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Bright Journey	Here we are, in the early evening, and the Congregation of Victory is in full swing! The clouds from earlier are, if anything, thicker than before, but the heat from the day has blessedly cooled off a little, providing both a bit of respite for the crowd packed cheek to jowl in the Arena seats, and hopefully lessen the chance of thunderstorms later. The Nine Sheaves vendors are making silver hand over fist, if the sheer frequency of wandering salespeople and the length of the lines at the concessions are anything to go by. The action below was quieter during the day, but in truth, it's starting to become apparent that the organizers knew what they were doing--they've saved some of the more spectacular combatants for the evening, with the greatest crowds. There's several hard-fought, exciting, evenly matched bouts being fought right now, which has parts of the crowd on their feet. Next on the card, though, should be -really- interesting...if quick. Virtually no one knows yet who the person coming out of the west gate is, though whispered rumor mentions a priest or monk of some sort. As always, who knows what the truth is? The other, though, is a huge, greyish-brown skinned man seemingly chiseled out of one huge slab of rock. His orange and white robes are cinched around the waist, with his left arm properly through the sleeve of the robe and the right side open, showing off his chiseled chest. Red prayer beads circle his throat and his iron fist grips a heavy-looking steel tetsubo. With that look, and the card proclaiming the name "Righteous Crag, Chosen of Pasiap", surely the spectacle will be amazing...from a considerable distance.
Scarlet Onyx Sunada	From the far side of the arena steps a bald woman wearing the traditional robes of an Immaculate priest. In comparision to Righteous Crag, she carries a rather simple looking staff that looks to have iron caps on the ends. The card for her reads simply "Wandering Thunder, Traveling Priest." She sets one end of her staff on the ground and smiles absorbing the sounds from the people above.
Grave Saint	A long haired and pallid yet beautiful woman dressed in a black kimono with patterns of crimson red spider lilies enters the arena curious about this tournament may entail. She herself is versed in a fighting style known as Silver Voiced Nightingale but she is still far from being a competent fighter. "Well there is a next time for everything" Even if she is only a watcher, Bleeding Higanbana hopes to participate next year. "Interesting, a dragon of the earth and a seemingly mundane monk? Will this end in the glorious blooming flower of death and blood?" She comments while unaware of the rule that its not a fight to the death yet she hopes the results will be interesting
Misa	Some might maintain distance- apparently not Misa. The fellow competitor stands rather near the arena with the rather blatant dragonblood, hands folded into the wide sleeves of her robe. She watches rather silently, for the moment- sizing up each competitor in turn. A faint furrow of the brow as the rather more mundane looking monk appears, and one of said brows rises ever so slightly. For the moment, however, she makes no further fuss of what she sees.
Ignis	"You know, I've talked you up and placed a lot of bets on you. so far you haven't disappointed me but..I've kind of got my eye on a new wardrobe and have already pre-emptively made some purchases. No pressure but if you could at least make the top ten Id appreciate it." This sardonic quip is no doubt a familiar voice to Misa, that of Ignis. The Dawn Solar slipping in just behind her and leaning in to mutter these words with an a lopsided smirk and a bemused glint in his eyes. "What've we got going on here?" he adds, finally looking past her and out to the arena proper. His eyes drift over the combataqnts out of curiousity, lingering on the Prince of the Earth and then curiously to his opponent who approaches him with seems to be directness and confidence. "It would appear that our earlier guesses on the nature of the tournament are indeed true. The 'big boys' are starting to come out to play.."
Bright Journey	It's a confident, grimly smiling Righteous Crag that walks out to one of the more central circles set around the Arena floor--the circle pre-designated for their upcoming bout. He negligently flips his tetsubo off his shoulder and lets the weight slam the business end into the dirt with a dull -whump-, as his smile widens into a toothy grin. Most in the arena can't hear him, of course, but Scarlet Onyx Sunata certainly can. "Heh. I thought the Dragons would see fit to challenge me, but I suppose every tournament needs a first round to winnow out the losers. Maybe if you put in a good showing, you'll have better luck in the bracket next year." He rubs his nose, sniffs derisively, and lifts his tetsubo again over his shoulder, settling into a sidelong defensive stance characteristic of the Earth Dragon.
