The Mage's First Meeting.

[Bleed American]

((Closed to Streak101))

Gwydion patiently made his way up the stairs into the towering Citadel. It was much bigger than he had imagined it. This being his first time at the Citadel he had no idea what to expect but his calculations were fairly close. He came to top of the stairs and slowly stepped through the door. A few monks could be seen wondering with other fighters looking for or coming from a fight. A monk spotted Gwydion before he had a chance to look around.

“First time here?”

“Yes.”

Gwydion’s voice was strong and aggressive. He knew he had nothing to prove to this monk but wanted to make sure that he meant business. The monk began walking away to another room and Gwydion paced behind him. They entered slightly cramped room, some would see it as cozy, with a small desk off to one side. The monk took a seat at the desk and opened a large book of records.

“I can have you fight someone with your… experience level if you would like.”

“Yes, that would be fine,” Gwydion replied.

The monk searched through his book of records and found the perfect fighter for Gwydion to challenge. Gwydion peeked into the book and the monk’s finger pointed to the name of Banda Utako. Gwydion had never met the man personally but he had a good feeling that Banda would make a good opponent. Before the monk could even say his name Gwydion had nodded and agreed to fight him.

“Follow me,” the monk said.

The monk stood up and walked out of the room, Gwydion followed. He was led down a series of hallways until finally they arrived at a large wooden door. There were several cracks in the door and through it a small field covered in flowers under a shining sun could be seen. The monk unlocked the door with a small key and allowed Gwydion to enter.

Upon entering it became very apparent that there was no shining meadow on the other side of the door. Instead clouds blocked the sun and all the grass in the area had died. There were several flowers lying around but they were all pure black and decayed. In the middle of the thought to have been field there was a large area of ruins.

Gwydion slowly moved into the ruined building and drew his sword. Deep green vines the size of 20 foot long snakes swallowed the wall into a green sea. The place was vaguely familiar to Gwydion, like something out of a dream. A light rain picked up and fell into the roofless building. Gwydion stood on a small platform in the middle of the ancient building and prepared to fight.

[streak101]

Banda waited patiently in the dead forest, waiting for his foe to arrive. He didn't care who it was, he needed to blow off some steam... Alot of steam. So awhile back he entered the Citadel, and now found himself here waiting for his opponent.

A noice which sounded like a door opening was heard throughout the forest, and a man appeared, standing in the middle of some ruins to Banda left. Banda had an advantage: seeing his opponent first.

But he let it go. Instead, he walked to the center of the ruins, and stood in front of the man, he bowed, and bandana already on his head, withdrew his sword, his shield, and fashioned his boomerang on his sleeve ready to throw. He stepped to one end of the arena, and said, "I am Banda Utako. Be ready... For this duel will be a hard one... For you."

Banda waited for his opponent to make a move.

[Bleed American]

Gwydion smiled at the young character while carefully formulating a plan to dispose of this small nuisance. The boy had given up his first major advantage of surprise, a mistake that Gwydion would not let him forget. The boy bowed to Gwydion but Gwydion could not return the gesture. He had learned not to trust such unmeaning motions. Their eyes locked in combat before lightning struck and took Gwydion’s attention. He looked back to the boy and raised his staff.

“You shouldn’t have given away so many of your advantages.”

Not only did he give up his initiative but he also allowed Gwydion to make the first move, another small mistake that could end in Banda’s demise. The boy unsheathed his weapons and stood on a rock and announced his name as if Gwydion cared. He didnt know what the young warrior thought he was but Gwydion was sure that he would be able to defeat him with ease.

Another flash of lightning followed by the explosion of thunder. Gwydion used the moment to point his staff at the young mercenary and with a single thought a small ball of fire formed in the grasp of the staff. Gwydion channeled the power of the flame and propelled it straight toward Banda.

“Prepare to lose miserably my friend.”

[streak101]

It seemed that Banda would not have an easy duel. It seemed his opponent had no care in the world, who he was, but thats how things go in the Citadel. “Prepare to lose miserably my friend.” The man said, as a massive ball of fire appeared from his staff, and launched itself at Banda.

