"We're getting near the end folks!" Rafael shouts from the air. "Up next is the Goron Shigure, and the powerful scribe Orpheous! If any of you were there, you might remember Orpheous participating in the Grand Tournament, but suffering an unlucky demise to the hands of the powerful mage Alpha. Will he suffer another unlucky demise? Let's see for ourselves! You two may start whenever you're ready!"

OOC: ZV gets first attack.

Shigure entered the arena, a smile on his face. The sun shined brightly, and he couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day. A large group of children stood in the crowd, doing their best to hold up a sign where everyone could see it. It depicted a poorly drawn Goron lifting a building. It read "Mr.Goron:" on it and they were obviously proud of it. Shigure smiled at them, and winked. Entering the arena, he pulled his Ball&Chains off of his back, and let them collide with the ground beneath him. The impact made a small tremor and kicked up dust around him. He studied Orpheous for a brief moment before coming to the conclusion that he was dealing with a mage.

"Heh... not my forte', but..." He began slowly swinging his weapons. "Nothing I haven't dealt with before." He smiled confidently, the swinging weapons picking up speed and centrifugal force. Finally, he moved from his position, and headed straight for his opponent at normal speed. When he was within range of attacking, he swung both of his weapons around the side, so that they would collide with each other where Orpheous was standing.
[Dual Wield Lv2]

OOC: Thats right. I'm launching out of the starting gate giving it my all! I have to- I mean come on. I'm fighting Orpheous and his frightening quill.

Music: AHWA-A-A-A!! DOWN WITH THE SICKNESS

OOC: I'm going to post the stats for my own future reference:

Shigure:STR: 9//DEF:15//AGI:4//INT:1//SPI:1//HP:71//SPL:10//WILL//9

Orpheous:Hp:53//Str:3//Def:15//Agi:2//Int:5//Spi:3//Spl:42//9

IC: "And Shigure is going strong right from the start!" Rafael shouts as he watches the Goron advance toward the scribe then attack. The mighty Ball&Chains crash into Orpheous easily (20+4 [roll+AGI]=24 vs. 17+2 [DEF+AGI]=19) dealing a massive 24 DMG. "It looks like Shigure made a smart move, because the scribe can't dodge the attack!"

OOC: Shigure: HP:71 SPL:10 Will:9

Orpheous: HP:29 SPL:42 Will:9

Shigure. He had heard much about his opponent ever since he found out that he was the competition. His physical strength went unmatched. A Goron, no doubt, and fairly agile as well. He preferred to use Ball&Chains in battle. However, he had also heard that the Goron had no magical ability, and his skills at resisting magic weren't that great either. This battle would be far more different than the battle with Alpha. It would probably be more like the fight with Worru, except he heard Shigure had a much higher stamina. Well, Orpheous was better equipped now anyways. He had even gotten more lethal since the battle with Alpha, making him more of an adversary in the field. He also discovered how to use his racial skill to toughen his own defense (a reference to the fact I didn't notice that racial bonus until a few weeks ago). He hoped it would make a difference...

However, it appeared not. He was not prepared when Shigure's weapons hit him full force. Nobody starts off a battle with their all unless they have a thirst for blood. This would be a tough opponent indeed. However, he made the comment himself he wasn't good against magic, proving to Orpheous that the rumors were correct.

Thinking fast, he whipped out a scroll. Could it be to find Shigure's weakness. It appeared that was not the case this time. The purpose appeared to be much different. Perhaps somebody with expert eyes might have noticed from the crowd that he was righting an inspirational haiku. The scribe was using this to boost his own morale, hopefully making his skills more sharpened an tuned [Epic Poem L1].

OOC: I already calculated out all the stats modified by the stat boost.

HP: base (2) + Exceptional Health L2 (30) + SPI (5) + Epic Poem L1(2) = 57
STR: base (1) + Goron Strength L2 (2) + Epic Poem L1 (2) = 5
DEF(Def. rating): base (2) + Tunic L1 (10) + AGI (4) + racial (3) + Epic Poem L1 (2) = 21
AGI: base (1) + Deku Agility L1 (1) + Epic Poem L1 (2) = 4
INT: base (3) + Hylian Intelligence L2 (2) + Epic Poem L1 (2) = 7
SPI: base (3) + Epic Poem L1 (2) = 5
SPL: base class (3) x level (13) + SPI (5) + Epic Poem L1 (2) = 46
Will: SPI (5) + level (13) = 9 (CAPPED)

DMG
Boomerang: base (4) + STR (5) + Gerudo Training Glove (1) = 10
Bomb: base (5) + STR (5) = 10
Spell Damage: caster's level (13) + base class (3) +INT (7) = 23
Staff: base (9) + STR (5) =14

Current
HP: 29 (I think the stat boost only affected how high my HP can get)
SPL: 37 (I think the stat boost only affected how high my SPL can get)
Will: 9

"Orpheous is finally going to retaliate against Shigure's huge attack by...writing?" Rafael said, obviously confused. Why would someone start writing poems in the middle of battle? What Rafael obviously didn't know was how much it could really do. It might almost win the battle for Orpheous.

