One on One the way it was ment to be (closed to all except Baxter)

[Abraxos]

Abraxos grew weary of not finding the style of combat he liked where he could let himself go andbe one with who was in nature. He yearned to glide through the darkness like the shadow he truly was. Abraxos knew where he could find such combat but didn’t know if there would be anyone brave enough, or foolish enough to challenge him under those conditions.

Thinking over his position Abraxos finally came to a conclusion of how he would pose his battle. As he approached a monk he waved to get their attention.

“There is no need to wave like that giant we can see you just fine,” Said the monk to Abraxos who immediately grew a foul temper.

“I seek a place of refuge for people of my kind where any fight could be forced down to a one on one fight. Do you have such a place where I could face someone?” Asked Abraxos in a tone that was somewhat harsh and ill tempered.

The monk looked through a register and picked out a place, “Follow me I think I have an idea of what you would like to see.”

Abraxos followed the monk past rows and rows of golden gates when finally entering one they entered into a large meadow at the base of a mountain in the middle of broad daylight.

Abraxos looked around for half a moment stunned at what he was seeing wondering what sort of stupidity had befallen the monk to think that this would be the place for him to take on anyone let alone bring the fight down to one on one.

“Has the sun addled your brain monk? This is no place for a Darkness Element,” Spat Abraxos as he turned to face the monk.

“Has the sun blinded your eyes young fool? Look closer at the base of the mountain,” replied the monk in a sarcastic tone pointing at a specific area of the mountain.

Abraxos’s eyes followed the monks finger to a cave opening nearly fourteen feet wide. Abraxos felt a fool that he could not of spotted the cave opening sooner.

“This will do fine monk,” was all Abraxos said as he strode off.

The monk went back through the gate muttering to himself, "Hope the ungrateful fool gets himself hurt. I may not recover him fully."

As Abraxos strode for the cave entrance he bent over and picked up a small rock and loaded it into his sling. Once within the shadows of the cave mouth Abraxos campaigned himself sat down and closed his eyes in wait for his opponent.

[Symbiosis]

“What did you learn?” Symbiote said to Baxter as he slowly exited the medical ward and let his boots click upon the marbled surface of the Citadel. There was a quiet contemplation in the human’s mind before he answered his demon companion, a thoughtful nod coming from himself as he settled upon an answer.

“Not to trust you,” Baxter replied. He lifted himself up proper, wishing he had a cane to alleviate his aching muscles, but as none had presented itself and the Ai’Bron monks were very short with him he decided not to pry and ask for one. He would purchase a cane at the Corone port in the merchant district and be done with this stupid place.

Yet Baxter’s feet did not function the way he wanted them to. He carried himself further into the barbaric Citadel and he grew nervous as he looked to his chest awkwardly, speaking aloud. As the demon he was addressing was within his soul, the scene looked rather odd to the occasional passerby that cast the pen write an awkward glance.

“Where are we going?”

“’Nuther fight, you sucked in the last one. This time we are doing it my way.” Baxter turned his torso to face the exit doors as he willed his body to change course. Symbiote angrily pulled his feet forwards, both grunting in exertion. It looked to the uninformed eye like the man was doing a very well done pantomime of two people pulling at his body as he goofily lifted one foot up and stomped forwards. Baxter’s fingers managed to claw onto the shoulder of a set of plate mail, pulling with all his might. The demon within him howled with rage, before Baxter felt control of his feet again. With a satisfied nod he turned to face he door.

Slap!

The Salvarian stood startled in the floor, and this time a monk stopped to gawk at the oddity of Baxter Arlington. The pen write angrily looked down to his chest only to feel the sting of another slap on his cheek. He stumbled four steps back as he looked to his right fist with the confusion of being betrayed. Baxter lifted his left hand to stop his right from incoming.

“Knock it off!” Baxter ordered. Symbiote only laughed as he overpowered the man’s will, his right fingers balled into a malicious punch that sent stars circling around Baxter’s head. He stumbled towards the Citadel rooms as the monk’s eyes went wide in shock, a silent horror on his face as Baxter began to literally beat himself up.

