Match of the Millennium

Description: Having defeated the Raven Guard three times; Lotus finds herself as the celebrated guest of the Patriarch of the House of Podiebrad. After three days of being nursed back to health, the constant questioning finally comes to an end with a delightful tea party. It starts like a birthday party. But it soon becomes clear it may in fact be the opposite of that.

[BELA]
Lotus would have felt the true princess treatment over the three days.

Certainly, after escaping the Raven Guards for almost a week, she had been fighting for her life. She had survived the trap set by Zsa Zsa in the Hall of Mirrors, overcome the showdown at the Gilded Tomato with the Raven Guards, and managed to win the duel with Commander Szabolc upon the sands of Sound Beach. And her prize was what was happening now: an invitation by Bela von Podiebrad to rest, relax, and recover in their camp by the harbor district. There, far away from the soldiers in her own quarters, she was tended by Zsa Zsa, who was more than happy to play and talk with Lotus; the pair had found a kind of psychopathic kindred spirit between them. Once in a while, Bela would come, and ask his questions about Lord Dohma, and then, it was back to R&R with Zsa Zsa. The answers were many, many 'I don't knows' of course, though questions about more plain details like 'how does he dress' and 'how does he behave' were more clearly answered. But no frustration came from the Patriarch.

How could Bela be anything but pleased?

The third day was coming to its end, and it was drawing into a celebration. The context of an Unbirthday party, with tea, cakes, and pasteries all abound a long table at a local community center. It was plastic pop-up tables and stacking chairs all along; though ribbons were hanging overhead, it was a rather quick arrangement. But Zsa Zsa was eagerly trundling around, stitches and all, pouring the tea-soaked wine that was a Podiebrad favorite. Bela was laughing and chattering, dressed in his ornate robes of purple with his jangling jewelry of gold and silver. The white-haired man was eagerly speaking with Lotus as he asks some more idle questions. He was happy.

But the soldiers were less jovial.

The victims of Lotus were all at the table, at least those who could still sit. A large man wore a fresh eyepatch as he stood by the door, arms crossed. Szabolc, Lukacs, and a third are sitting together, wearing thick red scarves over their necks. One poor soul was struggling with an oxygen tank. Stitches, scars, and lacerations were the grim decorations of the soldiers, as they remained in their seats. Only one was eagerly enjoying the cake.

And every single one is staring daggers at the Darkstalker at the left hand side of Bela.

"Quite, quite, yes, yes!" Bela trills as he sits his chin out. Zsa Zsa moves like a ghost, dabbing a napkin to clean some crumbs off. "So Lotus, Lotus, it has been three days." He glances back over to the monster at his left, a faint smile on his lips.

"Do you feel refreshed, revitalized, and recovered?"

[LOTUS]
For her part, Lotus is actually enjoying herself as well. Few manage to genuinely vex her enough to hold a grudge, and her healing capabilities make caring about physical injuries nonexistant. So being around those formerly trying to catch or kill her after the fact doesn't really matter in her mind. Even if they DID suddenly turn on and overwhelm her, she had made her mark they would never forget.

And that was good enough for her!

"Quite. Zsa zsa has been so much fun. Healing seems finihed as far as i can tell". She takes a swig of the tea-wine, giving the soldiers glaring a wink before looking back to Bela "You've definately come through on your part. Speaking of which, did you have any more questions to which i may have answers? I would hate to think i hadn't fulfilled mine entirely".

[BELA]
There is almost a mass -flinch- when Lotus winks.

The glowering hatred of the soldiers just continued to boil and steam, as Bela seems oblivious of it. Taking another heady sip, he leans in his chair, giving a hearty sigh. "Good, good. As a matter of fact, I have asked every single question I can think of. On you, Jedah, and what so little you know of him and his motives. It almost seems you are completely in the dark of him. Outside, of course, what you have experienced personally!" Bela sounds so bright about that, but he looks towards Szabolc. He leans forward, as the commander averts his eyes. The Patriatch gives a small huff, as he draws out a thin stiletto blade, ornately crafted. Holding it by the blade, he rolls it, staring at it's craftsmanship as he almost sighs.

