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016573 vs. Xos: Re-Match
"Xos Xilanthes..."
I turned the name over and over in my mind, matching the odd alliteration to its appropriate face. Xos was a man I had met several weeks ago, although "met" may not be the right term. We had fought to the death in a crazy staircase filled room created by the Radasanthian Citadel's monks. At first sight, I had underestimated Xos. He was easily six or seven inches taller than me, but probably weighed fifty pounds less, making him awkwardly tall and gangly. Seeing an opponent so physically weaker than myself, I had assumed the battle would be easy. It was around that time that the wizard had tossed a fireball at me, which I barely avoided. The fight from that point on had been quick, but painful for both of us; he opened several flesh wounds on my back and neck, and I managed to crush his windpipe before almost bleeding to death. After we had both been healed, Xos told me he hoped we would meet again one day. At the time I thought he was joking. Now, however, he was paying in gold to get a chance to fight me again.
Seated in my Dajas Pagoda arena, I tried to puzzle out why the wizard would want to fight me badly enough that he would travel to Scara Brae and pay for a Pagoda match up. Revenge seemed like the most obvious solution, but a rather silly one. From what I had seen of Xos he was an intelligent man, and not the type to get angry over having lost a duel in the Citadel. Someone has to lose. I began to wonder if perhaps he had gained some new powers, improved upon his magic, or maybe learned to fight with his hands. "Is he trying to prove himself by beating me in a re-match?" Unless Xos had become more powerful, that hardly seemed likely. The first time we fought had been in an arena picked by him, with his magical powers unknown to me. Now, I knew at least some of what he could do, and I had the home advantage. Confused, I reclined in my chair to wait.
The sun was an hour from its zeinth, or maybe two. Xos was scheduled to arrive at noon. I wondered if he would be early, or late, or right on time. My guess was early. If he was looking to prove something, either to himself or me, he would be eager. Thinking about our last battle, I felt adrenaline start to flow. There was something especially dangerous, and exciting, about battling a wizard. For me, an unarmed fight, or even a battle with weapons was like a chess game: each player had their tools, and their skills, and had to use them to out-maneuver their opponent. Fighting a wizard, on the other hand, was like playing chess with someone who might pick up the board and hit you with it at any time. Too pumped to wait casually, I sprang to my feet and began working out, taking myself through an intensive plyometrics and stretching routine. Fighting a wizard, I needed to be ready for anything.
-
Xos thought again why he wanted a rematch with a man that had managed to beat and kill him once before. and then he remembered meeting his Evil Mirror Twin.
He had felt so weak when confronted with his dark side. It was also what lead him to realise he was no longer a student in an academic setting, but a wizard in a wild land far behind in terms of technology. He needed to become stronger, and the man he had faced at the Citadel, he seemed to be strong. If it took a battle in this new Pagoda to meet this man again and learn how to be strong, then so be it.
He entered the Pagoda, and paid the prerequisite amount of gold. He needed to become smarter in the ways of this world, and by becoming smarter, more powerful, and stronger. Perhaps if he became Stronger, he could go home.
High Noon...
Xos stepped into the Arena.
"So, here I am. You might be wondering why I might pay to find you again. I found a magical mirror that brought forth a me I didn't like. It talked to me and showed me aspects of myself I didn't want to admit were there, and showed me just how weak I really was. You seem to know the secret to strength, so I will fight you again, and perhaps learn the secret to strength.
This time however, let us try not to kill one another" Xos said.
-
I stood in the centre of the arena, sweat glistening on my bare torso, breathing a little hard. Beneath my feet, hard practice mats shifted slightly, yielding to my weight. The mats held the shape of an octagon, as did the entire room. I had requested this; I liked octagons. Each edge of the mat was nine feet in length, making for a large, spacious sparring area. The mats covered nearly half of the entire room, but still left wide alleys on all sides. The walls of my arena were reminiscent of a rustic log cabin, made from solid oak. Each wall measured an equal twenty feet. It was a large building, and I intended to put it to good use. Xos was the first of many warriors who I hoped to fight, and teach, if they were willing to learn.
