Graterras: A Clash of Fates {IC}

[Felicity]

When Varick saw Neville making... a motion of sorts with his fingers, on instinct he quickly moved to grab his arm to make the man miss. His decision was proved right when a bolt flew from his fingers and Varicks face contorted with anger, not that it could be seen within his helmet. No, his anger was reflected in his blazing eyes and rough voice. "What on earth are you doing you utter fool?! Whatever else he may be, he is our comrade, I'll be damned before I let anyone, especially another comrade, hurt him over something as ridiculous as his music! If you don't like it, get him to stop WITHOUT magic or learn some discipline and put up with it." Varick released Neville's arm now, before he crushed it in his anger and proved himself a hypocrite.

[Zephyrus the Priestess]

What an amusingly mischievous bird. If Ignacio wasn't careful, though- and knowing of his tales, he couldn't be counted on for, well, anything really- he could strike Helen by accident. Or not. Either way, it wouldn't do for anybody to preemptively be killed before actually having to face off against the other teams. Perhaps if I sweep in while Cojiro's on top of her head, I can take the bottle... Or, perhaps I should just remain out of it.

The glossy raven gave it a few more seconds of thought.

Then she let herself fall over the side of the bookcase and, angling her wings, swooped toward the Crystal Sea Parrot's neck and felt only impact before she lost balance and nearly tumbled into a bookshelf. Shaking her head, she tried to make sense of what happened- did she get the rum away from Cojiro, or did something else get in her way...?

[Ragnar]

Neville feels a sharp pain his arm as soon as Varick release it. It feels like his bones will snap from that pressure if not released from the orc's grip. Clearly the orc is unamused by Neville's straight forward thoughts towards Gradun's trumpet.

"Aww.. you made me miss. I wasn't planning to electrocute him ya know, it was just a simple disarming spell. He might feel a slight sting from the shock. but is nowhere close as you nearly crush my arm." Neville continues to rub his arm to ease the pain as he takes a step back.

[Flux]

Vayne saw the opening as Dust aimed a punch at Ress'Nok. In an instant, he dashed towards Dust, pulling his sword from its sheath in one fluid motion. His bow was already returned to his back, and he reached Dust in an instant. Agility had always been his specialty. He aimed his sword towards another chink in Dust's armor, though it was clear that they had little chance of actually wounding him. He knew his ordinary weapons had no chance of piercing this stone armor, and he was sure that Ress'Nok knew the same. The only thing that might be able to pierce it was Silef's magic, but Vayne doubted that even that could overpower Dust. Their best bet was to show Dust everything they had and convince him that they could win the Clash.

[Chevaleresse]

Silef hesitated for a moment when Dust spoke. It seemed to strike some sort of chord inside her, but she shook her head. There would be time to ponder later. The sorceress continued to control her breathing, trying to recover. Blocking the earthen spears had taken a toll on her reserves of energy, so it was difficult to resume attacking immediately. She circled Dust for a moment while her allies rushed in, waiting for the right time to strike. In this time, she made a simple reply. "I fight because I must," she said in an even tone.

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

The Ochre Dreadfort

The blade bounced off taking small shards of Rock with it. However, it did not damage Dust only his armour. He didn't seem to try and dodge it and only stepped back after the attack collided with his armour. Physical attacks didn't do much but take small amounts of earth with them as it broke away. Unlike normal steel armour which bent an bowed and collapsed under the attack, much like a tin can under great pressure. This lead to further damage at least with a normal human, as the armour failed it remained attached and caused more damage. However, stone wasn't like that when Dust could control it. It Broke off and with his control of the substance he could stretch it back over even... repair it with the earth around him. Dust was definitely a formidable foe and not an easy one to break. His learning of the moves his opponents used didn't help either as it made him progressively harder and harder to hit or pin down.

Ress'nok fell back towards Silef, he had noticed a key pattern.

