Tiger & Snake on Northern Manse

[Ress]

Resplendent fire, 10

* Kahn stood in the center of the great arena on the roof of the Bezair Manse. She looked out at the red, orange and tinge of purple that the setting sun painted upon the sky and clouds. a small smirk crossing her lips as he watched it.

Not bothering to hide her Lunar nature, Kahn allowed her moonsilver tattoos to be visible, as well as the orange and black tiger stripes in her hair.

With his right fist, she rubbed her knuckle across the large scar on her back, a result of tangling with a Deathlord. She sighed softly as she hoped this encounter would not go the same.

Just as quickly, her smile returned. With beating a solar meant greater glory, and even more so since this was a solar that used to rival one of her past selves.

As she stood there, she began thinking about the terms of their fight. weather or not weapons would be allowed. if there is an arena rule... perhaps even first blood?
She shrugged as she continued to pace the arena, wondering when Dal might arrive, to be throttled.

[Dal'Lumen]

Resplendent Fire 10



*He looked down from his cloud in the sky to see the silvery figure of Kahn waiting atop his manse for him to return. It was only a moment before he had swooped down to a safe distance for dismounting his Cumulus, and he did so by leaping off of it and allowing it to fly on about it's business. His silks fluttered in the wind as he fell but he landed in virtual silence, coming down to his knee before standing back up and walking toward Kahn.*

"I hope you've not had to wait here for me too long... I did try to come as soon as I could."

*He grinned at her brightly. Confidently.*

"I must say I am looking forward to having my skills tested to their limits tonight. Have you had a chance to consider the terms of our duel?"

*He granted her the opportunity to choose. Knowing that by her terms she might be more satisfied with whatever outcome.*

[Ress]

Resplendent fire, 10

* Kahn smirked and shook her head, Seeing Dal arrive on one of those clouds he rode on. She heaved a sigh as a fist rested on her hip*

" So now you show up! I thought you might have run off to The Lap or Harborhead to hide from your fate. I must say I am a little surprised to see you here."

* She leaned forward slightly, her smile widening to show her tiger fangs*
" I don't know if you remember, or if that voice in your head said anything, but I used to pound you into the dirt! And I fully intend to continue the tradition on to this lifetime!"

* She nodded, then allowed her face to drop to neutral as she turned her back to him, her Deathlord caused scar exposed on her back*

" Terms? The fight will continue until someone gives up... but I am no fool, There are billions of things more important than this fight... it will be allowed that both of us may set aside the match should a greater threat arise.... of course, I am defining every skirmish we have from now until our next incarnations.

That will be the unchangeable rule.... and as for this particular fight... I have a few terms for you to agree or disagree with.
One, Weapons are not allowed.
Two, knocking an opponent off the manse and into the fields below secures a victory for the striker.
Three, dismemberment and death are not tolerated."

* she turned back around, her arms crossed across her chest. her head tilted to the side as she watched Dal*

" What do you think? you have as much say in this as I do."

[Dal'Lumen]

Resplendent Fire, 10



"Sounds to be fair, though both of us being the masters of martial arts that we are can claim that our hands are in fact deadly weapons. It is just as possible to pull our blows with weapons as it is our own hands."

*Dal took his axes from his back and placed them on the ground off to the side of the arena.*

"I do however relish the opportunity to fight hand to hand, out of respect for the arts."

*He clapped his fist into his palm, the fingers of his other hand pointing vertically to the sky, apparently a symbol of where the sun is at it's Zenith. He then bowed and took his form, eyes harsh and calculating body swaying ever so slightly too and fro.*

"The Golden Serpent, and Silver Tiger facing off in the name of millennias old pride and tradition. Quite evocative ain't it."
[glow=gold,2,300]
{{Snake Form Active}}[/glow]

[Ress]

Resplendent Fire, 10

* Kahn was surprised he ignored her insults and goating, having remembered that this was a tactic that had always worked in past incarnations... this was a prime example that we are not all who we used to be.

