Minor Misunderstanding (Beatrix)

[Auric]

Big Trouble
in Little Alexandria

I'm surprised. All the lands I've been in have at least seen what a gun looks like... or you know, some kind of firearm. Well, okay... I lied. But still, never before have I seen such a hostile reaction to a foreign weapon -- most people who see a new weapon are more intrigued than threatened. But I guess, the rumors I'd been hearing in pubs and taverns were true. Still, I travel light these days, never having to pack more than I needed because anything I need when in town can usually just be bought with gil.

Of course, the other thing I heard which happened to be true, was hwo much this place had been ravaged by the calamity.

---

He'd only gotten in town quite recently. It happened each time he'd been to a new land... that feeling of alienation, like it was a completely different culture; an extremity of visiting a different country. He was always quick to adapt... provided he could find a way to expose himself to the culture without getting himself in trouble within the first few minutes. Unfortunately, the transition period wasn't so smooth. But to know it all, you had to start at the beginning -- he'd arrived on foot, the city gates open but under a tight watch. He was looking around, wearing his typical attire -- olive drab tank top paired with dark brown cargo pants, standard leather military boots for comfort. Of course, having seen quite a few of the figures going in and out of town, he'd also made it a point to wear a clothed cloak which concealed his body. Bandage around his upper right arm, with [Reverse Charity] secured in a leg holster on his right hip.

The first thing he did was approach one of the gate guards. "... uh, are all the guards female?" he asked, finding it odd how the gender of the guards were so completely one-sided. No other military force in the world that he'd seen were even remotely exclusive to a single sex. Not that he at all minded, mind you -- their skimpy uniforms were easy on the eyes but he wasn't so stupid to underestimate a soldier; regardless of what they wear (or not wear, as the case seemed to be). The Alexandrian soldier tensed right before she scoffed, replying with an outright "Ofcourse!" like it was common sense. He gathered his thoughts and pondered for a moment, taking a step back and looking up at the city gates. He could see the places where damage had been done... where the riot-like outbreak must have happened at its worst outset. He wasn't sure if he should bother mentally recreating how the events must have occured...

... it always ended the same way.

---

A minute later; within the city limits.

"Look, I'm sure this is simple misun-woah!" he ducked down, narrowly evading a soldier who took a swing at him. He wasn't being given much choice. One moment he was observing the fortified gates and asking questions, next moment, someone questioned his intent followed by an accusation that he was a spy, out to gather information so someone else could invade the city. That would have been true had someone paid him to do it, but of course, defending yourself tends to mean you have to fight back... and dozen unconcious female bodies clad in armor certainly sent the wrong impression. And they didn't seem to stop coming -- others with different colored armor and varied emblems, he could only guess they were of a different class of soldier.

By the way they held their weapons and made unwavering swings at him, they must have been elites. Not that he cared right now, knowing that this could only escalate further. He used nothing buts his fists and even then had to refrain from striking at anything vital, often dodging by a hairline and grabbing hold of someone's neck and holding it till their body went limp, unconcious. Or a swift, hard punch to the gut. Or a knock to the head with the flat side of an acquired blade. One even tried to draw her blade right in front of him until he took a step forward, shoved it back into its scabbard with his palm and backhanding her right on the cheek. He got the feeling that soldier had been off duty because she didn't have her helmet on.

And having counted the bodies on the floor, he must have knocked out an entire garrison.

... and, judging by the footsteps quickly patting nearby, he knew that whatever was next was likely to be more trouble. He swung around... perhaps it was a patrol, maybe reinforcements. Why didn't he just let himself get arrested and try to explain things to whoever was in charge? Well... he got the feeling that wasn't giong to go well, seeing as how they were trying to kill him. He spun around, hands and cloak open, blade in his hand with unconcious bodies all around him. Not a single one having shed any blood.

"Uh, I can explain!"

[Beatrix]

"What is this," Beatrix hissed, looking at the pile of unconscious soldiers at the feet of the unknown stranger. She had been sleeping in her quarters, resting after the previous night's ecticness when a guard had knocked on her door, yelling there was a disturbance in the market plaza. Well, what used to be the market plaza and was now Haven Area Five. There was no trade in Alexandria anymore. Supplies were distributed equitably among the population by her soldiers, and all non-essential goods were confiscated to the Castle. Which had, obviously, caused endless riots between the people, accusing her soldiers of favoring the other Areas over theirs and the Crown from profiting on the devastation. And on top of all that, a Void had appeared in the Docks last night, swallowing people and entire tents, and as the guards left their post to help them monsters had swarmed in. Beatrix had spent the entire night slaughtering Fangs and Goblins while trying to get people to safety, until finally three more Voids had appeared, swallowing the monsters and most of what was left of the Docks, and then disappearing back into thin air. Though the area was safe for the moment none had wanted to move back there, and Beatrix didn't blame them.