"Milady... you're the key. It is you who will at least give us the forward momentum to do something. Look at how he "dodges" these attacks. Me and the kid... he just takes it, allowing his armour to sink the blow... but, from your attack Milady, he actually dodged. He leaned backwards to avoid being hit. That means that your blade covered in the magic... must be dangerous or something he's not allowing to hit his own armour. Every other time he has allowed the strike to land but not that time. In fact even before, he blocked your shot by rasing a Piller of earth rather than taking it head on. I am telling you... your Light is the key." He said in a hushed tone to make sure Dust couldn't hear him, but Silef could. He wasn't sure if it worked in the end... as well one could never be.

Dust slung his hammer over his shoulder and wound up for a mighty overhead swing. He went right for Vayne: He aimed right at his collar bone. It had less chance of killing him than aiming for his head... At least Dust was pretty sure it had less of a chance.

The Crimson Keep

The Crimson Knight clapped his hands together loudly. Making quite sure he was heard, he also cleared his throat loudly. "Come now Gentlemen, there is no need to be fighting amongst yourselves. You are now colleagues after all are you not?"

Gradun, apparently was oblivious to what had just occurred as he now was holding his trumpet. Thankfully he wasn't playing it as he began fiddling with one of the slides. "Hmmm, think this is coming loose or something. Eh no matter should still play."

"Perhaps you should save it for the battle Gradun, I hear as a bard you make use of your musical gift during battle. We'll be having one fo thsoe soon." Crimson said folding his hands into his lap. He leaned back in his chair observing the others within the room once more. Two of them he had played in chess. He looked them over yet again though. Varick, a brute of a Half-Orc. Neville, a thin wirey fellow to compared to him. Both seemed in decent shape Varick celarly in better, perhaps a warrior of some description? Most likely with the way he played in the game. He took a disciplined approach filled with caution and planning. He didn't strike Crimson as a Scholarly type, nor as one entirely strong of mind in the intellectual stand. More a mind that had been honed to rely on instinct and recognition. These were more the traits of a solider. Of course... he was guessing, but it wasn't an uninformed one. Neville... he wasn't sure about that one. He didn't hide his magic though, in fact he blew the cover on it pretty quickly over the Victonari's trumpet. Clearly he was a rash individual.This was only further cemented by his playstyle. "So gentleman shall we really begin?"

The Library of Maddening Waves.

Nadia felt something strange hit the middle of her back as she was walking towards the scene. It hit with a considerable impact not enough to knock the wind out of her, but enough to definitely hurt. She turned quickly to see what it was to find a rather large Raven lying on the ground. Yet another bird in this mad scene. Just how many birds did this bloody captain have? She didn't really care, but this scene was getting slowly and slowly more maddening. She was beginning to wonder if this was some sort of cruel joke. It probably was.

***

Cojiro looked at Helen for a bit before nodding in reply and excitedly squawking "Pretty Lady, Pretty Lady. Raaaaaaaaaawk." He bowed his head letting the bottle on the string slide forward a bit. "Found rum, Raaaaaaaawk!!! Found Rum!!!!!!" he said.

Ignacio looked at the blue bird seemingly dumbfounded, like he couldn't believe what he was seeing... he didn't even move for a good five seconds. HIs first movement was to snatch the bottle from it's neck which he did with quick precision. "Make sure I grab me bottle 'ere before you change yer mind. Cause clearly this is some sort of ruse. Yer up to sumthin, you rat with wings..." He muttered clearly still not entirely believing what just occurred.

[Flux]

Vayne raised an eyebrow at Dust's attack. An overhead swing? That was among the most telegraphed of attacks. Vayne didn't think that one such as Dust would be so careless without some sort of plan, but then again, what did the man have to lose? It wasn't as if Vayne had a chance of actually hurting him.

Vayne sprinted the short remaining distance until he was directly in front of Dust, and at the last moment, he broke into a slide, passing directly underneath the warrior. He immediately raised himself from the ground, using the momentum of his legs to propel himself into a rising strike, his blade poised horizontally in the air, tip pointed at Dust's armor.

