#guardiixns

@caraidean vs. @guardiixns Coin Toss: Titania strikes first

“I heard someone refer to this match as the ‘Battle of the Ax Moms.’ I suppose Lady Titania and Lady Minerva must be known for their strength and protection.”

“I was disappointed at first to see that Minerva and her brother weren’t in the same bracket, but I think this will turn out even more interesting... I mean, there’s no guarantee she would have been against Michalis anyway. It’s not like I’d ever fix a bracket. Never.”

TITANIA: NAT 20 STRIKE vs. 8 defense

Starting the match with a decisive upper hand, Titania charges her opponent and cuffs Minerva with a side sweep that is surprisingly swift for a heavy-armor knight. Minerva is going to have some bruises, and it takes her a moment to get her bearings.

MINERVA: 4 strike v. 17 defense

TITANIA: 16 strike v. 3 defense

MINERVA: 9 strike v. 13 defense

TITANIA: 5 strike v. 5 defense

Both ‘Ax Moms’ lunge forward and their axes collide, letting out a harsh metallic clang in the arena. The audience begins to stir in excitement.

MINERVA: 12 strike (Chrysanthemum) v. 12 defense

AGAIN, they clash and their axes lock, letting out another percussive SLAM in the arena--

“This is turning into one of the loudest matches, and we’ve had thunder mages in the arena today!”

“I never knew that the phrase ax mom translated to pure unadulterated fear! Er, I mean for bystanders. Please don’t be mad at me.”

TITANIA: 5 strike v. 11 defense

MINERVA: 9 strike v. 4 defense

TITANIA: 15 strike v. 7 defense

MINERVA: 17 strike v. 17 defense

Right as the match bell tolls, the axes collide for a third time, acting as their own decisive chime. The battle is over, and both competitors give each other dignified nods of respect.

“Does this make Titania the true Ax Mother? Maybe we should... AX her ourselves?”

“Emm. No.”

Rowan voice: DARIOS

Nino had deemed the sage’s attack as survivable. Perhaps, if she’d had better judgment, she would’ve retreated once she’d realized she was at an unfavorable match-up. The sage was wielding a Bolting tome, and that would strike her from afar with ease. However, Nino was stubborn; desperate to prove herself, she’d charged in regardless.

Out of nowhere, Jaffar had pushed her aside and endured the attack all on his own. Her heart sank. If only she hadn’t tempted fate! Frustrated tears formed in her eyes, threatening to form streaks on her cheeks.

“J-Jaffar! Oh, I’m sorry!”

“I was just ... I was trying to do my best, but you got hurt instead! And that’s because I was being a burden again ...!” Her voice trails off, and a lump forms in her throat. Tearfully, she hands him a vulnerary. 

@guardiixns vs. @rebcrnfate Coin Toss: Dwyer strikes first

“More dragons! I think we have another dragon later in the brackets as well.”

“Both of them got to face fellow dragons yesterday, so I imagine we may see very similar strategies being deployed. Though I guess you never can tell for certain... I’m sure my tactician would shout at me if I ever assumed my opponents would be predictable.”

DWYER: 18 strike v. NAT 1 DEFENSE 

Taking an early lead, Dwyer swings his tail around, knocking Azura on her side before he tags a second hit by pinning her wings.

AZURA: 10 strike v. 9 defense 

DWYER: 13 strike v. 10 defense

AZURA: 17 strike v. 2 defense

DWYER: 2 strike v. NAT 20 DEFENSE 

Azura sees Dwyer trying for another tail hit, and she counters by jumping over his tail as it comes around, and landing on Dwyer’s back, wrestling him to the ground.

AZURA: 3 strike v. 16 defense

“Well done Azura! Those were some brutal strikes from Dwyer, but somehow she’s managed not to revert back into her human form. She’s far more resilient than I gave her credit for.”

“They might both stay in dragon form for this match! Neither seem to be losing their concentration.

DWYER: 14 strike v. 7 defense

AZURA: 6 strike v. 19 defense

DWYER: 3 strike v. 18 defense

AZURA: 16 strike v. 9 defense

TIE BREAKER: Dwyer-20 ; Azura-10

“What an intense match up! I think I heard Dwyer complaining he was tired, earlier. That final strike of his had plenty of strength behind it: he must have been saving what little energy he had.”

“Congratulations, Dwyer!”

‘Blood’ sentence starters (accepting)

“Hm?”

Sully stopped and turned to Kellam at the sound of his voice. It was only then that she realised what he’d said and looked down. She hadn’t even noticed the sting from the slice on her arm until she saw it.

“Ah, shit…” she hissed, prodding the wound and probably only making it worse. It wasn’t deep, but damn did it hurt.

“Eh, I’ll live. I’ll bandage it up myself - wouldn’t want to bother the healers after that bullshit ambush. They’ll have enough keeping them busy as is.”

She knew he’d still be worrying, so she let out a laugh and playfully punched his shoulder. And then immediately winced. She really should have done that with her other arm.

as phila lets her mind wander, she muses, ‘how is one supposed to react to seeing one’s childhood heroine?’

perhaps more than just a childhood heroine...when phila had lost everything- her pegasus, her arm, and for those months where emmeryn was awake, but not truly aware, her lover - when she had lost everything and had been forced to become a wyvern rider, she drew strength from tales of the red dragoon.