Duel:The Crimson Mantis v Roald, Round 1, 2020 Hero of Freedom Championship
Duelists: The Crimson Mantis vs Roald Duel: Traditional 3 rounds with final defense, 15 minute posting limit. Stakes: Auto-hit to the winner. Loser gets a lovely cosmetic scar on their face. Judges: Lionel, Meri, Odhranos
Larket Arena
The arena, like the rest of the city of Larket under Jacklin and Parsithius' rule, has grown in size and splendor. The circular building's walls rise even higher now, to make room for the orderly rows of steps that ascend all the way up to the open top of the arena. Gladiatorial games still seem very popular among the citizens of Larket, for the building is rarely, if ever, empty. The floor is stone, covered with sand, that is replaced regularly to rid the area of the blood-soaked clumps that mark where a fighter has died. The gladiators seem to come in from doors that lead down, into barracks, while spectators file in from both north and south, moving along huge walkways that exit into the stands. The banner of Larket hangs over the arena, where the glory of the city is displayed daily.
Introduction Round
Quintessa || The Crimson Mantis stands on the railed edge of the arena with her arms crossed and her carmine cape billowing in the wind, revealing the red-tinted leather armor she wears beneath, corseted to show off her feminine form. A mithral sickle rests against each of her hips, attached to her belt as she silently stares down below. Upon her head she has equipped a leather cap, elongated in the front to conceal her identity behind a half-mask. The eyes of the mask are fitted with dark-tinted bubbled lenses, modeled to look like the insect she named herself after, and to match the pair of antennae that bounce in the breeze upon her head. When the time of her appointed duel draws closer, the changeling hops down into the arena proper, taking her place as Roald’s opponent with an emotionless expression pained upon her pale lips- the only part of her face anyone could see. Who was this mysterious woman, and what kind of abilities would she possess in this fight? Roald, and the people among the crowd, would at least discover the latter shortly.
Josleen :: Roald is excited. Since he was a boy he’s dedicated himself to martial sport. At 14, he became a squire to a knight in the Larktian army. Since then he’s become a knight himself and promoted to the Queensguard. He’s now 25 and has several wars and minor skirmishes decorating his military career. But Roald’s true passion is not founded in the military, but instead in his love of martial sport. On the battlefield, every attack must be composed of perfectly rehearsed movements. Experimentation could lead to death. But in a tournament, where the opponents are focused on non-lethal defeat, Roald can take risks, try new things, improvise. That joy puts a spring in his step, though truth be told the spring in his step primarily comes from his enchanted boots of springing which he uses in his aerial attacks. He wears a chainmail tunic, and thick leather pants and studded gauntlets in burnished gold and dark stone purple (a masculine homage to the Larketian colors). On each hip rests a decorative scabbard and long sword. On his left hip he has also secured a sai. Every good soldier prepares for battle by studying the enemy. Roald researched The Crimson Mantis as best he could, but no one had much to say about the masked contestant. He reached out to Wendell and Percival for scrying methods of espionage, but the Crimson Mantis is well protected by anti-scrying magics. Well, that’s information right there. She’s a magic user, of some sort. He has experience fighting magic wielders (mostly witches, but, uh, let’s leave politics out of sports, ok?). In the wings of the arena, he hops from one foot to the other to get his blood pumping as his squire re-secures his belt around his waist. Finally! A chance to test some sick new moves he’s used during sparring sessions in the Fort, but never tested in actual combat. The cheer of the crowd electrifies him. He lifts his chin in a sportsman’s greeting at his opponent across the field. Bring it, Mantis. This is going to be one hell of a show.
Environmental Challenge
The Jade Wisp Fern is Queen Josleen’s pride and joy in Larket’s botanical gardens. Carefully cultivated from another land, the magical plant has been brought to the arena to serve as this match’s environmental challenge. The fae that lives within the plant, with its connections to the dream realm, has been bargained with and in exchange for an unlucky few to be trapped in its domain permanently, the fae has brought the dream realm to Lithrydel. Reality warps and the arena seemingly leaves Larket as the sky turns red and darkness surrounds all, leaving only the torches in the arena to light the way. Will-o’-wisps filter out from the shadows, beckoning the fighters into the darkness where their eidolon masters wait for their meal, their lights enchanting, memorizing. Do not resist the dead lights for long; the nightmare creatures are hungry and will come for you themselves.