When she had finally gone to sleep, after relocating the survivors and trying to calm them down, it was already midday. It had been a while before she could fall asleep, as visions of the night before roamed her mind. It hadn't helped matters that she had lost her healing powers. Over and over she saw Elise's reproachful face as she had been unable to cure her companion's arm, who would probably not be able to swing another sword in her life. Beatrix had tried, attempting to draw into her magic like she had done a thousand times before, but the power simply wasn't there. It was like trying to catch water with her fingers. She'd had to leave her former instructor crouching before her lover's unconscious form, with a promise that she'd ask for the Queen's help and fleeing from that hateful, accusative gaze. And with that she had lost her most faithful commander. But why wouldn't she be furious? Elise had fought with her in dozens of battles, had seen Beatrix rain destruction on her enemies and heal soldiers in the brink of death back to perfect condition without breaking a sweat. And now she had been unable to cure a simple cut on a girl's arm. Of course Elise had felt betrayed. Beatrix knew there was truly nothing she could have done, but after sleep finally came to her she was plagued with visions of mutilated corpses, the sound of children screaming as they were sucked into the Void and a pair of accusatory brown eyes.

And then she had been awoken as Weimar knocked on her door. Weimar, of all people. As she gazed at the strange man before him, she wondered why none of her own soldiers had had the sense to call her. That foe was obviously too much for them, and for the looks of it they had simply launched themselves at him, getting beaten up one by one. But then again, many of her soldiers had began showing a worrisome thirst for blood since what happened to Alexandria. She wondered if it had been that why they hadn't called her, or after the other night they simply didn't trust her. At any rate if they had indeed lost their confidence, now was the time to remind them why she was General. "I'll handle it from here," she told them, as she stepped into the circle. They stepped out of her way with smirks on their faces, closing the opening behind her. It seemed still had some confidence in her after all. "In case you've failed to notice, we have enough troubles in this city without strangers coming to wreak havoc," she said to the man, her voice cold as steel. She treaded toward him slowly, scanning him intensely with her eye. He wore strange clothes, of a fabric she couldn't recognize. He was lean and muscular and, if the pile of unconscious bodies was any evidence, his fighting skills weren't to be underestimated. She recognized some of her elites in the mass of fainted soldiers, with was further proof of his prowess. She was about to ask him of what Kingdom he hailed from, when her eyes fell Elise's face, unconscious at the man's feet. Fury building inside her, she unsheathed [Save the Queen], which crackled with energy as she crossed the distance between them. Stopping when she was a few feet away from him, she slashed the sword forward, sending a wave of power the man's way.

__________________________________________________

[HP=100/100]

[actions]
Shock - deals Severe physical damage to one enemy at 10 ft [4 posts cooldown]

[buffs/debuffs]
buffs – none
debuffs – none.

[status]
none.

[Auric]

The feminists of today would often proclaim that the mistakes of the world would never have come to be if men hadn't started them. That was obviously bullshit. Auric's current predicament wasn't entirely his fault, you see -- he really had no way of knowing that guards on high alert would jump to one hell of a paranoid conclusion. Believe it or not he actually tried believing the idea that they were a little more competent -- being a lover of women and all, he really was curious to see how a matriarchal system could hold during such catastrophes. No better, it seemed; the battle of the sexes would continue without a conclusion. But right now he had more immediate concerns... like the fact that he was holding a sword with a whole lot of unconscious bodies around him.

Go figure they'd blame him. And unsurprisingly, they weren't altogether eager to hear his side of the tale... which, he knew would have made one of the best stories a mercenary could tell at a bar. But it seemed things would no longer be as... simple.

Oh, but hey. My life's complicated. Gee, Auric, why don't you bring a girl into it? That'll make it simple! In fact, we got a freakin' army of 'em to welcome!

Inner sarcasm aside, someone just had to go and bring reinforcements. And it seemed they weren't the ordinary kind, either... the one who was at their head in particular had a formidable disposition compared to the other warriors around. Would he have ever said that she was at his level? No. It just wasn't in his nature to make things that easy... the one thing with Auric was that you could never tell when he was being serious or just joking around. Call it a chaotic element. Of course if there was anything that was abundantly clear, it was a woman running at him with a two-handed sword with her troops moving to cover all points of exit. The first thing Auric did? Drop his sword and put his hands up in defense.

"Wait, no, don't... no-no-n-arrrrgh"

He dropped down as the flash enveloped him, the impact kicking the dust into the air as its sheer force stirred the wind. He could feel the many eyes looking for him in the dust, thinking that blow to be the finishing touch. As the dirt cleared and the air settled, Auric was enveloped in his cloak -- some would have swore they'd seen bright light coming from him, but it was impossible to tell. What was obvious, however, was the body of one of the unconscious Alexandrian soldiers in his arms, safe from the blow -- Eric having used himself as a shield. You could hear his heavy breathing... but it was more a sigh of relief. He deposited her back down and on to the ground... whoever it was that really wanted to kill him must have had tunnel vision. Or a whole lot of rage to care about collateral... or maybe they just assumed he'd drank up all the blood and everyone on the floor was already dead.

