Closed Bloody Skies[Axe]

[Clyde Sullins]

As Clyde worked his magics, a pleasant thrum spread throughout him. It was always so joyous a release, to use his djed, to weave a spell, and to unleash some great elemental fury. He had no doubt that this was not a joy and pleasurable sensation from the act itself, of destruction, but of the djed. But while using his djed gave him pleasure he could never receive by mundane means, he knew it was not something he should pursue. If he did, he would meet his end with a smile on his face, but a end all the same premature. That was not what he wanted. And so even as the gentle hum began to fade from his mind, and called out to him to do more, to spend more djed, to exude more res and wipe the lot of them from the face of Mizahar as he so easily could, he fought it. He knew he had enough out already, there was no real need to spend or exude more. With mental fortitude, he fought the impulse, and clamped down on his djed. He was in control of his magics, his magics did not control him. He could feel himelf a part of his res, a piece of the swirling maelstrom of flame and gaseous djed, which hovered over his head. As he looked up, he saw the leader was trying to run away. Clyde made a swipe with his left hand, and sent a fireball in the path of the man. it landed with a crash 5 feet in front of him, and he only stopped just in time, from running right into it. "Now were do you think you are going? I believe you have an appointment with the Zith. You don't want to be late for it do you? Try to run off again, and the next one will be aimed for you. And I don't miss." The Zith had already killed two of the men, and was going after another with the greatsword. That left two more, besides the leader of the group. Clyde angled around, heading for one of the men who had escaped the flames. This one had a club in his hand. Apparently he had lost his second in the confusion. He glanced up at the flames over Clyde's head, a scared look on his face. But he knew if he ran off, he would be smashed from behind by a fireball. So he decided instead to face Clyde head on. As Clyde closed in with the man with the club, the other remaining man with the mace run at the Zith with a yell, seeing that she had finished off the man with the greatsword. And behind him, was their leader, who seemed to be pulling a assortment of throwing daggers out. Two of which he was preparing to throw at the Zith while she had just finished off the man with the greatsword, and was turning to face the other man with the mace. Clyde tossed a firebolt at the leader, seconds before he threw the daggers. He intercepted them both with the flames, and knocked them through the air cloaked in the fire, were they landed on the dirt harmlessly, smoldering. "Now that's not nice. One at a time. Take your turn." He turned back to face the man with the club, a grin on his face. "So, you really want to fight me?" He questioned the man, who was certainly unsure of his decision to go after the mage, even though all he held in his hands was a staff. The fire over his head though, was a bit more intimidating.

[Axe]

A warm rush flowed through Axe's veins as the man with the mace charged at her, the yell as he advanced lighting her passion. As a side note, something she opted to tuck away for a while, she would have to thank the wizard for blocking those daggers as they would have inconvenienced her slightly. Her waraxe met her next opponent's mace with a mighty clang, a sudden stop that jerked her arm. It was a satisfying feeling when an opponent successfully block her attacks, it proved that they had some skill.

The winged Zith blocked a downward strike easily enough, jumping back from a back handed swing that followed soon after. She was toying with the man as she just dodged her way around his attacks, occasionally blocking here and there. It was fun, for it had been a little while since she had been able to enjoy herself on such a scale. This battle was a feast and Axe intended to gorge herself on it.

Her opponent's choice of weapon was one she found strangely perplexing, often the mace was a weapon that had confused her. It did not possess a particularly long reach, nor did it possess the same slashing or piercing power of a good sword or axe. Truly it was a brutish weapon, slow and ponderous in its use.

Eventually growing tired of the same dance, the Zith warrior swung the mace out wide and planted her axe deep into his chest with a might overhanded chop. She roughly pulled it out and chopped downward again as the man fell to his knees, the head of her weapon cleaving through the man's collarbone with a sickening squelch as it cut bone and flesh.

Axe let her blood crazed gaze fall upon the leader, who was staring at her with frightened eyes. She wrenched her axe from the fresh corpse and slowly advanced on him, looking rather like a winged executioner in the way her bloody weapon was held.

The Zith's fine grey fur was covered in bloody splotches, as crimson as her long hair. The warm liquid was warming her claws, it had really been far too long since that feeling was had. This was turning out to be a very good day.

She moved in closer, batting aside the man's pathetic dagger with an easy sweep of her axe. The warrior side stepped a desperate thrust, dropping her axe and grasping the human's outstretched arm in her claws. A brutal and savage twist of his arm sent the dagger tumbling out of his grasp, a panicked expression on his face as he struggled against the strong creature.

Axe forced the human to his knees by twisting his arm behind his back harshly, planting a clawed foot on his back with a feral grin.

She gave a half glance to the wizard, "Feel free to roast that one if you wish, Wizard-Meat, this one is going to take her time with this one. This one would also suggest covering your ears if the screams get too loud." The warrior called back, enjoying the hitch of breath from her prey.

