Semi-final part I, Sir Kain VS Izzi

[ShadowDemen]

Okay, I'm sure you guys know the rules for this match; no insta-hits or god-moding. With that said, let's continue...

The arena is square-shaped, and the walls are teb-feet tall and five-feet thick. It is mid-afternoon, and the gates are located in the East and West. The ground is filled with a grey ash, with dead trees in a disorganized pattern. To make things more interesting, there are several pits scattered throughout the arena, filled with fire. Also, the gates and walls have four-feet long spikes protruding from them. High above the arena, in his judges seat, is ShadowDemen. With a small movement, he signals the guards to open the gates...

[Aerys Kain]

Aerys shifted his weight from one foot to the other as he stared at the large, wooden door looming before him. He inhaled deeply and steadily, then exhaled in a similar slow and controlled fashion. His armored left fist clenched and unclenched repeatedly in impatience, and the knight's right hand went to the base of the war hammer hanging from his side for assurance that it was still there.

Several muffled calls rang out, and then the great chains that ran along either side of the large door grew taunt and began to shift against one another, lifting the massive wooden door and lowering the heavy iron portcullis in front of it at the same time. Sunlight spilled into the dimly lit corridor in which Aerys stood, and with a final deep breath, the knight strode into the arena. The light of the day reflected brilliantly off of Aerys' heavy plate mail armor as he came into view, and even under it's considerable burden, he moved with enviable grace and fluidity.

The knight immediatly took note of his surroundings. There were some dead and twisted trees dotting the enclosed area, and a fine layer of ash covered the loose dirt of the arena floor. Aerys could see the heat eminating from the small pits scattered around the vicinity and carefully marked their locations in his mind, then he glanced toward the vicious-looking spikes that protruded from the arena's walls in various places. If he was not careful, the arena could very well do his opponent's work for him, the knight thought to himself. Still, the knight continued to reflect, his opponent was supposed to be Mahirim, and the lack of space with which to manuver would be of particular annoyance to a creature noted for it's speed and agility.

Facing the gate through which his enemy would arrive, Aerys swiftly bowed his head and whispered a prayer to Morgaine. He could feel the divine favor of the goddess enter his spirit and fill his flesh, banishing fear and pain from Aerys' mind. With his head still bowed, the knight's right hand slowly reached down and freed the war hammer that was hanging at his right hip. It was a menacing and brutal weapon of war, with a thick head of solid steel and a three foot haft of polished ebony. Two blackened strips of steel ran along the sides of the wooden shaft to prevent it from being broken in combat, and a short, thick triangular spike was placed on the weapon's pommel.

The war hammer's steel head was three weapons in one. The thick striking surface was jagged and uneven, in order to better rend armor with it's terrific power, and the back of the hammer's head tapered into a thick, cruel point like that of a miner's pickaxe. The last weapon on the war hammer was a five inch spike protruding from the top of the hammer's steel head, very much like the point of a pike or rondel dagger. The only other weapon Aerys carried with him into the arena was the medium-sized round shield that hung from his left forearm. The shield was made of quality Mercian steel, of moderate size and weight, round in shape and slightly domed in order to help blows slide along it's surface. A thin border of gold ran along the shield's edge, designed to try and catch the edge of an opponent's blade in the soft metal. The surface of the shield was scratched and marred from a hundred campaigns, however one could still make out the majestic red lion of Malregard proudly emblazoned there.

Aerys finally looked up from his prayer and began to swing the war hammer in a slow and methodical flowing manner, and the crowd began to cheer and respond at the sight of the steel clad warrior. It was apparent from his well-timed and practiced swings when they began to pick up in speed that the knight was no stranger to the war hammer and shield, and those seated in the first rows could hear the powerful rush of air left by Aerys' mighty blows. After another couple of swings, the knight raised his hammer high into the air, letting the sunlight illuminate it's thick steel head and fall upon his steel encased frame. The crowd roared it's approval at the sight, and Aerys slowly settled himself back into a comfortable position of readiness, his eyes fixed on the gate before him.

He was ready.

[izzi]

Izzi sat crouching behind the gate, the dim light bright as day in his eyes. He shifted, remembering what he had heard about his opponents last fight. Big, but fast. He had already checked out the arena, and thosecspikes could cuase a problem. And the fire pits. The gates started to rise, and Izzi stood, stretching his large amrspan out, his blades on either fist adding about an extra foot and a half. He stepped out onto the arena floor, disturbing the ash, which swirled around his face. With oput looking at the other side, Izzi called upon his magic, and his blades grew dark, nearly invisible in the turrain.

