[Round 5] ??? vs. Saphen

Description: Do you see the picture above? That's right, it's the picture perfect image of where each match will be taking place, right smack down in the center of a zen garden. For those who don't know, let wikipedia give its description of one:

Quote: Wrote:

> The Japanese rock gardens (枯山水, karesansui?) or "dry landscape" gardens, often called "Zen gardens" were influenced mainly by Zen Buddhism and can be found at Zen temples of meditation. > > Japanese gardens are a living work of art in which the plants and trees are ever changing with the seasons. As they grow and mature, they are constantly sculpted to maintain and enhance the overall experience; hence, a Japanese garden is never the same and never really finished. The underlying structure of a Japanese garden is determined by the architecture; that is, the framework of enduring elements such as buildings, verandas and terraces, paths, tsukiyama (artificial hills), and stone compositions. Over time, it is only as good as the careful maintenance that it receives by those skilled in the art of training and pruning. Part of the art is to keep the garden almost static, like a painting.

If you're wondering what the other side look like, it's this picture, without the guy obviously:

Pebbled ground, a few rocks and bark sticking out, and a dab of green vegetation, this terrain is the perfect essence of aesthetic beauty. Now it's up to the fighters to make use of this beauty by bringing their own performing arts, aka THE FIGHTING.

This time around, it's going to be somewhat like last round, in that you will have spectators watching very closely since the size of the ring is going to be small. However, the volume will be a lot less due to the peaceful atmosphere and the more casual visitors (as only the wealthy can afford to watch at such a place and lucky tourists). This does not mean you won't get any of the usual cheers or boos. Think Tennis mixed with the roar of boxing in terms of the crowd. It'll be quiet one minute then get loud the next.

Field Measurements: The field is rectangular instead of the usual circular shape, so the size in feet is: 35 by 60. Though spacey, any one trying to run away won't be able to run for long. The walls surrounding the garden are fifteen feet high, with the audience surrounding the entire arena from a higher elevation.

Ten Count Boundary: Going outside the garden, mainly getting into the spectator stands or even standing on the top of the wall will begin the ten count. As usual, the flying rule is in effect as well.

From the crowd the lady would hear her song matched...note for note by a string instrument.

A few spectators who were close to the entrance parted as the bard began to enter the Zen garden. The bladed bow ran gently long the strings as the musician stepped foot into the artistic sand that created peace for all who looked upon its beauty...and Saphen was no exception.

The emotionless mask fixated on Sokoya and with that the music stopped for a second.

The bow crossed his chest and the bard bowed to the lady, a sign of respect, before he continued to play once more. Repeating her song over...and over...and over again as he awaited her action.

It was nothing short of surprising that Saphen had deciphered the notes so quickly but that was the last thought on any spectator's mind.

Blood...they always wanted blood these days. Saphen looked at one of the stones sitting next to him and stepped behind it.

Saphen held the lowest note of the song...playing it for what seemed like forever as he watched her.

The only motion that remained in the musician was his right arm....moving the bow back and forth...never ending...never wavering...

He was waiting...to see what kind of fight she wanted.

Ladies first...as the saying goes.

Legato: Tied Together "Let the Earth Tear you Asunder!"

Saphen had a disadvantage of not having knowledge of his opponent ahead of time, though he had heard stories from the DT about her.

While the bard had little belief in her concept of honor he respected her none the less. Honor was not about receiving, in reality, it was about giving and the musician knew just what this little lady wanted.

A fight...

The dull tune continued but it needed something...like spice to a meal something must be added to give it flavor.

Realizing that she wasn't going to make an action the bard thought it best to begin. The note continued with out dynamics, the tempo remained the same, never breaking and never doubting its ability to flourish forever.

Saphen's right foot remained behind the rock but his left stepped outward, making half of his lower body viewable but it was merely a distraction.

As he took the step, a flurry of thin stone shards launched off the stone behind Sokoya. The stone was low to the ground so the "needle" like pieces would fly upwards aiming for her thighs and torso area.

Saphen realized quickly that this one would not be a quick study, but how would he learn about her you ask? I shall tell you!

Each move she made, every reaction was studied and considered as the fight went on. Learning about her personality was also important, was she an angry person? psycho killer? school girl sweetheart? (Lack of plaid skirt says otherwise) What types of talents did she have? Melee fighter? Caster? Ability to make flaming snakes of doom from her DNA? (wait...only a crazy person would specialize in that!)

For now Saphen did not know anything about her...but she was about to learn more about.

She may or may not have realized that...in this arena...

His opponent might be a secretary but in a field of earth and plants Saphen was the mayor.

And it was about time to earn his re-election.

Legato: Tied Together "Let the Earth Tear you Asunder!"

No sound...thought the musician as some of the spikes did in fact hit home. This meant that she was either numb to pain...or worst yet...enjoyed it. There was no real way to tell how brutal she could be just yet and with that in mind he kept his distance.

