Tournament: Tian vs Lunaris

The noonday sun beats down upon the Dueling Grounds on this late September day. The wind takes several fallen leaves across the field as the competitors wait for the appointed time. There is a decent turnout in the stands; it seems Lunaris has one or two fans in the back who were garnered by the combatant's cuteness co-efficient...

Here to the officiate the match is the Dandy Cat himself, "Good Afternoon, ladies and gentleman, nya. Today, we are here to oversee a duel between two combatants, nya. To the one side, we have Tian, a Cait Sith of Scale Emblem, nya. To the other, we have Lunaris, a Cait Sith of NWA, nya. Both are foxes, but only one will be the victor today, nya!" The crowd cheers. Looks like this is going to be a lively one.

Nyanta approaches the two combatants in the middle of the ring, "Do either of you have anything you'd like to say before the match begins, nya?"

They had called the tournament the Crownless Cup. It is something that Tian embodies, as one of the first Uncrowned to have made contact with the Yamato Adventurers. Much of their time has been spent avoiding notice, knowing that their role as an enemy of the Palace Lands could get them killed. However, that changes today.

Tian is decked out in leather and metal armor, shined and cleaned up for the occassion. Their face is covered in a full array of makeup, causing their skin features to blend in with the lupine mask that they wear over their nose and forehead. After so long in hiding, the messenger of the Uncrowned steps into the light.

The corner of their mouth tips up, looking across towards their opponent. One hand lifts, thumb and pinky finger extended as they touch it to their forehead and then out again. The system translates: "<It has been a long time.>" Despite the fact that Lunaris is Tian's opponent in this fight, there is genuine happiness at seeing them once more.

Gold eyes look towards Nyanta, inclining their head once. They lift two fists, drawing them together. "<Let us both fight well.>" The translator adds. Then, turning to Lunaris, Tian adds a gesture with fingers extended, thumb tucked, "<This is the last I'll be able to speak, until the end.>"

With that, Tian unsheaths two daggers, getting into a fighting stance, fluffy tail twitching behind them.

    There was probably some irony to this particular line up within the tournament, some touch of the Blind Goddess, after all Lunaris' main reason to join had been all she'd learn't from Tian all those moons ago. It was listening to them that had given her quite so much fire against the crowns, and in turn the reason she was so invested to join the competition. To think she'd arrive back a day or so before the sign ups closed.

    The opposing vulpine was not decked in armour, nor anything intimidating, no, it seemed more like she had just walked in off the street in something closer to velvet finery than anything an adventurer was supposed to wear. This was a spectacle and she was going to honour that, in effort and show both. A single nod extends towards Nyanta before those eyes scan back to Tian with a happiness as she dips into a small bow. "Far too long, Tian. I'm glad we get this chance, and I promise I'll be trying my best!" She returns, watching mostly their hands before finally straightening back up.

    With that she moves her stance, sweeping one foot back and drawing out an embossed deck, tossing the first few cards in the air before her, hovering as if even gravity itself stood still. Nervous, her heart certainly pounding in her chest, but she wasn't going to let that show. Or stop her.

Nyanta unleashes a dashing smile as he puts his hand between the combatants, "With that, let this Match of the First Round of the Crownless Cup... BEGIN!" His hand goes up in the air; the cheering echoes throughout the stadium. Like a flash, Nyanta is out of the ring, seated at the announcers table. There are no further obstacles between the two combatants... save for the battle ahead.

It's quite uncommon to see a smile on Tian's painted features, but the words from Lunaris seem to draw one out. There is simply a tip of the head in response, before their head lowers, those intense golden eyes peering across. It is obvious that the Cait Sith is taking this seriously, despite being up against a friend.

As soon as the signal is given, Tian charges into the fray, feet kicking up sand. Their daggers sweep out, but do not seem to be aimed at making direct attacks, at least not at first. The spinning motion seems to create a whirlwind around them, force swept into a vortex that continues to circle their form as they make an approach.

When Lunaris reaches the edge of this arte, the wind starts to whip around her, bits of debris kicked up, making it hard to see. Then, from within the heart of the cyclone, Tian strikes, blades slashing forward from within the swirling sands.

    A grin curled on Lunaris' face in response, she could enjoy this. Maybe not expect to win, but at least give her all at trying to beat her friend. It was all for fun in the end anyway. That seemed to calm her, she had been in life and death situations before, and giving herself over to the same feeling settled the same focus across her features. A deep breath as she saw Tian launch towards her.

