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Bright Journey	It's not entirely clear what critical preparations Amethyst needed to make before her scheduled trip, but that it's been delayed is undeniable. And that's all right, frankly, because other people, such as Bright, could have done with a bit more time to complete her own preparations. Something about breathing underwater, not something to take for granted. Regardless, in the interim, it doesn't do to get complacent. Between vicious demons, nutty cultists, and drooling panhandlers, Great Forks has had its share of interesting times...and all of those pale compared to whatever the Exalts of Great Forks may run into in the future! Raksha down south, yes, but also the myriad gods within the city, the denizens of the Shadowlands outside it, and whatever else might slip through that Malfean Portal that's still out there. Keystone or not it still exists. Today, Bright Journey stands in the middle of the dojo, fully armored and kitted for battle, with her moonsilver-and-bone powerbow resting over her shoulders, her arms up and over the arms of the massive weapon, eyes closed, head tilted back. She takes a long, deep breath and holds it as the other, powerful warriors who received an invitation trickle downstairs and into the crest-decorated dojo.
Fudou the Mountain	"Where did you get that, by the way...?" Fudou's deep voice is unmistakable. Resonant as it rumbles and vibrates through the dojo before he's even seen. The lunar's presence unmistakable from the vibrations that rumble even this chamber as he descends fully into view, entering the dojo slowly but surely, vast body hunched and shoulders pulled in as he slips in, sideways, through the entrance and then unfolds to his full height. Much of what passes for his armor, a form fitthing affair more suited for a bare chested bruiser that confirms heavily to his outrageous physique, is hidden by his long overcoat. The moonsilver hidden from sight by the sweep of a long weather worn long jacket and his gaze shrouded by the shadows of his widebrim hat. "The moonsilver bow..I mean. Was that a gift? From one of us? You've never quite stated your connection to us despite your curiousity and desire to meet more of our kind then the ones that are observing you and being around you here in Great Forks." Fudou pads closer, his muscles and sinew seeming to creak with an almost audible sound of leather stretching as his body bulks up slightly ..straining visibly against his garments. "Something..perhaps...from an older soul mate?"
Raullaur	Raullaur has been dealing with some issues from his command, and the City's army, so comes in a bit later. He comes in and makes his way down, dressed in his regualr simple clothes, but with his weapon strapped to his back. "Good day, both of you," he rumbles. No-where near as...brawny as Fudou either, but the inhuman visage and features plain for all to see. "This sounded interesting...my last duel was a complete and utter stalemate, so...it will be interesting to see what happens. What...what is the ritual you wish to follow in this?"
Bright Journey	Bright Journey slowly exhales, tilts her head to one side with a bit of a pop from the neck joint, then unnlimbers her powerbow from her shoulders. She smiles at it fondly, holding it reverently for a moment, before turning to look at Fudou. "I don't mean to sound like a sage or anything, Fudou, but your insight serves you well. Nightbane here is..." Her voice trails off as she looks at it fondly. One finger traces a line of moonsilver as it lovingly caresses the bone core. "Nightbane is a weapon and a tool both, healing and purification incarnate. It still has secrets from me, but...well." She smiles, a bit goofily, for just a moment. "I can't remember exactly when my mate gifted this to me, so long ago, but...well, yes. I -know- who gave me this. And I found it again not long after I took the Second Breath...well, this time around. I think the fact that I found this so easily means I'm destined to see my mate again. Eventually." She looks up (and up...and up) at Fudou and offers a wan but sincere smile. "There's a couple reasons I need to speak to Lunars, but yes...that is absolutely one." Bright looks at Raullaur and offers him a smile as well. "Well. Good to see you could make it, Raullaur. And I'm open to suggestions. Except the one where I sit on my arse while you two fight, don't waste my time with that suggestion."
Fudou the Mountain	Well then. He had expected a more defensive response to his needling line of question. Perhaps he had wanted one, even, but Bright Journey catches him off guard with her open admittance and Fudou is forced to just blink a few times as he lifts his head up and tilts his hat slightly to look her over again. Raullaur is given a slight glance and then the vast man grunts, sounding non committal and annoyed..though with himself. "Whatever you want..." he rumbles mildly before suddenly laughing as he takes note of Brights insistence on her involvement. "I would never suggest that..." He lifts his tree trunk thick arms up and laces his fingers together, producing a cracking sound like blocks of wood splintering as he cracks his knuckles. "..A stalemate..? Against who?" This question obviously directed to Raullaur though he's not facing the lion man yet and instead is taking a moment to curiously study the art of the dojo. "I am made to fight. You could say that it is mostly what I am good at although being down here actually -limits- my usual tactics..."