[Felicity]

"And what do we begin doing, exactly?" Varick asked, posing the obvious but no less necessary question to the Crimson knight. He didn't want to though. It never felt good leaving a question so open, so vulnerable to bad news or a sharp comment. It always gave Varick a bad feeling...

[Chevaleresse]

Silef nodded at the Victonari's words. She lowered his tone to match his in reply. "I'm going to need you and our archer friend to buy me a bit more time. I have an idea, but I need time to recover." She continued to circle the Divine Knight, brandishing her blade as if she was still looking for a weak point to hit with it. He might have the weapons of the others figured out, but I have a bit more control than the common archer over my attacks.

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

The Ochre Dreadfort

"Hit him you idiot!!!"

"I'm workin' on it, hush."

Dust hammer hit the ground hard where the Ranger had been standing, of course he expected him to dodge... not quite in the way he did, but that he would nonetheless. His hammer... was also made of stone, using this to his advantage Dust extended the hammer head enough to give himself the momentum to turn at high speed turning to face Vayne quickly.

"Raise your weapon you dolt." The World grumbled.

"No time for that we're going with plan B."

"Last time you used plan B you broke every single bone in your right hand..."

"Yea... that was before I surpassed such a fragile body... also... I did kinda punch an entire mountain and shatter it to pieces."

"Speaking of which... you still owe me for that one; And considering it's been... uh, thousands of years the interest on that is suuuuper high buddy old pal."

"Oh hush, I prevented that mountain from destroying nearly half the life on you. I think we're even."

"Fiiiiiiiiiine... whatever you say."

Dust has quickly conversed with the World. He knew for a fact his Hammer was too slow to intercept. However, Dust also knew he had soemthing else to do so, his hands. Spikes grew on the knuckles of his Right Gauntlet. ((Reveal: Specialist Style Earthern Fist.)) He leveled it right towards Vayne's blade... a normal human that would have been insane. However it was probably readily apparent that Dust wasn't normal by now. For him this was probably sane... probably.

The Crimson Keep

*Ver-pish* *Crack*

The sound of a whip cracking rung through the silent air. The Crimson Knight held in his hand now a burning whip in the guise of a dragon. "Why... Practice of course. Well not really practice... I will not hesitate to seriously injure you and put you near the verge of death." He tittered happily at the notion. He was standing on the chair he was sitting in looking down at them. "So, what'll it be friends... a friendly duel? Yet another way to learn of those before them."

[Felicity]

A bout of sparring. Varick was more than fine with this, even if the opponent truly was a warrior of legend. Varick took a pause, as though considering his answer, hoping the others didn't jump to bite at the Crimson knights heels as he tried to size up the man. To bear that suit of armour required a certain amount of strength, more so if he was like Varick and could move unhindered. From his frayed knowledge of weaponry Varick had accumulated he had to assume the knight could move within the suit unhindered. Otherwise the Crimson knight could not wield the whip with enough speed or precision. Unless he was handicapping himself, which was a possibility considering they were training. Of course the Knight had just threatened to send them to their second death should the need arise. Varick wasn't too worried about that, the Knight could only strike the chinks in his armour or, at a push, his eyes through his helm. His companions on the other hand were far more vulnerable to the crack of the fiery whip. If the Crimson Knight got in range to strike at them, there was no guarantee they wouldn't be put out of the fight instantly.

So it was Varicks job to prevent that and keep the Knights focus on himself.

"What do you say Gentlemen?" Varick asked, looking to his two compatriots.

[Ragnar]

"I accept... " without hesitation, Neville eagerly said to the orc with a friendly smile, twirling his wooden staff like a baton. The wizard was confident enough to answer the call, knowing that he knows his way around the elements, which is an advantage to say the least. He knows the basic principle of each and was sure of himself that he can counter and deal with the crimson's man fiery whip, considering Neville is a wielder of the flames himself. That he can fight fire with fire when that happens.

