The Bounty Hunter. (Open to ONE)

[Elthas_Belthasar]

(Looking for one active partner, preferably someone I have never written with before :) . )

Elthas found himself on the steps that lead up towards The Citadel. As a structure, and work of art, it fascinated Elthas. He knew the structure was built by all the mortal races of Althanas. Particularly, those who lived in Corone proper. Elthas knew the philosophical meaning of the structure, all mortals were, by nature, a war like species. The building was a tribute to war. A place for worshiping polytheistic gods of war and conquering. Elthas pondered those things as he sat on the steps, gathering up the nerve to enter in his first battle. Elthas, a professional bounty hunter, didn't like to needlessly shed blood. His profession implied the capture of life marks. Terminations meant pay cuts. The bounty hunter's life was a skilled way of life. One that required a certain amount of patience and knowledge of combat. That seemed to be the reason that made Elthas gravitate towards the battle grounds in the first place. Elthas could detect the life pattern of the people all around him.

The tournament, The Adventurer's Crown, was currently an on going spectacle within The Citadel Leagues. Elthas, himself, had made a recent bet on who would win the entire thing. The stone steps felt heavy and cold underneath the elf, but it was suitable for his current mood. He looked up as a fellow, one of the many robed monks of The Citadel, placed a hand on Elthas's shoulder.

"My son, what troubles you?" The monk asked.

Elthas looked up at the monk, and smiled with a friendly greeting. "Oh, sir, please have a seat." Elthas said and the monk sat down next to him on the steps. "I'm just thinking."

"About anything in particular?" The monk asked.

"I recently placed a bet on The Adventurer's Crown. Hopefully that fellow makes me a wealthy man." Elthas said, starting up some small talk. "But that's not what I'm thinking about." Elthas tapped his chin for a moment. "You see, I was just thinking about if I had the nerve to enter in a battle here." Elthas said. "Many of your Citadel League entrees are a violent lot, and I don't enjoy killing folk."

"You can request a non-death match." The monk responded calmly. "There are many in your shoes who do not like to spill blood needlessly, and are simply here to train." The monk continued. "The rules of battle mean that you do not always have to conquer your enemy, but sometimes, come out alive. It doesn't have to be clean or honorable."

"Well said." Elthas nodded. "I am trying to think of how I can contribute to your fold. I am a Bounty Hunter, you see." Elthas explained his profession to the monk. "I tend to favour contracts that don't require terminations anyway."

"A noble trade, but one that requires tremendous skill." The monk said. "I understand your concern." The monk continued. "It is not needed here, The Citadel Leagues are open to all warriors of all walks of life and skill sets."

"All right. What must I do to participate? I would like things explained as I have never done this before." Elthas said.

"Very well." The monk responded. "Follow me and I shall show you what we do here."

***

A time later, Elthas had his own chamber set. It was chamber number thirty-nine. The letters were sprawled in the common tongue. Elthas saw many marks on the gates that closed the chamber as well. He presumed that the marks were part of the mechanisms that the monks used to manipulate scenes, like surreal paintings, within the chambers. However, Elthas had not requested any surreal scene to do battle in. Instead, he wanted to keep the training chamber as it was. A large, room that was five hundred by five hundred square feet. The whole thing was made out of the same material as the rest of The Citadel's edifice. It seemed empty and cold, the symbols on the walls reacting to Elthas's presence. But not shifting to another made up reality. Elthas had made it abundantly clear he did not wan to hide behind the facade of The Monk's magics.

Walking towards the presumed exact center of the room, Elthas stopped as he reached. Taking out his daggers, he assumed a relaxed position and looked at the gates of the chamber. He was looking for any one opponent, representing any race of Althanas, and any skill level. He just wanted to train against a live warrior or magus. Elthas knew the waiting would probably occupy his fierce mind, but either way it went, he was there...itching for a fight.

[Ultimate Weapon]

Walking the streets once again, Sefirosu felt the wind blowing around him as his hair blew wild in the wind. His cold eyes looking around at the people who walk the streets. All common folk. None too fancy, all of them just cows to the slaughter in his eyes as his cold blue eyes looked everyone over. His sword gripped tight in his right hand as he stops in front of the largest building in the area. He's heard rumors of this place, the Citadel. Death fears this place as Magic reigns supreme as everyone gets their own arena to use as they see fit.

His coat just rustling in the wind as he stands there, his mind wondering on what kind of opponent he wants to face. Unsure, he just pushes the doors to the building as far open as they can. Looking around with his ice blue eyes, he sees warriors of many different races and sizes walking around. Smirking, he just grips the hilt to his sword and smiles. Hearing the monks talking in the distance about a man who came in a while ago about a man who just wants a clean fight with nothing special, he walks towards the monks and stands near them.

