Duel:Redhale v Reece

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Duel Info

  • Mages Tournament: 1st Round
  • Judges: Ithe, Asaphetida, Tiphareth
  • Rds/time: 3 rounds, 15 minutes
  • Venue: Cenril-Kelay Bridge
  • Winner: Reece, unanimous


Redhale is a half elf and seems to be a illusionist. Redhale is wearing death-stalker robes on his body, enchanted-shifting-illusionists hood on his head, faceless-blood-crying mask on his face, obsidian earring on his left ear, obsidian earring on his right ear, flawless cross on his neck, fiendish cloak on his shoulders, Kai-band on his left arm, Sol-band on his right arm, clawed gauntlets on his hands, runic armband on his left wrist, runic armband on his right wrist, ridged guardians on his legs, and titan soles on his feet. On one of his left fingers, you see Kai-banded ring. On one of his right fingers, you see Sol-banded ring. Redhale is using demon-blood-stained wand as a weapon. Redhale is using spirit field as a shield. Redhale has no eyes, light skin, and brown hair, and is single.


Reece is a avian and seems to be a illusionist. Reece is wearing rune detailed-leggings on his legs, and rune inscribed-footwear on his feet. On one of his left fingers, you see mystical silver-band. Reece is using sea gem as a weapon. Reece is not using a shield. Reece has blue eyes, pale skin, and grey hair, and is single.


Venue

Cenril-Kelay Bridge

At the center of the bridge, atop the highest point, the view is breathtaking. From here, the devastation of the newly opened chasm is clearly visible. Deep and wide, the ground has fallen in upon itself, taking with it the once barren dead lands of Milous plains. Rumors of the fate of the northern castle are as yet unconfirmed, as none have returned from explorations. Farther south, the earth seems more whole, as wheat fields rise up outside the swampy lands of Gualon. Eastward lies the forest of Sage, hiding in it the frontier town of Kelay. Farther along, the Xalious Mountains rise up, their craggy peaks known to shimmer in the waning daylight. A platoon of FC elite soldiers stands here on guard. The bridge has been rigged with enough black powder to blow it sky high should the need arise.


Duel

Redhale stretched his back and stood tall, taking a deep breath before let his masked face drop to the ground in a graceful bow. As he straightened himself again one hand whipped beneath his obscuring robes to produce his wand. The half elf's porcelain proxy for a face stared calmly at his opponent while the mind behind the mask did the work of really looking; any in the area would feel the air around them fall still before tightening in pulses, as if the atmosphere was somehow becoming heavier. A skilled mage might note this as a fluctuation of magical energies, and a seemingly wasteful one at that, but none would feel this peculiarity more than Reece. Once the position of his opponent was confirmed Redhale's body snapped into action. His wand hand was brought together with his other in a sharp clap which echoed through the valley below and the weapon seemed to vanish from sight. The darkly clad mage then dropped to one knee as if to bow once more while both of his hands shot out to either side of his body, fingers splayed to display a piece of his wand, apparently split in two, held carefully in each hand. Not a moment later a loud crunching could be heard on either side of the bridge as a pulse ran down the bannisters, finally breaking free of the bridge's shape as two arcing spikes of wood and stone blasted out of the bridge's makings, the churning rubble converging on Reece's position.


Reece eyes his opponent across the distance that separates them. His wings remain folded to his back for with the wind on this high bridge he already has to lean in quite heavily to avoid being blown off. As the half-elf bows he does too, though with slightly less grace. It is at this moment that he begins, weaving within his mind the illusion which had served him so well and which, despite its incredible complexity, was almost second nature to use after centuries of repetition. The tenseness in the air does not go unnoticed and the pale illusionist ensures that he stays in the same place until it passes. Then, uncaring as to exactly what Redhale plans, he moves, stepping backwards several steps. His true form is cloaked in a spell of invisibility, while the remaining figure of him leaps with what appears to be as much strength available, to avoid the sudden explosion of wood and stone about him. The illusion is struck a glancing blow by one particularly sharp and light piece of wood and the avian feels energy drain ebb away from him as the figure begins to bleed from a long gash on his left arm. Seemingly unperturbed by this though Reece's figure lands safely, now much closer to the other illusionist, swirling his hands in a pattern of gestures that were regularly associated with the creation of a fireball. An illusory fireball manifests between Reece's hands and immediately blasts out towards Redhale, growing in size and brilliance as it travels over the relatively short distance between them. As it passes the air crackles and pops realistically.


