[Closed] Fist to Claw - Ezner

[Rozkia]

8th Trial of Vhalar, Arc 720

Idalos was no place for the weak. Rharne was - for all Roz could see - a peaceful place as long as she wasn't involved in a way. She could tavern hop or even go to the most criminal (as Rharne gets) area and still be shunned. Though this time was different. She'd barely walked to the particular bar the night before when all eyes had zoned in on her, and yes, she didn't have superiors senses other than night vision (at least, none that she remembered) but she could feel eyes and hear whispers and she had only walked in seconds before. For all she was worth though, she couldn't find herself to be more than annoyed. Any other time yes, she would be angry. That night, however, the only thing she had was loneliness and exhaustion. She wasn't much of a fighter as far as she could remember, but she did- in some deep part of her subconscious- reveal a bit in their wary or sometimes scared looks. It gave her confidence that left her sick afterwards...

What kind of person lives off fear? Why did it make her stride hardier and more pronounced? Why did she feel such accomplishment for something so disgusting? She shoved the thoughts away though, tonight she would drink herself silly and try to forget, only to try again the next week she would reach her limit.

That night though- many drinks later with a buzz and less inhibition- she would be wronged in a way she couldn't stand down from. Normally more docile - yeah, strange for her kind but true - a spilled drink would get them a tell and a shoo. The man who spilled the drink was clearly not right of mind, he catcalled her after all. His friends tried to talk him down and away, but his mouth worked faster than her anger. And that's how she ended up kicked out, angry, and bet placed. Being called a harlot.. that was new. But she had a fight tomorrow to prove her more than just a woman to ogle.

It was with annoyance and vengeful spirit that she headed to the Pit the morning after. People parted for her, but not because they were afraid of her, no. They were afraid of her race. As they should be- she shook her head to free her thoughts. Such things had no place in her mind. She wasn't some wicked devil who preyed on anything that moved. Still, she waited until the man came into view with another before she sneered.

"More to spectate? We are not so easily- I, am not so easily frightened." She corrected herself quickly, but she often found herself never liking the word 'I'. More often than not she slipped up and just kept going, but not today. She wanted to be more than some barbarian woman in there eyes- even if only for a moment. "What are the terms of this fight? I'm willing to agree to any if they are fair."

[Ezner]

The Night Before...

Ezner sat at his place by the bar, drinking water, as he watched both Mister Dey and the rest of the bar. It was a rowdy lot, as expected, but his owner didn't seem to be attracting any particularly negative attention. Though Ezner could see that he was especially horny today. He kept grabbing at the barmaids and catcalling various women. Trouble was going to be inevitable it seemed.

Ezner watched as Mister Dey catcalled a dark skinned woman repeatedly, and when he stumbled over to her, he knocked into her, catching a cheap feel while spilling her drink all over her. He laughed as her fury took over, and she said something that Ezner couldn't quite make out. Mister Dey called her a harlot but that he was pleased he could make her so wet for him. It was all rather crass.

But it died off quickly, and the night wore on.

The present...

Ezner and Jethrow stood at the edge of the fighting area of The Pit. They watched as the crowd parted for a beautiful woman. "Ezner, isn't that the viper tongued woman from last night?"

Arms crossed behind his back, "Yes sir."

"My balls are still blue. Can't believe that bitch didn't wanna take me up on my offer."

Ezner was silent as Jethrow continued, "Go fight her. Teach her a lesson for me."

Ezner wanted to sigh, but simply said, "Yes sir." He then stepped into the fighting space, avoiding the other fights going on as he approached the woman, Mister Dey behind him. Mister Dey took the lead when they arrived at her, smiling sleazily at her. "The terms are simple. No weapons. Defeat at knock out or pass out. And I'll happily spectate you, harlot."

And if the woman accepted the terms, Mister Dey would walk off to the side of the arena, and begin placing his bets on the outcome of the fight. Ezner, took a step back, giving a comfortable amount of space between them. He carefully folded up his sleeves to the elbows, so that they formed a tight fit. He stood there, four feet from Rozkia, watching and waiting for her to make the first move, as he settled into a stance, balancing on the balls of his feet. He kept his hands open and at his sides, slightly bent. He focused on his breathing, in through the nose and out through the mouth. He was timing his breaths on half counts, keeping rhythm with them as he lightly shifted his weight back and forth from foot to foot.