She bowed back to Dal, starting to sway slightly from the hypnotic movements of Dal's stance, but soon her stance became low and wide with her hands open with palms exposed, ready at any moment to attack, or deflect blows away*

" Golden Serpent and Silver Tiger? I think it could work... but for now, I am done with words"

( Initiative : 8)

[Dal'Lumen]

Resplendent Fire 10



*He replied calmly*

"As you wish..."

*He saw Kahn's body tensing for the attack and decided to let it come, he would take this opportunity to observe her technique and speed. He began by circling to her left to force her to attack at an awkward angle, and keeping the sun at his back to impair her vision anticipating the attack to come, he was ready to defend at any moment, a moment that had been waiting a thousand years to happen.*

(Initiative: 5 - Guard)

[Ress]

Resplendent fire, 10

* Remembering that Dal was a fighter of finesse and agility, rather than brute strength, Kahn turned on the ball of her left foot then leapt for the strafing solar, the smooth surface of the Manse roof squeaking slightly as her boot grinded against it. Her moonsilver tattoos began glowing a soft blue as she reached out to strike Dal with open palm, her fingers spread and curved downward like how a tiger might strike. This was almost literally a 'cat paw', an attempt to draw out and gauge exactly how dangerous this Solar was... if her memory served her well, he was definatly not a man to be taken lightly.

The skies darkened slightly, with the soft twilight rays barely shining through whatever strange magics that would dare blot out the sun.
As she struck, the soft beating of the astral drums pounded louder for about two seconds, then returned to their slow steady beating*

( 11 suxx attack )
(5 ticks)

[Dal'Lumen]

Resplendent Fire 10



* Dal's facial expression didn't shift in the slightest as he dipped under Kahns strike revealing the dim orange of the setting sun that his head had previously eclipsed. Kahns punch appeared to phase through a silhouette of Dal in the contrast and for a moment he seemed to dissolve into animated shadows below. His eyes and his disc cast mark glowed a fierce gold against his shrouded face. Tongues of golden essence swirled on his outline. It was difficult to even see exactly what his motions were, he had dodged obviously enough but the attack came like a whisper in the dark.

A spear-like hand slash up from the shadowy mass on the ground heading for kahns solar plexus. Another hand reached out to hook around Kahns rear ankle and pull it from under her. The initial dodging leg split Dal had performed placed his front leg inside Kahns stance and he used his front leg to block kahns fore leg from stepping back to catch her weight. With one fluid motion Dal pushed off his hind leg driving him back up to his feet attempting to drive the full force of his attack straight through Kahns chest and leverage Kahn to her back.*

(DV Increased to 12; 13sxs attack 8sxs Sweep) -{5B Raw Damage} (2d Stunt) 1sxs +4essence
(4B soak) (2d Stunt) 1sxs
>2B Damage!<

[Ress]

resplendent fire, 10

* Kahn saw the attack almost too late, witnessing the spear hand blow just before it it landed. Kahn's torso bent to the side as if it were elastic, but was not enough to get out of the way of the strike. The orange stripes in her hair were now highlighted by a silvery outline. Her Anima billowed out into a hazy off blue corona of moonlight as she performed a backhand spring to evade the leg sweep Dal had performed on her.

Kahn dropped to one knee, panting softly from the surprise almost leveled upon her. Her hair draped over her face, her glowing yellow eyes the only things visible behind it*

" So... Cho-Hi-Xo is in there somewhere... I guess my old habit of playing with my prey before devouring it has followed me to this life!... but no more playing around. Now Im getting serious!"

* A growl escaped her throat, then a roar like a great jungle cat. Kahn Leaped forward, leading with a roundhouse kick to Dal's waist, then following up with another tiger claw strike. Her fluid anima flowed around her moving and shaking as if it were attempting a dance. The feeling of essence in the air and the display she produced made it abundantly clear that she had activated a combo*

(failed to dodge punch by 2 dice, evaded sweep. DV is currently 8.

