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Jadenroux - Open Duel (swordsplay)
05.23.06, 20:21:25
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Post #1 (permalink) |
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Beyond the carpets of forests and deep within sloping hills lies barren roads, leading to what used to be a great medieval metropolis, surrounded by a large wooden wall and guarded by a gate. The city of Jadenroux was once famous for its coliseum and the grand tournaments it used to hold. Warriors and the like would come across the oceans to participate in the monthly battles. What grand displays there were! The arena floors would be overflowing with excitement and adrenaline that was quite contagious with the audiences. Peasants and nobles alike would come and watch the tournaments.
However, technology across the sea grew at a tremendous rate and thus made a bigger and better simulated coliseum for more intense battles. Word spread of this and diverted the attention of the fans and the warriors. Alas, before the decade was over, Jadenroux was left with an empty arena followed by empty stands. Business spiraled down from there as the jobs from the coliseum was nearly depleted. Half of the city's profit came from the arena battles. Nowadays, Jadenroux has been flourishing in the smithy businesses. Weapons and armor were expertly crafted by the local blacksmiths and jewelry and the like were carefully worked by the goldsmiths. The city is still fairly busy, but not as much as the old days. As for the arena, it has only been used for practice bouts by whatever warriors happened to be there that day. There are still some spectators, but the paying rates are not as high.
Shenorai Eterna, a bounty hunter working for a guild in the city of Crysta, is taking some time off for herself and exploring other parts of the country. As usual, she takes whatever road is less walked upon. The road she has taken this time went deep into the Shinrin Backwoods and emerging out into the Sanpuku Meadows. It was a suprisingly uneventful journey from Crysta to the hilly meadow she walked across. Even so, she still kept her hood up and made sure her shotgun was still in its holster beneath her scarlet coat. Bandits were quite common where she came from and she found it rather odd that none had jumped her on her way here. Nevertheless, she walked forth and climbed the hill.
Finally, Shen stopped at the crest of a hill and peered down at the settlement nestled at the bottom. She could see several thatch-roofed buildings made of either wood or gray stone. The city seemed busy, but it wasn't exactly rush hour. Shen lifted her head to glance at the sun's position in the blue, cloud-streaked sky. It seemed to be roughly three of the clock, maybe three thirty. Certainly didn't feel like the middle of the day, but indeed it was. Shenorai took a deep breath of the faint, musty, metal-smelling air that seemed to drift from the city. It wasn't her favorite scent in the world, that was for sure.
So, said a calm female voice in her mind, I think I see an arena from here. Think it's worth checking out?
Maybe, thought Shen in response. If that's the case, I hope they're in business.
The voice chuckled. Sounds like you're itchin' for another fight.
You know me well, Leondra.
Well I should, I've only been with you since you were little.
Shenorai smirked at that fact. Leondra was what she liked to call a 'guardian angel', though she was anything but an angel. She just happened to have wings due to her race of winged people. However, since Leondra died long ago, she is but a spirit. Shen found her when she was eight years of age, but that's a completely different story.
She then made her way down the road and to the gates. The gates were wide open and quite welcoming. There were no guards, so Shen walked on in. The road quickly changed from dirt to cobblestone. She spotted a few warriors walking deeper into the city, so she decided to follow. After a few moments, however, she realized they were just windowshopping at the blacksmith shops. Shen gave a hopeless sigh and continued walking.
Finally, Shenorai spotted the coliseum. It was built with grey and brown stones and had a magnificent archway adorned with dueling gargoyles. The stone gargoyles and archways bordered a large oaken door with large iron rings. Shen had to use both hands and a few good tugs to get the door open. The air was a little cooler inside the stone hall. Just about everything seemed to be made of stone in the halls, except for the tapestries celebrating the great champions who emerged from the arenas.
Her footsteps echoed down the halls as she stepped hesitantly inside. There was no map or directory of any kind, so Shenorai ended up wandering about the halls until she found her way to the massive arena. There was no roof to it, for it was the size of about three football fields placed side-by-side (with the longer sides touching). Carefully cordorned off by thick ropes, there were many sections of the arena divided into the different areas of training. This included an archery range for the archers, a ring for martial artists, straw dummies for spellcasting, a small area for jousting, an open area for swordplay, and other miscellaneous training places. Considering the open area was closer, Shen walked towards that for starters.
Overseeing this area of training is a rather burly man bearing a scruffy brown beard. He seemed middle-aged, maybe somewhere in his mid-forties. His muscles are rather prominent, even under his furred arms. Under the shaggy strands of light brown hair, his pale green eyes scanned the sparring warriors carefully. He wore a rather simple tan tunic along with darker brown leggings. His leather boots and bracers here rather snug around his limbs. Compared to everyone else in that part of the arena, he seemed much like some sort of official. Of course he was, but did Shen know that? Not yet, apparently.
Shenorai approached him from behind and cleared her throat. The man turned his head just enough to see her. In a bass, somewhat gruff voice, he said, "Aye? What would a woman want in here?"
Shenorai was a bit annoyed at the remark, but tried not to show it. She merely replied, "For some swordsplay. What else?"
Now the man was interested. He turned fully and gave Shenorai a smirk as he met eyes with her. Shen was unfazed as she waited for his response.
"Swordplay, eh?"
"Yes, that's what I said. Swordplay."
"I see no sword on you."
"That doesn't matter. I'm always armed with one."
The man had to chuckle. He saw no sense in this woman.
"Well, if you say so. The name's Charles. Chuck for short."
Chuck extended a somewhat large, yet dingy hand to Shen. She glanced at it for a moment before taking it in a quick, yet firm shake.
"Shenorai's the name. Shen for short."
Both of them released and Chuck smirked at her.
"Well then, Miss Shen, where would you like to begin?"
Shen gave a shrug. "Doesn't matter to me."
"All right then," Chuck cracked his fingers, then looked to the men who were rooting on the current competitors. "Oy, you!"
A rather scrawny, hook-nosed man looked over at Chuck. "Ya talkin' ta me?"
"Nah," replied Chuck, waving his hand as though in dismissal. "Get me the one beside ya."
The scrawny man nudged the person beside him, pointing his thumb at Chuck and mumbling something to him. With a shrug, the person came over to the two of them and looked to Chuck as though asking what he wanted. Chuck cleared his throat.
"You two will be sparring next. Go ahead and introduce yourselves while I get everything arranged."
And with that, Chuck left the two alone.
((OOC; Swordplay is preferable. Magic is allowed, but only to a certain extent. Throwing weapons are also allowed, but no guns or arrows. That would defeat the purpose of swordplay. Just one to join in; this is a duel after all.)) |
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