[Nexus] The Hunting Grounds 2: Murdering is Magic

[Morty]

Mountains ~ They're what Bilbo wants to see...

Aric strides up the steep slope of the mountain when he happens to see a man walking along as well. Being the man he is, Aric decides upon a stealthy approach...Hello there! Fancied a trip to the Grounds as well, I see. Care for a duel?

Wenomir looks up at the man.

"If you think you can provide a challenge for me, certainly."

[Aric Kale]

Aric laughs! I certainly hope so. But first, introductions, my name is Aric Kale. And you are?

[Morty]

[Mountains]

"Wenomir Rawicz of Watchtower," the swordsman says with a nod.

[Aric Kale]

Mountains ~ A friendly duel.

Aric gives a slight bow and shrugs his shield off of his shoulder.
A pleasure, I'm sure. Need you make any preparations or are you ready? The spearman stands in a relaxed position, but Wenomir should be able to tell that Aric has some experience underneath his belt. Also, if he cares to see and has any skill at reading faces, he'll notice that despite Aric's friendly demeanor lies a deep sadness in his eyes...

[Morty]

[Mountains]

Wenomir draws his sword and adopts the plow guard, holding the sword in front of him diagonally. He notices that Aric is experienced but not that he hides sadness.

"Ready as I can be."

[Aric Kale]

Mountain Duel

Aric keeps his friendly expression, stepping forward and to the left, seeking to gain the higher ground. His shield stays low, ready to block an attack to the legs.

)(Btw, I didn't say he was inexperienced. It'd be best not to proceed as if he is.)(

[Morty]

[Mountain Duel]

((I have no idea how "experienced" became "inexperienced" between my brain and the keyboard.))

Hm, a shield and a spear. Wenomir can see that he'll have trouble getting through Aric's defence with his longsword. His best bet is to close the distance quickly and get too close for his opponent to attack with the spear, then strike before he can withdraw.

Therefore, Wenomir steps forward in a quick, fluid motion, shifting to his right slightly so as to evade the spear, and aims a quick, short-range chop at Aric's head. Not hard enough to deal any real damage of course.

[Aric Kale]

Mountains Duel

)(Haha! S'all good. No harm done.)(

Aric smiles brightly, he finally gets to face off against a proper human! He drops and rolls forward and to the left, just barely evading Wenomir's blade. Assuming he doesn't get stopped halfway through, he'll attempt to leap up; now behind the swordsman.

[Morty]

[Mountain Duel]

Wenomir nimbly turns around, swinging his sword in a wide arc at the height of Aric's head. He also tries to take a step in his direction, once more in order to close his distance.

[Dark Elf Bard]

[Jungle]

Spreagadh laughs softly, ducking her head around the drow's shoulder to smile impishly at her.

"Hunting, of course! What else? And thank you, too... I'm glad you find me appealing as well."

She blushes blue. I'm here for that too... part to provide for my family, but I can't say I don't enjoy it.

She puts away her kukri, assured that Spreagadh isn't a threat to her.

[Lady Serpentine]

She blushes blue. I'm here for that too... part to provide for my family, but I can't say I don't enjoy it.

She puts away her kukri, assured that Spreagadh isn't a threat to her.

"Oh? Interesting... Would you care to hunt together, then?", Spreagadh asks, a curious, but hard to pinpoint, inflection on the next-to-last word, though it could just be the vaguely Irish accent she has. "We can probably get much more that way, after all...", she goes on, going to wrap her arms around Valeria's waist as she does.

[Aric Kale]

[Mountain Duel]

Wenomir nimbly turns around, swinging his sword in a wide arc at the height of Aric's head. He also tries to take a step in his direction, once more in order to close his distance.

Mountain Duel

Aric raises his shield, preparing to block the sword blow as he takes a step to the side, aiming his spear at Wenomir's torso.

[Morty]

[Mountain Duel]

Wenomir twists his hips, dodging out of the way of the spear, then brings his sword down, trying to push the spear down towards the ground.

[Aric Kale]

Mountain Duel

Wenomir successfully forced Aric's spear down. However, while doing so, Aric attempts to shield bash his opponent. Not hard enough to do any lasting damage, of course...

[Morty]

[Mountain Duel]

Wenomir is bashed with Aric's shield and staggers backwards slightly, enough to remove his sword from the spear. He immediately assumes a defensive stance again.

