I left in many pages, here, since this was the first combat I felt that I really understood how the combat system works on GarouMUSH, between good players. (Well, in this case, one good player, one uncertain player trying very hard to be up to snuff)
l me
Sepdet(#3589Pce)
This strange gaunt elf of a girl can hardly be called pretty, with a mottled complexion varying from fresh pink skin to dark mahogany, yet at times her thin child's face carries a hint of sad beauty. A spiderweb of scars new and old add texture to her taut brown skin, most noticeably four faint slashes cutting across her face from upper right brow to lower left jawline. A stout braid curls behind the pointed tip of her right ear; her remaining hair is gathered in uneven cornrows. She is missing the smaller fingers of both hands and the last two joints on the ring finger of her right. Tiny, wiry, and wary, the intensity behind her somber black eyes seems at odds with her 5'1 thirteen-year-old physique.
From a thong on her neck hangs a wooden ankh stained brown along one edge, a small whittled salmon, and a flat gold pendant (+detail Sepdet's cartouche).
At the moment, she wears no clothes.
n
You set off north, towards the Caern.
Southern Curve of the Wheel
Near the Pool, Thorn appears in a glimmer of light.
At the center, Maury nods a little, grimacing ruefully. "Not without a lot of awkward questions, no." The alert scan has her gaze lingering on the southern curve, a quick flash of a smile on her face, and then on Thorn, the same quick grin of welcome shaping her lips once more.
Sepdet pads around the Wheel a little stiffly, touching her priestess' lock formally to greet Thorn tonight.
You head east, toward the sparkling pool of water and forward around the Wheel.
Around the Pool
Contents:
Thorn
Al Harsin
Quiet Pool
Al Harsin watches from poolside, single eye blinking. His head and upper body are very wet.
At the center, Maury calls, softly, "Good evening, Thorn, Sepdet."
Thorn turns, with almost ponderous slowness, to focus his attention on Sepdet. After a somewhat disconcerting moment of silent staring, the Ritemaster bows his head by way of greeting.
Sepdet smiles wanly with teeth covered, after a curious glance at Blight-Render. She holds up her arms, adorned tonight with no more than the bone knife Hecate made for her almost a year ago. ~No toys.~ Her tone is rueful.
Thorn leans forward and slowly raises a taloned hand, and he points to Sepdet's head. ~One toy.~
On the eastern curve, Deepsprings heads into the center.
At the center, Deepsprings flicks an ear in quiet greeting to Maury.
Sepdet's grin flashes wider for a moment, then sobers. ~We'll see, rhya.~ She turns to head around the Wheel, holding up a hand to Maury. ~Hey. G-gonna be my judge tonight, Goldeneyes?~
Al Harsin lays down on his side in the grass, head propped up on his palm. He watches quietly.
At the center, Maury gives Deepsprings a quick flash of a smile, then turns back towards Thorn and sepdet. Her head inclines slightly. ~If Thorn-rhya wishes me to witness, I shall be honored.~
You make your way to the northwest, back toward the center of the Wheel.
Center of the Great Wheel
Contents:
Deepsprings
Maury
Table StoneNear the Pool, Al Harsin watches his fellow Seers with unusual sobriety, quite unlike the manner he displays at other Challenges.
Near the Pool, Thorn takes a deep breath, and lets it out in a slow rumbling. ~Witness as you like.~ The crinos inclines his head towards Maury, and then steps into motion. His stride is deliberate and slow.
Near the Pool, Thorn follows the Wheel north past the Pool.
Sepdet contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
You shift into Crinos form.
You head to the northwest, toward the rising mound of earth.
Earth Mound
Like flesh slowly peeling back from a bone, a rise of grassy earth surrounds an emerging upcropping of white stone. The mound rises about six feet above the surrounding area of the Wheel, and the stone at its peak another three feet. Forward, you can see a clearing surrounded by rustling trees, while behind the fire pit is visible.
Obvious exits:
Forward Back Center of the Wheel
At the center, Maury inclines her head once more to Thorn, a quiet formality to her motions to match his own. She takes several steps towards the earth mound, but halts far enough away not to interfere with the Challenger and Challenged.
Near the Pool, Al Harsin follows along to watch more closely, of course.At the center, Deepsprings circles three times in place and then settles to watch the challenge.
Near the Pool, Al Harsin heads into the center.
Thorn has arrived.
On the southern curve, Elizabeth comes in from the woodland to the south.
Thorn lumbers around the perimeter of the wheel until he arrives at the Earth Mound. He steps up onto the mound, and bows again to Sepdet. ~Before we fight, I will take time to consecrate this place. Join me?~
Sepdet looks startled, then pleased. ~Surely, sir.~
Sepdet takes several deep breaths, watching the Ritemaster for a moment before beginning to circle the area, speaking a soft prayer.