13suxx roundhouse kick, 12suxx punch )

[Dal'Lumen]

Resplendent Fire, 10





*Dal grinned as Kahn leaped for him recklessly, he seemed to fade back just out of range of Kahns kick without any difficulty, a faded golden after image of essence was left in his wake and trailed back to it's source. The essence dissipated like a cloud of steam as Kahn's kick swung through it. As the Punch came toward Dal, he again stepped in and under this punch, the essence again trailing his movements like a serpent of golden fire.

Again he was lunging for Kahn from below, this time he made sure to catch her eye and offered a venomous grin. The index finger on his hand nearest Kahn pointed at the Location he had hit previously. A silent, but potent affront to Kahns state of mind - and so Dals campaign to make Kahn lose her cool continued.

Before Kahns arm could retract he coiled his outside and over the top of her arm to try and prevent it from attacking or defending. His other arm hooked wide and wrapped around the back of Kahns head and pulled her down. He then recoiled and with a pull on her arm he unleashed a bone crushing knee attack against the same place on her torso he had struck before.*


{Perfect dodge x2} (8 sxs Kick) (added 1 sxs from 2d stunt) +4 essence

[Ress]

Resplendent fire, 10

* For a moment, Kahn had flashbacks of never being able to land a blow on Walker in Darkness, but that quickly left her mind as ribbons of golden essence slipped through her fingers harmlessly.

Kahn's face contorted into an angrier sneer as she was mocked, then flinched as Dal advanced. Another predatory growl escaped her from the feinted attack, but she was ready when Dal struck with his knee. Wisps of blue and silver essence wafted around Kahn's own knee as she interposed it between her and his attack, the essence coalescing into the form of a tiger as they met.

Kahn reached out with both hands, aiming to grab Dal and hold him in place, not wanting to allow him the advantage of mobility*

(Perfect parry, Dodge DV:8, 9 suxx for Clinch attack)

[Dal'Lumen]

Resplendent Fire, 10




* A shot like a bolt of lighting went through Dal's bones; by Kahns furious growl he came to realized his own folly. He had allowed himself to fall into blind arrogance and could now see his smirking reflection in Kahns enraged eyes as she descended upon him.
There was something more behind this fight, hidden in the anticipation between blows. A profound truth, and an empty pain he could feel in Kahns anger.

He remembered her story on the airship about her capture, Exaltation, and humiliation at the hands of the Walker in Darkness. The truth, was that Kahn needed to prove herself for her own sake more than his pride needed bolstering. His eyes became pained with this realization, and there was only one option he had. She would never forgive him if he let her win, and she would not be driven to grow strong enough to gain her vengeance without constantly challenging her.

He would have to be strong so that she could find her own strength and confidence.

In a fraction of a heartbeat Kahn was upon him and his opening was paper thin.

Relinquishing his chance to dodge the attack, he opened his arms as if to embrace her, and when her hands fell upon him he brought one elbow down over her arm forcing it to release. Essence Exploded From Dal'Lumen clashing against the silver tiger, and from the blinding flash of light tree sized harms shot out from the ground at his feet and shattered the chains binding them into dazzling points of golden light that drifted away like snow on the wind.

Within the light Dal snatched Kahns hand with his and stepped behind Kahn, pulling her own arm firmly around her neck. He sank into a low stance and hooked his arm between Kahns legs and stood back up sending Kahn toppling over his shoulders face-down on ground and slid her between his legs, his other hand secured her free arm for a moment while he wrapped his leg around the outside of it and then hooked his foot over the shoulder making her arm stick up awkwardly behind her. His one free leg braced him against the ground seeking to prevent her from having the leverage to turn over to her side. He sat back slightly his butt against the back of her neck forcing her to be choked by her own arm.