OOC: Orpheous: HP-29 SPL-37 Will-9

Shigure's weapons slowly came to a halt as he inspected the tactics of his opponent. "...Writing?" Shigure said in a whisper. What in the world could that do? The gears of his mind cranked ever so diligently as he tried to pick out what his opponent was trying to pull. Shigure chuckled a bit, and slowly began swinging his weapons again. No matter. He thought confidently. Rendd's picture came to his mind, and he knew that his former comrade and teacher would be with him in spirit. I won't lose this one Rendd. I'll win this one for you, and prove that I've become stronger since I last saw you. [Leadership Lv1(Agility)]

OOC: I asked RG once, and I recall him saying that Leadership can be used on one's self, but the extra bonus doesn't kick in for targeting a single opponent.

IC: Calculating his next move, he watched as the man scribbled on his parchment. Is he trying to confuse me? That has to be it. There wouldn't be any other reason for writing in the midsts of battle... The wheels in his head continued to turn as he waited for his opponent to make his next move.

Rennd Shadowclaw wrote:When you don't know what your opponent's strategy is- fight defensively until you discover a weakness... and then...

"Exploit it." Shigure said out loud, allowing his opponent to move first.

OOC: Touche, but I have a touche for you, ZV.

IC: What, why is my opponent waiting for me, was the thought running through Orpheous' head. Well, Orpheous wasn't quite prepared to attack either. He thought back to the lessons he thought Simon. "Agility is a key in battling brutes," he had said to Simon. He had many lessons where this was the point he was teaching. How to stay agile enough for your opponent not to hit you [Leadership L1 - Agility].

Shigure stood patiently, awaiting a move from his opponent. Staring each other down, the Goron began to grow impatient. Why won't he attack? He thought, completely perplexed. "Fine." He stated flatly. "If you will not come to me." He stated, his weapons already in motion. "Then I will not wait around another second!!" Darting from his position, he swung both of his weapons in an inward arc down towards his opponent.

OOC: Not a dual wield, 1. because I won't have to any more, and 2. because I can't possibly hit him now unless I roll a perfect 20.

"Finally someone attacks!" Rafael shouts upon catching sight of the Goron charging toward the scribe. The attack doesn't even come close to the scribe (16+7[roll+AGI] vs. 21+7[DEF+AGI]). "Looks like Shigure can't hit the nimble scribe! Will Orpheous come out victorious after all?"

OOC:
Orpheous: HP-29 SPL-37 Will-9

Shigure: HP:71 SPL:10 Will:9

(Epic Poem on Orpheous for 1 turn)
(Leadership on Orpheous [+3 AGI] for 2 turns)

(Leadership on Shigure [+3 AGI] for 2 turns)

Now to exploit his weakness, thought Orpheous to himself. He'll wish he never took me on. He continued to dodge each attack nimbly, being as graceful as ever. His strategy paid off. Well staying on his toes, he whipped out another scroll.

He immediately got to work trying to analyze his opponent and find a weakness. Every being has one [The Quill is Mightier than the Sword L1].

"And Orpheous is writing again," Rafael says with a somewhat confused tone to his voice. Apparently there is something good about it, but Rafael can't be sure. As Orpheous is writing this, the affects of his previous poem wear off.

-Orpheous's Epic Poem has wore off-

OOC:
Orpheous: HP-29 SPL-27 Will-9

Shigure: HP:71 SPL:10 Will:9

(Leadership on Orpheous [+3 AGI] for 2 turns)

(Leadership on Shigure [+3 AGI] for 2 turns)

Shigure snarled in annoyance and anger, as he removed his weapons from the dirt, and again, attempted to strike the scribe. "How'd you get so fast all of a sudden!?" He asked the scribe out loud, bringing his weapons down on the man again. Could it have possibly been something in the writing? What's with this guy? The Goron thought as he attacked relentlessly.

OOC: I really wish I could make that longer, but its all I got.
Also, I won't be using the 2H Deku Sword at all this match. Can't afford that -2 chance to hit that it offers.

The relentless effort finally pays off, as the Goron's weapon finally slams into the scribe, (18+7[roll+AGI] vs. 15+5[DEF+AGI]) dealing 14 DMG. "Shigure must be happy to finally have an attack land!" Rafael says, mentally sighing that this fight is one step closer to being over with.

OOC:
Orpheous: HP-15 SPL-27 Will-9

Shigure: HP:71 SPL:10 Will:9

(Leadership on Orpheous [+3 AGI] for 2 turns)

(Leadership on Shigure [+3 AGI] for 1 turn)

Orpheous needed to focus. He would have loved to answer Shigure's question, but he knew he must not slip up. Not after he had come so far in the last tournament to fall to Alpha. He needed to beat Shigure and move on with his life and with this tournament. Either way, he would talk to the Goron after the fight. He was able to ask his own question though, "How the bloodly hell did you get so strong?" This was shouted across the arena so his opponent would clearly be able to hear it.

I needed to heal myself. However, I am not sure if I could take the time to heal myself. If he hits me while he is duel wielding those damage dealers, I will surely fall. However, I can probably stand two more regular attacks before I fall. That isn't a risk I'm willing to take, he thought to himself. He realized that he needed to heal himself now [Life L1].

"Orpheous seems to be going the safe route before he carry's out any plans he may have!" Rafael shouts over the crowds sighing and a few soft grans; they came to see something bug happen, and they get people writing in the middle of a fight. Little did they know what a little bit of writing can really do. Although, they would have to wait a little bit longer as Orpheous decides to heal himself first. (Orpheous+27 HP)

OOC:
Orpheous: HP-42 SPL-19 Will-9

Shigure: HP:71 SPL:10 Will:9

(Leadership on Orpheous [+3 AGI] for 1 turn)

(Leadership on Shigure [+3 AGI] for 1 turn)