Radiant Heart Princess	Radiant had been enjoying the tournament so far. So many interesting fights. This fight however seems interesting. A terrestrial exalted against...what appears to be a garden variety monk. She'd probably consider it a open and shut case here, but if being a lunar has taught her anything, looks can be decieving.
Misa	Misa glances to the side as Ignis speaks up, and she gives the barest hint of a smirk as she shakes her head. "Well, I should remind you that my general effort to not -kill- anyone is perhaps reducing my odds. But, well, I certainly had no intention of being knocked out any time soon." She pauses, considering a moment. "Though, would this format not instead offer a top eight? Which, well, perhaps even better for your betting." She shrugs that off for the moment, looking back at the fighters as they prepare. "Any guesses for this particular bout?"
Raullaur	Raullaur has joined Radiant, and has a large tankard of juice to enjoy. Looking out at the scene, he rumbles deeply a bit. "Interesting. I wonder if he uses the style that allows armor?" The large lionman flicks his tail behind him and grins slightly. "We will see what happens. A good tactician will show what he wants to though. Not necessarily the truth. They both /should/ be hiding what they do."
Scarlet Onyx Sunada	Wandering Thunder looks up to the crowd and blows a kiss into the stands. She kicks the bottom of her staff up off the ground and spins it through a very quick series of expent movements. "I see you have forgotten your lessons in respect for your betters. I guess you need another one." She dashes forward in an incredible burst of speed and swings her staff in an arc aiming for his ribs.
Grave Saint	As the battle slowly begins, the pale lady of "Sextis Jylis" then brings out her pipa. Made in some sort of gleaming ornate metal shining with a spectral light. "Now, this will be good practice for my songs" *Her delicate fingers reaches for the strings while looking at the fighting grounds with morbid anticipation. "Will this be some mortal monk being buried in the depths of Pasiap's bossom or will I be surprised?" She gives a half smirk while expecting that the mortal monk shall be defeated or worse die yet unaware of her true nature. Once the mortal monk runs, she then strums her pipa's string into playing a tune fitting that of a mortals inevitable demise of being drowned beneath the earth.
Ignis	"Hmm.." Ignis makes no immediate answer to Misa's question. Common sense would suggest favoring the child of Pasiap but common sense equally dictates that there could very well be something indiscernable about the seemingly mortal monk from this distance. "I'm uncertain your concerns about lethality are warrented if the size of that Tetsubo is any indication." He concludes, "..You may very well be forced to use all tools at your disposal up against a foe like that.." HE considers. "If Amethyst match against the musician is of any indication the Dragonblooded may be in for a surprise. She seems very confident in the face of that. It may be too early to tell.." And then in she goes, dashing in towards the Dragon with flourish of movement. "Ah..and here we go.."
Scarlet Onyx Sunada	A sound not unlike thunder rumbles out from the arena floor as the staff strikes Rightous Crag squarely in his ribs. The wind apparentlly taken out of his sail for the moment. Those watching very closely can see some crimson mark upon Wantering Thunder's brow
Radiant Heart Princess	She ould look over at Raullaur. "Yeah. Laying your cards on the table is a poor move in this sort of thing. So the monk probably has some tricks up their sleave that he'll pull out when he's backed into a corner." She said with a nod. "Hopefully it won't end too quickly. I'd hate it if the we don't get to see at least a few of their moves pulled out and they don't make it to later rounds."
Amethyst	Speak of the devil, the alchemical wyld dragon finds herself wandering through the stands, getting her eyes on the latest fight just in time to see the downfall of the Earth Dragon. "Oof, you gotta do better than that against this... well, I don't think they're mortal." She muses, just within earshot of Ignis and Misa. She peers, trying to identify what sort of magic is afoot to give a 'mortal' monk such an advantage.
Misa	"Yes, well, until that time comes, I shall play 'nice', hm?" Misa rejoins, another slight smirk playing about her face. She shrugs, resting a hand idly on the scabbard of the singular slashing blade at her waist, watching the proceedings... with a slight wince at how the fight opens. "Well, I am sure some culture somewhere has a comment about arrogant monks, though I cannot say I know it. Perhaps a case of becoming Chosen and assuming the martial capability simply -happened-?" she muses aloud to Ignis- and Amethyst, apparently.
