=Elemental Championships 2009= Fountain Arena


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7/14/2009 22:14:52

Ronin Of Dreams
Still Watching...

It has been a long year since the last Elemental Championship, but the Championship Arena Complex did not show signs of age, but rather on the contrary - it grew, and along with it, just a hill and a spring with a weary wooden bridge over it away, grew the township...now more of a city...of Bren. The vicinity of the Arena has done it much good - apart from the great crowds -- and thusly business -- it brought it during the Championship itself, just the presence of such a building carried the township's name far over the lands. There came adventurers of many sorts, and the burgeoning four inns of Bren were never short of business, there came priests of the Elemental Lords, building shrines and churches and granting it divine protection not from one, but from all the Lords, and there came many, many artisans to maintain the three offshoot Arenas around the old one, and craft yet a fourth offshoot that hung high in the sky above the lot.

The would-be combatants, either just arriving, or having taken a night's rest either at an inn or at the small camp of tents at the base of the Arena hill, would get to see the artisans' handiwork soon enough, right after the priests and mages within them finish their last checks on the protective barriers and image transportation enchantments for the gathered crowds.

~~~

The gates opened with a slow and ominous shudder, finally cast wide for all to see within. Fountain Arena was open once more.

Once again, the arena had undergone a major overhaul of change from its visage the year prior, adhering in part to an unspoken tradition as much as an attempt to find the perfect blend of pitfall and environmental beauty. Gone was the circular series of steps. Gone was the transmutation display at the pinnacle of height on the steppe. Nothing remained of the gentle swell of the hill two year's prior, or any of it at all. Fountain had taken a new form, forsaking height and overly resplendent ornaments, instead moving towards a tangential ideal that still clung to the faint, murky scent of rotten blood.

The great square cut of the Arena has been turned into a vast pond, a depression from the gate entrance that allows the water to reach the middle of a grown man's calf without spilling over and flooding the entrance itself. High arcs of liquids, each arc a different shade of the rainbow, splash merrily into the pool from ornate spouts all along the side walls. While small compared to the cardinal fountains of the year before, they kept the Arena true to its namesake.

The riot of colored liquids has a curious effect on the inhabitants of the pond and the liquid itself. The water, enhanced as it is, is as fecund and fertile as the richest of jungles. As such, seeds of the lotus plant sown that very morning are already in full bloom, with roots gently entangled to their neighbors. Footing, it would seem, has been made more treacherous under the veil of beauty now that height had been removed from the equation. The lotus blossoms do not take up the entire pool, however, but are merely scattered throughout, leaving a game of position as a valid choice as well.

But now is not the time for beauty, nor for gardening. Now is the time for battle, and to reduce the enemy to becoming fertilizer.

Under a summer sun and a shimmering magic veil, the fight was to begin at the Fountain Arena!

< Message edited by Ronin Of Dreams -- 7/14/2009 22:36:35 >

Post #: 1

7/15/2009 14:36:28

Krey
Member

Grey's eyes opened slowly, taking in the room around him. A simple inn room, modest, lacking a dresser or closet, with a window on the outside of the building and an old wooden chair in the corner. The only real comfort in the room was the water basin in the corner opposite the chair, and the water in that was murky at best. Well, that and, of course, the bed that he was sleeping on. It was a tad hard, but he got what he paid for. Which was next to nothing... on both counts. And who did he have to thank?

”Morning, sunshine. Sleep well?”

The demon... “Shade... Get out of my head. Go possess someone else,” he said miserably, eyes narrowing.

”I can't do that, it doesn't work that way. Besides, why would I want to possess someone else when it's so much fun to control you?”

“Control me? Don't make me laugh. You're a pest and nothing more.”

He slid off of the bed with a sigh, shaking his head slowly as his feet carried him to the basin in the corner. Taking a handful of the murky water, he splashed it over his face, then took the ragged towel hanging beside it and wiped himself off.

”So who are we going to kill today, Jon?”

“Nobody!” He yelled, whipping around and throwing the towel at... nothing. He'd never quite gotten used to the demon speaking inside his head. “We are... I! I am not killing anyone! You've done all the killing!” He dropped to his knees, fists slamming into the floor, eyes moistening as a low, frustrated growl rumbled from his throat.

There was an evil, almost ghostly laugh that echoed in his head, then. ”I may just have information that will change your mind.”

“Nothing will change my...!”

”What if I said you could get rid of me?”

He stopped his fist in midair, on its way down to the floor. “Get... Get rid of you?” He picked himself up slowly, taking a deep breath, his body letting loose one last shake of anger as he regained himself. “How? And why would you want anything to do with it?”

Grey could feel the smirk in his mind. Dark, and extremely pleased with itself... it made him shudder. ”There is a tournament you may have heard of. Each year it is held, and has been for... Well, longer than you have lived, certainly. It is known as the Elemental Championship. The Lords of each element use it to choose for themselves a champion.”

He cocked his head, “And what purpose would this serve for me?”

He winced, as the demon assaulted his mind with... Well, he wasn't sure what it was. But it was at least somewhat painful. ”Are you that slow, Jonathan? Think, were you to come through as the Championship for the Lord of Darkness. Perhaps... Just perhaps, you could convince him to rid you of me, hm?”

Grey blinked a few times, walking over to the bed and seating himself on the edge of it. “Why would you of all people be putting this idea in my head? You're nothing without a host. What's the catch?”

There was another laugh inside of his head. Dark, but not nearly so menacing as before. ”Why, Jonathan... Do you forget that I am as much trapped with you as you are with me? Think. What service does it do me, being stuck with such a strong-willed lad as yourself? Were I to be freed, I could prey on some weaker mind and take it entirely. You would be free of me, and I of you. Win-win, my boy! Of course, it would require you to kill... But then, everyone else there is there to kill anyways...” The demon laughed once again, slowly.

Grey bit the inside of his lip lightly, taking a few moments to consider the idea. Oddly enough, the demon left him in silence... a rare thing indeed.

Something was off about all this. But... For a chance to get rid of the demon... Anything was worth it.

“Fine. But one condition. I do this on my own. I don't want you messing with my head. Got it?”

The demon snickered within his mind. He would have fun with this. ”Understood.”

“What do I do?”

Several months of straight training preceded the Championship, which Grey was fully determined to win. His mind was sharp, since the demon had mostly been leaving him alone in accordance with his wishes. He was ready. He'd put himself into the mindset that would allow him to kill, never forgetting that everyone else in the arena would be just as intent on killing him. It made things a lot easier on his conscience.

The night before was spent in the camp at the base of the hill. He had no blankets, no cushions, nothing between himself and the ground. And that was the way it had been for the past months. His body was in prime condition for the battle to come. He rose, slowly, and dressed. A thin white shirt that hid nothing of his firm muscles sat above thick, rugged black pants, and over both went an open brown duster that reached to his knees. Boots to match the coat went on his feet, and then he took a breakfast of tasteless rations before stepping out of his tent. Brushing a lock of ebon hair from his face, he turned, surveying the area, grey eyes taking in his surroundings. It would not be long.

He passed through the gates of the arena he'd been led to. The fountain arena, and by the names of the others, he counted his blessings that he'd not been given to those of spike or sky. Still, as he studied the fountain arena, he bit the inside of his lip lightly. This would not be easy. He was used to solid ground beneath his feet, moving through open air... Not water and plants.