"Did I hear you correctly? A man who's just here for the sport of a fight? I'm a tad rusty so I'll take this character on." He says with an evil grin on his face as the monks look to one another and nod. The monk closer to him looks up at him and just nods. "Yes, there is such a warrior here. I will take you to him." The monk says in a soft tone.

Following the monk through the well-lit halls, Sefirosu just sees doors numbered from 00 all the way up to who knows what. Walking through the halls, he sees the door numbered 39. Looking at the monk and then to the door. "Is he in there?" He asks the monk as the monk just nods his head then steps away as the doors just open with a creak.

Looking inside the room, Sefirosu just sees a plain chamber, nothing special as the monks had said only moments before. Seeing the man in the middle, he smiles and nods to the monk with a smile on his face as he steps into the room. Seeing the magic symbols floating around the arena just help keep the place lit up. Seeing the size of it, he takes a deep swallow and walks forward, deeper into the chamber. "I take it you're the man in look of a clean fight? Not to the death?" He says loud so the man could hear him, hoping the man isn't deaf or anything. Once he gets within twenty feet of the man, he stops and grips his sword, not sure what to expect now, only knowing this is gonna possibly be fun.


In my case, bunnying is ALLOWED on this end. So take things how you will sir.

[Elthas_Belthasar]

Dressed impeccably as always, Elthas wore a suit to the occasion. The blazer style top was worn open, and the long sleeved shirt beneath was a grey color. Elthas was a handsome Elf, and he knew it too. He stood there for a moment, examining the mysterious symbols that seemed to dance around the walls, itching to be used by the monks. For the briefest of moments, Elthas regretted not having imagined a world for he and his opponent to fight in. Instead though, he looked at Sefirosu as the other warrior appeared. Sefirosu had an air of mystery about the man, and Elthas's eyes locked on his eyes. As he stared, he studied the stature and demeanor of the fellow, but most important he saw a giant sword that Sefirosu wielded. That sword appears to be Akashiman in quality? I might be mistaken perhaps, but them Akashimans like curved weapons of that nature. Better ask him about it later.

Elthas's boots were firmly against the ground, but soon, his booted feet would take off dashing towards his newly acquired foe. His pants, were colored black and were somewhat baggy. Loose fitting clothing were easier to run in, and do athletic gear. Elthas held his twin daggers in either hand, rotating them with an almost nervous air about him. "This your first time here too, man?" Elthas asked. "I'm a little nervous." He admitted. "I'm not used to fighting for sport." Elthas wore a wide brimmed fedora, that was light brown. It always seemed to change color, but maybe, Elthas just had a lot of different hats. Elthas tipped his hat gently as a greeting towards the platinum haired man. His opponent had long hair just like he had. Except, the Elf had green hair. "Either way, I suppose we should just let things happen as they happen." Elthas, though quite patient, did not like to give an opponent an edge.

After the brief words were exchanged, Elthas decided introductions were in orders. "My name's Elthas Belthasar." He said. "Maybe we can share a drink after this match and talk about where our tactics could be better next time." Elthas wanted to help the other gentleman get better as well. A moment later, Elthas took off in a quick run towards his opponent. Approximately five paces away from Sefirosu, Elthas attacked. He used his forward hand to slash in Sefirosu's general direction. Aiming quickly for the man's chest. His other hand was on stand-by, and he could interject a quick stabbing strike if his first attack connected. It would be a swift, one-two combo. None of his strikes were lethal, but controlled and an attempt to simply disable. Not dispatch. Elthas was not there for a kill. His daggers were of elegant Ruildian Elf design. The pommel of either were both intricate, and had jewels set in them. The handles were made of a comfortable leather material, and the blades were emblazoned with Elven symbols that were more aesthetic than anything else.

[Ultimate Weapon]

Hearing the man speak, Sefirosu just stood there and put a coy little smile on his face. "Yeah, first time here. You're not the only one nervous. When it comes to me, I like to get things over as quick as can be." He says with a shudder down his spine as he sees the man tip his hat. Looking the man up and down, he takes note of the dual daggers in his hands. "May the best man come out of this with close to no scratches then." He says closing his eyes for a few seconds then taking a deep breath as he opens his eyes.

"Elthas, I'm Sefirosu. A drink after this would be ... adequate." He says as the man crosses the chamber towards him. Seeing the man stand just about five paces away, he grips the hilt of his sword tight as the man suddenly starts to charge. Seeing the daggers finally coming towards him, he brings his blade up to try and shield himself. But being new to this, he gets a cut across his chest just about two inches long before the metal blades connected. A smile on his face as he pushes the man back and steps away, trying to keep the distance between them around ten paces apart.

