[Round 2] Fierach vs. Sigil Warden

Description: Each fighter will receive an unmarked package delivered to them either through standard postage or through courier late in the evening. Inside is a standard GPS device with a location preloaded. Those savvy with the local area will notice the indication located is a seedy part of Barton town. Known for it's projects, slums, and red light districts. Common establishments include brothels, clubs, greasy diners, tiny apartments, and pawn shops.

It'll be night time before anyone will be able to reach the indicated location. It appears awfully run down, with decaying buildings covered with graffiti and trash laying about. The complete lack of official personal or equipment might make one wonder if this was a set up, at least until their opponent arrives. A few low lifes linger around, with mixed reactions as the fights commence. Some will drunkenly cheer random fighters on, while others might threaten to call the cops. More still will opt to just ignore whats going on, as if it was just another day in the life. If one is observant, they might notice a particular silvery haired girl sitting near the entrance to a nightclub with a friend, both of whom seem to be paying close attention.

Sure hope you all can recognize each other!

Field Measurements: Roughly 40 foot square paved lot. This does overflow to some degree

Ten Count Boundary: Stepping into the street or any of the adjacent businesses will start the ten count. This, however, may be worth it due to the items listed below.

Bonus: Due to not being properly cleared before the matches, there are all sorts of impromptu items littering around. 2x4s with nails, broken bottles and shards of glass, lengths of metal piping all are options for the opportunist fighter. Who knows what else the nearby dumpster might hold. On top of that, an enterprising fighter might opt to risk the 10 count to grab a weapon from one of the nearby businesses. Chairs, pool cues, and even knives are options from the various places nearby...if they can get in and out again in time.

"What a dump"

The daemonslayer preferred cleaner, brighter venues, even if he looked like he belonged there. With his sharp specs, stylish custom combat jacket, and cool trends, he might've just been another bystander.

Infact, Aetyra might've thought he was exactly that as he pushed his way out of the crowd. He strode over, stopping a few meters away with a grim look on his face, lips slightly curled upwards in a snarl.

"Death knight", he greeted her, recognizing her for what she was, his tone curt, and aggressive. The daemonslayer looked down upon such beings, their very existence a bastardization of life. While some death knights used their powers for good, more often most were threats to the innocent and the helpless, sadistic, power-thirsty souls who yearned to wreck havoc and destruction.

The bodies he passed by in the alleys served little to bolster his opinion of her as well, even if the rumor was that they tried to jump her.

If the night elf could sense the powers of others, she would be able to feel that this was indeed her opponent. James radiated power, his spiritual energy obvious, flowing off his form, mixed with the underlying rage and hate.

Quote: Wrote:

> Path of Dou: Basic Ideal: Dou is the opposite of Sei. Where Sei relies on the user to maintain a calm, cool and collected mindset, feeling empathy for and reading one's opponent like a book, Dou is the aspect of rage, allowing emotion, usually anger, or hatred to power one's fighting ability to greater heights. When entering Dou mode, James gains a small passive bonus to his strength, speed, and power, and has his warrior instincts sharpened, and gains access to his Dou techniques and his passive fist technique, Hellish Shock Fist.

Energy Meter: -1 Dou Activation 2/15

"Ladies first" he replied as she dashed in for battle.

James leapt back away from the blow, light on his feet, pulling up his gloved hands to ward off any follow-up blows. As much as the death knight just... being there disgusted him, he did not let the Path of Rage consume him yet. The arcane magicks he sensed coming from her were dangerous, and he preferred to be cautious, looking for openings.

You simply did not just rush the matter. There would be time for the blood fury, but not now. Besides, to her, he had every right to be cautious. After all, in comparison to the beautiful, well-armed and armored elf, James seemed to possess nothing but his fists and the clothes on his back, no weapons overtly displayed on his person.

Energy Meter: Path of Dou +1 Passive Gain 3/15

James would give her another inch, giving ground before her onslaught, staying just out of reach of those axe swings with another large jump back

"Come on" he goaded her. If the daemonslayer was aware that he was coming up against a wall and soon would have nowhere to back up to, he showed no sign of it. Or perhaps he did know, and proceeded to taunt his opponent anyway.

James brought his right hand up to his face as he landed in a stance, palm in, his thumb flicking his nose.

"Hit me" he dared her.

How much that must've raked her pride, to be egged on by a cowardly lion.

Energy Meter: Path of Dou +1 Passive Gain 4/15

A spark ignited in the palm of his right hand, and James unleashed his counter-attack.

James swept his right hand forward in an arc, throwing out one of his most recognizable techniques, and the name, "Orochi Naga", was naught but a whisper washed away in the roar of his flames as the death knight found herself advancing into the teeth of a wall of fire.

Being an undead construct of supernatural origin, she'd find the fire particularly damaging, even if the exposure was relatively short. Scorching was likely going to be a pressing concern, but the most immediate trouble was that the wave of flame itself possessed enough physical force to throw her back despite her size and strength, and her axes would never reach their intended targets as James took the more direct route.

Quote: Wrote:

> All of James's flames have a influencing factor, that is anathema and effective against beings of supernatural origin, particularly evil and corrupt ones such as vampires, demons, and undead, but also includes golems, angels, werewolves and the like.

Quote: Wrote:

> Serpent Wave: James’s signature ki technique. Energy is focused around one hand, and is projected forth in a massive, sweeping short-ranged wave of flame. James does not require a specific state of mind to use this, so ingrained into his basic arts it is. James is able to use this technique in mid-air, and the force behind it allows him to dramatically slow his fall back to earth, or change his direction. Being struck by Serpent Wave is like being hit by a wall. Effective distance of 6 meters. Costs 3 energy.

If the short-ranged attack connected, James would use the moment afforded to him to unzip the front of his jacket, and remove a long, dark baton from within, the telescopic spear extending out infront of him in his left hand to its full five-feet length.

Energy Meter: Path of Dou -3 Serpent Wave 1/15

Where it not for his sixth sense, James might've been caught completely off guard by the force-field.