Bright Journey	The huge, lumbering Immaculate monk grunts seismically in pain as Scarlet's staff flashes in well before he can raise his tetsubo to parry the blow. He snarls, clearly having lost his monklike composure in -record- time, and rears back with that huge weapon, swinging mightily in an apparent effort to put Scarlet in the stands.
Raullaur	Raullaur hmms. "If it does end too fast, I might have to step up myself and give a show," he says with a chuckles. And then there's that first strike, and he nods. "A good strike. /Very/ good! And now, we'll see if his temper fuels him or drives him wild," he says to Radiant with an excited grin.
Grave Saint	Once the battle starts, both the Wood Aspect's voice and her pipa become one as she sings a grim song of a mortal attempting to defy the inevitable coming of death's embrace. Her tune perfectly fits with the current battle as every crossing of blades and pounding of fists matches her music perfectly. Illusions of bloody spectral petals of higanbanas floats in the air carried by the grim winds of oblivion surrounds the musician. A mark of the dark side of "Sextis Jylis" for they may be a dragon of wood and life, they can be a dragon of rot and destruction.
Scarlet Onyx Sunada	Wandering Thunder uses her staff to deflect the power of Rightous Crag's powerful blow. She almost dances to the side leaps into the air and brings her staff down on his shoulder with all her might.
Rishi	Having finished with the current crop of wounded, the Chosen of Changing Waters has come up to watch the current bout, joining those waiting for the next fight. Her wings are held close her her body so she fits in under the eaves. Seeing a couple of the fighters watching, she comes up to Misa and Ignis. "Excuse me, but I am being one of the healers? How is the fight being going?" she says in her warm, sweet voice.
Ignis	"Hmm.. It's possible. Stranger 'upsets' have happened. So far she doesn't appear to be putting forth any particualr signs of supernatural martial artistry from what I can see from this distance but a I have to say that simple rule of logic would presume that a mortal would not be so confident in facing an immaculate monk one on one and also that our esteemed event organizars would not set such a match up during the evening when the stands are at their fullest. Unless they're trying to rile someone else up who may be watching." Ignis flicker his gaze back and forth between the blur of movements and the thunderous swings and he narrows his eyes as Roaring Thunder deflects the blow of the imaculate and comes in again for another strike. "She can hold her own. We'll see if this luck lasts.." his voice trails off as RIshi arrives and he turns to look upon her. There is vague recognition but it's been some time so a lack of surety just leads him to nod, "See for yourself?" he says, gesturing to the arena, "It's just begun but she did land a good whack on him. I don't think anyone is any dire danger at the moment..."
Amethyst	"If an child of /Psiap/ looses his cool, it's probably over for him." Amethyst says, "I was an expert fighter /before/ I took my Second Breath thanks to my father's drills. And you got to see how I turned out." She grins. And after truly not finding anything strange about the mortal, she notes, "This guy should probably spend more time honing his techniques if he's this sloppy." Now she turns her attention to the immaculate monk, analyzing his fighting style and stance, trying to get an idea of just how (in)competent he might be. And how can Amethyst not grin upon spotting Rishi? She goes over and just gently taps on her arm, only to seemingly vanish and reappear on her /other/ side. "Miss me?" She asks with a little giggle.
Scarlet Onyx Sunada	The second thunderour strike of Wandering Thunder's staff reverberates off the walls of the arena. She hops back a couple of steps and says in a voice that will not carry outside the ring "There is no shame losing to me." Something for Rightous Crag got broken from that blow.
Rishi	At the warrior's suggestion, Rishi looks out at the fight and winces, seeing the hit the monk just took. "I'll be needing to be readying my pool, I am thinking... Unless he can be doing the healing himself..." she murmurs r% Rishi starts at the shoulder tap, looking around, then grins when she sees Ammy. "Hi my love, how are you being? I think I am going to be needing to be healing a monk shortly." she has an odd look on her face.