It really didn't matter either way -- whatever he was going to do, he'd have to do on ground that was a little more clear. He was without a blade again -- which really wasn't great no matter what way you saw it; since he wasn't exactly eager to pull out his heavy pistol. It just didn't seem particularly sporting. "Okay... " he started, stumbling as if he was backing away wounded. "... I get it, you're strong and you don't like me." he continued, backing up as he leaned on to a wall. "You really should give me a chance though. I'm a nice guy, really." he mock-insisted, chuckling lightly to himself as he enjoyed the moment's reprieve.

---

Health/Damage
[hp=40/100]

• Severe damage sustained (-60 hp)
  

Actions

Regen[Self]

• Regen - A weak spell that heals a single target for a small amount over time. This ability lasts 5 posts. - 3 post cooldown
  

Status Ailments (Buffs/Debuffs)

• None
  

Cooldowns

• None
  

[Beatrix]

Beatrix's eye slitted as she watched the man's figure behind the curtain of dust, holding the body of one of her soldiers in his arms. At first she thought the man pretended to use her as leverage or as a human shield, but then she saw him put her gently on the ground, like he had attempted to keep her safe. That impressed her, and made her reconsider her actions. The fact that there wasn't any blood staining the ground spoke of the leaps the man had taken not to injure her troops. Why would he do that? Perhaps the man had truly committed no offense? Could her guards had assaulted him by mistake? On another time she would have discarded the possibility with derision; her soldiers were perfectly trained and disciplined. But then again, now there was the Mist. Perhaps it's influence was getting stronger than she had realized? That was a dark thought; she didn't know how much longer she'd be able to hold the city together if the guards started attacking innocent bystanders as well. The monsters and the Voids were enough of a problem.

She walked around the stranger, holding [Save the Queen] on one hand and cornering him against the wall. She smiled at his words, his cockiness reminding her of someone...someone she couldn't quite place. Like when she tried to use her magic, the memory slipped like water through her hands. "Having cold feet?" she taunted dryly, looking at him more closely. He was certainly not from Alexandria, and judging from his clothes neither from Lindblum or any other of the Kingdoms. Could he be from one of the other Continents? Their existence had been revealed shortly before ruin fell on Alexandria, but she couldn't remember the circumstances of the event at all. There had been a lot of times recently when she had felt like some pieces of her memory were missing. Like the strange sadness she felt sometimes when she looked at the Queen, or the identity of the blond-haired stranger that seemed to be her consort. It was confusing and frustrating, and it made her question her judgment. Perhaps, for all her strength, the Mist was affecting her as well. That was an even more worrisome thought.

Had it really been seeing Elise's face among the man's defeated that had made her attack, or had her rage been fueled by the Mist? She didn't know, but she knew it had probably been foolish. Specially without knowing the circumstances. If the man was really, as all the evidence seemed to indicate, not from the Mist Continent, and he had traveled to Alexandria, it was likely that he had word from the other lands. She realized that, in her fury, she may have spoiled the first opportunity she'd had to obtain information on how the other Kingdoms were faring, and perhaps on the nature of the cataclysm that had turn Alexandria into shambles and caused the return of the Mist.

But there was also the matter of her soldiers. If they were indeed turning berserk, the last thing Beatrix needed was to lose their respect. In her foolishness she had already engaged him, and she couldn't back down now, not without appearing weak. And his mercy didn't rule out the possibility that he was a spy, from Lindblbum or Burmecia or even from an unknown nation in the Outer Continents. At any rate, she couldn't let him wander around Alexandria freely, not without first finding out exactly who he was.

"I'm Beatrix," she said simply; if the man was truly a spy and he hadn't heard of her, he didn't need to know her rank. " I ignore what you did to make my soldiers attack you, but this city is under martial law." She pointed her sword at the bodies sprawled a few meters away, an then at the woman he had placed on the ground. "I do not enjoy battling enemies who are unwilling to fight, but I have to take you in. Surrender, if your intentions are truly sincere. If they are, you have my word that you will be released." Beatrix shrugged, and reflexively turned her head to put out hair that had fallen over her eye. "Or don't," she added indifferently. "Either way, you are coming with me."
__________________________________________________

[HP=100/100]

[actions]
none.

[buffs/debuffs]
buffs – none
debuffs – none.

[status]
none.

[Auric]

Oh, she did banter fairly well. Auric had grown up making light of even the most perilous of situations; he and his brother both. Hell, half the time the pranks they pulled wouldn't have been funny to most other people but Aurelian humor wasn't one your average person could comprehend. Still, he wasn't exactly in a win-win situation here but you have to know when to cut your losses... see things in the bigger picture and prepare for something further down the track. Most people lose that long-view when in the short term, death was a real possibility. But you ask Auric? Death was always a possibility, having a sword run your through wasn't exactly funny -- if it were, then battles would be absolutely hilarious.