Raullaur	"Amethyst. Swamped me with water, but nothing she could do could scratch my armor, do any harm at all," Raullar grumbles a bit. "But I have always been one to endure and withstand, so..." He offers a shrug. "I'm also more effective leading troops rather than fighting personally." He looks between the two of them. "Well, I suppose we can do one on ones...which means one of us sits out while you duel the other. A three-way free-for-all may be chaotic, and a two-on-one seems....unfair."
Bright Journey	Bright looks thoughtful for a moment, but slowly nods. "I won't lie, I've actually been in one of these sparring sessions where we did that and then never ended up getting a turn. I won't lie, I want to practice...against people who can fight back. I want to test my defenses especially, but I also need to know how well I can get past tough people like yourselves. Whoever sits out the first one may have an advantage, though, being the only one fresh. Which one of us sits out first?" She pauses for a moment, pensive, but then thinks better of continuing. Instead, she looks at both Fudou and Raullaur curiously. "Actually, let me ask you this. Who took the Second Breath most recently?"
Fudou the Mountain	"Hmmm... It's a valid question Bright but I am uncertain that would matter much in this scenario. AFter all.. one who has taken their breath quite some time ago may not be inclined towards or invested in the same arts and skills that one who has exalted much sooner may be inclined towards, no? As I said, I have mentioned that this -type- of combat sparring is different for me because avoce ground the skills I have honed myself in are more applicable. Down here..less so." Fudou rubs his jaw and studies Bright and Raul and then grins slowly, "I tell you what. You are both welcome to see if you can crash against me and succeed. You see..I did not just talemate Amethyst. She lost to me. And I understand that Amethyst seems to have managed to become the..measure..by which we examine ourselves mmm? Rather amusing for someone who was chasing the coat of a true celestial to now be counted among them despite not being one." He reaches back to grab his grand goremaul and then hefts it up, shouldering the monstrous weapon. His long jacket shreds, leggings brutally ripping away to reveal the moonsilver armor and decorated cloth that frames his enlarging and engorging physique. Physique even mor exagerrated and colossal as he enters his hybrid and war form. "What say you?"
Amethyst	Better late than never. The purple-scaled wyld-blooded Dragon comes in, her blood whip already coiled around her arm, waiting for the right moment. The Alchemist has her goggles on and ears raised high as she greets the others with a little headbow. "Hello Bright, Raullaur, Fudou. I hope I'm not too late." There's a grin in her voice.
Raullaur	Raullaur shrugs. "If you beat her, then I would be surprised if you did not beat me as well," he says. "So perhaps it would be better if I sat out to watch and see, yes?" And then when Amethyst comes in, he gives her a nod. "No, we had not started yet, and it's good to see you again. How have you been?"
Bright Journey	"Well! Well met and welcome, Amethyst!" Bright gives the shorter girl a friendly grin and a casual wave, and motions her inside, not that Amethyst wasn't already walking in. She gestures to Fudou and Raullaur and says," Fudou here was just asking both of us to gang up on him. Personally, I don't think that's terribly sporting, but I was going to try it when you came in. We can do a free-for-all, or one on one, or...well, whatever suits your fancy." She smirks. "But we'd best decide and be about it."
Fudou the Mountain	"That doesn't sound very much like the attitude of a Dawn." says Fudou, matter of factly, to Raullaur, "You are supposed to rise to a challenge, not sit and sulk because it sounds like someone may be stronger?" His words are sharp and chiding but such is his nature as he prods verbally at Raullaur to become greater. "Aren't you all travelling to the wyld? Do you think every Lunar you meet will defer to Rishi or be inclined to let you enter territory you may not know is there? Come. Get up and face me. This overly friendliness in here is softening the mood to much for me. You've called me forth so let's fight. Shut my mouth by hitting me." A loud *TOOM* resounds as he sets his Grand Goremaul down, grip facing up as he finishes and leans on it. "Or I will attack one of you first."
Amethyst	There's a thrack as Amethyst uncoils and flicks her blood whip out to full size. "I've been well, you know, the usual. Making plans for sorcery that I shouldn't be able to do, figuring out the best ways to deal with fair folk. The lunars thing is not something I'd anticipated, but I'm sure Bright can talk us out of whatever mess we get ourselves in." She grins at Bright Journey. "As for me in this spar? I'm always up to get my ass kicked again," She glances up at Fudou, "Hopefully this time I can avoid that giant hammer of yours." She shrugs, "Either way, a four way free for all sounds fun, but what if we paired off? Get some practice in working together rather than just fighting each other."
Raullaur	Raullaur growls and draws his sword, and as he does so, there is a flash of blinding golden light. When it fades, the lion-man is covered in heavy armor that has a shimmering aura around it, faint patterns of the sun and leonine forms starting to appear in the metal itself. "ALl right, fine..." The voice is a growl, echoing from within the helmet as well. "I'll fight...unless we want to try two vs two?"
