Duel:Hildegarde v Osecreth, Match 2 of the Inaugural Warrior's Guild Tournament

Duelists: Hildegarde vs. Osecreth. 
Duel: Traditional 3 posts each, with final defense. 15 minute posting limit. 
Stakes: Autohit post. Advancement in the Inaugural Warrior's Guild Tournament. 
Judges: Xunzyr & Leone

Snowless Training Yard

Leone said, "Welcome to the Inaugural Tournament of Warriors! Here we gather in the arena of Frostmaw to watch two noble warriors do battle. The arena's orbs have been tweaked and turned to precisely the right calibration until the scenery is wholly alien. The entirety of the arena has morped into a volcanic tube. There are no flat surfaces, with even the floor holding a slight curve. The ceiling and walls are made entirely of jagged, black glass. There are only approximately five feet of clearance from lowest to highest point of the enclosed space, though it is many yards long. The floor is a thin sheet of glass, beneath which a live river of magma can be seen flowing slowly. While the ceiling and walls are relatively cool, the floor is scorching, and already cracks are beginning to form in the fragile, crystalline structure. Good luck to both Hildegarde and Osecreth!"

Hildegarde can feel the intense heat of the magma below her and it is enough to illicit a snarl that transformed into a wicked smile. The heat reminded her of Svilfon and his fondness for fire and blood. The woman wastes no time, however, in pelting down the tube towards Osecreth, looking as though she intends to pummel into him and take him down. As she reaches ever closer, the knight flings herself down onto her knees and essentially power slides towards the paladin so she might swing the halberd in a short but vicious arc with the intent of disembowelling him before she barrels into his legs to throw him off balance and onto his back against the crystalline floor that is already cracking beneath their intense weight. The Silver is not one to waste an opportunity as she swings the halberd down to slam against Osecreth’s body, axe-head read to split into the torso of his armour if he doesn’t move out of her murderous way.

Osecreth first held up the ribbon of Helia, much to the joy of many frost giants in the crowd. Once the arena was revealed, the smiling warrior would tie the ribbon about his forhead like a headband, to keep the sweat from his eyes, before he put on his helmet. The floor was brittled with heat, and his weight would be detrimental here if he weren't careful. He first gave a prayer to Arkhen, casting a spell of Sun Metal. His blade flared up, catching flame all along its golden length, fire of which hardly bothered him. He loved the heat, after all... it was in his breath, his blood. He had to keep up with many things... the floor which could, and would give way, the superior fighter he had to face, and her duo of debilitating breath weapons. He had to use his weight to his advantage here, wisely. Then, there came HIldegarde, and she was sliding. He could use that against her. He planted the tip of his great blade in the glass, and it stuck firm, edge towards her, in the path of her slide. When she came close enough to swing, his sword would be before him to catch her blow, and he'd heave his weight upon the blade, extending himself in a full body kick at her chest or face, if she was low enough, to pile drive his whole self into her feet first. Hopefully the unorthodox tactic would throw her off guard, and keep her attack from connecting.

Hildegarde had not anticipated him to essentially weaken the crystalline tube any further, as the spider-web like splintering of the glass spreads from the tip of his greatsword. Yet there is no time to dwell upon such, as his feet are connecting with her chest and she has relinquished her halberd in order to deal with him: arm wrapping around his ankles to pull him with her as she is driven back a little. With her body skidding and rolling backwards, she ‘oofs’ with the contact and force but does not allow it to throw her off as she hops to her feet and relinquishes his ankle; double-stepping swiftly in order to curb-stomp his shin as she withdrew the short-sword Oathkeeper and threw herself forward with the sole intent of landing in such a manner she would have her knees either side of him and her blade would pierce down into his gorget to either tear his windpipe to shreds or viciously wound just under his collarbone and weaken one of his sword arms.

