Description: Strolheim Castle has gained a guardian named Xian, who wants entrance to the castle just as much as the archaeological thief Reese does! It's a battle of determination between a plucky teenager and a whip-wielding Aussie, to see which of the two will get to step through the gate and gain entry. (Winner: Reese)
There was a note on Xian's desk when she got home--and by home she means 'her dorm room'--on Friday evening. A white pasteboard note, black ink in a nondescript block handwriting.
"Go to Strolheim Castle. Guard the gate against all comers. If you are successful, there may be a reward."
Along with the note was a ticket for flight to Germany. The young Chinese-American woman debated for all of maybe ten seconds before tossing her books out of her bookbag, tossing some clothes in, and rushing out of the dorm to catch a cab to the airport.
_Strolheim_. It's nearly impossible to be a fighter and student of fighters and not to have -heard- of the legendary Strolheim. Sure, they're very... Euro-Germanic in nature, but for a student of the fighting arts, being invited to visit is an honor. Being asked to -guard the gate-...
When she shows up, well, she's not wearing her Taiyo uniform--she's wearing a comfortable t-shirt and leather jacket combination, stylishly revealing just a little belly, and comfortable, ripstop-nylon cargo pants, loose and blousy in the legs, cuffed at the ankles, and low, strap-closed black fighting boots and her traditional fingerless fighting gloves.
And, really, she looks not at all like a guard, just lounging out by the gates...
Strolheim Castle is a thief's dream, literally. Actually, most any castle with priceless heirlooms and artifacts generally is.
But that's not Reese's reasoning for coming tonight. Rather than attempting to get in to steal something (because really, what decent thief would attempt to steal something by breaking through the front gate and causing a ruckus?), she'd much rather gain entry to speak to the Master of Strolheim himself.
Granted, that doesn't mean that if she //does// gain entrance, a little something might not go missing while she's visiting. It depends upon what she sees, and what she thinks she might be able to sell without it coming right back to //this// moment.
For all intents and purposes, she looks more like a tourist ogling the castle than someone trying to get through the gate. She's not dressed any different from normal, choosing a pair of comfortable khakis, a safari blouse, and a bomber jacket. It's not until she nears the gate and glances at the nearby camera crews that she shrugs the jacket off and sets the satchel on the ground. Rolling her shoulders to limber up a little, she peers around the village. The fighting boots are noticed first and she raises a brow.
Then she marches right up to the gate, rather unceremoniously. She knows it's not going to be //that// easy, and as far as entrances go it //is// rather mundane.
Ah, yes. She'd been told that someone else had been invited--sort of. Xian rather ceremoniously pulls out a color photo, compares it, back and forth twice, then nods to herself. She pays no attention to the cameras, as she marches right up to Reese.
"Halt!" she says, trying to sound important, as she manuevers to get between Reese and the gate. She takes up a rather, well, silly pose, feet shoulder-width apart, left hand out, palm out, the very picture of what a security guard does, minus the nifty uniform and whistle.
She even -looks- serious... until her lips quirk at the corners. Okay, not so serious. But serious enough, as she looks at Reese and nods. "I was told to expect you. I'm Xian Wu. I understand you want into the castle. Well, so do I." She glances back at the gate, then seems to nod at something, or someone, within.
"And I'm told we have to fight for it, so, I guess we should get to it." She's going to walk forward, attempting to create some space between her and the gate, and whether Reese backs up or not, when she can't move forward without getting right into Reese's face, she takes up her stance, hands up, curled into fists, legs in a wide stance, her center of balance a little lower--and active, as she bounces back and forth on the balls of her feet, rhythmically.
COMBATSYS: Xian has started a fight here.
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Xian 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Reese has joined the fight here.
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Reese 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Xian
It is very difficult for the Aussie not to snicker. The silly pose, the determination for her to halt. Reese is about to keep heading right for the gate, when the girl gets between it and her. With an exaggerated sigh she takes a step back and grabs hold of the whip handle. Whisking it from the side holster, she snaps it once for good measure, sending a loud //crack// through the air.
"I guess we should."
She skips the 'pleased to meet'cha's' and the 'how do you dos' because it seems the girl before her wants to get right down to business. Reese is fine with that, really. The sooner this is over with, the sooner she can get into the castle for a peek around.