The first inside, or so was the best that he could tell, he waded into the water, getting a feel for the environment. This would be tricky indeed.

”You may not be able to handle this one your own. Are you sure...?”

“Yes. Stay out of this, or I forfeit now.” Whether or not that would even be allowed, he didn't know... But he doubted Shade knew any better than he did. Regardless, the threat seemed to work, and the demon fell quiet. His presence was still there, however... And it made Grey uneasy as he found his way towards the center of the arena.

Regardless of how things might turn out... Jon was ready. He would take this Championship by force, in the name of the Lord of Darkness. And hopefully, he would be rid of the demon, Shade, forever.

Post #: 2

7/15/2009 15:47:29

kenzoku
Member

"It is for the benefit of the Underdark that you march now. You will be an individual* once you leave our psionic network, and thus you will need a name; a word that others will use to address you. Typically the surfacers have these in pairs, and so too will you. The Hive dubs this one 'F'thear K'bar.' He is to be the one to represent our interests in the tournament of those that dwell in the light. As we understand it, the victor of this competition receives a wish granted by the gods themselves. We desire our first step in the path to conquest. We need a Hive on the surface; a place from which we may better coordinate our operations. Go now, F'thear K'bar. We anticipate results."

The illithid bowed low; it was true that in the hive there was no such thing as an individual. The fact that every last one of his people-including himself-had sent him this thought simultaneously was proof enough of the singularity of their minds. Even when his kind strayed from the hive, they never left the range of the psionic bonds that made them one with a collective consciousness. Until now, of course. The Hive had made its decision, and so he was to fulfill a goal of his people.

He rose from the sea at last, by way of one tunnel reserved for the purpose. Now, beyond the reach of the collective, he had begun to think for himself. Their goals were not necessarily his own any longer. He was the master of his own destiny. But alas, he was on the surface with a new life yet with nothing to call his own. He needed to win. Needed to gain through participation in the legendary tournament. From the waist down became a large, shark-like tail as his arms became fins. Gills popped up on his neck as K'bar cut through the water.

Before long he had arrived exactly where he had wanted to. Climbing ashore and not bothering to dry himself off, the mind flayer proceeded to the tournament grounds. This was both his and the Hive's step one. Step two would be of his own design.

The day of competition had come, and the illithid's multicolored eyes, though seemingly completely composed of the ires, seemed alight with dark intelligence as his gate opened. His footsteps were slow, but his tentacles almost seemed arranged in a smile; water everywhere. This was the sort of arena he could make his own. As the dark being waded in, however, he realized the shallowness. Disappointed, he progressed regardless. The area was large enough for all participants to avoid getting in one another's way. F'thear reflected that a darker arena would suit his purposes far better. Regardless, here he was.

Taking in his surroundings more completely, his eyes fell upon another competitor; seemingly the only one around save for himself. The illithid took this opportunity to speak to the other contestant by way of the method he had always spoke; psionic broadcasting. Linking communication between his own mind and that of the other, he sent him a clear message in the tongue of those that walk on the surface rather than within the Underdark. "Bright day, hero. I trust we are in for quite the match so soon as the others have made their way into the fray. Would you care to begin fighting immediately, or are you fond of using... Diplomacy? My, I have no such word in my own tongue. In fact, it's difficult not to use 'we' when referring to myself." It was a simple one-way transfer of thought to give the other man an idea of K'bar's intentions and attitude. Naturally he couldn't pull thoughts from the other's mind, so he had to listen for a verbal response.

*The illithids, being a hive mind, have no words for the bolded words, so these are spoken in an unspecified other language or perhaps multiple other languages at once.

< Message edited by kenzoku -- 7/15/2009 15:48:38 >

Post #: 3

7/15/2009 17:58:58

Geddesmck
Member

Two years ago, on this day, Zenz Nightwalker had been humiliated completely. He had been stripped of some of his greatest powers and had his dreams crushed, all by the very Earth Lord he had been fighting to honour. So clear was his Lord’s message to him that he was unworthy that Zenz had sheathed his swords, and left them sheathed. So clear was the message that Zenz had gone from a famous tournament champion, to a miner and construction worker.

But today he marched back to Bren. And marched was an appropriate term, for Zenz led a procession of dwarves like some kind of dirt-caked king. Even the somewhat jaded citizens of Bren stared in bemusement at the odd sight. In a way, Zenz actually was a kind of king to the dwarves. He had lived with them, mined with them and built tunnels and chambers below the earth with them. His powers over earth, although nowhere near as great as they once had been, were invaluable to the dwarves. As a result, he was accepted as one of them and they helped him to realise something important.

The Earth Lord had not punished Zenz, he had prepared a test for him. The dwarves, the race closest to the Earth Lord, had taught this to Zenz, and they were escorting him to the Elemental Championship so that he could complete that test.

“I’ll be fine from here Boron. I know my way to the Fountain Arena, in fact, I don’t think I could ever forget it,” Zenz smiled at the closest dwarf; Boron, “I want you to know, all of you, that no matter what happens, I appreciate what you’ve done for me. I was born a Man, but today I fight as a Dwarf.”

“Aye. Me and the lads ’ll find somewhere to sit. Good luck to ye boy,” replied Boron and some of the dozen other dwarves added their own wishes of luck.

“I won’t need it boys, Fountain is a lovely place for me to fight, all earth and little water, I’ll be fine.”

***

“What in the name of Drakonnan happened to Fountain arena? Who hid the hill?”

Zenz surveyed the arena again, his shoulders sagging in dismay. The water wasn’t too much of a problem, but it wasn’t what he had expected or hoped for. He sighed in frustration, but took a deep breath and crossed through the gate into the arena.

Zenz had not fought in two years, but he still looked like a fighter. He was tall, a little over six feet tall and well built; his muscles built over the last two years of hard work. His hair was dark brown and curled slightly, a little longer than average, falling just in front of his green eyes. He did not have beard, but at least a few days stubble growth. For armour he simply had straps of shaped metal strapped to his upper and lower arms, with three interlocking plates covering his chest and some of his stomach, with nothing protecting his back. His legs were covered by thick cloth trousers, but his feet were bare. He wore no helmet, but pushed up on his forehead were a pair of goggles, the lenses tinted black. At his right hip was a sheathed short sword, and at the left of his hip was his long sword. The only other thing on his person was a rather large bag, which he had slung over his left shoulder. The bag covered most of his back, the bottom just above his belt. Covering everything was a layer of dirt and soil.

Taking a steadying breath, Zenz drew his long sword for the first time in two years and walk towards the centre of the arena avoiding the already present competitors without moving too far from them. He grimaced slightly as he felt the slick stone below the water’s surface on his bare feet.

Zenz Nightwalker was back at the Elemental Championships, and this time he wouldn’t disappoint the Earth Lord.

< Message edited by Geddesmck -- 7/15/2009 18:15:33 >

Post #: 4

7/15/2009 23:46:02

Kellehendros
Eternal Wanderer

The hours before dawn witnessed Elian Gonzales already up. The young man was already fully armed and armored. Just shy of six feet in height, the young man's medium frame was covered in supple scaled armor that would glitter once the sun touched it. His sandy brown hair was already slicked with sweat from his exertions, and his emerald green eyes held the intense focus of preparation, even as he moved through exercises he'd done hundreds of times before. He twirled the longsword in his right hand easily, bursting into motion. He spun and slashed at an unseen foe, he continued through the spin, dropping to one knee and sweeping the kite shield on his left arm in a rising arc upwards, the razored edge of the shield whistling as it cut through the air.