It was a good thing Banda purchased a shield, before coming to the Citadel, for if not the flames would have scorched him, and he could've been wounded badly. Better that the shield was made of iron, and not wood too, for he would have made a great waste of gold.

After parrying the mage's attack Banda flung himself toward his enemy, with his sword over his head, and swung at his enemies side. Hoping for a hit.

[Bleed American]

Gwydion was disappointed with his unsuccessful first attack. The attempt, although hasty, had quite a bit of potential but he had failed to calculate the ability of Banda’s shield. The magic ball of fire exploded harmlessly once it contacted the iron shield. Gwydion moved back into a defensive position as he realized his opponent would counter-attack. Like he suspected the young man raised his sword to Gwydion.

Gwydion smirked at the small warrior. He was easily going to out calculate this poor young mercenary and beat him through pure strategy. He already knew exactly how he would dodge the retaliation of this enemy and would end in just another of his own attacks. This one would not be as easy to dodge.

Banda Utako charged with his sword ready to strike. When he did swing Gwydion simply stepped to the side letting his opponent move past him and suffering no wounds at all. The reckless attack was a bit foolish in Gwydion’s eyes, he preferred to stay back and fight a more defensive battle. Gwydion swung his sword down at his opponent’s lower back area while he rushed past him exposed.

“You will learn quickly that foolish rushed attacks will not prove effective against me!”

[streak101]

Banda cringed as the sword's blade sliced into his back-side. This mage was smarter than the others. What to do....thought Banda. As he got himself up, the pain was immense and he was forced to stand up straight for if he bended then he would bleed.

"Okay old man..." said Banda, "Let's go! Looks like I won't get my helping the elderly badge today." he said sarcastically. Banda swung at the man's thigh. Since he was still recovering his blow, Banda's swing was somewhat less powered. Banda hoped that the mage had not noticed the swing.

[Bleed American]

The rain began to let up, leaving a mushy mud covering the ground. The mud would make any movement a lot harder. Gwydion grinned madly as his blow made contact with the lower back of his opponent. As usual his calculations had served him very well and were making the battle tip in his favor. He now hoped that the mud would serve as a tactical advantage, the limited mobility would not effect him as much as it would his opponent.

He was then engaged in conversation with his opponent. It was a lot of smack talk for someone who had just been outsmarted. However it was in these few moments when his opponent chose to strike and caught Gwydion off guard. It was a quick blow to his thigh; he was too slow to block it entirely but managed to bring his staff against the attack. It was enough to escape with a marginal cut across his thigh. He took several steps backwards and cursed at himself for letting his guard down so easily.

“You will pay for that you little nuisance.”

Gwydion now prepared to use his most brutal attack. He looked at his staff as he lowered it to point at his opponent and then stared directly in the eyes of the young mercenary.

“There is something you need to learn my friend. I spent 10 years in an environment that craves for blood and I’m about to unleash it. Remember this phrase: This lance was meant for evil.”

He spoke the words and as they escaped into the air he could feel a large magical energy begin to force itself out of his staff. His hand began to shake violently so he drove his sword into the mud and grabbed the staff with both hands. As he finished the words to the spell a large spike made completely of bone began to crawl out of the staff. It erupted with a loud explosion and was directed straight toward Gwydion’s opponent.

[streak101]

Banda watched as the old man spoke maliciously, and evil-like. "Remember these words: This lance was meant for evil." Banda watched as he enchanted a few words, and a huge spire which seemed to be made out of bone, protuded the staff and aimed toward Banda. This ain't too good...He thought. Banda then didn't know what to do. He couldn't block the boney staff with his shield for then it would crack.

He could not parry the large boney point with the sword. The only thing he could do was run. He started running in zig-zags, such as when someone is running away from an alligator or crocodile. Hoping the boney staff wasn't a projectile his heart raced, and pounded into his chest as if it wanted to rip itself out.

[Letho]

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