Captain sea-monster in the city

[Dal'Lumen]

Resplendent Fire 9

*Dal raised an eyebrow at Dagons' showing off, this man seemed to be a bit full of himself.*

"Very good, It's settled then, I will send you warriors, and you turn them into sailors."

*Dal shook the captains hand and released.*

"I have a fleet of five hundred perfected ships, So I can spare some for training purposes, the rest will be on standby for active deployment, just inform me of all your activities. I will be keeping a close eye on you."

*This was half warning, half praise, this new trainer would perhaps create waves in the ranks of the other Water Dragons.*

"Remember, for now you are not a ranking officer, if you are starting a new life, you start it without the titles or achievements of your past. True leaders need no title to inspire and drive other men and women to greatness!
I will send you my other dragons, and you will work along side them and exchange knowledge... You all answer to me. When there is a force to be commanded I will expect each of you to rise to the challenge and prove to me that you are worthy of leadership, don't think that your dragon blood status is a shoe-in."


*Dal grinned wiping away the beads of sweat on his brow.*


"Now that I'm warmed up a bit, how about an exhibition match for the men up top... They would no doubt enjoy the show and a brief break in their 4th hour of physical training."

*Dal's eyes filled with a flash of solar essence for a moment, as he expanded into a flowing snake style stance.*

"We can discuss your living arrangements after... Unless you are too travel weary for a small exhibition to demonstrate your skill to the men you will be training."

[Ress]

Resplendent fire, 9

* Dagon laughed again, tapping the jade rimmed heel of his leather boot against the pearl floor of this room. His hands went to his hips as he nodded*

" Alright, that sounds good... I have fought a few Solars in the past... never beaten them one to one, but that is okay. Either there is a first for everything, or you will see where my style might need work... but I apologize in advance if you get all bruised up."

* He took his flame piece out and began filling it with firedust*

" So what are the rules?... are there any, or is it a free for all?"

* Dagon concentrated as he poured, trying not to waste any of this rare fuel*

[Dal'Lumen]

Resplendent Fire 9

*Dal Laughed, shaking his head. Kicked his two axes up off the ground catching either one in his hands, giving them a quick flourish, sending a gust of wind out in all directions.*

"Well an Exhibition simply implies that we are not in it to kill each other, I'll pull my blows of course as to not do you any serious harm. Just put on a good show for the men, let them know you mean business and we will each give them something to aspire towards."

*Dal grinned and waved him on out the door, he walked out the door in the direction of the Dojo and expected Dagon to follow.*

[Ress]

Resplendent fire, 9

* Dagon chuckled as he put the stopper on his fire-dust container. and put it away, then holstered his flame piece.

Dagon then began to stretch, popping his neck and shoulder before following Dal upstairs to the dojo he had set up.*

" So, what styles do you practice, Dal?... I know a few of them"

[Dal'Lumen]

Resplendent Fire 9

"Well, perhaps I would like to see if you can figure it out."

*He grinned out of sight of Dagon, this was a sort of test after all, and it would also introduce Dagon to some of the men he would be training. As they approached the final flight leading to the training center, the sounds of exhausted men and a few women weary from a long day of training echoed down. Dal turned and smiled at Dagon, and jerked his head motioning for him to come along.*

"Only when an individual fights does the truest essence of their soul become visible. Fighting is a means of communication that only masters can understand, put on a good show for the men, but remember what you are truly trying to say, and who you are speaking to."

*Dal walked up the stairs into the training area, the light was fading and torches were lit atop the manse, the cascading water from the fountains illuminated by the evening sunlight causing them to seem almost to be gurgling springs of fire.*

"Warriors! I have a special treat for you this evening... You have seen him in passing, but now he is one of us, a brother in this great big family we call IMPERVERESS! He has agreed to an exhibition match and I hope this is something any of you never forget... Tonight he will be proving himself worthy to be called brother... Tonight... I will be his Opponent!

*He beat his fist against his chest upon announcing himself, and then spread his arm's wide palms to the sky.*

I introduce to you... DAGON!"

*Dal waved his hand in the direction of the stairwell, where Dagon would make his appearance.*

[Ress]

Resplendent fire, 9

* Dagon couldn't help but chuckle at the announcement, having not received such a fore call since his days on The Blessed Isle, but that was some time ago.

He waved to the people around him, feeling his old self returning to him and needing to make a speech of his own, but resisted the urge.

