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 Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 2:40 pm
Khamsyn had been plenty nervous when he'd sent Grave a formal duel invitation. It seemed like the right thing to do, and he was highly anticipating stepping into the arena again to feel that rush of adrenaline that only combat brought. The case of the nerves was from the fact that Grave had fought more and was a Stage One as opposed to Khamsyn's Stage Zero status. Thus he'd asked for certain handicaps to be placed upon Grave. Handicaps that his Stage One mentor had agreed to thankfully. Once things began, Khamsyn's nerves would likely calm, replaced by the rush of dueling another Empyrean. One he had not only great respect for, but a mild crush as well.
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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 11:37 am
 Grave had changed from his usual velvet and silk clothes into something more suitable for a duel. He had fastidiously dressed himself in black leather pants, a pair of simple black leather jackboots laced to full height, a loose grey silk nearly medieval blouse and a snug-fitted black leather vest, double-breasted buttons gleaming silver. He had then carefully switched over all those technorings he had agreed to limit himself to. With some confidence in his battle plan he stepped into the Arena. It had been a while since he had exerted himself at all, let alone duelled anyone. While he had no intention of going easy on the Zero, he was more than conscious that in his lack of practise he likely wouldn't prove much of an opponent. Still, chin held high, he swept his clear blue glance over the clean Arena floor and called out, "Khamsyn, lad, are you ready?"
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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 12:15 pm
 Khamsyn had been stretching when Grave arrived and readied himself. Looking up at his opponent, Khamsyn noticed the change of Grave's usual attire and frowned. He should have changed his clothing too, instead of just replacing his slipper-like shoes with ankle boots for more traction and durability. With a firm set to his jaw, he walked to the near edge of the arena and removed his shirt, placing it where he'd left his cape and bag from before. This way at least he wouldn't tear, sweat or otherwise stain it. It was a little thing, but sometimes they make the difference.
"I'll be ready in just one moment my good sir." He called in response as he strode back to his starting position, notable by the small divot he'd worked into the turf from the few moments he'd spent waiting. He'd gotten there early, like a fool, and started psyching himself up - or out - for this his second only duel.
As his foot found the familiar divot, he stopped and nodded to Grave. "Ready!
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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 2:00 pm
Grave watched Khamsyn strip out of his loose shirt with an appreciative eye but said nothing, a faint smile on his lips. When Khamsyn returned to his spot in the grass, Grave strode forward until he was a good ten feet opposite his opponent. "Just to double-check: I'm not to use any familiars, magics or weapons, correct?" He dusted his fingernails against his vest briefly as he spoke, and then raised his piercing glance to Khamsyn once more. The cold calm settled into his bones, readying him for a fight. It had been a while since the hardness of battle had gripped him, and it felt strangely good to shut off everything but his mind and feel the endings of his nerves in his lithe muscle once more.
He was ready. ((HP: 16/15; 6 Actions per turn; permanent -5% on base actions wink )
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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 2:15 pm
Khamsyn nodded and responded to Grave's querry. "No familiars or magics, that is correct. If you wish to use weapons, I won't stop you, though I will be weilding none myself." After that, he shifted into his best imitation of a fighting stance and smiled. His studying eyes washed over Grave, taking in every little nuiance he could from the Stage One's stance and body language. He'd only dueled once before, and that was with Abacus, an Empyr of his same Stage. Sure he'd come out victorious, but the battle was still perilous noe the less. "All set master Grave?"((HP 11/10; 4 actions per turn; no permanent bonuses/penalties))
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Taro Rae rolled 4 100-sided dice:
35, 52, 54, 56
Total: 197 (4-400)
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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 2:36 pm
Grave's stance was almost non-existant, he merely stood, feet barely apart, spine tall and upright, chin raised and eyes looking straight ahead. To the practised eye, this was none-other than the Heisoku-dachi. He casually lifted one hand to his hip, forming a Pran mudra. He took a single breath and then dashed forward, throwing out his leg, targeting to Khamsyn's body, careless of where it might hit. ((HP: 16/15; 6 Actions per turn; permanent -5% on base actions; Heisoku-dachi: 35%, gives a -5% on actions of speed; Pran Mudra: 30%, gives a -5% on targeting; Targeting Body: 30%; Kick: 25%, +1% to target body = 26%, -5% for Pran = 21%; Oops! forgot to roll for the Dash! will do that in the next post~))
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Taro Rae rolled 1 100-sided dice:
100
Total: 100 (1-100)
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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 2:39 pm
((for the Dash: 30% - 5% for the Heisoku-dachi = 25%, +2 to next attack = making the kick worth 5 if successful))
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Sor Teven rolled 4 100-sided dice:
30, 37, 23, 57
Total: 147 (4-400)
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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 2:59 pm
Grave's lack of response and lightning fast reflexes to attack left Khamsyn very little time to prepare or respond to the specific actions of the Melancholic One. Digging his feet firmly into the ground and setting himself for the coming attack he tried to focus and predict where the incoming blow was to land. As his eye looked for some sort of sign at to target, his hands instinctively clutched each other in the Bear Grip mudra, readying his defense all the more. Once he had a decent idea - little more than an educated guess at best - he thrust his hands down to block the incoming kick to his body.
No sooner had he attempted the block than he realized Grave was much faster than he had guessed. His focus was off and not even the mudra could help him. The kick caught him full on and deflated his lungs. This was the first time he'd been hit in a duel, and he didn't care for the feeling.
Whether his defense worked or not, he couldn't stand idlely by and let Grave monopolize the offense. He summoned what energy he could for a counter-attack. Pivoting slightly where he stood, Khamsyn cocked his leg and thrust out with a hard knee. He didn't particularly aim for anywhere specific, just looking to connect and perhaps impress his opponent.
