Description: Zach and Vince duke it out on stage in an explosive match. Will Vince and his rebels win the dayu, or will the warlock Zack defeat all who stand before him?
Il Paradiso, grand opera house of Metro City, has a very special performance lined up tonight. For tonight, it shall play host to one of the entry matches for the Strolheim tournament. This decision was not so much the tournament's call, as it was one of the warrior's enthusiastic suggestions.
Vince adores the arts, and opera is easily one of his weaknesses. So the Il Paradiso, stationed in America where his opponent seems to be from, seemed only the best choice. What better place to give the world at large its first real look at Rose Dansant? The tournament itself will certainly let Vince see how the LaRose style of swordsmanship matches against general martial arts, but hopefully the style will receive the honor and recognition it deserves! ...Still, if not, Vince will find ways to improve upon his technique to make up for mishaps. That's the purpose of this tournament for him, after all. Honor his style, and test his technique.
It's almost curtain time. The stage looks fairly barren for the time being. The opera house is packed with a variety of people, from the rambunctious fighting enthusiasts to the more dapper ladies and gentlemen just looking for some entertainment - a-la Roman gladiators. The orchestra in the pit tunes their instruments in a cacophonous ruckus...
...Until the maestro taps his stand. Anticipatory silence fills the house. The lights go down, plunging the audience into darkness. The violins pick up, gradually yawning into a relaxed crescendo of melody. The cyclorama brightens into a yellow, spreading out slowly. As it does this, a remarkably occupied set comes into view. It looks to be the interior of a castle, a stone wall set up with tall windows, complete with a second floor and balcony. Though a few chunks of the wall seem to be missing, giving clear view of the now yellow-colored cyc. Silhouettes of people dressed in courtly attire can be seen milling about amidst the cyclorama, acting casual. The orchestra chimes in fully now, giving it a pleasant, jaunty tune carried primarily by the woodwinds.
This is not to last, however.
"The rogues are storming the castle!," comes a startled cry from off-set somewhere. "Warn the king at once! To arms, to arms!"
Suddenly, the orchestra spikes into a dramatic, rapid movement. More shadows fill the cyclorama, brandishing sword-shaped objects. The original silhouettes draw weapons, and fighting ensues, yelling and crying filling the air. The yellow cyc-lights flow smoothly, but swiftly into deep vermillion, flickering and shifting. Clearly, a fire has broken out.
The orchestra hits a sustained sharp note. And this would be Vince's cue. Stationed just above the VIP box, crouched, is the 'rogue leader' with rope in hand. Upon hearing the note, he leaps from his perch and swings in from above the audience, drawing a collective gasp. He swings in a wide curve towards the stage, cape billowing out behind him, until he releases the rope to slingshot himself into a backflip - which lands him center stage in a crouch.
Vince takes just a second to adjust his hat with a rakish smirk before springing to his boots and drawing his (very real, non-fake) rapier from its sheath. A few steps are taken forward, then he whirls around, taking a few steps in the other direction, clearly searching. "I shall find you, Zach!," growls Vince, hidden microphone pumping his voice above the pumping orchestra. "And when I do, I shall claim victory for the outcasts! They shall live in fear of your strange magics no longer!" Vince turns out to the audience, icy blue eyes burning with passion. "NO LONGER! Show yourself, and learn to fear Rose Dansant!" The rapier is whisked over in a smooth moulinet before setting at the ready again.
"...strange magics?" Zach mutters under his breath as the curtains start to move. He chuckles slightly. Vince seems to be into this. Zach tugs slightly at the jerkin he was forced into as he takes in a deep breath. "Alright, then."
"The outcasts were doomed from their births," Zach bellows as he brings his power forth a bit, spraying purple light everywhere. "As you have doomed yourself for siding with them." More energy roars forth as the music starts to pick up. More percussion starts to join in as Zach's psycho power swirls to the fore.
"COME, BOY" Zach roars over his own energy. "LET US HAVE THIS FINAL BATTLE!"
COMBATSYS: Zach has started a fight here.
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Zach 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Zach gathers his will.
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Zach 0/-------/---====|
The revelation of Zach on stage draws a magnificent crescendo from the orchestra before the percussion starts to build up. The purple energy blends seamlessly with the red cyclorama, making it look rather planned. But in all honesty? From this point onwards, everyone is winging it. Even the orchestra. That maestro rocks face, as do the players.
Vince, however, knows that, despite the dramatics and great show they're putting on, there is most definite seriousness here. ..And this is even the first time he's ever laid eyes on Zach. He's stumped for a second at the man's height, as all he knew was that he was older. Older, for some reason, meant -taller- to him. Nevertheless! The rapier is whisked over, and Vince sets into his readied position.
"I align myself with those you would trample with your sorcery! I shall undo you with a single stroke of my steel!," challenges the swashbuckler.