The whip is cracked again, this time toward Xian. It's done quickly and repetitively in a snakekiller technique, aiming for the shins and ankles in an attempt to bring the girl down and out of her stance.
COMBATSYS: Xian dodges Reese's Excavation.
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Reese 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Xian
Xian recognizes the look from.... okay, from pop culture, but she doesn't really make the -connection- until Reese speaks. Yeah, gettin' down to business! In every way. The whip also draws an impressed look, because, well, Xian doesn't have much experience with the weapon--she's used to the Asian martial weapon tradition, and whips aren't really a big part of that.
"Oh, sweet. _This_," she says, with a grin, "is gonna be fun." And then Reese gets the party started, cracking the whip around for her shins and legs. And a good attempt it is, too; it's hard to see. Xian treats it much like she does a sweep kick--she jumps over it, with enough forward movement to get her within melee range--doesn't require much at this point.
And then she grins and immediately lunges into something that Reese, if she's ever seen Fei Long or any of his movies, would understand--a series of rushing, alternating-hand punches, starting with a left body blow, then right body blow, then left... and then another attack, distinguishing her version from Fei Long's, as she finishes out with a double-palm thrust attack. Each blow is accompanied by a high-pitched sound, a 'hup!' sort of thing, loudest on the last blow.
She holds the pose for a moment after, because it's dramatic to do so, but she skips the wide-and-crazy eyes pose, for now.
COMBATSYS: Reese counters Strong Punch from Xian with Artifact Snare.
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Reese 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Xian
Reese is impressed with the fact that the girl jumps right over the whip, but not //so// impressed that she's distracted. "Impressive," she says in an offhand manner, the whip stopping the movements once she realizes that it's not going to strike the girl. "Quick thinking."
The lunge really isn't unexpected. She's got //no// idea of Xian's style, because she didn't bother with a dossier or to look her opponent up. A great deal of the fun of //these// types of fights is getting to work in the moment and simply react. Precisely what the Aussie does. The double-palm attack is sent her way, and the whip lashes up toward the hands. As it loops around them, there is a sharp tug upward to hoist Xian up off the ground, then a sudden drop to land the girl on her back.
*thump*
That's the sound of Xian getting dumped on her back. Whoa! That was pretty interesting, there, the use of that whip... Xian flips back up to her feet and shakes her hands out. "Pretty good!" she calls, still grinning. If she seems at all worried about the counterattack, she doesn't show it, moving forward quickly, if smoothly--not running, but at definitely more than a sidle, keeping her poise balanced.
She lunges again, but it's just a way to close the distance, a sort of 'jolt step' that sees her duck low briefly before--retreating? No, not just retreating--she's flipping herself backwards, in a cartwheel--and the toes of her feet are aimed to catch Reese right under the chin. It's like a very primitive version of the Special Forces' 'Flash Kick', really, Xian throwing herself through a full backflip with acrobatic ease.
COMBATSYS: Reese dodges Xian's Medium Kick.
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Reese 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Xian
Speed looks like it's going to be the name of the game here. The lunge has Reese stepping backward, and as soon as she spots that the younger girl is throwing herself into a flip, she drops lower to the ground and twists away. Hard to catch her chin or whip arm when she's out of the range of the kick. Popping back up, she cocks her head in curiosity. As it seems Xian likes to be up close and personal with her attacks, the Aussie figures it wouldn't hurt to do likewise.
Two steps are taken to put her fairly close to the girl. The whip is brought around as though preparing for another strike, but Reese doesn't snap it to get attention, nor does she lash it out at the girl. Instead, she twirls around and sends the butt of the handle out with a quick strike to the center of Xian's chest.
COMBATSYS: Xian fails to counter Medium Punch from Reese with Dragon Blossom Kick.
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Reese 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Xian
Hmph! The thief is proving pretty good. The backflip leaves Xian a few steps away, but Reese closes that pretty nicely--and the attack isn't what Xian was expecting. Still, she's game to try, but being slightly out of position, and expecting an entirely different attack, instead...
... instead she gets punched in the chest. She releases an explosive cough and stumbles back a couple of steps, gasping for breath, her eyes tearing up. Oof.
"I--I'm okay," she gasps, shaking her head to dash the involuntary tears out of her eyes, revealing that that challenging, fierce energy is still alive within them, raising her hands again.