"It seems then, Lotus, that we are coming to an end of your little vacation, wouldn't you say?"

[LOTUS]
She sighs as well "So it would seem, though conversation is only ONE way of getting to know someone, hence the other half of my conditions". She gives a broad smile at the soldiers again "I've come to know several of the rest of your crew quite well!". She slowly looks back to Bela "I'd like to meet the real you, too". That familiar intensity returns to her eyes, combining with her grin.

It passes after a brief time, her tone returning to what passes for normal "After that? I dunno. Depends on what happens".

[BELA]
The shift in tone gives Bela a moment pause.

Oh, he doesn't stop his jovial bemusement. But as she makes her insights on conversations, he can't help but have a moment of melancholy. He looks at his men... and all of them were looking away. It was time, then. He lets out a sigh, when she asks to see the real him. "Oh, don't worry about that, best beloved!" Bela states chirpily. "I well intend, as a parting gift, to show you the true self. But don't worry about what comes next. I have that all taken care of!"

And then, he snaps his fingers.

The big man at the door moves slightly, as the soldiers slowly begin to rise from their chairs. Zsa Zsa is behind his chair, pulling it out as Bela rises, holding a cup of teawine. "I am actually rather delighted you made that offer. See, I am not satisfied with the answers you have given me over the last three days. They are not useful enough to be, dear sweet Lotus. I had hoped you would have been more useful, but you haven't! And we have a saying for our bastards, that well applies to a Darkstalker like you. You are either useful, or you are dead. And you have been so wonderful these last three days, I wouldn't want you dead, best beloved." He gives a sip, and a relaxed gasp of pleasure at the taste.

"So I well intend to beat you within an inch of your life."

His tone does not shift from the bright, uplifting noble air of majesty. But as he remains standing, Zsa Zsa begins to brush off the rest of his crumbs. "And after I have broken your body, I intend to hand you over to the men you've humiliated so they can savagely torture you. And if and when I am finally satisfied after every drop of knowledge is wrung out, then you can enjoy the rest of your miserable existence bound and experimented by the Novus Orbis Librarium." When Zsa Zsa is done, she takes the cup out of Bela's hand, his expression still gentle. Zsa Zsa herself was getting more and more excited, blushing as she turns her attention at Lotus. Bela bows slightly, asiding to the monster. "Normally, it's quite difficult to find a polite way to initiate a furious beating like so." Zsa Zsa is behind Lotus's chair, eagerly ready to pull it out to allow the monster out. Bela is striding out, as the soldiers begin to form a circle, the exits blocked by the wounded and angry. The man holds his arms out, beckoning as an indigo light flows across his jewelry.

"But you've found a way, you cunning little monster you!"

[LOTUS]
Lotus stops dead. She staaaaaaaares at him, blood draining from her face, eyes dialating as terror floods her. The doors are blocked! What is she-

Nope. Couldn't keep a straight face.

This reaction stops as suddenly as it starts as Lotus begins to laaaaaaaaaaugh. Loud and raucous! Mark Hamills Joker full-on insane laughter.

Her eyes lock onto him as she stands, laughter still rocking her smaller form "I KNEW this would happen. It's JUST as i predicted. You didn't disappoint in the least!". Her laughter slowly diminishes as she walks completely unafraid to the 'ring', not even intending any kind of escape "See, i figured if you were after me so bad you would send all of them, sooner or later it was inevitable. At least THIS was SO much more amusing!". She grips her head as laughter comes once again, the threat of the results completely unphasing her. After another few seconds she regains control of herself, and slowly pulls out her weapons, eyes intense with glee.

"The only TRUE way to know someone is to fight them. COME INTRODUCE ME! HEEEEEEEHEEHEEHEEEEEE!".

[BELA]
Zsa Zsa stifles a giggle, as Lotus breaks into her maddening laugh.

