[1x1] Poison and Blood (Shikoba & Eisheth)

[santime]

It was a small spot of land Eisheth fell in love with a couple of days ago. It was clear, and what's more important, it wasn't a popular place to hang out: the perfect place to have some training. As much as the alchemist desired an actual battle or a sparring, she realized most of horsemen have other business to do these days; her chance might be War clansmen, but she hadn't any acquaintances among War. She had of new things to study at the moment, but she was quite positive just studying wouldn't really drive her forward: good spirit only lives in a good body, correct?.. Well. Eisheth just really felt the lack of physical training.

She placed herself in front of the plant she grew earlier and summoned her weapon, the Hell's Welder. If everything goes well, she would manage to cut each of the leaves from the first try without getting closer: Eisheth was a stern believer in a middle-ranged combat. Anyway, if your opponent gets closer... the alchemist always has a pair of aces in the hole: the poison in her case. Specializing on the poisons for most of her life, the alchemist was quite certain in her creation, the Firefly, but the actual combat was what she was worried about.

She calmed herself preparing for the first attack.

Ol-j-man

Sorry for such a triviality: nothing better came in mind biggrin Whatever appearance you're thinking for Shikoba would be great! heart

 

[medigel]

Destruction. Wrath. The unique sound of a cry of help being drowned out by blood accumulating in its throat. These were things Shikoba knew and knew all too well.

Plants, however, were a very different matter altogether. At best he knew which ones produced the dye necessary for body art and several common specimens that could be consumed. Otherwise they were a mess of color, leaves, and insects he let well alone. It was Fate's design that the executioner was in the area, bow and arrow stung across his back but with no kills to call his own. Today had been a day of tracking and scouting, though - a test of willpower, that he could contain himself and his more violent impulses. A hard test.

In passing he glanced at the alchemist as he pushed some hair back from his face, blinking at her target. "Are all flowers so dangerous as to approach them with your weapon in hand?" he couldn't help but ask.

santime

I am so, so sorry about the delay. The meta got to me as well as my job. @A@

 

[santime]

Eisheth physically felt someone's presence, and a very next moment she was addressed.

What the Queen was that? She raised her head to examine the intruder: a mountain of a man, brutal, strong, masculine, with the calm and careless power of an experienced mature warrior, his body covered with paintings, with no doubts it was a War Horseman. Eisheth couldn't help to admit he was fabulous, his very presence emanated virility and power. Though, the alchemist wasn't exactly happy for their sudden meeting: she hated being disturbed. And he clearly was disturbing.

"No", she replied with defiance. "But some intruders into others business might make a better target. If you're sure you can make it better than a plant, of course". Eisheth smiled. She wasn't trying to be aggressive in any way, but more likely competitive. After all, this War dude was too strong, too masculine, and too cool for her to miss the chance to kick his a**. They could speak out all the formalities later.

Ol-j-man

Don't worry, it's ok! smile I just wanted to finish it before the end of the month for us to participate in the raffle razz

 

[medigel]

"Anything is better than a plant," Shik pointed out with a raised brow. Upon closer examination of who he was speaking to, however, he realized he was speaking to someone form Famine - the bones were a dead give away, pun unintended. Those particular horsemen always did have a sort of fascination with their deadly flora . . . He wondered if she'd come across those sapping vines in the forest yet. "But if you lack entertainment, I don't mind providing."

After all, what was a day for an executioner without spilling some blood?

He lingered just enough to trace the strange markings on the horsemen's hands and head, curious. They were nothing at all like the ones he had administered to himself, far more intricate in their beauty. He would most certainly have to ask after them once their spar was finished. For now, Shik gestured for her to come, moving towards the empty space he had just been trying to pass through until he turned and planted his feet.

"When you are ready, then."

santime

 

[santime]

"Very well. Let's see how would you best the plant then", she grinned.

Stepping closer to him, Eisheth took a detailed look on her opponent trying to distract herself from his glowing virility, and analyze what she was seeing. Tan. Very tall, and generally big, but not a gram of unnecessary weight, he probably would be fast enough, when it comes to the battle, especially with such long legs. Although, he looked fast enough, her chance might be her Hell's Welder: the extended weapon should certainly have some benefits in melee fight.

She also noticed his body was covered with paintings and bandages, but having zero knowledge of War attributes, she wasn't sure what they might depict. Was he a soldier? Or a chieftain? Those were two only War ranks she heard about. For a moment Eisheth wondered why hadn't clans interacted more closely before the destruction of the isles, if they were having the same goal: it surprised how little she actually knew about clans other than Famine.

Ol-j-man

 

[medigel]

She seemed to be giving him the first move and, not one to question, Shik took the opportunity and nocked an arrow to the string, eyeing the horsemen down the shaft. "I doubt the plants can fly," he said before, after a moment of tensed legs, he leapt into the air, sliding his aim downward to fire off at her feet. A beginning shot without much penetrating power. Shik was most curious to see how Famine fought, having already been to deduce Conquest's movements.

What weapons did Famine favor again? Something with reach, but not quite like Conquest's long range, he thought . . .

HP: 40
Damage: 1

santime

 

[santime]

..and he literally flied. That was unexpected: most of Famine horsemen were not able to fly, well, most of them didn't have wings, in the first place, and the few who had, like Kiwi, had just rudiment wing bones. Eisheth blamed the climate of her island: with almost no wind there wasn't any good opportunities for their wings to develop.

So, she completely forgot about that, and therefore missed the first blow. Pity. The alchemist summoned the Hell's Welder, a chain with the sharp blade on the end, but her flying opponent was too fast.

"Though, some plants do feed on flying insects", she couldn't help remarking.