“Quit hitting yourself, quit hitting yourself, quit hitting yourself,” Symbiote taunted, each strike adding injury to the insult. A scream of pent up frustration escaped his lips as he at last managed to exert his will and push the demon out of his arm, turning to the inner workings of the Citadel and stomping his feet much like a child in a tantrum.

“Fine! I don’t care any longer! You are nothing but a bully who clearly will do whatever the hell you want to get what you want. Well, baby, here’s your bottle. I hope you choke on it!”

“I do love that we can work things out like civilized folk, Baxter. Gives me hope that this relationship can go the distance,” Symbiote replied with heavy sarcasm and a slight chuckle. The Salvarian merely pulled his hands up to his hair to fix it, grumbling angrily as he fixed everything just right. The monk still gawked at him, before he softly clapped excitedly rushing forwards to walk next to Baxter.

“I do say, I have not seen a one man act in such a long time I nearly forgot what they looked like. I see you were merely practicing for an audition!” Baxter looked to the monk like he had grown a second head, but quickly lifted an accusing finger, smiling with charm.

“Ah, a man of the arts, yes,” Baxter shook his hand. “I see you appreciate my talents,” The pen write lied. It was far better the monk think he sane than a freak. Symbiote did not seem to mind the fib, his only response to the situation a patient purr.

“I see you are looking for a fight, can perhaps I show you a room that may suit your…talents?”

“That will not be-” But Baxter was carried to the fifth door on the right side before the monk opened the golden portal and smiled, pushing him in with insistence as the man barely heard the monk mutter the words ‘better if the crazies stick together.’

So there Baxter stood, looking at a mountain side with a sheepish look, his eyes casting forwards into the darkness where he gulped rather loudly. Symbiote on the other hand shifted, a predatory growl escaping into the air.

[Abraxos]

Abraxos was ready when the gates finally opened. In walked a man who was nearly as tall as he was but clearly a lot lighter. The man had the look of a coward upon his face and didn’t look like he entirely wanted to be there. Abraxos didn’t know if he felt pity for the man or if he felt sorry for the fact that he was stuck with suck a weak opponent.

Abraxos readied his sling and wound it to his full strength. The moment before he released the stone he turned back to a visible state while within the shadows. Abraxos loosed the stone at inhuman speed traveling the space between the men in the blink of an eye. The stone struck the ground in front of whomever this was showering a rain of dirt in his direction.

“Come face your death! But death would have your name first,” Abraxos shouted at the man before walking backwards disappearing within the cave.

[Symbiosis]

The attack hit the ground as planned and when the dirt was finished washing over Baxter’s shins the man made a motion to turn and flee. Instead however his body protested, Symbiote laughing loudly into the air making Baxter groan in nervousness.

“What a little bitch!” Symbiote called into the shadows of the cave. “Like a god damn petulant child!” Symbiote lifted Baxter’s hand down and grabbed a rock, tossing it into the cave after the voice that spoke. “You gonna take this shit, Binky?”

“Binky?” Baxter said suddenly in confusion. “Oh no, we are not going into pet names.”

“Shut up, Binky boy, and let’s get ready to do this.”

“Fine, Simba,” Baxter oozed with venom as Symbiote paused for a moment. There was an awkward tension in the air as Baxter looked to his chest in challenge, Symbiote growling before he swirled into every portion of the Salvarian’s body.

“Don’t call me that,” Symbiote replied angrily as Baxter sighed moving towards the cave mouth. When he was within ten paces he felt something heavy within his chest, like a burden he could no longer bare as he dropped to one knee, a gasp of pain escaping his lips. There was a dark howling emanating deep within his soul and Baxter arched his back upwards joining the howl with his own wails of agony, bones snapping and re-knitting as muscles began to pulse around his limbs that were otherwise perfectly normal. His chest heaved as his heart beat furiously, adrenaline pumping to every channel of his arteries as Baxter’s clenched into tiny talons as the man let out a roar that sounded like it came from two voices.

