Kerumi springs into action after seeing his foe is reeling from his previous strike. His hands open in a claw-like manner as he crosses his arms in front of his face taking care to line up his strikes with precision. Kerumi lunges forward viciously, attempting to rake the monks flesh.
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Kerumi used to the fighting encompassing the style of the arena knows he who strikes first often wins. And in a blaze takes off leaping high into the air, flipping himself head over heels and delivers a kick to one of the spade monks that you could have sworn you saw flame erupt from his feet as he lands wisps of smoke arise from his feet the monk still on his feet but attempting to gather his wits. The monk weilding the meteor club charges Nemeia, missing, who disappears from sight quickly only moments later the meteor hammer monk gets a shocking discovery. The Sword Wielding monk charges does a stop and lashes out with the sectional sword, missing, which gives Treiden the opportunity to gracefully step into his overextension and dance around the sword monk, throwing cuts quicker than his steps elaborate only to end up a quick step to the side of where he was with the sword monk dropping first to his knees, and then face down in a pool of his own blood.
Nalita unsheathes her sword and through the power of the ancients it starts to crackle and light with energy and she strikes true bringing forth a stream of blood from an attacking monk. Li Fu'Chao and Shinzen having worked together so long have developed a unique fighting style and waited for the opening to devestating effects. Li using an ancient Elephant style of martial arts. Delivering a devestating gore to the monks shoulder who still lands a foot that lets Li know he is trying after dodging the other tusk. Shinzen also gets a kick to the head but responds a thousandfold. In a shower of blood, gore, entrails, bone, and skin, leaves the spectators gasping in horror.
So at the end of round 1. Three of the five monks are down, and
most of you are at full hit points.
Li speaks in a low rumble while still in the form of the mammoth You cannot hope to match us. Yield and attend your comrades who fought bravely. He also gives a quick shout in sylvan to Shinzen, giving her the signal for Down. He then waits for the remaining two monks to answer.
Kerumi steps away from the monk he assaulted and bows to the others as they leave the arena floor "You do yourselves great honor by simply stepping into the battle grounds, do not forget that" he then goes off to the rest of his companions "I shall meditate upon our battle and attempt to ascertain where my style needs improvements, thank you all for fighting along side me. It is my honor to be apart of this team and I look forward to the rest of the tournament with you all." Kerumi then bows to his battle mates.
Nalita offers a courteous bow to the defeated monks, then proceeds to wipe the blood off of Kuroi Tsubasa. "Such violence, it's rather savage, don't you think Nalita?" Nalita sends an image of a smirk back through the link with the sword.
"A quick and decisive victory. Hopefully the rest go as well."
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Nemeia fades back into view, her sickle still spinning in a thirty foot arc before she sheathes it and crosses her arms. She seems to melt, and the stream of liquid flows over to her teammates where she re-forms into her normal shape. A few seconds later, her skin appears normal again, and her limbs seem to solidify more. "Well fought friends. I fear we may have overdone it."
"I wonder what the skill challenge will bring? We each definitely have our own areas of expertise there."
It takes a moment for Treiden to come down from his attack form but even then he maintains a lightness in his step and composure. He waves his hand over the blade of sword whispering inaudibly and the streaks of blood begin shrinking until all that is left is polished metal . He steps carefully to avoid the viscera of the battlefield until he and his gnome crafted boots are safely out of harm's way. "Where was it you said you gained the luxury of such a fine pet, Li. I say when all this is said and done I'll like to use my winnings to obtain a creature of such... intensity. Reevaluating the mess of the monk left behind he continues in a foreign tongue to cushion his seeming disregard for the corpse.
"I do hope you've trained it well enough not to start picking at the ribbons left behind," he adds curling his lip.
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The Emissary claps and you almost see a smile on his weathered face. He looks at one of the Monks and nods. The monk approaches you, bows in front of the group about 10' away and extends his hands, while his head is still bowed. Presenting you with a stone.
After you accept the stone the Emissary stands, the monks head off clearing the stage and prepping for the next match. In the center way from the carnage you see the monks carrying out various objects. The Emissary speaks Combat is a teacher to us all, but we often only have our bodies to use as weapons. In response to that a propose a test to measure our bodies abilities to both withstand and protect ourselves, they after all house our ki. To test this all contests are welcome to come one by one and attempt to break the objects using only a specified part of their body. He pauses as the monks set up the stations. The coconut is to be broken with the hands, next the Ice block is to be broken with an arm A monk stands his gloved hands hold a piece of ice vertically, The metal bar is to be broken with the head, the quarterstaff with the feet, The river stone with the fingers, and the stacked boards, bricks and finally clay tiles are all to be broken with the hands. So who here has trained their bodies to perfections. Contests I encourage you to test yourself He claps, then takes a seat. I line forms outside the ring allowing each warrior a chance to take his time with the challenge.
