|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:00 am
Fighting Ring
Description: As the crowd cheers from the stands in a closed stadium where lights shine from above to light up the interior in a flash show, within a fighting area of only thirty feet in diameter stands a six-sided fighting ring, having a diameter of only twenty feet where the semi finals will take place. The ropes are indestructible, but bendable enough to rebound a person back in the other direction when pushed against. The ring stands three feet off the ground, with the ropes adding another three feet. The apron, the floor of the ring (also indestructible), is bouncy to absorb shock and decrease injury to those who are slammed against it, but it doesn't get rid of all the force due to its stability. Ten Count Boundary: When knocked outside the ring, that is when the ten count starts. The ten count is reset if the other fighter gets outside the ring, too. The ten count stops if the other fighter is in the ring using indirect means to keep the other fighter down, such as by vines or something of that nature. If the fighter is outside the ring, at least five feet from it using methods like this, then the ten count keeps going.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:34 am
Finally, a normal change for once.
But compared to all the other rings he'd been in, this one seems more in despair than the rest - obviously because there's nothing much to use to his advantage.
So nursing his right arm that just barely recovered for this match, the swordsman had taken a large flask full of water prior to entering the ring, pulling up his sleeve and pouring the icy cold fluid all over it, letting the numbness wash over his skin and dull the aching pain that still lingered from the last match.
"Aaah...."
A sigh escaped his lips. Bitterly cold to the touch, but better than a burning, throbbing sensation.
So pulling himself in after the whole ordeal, the swordsman tightened the bandages over his injuries and looked around to see where his opponent would be.
Hopefully this match would be easier fought than the last one he'd endured...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 6:04 pm
Saphen looked around at the fighting ring with a sigh. Saphen was not the biggest fan of close proximity combat but he would have to make due. Saphen perked up when he saw who his opponent was. A swordsman with a cold heart (literally he was sure). "Snow I am glad to have been able to face you in this tournament. You are quite the fighter and for this I learned a song just for you." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr8W3ByixngSaphen's fingers slid along the strings as the chords chimed making strange and abstract sounds before every strum. As the energy of the universe (not to be confused with universe juice) flowed through him. "When ever you are ready," the bard said with a nod of the head between chords. "This battle is a victory regardless of who wins." Fire: Stage 1 Mana: 0/30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 9:17 am
A....bard?
He paused, staring with gaping eyes at the foe. Sure, he'd fought against fire-breathing users, people wielding massive b*****d swords, chains, nunchuks, staffs and even a damn shape-shifting weapon.
But strings?
There's no reason for him not to be suspicious of its uses other than music.
And, to comment against the narrator, if the swordsman had a cold heart he'd be dead by now. After all, only the dead has their hearts turned cold.
No pun intended. Yet.
So freezing up his resolve, the swordsman unsheathed both blades without a hesitation's notice. Sure, the bard has some lovely tune to befit his personal theme, but his theme has ever and always been changing, depending on the atmosphere. For this ring, a more befitting theme should be played for the two contestants.
And somewhere in the back reccess of his mind, a melody started to play.
Cerberus Battle
"...."
Somehow, the song didn't exactly fit the mood.
His mind tried another one.
Homeworld 2 OST Battle 6
A more dramatic melody? Doesn't really fit the mood taking place in a fighting arena. But what the hell, he'll just loop those two back and forth during the fight for his amusement.
His hand still ached, some dulled senses interfering with his precision that he's holding his blades steady.
"Well, since this is the pre-finals for the second branch..."
He glanced at the accumulated spectators, some here to boo at either one of them, or just watch like any other observer in a gladiatorial-fight that is about to commence.
"Huh." The swordsman commented, turning his head to look at Saphen with a quirked eyebrow. "Let's give the audience something worthy of their money, I suppose."
And with it, he skid both his weapons together to cause it to spark a bit, getting the blades ready for battle. Starting his walk towards the foe in front of him, his left blade flipped back to a reverse dagger-hold, the right held like any other normal blade and signalling the idea that the swordsman might rely on his right flank for attacks, and the left for defense.
With each step, the humidity became thicker, bringing forth a slight chilling sensation as the swordsman lowered his gaze, the otherwise dull eyes turning into a cold stare.
"And here...we......go."
He raised his right blade to point at Saphen's chest, shifting himself into a right side stance while the left remained cocked near his left torso, his distance away from Saphen perhaps....ten feet or so in rough estimate.