He felt a cold sweat come over him as liquid poured from his pores, coating his body in a clear sheen as his clothing ripped to tattered remnants, his jaw distending like a snake as teeth grew longer and sharper. His eyes rolled into the back of his head, replaced by a sickly looking pair that searched side to side in a hunting fashion. At last Baxter’s transformed body rolled forwards as he stumbled a few steps, woozily taking time to look at the changes Symbiote had brought about his body.

“I do not like this,” Baxter whispered in trembling fear.

“I love it,” Symbiote said with a smack of his lips as he urged Baxter’s body forwards into the darkness.

Baxter has transformed, and is now using his combat enhanced stat line and his appearance has changed.

[Abraxos]

Abraxos was confused by this man he seemed preoccupied with talking to himself. The rock he had thrown bounced off one of the walls and bounced around harmlessly. After the man seemed to have an endless conversation with him he started screaming of a sort as his chest heaved and grew huge. Abraxos wondered if he had gotten himself into a fight with a werewolf at first. When the man stood again he was ridiculously huge and no longer the scrawny boy he had been.

Abraxos retreated within the cave to leave just enough room to see the man. Abraxos phased himself into a camouflaged state. Abraxos couldn’t believe his luck. Big and stupid just the way I like them, Abraxos thought to himself.

“Come closer big boy and maybe we’ll have some fun,” Spoke Abraxos from within the cave allowing his voice to echo off the walls.

Abraxos readied himself and got his staff ready. Abraxos would have to use his speed as well as the caves nature of bouncing sound to confuse this man into not knowing where Abraxos was actually at.

[Symbiosis]

In the depths of the cave the light had significantly got weaker and weaker as the darkness grew all around the demon/human hybrid. Baxter, now along for the ride as the demon seemed to take over, had let out a frightened peep of insecurity as he longed to find someplace with a little light. The man screamed down the halls, bouncing and arching his voice so it echoed from every direction to confuse the duo, and Baxter began to whimper in the demon’s mind.

“Shut up already Baxter,” Symbiote muttered. “I’m trying to concentrate here. You really think he has the upper hand against us?” Baxter let out a small whimper. Symbiote sighed taking that as a yes. “I swear if you cause this body to soil itself I’m gonna make you suffer in ways that makes this little mockery of a battle seem like kittens playing. Stop sniveling already and for once in that pitiful existence you humans call life, man up.” Baxter nodded his head as the demonic mask looked side to side.

“Damn, if I still had my full demonic powers I could see in this dim lit cavern,” Symbiote grumbled. “Though if I still had my full demonic powers I wouldn’t be trundling down the countryside with your sissy ass, now would I?” He asked to Baxter.

“I assure you, this union is not mutual.”

“See, we can agree on things,” Symbiote muttered. He sighed figuring there was not much else he could do but waltz forwards into the unknown like he owned the place and wait for the man to come. When he struck, he would have no choice but to reveal himself and that would be the moment the demon would show Baxter how to have a good time.

[Abraxos]

Abraxos smiled to himself. Beside all of the mans confidence he knew nothing of where he was or how to fight there. Evidence of that was how he had walked right past Abraxos and not known it. Things were going just as Abraxos had planned, at least so far.

Moving with inhuman speed Abraxos rushed along the right side of the cavern making obvious noise that he was within staff range Abraxos smacked his staff against the stone floor with a resounding whack using the momentum to propel himself opposite of where the noise had been made through the air with a flip using to aim his staff for the back of the mans head staying far out of reach for the man.

[Symbiosis]

Symbiote had listened, his neck straining over the constant sniveling of Baxter as he waited to find his foe. It was really getting annoying how the little rabbit had run into the hole and continued to play his silly games of hide and go seek. He resolved when he found the guy he would squish his head into a fine paste, letting his gooey brains squeeze between each digit like an apple being crushed.

The image of the torment he would inflict almost brought him out of his combat awareness, and it was not until the loud crack of the staff on the floor made Symbiote realize the enemy was behind him. He had no room to really turn in time to dodge it, but he did have a plan regardless.