Redhale couldn't be fooled so easily. It wasn't unheard of that a disability could strengthen a person, and in his blindness Redhale had found new eyes; the energy which hung in the air remained clinging to both of Reece's forms, both the false and the invisible. As a consequence the half elf remained focused on the hidden form, though made note to follow the illusion which he knew all to well might be dangerous. His vigilance was rewarded as the fireball manifested exactly where Redhale expected it to. The robed man clapped his hands together once more to slip the two pieces of wand back into one whole before swinging it in a dipping curve before him. As the wand sliced back up through the air the stone of the bridge rose with it, forming a wall between the fireball and its target. Still, Redhale took caution to raise his arms before him as the blast of heat and shattered stone rocked his body backwards. The rocky blockade was blasted into gravel and sand and a wave of force washed over Redhale, who let himself be pushed back several steps before regaining his balance by making a wide dueling stance, holding his weapon carefully, the wooden sprig balancing delicately between his fingers as he lowered it's tip in the direction of Reece. His body heaved a sighing breath before reeling upwards, the man's wand tip drawing a stroke through the air which blazed like the stars above them. The ghostly fire didn't move from where it was drawn, nor did it face. Another downwards stroke carved a parallel line, followed by more slashing movements, each leaving its own blazing trail in the air before the illusionist, seeming to weave together into a kind of web. Eventually so many blazing lights hung in the air that they seemed to exist as a single blanket of fire, suspended by some unseen force. It was then that Redhale plunged his wand right through the blanket to hurl it forwards, the lines scattering and sizzling through the air, some scouring burning holes in the materials of the bridge as they all swung in towards the still invisible form of Reece.


Reece takes a small amount of satisfaction in watching the stone barricade be reduced to rubble by the fireball. He is surprised though, when Redhale's next action is to attack him directly, despite his concealment. Mentally taking note of the fact that concealment wont work he walks backwards as quickly as his legs were capable while his brain spun, seeking a way out of the net of fire which approached him. Buffeted as he was by the wind, he didn't realise that his reverse motion was not straight until he came into contact with the bridge railing. Inspiration struck, and failing other alternatives he took one last glance at the enclosing net of fire before, with a silent prayer, he unfolded his wings. Almost instantly the wind caught him in its aggressive grasp and he was torn from the bridge out into empty air, his lower body battered by the railing and his wings screaming in pain at the sudden torment they were being put through. Far from the path of the flaming net he struggles to tack into the wind with dives and glides to avoid being blown too far as he maneuvers his illusion at a distance. The figure of himself drawing forth a set of twin blades, sharp polished steel to glint in the moonlight. The figure proceeds to rush Redhale with as much fury and violence as Reece could manage to put into it. One blade swining at the half-elf's head while the other attempts to gut the poor blind man.