Hidden underneath the bulky - yet maneuverable - cloak of his, ice was starting to form on the surface of the ground around his boots, slowly spreading out in his area of influence.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Saphen rolled 1 10-sided dice:
4
Total: 4 (1-10)
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 5:57 pm
"If entertainment is what they want, it is what they will get," he replied with a nod of respect to the man as his fingers continued to strum chords and phrases of music watching the man approach slightly.
The man was a formidable opponent with both physical and mystical abilities and Saphen could only hope he could find a way to divert both. Physical fighters were always a concern to the musician since simple mathematics could define the horrific issues of such an assault.
(Hammer+Face)x2=Dead
It seemed that Snow was trying to increase his field of influence by freezing the area around him and that just wouldn't do. As the bard leaned back against the ropes he gave his mandolin a quick and rough strum and as the chord echoed a fire ball between the two opponents formed aimed at the swordsman legs and feet.
The burning sphere was a couple of feet in diameter and hopefully would be enough heat to stop the spreading of the ice. On a second note the flames might also catch the arena on fire turning favor to Saphen but that would all depend on what Snow would do.
Fire: Stage 1
Mana: 4/30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 6:27 am
It would be odd if this bard used his instrument as a weapon in combat. Especially in melee - it'll be quite an interesting bout with the foe against his katanas. He still has his suspicions, and it didn't take long for him to cancel the otherwise hopeful idea of clashing swords against an instrument the bard is playing.
The fireball was what made him skip the idea of melee combat. Immediately he pushed off with his right leg to slide backwards, using the slippery surface of the floor to give him more maneuverability to move about. At the same time, steam hissed right off from the contact of the fireball impacting the frozen area, causing a brief cloud of fog to burst from the two opposite elements, enshrouding the bard's visual perception, and the swordsman's sight simultaneously.
A fire user...
"...."
Before the fog could dissippate, a split second later something came whizzing right out of the dense shroud, careening towards Saphen in what seems to be a lash to the bard's right to left torso.
A katana blade.
With the handle held in a blue, liquified....
Tentacle?
Not exactly the word the swordsman is willing to use, but nothing could summarize the situation better than that. Apparently, using the brief cloud of dense steam as a small distraction, the swordsman applied some normal water to solidify near his left handle, whipping it out like a makeshift whip to extend his blade's reaching range and deliver an indirect attack that might - in some way - surprise the bard.
Should it miss, no matter; the swordsman can whip his left hand - the side leading the whip - to slash again in another direction as long as the tentacle linked his left side to the handle, giving him a direct connection for use, and repeat the strike in multiple volleys to dissuade the bard. For if the use of the strings was indeed a means to fight against the swordsman in pure arcane, mystical ways based on what he saw, then the swordsman would have to interrupt the bard from playing in whatever ways he can.
Yet, he knew, that this temporary means doesn't mean an assured advantage for the swordsman. To make sure that he doesn't get too carried away, his right hand was pointed to the sides, keeping himself at a left side stance just in case, the air starting to get dry while he gathered some moisture for use in this battle.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Saphen rolled 1 10-sided dice:
1
Total: 1 (1-10)
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:36 pm
Saphen watched the steam billow as his fingers rapidly danced along his instrument but as the edge weapon exploded through the bellows of steam and fog and for a moment everything was still.
The weapon was lashing in a horizontal motion to cut the bard from his right side to his left and it would be difficult to figure out where his opponent was.
Unless....
The weapon continued to fly but his fingers defiantly played their tune as his mind calculated how the whip worked. The whip would make a wave like motion in order to snap the end thus the tip could enjoy it's dinner on Saphen's vital organs. The light armor he wore would blunt the blow slightly but with such force it would probably cut into him, armor and all giving him extreme discomfort through out the match.
Saphen watched the blade's path a little longer before releasing two fireballs, each smaller then the first but thats all he would do as he purposefully let his body fall flat on the ground moving his instrument to the side to be as streamline as possible.
The first fireball was aimed directly for the weapon in an attempt to burst through it, the flames severing the connection between the weapon and the whip it was connected to. The second was aimed slightly over the weapon in a rough guess of where the whip originated. Hopefully if nothing else it would intimidate his opponent into defense and Saphen could recover but if not...
Being on your back was one of the worst positions you could hope for but the swordsman timed everything well and with only a minor energy increase he could only hope that his next musical number proved more effective...
That is...if he lived through it.
Fire: Stage 1
Mana: 5/10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 6:01 pm
The swordsman's attack needs to be fast, and quick. Hearing more music played purposefully confirmed his suspicions about how the bard fights, and in need to keep up the pace he'll have to work at the fight with ruthless abandon.
