Old Things Are New Again

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Gilgamesh has officially established 'The Realm of Uruk' as a proper Kingdom, with Carmina Gadelica as it's capital. But with that being said, not a whole lot had changed in Carmina itself. It had already been a centerpoint of Adventurer activity in Alne, after all, and the only thing that altered was now many of the square's market shopkeepers Inspected as members of the new kingdom, as did the former Outcasts milling about the location.

One such former Outcast was doing just that. Kauchemar didn't really have anything to buy, she was just curious at the things that came through the market that others may need or want. Lately she had taken an interest in the crafting resources that were not easy to find or simply buy, but that was neither here or there. Right now she was just biding time until other interesting activities came along. When you can peak at the future, you learn to just be in places you're going to have something to contribute, regardless if it's orcestrated or not.

    It took a man a decent amount of time to make his way through the market, but Hyuga had done it, and had done so rather visibly. His greatshield marked him as an adventurer, and no mistaking it, for he kept it on his left arm at the ready as he shopped. Today's weapon of choice, on his back, was a spear with the flag of his Guild attached to it, but wrapped so as not to disturb any shoppers. Presently, he stood at a food stall, speaking with the shopkeeper about their wares. The shopkeeper had a sack prepared and was loading in vegetables while the two spoke. The discussion seemed to be friendly, at least!

It is less the discussion that catches Kauchemar's attention and more the style of the exchange. That is a lot of produce to be putting into one bag. Secondly would be the flag wrapped spear paired with the shield. Spear for reach, greatshield for protection. It was a sensible combination, it just stood out when a lot of Adventurers tended to have a thing for swords.

Ever the nosey sort (it kind of comes with being a Bard, and a Messenger, it's how you find work outside of adventuring) the equine Were Fang sidles over to the stall. "That's a mighty hefty assortment you've got there. Planning a party?" It is almost time for one of the Festivals after all, so that's hopefully not a bad assumption.

    The greatshielded warrior turns his head to regard the Were Fang. He smiles a bit, and nods. "Of a sort. The festival coming up has me thinking my own crop could use some changes, and so I decided to see what they tend to sell here." Hyuga blushed a bit. He was still trying to learn how to properly socialize. "I am... rather good at replanting seeds. I am a farmer in my off-time." He adjusts the greatshield, slotting the spear into a spot specifically designed for it. "How about you? What brings you to the market?"

"Idle passing. Idle curiousity. Making sure things that do need to be known are known where they're needed." The last somewhat roundabout answer is given a bit more context when she pats the Messenger satchet at her side. She takes a step back after that, and bows gracefully with one arm angled before her to dip her staff down out of the way. "Kauchemar Tenebrae, Bard of Eas, Summoner Extrodinare, and Dark Pony Express at your service." She stands back upright, shifting to lean on the staff instead. "As well as the occassional dueling," she tacks to the end.

    The man listens, nodding. "Sound reasoning for being around these parts." The shopkeeper looks to Hyuga, who makes an 'oops-I-forgot' sound, and hands over payment for the box, which he sets to one side. He gives one of those stock emote salutes, fist to shoulder. "Akizuki Hyuga. Farmer, metalworker, and new adventurer." He blushes again. "I am still learning how to do a lot of things, to be honest, and dueling is something that I have never tried... out of fear." The last bit is said almost embarassingly. The greatshield and spear combo are set down to one side, and he looks in the box, rummaging... there it is. He produces and offers an apple. "Apple?"

Kauchemar tilts her head for a moment. 'New' Adventurer. Which usually translates as someone that focused on crafting or just living than going out into action. Which the rest of the conversation seems to support. "I see, I see. You wouldn't not be the first to not concern over it. Until it became a matter that's hard to dismiss." The apple is offered, which she accepts with a brief amusing snicker. "Thank you." She takes a bite out of it, and Hyuga would catch a glimps of her teeth as she does, having a pair of fangs more like those of a serpent. Must be a monster species thing. "Not an unjustified fear, either. Especially with various... current affairs." She uncurls a finger from the apple to waggle towards him. "However, there is a system in place that, in capitals like this, will prevent anything worse than a knockout at the end of a match from happening."