Bright Journey	Bright laughs out loud, and while there's no immediately obvious Essence spent or shimmering flash, she does draw an arrow with swiftness and lay it across the string. "I'd start talking about two on two, but frankly? If we had -that- discussion Fudou would flatten me before we came to a decision. Let's just have it out, all four of us, at least this first time. Just remember, you focus only on one and you're liable to get hit from behind..." She smirks, but then her expression turns serious. "Three..." "Two..." "One..." "FIGHT!"
Fudou the Mountain	Vast, like a living mountain range.. Fudou doesn't look like he should be able to move as fast as he does with his freakish proportions and dedication to such a visual visage of brute strength that one might presume he was working to mimic representations of the Black Boar that Twists the Sky-- But move he does. A rapid lunging dashing surge of motion that seems to shake the very dojo as he bears down on Raullaur! "Don't take it personally!" he offers as he looms in front of the Lion Man and arcs physique and back, dragging his grand goremaul with him. "I just want to test the rumor of your vaunted durability..for myself!" And with that his weapon swings around, hurtling through the air in a whirling movement that would surely be calamitous if it weren't for the magic of the dojo being at work for them all.
Raullaur	Raullaur takes the brunt of the giant hammer and grunts slightly as he is moved back half a step. "Is that all you have?" And then with both hands, ripostes with the grand daiklaive, wielding it quickly in a thrust against the giant lunar. It's not enough to really hurt, maybe just a scratch, but the Dawn lets out a roar of triumph.
Bright Journey	Almost immediately, Bright begins to draw on the power within, and the shining symbol on her brow, the center-dotted circle, glimmers, then turns a brilliant gold as she draws and fires an arrow in a smooth, practiced motion. Such a great pity Amethyst lashed out and struck at her, fouling her aim! The arrow still kind of...sort of hits Fudou? Maybe? But it glances off his armored hide effortlessly, without even the slightest scratch. Bright is going to have to do a lot better if she plans to win this one! But she might have to deal with Amethyst first...
Amethyst	There's no might about it with Bright. The young dragon's anima surges, and is drawn into her whip, setting it ablaze with glowing blue flames. Amethyst is as fast as ever, moving about, trying to find just the perfect opening before striking. But just as one might think she's done, again her anima flares and in a whirl of motion and a graceful, almost dance-like movement, she strikes again! The dragon is incredibly fast.
Fudou the Mountain	"Nope!" answers Fudou, sounding surprisinly cheerful despite the terror of his gigantic presence. To anyone that isn't this group. Champions all, such as Raullaur who took his strike dead on despite Fudou's bravado at present. "Not hardly! It was just a little test. I see you managed to take it! Let us try again!" He speaks, even as Raullaur's blade comes crashing into his sturdy hide and armored form. On a similar note, Bright's arrow glances against him and goes spiralling off as Fudou lunges in on Raullaur. "I am afraid the lady is wanting me to pay attention to her as well though but since you asked..let us try this ..again!" His grand goremaul, more of a monstrous ornate club, comes whirling around again as he bears down on Raullaur like an incoming sequioa launched from the heavens. The full moon is bright upon his brow. Silver essence streams behind him wildly and burns into his muscles, lighting his veins and further engorging his figure with sinew. The moon mad in action.
Raullaur	Raullaur is driven back a bit, staggering slightly, more than before, and then the light around him grows brighter, even through the helmet the array of the dawnng sun and the rays radiating from it, at the forehead of his helm. Wisps of light run down the blade and trail behind it as this time he aims a slash at Fudou's chest to scrape against the moonsilver armor.
Bright Journey	As Amethyst lashes out with her whip, Bright looks to be in truly dire straits. Not just on the back foot, she wobbles and scrambles back, trying and failing to keep her distance from that long, Essence-laden lash. On the other hand, she's by no means given up yet. Her aura erupts almost instantly into a blazing icon of power as she pours Essence into her attack. She's surrounded in an infinite cradle of white, a shimmering satin field, emblazoned with shining gold, a circular ribbon like a halo encircling her head when viewed from the front. Her bow sings as she fires an impossibly fast arrow, an attempt to get some breathing room as Amethyst has to dodge it.
Amethyst	The waters of the deep call to the young dragon, echoes of the trials she's taken underneath the Dreaming Sea. Their pressure weighs down on everyone whenever she focuses on her sorcery, a pressure that does not hinder but is certainly present. The bracken energy takes shape as everyone feels Amethyst begin casting a spell. Air and wind tear some of her anima away and create a shield around her, offering her protection as she casts, lighting arcing around her. Holding her athame up high, the essence gathers and collects, fire slowly gathering at the tip of her strange dagger.
Fudou the Mountain	The two bruisers continue slugging it out with Fudou once again wathering Raul's assault but his own massive one not yielding the results he first anticipated. "It would appear you are -indeed- a hard nut to crac, Raullaur. I am impressed!" He glances over towards Amethyst, "But though I'd continue striking until you broke..I see we have neglected another major problem to a fault...!" He pivots, spinning around on his heel and bringing his grand goremaul around in a wide sweeping arc towards Amethyst, attempting to disrupt ..whatever it is she's doing!
