Match of the Millennium

Description: Brandon Malone and Aaron Fang square off at the Southtown Boardwalk where the energy seems off. Mage faces off against Archer to determine which party will move on in the Rising Star tournament.

[AARON]
The Southtown Boardwalk was always an exciting place to be, sun, fun, and shopping. With the Rising Star Tournament served only to raise excitement to a echoing frenzy. Rays beating down on the old planks, sandals stamping over them, souvenirs sold from side-shops. When the first fighter was spotted, a small stampede occurred to see what he was doing.

The boardwalk had the additional excitement of watching paint dry.

The Eagle Scout Aaron Fang was helping an old man repaint his shop that had recently been target of graffiti. The teen was in his class-b and cap, slathered in sunscreen and downing water. While the crowd cooled a bit, there was still time, and still hype. Crews where ready to film the fight out towards the pier. Below the boards was the rhythmic waves of pacific waters, lapping against sand. The angle would have been beautiful for a sunrise shot, but who would get up that early.

[BRANDON]
And then the second fighter arrives, deck in hand shuffling it as he walks towards the appointed fight location. Pulses of energy get put into the cards with each shuffling motion as a way of gradually charging preparing his tarot deck.

The private investigator clad in a white fedora with a black band, black long sleeved dress shirt, white tie, white vest, white slacks, and slightly scuffed white dress shoes puts the deck away before glancing at the crowd and waving towards the spectators.

"How's it going? I'm Brandon Malone. I'm looking forward to getting this started."

His lips form into a smile as he reaches out to shake the Eagle Scout's Hand should he want to but drawing it back if the hand shake is unwanted. Either way, after the introductions are done, he takes a moment to roll his neck and crank his arms before he gets ready to fight.

[AARON]
The scout shakes the hand gladly. "It is a pleasure to meet you Mr.Malone. I was looking forward to this as well sir." Aaron took his walking stick and began to string it into a bow. While undertaking the great effort, he slowly made his way to the center of the camera's focus. Clicks of selfies and slightly less than sober cheers sounded. He affixed his quiver properly and tried to clean what dried paint he could from himself. He used the opportunity for an idle question as he neared the starting location. "Have you been enjoying the tournament sir?"

COMBATSYS: Brandon has started a fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Brandon          0/-------/-------|

COMBATSYS: Aaron has joined the fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Aaron            0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0          Brandon

When they gained their positions, Aaron brought up his bow to aim at Brandon. He pulled back the string but neglected to notch an arrow. In all the shiny pieces of metal and glass about the boardwalk, and the bright sunlight, it would be difficult to discern another white shimmer from the scout's fingertips. Once he let go, the blinding bolt hurtling towards Brandon would be clear for all to see.

COMBATSYS: Brandon fails to reflect Arrow of Light from Aaron with IV - The Emperor.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Aaron            0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0          Brandon

[BRANDON]
Brandon in turn shifts into his somewhat modified version of the Philly Shell fighting stance. One hand close to his jaw, the other at his waist, right near the pouch containing his tarot deck.

Brandon himself for all intents and purpose is a light magic specialist. He regularly utilizes illusions. He is practically required to have a decent handle on how light interacts with objects around him in order to make his attacks effective. As a result, Brandon has no trouble in picking out that arrow of light. No. The problem is being able to react to it quickly enough to quick draw one of his cards. And while he is fast and he does manage to form a shield made of light in front of him. The arrow made of light slips in before he can fully form the shield causing the private investigator to stumble backwards.

"Tournament so far hasn't been bad. Met a couple of polite and skilled fighters."

Sparks of energy seem to be flying off both his finger tips and from the leather pouch attached to his belt.

[AARON]
Arrow landed, the scout enjoyed the distance and conversation. As light sparks arced from the cards, a sunlight sheen gleamed about him. Solar warmth above him flowing across his skin like the waves singing below him. The shine growing brighter than what ought to be hitting him.

"That is what I found myself, so many kind people in this tournament. If people were like this all the time, we would never need to fight, would we sir."

The idle talk and sunning in the middle of a tournament fight was finalized by the shimmering of spirit that danced about Aaron like flame. A flame the scout hoped he could control.

COMBATSYS: Aaron gathers the Spirit of Scouting.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Aaron            0/-------/--=====|=------\-------\0          Brandon

[BRANDON]
The private investigator nods. Of course, Brandon had a few opportunities to watch other matches in the Rising Star tournament and he realized that not everyone had been as lucky in that their opponents weren't horrible people. He could at least appreciate his good fortune for as long as he had it. Either in his ability to participate or until his luck ran out and he found himself up against someone who wasn't quite likable.

Brandon could sense that energy was gathering as a spirit danced around his opponent. He had to be careful or else he was in for a world of hurt.

The light mage likewise hangs back as a card suddenly appears in his hand through sleight of hand. Magician card specifically. In previous bouts, he launched a bolt of light from the card. This particular fight, to Brandon's surprise, the energy projected from the card is a bolt of lightning crackling as it flies towards Aaron.

"Well that's never happened before."

COMBATSYS: Aaron blocks Brandon's I - The Magician.

