Some Old Fights!

Zayra'Kn Versus Darkserium [Chime forest]

description of the arena

A dense forest was all that seperated the competitors from each other. The trees stood taller than the same kind would naturally as they have been enhanced through the magic of the arena. Venomous plants and animals lay scattered throughout the arena some idle yet some hostile. The competitors must master the arena before they master each other. Scattered throught the forest are long copper tubes sticking out of the ground and hanging from the trees. When struck the tubes emit a massive shockwave that travles to the next tube closest to it. If planned right the competiors can use this against each other in various ways. Some tubes cause shockwaves to ripple throughout the arena, some when struck dont ring at all, but activate other another chime makeing it the perfect distraction. And then some tubes serve only to give the hapless fool who struck it away. Needless to say this Arena will test the combatants survival skills as well as their combat. The trees are spaced in clusteres where it can be incredibly thick in some places or so sparse that a clearing with sunlight shining down is revealed.

/end of description

Zayra'Kn, preferably known as Zayra, had entered his chosen arena. He could tell upon entering what it was about for the most part. It was more or less a tactical arena, there were nearly an infinite number of strategies that he could think of that could be composed within this complex place. He had heard little of this Darkserium character, perhaps a late entrant to the tournament. Never the less he could tell that this place was dangerous, even more so depending how much you move. There were other things alive in this arena, it would be a contest between more than just him and his adversary. Keeping this all in mind, he kept his position where he was, scanning his surroundings and noticing how thick the forested area got in certain places. Over all it was an abstract arena, and what he had drawn from it already made him smile.

If his assumptions were correct, knowing how rampant the flora was in here, that there would be some unhelpful plants about. Poison was a double edged blade against most people, but he wasn't too afraid of poison that much. After all he had complete control of his body, down to the very blood cells within him. A normally cunning way to end someone is to strike them once with a deadly poison and then wear them down by hiding, though Zayra knew this place was built for that kind of tactic, his ability to reject poison from his body would certainly be helpful. As far as using the arena to his advantage, he was at a loss. His attire was not made for it; the tangle of the forest would only hinder his motions. His special eye could see that the trees were enchanted to be taller, the magical residue was still evident in the air. There was a wall behind him, and there was a thin space between the trees and the wall and he leaned against it. He watched where he stepped knowing that he would have at least some time to prepare, if his opponent had decided to charge forward.

He kept in mind not to bother with the chimes, he would not take the offensive here. Half of his body was resistant to physical attacks, by the mutation of the Zarak. He thought of how his opponent might move. He figured that he wouldn't attack outright, if he did, he would have to endure the unknown depths of the forest, and Zayra would be waiting for him here. Then again, if nobody moved, time would be wasting, and a stalemate would not seem proper. He considered that if he let his opponent hide and discover the secrets of the arena before he did, then it would become a game of patience. He even considered using the chimes, but if his opponent was an observer he would know better than to trust the sound... whatever it may be. He kept his hand on flicker blade, not drawing it, but keeping in stance.

pause

Darkserium walked into the arena through the door he was assigned. He took a look at his arena and saw that it was a large forest with clumps of trees, some dense, some letting sunlight through in the clearing. As he walked he was formulating a plan in his mind. He got to the end of the entrance stage wondering what kind of foe this Zayra'Kn was going to be and what threat he posed.

He noticed one of the chimes hanging from the tree. Deciding not to touch it he started to move to a clump of trees that was on the far left side and on the border of being seen. He moved like the shadows of the trees in the wind concealing himself to all who might be watching. He saw a few animals that did not look very friendly and decided no to bother because they had not seen him for the way he was moving.

When he reached the clump of trees he was headed towards he went to the middle scanning the other side of the wall for he opponent. There he was standing there in front of the door he had come out. He grabbed a knife from his belt he marked a tree which seemed to be a good perch. Then moving in the same motion he did before he moved to the middle of the part of the forest closest to Zayra'Kn. He moved a few hundred feet back making sure he could still see his enemy. He guessed he was about 200 yards away from his enemy. He took out his bow and notched an arrow. He had two more ready in his hand, He shot the first arrow a little to the left of his opponent, in a smooth rhythmic motion he notched another arrow and shot slightly to the right this time, and lastly in the same motion he notched the last one and aimed directly at Zayra'Kn. He did this in a matter of seconds.