My workout had started with push-ups, crunches, sit-ups, leg lifts, and jump squats, loosening up and working my entire body. I had then moved on to some fairly intense stretching, and, selecting a bokkan from the wall, worked through a few sword forms. Returning the wooden sword to its place, I strode to the middle of the arena, where I stood, watching the sun.
It was nearly at its peak; Xos would be arriving soon. My adrenaline was up, my blood pumping, and I wanted to keep it that way. I crouched, then leaped straight up, extending my arms and grabbing onto an iron bar. The "ceiling" of my arena was not truly a ceiling at all, but rather a grid work of black iron bars forming many small octagons, like a bee hive. It stood ten feet up from the floor. I gripped either side of one of these octagons and heaved my body upwards. The diameter of each iron octagon was two feet, and I had to go through sideways in order to accommodate for my broad shoulders. With a final effort I pulled myself through and stood, carefully balanced on the grid work. I looked up at the roof, smiling. It was a huge dome made from glass, extending easily twenty five feet higher than the ceiling. The entire roof was one massive skylight, and with the sun beating down directly above, it lit the arena beautifully. I spent some time walking along individual bars, working on my balance. At last I dropped through a hole, carefully catching a bar and doing a quick set of twenty chin-ups before dropping to the ground.
It was nearly noon, and I sensed Xos would be arriving quite soon. Jogging to the south wall of the building, I retrieved my nunchaku from where it lay on a small coffee table, and tucked it into the back of my belt. Two comfortable recliners sat on either side of the table, facing the south wall. The wall was made entirely of shelves, which were filled with many leather-bound books. Most of them were about martial arts, or fighting in some sense or another. Some, however, detailed methods of defending against magic. I found myself wishing I had had a chance to read some of them before my second meeting with Xos. "No time for that." I told myself. Just then, the door opened.
Xos entered through the large double doors, and they swung shut behind him, locking instantly. Although the door was opened by a simple latch from the outside, on the inside a combination was required. The dial on the door reminded me of a safe, like in the old movies. I did not know whether it would be possible to "crack" the lock on my door; however I did know that no one knew the combination other than me.
The wizard spoke, and it was as if he had read my mind. All of the questions I had been asking myself were answered in his simple statement. "Can he read my mind?" I wondered. In the Citadel, Xos had not demonstrated any telepathic powers. Even now, there was no evidence that he was any kind of psychic. "Maybe he's just very polite." I consoled myself. Smiling in as friendly a manner as I could, I stepped forward onto the mats, inviting him to do the same with a simple gesture from my right hand.
"Well Xos... if you want to become stronger, you may need to start working out. I could help you find a decent daily plan for that." I sensed that there was something more to the wizard's request, though. I just wasn't sure what it was.
"Are you looking to become physically stronger, or a better fighter? I could teach you to fight with your bare hands, or if you prefer, with weapons." I gestured from side to side. The west and east walls of the building were covered in a vast array of weapons. The east wall held only practice weapons; swords, daggers, axes and various other fighting implements made entirely from wood. They could deal a nasty bruise, but nothing more. The west wall, on the other hand, carried many real, battle ready instruments of death. They were all made from the same black iron as the bars in the ceiling. There were simple daggers, hammers, and axes, as well as more exotic weapons; Kamas, katanas, and naginatas were all in evidence. I was far from being an expert in the use of any of these weapons, but had a basic understanding of how to use most of them.
"So tell me, what is it that you are here to learn? If you're looking to improve your magic, I'm afraid all I can do is offer a moving target." I grinned, waiting for the wizard to respond.
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"In all the stories I've read, both historical, and made up, Wizards were never very strong physicly, however I have the blood of dragons in me, and it stirs in response to a more agressive civilization. With time I imagine I will gain the attributes normally associated with one of draconic decent.
