"Ladies and Gentlemen!" The rito anouncer shouts, trying to rile the crowd after the disappointing end to the last bout. "Our next two contestants are already prepared to fight, and we can guarantee that this fight will be a good one! In one corner, we have the Inkweaving Scribe Orpheous, who overcame the mercenary Kasei in the first round!"

The crowd began to cheer--the last fight Orpheous had participated in had been fantastic--he had shown that he didn't need his Inkweaving to stand up to a powerful foe. "And in the other corner, we have the Ranger Worru!" The crowd cheered, but there was obviously a confused tone--this is not what they were expecting.

"As you may recall, he lost in a close match to Dogura Shadowclaw a month ago. However, in light of the samurai's disappearance, we have asked Worru to step up and fill in! The match was close, and I think we can say that the two warriors were close in skill, and this match won't be any less exciting than if Dogura himself were here!"

The crowd, reassured, yelled their pleasure, and Tarlen rose higher to allow the participants to do battle.

I don't have to do this. I could just not show up, and then forfeit., thought the hybrid boy, as he continued to pace back and forth behind the stands, in worry of the fight. I lost in the first round, I'll loose in this one. There is no dou-, he continued to think, until his mother had laid a hand on his shoulder. "My Sethu, don't worry. You will win. You are strong.", she said, giving her son a warm smile, while her paradox of a granddaughter jumped around merely trying to ready him for the fight. "Yeah, dad! Give them your best!"

Worru smiled and sighed, then walked forward, and out onto the main platform. With a glance around the audience, he saw both of those who encouraged him seated, and with that secure, he drew his sword, and fell into his basic stance.


I will not lose this time.

OOC: These first few paragraphs are simply for role-playing purpose, RG. The only part that is important is after the divider.

Orpheous, who was currently also yet to show up in the arena, was also pondering the fight that would lay before him. Worru, that would be the person he was chosen to fight. Orpheous recognized the boy had skill, and great skill, at that, but still. He was much behind Orpheous in years. Strategy wouldn't be on the boy's side. Youth might have been an advantage to the boy. However, Orpheous was also somewhat youth-like physically. Then again, Worru still would be more agile do to the fact he had more energy left in him.

However, none of this was the point, Orpheous didn't want to have the advantage. He wanted a fair fight. However, Dogura's disappearance assured Orph wouldn't get one. If there was such a thing as fate, Orpheous was questionable about how it treated him simply because he was given Worru to fight.

Then, there was the problem of the crowd declaring that Orpheous had the advantage, and that really wouldn't make him a favorite. That was, once again, not the point either. Maybe, when it all came down to it, he just didn't want to fight Worru. Not that he thought Worru wouldn't be a challenging adversary, it was more about the fact that he didn't want to fight someone who wasn't as equally skilled as he was (no offense to Worru with anything I say, this is just Orpheous speaking, not me).

Then, there was this other problem. When he had fought Kasei, he really didn't know Kasei all that well. That is what made him just treat it like a regular fight. He actually fought even stronger because he wanted to prove himself. If the opponent was Dogura, Orpheous would want to prove himself just as well, and possibly win some respect. However, he was facing Worru. Worru, the boy who he watched grow into a fine young man; Worru, the person Orpheous probably felt closest too; Worru, a good friend. If he defeated Worru, the boy might be crushed. Their relationship may become strained, but there was also the thought that Worru's family, possibly even Kasei (does this occur before or after Worru finds out they are related?), would reject him. But if he let Worru win, then maybe Worru would be angry with him for not giving it his all. He didn't know what to do.

"Do what you must," stated somebody, who was also behind the stands with Orpheous. Orpheous didn't know the person was there, and Orpheous kind of jumped. Orpheous didn't recognize the voice at first. Then it clicked. Timothy. But wait, Timothy was killed by Roronek, Orpheous watched his death. The figure came from the shadows. It looked just like Timothy. Exactly as he had been before the battle, but with the wounds and scars still there.

"Timothy?" asked Orpheous surprised, "Is that you? I thought Roronek killed you?"

"I'll leave that one for you to decide, but I noticed you were back her fretting. Well, worry not, just go out there and fight," replied Timothy, who had begun to exit.

"Wait, there is so much more I want to ..." started Orpheous, but Timothy had left.

Then, only seconds later, right before Orpheous was going to walk out, three friendly faces showed up.

"How is my favorite hero doing today," asked Silna with a curious head tilt. She ruffled his hair, which in turn, caused his hood to off of his head.