Bela, however, remains calm. He just stands fast, as he sweeps his arms. There is a jangling sound, as his jewelry shakes. At first, he stiffens his arms, holding a strong, steady stance, with his palms out flat, letting the indigo light build up. And then, he relaxes, dropping low into a crouch and letting his arms sweep around. That is a very familiar Raven Guardsmen stance, the same as the rank and file. Without, of course, any proper sense of armor or gauntlets. Drawing in a deep breath, the Patriarch lets the energy flows around him, as he sways his painted nails around, rattling his jewelry as he moves so smoothly. "No." He says softly.

"Come introduce me."

COMBATSYS: Bela has started a fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Bela             0/-------/-------|

[LOTUS]
Lotus stops for a moment, the gears clearly turning.....

She abruptly resheathes her daggers, holds up a finger to say 'one moment', and walks back over to the table. She puts an arm around Zsa Zsa, gives her hair a yank, and gives her a biiiiiig long kiss that lingers for a moment. Finishing this, she leaps up on the table next to the woman, redraws her knives, turns to face Bela, and LEAPS into the air towards him!

She clears the heads of everyone forming the circle between herself and him, manic grin, and a shriek of mad glee!

COMBATSYS: Lotus has joined the fight here.

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Lotus            0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Bela

As she comes down from the leap, Lotus aims to implant her daggers into the small, open areas near the collarbones while landing on Bela himself!

COMBATSYS: Bela fully avoids Lotus' Catch the Prey.

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Lotus            0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0             Bela

[BELA]
Bela is patient, for his purposes.

While the outrage and grumbles from the soldiers in unavoidable (though one guy goes woo hoo), Zsa Zsa herself can't stop giggling, blushing bright red as she did return it. Her heart was for the Patriarch first, of course. But her body? Well, you always must be useful! Lotus clears the heads, and Bela seems to watch the diving monster with cool disinterest. And right before she reaches him? His eyes go wide.

And he is gone.

Lotus would pick up the movement with the other senses. The shifting of wind, the pulse of his feet on the ground. But as far as sight, as scent? He disappears in brief outline of indigo, rolling underneath in impossible speeds. Lotus doesn't even have time to touch the ground as the surge of energy boils out, his rings clinking together as he is behind her. He reaches out to seize her, his stance suddenly shifting upright, breaking from the swaying, nimble dance of the Raven Guard. Should he get a hold of her? Bela would snap her up in the air by her leg and arm, like a ram at the sacrifice. And then, finish by slamming her straight down into a bonfire of swirling indigo energy. Well no, the attack would finish with that.

Bela himself would finish by swaying his arms up and down in rhythmic dance, drawing the energy back around him.

COMBATSYS: Bela successfully hits Lotus with Guilt Offering EX.

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Lotus            0/-------/----===|=======\-------\0             Bela

[LOTUS]
Wow! Even to Lotus, THAT was FAST!

She only barely is able to track it, but is far too slow to compensate. The hand closes around her ankle, and she is swung around and slammed hard, the burning of the energy raking like razorblades through her being!

Not enough to put her down so quickly, she pushes herself up to a kneel, and leaps again into the air up and over to him! As she descends, she swings in a downwards slash with one of her knives. No words are spoken, as none are needed. Her full attention is on his, and her own, movements!

COMBATSYS: Bela blocks Lotus' Power Strike.

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Lotus            0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0             Bela

[BELA]
Bela is still making his dance, by the time Lotus counters.

Almost distracted by his own gyrations, the man humming to himself as he sways, he brings an arm up to Lotus's aerial slash. The knife comes down to his arm, and should very well be as effective as catching a knife with your forearm.

But the jewelry...

Lotus would be able to see it. But when her knife comes down, it connects not with flesh, but with gold and silver. A bracelet at the wrist suddenly is there, having slid in defiance to gravity up his arm. And it must have changed size, because it was as loose as it was at his wrist! He gives a small hiss, as the silver and gold only does so much to stop it from piercing. A line of blood comes down his arm, and he glances across to his soldiers-

"Watch me, Szabolc!"

