Fate - First Reply There Must Be Some Kinda Way Outta Here

[Arthfael]

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It was overly hot, that kinda of miserable humidity one got when overly long under the sun near the sea. Roaring and chanting could be heard, which soon had the dull ache behind his eyes throbbing in time with their guttural bellows. Overall, Arthfael was still not entirely sure how he wound up here. He had been drinking at an open market, waiting for a contact who had said she knew a Cloud Giant who might be amiable to speaking to him on his heritage. Cloud and Storm were typically friendly, it was not as if he were approaching one of the more unlikable Fire Giants, after all.

The drink must have been spiked. By someone who knew what they were doing. With his physique it took a lot to make him even feel buzzed. Let alone feel truly drunk. He had awoke in a sand cell with iron bars anchored feet deep into ancient stone blocks. Despite evidence of countless attempts, the young half-giant had tried to pummel and bend the cell apart to no avail. Eventually someone in darker robes had came by, leaving a shield, a handful of weapons, and naught much else. He had been instructed his cell would open soon. At that moment, he was to grab whatever fit his fancy, and "take to the sands".

A loud horn echoed, and the solid iron bars of his cell seemed to melt away as if by spellwork. The storm-giant kin barreled forward, scooping up two axes for his belt, a kite shield surprisingly his size, and a long spear with motifs common to the Cloud Giants. So, others like him had been here. A slab above him groaned open, and he charged forward. Fight, and die. Or maybe fight and live. He had seen arenas enough to know. And his best shot lay on the sands he surged up and onto as the crowd roared.

 

[Virgil Ekalis]

Virgil awoke lying almost face down in hot sands, his mask pressed into his face. He sat up drowsily feeling the full force of the heat around him. There was a strong ache in his head from a large number of possible reasons. Though the most likely cause of it was the painfully loud cacophonous noise which seemed to be filling the area. Coming to a bit more Virgil realized he was in some sort of prison and the loud noises appeared to be that of people cheering.

"Who have I pissed off now?" He would say to himself looking around. It wasn't uncommon for him to get into trouble with various people. Usually, it was because they discovered his Kovashian heritage or because of something relating to his chaotic magic. The last thing he recalled was drinking in a bar, but it was entirely possible he had gotten too drunk to remember anything else. Looking around at his iron cell and down at the sandy ground, he wondered if he might be able to escape with magic. Virgil supposed it was technically possible, but he'd have to get very lucky to call upon the card he would need. After some consideration, he decided against trying. It was too likely someone would see his attempt and stop him before he got anywhere.

He appeared to have made the right choice as soon after a person had come to his cell bearing weapons. Though instead of retrieving him from his cell they simply left the weapons there and gave Virgil a rather cryptic message. Something about his when his cell would open and "taking to the sands" whatever that meant. Having no other choices, Virgil waited, and eventually, the time would come. The loud sound of some sort of horn rang throughout the area and his cell seemed to fade out of existence. He'd step forward and examine his choice of weapons. While he thought out his decision, he'd hear the sound of something moving in front of him and look to see a newly revealed sandy pathway. Virgil would quickly pick up a just a heater shield with his left hand and begin moving towards the path. "No way to go but forward I suppose." He'd say to himself as he moved up the path, ready to behold whatever lied on the other side.

 

[Arthfael]

The spear whirled, fast enough to split the breeze and whistle, but due to the makers, it only hummed eerily as it sped from line carry to an overhead hurling position. The kite shield rammed into the sands, bronze capping taking the impact as he knelt behind it, spear laying just on the top of the bulwark he had created, forehead and eyes peering above it. A man from the deserts that his father had journeyed with time to time had taken to train Arthfael in spear tactics, though admittedly usually he had only a whittled branch. Not many weapons were made for half-giants.