"I won't give up!"
Reese //would// feel bad for the girl, but she's got her eyes on the prize now -- entrance to the castle, and whatever she can find within. Surely whatever artifacts //are// inside are worth guarding if they've gone through the hassle of a gate. Either that or privacy is very much wanted. Whichever the case, she wants to find out.
Not letting Xian get //too// far away, the Aussie tilts her hat just a little. The whip is cracked at her side and she advances once more. It looks like she's about to lash out at the girl who doesn't want to give up, but instead she swings around, sending a roundhouse kick toward Xian's stomach.
"Good. Wouldn't want to make this too easy."
COMBATSYS: Reese successfully hits Xian with Medium Kick.
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Reese 0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0 Xian
Her teacher... would not be proud.
Xian isn't either, but she's too busy trying to not hork up lunch as she's rather efficiently kicked in the chest. She has no excuses--she's just getting beat up on. But that's... not okay. Yet she's been here before.
"I... wouldn't want to either..." she gasps, as she straightens. Focus, girl, focus! You're -not- just a punching bag. You haven't been for years. So -get it going- already. Right. Ignore that pain--bruises are weakness coming to the surface.
The kick shifted her over about three good steps, but she recenters herself and stays close--then backflips again. The kick looks very similar to what she performed before--her toes looking to clip Reese under the chin, again--only this time, those feet are ablaze with red-orange-yellow flame chi, tracing a pretty arc through the air as she goes.
COMBATSYS: Xian successfully hits Reese with Blazing Moon.
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Reese 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Xian
The similar movement, the acrobatic ability, Reese sees it coming and tries to get out of the way. A miscalculation on her part has her moving a moment too late, and the feet connect with her chin, the energy striking her hard enough to cause her to bite her tongue.
The Aussie looks less than thrilled at that as she crashes to the ground. It's showy, it's flashy, and it's what she herself should be doing. There's no way she's going to let the girl steal her spotlight, so she gives her neck a pop as she pushes back to her feet and then holsters the whip. Backing up a few paces to keep some distance between her and Xian, she sets her hands to the guns on either side of her belt.
A deep breath is taken and she starts to focus on her own energy. The silvery chi seems to flare up around her hands, coursing downward toward her feet.
COMBATSYS: Reese gathers her will.
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Reese 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Xian
Now why didn't she see the guns before? That's definitely her fault. She was taught to be observant, but she's gotten too caught up in the joy of the fight to notice before. She isn't sure how to take them--she's seen them before, but never in person, of course... at least, not being readied for use.
If, that is, what her opponent is doing. She can feel the surge of chi, knowing it for what it is, and her response is to take off in a quick dash, attempting to close the distance before Reese can fully prepare for whatever it is she's going to do--thinking frantically. What -can- she do? Oh, wait--
--she's too close to think about much so she just pushes off into a classic shoulder block, powering it with her legs, ducking low and then half-turning her back to throw her shoulder into the attack, driving forward to try and not just hit Reese but bowl her entirely over!
COMBATSYS: Reese blocks Xian's Combo Grapple.
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Reese 1/-----==/=======|======-\-------\0 Xian
The push off is seen, but rather than simply get out of the way of it she holds her ground -- at least a little bit. Reese gets caught by the shoulder throw but is able to keep to her feet rather than be bowled over, simply by twisting her body the right way and putting her arms up as she braces her foot on the ground. She's pushed back several feet but doesn't actually fall down.
"I'd tell ya to calm down, mate, but I don't see that happening." Beat. "But I bloody well ain't going to kill ya."
Attacking someone with energy bullets -- sure, that's one thing. Attempting to kill a teenager? That's more akin to something her brother might do.
To prove it, her hands drop off the guns and she lunges forward. Hands grip for Xian's waist in order to swing the girl over her hip and drop her to the ground. The attempt made, she swings herself out of reach as much as she can.
COMBATSYS: Reese successfully hits Xian with Quick Throw.
- Power hit! -
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Reese 1/----===/=======|=======\-------\1 Xian
Once again, Xian finds herself on the ground. This is mildly distressing. She rolls away, to prevent further attack while downed, then springs back to her feet--her clothes dusty with the debris of Strolheim. But she looks puzzled. "I didn't think you were tryin' to kill me," she says. Where'd Reese get -that- idea?