Suddenly, Vince surges into motion. He leaps from his position, form blurring in the air. He comes into focus almost instantaneously in a deep forward crouch before Zach, rapier's tip thrust deeply for his midsection in a skewer. "Yah!"
COMBATSYS: Vince has joined the fight here.
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Zach 0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0 Vince
COMBATSYS: Zach blocks Vince's Balestra.
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Zach 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Vince
Zach is surprised, for a moment, at Vince's show of speed. That does not stop him from raising a hand to meet the incoming blade. More energy flares around the open palm as the blade comes in. It meets a small wall of force that forms from Zach's hand. Glen feels the force ripple up his arm, drawing a slight wince from the psychic.
"You will have to try harder than that, whelp," Zach intones as he raises the open hand above his head. "My powers are beyond anything you can imagine, boy!" A small sphere of violet power spins into existance even as it floats above the outstretched hand. "And they will be your undoing!"
Zach clasps the sphere even as it expands to the size of a volleyball. He brings the globe down hard on Vince's lowered head, looking to drive the young fencer into the stage with splintering force!
COMBATSYS: Vince blocks Zach's Impulse Flare.
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Zach 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Vince
Still in deep lunge, Vince quirks an eyebrow at the seemingly effortless deflection of otherwise lethal force and precision. He has little time to actually react to the onslaught of energy as it rains down, but he does so regardless. His rapier is drawn overhead horizontally, the other arm lifting to aid. His stance remains deep to better ground and balance himself.. which proves ultimately useful as the cascading energy pours over him.
"Gaauugh!"
Vince, however, pushes through it to raise back to his full height again. "As will you, villain! HAH!"
With the 'hah', Vince swings his blade out in a sweeping horizontal arc meant to slice across his foe's torso - you know, the normal swashbuckling antics. But what's abnormal is the paper-thin smoky gray energy the blade leaves in its wake, which slices out to further injure. Following the stroke, Vince hops back a little further to center stage.
The orchestra keeps the dramatic, fast-paced theme playing for the time being.
COMBATSYS: Vince successfully hits Zach with Sweeping Breeze.
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Zach 1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0 Vince
Zach roars more in pain than in fury as both blade and chi bite into his chest, tearing the costume neatly across the torso. Zach staggers back, energy whirling all around him as he gets his bearings again. He looks at Vince, a smirk crossing his face. Who says Zach can't stay in character.
Raw power wraps around him much like a cloak as Zach strides towards the swashbuckler. "INSOLENT FOOL!" the 'villain' roars. "You do not know your place, and it will cost you your life!" Zach lashes out with a rather fierce backhand aimed at Vince's ribcage. The impact, or even the lack of it, will herald a starburst of violet violence that might send Vince sprawling!
COMBATSYS: Zach successfully hits Vince with Fierce Punch.
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Zach 1/-----==/=======|=======\=------\1 Vince
Vince lands and whisks his blade about in a vertical moulinet before setting it at the ready again, warming up his wrist to continue. But what he wasn't expecting was a full-on backhand. It strikes into Vince's torso, and he's blasted back to hit the 'stone' steps leading up to the second floor. Vince groans from there, visibly hurting, but refusing to drop his own 'character'. He draws himself up to his full height and narrows his eyes.
He can't allow this to be the end of the demonstration. This has.. definitely been a unique experience, and he knows his foe isn't holding back. That much is quite literally painfully clear. But he's certainly not going to withdraw now. For the honor of Rose Dansant, and for the sake of doing his own training justice, he'll persevere. So it's with that thought that Vince bucks up ad raises to his full height again, setting into his stance once more.
"I have dedicated my life to my place in this world," Vince replies, full of resolve. "And it's time you learned yours, warlock!"
Vince's blade flashes into motion, the razor-like blade aiming to draw quickly, but deeply across Zach's torso. Repeatedly. But as he plays, as the fencing term would be, he inches back steadily up the stairs.
The orchestra picks up a bit, adding in more fluent, melodious notes amidst the rush of staccato.
COMBATSYS: Zach dodges Vince's Quick Strike.
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Zach 1/-----==/=======|=======\=------\1 Vince
Zach twists and and weaves between the sword strokes that come at him. Zach is starting to get a good feel for the match. One slash comes in close to Zach's face, avoided by a timely twist. "My place, brat," Zach says, "Is atop the bodies of weak and stupid fools like yourself."
Zach reaches for the hand holding the rapier, tugging violently at the limb in order to unbalance Vince long enough to step through, torquing on the shoulder hard before shoving Vince away. The icing on the cake, however, is a double plammed blast of purple energy aimed square at Vince's back!
COMBATSYS: Zach successfully hits Vince with Medium Throw.