My path though, is magic. True enough you cannot help me learn more, you can help me gain something resembling a fighting technique. As you well remember, I was more of a disorganised accident than a decent opponet. It was only luck that I managed to really get you. So help me if you will, learn how to fight, but keep in mind my magic. I will need to incorporate that. Any ideas you might have, even if its a magic skill I do not yet know, I would be glad to hear them as we go. So without further ado, help me learn to fight properly." Xos said. He stepped onto the mat.
He closed his hand partially as though holding something invisible. He concentrated, and worked hard. Sparks jumped between his fingers, but nothing more.
"Almost. I am working to gain the power of Electricity." Xos said.
He stood there, arms spread wide. A ball of fire in the shape of a Hydrogen Atom floated there. He paused, and made another, this one Oxygen. A line of fire connected the two. He made a third, another Hydrogen. A line of fire connected all three atoms into the shape of a water Molecule.
"I made burning water! Get it, Fire, Water? I kill myself. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Xos laughed heartily at his own nerdy joke. The fire disappeated.
-
I smiled and laughed, if a little awkwardly, at the wizard's joke. I remembered enough from high school science to know that a water molecule was composed of two hydrogen atoms, and one oxygen. "Hence, H2O," I reminded myself. It was an odd joke to make, though. "He'll do okay, just so long as he doesn't try to make a career in stand up comedy." It seemed to me that the wizard had come, essentially, for some sparring practice. Although it is important to work out to keep your body toned, and learn proper technique so as to cause maximum damage, there is no better way to learn to fight than by... well, fighting. It was for that reason that I had gone to the Citadel weeks ago, and for the same reason, I had accepted the position as a Dajas Pagoda warrior. The meager salary I would earn from the latter did not hurt either, but mostly, I was in it for the battle experience. The fact that the wizard had this insight made me feel he had potential as a fighter. Filing this thought carefully away, I began giving instructions.
"Alright Xos," I said, pronouncing his name carefully. It was odd for such a short word to give me so much trouble. "I'll do my best to help you learn a thing or two about the fine art of combat. Give me a second." With quick, powerful movements I strode to the east wall, selecting a wooden buckler and staff before returning to the mat. The buckler was made from solid oak, with a coat of polish on the front. A simple tool, but it would be effective under the right circumstances. I slid the straps over my right forearm, wearing it like a watch. The staff was a fine piece, as thick as three of my fingers, made from yew, but hollow. It was excellent for parrying or striking, but would not cause much pain due to its lack of weight. After the wizard's exhibition of fire magic, I felt like showing off a little myself. Planting my feet in a wide horse stance, I began to spin the staff in front of me. It tumbled end over end in a figure eight, changing direction in an intricate pattern. My hands became a blur as I spun the bo faster and faster. Soon the air sang in a high-pitched whistling key, and it was music to my ears.
I spun the staff for a few seconds more, then stopped abruptly. I gripped it with both ends near one end, about a foot apart, with the opposite end pointed across my body at Xos' left shoulder. My body had naturally folded into a tense battle crouch, the staff defending me, the buckler protecting my forward wrist. From this position, I addressed my opponent. "Or is he my student now?" I wondered.
"You may select any weapons you'd like from either wall. Or, if you would rather use your natural abilities..." I grinned slightly, thrilled at the cliché;
"Attack me with everything you have."
-
Xos grinned and stood.
"Alright, here's a trick I devised fighting my Mirror. either that, or I try you in a battle of wits, but the finer points of The Dichotomy paradox would probably be boring." Xos said. While he was talking he formed an Energy shield, behind Joshua.
"You know, making a spell out of Zeno of Elea's Paradoxes of motion is quite an interesting concept. The power involved in such a thing, enormous." Xos said. As he spoke he drew his hand back, pulling the Energy Shield towards him with the intent of knocking Josh over.
If it succeeded, the Shield would disappate and xos would rush over to hit his opponet with a fist full of fireball in the back.
If it failed, it would simply surround Xos, and he would prepare himself for an attack.