The speed at which she moved also meant that she either favored or was well versed in physical agility. The dodge was well played despite the attack being from behind her, so the bard had to wonder what type of perception she had. Acute hearing? Elemental sense? Some strange bubble that protected her from incoming attacks (Bubble b..girl?)...there was no way to tell.

Strange music oozed forth from his instrument as he prepared to move his next chess piece.

Rook it isSaphen thought to himself as he prepared to move, his right foot seemed to drag for a moment before he dashed to a slightly larger rock on his right. This one was large enough to cover his entire body(5'5) but that would be the least of his opponent's worries.

This occurred right as the needles finished passing her and it was then that much larger assault would be launched.

A rather large stone spike (2 feet long, 1 ft wide) would launch out of her protective shield in an attempt to slam into her left shoulder (right where the arm meets the torso). The end of the spike was fairly dull and though it may pierce skin it would not remove the arm from the body, instead it was meant to break the bone. Disabling a physical fighter's weapons was vital to defeating them and since that is all Saphen had to go on for the time being it was important to do so.

Secondly, after it hit the stone slab would fall back to the earth harmlessly, protecting the spectators. If for some reason it did miss the angle at which it was launched would send it up into the air but its flight would be short and would land only a few feet in front of where it was launched. (Unless his opponent smacked it away, in which case the musician would have to physically ground it)

For a moment Saphen had his own personal spidey sense tingling, the song she sang...the lack of pain...the grin.

A twisted grin in fact...

Saphen had to wonder if she might remember...might remember when she lost her mind?

Legato: Tied Together "Let the Earth Tear you Asunder!"

The bard was growing increasingly concerned by her lack of sound.

Saphen had hoped she was a soprano...but it seemed that she wouldn't even pass for a tenor at this rate.

How unfortunate...

But there was little time to preach when the choir was preparing to do it for him.

The sand stirred beneath Saphen...uncalled from the musician's strings, the blank gaze that adorned Saphen's face turning slightly as if to look with his peripheral vision. Fear began to take hold of him but as it did something wondrous happened. Chemicals and electrical signals danced and chimed in his brain forcing him to react as he always did in these situations.

Evade...

A surge of magic flowed through Saphen's body, the white shard's motion seemed slower now...his body tightening and tensing. As each moment passed his weak and feeble body was more able to deal with the situation...more able to push forward. A quick flurry of notes spawned from what seemed to be a single pull of his bow...the pace quick and powerful even in the heat of the moment...

The adrenaline would be tempered...forged into energy...his mind left the earthly realm and focused on his newly gained physical prowess. The dormant energy that was hidden inside his body had released, allowing him to switch modes with out gathering energy...vital to his current need for survival.

Saphen dove to his right, the shard barely missing its mark but tearing into his left pant leg. The fabric fluttered apart as an object fell to the ground, staining the otherwise spotless sand as it came crashing down.

A liquid trailed down his leg but it was not his own, a rather large plant leaf rested on the tranquil sand...green liquid oozing from its wound.

Saphen rolled quickly to his feet, his right hand swiftly reaching into his dagger belt and in one brisk motion launching the blade at his opponent. There was no fear of his attack hurting a spectator since the wall was more than enough clearance for the attack to hit harmlessly against it...should it be evaded. The weapon was aimed for his opponent's left shoulder, an attempt to damage it further but there was no guarantee that it would hit at all. More importantly, the attack was meant to study what she would do while being on the offensive...would she withdraw? would her attacks become more powerful? anything was possible.

End over end the dagger spun and like Saphen it would keep moving until otherwise stopped. The bard continued to jog swiftly in a counter clockwise motion around the arena's edge. The bow dancing along the strings with out faltering even while he ran.

What to do...what to do?

The lady had indeed forced him to switch modes but this did not mean he would switch his combat style. Oh no! Saphen had learned something quite interesting about his opponent that he had not known before...the white shard that wished to devour him was a new weapon to her arsenal.

How would she wield it? Allegro: Brisk or Rapid "My head is bloody, but unbowed."

Saphen slowed his running as soon as she rushed him, opting instead to square his stance in preparation for the assault. But he did not do so until she was closer, making sure she commited to her chase before turning to face her.

If there was anything that the bard prided himself on in his physical form it was his agility...and he would need all the speed he could get for this one.

The bard's right foot lead his left in a typical fencer's stance (rapier/dagger- Capoferro style) but there was a difference. Until she got closer the top half of his body was positioned to play his violin, the left hand gripping the violin but it was loosely under his chin. The right hand would slide the bow back and forth until she closed the distance, quickly moving the bladed item in front of him for defense, the violin arm moving lower to defend his midsection.

Right as her right arm prepared for her sweeping strike the bard would not wait any longer. Muscles tensed in Saphen's body as his invisible face stared blankly at the woman, showing little of the storm to come.

The musician would lunge forward, his body naturally lowering as his right foot lead, bending at the knee, his body extending outward to catch her in the gut.

Saphen's bow was fitted to be similar to a rapier, its 4 ft. length would give him a reach advantage. The tip, like a rapier, was used for thrusting and this strike was a classic example of that. The sturdy metal tore the air asunder, begging for nothing else but to rest soundly in her stomach.