"Just came back here to wish you luck," added Simon. "I am sure that my skilled tutor wouldn't chicken out. By the way, tell Worru we said hi."

"Way to make things casual," retorted Bou to Simon. He turned to Orpheous, "Well, you won't have me to back you up this time, but just remember some of the pointers I gave you."

Orpheous couldn't help but smile after getting this words of encouragement. Simon spoke again, "Just know that whether you win or lose you still have a thankful student..."

Bou added, "a loyal friend..."

Silna finished, "and an awesome girlfriend." With this, her lips met his. She pulled back a few seconds later. Orpheous stood, astonished at the timing of the peck. She continued, "I would tell you to 'go get 'em tiger' , but that just doesn't sound like it fits you. Just go out and do what you must."

With this, Orpheous entered the arena.
--------------------------------------------------
As he stepped on, he noticed Worru was just preparing himself. Orpheous, too, brandished his staff. His friends were already their way back to their seats.
He called out to his opponent, nay, his friend, "Good luck and godspeed, Worru. No hard feelings." He stood there, devising a plan.

OOC: I am assuming Worru attacks first, since he has the most Agility.

Among the many people in the crowds, there was doubtlessly many people talking about Orpheous and the advantage the mage had. There were a few who also recognized Worru, who had managed to stand his ground against Dogura. Kasei was not on either one's side, choosing instead to go over the facts from his seat in the third row.

One month ago, Orpheous had managed to defeat me because I didn't know he possesed a light spell, my weakness. To avoid making a mistake again, I simply surrendered, though I might've had a chance to win if I continued.

Then there's Worru. I wasn't present for his fight with Dogura, but I heard about it from Aria. Worru must've been through a lot of danger in that conflict to live. Still, from what i've seen, Orpheous is deffinately more prepared, Worru's usual tactic is to use a random attack and hope for the best . . .

OOC: Worru does indeed go first.

IC: Tarlen looked from Orpheous to Worru, and back again. The crowd was on the edge of their seats, silence hanging in the air, before a raucous man yelled out from the crowd, "'Dis is touchin' an' all, but why don't you two just get on wid it already! Someone hit somebody!"

The announcer shot an angry look in the general direction of the shout as the man got his wish--a certain elderly lady hit him over the head with a taped-up yardstick, hissing a hoarse "Quiet, whippersnapper!" (OOC: Sorry about the copyright infringement, Saber )

The Rito cleared his throat as he returned his attention to the potential battle beneath him. "Yes, we can start any time you two are ready..."

Worru drove his sword into the ground, before turning to yell at the people in the stands. "I'M A THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD KID HERE! AREN'T I ALLOWED SOME TIME TO THINK OVER A STRATEGY OF SOME SORT?! ORPHY IS SOME THREE OR FOUR TIMES MY AGE!", he angrily bellowed, before taking a deep breath, taking his sword back into his hand, and then facing Orpheous in his stance once more.

Knowing full well that, health-wise he had a minor advantage, but in the use of magic, he was far below. So, to start it all off, he ran forward with his sword and dagger, which he had unsheathed in his dash to attack the much older man. [[Dual Wield LVI forget]]

OOC: Orpheous PMed me while I was typing this post (Good thing I was browsing your profiles to find out what your stats were) and bought Exceptional Health, so these stats aren't wrong, Worru. Just adjusted at the last second Anyways, to the fight...

Worru: STR 2, DEF 13, AGI 6, INT 1, SPI 1, HP 61, SPL 25

Orpheous: STR 3, DEF 13, AGI 1, INT 5, SPI 3, HP 33, SPL 39

IC:

The unrest among the crowd instantly ceased, and the man and woman in question shrunk back in their seats. However, they were soon on their toes as the young warrior threw caution to the winds and charged in blindly with his weapons--a common strategy for him, apparently. His tactic pays off however (W=21 vs. O=13) and his sword bites into Orpheous with the dagger close behind, dealing 13 DMG to the Scribe.

"And an explosive, though delayed, start by Worru! Could this early strike be enough to secure the match this soon?" Tarlen's eyes are shining, and the crowd is standing--this is the first action they've had today.

Worru: 61 HP, 25 SPL
Orpheous: 20 HP, 39 SPL

OOC: I'm not sure whether that should've done 12 or 13 damage...Worru, how much do you normally do with Dual Wield?

OOC: Now that I have it all figured out, here I go.

