*WHOOSH!* A staff was being swung through the air by a human mage. He swung it around and struck at imaginary opponents as he practiced his physical attacks. "I need to be stronger...I have to be able to win..." the mage said outloud as he swung his staff sideways, up, then back down agian. "If I win the tournement, no one will doubt my power." he jumped and brought his staff down in front of himself as he talked to himself. His long hair was tied back out of his face. His dull red cloak and his two-piece robes hung on a near-by tree. The mage wore only a pair of black cotton pants and a black tunic as he practiced in the early morning. his boots lay near his satchel-a small bag that held everything a traveling mage would need: magic scrolls,rupees, a book, some dried meat and fruit, and a canteen full of water. The young human walked over to where he had set his things and picked up his canteen, taking a log drink from it.

OoC: This is a pivate battle between Blank and myself, and I have asked Alpha to Mod it for us. Please don't post her unless your chearing one of us on. Thank you.

The nomad was another poor soul who doubted his own power, and this doubt was coming to light more and more with the emergence of a Grand Tournament. He would be battling against Tayro Wind, a young mage whom he had befriended at some point on his journey across Hyrule. And from each succeeding escapade in which he was side by side with the fifteen year old Hylian, the elder Hylian had observed incredible power stored inside his opponent's body. The boy was clearly far more powerful than he gave himself credit for; Blank had seen even the eldest, wisest of mages fall due to lesser displays of magic. Tayro was a very capable young lad, and Blank felt himself trembling at the notion of a battle between the two Hylians.

“It won't be easy... Then again, they pitted that poor Saber fellow against Alpha. I wonder how that turned out...” Blank had been absent from the tournament thus far. Instead, he had gone for a quiet trek to the Deku Woods to find solace for his fearful soul. He didn't want to fight Tayro. In fact, he would much rather fight Alpha! At least with the latte of the two it would be a quick loss, and there would be no hard feelings whatsoever. Blank and Alpha were not particularly close as allies, but Blank felt a strong sense of friendship between himself and the young Tayro Wind. The nomad and mage were evenly matched, as well, which made his stomach quell in agony at the thought. Not only would it be a hard battle, but it would also be long. He began to groan as he proceeded back to the castle town. His match would be starting shortly.

It was then that he saw Sovelis, a strange man who had had never really introduced himself to, and yet who he had seen all over Hyrule. He appeared to be training, which seemed to be the sensible thing to do. Perhaps I should have practiced a bit, too, rather than just wandering like I always tend to do... In his trance-like thought procession, he almost stormed right into the black-clothed man. Stumbling back a few paces, he grinned haphazardly and tried to apologize. “Sorry, Sovelis. I wasn't watching where I was going...”

Blank's battle wasn't going to start for at least an hour or two, and he could almost see the Castle from where he was standing. In a quick exchange of glances between its walls and the Tempest, a thought appeared on the drifts of his mind. “You know,” he said with a grin as he motioned to the man's staff. “I find sparring matches work much better when there are two combatants.” The nomad drew his swords and pointed one at Sovelis with a determined, amused smile. “Shall we?”

OOC: Just realizing that if I happen to beat Tayro, I'll just be fighting you again anyway XD Aw well, it'll be like a rematch

OOC: Awesome! I'm not going to vote on this one, I would just much rather watch it until the end.

IC: Dogura and Alex watched from a nearby tree. "Sensei, why did we have to climb this tree? Why couldn't we just watch from the ground like normal people?" Dogura sighed. "Because the normal people are about to find themselves in a world of hurt. That man over there, Sovelis, is a mage." Alex looked across the field, and saw that man carrying a staff. "Magic is unpredictable. Trust me on this one." Alex's eyes wandered around the field, until they rested on a man with blazing red hair. "And him?" Dogura looked around, and then found Blank, Dogura's first friend in all of Northern Hyrule. "Why, thats Blank Fireside!" Alex cocked his head. "And whats his crazy power?" The samurai snickered, and leaned back against the trunk of the tree. "I'm pretty sure everyone has wondered that once or twice." Dogura chuckled, as he got comfortable. The way Blank was holding his sword out at Sovelis, there was sure to be a bit of action.

"Well, I think we both know who's going to win." Alex muttered rolling his eyes. "Oh?" Dogura responded, resting a hand on the boy's head. "And who might that be?"
"Sovelis, of course. He's going to kick the crap out of that Blank guy. He should learn his place before taking on someone of Sovelis's caliber." Dogura frowned. "Blank may not look like much... But he packs a powerful punch. Way back before we were really close friends, we sparred in North Forest, that same location that I eventually built my home." Alex turned to Dogura wide eyed. "Really? He's that strong?" Dogura nodded. We were both hospitalized at North Castle before we could walk again." The boy looked back down at Blank. "So you're saying that you and him, are evenly matched?" Dogura nodded once more, as he folded his arms. "Of course... If we end up pitted against each other in the later rounds of the Grand Tournament, we'll see which one of us is the greater." Alex put a hand over his face. "I'm so weak, it almost angers me..."

