Duel:Slintora v Zalctor
Background
Raziel was out in Vailkrin taking care of a few things, and posting a warning upon the Hanging Corpse Tavern board, for that is where she was hiding out, when Slintora arrived. Her friend, Zalctor's, shadow was with her for protection. But, unfortunately, he was injured. So, instead of fighting, she told the shadow to return home, and gave up. For she knew it would be best if she didn't fight back.
Once taken he teleports them to the Nameless Desert, to a temple, where he begins to interrogate her of her family, though Raz speaks naught. Giving away nothing. Zalctor soon to arrive and a duel to ensue between that angered Drow and the fire Minotaur. Upon Zalctor's win, the two go back to the home they're hiding at, so that Zal's wounds could be tended to.
The Hanging Corpse Tavern
Slintora said to Raziel, "Found you!"
Raziel yipes at the voice, the woman was at the board, and now presses her back to it as if to hide something, while pulling the hood further over her face. There was no bird on her shoulder, so how she was reading the board is questionable. "Stay away. Why don't you understand that I -don't- want to marry you?! I'm taken, see!" Raz shows her left finger where a ring carved of diamond is situated.
Slintora steps into the tavern with a grin on his face. Slowly he stepped forward, making sure to still block the door way. "I saw you message in the tavern. Let me guess. You are only writing another one so as to warn everyone about me? Won't work deary." he snapped his fingers and the entire board lit on fire. Quickly all the messages were mere cinders. At least he thought they were. When the flames dispersed, the board was still perfectly in tact. Why though? He had forgotten that this tavern was magically protected against harmful spells. However the woman was not. As he continued to step forward, a barrier of flames erected where he was standing, so as to block Raziel's exit and the entrance of others. "Now tell me.. why won't you be my wife?"
Raziel yelps and jumps forward, the board fire felt at her back, "Th-that wasn't me! I haven't been in Kelay in a few days..." oddly, as the next wall of flames appear, Raz's shadow remains where it is. Unmoving, unwavering. The elven lycan's eyes shift back and forth behind those dark goggles of hers, as she thinks on what to say, the 5' 10" elf standing at her full height. "Because, I'm going to be married to my love in the summer. And because I've had a minotaur ask me to be his, and he was rather rude." a darkened smirk to come to the woman's face... As the elf is sometimes rather cruel. "And you know what happened to him? The butcher in Cenril happened to him."
Slintora wasn't even phased at the mention of a butcher. As she should have learned, he wasn't any ordinary bull. A pyre appeared in his hands, solidifying into his eight foot claymore. Although taller than him, it didn't matter, he could at least move it a little, and even when he couldn't, the sword of granite worked as an excellent shield. It sank into the floor as if it was mud, the heavy blade easily piercing through the soft wood. The male continued to advance, quick snaps of his fingers and his hands were on fire. "Now you can come quietly, or I will have to abduct you and hold you for ransom. And that is not what I want to do at all."
Raziel growls at his advancement, standing straighter and crossing her arms. "I think not." For a second Raziel scowls, but then she says reluctantly "Usstan tlun ssin'urn" words that she made a deal with on saying as a code to be saved. Finally her shadow wavers and Varil comes out, quicker than usual since the creature was so close, arms gently wrapping around the woman and a kiss given to her cheek, for Varil is quite the flirt for a shadow. He then looks at the Minotaur, his voice screechy and angry sounding. "Raziel wund'akhen ulu udossa, alu rath ulu Uoi'nota vel'klar dos wund'akh." the shadow being not caring whether or not the fire beast could understand, before sinking into the ground with Raz. He was moving rather quickly as well. And being that it's always night in these lands, the two wouldn't be seen as they shoot off to the North, then East, and in a completely roundabout way to throw anyone of the trail.