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

The Crimson Keep

"Oh, a fight you say? Then I will get to play my instruments." Gradun said with a loud guffaw. He bowed forward all the bells and metal in his frill clanging as he did such. His get-up was reminiscent of the Lord In Violet, loud and over the top. His outfit was nearly as obnoxious and lively as he was. The bells in his frill didn't help as they jingled as he moved. They were weirdly... not that noticeable until now. Must have been all the loud singing and playing that masked them. "Well gents, We're going to have a challenge ahead of us. One doesn't challenge three to a fight by them self and not have a plan set aside. It's like trying to play a piece made for four different instruments on one. Unless you're that skilled it won't work."

"Then, let us waste no more time." The Crimson knight said. He pressed his hands together and from them came great orange fire. He put them both on the table, which normally would have been consumed or burned. However this wasn't a normal table. It absorbed the flames and suddenly sunk into the ground. The Great pit that stood over the side of the balcony all of a sudden lit with a layer of red light, as it created a suspended barrier of hardlight. The stairs that lead to nowhere... suddenly made sense as it dawned on them that they lead to this battlefield. A battlefield suspended in the sky. If one looked down they could see the inky black abyss underneath through the see-through platform. "This barrier is made of hard light, or... solid lightning. It will hold even the greatest of weights. It shall be our battlefield." the metal of his boots clanked on the surface... and made a sound almost like glass. It resonated around the room and ethereal tone.

He stood at the other side waiting for the heros to make their move.

Gradun of course didn't wait he walked up onto the balcony without blinking an eye before the other two could even move. He removed his Lute from his back as he began to strum it. It released pure notes of beauty this time unlike before. The other tow could feel the energy within... this was Magical Music... Bard's Music. It had no form yet but the two could feel the potential, it was infinite... it felt like it could do anything. But most importantly it made them feel like they could do anything. Their bodies felt the notes and livened. He started to sing something as well. "

He sang in the tongue of Victonari, therefore it was not able to be understood of those present. A beautiful tone as compared to earlier. ALmost the voice of an angel. He was ready for battle.

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

The Ivory Tower ((yes... this is a double post, but as the thing's be left a page behind I want to amke damn sure those that need to see it see lol.))

A pin prick of blood fell from the spot Matthew's had dragged through the Bear's arm. As the man wheeled up. Clearly, his plan thus far had been confirmed. Flesh. It was certain that it was bound to a body, at the very least the man could be killed. However the blow was so light it was impossible to ascertain if he could feel pain or if anything else was possible. Only that he could be damaged... only that was revealed for certain. His second question... also unknown. Whether or not the man could phase in or out of physical form was entirely unknown.

Adalbern turned as he recovered though, using the speed to whirl around and strike at the opposite shoulder. Even if the man was angered... it was clear it didn't dull his senses and that he was most certainly a true warrior. It was a quick and vicious attack, perhaps one that a normal person would never be able to fully avoid due to the surprise maneuver. Some might not even know it landed until it was much to late. It was that fast a movement. However... Those chosen for the Clash, weren't ordinary soldiers, fighters or people. One wondered if Adalbern had any regrets if he could have been as easily selected for this process.

Meanwhile Snow and the other Solider stood staring at Debronee and Zagi. Snow asked with more than a little bit of ire in her voice "Well... you two just going to stand there like idiots and allow me to kill you? Or, are you going to fight? Really it's your choice. I'll know which you pick."

[Ragnar]

"Why didn't you tell me you could play like that !?" Neville was quite surprised by the sudden improvement of Gradun's music as he steps forth, siding with his team in the battlefield.

"I don't know what magical enchantment this is, but I like it! keep the rhythm going Gradun.. your music invigorates me, I can feel my arcane magic coursing through my veins with every strum you make." Neville released a playful smile as he felt a sudden rush in his magical fingertips, he was energized and ready to go, the feeling is almost too addictive for the elven wizard to handle, it feels like his magic is amplified at this moment.

Neville's eyes glow in a fiery red manner, the tip of his staff combust and blaze into flames. The wizard thought he could test out what his crimson mentor his made off. Is he fireproof? maybe, considering he's a fire user. is he agile? maybe not, considering that heavy armor he is wearing. either way what's the harm in trying and confirming what kind of opponent they're facing.