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////      ]
Aaron            1/------=/=======|==-----\-------\0          Brandon

[AARON]
It happened again. The sprit that flowed once again felt like it was slashed across his core. He gripped his torso to calm the sensation. When the lightning bolt was inbound, Aaron quickly brought to bare a bundle of arrows across the bolt like a lightning rod. The impact hit the arrows, but the charge still traveled down him. The strangest sight was form around the arrows as he swung. They looked like a red machete of energy formed around it as he sliced.

"I suppose we both are left wanting for the normal sir?"

The scout quickly turned the hack of arrows into a run. Arrows in one hand, bow in the other, he closed the distance of the pier. He swung his waking stick in a wide arc at Brandon. Attention drawn to the swing; opportunity would present itself for that arrows to be tossed at the man's front.

COMBATSYS: Aaron successfully hits Brandon with Scout Salute.
-* CRITICAL HIT! *-

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Aaron            1/-----==/=======|======-\-------\0          Brandon

[BRANDON]
The lightning runs its course as Brandon continues to try to figure out what transpired between him and his deck. The thaumaturge, unfortunately doesn't have a lot of time to do contemplate that because Aaron is right in front of him. The walking stick slams into his body knocking Brandon off balance and then the arrows flying right for him, slashing him open and creating deep gashes in his suit and blood pouring out onto his formerly pristine vest and slacks.

He sighs knowing that soon his was going to need to use multiple cantrips to fix his suit.

A pair of cards suddenly appear in Brandon's hands before he slashes out with them, both of them covered in a pale yellow light. Just before the second card slash can connect, a bolt of lightning strikes the arcane investigator. He twitches as he hops to the side.

COMBATSYS: Aaron endures Brandon's Random Strike.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Aaron            1/-======/=======|=======\====---\1          Brandon

[AARON]
It was not a shock to Aaron that the things were being strange. Just as his own energy seemed to ebb and flow in sharp slashes, sparks were disrupting Brandon. He took the card slash straight in order to feel it flow. He beat he felt when the card slashed him was oh so similar to that skip of the knife he would feel.

He would return his bow to full grip by slamming its side right into Brandon. He would give a hook from the side to move his hand close to the stave, then send out a kick to give him space to reassign his grip. Once again firmly grasping it, he would let out a flurry of strikes from both ends of the staff.

COMBATSYS: Aaron successfully hits Brandon with Be Prepared EX.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////                    ]
Aaron            0/-------/---====|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2          Brandon

[BRANDON]
Brandon while being invigorated by the lightning strike, was still too twitchy to mount any sort of defense against the archer. The bow smash opens Brandon's guard and then each successive strike sends the private investigator into the next until the flurry sends him falling to the ground.

He desprately scrambles back to his feet and away from the archer hoping to make some room for himself and figure out another change of plans.

Brandon rises to his feet and with a new card appearing in his hand. The Fool. A large swirling mass of prismatic energy flies towards the archer as the mage clutches his torso. Blood continuing to flow freely from his body.

COMBATSYS: Aaron blocks Brandon's 0 - The Fool.

[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////                      ]
Aaron            1/-------/=======|>>>>---\-------\0          Brandon

[AARON]
The combo complete, Aaron watched as Brandon stumbled away and sent out the colors behind him. He felt that blade sharpening against his spine. The scout held fast against the vibrant array. He stuck the mass with his bow, eagle beak first. The beak gained another color indistinguishable from the prismatic ball, a red, a sharp blade-like red. The ball was sliced into two, but kept moving. Aaron's cheeks and shoulders where struck, but even then, the force seemed to have been cut to pieces.

Aaron felt the blade again, but this time he would try to control the blade. He reflected upon his training. Where to keep the blade, when to use the blade, how to keep others safe while using the blade. The discipline kept the blade check. He felt the sea winds blow about him, and used it to fold the blade.

COMBATSYS: Aaron takes aim.

[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////                      ]
Aaron            1/----===/=======|>>>>---\-------\0          Brandon

[BRANDON]
Clouds begin to build above the private investigator as he watches the mass of energy get torn asunder much to his dismay. He can see the blade forming on the beak of the eagle. He can see his opponent focusing, he can feel the energy shifting and being readied to use in other fashions.

Brandon makes the Fool card disappear and it is immediately replaced with a different card. A pale golden light forms just in front of the card and just as Brandon is about to reveal the card and launch the energy right for Aaron, the private investigator gets struck by lightning once more. That energy that was collecting gets sent into the air in a desperate bid to prevent an accidental discharge of his Tower card on one of the spectators.

As for the arcane investigator, he falls to the ground and doesn't get up.

COMBATSYS: Brandon chooses not to act.

[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Aaron            1/----===/=======|

COMBATSYS: Brandon can no longer fight.

[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Aaron            1/----===/=======|

[AARON]
As Aaron felt the winds favor his next strike, something expected occurs. Lightning strikes Brandon, and he falls. Aaron discards the dust he was planning to toss and rushes to the man's side. He needed to check for breath, or a heartbeat. If that lightning was anything like that blades against him, then there would be no telling what might happen to him. The scout and medics moved forwards, the click of photos from onlookers continued.

While Aaron might be moving on, he was now to be stuck with the mystery of why both had their chi disrupted so.

COMBATSYS: Aaron has ended the fight here.

Log created on 13:24:55 04/01/2021 by Brandon, and last modified on 22:02:55 04/01/2021.