He side stepped, only a step back to the side so the blow came up hitting his shoulder. Baxter let out a howl of pain, but the clear like sheen of the Symbiotic Armor held easily against the blunt weapon. It stung, and he felt a tingling pain run up and down his arm, but for one like he who had fought before it was only a slight irritant. For poor Baxter, who was unused to such attacks, he thought his arm had been severed cleanly off.

Ignoring the screeching human the demon pumped fresh blood to deaden the pain with adrenaline, hissing at Baxter to turn and swing his hands in a windmill fashion to try and strike the foe who attacked like a coward from behind. His mouth opened letting the saliva drip from his extended teeth like a beast in rampage as Baxter’s wails of pain echoed along the chasm, adding another frightening wail into the darkness as Symbiote bellowed for blood.

[Abraxos]

Abraxos realized his blow had missed its mark halfway through the spin. The moment Abraxos landed Abraxos asked his question again, "Death still doesnt know your name." As soon as he said this he darted off to the side still moving at incredible speed consumed in silence. Abraxos whipped out his dagger and flung it for the center of the mans chest as he bellowed.

As the dagger flew from his hand he ran forward right behind the dagger sweeping his staff from left to right aiming for the mans knees. Abraxos bent his legs ready to bounce backwards or up if necessary to avoid a blow from the strange man.

[Symbiosis]

Baxter was useless, Symbiote thought dismally as the opponent masterfully dodged the back swing blow, his knuckles colliding with the wall and sending tiny shards of debris to the floor in a mini avalanche. The demon growled in challenge as Baxter coddled his knuckles, looking to the superficial wounds like he had smashed his knuckles apart.

“You brute!” Baxter bellowed to their nameless shadow opponent.

“You idiot! Pay attention!” Symbiote snarled as he whipped his face to look at what the foe was up to. It was just in time to see he had no prayer of a chance against his retaliation attack. A small knife managed to pierce into his chest, and both Baxter and Symbiote howled in chorus as the pain wracked within the body. Furiously the demon willed Baxter’s left hand to rip the weapon out, gripping it in a reverse grip. The size of the weapon compared to his hand made the dagger look like a kitchen knife.

Baxter began to move backwards in a failing retreat as the enemy piled on the attacks, his staff expertly sweeping at his knees. The human was just to inexperienced with battle and also unfamiliar with his new powers, which made the demon growl in frustration to be beaten up so easily.

“That’s it, next time I’m possessing a warrior! I’m sick of your pussy shit!” The demon roared as he willed the giant hands to lower before him, hunching over like a bear and swatting the staff aside. Yet the second he stopped the offense of the enemy he quickly retreated. Symbiote let out a challenging roar as he began to force the human forwards to give chase.

“Maybe we should retreat to the light!” Baxter offered in a whine, his body heaving in spent energy. The wound still trickled with blood from the knife and Baxter tentatively touched the wound with a grimace.

“No!” Symbiote replied with rage. “He’ll just keep hiding in the shadows. If we’re gonna do this, we may as well do this right, now get ready to tackle him!” Baxter nodded his head as he widened his hands outwards, and with a spurt of speed he felt his legs muscles tense before he lurched forwards in a vicious spear, his body sailing over the ground like a human missile.

The duo has performed one of their two epic leaps, giving him the ability to jump eight feet. I choose to jump horizontally in a flying shoulder tackle.

[Abraxos]

Abraxos was confused how the man had chosen to block the knee sweep rather then the dagger flying for his chest. As the man talked to himself arguing over what he should or shouldn’t do. Abraxos’s confusion was soon broke as the man came flying at him.

Okay didn’t see this coming, Abraxos thought to himself.

Abraxos braced his bo staff between the two of them. As the man was close enough Abraxos set his staff to block both of his arms at the forearms to keep him from striking Abraxos. As the man hit the staff Abraxos rolled onto his back fast enough to take no impact from the man but as his back hit the ground with the man flying over him he lashed out with his foot aiming for the groin attempting to throw the man over the top of himself.