At the center, Al Harsin quietly watches, arms folded.
l thorn
At the center, Jalal pads in slowly from the treeline.
The pale, fearsome creature before you stands some nine feet tall and bends the earth with its quarter ton of mass. Hairless, bone white skin sheathes a man-like form warped into an image of canine ferocity. Vicious, colorless talons tip its huge hands; it stands on similarly clawed paws, attached to the back-jointed hind legs of a vastly oversized hound. A whiplike tail balances the weight of its overhanging arms, thick enough to serve as a club. Thick muscle cords the heavy limbs and torso, visibly shifting and massing beneath translucent skin--indeed, the entire horrifying body seems a weapon crafted of pure white fury.
Maury remains a ways distant from the mound, watching silently.
At the center, Jalal continues around the edge of the central space, nodding tersely to those nearer to the stone.
At the center, Jalal heads west, away from the center of the Wheel.
Sepdet finally stands and nods to Thorn. ~Alright. Blessed is the ground we stand on. At your leisure, sir.~ She drops smoothly into a waiting stance, legs slightly bent and shoulder-spaced under her, hands loosely braced in front of her with claws cupped facing Thorn.
On the western curve, Jalal settles down near the very edge of the caern in the gloom of the nearby trees. He lowers his head carefully to the assembled elders, before settling down quietly to watch the ceremony.
Maury asks, quietly, "Will you restate the terms of the Challenge, Thorn-rhya, that those who did not hear them before may know them now?"
[The terms were: A fight to the death or submission, using no fetishes, spirits, gifts, rites, or other magical aids.]
Thorn's own private devotions end as his eyes flicker open. He turns again to face Sepdet and bows. ~We begin.~
At the center, Al Harsin squats quietly at the base of the Earth Mound. No jumping, no screaming, no swearing; he merely watches.
On the southern curve, Fire-Eater settles on her haunches, looking at the Mound curiously.
Sepdet merely waits, ears flickering, watching Thorn's stance measuringly with the irritating patience of a Strider.
At the center, Deepsprings attention is directed toward the earth mound, mostly. Her ears swivel occassionally as she picks up on other sounds around her.
Thorn pages: I'm aware of Seppie's fighting style, strengths, and weaknesses, so let me tell you a little of Thorn's. It should help us decide what results are appropriate for any given action. Seppie's faster than Thorn, and Thorn has more stamina. His stamina manifests in the simple ability to take a beating, which is an artifact of his being beat up a lot as a kid. He's a defensive fighter, acustomed to dodging blows, or at least rolling with them. Racoon has taught him some significant skill with his claws.
Thorn takes only two steps to the side, beginning to circle his opponent. Halfway into the third sidestep, he lashes out a taloned hand, probing Sepdet's defenses.
Sepdet takes a half-step in the opposite direction from Thorn's circling, right leg wobbling almost imperceptibly under her as she attempts a simple dodge.
Thorn's blow lands on air, and his lips peels back from his canines. With a bob of his head, he acknowledges his opponent and then he resumes circling.
Sepdet watches for a few more even breaths, then, eyes gleaming, suddenly begins to hop up and down and side to side in a bewildering pattern, making a mockery of Thorn's elegant prowling like a drunken monkey on a pogo stick. She still holds her claws close, not yet committing herself to a strike.
Thorn, apparantly content to let his opponent tire herself out, widens his circling and lowers his stance. He holds his taloned hands up, ready to receive his opponent.
Sepdet's ears splay slightly, not unsurprised by the elder's tactic. She regards Thorn with an almost wolf-smile. Then, with a sigh, ~All right, Rhya, if you insist,~ she suddenly launches herself with arms wide like an overenthusiastic child flinging herself at a large relative's midsection.
Near the Pool, Anpwhotep appears in a glimmer of light.
Near the Pool, Anpwhotep limps slowly in.
Long distance to Thorn: Sepdet is going to try shifting down in mid-leap to knock your shins out from under you. ;)
From afar, Thorn nods. "Trying to get a hold, or just knock?"
You paged Thorn with 'No hold. Battering ram, hoping that her leap at your upper body will make you brace, which tends to leave the stance a bit top heavy.'.
Thorn pages: Okay. Thorn's instinctive reaction will be to cringe, so his weight will drop. You'll still knock him down, though.
>Sepdet contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
You shift into Hispo form.
Thorn drops back as Sepdet hurtles at him, crossing his arms in front of himself in a defensive gesture, he turns sideways in an attempt to avoid being hit. The tactic fails, as Sepdet's form shifts, and she catches the side of Thorn's legs, buckling them. As he hits the ground, Thorn instinctively tucks and rolls; once, twice, three times he rolls away in an attempt to distance himself from Sepdet.