He stopped, panting lightly, and smiling, he spun the longsword again, and then leveled the blade, staring down its length, focusing down the blade to its tip. Eli pressed the tip to the dirt of the courtyard gently, and pressed, moving in a slow rotating circle, sword tracing out a perfect circle with a radius of three feet. The Defender's eyes opened as he completed the circle, and he adopted a ready stance after making a pair of quick lines outside the circle, representing an imaginary doorway. Elian started the exercise again, moving smoothly from form to form first focusing in one direction, as if holding off an attackers from entering the door. He switched to defending the "doorway" from both directions, and then after another set of exercises to defending the entire circle from all directions.

Hours later Eli arrived at the entrance to the Fountain Arena, shaking himself to ensure he was still loose and ready. The roar of the crowd was audible, even through the walls of the Arena. The very stones around the tunnel entrance into the Arena vibrated from the years of magical spells worked into them, and from the roar of the crowd that echoed through the stones and into Elian's very bones. The young Defender licked his lips nervously, pulling his conical metal helm onto his head and rolling his neck.

The Arena entrance creaked open, and he waited for a moment, watching as three of the competitors entered before him. A man in a duster, a, well, Eli didn't know what exactly the thing was, but it certainly was ugly, like a squid with a human body attached to it, and a man with two swords at his waist. Elian followed the swordman in silently and surveyed the Arena. There were only edges dry, and the water got deeper quickly, coming up to the calves of the man in the duster who was standing in the middle of the Arena. A soft southerly breeze wafted through the entrance behind him, ruffling the fringes of hair that peaked out from under the bottom of his helm.

Elian grinned as the wind kissed the back of his neck, and he set off, sloshing into the water until it was just over his ankles. He paused, glancing around at the other contestants and nodding to them. He pressed his longsword down through the water and onto the stones that made up the floor of the Arena, sketching out a quick circle with a radius of five feet. The stone wouldn't take any true mark from the sword, and if it did it would only be the barest of surfaces scratches to the finish, but that wasn't what was important, what was important was the creation of the circle, the marking of the area and the beginning of the ritual. He probably wouldn't need it, hope he wouldn't need it, but as he held the image of the circle focused in his mind, he knew that it would be best to prepare for the eventuality anyways.

After all, it never hurt to be prepared.

< Message edited by Kellehendros -- 7/15/2009 23:48:58 >

Post #: 5

7/16/2009 2:56:23

Beebote
Member

The morning light drifted softly through the curtain of leaves that adorned a short willow tree not far from the Bren, revealing a rather odd pair asleep at the base. The first was a man with dark ebony skin and black hair tied in many long dreadlocks that fell haphazardly around his chiseled face, mingling with his tangled beard. He wore all white, which shone out brightly where the light touched. Next to him, curled up between a pair of roots was an equally odd-looking young woman.

Her hair was long and black, though it had a dark blue sheen to it where the light caressed it. Her skin had a faint bluish tinge too. Her ears were pointed, like those of an elf, though she wasn’t one. She wore blue as well, cobalt blue armor. The armor consisted of an ornately engraved breastplate, which did little more than cover its namesake and an equal amount of coverage on her back; an equally ornate bracers of the same color; thick, black dyed leather leggings; and a pair of boots of the same leather with the cobalt plates inset for added protection on the foot and shin.

The man was the first to wake, simply opening his eyes. They were pale white, like those of a blind man, but looked around like those of one with sight. His eyes came to rest on the woman beside him. He smiled knowingly and leaned over. “Chel. ‘Ey. Wake up.” He prompted, giving her shoulder a gentle shake. Chel groaned curled up tighter. “Chel. You betah wake up. Dah Jampionejip do no’ wait fo’ no wun.”

“Eurgh.” Chel groaned again half turning to prove she was awake, but refusing to open her eyes yet. “Master Hiirst, can’t we wait just a little longer? I mean we’re just outside the town. There’s no way we could be late.”

“Daz no’ da point, Chel. You wanna git der’ erly so choo cahn watch de others and lern wat choo cahn from dem. Remembah, you cahn die een dis fite. I almos’ did, an’ I wuz e Jampione, jozen by da Lord o’ da Winds.” Chel secretly loved hearing Hiirst’s stories about the arena. In was in this hope that she stayed silent, hoping to hear of his epic encounter with the Defender of the Earth Tree, but Djaak Hiirst merely stood and looked towards Bren. “Come, we go.”

There was no refusing that, she had discovered the hard way what happened if she tried to be stubborn with him too long. She stood grudgingly and stretched out her spine, cramped as it was. As she relaxed, she opened her eyes, revealing what looked like pearls of stunning sky blue. She looked around for her master, but he was nowhere to be seen. Panicking, she dashed around the trunk of the tree spotting him already a fair ways up the road towards Bren. “Master Hiirst! Wait for me!” She called, taking a few running steps towards him. Suddenly she skidded to a halt and ran back to the tree, picking up her wicked-looking weapon, then again took off on foot after her Master.

~:|:~

The pair arrived at the arena grounds about the same time as the rest of the combatants. According to the postings, a total of thirty-six fighters and mages were competing. “Look, Chel. Der ahr on’y t’ree Ice usaz dis yea’. If you apply evarit’ing I taught choo, you shud become Jampione o’ Ice, no prohblem. Look fo’ de openins an’ watch yo’ surroundins. Don mehk da same meesteks I did.” He leaned placed his hand on her shoulders and looked her in the eyes. “You hav’ gret prohmise. Do me proud. If nothin’ else, steh alive.”

"I will, Master Hiirst! You can count on that," she replied with a confident smile.

That said, Hiirst gave his student a quick slap across the back then vanished into the crowd heading for the stands.

Chel followed the signs for the Fountain Arena, the area she was to fight in for the preliminary round. Djaak had said he didn’t know what to expect in this arena, since it had a reputation for changing every year, and he had only fought in Sky and the main arena. She would be on her own. She was confident though. It showed in the way she walked and the confident smirk on her face, a half smile that resembled her master’s grin very much.

As she passed into the arena she was awestruck by the beauty of it. The colors, the flowers, the sound of water falling, it was so serene. It was hard for her to imagine this being a cage of death. She recovered from the initial sensory overload quickly, remembering her master’s advice. She advanced confidently into the shallow pool… and began walking on top of it. The sound of ice cracking could be heard beneath her feet as columns of ice formed briefly to support her steps, melting swiftly behind her. In this manner she walked down the left side of the pool until she arrived at the far end, where she turned to get a better view of the opponents she had carefully avoided, still standing atop the water.

As her master had said there would be, her opponents were a motley bunch. First was an unarmed man in a some kind of long brown coat; likely a mage of some kind. Mages didn’t worry her too much. Second was a creature she had heard of but had never seen, an Ilithid. She had to admit, it was as ugly as the stories described, and likely just as dangerous. Next was a dirty, yet ruggedly handsome man, in piecemeal armor and armed with a pair of swords and bag full of something heavy. She would have to watch that one. There were too many unknowns. Plus… he wasn’t hard to look at either. Then was probably the most normal-looking fighter of the bunch so far; a knight in shining, scale armor. Considering there was still three competitors who had yet to appear, it was already looking interesting.