On the other side was his oppenent, large and menecing in his plate armor. How can he move in that? Izzi shook off the thought, noting where the fire pits were scattered. Those could be useful, if he could call enough magic to make one get a little bigger and hotter. Lets see him stand some more heat around here in that armor of his. He grined, flashing his wolfish grin, and howled into the sky. It was on.

[Aerys Kain]

The knight tensed as the gates started to rise, his eyes quickly fixing on the menacing figure of the Mahirim that gradually appeared within the doorway. The beast stalked into the arena on his hind quarters, and Aerys could see two vicious, claw like weapons attached to Izzi's massive paws. Along with his long and powerful limbs, the weapons gave the Mahirim an impressive reach, and for a brief moment Aerys regretted not bringing his great sword of war to combat. The knight then saw a snarl twist the beast's snout, and the air around his dual claw weapons began to waver and grow shadowed, causing the ferocious weapons to fade from view when not in motion. This brought Aerys' attention quickly back to his opponent, and the knight's eyes narrowed as they fixed on those of the Mahirim.

The beast threw his head back and howled a long, blood-curdling note that rang through the expanse of the arena. Several of the spectators gasped audiably at the sight of the great wolf beast, but Aerys remained unaffected by the display. He had shifted his mentality to that of the warrior, the unshakable sentinal that continues through and triumphs over adversity to accomplish his goal. Aerys could feel his own lips curl in a beastial snarl in response to the threat Izzi posed, and the battle lust began to pulse behind his eyes, begging him to give in to it's release. Not just now, the knight told himself. There was a time and a place to throw caution to the wind, and Aerys would wait until that time was right to do so.

Aerys brought his shield before his chest and raised his hammer high in a ready position above and behind his head. He then began to slowly advance towards the Mahirim, his eyes watching the beast carefully, taking note of every twitch and every indication of action. The knight's entire body was tensed like a great feline, his movements natural and seemingly casual, but in reality Aerys waited as taunt as a bowstring for an opportunity to present itself. There was not much distance between the two combatants in the perilous arena, and soon Aerys was almost within range of the great beast, his deadly hammer poised above his head ready to strike at a moment's notice.

[izzi]

Izzi watched the Humans approach, watching his movements. The hammer looked like bad news. Izzi crouched ready to jump up and onto the spike that was above the door, if he got too close for Izzi's liking. He moved over to the side a small bit, ready to jump and a number of the spikes around, praying they are study enough to hold his weight. He would wait for the right time to flare one of the pits. His blades burned deep marks into the ground where they dragged along it. Izzi's opponent was ready to punce, but Izzi was sure he couldn't move as fast as him, escpecially when Izzi had small amounts of light armor over vital spots. Realizing Aerys was getting way to close, Izzi jumped to a low spike, the huge muscles in his hind legs straining to get Izzi enough air to make it up.

[Aerys Kain]

Aerys' eyes widened as he watched the massive beast vault himself into the air in an incredible display of strength and agility. The knight frowned within his helmet, angry at himself for not couting on the fact that the damndable beast would be able to attack with an aerial advantage. Aerys knew he could never hope to pursue Izzi along the arena's spiked walls, so he had to try and find another way to dissuade the ferocious wolf from pouncing on him.

The knight glanced around swiftly, and saw one of the twisted and knotted trees that dotted the arena standing less than ten feet from his right. The tree stood perhaps a dozen feet tall, bereft entirely of leaves and most of it's branches, and the few limbs that did remain were thick and twisted much like the tree itself. It didn't provide much protection, but if he was standing underneath and amidst the branches, Aerys knew he could strike at his descending opponent before his opponent could reach him in turn. It wasen't as good as having his enemy right in front of him, but it was better than waiting to be attacked.

Still keeping his eyes fixed on Izzi, Aerys quickly strafed right towards the tree, covering the short distance in only a few shuffles of his plated feet. He leaned against the rough, dry bark of the trunk, keeping the tree between himself and Izzi. Aerys peered around the side of the tree and fixed his gaze once again on the menacing figure of the Mahirim perched on the spiked wall. He could see the great beast's eyes scanning the area for possible avenues of attack, and Aerys once again tensed his great muscled frame, bringing his hammer back in preperation to meet his foe.