He was ready whenever she was.

[Rozkia]

The urge to become violent was never so prominent as when this man spoke. She wasn't particularly strong but such a slight at her was unforgivable- she growled, enraged but nodded eagerly. She would show him what a harlot was capable of. She was expecting a fight- wanted, a fight. But her opponent walked off, leaving behind a man with less of an intimidating presence.

He stood before her, sleeves rolled, weight shifting on his feet but he didn't immediately move to strike at her he waited. Was he giving this fight to someone else?! Rozkia watched- annoyed and angry as the boss of this man - this lackey, waited for her move. The insult would not so easily side, but right now she could see the bigger man.. placing bets? How dare he-

"You have insulted us, we will not take this lightly." She hissed out. She had little experience- she could remember next to nothing about herself or her skillset. And yet a part of her was sure she had some kind of experience. Fight to live? Was that said to her often? No, now wasn't the time. She nodded, and squared herself in front of the man she hoped to beat.

"I accept these terms," was all she said as she focused her attention on the dark haired man. He seemed bigger now that she was in front of him- did he have skill? Did she? Fight to live, her mind supplied. Well then, no weapons. She felt inclined to flex her clawed fingers, but she curled her hand into a fist instead.
Knock out or pass out.

She stepped forward slowly, and sped up as she got closer- confidence, feign confidence. She pulled back her left fist with her last step forward, hoping to go for the neck or the face. Somewhere painful to hopefully give her the advantage.
If she couldn't win outright perhaps she could convince him to surrender.

[Ezner]

Ezner watched the woman after she accepted his master's challenge. Even before she started moving toward him, he saw her fingers forming into a fist. It wasn't much of a surprise, most people fight with their fists, after all. And so when she started stepping toward him, he did the same in kind to her. He rushed forward, bringing his two arms up in a boxer's guard, leaving just enough of a gap between his forearms to see where he was going. And as they came closer together, he stamped down hard on his lead foot, preparing to absorb the fist with his arms. Her fist hit hard into the meat of his right arm, and would likely bruise later. But he absorbed the blow. And as he did, he pivoted his body weight on the planted foot, kicking his other leg out toward the woman, aiming low, to try and catch her in the side of her shin, and send her to the ground.

Ezner was only beginning to learn to start using his legs in combat beyond just moving around. He had learned the significance of this back in the pits he'd been bought from, after a guy basically just managed to kick him in the face over and over. This was his first time to give it a go, so a tripping type kick seemed easy enough. If he could get her to the ground, it would greatly change the dynamic of the fight. He ignored the cheers and jeers around them, paid no mind to his owner placing his many bets, was deaf to the terrible words tossed at him and his opponent. The only things he could hear were his own breaths and his heartbeat. He had no qualms fighting this woman and knocking her out if that's what was needed. He'd done it before and had it done to himself.

It was just part of the job of a slave.

[Rozkia]

Unprepared, sloppy, weak, and wasteful. Her fist connected with the flesh of his arm, and she winced temporarily from the force. Her claws dug into her palm with the force- she could feel the telltale dribble of blood down from her palm. The mistake, the lack of consideration, would cost her. The human male seemed to be fast, at least decently experienced. She went to take her arm back, recoiling and opening her first to flatten her palm. The man lifted his knee, extended his leg, and gave her a blow to the shins that shook her. She hissed in pain, but tried to force her leg to stay straight.

She took a step back, pained, but moved forward after a trill. If she couldn’t curl her hands, she’d just use the flat of her palms- despite her anger at whatever the man leering at her was to him, this.. rundown man wasn’t the subject of her ire. She didn’t wish to harm him too badly. For a moment she hesitated, the words in the air and the blood in her ears seemed familiar in a way- the need to survive, the need to win, was ingrained in her. She shifted her weight, preparing to aim for his stomach as her mind jolted back into action.

Looking at his eyes, she could see it. He wouldn’t hesitate, he wouldn't think twice about pummeling her at the command of his boss. And so she would stele her resolve as well, no matter how badly it ended.