Duel
Quintessa || The Crimson Mantis levels both of her dire sickles out to her sides, the curved, mithril blades glimmering brilliantly like crescent moons as the spellblade passively channels her arcane energies into the weapons. She offers Roald a simple, neutral smirk before the woman lowers herself down and starts into a sprint, her cape unfurling like a pair of insect wings as she seeks to meet the Queensguardsman head on. The Crimson Mantis had crossed blades with him once before, at the pass in Xalious, and had noted his skill despite his youthful appearance. Quintessa, of all people, knew that age could be as deceptive of a guise as the leather mask she now wore over her face, and she would not be caught underestimating him, nor would she allow her fellow denizens from the nightmare realm to lure her into an untimely grave. However, even as the hag-borne girl dashes for the human before her, the monsters in the pitch darkness take notice, drawn in by the mystical aura that swirls around the changeling as she prepares a spell. "Ignis," the changeling mutters stoically, her sickles lighting aflame to leave behind her a trail of fire before she flicks the twin blades over in the direction of Roald and swings them both in a 'X' formation. A deep, scarlet inferno mirroring the same motions blasts forth, threatening to immolate the knight as the Mantis follows closely behind, planning on cutting the lad off if he managed to avoid it. The spellblade's crimson boots skid against the ground as she halts at Roald's side, one curved blade aiming to hook around his throat as the other arcs low for his legs, attempting to sweep him off his feet and slam him to the ground on his back with enough force to knock the air from his lungs. If this trip attempt was successful, Quintessa would not fight with honor, instead bringing both dire sickles together before crashing them down upon his chain shirt, hoping to hook into the circular links and rend the protective armor from his torso and cast it aside in a ruined heap. With her charge complete she takes a few steps backwards, the Crimson Mantis adopting a defensive pose with the twin crescents still steaming as her left sickle is held between them and her right hovers out to her side, ready to counter-attack whatever answer Roald had for her flaming onslaught. Unfortunately for her, Quintessa does not yet notice the tentacled monstrosity that heaves itself from the blackness to stalk the disguised magical girl from behind…
Josleen :: Roald may have perhaps overestimated the non-lethal part of this tournament. Wisps and hungry ghosts pose a greater threat than he expected, but the challenge only serves to boost his adrenaline. As Quintessa charges across the darkened arena, Roald has plenty of time to both arm just his right hand with a longsword, and decide how to dodge the attack. The fiery scythes and the flames that leap before Quintessa illuminate his target beautifully. He can’t miss her. Recognizing an opening feint when he sees one (and a very expertly crafted one at that), Roald leaps high with his springing boots, 15 feet into the air so that neither Quintessa’s blades nor flames can reach him. As he lands behind Quintessa, his sword stabs towards her left flank, but here Roald makes a feint of his own. There is a slight delay, just long enough for Quintessa to turn around and parry the low attack and expose her throat so that his gauntleted left hand can chop right at her throat, hopefully collapsing the spellcaster’s windpipe long enough to prevent her from firing off another spell. Just as he’s about to unsheath his second sword, the tentacled monster behind Quintessa, who is now behind him, lashes out at Roald’s right ankle. Honed reflexes have Roald kicking off his boot, which is also enchanted for quick removal. His left springing boot sends him flying up 4 feet and to the side another 6 feet to avoid the rest of the monster’s attacks. Damn, he’s down one boot and can now only rely on the left foot’s enchantment for jumping. It just won’t be enough. It’s alright. He remains calm. He’s got this.