"Emalf Teprac" without warning, Neville yelled out as he pointed out his staff directly at his target, the elven wizard conjures and sends out a concentrated wave of flames at the direction of his mentor, A carpet of fire quickly rolls through the field as rush its way towards the crimson knight, trying to scorch and engulf the crimson man's metallic armor in flames.

Edited September 8, 2015 by Ragnar

[Felicity]

Varick could feel the familiar sensation that always pre-empted a fight. A gut sensation that in all his life Varick had never really been able to wholly pin down, it was similar to a variety of emotions but he never felt quite same. Now though this feeling was thrice as strong, Graduns music seemed to bring it out more and more and Varick felt two parts eager to each part nervous. Unlike his companions however, the Orc decided to take a moment. He could not meditate, he didn't imagine his mentor would be so kind as to wait for him. What he could do however was summon the Gemstone Aegis now, whilst he knew he could. Seeing as there was only an abyss beneath the hardlight, as the knight put it, Varick decided it would be good to take the chance now, focusing and drawing the bejewelled shield from the earth beneath the keep, taking it in his right hand whilst drawing out his iron longsword with his left and following the others, arriving in the arena to see a wash of fire coming from Neville. Hopefully the wizzard could be more direct with his attacks...

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

The Crimson Keep

"Battle Ignites the soul, this music is different from my normal music. It has power, soul, drive, and purpose. It aims to ignite the souls of others and not only that... but drive them to greatness." He sang these words as he explained the difference in fact everything he said or did had a singing quality to it. It followed with the beat of his song.

The Flames went towards the Crimson knight, however he didn't make any motions to dodge or get out of the way. He just stood there. As they approached he lashed his whip towards them a tongue of flame flying off of it. As the Fire touched the wave it started to react in a strange way as it leapt from the floor onto the whip. It bathed the whip in a dark crimson flame that swirled around it angrily. "Thanks for the boost. Now I don't got to waste energy adding my own flames to my whip. Very Kind of you Neville but this is a battle you shouldn't be helping me." The Crimson Knight said coyly... clearly messing with the wizard.

Gradun looked on with anger as he saw the fire suck up into the whip. So... Fire wouldn't work. That have been nice to know a second ago... then again... Neville should have remembered who they were facing. The avatar of the God of Fire and Spirit. Clearly FIre wouldn't work on one who represented the very pinnacle of it's power in the world.

Gradun stepped forward one step and then back two. He started to do a hazy dance. Those looking at him would nearly feel the trance of lazy energy washing over them as Gradun did his lazy dance ((Waltz of the Water Lily. ON)) he sang out what could only be an activation phrase.

"Sapphire Waters, heed my call.

Wash over me and take my cares away

Sharpen my wits to an arrow point

So that my spells can keep foes at bay.

The Bastion of the Mind cares not

If the body decays."

Gradun's whole body went into a relaxed nearly limp state as he clearly did something to himself with those words. But clearly in his face was intent. Powerful intent.

Water started to form around him from the air, as if he pulled the very water vapour form the air and made it into moisture. He only hummed now not singing words. It carried the same effect though the power could be felt by the others still. However they could fell a tinge of lethargy in the notes. The tired hum of Gradun as his body released most of it's energy to increase the power of his mind. The Water around him softly vibrated as it gathered following the frequency of his voice. It held the notes he hummed exactly as he did and it also played an ethereal tune. He no longer was playing the Lute, but instead the water around him.

"Guard my life with your might Varick,

And Neville.... don't you panic,

The fires of your youth will not harm this foe,

So I must use these sapphire waters to strike a blow.

You must be decisive and quick

no time to be a dim witted brick.

Toss aside the flame

For it's your enemy in this game"

He gave them the orders in the form of song. It followed his melody near perfectly. He was in some sort of trance that was certain to the other two at this point.