Quote: Wrote:

> Daemon Hunter: James is a veteran daemon and monster hunter. His sense of instinct is incredibly developed, and it is by this supernatural aspect of his sixth sense that allows him to track and detect the truly cruel and maleficent, as well as sense the “aura“ or spiritual energy of others in general nearby. Barring that, he is very knowledgeable about supernatural creatures as a whole. As for physical capabilities, James possesses superhuman stamina, and is generally considered to be at peak human physical capability in his normal state. These are traits that were acquired by constant training and battle, and James conditioned to take and withstand blows that could cripple an ordinary human. James is right-handed, but has trained to be ambidextrous.

As it was, he sensed the flare of power, and figuring that his opponent had some kinda ace up her sleeve, as the death knight burst through his attack, James forwent pulling out his spear, took a step back, affording him the space to simply slam both hands and arms down and out onto the tops of the incoming axes, knocking them to his sides. The dark energy and metal blades caressed and clashed against the reinforced armor on his gloves and just scraped by him, cutting a gash through his combat jacket on both sides.

Truth be told, James preferred extreme close-quarters anyway, and it was good of her to reveal her defensive ability so early.

He whipped his hands back in to smash both sides of her face. smushing that demonic grin and turning it into something sillier, and pull her in, pulling her head down, down, as he pushed off his back leg to greet her head with a jumping knee.

Energy Meter: Path of Dou +1 Passive Gain 2/15

James grew irritated as his hands met an invisible shield. So her barrier was still up? And she could move and fight freely with it?

Annoying, the daemonslayer decided, and switched tactics instantly. James was well-used to facing opponents who could not be easily defeated, or at all defeated by force of arms. A quick mind was needed for victory as well.

He would deny her the ability to lock up his arms by stepping even further into her, where the night elf's larger frame, and choice of weaponry would prove detrimental.

And by stepping in, he actually meant he would slam into her with extreme prejudice.

Quote: Wrote:

> Tiger Step: Hellish Shock Fist technique applied to James's footwork. This enables James to dash suddenly in any one direction with a mighty burst of speed, as well as cast Hellish Shock Fist strikes from his feet as well as his hands. Dashing cannot be used in the air, and Armor Shock cannot be performed with kicks.

The very ground beneath his feet seemed to explode as he performed the maneuver, twisting his left side in, elbow first. No barrier was going to stop 180+ pounds of flesh, metal and bone, concentrated into a single point, his left elbow, the sheer force of the strike would carry the death knight with James.

The blow would also naturally torque the martial artist's right side back, a fist balling up. Regardless as to what the death knight might've thought, the brief brush with "Death" hardly weakened his right hand at all.

Once mauled, nearly destroyed, never again. If she was open after the elbow, James would strike her with a savage haymaker and send her flying, demonstrating that although smaller, he likely matched her in physical strength. He was clearly no ordinary human, much like her previous opponent.

Quote: Wrote:

> Right Arm of the Slayer: This is not so much equipment as it is part of him. James's right arm was badly injured in a battle with a dragon, defending a sacred Temple of Falis in Barton. Mutilated almost beyond recognition, and studded with pieces of the ancient gauntlet he once wore over that arm, it is a testament to the healing powers of the priests and priestesses of Falis, and a white mage named Seyumi Kaikou to have salvaged the arm so. James retains the same basic functionality with the arm that he had before it got injured, however, the inner flow of ki through the arm has been permanently disrupted, with massive consequences to his life and battle style. The Right Arm of the Slayer, as James calls it, is physically tougher then his left arm, and is less susceptible to pain, and is also slightly stronger. A normal distinguishing feature are the white, purified bandages that James has wound tightly around the arm to help control and keep the unstable ki in that part of his body in check, as well as stave off the frequent pain there.

Energy Meter Path of Dou -1 Energy Tiger Step 1/15

Oh he was coming with her alright. The excess speed and momentum from his Tiger Step had yet to bleed off completely, even with the powerful one-two combination, and he kept right on-top of her.

There were deep marks on his face where she tried to grab at him during the exchange, her gauntleted fingers drawing blood, even through the brunt of the attack was taken by his other fist, his arm having been bent back toward his face to perform the elbow to begin with.

Still, what she did reach was beginning to hurt alot, but the daemonslayer was not about to slow down now to a flesh wound as he would deliver a barrage of brutal strikes.

Almost instantaneously after his haymaker landed, James carried himself through the motions, not a moment's pause as he stepped forward with a jaw-breaking left hook to the face, followed by stepping in to deliver a right uppercut to the area he had just struck with the haymaker. The uppercut would draw back only slightly after impact, and the martial artist orientating it up into a rising elbow to her jaw, only to have the both fists with fingers interlocked snap back down in a devastating hammerblow from top left to right and knock the death knight to the ground.

Quote: Wrote:

> (Dou) Eruption Flow: Entry Level Dou Combination: Eruption Flow is the general term for most attack combinations done while under the influence of Dou. Assaults made are characterized by being overwhelmingly violent, fast, brutal, and bloody, like a volcano erupting from slumber.

Quote: Wrote:

> (Dou) Hellish Shock Fist: Basic Dou Technique: An important aspect of James's special fire-laced melee strikes is the fact that he produces a highly focused blast of fire from his fists with every strike. Such an effect can injure, blind, and stun his opponent with a shockwave of force in addition to extreme burns. Comparable to the force produced by one of his solid punches, using this technique, James can increase his overall striking range, and his offensive capabilities. Hellish Shock Fist is accompanied by three sub-techniques. Armor Shock, Banishing Fist, and Tiger Step. Up to three Hellish Shock Fist or Molten Iron Fist strikes or their respective foot techniques can be performed within the cost of one charge, taking from James's regular energy meter.

Quote: Wrote:

> Banishing Fist: While in Dou form, James's flame attacks deal more damage to supernatural creatures.

James was well-known for his explosive combinations, and this one was no exception. Each strike, barring the elbow carried a concentrated blast of sacred flame that further extended his striking range, and power. With every hit, the death knight would literally be struck twice, first by the impact of the fist itself, and then by the concussive and instant follow-up explosion of flame. That he did not seem to hurt himself with the blasts only served to highlight how tough he actually was. Aetyra might've felt ilke she was a pinball by the way the attacks were going to knock her about.