-
Crouched in a battle-ready position, I listened to Xos as he talked his way through several paradoxes and theories. None of what he was saying seemed relevant to our duel. I was suspicious that he was just shooting his mouth, trying to draw my attention away from some surprise attack. Instead of focusing on his words, I watched his body. Although I had no way of telling when he would cast a spell, or what the spell would do, I knew that many magics were accompanied by hand gestures. When he had made the fiery model of a hydrogen molecule, he spread his arms before him. I realized this could have been for effect, but recalled other evidence to the contrary. In our previous battle at the Citadel, he had made a throwing motion when launching a fireball towards me. As I waited for his first move, I noticed him draw his hand backwards. It was a subtle move, but my keen eyes caught the motion. "Looks like the magic is about to happen," I thought, "Okay Josh, get ready for anything."
While I readied myself to dodge an incoming fireball, an unseen force slammed into me from behind. It was as though a strong man had shoved me suddenly in the back, and I pitched forward. The attack took me completely by surprise, but was nothing my well-trained body couldn't handle. As I fell, I curled into a loose ball with my staff held out perpendicular to the right side of my body, and rolled on my left shoulder. The mats yielded fractionally to my well-muscled back, providing ideal cushioning for the roll. I came out of it crouched low, in control, and ready to fight.
Already, the wizard was descending upon me. From my crouched position he seemed even taller than normal, a giant racing towards me with a fistful of fire. A very thin giant. I was tempted to dive forwards and tackle him, but again recalled our first battle. In the Citadel I had hit Xos with a double-leg takedown straight out of jiu jitsu 101, only to have him open my back up with a series of small explosions. "Well, I won't make that mistake again." Although my superior weight, strength and skill would give me a huge advantage in a grappling situation, Xos' magic could cause a lot of harm in very little time. This fact was magnified by the vision of his fire-clad fist speeding towards me. Without releasing my staff, I brought up my right forearm. The punch glanced off my buckler, a weak strike compared to what a real fighter might have delivered. Despite the lack of power behind the blow, I was again reminded of how dangerous Xos was when I felt heat transfer right through my solid oaken buckler. It was at that point I decided I did not want to be anywhere near Xos Xilanthes.
Rather than attack, I reversed the move I had used earlier. Holding the staff to my right side, I fell backwards, rolling this time on my right shoulder. Again I felt the mats give slightly, and I was comforted by the familiarity. "This is my arena," I reminded myself, "And my fight. I should show this wizard how a real warrior operates." I completed the back roll, landing on my feet in the same battle stance I had started in. Beginning to circle slowly to my left, I spun the staff swiftly before me, staying ready.
I was impressed. I had told Xos to attack me with everything he had, and the wizard had done just that. What was more, he had used a clever one-two combination; an initial attack to put me off balance, and secondary one to cause some real damage. "If I hadn't been quick enough to get to my feet, he might have finished me then and there." I had no way of telling how much damage a punch from a fire-laced fist could do. Panting slightly, I applauded my opponent.
"Congratulations Xos, you've just proven yourself a worthy adversary. You're offensive planning has improved since we last met. Of course, anyone will tell you that the best offense is a good... DEFENSE!"
As the last word left my lips, I sprang forward a half pace. Continuing the spinning motion which I had started with my staff, I whipped the hollow weapon forward, striking at the outside of the wizard's left knee. With a proper quarterstaff the blow would be enough to cripple a man; the hollow bo staff I held, on the other hand, would probably do little more than create a distraction. It was a distraction I wanted though. Following the first strike I immediately reversed the bo's motion, whirling it in a tight arc over my head before aiming a second strike at the right side of Xos' jaw. Even if both attacks landed, I doubted they would hurt very much.
"But he'll sure as hell know who he's dealing with."
-
Xos smiled. Maybe he wasn't as bad as he originally though. He noticed Josh lunging forward with his staff.
Oh no he doesn't.