Redhale turned to one side quickly, his body bending oddly to avoid the strike to his head, though another swinging blade made contact. The dark cloth which wrapped Redhale was sliced apart easily, though a nasty crunch was heard as soon as the blade touched flesh. As part of the illusionist's robes fell away the wound was revealed: Not a slice, but a crack ran across Redhale's stomach. His skin seemed to crumble like brittle crystal and instead of blood a fine red sand seeped from the wound. Grimacing beneath his mask Redhale turned once more, managing to avoid another slice before planting his wand right into the center of Reece's illusion with both hands. The image of Reece hung still for a moment before unraveling, its skin whipping back and the body eventually folding in on itself before popping out of existance. The illusionist regained his composure, hunched over in what might be pain as his wand traced strange patterns on the palm of his left hand. He skidded to a halt before dropping to the ground, placing his palm face down upon the bridge's surface. Instantly shafts of projected energy shot upwards out of the ground beneath the bridge to form a maze, the paths of which were perhaps drawn onto Redhale's palm not moments ago. The confines of the maze hid most of the bridge from sight as the walls were projected through its surface to turn the immediate area, both ground and airspace, into a giant labyrinth. Now however, the masked man would be hidden from sight in one of the winding passageways, his opponent stranded within the walls which continued to spout forever upwards out of the ground beneath. The humming energy of the barriers seemed to reflect no light as they merged with the dark sky above, though after a few moments had passed a portrayal of the labyrinth's architect blossomed on the walls, repeating in seemingly infinite copies in every direction. The images of Redhale moved in unison, each folding their arms before themselves, the limbs stretching and twisting into long steel blades. As soon as the transformation occurred the copies began slashing and stabbing, their bodies leaning forwards out of the walls which they were held in to strike at Reece while the real Redhale stepped calmly from the maze's single exit, puffing somewhat from the exertion of creating such a monstrous illusion.


Reece can barely believe his eyes as the maze seems to build upon itself up towards him. Within moments it surrounds him and he is almost grateful for a moment as the wind abates and his wings get a reprieve from the agony they were suffering. An agony which was making it difficult to focus. Feeling the loss of his doppelganger it takes him a moment before he even registers what is happening on the walls around him. This doesn't last long though and he lets out a yelp as the first image of his foe strikes out from the wall with his blades. Adrenaline giving him strength Reece leaps to his feet quickly, flexing to avoid another bladed attack, this time from behind him. Attempting to bring his power into focus he finds it impossible to do so and avoid the multiple attacks, each flashing blade an unhelpful distraction. That is until one slices through a section of his wing. Immediately the pain sharpens his focus, with a screech of agony and an almost tangible mental slap he strikes at the illusion around him. The maze shatters, the multitude of fragments cascading down and evaporating into thin air until there was nothing left, except a wounded and tired Reece. It seemed his torment was not over though for as soon as the maze fails the buffeting strength of the wind returns and for a moment Reece despairs. Surprising him, a memory surfaces unbidden, a battle with an orc shows him the way out. His body appears to ripple, muscles grow, hair lengthens, spines sprout from his back and fingernails turn into lethal talons. The transformation is again illusory but as effective as all else that had been used in this battle thus far. Folding his wings tightly the modified avian drops like a stone from the sky, rocketing towards the half-elf with talons outstretched. The half elf is no doubt capable of detecting the magic but Reece doubted that would change anything when his talons tore into vital veins and organs, for they were his targets and the beastly thing was fast approaching his target.


Redhale hunched over with a sigh as soon as Reece destroyed the mage, gladly allowing the images of himself, still flailing wildly even as their window into reality closed in on them, vanish back to where they came from. With the massive drain on his energy gone the half elf was able to refocus his "vision," though perhaps not as quickly as he would have liked to. He span around as soon as he noticed the diving avian, and though unsure whether those sharp talons would be able to do any serious damage to his own modified body, he wasn't keen to clean up whatever mess might be made by such an attack. With speed rarely seen from the illusionist he swept his hands in large circles, condensing the air between the avian and himself first into globes of water, then sheets of ice. As his opponent smashed through each barrier another was set in place, slowing the avian's descent a little with each impact until Redhale let himself fall under the reduced force of the dropping Talons. Rolling back into a break fall to avoid more damage from the bridge's surface the illusionist let the talons crunch through the crystalline skin of his shoulders, which were offered freely instead of allowing the rest of his body to get shattered. More of the red sand leaked across the stony ground as Redhale lay there with Reece pinning him, though he held his wand firmly up at the avian's midsection. After remaining silent through the whole ordeal, Redhale now managed to voice a simple sentence of truce, "That'll do now, that'll do."



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