To do so, when the fireball struck home he unfortunately lost his hold on the blade, the weapon flying right over Saphen in a harmless slash by then. Surely he can use a bit more charge to use the steam for small measures of grappling, but under such short timing it would be too slow to do anything effective, the opponent having enough reaction to either roll out or perform some methods to counter the extra time the swordsman would have to sacrifice.
It wasn't worth it right now.
Therefore skipping the idea, the remnant of the watery whip then lunged downward all of a sudden to splash right over Saphen's body, some over the instrument in an attempt to ensnare itself over the strings, stilling the notes from playing out into the open air.
At the same time, he saw the second fireball come whizzing ridiculously close towards him, his eyes dilating under the surprise as he ducked, moving again to his own respective right in another mini-slide...
And feeling part of his cloak caught in the flames before it was quickly extinguished by the accumulating moisture he just gathered. A waste of some of his accumulated energy, but it was better than having his body catch on fire.
No time to waste!
The steam rolled in under deft gestures with his right blade like a conductor, the already cooling fog quickly rolling over Saphen's position to impair his visibility.
It didn't take long for the swordsman to then clench his left hand in a brief fist right after that.
In which ice blasted out from his hand, following the trail of the watery whip that would - or should - be locking Saphen's strings and body in an uncomfortable ensnare, hinting the action that would happen should Saphen still be trapped in its grasp;
Freezing over the instrument or body.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Saphen rolled 1 10-sided dice:
5
Total: 5 (1-10)
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:03 pm
Saphen watched as the water redirected it self. This was bad...extremely bad and Saphen needed more energy in order to counter such a move.
Desperately he slammed the strings once more in a deep and dark chord and suddenly...
Fire...STAGE 2!
The resounding sound was enough to enter stage 2 and his fire attacks would grow stronger. This was all well and good but Saphen was getting covered in water and had to make a rash decision. While rolling his body to the right to cover his eyes he lit himself on fire!
The flames would be fairly harmless to the instrument and the intensity minor but enough to evaporate the water but it taxed his body.
Burns along his skin and some of his clothes tattered as he groaned in pain but he had to keep rolling. The rolls were quick and using his hands even through the pain to help him roll he sat up and would intend to counter.
But what if his opponent adjusted? Saphen had considered that and leaving a flame on the floor where he was it emitted an extremely bright light used to mask his rolls but Saphen did not intend to remain defensive with his new found strength. The flames that still covered his body whipped off of him launching back in snow's general direction.
The flames managed to make a set of three fire balls, each with a foot diameter in their spherical fury. They were launched in a triangle formation, one on either side of where he assumed Snow was, and one right in the middle aimed for his knees.
Saphen quickly crawled to his feet cringing at the burns but ignored them. The adrenaline would suffice for now as he considered what to do next. Snow knew exactly how Saphen fought in terms of his musical instrument but he showed the swordsman that he would be dead before he couldn't pluck these strings.
Fire: Stage 2
Mana: 0/30 (+5, -10)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 8:26 pm
Somewhere in the whereabouts of the swordsman's mind he had it running on overdrive, probing and trying to figure out some key points in undermining the bard's potential control.
Music. Strings. Chords. Vibration. What factor does the bard use to initiate the powers? What kind of filter or interference can he create to still the bard's ability to fight with the instrument? He pondered at the thought, the weakening sensation of lost water signalling him to either recall it and then strengthen its density, or disperse it and gather the moisture later for use when he has the time to.
He decided on the latter when the bright flash of flames caused him to turn his head away briefly, the hood covering his head helping him somewhat in filtering out the irritating light.
"Damn flame --" He cursed in that interrupted moment.
And sacrificing the watery whip that gave him a temporary insight to the bard's ability, the remnant of the whip blanketed the flame spurring on the floor to extinguish it quickly, more steam hissing off and bleeding the heat into the atmosphere as much as it could.
The swordsman turned his head to look again at where Saphen was, only to see by then three fireballs of flaming fury careening straight towards --
SHI--
He gritted his teeth, violently twisting his torso to the left while swinging his right blade to slash at the incoming projectiles. Water that he'd accumulated by then - still an insufficient amount for heavy use - blasted out of the weapon and straight into the fiery blazes at full speed, a howling roar of wind hurtling past the flames and in retaliation to Saphen's counter.
Most of the cold water burst into steam after impacting the flames, negating the element during its travel. Whatever fire that wasn't negated quickly enough was dispersed into the air by the turbulent wind left by his weapon's wake.
Brief pockets of vacuum that killed the flames' fuel before it could impact the swordsman, feeling the intense heat ripple through him - but nothing more than that sickening feeling like being thrown into a scorching desert.