He kept his weapons in their holsters and watched on at the crowd of future soldiers, and their axe wielding Admiral.

He had fought the 'anathema' before... just never Solars and never by himself. There was only one answer to this conundrum, and he was about to put it into motion... or stillness, as the case may be.

Dagon got into his ready stance, a wide stance that looked like old irish fisticuffs*

" Now don't feel bad if I rough you up a bit... I have been an Exalt for years and have had specialized academy training.... ready up?"

[Ress]

*Dal didn't comment on Dagons preempt apology, he turned to Quie-Ra, offering the field god a nod. It was funny in fact, this was not far from the same way that Quie-Ra 'permitted' Dal his own entry to the manse.*

"Don't mind starting us off do you brother?"

*He pointed both axes at Dagon, and lengthened his stance, beginning to sway back and forth as the time to fight grew near. His normally warm friendly face, darkening and becoming expressionless, his eyes taking up the aspect of a venomous snake warning any that would come close that he was deadly.*

* Quie-Ra nodded, taking a step back, just incase this fight had range to it. he brought his hand up and plucked his hat off his head and held it out infront of him*

" Alright... when my hat hits the ground.. come out swinging!... ready?"

* He waited a moment, then let go of his hat, allowing it to waft down and land soundlessly on the ground*

*Dal knew that the dragon blooded were remarkably quick when they needed to be, so he would just have to push Dagon to his limits and see what that brought out. A surge of essence shot through him and he was headed directly for the offensive. Perhaps if one of the soldiers had blinked he would have missed it.*

[8 sxs join battle Striking Cobra used = invalid method (null)] (3m)

* Dagon's body dissapeared momentarily in a spray of water, only to appear behind Dal. His arms lashed out to grab him from behind, catching his forearms around his inner elbow, attempting to immobilize the axe weilding solar, lest he strike back.

A feeling of cold swept over the battlefield as Dagon's anima exploded into a torrential whirlpool around him and moments after, a huge dagger mouthed seamonster emerged from the whirlpool, reaching its own giant weebed claws around him, supposidlt aiding to the clinch that was being initiated*

{ a combo with first pulse activated ( causes user to always act on tic 0 in a fight both parties are aware of)}

*Dal's reaction was too quick, in spite of the obvious power of this attack before Dagon could tie him up he threw his arms up, and performing a strange sort of Dancing motion, breaking Dagons grip. He coiled around to the side of Dagon, giving the back of his head a push letting the dragons own momentum carry him forward. Dal grinned as Dagon stumbled away from him, half tempted to tease him for screwing up such an attack To the trained eye one could see that he was entering into the snake form.*

"Nice counter, I sure hope you werent intimidated..."

*He lunged forward feinting a swipe at the body with the blunt side of truth, which howled as it cut the air in it's collision course, and just as he came to strike he coiled down to the ground, sweeping at Dagons legs with the hook under the blade while he was still regaining his balance. Again he spun through his attack and came down with a kick on the rotation that would attempt to catch Dagon either while he was falling or managed to jump over his sweep.*

*Dagon continued to go with the momentum of being shoved away. at the 11th hour, he leapt into the air, attempting to dodge the sweep by simply not being there... but of course, Dal seemed to anticipated this, and without thinking, he brought his leg up, attempting to block his kick with the front of his calf*

* As he descended, Dagon swept his opposite leg through the air, attempting a connection with both Truth and Law, trying to knock them out of Dal's hands and as far away as he could get them. His anima coalesced the part of the whirlpool nearest to his leg into a wave, and splashes of ice cold essence shot in all direction as it made contact* When he hit the ground, his stance became wide and his body moved in a smooth wave like motion*

(Double disarm)

*Dal winced, scowling into the cold blast of wind and water essence, he felt the numbing cold shoot up to his hands and the two Axes flew into the air on either of the sides of the ring no more than a mans height in distance from where he was standing. Through the swirling essence Dal'Lumen grinned an ominous yet satisfied Grin.*