As the light began to fade from the two divinely radiant beings Kahn would find herself trapped in Dal's incontestable embrace struggling against her own body just to breath.

Dal'Lumen silently hoped she would be able to find the strength to push herself and him to their limits and beyond.*



(23 Sxs counter clinch? -10m1wp compassion rolled) (2d Stunt 0sxs) +4 essence

[Ress]

Resplendent fire 10,

* Kahn's eyes widened in surprise as she was swung about, then held to the manse floor and constricted, as if by a great golden serpent. The skies darkened even more overhead, the sun burning red from behind the black mystical haze that the manse seemed to expel. The sounds of drumming became louder, and now accompanied by the sounds of staves being knocked against one another in rhythmic combat

Kahn thrashed a few moments, images of cold black chains being wrapped around her and at the same time, memories of an advanced city, sprawling around the manse of what would become Bezair.
In a single memory filled moment, Kahn's body grew rapidly into her towering tiger warform. Her huge muscles strained against Dal's grasp, attempting to tear herself free*

(21 dice clinch success {Please roll resisted})

[Dal'Lumen]

Resplendent Fire, 10




*Dal knew as he watched and felt Kahns body swell under him that he would not have the energy to restrain this beast, he had all but spent his essence, and what remained he felt inside him would not be enough to fuel an all out match of physical might with an enraged Lunar, he hoped that she had also tapped herself out struggling against him. He could feel that soon Kahn would also be down to fighting without the aid of essence but she would hold a key advantage over him if she maintained her Warform without essence to empower him.

He bared his teeth and bellowed out a desperate cry of effort, pushing his remaining essence into his muscles. Beams of light shot from his eyes and his blood veins throbbed and light flowed through them.

He struggled against the thrashing beast losing his grasp on her one appendage at a time. He lost his balance first and began fighting just to keep his weight on her back, her arm under his leg wrenched itself free and then he lost the arm he had forced around her neck.

Dal let out another shout as he was bucked wildly by the tigress and he attempted to at the very least avoid letting her dominate the pin completely. Holding on to the monster growing under him was beyond his empathic understanding for Kahns need to win and had become a matter of survival, guts, and grit!*

"This should be interesting!"

*He shouted as his grip on Kahn at last failed.*

( +3 STR 16sxs Clinch)

[Ress]

Resplendent fire, 10

* Taking the advantage, Kahn swung her right arm back, knocking Dal off her and in the same motion, grabbing him around the waist in her massive hand and holding him over her head*

" End of the line, Dal'Lumen!... I would love to see you get out of this!"

* The duality of Kahn's voice was uncanny, as if the woman inside the towering monster was speaking right along with it.
As Kahn held him over her head, the sounds of ghostly astral voices wafted through the area of the Manse, singing strange and unnerving words in what may be a language long lost to time.

The air shifted around them as the sides of the manse rumbled and shifted, moving outward and upwards, providing seats for spectators, but in the dim twilight of the manse area, it was almost imposable to tell who all sat up there.

Kahn Hoisted Dal up with both hands, then with a flash of blue and silver light, tossed Dal sixty feet into the air and off the side of the manse... but soon as Kahn let go, the world around Dal began slipping away into a bright golden light, until there was nothing at all.



Gravity quickly dissipated into nothingness, only to be replaced by the solidity of sitting on a slightly cool surface. From a single focal point n the distance, a ray of golden light erupted, solidifying the absence around him into the spectral image of what the ancient city of Rathess once was... and right before him, Cho-Hi-Xo stood, smiling slightly, his arms folded over his chest*

" what happened out there?... trying to out muscle a Lunar?... especially that one?... You are brave, an that is in your favor...Oh! and do not worry... you are not in danger of falling.... this is happening in fractions of seconds in your head."

* he snickered, then sighed, his gaze fading outward into the distance*
" I remember the first time I entered this same fight... the drums... the light... losing horribly..."