Slowly his eyes scanned near the other opening, ignoring the crowd visually. Their chanting and noise swelled as the masked figure with a shield appeared, and in response, the half-giant roared. Not as impressive as his full-blooded kin, but an unnatural sound of fury and danger as he gave himself over to the storm of emotion within. The same storm his father had taught him to master just as tide and surf were to be mastered by any sailor. With a heave of coiled muscle under blue-grey skin, the spear flew forth while Arthfael sped behind it, sand surging with every massive step the ten-foot figure of rage took.

He didn't know who or what was in front of him. His best chance lay in surprise. Hobble the foe quickly, then draw it out a bit to win the crowd. His father had a habit of betting on the sands in their travels, so Arthfael knew a bit of the game. But not much at all. Most would be taken off balance by a half-giant hurling a small tree-sized spear at them and charging with axe and shield at the ready.

Virgil Ekalis

 

[Virgil Ekalis]

Coming through the opening Virgil would finally connect the dots that he was in an arena. Though before he could think of much else his attention was drawn to a spear flying towards him at an incredible speed. It was coming towards him to fast and he knew he couldn’t avoid it. In that moment a plethora of emotions filled him. Fear and sadness that he might meet his end, but the strongest was rage. He couldn’t stand the idea of dying without knowing why. Not to mention being taken out so soon in the fight. That rage would manifest itself, as it would for any of Kavoshian descent, in the form of magic.

As he attempted to evade the incoming spear there would be a dramatic increase in his movement speed. Much to his surprise the spear would fly past him and into the entrance he had come from. A quick look at the back of his left hand revealed he was under the effects of the Chariot card. Situations like these were the only times he was glad for magically inclined heritage. Though having survived that meant his fight was just beginning.

With renewed hope in the situation Virgil took a deep breath as three orange cards of energy appeared in front of him. He’d grab one of them with his empty right hand and begin running towards his opponent. He had drawn the Star card which he hoped would be useful. In his hand the card which shift transforming into a small orb of bright light. With a shield in one hand and the orb in the other he’d charge at the giant man. Luckily with his speed boost he was able to move just a bit faster than his enemy, seemingly gliding through the air with every step. Whenever the two got within fifteen feet of each other he’d attempt to throw the orb at the giant’s feet. Wherever it would land it would burst in an explosion of burning and blinding light. As he’d throw the orb Virgil would jump backwards in an attempt to place some distance between the two.

Arthfael

 

[Arthfael]

At first, he didn't think much of the masked shieldbearer. But then he dodged a spear hurtled fast enough it should have skewered a dire boar, and doubt entered his mind. The frame and muscles didn't support that speed and agility.

Magic.

Inherently, his bloodline were more inclined to wield such powers, particularly over weather and lightning, and some becoming powerful seers. But it would seem the dilution of his mother's bloodline with his father's had robbed him of that gift. So, the axe in his right hand would raise, shield coming up low and in guard form.

Then the conjurer threw a ball of light that exploded straight in his face, and Arthfael stood poleaxed and confused as the scintillation of light and post-burst auras of color rendered him nearly blind and deaf from the small boom. As his sight faded, he hurled the one axe in his hand at the charging opponent and dropped to a knee and grounded his shield again, groping for his spare axe to draw.

Virgil Ekalis

 

[Virgil Ekalis]

Virgil would have been glad to see his attack worked but before the flash of light even faded something was coming at him fast. An axe as large as his shield was flying straight towards him. Still being in the air from his jump, he knew there was no way to avoid it. There wasn’t enough time to draw a new card with which to block the blow. He did though have a shield strapped to his left hand. As he glided through the air he’d twist his body placing his heater shield between him and the incoming weapon. He’d do his best to brace himself for the blow but he didn’t have much luck.