The order comes, and Szabolc lifts his gaze back to the Patriarch. Bela gives a hmph of self-sastifaction, as he suddenly explodes low. Breaking hard into a tumble of indigo energy, he blazes straight for Lotus's leg. Bringing his hand out, he gives a staggering chop straight for Lotus's knee, aiming for a dislocation. He was focused hard, bringing a flash of brutal power mingled with the incredible speed. And somehow, his bangles were now wrapped around his hand. And if that wasn't enough, he would bring the tumble into a cross-legged sit, as he would bring his other hand around with two fingers out. Silver and gold thimbles, each on a finger. That, he would aim right above the same knee with pin-point pressure. It would only look like a poke wreathed in blue energy.

But it would be slicing her soul like a butcher carving a steak.

COMBATSYS: Bela successfully hits Lotus with Fierce Punch.
Grazing Hit

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Lotus            0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1             Bela

[LOTUS]
Too fast...... fighteningly fast! Lotus finally knows what everyone ELSE experiences by fighting her most of the time!

She is relishing every moment of it!

She figured the jewelry wasn't just for show..... now she knows. When the attack comes, shes familiar enough to juuuuust start to get out of the way, but is still just barely a bit too slow. The strike grazes her knee, causing a deep slash along the flesh, though does not dislocate the joint. This gets gets her out of the way fo the followup, though still causes decent damage as the area around the wound burns and bruises quickly as blood drips down her leg.

Deciding it was time to change up her pattern, Lotus begins shifting quickly around Bela, slicing at him from odd angles at a constant pace to keep him off guard and maybe find a way through his defenses. To the rest in the room, it might appear the pair are moving in blurs, too fast to make sense of!

COMBATSYS: Bela dodges Lotus' Slice and Dice.

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Lotus            1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1             Bela

[BELA]
There was something still hidden with him.

Even the imperfect attack came with such deliberate power that the Patriarch only proved the threat he was. And yet, with all his tricks and speed, he was almost toying with Lotus, almost holding back. As the two finger strike finishes, he shifts to a crouch. Lotus is a blur, and so is Bela; he rolls and leaps, flashing around the room in break neck speeds. It was like the Raven Guards in the sense... But instead of a team cycling, Bela was somehow cycling himself.

All while calling out.

"Do you see Szabolc? Do you see how you are supposed to deal with a fast creature?" Bela suddenly bounds away, leaping backwards to plant his feet on the ceiling. Holding there for only a minute, Zsa Zaa cheers. For who, it's not clear, but giving a wink, he fires straight off, rocketing towards Lotus at break neck speeds, attempting to plow her straight into the teatime table in an energy blazing dive. Should he connect?

He would rebound off her at the end, finishing with a burning blue heel drop for emphasis.

COMBATSYS: Lotus dodges Bela's Rook Takes Queen.

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Lotus            1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1             Bela

[LOTUS]
Even Lotus is breathing a bit hard at the end of that. She is taken aback for a moment when he leaps to plant himself on the ceiling, but not for long. She's seen such things before....

She leaps into the air in a perfectly-aimed arc, seeming to hang in the air as Bela shoots right beneath her into the table!

... and right into her attempted trap!

As he flies past, she takes the time to attempt to aim a properly-timed strike at his neck, hoping his speed will carry him into the blade! This might make it not go as deep, but she'll take a potential victory where she can get one right now!

COMBATSYS: Bela fails to interrupt Random Strike from Lotus with Corvus Drop.
- Power fail! -

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Lotus            1/------=/=======|=======\-------\0             Bela

[BELA]
Szabolc averts his gaze again, face turning red.

Bela for his part wasn't too worried about Szabolc. This was only a little bit about him. As the monster throws herself clear, he was almost surprised she was coming in at him, to punish his attack. Looking up, he doesn't get his second follow up kick.

And he was suddenly shifting.

Already, he was correcting, shifting himself around. It was like Superman watching the flash. His necklaces were suddenly slithering around his collar, bracing for the knives. He snaps his arms around, ready to embrace Lotus as she made her stab. It was almost perfect.

But he still had to run into the table.

