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The Lioness and the Longknife

Started by Rhindeer, July 29, 2015, 09:11:12 PM

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Rhindeer

[ @DaGlobster !]

It was to be a non-lethal match, so there was that.

A non-lethal match, so no one had to die today. It would be a smaller crowd than the bloodsports, but there would still be a big turnout as usual--this was one of the most popular forms of entertainment in Essyrn, after all--and though Yasmin technically no longer had a master, considering he was dead, she had been tasked with the fun duty of keeping up appearances. You know, pretending Master Dearest was still actually alive by coming to these matches on schedule, like a good little slave.

Today, she'd be facing some guy called The Longknife. A volunteer gladiator, apparently, sort that did it for the money and not because he had no choice. She'd heard his name floating around the Colosseum before, and had decided the moment she heard he was to be her opponent that she was going to grind his face into the sand.

Maybe make him eat some while she was at it. Stick it up his nose. Make him shit sand for weeks.

Volunteer her black ass. She felt sorry for her fellow slaves, who were stuck in a situation they had no say in. But the volunteers, the ones who did it for shits and giggles and profited...now those were the ones she genuinely had it out for. She didn't normally think herself a vengeful person, but she got some small satisfaction whenever those ones failed.

Yasmin was at the Colosseum, but she was a bit early. Way early. Some of Karime's (rest in pieces!) servants had delivered her there the night before so she could prepare and practice and ready herself. And sleep in her crappy old cell in her crappy old bed. Now, with a bit under an hour until the match, she did her warm-up stretches and went through some drills, practicing a few maneuvers with her scimitar and hacking up a dummy.

Not that she'd be hacking up mister Longknife. These matches generally only went 'til first blood.

And damn if she wasn't out for his. Maybe some part of her was itching for a fight.

The last few days had been stressful, though, and for all that she hated this business...at least it was something she knew.

She gave the dummy a vicious slash across its "belly" and straw "guts" poured out. "Oh, I'm so sorry Mister Longknife!" she gasped, covering her mouth with her free hand. "Did that hurt? Whoops! Must have slipped."

She slashed at it again, this time severing an arm. "Oops! Slipped again!"

Its other arm joined its twin. "Butterfingers! Gosh. It's almost like it just--"

There went its leg.

"--keeps--"

And its other leg.

"--happening!"

Its head went soaring. Yasmin inhaled deeply and swiped the back of her hand over her sweaty brow. "Not so long anymore, are you, Longwife? Stupid moneygrubber." She impaled it with a quick thrust through its middle.
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

DaGlobster

Was it a scimitars and short swords kind of day? Or maybe even rapier and battleaxe. That was a combo he hadn't used in a while.

Juras looked intently at his wall of weapons, each representing a style mastered, and several foes conquered. He was eating some eggs he'd prepared for breakfast, sitting at a table that faced it. It was truly the most valuable wall in the small, second-floor flat he called home. He wasn't living as extravagant a life as one would expect, but his place was at least decent. Decent looking, clean, and tidy.

Really, his bed was the only thing he'd splurged on. The rest of his money was saved, in case of Gods know what.

He set his fork down, having come to a decision. Khopeshes and a greatsword? Definitely! He finished his breakfast, and got himself geared out. His armor was light as all hell, little more than pauldrons, elbow and knee plates, gauntlets, and a helmet. He kept his upper body bare to display those countless scars on his body, but his lower body was protected from scrapes and cuts by leather pants.

He decked himself out in the usual fashion. Khopeshes and a greatsword as his primaries, and several secondaries. A short sword sheathed on his rear hip, punch daggers hidden in his bracers, and just a few regular daggers placed around his general person.

He set off to the arena, arriving just a half-hour before the scheduled fight.

Rhindeer

Practice finished, Yasmin got suited up: a light tunic, which was long enough to reach the tops of her knees, with light armor atop it--cingulum, manicae, and ocrea, with a small shield in the hand that didn't hold her scimitar. She wore a helmet, but no cuirass, for mobility and speed were her strength. Hopefully both would help her against this guy. She hadn't actually seen him in action, or even seen him at all, so she had no way of knowing what she was in for.

Guess she'd find out as soon as the portcullis opened.

Which it soon did.