That's naivete at work--even given potentially deadly weapons, she doesn't consider her opponent might go for something fatal. Why would she? Still--Xian looses a gusty breath. "You're pretty damn good," she says, with a smile. "It's an honor fighting you." Oh unbridled youth.
Once again she advances, because it's really just kind of 'what she does', closing in and engaging the opponent--this time looking to return the favor with her own throwing technique, though she goes for something a little flashier, aiming to leap forward and grab Reese by the shoulders and use her body as a fulcrum to sling Reese to the ground.
COMBATSYS: Xian successfully hits Reese with Quick Throw.
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Reese 1/---====/=======|=======\-------\1 Xian
Hitting the ground, the Aussie groans. But she too is quick at rolling out of the way to prevent further attack -- there's nothing like getting an elbow in the spleen just because you didn't move fast enough to avoid it. The difference is that Reese really doesn't mind the dust. In fact, dust, dirt, and grime are all just part and parcel of her chosen profession.
Archaeology, not thieving.
Wrenching the whip from the belt, she flashes it in the air, creating another loud //crack//. Pulling on the thong, it looks //almost// as though she's going to go in for a stranglehold of some type. Instead, she punches her hand outward, using the loop to extend her reach before dropping the thong and lashing it outward sharply.
COMBATSYS: Xian dodges Reese's Aggressive Strike.
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Reese 1/---====/=======|=======\-------\1 Xian
Mental note: Dodging a whip is -excellent- evasion-technique training. Xian throws herself forward into a leaning twist, spinning around, that cracking whip's tip passing just beyond her--the cracking of the sonic boom actually ruffling her bangs as she continues her spin. It leaves her out of position--or it would if she didn't immediately change her directional vector when she landed, pushing off into a quick shift.
No time for words, Dr. Jones--she has to get within that whip's range, if she can, to keep that cracking tip from her. It doesn't occur to her to think that it didn't go well for her the last time she did--no time.
So, as she lands, she flicks a low-high kick combination, almost reminiscient of a Muay Thai kick sequence, except that the second kick is a high thrust kick, looking tp plant Xian's right sole into Reese's forehead.
COMBATSYS: Reese parries Xian's Light Kick!
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Reese 1/--=====/=======|=======\-------\1 Xian
Automatically the whip comes up to loop about the leg that's coming toward her, and it's pushed easily to the side. Reese drops back into a stance, not really reminiscent of anything other than being on edge. Eyes narrow upon the girl, and she knows she's got to think quickly if she wants to get past that gate and into Strolheim Castle.
Cracking the whip in an overhand manner, she does her best to draw attention to //that// and not what she's following up with. Which is her barrelling in toward Xian, side-stepping at the last moment and coming at her with a hooked punch as she twists out of the way.
COMBATSYS: Xian effortlessly blocks Reese's End Scraper EX.
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Reese 1/--=====/=======|=======\=------\1 Xian
She's focused--not distracted--and so the whip distraction goes un-heeded. The punch--there's the real attack. Xian smiles--she can appreciate the attempt at distraction, even if it didn't work. She steps into the punch, throwing her opposing arm up, deflecting the punch--and then staying just as close. Perhaps she's more afraid of that whip and those guns than Reese's punches.
In one single, smooth movement she pulls her hands back, then thrusts them forward--taking a half-step back, because the point isn't to slam her hands into Reese's stomach. No, the point is--
--burst of chi flame, flaring outwards, like a brief spherical explosion set to engulf Reese's torso, accompanied by a high-pitched, sharp kiai!
COMBATSYS: Xian successfully hits Reese with Dragon's Claw.
Glancing Blow
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Reese 1/=======/=======|=======\-------\1 Xian
Energy bursting in her direction, flaring at her. Body twisting so that her left arm takes the brunt of the damage, Reese winces. It's not that it hurts //so// much, but the way it hits that has her gritting her teeth.
Intrinsically she knows that bringing the whip into play is her //best// bet, but she's holding back on it for some reason. There's not another snap of the popper in the air, there's no lashing out. The Aussie seems to waffle between the whip and one of the guns for a moment. Her hand sets to the holster as she takes a step back, looking for all intents and purposes like she's going to shoot.