She was going to have to get used to it.

Energy Meter Path of Dou -1 Hellish Shock Fist 0/15

Grabbing at James some more was a mistake, one that she would not likely stay concious long enough to regret. All that effort wasted as James simply tucked his head down. If Aetyra wanted to scratch his face off again she probably could, but not before the daemonslayer took a chunk out of her with his own attacks as he powered through, the simple act of twisting in from side to side to throw his combination was more then violent and fast enough to break a comparatively weak, one-handed grab. James's left hand was uninjured against the spiky pauldron thanks to the armored gloves that were iconic to him, and altough she managed to nullify the brunt of that strike, she would not be so lucky elsewhere.

The horn of her remaining axe would draw blood, scraping up and tearing through the sleeve of his left arm as he pulled it back from striking and twisted his right side in for the explosive uppercut, which would now be unhindered. The scratches and wounds he had sustained so far were merely minor, and only served to heighten James's state of aggression, and no quarter was given. The death knight might've had superior reach, and the power of her runic and unholy magicks, but James 's martial style, training, and natural aggression gave him the edge in point-blank.

Energy Meter Path of Dou +1 Passive Gain 1/15

In reality, James wasn't going to press his advantage. Although he seemed to be the clear victor in this exchange, it had taken him most of his reserves just to punch through her guard and shielding and viciously wound her, testament to the death knight's own formidable abilities.

So he needed to take a moment to build his strength back, but clearly Aetyra had other plans. It was hard not to sense the arcane magic explode from beneath him, even as the chains did erupt, James, already tipped off by his supernatural senses and instinct, was darting backward in an effort to escape from the trap, fists flying to strike and ward the chains away.

Despite this valiant effort, two of James's limbs would be ensnared, his right hand and his right foot, as the daemonslayer found himself tugging in vain on the icy chains. Already he could feel the ice freezing through his pants, and although the process would take a little longer for his hand, thanks to the master-crafted nature of the gloves he wore, if he didn't break free, the end would be just the same.

James grit his teeth, a macabre gesture given the pulsing pain in his face, but all that pain did was help focus his rage. The death knight would not be able to see his eyes through the shades he wore, but she might've felt the anger in them nontheless.

From within his jacket, the daemonslayer retreived a curious, foot-long and large black baton with his left hand.

Energy Meter Path of Dou +1 Passive Gain 2/15

As yet another chain latched onto his hand, James took a deep breathe, relaxing his body for one moment, and then suddenly...

"RAHHHHHHHHH!!!"

With one mighty warcry, James flexed all of his muscles and pulled hard, while simultaneously bringing down the baton on the chains. Pressing a button while he did so caused the baton to erupt into its true form, a deadly, five-foot long spear, tipped on both sides, and added additional force to the downward strike. The combination would split and shatter the chains of ice that bound him, and James whipped about to face Aetyra, his gaze terrible with fury.

It was the first time he felt truly cold in a long time, the unnatural chill affected a being like him rather differently then it would other humans. He bore it stoically, focusing on controlling himself, honing the rage and mastering himself, and while the death knight's back was turned, and she nearly reached her weapon, James hefted the spear and threw it at her with venomous force.

If all went well, she'd be impaled by it dead center as she whirled around to face the daemonslayer.

Quote: Wrote:

> Telescopic Composite Spear: The Composite Spear James possesses is nothing more then a large, and highly modified pair of extendable batons, end to end. Around 12 inches long with fully retracted, the Composite Spear reaches five feet when fully extended via a button, and is tipped on both sides by a one-inch long titanium spike, Portions of the spear's composite ceramic and metal "shaft" is grooved for better grip and aerodynamics, allowing the spear to be thrown with a fair amount of accuracy. Like all of James's weapons, it has been imbued to resist extreme heat, and is quite sturdy.

Energy Meter Path of Dou +1 Passive Gain 3/15

Even the dead themselves could have heard that tremendous yell. In the close space between these decrepit buildings, the sound echoed harshly, then was quickly joined by the crash of snapping chains.

"He can't have seriously just..." Aetyra's fingers closed around the grip of Troggbane, and she spun around to face her opponent in time to see a spear wind back and come hurtling at her through the air. Behind the demonhunter, the pit of chains flailed like some great tentacled beast, snapped chains retreating back into the ground.

She lunged forward at him, making no attempt to dodge. Center of mass was what James wanted, and he would get it. The titanium-tipped spear struck her straight in the breastplate, and the report of the collision was like a gunshot. Titanium pit its strength against saronite at a single point, and shattered, shards of it spraying across her bust and abs, each splinter carving a ragged laceration as it went. The armor did not escape unscathed, either. Where the spearpoint had struck near the sternum, visible cracks glowed with bluish light.

It had served it's purpose, however. By nature, it absorbed the force of blows without transferring them to the wearer, and so the now defanged haft of the spear clattered to the side as she sped onward like a locomotive, heedless of the impact. Blood streamed from at least a half-dozen shallow cuts, and violet fury screamed from her hateful eyes.

As if sensing their master's rage, the remaining mass of chains once again surged from behind to ensnare the subject of her fury, seeking both his arms to crucify him for her terrible judgement.

Both axes reared up at their full length as she neared, and then came crashing down towards James' shoulders in a simultaneous strike, to cleave the joints in half and sever both arms from his body. Disease and death came to her aid as runes bathed both Troggbane and Havoc's Call in a sickly glow. On James' right, Troggbane glowed scarlet, hungry for the blood of the living. On his left, Havoc's Call festered with an aura of disease that stank to the heavens, promising sepsis of the worst sort, as if the threat of losing a limb was not enough.

She no longer saw an opponent, but a dead man.

OOC Notes:

Both Blood Strike...

Quote: Wrote:

> Blood Strike: Aetyra infuses a runeaxe with the raw physical power of blood. A solid strike that bites into the flesh, made by her axe, is amplified to a more grievous level, inflicting damage as if it had been struck by someone 1.5 times her strength. A successful Blood Strike also infects the victim with Scarlet Fever. Blood Strike's power lasts only during the turn which it is cast. Generates 5 Runic Power. Cost: 1 Blood Rune.