[Clyde Sullins]

Clyde and the man he was facing, with the club, waited by unspoken consent, to see how the fight would go. Clyde kept half an eye on him, in case he suddenly charged, but kept the rest on the fight between the Zith and the bandit. The fight was brief, and violent. He managed to block a few, but caught a axe to the chest, and another to his head and neck area silenced him. Then she was advancing upon the man with the dagger, their leader. She took him out even easier, and a small bit of panic formed in the man before Clyde, seeing he was the only one left. But he stood his ground, small wooden club in hand, held at the ready. It was a bit nice for once, to actually have a weapon with more reach than ones foe, Clyde thought. For once, his staff was longer than the club. Turning to him, Clyde let off a small grin. He was done producing fire, and instead shot off some flaming remnants of the flame earlier transmuted on the outside of his res ball. Before he could reabsorb his leftover res, what had not decayed or diminished, he would need to get rid of the last of the fires on it. The small spurt of flame forced the man to jump to the left. As he did, Clyde lashed out with his staff, catching him in the arm. The man let out a snarl, and moved to come forward and overcome Clyde with his club, but instead Clyde took a step back, and shot off another spurt of flame to the space between them. Before the flame diminished, Clyde reached over it was his staff, and prodded the man in the belly with his staff, with as much force as he could muster. It did not knock him to his knees, but did make him cough and exhale the air from his lungs, and stagger back a step. "So, I think I will let you live. After all, someone has to go about and tell others of what has happened here. To know that this is not a place to be hunting. If you return, you will face a similar end to your allies. Though which do you think is worse? Being engulfed in flames, or having your insides slowly ripped out, as the Zith over there eats you bit by bit?" A small bit of anger came over his face, and once more the man began to step forward, swinging his club. Clyde managed to block it, thanks once more to his extra reach, and smacked the man upside the head with the head of his staff. Clyde took another step back, and with one final mighty spurt of flames, swathed the ground in between Clyde and the bandit for a good 10 feet with a wall of flames. "Leave now, and you will be spared. Just remember what has happened here, and tell the other brigands this is no longer their hunting grounds, to prey upon those who come through. I would prefer to not have to burn the lesson into every single one of you." Clyde smiled, as the man paused, and turned on the spot and ran, dropping his club in his haste for speed. Within a chime he was out of sight, and Clyde did not doubt he was still running. Intimidation was certainly easier, when you had magic at your disposal, especially flashy bits of it like fire Reimancy. Done with the fighting, Clyde pulled the leftover res back down, and into him. It took him several chimes to do so, to get every last remaining morsel of it, in which time the Zith would likely have finished what she was doing. Unless she really took her time with it. After he was done, he felt a bit less tired, due to having regained some of his exuded djed. Though he was still tired and hungry, and felt like he could eat an entire horse, after his spellweaving. He needed to eat, and then go home and sleep for a good many bells. Heading back over to the Zith, Clyde checked to see if she was done. "Are you done playing with your food, Zith? I am Clyde by the way, though you never asked my name. What is yours?" As he approached, Clyde looked down to see Rye was at his side. In all of his spellweaving, he had forgotten about the dog. He had been so preoccupied, he had gone out of his notice. For all extents and purposes, he had ceased to exist during the fight. Clyde scratched him on the head, for being good, and staying out of his way.

[Axe]

Axe was not one who particularly relished in torture, it was something she reserved for someone who had really angered her. Intruding upon her territory, threatening her, and not regarding her as the fearsome adversary that she was fell under the category of very insulting. The wizard meat had technically done the same but he had repaid that debt with his assistance in full, so she was not overly concerned with that. Water under the bridge as the human's said.

Her claws raked the man's skin hard, tearing off ribbons of flesh from his back with a wet tearing sound. The man screamed loudly as the Zith really started to get into it, stabbing her claws into him roughly and chewing on gobs of flesh. Blood was streaming down her chin, her appearance most savage.

She continued the slow tearing of his flesh, easily subduing him each time he attempted to escape her grasp. Human flesh was an acquired taste really, some Zith liked it, others did not. Axe personally found it quite good, though the prey did sometimes scream too loudly for her tastes, kind of hassle really.

It was not long before she tired of the torture, so she decided to finish her ministrations with a rake of her claws across his throat, releasing her hold on the broken and bleeding man. He fell to the ground with a thump, clutching his throat vainly to stop the flow of blood. Axe paid him no mind, she'd drag his carcass back to her home soon enough where the true feasting could begin.

The fire of combat had faded from her eyes by the time the wizard meat, Clyde he called himself addressed her again.

The Zith warrior turned to the man, her fine layer of fur matted down with warm blood, the crimson liquid periodically dripping from her razor sharp talons. The toothy grin she gave the wizard displayed stray bits of flesh that were still caught in her sharp teeth.

"This one has been called Axe by your kind, Wizard-Meat Clyde. It is pleasing to make your acquaintance, especially since you have gifted this one with so great a feast. In the custom of the Zith this one welcomes you to her territory, you may hunt here as many times as you wish." Axe said, inclining her head slightly as a sign of some respect.