The smirk on her face grew wider and her eyes narrowed. If her master’s eyes had the look of coiled snakes ready to strike, hers had the form of a tundra wind, ready to freeze her enemies to the marrow.

Post #: 6

7/16/2009 18:26:21

Apocalypse
Member

The sun's warmth crept onto Angelo's face as he lay sleeping in his rented quarters. It took a moment before he sat himself up with his head rested in his heads. He breathed easily and quietly, filling the room with a unique serentiy. Carefully, Angelo stood up and began dressing himself for the day ahead. He let the fabric of his clothes linger on his skin, enjoying their cooling sensation. With his green wrist bands already on, he reached for his headband and let it rest upon his brow, exposing his blind eyes.

He gathered up his bundle of Shredders; weapons designed to work with his body rather than be handled, and set off down the stairs to the first floor of the inn. As he reached the landing, he sensed the variety of inhabitants of the tavern had stopped moving and were silent. For a second, Angelo didn't know what they were staring at. Then he realized, their gazes were locked on him. And who wouldn't? Due to the equipment he was carrying, it was obvious to all that he was heading to the Elemental Championship. Not as a spectator, but rather a contender. True, there were plenty of warriors who came into town during this time of the year, but not nearly as many were as young as Angelo. Being briefly thankful for his blindness to avoid their stares, Angelo walked past the inn's crowd and to the door.

"Hey!"

Angelo turned around to face the one who had shouted. Judging from his impressions on the floor, Angelo guessed he was a middle-aged man a little on the heavy side. The man got to his feet from his stool before talking again. "Where do you think you're going?"

"Where do you think? I'm off to the Elemental Championship. Why?" replied Angelo as he faced down the opposition.

"A young lad like you? Ha! You'll be torn to pieces before you have the chance to move!" he scoffed as a few of the other patrons snickered.

"My name is Angelo Valorian, warrior of the Kastran, the last Earth Clan of the North," responded Angelo sharply, and all fell quiet once more. "I have outstripped my masters, and am now seeking a challenge as well as a destiny. I am here because some of the world's strongest and most powerful have come together to put their limits to the test, and I wish to see how I stand among them. For many times the Kastran have been invaded but numbers far greater than they, yet they remain in existence and as a free people. If you still think that I stand no chance, then perhaps you should stop me. That is, if you can."

Silence filled the inn as the two stood facing one another. Finally, the man stepped down, taking his seat and a deep swig from his mug. "Go ahead. Go to your death. I'll see your lifeless corpse once the day is through."

Angelo grinned slightly to this comment. "I'll return. I won't let my destiny end on this day. I've made a promise to return...Tanya...," he whispered to himself as he left the tavern behind in his wake.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The gates opened and the first thing Angelo noticed was the water swarming around his feet. He frowned quickly and gave an extra burst of concentration to sensing the arena he was in. Hmmm, cobblestone floor, thought Angelo as he waded deeper into the water. An easier substance to deal with. And the water doesn't get too high either. Looks like this won't as difficult as I thought.

Angelo noted how the blades on his legs maneuvered through the water, making sure they could still be used properly without being too much of a self-hazard. He casually strode over away from the other competitors to his own section of the arena where he stood with his back towards them. He slipped his headband down over his eyes and carefully placed his headpiece on while taking in as much information as he could. Lucky for him, he didn't need to face a certain direction to learn what was there. One thing he noticed was the growth of plants throughout the arena itself. Another thing was the location of the fountains on the walls, though he had a tough time judging where their arcs landed on the surface below. The arena itself wasn't too complicated, but it wasn't the arena that was trying to kill him.

Angelo leaned against the wall to the left of gate as he started to categorize his enemies. A few were men, they they varied in their equipment. Angelo was once again thankful for the cobblestone, for he could now sense differences in their armor and weapons. One was a fully armored knight with a sword and a shield of sorts. He could obviously be trouble, but hopefully that armor would weigh him down, especially if he fell. A second did not have complete armor but rather some on his chest and arms. He also had a sword, but he had more than one. Another interesting fact was that the bag on his back...it seemed to be full of dirt. Angelo didn't know for sure, and it was a wild guess, but if there was one thing Angelo knew more than anything else, it was the properties of earth. This was apparently one of the other four Earth-aligned contestants, which meant that Angelo had to be sure he went down one way or another. Shifting his attention, Angelo found the third man to be armorless as well as weaponless. A mage, thought Angelo. But what kind? Better let someone else find out.

And then there was the strange one. He...she...it was definitely not human, and Angelo did not really know what it was at all. But that didn't matter, it would still be challenged as if it was any other foe.

The last contender was the one that bothered Angelo the most, for he wasn't exactly sure if it was a contender at all. There was something floating on the water's surface, but Angelo had no idea what. It seemed too strange to be a random decoration of the arena, yet it didn't have the feel of another living thing. Perhaps it was another mage who was...walking on water? Or standing on something floating on the water's surface?

Angelo crossed his arms, a feat in its own right due to his Shredders, and waited patiently for the others to arrive. There was no need to tire oneself out before everyone arrived for the fight.

Post #: 7

7/16/2009 20:31:48

Krey
Member

The other competitors filed into the arena quickly behind him, each taking up their respective positions. He soon realized that perhaps taking the center was not a wise idea, as it seemed everyone else had the same thought. No matter. He would take them, one at a time, or all at once if need be. Anything to rid himself of the demon within him.

And then he heard something in his mind. It was warped, twisted. It was not Shade's voice, but it was just as annoying, and he could swear he heard a snicker from the demon in his mind as the voice spoke to him. “Greetings, hopeless one,” he heard, unaware that the demon within twisted the Illithid's words as they reached his mind. “You are in for the worst day of your life, you realize? If the others do not kill you, I will. Would you like to die slowly, and painfully? Or will you run, tail between your legs, like the dog you are?”

Jonathan's eyes narrowed, his fingers curling into fists as his grey eyes settled upon the hideous creature. “Threats will get you nowhere, beast!” Called the demon-possessed as he approached, stopping half a body's length from the Illithid. He lowered himself, slowly, bracing for combat. “But if you want to play that way, try this. You will die choking on those things growing out of your face.”

His hand moved without warning, his body throwing it forth in a blur of speed, grasping for the end of one of the Illithid's tentacles. And while his upper body moved forward, his legs braced, prepared to retreat should something... unexpected, happen.

And in the back of his mind, Shade laughed, loving his ability to manipulate the man within whom he dwelt.

Post #: 8

7/16/2009 21:41:46

Cheeseliker
Member

The small green muscular goblin stepped into the arena with a look of consternation, which turned into a frown as the water rose to his knees, enveloping them in brackish water. He viewed the water, vines, and enemies upon the battlefield, studying everything. Nothing surprised him but the illithid, an unexpected creature, but it didn't alarm him. They bled and died as any other beast. The rest consisted of one exotic-looking woman walking across water and a few average male fighters. Toned bodies, some armored and armed, some not, but nothing eye-catching, disturbing or particularly frightening. The woman caught his eye. He wasn't sure how she was walking on water, but the simple fact that she was expending energy merely to keep her feet dry made him smirk.