Xos leaped backwards, but stayed in the air. A little platform of light supporting his weight, coming directly from his shoes. Both attacks passed harmlessly before Xos.
Xos concentrated on dodging and keeping away from his opponet. Meanwhile, Josh could see with his own two eyes Xos creating small pipes with his hands out of nothing, and asembling them.
Xos had crafted a blow gun and made a small pellet. He aimed at Josh as best he could, and blew with all his lung power, launching a small attack.
"That's where that bat had come from last time. I can create small objects. I can also assemble parts into greater objects. Therefore, I can create and assemble various weapons on the fly such as this aluminum blowgun and steel pellets." Xos said.
He put the blowgun in an inside pocket, and strapped to the inside of his robe, was a Nihon staff. He pulled it free, and dropped to the ground.
"Purchased this at the Bazaar." Xos said.
He held it in a clumsy inexperienced manner, but at least he tried.
-
I watched the wizard hop backwards onto what seemed like nothing. A closer look showed me that he was standing on a thin beam of still light; clearly another of his magic tricks. I was fully impressed by Xos' quick evasion of my attack. For all that he seemed awkward and gangly, he moved surprisingly quickly. I was shaping up for another attempt when the wizard began assembling a short pipe, the pieces of which seemed to be appearing from thin air in his hands. At the mention of a baseball bat, I remembered how Xos had created a bat from nothing in our previous battle. I had disarmed him of it fairly easily, at the time. I watched as he put the pipe to his lips and exhaled harshly. Before my helpless eyes, a small steel pellet zinged through the air, on a collision course with my heart.
With a slight stinging sensation, the pellet bounced off my pectoral muscle, arcing slightly before tumbling to the mat. It bounced once then came to rest nestled in a small indentation. I looked down at the remnant of what was possibly one of the most pathetic attacks anyone had ever attempted on me. With a disdainful flick of my staff, I sent the pellet skittering across the floor. It rolled freely until running into one of the coffee table's legs, then fell over and lay still. Shaking my head, I looked up at Xos.
"That was an impressive evasive tactic, with the light step, or whatever that was. This blowgun thing on the other hand... if you tried that in a real street fight, you'd have eleven knife wounds before you took the pipe out of your mouth."
I tried to keep my tone light, but serious at the same time. After all, the wizard had come to me to learn to fight, making it my duty to point out his shortcomings. "Maybe the sarcasm was unnecessary. Oh well, he can deal with it." I remembered reading an article about blowguns in a covert weapons magazine. It had talked about how the natives who originally used them for hunting needed to develop massive lungpower. Even with the modern versions, it took a lot of wind to do any kind of damage. "He should know better than to try using an exotic weapon like that." I thought, "Well... now he does."
I was shocked when Xos pulled a staff from beneath his cloak. I'm an extremely observant person, and should have noticed it. "Unless there's some magic in his cloak, too. Damn, I really need to work out a way of knowing when people are using magic." From my ever-present crouched ready position I regarded the wizard. He didn't look like he had any idea of what to do with his staff. I didn't know much more than a few fancy spinning techniques and basic striking combinations, but at least I was comfortable with the thing.
"That's a fine looking weapon you have. Now... let's see you use it. Attack, Xos."
I spoke in the imperative form, commanding action on his part. The order was a test in itself. Bouncing lightly on the balls of my feet, I wondered how the wizard would react.
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Xos swung the staff his very hardest intending to knock Josh's head off with it.
"That standing on air trick, that's thanks to my boots. As for the pellet gun, just wait until I increase the power of my Magnetisim. There is a physicist known as Carl Fredrich Gauss, at least, there is in an alternate Reality. He figured out the effects that Electromagnets have on Magnetic accelerators. In other words, he invented a powerful Gun powered solely by magnets. If I can get it strong enough, I can make Diamagnetic Pellets, make the barrel Paramagnetic and thus have a makeshift Gauss gun powered by magic. Its all simple logic." Xos said.
OOC: Of course, that wouldn't be until about level 10 or 12, 15 at the latest.