*As if drawn by magnitism to the handles of each of the Axes, Dal lept up into the air, his hands finding his lost axes easily before they even had time to hit the ground. Almost as if this had been his intent all along, he coiled up and his leg's twisted his whole body through air gracefully as if for a brief moment he was floating before the two axes Dagon had tried so hard to avoid dealing with came back down towards him in a flash of golden light that split the lingering water essence above like the first light of the sun deviding the ocean with its brilliant reflection. Two enormous Arms exploded from the ground under Admiral Dal'Lumen, consuming him in fiery golden light, seizing the skys fading light of day atop the Beziar manse with the brilliance of the second noon that day had seen. While the axes were turned to their blunt sides an appropriate screaching sound was made, which sounded like the call of an eagle. Law slammed down on Dagons back as he rolled away, just inches from being impacted by the side of Truth.*

* Seeing the lightning swift retrieval of Dal's, Dagon dropped to one knee, submerging himself mostly in his whirlpool anima, the giant seamonster popping up every now and then to swipe at the air. Seeing the strikes coming down on him, Dagon rolled to the side, a burst of watery essence shooting upwards like a gyser*

* Dagon stumbled, having been hit solid by the blunt end of the axe. He shook the dazed feeling off quickly, taking this opportunity to lunge forward and continue his primary strategy. With his dwindling supply of essence, His anima lurched to life once more, the seamonster exploding from its hiding place in the whirlpool.

Dagon reached his arms out and grappled Dal, this time from the front, his arms attempting to lock down Dal's so he could not toss him like he did before. Unlike before, Dal would feel ice and frost forming on his skin as the teperature around them plummeted way down. The sea monster reached down, putting his hands around Dal, as if helping Dagon hold him down*

*A Colossal wrestling match ensued between the sea monster and the enormous arms made of sunlight that stood like trees beside Dal. Over the arena the rippling effect of sunlight filtering through water danced over the awe stricken soldiers, most of whom just stood slack jawed at the two exalts achieving such feats of combat while still making it all look easy. The long, muscular arms not unlike Dals own pushed the sea monster away and as if almost following the motions of their master snaked their way around the sea monster foe and to freedom, only after slapping the sea monster on the back of the head for good measure. Between the two exalts the real struggle was perhaps smaller but no less grand. Dal hooked his wrists around the forearms of Dagon forcing his hands down and releasing the Zenith from his hold, and before Dagons attack could land any foothold Dal had slipped behind Dagon as he redirected him and pulled him forward in his momentum, this time not pushing him only gently releasing him to his own devices.*

"Good to see you can still move after that, let's see how well you wield your firewand brother."

*Dal danced and wove hypnotically, circling the Dragon before he would make his own strike.*

*Dal smirked, sidestepping his way in to Dagons defensive range quickly, he would soon show Dagon the importance of understanding how to plan his attacks several moves ahead of his enemy. His Axes slashing and singing casting flashes of harsh light and distracting movements in Dagons direction, another near invisible quick sidestep and Dal came up with law from below first in, and then truth followed in from the side aimed at dagons right shoulder, hiding the strike in the blind spot created from the broad side of Law as it neared Dagons Chin. Finally, a third attack was set into motion should the first two be avoided. There was a flash of light , a reflection to be more accurate from the light show surrounding them cast by the top of Dal'Lumens shiny bald head, he stepped forward to the point of almost squatting and jabbed up with his big hard head in the direction of Dagon's chin.*

* Dagon, his essence now exhauted, tried to roll out of the way of this oncoming attack, now remembering why it was dragonblooded never picked fights with Solars one on one. Despite how fast he moved, he braced for impact*

*Just as the pain was about to come down on Dagon it all stopped, the axes held frozen in time, Law holding up against Dagons Chin, Truth against his arm and shoulder like a strange Axe wielding hug. Dals head came up over Dagons shoulder intentionally missing his face completely stopping right next to his ear.*

"Good fight, you really are a good sport." *He said in a low voice that only Dagon and anyone with super hearing could hear. Then with a flick of his neck he popped Dagon in the side of the face with his head jokingly before stepping back and turning to the crowd with a smile. Exhausted of his essence pool, and gratefully so, it was a good show for the troops, and they would likely work harder than ever after seeing such inspirational fighting.*

"A fantastic fight by Dagon, everyone please welcome your new brother and look forward to training beside him starting this week!"

* Dagon stumbled, dazed for a moment, retrieveing his daiklaive and using it to prop himself up by pressing its blade against the ground. He shook his head, then blinked a few times, looking like ke was waking up from a deep sleep.

it took a few moments for him to regain his cognition, but when he did, he chuckled, putting his weapons away*

" I should have known I had no chance.... I have taken down 'anathema' before... but only with the help of my crew, and sometimes other dragonblooded... 'Glacial prision', the technique I tried twice on you, has never failed me before.... but there is a first time for everything."