[Ezner]

His shin had missed the fleshy part of her calf and bone had struck bone, sending shooting pain both through Ezner and Rozkia it seemed. He had visibly winced, and it would be something he'd remember in the future. The both hesitated a moment, before she came forward. And Ezner stepped forward to match, his arms held up in a half guard, fists before his chin. Ezner's left hand snapped out in a jab, aiming for the woman's nose, as he absorbed the blow from her open palm. He hadn't expected her to slip past his guard, thinking she might've still been stunned. The blow caught him low in the diaphragm and momentarily disrupted his breathing.

Just as he began to pull his left jab back, striking or not, Ezner launched a heavy straight right, again, aiming for center mass on the woman's face. His jab had been sharp, but he hadn't put his entire weight into it. But his right straight? That one carried his entire weight, as he planted his left leg and twisted at the hips to throw more force into it. The only way he could end this fight without hurting this woman too bad was to knock her out as quickly as possible. So his focus would be on her face and head, hoping to catch a lucky blow to finish this.

Mr. Dey was on the sidelines, smiling broadly, jesting with the other gamblers. He yelled out over the fight, "Show that nasty skank the mistake she made!"

Ezner was distracted by the command given by his owner, giving a moment's opening as Ezner was bringing his right hand back to his guard. For a single trill, he was entirely open, trying to process how best to complete his master's command.

[Rozkia]

Pain. Red hot and throbbing in her temple. Ezner threw a might straight and had Rozkia seeing stars. If, by some odd miracle, she could've won, she gladly would have. But as it was, she had not only wounded her own pride, but she felt trapped. Closed in... She didn't like it. She realized after a bit that she was kneeling in the dirt where she had temporarily blanked.

Ezner's boss, the wretched man who would meet her fury someday, jeered at her with the crowd. In that ment she was so ashamed of her weakness that the fight was forgotten. Pride be damned, but she refused to be some entertainment for such a disgusting human being. Copper in her mouth, she spit at the man, an insult he probably wouldn't take lightly, before something strange happened.

In a moment of clarity she focused her energy into her shadow, the projection of which would encompass the area. It was weak, pathetic, a wound to her capabilities, but in that moment of clarity she knew her best course of options.

Survival. Flee.

And with the grace of the shadows, she slipped away until she could no longer project the darkness on the crowd. Drained, confused as to what she'd done, she made for home. She wiped at her face, feeling a trickle of liquid. Apparently that blow had managed go take some skin, and a headache and exhaustion were setting in- she couldn't tell which was stronger.

The next time she saw that man and his lackey she would be ready.

OOC

So sorry about the delay with this post. If you could pm/dm the list of skills and knowledges for this thread that'd be great! Feel free to post another reply before then though.

[Pig Boy]

Player Name: Rozkia

Points awarded: 15
Magic xp: none

Knowledge:

Socialization x2
Unarmed Combat x2
Tactics x1
Endurance x2
Athletics x 2

Renown: 5 for taking part in a fight in the Pit
Loot: none
Injuries/Overstepping: Injuries that ought to have healed over by current season.
Wealth Points: n/a

Skill Review: All Skills used appropriately to PC's level

Notes: Ezner, if you return and wish to claim rewards, please send me your knowledges used and knowledge requests. Or else resubmit for review to the queue. Thank you.

This was a very well-written brawl on both sides, in my opinion. The detail of the punches, and the damage incurred was pretty visceral and I could almost feel every bone crunching hit and bleeding lip. Ezner certainly has an interesting style of boxing that is very unique among the martial arts of Idalos, but seems appropriate to Rharne that it would have a lot of old-style pugilists.

Rozkia was an interesting presence in this scene, and I found myself routing for her as Mr. Dey catcalled and abused her physically and verbally. That guy needs to get a good beating, imo. I hope Rozkia gets the chance to administer it someday

That said, Rozkia's discovery of her Shadow gift was an interesting twist at the end, which made for an interesting escape from the pit. Let's hope word doesn't 'travel too far outside the dust quarter, that she's a Naer...

Great writing guys!

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding this review, feel free to PM. Enjoy your rewards!