He stood up straight, getting off the wall as he could read the contemplation on her face -- the idea that perhaps he may have been innocent. Naturally, he didn't know all the details -- if he did, he'd have been more cautious but good information on foreign lands was hard to get without personally being around to verify it. It's why he was around, wasn't it? Of course he'd really wanted to know more about the local region; the idea of being locked up kind of meant he wouldn't be able to go out and see it -- experience it or even ask people how it is or how it used to be. And well, it just didn't appeal to him. Having seen the architecture and technology of their weaponry he had the impression that his holding cell was going to be more than a little dark and gloomy... with manacles and stocks, it was probably a tad bit kinky as well. And if the gender of the soldiers around him were any clue, his jailers would in all likelihood be female. Maybe even kinky.

Although, now that he thought about it... some guys would find that idea rather appealing.

He listened to all she had to say.... funny, asking him to surrender like that. She didn't just attack him outright -- perhaps she was trying to set an example. It was obvious what her rank was -- all he needed to know was that it was high enough that every soldier around him listened to her orders. The devil was in the details -- fighting an unarmed and unwilling opponent wasn't her thing but he doubted she'd turn down one willing to fight back. And she had already declared her intention to take him in -- that told him that she had no real intention of killing him. Mentally he laughed at the idea of being let go if he was declared sincere... the fact that no one was dead yet should have been plenty enough... no, they were going to interrogate him -- likely even torture him first.

"That's interesting." he remarked, smiling to himself as he felt his back mending his wound. It had hurt quite a bit -- not quite as crippling, though but the feeling of magick coursing through your body had that tingly effect which greatly eased the pain. "... you said you don't enjoy fighting unwilling opponents. Hnhn." he mused out loud, noting that she was probably trying to save face. Having struck him when he'd thrown down his blade she was right now in the wrong. And if she beat him down right now he doubted she'd come off as noble to her troops... although now that he thought about it, the Mist was incredibly thick here. Humans and... by extension, himself, weren't particularly sensitive to the Mist but his gift enabled him to comprehend its presence.

And its effects.

"Let me save you some time. My intentions are... curious and interested." he breathed stumbling forward as he moved toward one of the exits, his back to the soldiers who promptly shoved him as he came close. Of course, with their hands pushing at his back and his cloak concealing the bulk of his body they didn't notice his hands had gone to their swords and pulled it from their scabbards. "If you're looking to take me home..." he taunted, his sleight of hand left them perplexed before he turned around, his cloak opening as his left hand swung one sword outward at her blade, his right hand gripping tightly on to another went for her lower torso.

"I want dinner first."

---

Health/Damage
[hp=45/100]

• Weak damage healed (+5 hp)
  

Actions

Double Cut[Beatrix]

• Double Cut - The user is allowed an additional regular attack. (Weak [5] x 2 damage)
  
• Momentum - Every time an attack lands successfully the attacker is granted an attack power boost of 10%.
  

Status Ailments (Buffs/Debuffs)

• Regen - heals weak damage every turn. (5 posts)
  

Cooldowns

• Regen (3 posts)
  

[Beatrix]

Beatrix watched with suspicion as the man backed down, walking backwards to where the line of soldiers stood. If he thought he could make a run for it, he was sorely mistaken. She knew the streets of her city better than anyone, and she was prepared to hunt him down if he decided to flee. She would put all of her guards on high alert and order to close the gate - however fast he was, however good at stealth, she would find him. She felt a pinch of disappointment though, as despite her words and her intentions she found she was itching for a good fight. She had been fighting nothing that petty monsters for months, and it had been years since she had fought with an opponent that was actually a match to her. She had been enduring a crushing amount of stress, life had been a long and unending nightmare for her ever since the troubles had begun - she craved release.

She walked after him slowly, keeping her senses sharp and watching out for any tricks he might pull. The man had defeated myriads of her soldiers - including some of her best elites - without breaking a sweat; he was obviously neither a coward nor weak. She was about to tell the soldiers to watch out, but before she could utter the warning it was already too late - in the blink of an eye he had snatched two of the guards' swords and came running at her, fast as lightning. She smirked, holding her sword diagonally before her with both hands, bracing herself to recieve the man's assault.

And at the second his sword connected to hers, the Mist had her.

Beatrix had seen many battles, from simple skirmishes to epic encounters of armies numbering in the millions, and knew the effect it had on some people. It was like a drug, turning fear into a murderous rage and a mad desire for death. She had seen people who were otherwise perfectly sane and soft-mannered outside of battle turning into ravenous, bloodthirsty fiends as the two armies approached, throwing themselves at the carnage like lovers. It had never like that for her - in battle she was possessed by an absolute calm, her mind cold and reeling as she took in each of her opponent's movements and planned her next. Yet now she felt no calm - she was suddenly possessed by an irrational fury, adrenaline pumping through her in waves and wanting nothing else than seeing the man destroyed.

She parried the man's blow with [Save the Queen], and saw the other blade coming to her torso in time to dexterously jump a step back; his sword left a slashing mark on her plate. Hissing like a cat, she threw a quick horizontal blow to keep the man at bay, then raised her sword and brought it down on him like a hammer, whipping the blade in a blinding arc.