    As soon as the Cait Sith comes close two of the suspended cards glow, at first the unpracticed vulpine dodges away from the dust, only just managing to conjure a thick, viscous slime to block a single blade as she dodged backwards. It wasn't good enough to avoid all the blades, knicked by debris and steel that seemed to keep up even with her speed. It was then that the third card began to glow, two shots in rapid succession cracking from it and through the air, at least trying to help put some distance between the two.

Nyanta sits at the Announcers' table as he observes the combat, his tone taking on a small twinge of excitement: "Tian gets the initiative as they strike Lunaris with a Steel Cyclone, scoring the first hit of the match, nya! It looks like Lunaris is trying to put some distance between the two of them, nya... She launches a volley at her foe, nya! Will they connect...? And it is a GLANCING blow! Lunaris is going to have to step up her game if she is going to win this one, nya!"

One blade is caught, nearly ending the cyclone as it halts Tian's motion abrupty, wrenching their arm slightly in the process. It also leaves them exposed, seeming like the perfect target for the shots sent in their direction. However, Tian's form seems to flicker slightly as the blasts head in their direction, as if they were moving too quick for the eyes to see.

In the aftermath of the first series of strikes, the whirlwind around Tian seems to calm, although it still creates a breeze that lingers in the area around them. Tian presses their lips together, giving an eerie sounding whistle that seems to enact yet another technique. Just what it does is hard to determine, but flickering shadows form up along their arms, clinging to the edges of their blades.

Once again, speed seems to be at the core of the Cait Sith's attack strategy. Those twin daggers move with remarkable speed, trailing those strange shadows along behind them. Their hands seem to almost vanish into those shadows, re-appearing in unexpected places, creating blows which are more difficult to predict and respond to.

    Lunaris knew this kind of fight was all but her worst matchup, flustered and her back pushed to the wall so that she couldn't respond or properly adapt her strategy. It was always going to be a hard one for her, but she did say that she'd give it her all. She wasn't lying about that. She did the only thing that might grant her an advantage in the growing arms race and took a deep breath - It was going to hurt!

    She drew a new array of cards, lighting them up in the sky and gave a small grin as one in particular shone. Perfect. Instead of dodging she waited for the inevitable attack, the utterly terrifying shadowy attack, and instead unleashed her own at the same time. This card was different. Most of them summoned things, this one rather drew things in, trying to suck the life out of anything that opposed it. And at this distance it was going to be hard to dodge!

    Of course, that did not stop the Tian's blades biting into her flesh, not at all, not in the slightest, the red lines of wounds quickly sketched along her frame, leaving the Cait Sith wincing - Enough of a show, perhaps, to distract others from noticing a second card winking into life.

Nyanta raises an eyebrow, quite a change of expression for the unflappablely Coolest Cat in ETO: "Tian's attacks move faster than the eye can see: certainly faster than Lunaris can see as she takes a DEVASTATING blow, putting little into her own defense as she goes on the offensive, nya! How will Lunaris counter this, nya? OOOH! A POWERFUL blow delivered right back at Tian, nya! It's still anybody's game, folks, nya!"

The one thing that Tian had not expected was to see their own attack blasted back at them in return. It's obvious from the widening of those golden eyes that it caught them off-guard. Despite the wolf-fox's best efforts to flow with the force of the blast, they still send the Blade Dancer reeling, tossed back across the sand to land roughly across one knee, visible signs of damage across one arm and shoulder.

Tian's tail twitches. Then, they give a toothy grin that seems to express approval. Sure, it hurt like hell, but if there is one thing that this strange masked figure appreciates, it's seeing others play into their strengths.

Where their blades once had shadows, these seem to be extinguished by light, flowing up along the channels in the metal. The two daggers glow, illuminating the already bright arena as Tian chucks both of them overhanded in Lunaris' direction. It looks like a dangerous move on their part, leaving themselves unarmed, but the weapons seem to have a unique enchantment on them.

One that seems to follow their enemy...

The depths of the damage was quickly apparent, the Cait Sith was left panting, holding her shoulder after the barrage, and she probably wouldn't manage another like that. But she couldn't help the wicked grin at managing to force Tian back, that she was taking as a victory, no matter how this duel went, and she wasn't admitting defeat just yet! Breathe in, recover, and most definitely appreciate her opponents bladework later, she didn't have the privileged of worrying about that just yet!