Misa	It's only absently that Misa looks over at the newcome Rishi at first- though there's a double take at the unusual physiology of the woman. That's allowed to slide, however, as she keeps eyes on the fight. "You forget an additional option- perhaps she already knows of the man, and knows his level of ability. Could be a higher-ranking monk, given their similar attire, but a pair that have never met -directly-," she suggests to Ignis, head tilting as she follows the back and forth with her eyes. As for Rishi, she adds; "He may be hardier than this is giving off- may not be -as- badly off as he might appear to be, being the aspect that he is. But, well, these two are... not swinging gently. One way or another, likely -some- work."
Bright Journey	That second strike broke something in Righteous Crag. For all his obvious size and power, none of it helps if he cannot hit his opponent...and she is clearly a master at avoiding even the most powerful blow. The CRACK of her staff against his temple has him wobbling miserably for a long, worrisome moment...but a blow that would surely have put any mortal out like a candle is still not quite enough against a Chosen of Pasiap. He groans in agony, then slowly rises to his feet...and for once, instead of striking out blindly and assuming he has the win in hand, his whole body shudders...and then stands as still as a statue, the lines of preparedness carved in flesh, a state of readiness that any -prudent- combatant should have started with. He is, finally, taking the fight seriously. But he already took a mighty blow. Is it too late?
Ignis	For his caeful consideraton of the mortal and talk of luck and tides turning, Ignis may have been leaning too soon in favor of the Earth Dragon. Amethyst' words cause him to raise an eyebrow and nod in acknowledgement of her and he turns her way to see her move off to surprise RIshi...-just- in time for that monk to take that loud echoing hit that rolls through the arena. He turns, catching the tail end of that and nods as he hears Rishi. "Seems I spoke too soon.." He nods in agreement with MIsa's assessment, "II wouldn't under estimate his sturdiness no. He is a Dragon of the Earth after all but..yes..it seems your talents will be needed..." As in confirmation of his words on the sturdiness of the chosen of the earth, Righteous Crag pushes on, not yielding the fight and taking a new stance. "..It seems that discretion is not on his mind here.."
Scarlet Onyx Sunada	Seeing that her opponent has finally decided to take her seriously, Wandering Thunder will answers in kind. She spins her staff and turns her body ever so slightly, shifting her feet into a more aggressive but better defended stance. She laughs wildly for a moment and yells "Now we shall fight like warriors!"
Amethyst	"There he goes, collecting himself and readying rather than striking blindly." Amethyst comments approvingly. "Now he just needs to leverage the strength and durability earth dragons are known for, and catch a single hit. Then we'll see the true meddle of his opponent. Or maybe she'll get in another lucky hit and finish him off, she's got a lot of an advantage." Amethyst shakes her head, then squints for a moment as if trying to remember something, but whatever it was she doesn't mnake note of it. Instead, she looks to her love. "Ya know Rishi, it's funny how the Exigent of Changing Waters ended up in love with a water dragon." Amethyst muses. "But he's not done yet, and a staff like that tends to bruise more than break. He'll probably be fine. Probably."
Bright Journey	The echoing, haunting tune Grave Saint is playing is at first ignored by the crowd at large...most likely because they could not hear it, then they heard but did not pay attention...but that hardly matters now. As the Essence infused in the melody begins to touch the crowd in Grave Saint's quarter of the Arena, the loud and raucous crowd starts to quiet down a bit...still talking, still enjoying themselves...but the magical music is in the background now, taking hold even in those who don't consciously realize they're listening to, some even swaying to the beat. The music in time with the action down below adds a counterpoint to the festivities that, in retrospect, should have been there in the first place. Why -didn't- they have music?
Bright Journey	At this point, as Righteous Crag adopts his stance, his form easily emulates the crags for which he's named. Around him, animate white swirls begin to swim, circling him like clouds around a mountain peak, then coalescing into knots of hardened stone. His grip on his tetsubo is bested only by his look of fierce determination as he slowly advances, followed by a calculated, but brutal powerhouse diagonal swing.
Radiant Heart Princess	Radiant Heart Princess 's eyes would widen. "You might want to give that a raincheck, Raullaur. Seems we were right about them having tricks up their sleaves." She said watching the fight with a amazed look on her face. Sure she's seen a few spars between other Lunars both physically and sorcery, but this is a different.