Gub himself was disturbing. It was unusual to see a small goblin with such an armament but even stranger then that, the wisdom in his eyes belied an experience of years behind them. There was none of the normal goblin emotion in those eyes(anger or fear was what most adventurers ever saw), merely cold calculation. He moved his legs through the water to ascertain how fast he'd be able to move, then idly began touching the white scar above his left eye, a long thick one reaching to the top of his skull. A dwarven axe had given him that years ago and he still called himself lucky to be alive today. That dwarf had been repaid in kind tenfold.

Gub left his weapons in their sheaths, waiting and watching what would unfold. There, the first attack, the unarmed unarmored man snatched at one of the illithid's tentacles. Gub glanced at the other opponents and grinned. Here he was, a goblin, in the Elemental Championship! It was time to show the world what he could do.

"Time for Gub to kill. And win."

He pulled a knife from his belt and twirled it around in his right hand. The woman it was. The knife flew from his hand at the woman, wind whipping it quickly across the arena. He watched as it went, ready, waiting. If she tried to dodge, he'd alter the trajectory of the knife with a sudden burst of wind. It wasn't a particularly powerful attack, for even if Gub was lucky, the knife would likely only cause a minor cut, but it would give him at least some measure of his opponent. Whatever happened, he'd leave the knife where it lay. He had plenty others.

Post #: 9

7/17/2009 0:42:02

kenzoku
Member

The illithid panicked immediately, registering the human's reaction as a negative one; he understood the words, but if he did not it would be the tone to give it away. Tensed at the man's anger, he was able to properly react when he perceived the man's weight shifting for a hostile movement. He perceived the hand coming for his face, yes, but moreover his muscles were tensed, having been waiting in paranoia in the moment between detection of intention and the follow-up action. To the mind flayer's surprise, he reacted on instinct, arching backward and slithering his tentacles quickly out of reach as he threw a blow with his staff of light (in color, not weight) pink coral, aiming for the tips of his aggressors fingers just to discourage attack. He was ready to shift up his retaliation now, his free arm becoming a huge crab claw. With one quick motion he swung, the vicious vice of a hand open to snatch up his opponent to snap him in half if he was unable to backpedal. More shifting would surely be a necessity in the course of this engagement with the unreasonably furious man. His diplomacy attempt had failed but horribly.

However, what was worth one attempt was definitely worth another. His eyes darted about furtively, and his peripheral vision caught a little green humanoid. Naturally there were only humans besides the two of them, so far as he could see. It was worth a shot, so he sent another psionic transmission to communicate with the green-skinned being. "We are outcasts, Green One." He began. "We stand alone amongst humans, and as you can see by this one's open violence, they will kill the nonhumans first! But not if we stand together. You do not bear the look of one aligned with a Lord of Water, so I have no reason to dispose of you. We can work together. And through teamwork may we prevail." It was hopefully a tactic that would bring more success than his last, as it was dripping with logic. Plus, every race seemed to entertain the idea that they are being discriminated against when they are the minority. F'thear needed a partnership, and who better to help him then a fellow nonhuman? Humans seemed brash and illogical anyway.

AQ	Post #: 10

7/17/2009 12:08:11

Kellehendros
Eternal Wanderer

It was time to move.

Elian shook off the preparations he had made for the ritual, it never hurt to be prepared, but he couldn't let his preparations hold him back from participating in the battle that was beginning. The youth grinned as he watch the competitors blur into motion, his gaze flitting across each for a moment before coming to rest on the pair in the center of the Arena. The man in the duster was engaging the, the thing. Eli still had no idea what it was, and he wasn't honestly sure he wanted to know for that matter. Still, he grinned as the inhuman thing rocked backwards and struck out to counter his attacker. He normally was not one to interfere in the business of others, but in this case, well in this case he'd make an exception.

The Defender charged, water sloshing around him as he ran forward, sword whistling through a quick spin, and then interposing itself between the creature's coral staff and its intended target. Parrying the blow, Elian twisted his sword-hand and flicked his wrist, intending to launch the creature's staff up and away from the fight to leave an opening the other fighter could exploit.

Twisting at the hips, Eli interposed his shield between himself and the creature as though to protect himself from a possible counter attack, rather than waiting for its reaction though, Elian pushed forward intent on shield bashing the creature to overbalance it, hoping to knock it back and unbalance it so that its other attack on the unarmed man would miss as well.

Post #: 11

7/17/2009 12:11:48

Recar Dragonlance
Member

Morine Therma walked into the arena, just behind a green creature. Looking it up and down, she realised it was a goblin -- she had met many of her kind whilst wondering, most of the times not in the best of circumstances. Though, that was the story of her life. Most encounters were bad encounters. She suspected that this one wouldn't be any different. She slipped a boot-covered foot into the water, immediately feeling the drop in temperature. Her frosted eyes grazed over her fellow warriors, causing a smirk to creep onto her face. Two freaks, loads of men and one woman. It took serious self-restraint for her to not burst out in laughter. Fingering the handle of the spear, Morine traced a cool hand over the small hitches of those she had felled.

Most of them were warriors, and it appeared that all that needed to be here were here. That was good - seven opponents satisfied her thirst enough. Battle was a chore, it was the ending, the reward which she craved. The spilling blood; the last panting breathes; the fire of life slowly fading into ice: they were her favourite moments. After adjusting her white, frosty armour, she walked diagonally, moving around the goblin and keeping to the side of the arena. Morine would have liked more time to inspect her opponents, but things were already beginning to heat up. The weird tentacle monster was being attacked by a very angry man in a duster. Smirking again, she lifted her spear, willing to jump in and attack the freak at any possible moment.

But then something unexpected happened. The woman -- who stayed at the back of the arena -- was being attacked by the goblin. Amazing! The freak made the first move! The woman was an ice mage, her competition. It might be beneficial if the two helped each other out... If they formed an alliance they could fight it out at the end. More epic, in Morine's books. She locked her eyes onto the dagger and channelled her energy into her hands, readying her ice powers. With one over-exaggerated movement, she pelted an ice dagger at the goblin's real one.

If we pick the freaks off first, we can get this battle started. Killing non-humans is the least enjoyable

With that, Morine leapt toward the goblin, twirling her spear in her hand. When she drew close, she pointed it at him and thrust forward. Her thick, wire-like hair flickered about as she launched her attack. "My name is Morine Therma, goblin. Welcome to the Elemental Championships!"

< Message edited by Recar Dragonlance -- 7/17/2009 12:16:04 >

DF	Post #: 12

7/17/2009 19:44:20

Apocalypse
Member

Several things seemed to trigger all at once in order to set off the battle in the Fountain Arena. First was the sudden, and what Angelo thought to be a very unprovoked, attack on the strange creature by the unarmed man. Next was the arrival of a goblin, who seemed to be armed to the teeth, and his own attack against the mysterious floating contestant. Well, at least I know there is someone there, he thought as he took a more formal battle-stance.

Things were beginning to become rather chaotic, and Angelo was glad once again that he did not need eyes to see. The latest contender, a woman by her footsteps, had entered the arena as well and had issued an assault on the goblin. She too seemed to have thrown a projectile, though judging by the way she threw it, she seemed to be targeting the goblin's weapon rather an actual opponent. Odd, but Angelo had heard stories of uncommon fighting tactics within the championships. Perhaps he should take a few pointers from his challengers...