[Ragnar]

Dammit, I've must have miss that lecture about the gods back in wizard school, I just freaking amplified this guy's flaming whip, I hope this minor setback won't bite us in the ass during this fight. Neville was clearly upset, grinding his teeth in frustration as his mentor mocks him. The young elven caster gains a flame orb despite his previous failed attempt to harm the crimson knight.

As Gradun's song shifted, Neville's fiery temper and frustration towards his last action slowly disperse as soon as he heard the Victornari's lyrics. It was calm yet precise. It somehow soothes his soul and clears Neville's head at that moment.

"No matter, Tis but minor setback.. I will purge this fire that I've created." The elven wizard combed back his silver hair and tries a different approach.

Neville's eyes glow in a light- bluish manner, the cold and piercing kind. As if you can see the whole aurora reflected in his very eyes. ((winter's curse: on))

He emits a chilling aura beneath his feet, his complexion has gone even paler than usual while mustering his inner ice magic.

"Ezeerf siht yug" with a swirl of his staff, Neville projects a ray of frost towards his crimson mentor. While the stream of ice travels in midair, it suddenly explodes into pieces; spawning and creating multiple heads of ice shards. These icy missiles continue to travel at an alarming rate, twisting and twirling with grace, like a group of dancing snakes racing towards its target.

These multiple ice shards were all aimed at the Crimson Knight from all angles, hoping to freeze and immobilize his fiery mentor upon impact.

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

The Crimson Keep.

*ver-pish.* the sound of a whip crack. It spread Fire through the air but in a strange focused manor... a small fire being in the shape of a dragon was born from the crack of the whip and it quickly flew around and swallowed the ice crystals.

"So, a master of more than one element. This will prove interesting." Crimson said. He stood right on the place he had been not having moved other than to crack his mighty whip. The flame that had swallowed the Ice melted it quickly but it was clear that it weakened the flames power on his whip as it's died down ever so slightly.

Gradun focused and some of the water from around him shot forth after he sang something in Victonarian. It was a harsh and hiss filled language not really intelligible to other races than them. And yet it still had some beautiful quality to it. It rang unnaturally and yet ethereally in song. Jets of water lashed at the Crimson Knight directly at many place on his body. Each evaporated as it neared him. They splashed against his armour. Steam rose instantly makin it ahrd to see the area around where the Crimson Knight had been.

"That Water and the Ice will be an issue if this holds up. Luckily I'm still super heated so they don't hit at full force but if I'm not careful this isn't going to go well for me. Luckily, I'm a master strategist. I've been in worse fight then this. After all... only I can boast that I defeated a God on the battlefield. Though... I lost more men than I should have... I was young then though." Crimson thought to himself.

[Ragnar]

Neville stands still with a solemn look on his face as he looks upon the thick steam that arise from the Crimson Knight's area. This humorless expression rarely comes to the cheerful young wizard but after he witnessed his spells gets easily countered with a single crack of a fiery whip. Maybe that's a signal for the wizard to stop fooling around and start to get serious in this fight. Especially when facing a formidable foe, who hasn't budged from his position and hasn't made a single offensive strike yet.

"I think we manage to douse out a little bit of flame from him, either way, be on guard, I fear the worst is yet to come in this fight" Neville said to Gradun as he stays in position, still pointing his staff at the fog, prepared for what his unseen opponent is up to .

Neville decided it's better to wait from where he stand and stay out of range of the Crimson Knight's fiery whip rather than to approach the dangerous vapor where the Crimson knight is hiding.

Edited September 9, 2015 by Ragnar

[Flux]

Vayne had little doubt that Dust's fist would triumph over his sword. Normally, that would not be the case, but Dust was no normal man. He doubted that Dust would have made such a maneuver if he were not sure of the outcome.

...But what Dust didn't account for was Vayne's speed and dexterity with his blade. He may be a ranger, but it was his sword that earned him his fame among the warriors of his hometown. As Dust's fist came down towards the blade, Vayne loosened his grip, allowing the blade to rotate downward around his wrist. With a nearly imperceptible flick, he whipped the blade around in a spinning motion, passing right around Dust's fist. At the same time, he skirted his body to the right, attempting to dodge the remaining trajectory of Dust's gauntlet.