She had tried to reason with the him and the stranger had refused; let him be another bloodstain adorning [Save the Queen]'s blade.
__________________________________________________

[HP=90/100]

[actions]
Counterattack - Upon being attacked, the user will counter with a regular attack [1 post cooldown]

Attack//Attack (Weak [5 x 2] damage)

[buffs/debuffs]
debuffs – none.
buffs – Momentum - [attack boost: +%20]

[status]
none.

[Auric]

Well, he doubted she could really stop him were he to flee. Of course, if he did so he'd have to actually start killing and that just wasn't in his nature -- especially without getting paid. Still, sometimes an unsuspecting client needs to be impressed... or surprised. And right now he could tell that if he was going for the "bigger picture", that'd mean getting into the good graces of the very same woman that was trying to kill him. Of course, he wasn't out to win -- nor was he out to get himself killed, neither of which would have been good in the long term. Still, he'd intended to fight her and put on a show, you know, build her pride and put her troops in line so they'd be unified once more. Even if he didn't know everything, he could see the inconsistent reactions on each soldier's faces...

But as he struck out against her, he could see her posture shift. Most notably, her lashing out against him had become more... brutal and in comparison to what little he'd seen of her, it lacked the same amount of finesse. He was probing her defenses when he'd initially attacked -- seeing how she responded, separating reaction from reflex. With the way she moved he could gauge at how quickly she moved away and what parts of her body she instinctively guarded. There was no shortage of observation when it came to Auric... even time spent in idleness was like years of battle experience. All it really took was exposure... and the more she did, the more he understood. And what he currently understood? Was that she was berserk.

People react differently to the mist... prolonged exposure warps the instincts in animals where as on sentient beings it varied heavily depending on their minds. Even when a person was strong of will it was only a matter of time until they succumbed to its effects. But as it seemed, he would have to do her another favor and bring her back to her senses. The parameters of which he could reach his defined objectives was just getting that much more complicated... he would need to lose -- but do so gracefully, and before that, he would have to ensure that she would be back to his impression of her original self. And on top of it all, he had to avoid getting himself killed.

As he lowered his blades, he ducked under her heavy horizontal slash -- re-emerging and standing up straight only to find himself bounding back on his heel as her downward slice clipped his inner left thigh, her two handed sword having drawn his blood. But he continued. It hadn't been his first wound and even after experiencing pain he didn't wince -- or panic.

Her heavy slashes are deadly at a distance... if I can put her on the defensive then stay close, she shouldn't be able to attack me. he thought to himself, flash-thoughts and tactical analysis, like a game of chess he was figuring out where all the pieces were by making moves. His left sword clanging against hers as he pinned it to the ground, he took a deep step in and violated her personal space, his right hand thrusting the tip of his blade into the left side of her metal vest. He knew he wouldn't be able to pierce it with the quality of sword he was using but he sure as hell could shatter it if he used full force. "No?" he quizzed, right before driving the tip in.

---

Health/Damage
[hp=44/100]

• Weak damage healed (+5)
  
• Weak damage sustained (-6)
  

Actions

Attack

[/color][Beatrix][/center]

• Attack - deals weak damage (5+1=6)
  
• Momentum - Every time an attack lands successfully the attacker is granted an attack power boost of 10%. (2 hits successful: +20%)
  

Status Ailments (Buffs/Debuffs)

• Regen - heals weak damage every turn. (4 posts)
  

Cooldowns

• Regen (2 posts)
  
• Double Cut (2 posts)
  

[/blockquote][/size]

[Beatrix]

Beatrix blocked the man's first blow, and felt a flash of pain on her ribs as the man stabbed at her armor. His sword didn't go through it, but the sheer force of the attack left in a crack in it and probably broke one of her ribs. She growled, the battle-rage increasing with the pain. She heard screams, the sound of fire crackling and a man's voice...a deep voice, shouting her name. She couldn't place it, but it was a familiar voice nonetheless. There was a dragon-like roar, and then a blinding white light, and then...an Eye in the sky. It blinked once, she heard a laughter, she didn't know the voice but she hated it, and afterward...nothing. Everything went red.

The vision lasted less than an instant, a fraction of a second, and she forgot about it the moment it had finished. There was nothing but the battle, nothing but fury; the only thing that mattered was to see the man before her grabbing his stomach so his entrails didn't fall to the ground. She took one hand off from [Save the Queen]'s hilt and grabbed the man's left wrist, keeping him from plunging his sword further. She grimaced, her eye looking at him with hatred. "I don't do brats," she spat, before throwing her head backwards and headbutting him. She threw the man's wrist back and rolled backwards on the ground, putting some distance between them.

She crouched on one knee, gritting her teeth as pain flared. Her senses were stupendously sharp, she could hear and see everything with painful accuracy; and yet, everything was dyed in a curtain of unreality. She felt like her body acted on it's own, herself merely a witness or a silent guest. Her body leaped forward, whipping the sword in an upwards arc, and then moved slightly away from him as it delivered a spinning slash aiming at his chest.

__________________________________________________

[HP=84/100]

[actions]
Blitz - An attack that does moderate damage to all enemies within five feet of the attacker. [2 post cooldown]

[buffs/debuffs]
debuffs – none.
buffs – Momentum - [attack boost: +%20]

[status]
none.