[Symbiosis]

Baxter could hear the wind howl in his ears as he soared like a bird in the air. The feeling of the jump sent chills down his side like he was free falling sideways and he closed his eyes in terror as he soared towards the foe, bracing himself for impact.

However there was no impact. The quick witted opponent landed on his back and Baxter could feel a boot upon his hip. His flight met with turbulence and like a poorly crafted paper airplane he flipped and crashed with a loud wail of frustration and pain. Baxter felt the dirt upon his back scrape his skin away, a stinging sensation lighting his sensitive nerves on fire. The demon growled in a predatory manner, anger emanating from the hulking frame.

"Boy that stings," Baxter whispered. The demon let out a loud shriek.

"Shut up! Stop your crying and and your whining and charge!"

"No!" Baxter replied hotly. "He's just better than us. Clearly we are outmatched by his skill! It's as if everything we are doing is just being countered and pushed against us! We can't keep on like this!" Baxter looked to the exit where the sun was and longed to be in the light.

"I'll not let you just give up because things got hairy. You need to learn to trust me in these things and just do as I say," Symbiote said with venom. "Now charge the rabbit and don't let him get behind you."

"Why?" Baxter asked as he clumsily started rushing forwards in the narrow cavern hallway. "He'll just retreat or hide again! I think you're just losing your cool because you're losing."

Symbiote allowed himself a small chuckle before he replied. "You really think that shit, huh? Have you ever thought that maybe your best interest is in mine?" Baxter remained quiet. "If we don't find a way to beat him I'm out a body." Baxter's eyes slowly widened as he thought about the implied train of thought.

With renewed vigor he tucked his head and charged, making sure to keep his wide arms out to prevent the opponent from escaping.

[Abraxos]

Abraxos stood right in front of the man as he charged looking like a fool with his arms spread wide like a child pretending to be a bird. Abraxos jumped straight backwards against the wall of the cave.

Abraxos braced his staff against the wall of the cave and thought to himself, Is this guy just a fool or is he crazy enough to believe he can take on someone like me? Maybe I should take pity on him and beat him without killing him.

With that thought Abraxos aimed the tip of his staff for the mans throat as he charged blindly at Abraxos figuring that would put him on the ground and out of the fight right quick and in a hurry.

Abraxos almost smiled to himself as he watched the man approach the end of his staff without him ever knowing it was there.

[Symbiosis]

The two raced forwards at the opponent, Baxter howling in fear as he tried to follow the instructions he was told. It was all so new to him, to be in this type of combat, to be in a room where death was the only victor and chaos the supreme overlord. The demon, who knew combat well from his centuries of life, angrily shouted commands and attempted to aid the Salvarian native, but in the end it meant little.

The man was just too inexperienced to participate in this battle. He was rushing forwards like an insolent dolt, arms flailing to the side like a chick learning it could not fly. The whole scene would had been funny, if not so embarrassing.

The body of the demon fused human impacted against the staff, the bulk moving with such momentum that he could not hope to shunt the damage aside. With windpipe crushed and energy fast leaving him, Baxter let out a garbled plea for mercy. The demon felt the hatred within his veins swirl as he debated what to do. The plan was originally to try and force his foe I to the sunlight, as it seemed he could not do any of his tricks in the light, but what was really the purpose of pumping more and more adrenaline into the pen write? Baxter could not defeat this agent of chaos anymore than a fly could topple a mountain.

With a frustrated sigh the demon retracted its power from the Salvarian native, cutting off the pulsing mutations and letting the energy leave freely. The clear coat of demon skin slid off like water in a shower, the jaws slowly retracting in length. Baxter's eyes shut peacefully as he passed out and the demon waited as slowly the man's arms and chest receded.

"Poor Binky Boy's all tuckered out," Symbiote chuckled. There was a pause in the air as he pondered what to do next, and decided to address his foe.

"My name," The demon muttered to their assailant. "Is not important. You have defeated us, now take your victory in any manner you deem fit." Symbiote swirled within Baxter's chest gently before perching, like a cat upon a sleeping master. When Baxter would wake he would deal with him then, but for now the man had earned a small respite.