Then she changes her mind.
Advancing, she does a hip wheel technique while she tries to force Xian to bend a little while she makes a grab for her right arm so that she can yank it around her head. As she does this, she wheels her right hip inwards, bending over a bit while lifting the girl up and rotating enough so that she can throw the her onto the ground.
COMBATSYS: Xian fails to counter Dig Site from Reese with Blazing Dragon Moon.
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Reese 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\-------\0 Xian
The grab she was expecting. The rest of it--that complicated yank and twist--that she wasn't, and she finds herself on the ground in short order, once again. It's getting harder--much harder--to take this well, but she is nothing if not a woman of boundless optimism and courage--but her body is just about ready to betray her, as she pushes herself back to her feet. She looks wobbly, as she should, given the beating she's taken--
--but she's still game, as evidenced by the raising of her hands. She can take one thing away from this fight, win or lose--and, she frankly admits to herself, it is far more likely to be 'lose'--her position in the world of fighters is still that of the newbie. She knew it--now it's reinforced. She could take it badly--and quit. Or she could take it the way her idol would... and use it to stoke the fires that keep her going.
The Aussie is really impressed that the girl is pushing back to her feet after that. There's a lot to be said for that sort of boundless optimism and energy. Reese, however, doesn't voice the impression as she did earlier in the fight. She simply nods at the fact that Xian is willing to continue to guard the gate. It's a noble effort.
Maintaining that distance is difficult, but she manages. Flicking her wrist, she lashes the whip out, but not as supersonically fast as it should be done. Instead, she's twisting it in such a way as to loop it about Xian's neck so that she can yank it back in a chokehold attempt. The handle of the whip is yanked from side to side, in the hopes of creating a human paddleball with Xian being the ball that's getting flung around.
COMBATSYS: Reese successfully hits Xian with All About Me.
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Reese 1/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Xian
"**HRKK**" This is the most elegant sound Xian's made! ... or not really, as she's slammed around, choking and bruising simultaneously. When she's finally released she even bounces once. In the immortal words of one of her favorite heroes, Jetfire, though... one... last... pass...!
She rises, once more--though she drops to one knee before she gets back up fully. "You win..." she acknowledges, "... but I just can't let you go.. without one last try." It's apology and warning, neither of which she, really, should technically be -giving-, but, that's just how she's wired. Somewhere she finds the energy to move her body one more time, throwing herself forward--letting her practiced techniques flow in muscle memory while she fights to stay conscious for the last few moments.
Once again she closes in on Reese--and performs that backflip kick that she's seen so many times. But it doesn't end there--she backflips, and then she's rushing forward with those Fei Long-like punches, several more of them this time, as many as six, before that double-palm strike comes again--creating a sound like thunder.
Hit or miss, she remains extended in that pose for a moment... before crumpling to the ground, as her lack of consciousness catches up with her.
She won't be out long, but by the time the medics are done with her, Reese will have had plenty of time to get into the castle.
COMBATSYS: Xian can no longer fight.
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Reese 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Xian successfully hits Reese with Full Moon Dancing.
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Reese 1/---====/=======|
It's not the most gracious of ways to end a fight, that's for sure. Reese could've fired off a few blasts of Chi and at least made it flashy. Stolen the thunder. Come out on top //that// way, but... human paddleball? There's something to be said for the comedy of it, even if the younger woman is getting battered and bruised.
When Xian rises //again//, the Aussie actually looks astounded. Rising from //that// had to have been difficult, but she'll give the girl a +1 for perseverance.
Rather, she would have if the girl wasn't suddenly coming toward her with that damned backflip again. The backflip she can handle, she's preparing to get out of the way. It's the punches and the palm strike that send her crashing //against// the gate that she wasn't exactly prepared for.
"Crikey!"
It's followed by a sharp wince of pain and a few failed attempts to push herself back to her feet so she can push through the gate and onto the 'prize' as it were.
Reese doesn't actually attempt to get past the gate again until she's positive that the medics are taking care of the younger woman.
Then?
Well, onward and upward. Strolheim Castle, and potential artifact perusing awaits!
COMBATSYS: Reese has ended the fight here.
Log created on 13:41:59 09/25/2011 by Reese, and last modified on 09:19:02 09/26/2011.