The blade of the axe would make full and direct contact with his shield. Vibrations would ring throughout Vergil’s body from the sheer force of the blow and his arm was swallowed in an immense pain. Being in the air, the collision would send him back faster and knock his balance off. When he hit the ground he landed on his back and rolled backward. Raucous cheers were bellowed out by the crowd as the events unfolded. Though Vergil had no time to pay them mind as he began to get up. The air had been knocked out of him and his body hurt but it didn’t feel as if anything was broken. He had more concern for the fact that the blow to his shield holding left hand dispelled his Chariot card. Without his speed boost he wagered he’d lost his only advantage against his opponent. He knew he had to do something and quickly.

Luckily it appeared his opponent was stunned by his Star spell which could buy him some time. Though he would be at a disadvantage in close combat he had no other choice. So in an attempt to make the most out of his opponents condition he would charge forward. Moving slowly at first but gaining speed as the air returned to his lungs. Being without a spell he resolved to draw two more. Magic seemed to be his only remaining chance at winning the fight.

As he rushed forward, glowing orange cards would materialize in front of him and he’d grab one with each hand. First he activated the one in his left hand, the Moons card. He’d smile a bit under his mask as the card took effect, splitting in two and forming two orbs above him. The two orbs would grow and change in color turning into smaller but otherwise perfect copies of the two moons Lessat and Pneria. The larger of the two, Lessat, had a diameter somewhere close to five feet while Pneria was a bit less than half its size. Vergil was glad to have drawn a card which could be quite useful in the situation. Especially because he other card was not so useful. In his right hand Vergil held the Eight of Wands, a card which summoned a ladder wherever he chose. Vergil almost cursed his unpredictable magic for such a bad draw, but then he had an idea.

As he neared his half giant competitor he’d raise his right hand pointing it towards the area above his opponent’s head. A sturdy wooden ladder would appear in the space above the man. From there it would fall down hopefully landing around the imposing man’s head to rest on his shoulders. Vergil hoped his unorthodox plan would work and moved within melee range of the man. Though he had no plan to attack him with his hands. Instead as he got close he would attempt to move the larger of his orbiting moons to crash into his opponents axe hand. Curving it around in a circle from his left side to hopefully avoid the man’s shield.

 

[Arthfael]

The smile of victory fled as quickly as the lights in his vision. The man was playing with glowing light shaped as cards like any gambling establishments. And as he worked whatever he worked, the man dropped a ladder, which just barely fit onto his head, getting stuck around his chin. That stopped his stance shift dead, and he actually stood there, guard half-dropped, slack-jawed.

Who uses Magic to summon a ladder and drop it on someone's head? Seriously!

Then the pipsqueak used another glowing card, and summoned two moderately sized moons. And THREW A MOON AT HIS WEAPON HAND. The axe-hand he had just raised to hurl at the mage. His intent was to cleave the masked man with the axe, and then utilize violence known as a trademark of his mother's kin. But the moon made just enough sound he spun to face it as it entered his personal space.

With the about face with a ladder stuck on his neck and chin, he batted the moon like a particularly awkward sports player, and managed to hurtle it directly back at the mage, though the awkward impact to the ladder snapped one side and caused him to roar in pain, dropping the axe to grasp at the injury momentarily.

Narrowed eyes met the mage and crackling wisps of blue light that curled like smoke began leaking from them, as he hurled a splay palmed hand at his opponent. From each finger tip shot small jagged bursts of lightning, a lesser form of the innate magic of the Storm Giants he descended from, and obviously an instinctual gesture that wasn't conscious, as he brought his hand back to his face, looking at it with a stunned expression as sparks and crackles of electricity arced around it.

Virgil Ekalis

 

[Virgil Ekalis]

Vergil watched with amazement as the ladder he summoned actually fell on the half-giant's head. He really hadn't expected that to work at all. It seemed to throw him off his guard as which gave Virgil a bit of hope for the situation. A smile would spread widely across his covered face as he gained confidence that his blow would hit the man nicely. Though he should have known things never did work out so well for him. His axe bearing enemy seemed to have regained enough of his senses to react promptly to the moon flying towards him.

