RP:Rivals Clash Part 2

From HollowWiki


Dergious emerges from shadows that undulate and swirl like a mist. He stops and observes the stinking elf, noting the newly acquired equipment. "Awww, did sumbody gives ye sum new toys?" he sneers as he steps closer. He nods at the work, "Reasonably fashioned." He observes aloud, "Too bad it be dat inferior, shallow ore dem stinkin mountain dwarfs be able te be gettin te."

Aelfulf is indeed garbed in new armor, polished to shine quite nicely in the moonlight. Disgust and hatred wrinkles his face as Dergious appears, and the paladin clutches his short sword. "It will suit my needs for now, and you can be sure that this blade won't break as easily. Have you come to relinquish the sword?"

Dergious still strides easily, moving as if to inspect the back of the breastplate. "Ye gots no claim te it, s'far as I can be seein." he says in a calming, easy voice. "Ye know, I be sure dat topside dis wud be considered... adaquate."

Aelfulf spins, not allowing the duergar to catch him with his back turned. "It is an artifact of my people, and sacred to us alone. That gives me more claim to it that you, you wretched worm." His sword is out now, sliding free from the leather scabbard with a soft whisking sound. "Shall we try again? I won't fail a second time."

Dergious does not reveal the sword as he had last night, but instead reveals a wicked looking blade. It is black and jagged, and it does not glint in the moon light. It's raking, metallic screach as it is freed from it's own scabbard cuts the night, in stark contrast to the elf's more... refined ring. A grin splits his face as he sets an equally dark morningstar in motion until it is a blur of black violence. "Boy, ye needs more den outrage te be takin me on."

Aelfulf settles into the crouch of a trained swordsman, gladius held pointed toward his enemy. "I've more skill and power in my little finger than you have in your entire, louse-ridden body," he growls, and lunges. This time, he puts more thought into his onslaught, perhaps because the tainted sword is not there in front of him, distracting him. With the lithe grace of his kind, he twists to one side, the hard sttel point of his sword flickering out, lightning fast, toward Dergious' shoulder, intending to puncture the arm holding the morningstar.

Dergious spins, moving the morning star's spinning chain and head into the path of the oncoming sword, though not quickly enough. The shortsword strikes true, bloodying the dwarf's arm, before the chain strikes it and sends both arm and blade skyward. The dwarf grunts but ignores the pain and activates a rink on one of his stubby fingers. He is suddenly filled with a surge of unbelievable strength. He steps forward and drives his shoulder towards the knight's midsection, trailing blood across the ground as he does so. Combined with a ogre's strength, the dwarf's charge is fast and perhaps deadly.

Aelfulf very nearly loses his grip on the sword, but instead is sent stumbling back, away from his foe. As Dergious charges, the elf sidesteps, taking the blow as a clip on his shoulder, rather than a full-on assault. He spins, the force of the duergar's charge nearly dislocating his arm. Snarling in rage, he attacks with renewed effort, surging after Dergious as swiftly as he can. Again the sword lashes out, this time aimed toward the other arm, at its elbow joint.

Dergious curses as he is thrown off balance and stumbles forward. He hears rapid steps coming towards his exposed back and grins. Fighting blind was second nature to him. Instead of trying to steady himself, he leans further forward and speeding up his suddenly reckless charge towards a shadowed section of wall. The darkness deepens as he approaches, and reaches out towards him. Aelfulf's shining sword plunges into the darkness a heartbeat after the last of the dwarf's back. The sword's light is extinguised within the black, which seems almost a liquid that hangs iin the air. The sword meets resistance, but it is unclear what the direct results are. A moment passesl, and then the dwarf's voice booms in the air. "Come on den, sapling!" sounds the enormous, measured growl. "See whut'cher made uf!" At the last, two blurs of shadow fire from the dark wall and move intelligently towards the paladin. It is clear they move of their own accord and seek to bury themselves in the man's soft flesh.

Aelfulf seems completely unprotected as the dark blades jet toward his body. He lifts his free arm as if that alone will save him. The very second the weapons arrive, a blinding light appears, forming a circular shape, as if a shield of pure light rests on the paladin's arm. The blades hit, causing spouts of bright flame, the explosion of pure chaos meeting pure order knocking the high elf back, wrenching his sword loose as well. What's left of it, anyway, for the gladius now ends abruptly halfway down the blade, glowing red-hot at the melted end. Dazed, Aelfulf struggles to his feet, desperately casting about for something to use as a weapon.

Dergious is slammed against the wall behind him, dazed and shocked at he uncanny reaction that had occurred. Dergious was not a cowardly man, but he certainly was a careful one. The unknown is simply dangerous. Vowing to meditate upon the matter, the now vastly reduced (and now natural looking) shadows once again reach out to him, almost caress him until he is shrouded. The darkness ebbs, and then wafts away like mist upon the wind. the dwarf was gone.

Aelfulf spits out a very foul curse, revealing his nautical past. Tossing the now useless hilt aside, he stalks off down the street, rubbing his sore shoulder.