Duel:Eliason v Javier, Chartsend Fighting Championship

Duelists: Javier vs. Eliason.
Duel: Traditional 3 posts each, with final defense. 15 minute posting limit.
Stakes: Autohit post. Advancement in the Chartsend Fighting Championship.
Judges: Svilfon, Eboric and Hildegarde.

Chartsend Coastal Square

Eliason steps out of the back door of the Slippery Eel and into the sunlit clearing of the Coastal Square. It takes only a moment for his sapphire eyes to adjust to the light and only another moment for his eyes to rest upon the figure of Javier. Taking a breath, the commander makes his way over to the knight and lowers himself into a respectful bow. "Greetings, Sir Javier! It would seem that we are to battle for the Fighting Championship. Are you ready to do this now?" At Javier's agreeance, Eli backs away to give the other man time to prepare himself. Excitement courses through the square as the residents make room for the combatants. The big legionnaire slips his sword from its sheath at his waist, filling the clearing with a steely hiss. He quickly tests the bindings on his tower shield to make sure it is secure then lowers himself into a battle stance. "Ready, sir?" he calls out across the square. At Javier's indication that the knight is ready, Eli moves toward him carefully, sword held firmly forward and shield kept tight to his body. Once within range, he holds out his sword in salute before launching his first attack. Feinting left, Eliason instead spins about, sword held at chest level in an heavy swipe at Javier's breast. The blow, whether it strikes or not serves to bring the paladin close to the other man. Once within range, Eliason crooks his arm and sends a heavily armored elbow for the knight's chin.

Javier stands firms as he faces his opponent, the legionaire known as Eliason. The knight inclines his head in greeting to the man's introduction, as his eyes wash over the veteran soldier with keen interest as pleasantries are exchanged. Following the man's lead out of the tavern and into the street, the Larketian Knight is surprised to see that a crowd has already gathered. It seems the scene has been set, this fact becoming ever more apparent when Eliason asks him if he is ready, and even renders a salute before he charges in. It is almost like second hand nature to this man, fighting in martial combat. Over two decades of training, and fighting in battles has forged the man known as the Lion of Larket into one of Queen Jacklin's finest knights. So, having already sized up his opponent moments prior during their exchange of words, Javier shifts his body into a defensive stance as Eliason rushes forth with his opening attack. The knight's gauntlet covered right hand goes to grab the hilt of his longsword, and waits to draw it from its slumber in the leather sheath that rests upon his left hip. Timing is everything, as the legionaire quickly closes the gap between the two and unleashes an impressive display of martial prowess with his feint. But Javier is no rookie fighter, and has shifted his body in anticipation of such a move. Seasoned warriors rarely open with such straight forward tactics. Due to his armor being forged from mithril, Santiago is able to move his six foot three frame about with surprising quickness, despite the fact he wears full platemail. And so, when Eliason spins about with his blade, Javier would move forward, undaunted, instead of the natural instict of back peddaling to try to evade. The knight passes the legionaire on the opposite side that he spins, using Eliason's own attack to create an opening for him to counter. Eliason's blade would cut through the air, finding nothing but empty space, while Javier unleashes a wide slashing arc upon his opponent's hopefully now exposed back when he draws forth his own blade in retaliation. The movement is fluid, precise and has behind it the full strength of the Larketian. Even if the blade itself does not meet flesh, rendering it asunder, the blunt force alone may be enough to knock the man off balance and perhaps remove the air from his lungs due to the sudden and unexpected collision of metal upon metal. Even if this was to fail, Javier would take a few steps back and assume another defensive posture in preparation of Eliason's rebuttal. This was to be an honorable match, after all, and the knight would not soil his honor with dirty tactics and cheap shots.

Eliason can't help but grin at the speed of the knight. His own blow swings wide and meets nothing but air, a fact which already leaves his large frame slightly off-balance. Javier's move is one that is familiar to him as it is often used by those that move faster than their opponent. In anticipation of the blow aimed for his back, the legionnaire uses the off kilter momentum of his own blow to bend his knees, tuck his chin close and roll forward out of the reach of the other's sword. Well-fit armor gives Eli the ability to regain his feet swiftly as he spins to face his adversary once more. Unfortunately, the move had required him to relinquish his hold on the tower shield leaving him with just his armor and his sword for defense. Moving forward on the offense, lowers his sword as if to lunge toward the Javier's midsection. But he purposefully holds the point wide of the knight so that it will slip past him and instead draws his armored knee in a crushing blow aimed at Javier's thigh.