Slintora shakes his head at the drow talk, "Not again you are not! You mine as well speak in normal language because my father was a drow!" His wrists flicked once and a single explosive fireball arced towards the shadow before it could wrap its arms around Raziel. And at the same moment, his hands rose and the floor beneath the began to bubble. Glowing red now a jet of fire erupted from the ground, a mixture of flames and burning chains of solid fire. The chains went to wrap around Raziel, the incantation still going while the flames went to engulf and devour the shadow. It was pointless to try and escape, the pyromancer was superb at multiple castings and holding both. Holding two spells was no problem for him at the moment, for there were no other distractions. However he would not be able to talk. The chains formed shackles at the ends, going to clamp around Raziel's wrists and ankles. Should the shadow still escape, an indefinite length of burning chain to make sure that he would still have her. And he would also yank her back. If she didn't try to run though, well.. that was yet to be decided.
Raziel quirks a brow, highly confused how a Drow could be a Mino's father, before a flame is tossed at Varil, the shadow dodging it only to begin to note the bubbling of the floor, flames erupting around him in an almost deja vu sort of way, the shadow releasing a screechy yell of pain "Varil!" Raz was about to move to him, when he shouted 'Run!' through his pain. Raz began to move and try to find a way out, but there was just too much fire, and when Raz paused to try and figure out what to do, a chain catches her limb. "No! Leave me be, I don't want to marry you!" the elven lycan still making an attempt to free herself, though it appeared to be a fruitless effort. When the fires subside around Varil, his form would be horribly distorted, shadowy flesh and wispy blood falling from him. The short, jaggedly cut, hair completely gone. Yet he tries to crawl towards Raz and save her. "Varil, go home!" She quickly orders, realizing that if both shadows are out of commission that would be of no help. He didn't want to leave her, but he did as she said and left. And then Raz holds still, facing the ground and just letting the chains wrap around her. The woman had a plan, though for now it merely appeared as though she was giving up.
Slintora grins, his spells working. The chains would wrap around her tightly as the fires that were attacking the shadow vanished as the creature did. "Alright then. You have finally given in to me." He walked closer to her, knowing that if she tried to transform, the chains would merely morph to be proportionate to her size. Also, he didn't have to keep muttering the incantation for the spell since it was already cast, he just needed to control it. "You are coming with me now." He went to hoist her over his shoulder, turning just to carry the woman outside, where he could teleport them elsewhere, the entire time a triumphant grin playing across his face.
Raziel doesn't fight him, merely stands there in silence. Though when she's hoisted upon his shoulder and her hooded face is away from his line of sight, a evil grin grows on her face. Oh, he may've won the battle. But there was no way that he won this war. No, not at all. Varil would make his way off to their hiding place, languidly due to the need to heal at the same time.
Slintora grins, his spells working. The chains would wrap around her tightly as the fires that were attacking the shadow vanished as the creature did. "Alright then. You have finally given in to me." He walked closer to her, knowing that if she tried to transform, the chains would merely morph to be proportionate to her size. Also, he didn't have to keep muttering the incantation for the spell since it was already cast, he just needed to control it. "You are coming with me now." He went to hoist her over his shoulder, turning just to carry the woman outside, where he could teleport them elsewhere, the entire time a triumphant grin playing across his face.
Raziel doesn't fight him, merely stands there in silence. Though when she's hoisted upon his shoulder and her hooded face is away from his line of sight, a evil grin grows on her face. Oh, he may've won the battle. But there was no way that he won this war. No, not at all. Varil would make his way off to their hiding place, languidly due to the need to heal at the same time.
Slintora focuses hard, flames engulfing them both before they disappeared from sight.
The Temple Fallout
Scattered across the sand, like a labyrinth long forgotten, here upon this location is the elaborate though broken structure of a time long past. Once a place of worship and enlightenment, all that remains now are jagged rocks and crumbled illustrations. Depictions of Kaizer and Solaris in all their glory, of the strong-willed warriors fighting alongside and against them, line the perimeter and, eerily enough, despite this building having been virtually eliminated what feels like many years ago, there are, depictions of the dark immortals Khasad and Elazul as they once again rise up to bring death terror and bloodshed to the land. Before them lays a sea of blood and skulls and behind them a terrible path of charred blackness and horrific inferno consuming all. It would appear the people who once called this foreboding desert home were fine seers and could prophesize deep into the future. The final horrific depiction seems to be not of the dark brethren but something completely new. The picture does not show random destruction and death but merely a dark silhouette of what appears to be a multi-limbed female form covering the land. You struggle to guess what this could mean but then presume that the seers could not have known otherwise they would have given a better picture, though a part of it seems to be obstructed by a loose, hanging cloth. You could leave the way you came or examine more of the strange and exotic murals that remain half buried here lost to time in the sand.