Quintessa cannot contain the dissatisfied frown that robs her of the arrogant smirk as Roald leaps into the air, the changeling spinning around quickly so that she does not lose sight of him. The changeling is ready to deflect, to parry the feint as the knight expected, but the the eldritch horror that growls behind him dispossesses Quintessa of her focus, allowing the simple attack to sink into her flesh before her hooked blade moves to block the chop to her throat instead, catching his wrist as she raises her booted heel to Roald’s chest to kick him in the direction of the tentacled monster. The Crimson Mantis hisses in pain as the blood drips from her new wound, decorating the ground in the same color as her namesake as she stumbles a few steps backwards. The woman shakes off the sting, focusing on her opponent as she brings her twin sickles up into a defensive position again, her mana expunging itself through her hands as she slowly exhales the word, "Fulgur." Electricity begins to immediately spark out from the center of her crescentic weapons, tinted a vermillion color as the scent of ozone emits from the focal point of her spell, filling the air with its unique smell. Hindered by her injuries, Quintessa is slower to continue her assault than she was at the start of the match, but she musters her willpower in order to swing her sickles in Roald's direction, small bolts of crimson lightning snaking out to meet the Kingsguardsman at the peak of her arcs as he dodges the nightmare beast, seeking out his conductive metal chains. One, two, three, four, flourishes are made, the mysterious woman twisting and turning in an elaborate dance as she continues to inch backwards, putting more distance between the lass and lad as a crescendo of small thunderclaps chase after the shocking barrage, the sonic waves adding a secondary effect to the changeling's deafening magical assault. If Quintessa must complete with monsters for her victory, she might as well use their interference to her advantage.
Josleen :: Roald’s wrist is spared from serious injury by the studded armor gauntlets. One of his attacks landed, but not the one he wanted and he pays the price in Quintessa’s next spell. Upside: It’s another spell that brings a bright light into the darkened arena, thereby betraying Quintessa’s position. Downside: Electricity. He dodges to the left and forward as he charges towards Quintessa at an angle to avoid the very visible chain lightning, swords open at either side of him. But the lightning is faster than his reflexes, and the electric current singes his right ear. It blisters and bleeds profusely and he is deafened in that ear, yet another disadvantage in a darkened arena. Roald continues charging, one foot bare, the other boot deactivated. That’s when the sonic boom hits him. He’s flipped backwards, feet over his head, and activates his boot mid flip so that when he tumbles it connects with the floor first, and sends him flying up four feet. His body is racked with pain. The chainmail jingles as it slowly settles back into place over his bruised ribs. Time to use the darkness to his advantage. With Quintessa still aglow, and he in darkness, he springs towards her in a series of one-footed, silent hops, never letting his barefoot touch the ground. He crosses the distance in a series of zigzagging, silent jumps until he’s close enough to jump one final time, and this time, instead of touching back down to the ground, the sole of his foot aims right at Quintessa’s head to pummel her backwards with both Roald’s physical strength and the enchanted force of the boot itself. Magic meet magic, Mantis!
Quintessa || The Crimson Mantis is tempted to tap into her dark powers as Roald retreats into the darkness, to twist the dreamscape to her whims, but she is aware doing so would undoubtedly give her identity away, something she wants to avoid at all costs. Ignoring her mother's haggish gift limits her abilities, but Quintessa is still a spellblade, she still has plenty of spells at her disposal without using the dark arts, one that immediately pops to the forefront of her mind. The changeling struggles to keep up with the lad’s zig-zagging movements, her blood trickling down her leg as she slowly pivots, trying not to let him or the lurking creature that drags itself closer out of her sight, but dividing her attention this way is a mistake she soon pays for. Spotting Roald emerging from the darkness to curb stomp her head, Quintessa braces herself and shouts the incantation "Solis!" placing a mage-light above the Queensguardmen’s head, providing a spotlight for the eldritch abomination only a split second before the impact of the magical boot sends the changeling flying away from them, her body bouncing lifelessly against the ground as she loses consciousness for a couple of seconds. The Mantis’s entire world is spinning when she comes too, forcing herself to push her battered torso from the arena floor to gaze upon the knight. Dizzy and disoriented, Quintessa only barely manages to get to her feet to prepare a new assault, but she doesn’t get the chance. With a wide, sweeping arc aiming to crush Roald, the nightmare beast swings a mass of knotted tentacles downward at him with enough force to smash him, and the arena floor beneath him to pieces, drawn in by the mystic spotlight Quintessa had provided it. Even so, the changeling expects Roald to somehow avoid this, and begins to channel her magic once more, her twin sickles vibrating as they absorb her arcane energies.