Looking the man up and down again, he just licks his lips for a second before he raises his sword to strike the man. Moving his right foot backwards on the ground, he pushes off with that foot towards the man, using his speed he quickly gets in the mans face. Groaning, he brings his sword towards the man in a horizontal slice, nearly mirroring the mans slice from only a moment ago. Already Sefirosu's mind at work trying to find out how this man works. Knowing it might take a while to get things in line, he still was just trying to have fun, though he might end up losing this, he is still gonna go down fighting.

[Elthas_Belthasar]

Elthas was pushed backwards by the man for a pace or two. As he prepared to ready his counter, Elthas saw that Sefirosu was not going to play any games. When Elthas cut Sefirosu across the chest, his face physically flinched. Though he was a Bounty Hunter, and experienced a certain amount of violence on a daily basis, his battles were rarely lethal. He actually didn't like to hurt people. I hope he can forgive me cutting him like that, but it is the nature of this battle. One of us has to win... Elthas knew there were people gambling on the battle as well. He gambled, sometimes, but that was for the major tournaments of Althanas. Elthas was not prepared for the skill that Sefirosu used in wielding his sword. With Sefirosu's blood already spilled, Elthas could taste the ichor in the air. He could also smell the blood and watched it drip off his blade for a moment. It was a surface cut, but it was still enough to draw the life sustenance. He had to remind himself that he wasn't there to kill Seforisu. This man, could become an ally. I must be careful and not kill him outright. I have to learn to control my emotions in a fight. Elthas thought.

When Sefirosu reacted, Elthas guessed the platinum haired man was just acting on instincts alone. The pain from being cut open, was likely the key reason there. Elthas watched Sefirosu's face...He seems to enjoy pain. I will have to remember that as well. He did not miss the man licking his lips. He saw that and assumed it was a big part of Sefirosu as a warrior. When Sefirosu struck, Elthas was caught somewhat off guard. He had been examining the man's reaction and had not noticed the fellow preparing his own attack. Of course, the sword's tip sliched across Elthas's fine shirt, tearing through his flesh. It was like a hot knife through butter. Elthas growled at the suddenly burning sensation across his chest. His own Elven bood, colored blue, spilled across the ground in the general direction that Sefirosu's blade cut him in. Since Sefirosu had cut with some degree of skill, Elthas admired that skill. He would have to learn from the man someday.

Once the man's curved weapon was well out of reach, Elthas reacted. He felt the ground beneath him hard and unforgiving. Dirt flowed up in the air from him and his opponent moved quickly across the empty chamber. The dirt stung his eyes. His eyes focused on Sefirosu almost exclusively. But at that point, the chamber felt terribly hot, he pondered his choice of attire for the battle. Narrowing his eyes, Elthas focused. He gripped his two weapons tightly at the handle feeling the texture of the leather against his palms. He was sweating, the battle was going to be long and difficult. Rivulets of sweat swelled down the side of his head, his clothing already soaked in it. The blue Elven blood stained his shirt. Damn, this outift is going to get ruined. It was a good suit too...cost me a pretty gold piece. Elthas prepared his reactive maneuver.

Once he saw that Sefirosu was planning as well as he, Elthas grinned. "You are quite skilled, Sefirosu." Elthas commented. He meant the entire compliment, he was quickly growing fond of the platinum haired man. He has honor, I will have to remember to thank him for such a good fight later. As Elthas moved again, he took off at best speed. Which was fairly impressive for on-land running speed. Within striking distance quickly, Elthas danced quickly around the man's weapon. He saw a weakness in the fellow's strike, and that was the actual reach of the weapon. It was an impressive weapon, but Elthas knew the man had to learn it's expertise just as he had to learn his own expertise. He knew his blades hungered to bite Sefirosu once more, so he did not deny them. He covered ground quickly, and started to dance at max speed, his fancy footwork able to baffle most opponents. He wondered if Sefirosu would fall as easily as other foes.

Once Elthas was ready, he struck. He took both of his daggers, and readied them. Again though, he focused on only one dagger at a time knowing that this was a mere exhibition match and not to the death. Elthas, threw the dagger he held in his right hand, which was facing towards Sefirosu. He threw it, at the end of a full extension of his wrist, and had moved so that he was standing two paces to the left of Sefirosu. He aimed quickly for the man's shoulder attempting to take one of his arms out of commission. If it connected, he figured that Sefirosu would have some difficulty wielding his two-handed weapon. The general idea is to incapacitate him, and not kill. His other hand was ready for the next maneuver in case Sefirosu managed to dodge his attack. He saw the elegant dagger flip tip over tip, the shiny end of the blade of the dagger reflecting the chamber's ambient lighting. Elthas counted seconds, knowing he was still in range of Sefirosu's magnificent weapon. He would have to be much more careful around it, and be certain not to underestimate the man's skill level.