However, there was nothing he could do about the goblin as he had already been on the move. The human had lashed out at the creature, and Angelo knew from prior experience that those with the gift of sight often judged by that and that alone. The knight seemed to follow this rule as well considering he had begun to charge into the fray, aiming for the strange being as well. Funny, thought Angelo. Being unable to see doesn't mean I'm the blind one.

In the first moments that the knight had started his advance, Angelo has rushed to the center of the arena as well. The armored warrior had beat him to it thought, and had blocked the creature's attack on the other human. Racist, he thought comically as his Shredders cut through the water's surface, leaving behind slashed plants in its wake. He had been too late to stop the knight, but that didn't mean he had failed totally in helping his comrade. Just as the knight lowered his shield, Angelo crossed his arms to make an x-shape with his blades as he bolted fullspeed at him. He was on a head-on collision course, and while he knew that the warrior's armor would give him an edge, Angelo had extra body-mass due to his heritage. He braced himself for impact a moment before he crashed with the knight, hoping the other being would return the favor in kind in due time.

Post #: 13

7/17/2009 22:04:06

kenzoku
Member

K'bar was absolutely certain that his claw swipe would change the fight to equal footing rather then his previous role as a defender. That is before an extra variable was haphazardly added to his equation, carrying with it a heavy inconvenience. Taken completely by surprise, the illithid had no hope of keeping his grip on his staff. It was flung rather far from himself. In addition to the loss of the coral, his new opponent had come to stand between the claw and its target. The mind flayer's eyes narrowed in irritation as he searched through his mind for the best method of making this shield wall obsolete. That is, until it came rushing at him.

F'thear liked to think he was especially wise when he compared himself to the humans, so besides putting his claw between himself and the shield he made no attempt at resisting the blow. In fact, he moved with the impact, throwing himself backward into the water. At this point he had been planning to escape by changing his body into that of a moray eel. It would allow him to dash quickly as far away as possible. But even this plan was subjected to change as a very nearly unarmed fighter dashed in as if to protect him.

It took a moment for it to register, but this was a human. It seemed even one descended from apes had the ability to see past initial appearances. So, rather than slithering off to recuperate, K'bar rose dripping to his feet and ready for more. Without his staff, he would be able to morph both of his arms. And that's precisely what he did. Either arm became an eight foot long tentacle. But rather than lashing out immediately, he let them hang into the water so that when he sent them weaving between feet toward the unarmed fellow's ankles they would not be detected. He really wasn't sure what this volatile man was capable of, but maybe if he held him underwater to deprive him of oxygen he wouldn't have to find out. And what better to do the task than a powerful pair of suction-cupped tentacles?

AQ	Post #: 14

7/17/2009 22:53:38

Krey
Member

Unsurprisingly, the Illithid dodged his attack. Jon wasn't really surprised. His attack hadn't exactly been without warning, and he wouldn't expect his competition to be so pitiful as to get caught so easily. His hand missed, as the tentacles slithered out of the way, and in the corner of his eye he caught the motion of the staff. Perfect. Avoid one grab and open up to another, perhaps this would be easier than he thought.

Or not. On the other side, his peripheral vision caught something changing. His mind worked fast, as Shade unbeknownst to him supplemented Grey's ideas with those of his own, a plan forming nearly in an instant. His arm shifted position, hand twisting, intent on catching the staff since the tentacles were now out of reach. And just as quickly as it had formed, his plan was shattered to pieces as the sword-and-shield warrior parried the blow from the staff.

He was left no decent opening as the defender pushed the tentacled creature out of his immediate reach, but his eyes caught the approach of another contestant. Arms were crossed, the blades he wore upon them forming an X as he charged the defender. Meanwhile, Elian was dealing with the Illithid, and so at the last moment, Grey dove.

It was a low dive, one that took him barely clear of the water to land with a splash between Angelo and Elian, just before the blind man would cross his path. He braced himself, head turned slightly to keep an eye on his target, his body settled low on his hands and knees to trip up the blind one. And once he was down, Jonathan could go for the kill.

AQ	Post #: 15

7/18/2009 1:23:27

Beebote
Member

The next arrival in the arena was a man with some strange bladed contraptions clasped to his limbs. She followed him with her eyes, watching as he moved off to one side, away from the others, and… blindfolded himself? She frowned. Why would anyone do that? Did he have a death wish? She shook her head in pity. If he was so prideful as to think he could beat everyone with his eyes closed, he would not last long.

Suddenly there was a shout. Her eyes snapped back to the group in the center in time to see the mage leap forward in an attempt to grab hold of the Ilithid by one of his tentacles. The Illithid reacted swiftly, avoiding the lunge, only to have the knight leap in on the mage’s behalf, shoving the Ilithid off balance and into the water.

Just then she heard an all-too-familiar sound. There was a faint, almost musical hiss in the air. Her eyes caught the movement and her body instantly reacted. The blade of her naginata swept across the space in front of her. But there was no ring of metal-on-metal as she expected, instead there was a splash as a dagger fell out of the air into the water below. Tracing the trajectory back to its origin, she was surprised to see a goblin. She paused in a defensive stance to consider the prospects of taking on the wind wielding goblin, but it seemed the latest arrival had both negated its attack on her and had begun an assault of her own at the same time. Being the only other ice user in the arena, Chel was keenly aware that she had to prove herself to be better than the other in order to advance. How was the only question.

So they were all there; an Ilithid shifter, a mage of unknown alignment, a knight in scale armor, a blindfolded brawler, a dusty swordsman, a wind wielding goblin, another ice caster, and herself. Suddenly she smirked and the cruelty returned to her eyes. With everyone otherwise occupied, she was free to do as she pleased. Dropping her defensive stance, she knelt down as if she was going to pick up the dagger, but as her hand entered into the water, she instead released a massive amount of cold into the water. Now, freezing the whole pool was not possible, not at that scale, but bringing the temperature down to near freezing? That she could do, and so she did. That ought to get some attention, she mused, looking around to relish the reactions she was bound to see.

Post #: 16

7/18/2009 11:54:55

Geddesmck
Member

Zenz had intended to attack the squid-faced creature, but before he had put his plan into action, the man in the duster had lunged at the creature. In and of itself, this wouldn’t have dissuaded Zenz, but when the heavily armoured man had gotten involved too he decided to choose a new target. He scanned the arena again, noticing a new combatant wearing a blindfold and strange pieces of weaponry. A blindfolded competitor could be blind, or he could just be extremely arrogant. Casting his mind back, Zenz recalled a blind wind mage he had encountered in his previous Elemental Championship. The memory of her alone was enough to put Zenz off fighting that man.

That left three competitors, the goblin, the woman who was walking on water and the other woman who held a spear. While he was making up his mind, the goblin threw a dagger, which the woman with the spear blocked with one of her own, one made of ice. Immediately afterwards, she attacked the goblin, announcing her name (Morine) as she did.

Generally speaking, Zenz would have helped Morine attack the goblin, as he was not fond of the horrible creatures, but in this case, he felt the woman was more than match for the small, ugly pest. That left him with one viable target, the water-walking woman. As he calmly approached her, she reached down to pick up the goblin's dagger, which had apparently been ment for her before Morine blocked it.