Osecreth loved a woman who wasn't afraid to get on top. In this case, he growled pleasantly as his shin and armor barely stood against the force of that stomp. But as she drew her short sword to take the close quarters advantage... well prepared, she was... he wrenched his greatsword free from behind him, having twisted it, and done this apurpose. He meant to weaken the floor... the magma was far less a threat to him than her, and now hot steam would shoot through those heated cracks, making the room that much more unbearable for her. The flaming sword was brought overhead, and he'd slam its pommel into her head if she didn't dodge. Whether or not she managed to avoid it, he'd have his wide greatsword to intercept her short sword, shoving it to the side as it dived. It landed in his shoulder, lodging its self in his armor, and he grunted. But, with the pummel strike, he'd follow up the attack, kicking her up and over him with a knee, onto the ground he'd so compromised... already about to break. Her weight just might break the ice, so to speak. And she'd be toss onto that flaming greatsword, to boot! He was mighty, and that lurch should easily throw her.

Hildegarde had no time to care about the broken tube and the steam that gouted from the open gap, for the greatsword is coming to intercept her and she cannot permit this. As she runs to begin her leap, rather than run head on and essentially allow the pommel to smash against her head, the knight leaps to the side and slams her boots against the wall to kick off the spiky wall and slam her blade down into his shoulder. The knight takes the kick, though, kicked up and over him with a groan of pain as she lands hard upon the crystalline tube and forces it to crack all the more. The flames of his greatsword lick at her coat, but she pays it no heed; the battle is all she can focus upon and all she wishes to do. With a snarl, the woman grips onto the hilt of her blade and twists it before hauling his body: stepping quickly and jerking his body towards the gap he had made with his greatsword. With his head near the now cracked hole and steam gouting forth, the Silver grasps his helmeted head with a roar and pushes it downward: hoping the cracked and jagged glass with slice at the back of his neck. She will bear the heat. She has walked through walls of fire to harm a wizard, she can handle a little steam.

Osecreth didn't quite see the leap coming. She lodged that blade in firmly, and after he threw her, managed to twist it as well, and drag him by it. So vicious, so ruthless! His mind was afire with the pain, but it didn't matter, Her efforts wouldn't put glass through his neck, thanks to his helm, and he had more traction than she thought. He kicked off the nearby wall in a roll of his own, to relinquish her grip on his helm, then took a quick, crouched stagger step away from her and the crack both, spreading its spider veins about. He hefted his greatsword, rose in a leap, and swung down with all his force. She might dodge the blow, might even block it... but she'd be in the center of the broken glass, and he'd be beyond its grasp. His shoulder made his sword stroke waver somewhat, but his bones held, and the swing came on. This was his final attack, all of his brute force and manipulation of the environment against her ferocity and savagery.

Hildegarde would indeed dodge that incoming greatsword! Rolling backwards along the length of the crystalline tube, the knight gains as much room as possible from the gap that gouts out viciously hot steam. She has gained so much room that she is practically at the opposite end of the tube, but this is not assurance enough for the knight, as she crouches momentarily before jumping and kicking her legs out while her hands jerk out to essentially keep her in place along the jagged walls of the tube. Her mithril boots protect her feet and her gauntlet protects one hand, but the other is left to bleed; embedded as it is upon the wall to keep her in place should the delicate floor give way.

Winner: Hildegarde

Hildegarde watched as the floor split and cracked, pieces of glass falling away and creating an even bigger gap between her and Osecreth. Carefully she drops from the wall and stares at Osecreth. Her brow is slick with sweat, she is cooking in that suit of armour but she cannot and will not cease. She must put an end to his attempt to battle on, she must prove that ice is the indomitable force in Frostmaw and that it – that she – will not bend to the fire and heat. With a grunt, the knight sprints towards the gap and throws herself with a roar to barrel into Osecreth. The two tumble across the crystalline floor, creating even more spiderweb fractures but the knight does not let it stop her. Grasping the bottom of his helmet, she slams his helmeted head repeatedly against the jagged wall of the tube and finally drops his head after about three and a bit strikes. It isn’t enough to severely wound him, but it is enough to dizzy him or knock him out. Standing there, triumphant, she pants and huffs as she collects herself before grasping his body and heaving up onto her shoulders to carry him out and to safety.