He moved in the same motion as before but much faster so he would not be seen. He moved to the tree he marked, draped his bow over his shoulder and shrunk back into his cloak.

pause

As the first attack came, in the form of three arrows, Zayra noticed how his opponent fought. As the left arrow approached, he ducked down instinctively and he quickly ran along the side of the wall, moving out of the way. His opponent had retreated, or he was hiding somewhere else, but he had only shot three arrows, which meant that they were not meant to strike. He kept on the side of the arena, knowing that his opponent did not have infinite arrows. His eye did not pick up his opponent which meant that he did not use magic to sneak up on him. Understanding this, Zayra found a tree on the outskirts of the forest and he slowly climbed it. He stood hunched in the tree. His opponent wouldn't come from behind because he did not know where Zayra had gone. It was clear that it had been a hit and run tactic, perhaps to draw him into the forest. As he stood at the peak of the tree, he slowly pulled out the flicker blade and cut into his arm slightly. Blood poured out and slowly fell down the tree, in till there was a stream of blood down the entire side of the tree. When finished he cleaned off his blade and he sheathed it. Then he commanded his skin cells to concentrate and the wound began to heal quickly, for it was a simple cut. Then, he waited quietly.

pause

Darkserium saw him dodge the arrows then retreat but did not see where he retreated too. He climbed the tree he was standing to the very tip trying to see where his opponent may have gone. When he was nearing the top of the tree he put his hood up so as not to be seen if his opponent were watching. He noticed a clump of trees fairly close to his point of entry. Figuring he went there Darkserium looked into the clump trying to see anything but he did not. Deciding that his tactic did not work, he started moving toward the clump of trees in the same motion as before knowing that many man had seen him disappear right before there eyes with the aid of his cloak and movements. He was approaching it slowly so not to make a sound, when he got about a couple hundred feet from it he looked around. He saw a tree that was suitable too climb. When he was became somewhat comfortable he took out his sword in case his enemy were to surprise him.

pause

Zayra remained in his tree.

pause

Darkserium climbed down from the tree that he was perched in. He put his sword back in it's sheath on his back and he moved closer to the clump of trees in the concealed motions that he had. When he got there he moved to the outer edge of the inner circle of trees. He was still moving like the shadows of the trees allowing him to blend into his surroundings. He got to the point and stopped dead still knowing that his enemy would need eyes of a hawk to see a ranger in his cloak when standing still. He looked around the clearing and in a tree he saw the green and white cloak of Zayra.

He unlsung his bow from his shoulder and took about 1 arrow from each of his boot knowing that a normal arrow would not pierce all the branches necessary. He Notched one on to his bow string and aimed it just above his mark the next one he did the same thing.

pause

The two arrows shot by his adversary flew over his head. He ducked down low, and looked around. His opponent was cloaked, and not by magical means either. He knew that the arrows weren't magical either because his eye did not see them coming. He stayed behind the base of the tree, keeping it between him and his opponent.

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Darkserium slung his bow over his shoulder and moved around the clump of trees in the same motion as the tree's shadows. He got around where his opponent was and he was naught but 3 feet from the tree. He quickly took his bow off his shoulder, took 2 arrows from each boot aiming point blank at his enemy and then slinging his bow over his shoulder he took out his sword and hid it under his cloak standing still and unseen.

pause

It is as I had anticipated Zayra thought as he saw the attack come. He let his body drop at the same moment the arrows would've struck him, and thanks to the manner of his garb, it would appear to his assailant that he had been hit. Especially considering the hit and run tactics that he had been using since the very beginning of the fight. Zayra had already set a stance that would allow him to drop to the ground without hitting any branches. Within the same moment of his opponents quick attack, he had used his flicker sword to cut two wounds into his shoulders, and by the time he fell the blood was already on the ground, and the wound healed. It was exhausting, using the power this much, but it would fit perfectly with his plan. If his opponent was watching, he would see Zayra as wounded.

He's already used at least seven of his arrows...I wonder considering my position, if he will use his bow again.