Slintora appears here, at the destroyed temple for the dark gods in the desert. This would be where they would reside, and should anyone come to the aid of this woman, he would be in superior power for the desert was his element, the sun his greatest weapon. Nothing would stop his fires here. "Alright then." he dropped the woman onto the sand, not caring how she landed, should it be face down to suffocate in the sands, or on her side, back or whatever. The only thing that mattered was that the chains remained strong
Raziel finds herself dropped rather unceremoniously, onto her side, a sneeze made as sand gets up her nose, though speaks naught. The elf only carries a look of distain, and curls herself so that she can be in a sitting position.
Slintora appears here, at the destroyed temple for the dark gods in the desert. This would be where they would reside, and should anyone come to the aid of this woman, he would be in superior power for the desert was his element, the sun his greatest weapon. Nothing would stop his fires here. "Alright then." he dropped the woman onto the sand, not caring how she landed, should it be face down to suffocate in the sands, or on her side, back or whatever. The only thing that mattered was that the chains remained strong
Raziel finds herself dropped rather unceremoniously, onto her side, a sneeze made as sand gets up her nose, though speaks naught. The elf only carries a look of distain, and curls herself so that she can be in a sitting position.
Slintora turns to look at the woman and thinks of the shadow, "I don't like you on the ground." A couple more chains burst from the ruins of the temple and go to wrap around Raziel's appendages, upon which they would lift her up, two chains binding to the ground to hold her legs so that all limbs would be held out and she would not be in contact with the ground. "Where is your friend? The man with the other shadow? I wish to talk with him." he grinned "Tell me and I won't hurt you."
Raziel growls as the chains move her and suspend her from the ground, knowing that the shadow could get there without needing shadows anyways, her head drooped so that the hooded woman wasn't 'looking' at him. Yet she still says not a word. Unbeknownst to him, after living around her father for only a couple months, she was getting rather good at keeping her trap shut, no matter what.
Slintora held out a palm, calling to his cave where all his things were to be found. In a ball of fire, a deck of thin metal cards appeared. These were his most favored toys. "What is the name of the male?" a single card lifted from the deck by his magic, the edges heated otherwise he wouldn't have been able to control them in this way. For every answer she didn't give, he would cut her. The card flew at her, going right for her shoulder. The razor edge would slice into the flesh and then fly past, until it floated behind her.
Raziel didn't answer again, oh indeed she didn't. She's had many horrible tortures before... Though, she'd have to admit, the searing hot metal slicing through her shoulder's flesh like butter was shocking, a screech of pain made, though she clamps her teeth down upon her lip and remains silent. She'd not be giving information so easily.
Slintora raises two fingers, three more heated cards raising from the stack. With a slow spinning motion of his hand, the cards were spinning like saw blades and they whizzed at Raziel. One went for her outer thigh, one for the raven, the other for her other cheek. He could do this all day, each wound instantly cauterized so that she wouldn't bleed, so that wasn't a problem. The only problem was when she would give in.
Raziel bites further upon her lip, so much so that blood trickles forth. Her limbs and face in great pain, but the woman's high tolerance for pain was allowing her to deal with it rather well. No words, once more. He could keep up the attacks upon the shackled woman, but she could keep up the silence better than one who is a mute, even if she was cut to ribbons. Her family and friends were just too important to her.
Slintora shook his head, "Alright.. This is useless." With a flick of his fingers, the cards all began to float around him. What was he going to do.. He could release her, then kill her as she ran, or he could heal her, then keep up the torture. "How about this blind girl." one of the cards behind her began to spin rapidly, then came down towards the woman's ear, easily able to saw through it as if it was nothing. Then the other three cards would come to him and rest gently on the hand. "You can start talking, or I start removing your senses."
Raziel hears the air whipping past the spinning card, a simple twitch of her head made to save it from injury, as it whips past her and returns to him. "Remove my senses? And how the hell do you propose to do that." her hands and legs making barely noticeable movements, as she tests the fire chains that bind to her.
