Duel:Donovan v Virros
Donovan vs. Virros
Donovan turns his eyes toward the arena's structure, soaking in the grandiose stage with a momentary panoramic gaze. Worry mars his brow for the briefest of instances, evidence of a warrior who's been out of practice and only now returns. All of the posturing, however - the languid gaze and reticent expression - almost tangibly peels away as the azure knight's hand finds solace upon the pommel of his stalwart blade Azureheart, the Blade of Faith. A deep breath ensues, and the weapon proclaims its freedom with the shrill scream of a metallic blade scraping against its metal scabbard. Despite all the rust, it's soon clear that the adage of a warrior's hand never forgetting its weapon of choice, as his eyes flare with intent and his steps bring him steadily closer to the form of his foe Virros. Azureheart glows its namesake color, the spiritess Alyna's workings beginning to surge into the fore. Donovan appears to bet on his foe's lack of footspeed, for he sweeps the brand in a wide arc toward the dwarf's position. In case Virros surprises him, however, the pent up magics trail in the blade's cutting wake; if the horizontally slicing sword doesn't slash the dwarf across the waist, the equally biting line of energy following behind is sure to exact the damage in Azureheart's stead.
Virros peers at his ancient opponent, Donovan, his viridian eyes spying through the iron slits of his facemask. The dwarf watches as a slashing arc of the brilliant azure sword sings through the crisp air. Quickly lifting his light shield reflexively, the paladin blocks the ensuing blow, knocking the initial attack off course with a clang. The follow up, however, posed the real threat, which he had neglected to defend. The magical sword’s trail rips into his waist, causing a bloody outburst of deep red liquid. As the vitae drips underneath his armor, the wounded dwarf winces and decides to retaliate. With an adept, oft-practiced motion, he grips his sword Daybreak upon its cold, bejeweled hilt, and releases it from its encasing with an elongated jerk, enveloping the arena with a lingering hiss. Slicing the golden brand upwards to point at the moon, the blade begins to glow with a pure white light. The light grows in intensity until the night air is illuminated by its luminosity. Ready to make his strikes, the practiced paladin cocks the tip back slightly to brush by the shimmering gold of his war helm, and unleashes an attack of his own. Bringing the blade down with all his dwarven might, Virros slams the aureate edge toward the vulnerable neck of Donovan, aiming through to the other side.
Donovan stumbles from the sudden intervention of Virros' shield, which parries his decoy slash with aplomb and sends both man and blade staggering into an unfavorable position for defense. It's soon clear, however, that the azure knight knows his own vulnerability, but the main question in his mind is whether he can actually do anything to remedy the situation. These thoughts are both betrayed by a swiveling head and a frantic gaze, each working in tandem to pick out the dwarf's budding redress. Daybreak's manifested light makes Donovan's endeavors all the easier, alerting him to the point of danger...though the growing vibrance of that alabaster beacon soon hinders the very sight which would pave the way for his escape. On nothing more than a wing and a prayer, Xalious' chosen executes a somersault to his right, made slower by age and lack of practice but still sufficient to avoid mortal damage. Virros' brand plummets into the swooping cloak instead, slicing through it in one place and restricting the attire and its wearer to that position on the ground. Unable to retreat past the point of full-stretch from the spot where Virros' weapon secures his cloak to the ground, Donovan attempts an audacious maneuver; he shifts closer to the point of impact so as to gain more mobility, and with a wild lunge swings Azureheart with his right hand - apex first - toward what ought to be an exposed side. This, of course, if the overhead swing of Virros has carried the level of might typical of a dwarf and has wedged Daybreak in the ground along with the Governor's cloak.