    "Hooking" the box of goods onto his hip, Hyuga picked up his shield. "Really? I am... well, woefully unaware of the particulars of combat with regards to fellow players. It is good to know that I would not need to fear death, at least here." He sighs. "I am the stereotypical paranoid player, but... I want to be better." He looks around the market, and thinks. "Is there a guild somewhere that might teach me to... oh, what was the old phrase... 'get good'?" He looks around again. "If so, I may courier these goods home and sign up."

"There is, in fact, a Duelist's Guild," Kauchemar replies without missing a beat. Though does pause for another bite of apple. Nothing wrong in enjoying a bit of bountiful harvest. "Which I also happen to be a member of, conveniently." To which she makes a grandeous gesture with her staff, a glimmer of arcane energy flickering in the eye sockets of the skull topping it. "So if one is looking for pointers there is no specific need to wait until later if one is willing."

    Hyuga thinks. He had the time right now, and the woman seemed nice enough. Plus, if what she said was true, he had no risk of death. Nodding, he set his shield down, reaching into a pocket. One of those common courier items that had likely spawned from older videogames, it pinged when he seemed to touch it with intent. Soon, from around a corner, a farmhand came running. Hyuga handed the goods over to the young man, and he ran around the corner again. "I think it would be best for me to learn quickly, or at least pick up the basics quickly, in case I am ever in need of defending myself in such a predicament. If you are free, now, I would greatly appreciate your tutelage." He picked up the shield again, turning to face Kauchemar.

"Considering the current state of affairs in this world, it doesn't hurt to prepare oneself as soon as possible." With a flick of hand gesture Kauchemar access the menu commands to send the Duel request to Hyuga. Then steps back, tossing the core of the apple away and gripping both hands around her staff. "Even if one does not seek conflict against other players, there's no telling when some jerk will try to make your day a Bad Time. Even if it's just learning to defend yourself long enough to escape, it's good to know."

She waits for the duel to be accepted... and then Hyuga gets a crash course in not taking the Were Fang at face value. With all that posturing with the staff one could easily some manner of spellcaster, which isn't wrong. But it is why she does something less expected, lunging at the man and swinging it twice in rapid succession. The horned skull that tops it also makes a good bludgeon, you see.

    Hyuga saw the popup and nodded. "I appreciate this." With that, he accepted the duel, and freed his spear from its slot in the greatshield. This... likely caused him to not be fully ready, for when the staff came at him, he tried to move the shield fully into the way. It caught just enough of the staff to prevent a colossal mistake, but it still cracked him on the side of his shoulder with the horned skull. A wince. Clearly, he was still new to not-crafting, but Hyuga resolved to at least make a good show of trying.

    The spear came around, the flag snapping loose from its securing harness once the spear really got moving, and Hyuga threw his muscles into a stabbing maneuver that could be seen from miles away. He had a high grip on the spear, really only good for such a maneuver, but the air really did seem to scream just a tiny bit as metal flew towards the bonking Bard.

As the spear is brought to bare Kauchemar quickly steps back from her attack, and jabs the butt of her staff into the ground. This causes a small spike of rock to burst up, catching the spear as Hyuga jabs and deflecting it upward, the tip just glancing over the bard's shoulder instead of stabbing into her chest. "Well, inexperienced or not, you do know how to use your weapon and that's a good basis."

The Nightmare Were Fang makes use of those hooves of hers though, stomping one on the ground with enough force that it sends an unbalancing vibration rolling under Hyuga's feet. Which doesn't help with the fact that at the same time she opens her mouth wide, fangs again flashing, but they're not the immeadiate danger when she's unleashing a horrid shriek as well!

    Simply put, Hyuga may already be panicking. He gets his bearings quickly as the scream begins, ducking down behind the massive greatshield, and wincing as his ears begin to bleed a bit. Or maybe he was being paranoid already, but man, the assault on that shield was not fun. As the sound rippled against his shield, a thought occurred to him, and he snapped his fingers. Was it a eureka moment? No, it was a little bit of a gamble, reaching out with some Air magic to give Kauchemar a jolt... if the rhythmic pounding on his shield didn't prevent it, that is! After the casting, he picked up the spear again and prepared to weather further assault.