Thorn pages: Mask's groaning at Thorn right now. He's tried to tell Thorn that when being charged you should bare your teeth and claw at them like mad. ;-)
Near the Pool, Anpwhotep heads into the center.
At the center, Anpwhotep limps slowly in.
Sepdet pushes off the ground with tail wagging, bounding after him to try and pin her tumbling opponent.
You paged Thorn with 'And shift back up. :)'.
Thorn pages: Okay, here I think Thorn's Raccoon training may pay off. As you try to pin him, he'll explode in a flurry of claws. Okay?
You paged Thorn with 'Sounds <eep> reasonable.'.
Thorn hunches away from Sepdet, but as she pounces, he practically explodes into a flurry of claws. The floored crinos hisses and spits as he flails savagely like a cornered, well, like a cornered racooon.
Sepdet bites a yelp as she scrabbles backwards, shifting up, getting a ripped shoulder and a neat checkerboard of slashes across her stomach for her trouble.
+shift crinos
Sepdet contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
You shift into Crinos form.
Thorn slumps carefully to his feet, the blood on his claws trailing down his pale-skinned arms. He remains hunched over, growling at the back of his throat and he moves in towards the Strider. A line of his own blood runs across his shoulder where Sepdet managed to find purchase momentarily.
On the eastern curve, Ilya pads in and looks over at the battle on the mound.
At the center, Al Harsin continues to watch silently.
Sepdet is silent again as she steps to close the distance with body turned at a fencer's angle to Thorn, presenting the least possible strike zone. She makes an upward-scoop of a claw-slash, a feint for his upper chest or chin that in fact is aimed at his eyes.
On the eastern curve, Ilya heads into the center.
Thorn grunts in pain as his temple is laid open by Sepdet's claws. The Ritemaster dances back a few steps, ducking even more carefully behind his guarding talons. He blinks a few times as the blood tries to wind its way into his eyes.
At the center, Deepsprings flicks an ear absently to Ilya, her attention on Sepdet and Thorn.
At the center, Ilya contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
At the center, Ilya shifts into Homid form.
Near the Pool, Dylan appears in a glimmer of light.
Sepdet lets her feet's follow-through carry her slightly past Thorn's left side, where she partly turns on her back foot to half-face him and slash at the side of his neck.
Near the Pool, A tall, lean figure bearing a long staff emerges from the glimmering shadows above the pool.
At the center, Anpwhotep contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
On the southern curve, Fire-Eater looks over at the Pool, ears lifting slightly.
At the center, Anpwhotep shifts into Glabro form.
Sepdet blinks and suddenly bellows in a voice not at all like her own, but...deep, base, male, reverberating across the Wheel like thunder, ~My god, HORUS!~
Long distance to Thorn: Sepdet doesn't think you've ever heard Kit's weird 'gift' to her... sounding like James Earl Jones when she gets into combat.
Near the Pool, Dylan steps to shore, and freezes, staring at the earth mound.
At the center, Al Harsin cranes his neck, eye twitching, looking around the Wheel.
At the center, Ilya looks around.
At the center, Michael Powers scans.
Maury's shoulders twitch, and the grey eyes light with curiousity, but the girl's discipline keeps her attention on the fight.
At the center, Deepsprings sniffs the air and her ear swivels slightly, scanning for new presences.
On the western curve, Jalal moves his muzzle, staring at the space beyond the Pool, but with little evident excitement.
Thorn's instinctive reaction serves him well, and Sepdet's slash catches only air as he ducks away from her. Backing up once again, the Silver Fang stumbles slightly as Sepdet cries out in such an alien voice.
Thorn pages: Was that a 'my god, it's Horus?' or a call to the god Horus?
You paged Thorn with 'That was a 'my god, it's Horus.''.
Sepdet doesn't even wait to see what effect her bellow has, already lashing out with a leg-sweep-kick to try and rip her elder's legs out from under him again.
You paged Thorn with 'I mean, "look, there goes Superman" would've been too obvious a distraction.'.
From afar, Elizabeth Grins. "Secret Coyote Weapon away!"
From afar, Thorn considers. "To be honest, I don't think Thorn'll fall for this, either. He's too perceptive, you see."
You paged Thorn with 'Fine with me; just had to try it!'.
Near the Pool, Dylan stares, appalled, at the fight on the earthmound, and takes several steps toward the center.
On the southern curve, Marc comes in from the woodland to the south.
Thorn is only fazed by the diversion for the briefest of instants, and when Sepdet comes in for her attack, he is prepared. Already low to the ground due to his crouch, Thorn's taloned hand blocks the leg sweep and the Ritemaster hooks his claws in an attempt to gain purchase on Sepdet's exposed leg.
Thorn pages: He's trying to catch your leg.
