Wash your sorrows away...

OoC: Open battle 1v1, ask before posting. But I might change it, so you can still ask if someones joined. Im using Vulgan.

BiC:
Vulgans eyes blinked with despair.
He stared into nothingness, into the aquatic pool that was the ocean. He longed to soak in its poinsonous waters, to let it clense his sorrow.
But he couldn't, the waters looked so apealing, but he knew of the creatures that lurked beneath its gloomy waters...

Vulgan was standing on the cliff that overlooked the Ocean of Carlist, where the God of Water, Carlist is said to rest. His journeys had led him here once before, and he had bathed in the pools.
Had it not been for his quick wit, he would have been devoured, whole.
Vulgan dropped his blades, and fell to his knees. This was something he only did, when he was thinking of his sister.

Vulgan then picked up Ronan and Lorcan, then slowly raised the blades towards his neck, ready to rejoin his sister. But then his senses tingled, and he decided it could wait, for something else was about to happen.

OoC: Bad, yes. Short, extremely. But my first battle in a long time.

*Can I join? I'll use Illick.*

OoC: Sure.

OoC: Alrighty then. Its been a while.

BiC:

---===---

Syhbil. A tiny waft of a girl working in her father's tavern in the slum-lords capital of Denescu. Forced to take up her tray after her parents were murdered in the streets. Her uncle Mathias now ran the establishment; "The Overflowing Tankard". Daily she would quietly shoulder the advances of mead-soaked travellers; advances that were often loud, often unashamedly physical.

Her uncle did nothing to stop them, knowing that Syhbil was one of the reasons why men came into the stinking underbelly of Denescu for drink. With piles of gold in his eyes he dreamed of vile possibilities for his petite niece and possibly some other girls later on.

Syhbil however would fall asleep every night in her dingy cot above the bar, tear stains on her round face and red welts over her body.

---===---

No matter Mathias's ambition, creditors began frequenting his quarters and soon threatened him if they weren't paid. Mathias took the initiative and fled into the night, leaving his sleeping niece at the mercy of the slum-lords.

A fire was started that night. It burned through the upper row houses and collapsed the flimsy floorboards onto the Overflowing Tankard on the lower street. The entire section was leveled and dozens were killed in their sleep.
Not Syhbil though. A handsome stranger had saved her from the burning tavern. His arms were strong and protective and his smile cut through the hardships of the past months with carefree ease.

It was no suprise that they got married soon afterward and left the slums for the peaceful farmlands to the south. Sybhil was truly happy for the first time in her life as she found her mate in a well-built, dark-haired man with a mysterious penchant for earning money. He worked as a trader, selling small items in the nearby villages while she tended to the house.

One night as they sat sharing their simple meal and a laugh, a strange, robe-clad man strode in through the back. He said nothing as he approached the couple. The husband rose to protest as Syhbil sat motionless, terrified. The robed man drew two blades and held it at his chest in an "X". The husband reached for his weapon, a straight-edged longsword with a gilded hilt. His blood spattered across the room, putting out the candle and engulfing Syhbil in darkness.

The man exited, leaving nothing but bloody footprints and a tiny waft of a girl shivering in the shadows.

---===---

"Halt your foolhardy actions assassin!" Illick shouted up at Vulgan. His loud, piercing voice cutting through the roar of the waves on the rocks and seeming to silence the calling of the gulls. Vulgan sniffed and leaned over the cliff's edge; interested, suprised.

Illick stood on a sailboat with a raised knee on its carved wooden stern. The tattered canvas sail flapped wildly in the Carlist wind behind him and the tiny craft seemed ready to topple in the chop. The Elf gripped the head of the carved sea serpent to steady himself.

"Your life, like all things mortal, must come to an end. Unfortunately it will not arrive at your own hands. No one such as you is allowed such a cowardly death." Illick regarded the assassin with his cold, bloodshot eyes. "I am here to enact vengeance."

OoC: Misunderstood identity I hope, because if Vulgan wouldn't murder recklessly for no apparent reason.

BiC:

"Vengeance?" Vulgan rolled his eyes at the word. "It seems that is something you are as bad at as I."

"Do not lie assassin, I am Illick Nai, and your executioner." Illicks firm words startled Vulgan, this warrior was obviously less hesitant than him when it came to death.

"I am Vulgan, do you know this name?" He was testing Illick, hoping to avoid an unwanted encounter of unnecessary violence.

"Your name is but an inconvenience, you death however... isn't." Illick raised his sword in a battle stance, high above his head.

"Foolish elf, if battle is your wish." Vulgan unsheathed his own blades, triggering a look of strange look from illick, who eyes burned with hatred, hatred Vulgan knew all too well.