"Ack!" The jolt is enough of a surprise that it gets Kauchemar, for a short moment, to stop trying to break his eardrums. She quickly recomposes herself though. "Everyone's a critic." Such a cliche response. Then she tilts her head, eyes briefly flickering with an otherworldly glow. "Mmm... I see... you and that shield are going to be tricky..." She raises her staff, whisps of dirt and frost whaifing around as she twirls it overhead... and a similar swirling starts to circle over Hyuga's head. " o/~ Can you hear the sound... the ice is coming down... pounding on the ground... o/~ "

And then snaps the staff down, at which a cascade of ice and rock drops out of the conjured ring on top of the poor farmer. "o/~ AVALANCHE CRESCENDO o/~"

    Hyuga considered his options in the span of a breath or two. That ring above him was likely to become problematic very, very soon. Right. Enough of the reactive posture for now, it was very clear that he was outgunned in the magic category. Rising from the defensive crouch that had saved him from the scream, he grunted, and threw his weight into charging his opponent. He was going to be cracked on the head and shoulders for certain, but if he could use the greatshield to pitch Kauchemar off of her game, he figured he might stand a chance. Plus, he was not a skilled enough duelist to multitask in a proper way here.

The Nightmare was already dark in color, but she briefly becomes even moreso as she's engulfed in shadows to move farther across the square. "I think it's time we put this fight on even footing." Ghostly flames crackle briefly across the ground, from which a shield bursts out of right in Hyuga's bashing path. The two collide, a whailing disrupting ringing emitting from the one Kauchemar called into being, though it's more like a badly tuned gong than the shriek she did earlier. "Oh, I don't remember if I mentioned I was also a summoner." She brushes her knuckles off and takes a moment to inspect them instead of watching. "Binder spirits are such useful things when one doesn't want to get their own hands dirty." The ghostly posessed shield continues to slam itself against Hyuga's greatshield and keep him away from it's master.

    A Summoner. Fantastic. Hyuga smiled a grim smile, feeling quite out of his league at this point. That wasn't going to stop him, however, as the thrill of the battle started to replace some of his fears and paranoia. Choking up on his spear, he slapped his shield with the point of his spear, thorny ivy snaking up into it and appearing on the greatshield briefly. The disorientation, however, was starting to really get to him. Figuring that he did not have much time before whatever the next hit was, Hyuga adjusted his spear grip, aimed, and took a short-range swing at Kauchemar, spear tip leading the way...

Kauchemar flinchs briefly. Summoner and summon share their healthbars so while she doesn't feel the thorns digging in as the Binder Shield slams against the coated on she can see the dips in HP from it. She flicks her arm to call the posssed shield back to her. Only for it to ignite in flames, threatening to singe Hyuga in return as she uses it to intercept his own attack and push back, while trying to smack him with the head of her staff in the other hand. "Good, good! I appreciate that you're making an effort for the learning experience."

    Hyuga grinned, loving the praise from someone who was teaching him, and he couldn't help but exhult "Thanks! No reason not to try, right?" in a slightly higher-pitched, and thus happier, voice. Backing up slightly, the thorns on his greatshield fell away, and his grip on the spear changed again. He seemed to etch something into the shield before returning to a combat grip, and the shield erupted into flames. He placed it right in the path of Kauchemar's attack, and while he let the shield do its work, he dipped and weaved his spear in a tight arc of his own, hoping to capitalize on distraction and the back-and-forth of combat to make good another attack.

"That's the spirit." Kauchemar's movements were graceful and fluid as kept positioning the flaming shield between herself and her opponent. Until the possessed shield finally poofs out of being as the mana that called it was expended by the repeated defensive techniques. "Guess that's the end of that." Kauchemar shrugs as she grips her staff in two hands, drawing forth a well of natural energy and channeling the earthly force into the weapon before taking a hefty swing at upside Hyuga's head! "Time for some good old fashioned bough beating!" Great, now she's gone back to making puns.