IC: Orpheous, the twenty something looking year old (to clarify, despite the fact his real age is revealed to be over fifty) word-mancing scribe, was astounded by Worru's attack. Worru was a swift warrior, a very swift warrior, which is why Orpheous wasn't as prepared as he would've been had he ever observed Worru's full out speedy tactics. This mistake could easily cost him the match. Orpheous staggered backwards before Worru could use this double slash motion again (a reference to the fact you can only attack once a turn, i.e. my excuse role-playing wise why he couldn't hit me again). He then attempted to heal himself with a life spell. He began to devise a new plan, because the old one was screwed.

"It appears Orpheous is choosing to secure his own safety before destroying his opponent's!" Tarlen shouts as the Scribe's fresh wounds immediately begin to heal. "And he's already back at full health! It's almost as though the fight hadn't even started yet--except now he's lower on magic!"

Worru: 61 HP, 25 SPL
Orpheous: 33 HP, 31 SPL

Worru grinned, and once more repeated his attack on the scribe, wooden dagger and metal blade striking into his friend with as much speed as the boy could muster, which was saying a lot. Isn't he my friend? Why am I attacking him with such gusto? Didn't even know I knew that word..., he thought, before it hit him. This isn't a battlefield. Neither is going to die during this battle., it said, but it wasn't any natural part of the boy that was saying this.

No, it was that bandage.

The attack, probably because of its extreme similarity to its predecessor, doesn't hit its target this time. (W=13 vs. 0=13) Orpheous is able to block it just in time, leaving his opponent open for attack.

"What's this?!?!? Orpheous may end up with the advantage after all!" Tarlen shouts, amazed at the sudden swaying of the battle's favor.

Worru: 61 HP, 25 SPL
Orpheous: 33 HP, 31 SPL

"Yes," stated Orpheous, pleased at his block. He stopped before he added 'I am invincible' as he knew what happened to the last block who said it. Liquid nitrogen, that spill was probably deadly. Then he completely analyzed Worru. It made no sense, the boy was very close to Orpheous, and yet, he could attack with such ... well ... gusto (that word would probably be the first to come to Orph's brain, despite your use). Oh well, if this boy wants to play hard ball, the boy can play hard ball.

"Well, Worru, I hate to do what I am about to do, but I must," brought forth Orpheous. He then pulled out a scroll and noted Worru's detail as he looked for weaknesses. The pen is indeed mightier than the sword. Or frieghtier (more frightening, a nod to 'Cautionary Tales of Swords' as well as the main character Trip Fisk). He was a scribe, and this is what scribes did. They recorded information.

OOC: And I am off for the night. Chimo (an Inuit greeting, or Canadian greeting or goodbye, not that I am Canadian).

OOC:Wow...I suppose that if you know anything about Worru, it's fairly obvious where the weak point is, no? Yet alas, I must write it down...

IC: "Ladies and Gentlemen, Orpheous sets his stance, eyes his target, and...is...writing?" Tarlen stares blankly as the Scribe does what Scribes do best--Scribe. At first the Rito is puzzled, but then he has an epiphany, and his voice instantly becomes excited again, amping up the crowd as well, which had fallen silent in the face of the odd situation. "He's going for a strategical maneuver, it seems! People, you're about to see just what makes Scribes so deadly in their own right! Or should I say 'write'? Actually, I guess it doesn't matter, since you can't see the different spellings in homophones! I hope you all got it though!" Several crowd members stare up at the Rito blankly before he clears his throat. "Well, anyways, let's see how Worru will respond!"

Orpheous finds a definite weak point on the young boy's body--the only question is whether he will be able to make such a ball-breaking attack.

Worru: 61 HP, 25 SPL
Orpheous: 33 HP, 21 SPL

OOC: From what eye just read, Dual Weild is supposed to do the normal damage of the normal weapon, and since eye have LV 2 of it, the second weapon does 75% of normal damage.

IC: Worru was distinctly confused by the scribe's choice in tactics, but the boy shrugged it off, realizing now was a good time to strike, unless Orpheous had a counterattack already planned within his mind. Well, then...Guess now is a perfect time for some fancy footwork by your's truly..., his thoughts said, as the young one dashed around the scholar, and striked his back instead of the front.

"An excellent display of agility by Worru nets him a successful blow!" Tarlen's words couldn't have been truer as the boy's blades sunk into Orpheous' back, probably because the Scribe had been distracted by his scroll. 13 DMG is dealt by his weapons.

Worru: 61 HP, 25 SPL
Orpheous: 20 HP, 21 SPL