Raullaur	Raullaur watches and grunts slightly. Only the tip of his tail flicking. "Definitely a tougher fight than either of us thought. But of those here? Only the Water-caste who fought when you hid behind me knows /most/ of what I can do. And I have new tricks she doesn't know yet. Still, it would be...far closer than I expected."
Rishi	Rishi smirks, saying "If I was not liking the water, it is not being likely I would have been Chosen." she says in a playful way...but her eyes never leave the arena. "...If one of them is being most grievously wounded, Ammy, could I be getting you to be creating some water for me, up here? While being in the pool is being better, even a little should be enough to be stabilizing them." she sighs. "I should just be doing the carrying of the bucket now, should I not?"
Ignis	"RIshi. I thought that name was familiar. We've met before I think. Before your trip to the Dreaming Sea." It's come back to Ignis now and he turns to look at Amethyst and Rishi both..recalling their past encounters and more besides as the title is spoken, "Ah yes.. The temple. The miracle.." he muses, "Forgive me for not recognizing that earlier. It made quite a stir, even in a city with constant miracles and gods striving for attention.." He seems..unsure though. His eyes linger on her wings for a second and then he turns his full attention back to the battle. He notes Rishi's concern for the fighters and simply says, "I think you can afford to wait a touch longer. There may very well be other matches that could require your intervention..."
Misa	"I suspect a tournament of this size might have the sense to have water buckets somewhere neraby anyways," comments Misa, glancing over at Rishi again. "Lethal or not, these bouts get bloody. Arenas get bloody. Need some rinsing off periodically. Shouldn't have to go far." "Does seem they're both getting more serious, hm? Hard to say where this one might land."
Amethyst	Amethyst focuses a moment and a pool of water forms in her hands, "You know I always got water for you." And she splashes Rishi with it. "But yeah, I'm sure I can help you with whatever water you might need, but there's plenty to be had elsewhere too." "Since you are here tho, could you heal my hand? I gotta find a better spot to shed blood when I need to ." She offers her hand to her love. "Blood lash is very powerful but it's sometimes annoying that I need to bleed to use it. What was that about these battles getting bloody, Misa?"
Bright Journey	Righteous Crag lashes out against Wandering Thunder, but in an unusual way--a pushing block with the haft of the tetsubo, not doing real damage but leaving her off her feet and defenseless. It's so effective that he nearly bowls her over where she stands, and with grim determination, he catches his weapon on the backswing and swings it back for her stomach like a giant with a tree trunk. The weapon blurs with speed, but Wandering Thunder is so exceptional she deftly slides to the side, turning his advantage back to neutral.
Bright Journey	No matter how powerful his blows, Righteous Crag simply cannot expend this much Essence with every single swing, and it's become clear after watching him start to breathe heavily that he's been putting his very all into just hitting this magnificently elusive opponent. He takes another carefully measured swing, but it's not with quite the same verve as before.
Scarlet Onyx Sunada	Wandering Thunder has been put onto her back foot after allowing the flow of the battle to shift. She miraculously parries the barrage of attacks from Righteous Crag and brings her staff in for a low sweeping attack to disrupt his balance.
Rishi	Rishi looks around for a bucket and, upon finding one, graps Ammy's hand in hers and plunges them both into it. The water bubbles with power for a few moments before Rishi releases the Dragon's hand. No wound, scar or blemish remains, though the Exigent looks at her with concern. "I am wishing you were having another way to be using that spell. Wounds on the hand are being most dangerous."
Bright Journey	It's become apparent that for all of Righteous Crag's strength and stamina, he simply cannot maintain the level of perfect composure necessary to hit Wandering Thunder he is just not dexterous, not focused, and not -good- enough. He misses again, and in doing so leaves himself open on the follow through...
Scarlet Onyx Sunada	Wandering Thunder appears to have hit her stride again and lands a quick blow against Righteous Crag
Misa	"Lips split, skin tears, noses break- any manner of ways for someone to start bleeding even in a barehanded fight," Misa explains in answer to Amethyst's question, nodding up towards the arena as she speaks. "And when you have so many matches in the run of a day- that adds up. Fighting rings get... slippery. Rinsing off with water will dry off faster, better, and cleaner. Better for the fighters on many levels."