...and Plague Strike are attacking:

Quote: Wrote:

> Plague Strike: Aetyra infuses a runeaxe with a sickening plague. A solid strike that bites into the flesh, made by her axe, causes a bleeding wound that refuses to close. A successful Plague Strike also infects the victim with Blood Plague. Plague Strike's power lasts only during the turn which it is cast. Generates 5 Runic Power. Cost: 1 Unholy Rune.

Since Frost Fever is active, if either hit, it will advance to:

Quote: Wrote:

> Frost Fever: > Advanced: The target is seized by uncontrollable shaking, and begins to rapidly lose body heat. This effect does not respond to heat of any kind.

Furthermore, he will be subject to Scarlet Fever if Blood Strike hits:

Quote: Wrote:

> Scarlet Fever: > Base: The target is affected by persistent, acute pain in their muscles and joints that does not respond to painkillers, natural or magical.

If Plague Strike also hits, he will be subject to Blood Plague:

Quote: Wrote:

> Blood Plague: > Base: The target is affected by an intense itching on their palms, the soles of their feet, and inside their nose, ears, and eyes that, while ignorable with concentrated effort of will, is tremendously distracting and not satisfied by scratching them.

...and Scarlet Fever will advance. If the reverse is true, and Plague Strike hits first, Blood Plague advances. For the sake of further brevity, I can PM the advanced forms of these diseases to you directly if they are needed. As per the follow-up in the Help Desk, Chains of Ice has a turn remaining.

*This section remains unspoilered due to Fierach's request. This is a disclaimer to prevent negatives for lack of concise posting.*

*Statistics Block:*

Runes (Ready): U B FF Runes (Active): B, U Runes (On CD): None

Striking: Blood Strike! Plague Strike!

Diseases: Frost Fever - Active - Base - 1 turn

Active Effects: Chains of Ice - Active - 1 turn - Striking!

Runic Power: 5 (+5, -5[redacted], +0[5 wasted on off-hand], +5! net)

Fierach Wrote:

Having somewhat overstayed their welcome, the remaining icy chains fled back into the ground whence they had come, leaving only a shallow crater riddled with asphalt rubble and fissures. A scenic backdrop to the clash of titans, and certainly a memento of this struggle for years to come.

However, more immediate actions were taking center stage. Both combatants were rushing at each other, one blazing with hatred, and the other subsumed by the loathing of the living. The tension was strong enough to cut with a knife.

Emboldened by her opponent rushing to greet his doom, Aetyra raised her axes in preparation. And then, to her amazement, he threw away any advantage he might have had, for she was faster than he gave her credit for. The armor on her weighed a paltry eleven pounds, the benefit of a metal only a quarter the weight of an equivalent amount of steel. Between her long legs, elven grace, and lack of encumbrance, she was definitely catching the demonhunter with his pants down.

His first wasted action was hurling his goggles at her. It batted across her mouth, and bounced off somewhere, leaving little but a temporary stinging in its wake. And then he leapt up into the air with great agility, but oh how little that agility would avail him once airborne!

Troggbane eagerly met his groin at the apex of his jump, the runeaxe's massive head glowing with a roiling purplish miasma of energy. No amount of twisting would be able to worm its way out of this. A perfect blow, to cleave through the genitals and the bladder, progressing up into the intestines, stopping only when it struck the bone of the pelvis and base of the spine, fracturing it. It's horrific destruction would be aided by the energy coating the blade, as it seeped into flesh and bone, rotting it away in reams on contact.

Still, much like James would not be able to stop what had already been set in motion, neither could Aetyra. As she completed her swing, a punishing wall of fire roared down at her, singeing off much of her beautiful long eyebrows, and turning her light purple skin a deep mottled violet all across her face, neck, and bust. Pain lanced across a hundred nerves as the force of it tossed her back, dumping her unceremoniously on her ass several feet away.

A choking sound emanated from her throat, and she shuddered violently several times, as the holy flames burned not only her flesh but the very force keeping her together. A herculean effort tried to bring her upright again, but she could only manage to pull herself up to a kneeling position as the wound from before flared with painful spasms as well. Steely grips on her axes stayed her from screaming, though she would have liked to.

"Rot in hell." she spat.

Quote: Wrote:

> Festering Strike: Aetyra infuses a runeaxe with putrid decay. A solid strike that bites into the flesh, made by her axe, causes a festering, decaying wound that eats away at flesh and bone in the immediate area, weakening them. It also prolongs the effects of any active diseases the victim is afflicted with, causing them to last an additional turn beyond their normal duration. Festering Strike's power lasts only during the turn which it is cast. Generates 10 Runic Power. Cost: 1 Blood Rune, 1 Frost Rune.

*Statistics Block:*

Runes (Ready): UU BB F Runes (Active): B, F Runes (On CD): None

Striking: Festering Strike!

Diseases: Frost Fever - Fading

Runic Power: 10 (-5[redacted], -0[redacted], +10! net)

Fierach Wrote:

A wet crack resounded from Aetyra's chest as the hunter's boots crashed down onto it. Her saronite armor, already damaged, could no longer stop the full force of nearly 200 pounds dropping on her from above. One of her floating ribs snapped under the sudden pressure, and the fire in her eyes dimmed briefly as the injury brought no pain with it, but her expression showed that it had done something far worse: it had broken off a piece of that binding energy that made her defy death.

Runeaxes clattered to the ground as her body bucked in the throes of acute agony, and her arms instinctively withdrew to guard her face. There was no proper leverage she could assert to throw the man off of her, so she clenched her teeth as he slid down to straddle her at the chest, bracing herself for the first punch. She watched him through the gap between her forearms as he drew back for the first strike, and then she thrust her hands forward explosively from the elbow, and slammed them into James' abdomen, past his open jacket.

This, by itself, would have been of little consequence, but the vestigal power of her runes still flowed through her. Garish dark energy blossomed from her palms in an instant, carving through flesh like melting butter, consuming the entirety of the daemonhunter's abdominal cavity as it swelled to the size of a volleyball. Every organic, living tissue it consumed and rotted on contact, necrotizing into so much bloody, bubbling paste.