[izzi]

He knows his tactics, thats for sure. Hope I don't get him angry at me now and then meet him in the outside world. Izzi snarled in frustration at Aerys move. Behind a tree. Izzi jumped to the next spike, but the Human just stayed behind the tree where Izzi was. Izzi snarled again, wantin to burn the tree to crisps, but not wanting to risk the casting exposure. Izzi jumped to the highest spike near to him, and sat on it, feet dangling off either side. Gah! What to do?! In hand to hand fighting I'll have my face smashed in, and from here I don't have a good line of sight. Looking around Izzi's ears perked up, spotting something that could be to his advantage. The tree stood near, but not really close, to a firepit. Izzi leapt along the spikes to the one near to the pit, and started to call upon his magic, hoping to gather enough to explode the fire withing far enough to get the tree alite before Aerys decided he wanted wolf meat for dinner. God I hope this spell doesn't backfire.

[Aerys Kain]

By the gods hes' nimble, Aerys thought to himself as he watched Izzi's powerful limbs propel him from perch to perch. The beast's face seemed to have an almost human-like expression of frustration on it as he sought his angle of attack, but Aerys only maintained his tightly guarded position underneath the tree, watching the Mahirim closely. Suddenly, the creature landed upon a spike before one of the pits of flame that stood several yards away from the tree, and the wolfish eyes glanced away only for a moment in order to concentrate on the fire within the pit.

This was an opportunity, and Aerys did not allow himself even a moment's worth of doubt. As soon as Izzi's attention was diverted, Aerys tore out from around the tree and sprinted towards where the Mahirim rested on the wall. His armored feet kicked up great clouds of dust and ash as he covered the distance in long, bounding strides, and the sound of his his heavy platemail rattling with the motion could be heard in every corner of the arena. The knight saw the beast's ears perk up at the sound of the on-comming knight, but the choice had already been made, and Aerys knew he would only do more harm to himself by averting his plan than by following through with it. He could only hope that the Mahirim was concentrating on the spell and not feinting to draw the knight out into the open.

The walls of the arena only reached several feet higher than Aerys' own impressive height, and with the length of the hammer added to the reach of his extended arm, the knight could just reach the top-most spikes that lined the arena's walls. With his shield held up to protect his front and left side, Aerys swung his right arm up from the low right side, bringing the hammer screaming up in a wide and vicious blow. Aerys knew that if he aimed for the wolf he would over-extend himself out of his guarded radius, and so his blow was aimed at the spike the Mahirim stood upon. The knight roared a fierce battle cry as his weapon streaked towards it's target, the heat of the battle catching within Aerys' spirit like an unchecked brush fire.

[izzi]

The trap was set. Aerys ran our from his cover, and sprinted to Izzi fast. Izzi had realised the casting would take too long, so he had started a fake spell. The Human's huge hammer swung up, but Izzi was already ready to leap. He jumped into the air, the hammer hitting the spike he was on. That would've ended badly for me. On the next spike, hopeing the Human was off gaurd, is leapt again, pushing off the side of the spike and straight towards Aerys right side, his claw like weapons ready to slash. Well this'll end bad for both of us.

[Aerys Kain]

The sound of steel meeting iron resounded with a thunderous crash as Aerys' blow made contact with the spike. The crude metal snapped like dried wood and sent the shattered spike sailing through the air, before finally comming to a rest on the dust covered arena floor. Aerys returned himself to his tightly guarded position at the end of his strike, and out of the corner of his eye he could see Izzi once again bound like a great panther from spike to spike. The Mahirim's agility was terrible to behold, but the knight banished all thoughts from his mind and concentrated once again on the figure of his opponent.

Izzi had leapt to the right to avoid the ascending hammer blow, and now he launched himself ferociously down at the knight that stood below him, his menacing dual claw weapons wavering in the clear light of the day. Aerys knew he could try to backpeddle and put some space between the two of them, but the chances that he could avoid the blow already comming and any subsequent attacks after would be slim. He would have to use the Mahirim's momentum against him, a tactic that the knight was familiar with from combating enemies wearing armor as heavy as his own. There was no time to build up a swing of the hammer, for Izzi was already in flight, and so the knight tried a different approach.

Aerys dropped to his right knee in order to better brace himself against the ground, and swiftly raised his left forearm above and before his face and chest. Thus guarded by his shield, the knight extended his hammer strait out and aimed the top of it at the descending Mahirim. Sunlight glinted off of the five-inch spike that crowned the fierce weapon, and Aerys knew that it would require almost no momentum what so ever to puncture the light armor and hide that protected his enemy. The wolf beast was so close now that Aerys could smell the beastial stink of him, and the knight gritted his teeth and clenched all the powerful muscles of his body, preparing himself for the impact of the attacking Mahirim.