Josleen :: Roald flips backward off Quintessa’s smashed face as the magelight sticks to him like gum. As Mantis flies backwards away from Roald, he sees on the floor the shadows of the tentacles, shadows cast by the magelight and the will-o-wisps. In that split second he realizes two things: 1. the tentacled horror is right behind him, and 2. he doesn’t have enough time to turn around and parry. Instead, as the tentacles come up over his head, he throws himself onto his back, head towards the horror, and blasts his springing boot into the floor to send himself surfing on the sandy arena ground right under the eldritch beast’s belly to come out clean on the other side. The tentacles manage to just miss the toes of his bare foot, smashing the ground beneath it with a bone-rattling crunch. He quickly pops onto his feet as the horror turns around, screaming an ear-splitting plume of disorienting gas into his face (he’s a little glad he’s deaf in one ear, but now he’s deaf in both). Roald stumbles backwards as his sight blurries, but his muscle memory saves him from a second tentacled attack. He parries the tentacles and jumps to the side then forward again towards the Crimson Mantis, this time with the eldritch monster hot on his tail. As he moves, he realizes the magelight is stuck to his chainmail shirt, not his flesh. He drops his off-hand sword as he charges towards Quintessa, his vision and mind refocusing as the gas’s effect fades, and his free hand pulls the chainmail tunic off his body in the one fluid movement all jocks have mastered (ladies, peep them abs). He flings the magelit chainmail at Mantis, hoping they ensnare on her sickles. He shouts at the horror, “Fetch!”
Quintessa || The air around the Crimson Mantis begins to chill, dropping in temperature rapidly as she prepares to ice the competition. Roald was fighting well, and had put Quintess through more abuse than she had bargained for, but she was done being his punching bag. "Glacies," she mutters, the ground all around her becoming slick with translucent, scarlet hued ice, materializing quickly to encapsulate the injured spellblade in a protective dome. As her conceited nature returns to the changeling, so too does her smirk, her breath visible in the chilly air as she begins to laugh knowing that swords and magical kicks were no match for her wall of ice... But Quintessa has managed to miss one important factor; The glowing chainmail that is cast right into her dome of ice to hang delicately upon one of her curved blades. "Oh shi-" Quintessa is knocked to her butt as her sphere of ice is impacted by the tentacled horror, the monstrosity ramming into the crimson ice with the same force it delivered to the arena floor only seconds before. The massive appendages wrap tightly around the changeling’s protective dome, constricting and cracking the ice faster than Quintessa can reinforce it. Knowing she will be crushed to death if she cannot do something quick, she shakes the chainmail from her sickle and utters the phrase “et conlidam in ea…” Her wall of red-tinted ice begins to vibrate as her weapons had before, contributing to the cracks and splinters that grow like a crude spiderweb all along it- but this was the odd girl’s plan. “Intermissum!” she screams to complete her spell, shattering her barrier and causing the shards of razor sharp ice to lacerate the tentacled monster, massive limbs and other bits shooting out all around the arena and into the crowd. Knowing an easier meal can be found elsewhere, the injured beast retreats back into the darkness and Quintessa steps out of the gore, both sickles still in her hands as she stumbles in the direction of Rolad to finish this fight- win or lose.
Winner: The Crimson Mantis
Auto-Hit Round
Quintessa finally catches her breath as she moves forward, picking up speed to offer once last charge at her opponent before she ends this once and for all. Even with her injured leg, the changeling moves with inhuman agility, lowering herself down to ram her shoulder right into the stomach of the now unarmored torso of the knight. As Roald doubles over from the impact, The Crimson Mantis slides behind him, allowing one of her sickles to clatter to the ground as she grabs a fist full of his hair and places a foot firmly behind his knees. “This was fun, cutie,” she whispers to him, using the same cruel voice he might have recognized from their altercation in the mountains. “But I prefer men to be on their knees.” With a swift kick she forces the Kingsguardsman down, her sickle brought up to his throat as she eyes the audience, giving them a show and vying for their approval. For a second it looks like the Mantis is actually about to execute the lad, the roar of the crowd only fueling her bloodlust, but with a playful smirk she lifts her hooked blade away a slashes across his face instead, leaving a gruesome wound stretching from his cheekbone under his eye, diagonal through his lips, and down through to his chin. Adding insult to injury, she throws the man forward onto the ground, her sickle lofted into the air in a victory pose, complete with her fingers making a ‘V’ for the crowd. “Don’t worry,” she shoots back at Roald. “The ladies love scars.”