Even if he managed to stop her arms from making contact, or pulled away, the energy would not be stopped when it soared from her hands, firing to strike him there at 30 miles per hour.

Quote: Wrote:

> Death Coil: Summons a shadowy bolt of void energy about the size of a volleyball that is fired at the enemy. Upon contact it instantly necrotizes the flesh and causes immense pain. A successful hit also confers the effects of Blood Plague upon the victim. It tracks the enemy slightly but is incapable of sharp turns. The energy projectile flies at a speed of 30 mph, and has a range of 60 feet. Death Coil has a cooldown of 2 turns, after which it may be cast again. Cost: 10 Runic Power.

Quote: Wrote:

> Blood Plague: > Base: The target is affected by an intense itching on their palms, the soles of their feet, and inside their nose, ears, and eyes that, while ignorable with concentrated effort of will, is tremendously distracting and not satisfied by scratching them.

*Statistics Block:*

Runes (Ready): UU B F Runes (Active): None Runes (On CD): B - 2t, F - 2t

Striking: Death Coil!

Diseases: None

Runic Power: 0 (-10! net)

Fierach Wrote:

As James landed in front of her, a desire for returning his injurious attacks tenfold gave her the resolve to regain her feet. Her left arm thrust forward as she rose off her right foot, stabbing the horn and pike of green-glowing Troggbane towards the demonhunter's right knee.

This was only the beginning of her counter-assault, however. The knee-stab was more to force him to react and throw himself off balance instead of recovering properly, or else risk the sensation of a saronite can-opener on his kneecap. Forcing this spacing, she stepped out with her left foot long enough to regain a full standing posture, before bending her weight onto it and pushing off, torquing her body to the right as her right leg swept into an explosive spinning back kick, aimed into the man's solar plexus.

Her powerful legs added great power to this move, to say nothing of her armored boot, a bone-crunching hammer blow to the nerve cluster in the upper abdomen that would knock the wind from James' lungs and likely send him reeling into the crater left by the chains, gasping for air.

OOC Notes:

Initial Knee Strike:

Quote: Wrote:

> Plague Strike: Aetyra infuses a runeaxe with a sickening plague. A solid strike that bites into the flesh, made by her axe, causes a bleeding wound that refuses to close. A successful Plague Strike also infects the victim with Blood Plague. Plague Strike's power lasts only during the turn which it is cast. Generates 5 Runic Power. Cost: 1 Unholy Rune.

Quote: Wrote:

> Blood Plague: > Base: The target is affected by an intense itching on their palms, the soles of their feet, and inside their nose, ears, and eyes that, while ignorable with concentrated effort of will, is tremendously distracting and not satisfied by scratching them.

Spinning Back Kick Visual: SPIN KICK MASTERRRRRR

*Statistics Block:*

Runes (Ready): U B F Runes (Active): U Runes (On CD): B - 2t, F - 2t

Striking: Plague Strike! ---> Spin Kick!

Diseases: None

Runic Power: 15 (+5! net)

Fierach Wrote:

Reflex was faster than active thought, and the champion of death did not even bother to entertain the implications of agility so precise that the hunter of beasts could balance upon the armor-piercing spike of Troggbane's in mid-thrust. Still, she would not let her own body be the instrument of her demise. As James' weight pressed onto the head of the axe, her fingers opened and let the weapon fall from her grasp as she rose to standing.

The sudden loss of balancing surface would, by virtue of gravity, let the limb attempting to rebound off of it drop unexpectedly further than required. And those few inches would be crucial, for they would cause the flying knee to fall short of it's intended target, whiffing through air nearly a foot away from her jaw.

His inevitable recovery would send him practically tumbling to embrace her welcoming bosom. Aetyra was happy to indulge him. Though the spin-kick was now out of the question, the beginning of that motion allowed her to execute a swifter motion that required less wind-up. Her torso torqued to the right, with her left foot stepping in as she stabbed her armored left hand straight into his unguarded chest just below the sternum, the fingers aligned in an open palm to pierce into the flesh.

Yet, whether they connected or not, was of little concern to her, for a blackish green orb of rot sprang from her extended fingertips targeting the same area, zipping across those few inches separating her gauntlet from his chest in less than a hundreth of a second. Ignoring cloth, metal and bone, the energy feasted on flesh alone, and oh! what a banquet it had in store! Bypassing the lower ribs, it would gorge itself upon the prominent lungs, and, mauled by decay, they would collapse; the liver, the stomach, the diaphragm, their tissue necrotizing in acute, searing pain, damaged and inoperable.

Quote: Wrote:

> Death Coil: Summons a shadowy bolt of void energy about the size of a volleyball that is fired at the enemy. Upon contact it instantly necrotizes the flesh and causes immense pain. A successful hit also confers the effects of Blood Plague upon the victim. It tracks the enemy slightly but is incapable of sharp turns. The energy projectile flies at a speed of 30 mph, and has a range of 60 feet. Death Coil has a cooldown of 2 turns, after which it may be cast again. Cost: 10 Runic Power.

Quote: Wrote:

> Blood Plague: > Base: The target is affected by an intense itching on their palms, the soles of their feet, and inside their nose, ears, and eyes that, while ignorable with concentrated effort of will, is tremendously distracting and not satisfied by scratching them.

*Statistics Block:*

Runes (Ready): U B F Runes (Active): None Runes (On CD): U - 2t, B - 1t, F - 1t

Striking: Death Coil! (Armored Gauntlet!)

Diseases: None

Runic Power: 5 (-10! net)

Fierach Wrote:

A jarring impact to the right side of her face surprised the death knight, and it caused her to falter slightly, stepping back as the bone-rattling kick transferred it's energy into her upper maxilla and cheekbone. A visible bruise spread across her cheek, further aggravating burned and sensitive flesh. To a living being, it might easily have resulted in a concussion, but the spongy mass of her brain was stuck in suspended animation, capable of receiving brief signals but incapable of sending them, nor was that function any longer necessary to control her movements. No... the seat of that power lay elsewhere.