Long distance to Thorn: Sepdet sees he's about as quick as she is and stronger, so...
Thorn pages: No... you're quicker and we're just as strong as each other.
Thorn pages: Only thing Thorn's got going for him in this move is his skill with his claws, and the unexpectedness of the attempt.
On the southern curve, Marc smiles when he sees Elizabeth. "Hi."
Near the Pool, Dylan heads into the center.
On the southern curve, Fire-Eater glances over her shoulder at the newcomer before quickly returning her attention to the duel at the Mound.
At the center, Michael Powers continues watching the fight.
Sepdet seizes on a desperation tactic, actually letting him catch her leg and following the direction of his tug to try and drive her clawed foot into his face.
Long distance to Thorn: Sepdet's player always gets her feet caught when she tries kicks. Sepdet wouldn't be entirely surprised--though she feels a bit stupid--that it happened. ;)
From afar, Thorn chuckles, then thinks. "Er... a Crinos' face is mostly teeth?"
On the southern curve, Elizabeth says "Hi, Marc." She watches the mound quietly. "How goes?"
At the center, Dylan moves forward, distress clear on his face. He looks at the others at the center. "Why--?" His eyes go back to the fight.
On the western curve, Jalal turns his head a little to watch Dylan as he comes toward the center. He lowers his head slightly, then returns his attention to the duel.
On the southern curve, Marc shrugs. "It's going."
Long distance to Thorn: Sepdet yeep. Yeah. But teeth break. Ouch.
Thorn pages: We're both gonna be hurting. Mind if I pose that?
You paged Thorn with 'Go ahead.'.
At the center, Deepsprings flicks an ear at Dylan. Rank challenge.
On the southern curve, Elizabeth looks up at Marc. "You okay?"
On the northern curve, Therru emerges from the thin treeline to the north.
At the center, Michael Powers responds, with total lack of emotion, "Challenge. Rank."
At the center, Al Harsin looks back at the fight, smirking slightly.
At the center, Dylan looks at Deepsprings, then at Michael. It takes a moment for the sense of their words to percolate through, then he relaxes somewhat, and looks back to the mound again.
On the southern curve, Marc says "Been better, been worse. How about you?"
On the southern curve, Elizabeth drops her voice to a whisper.
Thorn's caught by surprise as Sepdet's clawed crashes into his mouth. With a wail of pain he bites down on the offending foot, his eyes scrunched shut in agony and the dark veins of his neck throbbing alongside corded tendons.
Thorn pages: Pull your foot back, with a canine tooth stuck in it, maybe?
On the northern curve, Therru sits down in the shadows, her fur ruffled unhappily.
On the southern curve, Marc chuckles at Elizabeth's words.
On the southern curve, Elizabeth tips her head at Marc quizzically.
At the center, Dylan winces, watching.
At the center, Al Harsin looks over at Therru, and gives her a cordial nod, then looks back at the fight.
Sepdet snarls as she twists to drag her foot out, one tooth stuck in the bloody mess. Her right knee wobbles as she brings the foot down, skipping back a few steps to clear space and catch a breath.
On the northern curve, Therru flicks her gaze and her ear at the center, greeting Al Harsin back politely if a little distractedly.
Thorn pages: Thorn's as close to frenzy as he's ever going to get. I'm gonna charge you, swinging wildly.
On the western curve, Jalal's attention wanders from the challenge-duel to the wolf crouched at the northern rim. His eyes stay focused there for a few seconds before an abrupt flurry of movement on the Mound draws his gaze back to the fight.
Long distance to Thorn: Sepdet was just considering feigning a fall and rolling, about now.
Thorn pages: Thorn'll lumber past, turn and charge again?
Long distance to Thorn: Sepdet wants to make a grab for his tail as he goes past. It's such a cute tail. If that suits you, go for it...I'll pose my fall.
On the southern curve, Elizabeth grins.
On the southern curve, Marc looks at ELizabeth curiously.
Thorn, maddened by pain, lurches towards the source of his agony. Most of his reason seems to have left him, and he howls discordantly as he charges. The bloody mess in his mouth makes the howl an awful gurgling sound.
Sepdet's right leg suddenly buckles under her and she goes down, dropping to her left knee with claws up and out defensively.
Thorn, not thinking too well, stumbles past Sepdet as she falls out of his path.
At the center, Al Harsin says, "Uh oh."
At the center, Al Harsin contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Sepdet makes a crazy deep-throated yip, and lunges to latch onto Thorn's tail.
At the center, Al Harsin shifts into Glabro form.
On the southern curve, Fire-Eater sits up a bit straighter.
At the center, Ilya says "Looks it'll be over soon, one way or the other."
At the center, Deepsprings tenses.
