[The Osiris Open] Round 1: JDD vs Drumheller

[Shinsou Vaan Osiris]

Opens 1st June 2016 at 12am EST.

Arena to follow!

[Shinsou Vaan Osiris]

The Dead Sea

Diary of Lufenia – 15th May

I remember looking at the wreck in awe as the grey skies and choppy sea guided me towards the land of Shiina.

To my right the magnificent Mary Belle lay in the coral reef, slanting to one side. It was in two halves, separated by a jagged, broken area that had been made by a series of breaches by cannonballs. It was about four hundred and twenty five feet long, sixty five feet wide and the whole ship was covered in algae and brightly coloured coral that would one day turn it into an extraordinary artificial coral reef. As curiosity got the better of me, I swam over to the deck, boarded and headed for the stern. I looked down on the dark green surfaces of the deck, looked up in bewilderment at the twisting ladders and rails, the anchor winches and blast roof. Part of a mast lay shattered, a few yards away on the rocky coastland. At the far end he saw what had to be a scatter gun, now pointing helplessly at the seabed.

Once, the deck would have been full of life...

As I cautiously explore the interior of the shipwreck, it becomes clear that marine life has overtaken the whole lower regions of the ship. Whilst I descend towards the bottom, I realise a carpet of sea life dominates the floor. Slowly but surely, I set foot into the living quarters themselves and as my feet come in to contact with the wooden deck, I feel a surge of insecurity when the floor board gives way under my weight. It’s time to move on. Heading into the galley, I notice that debris has claimed the very structure itself, rusting away the metal utensils on the floor. I open up the wardrobe, vintage plates are beautifully stacked as if they are waiting to be used. Venturing forth, I step on to the wooden staircase leading back to the upper decks and my mind can imagine people walking about.

The last thing I remember seeing was the boots of dead humans that lay on the floor as if nothing had ever happened. Knowing my time was coming to an end, I had one last glance at this majestic beauty before I returned to my boat.

[jdd2035]

Cain took a moment to figure as to why he was there. The answer was simple enough money and glory. The conversation with the monks were about what they were. Awkward little affairs where he was ushered into a waiting area that smelled faintly of blood and sweat then someone letting him know that his arena was ready and that his opponent was also ready.

Cain stepped through the fog gate and onto the deck of a ship ran aground. It was in poor shape rotten knees and her rigging was frayed and torn. It looked to be a large carrack a weatherly stiff all be it ancient ship. He ran his hand over an algae covered rail and contemplated strategy. The cannons were green and honey combed and so were no use but the shot... now that could be interesting. The rigging, and spars were downed meaning he couldn't go aloft. So staying on the weather deck or going below were his main options.

Cain was armed as best he could be, his two pistols were loaded, his cavalry saber was sharpened and his harpoon was with him as well. It was warm in spite of a dark foreboding feeling he had in his gut. Wiping a touch of sweat from his brow he removed his sea coat and draped it over the crook of his arm as he eagerly awaited his opponent.

[Drumheller]

“Why exactly are we doing this again?”

The voice lacked nothing for its harmoniousness or its dulciloquent, even if the body it came out of was shorter than my arm. Point of fact, the voice was far more eloquent than my own would probably ever be, although that wasn’t from want of trying. This diminutive Fae child, who could stand in the palm of my hand with ease, had been both a delightful and vexatious traveling companion ever since I freed her from the Tharayn Hydrakka, as the dragons called it, or Keep of Doors.

“We are not going to be doing this Mistress Anfhorlann.”

She had always said that my voice was as steady as a carpenter’s plain, and for the life of me I’m still not sure what she means by that. I should have probably figured it out by now, if I were a human, or a half-elf, or a dwarf, I probably would have, but nope, just a dim witted half-breed

“I am the one that’s going to be doing it.”

A single gloved finger rose to forestall any comment that the Fae could fling, she’d already supplied an earful, and second helpings were anything but desirable. To be frank they served as maternal reminders, which I wasn’t really interested in trying to deal with at present.

“We have already discussed current issues in Salvar, both nationally and in regards to the Andvall alliance, as well as the internal concerns facing the Black Eyed Clan currently.”

A second finger was raised, without really stopping to take a breath, just letting the air in and out through the nose, since I couldn’t give her time to retort, if he did, then the whole mess would start up again.

“We have discussed the current circumstances revolving around Raiaera and the undead that plague the region, the reasons that have led to this point historically, and their possible ramification’s both to the nation and the greater difficulties that these naturally engender.”

They say tranquility is a garment that one can don at need, with the proper practice. I find the statement somewhat misleading. Garments are far easier to slip into than states of being.

“In order to accomplish what must be attained, training is necessary. There is no place better suited for this outcome then here”

Those two raised fingers came together and were directed down at the granite tiled floor with its swirls of blue-green marble and eggshell tiles. It made me think of the egg that the Old Ones used to brith the world, and wondered, not for the first time, if this place would help to serve in my rebirth into a me that the future required.

“You could die here…”

The hovering one foot Fae interrupted as she floated before me.