[Felicity]

Unlike the others, Varick didn't really have anyway to aid the offense. How could he, with these elements writhing around the battlefield? To Varicks knowledge, armour and metal didn't do well in varying temperatures. He didn't really want to get near the steam.

So Varick heartily agreed with Gradun. His place was as a guardian and Varick stepped to Graduns side. Neville seemed to have experience with fire but Varick was unsure about Gradun. Chances were, he may need the help more. Still, the moment the Crimson knight came close to either of them Varick was ready to pin him to the transparant floor.

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

Ochre Dreadfort.

"So... he's faster than he looks. Definitely a ranger by these movements and what he shown thus far."

"For certain... not sure why it matters though." the World said.

"Because, I must know the skills of those that I am training. It's best for later."

The blade slide along the underside of Dust's arm creating a horrid grating sound as metal slide against polished stone. It was a ungodly cacophony. It kept going until it struck his armpit the blade then lodged itself in his armour keeping his arm in place. The Earthern spikes on his gauntlet sat right into front of Vayne's face... a little too close for comfort. Even a second more of hesitation might have spelled his doom. It was clear that Dust wasn't playing. He was seriously trying to injure or maim. It's was very clear to Vayne in this moment. That blow would nearly have killed him. It probably would have snapped his sword like a twig as well.

"Well... what a Pickle we are in Vayne." Dust said with a small chuckle. "Seems we are in a deadlock. I need two arms to swing my hammer and don't have the space and your only weapon is lodged in my armour. Whatever will we do?"

Crimson Keep

From the steam came a lash of crimson flame as the sound of a whip cracking rang out yet again. It was small and once more in the shape of a dragon. It flew around at high speeds but otherwise didn't do anything else. Whatever it was it was doing something, but what was unknown to the heros. The Steam started to dissipate. Right before the attack, the flash of two crimson eyes came from the steam. Suddenly out lashed the whip once more it traveled directly to Varick. A strange target. How would a whip effect him?

[Felicity]

Varick swiped at the whip with his longsword, alerted by the flash of crimson, hoping to wind it around the weapon and tug, either disarming or putting the Knight off balance. Besides, if it worked out the other way around and the Crimson Knight instead disarmed Varick then he would have a better estimate of the mans physical strength at the fairly low cost of his secondary weapon.

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

Crimson Keep

As the Whip tangled around the sword, the tow found themselves in a deadlock. "Damn, he's strong." Crimson thought to himself. The Knight was still enveloped in the steam. What the heros didn't know was Steam was considered Elemental Fire. It was mixed with Water of course so this made it very hard to control proper but he could still manage it. He kept a thin layer around him to obscure his form. It made him hard to make out other than a grey blob in the a bigger blob of white and grey. It gave him ever so slight the advantage as it was hard to tell where he was truly standing. However... Varick got the impression he stilled hadn't taken a single step from where he was already standing.

Varick would also notice the small crimson dragon swoop back down to the whip. It glowed a quick flash in response. "Now! Snapdragon Lash... Transform!" ((Reveal! Toggle: Snagdragon's Lash, Snap Dragon Mode ON.)) Speaking that command phrase the whip broke and entirely became Flame. It took the form of the Dragon before but it was the size of the whole whip. It was still wrapped around the blade, causing it to flash heat it turning parts of the blade cherry red. It hissed at Varick sending a small gout of Crimson flames at him.

Inside the cloud of smoke Crimson watched them. He was holding the handle of the Whip he was using in his hand. The entirety of the whip now gone however. It was jsut the handle that it had once been attached to. Of course, he could replace it by having the dragon return, but he could also summon a gout of flame within it and manipulate that as well. It wasn't as effective as when it was a full fledged weapon, but it could still put the punish on foes.

Gradun started to hum louder once more. The Water around him thrummed with pure energy, it's resonance grew louder and louder. He was winding up for something however it was clearly taking him some time.