    The heat was on, and Hyuga felt it. What was the worse part, the heat of battle, or the puns? Only time would tell. Hyuga took the Clue By Four on the side of his shield, while the flames of his shield erupted and spread around him. Gripping his spear, his mischievous grin spread wide, he went on the offensive again, snapping his spear out in a series of slashes while the hand in the greatshield did its own nefariousness... and another snap of Air!

Kauchemar barely moves far enough to shift her weight, yet it seems to be more than enough to move away from his attemtps to skewer her with the spear as she almost appears to slide across the ground instead of step. Though drawing on a connect to the earth to do so slightly backfires as Hyuga unleases another electrical jolt, and it grounds right through her to leave a disorienting shudder in its wake. "Hmm. Fine." Briefly she huffs out of the corner of her mouth to clear some bangs out of her face. "I think it's time to stop playing light." She steps in and thrusts, aiming the horned skull of her staff like a battering ram to push her opponent back from her again. Having to keep the reach of his spear in mind is forcing her to adjust her own tactics a bit, even if she does have the advantage of experience. "Not faught many people that don't use swords or magic," she admits.

    Kauchemar's battering ram connects with an empowered greatshield, and Hyuga smiles, his thoughts being reinforced. "I chose this path..." Standing tall, he put the butt of his spear on the ground. "...because it seemed rare!" The snap of the flag in the wind spurred him to motion. The spear came down as if in a cavalry charge, and Hyuga adjusted his grip with the dexterity of a practiced, though perhaps largely inexperienced, professional. He aimed two swings for the getting-serious Kauchemar, maneuvering his shield much in the way of the old Spartans... if they were asian, wielded greatshields, and were in a videogame.

The irony that he's using a calvary lance maneuver against an equine is not lost of Kauchemar. She ignites flames upon her staff, using the skull's horns to snare the spear between them and twist it away from striking her, sending a spray of embers from the contact as she does so. Then lets go with one hand, drawing it back as she utters some incantation under her breath and a swirling mass of water forms upon her palm. Which she hurtles at Huya, and it proves to be two things. One is that the water is exceptionally cold, to the point it can make armor frost over and more fragile... The other being it was filled with tiny but highly toxic jellyfish that are now trying to sting him.

    Well, now he was on the other side of a favored tactic of his. Being hit from the Syndrome attack, and feeling those stings, was going to make things incredibly difficult, and even his reinforced defenses were not going to help. That feeling sparked inside him again, that... thing... that had caused him to leave his farm and work on himself again, and it erupted through him. The poison would hurt, but he could work it out with fire, burning it away. That fire erupted further as he charged, its flames bursting along his body, shield, and spear. Hyuga knew what this could do, and maybe some payback would help out here. He cheered with the thrill of the fight, having fun, and learning his limits.

Kauchemar's eyes widen as flames ignite around her opponent. Oh holy hells, she had forgotten Humans had almost as much of a knack for Fire as Salamanders do. She does her best to adapt on the fly, engulfing herself in shadows and trying to weave out of the way of the blow. It's only partially successful, as the flaming spear dug across one side in a glancing but still painful blow. She winces a moment, then rights herself from reeling. "Well, no doubt you can pull through when the chance arrises. I guess all you needed was some proper motivation." She dashes back towards Hyuga, twirling her staff to strike with the head, and then dip a low angle to try and catch one of his legs with the opposite end.

    Hyuga felt like he was in real trouble here. Defenses slipping, he slammed against his shield when the Tempo Tantrum cracked into his head. He had completely missed a defense or dodge, and took the time to try to recover himself. Planting his spear into the ground, he called upon his inner light, the drive to succeed and, well, not die. It enveloped him as he put one hand to his side, nursing the pain he felt there, and as he felt his body begin the process of healing, he called upon the wind once more.

Kauchemar backs off a bit when she gets zapped at yet again. It gives Hyuga a bit of breathing room to get himself back in order, but it's probably not going to last for very long. "Come on, don't give up on me now. You've come this far in the learning experience, don't let that spirit flicker out." Though even as she's being encouraging she's raising her staff and repeating the chant from before to summon the crashing force of ice and rock down upon the man.