Aetyra was dimly aware of her adversary tumbling backward into the crater, and for the moment she was content to let him bruise his back and sprain his ankles on the chunks of asphalt strewn about in the wake of the chains. Wincing, she stooped to regain Troggbane, but instead of pressing the attack yet again, she slammed both of her axes into their harnesses at her hips as she turned to run away. The wheels in her head were turning as she decided to try a different tack.

A few long strides turned into a mild run, instead of a dead sprint, as her retreating form slightly favored her right, left hand clutching her abdomen as the burned flesh there lanced with new sensations of agony. Her target was the spear the daemonhunter had hurled at her, but as she neared, her gaze settled on something else further back, right near the edge of the lot. A loaded, metal dumpster, of the kind used by restaurants the world over to store their copious amounts of trash until collection day. It was a real monster of a thing, too, some six feet long and at least three in both width and depth, packed to the brim with trash.

Still, the spear had to go. Wary of its owner running after her and reclaiming his weapon, she grabbed it with her hand as she ran past, and, still running, hefted it loftily out of the impromptu arena. The maimed spear flew out over a nearby roof and disappeared on the far side, the only indication of it's fate a faint clattering of metal on concrete. The death knight pressed on towards the dumpster.

She skidded to a halt in front of it, whipping her gaze back over her shoulder to keep track of whatever devilry James was surely up to. This was going to require some serious elbow grease, and she couldn't have him breathing down her neck just yet.

*Statistics Block:*

Runes (Ready): U BB FF Runes (Active): None Runes (On CD): U - 1t

Striking: Nothing.

Diseases: None

Runic Power: 5 (+0! net)

Fierach Wrote:

That cannot be good... Aetyra thought to herself, as she saw the spark of fire alight in the daemonhunter's eyes, contrasting sharply against his features in the dim light of the nightime alley. Need to work fast...

She briefly considered simply hefting the entire dumpster, but though she didn't doubt she could lift it, throwing it would be a hell of a feat even uninjured. No, she had a better plan. Havoc's Call was pulled up into her grasp, and with a mighty strike, amplified by a rune of red, she sheared it into the joint of the metal where the front plate met the side, cleaving it along the solder to the bottom.

Shifting over to the other side, she repeated this on the other weld, and began working the now-partially separated sheet of metal back and forth, bending it at the bottom, trying to coax the metal into relinquishing it's last grasp on her prize.

*Statistics Block:*

Runes (Ready): UU FF Runes (Active): B,B Runes (On CD):

Striking: Blood Strike! x2 (harmless)

Diseases: None

Runic Power: 15 (+10! net)

Fierach Wrote:

With a satisfying snap, the 1/6th inch front panel came loose, sending several bags of trash tumbling out of the receptacle. Aetyra didn't mind the raw stench though, for she had what she wanted, and it brought a feral grin to her face.

Hefting the 6x3 steel panel to a vertical position, she turned the inside face outward, and slid her left arm upward into the now-horizontal pair of handles spaced across the former front.

Turning back towards her opponent, she brought her left arm down to level the length of her new tower shield with the ground, and began to not so much run as briskly jog forward, with Havoc's Call ready in her right hand, seeking to reclose the distance as swiftly as she could with the added weight of the shield and the ever-present pain in her side.

*Statistics Block:*

Runes (Ready): UU FF Runes (Active): None Runes (On CD): B - 2t, B - 2t

Striking: Nothing.

Diseases: None

Runic Power: 15 (+0! net)

Fierach Wrote:

The growing aura of power around James was reaching the point where it was not just visible, but faintly palpable in the air.

This, if anything, spurred the death knight forth, closing the remaining distance between them with great strides. As she neared those final steps to be within striking range, her left arm swept up to hold the shield before her, covering her body from the shin up. Then, with a powerful lunge, Aetyra threw her left side forward, the bottom of the shield bracing against her armored boot as she tilted her arm outward at the elbow and jammed the crudely serrated edge of it up, aiming it under James' jaw. Havoc's Call stayed in close on her right, ready to strike if her opponent found his way around the re-purposed dumpster panel.

Fire too, was something she had to be wary of. Even as her arm moved the shield, her grasp glowed white with magic, her icy touch supernaturally cooling the metal. While it would not really be enough to transfer the full freezing effect to the shield strike, it would be a valuable buffer against the searing heat that was likely to erupt in close proximity to her.

*Statistics Block:*

Runes (Ready): UU F Runes (Active): F Runes (On CD): B - 1t, B - 1t

Striking: Dumpster Shield! (Icy Touch!)

Diseases: None

Runic Power: 20 (+5! net)

Fierach Wrote:

"Do you fear death, hunter? The grave awaits!" Aetyra snarled, as James rebounded off her shield bash and retreated. The knight of Acherus sprang after him, rotating her shield arm to bring it perpendicular with her torso, covering her exposed abdomen and much of the rest of her chest.

Havoc's Call appeared from behind the shield briefly as a familiar ball of rot sprang from the head of the runeaxe to jet with stunning speed across the distance separating them, it's target, as before, the daemonhunter's abdomen. Perhaps this would give him pause long enough for her to catch him before he unleashed whatever horror he was summoning, and ram the entirety of her weight into him using the sheet metal much like the prow of a bulldozer.

Still, Aetyra was steeling herself for the possibility that James would unleash something dreadful, and readied herself to block it, or spring out of the way, as well as she could.

Quote: Wrote:

> Death Coil: Summons a shadowy bolt of void energy about the size of a volleyball that is fired at the enemy. Upon contact it instantly necrotizes the flesh and causes immense pain. A successful hit also confers the effects of Blood Plague upon the victim. It tracks the enemy slightly but is incapable of sharp turns. The energy projectile flies at a speed of 30 mph, and has a range of 60 feet. Death Coil has a cooldown of 2 turns, after which it may be cast again. Cost: 10 Runic Power.

Quote: Wrote:

> Blood Plague: > Base: The target is affected by an intense itching on their palms, the soles of their feet, and inside their nose, ears, and eyes that, while ignorable with concentrated effort of will, is tremendously distracting and not satisfied by scratching them.

*Statistics Block:*

Runes (Ready): UU BB F Runes (Active): None Runes (On CD): F - 2t

Striking: Death Coil! Dumpster Shield!