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Zach 1/----===/=======|=======\======-\1 Vince
The twist and fling isn't nearly as bad as the blast of energy, which gets a sharp yelp from Vince. He's sent up the stairs to the second floor balcony, laying sprawled and.. extremely hurt. Gritting his teeth and growling minutely under his breath, Vince pushes himself onto a knee, waiting for Zach to approach.
The orchestra, at this point, plays the staccatos sharper in anticipation of the climactic moment!
Theatrics aside, this is not in any way reflecting well on his style. Vince's determination grows more resolute, demanding himself to think more clearly, to anticipate - to bring the disciplines and tenets of Rose Dansant more to bear! He's got to fight harder and prove the validity of the LaRose style! This can't be it!
"The rebels will treat you the same way..," Vince mutters, keeping in character, despite the pain he's in. "..When you fall.."
Suddenly, Vince's left hand thrusts into the air. Beneath Zach's feet, a gush of swirling smoky gray energy surges upwards, expanding and twisting into a violently churning tornado meant to rip and shred Zach while launching him into the air.
COMBATSYS: Zach interrupts LaRose Storm from Vince with Burst Stream.
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Zach 1/-======/=======|=======\-------\1 Vince
Zach winces as Vince crashes down. That had to sting more than just a little bit. He smiles faintly as Vince picks himself up. The smile leaves as Vince simply raises a hand. Goosebumps raise underneath his outfit as the chi starts to build up. The winds start to cut into him, tearing into his costume and his flesh. "YOU FOOL!" Zach shouts as he brings his hands back to one hip.
"You have fallen for my trap!" Zach throws his hands forward, both fists crackling and glowing with built up power. It surges for a moment, before lancing out towards Vince in a five foot wide horizontal column of energy that slams Vince off of his feet and into the wall behind him. It pins the young man there for a momemnt before tapering off, and allowing the fencer to slump to the floor. Energy crackles around Zach as he pulls himself upright.
"Such is the fate of those who oppose me," Zach intones.
The energy, this time, comes much too suddenly for Vince to set up ample defense. He's struck soundly, though there is no real -wall- to catch him - there is only the balcony. It suffices, however. It manages to hold as the energy all but destroys the young noble, screaming in pain.
When it comes to an end, Vince does indeed slump. Zach is given time enough to make his claim... except that Vince pulls together his final reserves of energy.
For the rebels.
...For Rose Dansant.
For himself.
Weakly, Vince's blade is sliced through the vacant air before him. Then again. And again. The action becomes outrageously swift, his arm bluring out of vision. But the cuts are certainly there, as Zach (or the scenery) can attest. Just a second after the initial slice is made, the cut through the air can be -felt- against him. The air itself seems to shred, manifesting in a gray rip in space, tearing the matter caught with it - ideally Zach. And when the arm has blurred out of vision, the air is virtually a chainsaw, hoping the slice, cut, and lacerate all over Zach's body...
COMBATSYS: Vince can no longer fight.
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Zach 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Zach dodges Vince's Phantom Laceration.
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Zach 0/-------/-======|
Zach brings his power to bear once more, stoking it and flaring it around him, forcing the grey energy away from him. He stalks towards the young rebel, batting the slashing energy aside with his own power, before standing in front of the young man. He grips the front of Vince's outfit, pulling him down face to face.
"You fought well, boy," he says, "But you did not fight well enough to defeat me." He shoves Vince away roughly. "Go. Regain your strength. It will make this war against the outcasts all the more interesting."
COMBATSYS: Zach has ended the fight here.
Vince is positively disheartened as the invisible slashes from his likewise invisible-in-motion arm seems to be... -deflected-?! He's definitely going to train the power of his chi and the speed of his Phantom Laceration technique. That's just.. impossible to conceive! His arm runs out of energy, trying to get through the defenses.. and it simply lowers. Vince is thus entirely defenseless, hurting and barely on the verge of consciousness.
He's dragged, then thrown back down the stairs, where he spills out onto the stage gracelessly. Humiliated, Vince attempts to salvage what he can by forcing himself up into a weak posture. "Y-you've won with your wicked magics today, Zach," Vince growls. "But this way is.. far from over..." He staggers back a few steps, devoutly remaining in character out of his love for the acting. "R-regroup!," he calls aloud to the actors making silhouettes behind the cyclorama. "To the forest!"
The orchestra hits its crescendoing mark as Vince turns with as much gusto as an injured seventeen-year-old can manage, cape sweeping.. and limping towards the edge of the stage. Several of the silhouettes scatter from the cyc, leaving only the 'courtly' shadows remaining.
The lights go out, and the orchestra cuts off.
...Gradually, a purple cyc-light blossoms behind the cyclorama, bathing the stage in an ambient, but almost sinister glow. Vince has disappeared from the stage, as have the 'rebel' silhouettes. "The day is ours!," calls the same voice from before. "The rebels have retreated!"
Log created on 19:22:12 09/26/2008 by Zach, and last modified on 12:59:34 09/28/2008.