    If that was a taunt, it worked, but if it was just another friendly combat statement... well, that also worked. Hyuga took a few deep breaths and rose to his fighting posture again, spear tucked under one arm. He pierced the soil of the battlefield and a green/brown energy crept up his spear onto his body and shield. It solidified into the ghost-image of a suit of armor made purely from hewn stone, though it did not seem to hinder his movement at all. Hyuga gritted his teeth and nodded, smacking his spear against the greatshield again. "Not out yet. Let's go!"

Two can play at that game. So to speak. Earth was the natural element strongest for Nightmares after their inherent Darkness, and Kauchemar can draw on it as well. "So be it!" Though in her case it isn't in defense, but strength. Strength that, when she unleashes a powerful exhale it isn't a deafening scream this time, but a blast embued with dust and grit that turns her breath blast into a minature sandstorm of sorts to batter away at her foe. She may be ahead in the duel, but his defensive lean is making her have to work for it.

    Earth Magic. It should have occurred to him before. Kauchemar's attack came and he shook himself from his thinking, just barely in time to block the majority of the attack. It caused him to rock back a step, but he reasserted his defenses, and reached down into the earth again. Kauchemar had a storm raised? Hyuga would add pollen and spores to that, letting it envelop the area. Neither would have trouble seeing, but maybe it was enough to give his opponent pause...

That is actually an extremely clever counter, as when Kauchemar sucks a breath back in after her assault she gets a lungful of the toxic spores as well. "Gack!" Cue a fit of coughing and wheezing as she realizes what just happened. "Smart... smart thinking..." She huffs once more, then rises back to her full stance. "I guess it's time to show you what I can really do..." She grips her staff and holds it up over her head a moment. "NIGHTMARE RAVE!" Then slams the butt end to the ground to punctuate the moment. Engulfing darkness descends upon the fight. Then eyes can be seen glowing in the darkness. But if they are Kauchemar or the skull's there is little time to guess, as abruptly the darkness is filled with a blinding wave of bright flashing colors. A body can be seen moving as they flicker, having that sterotropic effect as Kauchemar moves in and out several times to strike at her foe with her weapon.

    Hyuga set the butt of his spear into the ground, angling it to provide some form of retaliation if possible, and then redoubled his efforts. However, the Nightmare Rave succeeded in disorienting the shieldbearer. In what felt like a futile effort, he went down into a crouch, giving his greatshield more of a blanket sort of appearance again to protect him. He had his spear flailing wildly, clearly out of his element, and while he wasn't breaking down to flee, he did manage to strike at his own shield with the spear. His breathing was starting to become audible. Farmwork certainly never compared to combat, and PvE combat was nothing compared to PvP, he was finding out. He refused to bend, to break, or to black out... not yet...

"Come on, come on." Kauchemar is practically dancing around him at this point. "I can sit here and keep doing this until you make me stop." Almost literally dancing, even as attacks she needs to defend against don't actually come. Oh well. The movements still make her hard to predict. "Fine, then... be that way."

And then she's right behind Hyuga. Remember those viper like teeth she's flashed before? Yeah, those. They are indeed poisonous. And she's going to bite them right into his neck if he doesn't do something quick!

    Fighting the fatigue, Hyuga attempts to shake off the effects of combat for a comeback. Unfortunately, he's clearly running on fumes. He manages to get a shoulder up to prevent the worst of the damage, but the poison still makes it onto bare skin, which just doesn't help at all. Channeling more earth magic, that armored form resolidifies into a hazy image again. Meanwhile, the hand inside of his shield calls for the winds again, attempting to zap the woman once more, hoping upon hope that he can stay the attack waves long enough to get himself together...

The zap gets Kauchemar to back off again before she can really sink her teeth in, literally. Still she huffs, tail swishing in a bit of a fluster. "I should of known you'd be more defense than offense. Very well then." She pulls a small flash out and takes a huff from it, filling her body with the revitalizing mist. Then she puts it away and taps the skull of her staff to the ground, and with a rumble a few shambling undead emerge from the soil. Damn summoners, always calling for backup. They lurch after the exhausted man, trying to grab on and hold him down, hold his shield away from his body, so Kauchemar can come in with a series of blows with her staff to try and put an end to this teaching session.