Hyrule Adventures 2

Descending from his flight, Tarlen zooms in to the middle of the improvised arena as the previous competitors leave the ring. Upon landing, wasting no more time as to continue the tournament, the Rito waves his wings at the crowd, as to gather their attention from the intense fight prior. "Thought this was all over? Well, no such thing, as we have two last minute entrants ready to prove you all their worth!" - he yells, the crowd anxiously replying with many cheers of support.

Taking flight once more, he starts moving in circles around the arena, as he proceeds with the so-awaited introductions. "First, coming from the distant lands of Incinera, one of the heirs to the throne, please welcome the Human Grunt Hiro Infinite!" - he shouts, the audience accompanying with their loud excitement.

Allowing the spectators to calm down slightly, the Rito pauses for a small second before continuing. "And to face him we have a man with an ear for music! That's right, equipped with a Harp said to descend from the Goddesses, please welcome the Fighting Hylian Bard Victor Vir!" Immediately the crowd gets excited once more, cheering for their favorite adventurer as both approach the arena. "Fighters, begin when ready!"

Arenas and tournaments were events Victor could never quite get into. In all his travels he had hardly ever spectated at one, and this was definitely his first time participating. The problem, of course, was that he was never one for fighting against other people. Against monsters or animals it was usually alright, but the Bard had trouble fighting friends and neighbors, and even enemies. Once he got into it, though, he was known to be quite a fighter... though he would never admit to it himself.

That was probably why he was in the arena, because someone had said he was a good fighter. Goddesses know he wouldn't have entered the tournament himself, and yet here he was, ready to fight someone he hardly knew. At least he was faster and could get the first attack in, though. Perhaps the fight would end soon and he could go back to being a simple, mild-mannered Bard.

Victor took his time walking into the arena, uncomfortable under the gaze of the large crowd. He didn't mind crowds so much when he was in one, but when they were watching him he found difficulty in maintaining any composure. They were cheering for him at least, but that couldn't dispel his discomfort. He tried not to look up, and instead focused on his opponent.

The man seemed to be not much older than him, a stranger despite Victor's attempts to make as many friends as possible. Hiro was his name, according to the announcer. Perhaps a future companion, but for now nothing more than an opponent. The Bard frowned at this.

Still feeling the weight of the audience's eyes, he was eager to get started; if only to end it sooner. So, without much in the way of preparation or showboating, Victor readied a bit of magic for his premier attack: an Elemental Burst, something he had only recently learned and was putting to use for the first time. Though he was a proud Hylian, magic had never been his forte... apart from his obvious musical tastes. Still it was the custom of his race to be proficient in the magical arts, so he had gladly taken up a new spell for the sake of his own protection. Never had he suspected that he might use it against another man so soon, yet the time had come.

The orb of elements appeared in his right hand, slightly startling the Bard. He had seen this attack many times in the hands of friends, but was not prepared for the feeling that would overcome him. Some might call it that of power, but Victor likened it more to pleasure; the cycling elements tickled his finger tips and caused a smile to spread over his face. It was at once cooling and warming, dark and bright. A medly of sensations one can find almost soothing. But it was still an attack, and the Bard sadly realized that he would have to release it sometime today.

So, he raised his hand out and squinted for aim, moving the orb until it was positioned over the man's chest in the distance. Then he brought the spell to his own chest and took a few quick steps forward before swinging it down and finally bowling the orb towards his opponent, letting it roll in midair like a heavy ball with the intention of knocking Hiro down rather than hurting him. It was quite the spectacle: the ball flying with plenty of momentum, the changing elements blurring with speed, and the Bard mouthing prayers that it might strike true.

Victor:
STR - 2; DEF - 3; AGI - 3; INT - 6; SPI - 1; SPL - 17; HP - 41
Hiro:
STR - 3; DEF - 22; AGI - 2; INT - 1; SPI - 1; SPL - 8; HP - 41

"And Victor wastes no time in starting off this fight with a bang!" Tarlen shouts as the ever-changing sphere of elemental power rockets forward towards Hiro. As it travels, the sphere finally seems to decide which of the elements it will take the attributes of: Water. And so, as soon as it crashes into the king of Incinera (10+1[Roll+SPI] vs. 15), the foreigner finds himself not only flying backwards, but also completely drenched. And lacking 16 HP to boot. "Looks like the Bard's taken an early lead in this fight. Can Hiro come back and finish his opponent off?!"

Victor: 41 HP, 11 SPL
Hiro: 25 HP, 8 SPL

Hiro looked in awe of the many spectators in the arena. He had not seen so many people since his days as Prince of Incinera. The cheering... was it for him, or for Victor? Who was Victor anyway? The King surely had not met him... A fight with a stranger. Interesting. Hiro noticed his pointed ears.