When the moon was redirected back towards him the smile quickly faded from Virgil's face. He acted swiftly though sending the second moon on a direct collision course with it. The incoming moon, Lessat, was larger than defending Pneria but it had already begun to crack and burst from its blow with the axe. As the two would crash into each other Lessat would break completely sending some large chunks of rock towards Virgil. He'd raise his shield towards the spray of incoming objects but one would make contact with his head before the shield would make it to the proper position. Virgil was lucky though as it was one of the relatively smaller pieces, but it still hit a bad location. Even with his mask taking the blow he could feel the pain heavily in his entire head. He was a bit dizzy from the force of the hit, but he'd bite his tongue to help him focus on pressing on.

Turning his attention back towards his opponent he realized that his ladder had broken and caused an injury. He felt like laughing a bit at just how well his strange plan had worked for him even with the moon attack backfiring. Though he had no time to celebrate as strange wisps of light began to emanate from the other man's eyes. He knew little of giants and their capabilities, but he knew enough about magic to recognize danger. As his opponent began to extend his hand, Vergil would draw two more cards from in front of him and raise his shield. Instantly looking at his cards, his heart would sink as he saw the results. Neither would be able to protect him from whatever attack was about to be unleashed upon him. Before he knew it the small bolts of lightning would hit his shield and move through it into his body. Every muscle in his body would jolt wildly as the electricity made its way through his body and his vision blacked a bit.

After taking such a brutal attack Virgil was close to his limit of how much he could take. His heart was pounding wildly in his chest and his vision blurred as he looked back up at his opponent. There was only one more chance that he could take to get out of the fight alive, and it wasn't likely to succeed. He had drawn the Strength and Temperance cards. One could heal him of all his wounds and fatigue but would require some time to do so and could easily be interrupted. The other would only work to give a boon to an ally that Vergil didn't currently have. He had to make enough time for him to heal his wounds or at least most of them. It was time for him to try to use his words as a distraction or perhaps even sway his enemy into an ally.

First Virgil would place his right hand upon his chest fulfilling the condition of the Temperance card's healing effect. He would hesitate a few seconds, time he only had thanks to the half-giant's apparent surprise to his magic, before beginning to speak. "Hear me out, fellow warrior. I know not how we came to be in this place, but I believe I know why we are." He'd say as he reached up with his left hand and took his mask off, a very risky move. In the same motion, he'd take his hood down revealing his face and short black hair. "See these pale grey eyes of mine and recognize that they forever brand me as a monster. Much the same as I suspect your size brands you. We were brought here to fight each other like the monster's they think we are. Our deaths, as I'm sure neither of us will leave this place if we continue like this, provide this audience with great entertainment and line the coffers of those who brought us here." He'd say motioning out to the audience with his left arm. He was already beginning to feel better as the spell took effect, but he still needed more time. "They want a show and I propose that we give them exactly that. However, I believe we could do more working together instead of against each other. Currently, I am in a position to give you a large boon to your strength, but it will only work if you agree to be my ally. I don't know about you, but I'd much rather die fighting for freedom than play into their game." He'd finish raising his left hand into towards the man. He was healed a bit but nowhere near fully. His body still ached in pain but his vision was clear and his heart had gone mostly back to normal. Virgil hoped his speech would buy him at least a bit more time to heal, though he wondered if the man wouldn't actually take him up on his proposal. If he would Virgil would gladly work with him. They were both strong and he figured they stood a decent chance of escaping alive.

 

[Arthfael]

Rage had been building, born of futility and frustration. It had been directed at the mage. Until he spoke. But though his giant blood gave him a proclivity to such anger, the storm giants were rarely mindless and unreasoning in their outbursts. The true target his "opponent" suggested was a far better foe to his mind, and again the crackling started along his hands and forearms, his eyes wisping blue as he bent to pick up the fallen spear from earlier, hefting it and turning a critical eye to the Chaos Mage.

"Let us give them a show that they never forget then..."

Virgil Ekalis