Sovelis looked in Blank's direction. "I agree. I know of you, but we haven't been properly introduced. But there will be time enough for introductions. I haven't had any practice with another or a long time." the human mage, and Last Tempest, said to the Hylian Nomad that stood pointing one of his swords at Sovelis. "I won't use my sword. I won't be able to in the tournement, so I'll only use this-" he shook his staff " And the magic I have learned while I've been in Hyrule. I hope your ready, because I'll start things off!" Sovelis said as he raised his staff over his head with his left arm. "Powers of this land, give me the strength, to withstand the blades of my foe, and to keep me safe from harm....SHIELD!!!" Sovelis shouted the last word as the spell surounded the Tempest in a cocoon of magical energies that could keep an enemy from physically harming the caster. [Shield Lvl 1- Minus 10 SPL]

Sovelis:
33/33 HP
44/54 SPL
*Shielded for 1 round*

OoC: Just for it to be easier for me, am going to list both's stats here.

Sovelis
Human Scholar//Mage LV 14

STR: 3
DEF: 14
AGI: 1
INT:3
SPI:3
SPL: 48
HP: 33

Blank
Hylian Grunt//Nomad LV 10

STR: 6
DEF: 17
AGI: 2
INT:4
SPI:3
SPL: 11
HP: 51

IC:
Invoking his powers, Sovelis' shield is summoned forth, a green energy field starting to emane from his body, slowly extending outwards to form an energy sphere around him. The somewhat electric-seeming barriersom seemed to slightly Blank's sight of his opponent, and ready to diminish any damage done to the caster. The protection concluded, the battle was ready to proceed.

Sovelis: 33 HP 38 SPL [+4 DEF]

Blank: 51 HP

Blank's shoulders slumped and his face took on the original picture of malcontent as he watched Sovelis' shield activate. It was a very unfortunate event for the nomad, as physical attacks were his ace. With a newly raised defense, the Tempest posed a serious threat to Blank's intended strategy. He had picked up something valuable before the tournament had begun, but... well, needless to say, Blank was not prepared to use that at the moment. In fact, that was part of the reason he had left North Castle to begin with.

Fire was not his forte. He had only been named 'Fireside' because of his temper and fury as a youth. The actual element that some such as Pyralin, Hiro and Kasei were skilled at manipulating did not come naturally to him. In fact, no magic did. Blank was a plain foot-soldier. He was never really a magic user, despite being Hylian. Perhaps, deep inside of him there was a great wealth of magical potential that lay untapped. But his upbringing, which first had him thinking he was a Moblin, and then later a normal Human, had left this unimaginable. And so, Blank tended to put brawn before brain.

Outraged that the scholar's defense had been raised, Blank decided that it would take everything he had inside as a warrior to land. Taking his swords and putting them to use, he charged his adversary. When he was within range, the swept out violently with the wooden blades and aimed for Sovelis' gut, both swords keeping steady to the same target while arcing in and away from said spot. Grunting heavily, Blank exerted an extra reservoir of desperation, madly intent on striking down the Tempest.

[L3 Dual Wield]
WILL Used: 9

Nomads were surely known for their indomitable spirit - they could find strength inside them at the most needed times to overcome their obstacles. Some call it a state of beserk, in which the nomad would strike out randomly and with intense power, much like a wild animal. Others chose a different ideology - that they had an intense passion for battles in which they vigorously participated. Reason aside, this inner strength did go and help this nomad, in this battle. His sword lashing proved more than effective against his opponent - at first, it collided wwith the barrier, the shield seeming to prevent it - yet Blank's cunning skills came to his aid. Applying all his strength and will into the charge, the energy field was effectively penetrated, the wooden weapons slashing efficiently Sovelis who surely did not expect such strike to land (19+2+9[Roll+AGI+Will]). The attack robbed the Tempest of a hefty 22 HP.

Sovelis: 11 HP [+4 DEF]

Blank: 51 HP 0 Will

Staggering back, Sovelis clutched at his stomach. "Damn it...how did he do that...." he fell to one knee and started chanting, "Life is the base of all existance, and all ahve an abundance of Life, Give me your strength, lend me the Life of the land, and heal me of my wounds!" he said as he cast his spell. [Life spell from scroll]

OoC: Actually Sovelis, you need to have both the spell and the scroll to use Life. Fire's an exception because the ability itself wasn't in the Rules Set...

OoC:Scroll Of Life: A piece of parchment that, as long as it is in the possession of a magic user, allows that person to cast Life. Doesn't that mean I can cast Life though? Whats the point of having the scroll then?

OoC: First, sorry about the delay in answering. Now, to clarify this.

The Scrolls are items that could be said to be half of a spell, the other half being learn the spell itself. Meaning, to cast either Life or Fairy, a character must know both the spell and have the scroll in order to use the ability. Fire is an exception, as I said, because Narrator forgot to include the spell in the Rules Set, thus only scroll is needed.