At the center, Blight-Render lets himself slip toward the war form just a bit, and watches Thorn carefully.
On the southern curve, Elizabeth winces as she looks back towards the mound, and lifts her hands up.
At the center, Michael Powers walks toward the mound. Slowly.
On the southern curve, Fire-Eater watches Maury carefully, alert for any motion on the Philodox's part.
On the southern curve, Marc looks over at the mound.
You paged Thorn with 'Grrrr. Damn Protect Sepdet Club. :/'.
From afar, Thorn chuckles. "You lose if they interfere in any way, you know?"
Long distance to Thorn: Sepdet will KILL them. Aiiie. No she won't. Keeping herself focussed on Thorn's enough of a job; I doubt she's noticed them.
On the southern curve, Elizabeth nods once at Marc. "And Sepdet."
At the center, Dylan grips his walking stick tightly, and keeps from moving.
On the southern curve, Marc says "I know her."
On the southern curve, Elizabeth nods at Marc, watching the Mound.
Thorn's charge is brought up short by Sepdet's grasp on his tail, and if he were not drawing himself to a stop, his momentum would have torn the tail out by the root. As it is, Thorn screams again, and twists about ferociously, trying to face Sepdet and launch himself at her.
On the western curve, Jalal tilts his head, almost casually, as he continues to stare at the Earth Mound.
Thorn pages: Unbeknownst to all, Thorn has a Protect Thorn Club that could win the challenge for you. We'll see how it goes.
Sepdet releases the tail and holds her pose one-knee-on-ground for a dreadful moment, teeth clenching, then bursts upward with both claws cupping sky trying to rocket up straight into his throat as the enraged Fang looms over.
Maury stirs, the grey eyes staring at the pair with sudden intensity. She, too, is tense, but holds ot her position grimly.
Thorn pages: This is gonna be bloody, methinks. :-/
At the center, Michael Powers stands and watches.
On the southern curve, Elizabeth exhales, and turns away, as if not quite being willing to watch any more.
On the southern curve, Elizabeth goes home.
On the southern curve, Marc heads south, out of the Wheel and into the forest.
Long distance to Thorn: Sepdet sighs ruefully. My character's clever, but I'm not skilled enough to think as fast as I might to use non-bloody tricks. (Finds herself thinking wistfully of her early kailindo lessons with Dark-Dancer, which I stopped when the wizzes started cracking down on Twinkville.)
From afar, Thorn chuckles. "You're doing fine. The problem is that your advantage, and most of the advantage of Kailindo, applies when you keep your distance and attacking in short thrusts. Let's have a last, nastily bloody bout here, then Sepdet can pull back, and keep her distance from Thorn by shifting to Hispo so she can move. She'll keep distance long enough for Thorn to regain reason. What say?"
From afar, to Thorn, Michael Powers, Fire-Eater, Sepdet, Jalal, Dylan, Deepsprings, Blight-Render, and Therru, Maury idles, alas. If anything bizarre happens, Thorn can pose her intervening or trying to (like if someone submits and the other keeps going).
You paged Thorn with 'Good. Don't want this to start looking like Get-vs-Get. Go for the blood, and I'll drop back.'.
As Sepdet launches upwards, Thorn crashes down. The two meet in a howling snarl of claws. Blood literally sprays from the two combatants as they desperately fight.
From afar, Thorn watches Anp. "Cue?"
You paged Thorn with 'I'll wait for his reaction (he /will/ have one...) for a moment, then wriggle out and roll away looking bloody. Ah, the skin colors make a nice visual picture, you know?'.
From afar, Thorn chuckles. "It does make for a rather artful, if gory, scene."
You paged Thorn with 'Erk, takin' him too long. I'm beating the retreat now.'.
From afar, Thorn nods. "The better part of valor."
Sepdet's moves are hard to distinguish in the flailing tooth-and-claw tumble of night black, moon white, and red all over the place. Suddenly the little Strider breaks free--blood matting her fur and old scars making it well near impossible to tell how deep her wounds are--and makes a wobbling beeline for the far side of the earth mound, turning and dropping to her more habitual shape with shoulders heaving in silent deep breaths.
+shift glabro
Sepdet contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
You shift into Glabro form.
Cleared.
Thorn pages: You know, with a mauled foot you'll have much better mobility in Hispo or Lupus?
Long distance to Thorn: Sepdet smacks her forehead, trying to visualize all this in her head. This is a point. Well, if Thorn lunges again, she'll drop down to small and get out of the way.
From afar, Thorn nods. "All right, but normally insta-shifts take Rage. I don't really mind, though."
On the western curve, Jalal looks upward toward the gibbous moon, gauging the time. With one last glance toward the earth mound, he rises and pads silently away, disappearing swiftly into the trees.