“A death that will have little consequence, as the monks can restore those that are slain in their chambers. If I live, I learn. If I am slain, I learn. In all things, no matter the outcome, I learn, but enough of this, the monk comes.”

And indeed a gray haired monk of elder years was heading in our direction, clad in solemnities and saffron robes. He stopped ten paces away and dipped his head in a slight, but respectful bow, to which the now inactive hand that had been pointing at the floor scant seconds before, returned with the fist to heart in that common salute.

“You can berate me more over this endeavor’s folly when I return.”

The sudden motion of my form, after the monk who had already begun to walk away, no doubt sensing that my meeting with the she Fae was at an end. It was only then the fact that one of the sleeves of his robe was empty from the forearm down came to my attention. Curious, perhaps he would reveal the cause of it when I emerge.

Of course all thoughts of my guide left me as soon as I caught sight of the door to my chamber, never before had I beheld such hues or twisting complicated patterns of Tap energy in all my days. There were fifty three knots of magenta colored zig-zaging lightening blooms that anchored the enchantment to the Citadel structure proper. The rest was far too complicated for my impoverished mind to grasp.

“This is my Arena?“

I queried, to which the monk simply smiled, nodded and then left; not once speaking, but given that my vailed form required little comment, I wasn't entirely surprised.

“No point putting off matters.”

With that a handle was grasped, a birch wood door was opened, and with a half bounding step I cleared the portal to emerge… on the deck of a battered ship, upon a reef, in the Sea of Elenath, or so the Raiaerans had named it during their passage from the crumbling ash filled lands of their homeland to Raiaera. This vessel was not from that time period however, but from the War of Bloody tears fought between the Republic of Shelseanna and the Confederacy of Anamoria.

Neither of which existed in this modern age.

I found myself standing near the bow on the weather deck of a twin mast vessel, even if one was clearly gone, my enemy – apparently a Coronian captain by dress and armament – standing back upon the quarter deck.

“I am Drumheller Ironfist, of the Akkavett Ironfist, of the Black Eyed Clan, announce yourself stranger.”

I would await his reply, while snatching out a pair of arrows, to fit to the bow in my left hand. I would give him time to announce himself before firing, or just fire if he went for one of those Alerian weapons on his belt.

[jdd2035]

Cain hadn't waited too long for his opponent but had enough time to meander his way to the ancient ships quarterdeck. The wheel was seized in place. He heard the his opponent step onto the deck. Cain smiled and thought to himself ~ he'd make a decent foremast jack, maybe even a midshipman if he knew his numbers.~

The orc didn't waste any time making his introduction he respected that and nodded to his opponent. "Ahoy there! I'm Captain Cain Jodin! Looks like you're ready to go!"

With that Cain took in his situation the orc had arrows knocked and all he had to do was draw his bow.

He pondered capers and little amusements that he could use to induce his opponent to come close. He smiled a bright powerful gin. He saw his caper. Cain stuck his harpoon into the soft deck, pulled his coat into the crook of his elbow like a football, pushed off the ball of his foot and made a sprint an out right and powerful sprint from the quarterdeck. The stairs he was running toward were rotted and broken not a set to run down but a leap off the stairs sent him flying. An instant later he hit the weather deck and rolled into the iron grating that lead below decks. The rusted rot iron bars crumbled under his weight and he fell through.

As he crashed into the next deck a set of hot pink and dark blew tentacles whipped out at him. "Bloody!!" Cain shouted in surprise as he drew his saber and cut at them. The tentacles where from a large anemone, a man eater. The tentacles retreated for the moment but Cain wouldn't trust it to stay there for long. He moved out of range and waited.

[Drumheller]

Well isn’t he a fast one.

The way he went from standing still to a dead-out sprint told me much and more of his athleticism, the way he leaped into the air, instead of trying the rotten stairs enlightened me to his perceptiveness. Oh, the detail that he managed to avoid taking an arrow just below his knee joint hadn’t escaped my notice either, or that he had intentionally rolled through the rusted bars of the deck to take him below.

he is a sly one to be sure, but if he thinks I’m jumping down the Ice Serpent hole to go after him, he can think again.

I mean, I might be stupid, but that was a level of idiocy that you would only find in an orc of the Silverskins. Well, maybe some first-spear from out of The Land Breakers, but definitely no one else.

Spying some broken off bit of bulwark, I thought, more on a lark than anything else, I’d toss it down there, and perhaps make the captain think I was trying to see if he was near to jump down after him.

Now, if we weren’t mostly on top of a reef, which had Xyttheil clusters attached to it, I’d jump down and come in through the breach in the lower decks. Of course doing that would mean that the captain wouldn’t have to do a thing as the environment would do it for him.

I made it to the hatchway that led below in five strides, following which led me to the ships galley, and a solid oak and limestone table partially bolted to the floor.

Two quick blows with my hammerax, and a little elbow grease later had the table in place, in a nice defensible position with clear line of sight of the door, both of them. I had me a little pile of boots nearby too, just in case I wanted to have him chew leather, literally.

Everything else, save maybe the dishes in the locked cabinets behind me was of little use. No doubt the Captain heard all the noise and would be along shortly, so all there was for me to do was wait.