((Focus: 35%; +2 to defend - FAIL
Bear Grip Mudra: 30%; -5% to defensive actions - SUCCESS
Block: 35% (-5% from successful Bear Grip = 30%); 4 defense - FAIL
Knee: 45%; 5 damage - SUCCESS
HP: 6/10))
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Taro Rae rolled 4 100-sided dice:
94, 35, 41, 69
Total: 239 (4-400)
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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 3:20 pm
Grave felt the kick connect and as he was bringing his foot down saw Khamsyn c**k his own leg. With a minor shift he got himself into motodachi as his foot touched down. Speed was of the essence, so he snapped his forearms into position and attempted to block the knee. He felt the knee connect with his forearms and protect his body with a dull thump. Triumphant, he was ready to attack once again. He threw out his hand in a one-knuckle punch, aiming to disrupt Khamsyn's chakra work with a sharp hit to his body's chi lines. ((HP: 16/15; 6 Actions per turn; permanent -5% on base actions; Motodachi: 30%, -8% to blocks; Snap: 30%, +3 to defense, Block: 25%, -8% from motodachi = 17%, +3 from snap = 6 damage defended. SUCCESS. No HP lost. One-knuckle punch: 35%, 3 damage + no rhetoric skills or magic casting for two turns. SUCCESS ))
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Sor Teven rolled 4 100-sided dice:
16, 49, 62, 46
Total: 173 (4-400)
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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 3:38 pm
Khamsyn felt his knee hit Grave, or more accurately hit Grave's impenetrable defense. He had a split second of disappointment before he was on the defensive again. He tried to sweep the Melancholic's strike away with one arm, hoping it wouldn't connect since he had no idea what the strike was. Once more he proved too slow as the strike connected with him. Sidesteping slightly with the attempted sweeping block, Khamsyn steadied his nerves and focussed his mind. He aimed a kick targetted to Grave's kidney area, knowing that if it connected, he might just slow the One down to managable speed. His kick was lined up perfectly, but he must have shifted just slightly too far as he narrowly missed Grave by less than an inch.
((Block: 30%; 4 defense - FAIL
Focus: 35%; +3 to damage - SUCCESS
Targetting Kidney: 35%; +12% to kick difficulty - SUCCESS
Kick: 47%; 0 damage - FAIL BY F'N 1%
No Mudra's for me for 2 rounds. sad
HP: 3/10))
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Taro Rae rolled 2 100-sided dice:
46, 96
Total: 142 (2-200)
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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 3:54 pm
Grave shifted as the kick came in and it swept wide. he was all too aware of how close that had been of a potentially debilitating strike. This was no time to let his guard down. He shifted back into nekoashidachi to free up his front leg for his fastest kick, unblockable for its speed if he executed it properly. ((HP: 16/15; 6 Actions per turn; permanent -5% on base actions; Nekoashidachi: 35%, makes the following kick/trip unblockable; Kick: 25%, 3 points damage. ))
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Sor Teven rolled 2 100-sided dice:
24, 79
Total: 103 (2-200)
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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 4:09 pm
Khamsyn saw the kick coming so lightning fast he knew without a doubt he could not block it or even avoid it. He closed his eyes and prepared for the pain. He felt the impact and knew it was all over. Or was it?
He reached down into his soul, his mind thinking of only one way to stay in the game. He issued a prayer to Enlil in this desperate moment, hoping the God would smile upon him and fill him with health and vigor. His only answer was the sweet embrace of unconsciousness however.
((Invokation of God's Breath: 40%; regains 5 health if successful (costs 3 Karma) - FAIL
Trip: 40%; opponent loses next turn is successful - MOOT POINT
HP: 0/10))
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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 4:17 pm
Grave blinked as Khamsyn shuddered with energy for a moment and then collapse. Hrm. Perhaps I have overdone it? He felt the liquid calm seep out of his limbs and he felt a stir of something in his heart. He blinked again, trying to understand this new development. Concern? Yes, concern. He slipped gracefully to his knees at Khamsyn's side.
"Khamsyn? Are you all right?" Grave gently brushed the Zero's pale hair from his face and waited for some stir or sign of life in him.
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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 4:30 pm
Khamsyn's eyelids flickered for a moment before his sleepy eyes cracked open. He knew right away that he was laying down, but other than that, things were a bit of a blur. "Where? What hit me?" he managed to stammer before Grave hovered into view asking if he was alright. It all came back to him in an instant right then. As did the dull pain from all the hits he failed to block. Which was all of them. He tried to force himself into a sitting position, but opted to stay laying there when his vision swam momentarily. He'd be alright in a minute or two. Especially if he got to his bag where some of the medicines he'd learned to concoct were housed. In the meantime he just smiled up at Grave.
"I think I'll live. Thank you sir." He saw the concern in Grave's eyes. His beautiful, intelligent eyes and for a moment forgot his pains. "In my bag over there..." he pointed to where it rested "..I have some Cassia and Kalmia. Something tells me I'm gonna need them soon." He chuckled weakly, weaker than was necessary, but heck if he was going to lose spectacularly, he might as well play it up a bit.
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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 4:38 pm
Grave smiled in relief and sat back on his heels for a second. "I hope I wasn't too hard on you, Khamsyn. You fought well, you know." Grave gave the Phlegmatic a kind squeeze on the shoulder and then rose to his feet with a delicate brush to his pants to wipe off the grass from the arena floor. He went and collected Khamsyn's bag and returned it to the Zero, bringing along his finely woven shirt in case he might want it now that the fighting was over. He handed both to the blue boy and smiled again.
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