Diseases: None

Runic Power: 10 (-10! net)

Fierach Wrote:

If there was one thing Aetyra Irsidal truly valued, it was the application of overwhelming brute force to a target and utterly destroying it. The sight of such power brought joy to her heart, even though she was the sole focus of its wrath.

Seeing that she would not reach him in time to stop him, Aetyra rotated her arm up to cover her body, planting both feet as she tried to skid to a halt with the shield in front.

She anticipated a tremendous explosion, so by bending at the knees and lowering her center of gravity and thus her entire profile, she hoped to be able to weather whatever shockwave was coming, the top of the shield tilted away from the source much like a lean-to.

The death knight got her explosion alright, but not quite in the manner she had been expecting. With a tremendous report, the center of her shield warped inward, the entirety of that sixth inch thick steel panel bending into concavity, then, in a shower of white-hot steel droplets, the hunter's fist came tearing through the metal, wreathed in an explosive inferno. At the edges of the makeshift shield, anyone who could even maintain their gaze on it would have noticed the metal slagging away in great dollops of molten red metal, ripped off the dumpster panel by both heat and wind.

Though it had not struck dead center due to her own movements, the flexing of the panel itself would have easily snapped her forearm between the grips, were it not for the centimeter of saronite there that refused to yield against it. Still, the power of the punch would not be denied, and the Ebon Knight's armor rose to action, protecting itself and it's master from the follow-through of this devastating strike. The entirety of Aetyra's body blazed violet light, throwing up a runic barrier against the holocaust of flesh and flame.

It too, was not strong enough to entirely resist the punishing flames, and it held briefly as the explosion thundered across it, before disintegrating into indigo ash that was promptly consumed by hungry flames. Mercifully, it did spare her from the worst of it, and did one very important thing: absorb the kinetic force of the follow-up enough so that she could stand her ground. Nonetheless, the puissance of the strike rattled her to the core, the tail-end of searing flames dancing across her exposed flesh all across her torso, blistering it painfully.

But these would not stop her from acting in this moment of supreme resistance. Using her semi-crouched position, she dropped her center of mass further as the hunter's arm reached it's maximum extension through the hole in the metal, slipping her shield arm down out of its place to grasp only the lower handle of the panel. Her tower shield was no longer sound enough to be used for that purpose, but it was sufficient for something a tad more basic. With a great twist of her body, she used James' arm and momentum as a lever to lock him in place and throw him bodily over herself with the partially molten shield, slamming him into the rubble behind her, snapping the forearm and elbow of his striking arm on that metal fulcrum.

Releasing her grip on the now-uselessly bent metal sheet, she returned to standing shakily, her sight going in and out of focus from the touch of that holy fire. She stumbled a bit, and tried to steady herself, only managing enough to draw Troggbane back into her hand. Though she should have pressed the attack, Aetyra found she could not, wounds new and old giving her pause. It frustrated her to no end that the daemonhunter's magic had such a potent effect on her. Painful memories of her defeat at Light's Hope flooded through her mind, when the very earth itself had risen against her, burning her mercilessly. Had these been ordinary flames, she might have long since subdued the man, but now, all she could do was try and regain enough clarity to return herself to the fight.

*Statistics Block:*

Runes (Ready): UU BB F Runes (Active): None Runes (On CD): F - 1t

Striking: Shield Throw!

Diseases: None

Runic Power: 0 (-10! net)

Other: Armor Shield Activated! -> Destroyed!

Fierach Wrote:

James' voice cut through the haze and startled Aetyra out of her reverie. Her eyes locked onto his, and what she saw caused her skin to flush. His eyes burned with lust. Lust for violence, lust for blood, and lust for dominance. She knew that feeling all too well. A shiver ran down her spine, and she matched his smile, slowly stepping forward and sauntering towards him. Placing her feet before the other, her stride became a catwalk, hips swaying with a seductive gait, arms holding her runeaxes passively at her side. Leather creaked against metal as her thighs rubbed against each other, and her tongue snaked out to caress her lips.

Her voice, suddenly way calmer than it had any right to be, purred from her throat. "You've not seen fun, darling, 'til you've tasted everything I have to offer..."

Though battered, bloody, and burned, these traits only lent Aetyra's body that much more of a savage beauty as her eyes burned with desire, both to win the struggle in the ring... but also to dominate her adversary in another arena afterward.

Suddenly, she rushed at him, axes ready to swing. Her approach was direct, but quickly became a display of impressive acrobatics as she launched into a spinning attack, almost floating off the ground. Beginning with Havoc's Call swinging in her right, she twirled like a dervish as she unleashed three successive strikes at James' torso in a diagonal slash downward from left to right. Troggbane, being the second in this flurry, carried an extra present along with it, the blade engulfed with dark plague magic, followed by the third strike from Havoc's Call which brought with it the red glow of blooded fuel.

"Let's begin with an appetizer of disease!"

Quote: Wrote:

> Plague Strike: Aetyra infuses a runeaxe with a sickening plague. A solid strike that bites into the flesh, made by her axe, causes a bleeding wound that refuses to close. A successful Plague Strike also infects the victim with Blood Plague. Plague Strike's power lasts only during the turn which it is cast. Generates 5 Runic Power. Cost: 1 Unholy Rune.

Quote: Wrote:

> Blood Strike: Aetyra infuses a runeaxe with the raw physical power of blood. A solid strike that bites into the flesh, made by her axe, is amplified to a more grievous level, inflicting damage as if it had been struck by someone 1.5 times her strength. A successful Blood Strike also infects the victim with Scarlet Fever. Blood Strike's power lasts only during the turn which it is cast. Generates 5 Runic Power. Cost: 1 Blood Rune.

Quote: Wrote:

> Blood Plague: > Base: The target is affected by an intense itching on their palms, the soles of their feet, and inside their nose, ears, and eyes that, while ignorable with concentrated effort of will, is tremendously distracting and not satisfied by scratching them.

Quote: Wrote:

> Scarlet Fever: > Base: The target is affected by persistent, acute pain in their muscles and joints that does not respond to painkillers, natural or magical.

OOC Notes: Due to the way successive diseases work, PM me if you need the advanced form of Blood Plague. Unspoilered for ease of reading.