The man positioned himself against the back of the tree, as he looked around him, to the north only a few yards away was the wall. If his opponent attacked from that direction, Zayra would see the attack, not to mention the time it would take to use a bow at this range. The feint was perfect. There was no reason that Zayra could think of, that would make his adversary suspicious.

pause

Darkserium saw one of his arrow hit Zayra in the shoulder and drop from the tree. "Let's see what you can do" Darkserium said from behind his foe. He quickly ran in front of his foe into the middle of the clump of trees keeping his sword under his cloak. He watched and waited to see what his opponents next move would be, not wanting to go into a fight not knowing what his enemy could do.

pause

Zayra remained against the tree. He began to breathe heavily, not moving his arms very much. 'still not coming eh?' he thought to himself keep a hold of the flicker sword. The grass wasn't too short, so he thought to help speed the process along. Slowly he inched his blood through the long grass, moving slowly. He kept breathing looking straight ahead, trying to keep his opponent focused on him. 'This would be the perfect moment to strike, but he is being careful. His entire strategy revolves around being careful. That is why he has been attacking from afar.'

He sent the blood around, so that if he did see it, he wouldn't know exactly what it was doing, it was moving left and right. It had been convenient that the blood was on the left and right side of the tree so that it would flow down unnoticed. He knew that his opponent wouldn't be able to move back any further because there was the arena wall there. If he had a method of flight, then it would be revealed now, instead of later. The blood had reached the far wall now. His opponent was surrounded.

Pause

Darkserium saw the blood moving across the ground, not thinking anything of it he leaned his sword against his leg and took his bow of his shoulder he took 1 arrow from each boot and then 3 from the quiver. In a smooth rhythmic motion he shot the to 3 arrows from his quiver at his assailant to the right and to the left, the next two came a little farther to the left and right.

Darkserium slung his bow over his shoulder and grabbed his sword under his cloak but not revealing it he rushed.

Pause

As his opponent took out his bow, Zayra tensed up in his legs. He would use his speed in this case. As the first volley came, he vaulted himself forward. With his flicker sword, he cut a few of the arrows as they came to him. His motion was so flawless that it appeared as if the arrows had just vanished. Then as the others came, he jumped into the air, closing the gap between him and his opponent.

A closer examination would reveal that the arrows had in fact got to him. The tips had skimmed the edges of his body, though it was all for his gain. He let the wounds bleed. As he came down upon his opponent, he kept the sliver edge under his wavering cloak. In a clean motion he aimed to strike at his opponent's face, starting from the chin, and working up towards the left eye, and then off of the forehead. Simultaneously the blood was now moving in towards the hunter-- and slowly going up the side of his boots, and up his legs.

Pause

Darkserium took his sword out from underneath his cloak where he had been keeping it and blocked the attack. As he did this he felt something on his leg. He looked down and and saw blood but not his own for he had not been hit. Darkserium jumped to the side of his opponent, sheathed his sword on his back, and rummaged in his pockets for some water. He took out the vile and poured it onto the blood washing it away.

He put the water back into his pocket and brought out his bow, he took 3 arrows from his boot, and 2 from his quiver and fired them all in one smooth motion. They all came virtually at the same time, as the ones from his boot went in a straight line up about 3 feet above or below each other and the other two to the of the first 3 sides. He looked down to make sure the blood was washed away by the water so that it would not hopefully not come back soon he hoped.

Pause

His opponent had blocked the attack with his sword, but with his free hand, he threw some blood from his side wound onto the hunter's face. His opponent quickly put away his sword, and Zayra wondered why, because at this range, if he didn't defend himself, he would be ripped into shreds. As the hunter pulled out the water, Zayra came up and slashed at his throat.

The hunter tried to pull out his bow, which seemed like a dumb choice as well. Was there some hidden power that Zayra could not see? He circled around the hunter, not giving him a clear shot. There was no range between them so avoiding them were easy. A bow was hard at point blank range, and especially with all of those arrows. Zayra instead kept attacking with his flicker sword in one hand, while simultaneously throwing blood at his opponent.

The blood on his leg was definitely slowed by the water, if not completely washed away. The blood on his shoulder and face quickly raced towards his mouth and into his windpipe, and down into his lungs, stopping there.

Battle End


A pretty interesting fight. A master of blood, and an expert swordsmen, versus a skilled ranger! After rereading this fight, my favorite part is the thought process put into the beginning. The entire, scoping out the battlefield was nicely done.