[Aric Kale]

Mountain Duel

Ahaha! Aric moves on the offensive; using swift, short jabs to keep his opponent off balance, always staying just out of sword range. He aims mostly for the torso.

[Morty]

[Mountain Duel]

Instead of facing Aric's attack, Wenomir dodges to his right, tumbles and stands up in a quick and fluid move, then immediately attacks with a quick overhead chop, hoping that Aric won't have time to move his shield or spear quickly enough to respond.

[Aric Kale]

Mountain Duel

Aric chuckles as his opponent seeks to out manoeuvre him. For the most part, Wenomir is successful but Aric was purposefully staying just out of sword range, allowing him to leap aside. This puts him slightly off balance. If the swordsman presses the attack, Aric will have no counterattack and will be forced to defend.

[Morty]

[Mountain Duel]

Wenomir does indeed press the attack, trying to hit Aric before he can get his defences in order. He knows that he will have trouble getting through otherwise.

[Aric Kale]

Mountain Duel

Well, Aric finds himself in a spot of trouble. He raises his shield, attempting to block Wenomir's attacks as he backs into a tree!

[Dark Elf Bard]

"Oh? Interesting... Would you care to hunt together, then?", Spreagadh asks, a curious, but hard to pinpoint, inflection on the next-to-last word, though it could just be the vaguely Irish accent she has. "We can probably get much more that way, after all...", she goes on, going to wrap her arms around Valeria's waist as she does.

The drow blushes even more! How is this even possible?!?!?! That's a g-good idea. I mean, if you're okay with that. H-having a partner is always safe.

Spreagadh is obviously going to fluster Valeria to death soon.

[Lady Serpentine]

The drow blushes even more! How is this even possible?!?!?! That's a g-good idea. I mean, if you're okay with that. H-having a partner is always safe.

Spreagadh is obviously going to fluster Valeria to death soon.

((Except when your partner is a faerie succubus. Though she's not actually going to be all evil and life-drainy this time around... ))

"Of course I am. Why would I have suggested it were I not?" , she asks quietly, chuckling a bit."And please, relax... If you get any more flustered, you'll be so tense I could use you as a spare string for my bow!", she teases gently, squeezing Valeria against herself for a few moments, and kissing the drow's cheek.

Perhaps. Not her intent, but still...

[Morty]

Mountain Duel

Well, Aric finds himself in a spot of trouble. He raises his shield, attempting to block Wenomir's attacks as he backs into a tree!

Wenomir's sword bounces off the shield. He brings it back to bear quickly and attempts a quick slash just above the shield. The tree behind Aric means his manoeuvres might become harder.

[Aric Kale]

Mt. Duel

Aric can't move backwards, and the sides aren't look to promising, so he slips his feet from under himself and drops, hoping to see Wenomir's blade imbedded in the tree trunk.

[Morty]

[Mountain Duel]

Aric's manoeuvre works and Wenomir's sword gets briefly stuck in the tree. He wastes valuable moments getting it out.

[Aric Kale]

Mr. Duel

Valuable moments which Aric will use by attempting to leg sweep Wenomir.

[Morty]

[Mountain Duel]

Wenomir has his legs sweeped from under him and falls to the ground he then raises his hand.

"Alright, I yield. In a real fight, I would be dead now."

[Aric Kale]

Mountain

Aric stands, offering a hand to Wenomir, Thank ye, that was quite the challenge. You kept me on my toes.
Well, I have had much luck finding magic items, so I'll be off. It was a pleasure meeting you. Unless Wenomir indicates further conversation to be made, Aric will travel to whatever constitutes as the border to The Hunting Grounds and leave. Despite his apparent lack of success, there's a definite spring in his step.

[Morty]

[Mountain]

"A reward is probably going to show up for you soon," Wenomir says as he sheathes his sword. "It's how this place works. Unless it doesn't work with non-lethal duels."

[Aric Kale]

Mountain

Further conversation.
]Ah, my first encounter didn't end in death, but a companion. My second ended in a death with no reward, and my third ended in my death...
I'm unsure as to my ability to defeat the creatures here, they are quite varied...

On second thought, Aric could spend a little more time here, at least until he's earned something for his troubles...