"Then your wish is my command." He announced finally.

Without another word, Illick lunged at Vulgan, almost catching him off guard. It seemed he truly felt hate for Vulgan. It was a strange feeling for the assassin, knowing that this person must be feeling the way the he does when he kills. The arrival of Illick had drowned his sorrows.

Illicks battle style was similar to Vulgans, only using a larger sword instead of Vulgans two. Vugan thought that had they met on different terms, they could become powerful allies, instead of deadly foes. Falran certainly would have liked him, just as she had adored Vulgan. Falran.... Her name still brought tears to his eyes, but he bit them back and continued fighting.

"Your battle style is nicely balanced." Vulgan muttered slowly.

"Your words won't calm me assassin, only your death can!" Illick spat at Vulgan, hatred flowing out openly from his mouth and blade.

Vulgan chuckled slightly, Illick was pouring his soul into his words and his heart into battle, but he was mistaken. He wondered if Illick had been tricked? Or maybe he was being hired to eliminate Vulgan? But he wouldn't be screaming about vengeance... Whatever the case, Vulgan must protect himself, if he had to destroy Illick... Then so be it.

Illick jabbed a aukward blow down towards Vulgans thigh, trying to surprise him. But Vulgans parried the blow with both his blades, smothering the power and sending Illick to the ground. But his weapon stayed with Vulgan.

"Hehe... It seems you have been disarmed. Do you still wish for battle?" Vulgan taunted Illick.

He stood still obviously deciding whether forfeiting was necessary. But abruptly he raised his palm and shot a sparkling bolt of lightning at Vulgan, who was able to sheath his swords and roll out of the way in time. Vulgan watched Illick walk slowly over to his blades and follow suit.

"Yes. I do." Illicks reply was like he was talking to an ignorant child.

He continued directing elemental shots at Vulgan, varying them commonly, keeping Vulgan rolling and diving all over the place. He was getting nearer and nearer the edge.

"Is he trying to get me to fall into the ocean...?" Vulgan mused quietly to himself.

Sure enough, all Illicks shots were directed to the wrong side of Vulgan, making it only possible for him to duck or dive one way. Towards the cliff edge. Vulgan knew he must act quickly, for if he didn't then the vicious depth of Carlist would soon become his location.

Vulgan noticed a particularly large sphere of flame flying towards him, he decided he would chance a parry. So as it flew at his chest, he shielded himself with Ronan, blocking the flames. He felt a small shake of energy. Ronan had a small tinge of brightness about it, he could feel the power pulsating from the hilt. He turned to face Illick who looked at blade in shock.

Vulgan took that time to strike, he sprinted at Illick, who appeared in a trance and lashed at him wildly. Ronans epic flame burnt through Illik arm, leaving an almightly gash. Illick clutched his arm tightly, but no audible sound came from his lips. He fell to the ground softly and stubbed the flow of blood with his hand.

Vulgan watched this with grim satisfaction, it was a bad injury, so he doubted he could battle on. So he was safe, but he wanted the truth.

"So, why did you thin...?" Vulgan stopped in mid-sentence and stared at Illick. He was up on his feet and his cut was mending...?

The battle was far from over.

OoC: There, PM if some of the info was wrong. I left it at a nice place for you.

OoC: Its the result of your copycat. Illick is hunting him and stumbled across Vulgan.

BiC:

Illick stood up to his full height, and locked his gaze on Vulgan. The blistered wound on his arm stitched itself in seconds, leaving only a reddened sliver of skin. The slick black metal of his shoulders glinted in the sunlight, as did the gold of his katana.

"Vengeance for Syhbil. Nothing else."

Illick raised his sword high and charged, the only sound being his falling footsteps and the crashing of the waves. Vulgan held fast, defending his little patch of cliff courageously. As Illick came into melee range, he stopped suddenly and spun, flicking his blade low towards Vulgan's feet. His weapon whistled through the breeze as Vulgan leapt upwards. Illick aimed his open palm at his still-airbourne opponent and a violent spurt of flame threw Vulgan out over the edge and hurtling into the waters below.

Illick rose and traced the dissapating trail of smoke to its end, near the waterline of one of Carlist's jagged marine rock pillars. Vulgan lay there, charred and half-sunk into the damp stone. The assassin stirred, and began to push himself out of the crevasse he had been shot into. Illick, without wasting a breath, sank his katana into the dirt before him and drew his bow. With hawklike precision he fitted a red-feathered arrow and aimed it at the soaked and bedraggled figure below.