Kerumi takes a deep bow "your gift bestows great honor to us, we are humbled by it and graciously accept it." he then looks to his companions "Will anyone join me in this test of skill? Exhibitions like these are very common in schools and temples when a master is entertaining a guest with his students."
"I doubt my skill at such a task, but I too would be willing to try."
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When her turn comes up, Nemeia downs her extract, and then approaches the stacked boards.
*WHACK*
She then turns to the bricks. *CRACK*
Then, the clay tiles. *CRASH*
She ponders for a moment, then shrugs. Hmm...may as well give them a shot...
She takes careful aim with her arm, and then swings at the ice block. *CRUNCH*
She kicks at the quarterstaff. *SNAP*
Looking at the metal bar, she shakes her head. no way
Finally, she turns to the coconut, and smiles, remembering that it's another one for her hands. *CRACK*
Kerumi walks up to the objects, sizes them up and says to himself "It has been a while since you've struck something that well not strike back, why don't we start out with something simple so our body remembers?"
Kerumi walls up to the stacked boards and takes a powerful stance in front of them. After a moment of concentration he let's out a shout a as he comes down upon the boards with his body weight, his hand aflame.
He then walks to the stack of clay tiles.
He then sizes up the stack of bricks.
Kerumi walls over to the coconut and gives it a curious glance before striking down upon it.
Walking to the ice block Kerumi has a look of determination before he twists his body in a snap to let his arm fly out with as much force as he can muster.
Sizing up the quarterstaff he hops into the air in a spin and let's his foot fly out at the stick.
Kerumi lines up his strike to the river stone, his index and middle finger extended and rigid but this time his strike seems to be dripping in acid!
Kerumi approaches the metal bar with a sour look upon his face, after a few moments he snaps his back forward with no regard to the safety and well being of his head, his forehead sheathed in acid again.
Treiden accepts the stone with a bewildered smile and then mirrors the bow given by Kerumi. Slightly confused, he begins rotating and studying the stone with deep curiosity even after the Emissary begins speaking. .
The half-elf surveys the items as the monks lay them out knowing full well that he is not much without a blade in his hand. Nevertheless the Emissary made it clear that it was important for each contestant to test their limits so here he found himself in line to take a try at the most conventional object for such tasks, stacked wooden boards. Thinking optimistically he casts Good Hope on himself and attempts to break the wood with raw strength.
The others seemed too far beyond his capabilities to embarrass himself in front of such a large crowd to even attempt.
"This will end poorly, you know," Kuroi mirroring Nalita's own thoughts. She proceeds to the first challenge, that of the Coconut. Seeing a couple of her companions prepare themselves, she considers the same, then decides not. "My own physical strength. Let us see how that goes." She whispers to herself.
"Well, that could have gone better. But I can only continue on, and keep trying." She proceeds to each of the challenges in turn, facing them with her own strength.
Coconut:
Ice Block:
Metal Bar:
Quarterstaff:
River Stone:
Stacked Boards:
Bricks:
Clay Tiles:
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Nemeia Steps up to the monks hold the various items and easily
crushes the coconut within her hands and smashing through the
stacked boards with ease. She hits the ice block and her arms go
numb . She stubs her toes on the quarterstaff
learning next time to curl the toes back . The
stacked bricks prove a little tougher on her hands as well as the
clay tiles than she originally thought
Kerumi follows suit and his body remembers some of the objects quite
well making quick work of the Ice Block, Quarterstaff, River Stone,
and Stacked Boards. However his body crumbles when striking the
Coconut, the Metal Bar, and the Stacked Bricks and Clay tiles.
.
Next up, Treiden Wallace, taking a different approach than his
Comrades attempts to break rather than strike the objects. Proving
quick work of the Ice Block and stacked boards. Completely unsure of
his technique the coconut, quarterstaff and Stacked bricks prove more
of a challenge than expected
Nalita follows Treiden's lead and attempts to break the objects with
brute force rather than striking through the objects. Snapping the
Ice block with her arms and breaking the quarterstaff with her feet.
That was the extent of her effort never truly gaining the rhythm.
+1 Dex damage.
Finally Li, stops thinking about that Shinzen shaped noodle and steps
up to the plate. Attempting to break rather than strike through.