[Abraxos]

Abraxos felt the solid impact of his staff into the mans throat. It jarred his body slightly sending a slight twinge down his back to which had been knocked down on. The garbled noises that came from the mans now crushed wind pipe made no sense other then perhaps that of his body trying to survive.

As the man landed on the ground next to Abraxos he clearly heard the voice speaking from the center of the mans chest. The words spoken were true. The man was unconscious and clearly defeated. There was no need to hurt him further.

Abraxos walked over and picked him his fallen knife wiped it off on the mans clothing and walked out of the cave, across the meadow and to the golden gates where an attendant monk stood.

“My back is hurt a bit but I’ll let it heal on its own. The guy is down in the cave and he’s hurt pretty bad but I left him breathing, barely,” Abraxos said to the monk.

“Oh quick before I forget,” Abraxos said to the monk “Do you have an ink quill and paper?”

“Yes here you go,” The monk handed over a small sheet of paper and an ink quill.

Abraxos scribbled a quick note that read, If you want a few lessons on how to fight for real seek me out. My name is Abraxos. The monks will know how to find me.

"Give this to him for me when he wakes if you would," Abraxos asked and handed the note to the monk.

The monk bowed and walked to the mouth of the cave.

Abraxos left through the golden gates rotating his shoulder trying to work out the stiffness in his back.

(OOC: If you want to post a reply feel free to do so otherwise you can submit the thread for judgement.)

[The International]

Review of One on One
I’m going to make this a quick judgment given the two of you have had to wait so long, but I’ll focus on the critical points. I think it would be useful to tell the both of you that this site is more so a writing workshop than a game. The average post in most other RP sites is much shorter than the average post here.

Story: Symbiosis 6/10 – Abraxos 5/10 – While in a battle one can argue that the two player characters share the same story, this category focuses on who develops that story the best. I’m handing this one to Symbiosis. He gave me more detail, more escalation of emotion, clearer description.

Strategy: Symbiosis 5/10 – Abraxos 5/10 – I believe the both of you have a lot of room to improve on this category. Show and don’t tell. Give yourselves more time and put some more descriptive and emotional value to your characters’ actions.

Setting Symbiosis 6/10 – Abraxos 4.5/10 – More… I need much much more even in a battle. The majority of fiction principles advocate filtering everything through your main character to give it significance. If that is the case, make more of the setting important to your characters.

Continuity: Symbiosis 5/10 – Abraxos 5/10 – When it comes to continuity the main concern is How does this story fit into the world of Althanas, and did I properly convey it to the reader? There was very little connection to the rest of Althanas as there was more focus on the characters. You can do both.

Interaction: Symbiosis 7/10 – Abraxos 5/10 – Abraxos, we need more description from you. Symbiosis, good job doing the best you could with what you were given.

Character: Symbiosis 7/10 – Abraxos 5/10 – Symbiosis gave me emotion, facial expressions, opinions, personal strengths and weaknesses. Abraxos gave me a few quick pieces of internal and external dialogue.

Creativity: Symbiosis 6/10 – Abraxos 5/10 – This category covers the use of literary and rhetorical devices like similes, metaphors, themes, and more. This was a very simplistic thread with simplistic devices if there were any.

Mechanics: Symbiosis 7/10 – Abraxos 6/10 – There were run-ons and places where commas should have been Abraxos. Both of you make sure your syntax (the composition of a sentence) is on point by getting one another to read each others’ posts.

Clarity: Symbiosis 7/10 – Abraxos 6/10 – The mistakes mentioned in mechanics take away from your clarity score, but for the most part it wasn’t bad. However a large chunk of this could be improved upon by adding more content.

Wildcard: 5/10
The both of you have a lot of wiggle room when it comes to the average length per post. Take advantage of it and you’ll see ALL of your categories rise.

Total: Symbiosis 61 – Abraxos 51.5

Symbiosis gains 510 exp
Abraxos gains 160 exp