* He rubbed his head, his hair became wet as he used his water mastery to cool the angry injury on his head*

" I'll be glad to come back and train with you... but for now... I am going to go nurse a headache and possibly catch up with that Dragon-Blooded woman.... but that was fun. Now if I were my great grandmother, you wouldnt have had a chance though"

* He winced a little as he chuckled again, then heaved a sigh and Bowed to Dal*

*Dal patted him on the back and bowed in return, but as fair warning his Axe returned to Dagons throat lifting his head up to eye level.*

" 'Anathema': A cursed, hated and vile creature deserving of damnation... I am not what your teachers told you I would be, and other Exalts less like me will not be so quick to forgive such terms Dagon. Remember to forget. Forget who you were and open your eyes to a new way to be."

*He lowered his Axe, the metal ringing against the rough blue stubble on Dagons chin before both axes found their place on Dals back.*

" Come then, I'll send you on your way with some of Quie-Ra's never ending supply of oat bread."

* He gritted his teeth, not liking being in this position, but knew well Dal wasnt going to hurt him* " I am a pirate... I don't have much reverence for anything... terms like that are tossed about loosely on a ship, but I will try to keep them to a minimum... besides, I said that because its the first name that comes to mind... I feel no hate for your kind... maybe individuals.. but as a whole, no.

but oat bread you say?... now that sounds good!"

*Dal rolled his eyes at the nervous excuses Dagon had for using a word that was easily taboo in the presence of any celestial Exalt. He waved Dagon on down the stairs, turning to grin at Quie-Ra, knowing the god would remember the first time he and Dal met it was a situation much like this one and perhaps it was a notion Dal had acquired from Quie in the first place. He waved at the soldiers.*

"You are all done for the day, congratulations. Now get some sleep and I'll see you bright and early!"

*He turned and followed Dagon down the stairs.*

"No Dagon, you were a pirate, you may always have the spirit of one, but today, and so long as you live in Imperveress you are a servant of the empire, and a Soldier, that is who you are reborn as today, and it may take some time to realize what that means, but I have confidence that you will learn it. If you can't think of anythithing else to call a Celestial Exalt your best bet is to start with Sir... that's an easy one to remember, only three letters in that one."

*He opened the pantry and dug out three loaves of fluffy wholesome oat bread and stuffed them into Dagons arms.*

"A first name is good too, but between you and me, It's Admiral Sir. Now get outa here, go meet yourself that girlie, enjoy some bread, and think about all those troops you're going to be training!"

*Dal planted his fist in his palm, fingers held up pointing at his chin, and bowed respectfully, and equally dismissively. It would take a little inner strength of his own to deal with the fact that he didn't much like pirates, and in spite of having good reasons for it, he would have to do a little forgetting himself.*



*Dagon nodded, his eyes looking out into soace as he reminisced over his old life and how much he hated it now*

" Yes... you are right, I am not a pirate any more, nore will I ever again.. it was a terrible way of life... but I am a changed man now, thanks to a sheep hearder... but that is a story of another day.

I was a soldier before, and would rather be that than someone who gets fat off the sorrow of others. My true strength lie in naval tactics, but I could rank and file as well as anyone else."

* He carefully held the bread in his arms, then bowed to Dal in return*

" Thank you for the food.... Oh! And I also have a message for you from a beautiful woman I met in Emperor Ress' manse... now, what did she say"

* He rolled it over in his head, looking down to the floor as he recalled the exactly the words that were used*

" She said ' Enjoy the last threads of your pride while you have them, because when I am done, you will be eating crow for the rest of your life. I was just told that I used to flog you regularly in a past life, and now is time to continue the legacy. If you don't fear tigers now, you will when I am done.'"

* He shrugged, not knowing what that was all about, but hoped that Dal would get something out of this seemingly random burst of almost friendly rivalry laced with venom*

" Whatever all that means... Well, I will see you soon, Dal. Be sure to never let any of your Water Aspected followers put their arms around you... its just good practice"

* He bowed one last time, then turned and left for the lower levels of the manse and ultimately the waterway*

*Dal scowled, knowing exactly who the message was from, and as Dagon left the scowl turned into a sly, amused smirk.*

"Khan... heheh" *He carried on chuckling as he walked down the hall and off to rest and relax after a long day.*