*Statistics Block:*

Runes (Ready): U B FF Runes (Active): U, B Runes (On CD): None

Striking: Plague Strike! Blood Strike!

Diseases: None

Runic Power: 10 (+5, +5, +10! net)

Other: Dumpster Shield - KOed!

Fierach Wrote:

Somewhat surprised by the fact that James had actually parried a strike, Aetyra tried to force her way through the two-handed block and found she could not. However, with the blade of Havoc's Call held there, perhaps she could get through in a different way.

The daemonhunter may have only been egging her on, but he had turned on a part of her psyche that didn't rest until it was ravishing the target of her lust in mindless abandon, preferably while causing them pain. Hell, the thought of causing James pain made her entire body ache with need. She moaned softly, even as she transitioned into another attack.

Keeping Havoc's Call locked and straining against the knife, it suddenly flared green and black, its deathly coil of energy running along James' left arm towards his shoulder, favoring a curved path along the inside nearer the torso, making dodging it all the more difficult. If he tried to withdraw, the axe would swiftly follow-through with the strike he had been blocking.

Meanwhile, Troggbane's runes lit up and she swept it downward at his outstretched right to the elbow, seeking to cut into it. The energy that engulfed it bled an aura similar to that of the death coil, but somehow, more concentrated.

Quote: Wrote:

> Death Coil: Summons a shadowy bolt of void energy about the size of a volleyball that is fired at the enemy. Upon contact it instantly necrotizes the flesh and causes immense pain. A successful hit also confers the effects of Blood Plague upon the victim. It tracks the enemy slightly but is incapable of sharp turns. The energy projectile flies at a speed of 30 mph, and has a range of 60 feet. Death Coil has a cooldown of 2 turns, after which it may be cast again. Cost: 10 Runic Power.

Quote: Wrote:

> Festering Strike: Aetyra infuses a runeaxe with putrid decay. A solid strike that bites into the flesh, made by her axe, causes a festering, decaying wound that eats away at flesh and bone in the immediate area, weakening them. It also prolongs the effects of any active diseases the victim is afflicted with, causing them to last an additional turn beyond their normal duration. Festering Strike's power lasts only during the turn which it is cast. Generates 10 Runic Power. Cost: 1 Blood Rune, 1 Frost Rune.

Quote: Wrote:

> Blood Plague: > Base: The target is affected by an intense itching on their palms, the soles of their feet, and inside their nose, ears, and eyes that, while ignorable with concentrated effort of will, is tremendously distracting and not satisfied by scratching them.

*Statistics Block:*

Runes (Ready): U F Runes (Active): B, F Runes (On CD): U - 2t, B - 2t

Striking: Death Coil! Festering Strike!

Diseases: None

Runic Power: 10 (-10, +10, +0! net)

Fierach Wrote:

Aetyra knew where this maneuver was going. After all, she'd been hit by nearly the same thing scarcely a minute prior.

Both axe strikes might have been deflected to the side, but James still had to step in to punch, still giving her the advantage of range. Her right foot rose up from the ground, lifting her knee up to chest height in a delightful show of flexibility, giving the man the briefest of a lewd view of herself, before she kicked out with it into the incoming hunter's gut. The sudden, explosive power of that kick would intercept James as he stepped in, hopefully throwing him back with the heel of her boot and maybe even breaking a lower rib or two.

Her arms recovered her runeaxes to her sides, as she stepped down into the follow-through to regain her balance.

"Did you honestly think I would fall for that?" she taunted.

*Statistics Block:*

Runes (Ready): U F Runes (Active): None Runes (On CD): B - 2t, F - 2t, U - 1t, B - 1t

Striking: Armored Boot!

Diseases: None

Runic Power: 10 (+0! net)

Fierach Wrote:

Tyra's response was a harsh, unearthly laugh, tinged with malice. Like the strobes of a nightclub, her armor flashed with power and light, runes playing across the various plate surfaces. The display was oddly appropriate for the setting. James' ki strike flashed across it with a sizzle, but the shimmering translucent barrier held.

The death knight brought her foot back down from the daemonhunter's loosened grip, being that the armor's shielding had repulsed his hand, and brought in the runeaxes from where they had extended to the side, her right crossing partially over her left as the jagged horn of either axe sailed in to strike at James' arms and, by extension, his torso. Both glowed with savage light, blades slavering for flesh. Though she had learned that it was impossible to entirely take the man by surprise, he was rather out of position, and she pressed her advantage, eager to taste his anguish.

"Your entrails will make a fine entree..." she breathed, panting with the growing fire in her very core, deep in the marrow of her bones.

OOC Notes: As always, PM for advanced diseases if needed.

Quote: Wrote:

> Icy Touch: Aetyra infuses a runeaxe or her hand with the icy power of Death. A solid strike that bites into the flesh, made by her axe, or a successful touch attack to the opponent's exposed flesh, also inflicts frostbite-like damage at the site of contact. The victim also contracts Frost Fever. Icy Touch's power lasts only during the turn which it is cast. Generates 5 Runic Power. Cost: 1 Frost Rune

Quote: Wrote:

> Plague Strike: Aetyra infuses a runeaxe with a sickening plague. A solid strike that bites into the flesh, made by her axe, causes a bleeding wound that refuses to close. A successful Plague Strike also infects the victim with Blood Plague. Plague Strike's power lasts only during the turn which it is cast. Generates 5 Runic Power. Cost: 1 Unholy Rune.

Quote: Wrote:

> Frost Fever: > Base: The target is affected by unnatural chills and is cold to the touch. This effect does not respond to heat of any kind.

Quote: Wrote:

> Blood Plague: > Base: The target is affected by an intense itching on their palms, the soles of their feet, and inside their nose, ears, and eyes that, while ignorable with concentrated effort of will, is tremendously distracting and not satisfied by scratching them.

*Statistics Block:*

Runes (Ready): U B Runes (Active): U, F Runes (On CD): B - 1t, F - 1t

Striking: Icy Touch! Plague Strike!

Diseases: None

Runic Power: 10 (-10, +5, +5, +0! net)

Other: Armor Shield - Active! - 2 turns

Fierach Wrote: