[P.A.L.E.] Zeva Initiation ~ Two Heirs, Two Stories

[Ashla]

All bunnies approved! Closed t o Zeva.

Ashla had to admit, she was excited for the new recruit she was meeting - but of course, every recruit counted. Not only to defeat the Order of the Crimson Hand, but to defeat all who oppressed the innocent and weak, Ashla needed as many people on her side as possible.

To test her recruits' power, Ashla mandated that all initiations take place in the Citadel, so here she was now. Waiting for a new recruit and hopefully new ally.

The woman's name was Zeva. Zeva FlameShadow. She was a remainder of a a species of demonic creatures, the Hametsu. Ashla was curious of her opponent, other than some basics she had no idea what she was like.

A grin crossed the Icebreaker's face as she entered her new arena.

[Zeva]

Fighting for peace, serving justice at all costs... it had a beautiful ring to it. In fact, it was the exact mentality Zeva had been brought up with. The woman walked from the crowded Citadel halls into a room where she would be tested in her combat skills by the leader of the group she was interested in joining. A group who fought with a fist, knocking out teeth, for what was right.

The arena she stepped into was simple. It was a small dungeon like room. It had plain old stone walls, ceiling, and floor. At the other side of the room stood the Hametsu's opponent.

She was not clothed in heavy armor like Zeva, bathed in iron protection and holding her helm in her two hands. The woman across the room was dressed in a casual looking black outfit with small armor plates here and there. Other than the weapons strapped to the woman's belt, she hardly had a look fit for combat. Was this skinny, pale woman the leader of P.A.L.E.?

Zeva did not know how to ask though. She did not want to sound rude to the brunette standing across from her. After several moments of gaping though, Zeva cleared her throat and offered a proper Hametsu bow, "Greetings, friend. A-are you the leader of the military P.A.L.E.?"

[Ashla]

Ashla smiled at the red head stammering at her. Ashla observed how heavily armored she was. The material was simple iron, not a huge biggie to an Icebreaker. She nodded at the woman's bow. It was a very tightly executed bow, giving Ashla the impression that this girl was heavy on proper action. In the way she did to put soldiers and servants in Eiskalt at ease, Ashla lifted her hand in a calming palm. "Yes, I am. Ashla Icebreaker."

Ashla then lowered her hand, "Zeva FlameShadow was it? It's a pleasure to meet you." The red head nodded rapidly, pulling her helmet up to her face. She didn't place the helmet on yet though.

"Likewise. You are to test my competitive capabilities, correct?"

Ashla found her warm smile was curving into a confident grin, "Correct you are." The Icebreaker pulled out her damascus broadsword. As she drew it, she realized how hard it was for her to cover her usual teenage spite with the face of a leader. While being the duchess of a broken country did teach her lot's, she still struggled in looking five times older than she and her recruit both were. Of course, Ashla wanted to swing in first, but she was here to test Zeva's own skills, she had to remind herself that.

Ashla nodded to Zeva, "You make the first move."

[Zeva]

Zeva blinked at her apparent leader's acknowledgement towards the start of their duel, "Very well." The Hametsu pulled her iron helm over her red hair and pale face. She then reached back and pulled her double bladed sword Wyndstryder out. The sword was heavy, but the two blades sticking out both sides of the handle allowed her to easily balance it. Zeva pulled the sword into both her hands and entered the battle posture of the Hametsu's first sword fighting style.

Pull the sword in front of the body, one foot barely in front of the other, keep the head up, straighten the shoulders...

After pulling her stance together, Zeva looked at Icebreaker through her helm. The woman had her sword out beside her body, lowered and ready to swing at Zeva's body. The red head's yellow eyes narrowed, she knew exactly how to proceed.

Zeva raced up to her coach in a sprint while replaying her plan in her mind. Style I of her tribe's sword fighting stances was meant to waste minimal energy and create simple but powerful blows. It was Zeva's personal favorite, as it fitted with her physical state the best. As the space between the girls was closed, Zeva aimed one powerful strike towards her opponent's blade. Without stopping to think, the FlameShadow instantly snapped towards aiming another blow towards Icebreaker's chest.

[Ashla]

Ashla could tell when her cautious recruit was going to try to disarm her, so she pulled her sword away from her. Ashla had to move quickly though when Zeva smoothly threw another attack at her. Ashla had pulled the sword up to block with both hands, but the force behind the blow almost caused Ashla to drop her weapon or even fall back. The Icebreaker bit her lip, She's strong, very strong. Ashla decided to respond to Zeva's top notch power with her own top notch agility. Ashla leaned all her weight against Zeva's double bladed sword used it as leverage, pushing her own sword off it and easily swerving behind her.

Ashla did not stop there though. Still using her weapon with two hands, Ashla aimed for Zeva's waist, where there was a weak spot in her armor. The armored giant replied to that attack too though, pulling her sword behind her and blocking Ashla's blow even from behind.

Ashla could not see Zeva's face, even after she turned to look at her. Ashla, however, smiled. "Impressive."

Ashla broke their blade locked and lunged back, her footsteps causing an echo across the entire room. Ashla was still smiling as she pulled out her handheld crossbow Parvabow. The next step was to test her meddle against missile weapons. Ashla cocked her crosspistol and aimed at Zeva's shoulder, "Dodge this."

She pulled the trigger.

[Zeva]

Zeva managed to put a smile of approval on her leader's face. Zeva did have to admit, while her arms pretty much shook trying to stop her second attack, Icebreaker was more agile than she. And now, she was standing several paces away from her, holding a masterwork steel crossbow pistol.

The hametsu was unable to see that clearly with her helmet on, but she could hear when a trigger was pulled by a small buzz in the room (which so far was notorious for making echoes)... alongside a small pain in her shoulder. Zeva hissed for a moment, the bolt in her arm was small, but had just slipped past her armor and into white skin.

Zeva was strong though, harsh training gave her a boost in endurance. Zeva loosened her grip on Wyndstryder and entered the looser and more aggressive Style II. Zeva lunged towards Icebreaker again, wanting to show her how strong she was. She had failed to dodge, but she could make up for it with her brute power.

[Ashla]

Ashla could see a desire in Zeva, a desire to prove herself. It was similar to her own feelings in just about every fight she'd ever entered. Ashla placed her two hands into a block and found herself blocking and dodging several forced swings. Ashla had dropped her missile weapons to use her sword in a two handed grip. Ashla had to say, she envied how Zeva had simply shrugged her arrow wound off, and didn't even bother to pull it out, as she immediately began to fight. Zeva obviously had a better pain tolerance than herself. Take that plus her strength, she would do just fine in P.A.L.E.

Ashla pulled herself away from another swing from Zeva's double sword and spoke, "Enough."

With that, the girl stopped. Instead of easing up however, she entered a state similar to a salute. A former posture straight from the military. Ashla frowned sympathetically, Zeva only appeared to be the age she was and she was behaving like an emotionless soldier. Of course, it did take a year full of pain and war to outgrow her childish demeanor, but Ashla at least had a heart. She shrugged, "At ease." Just to prove she wasn't planning any sneak attacks, the Icebreaker put her sword away.

[Zeva]

When Icebreaker put her weapon away, Zeva finally let herself loose. She put her sword away to its sheath and pulled her helmet off, flinching due to the discomfort of her wound. After pulling her helm away, Zeva blinked, "Yes, Icebreaker?"

The woman standing across from her smiled, "Let's stop fighting for now... I would like to hear about where you got your skills." The girl walked over to the wall and leaned against it, panting from their short duel. Zeva's eyes narrowed, how could the leader of an entire cult slack off like this? Sure, she looked tired, but Zeva saw as no excuse - particularly in her culture.

Zeva sighed as she walked over to her leader. To each culture their own, at least Zeva could guess. She still stood straight, but now had pulled her hand to her throbbing wound, trickling with dark red blood. Zeva blinked, "I was brought up to fight my entire life, as of clan custome. However, I was born with a disorder where I was unable to control my race's powers. So I had my powess locked up." Zeva pulled her hand into her breastplate and pulled out the glowing, dark necklace that had been hidden from view the entire time. "Instead I focused on my physical strength. Although training can only get one so far, I am thankful for each and every pushup and beating."

"Beating??" Icebreaker questioned.

Zeva scoffed. Of course she wouldn't understand hard training when it was presented to her, "Haven't you ever trained in anything?? How else am I supposed to handle pain than to learn to resist it? It is a very important part of training!"

Zeva suddenly pulled her hand from her necklace to her mouth, she didn't just lash out like that, did she? Zeva sighed again lowering her head, "I-I'm sorry for that outburst! It was disrespectful and-"

"- It's okay!"

Zeva looked up to see Icebreaker smiling at her. She had pushed herself up and was now right in front of her.

[Ashla]

Ashla placed a kind hand on Zeva's good shoulder. Ashla had to admit, she hadn't expected the proper looking red head to lash out like that. Ashla was happy to see her break out though, this young woman needed to lighten up! The sound of getting beaten though, simply to improve one's endurance, it was horrific for training. Ashla could see that her entire life, Zeva had been trained for war and nothing else. She knew no other path. This was an indicator that she needed to join a family. That's family, not tribe. Zeva deserved a home. Ashla never understood what "family" was outside a driving force thought, as she was an outcast herself. Ashla realized that Zeva and she had a common need. A need that could be met in P.A.L.E.

"You're okay, Zeva." Ashla started, "You wouldn't believe me on bad days..." Ashla rolled her eyes at herself. She then directed her attention to Zeva's questions, "I may have trained differently than you, but I have trained. And I also know quite a handful about combat and... war..." The Eiskalt War will ever haunt me...

Ashla pushed her country aside and smiled, "I know enough to lead an organization."

Ashla took her hands off Zeva's shoulders. "By the way, you've passed." Ashla opened her arms wide, "Welcome to PALE!"

[Zeva]

Zeva blinked in surprise at Icebreaker's quick forgiveness for her outburst. No repercussions whatsoever? Zeva was confused. A bold sense of pride overrode the confusion though when she was accepted into P.A.L.E. Zeva's posture straightened, her head shot up. She was ready. "Th-thank you."

Icebreaker had been walking to the door which Zeva came from, but she looked back at her, "Get yourself patched up. Meet me later for our base coordinates and stuff."

Zeva mentally growled for improper language, then scolded herself for not respecting her leader again.

Ashla then turned and opened the door. Before leaving though she said one last thing, "Also, you can just call me 'Ashla'."

[Ashla]

Done.

[Quentin Boone]

BlueGhostOfSeaside receives:

516 EXP
55 GP


Zeva receives:

406 EXP
55 GP


Congratulations!

[Lye]

EXP & GP Added!