Virros stumbles forward, the momentum of his attack pulling him along, as the gleaming glaive glides through the cloak, ripping a hole complete with sound effect. Thankfully for him, the blade is slowed down enough to not imbed itself into the ground, but alas, another problem was at hand. The sapphire point of his fellow paladin's sword punctures through the previously wounded waist, exposed by the gap just below his breastplate, causing blood to gush out a bit more profusely. The pain from the strike causes an unabashed scream of agony reverberating within his metal faceguard, and the vibration seems to dazzle the dwarf as well. No longer able to ignore his throbbing, bleeding injury, the paladin musters up his strength and courage. Closing his jade orbs to the arena, he inhales the cool night oxygen, and plans out his next move in his mind's eye. A multidirectional attack would be best against most adversaries, even one as lightly armored as this legendary hero, so first a feint down low, followed by two thrusts infused with his remaining vigor. Flashing his emerald eyes open again, he hobbles the couple steps separating the two men, and lets loose his flurry of furious attacks, intending to drive his foe the few paces backward into the north retaining wall, and hopefully connecting with that vital neck region this time.
Donovan half-isn't expecting the ease with which Azureheart punctures Virros' vulnerable midriff and lolls forward. Scarcely finding sufficient wits to keep proper balance, he again finds himself in a less-than-optimum stance from which he must find a means to elude the embittered reprise destined to launch his way. Slowly but surely, however, it appears that age and fitness are beginning to even the odds rather than supply Donovan with the advantage a human should possess over a dwarf - that of agility and dexterity. Mentally he slowly starts to feel the taxing his intense focus has demanded and, without his intensity firing on all cylinders, he not only widens his eyes at the sudden and inexplicable change in weaponry, but he bites on the dummy lunge Virros offers. Enough wits remain for Donovan to evade the second thrust by swaying back and to his left, and he does so with great effort but not even as accomplished a fighter as the Knight of Faith can halt the tertiary strike. Skin and muscle tear, and vitae flows freely as the glaive lodges itself in the paladin's shoulder socket. Through gritted teeth Donovan seethes his rage, both at being caught and in response to the searing pain raging in both extremity and torso from the impact. Azureheart rests in his opposite hand even still, and anger and bloodlust now bud even still. At arm's length there is little he can do but hurl his trusted brand at his opponent, but it comes in an underhand flick for he cannot muster the power to hurl it overhand. Virros' momentum carries him backward and into the wall, where another cry of agony erupts — but not before the knight's reply is launched. Azureheart speeds toward the onrushing dwarf's chest, all but certain to find Virros' heart and end the fight should he not relent his brutal assault upon Xalious' chosen.
Virros crashes into the marble retaining wall rather unexpectedly, and was certainly not braced for the impact, so with a great clash of metals, the armor and its bearer are halted by the immobile barrier. Unable to defend himself, the dreading dwarf widens his eyes in horror, as you see the black of his pupils dilate through his iron visage due to the incoming fling of the projectile. Without a heap of power behind it, however, the truly-aimed blade implants itself into the immaculate platemail, blemishing but not puncturing it, as the steel edge and leather-bound hilt wobble for a moment before abating. Breathing a heavy sigh of relief at dodging that bullet, the practical paladin presses a plated boot against the retaining wall. With a shove, he forces the only non-weary limbs to push off the barrier, propelling him forward in a desperate lunge at the Knight of Faith. Thrusting Daybreak out at the man, Virros deems that he will either win or lose the fight with this blow, and drives the glaive tip toward the stomach of Donovan.
Donovan, in an eyeblink, inexplicably moves from being pinned against the retaining wall to reversing the tables upon Virros - through no act of his own, judging by the perplexed expression he bears. Only now has his eyesight truly and fully returned to him, and it's only by that saving grace that he can see the weapon of Virros once more bearing down upon his abdomen. Alas, his physical and mental toil is great, so much so that the azure knight has little in the way of strength or stamina to elude even the most basic of thrusts. Staggering involuntarily to his right, Donovan inadvertently ensures that no direct hit will come to him, but a demoralized groan comes when the glaive nonetheless finds harbor in the tender flesh of his left side. Virros' weapon lodges in its victim, and clatters to the ground as does the Governor of Rynvale, who clutches haplessly in aim to extract it from his torso. After a moment's struggle, Donovan manages to achieve his goal and lies still at last, vitae freely surging from both gouges upon his war-torn frame.