Yasmin preferred simplicity, so today she was fighting with her trusty scimitar, shield, and a backup spear. Over the years, she had made it a point to get really good at just a couple weapons so as not to spread herself too thin over too many. Hopefully that, too, would help her here. Hopefully this "volunteer" was one of those showy ones that knew how to twirl a sword and not much else!

Once the portcullis opened, Yasmin trotted out into the arena and dropped her shield so she could blow the crowd kisses and salute them with her sword. She beamed up at them and waved, flexed here and there for shits and giggles, and spun in a small circle to see all of them--and hated this crowd less than the others. The energy was good, and at least these people were just here for fun and sport. At least these people weren't expecting any actual death.

As much as she hated to admit it, Yasmin did genuinely enjoy these matches, in some small way, and she wondered how much of it was genuine and how much of it was simply born of the relief of knowing she wouldn't have to add anymore tally marks to her tattooed fingers.

"I love you, too!" she shouted back to the cheers. "Don't worry, I'll kick his ass good!" And then she took up her shield again and looked to see just who she'd be up against.
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DaGlobster

Juras had spent the remaining half hour (and pretty much all of his time waiting behind the portcullis) thinking about his opponent.

Yasmin the Lioness: Slave gladiatrix. Fighting style? Efficient, quick. Very much like him, in a way. Age wise, he supposed they were equivalent. 53 was young for a half-elf, after all. he knew he had her beat in experience, but if there was one thing that experience taught, it was that rookies had a way of surprising you.

The portcullis rose, and Juras' eyes fell on his enemy, and nothing else. Sure, he walked out, gave the crowd its acknowledgement, but his eyes were only for Yasmin. He stood there, watching her, before falling to one knee, and taking up a handful of the arena's dirt. He stood back up, locked eyes with her, and let the sand drain out of his hand.

He drew a khopesh, twirled the blade a couple of times, and entered a ready stance.

Rhindeer

Once her opponent entered, Yasmin locked eyes with him and sized him up quite obviously. He was about her height, looked about her age, and his pointed ears betrayed him as something not quite human. Which, of course, begged the question of what he was, as that could significantly impact this fight. He drew a khopesh, but she noted other weapons on his person. Was he a dual-wielder? Then the shield had been a good idea today, indeed.

Hopefully he was one of those fools that thought playing with many weapons while mastering none was better than mastering one or two while not knowing many--but his pointy ears had her concerned. If he was of a long-lived race, he might not be such a fool, and could have her beat in age and experience despite his apparent youth.

She'd have to be careful with this one and just hope he was a cocky thrill-seeker like the others.

The signal was given for the opponents to salute, and Yasmin raised her sword to him at eye level and snapped it down to her side. Then she took a step back and slid into a ready stance, sword up, shield before her and slightly to the side and low, and advanced.

"I hope you know how to use that thing," she called to him, "or this is going to be a very short fight, Longwife."
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

DaGlobster

Juras smiled, brushing some of his hair out the way. He was only using a single khopesh, which left the other one and the greatsword at his disposal, should he feel the need to utilize them as well. Although he was a master of many styles, the single weapon and free hand were his preferred weapons.

So many underestimated the power of an empty hand.

"Longwife," Juras repeated.

"That's a new one."

He saluted her with his sword, and fell into a loose stance, limbs fluid and ready to snap into movement.

Rhindeer

"I like to stay original," Yasmin called with a sweet smile as she began to circle Juras. His stance and fluidity spoke of a quick fighter, so she'd have to be on her game. She often got paired against people bigger, stronger, but slower than her, and she knew how to use their weight and strength against them. Someone who was more on her level, though, would also more than likely know her tricks, too.

This would be interesting.

She darted in, swinging a quick slash for his arm, but it was truly only a feint. It was her shield he had to watch out for, and her shield she swung at him from the other side to try to bash into him.
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

DaGlobster

"That makes two of us."

His hand open, bouncing on the balls of his feet, Juras anticipated Yasmin's feint. He danced backwards, out of range of her sword, and when the shield came, he got out of the way entirely.

His foot snapped out, tip aimed at the soft spot behind Yasmin's knee.

Rhindeer

That staggered Yasmin and she stumbled, but she managed to catch herself and spin back around to face him. She smiled, teasing. "Hey. That's my trick!" she said, before she darted in again and ducked in low, swiping for his knees.
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

DaGlobster

"You're not the only one with tricks."