He's a Hylian... that is certain. What was it that tome said? Hylians are weak against...
...Shadow? Not quite my element, but this is a real fight...

Hiro started to charge an Elemental Burst- Shadow, but then realized something.

He looks very agile. Any attack I throw at him could be easily countered. I'll have to wait for him to make the first move, and find an opening.

The small spark of dark energy that had been forming in his hand immediately dissipated. Hiro assumed a defensive position, raising his pathetic deku shield for whatever little protection it could bring.

Of course, that was when it hit him.

A surge of cold water overpowered the small wooden shield. Hiro was propelled backward by its force. Shaking his head to regain full consciousness, Hiro noticed his chance.

That blast seems to have hindered him. He won't have the strength for another of those for about thirty seconds or so... I must attack!

Spitting out water, Hiro stood with his arm raised; a black sphere of energy was forming in his hand.

Hmm... The power of darkness is cold. Not like my Fire...

The steady hum of the Burst grew louder and fiercer with every passing second. After about five, Hiro dashed forward, Elemental Burst in hand.

I've got to get in close. There will be little chance to dodge then...

Time seemed to slow down. Hiro leaped, still moving forward with the Burst in front of him...

Hiro's charge appears to catch the Bard off guard, especially with the Hylian still somewhat tired from his own Elemental Burst. The shadowy sphere in the Grunt's hands rips through the air, smashing directly into Victor and hurling him backwards (2+1[Roll+SPI]). "The King of Incinera certainly is showing his prowess on the battlefield!" Tarlen calls out as the Vagabond slows to a stop, having taken an drastic cut in HP - 15 HP is lost in the end.

Victor: 26 HP, 11 SPL
Hiro: 25 HP, 2 SPL

Victor, without hardly a chance to celebrate his hit, was surprised at the sudden flash of dark before him. Seconds later he was flailing on the ground some ways from where he once stood.

"Ack, darkness! Get it offa me!"

Standing abruptly and wiping dust and darkness off his cloak, the Bard pointed accusingly at his damp opponent.

"Why you little...!"

Not bothering to wait any longer, his pointing hand was quickly shrouded in yet another Elemental Burst. As a Hylian, Victor's magical stamina was vast, though this was the first time he had ever excercised it properly in battle. And so, with another cycling sphere of magic in hand, he tossed a second attack towards Hiro, hoping for another successful hit.

The darkness once again clouds the arena with a wave of shadows, as the Elemental Burst of that nature seems to have a tendency to do. But that seems to affect Victor hardly at all, at least in terms of magical ability and accuracy. The sphere of his own Burst attack forms almost instantly in his hands, shifting through the elemental choices as he slings it outward towards the King. As if one had not been enough, this attack also chooses to take on the attribute of Shadow, smashing into Hiro and unleashing even more dark energy onto the field (4+1[Roll+SPI]). Hiro looses yet another chunk of his health to the attack, a full 16 HP.

Victor: 26 HP, 5 SPL
Hiro: 9 HP, 2 SPL

The explosion of Hiro's Elemental Burst pushed him backwards, away from any blows his opponent may try to land. His arm was numb; the magic in him was spent. Hiro rubbed his arm to try to get some feeling back in it.

Strange... I felt no harm from my own attack, and yet Victor was thrown ten feet! It seems my own magic cannot harm me.

Hiro was quickly pulled from his thoughts, for a dark sphere not unlike his own was advancing on him. It moved quickly; Hiro could not dodge. He was blown backward by the force of the sphere. After a second, he pulled himself off the ground, and kneeled down.

He felt something warm on his chest. Looking down, Hiro saw that he was bleeding profusely. He didn't have long. Another Burst and he was finished. Hiro looked up.

He is tired as well. Another Burst is impossible from both of us. It seems it has come to this...

Hiro drew his small wooden sword. It was almost a dagger, but it would do. He grasped it in his left hand and looked at Victor. His blazing red eyes reflected the Bard. His piercing gaze was gone faster than it had arrived. Hiro ran forward, straight toward Victor. For a grunt in heavy armor, he moved incredibly fast, however short a time. As he neared Victor, he quickly dashed left and stopped behind and to the right of him. As Hiro turned, he swung his sword with extreme force. All he had was in this blow. The blade traveled in an arc, aimed directly for Victor's neck...

Hiro's blade whistles through the air as it speeds towards the Bard, heading directly towards his foe's neck. Victor's defensive skills may leave much to be desired, but even he can anticipate such an obvious plan of attack. The Bard manages to barely dodge out of the way, but barely is still enough to avoid all damage from the Incineran's weapon (2+1[Roll+AGI]). "An impressive show by Victor!" Tarlen yells. "I didn't think he'd be able to avoid that one, but my! The Bard has proved me wrong!"