Crushing the coconut in his hands, the Ice block and Metal bar prove
tougher than originally thought and strains himself. Frustration
building snapping the quarterstaff beneath his feet. The River stone
Stacked Boards and Bricks proving tougher than thought lets loose of
the anger crashing through the Clay Tiles
The emissary claps in approval.
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Nemeia winces at her minor injuries, and touches each of her injured limbs, causing them to heal.
As each of her teammates complete their demonstrations, she offers healing to those who cannot manage it themselves.
Noticing the nature of Nalita's injuries, Nemeia says, "I do not have an infusion prepared for your more complicated injury. Looking at it though, I believe there's little point in me preparing one for you in the morning when I am able, as I believe it will have healed on its own by then. For your normal injuries, however, my healing abilities will suffice if you need them."
Treiden massages his hands together more or less satisfied with the results of the test. Tucking the sore hand behind his back he smiles and gives the emissary a charming bow then turns on his heel and makes his way to congregate with the rest of the team.
He politely waves a refusal to Nemeia when she offers him a spot of treatment for his hand. He pats at his vest with both hands until satisfied with a particular spot and reaches in to retrieve a skinny glass wand. He taps the device on his hand twice and then tucks it back inside his pocket.
"Well then, whose hungry?" he asks with a grin.
Nalita gladly accepts Nemeia's offer of healing. "I thank you, Nemeia, and do agree with your assessment of my arm. I am afraid I slightly over exerted myself, much to Kuroi's amusement it would seem. The insufferable thing had been gloating quite abit. As far as the meal goes, I could do with that as well."
Kerumi, looking a little disappointed in himself, says to Nemeia "Thank you for the offer, but my body is adept at seeing to itself outside of combat" as Kerumi says this the minor injuries he has seem to disappear completely.
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The rest of the matches take place and the Emissary stands. Addressing the crowd he says Now that we know what teams progress to round two of this decades Ruby Phoenix Tournament, I would ask Team Tlue Stlike to take the stage.
As you step up he continues, We saw so little of you for your elimination round. I would ask you to take this first Exhibition match He looks to his side and sees an Oni approach with a rather large bag. What say you? Do you accept?
Kerumi turns to the rest of his team "I would very much like to take this challenge, but I await the rest of your thoughts on the matter"
"We're on a splendid roll so far. My friends it would be irresponsible of us not to accept. Let us show the masses what we've already proved to our competition. Team True Strike is in this for the win!"
"I too am willing to compete in another round."
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Nemeia says to the group, "Another fight will be a fun challenge. My protection from arrows will still help everyone for another 4 hours, unless someone takes enough damage to dissipate it. Unfortunately I only prepared one extract of fluid form today, so I won't be able to control quite so large an area, but I can make myself invisible and armor myself, and provide haste for the group."
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As you meet at the center of the stage, the Emissary claps and then sits. The ONI beside him takes a large head from the bag and whispers something to it gesturing to the middle of the stage. From one of the side corridors comes a very large headless undead creature wringing two battle axes. It steps in the stage and you know you have only a couple seconds to prepare yourselves for this fight.
Kerumi takes a vial from his bag and drinks it as he stares down, grimly, at the hulking aberration before him.
A look of equal surprise and disgust washes over Treiden's face as the headless juggernaught takes center stage. "O my... Looks like the contest organizers borrowed something this one is no doubt looking for." He looks to his teammates who are hurriedly chugging down potion after potion to prepare for battle and realizes what they have already come to assume. "Right then. Very well, let us at least put him back in the ground whole this time around."
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Treiden
Nalita
Kerumi
Nemeia
Li
Shenzuzhou
Initiative Order: Treiden, Kerumi, Nemeia, Nalita, Li, Shenzuzhou
As this large creature steps on stage and doffs its cloak you see a hulking headless corpse, clutching a massive axe in each fist. A grotesquely skinned face stretchs across the creature's chest. It stands in the center of the "ring"
HP: 101/101
AC: 33 T: 23 FF: 20
CMD: 35
Saves: F10/R19/W12 +3 Morale vs Charm/Fear
Speed: 50ft
Spells: 1st [6/6], 2nd [4/5], 3rd [1/5], 4th [1/2]
Abilities: Battle Dance [25/27]
Status:
Conditions:
Equipped: Silver Dartwing
Active Effects: Battle Dance (Rain of Blows +2, Razor's Kiss, Inspire Courage), Good Hope [11 minutes]
Treiden hops lightly from his starting position in a delighted trance. His gleaming blade spinning as he juggles it from hand to hand and an electric blue scarf wafting in the wake of his trail. When he gets close enough to strike the his movement becomes seemingly more erratic but strangely precise. He greets the creature face to... ugh face... with a powerful upstroke of his glittering scimitar.