For now, the swordsman had spent half of his charge. Going defensive, he quickly started to move immediately after snuffing out the fireballs, keeping himself mobile and circling to Saphen's right while he raised his left hand into the air, steam which was widely dispersed about being drawn to his body as if he's recharging his spent energy for use again.
At this moment, water can be clearly seen coating his raised hand, the swordsman giving the odd impression that he's defenseless right now.
Is it a purposeful trick, or some deceptive means to fool the foe into assuming it's a trap?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Saphen rolled 1 10-sided dice:
3
Total: 3 (1-10)
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 9:13 pm
Saphen was able to recover giving himself time to think as his opponent distinguished the flames. Saphen moved his feet to his right side stepping to keep the distance between himself and the swordsman equal and he would mimic his opponent in order to do so.
Saphen's fingers continued to run along the strings as he danced along the floor but this was not just to please the crowd. As the bard moved flames were lighting the floor on fire and spreading in a line making a barrier between himself and the swordsman.
Saphen decided that if he wanted to gain some dominance he would have to increase his influence forcing his opponent to either attack that or himself. There was a small flame that was leading the trail of fire moving along with the bard. This flame however right at the start gave off a similar piercing light to dissuade his opponent from looking in his direction or suffer the pain of watching the light.
The flames would slowly begin to spread all heading for the swordsman burning the arena floor and if left long enough might start on the supports of the arena it self but for now they had enough mat to keep their flame going.
The audience seemed to enjoy the give and take relationship the two opponents were having and cheered for their respective favorite...some even just cheering for both.
"I think we are a hit" he said right before the bright light would blind the swordsman view, this was indeed exciting.
Fire: Stage 2
Mana: 3/30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 10:54 pm
"Tch."
With the charge nearing complete, given that both were readying themselves, the swordsman could see that the bard was trying to bide some time to channel the fiery energy into some vicious form of defense, or offense, whichever was of the more pressing concern.
It was fine with him, his own charge taking just as much time as it took for Saphen to get his energy flowing with the rush.
However, with the arena starting to burn as time passed, and the flames becoming the problem itself...
"..."
First things first. Pulling the charged hand down over his face, solidified ice froze over the hood and over his cloak before it shattered the cloth, revealing a set of gears made of ice that acted more or less as a form of protective wear. Not a perfect means that acts like strengthened armor, but with the bonus of dimming bright lights...
To improvise against the Bard's deceptive use of flames, the swordsman created his own shades to dim the burning flames that were more or less a nuisance to his focus.
Second, unfortunate to the bard, the swordsman had his ways of getting past fiery defenses. Hell, half of his attacks are designed to fight especially against fire users. And unless the flames were acting in some principle that isn't just normal fire...
The swordsman had an unsettling chilliness around him, as if he was smiling under some dark, devious influence.
He raised his blade, a dull hum echoing from the weapon's lethal edge, resonating with the completion of his charge. "Don't think..." He commented against the bard's optimistic mood, the hum growing in crescendo, in lethality, "that your flames..."
Admist the bright light that shone, the shades did their job in dimming the display to a manageable degree. And during the vivid spectacle of blinding light, the swordsman would then unleash three mighty slashes straight at the flames coming towards him.
"Is going to work against ME!" He finally shouted, the slashes backed by the turbulent winds - water, accelerated quickly along with the blade to amplify the brief burst - sending waves of temporary vacuumless pockets to snuff out the fire. Small and brief as it may be, the turbulent areas that would burst from here to there, to and fro gave the spectators something spectacular to see;
Flames which were in the way of the slash, suddenly being snuff off by some invisible force of vacuumless air.
And to the bard...
The flames that were between him and the swordsman were left gaping in just a few short seconds, a small opening that spurred the wrath of the swordsman.
For a bright burst of blue beam would then blast straight towards the bard's position through that brief gap, careening towards to impact the foe's main stomach at full force like the weight of a swinging sledgehammer.BOOM!
 Condensed water blast. Like a fire hose blasting at full power, all the pressure constrained to an area no thicker than a baseball. The swordsman didn't need to wipe out the bard's defenses completely --
Just puncture an area wide enough to fire a swift blast, and take the bard by surprise.
What's worse, is that the beam is similar to his watery whip he'd displayed a few moments ago.
Maneuverable, and this time, packing quite a punch.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Saphen rolled 1 10-sided dice:
3
Total: 3 (1-10)
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 11:23 pm
Saphen continued to move as his flames spread but noticing that the swordsman was removing the air to kill the flames he moved his focal point flame behind him to defend against the vacuums his opponent created. The light dimmed to it's normal light to hide it's movement.