On the western curve, Jalal heads west, out past the rim of the Wheel.
Thorn scrambles after Sepdet as she pulls away, but when she frees herself he stops and remains there on all fours, panting. His blood-pink eyes follow the Strider as she moves away, and he remains still, ready to leap to his feet, but momentarily resting and recovering his strength. Blood courses down his body from a myriad of claw and tooth wounds.
Sepdet holds her stance for a moment too, just getting her wind back. Her gaze meets her opponent's in wary, still defiant challenge, as she hastily looks him up and down.
You paged Thorn with 'Thank you. Now I'm trying to figure out if we can wrap this up... I'm still not sure who's winning, but Sep's got to be tiring.'.
Thorn pages: She does, yes. Thorn's tiring too, bit not as quickly. Our wounds are probably fairly even, with me half-blind, and you crippled.
Thorn rises slowly to his feet, and he unfolds to his full height. The pale canvas of his skin accentuates the lurid flame of his wounds, and pain is clear in his eyes. Raising his muzzle he howls defiantly, then he once again charges Sepdet.
Sepdet pales on her pinker patches of skin and goes low, again conserving her movements, again, wating til the last second she dares to try and trip up the barrelling Fang.
+shift hispo
Sepdet contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
You shift into Hispo form.
Set.
Long distance to Thorn: Sepdet doesn't see any other way to get him to submit except get him down where she can latch jaws on his throat.
Thorn pages: How's this for a plan? Thorn attacks Sepdet again, and again they go to the ground in the beginning of another bloody, this time possibly fatal, engagement. Then, as things look dire for both of them, Thorn's Purity spirit intervenes, thrusting Sepdet away and healing some of Thorn's wounds. You win.
Thorn pages: Thorn has no control over the Purity spirit, you see...
Long distance to Thorn: Sepdet buh. That sounds beautiful. (player beams, having gone into this hoping desperately and not expecting to win.)
Thorn steps right into Sepdet's outstretched leg, but instead of falling past her, he falls into her. He lashes out clumsily with his claws, and bellows in pain as the two combatants fall into what may be a lethal embrace.
Sepdet snarls like a cornered dog, rage and weariness speaking volumes behind that sound of desperation, and latches onto any part of Thorn her teeth or claws can reach with battle-madness finally breaking through Strider control.
At the center, Blight-Render watches quietly, head cocked.
At the center, Michael Powers watches.
At the center, Deepsprings eyes do not leave the combatants.
A blinding flare of white light precedes, by a mere instant, a massive concussion. As visions clear, Thorn and Sepdet can be seen lying, both bleeding, several yards from each other. A faint white light still plays along the lines of Thorn's body.
At the center, Dylan's head jerks back, eyes wide.
Thorn pages: Play dead, why don't we? Give 'em a good scare.
At the center, Deepsprings twitches slightly.
Blight-Render pages to Thorn and Sepdet: Do I have any Theurgely idea what that flash was?
At the center, Millie pads in from the southeast and sniffs around a bit to determine who's about.
At the center, Blight-Render heads northwest to the mound of earth.
Blight-Render has arrived.
At the center, Michael Powers watches to see who recovers first.
Sepdet lies utterly motionless, four legs sprawled out in a painfully irregular tangle limp against the bloody dirt.
On the southern curve, Fire-Eater gives a startled 'wurf' and stares up at the Mound.
At the center, Michael Powers heads northwest to the mound of earth.
Michael Powers has arrived.
Blight-Render slowly makes his way up the Mound, and squats down a few yards from the combatants. He peers at them to see if either is still breathing.
Michael Powers contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Michael Powers shifts into Hispo form.
You paged Blight-Render with 'Some sort of a spirit, Thorn said.'.
A faint gurgle of blood froths at the corner of Thorn's mouth.
On the northern curve, Therru shifts unhappily, watching.
Anpwhotep sniffs around each combatant, without touching either.
Anpwhotep pages: You breathing at all?
Thorn pages: We'd both be breathing, though slowly.
You paged Anpwhotep with 'Yep, just slowly and irregularly.'.
At the center, Millie looks curiously over at the mound of earth.
Blight-Render says, ~So what do we do now? I hate ties.~
On the southern curve, Fire-Eater heads into the center.
Anpwhotep thinks we get them patched up and let them finish it when they're healed.
At the center, Dylan's knuckles are white with his grip on the staff, but he still does not move toward the Earth Mound, though his eyes do not move away from it.
Anpwhotep contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Anpwhotep shifts into Glabro form.
At the center, Deepsprings fairly shivers with tension, but she does not move from her place on the ground.
Blight-Render looks around for a Philodox. "I think someone cheated, but I guess we'll see." He moves to the Fostern, and reaches out with his huge hands.