Victor: 26 HP, 5 SPL
Hiro: 9 HP, 2 SPL

Just barely able to duck out of the sword's way, Victor thanked the Goddesses for his speed. With his remaining health giving him a large advantage over Hiro, the Bard quickly readied himself for another - and hopefully last - attack. First, he took a few quick steps to distance himself from his opponent, just in case of another slash. Then he pulled out his trusty bow.

"This should do enough damage," Victor mumbled. He turned towards Hiro and cocked an arrow, holding it so he could aim. Once the arrow's tip was squarely positoned over the Incineran, he smiled slyly.

"Perhaps there was something to arena fighting after all." he thought, "A certain thrill in one knowing that he can fight a man without consequence. Or, at least I think he won't die. No, they wouldn't let him die, would they...?"

The Bard faltered at this thought, though only momentarily. He figured that an organized arena fight would never let their opponents die, that would be barbarous. So his smile returned and he steadied his bow once more before releasing the arrow.

As the projectile tore through the tension-filled air of the arena, Hiro might have noticed Victor wink.

Perhaps whistling is a word that would have been better off left for describing Victor's arrow rather than Hiro's sword, for while the blade may have emitted a small bit of humming, the projectile actually sounded like a man whistling. But Hiro's defensive capabilities were quite impressive. As the arrow screamed towards him, the King managed to dodge aside so that even the speeding bullet missed him (5+3[Roll+AGI]).

Victor: 26 HP, 5 SPL
Hiro: 9 HP, 2 SPL

I can't beleive I missed that... He is quite fast...

Hiro lowered his guard. Victor was across the arena, and Hiro was away from harm. Now was the time to think- or so he thought. Just as he was about to move farther away, his ears rang with a whistling sound. An arrow had just whizzed by his ear. For a moment, it seemed as if he was dead. Hiro could feel nothing. His whole body was numb. He was in severe pain. And then, he was jolted to reality. He felt the air that was displaced by the arrow ruffle his blond, spiked hair. He was numb with fear, and pained by the gash on his chest. Not dead, but almost. Hiro knew his luck couldn't last long.

I have to be more tactical. Such a dash was foolish at best. I could have died... What should I do? I cannot summon another elemental burst, and swordplay has not rewarded me... My bow? No... I am not skilled in its use.

Hiro glanced at his sword, then at Victor. He then noticed something. Victor's dagger... It was not powerful enough to penetrate his armor. At least, in his hands. Hiro had his advantage. He just had to use it.

"Time for this fight to get real!" Hiro shouted at Victor, readying his sword for another attack. Hiro sprinted toward him, slashing wildly to get a hit...

"And Hiro's charging in once again!" Tarlen cries as the sword meets its master's hand and is drawn forth. The Incineran King's blade slices forth yet another time, this time having a much greater affect on his foe than before. The sword pierces through Victor's defenses (8+2[Roll+AGI]) and delivers a good 8 DMG to the bard. "Oh HO! And it appears as though the King may actually be able to make a comback!"

Victor: 18 HP, 5 SPL
Hiro: 9 HP, 2 SPL

Hiro's blade tore through Victor's skin like a knife through skin, and he cringed. Blood was now seeping through his tunic, and he knew that it was time to end the fight. Yet, the Incineran's defense was high. His arrow had missed once before, but perhaps if he tried hard enough...

The Bard tried to recover as quickly as possible and staggered backwards, away from his foe. He needed distance again for this attack. A few painful steps later he found his far enough, and brough forward his bow once more. Cocking a second and, hopefully, last arrow, Victor held the string taught a bit longer than usual. For this time around, he needed more than just aim. He needed mental power behind this hit.

After hastily aiming again, he proceeded to close his eyes and concentrate on the arrow and the bow. This attack required that the arrow fly true and with plenty of force, to both hit and break the target's defenses. For this, he needed pure willpower.

A few more seconds of concentration and Victor felt it was time. He quickly released the string and opened his eyes. As the arrow flew, he threw in another quick prayer. It couldn't hurt, and he needed all the help he could get.

OOC: I'ma use 9 of my 9 WILL points to add to this roll...

Victor's arrow once more lets loose, screaming towards Hiro. The Bard is indeed correct: the King of Incinera has incredible defense, and it would normally be more than enough to deflect or dodge the incoming bolt. But this projectile is powered by the force of Victor's very will...but is that enough to make it hit?

It is (18+3+9[Roll+AGI+WILL]), as can be seen as the arrow pierces straight through the Incineran's shoulder and drops him to the ground from the sheer force of the blast. The arrow does 9 DMG, precisely what was needed to defeat Hiro. The crowd roars as Tarlen drops down. "And may I present the victor of this fight: Victor!"