Saphen began to increase it's strength, the heat growing in power and intensity as he continued to play trying to decide what his opponent was doing and considering counters.
But here it came, the massive beam of water that if it hit him would probably seriously hurt. Saphen had a couple of options but he had to think fast...too fast...
s**t s**t s**t s**t s**t THINK THINK THINK THINK....SPLIT!
Saphen's now concentrated fire ball launched into the air in an arc like attack. The chord that chimed right before the fireball flew was high and sounded like something that came out of classical rock. The attack would fly over the distance between them before falling down attempting to lash out damage like a mortar would.
Saphen on the other hand was leaping to his right staring at the ropes and the crowds as he leaped.
Those who watched closely right before the attack would notice his eyes unwavering determination. All the nervous caution was in his mind but his resolve was locked and his determination burning inside those dark blue eyes.
Saphen might take damage but he was forcing the swordsman to make a choice. Either damage his foe and be damaged or whip his attack to defend himself and give the bard time to react.
Fire: Stage 2
Mana: 6/30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 3:24 am
And the swordsman made a choice.
Although it isn't any of the choices that the bard had provided. Given, the launched fireball into the air is a sight to see - and only a spectator would stare at it long enough without knowing the implications while the swordsman glanced at the projectile, a doubtful look on his face --
Then quickly realization, as it curved down like a meteor to bash down at the foe - him - with its burning inferno.
But his strike is so close! He can't risk an exchange blow and lose all the momentum of the condensed beam just like that!
In anger, he flipped his right blade into a reverse dagger-hold, pointing the tip of the weapon straight down towards the mat and using whatever reserves he has left to fire a wide blast of water out from his right weapon like a circular umbrella revolving forward, acting as a shield.
Pain once more erupted through the barely healed nerves while several recovering wounds started to bleed from the strain, the deadened senses eating at his right flank alive.
And yet, without doing so, as the fireball crashed to the ground and threw strewn materials of heat and flames like a bomb, there wouldn't been have any water to intercept the flames and dissipate it around the swordsman as the steam kept the lethal flames from getting close to his body - distributing the heat as fast as it could to nullify the damage as much as possible.
But the heat, by gods the heat...!
"Ar....arrrrgh...!!"
It felt like he was being roasted in the desert with full gear on, the intense heat causing him to sweat even from the remnants of that dissipated energy he'd managed to divert.
While his makeshift defense may have taken its toll on his right side of the swordsman's body, with a clenched fist on the left the beam which the bard leaped away from...
The beam turned, quickly curving straight behind the bard's back before the dense whip-like beam would coil around the foe and ensnare the musician in place. Locked. The tip of the beam would first try to slam itself straight into the bard's face or chest area like a striking viper, before using its constriction to at least break a limb or two, using the force coiled around the bard's body.
Hopefully.
If that doesn't work - the swordsman would say an almost too-familiar phrase out loud;
"GET OVER HERE!"
And yank the bard straight towards the swordsman, his right flank seeping with blood -- but with the held sword telling all too well what the swordsman is planning to do.
One more thing though.
For the bard's best interest, it wouldn't be a good idea to try another fire burst on the body again, now with that much accumulated water close by. The burnt injuries, plus the scalding steam that would burst out if the bard tries to set himself on fire again...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Saphen rolled 1 10-sided dice:
6
Total: 6 (1-10)
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 12:59 pm
Saphen flew through the air turning his body so that he could bounce off the ropes as he watched his opponent make his decision. All the while his fingers strummed against the strings using the ropes as a break fall.
I need something...To counter...I need more... I NEED MORE!
Saphen's body suddenly surge with energy of a different sort and as the whip went to entangle him it would meet with resistance. As the water arched around his body it would try to encircle him but as he bounced off the ropes he pushed the curve above him like an arc holding it just enough time for himself to pass as he counter attacked, flying through the air as he launched four small fire balls towards Snow.
The idea.
Keep the heat burning in Snow's area and use water manipulation to divert his attacks slightly finding small escapes where ever possible.
Assuming Snow would not be expecting the sudden ability to control water himself Saphen was fairly confident that he could recover after the final fireball.
Saphen stopped playing using his right hand to catch himself in a roll which he could quickly stand up from. The Bard would begin to play again immediately to store more energy as he turned his gaze to the whip and Snow taking an overview of the situation.
Fire: Stage 2
Water: Stage 1
Mana: 2/30 (+6, -10)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