Michael Powers says "There. If we leave them as is, Thorn will die and Sepdet will live. I, however, am unwilling to lose a good Theurge."
You paged Thorn with 'Maury's had to disconnect, but she'd probably mention the little problem with Thorn's method of success?'.
The white light continues to play along Thorn's body. In its wake, blood seems to evaporate from the surface of his pale skin.
From afar, Thorn nods. She would.
Michael Powers says "Dylan. Are you up to healing yet?"
Blight-Render pauses as he reaches out towards Thorn. ~This is creepy.~
At the center, Dylan looks silently at Michael. After a moment he says, "Didn't they choose to be hurt?"
Michael Powers eyes the crawling light. "We'll figure it out later."
The white light flares up towards Blight-Render's hand, not touching it, but coming close.
Michael Powers says "They did. However, *I* choose to not let either die."
At the center, Deepsprings tilts her head. I can help, if you wish it.
At the center, Dylan moves slowly toward the mound.
Thorn pages: You're welcome to regain consciousness anytime. I'm gonna leave Thorn out of it, so I can get dinner. :-)
Michael Powers nods. "Thank you."
At the center, Dylan heads northwest to the mound of earth.
Dylan has arrived.
Blight-Render chews on his lower lip. ~Fangs are so *weird*.~ He moves his hands into the light, and attempts to place his palms on the Ritemaster's chest. ~Easy now, Uncle Al ain't gonna hurt you...~
At the center, Deepsprings pushes herself up and pads to the earthmound.
Michael Powers says "Blight-Render, any suggestions you have would be appreciated. In the meanwhile, I'll tend Sepdet. She's less injured."
At the center, Deepsprings heads northwest to the mound of earth.
Deepsprings has arrived.
Sepdet peels open one eye and stares blearily, unfocussed, all along the ground until she blinks at the light. Her ears splay, and there is something very like a yelp of laughter as the little Strider cries doggedly: No toys. No toys! She seems barely aware of those around her.
Dylan walks toward the group, looks first at Sepdet, then at Thorn, then at Michael. He settles himself by Sepdet's side, laying the walking stick on the earth beside him.
Deepsprings chuffs softly. Who should I help? I have healing ability.
Michael Powers pages: How broken are you?
Long distance to Thorn and Michael Powers: Sepdet guesses she's prolly down to near-incapacitated. That was messy.
Blight-Render doesn't seem to hear Michael; his single eye is fixated on the strangely glowing Silver Fang.
Michael Powers looks from Sepdet to Thorn and nods. "Dylan appears to be helping Sepdet, so we should patch up Thorn."
Maury approaches the scene and says, tightly, "I don't know if it will matter... but if that, light, was Thorn's, he broke the terms of his own challenge."
Dylan's expression is carved in stone, his eyes are tired. He reaches out to touch Sepdet gently, closes his eyes, and begins.
Michael Powers nods up to Maury. "You judged it. But I don't know who's it was. We were all too far away."
Thorn pages to Michael Powers, Sepdet, Dylan, Deepsprings, and Blight-Render: Thorn spoofs Maury with permission she gave earlier.
Deepsprings pads over to Thorn's side and looks up at Blight-Render questioningly.
Blight-Render crinkles his nose as he reaches through the light, and basically repeats himself, ~This is so flaky.~ His palms make contact with the scored yet unbloodied skin.
Michael Powers kneels in position to grip Thorn's head. Eyes the light, takes a deep breath, and grips Thorn's head in a cervical support position. "OK. Deepsprings. His lungs are damaged. That much, I can tell. If you can heal those, he should recover on his own.
Thorn coughs weakly, pressing into Blight-Render's hand, then again with more strength. Soon, he curls up into a ball and begins to cough ferociously, painfully. Blood froths at his mouth, and the white light runs eerily about his body.
Blight-Render says softly, with a little giggle, ~Don't worry, this'll be cake.~ His hands Blight-Render thumps Thorn on the back. ~That's right, out with the blood. Geez, it's easy healing you calm fuckers.~
Deepsprings begins working on Thorns chest. She licks the wounds carefully, a soft white light emanating from her mouth and flowing over Thorn's chest
Deepsprings backs off when she realizes that there are enough helping Thorn.
Thorn stills after a while, and the white light seems to fade from view. It has left only raw looking wounds. The metis croaks, ~Sorry... Sepdet... yuf. You are Fostern. Purity... lost control.~ His bloody-pink eyes flicker shut and his breathing stills.
On the northern curve, Therru blinks.
Blight-Render releases the hacking Thorn, and lets Deepsprings do whatever detail work she wants to on the wounds. "The patient will live. No, wait, I think I put his bronchial tubes in backwards!" He snickers at his little joke. "No, wait, he's talkin'. Must've done it right."