The left hand would twirl the violin as he lunged, the instrument being held so that its bulk would be above his left hand, ready to parry or defend should it be called to do so.

"Ha!" he grunted softly as his right arm straightened to finish the blow but what would he do next?

Withdraw? pushing off his right foot to return to a balanced position?

Evade? darting left or right to avoid an incoming hit?

Strike? seeking to carve into her body?

It would all depend on how she reacted. It was for this reason that Saphen did not push his lunge deeper, he needed to be able to react. The bard could have stretched his left leg further, in order to obtain a longer strike but with her rushing him it was not necessary.

Thousands of thoughts calculated through his adrenaline laced mind, each lightning bolt sending information to his body in order to prepare himself for her counter.

Something in the back of his mind...however...reminded him that her attacks could come from anywhere.

Bad to the bone indeed...

Allegro: Brisk or Rapid "My head is bloody, but unbowed."

The blade was satisfied as it bore into her body, screeching with joy until suddenly it went silent. The bone wrapping around the hardened metal effectively stopped its assault on her body...dead in its tracks.

Saphen's masked face lifted, the wheels in his mind turning as he quickly chose one of his pre-planned escape routes. Bishop...

Before he could employ his plan though there was a much greater issue at hand...which ironically was her hand.

Luckily Saphen had considered her course of action as a possibility before he began his lunge. This meant that he had prepared a counter...but with her particular method of attack and defense it had to be tweaked slightly. It was not unusual for a fighter to use one of their limbs to purposefully lock a weapon in order to deal a mighty blow...

But the bard had no plans for a finale just yet.

As the bow was pulled away, he released it, his left foot stepping out at an angle with ease (since his lunge was not a full one) allowing him to shift his weight off his right foot. The foot was placed forward and to his left but that was not all!

While this was happening his violin hand lifted quickly, swiftly striking her attacking forearm, the metal reinforced waist pushing against it at the same time his left foot stepped out. Using the power of the strike to neutralize the motion of her arm as she passed him.

This meant that he was side stepping her assault, his right foot quickly lifting as the left one pushed hard on the ground. His body spinning slightly and flattening out as she passed by him.

As soon as she would pass Saphen's right hand would quickly reach for a dagger, lifting it over his left shoulder and flinging it into her back. The blade would only make on revolution before digging into her body...which he had to account for as he launched the weapon. *TAKES YOUR QUEEN!*

He made sure that it was angled slightly, so that if she managed to dodge it somehow, it would end up hitting the ground rather than the spectators. If successful the weapon would bore into the middle of her back, though depending on her speed it might hit lower. However, it would not hit directly in the center of the spine either, it was aimed slightly to the right and this was not with out reasoning.

Knowing that her weapon of choice was her bones it wasn't beyond the realm of possibility for her spinal cord to be extremely dense. Saphen figured that instead of attempting to strike someone's weapon it was better to aim for a more fleshy places.

The bard took a deep and strained breath after the ordeal, his left arm straining slightly after striking back against her attack. None the less the instrument spun quickly in his left hand, his right hand quickly strumming some music in order to keep his power flowing. Saphen had to prevent himself from being pinned down...last time that cost him the match and though this battle was only for fun...it was a very real test...

One he did not plan to fail...

Allegro: Brisk or Rapid "My head is bloody, but unbowed."

As his violin twirled, the agility of his opponent would lay waste to his plans for an encore.

The calcium enhanced weapon flew towards the bard, to which the bard could only reply mentally...

HOLY COW!

Turning his body sideways (his right leading) he managed to avoid death but not damage. Despite the aim being off the attack was swift and relentless...the blade alluding to such as it carved into his leather armor (slightly above his belly button) leaving a long but shallow cut along his stomach.

Not one to deviate from his usual persona he gasped in pain but made no mention of it. As the weapon cut into him he forced himself to watch his opponent...who was now leaping at him.

This one can use her bones to bind me...it would be foolish of me to try and grapple with her.

Diving directly forward the bard would take a roll of his own, gritting his teeth in pain as the wound to his stomach was compressed by the roll. As his body righted his right hand would reveal two daggers in his grip. One after the other they were launched, the first aimed where he thought she would land...the second adjusting to that shot in an attempt to hit her again as she continued to move forward. This was also intended to slow down another advance, she would either have to take both blades to push forward...or dodge them and buy him some time.

Staggering to his feet the musician began to realize just how dangerous his situation was.

This is bad...I need to land a more critical blow...but she isn't concerned with pain...how do I deal with this?

As the bard considered his options as he began to catch his second wind, chemicals in his body were allowing him to fight through the strain in his arm...the cut on his stomach.

Back pedaling, Saphen discovered a mid size rock protruding from the tranquil floor. Taking only a second to look at it with a sideways glance he grinned. This could work...a change of genre maybe? Allegro: Brisk or Rapid "My head is bloody, but unbowed."