Javier watches as his opponent uses his experience to avoid that attack, and allows a small smirk to form underneath his beard at the thought of facing off against one who can hold his own. Having already assumed a defensive stance prior to Eli's new assault, Santiago awaits the oncoming assault like the beach awaits the crash of the wave. His breath is a steady, easy pace, his focus upon the man before him's movements. Having trained for such an extensive period of time, the knight has developed what appears to be some kind of ability to anticipate an enemies attack. This notion is horribly wrong. There is no magic to it, or a blessing from the divine, or unholy, to aid the man in his battles. Many find callings in life, and this happens to be Javier's calling. Without hesitation, sensing that his life was in no mortal danger, as there is no malice in Eliason's blade, Javier reaches out with his left hand, once more pushing forward to meet his opponent instead of trying to evade, and takes hold of the wrist that holds the blade the legionaire is driving forth, to use Eli's momentum once more against him. Javier sends forth his gauntlet covered fist, just as Eliason would drive his knee into his thigh. The result is a painful blow to Javier's leg that buckles him to one, making him fall forward just slightly. But, in the same instance it creates just that much more force behind the knight's strike, and creates a serious threat for Eliason to combat, as Santiago tries to retain the grip upon the legionaires wrist while his falls, and drive the man's blade into the dirt as he follows through with his strike. If Eliason tries to save the blade, he will leave himself fully open to Javier's powerful punch to his left cheek. If he tries to cover up, he risks having his sword driven into the ground, leaving his defenceless.

Eliason recognizes his dilemma immediately, though he is first rewarded with the satisfying feeling of his knee connecting with its target. He does not have time to consider his decision of whether to save his sword or take the full force of that gauntleted hand. Instead, he acts instinctively out of training. Letting go of his sword and ignoring the frustrating sound of the metal hitting the cobbled ground, the paladin loops his arms about Javier's frame and attempts to pull the man into his forward momentum. By pulling himself so close, the blow that strikes the side of his head, while painful and dazing him slightly, does not crush the bones of his face. With his arms wrapped tightly about the knight, Eli twists while he falls forward, attempting to pin Javier beneath him on the ground.

Javier does not miss a beat as Eliason tries to take advantage of the close range with his assault. Using his own body positioning as leverage, and given that at this moment his leg is useless from the previous blow, Santiago hoists his right hand up underneath the paladin just as he would try to slam himself down upon the knight, rotating his hips as he goes to try and scoop the man while he falls to reverse his attack and instead slam him down upon the unforgiving earth beneath the two. Given Javier was already down on one knee from earlier, and the fact he has retained the grip upon Eliason's wrist even as he dropped the blade, the two men now collide in a fight to gain the dominate position. It is clear lethal force is not what either want, so the aim for Javier here, is to slam his foe with enough force that he can claim victory. Given that both men are physically fit, and are near the same height and build, it will fall down to very simple things such as leverage and technique. While Eliason does have a good grip upon Javier, position seems to favor the kneeling knight. And unless Eliason is quick and experienced in grappling, Javier's swift takedown attempt will have the paladin heading face first into the earth below. Two choices are not left for the man to choose. Keep his grip and try to overpower the knight to regain dominance and finish his slam, or let loose his grasp to try and brace the fall. Either way, Javier maintains his breathing and prepares for the paladin's reaction, hoping the end of this bout is drawing near.

Eliason grits his teeth against the pain in his head caused by Javier's punch. Pulling his grip as tight as possible, he feels the subtle shift in the knight's hips as the man tries to wrestle Eli to the ground. A sudden grin lights up the legionnaire's face at the other's abilities in battle. Javier is good, there is no doubt left in the commander's mind. Given that Javier is braced in his kneeling position and Eli is falling forward, there is little that Eli can do to shift himself away from Javier's grappling ablilities. But grappling is something that the man was forced to learn from childhood and falling to his back does not necessarily put him at a disadvantage. With a grunt, he hits the ground, armor rattling heavily with the fall. Shifting his grip on the knight, Eli rolls his hips to the side and slips one leg out from under the other combatant. Quickly, he sets that leg over over the other knight's head and rolls toward Javier in an attempt to gain the top position.

Winner: Javier