He may be Wizard-Meat but he had fought alongside her, making him a comrade of sorts. As such he was entitled to some respect despite the poison of magic in him.

[Clyde Sullins]

It turned out the Zith, named Axe, had finished playing with her food. He approached her, to see she was soaked in blood throughout her fur, and to see bits of flesh in her teeth. Luckily, Clyde had seen a decent bit of gore and blood and death, so was more or less unfazed by the site. He did not even so much as give off a shudder. If he had to, he likely could have eaten something right then, without fear of losing his meal. Though he could not imagine why he would be called to do so. "Greetings Axe." Clyde thought on her words for a moment. He supposed from her perspective, she was giving him a great honor. "Allowing" him to hunt in "her" territory. For a Zith, he supposed, there were few honors greater. Well that along with the implied promise of nonviolence and safe passage. Though really, if he had wanted to, he could have killed her then and there, and been done with it. But, he reasoned, it would not directly harm him, to allow her to live out here. Only the foolish and stupid would be killed by her, and perhaps a culling of those such individuals was called for. Not to mention, having an ally outside of Ravok, was always good. Especially considering the amount of dangers to be found out in the wilds. So he had no reason to kill her. So he would be diplomatic in his response. "Thank you, and I accept your generous offer. I doubt you will be bothered by these bandits again, unless they are unusually stupid. I let the one go, so that he can tell others of what has happened here, and the other bandits will know not to challenge you for this territory or impede upon it. At least, most likely." Clyde reached over to the torn leftovers of the leader of the bandits, and felt around at his waist for his money pouch. He was so blood drenched, it was hard to find at first glance. He took it off, and opened it up, to see the contents. Clyde figured, him being the leader, he would likely be the one to hold the money from the bandits ill gotten ventures. He took out half, and put it into his own money pouch, and then gave the remaining half along with the blood soaked pouch to Axe the Zith. "I suppose I am off then. I likely will need to sleep the night outside of Ravok, but perhaps I can spend my time in the tavern on the shore, spending a bit of the loot on ale. Till we meet again." Clyde headed off back in the direction to Ravok, stopping as he passed one of the bandits. There weapon, a light steel headed mace, with a flanged head, caught his interest. He picked it up, and tucked it into his pack. Once back in the city, perhaps he could sell it for a bit. No use in leaving it here. "I leave the rest to you." Clyde said as he left, looking forward to resting for awhile at Malfazar's on the shore of Ravok, and perhaps taking in a ale or two, while he waited for sunrise and the boats to Ravok to run again. -exit-

[Axe]

As the human left the sight of the small battle Axe had time to get her senses properly oriented and to gather her thoughts. It was odd, she hated magic and wizards but this one had seemed at least somewhat capable and his skill over flame was a sight to behold. All in all she regarded him as a category all his own, Wizard-Meat, though the title's meaning would have to be changed for him at least.

The Zith warrior dropped the pouch to the ground at her feet and decided it might be best to rifle through what loot she could find an put it in a pile. The greatsword was immediately out, too heavy for her to carry while flying. The remaining mace was placed in the pile, not because she might use it but likely she might sell it.

She picked through the corpses carefully as she was able, finding a stray miza here and there which were added to the pile. Axe was not above looting from the corpses of the dead, they would not be needing their possessions where they went. As she finished placing the last weapon on the pile of loot she made certain to place her waraxe back on her harness, losing that would shame her.

All in all, she counted various denominations of shiny coins, a spear, and a light mace. It was a decent haul, one that would take some time to safely transport from here to her camp. Perhaps if there was time she would come back for the greatsword, but that was not likely.

The Zith warrior carefully gathered all the shiny miza's into the pouch and decided on what to take first, finally opting on the spear. One never knew when learning a weapon with a longer reach would prove useful, especially when one could fly. She also intended to return here after she finished transporting the loot, a feast like the one here would be a tragedy to pass up on.

Axe spread her wings and took to the darkening skies, ready for the long task ahead of her.

[Cataclysm]

Axe :

Experience

Observation 2
Camouflage 2
Intimidation 2
Axe 3
Torture 1

Lore Earned

Wizard meat is appalling
Talking in third person: Axe is a good name for that
The slight jarring feeling from a clash

Cylde Sullins :

Experience

Meditation 2
Running 1
Persuasion 2
Tactics 1
Reimancy 1
Leadership 1
Intimidation 1

Lore Earned

Realizing through running
Calling out a threat
Dealing with the ranged supportive
Letting your opponent go

Nice thread guys. Clyde I found myself talking aloud occasionally when you do you speeches. Pretty cool how you project your character so well in these situations. Axe your rendition of a Zith was also to be complimented. Though the henchmen appearing at the perfect time wasn't my cup of tea it was nice to read how both of you strut your stuff.

On another note I'm not sure what to do with you looting the bodies. I'll be sure to check in with V about this before posting back on this and PMing both of you.

Safety comes in the oddest forms

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, please send me a PM and we can figure it out.