Scarlet Onyx Sunada	Wandering Thunder dances with the larger Righteous Crag landing blow after blow on the big man. She lands a quick blow to the back of his legs causing him to drop to one know. She follows up with a blow to his chin that's almost faster than the eye can see. His head snaps backwards and he crumples to the floor of the arena out cold.
Ignis	"The spectators don't necessarily understand this.." says Ignis, tone solemn as he hears Misa and then watches, briefly, as Amethyst and Rishi get to work, "It's purely wild entertainment to them and for those dedicated to it..a thrill. A rush. A fever y0ou might say but...battle is not a clean and bloodless affair and glory isn't lacking in a prices.." He rubs his jaw and nods as he watches the fight near its conclusion and run its course. "..But failure -can- be a humbling experience and a good teacher.." he muses as he looks on the end of the Draonn of the Earth's final stand.
Amethyst	"Maybe I'll try cutting my arm instead." Amethyst muses, "Or maybe I can make like, special enchanted blood I can keep with me so I don't need to do that anymore. Lots of possibilities." "And it looks like it's over. Gotta say, at least he made a good attempt. But I do wonder if the other against him was truly mortal. If they weren't, they didn't even need to dip into their anima." Amethyst headshakes. "Now I can only wonder if I'll end up against them. If I do, I need to be sure not to underestimate." She rubs her head in consideration.
Grave Saint	Even if the song was directed at Wandering Thunder's inevitable defeat at the hands of the Earth aspect, it seems that someone will lose this battle but it's not the mortal monk but the chosen of Pasiap. Once the landing blow of defeat strucks the child of the earth, a deathly silence follows after as Higanbana finishes her song with a tune akin to that of a scythe slashing their last crop. "I was expecting death but the surprising winner makes this battle interesting" She comments with an amused tone for she expected the obvious outcome. It seems there is something more about the monk but maybe it's the arrogance and hubris of the Earth aspect which resulted in his resolve to crumble like a weared down mountain into a pile of rubble
Misa	"The man was slow- his defenses poor. To fight so much swifter an opponent- I reiterate. Simply -being- chosen does not make one a master warrior. It still takes work and a certain willingness to look at and address one's faults," Misa chimes in, head shaking slightly. "I rarely attribute to the supernatural what can be explained by simple human arrogance," she says with a shrug.
Rishi	Rishi's head snaps up when she hears that *crack* noise and she runs out onto the field, having grabbed another bucket of water along the way. Once out there she starts checking to make sure the fallen one is still alive and then starts pouring water on him to heal him enough to regain conciousness so she can take him back to the medical tent.
Amethyst	"Yeah, I think you're right there." Amethyst nods to Misa. "Slow, undisciplined, and frankly for someone who's supposed to be an immaculate monk, undertrained. Imagine him trying to wrestle with a god or an elemental or a fae. Hopefully this teaches him a lesson in humility." "Pasiap's entire ideal is standing strong in the face of adversary, outlasting them with superior endurance." Amethyst explains, "Danaa'd's, by contrast, is constant flow and change, constantly testing oneself, pushing oneself to be better, faster, stronger, more adaptable, more able to flow around the obstacles in your path to your goal." "I wonder which dragon I value more." Amethyst muses with a quiet chuckle.
Ignis	Ignis nods in silent agreement as he hears MIsa but then frowns mildly as he looks to the field and watches as Rishi rushes out. "She has the heart of a healer alright..." He then allows a smirk as he turns to Amethyst, "As to your words Amethyst. I'm not participating in the tournament but I'm around if you think you need some sort of..prep training, Amethyst." Ignis glances over towards her and Rishi and winks. "Just say the word. It's hardly cheating to use ones resources to prepare. You've access to the means to make that happen without risk to yourself after all."
Scarlet Onyx Sunada	Wandering Thunder pulls the hood of her robe up to just above her eyes concealing the red mark there. "Thank you for tending to his wounds. I offered him the chance to yield after the first strike, I hope this lesson will be remembered to not underestimate someone smaller than you." She bows and heads for the exit from the arena floor.