HP: 39/40
Damage: FAIL crying

Ol-j-man

*fails at dice* I enclosed the weapon reference in case Shikoba wants to study it, it's from Gaia item xp

 

[medigel]

"You wound me." He fitted another arrow but only lightly drew the arrow back this time - he would have let loose, but the introduction to his opponent's weapon gave him pause. From his vantage point in the air, Shik could see that it coiled about her arm and had what looked like a bestial mouth, but further detail was lost with distance.

Not something he wanted to entangle with at close range by what little looks he got, though. He remained in the air and at last let the arrow go to test the strange weapon's capabilities, aiming for the horseman's chest.

HP: 40
Damage: Herp

santime

Ooo o3o

 

[santime]

Did she really hit him? Eisheth wasn't sure, but something told her she didn't. Perhaps, her opponent was just acting trying to confuse her. He sent another arrow probably aiming at her chest, but Eisheth stepped back, and an arrow penetrated nothing, but the air between her ribs. Having just bare bones where other creatures had flesh surely proved to be beneficial.

Eisheth tried to catch her opponent with a chain, but it wasn't long enough, and he still remained in the air. Now they were having a stand-off: from that distance she would keep dodging, but couldn't hit him, as well. The alchemist decided to tease the warrior a bit:

"So, you're going to fly there like a frightened moth? Are you too scared to come closer?"

HP: 39/40
Damage: FAIL razz

Ol-j-man

 

[medigel]

That was a strange sound: normally when an arrow went through the chest, it made something more like a thud or -

- Right. Bones. He'd forgotten somehow. This was one of the first times Shik had ever fought someone with undead qualities, but even so he had expected some sort of defensive movement. Or perhaps it was because of their unique makeup that horsemen of Famine didn't need to think about self-preservation so much . . .

He filed that away as a note and grinned at the implied challenge, slinging the bow across his back. "If the lady wishes," Shikoba said simply before, with a sweep of his wings, the giant sent himself like a feathered rocket at her, claw-like nails reaching out to grasp and gouge. Though he had started off in the air, this executioner preferred close-combat on the ground where he could feel every tug, tear, and tumble. It was only because he wanted to practice with the bow and arrow, his weakest skill at the moment, that he had bothered to try it.

HP: 40
damage: 4

santime

 

[santime]

Surprisingly, it worked! Well, to tell the truth, what Eisheth had learnt, was never to underestimate the enemy. In fact, the whole destruction of the isles was the result of underestimation: the horsemen never considered humans to be a threat, they were always just a prey, and that's it. So, she was far from thinking an experienced War horseman would be so easily provoked: perhaps, he was quite certain of his melee skills, and Eisheth should better watch out.

"I appreciate that!", she replied excitedly. The battle was really turning her on.

And indeed he was good: it was too late the alchemist understood how dangerous his claws might be. Nobody on Famine used nails as the weapon, so she was waiting for something different, and missed a very painful blow. On the positive note, now he was near, and Eisheth finally had a chance to hit him with the end of the chain: it was one of her most powerful attack.

The blade made all the long way in the air hitting the horseman. She understood that was the luck of the first attack, and she doubted her experienced opponent will allow her to use the same trick twice, but she couldn't help asking: "Are you all right?". She was grateful for this battle, but she didn't want to really harm one of her kin.

HP: 35/40
Damage: 7

Ol-j-man

 

[medigel]

There wasn't much he could do about the incoming chain, so close as he was. The weapon slammed into him with more force than he expected, however, and with a grunt of pain Shik stumbled back, the arm he had brought up to defend himself jarred and numb. "Impressive!" he praised with genuine emotion, said arm falling to his side as limp as a blade of grass for the moment. "What sort of weapon is that? I've never seen one like be before."

Of course, such an action couldn't go unpunished. Nor could the insulting question about his health; this was probably how Shaheen felt when he had asked about her grayness . . . Sucking in a breath, Shikoba moved forward to attack her again, this time letting the talons of his feet do the talking as he swung a kick.

HP: 33
Damage: 4

santime

 

[santime]

Eisheth was impressed she managed to impress a War horseman.

"On Famine... we mostly used extended weapons, chain based. It can't be that powerful in melee combat, and it doesn't have the range of a bow, but it's more variable, depending on situation".

This time she had a new thing to discover: her opponent's feet also had claws. That a painful experience, but Eisheth was amazed how many things she could learn from a single spar. The alchemist managed to catch horseman again with the chain, but this time her blow was much lighter, she was more replying to his move thinking of a better strategy.

"My name is Eisheth, by the way. Pleasure to meet you", she added.

HP: 31/40
Damage: 2

Ol-j-man

 

[medigel]

Chains. Subtly, his wings pressed themselves closer to his body, the very idea of being restrained ruffling feathers.

"Shikoba Len," he answered in turn, making for a grab at the weapon before Eiseth could pull it back, missing by inches. Ah well, more than one way to skin a minipet as the saying went. Rather than claw at the horsemen again, Shik summoned his own weapon, a kris dagger with five luks or ridges to it, and made a stab for her thigh - see how much flesh she had beneath that dusty cloak. "What rank are you in your clan, Eiseth?"

HP: 31
Damage: 4

santime

 

[santime]

Aha! So, War horsemen do have weapons after all. That was the day of surprises: Eisheth was ready to believe War clansmen just use their claws.

The dagger looked light, but Shikoba, - at least now she knew his name, - seemed to master fully master it. In a close combat they were having, this weapon, especially in good hands, would be much, much more useful that hers, - and her opponent quickly proved her right stabbing her stabbing her. This time she wasn't fast enough to dodge.

"I am alchemist", Eisheth stepped back catching her breath, and shortening the chain. "And you?.. Sorry, I don't know much about War clan. But I like what I see", she said simply.

HP: 27/40
Damage: MISS!

Ol-j-man