[Auric]

Her taunts had become more aggressive. And hurtful. Being compared to a kid wasn't a compliment -- which was funny seeing as how women generally liked the idea of being young. He'd of never made a comment on a member of the female sex's age, he learned that lesson a long time ago. Even so, the more she did the more he learned. Like her training. Formalized training isn't something you receive over a few weeks... it's something taught to you -- a habit. A soldier knows they have to drill themselves in shape... and a warrior has to practice their form in order to keep it fresh in their body. Such discipline is what enforced a highly trained person like her to retain her form in the heat of battle.

But there was always a limit. Forms limited one's ability such that a greater amount of possibilities would be narrowed down to a few with a better response time being a trade off... his penetrating of her defense spoke volumes as to how she reacted -- she'd broken her own stance and opted for a more brutal option to repel him. You would think that perhaps her aggression being caused by the mist would mean this wasn't her. You'd be wrong. The mist may or may not have been a cause but regardless, her actions were an effect. She was fully capable of what she was currently doing... it was, to him, a dynamic of who she was and how she reacted. Still, if you asked Auric right now he would of protested that this piece of information wasn't worth the price of being butted in the head.

His body recoiled before swiftly moving back towards her only to stop as she begun an upward sweep with her blade. Oh he knew too well what she was about to do but he was too close to avoid it. He was a master swordsman himself although he'd never be the kind of guy to show the fullest of his skill in public... and no sword he'd come across would be able to resist the amount of strain he'd need it to face... which was only proven when he tried to defend himself here. He swung his right blade outward, attempting a full-impact parry in counter-force with the Alexandrian sword only to have it break in his grip, the upper blade fragment flying back into his right shoulder as he knew he needed to break her streak.

"Well, a brat's doing you." he snapped back, shrugging off the pain.

He stayed on the offensive. He couldn't let her drive him back and if he were to snap her out of her little tantrum he'd need to keep the pressure going on. Her metal vest had cracked from his first blow but like any armor a crack was only the start. He needed to do it again if he were to break it. Even as his blood seeped from his wound and debilitated his ability to hold a second sword he repeated what he'd done before only this time with his left, the magick within his body repairing the damage but he knew he couldn't count on it to be done soon enough to get his job done. He needed to push on. And so he wedged the blade into her right side... digging it into where her lower ribs would have no doubt been.

---

Health/Damage
[hp=31/100]

• Weak damage healed(+5 hp)
  
• Moderate damage sustained (-18 hp)
  

Actions

Attack[Beatrix]

• Attack - deals weak damage (5+1.5=7[rounded])
  
• Momentum - Every time an attack lands successfully the attacker is granted an attack power boost of 10%. (3 hits successful: +30%)
  

Status Ailments (Buffs/Debuffs)

• Regen - heals weak damage every turn (3 posts)
  

Cooldowns

• Regen (1 posts)
  
• Double Cut (1 posts)
  

[Beatrix]

Euphoria. Beatrix was in a trance, completely taken by the Mist's blind fury and murderous instinct. The whispering voices turned into commanding yells and roared with triumph as the man's blade was shattered at the force of her blow, the splinter of his sword plunging into his shoulder. Fighting had always been a pleasure for her - one does not become any kind of soldier without enjoying it - but she had never felt anything like this. It was like having wings and rising to glory. The sight of his blood pouring was intoxicating.

He approached again; already tasting victory, Beatrix made a quick pass with [Save the Queen] to dispose the man of the broken sword - but as she performed the attack, he came swiftly at her right and stabbed at her armor again. This time it did go through it, plunging a few centimeters into her skin. The whole right side of her torso felt numb, and she saw her own blood pouring from the wound. The voices were now raging howls and screeches, a turmoiled cacophony of sounds that sent her flying up in spirals.

The Burmecian smirked, running at her with his tall halberd pointing to the floor. She had never faced an opponent so skilled, and though she had managed to fend off all his attacks he was managing to keep her from taking the offensive. But that was over. With a similar smirk of her own, she lowered her blade to block Fatley's blow - but as she initiated the movement he suddenly twirled the weapon in his hands, attacking from above instead of from below. She couldn't stop her own momentum, and she was unable to avoid the halberd coming at her face - she threw her head back, in an unsuccessful attempt at dodging, and felt the worst pain in her life as the blade cut from her right brow down to her cheekbone, running through her eye.

She was at the same time in the city's market facing the unknown man and fighting Fatley under the rain - the pain at her ribs and the pain at her eye were one an the same.

Beatrix roared and shrieked like a wild beast, the burning pain too much to bear - her rage boiled, she denied the pain and turned it into fury. She threw attack after attack at the Burmecian, combining spells with swordplay until his halberd broke and he laid agonizing on the floor. But she wasn't satisfied. She raised [Save the Queen] above his broken body, and...

I didn't kill him, she protested. She had wanted to, and she had left him there to a certain death, but she hadn't actually done it. Whoever the voices were, they were trying to deceive her...to enrage her...

