Duel:Beldur v Zendor

Duelists: Beldur vs. Zendor. 
Duel: Traditional 3 posts each, with final defense. 15 minute posting limit. 
Stakes: Autohit post. Counts towards advancement in the Warrior's Guild. 
Judges: Hildegarde & Jerralith

Snowless Training Yard

Zendor the warrior puts on his blue iron helmet and sizes up his opponent while drawing from his side, the metal capped cudgel. He gets a solid footing, testing his boots, and wastes no further time, rushing in a sprint towards his opponent being mindful of Beldur's sword's length. A moment before coming to meet him, he tosses his club straight up into the air, hoping to distract the honorable looking knight with some devious tactics, but not counting on it. He raises his left hand defensively and loses no speed from his running until he shoots his left leg in a strong "push kick". As planned the club falls right back into his hand and with this, he employs a forceful overhead smash, aiming for the nook where Beldur's neck meets his shoulder.

Beldur had just arrived to the training yard when Zendor charged. Taking the knight by surprise as he rose his shield. With a solid hit upon his shield, he stumbles a bit. He lunges his sword towards Zendor, aiming for his abs as he was able to raise his shield enough to block most of the secondary attack his opponent made. Causing the club to knock off the pauldron on his left shoulder. His sword, whether or not he made contact on his opponent, rose and lunged again the second lung aimed for the mans left shoulder.

Zendor realized he would have to use more force with his weapon to deal real damage through the armor, and find other ways to get by the shield. To deal with the initial thrust, he attempts to swivel his hips, being too close to evade it backing up, and too preoccupied to do anything else. In any case, the sword penetrates a ring of his chainmail, and lacerates the side of his stomach painfully. Unsure of how deep the wound is, or how it would affect his mobility, he decides not to test it yet. Against the second thrust, he "waxes on" using the mithril deflector on his left wrist to force the sword blade over his shoulder. Then he deftly maneuvers one of his legs between Beldur's and behind one of them and shoves him forcefully to trip him. If successful, he leaps into the air and tries to plunge both feet heavily onto Beldur's chest to wind him. However if Beldure remains sure-footed, he still jumps and simply aims to kick him in the head with one of his spiked shin-guards.

Beldur doesn't seem to notice the blood he drew on his opponent. Feeling the foot try to trip him and Zendor's hands push him at the same time, he was more than sure footed. His heavy armor helping to ensure he wasn't easily tripped. But it was successful enough to cause him to stumble a little before the knight lunged his sword. His eyes not noticing that Zendor had lept into the air till the shin-guard ripped the shield from his arm. The leather strap easily being torn off from Zendor's attack. To counter, his eyes turned empty. His attacks becoming blind but controled. His blade becoming sure and practiced if not fast and hard. Each strike trying to keep Zendor on the move to tire him out or to try and actually dish out a lot of damage from the blind rage.

Zendor sorely regretted his decision to actually test how deep his wound was, especially after landing. It was deep enough to keep him from moving with any great agility, and his foe was more than ready to capitalize it seemed. However, having lost his shield, Beldur seemed to become entirely focused on offense, relentlessly forcing his blade at Zendor. The club-wielder hunched slightly, apparently due to his earlier wound. But actually, Zendor knew where his most armored parts were, and since he couldn't dodge as effectively, he made use, and bode his time. One blow glanced off his hard helmet, sliding off and into his hefty pauldron. Zendor let go of his weapon, and seeing his opportunity just then: still hunched he kept his head lower than Beldur's, and thrust both hands behind his head, interlocking his fingers and ensaring his foe. Then with the combined might of his arms pulling down, his back strongly lifting, and his helmet unforgiving, he aimed the tip of his blue iron fitted piece towards the bottom of Beldur's chin, attempting to knock him out with one fierce headbutt.

Beldur ::The headbutt was successful. . . To a point. His head was brought down hard onto Zendor's helmed head. It caused him to be dizzy and stumbled more. Easily knocking him out of the bezerker's rage. It took a moment or two to be able to stand. His ruby studded pummel firm in his grip as he shakes his head, obviously trying to reorient himself. After what seemed like forever, he rose his sword up, holding it in both hands in an uneasy and unsteady stance. Perhaps still feeling the dizzying effects of that headbutt.

Zendor felt the affirmative, solid connection of his helmet, and pushed away from Beldur. Finding the cudgel-thing with his foot, he deftly slips his foot under it and flips it up, catching it easily in his hand. He takes a defensive stance with his left armored wrist in anticipation, though not yet ready to advance on him just yet, lest he exacerbate his wound. But upon noticing that Beldur won't instantly act, he lowers his hand to press against his wound to delay further blood loss.

Winner: Zendor

Zendor became impatient with waiting on Beldur fairly quickly, and decided to capitalize on his foe's grogginess before it passed. His arm arced like a catapult, launching his crude weapon toward Beldur with sudden velocity. The whirling wood connects, bonking the knight clean in the forehead. While his helmet protected him from permanent damage, it didn't stop him from being knocked over, dizzy as he was already. When Beldur opened his eyes again, Zendor was standing beside him, offering a helping hand.