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 Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:01 am
 Rumors of fierce warriors in the Ardhi'a'kifo spurned him to learn more of the Motoujamii-Simo, and their dedication to honing the body as a weapon had impressed and inspired him.
It was not long before he ventured forth into the great desert, in search of one of the 'Firekin' of whom legends were made. Possessing only basic fighting skills acquired from his time spent as a Rogue, he had the heart of a warrior and a well-muscled body full of promise. He was ready for training, ready to prove himself worthy of being among their ranks, ready to join the pride... all he needed was to find one willing to test him.
Eyes wrought of fire scanned the desert sands in search of... one.
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Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:10 am
 "Halt!"
The one word was barked out across the otherwise empty expanse of desert and a moment later a red figure appeared from between the dunes, her head held high with pride and defiance. The marks across her body were dark slashes on crimson and the eyes set in her face were a ghostly blue, so piercing and stark that they seemed somewhat unnatural. This was Roho, an ex-Hongshan who had joined the Firekin a refugee. But she was no frightened refugee now. She was a soldier, stern and steady as she once was.
"Who goes there?"
She paused perhaps ten strides away and eyed him up. There was suspicion in every line of her expression and the fur on her neck and shoulders slowly lifted. "You tread upon Firekin territory, now, outsider. Tell me, why are you here?"
On closer inspection one might see the freshly healed wounds on her body. There was missing fur on the scratch on her flank and a scattering of smaller scars on her forelegs. She'd been fighting recently...
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-PR0X1MA-C3NTAUR1- generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
3!
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Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:12 am
Move 1: 3 = a hit / successful attack
Imara had paused as the command rang out from amongst the sands. He slowly met the ghostly gaze of a proud red female, every line in her body echoing a challenge as she demanded to know his identity and purpose.
Was it his desire to prove his worth that had prompted fate to give him this chance, or was this the diligence of the Firekin- that no Outsider could make it within their boundaries without being confronted by one of flame?
The coal-black lion dipped his head in greeting, a gesture of respect that he did not make often. This female was not one of the delicate beings that so baffled him, she was a strong and proud warrior whose coat bore the marks of battle. And she was Firekin.
His voice had a harsh edge to it that was more due to his vocal chords being out of practice than any inherent lack of a pleasing tone. "Imara." His name, lacking any title- he was no more than a Rogue, for the time being. He straightened with dignity, battle readiness that took the form of eager pride washing over him with red-hot resolve "I wish to challenge you for my place among the Firekin." He paced, eyeing her from a distance as he planned his attack.
He would have preferred an opponent in their prime, one against whom he could strike at liberty without avoiding their injuries. He would not take advantage of still-healing wounds- not when the risk of doing permanent damage against one he would call Brother (Sister, he corrected himself quickly) was so great. But this female was a survivor, and she was stern and steady despite her missing fur. He would not underestimate her.
He closed the distance between them in less than ten strides, a little extra power behind his haunches propelling him further than would be considered average, and swiped at the prickled fur on her neck and chest.
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Kimaria generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
2!
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Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:15 am
Move 1: Bide
"Challenge accepted." She replied without hesitation. She had been training a lot recently and it would be good to try out her strengthening technique on a new opponent. "In a duel for membership you must keep your teeth and claws from drawing blood if possible. You do not need to inflict such wounds for us to analyse your fighting technique for talent."
Truth be told, her wounds were from doing the exact opposite of that. Tough training for the tough war ahead. It was for her own good, though. She needed to learn to let go of her fear and accept a possible death in the face of her enemies. It was a hard lesson and not one easily learned after all that she and her people had suffered, but she was making good progress.
Roho slid into her battle stance and snarled at him, choosing to hold her ground rather than make the first attack. Even still, he came at her faster than she had expected. Roho had thought there might be some hesitancy there. A moment to eye up the opponent and try to get into her mind. But there was none of that.
She kicked backwards as he came at her, thrusting her weight onto her hind legs, but not quick enough. His paw caught her a crushing blow across her chest and she lost her balance and staggered to the side. Snorting fiercely, she edged away, her eyes zoned in on him, ready and waiting.
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-PR0X1MA-C3NTAUR1- generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
3!
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Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:21 am
Move 2: 3 = a hit / successful attack
He nodded to show he understood; it was a logical requirement, and one that reaffirmed his belief that this was the pride he wished to devote his life to. Needless bloodshed would not be tolerated; that didn't mean that blows wouldn't hurt...
He landed firmly on his paws, lips pulled back in a silent snarl as he turned to meet her gaze once more. Was she holding back? The thought infuriated him, but he quickly stifled the imagined insult with a far more analytical notion: she was allowing him the opportunity to show what skill he had mustered on his own, to see whether he had talent enough to warrant the investment of training and the honor of pride membership. Had she not said as much only moment before?
The sturdy male pivoted on his haunches and swung his body around to face her, lunging to the left and then leaping right as he lashed out with a carefully-sheathed paw.
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Kimaria generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
1!
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Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:24 am
Move 2: Miss
Roho was certainly not one to go easy in a duel. She pushed herself to her limit, to the best of her abilities even when it might do her more harm than good. It was her attempt at beating out weakness and carving herself of stone. Possibly not a healthy view but one that she sought nonetheless.
She also knew talent when she saw it and this male certainly had it. It never took long to tell. The way one handled oneself, the way they planned their attacks and shifted their balance to throw out a paw or evade an attack. He had those qualities and as such, when he made to attack again, his paw struck another blow - against her shoulder this time.
She allowed the blow to aid in her counterstrike, throwing her body low as she came back at him with a paw. It was a swift attack but not an accurate one, alas.
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-PR0X1MA-C3NTAUR1- generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
2!
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Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:25 am
Move 3: 2 = bide
Imara felt the rush of air as her paw brushed against his mane, collapsing his ribcage on one side as he sidestepped the low-lying female. His tufted tail lashed at the air as he eyed the female warily.
He had landed two blows in quick succession, and now... he paused, narrowing his eyes and rapidly playing their conversation back in his mind. A query, a challenge, acceptance and the laying of the law. There had been no exchange of names, though he had offered his out of necessity- this bothered the noble male, and he hunkered low in the sand as if preparing for a pounce.
He would have spoke, but he felt that a duel was not the time for idle chatter... nonetheless, he snarled his displeasure. He stowed his curiosity for a later time; for now, all he needed to know about this warrior was that she was all that was standing between him and his place in the pride that he was made for.
He raised his back to further coil his muscles, watching her.
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Kimaria generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
2!
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Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:28 am
Move 3: Bide
She would bide her time, too, setting herself back into a fighter's stance. She watched him curiously, his dark fur stark against the sea of gold. He had fought well so far despite how far he had come. He was taking this seriously, too. Roho liked and respected seriousness. Duelling this might be but it was not play. Never play.
She took a slow side-step and growled, laying back her ears and baring her teeth.
Her eyes watched him, his muscled form waiting. Watching him as he watched her. Whose patience would break first? Who would be the first to break this eye contact?
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-PR0X1MA-C3NTAUR1- generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
1!
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Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:29 am
Move 4: 1 = miss / failed attack
The urgency of this duel had fueled his travel-weary form with new fervor. Though he had traveled hard to reach the Land of Death, he had not pushed himself beyond his breaking point... as was evidenced by the fact that he was not yet broken. His form was well-toned from daily excursions, his mind alert and watchful. He had stopped only to rest or hunt, and he counted water breaks as rest... and here he was, faring well against an opponent amidst the desert sands.
His skin tingled as his blood surged. So close!
The male sprang towards her once more, breaking eye contact to glance at her mouth. The sun glistened off her teeth, and he squinted and jerked his head away in reflex as he swiped blindly at his opponent.
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Kimaria generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
1!
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Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:35 am
Move 4: Miss
And she danced away from him, though she seemed to take no delight in it. She snarled again, her tail whipping back and forth as she set her paws deep into the sand and sprang straight back - hoping to take advantage of his miss.
But again she was too fast. Too hasty.
Her push-off had been absorbed by the unsettled sand, taking away some of the force of her pounce and slowing her.
Again, her paws met nothing.
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-PR0X1MA-C3NTAUR1- generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
3!
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Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:41 am
Move 5: 3 = a hit / successful attack
Scolding himself for failing to take sun angle into account, he drew a breath deep into his lungs as the female soared past him. Turning sharply, he lunged for her again.
Though agility allowed him the movement, he sacrificed speed for the change in direction. He roared, the great sound wrenched from the depths of his soul as he poured himself into one last attack.
This day, he had sought a challenge and one had presented herself willingly. He had sought to prove himself to the pride, and a seasoned warrior had emerged from the sands as a summoned promise.
If his worth was to be judged by the number of landed blows, would he not be considered deserving?
Using his body-weight to his advantage, he shifted his weight onto his haunches (mimicking her first evasive maneuver) and launched himself towards her back, angling his forelimbs in the hopes of falling across her shoulders in an eerie mockery of a two-legged's hug.
Thank you.
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Kimaria generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
1!
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Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:46 am
Move 5: Miss
Deserving he was.
She had been attempting another attack as he had come at her again and, at the last moment, she had shifted her weight to try and evade. From offensive to defensive. Except she was too slow. Too slow. His body-weight pressed down on her and even as she braced against it she knew that the battle was lost.
Her injured leg gave out suddenly, pitching her into the sand more brutally than it might have otherwise, and as she dragged herself away, coughing from the foul taste of sand in her mouth, she turned to look at him once more, her stance a little stiff but no longer tensed for the attack.
"The duel is won. You are the victor." She replied after a moment, pulling herself up to full height. "You gave me your name and so now I will give you mine. I am Roho, a soldier of the Motoujamii-Simo and now your fellow kin. You fight with honour and with determination. By my count you should do well here." She cleared the sudden huskiness from her voice - brought into being by the sand - and continued: "I would be happy to accompany you to the heart of the lands and declare you as a proven member." She dipped her head. "Welcome home."
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Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 5:54 pm
Imara winced as he felt her knee collapse beneath his weight, the small cloud of desert sand wafting up melting away the last of his battle-readiness. He watched her move off, concern etched in his brow.
She was a survivor; she would survive.
His brow relaxed as he dipped his head in acknowledgement of her words. His chest swelled with pride as she continued, and though he chided himself inwardly for placing such weight on her words he found himself gazing at her with blissful reverence.
The male shook himself firmly, allowing himself to meet her eyes as an equal but dispelling his dreamy gaze. "I am proud to be so declared. Thank you for your time, soldier Roho of the Motoujamii-Simo." His own voice was surprisingly steady, as emotions rolled beneath his outward calm like a turning tide. Welcome home.
He bowed low, and held the pose for some time.
"It would be my honor."
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