Juras once again hopped backwards to dodge her knee swipe. His hand flew to his wrist, where he had his throwing knives, and he sent one flying at Yasmin, right at her chest. Caught out of position by her swing, her only valid option would be to raise her shield to block, and considering where he was aiming, it'd block her vision, as well.

It was either that, or just dive onto the ground to avoid the knife, and against somebody as quick as Juras, that tactic would be suicide.

Juras watched keenly to see if she'd raise her shield or not, waiting to execute the next part of his move.


Rhindeer

The choice was obvious. Yasmin, who had not been expecting throwing daggers, had to block.

She swung her shield to her chest and the dagger thunked off the surface--but she didn't stay still. In the same moment, she retreated back several paces to put some distance between them.
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

DaGlobster

Juras followed his dagger in, using that moment where she lifted her shield to close the distance. His natural grace and agility got him up to her quick, and he sent a powerful straight kick towards Yasmin's raised shield, aiming to knock her onto her back, or at least stumble her.

Rhindeer

GAH!

He hit her shield, but Yasmin had her feet planted and braced. The blow hit hard and forced her another few steps back so she didn't lose her footing, and she swiftly side-stepped and rushed him, thrusting her shield at his face before swiping at him again, a quick, low slash toward his side.
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

DaGlobster

Yasmin caught his cheek with her shield, and as a result, he took a few tumbling steps backwards. His khopesh shot down to his side to deflect her sword, and he got out of her range yet again.

He smiled at her, and rubbed his cheek a bit. He drew his second khopesh, and he entered a new stance entirely. Swords moved fluidly, and the whole appearance of the stance gave off a defensive feel to it.

It was Essyrni by origin, so Juras was curious to see if Yasmin would recognize it.

Rhindeer

Yasmin recognized it, all right!

She scoffed, a smirk twisting her lips as she edged in closer. "Huh! So the pointy-earred foreigner's got some moves on him after all! Maybe. C'mon, Longwife! Show me what you've got going for you besides your pretty face--which I'm totally gonna mess up here if you're not careful!"

And then, eager to bring this bout to a close, she rushed him again--and threw her shield at him.

Right before she ducked low and aimed a swift slash for his legs.
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

DaGlobster

Of course, the style was Essyrni, but Juras also had a little of that elven grace sprinkled onto it as well!

Throwing his swords into a wheeling motion, Juras ducked under the shield as it came zinging at him. Cocking a sword up, he caught the shield using the inner curve of one of his khopeshes, and whirled it back around.

He brought the edge of the shield down into the sand, so it stuck up like a barrier right in the way of Yasmin's sword. He pushed forwards, and whipped his heel around to strike Yasmin right in the face.

Rhindeer

...Well played, sir.

Well played.


Those were Yasmin's thoughts as Juras's heel came crashing into her face, snapping her head back and sending her tumbling down to land flat on her ass in the sand. And that wasn't all that landed in the sand, for blood was pouring from her nose and leaving bright red dots against the gold even as she clutched her face with her other hand, and she let out a groan as she started to stagger back to her feet--

And wondered if a broken nose counted as first blood.
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

DaGlobster

Juras took a few steps back, wiping his heel off on the sand. That motion left a faint red streak on the sand, and Juras smiled.

It took the crowd a few moments to process what he'd done, but once it registered, they burst into ecstatic cheering. The fight organizer stood up from his seat in the private booth.

The Longknife was announced the winner by first blood.

Juras didn't seem to be paying attention to that, though. Instead, he approached Yasmin, and offered her a hand to help her stand.

"You fought well, Lionness."

Rhindeer

It was rather childish of Yasmin, but...

Sometimes, she couldn't help herself.

As soon as Juras got close enough to offer her his hand, Yasmin flashed him a bloody-mouthed smile and clasped his hand in hers. "Thanks, Longwife!" she said--

And promptly hooked both feet around both of his, and yanked them out from under him so he could join her in the sands.
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

DaGlobster

Juras might've allowed himself to be suckered into that maneuver, but at least his fall was graceful. He landed square on his back, but he played it off like it was intentional. When he landed, he had his hands behind his head, staring up at the empty blue sky.

The crowd had a laugh at it, so did Juras.

He flashed a look at her, face caught in a smirk.

"You done?"

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