, her vision, completely spent, hearing depleted, completely numb.
...I... ...deserve... ...nothing less...
Her body fell limp, as she lay there. Dead.
~
The announcer took the field, thrilled. 'NOW! I'm happy to say, our humble winner today is... Reh Aramil!'
The crowd cheered, ready for the next match.
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Post by Griffin on Jul 14, 2008 23:56:38 GMT -5
Reh eyes grew wide. Tameni fell from his grip...limp...dead.
His body began shaking. He went to her side and dropped to his knees. His eyes watered. His head dropped and tears mixed in with blood. Shame began to fill his mind. Unintentionally, he had broken the Ranger code. As he wiped the tears from his eyes, he spoke his first words in this arena.
"No one was supposed to die."
He forced himself up. He silently retrieved his knives and arrows and walked out of the arena.
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