Smashing into the table, Lotus gets her cut on the collar, slicing through the soft metal buffer that was there. Nicking an artery, humiliated before his men, one could imagine a number of reactions. Especially with Szabolc's barely concealed smork. But with a hand on his neck, he rises up from the mess, laughing calmly. "Lotus, Lotus, you shouldn't be having so much fun!" He jests, turning back towards the monster, lowering himself down low into a squat.

"Don't you know your life is on the line?"

[LOTUS]
Not far away, Lotus lands in a cat-like crouch facing Bela, mad yellow cat-eyes staring intensely at him like a cat eyeing a.... very large mouse?

Despite knowing she is seemingly outmatched in this bout, she is unphased "Everyone dies sooner or later. Wouldn't be the FIRST time my life was on the line. Besides, I took a nice chunk out of your folks already. At worst i can die knowing i won't be forgotten by THEM anytime soon!". Her gaze momentarily sideglances at the individuals in question, thouugh never letting him out of her vision just in case. For effect, she gives a mock-smooch towards Lukacs

That said, she abruptly spews a bright green cloud of acidic gas, which rapidly sprays towards Bela!

COMBATSYS: Lotus successfully hits Bela with Toxic Miasma.

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Lotus            1/----===/=======|=======\==-----\1             Bela

[BELA]
"Oh, not everyone."

Bela's response teases a secret. As he removes his hand from his neck, the blood oozes slower and slower, thanks to the work of the necklace. As he makes his leap, he struggles to escape from the cloud of poison... as does the soldiers. Only Zsa Zsa stays put, drinking deep of the mist, giggling as it burns her. Bela himself cannot steer clear, and finds the poison clinging to him as he rolls free of it, coughing and hissing. "I am surprised you don't use that trick in more ways!" Bela struggles out, shaking the corrosion off his jewelry. "That trick nearly wiped out a squad! You need to be more creative with what you have!" Was he still dedicated to pummeling her?

Oh yes.

Bela sudden leaps, moving just slow enough to be seen now. He was spiraling, his legs out, energy burning as an aura around him. He was firing his thin thighs straight for Lotus, attempting to snap them around her neck and bringing a full scissor takedown, complete with another explosion of indigo energy of she should hit the floor. Should that happen though?

Bela would take a moment to recline in repose, the back of his hand on his cheek.

COMBATSYS: Bela successfully hits Lotus with Medium Throw.
- Power hit! -

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Lotus            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\===----\1             Bela

[LOTUS]
%Lotus doesn't give a response, merely begins to move in and position herself to dodge the attack. The sudden drop in speed more than makes this easy for her!

Unfortunately, she is too hyped up, and the sudden shift actually ends up throwing her timing off entirely! She blinks in sudden suprise as his legs find purchase on her neck, and she goes down hard, the impact as well as the energy taking a huge toll on her, to say nothing of the loud *CRACK* her neck makes as a result. She's hurt, and hurt decently bad.

She wrenches her head free, and as he lies there reclining, she'll grab at his ankle, heft him up, spin around, and throw him with all her strength across the room in a random direction!

COMBATSYS: Bela dodges Lotus' Strong Throw.

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Lotus            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\===----\1             Bela

[BELA]
Something shifts, when that crack comes.

The Raven Guard was only just coming back, the mist having driven them from the room. Zsa Zsa was still watching, shaking her fists with frothing mouth and yellow eyes. But Bela? When he hears that crack, he has this ruthless, knowing expression in his eyes.

Piecing together his finale.

As Lotus wriggles free, he actually toys with her more. Dancing his feet close, then right out of her reach. Spinning, he sweeps his legs to break into a tumble, before coming into a stand. "Arms, legs, hands. All expendable." He coos. "But how are you supposed to keep moving, when your back is broken?" It was a taunt. He dances away one last time, before landing firmly on two legs. He stands up straight on his heels now, body erect. He draws in a deep breath. "Show me you can still keep that feisty spirit... Even as you slowly become a a paraplegic!" He sweeps his arms... And suddenly, a moan comes from all the guards, even Zsa Zsa. A smattering of indigo flames suddenly burst out from like fireflies, surging low and fast as they draw towards Bela. If one of them just so happens to graze Lotus...