Zalctor suddenly came from the floor, shadows whipping around him, the rage was obvious on his face. "Okay, bastard, this is the last straw, I am going to beat your ass down. My brother gave you one chance, I will be giving you none. You will leave her out of this as we fight, agree upon these stakes or I will personally crush your skull," The Drow roared, quickly drawing his bow, the one Raziel gave him. Really, he was tired of this crap, and he wanted revenge.
The Duel Ensues
Judges: Echo, Raziel (mid), Aeonis
Time Limit: 10 Minutes (neither went over limit)
Winner: Zalctor 3-0
Slintora watches the man rise from the ground as if he owned the place. "Ah! The man from the other day!" he obviously had no idea that this one was different from Roy, but did it really matter? "Impressive healing rate I have to give you that much." He twirled his fingers in a spinning motion, the heated deck of metallic razor cards that was floating around him began to rotate, getting faster with each revolution around. Eventually each card was like a saw blade. Once he was satisfied, each one lit on fire and zoomed at the drow, a wave of cards capable of cutting him to pieces. Some aimed for his legs, some for his arms, a couple even aimed for his neck, pelvis and face. Each wound inflicted would immediately be burned so that it wouldn't bleed, while it most likely wouldn't matter; enough wounds and he wouldn't be able to do anything anyways.
Zalctor quickly gauged the situation, viewing the cards he was using, they looked nasty enough, especially at that speed and on fire. The Drow would quickly roll to the side, though that wouldn't magically move him away from all the cards, only the ones going high and to the right. A few of the flaming things would graze his leather pants, causing the heat to burn his flesh a bit, though the rest were deflected the best he could with his dagger he had unsheathed. Though each card deflected jarred his whole frame, Zal thought it best to quickly escape from the line of fire, so the man would quickly sprint off to the left, spinning on his heel then turning right, finally he would make a dead run towards the kidnaper. If any other cards came he would dodge or deflect them the best he could, though if he took some damage, so be it. Lithe fingers grasped the hilt of his dagger, deftly stabbing outwards towards the beast's stomach, evisceration would be imminent if Zal was not quickly stopped. When faced with the prospect of actually being stopped though, Zal would come across with a quick left hook, his bow still in hand.
Slintora grins as his opponent uses quick thinking and less than complicated evasive maneuvers to evade most of his attack. The male was clever, but was he intelligent enough to take him on entirely? Zephyr was still in that tavern, and so it would be pointless to summon it with the speed that everything was happening. He quickly dodged to the side of the dagger, his hands lighting on fire. The blade of the weapon sliced across his chest, cutting open a thin gouge which spurted boiling hot blood onto the burning sands. Drawing more power, in the trade of blows, he would got for a pass at the Drow's back, leaving a burning imprint which would explode momentarily, should it land at all. The other hand started releasing a hail of fireballs at the drow's face, and in such close quarters they should be devastating. This was until his aim was taken off by the devastating left hook, which sent him sprawling. It was not enough though for before he hit the ground, his body would evaporate, and then appear once more a bit further away, so that the explosion if it were to happen would leave him out of it.
Zalctor felt the hand touch upon his back, he could feel the heat, and assuming he was on fire, threw his trench to the ground. The fireballs were surprising as in such close quarters such an act seemed foolish, though that didn't stop his opponent. One of the flaming things would come to fast, and the only way the Drow could defend was to raise his arm in cover, he would feel the impact and the horrible burning pain. Swiftly Zal would dive to the side, seeing more forthcoming and the thing had transported himself away from the battle anyway, that was when his trench exploded, and he was glad that he had thrown it off. The bow would come to arms, though it was hard to wield for the Drow could barely hold into it, his arm was numb with agonizing pain, he knocked an arrow, though most had feel out of the quiver, and let fly. Zal was unable to pull to full draw because of the pain, but if the arrow hit the mark of the man's chest, it would still wound him. Zal let another arrow fly from the bow before he shouldered it charged towards his enemy, dagger wishing for more blood.