[izzi]

Izzi sailed through the air, but Aerys got his guard up in time. The spike on the end of the hammer would not be good, so Izzi brought one of his weapons down, hoping the spike couldn't stand against the heat of his magicaly enchanted blades. The two weapons collided, and Izzi's momentum carried him foreward. The hug muscles in his arms bulging, Izzi barely swung around the spike, recieving a small gash in his side for the lung. His second claw weapon came down with his momentum, aimed righ for the area between the knight's helm and shoulders. I'm just as insane as that last person I fought for doing this.

[Aerys Kain]

It suddenly seemed as if the wolf creature was everywhere at once, smothering the knight with his presence. Aerys held firm to the shaft of the hammer as Izzi's blow parried it away, but he could feel the pickaxe-like back of the hammer glance off of the Mahirim's side as they collided. The top three inches of the spike that once adorned the top of Aerys' war hammer went spiraling off into the distance, unnoticed by the preoccupied knight, leaving a smoldering and blackened stump in the steel itself.

Aerys' attention was instead fixed on the Mahirim's massive descending right claw. The knight pivoted sharply from his hip and swung his shield in a wide arc, crashing the steel barrier into the deadly claws. Aerys could hear them scratch across the surface of his shield with a horrible, grinding sound, and the smell of scorched steel and wood assaulted his nostrils. There was no time to think however, because the great wolf was already upon him, and both of his arms were engaged in occupying his foe's weapons. Aerys leaned back to absorb the impact of the Mahirim, and at the same time put his steel-clad head down and launched a vicious headbutt into the mid-section of his opponent before they both crashed to the arena floor.

Not stopping for a moment's rest or thought, fully driven now on the drive of adrenaline and the lust for battle, Aerys scrambled out as best as he could from beneath his opponent. He did not wait to see if his blow had fazed the great beast or if he in turn was launching an attack of his own. The knight wrenched himself clear of his enemy, then launched himself sharply back at him, swinging the broad side of his scarred shield at the figure of the Mahirim.

[izzi]

A small sqeak escaped Izzi's lips as Aerys' head rammed into his gut. Izzi leapt back, cradling hiss stomach with one hand. The knight attacked, but Izzi had retreated out of reach, making sure to avoid the firepits. Bad idea bad idea bad idea. Izzi strafed one of the larger pits, and crouched behind it, watching the Human while licking his side. The pit was large enough fo Izzi to easy dodge a blow over it, and large enough that Izzi could keep his distance if Aerys tried to go around it. What have i gotten myself into.

[Aerys Kain]

The shield passed through empty air as Aerys whirled savagely, almost losing his balance with the ferocity of the blow. The knight quickly widened his stance and spread his feet shoulder width apart, anchoring himself to regain his balance. He watched as the Mahirim beast scurried swifty once more out of the knight's range and around the opposite side of a nearby fire pit. The creature's eyes seeemed to glance to and fro erratically, as if searching for options, and he nursed the minor wound that he had taken moments earlier.

Aerys was not unlike a wolf himself in the way that he approached combat. He was an aggressive stalker, always displaying a threat to his prey, but letting the opportunities present themselves for his taking. He could smell fear and apprehension like the savage wild canine, and it filled him a primal hunger that could only be satiated in blood. Aerys could see that fear and apprehension now in the eyes of his opponent, he could smell the desperation within the Mahirim and it fueled the already burning blood lust within his mind. A cruel, malicious smile crossed the knight's face beneath his great helm, and very slowly he began to stalk toward where Izzi stood.

Aerys could see the Mahirim's eyes watching him, planning a counter to the knight's advance. Aerys didn't care however, he was beyond caution and beyond fear. He did not allow himself to lose focus, he was too strictly disciplined for that, but the natural human sense of self preservation had been overriden by the animalistic instinct to kill and consume his hunted prey. The knight brought his shield up before him again, heedless of the gouges that had been burned into it's metallic surface, and he raised his war hammer high above and behind his head. The war hammer glinted menacingly in the sunlight, and it hung poised there ready to descend with all the power of a thunderclap as Aerys methodically advanced around the fiery pit and towards Izzi.

[izzi]

Izzi watched as Aerys circled around the pit. Izzi moved toom staying on the opposite side of the pit. He started to casta alow concentration spell, so he could eep moving and focused on the knight. The war hammer glared in the sun, but Izzi was not bothered. His spell casting continued, and he prayed for the best.