COMBATSYS: Bela issues a challenge!!

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Lotus            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\===----\1             Bela

COMBATSYS: Lotus dodges Bela's Rivers Of Babylon.

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Lotus            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\-------\0             Bela

[LOTUS]
Her neck was injured, but luckily not broken, nor was her back.

At least, so far!

The moans are what give her the warning, and like a shot she's off, dodging and weaving her way in between the lights to get close as he awaits them....

Spurring herself on, she might not get another opportunity where he seems as open as he is now! Her speed goes into overdrive, and she circles him in a series of blurring movements, each applying a powerful slash at a vulnerable-looking place.... an artery here, a chink in the armor there, a tendon somewhere else!

COMBATSYS: Bela blocks Lotus' #Drawn and Quartered#.

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Lotus            0/-------/-------|=======\==-----\1             Bela

[BELA]
The real danger, was in this moment.

As the barrage of flames pass by, none connect with Lotus. Bela exhales, his body relaxing. And the soul light wink out. Stretching his arms, the rest of the soldiers seem to revive. And then, they see it. Lotus is nearly upon Bela. And there, she begins to blur around the Patriarch. The distant nobleman sweeps his arms, moving in tandem with every slash, every blazing movement. It was a sort of dance; and where ever there wasn't a bangled arm to deflect and defend against the lightning fast burst of speed? There was those damnable silver spots, instinctively moving to add armor where there was none before. But by the end of the assault, the Patriarch finally breaks away. He keeps errect, standing tall. ANd blood... blood trickles begin to form in small pools across his body. His perfect defense was not so perfect? And when he looks up to the back of his hand, where a cut had hit a vein?

A flicker of laughter comes forth.

"Well done, well done." He actually stumbles as he steps back; the fierce assault of the monster had weighed heavily on him, ticking and touching his form savagely. To say the least of his artery, his tendons. He was slowing down, even with his deft defense. Lotus was simply too strong. Her loss, his gain. "You've drawn enough blood. It's time to end this theater." He sighs, as he sweeps his arms.

And the jewelry swirls.

The silver and gold begin to slither over his body, flowing like amorphous beasts across his body. His chest expands as the gold leaf fills; the silver reforms into armlets and gauntlets across his limbs. The new silver gauntlets bear the shape of a raven's head, and they conceal his hands with each finger ending in a long talon. But the gold was swirling now, running down his arm up to his fingertips. It was reforming into 3 feet of scepter, the head of the scepter is the sculpted likeness of a raven in repose, with its wings wrapped around its sides. Golden feathers are stylized across the shaft of the scepter, with the handle being slightly thicker than the shaft. The base is flanged, with a flat disk with vague feathering at the bottom. There are hollow inserts in the eyes, beak, and base of the scepter, which long ago held jewels since lost to time. It's one thing for such a transformation to take place. But the speed of it?

Was almost a second.

Bela gives a brief bow as he brings his fingertips to his face, the silver of the gauntlet being drawn off into a beak-like mask that covers the upper portion of his face. He gives a bow, as energy floods over his body. "Now where was I... oh yes~" He coos, as his arm snaps. The scepter suddenly distends, not unlike Szabolc's own sword, as it transforms, spiraling out into a whipping lash of gold. Fluid enough to take the shape of it's owner, but just as hard as the normal metal. Bela would try to lash the whip around Lotus's torso, and draw her in. Bring her chest to chest, eye to eye, bearing that same sensual presence that he brought when he first came to her at the beach. A smirk, eyes glowing behind the mask.... before he would wrench her face down into a slam.

And pin his stiletto heel straight into the lumbar of her spine in charming domination.

COMBATSYS: Bela successfully hits Lotus with Wicked Child.
~~ Alluring Hit! ~~

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Lotus            0/-------/---<<<<|=======\=====--\1             Bela

[LOTUS]
THAAAAAAAAATS interesting!

Lotus is quite interested in what she is seeing. The way the jewelery flows and warps into new shapes. The sight of the scepter in particular is quite nifty! She even can't help but stop where she is and comment "Wow. THAT looks REALLY cool!".