Resuming, if you have learned Life but don't have the scroll, you can't use it. If you have the scroll yet you haven't learned the spell, you also can't use it - you must have both.

OoC: Okay...this means I am TOTALY screwed then....Thanks for clearing that up though.If you can't beat Blank in the tourny, then I'll get my backside handed to me on a silver platter....

IC: Sovelis didn't feel anything happen. "What the-? Why didn't it work?" he looked at Blank, whom he knew was about to K.O. him. "At least I'll knock him back some...since I have so much Magic left, I'll have to keep fighting." Sovelis struggled to stand strait, and almost doubled over from the pain in his lower body.

Sovelis held his real hand out, aiming it at his nomadic enemy. "This may be it, but as someone once said, I'll defy all logic, and attack you anyway!" he began to pour his mental energies out and into his hand as he began to chant." Ex to lochana, ko'lak mu nowaka...Re'tal ejuka lenamarita..." His hand began to fill with power that he had kept stored away for such an occasion. "LET THE FURY OF THE ELEMENTALS STRIKE YOU DOWN-ELEMENTAL EXPLOSION!!!" he roared as the ball of magic flew at Blank Fireside, growing as it approched at an alarming speed. Although Sovelis could cast such a spell, he had not the true mastery of the elements to comand it to form into one elemental force. The ball of magic would randomly assume an element a second before impacting the nomad, and Sovelis prayed it wouldn't be light.

"This will be an exiting battle." Kasei said to Denkou and Aria. I wonder who you think will win?" He asked. "Master will win of course!" Aria said. "Really? Even though we know nothing of Blank's abilities, even though he may have a very powerfull trick up his sleeve?" Denkou asked. "Heheheh, lets think about this seriously. On one hand, Sovelis has quite a few magical attacks and defences at his disposal, that is what usually defines a mage, they have no physical abilities and focus solely on magic. However, if his magical power runs out, this mage also has physical training, so he could last a while. Blank, on the other hand, is apparently only proficient with physical combat, I think, so he's at a serious disadvantage. You see, if Sovelis is wise, he'll wear Blank down with his magic until it runs out, then when the nomad is weak, Sovelis will be able to beat him using his own physical prowess. However, thats just what I think. Sovelis himself might have a better plan." Kasei said, and turned, to find that neither Denkou nor Aria were paying attention to him. Both were focused on the fight.

OOC: That would be my battle plan, anywhay.

OoC: Blank asked me to take Tayro's place as the GM of this fight... Something about laziness and vacation. You two are probably fed up with waiting

IC: Sovelis' Elemental Explosion rips through the air and does exactly what is expected of it; it explodes. The area is virtually littered with fire, and it is quite fortunate for the treetop spectators that the flames keep to the main battle field - namely, far enough that the master and his apprentice remain safe. Blank is unable to resist the horrible burns (13+1 [Roll+SPI]) and is dealt the full, astonishing twenty DMG.

Blank: HP 31

Sovelis: HP 11, SPL 24

OOC: Thanks for doing this, RG. Tayro's too busy off having fun to GM this

IC:

Blank screamed in agony as the flames surrounded him; there had been no chance for escape. He had not expected the magic to explode forth like it had, and to entirely consume the area. Had he known that the bystanders had escaped the firestorm by a hair's width, he would certainly take a moment to point a shrug and thumbs up at the wowed spectators of the mage and nomad. However, this was not the case. His head was racing far too fast for recognition of fans, and his skin was burning far too intensely for him to even chance a pivot.

When the fire died and only smoke lingered from the ashen remains of the field's grass, Blank could only stand stock still and utter a single phrase, his head bowed and jaw slacked as his limp, overheated body swayed visibly in a daze. “Good gravy!” he exclaimed, shaking off the searing pain inflicted on his body. He hoped the external damage would not be too great; it was not often he went head-to-head with a mage, especially such a revered and high-level one such as Sovelis. He began to tremble as he blew wisps of smoke from his now tempered wooden swords. Well, tempered wasn't the right use of words. The swords were actually burned to a fine, black crisp, and only managed to keep a disfigured shape of their once new selves. After a single attack, the swords could very well collapse and become dust.

And so this attack would have to be the finale of his physical performance. Planting his feet firmly on the burned grass at his feet, the Hylian squinted hard and wiped a hand across his sweaty brow, taking with it a thin layer of ash - burned skin. Shuddering, he took hold of the near-useless remnants of his swords - not too tightly, however - and charged at Sovelis. He thrust the left-handed blade towards the Tempest's right shoulder, bringing the second one up to the ribcage area of the same side. He was careful to use the bare minimum of his strength; his goal now was to knock Sovelis out of his senses. Knocking him out of his life was not in the plan at that point. This was a friendly pre-tournament duel, after all.