In a blink she snapped out of the trance and realized what had happened. Even her, the best warrior Alexandria had seen in centuries, had fallen into the Mist's influence. She feared for herself, for her soldiers and for her people; but there wasn't time to dwell on it. As the curtain fell the pain intensified, she heard the man's breath, smelled his skin, saw his black eyes. She had to drive him back. Gritting her teeth, she bumped the man with her shoulder, letting his blade sink a few more inches and drawing more blood, hit him in the face with the pommel of her sword before retracing a step and jumped back, putting some distance between them.

The pain was intense, but she had endured much worse. More importantly, she was in control of her mind again. The man had managed twice to slip through her defenses and get too close for comfort; she wouldn't let that happen again. He was skilled, but it more than that; he seemed to have an eerie capacity to read into her moves and exploit her weaknesses. Her brutal assault had only helped him gain further insight into her fighting style; she had to be unpredictable and, more importantly, end the fight quickly. She didn't know if the Mist would take control of her once again if the fight went for much longer, and if it did it might not go so well for her.

She smirked; if the man had her own style all figured out, she would borrow a move from someone else. At least the visions had served a purpose. She took another jump back and leaped toward him, her blade describing an upwards arc before she twirled it in her hands abruptly, raising it above her head and axed it downwards. She doubted the man was so easy to trick, but she hoped Fatley's move would at least throw him off. __________________________________________________

[HP=77/100]

[actions]
Attack (Weak [5 + 1 = 6] damage)

[buffs/debuffs]
debuffs – none.
buffs – Momentum - [attack boost: +%20]

[status]
none.

[Auric]

He had hoped to meet his objectives soon. He knew he wouldn't hold out if he kept holding back like this... but still, he was set on losing this battle and doing so only once she'd been brought back to her senses. Sure, he could have wiped her and her soldiers out before but that wasn't the reason he'd come here. And even though he didn't have all the details, he had a firm grasp of the problems they faced... one of which was the presence of this thick mist. The monsters they faced would have no doubt been driven mad by it... even the most docile creatures, given time would have been frenzied; few beings could bathe in its presence without some effect. The origin? He could guess it was the calamity. Still, it didn't help his current predicament... and those were thing he could turn his attention to later.

For now... he had an appointment with Beatrix.

There was an attack pattern to be learned whenever she drove him away. She obviously hadn't had much training in close quarters combat... funny, as she was an excellent swordsman. Her pattern of attack whenever he came too close for her to user her blade was simple -- a single hard strike followed by a step moving away to give herself distance. She couldn't mix it up as much as she needed to and even if she did, it was likely he'd of just picked up on that set of tactics just as well. Still, the greatest mistake you could make was assuming what it was that Auric was observing... it wasn't her style of fighting or the things she did before being vulnerable. Right now? What he studied was her. The soldiers around them were all human, some more skilled than others -- different strength but similar, what differentiated one from the other was experience and skill, innate magick and yet none of these things could define them all on its own. How you act and react is defined by who you are as a person.

To Auric, people were part of a bigger picture. No matter how detailed they were or how large a picture they were in, he could always understand them because he was able to comprehend them in the scope of things. He was already beginning to slip through her defenses even as she adapted on the fly. She was picking up on the idea that he was learning quite quickly... and no doubt she knew that she would have lost had this dragged on. He could have, quite easily at that... knowing a particularly defensive posture he could assume to guarantee his survival long enough for some of his wounds to heal. But he didn't need to. He'd done what he'd intended... she seemed herself and that was enough to take the fall without anyone noticing.... besides, he wasn't keen on showing her all his cards... he might need to make a play with them much later among his many other hidden talents.

Ha ha, embarrass her later and alone -- you're such a softie, Auric.

And so he put on a show. A good finish. He wasn't a fool -- he knew his opponent would be looking to close this as soon as possible -- she'd no doubt be well enough to do something big once more and this time he wasn't going to impede it. She made her approach, alien steps towards him yet familiar enough to be her own, feint first before coming in from the top. But she was right from before... he wasn't a coward. So he didn't back away -- didn't bat an eye or even flinch at the change of pace. Instead... he stepped in, knowing that she was vulnerable the most during an attack. And so he slid his body, manuevering forward as her blade fell upon his shoulder a fatal cut that would have ended him was stopped short when his right arm, bloodied now from his previous deep wound came up, reaching forward and catching her wrist -- anchoring her attack. His grip was firm even though it was shaking from the pain, but his left hand went in.

He could have easily run her through -- impaled her upon the blade and dug it beneath her chest plate... but he wasn't here to slaughter her. So he grinned, sweeping outwards with enough force that would have bisected her body had he been a step closer... her mail had been fractured twice and the stress he was about to place on it would shatter it; he knew this with unwavering certainty. Before he brought the blade and swung inwards... he knew what she was wearing under there. And he'd impress it upon her that this moment -- right here? He could have ended her life... which was the same that could be said about all those other soldiers he'd spared, some of which were only now regaining conciousness. His hand swung the blade inward for a second round, a horizontal cut, left to right across her chest. He had impossible skill... for that cloth was thin it may as well have been hair.