Thorn pages to Michael Powers, Sepdet, Dylan, Deepsprings, and Blight-Render: I have to go, get dinner and all. Thorn'll remain out cold for the rest of the evening. Thanks all! That was fun. :-)
You paged Thorn with 'Many, many thanks. That was fun. I don't want to do that again for a long time, but that was er--lovely. Sort of. :)'.
From afar, Thorn chuckles. "It was fun. Thanks."
Thorn has disconnected.
Michael Powers stands. "Sounds like a complete challenge to me."
Blight-Render looks over at Sepdet with a pleasant smile. "So, yuf, you need any patchwork?" He flexes his fingers.
Michael Powers nods to Blight-Render. "Next time, I'll remember to ask, before assuming you're a spirit specialist."
Sepdet's ears slowly return to full alert, her eyes a little too wide and wild. Lost control. She struggles under Dylan's hands, starting to regain muscular control as he mends. There is a weak whine, something very like a pup's happy laugh. She doesn't care. She doesn't care, whatever people can spare...
Deepsprings shrugs slightly and pads over to look at Sepdet.
Michael Powers smiles. (Looks like his face might crack.) "Guess what, Star. You outrank your crotchety old dad now."
Blight-Render smiles at Powers. "Jack of all trades, me. Lig is the specialist, but Owl likes his children to learn what they can..." He trails off as he watches Dylan. "Whoops, sorry, buddy, didn't mean to offer before you wuz through."
Slowly, wounds come together beneath Dylan's hands. At first he seems to be having trouble focussing, but as Sepdet begins to move, his control improves, and, placing one hand firmly on an uninjured spot on Sepdet's chest to hold her down, he finishes the healing more smoothly. When he is done the wounds are not gone, but neither are they gaping holes. He draws a ragged breath and opens his eyes.
Michael Powers eyes Dylan critically. "Get some rest. I'll fetch food later. You're about to end up laying next to these two."
Sepdet seems weak and almost silly from bloodloss, and subsides under the restraining hand like a tired pillow. The tip of her tail sketches the ground sporadically in a silent bemused patter.
Dylan turns a steady gaze on Michael for a moment, then down at Sepdet, but he doesn't answer. Taking up his walking stick, he pushes himself to his feet and moves slowly away.
Blight-Render watches Sepdet with a combination of amusement, and something a bit more intense. "You oughta come by the farm when you get back from your trip, Sepdet. There's stuff we can talk about."
At the center, Millie tires of whatever is going on at the mound, sniffs tenatively at Fire-Eater, then belts out her rather loud introduction. I am Howls-at-Sky! Galliard! Of the Glass Walkers!
Michael Powers looks toward the center and murmurs, "Well, she howls, at least..."
Sepdet glances up at Dylan uncertainly, then drops her eyes and closes them. Her ears twitch at the sudden howl as she nods weary thanks or acknowledgment to Blight-Render.
At the center, Fire-Eater listens to Millie with an expression of mild concern, and then sniffs her. Fire-Eater, the Scout for Crisium, greets you. Of the Red Talons.
Dylan heads into the center.
Dylan has left.
Blight-Render circles around to the south, then makes his way home.
At the center, Dylan moves past the two lupus, head low.
At the center, Millie tips an ear back. What is a Red Talon?
At the center, Dylan heads southwest, to the spot where the winds swirl.
Deepsprings ear flickers slightly at Millie's introduction, but most of her attention is on Sepdet. She chuffs warmly. Congratulations.
At the center, Fire-Eater's ear tilts up, and her head lifts with a curious expression. I will give you the simple answer, which will not take all moon-cycle. We are the tribe made up entirely of pure wolves--we guard Gaia and her creatures from the Weaver, and try to keep the humans from doing too much harm.
Michael Powers crouches beside Sepdet and waits.
In the Windy Spot, Dylan folds himself to the ground, cross-legged, walking stick laid across his knees. He closes his eyes.
At the center, Millie looks vaguely puzzled by that answer. Harm? They have nice places to live and much food. Humans are good.
Sepdet considers her feet. She considers them deeply, and for a long time after Dylan has left. Finally she glances up. Hope and craziness do strange things. Will you put me over there?
Sepdet indicates where Thorn is passed out.
Michael Powers slips arms around Sepdet and moves her to rest next to Thorn.
Sepdet's tail thumps again. Lost control. Thorn? Still dazed, she flicks an ear wolflike to dismiss the near-impossibilty of what just happened, nuzzles Michael's hand, and drops her muzzle to her paws. Eyes quickly close again.
At the center, Fire-Eater's ruff rises as if electrically charged. She inhales slowly through flared nostrils then exhales before stating, simply, NO.
Deepsprings looks up over at Michael Powers and Sepdet and then around and then wuffs. Run well, before padding away.