Compensating for the wind was difficult and his first shot merely pinned Vulgan's cloak to the rocks. The assassin scrambled to the safety of the rock opening, tearing loose Illick's arrow. He had now vanished from Illick's line of sight.

"Hide! Hide amongst the rock crabs and slime! Carlist would afford you no sanctuary for long dear assassin!" Illick shouted, loosing another arrow into the rocky gap.

He fired another two, aiming for the edge of the crevasse. Satisfied, he sheathed his katana and stowed away the Harbinger. Illick took a running jump over the cliff and landed on the rock pillar just as a massive wave crashed over it. He made his way over the razor-edges of the stone which was as white as bone where it was dry. Finding the edge of the crevasse, he drew his bow and peered down into it.

The frigid wave retreated from the steep walled prison, taking with it small crabs and seaweeds. An arrow floated out with them into the sea. The lowering water revealed Vulgan, trapped by an arrow that had pierced his arm and lodged into the spongy walls. Another jutted from his thigh. Illick marvelled at how blind arrows tend to do the most grevious harm.

He fitted another and aimed it at the panting Vulgan, who had yet to discover his attacker had flanked him. Illick released the shot just as his shadow fell over the target.

OoC: Your comback here would really be something...

OoC: My copycat? your the one who copied Vulgan...

BiC:

Vulgan wrenched his neck with all his might, attempting to avoid the fatal shot. But pain still found him. The arrow pierced his ear, ripping it from his head. A cry of agony escaped him, but he choked out the wwords:

"Fool! Does true justice truly mean nothing to you? Your anger is misplaced."

Illick surveyed the situation, he had his hands gripped over an arrow and his bow, aiming directly at Vulgans head, but he took the arrow away and relied to Vulgans words.

"You killed Syhbil, justice does not apply to you."

"I do not know the name, you have obviously made a mistake, I am not your assassin."

"But you draw your swords at an 'X'..." Illick voice trailed off, he closed his eyes for a second, obviously thinking.

Vulgan took this as the glimmer of a chance he needed. He gritted his teeth and ripped the arrows from his body. Illicks eyes snapped open, but it was too late, Vulgan was upon him.
He slashed Illick across the chest, not even giving him time to draw his katana. Illick let out a cry of desperation. Vulgan swiped at his legs with both blades and Illick fell to the floor instantly.

Illick reached for his blade but suddenly Vulgans twin blades were either side of him.

"If you draw that blade, I'll decapitate your head from your body." Vulgan threatened menacingly.

Vulgan could now feel the agony the shots had caused him, but he didn't lossed his grip on his blade, nor did he move them. His adrenaline had slightly worn down, but he was still in no position to forfeit or surrender.

"You killed Syhbil and now I suppose your going to kill me." Illick moaned hatefully.

"As I have told you, I do not know the name Syhbil, I have never killed a women either."

"Liar!" Illicks rage exploded from him, and his grip on his Katana tightened, but he did not draw the blade. For he knew that it would be his last move.

OoC: Extremely Short, but I wanted to get something done today.

"How naive. I never accused you of killing Syhbil." Illick said, twisting his neck as it lay between Vulgan's blades. Nudging aside his opponent's swords carelessly was acceptable when finding a more comfortable niche. "Your actions against her husband Tenaurus, the Child-Flayer, were commendable and just. His punishment was long overdue. I am almost envious that I was unable to slay him myself.."

Illick shifted his feet from their uncomfortable position and got his four toes to arch beneath his legs.

"She died from grief. Its ironic that such a monster gave her so much." He said, kicking backwards roughly and pushing his arms up between Vulgan's blades. His right gauntlet caught between the scissor's edge as his left drew his katana.

"The ripples from your deeds have come full circle assassin." Illick shouted, dragging the edge of his blade into the cross of steel with a burst of sparks. Vulgan twisted his weapons in an attempt to lock Illick's sword in place but instead met with a powerful rending twist from Illick's own wrists.

A sharp, backhanded slap rang across Vulgan's face, bringing a fresh flow of blood from his lip. He staggered back and Illick struck. He swiped widely at Vulgan's shoulder, opening a deep slice that gurgled blood as he continued staggering.

The Carlist wind buffeted them as they fought, each struggling to keep their footing while trading blows. Vulgan turned, retaliating rapidly with a flurry of swipes. Illick lowered his stance and struck upwards, leaping into the air and dropping a fireball. Vulgan rolled away quickly enough but ended up near the craggy edge of the sea-pillar.

"Your end is at hand Vulgan!!" He stepped towards the edge and raised his golden katana in a high arc. It seemed to cut the sun into two irregular halves.