Slintora was glad that there was an explosion in the first place, however not surprised that the drow was smart enough not to leave himself potentially on fire. He thought his father was intelligent. The Pyromancer turned just enough to see the arrow, the thing striking him in the chest unexpectedly. It was a good thing that it wasn't near his heart. His hand went to the arrow shaft and ripped it out, a spurt of more blood following suit. He was heaving in breaths as fast as he could, his hand holding the wound. The arrow head had done some muscular damage and he wouldn't be able to move as easily. Using a bit of magic, his fires sealed the wound, to stop the blood, but not before the drow started coming. He went to move to the side, his body a bit stiffer on the right side and so more vulnerable for hits. Left hand went up and pressed out, hoping to catch the drow on fire this time in the wall that expanding out from his palm, not really able to focus all his power into engulfing the male this time.
Zalctor did not smirk as his arrow met his mark, the burn was too horrid to think joyfully, the wound really seemed nearly crippling, only pure rage kept him going. His stride was fast, for Zal's legs weren't wounded, his breathing came even, he knew how to regulate such things. Then came the wall of fire, that was unexpected, "Damn wizards," He would saw through gritted teeth, feeling the flames slam into him, it felt nearly as hard as bricks. Zal forced his way through it, covering his face and continuing his run, he could feel his hair on fire, could feel his skin sizzling partially, goddamn that smarts, he would think to himself. The Drow quickly slid onto his back, feeling the sand shave into him; he would attempt to slide under the man's legs, crushing his dagger into the enemy's shin and using his momentum to pull him down. Once down, Zal would attempt to slam his elbow into the thing's face, hoping to knock him unconscious.
Slintora was hardly able to react how he normally would have in this situation. He would be happy save for the wound that was preventing proper movement. However he was at least able to grin when the burning drow came up to him. This was going to be easy finishing him off. That was until he slid down and knocked his leg out from under him, forcing him to fall. A bruise would form there quickly, but the blow to the face would not be allowed. He had brought up his arm to cover his head before the elbow could knock into him, the drow's blow slamming into his radius and hearing a loud crack, a loud shout in pain arising the pyromancer as his arm was partially broken. He would lie there and hold the arm to his chest, knowing that it would be a while before it healed, but the pain would be made bearable.
Zalctor cried in fury, he was in pain, and this beast had kidnapped Raziel once more, his fury was taking control of him. Zal's right fist clenched into a stone-hard fist, it flew through the air to slam into the beast's genitals, crushing inward with ferocity. As the scream would ensue from his enemy Zal quickly turned his shoulder to throw his left fist, coursing through the air to crack into Slintora's open mouth, chipping some teeth and cutting Zal's fist horribly. A swift jump brought Zal to his feet, where he would dig his foot under his enemy and flip him to his stomach, whereupon he would jump upon Slintora's back, and grab him by his hair. Biceps bulging to their fullest extent he would grind his enemy's face against the rough unforgiving sand, then slam his head until unconsciousness took him. "Don't ever, ever, touch her again; if you take her again I will kill you!" The Drow would shout, getting rather dizzy. Stumbling steps took him away from his enemy, going towards Raziel.
Raziel had been listening closely, her sonar humming used so that she could attempt to note all of the motions. The fire chains more than likely would've dissolved now that he was rather incapacitated. "Zal.." She'd go to him, wanting to give him a hug, but too afraid of hurting him, for her nose picked up heavily on the scent of burnt flesh and hair. "Let's get you home and healed, love. I'm so sorry." she'd cringe as her own wounds began to heal, so badly wishing that Zal could heal quicker like she can. These wounds would need tending to soon. "Thank you so, so much, dear."
Zalctor looked back at his unconscious enemy, growling as he shuffled towards him, dropping a leather skin full of water, he couldn't leave him to die. Once done the Drow went back to Raziel, seeing the chains, and growling, his hands grabbed her wrists and they both began to morph into the shadow realm, her arms blotching into a dark oily substances. Both quickly melted into the ground, the chains staying upright, but Raziel gone, they would both travel quickly away, towards the house once more. Zal needed healed, bad.
Raziel allows Zalctor to take her into the shadow realm, a feeling of guilt washing over her. She'd not leave Zal's side until she made sure he's healed up, unless it was to get away in her wolf form... As it sometimes wasn't safe. She really has to learn to hide better...