[jdd2035]

Cain did hear the noise and he thought his way through the situation. Cain could bunker down and do the waiting game relying on his opponents inpatients. But that didn't stick well with Cain who liked a good savage close quarters action. But how to get in to close quarters, Cain could back up on deck and try to come in from the top, the planking being as soft as it is but Cains opponent could maneuver once again and just stalemate one another. He could obviously charge forward and take an arrow or two for his trouble.

But his opponent was not the only one that could reach out and touch someone.While his opponent was putting the finishing touches to his bulwark Cain put his sea coat back on, it might make things a touch warmer but it had it's uses. He then drew his two cap lock pistols and cocked the hammers back. When he was read he started a methodical approach not too slow but not a charge rolling his feet. He aimed at the makeshift bulwark and waited for his opponent to bring his head up to fire an arrow at which time he would fire his pistol keeping his second in reserve just in case his first misfired.

[Drumheller]

Bunnying both by JDD and Drumheller for each other’s characters were agreed upon in chat

For a moment all that could be heard was the waves, the little bit of wind that the Monks decided to give us, and the periodic creek of old ship wood and the vessel’s joints, as either a consequence of the steady progressive deterioration common to such wrecks, the movement of the tide, or the constant growth of the reef the vessel was mostly situated upon; and the movements of my antagonist too, mustn’t forget that.

and if my nose doesn’t lead me false, and it rarely does, all this waiting will not be fore not.


His hammer’s cocking told me that he had primed both his hand cannons, which could be very good, or very bad, depending upon the skill of his aim

The captain’s shadow crossed the threshold before he did, the roar of his first shot sounding as loud as a thunderclap in a jug, thanks to the tight quarters. Bits of wood and limestone scattered in all directions as he missed with his first shot, the subsequent twang of bow string and solid thunk of arrowhead punching through the wooden doorframe signaling that I missed with mine. The shaft of that arrow, or at least the bit of it still standing in the captain’s path snapped as he plowed through it, firing his other hand cannon, just as the second arrow was loosed. For my troubles of landing a shot in his left thigh, hot lead past solidly through my left shoulder. Still despite his wound the captain nimbly dodged both the first and the second bowls tossed his way from the cabinet I jerked open behind me, the improvised missiles showering the room with little bits of ceramic fragments.

It was merely meant to buy me time.
An easy bound had me over the table with long knife drown and in striking distance of the captain, who to his credit, had swung one of his personal artillery pieces round to use as a club, and had his saber drawn. At some point he had slashed through the bit of shaft protruding from his thigh, which was rather clever of him, I must admit.

He swung with both club and sword near enough together to make no matter, which my left forearm meeting the hand cannon club before the arc had really begun as to knock off course to keep it from doing me any real harm, while the flat of my blade interrupted his sabers course towards my middle.

Whatever you hear about from tutors in blade work, never believe them if they talk about meet your opponent blade for blade, because that’s the last thing you want to do.

I did a half spin, putting my strong side towards the captain, as my war knife went from being aimed at the good captain’s eyes into an arc of its own intended to slice through his left lung.

It never made it there.

Using his improvised club as a shield, the good captain made to slice open my nicely presented right leg with his saber, which I deftly leaned out of the way quick enough to allow the steel to pass me by, but not provide the fellow the time to retract it. The momentary pleasure that came from my putting more of my weight on my misshapen foot – meaning my toes, and slamming my elbow into his face, was stolen by his club slamming up side my helm.

I managed to dodge the next two blows, one by saber and one by hand cannon, as much through luck and reflexes than by anything else, which ended up me having my back to the sideboard that the captain had his back to previously.

[jdd2035]

Cain had his opponent pinned and he was grinning about it, he turned his pistol in such a way as to use the trigger guard to bind his opponents blade and pinned it against the bulkhead. It would take a quick thrust to finish this bout. Being in an awkward position Cain rose his blade into an over head downward thrusting position.

The opponent used the re-positioning of Cains saber to his advantage and drove his knee into the arrow wound in Cains leg. Cain howled in pain while his opponent ducked under Cains displaced thrust running up the companion ladder back up to the weather deck. Cain was close in behind him limping as quick as he ever could. When his opponent reached the weather deck he waited and when Cains head popped out of the hatch he thrust. Cain parried but the long knife dug into his face but the parry saved his eye.

Cain swung a wild blow at his opponent with his pistol knocking him off balance also causing his eye to swell shut; followed by a quick over head slash. The opponents knife rose in time and locked with Cains saber while at the same time the opponent grabbed Cains other wrist. Cain roared and kicked his opponent who stumbled backwards and landed butt first on the deck.

Cain once again closed in on his opponent pressing his small advantage. Thinking quickly Cains opponent grabbed a nine pound shot pressed it against his shoulder and launched it directly into Cains ribs. Cain felt the crunch of his ribs and his breathing got more difficult but he was not daunted and his adrenaline was pumping even harder.

[Shinsou Vaan Osiris]

Bard has taken a leave of absence from the site and has requested me to post his forfeiture. Therefore JDD progresses to round two!

Rewards to follow.