“Sorry love, I’m afraid you might want to get back into that fighting stance of yours,” announced Zenz. He was still some distance from her, but he moved steadily towards her, making completely sure to give the slippery cobblestone no opportunity to send him sprawling. He eyed her weapon, it was a vicious looking thing that he had no name for, but he was certain he didn’t want to stand within easy range of it.

The woman herself was, in Zenz’s opinion at least, quite pretty, having the look of some kind of elf to her. She was almost certainly the most attractive woman he had seen in many months, although he had spent most of those months in the company of dwarves and, he grimaced, dwarfish women.

“It seems like our fellow combatants have left almost half this pretty little pond for us to dance in,” he smiled as he finally got close enough to begin a fight without being in easy reach of the woman’s weapon. “I suppose t’ polite thing to do is introduce meself. Name’s Zenz. Ready to dance, love?”

Zenz glanced at the nasty weapon again and felt a shiver run up his spine. In fact, he felt his whole body shiver slightly, as if the temperature had suddenly dropped. He glanced at the woman’s feet and it suddenly dawned on him that she wasn’t standing on water, she was standing on ice. Oh no, he thought to himself, this is going to be unpleasant.

< Message edited by Geddesmck -- 7/18/2009 11:58:40 >

Post #: 17

7/18/2009 12:57:56

Kellehendros
Eternal Wanderer

His sword sent the staff up and away, and surprisingly his opponent dropped the weapon, which spun away from the combatants. The tentacle-faced creature toppled over backwards, and Elian grinned at the feel of the solid impact up his arm that sent the creature reeling backwards and into the water. If there was one good thing about the fact that the entire Arena was what amounted to a wading pool, it was the fact that it was pretty hard to sneak up on someone, and the sound of water sloshing behind him let Eli know that another combatant was charging at his back.

There was another splash, and Eli caught the other man moving at the edge of his peripheral vision, darting behind the Defender. Elian grinned, presuming the man was repaying the favor of the help, and so he concentrated his attention on the tentacle-thing while the unarmed man dealt with the threat to the Defender's back. The young man's eyes widened in shock as he witnessed his opponent's limbs contort and change. Whatever this ugly freak was, it could change shape, and that was certainly not a good thing. Its new, "improved" limbs dangling into the water, the creature made no move to attack Elian. Eli couldn't see the ends of the tentacle arms, but they reached all the way down into the water, so it was safe to assume the thing had the benefit of long reach on him, he would just have to neutralize that advantage.

Eli darted forward, calling out to the man behind him as he did so. "Elian Gonzales at your service! I'll take care of this one!" The sword in his right hand glittered as it twirled through the air, and Elian sent the weapon in a sweeping arc at the creature's left arm-appendage-tentacle-thing, a distant part of his mind noting that the ambient temperature of the water around him was dropping as he was attacking. The move was just a feint though, it was a shallow sweep that would do little besides open a gash in the tentacle, mostly it was a distraction for what came next. Spinning quickly after his sword, Eli's left arm swept up and swung in, sending the razor honed edge of his kite shield whistling through the air towards the creature's chest.

< Message edited by Kellehendros -- 7/18/2009 13:18:47 >

Post #: 18

7/18/2009 13:55:43

kenzoku
Member

A lot seemed to be going on in the arena now that he took everything in with a swift glance. Firstly, the man whom he had been hoping to drown had escaped his reach with a quick leap. That was a small nuisance, as he also intended to take down the armored fellow just in front of him. It seemed the goblin whom he had intended to ally with was being assaulted by a woman who seemed possessed of ungodly accuracy. The man in the old duster had made his move, engaging the woman who-believe it or not-had been walking on water. He seemed honorable enough, as humans put it; he had begun by introducing himself rather than striking at an unprepared opponent. The water was renewed with a refreshing cold that filled K'bar with a deeply felt nostalgia for the Underdark. No idea from where the coldness of the water had come from, but he loved it. Perhaps that was a part of the magic of this arena?

With all other fighters paired off with one another, it seemed only logical that he should face off against the man who had come between himself and the beastly man who had made the very first move. Slice. Pain. A shallow cut had been made in one of his tentacles, but there was the horrid sound of something else coming his way. Thinking quickly, the Illithid ducked and bowed his head forward. His tentacles darted in to grab and tug the man's ankles. Simultaneously, a blow-hole opened on K'bar's head, pointing right at the defender's chest. Quickly absorbing water through his skin, he fired a powerful jet of the near freezing water of the arena at the defender.

The intent was not to damage him, although the cold water would likely be an amazing demoralizer. The tentacles that were to tug him off his balance and the powerful jet of water were meant to, in unison, disarm him and knock him onto his back. From there, it would be an easy matter to hold him under water until he slept with the fishes. Then there would be one less human to murder.

AQ	Post #: 19

7/18/2009 14:47:40

Kellehendros
Eternal Wanderer

The creature's next move was odd, rather than scuttling back away from the blows as Elian expected he would do, the thing accepted a shallow gash on its left tentacle-arm, and rather than flinching away from the pain and incoming blow, remained where it was. Even stranger, the creature ducked down and leaned forward, and Eli's shield, its edge honed to a razor's sharpness, sheered across the back of the strange creature's skull, ripping open the skin in a spray of blood. The wound would bleed profusely, head wounds generally did, not to mention the fact that the creature would probably be in extreme pain from having the back of it's head sliced open.

Eli let out a shout of surprise as a jet of water from the thing blasted him across his left shoulder as he began to pull his shield back into a defensive stance. At the same instant the icy water was soaking into the padding of his armor he felt a sharp tug, and suddenly his ankles were yanked out from under him. He kicked wildly as he toppled to try and free his legs, when the world became a sudden icy blur as the Defender was momentarily submerged. Elian stabbed stabbed blindly at an upward angle through the water to where he was relatively certain his opponent's lower body was, and let out a burst of bubbles in a watery shout as his head emerged from the water. "Ventas Servitas!" A ball of wind blasted out of the water, heading for the tentacled-thing, hopefully the blow would stagger the creature backwards and away from him so he could regain his footing.

Post #: 20

7/18/2009 15:16:04

kenzoku
Member

An inhuman screech erupted from the wide-eyed mind flayer as the back of his head was suddenly changed into jerky. But it wasn't for nothing; his heavy opponent had been knocked backward, and his head had gone beneath the water. A shallow wound opened on K'bar's hip, the fabric of his robe regrowing to conceal the wound; the warrior was throwing shots at him! A quick jerk of his arms had the defender's weapon heading in another direction as he turned him around. That would keep him from dealing too much damage. The world seemed to spin as the Illithid realized the extent of the shield's impact.

K'bar let his tentacles release his opponent's flailing legs as his head emerged from the water. Taken by surprise for the second time by the swordsman, K'bar was knocked right onto his back. His arms reshaped into arms again rather than tentacles. The blow-hole receded. It took focus, but the threat of death aided the Illithid's action as he changed his head and legs. The legs slid together and merged into a serpentine tail, which he immediately made use of to propel himself through the water and away from the defender before he would be able to rise. The second change made his head soft and squishy. As he ceased his retreat and stood up, his head jiggled and was transparent. The tentacles of his face elongated to twice their length and mimicked the transparency. They were no longer tentacles, but stingers. His head was a jellyfish.