A lop-sided grin came upon his face as he whispered words for her alone. "Hnhn. Glad you're awake."

---

Health/Damage
[hp=30/100]

• Weak damage healed (+5)
  
• Weak damage sustained (-6)
  

Actions

Double Cut[Beatrix]

• Double Cut -The user is allowed an additional regular attack. (Weak [5+2=7] x 2)
  
• Momentum - Every time an attack lands successfully the attacker is granted an attack power boost of 10%. (4 hits successful: +40%)
  

Status Ailments (Buffs/Debuffs)

• Regen - heals weak damage every turn. (2 posts)
  

Cooldowns

• None
  

[Beatrix]

Fatley's tactic obviously didn't work on the man; though she had successfully hit him, opening a deep wound all across his arm, it was evident the man hadn't defended himself on purpose, for what reason she couldn't guess. And more so, she had left her guard completely open as she raised her longsword over her head; she had been counting on the man falling for the feint, lowering his defense to catch what should have seemed an upward blow, buthe had seen through her tactic. Beatrix had faced stronger and faster foes than him in her prime, but she didn't believe she had come across with someone so adept at analyzing her moves. She realized the man wasn't just reading through her moves or the way she fought - he was reading her. It was disquieting, to say the least.

Would she had been so sloppy before the diminishing of her abilities? She had never been an overly tactic warrior, though she hadn't needed too - her attacks were so quick and devastating she could reduce most foes to smithereens in seconds. Her strength was still there, but her speed and grace were frustratingly inferior. When she performed the feint it came much slower and disheveled as she had envisioned, and left her wide open to his attacks; she braced herself for the ending blow, disbelieving and appalled that it would end like that - only the man didn't take the opportunity to finish her. And why would he? He had left alive everyone who had attacked him that day; why start killing now?

Her armor broke as he stepped in and stabbed at it, falling apart in pieces and leaving her another bruise. She lamented the waste of a perfectly good piece of armor, thought it was nothing special - it was just like the one all her soldiers wore, a simple piece of metal. She hadn't even worn it before, as her speed had been the only defense she had needed - only recently she had started wearing one over her clothes. Still, the man could have easily run the sword through her, but hadn't; for that at least she was grateful. She jumped back as the man slashed at her chest with the other sword, barely dodging his attack. Though she was uninjured, her white vest sported an horizontal cut along her upper chest, revealing a thin line of skin. She blushed, more out of anger than modesty. He dared mock her, Beatrix, General of Alexandria and best swordsmen in the continent? She, who had fell a hundred knights in battle was being made fun of by a mere child?

That man was going to suffer.

Beatrix slashed her sword aggressively towards his mid-section and jumped back again, putting enough distance between them to be out of his reach. Even if the man knew exactly what she was going to do, she suspected he wouldn't dodge this time."Enough games," she said, raising her sword and slashing it at the man's direction, a wave of energy roaring through the air. She hadn't put all her strength in the technique; just enough to knock him out. Her soldiers cheered, but all she felt was a strange coldness.


__________________________________________________

[HP=63/100]

[actions]

• Attack - (Weak [5 + 1.5 = 7] damage)
  
• Shock - deals Severe physical damage to one enemy at 10 ft [4 posts cooldown]

[buffs/debuffs]
debuffs – none.
buffs – Momentum - [attack boost: +%30]

[status]
none.

[Auric]

[hp=0/100]

---

Time was running out. He could prolong it -- surely, he could... even give a bit of time for the [Regen] coursing within him to work its wonders to sustain this attack he knew was coming. But what was the point? He wasn't out to defeat her. She was powerful in her own right but the magick within him yearned to sap at the mist in the air... fighting back full-force would result in devastation of the entire city. Countless deaths. And worst of all? He wouldn't have been paid for it. Not that he was without concience, but even now he doubted the soldiers that looked on even knew why he was here. Besides, massacring the whole lot of them would have left a bad taste in his mouth... especially when they were of the fairer sex.

Hnh, fairer sex...

He grinned, widely, and he knew some would be confused at his expression. But in his mind he pondered the idea of whether the woman he faced could even be considered as such. Not that he never was the sexist sort... but she had quickly shown herself to be quite the monster with a two handed sword. And even as she finished him off, he fell to his knee -- barely reeling at the heavily reduced pressure... although he'd sustained many injuries in his life and had steeled himself from pain, he had to admit that it did hurt. But now as his legs buckled beneath him and he leaned forward, breathing deeply as the blood continued to pour from his wounds -- his shoulder copping the worst of it.

"I don't suppose... dinner's still out of the question? Hnhn..." he joked, still persisting with battlfield banter. Oh he'd done what he'd set out to do in starting this fight. She'd said she'd arrest him and he had a good guess where he'd be taken. He closed his eyes as warm crimson fell from his forehead. Facial wounds always took a while to clot. But the next thing he could see was her shadow moving closer -- her steps, audible as she approached. He looked up briefly before lights went out.

End thread.