Of course, this IS a fight, and she forgets herself. AGAIN! WHen the whip comes, she tries to make a hasty last-minute dodge, but fails miserably! However, she isn't going to go quietly! As he pulls her towards him, she angles herself straight as she goes, bringing her daggers towards his midsection with the added velocity intending to drive them DEEEEEP into his abdoman!

Before she has a chance to process if she is successful, shes slammed face-first to the floor, and her face contorts in an expression of manic pleasured pain as the heel is driven into her spine!

COMBATSYS: Bela instinctively blocks Lotus' Exsanguinate.

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Lotus            0/-------/--=====|=======\======-\1             Bela

[BELA]
The powers of the Patriarch had still yet to be revealed in full.

The attack was all too similar ot Szabolc; but the monster would find some respite in the change of styles. Lotus wouldn't have too long to make her swipe, but it was easier now than ever before. When she makes the slash, Bela raises an arm, and there is only silver now to defend, not silver and gold. As one drives away and off the arm, the second slips past, driving deep into the gold armor. And the armor seems mostly for show; only the silver swirling underneath is able to slow it down. Bela winces, as he brings Lotus down.

And Bela hovers over his prey, heel down hard.

Bela sneers as blood dribbles from his body; the man actually touches on his stomach, to look at the blood up close. Licking his lips, he jerks his other arm back. The scepter returns to it's shape, unwinding off Lotus, before the head shifting into a flanged shape, like a mace. Bela shoves his foot off Lotus, rolling her off to send her on her back. And then, leaping up, he attempts to pounce on top of Lotus's chest, bringing the scepter-mace down towards her head with both hands...

COMBATSYS: Lotus fails to interrupt Cloying Libation from Bela with Disabling Swipe.

[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Bela             0/-------/----===|

COMBATSYS: Lotus can no longer fight.

[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Bela             0/-------/----===|

And he -slams- the scepter upon Lotus's head.

Eyes wild, mounting on the chest of the monster, he keeps her pinned down as he slams the scepter once, twice. Three times; a hammering barrage straight upon the skull of the creature with the full force of a golden mace. There is a brief window, a brief pause, as he switches his grip. And then, with one hand, gripping Lotus by the head, he gives the last blow.

It doesn't smash.

It might have been from the stunning of the first few blows, or it might be only an illusion. But an indigo light begins to flood around, as the scepter seems to almost take no form. It goes completely fluid, completely soft, and thin. The blow to the head wasn't. It almost was like a cold, wet splash. A puddle. It doesn't stay long on Lotus's face, though. The tingling energy begins to spread.

As it goes inside.

Behind the lips, behind the gums, behind the tongue, up the nose. It could become so thin, that you would shut your mouth so tight, and the gold would force itself in the narrowest gaps. It was going deeper inside. Bela stands up, gripping Lotus's arm as he levels her into a stand. And unarmed, he walks away from her, hands out. He was bloodied. He was calm. And the tingling feeling was going down, down, down the throat, coming too close to the windpipe, the lungs, the stomach, the hundreds of golden, energy-infused tendrils writhing, snaking. Pressure building from gold that was too soft to be solid, and too solid to be soft. Bela pauses, and gestures towards Lotus.

"Return to me."

The writhing feeling would change now. It would be much more solid now, as the indigo energy would blaze within. The gold slithers back it came, too solid, too hard, to rough as it would find every way out of the face. The mouth, the teeth, the ears, the eyes, the nose; the cold molten gold would suck itself out, drawn out by the Patriarch of the House of Podiebrad. It wouldn't even be wet; the energy would make sure that all those nasty impurities within would be burned clean. It doesn't take more than a few seconds before the long strands of gold would return back into the shape of a scepter.

But those few seconds would feel like an eternity, as every last speck of gold is drawn out.

[LOTUS]
As the mace-shaped weapon comes down upon her, Lotus attempts to grab its and redirect the head to strike the ground beside her. She WOULD have followed up with an attack from there, but unfortunately it comes too fast, and the inital hits stun her.