Bright Journey	Everything seems to slow down, almost, as Bright Journey's eyes widen. She sees Amethyst's sorcerous motes gather, the brilliant flames start to flicker, and she's studied enough sorcery herself to know exactly what's coming. It's almost a relief, then, when Amethyst clearly views Fudou as the greater threat, and for a very good reason! He's massive and bearing down on both of them. As she charges up for a terrifying spell, Fudou sees it, too. As he comes in and hammers Amethyst's defenses, Bright takes the opportunity to begin the assault on him, instead. But not a single arrow, oh no. Not even close. She saw far too well how effective that wasn't the last time! No, instead she gathers brilliant, white-gold Essence to her hands, grabs a whole fistful of arrows and...throws them into the air? What the hell? As each arrow comes down, though, it's clear the archer knows precisely what she's doing, Her hands a blur, her bowstring a blade through the air, as each arrow falls right into place. Each arrow nocks itself neatly and she fires them in a hail, all at Fudou. each one doesn't do much, but the stream is constant, endless, and drives him back no matter how impossibly tough his skin. They shatter against him like hailstones. And so, Bright reaches for one, final arrow to finish him off. Her fingers reach into her hip quiver and find...empty air.
Bright Journey	Bright has clearly run out of arrows, but options? Oh, no, she still has those. She draws her bowstring to her ear, just like she was carrying another arrow, and a shaft of brilliant Solar Essence erupts from between her fingers, forming a spike of sheer will. She lets loose the shining arrow, but Amethyst draws deep within her own soul for a powerful defense, and it is just...barely...enough. The Solar Spike goes wide by a hairsbreadth and rockets past to slam into the stone wall with a WHAM.
Amethyst	The young dragon is frustrated by how long it's taking to gather all of the energy she needs. Slowly it gathers, but not fast enough! A giant goremaul comes down upon her, and she releases her dagger, leaving it in her whip's grasp, to focus on the shield around her, absorbing the blow, cracking the shield. No sooner she tosses a little silver canister up, grabs her athame, and the entire shield and the flames and all of the whirling essence collects into her athame, making it glow with orange runes and the dragon's eyes in the hilt glow red. All of the lightning has stopped, her anima is calm again and she's barely glowing. She puts the blade and whip between the arrow, and it deflects it into the wall. And then, with the grace of one has has practice this motion dozens if not hundreds of times, she swipes and looses the energy in her blade, sending a glowing fire bird soaring at Bright Journey. Her eyes are wide, hoping the energy she's channeled will be enough, and waiting to see the effects.
Bright Journey	As the Brilliant Raptor hits, Bright shrieks and falls backwards, smoldering. It clearly doesn't do as much as it looks like it should--she's managed to stave off some of the harm with Essence-infused skin--but still, that looked -painful-. And the flames aren't going away! Bright backs off, trying to get behind the fire, coughing from the smoke, and she looks ready to continue...but doesn't shoot right away. Instead she calls out. "Are you two all right? I can barely see!"
Fudou the Mountain	There is silence from the gargantua who had been driven backwards and into a defensive stance by Bright'sassault.. let alone the smouldering sorcery unleashed by Amethyst. Then-- "That was...fascinating!" Not exactly the word you -usually- use to describe the apocalyptic display that just took place in here, shielded only by the bizarre magic of the room that lets these celestials simulate more then truly experience life and death. It's close enough though. fudou plucks a few arrows free from where some managed to embed i his thick hide. A rolling flex blows away the others, sending the pieces of the arrows scattering to the ground as the flames unleashsed by Amethyst roil wildly around him and scorch at his form. "Raullaur has turned out to be as tough as I thought he must be and the two of you continue to unleash surprises. I think that's enough for me for now. I'm feeling rattled enough to know it would take some effort to attempt to regather my wits and previous lead."
Amethyst	Amethyst is glad she's wearing her goggles today. The heat dances on her skin, but her typical alchemist garb is meant for dealing with such catastrophes, so she's mostly unharmed for the moment. And as Bright calls out, everyone feels the same pressure again, and might even see her ritual dagger in the air. With a bit of focus, a pulse shoots out from it and the flames vanish, revealing a crispy looking alchemist. She drops to a kneel and takes her goggles off, looking at Bright and Fudou and clearly out of breath. But inbetween breaths she's giggling, "Did you like it? I've been practicing that spell for a while now, first time I've used it outside of a controlled environment. I knew it'd be spectacular, but had no idea /that/ spectacular." She sits and looks up at the ceiling, "I think we've all grown a lot since we last sparred. I have to wonder how long this chamber can keep us alive."