This served only the purpose of making his tentacles irritants and, far more useful, allowing him to regenerate his flesh faster at the cost of having a squishy, vulnerable head. Now at a safe distance, he was ready to make another shift if the situation found him in need of one. His head would need some time to heal, and until such a time came he would have to defend himself. His hands were free and his legs were working fine. The dash through such cold waters had made him feel invigorated. He stood now, he realized, just next to where a jet of colored water sprayed from the ground. Terrified at the thought of his head shriveling up and drying out like a jellyfish on the beach, he hobbled over to stand in the spray.

AQ	Post #: 21

7/18/2009 15:59:37

Apocalypse
Member

Confusion and mayhem was beginning to overtake the arena as Angelo was almost within striking distance of his intended target. Over toward the back, the dirt-burdened one was approaching the floating one. Good, that leaves everyone with something to do, he thought grimly right as two sudden charges cleared his mind of all else. First was the bitter cold that had swept over the once-pleasant waters. The second was the leap of a man who had entered his path. His feet and hands were positioned to steady himself, and the moment his limbs touched ground, Angelo recognized his as the unarmed one. Memories of his childhood came back to him, and Angelo realized the stance was what the other children has used in failed attempts to trip him.

Battle instinct took over, and the Kastran used this maneuver to his own advantage. The man had foolishly put his own life at risk, though perhaps he had not seen the steel blades attached to his legs. Instead of letting the opponent trip him, Angelo let himself fall forward just as he was a mere inch from the man's position. His lower legs lined up with the man's back, meaning that his fierce blades were ready to slice through the man entirely. The titanium steel could puncture and slash through decent armor, meaning that this foe's clothes, skin, and bones were no match for it. Angelo let gravity take over while keeping his toes touching the floor so he would not lose 'sight' of the battlefield.

Luck stroke twice as the knight was pulled into the frigid water in front of Angelo. He was within striking distance, so Angelo extended his arms so that he would deal two parallel attacks to the fallen warrior. Each was aimed at the chest, and while they may not be lethal, the blows would surely submerge the knight once, if not knock the breath out of him.

The freezing water enveloped his body completely, and Angelo clenched his teeth as his Shredders did their dirty work,

Post #: 22

7/18/2009 19:02:30

Krey
Member

Too late, Grey realized the stupidity of his maneuver, as his eyes caught the flash of blades attached to the man's legs. How he had missed them, he didn't know, but there was little he could do now but drop. And drop he did, straight into the water, though he knew it wouldn't be enough to save him totally from the blades.

Fortunately for him, however, Shade wasn't quite so ignorant. The demon saw through his eyes, spotting things he might miss, including the Shredders attached to Angelo's legs. Grey's shadow began to move, and he was far too busy to object or even notice the demon's tampering. By the time the blades had made contact, Jonathan's shadow had moved from below to above, settling upon his back as he dropped flat on his belly into the water. It hardened, condensing against him until it was harder than plate armor.

Pressed against his belly under the water, Grey felt only the weight of the man's legs as the Shredders hit the solidified shadows that covered his back. And it was now, when everything seemed to slow down in his mind, that he noticed the sudden frigidity of the water.

”You aren't clear yet,” he heard in his mind. And then, ”Roll away, now!” Hardly aware of what was going on around him at this point, Jonathan obeyed, rolling away from the man. The shadows rolled opposite the direction he moved in, sliding against the Shredders to keep his body safe until he was clear. As soon as he was away, the shadows dissolved into nothing as the demon's strength temporarily faded.

Grey stood, vocally cursing, “I told you not to interfere!”

”Would you rather be dead?” Replied the demon, and Grey cursed once more. ”Don't worry, that little stunt you pulled cost me too much to push myself again. You're on your own for a little while, lad. Think before you act. You will live longer.”

Grey turned, taking a few steps away from the blind man who had almost had his life as he chanced a quick look around. The demon was right, much as he hated to admit it. He needed to be more careful. No more stupid moves like that.

A light shiver took his body as he lowered himself into a defensive stance. With the lack of action, he was suddenly very aware of the cold water that soaked into his clothes.

AQ	Post #: 23

7/18/2009 20:07:46

Kellehendros
Eternal Wanderer

Elian kicked as he felt his legs be released by the creature's tentacle arms, propelling himself back a few inches. His wind blast sent the thing staggering away, which should give him time to get back on his feet. The Defender blinked in shock as a sudden shape moved into his vision, the form of another competitor dropping down towards him, arms extended. Eli wasn't sure what the man was trying to do, but he certainly wasn't going to just lie there and let the guy drop on him.

Heaving his left arm upward, Eli sputtered as he dumped the icy water that had been covering his shield into his face, but he felt the impact as the man landed on his shield, which he tilted to slip the attacker off to the side. The young man rolled away from the downed competitor, taking care not to impale himself on his sword as he did so, then pushed up out of the icy water to his feet.

The Defender glanced around quickly before pointing his blade towards the prone man before him. "Ventas Servitas!" Another burst of condensed wind blasts off, this one probably less effective than his first, as the water would absorb most of the shock from the blow before getting to the man. In either event the burst of colored water everywhere looked nice, and would distract his opponents long enough so that he could gain some room to survey the situation. He backpedaled and shifted towards the unarmed man he had helped before. "Well, that was fun to start." The young man shivered lightly at the chill water. "It's a bit chilly out in here suddenly, wouldn't you say?" He glances towards the downed man and the strange creature, reading shield and sword to defend himself from the next onslaught.

Post #: 24

7/18/2009 21:17:50

Apocalypse
Member

Angelo was taken by surprise as he fell on top of his two enemies. Rather than having his lower legs sink through his opponent they were stopped by an unexpected barrier that proved to be quite formidable in its own right. However, a second after it appeared, it vanished once again into nothing, as if it had never existed. A less surprising action took place next as the knight deftly protected himself from wounds with his shield, tipping it to roll off Angelo. The Kastran went with the roll in order to put some distance between his foes.

Angelo leapt to his feet with his back facing the two enemies he had a close encounter with he felt the knight point his swords towards him. He was out of striking distance, but his prediction became truth when the warrior shouted "Ventas Servitas!" for the second time in that battle. When he had used it before, the knight managed to blow the shapeshifter back a ways, and having the same done to Angelo now in the presence of two other contestants could prove to be deadly.

Unlike the shapeshifter, however, Angelo was prepared, and he had the art of his clan at his disposal.

Before the knight finished his incantation, Angelo whipped his right hand in front of him, pointing two fingers to the sky, and brought up the arm in a jerking motion. The cobblestone, responsive and easily manipulated, heeded Angelo's call. Directly behind Angelo, between himself and the knight, an inch-thick wall of the precious stone had risen up to provide a barrier against the magical assault. His defense proved effective as the blast hit the wall to no avail. Angelo turned around to face the wall and tracked the knight's movements to position himself alongside his mage of an ally.

He drew in a quick breath to take in warm air after his icy plunge and discreetly heard the knight's comment on the "fun start" the championship had taken. Grinning to himself rather wolfishly, he bent his knees to enter a more formal battle-stance before continuing his assault.

"If you thought that was fun," mocked Angelo as he drew his right arm back. "Then 'til you see what I have ready for you!" With that, Angelo struck the solid wall with his open palm, calling upon his blood-born magic once more. On impact, the wall shot itself forward at his two competitors. Water sprayed forth from its path as it slid across the stone floor like it would upon ice.

Post #: 25

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