Then it melts, and flows into her body. The delicious agony scorches her mind far more than any injury or damage shes sustained in battles prior. Her body twitches and spasms, her mind overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information it's trying to take in....

As he pulls it away, and returns to his hand, Lotus is lying there on the ground, immobile. Her face is contorted. A frozen mask of frenzied glee mixed with agony. Despite her open eyes, she is unconscious, her mind shutting down to stem the volume of sensation.

[BELA]
Bela swings his scepter idly, as he walks up to the broken Lotus.

Rubbing his gauntlet fingers on his chin, he inspects the monster. Looking at her face locked in a hideous mingling of pleasure and pain, he merely shakes his head, tut tut tuts. And then, in the blink of an eye, he unleashes a stomp. Once. Twice. Three times into her chest, adding injury to the insult. Before finally, unleashing a staggering kick right into her torso. He turns his back to Lotus, looking around at his soldiers, at the gleeful, foaming Zsa Zsa, and finally, Szabolc. He pats the scepter into his palm.

"Do you all see, now?"

"This wasn't some demigod, or a dark lord." Bela continues, looking down at his scepter, pat, pat, patting it. "This wasn't some eldritch horror from beyond the comprehension of mortal imagination. This was a nasty little lady, with fangs and unbecoming endurance. But just one lady. One creature. One... C level threat." Bela turns back to Lotus, his lip curled up in disgust. "And all of you failed and failed again. This was not a difficult task. But I had to do it. Every one of you should be ashamed that it came to this." Bela turns back. The soldiers looked it. Szabolc held his chest out in defiance. But Zsa Zsa?

Zsa Zsa looked like she was about to break down, crying.

Bela showed no sympathy to the murderous maid, singling her out for her blubbering. "You called yourself the mistress of the halls, and you can't even control yourself to capture this little rodent?" Bela pokes the scepter into Zsa Zsa's chest, as she shudders, eyes wide, tears streaming down her face. Bela ceases, and recoils, taking his attention away from her with only a thin muttering of disgust. And every word was like Bela was bringing the scepter upon her head.

"Maybe it -is- too much for you to make yourself useful."

Now Bela was coming to Szabolc, moving swiftly. "And you most of all. Commander Szabolc. The pride and joy of the Raven Guard, who not only failed to command his troop into capturing this creature, but when the moment came for your skill to come out on top... you failed again. And worst of all, Szabolc. I -know- you intended to kill her. You intended to defy your Patriarch even now!" Bela raises his scepter back, as Szabolc stares with his steel-blue gaze back at Bela. He was ready to be struck. But no, Bela eases a bit, and he gives his command.

"Kneel."

Szabolc falls to one knee, lowering his head. Bela shakes his head.

"Lower."

Szabolc pauses a moment, and then, goes down on all fours, head down, prostrate. And Bela shakes his head again.

"Lower."

Szabolc lets himself fall flat on the ground, laying down in total humiliation to the sobs of Zsa Zsa, as his soldiers all stare at their commander prone. Bela pauses a moment, and lowers down, staring at his brother. He reaches for the scarf around his neck. He whispers.

"Lower."

Bela chuckles to himself, as he rips the scarf free, exposing the mark Lotus left on the commander. Szabolc refuses to flinch at the pain. Bela turns away, looking at the soldiers. "You are all forbidden to be out of uniform. If this forces you to reveal your scars, reveal them. This was a lesson for all you. I expect my soldiers to be competent monster hunters. If you fail at that, then every one of you deserves your fate. I am done." He swings the scepter towards Lotus. "Put her in chains. Prepare her for interrogation." Lukacs and his brother are the first there, grabbing Lotus roughly, making sure there is plenty of neck movement when they jostle her. Bela pauses, as he rubs the head of his scepter. "Not so rough. And remember..."

"Do not lay a finger on her, until I am ready."

COMBATSYS: Bela has ended the fight here.

Log created on 11:35:29 05/05/2020 by Bela, and last modified on 16:48:50 05/06/2020.