    That was a wise decision as she spotted the light glint off of the daggers, at first thinking they looked easy to dodge. Realising a little too late their little enchantment. Throwing up her arms in a half panic one of the cards glowed, the same ink slime landing infront of one dagger, absorbing it for long enough to keep the thing from it's target. When the dagger re-emerged the glow just seemed.. A little less? Slimes and eating things. The second blade perfectly met it's mark, slashing against the summoner and sending her stumbling. Teeth gritted.

    Losing wasn't her plan. Bear through it. Steeling herself she thrust her arm out towards Tian, a couple of cards glowing above her as the sound of cracking fire dispersed into the air, launching towards Tian. It wasn't subtle, what was however was the second card. The ground underneath forming a hand, trying to grasp the Cait Sith, keeping them hopefully in aim.

The crowd goes wild as the melee continues, and Nyanta is giving a play-by-play that departs from his normally chill tone; it's for the audience, after all. You have to keep them pumped: "Tian is meowr careful this time with their attack; that last exchange really took a bite out of both of them! Their daggers have found their target, and are homing in on Lunaris as we speak, but will they find their mark, nya...? They do, nya! Lunaris takes a solid hit from the daggers as she prepares a return volley, nya! It barely connects! Tian has Lunaris on the ropes! Could the match end this next exchange, nya?"

With the daggers flying, Tian gets to their feet, sand clinging to some of their armor in the process. The injuries along one side are lit up and pulsing slightly. The two daggers fall to the sands in opposite places, their magic having faded after dealing with the defensive slimes, it seems.

However, this does leave Tian unarmed, looking right at Lunaris. There is a tilt of their head to the side, as if they were giving an unspoken challenge. Then, the Blade Dancer starts to run. Behind them, the sound of that cracking fire follows as one dagger is retrieved. The force impacts, sending Tian rolling slightly, which may make it seem as if it did more damage.

In fact, the movement brings them closer to their second dagger, which is seized quickly from the sands. Rolling to their knees, Tian holds both blades out, one flaring with radiant light and the other flickering with flame. Pressing both together, there is a rush of magical energies that surge, creating a brilliant blast of force energy that blasts across the arena, causing banners to flutter and a few bystanders to lose their hats.

One thing she had this time was a moment to think, that was something she'd so far had little of, but it was likely coming much too late. The daggers strewn aside, a moment to breathe and try to keep up with what was going on around her. A seasoned fighter she was not and this was most definitely taxing the summoner. Though she had a single advantage, and that was pure and utter stubbornness, she wanted to be a challenge at least, and that was just that.

    The vulpine's gaze hardened, focusing on just the fight as a new wave of cards took into a semi-circle above her, dancing in the air. As he ran a card began to glow a faint blue, coating Luna's feet in what seemed like water, keeping her skating, just trying to keep at the edge of Tian's reach. For the most part she manages, sliding shy of the illuminant wave, caught by nary the tail.. And her side, which was more a entire hue of red at this point than a series of nicked wounds.

    Twisting to face Tian once again, a card glowed a deep grey, followed by a second. The determined Cait Sith was going to try and beat the wolf at their own game, it wasn't wise, sure. But sometimes you just had to try. In a moment her speed redoubled, tripled, lancing out with her own daggers born from wind this time, aiming to nick and slice as she flew past, always from a new angle, switching, changing and trying to adapt.

Nyanta leans forward as the fight grows in intensity, "Tian is unarmed... And they recover their weapons, nya! That dagger recovery has cost them a good deal of momentum, however, as Lunaris is only lightly scratched with that last attack, nya! Will Lunaris be able to take advantage of this opening at secure the advantage, nya? With blades back in hand, Tian is able to defend themselves quite well, deflecting much of the assault from Lunaris's Sonic Lunge, nya!"

Tian's eyes follow the movement of the cards that surround Lunaris, obviously watchful for whatever sort of tricks they might bring forth. However, there is something in those golden eyes. Enough of their own fox nature that suggests that Tian may very well be up to some tricks of their own.

Ears flattening back, Tian races forward, right at Lunaris, right into the path of the attacks. Just as the fox had done before, her counterpart is now taking the full brunt of the damage in order to get up close and personal.

There is a flush of wind, a blast of light. The fury of the cyclone comes once more, battering the area around Lunaris. However, this time, rather than blades striking out, a hand emerges from the whirlwind and grasps Lunaris' wrist. It isn't a rough gesture. Instead, there almost seems to be some care to it. She's pulled in to the eye of the storm at just the right moment.

There, Tian draws the other Cait Sith close for a brief moment, a soft laugh barely audible from the normally silent individual. Perhaps, this is the 'dance' part of a Blade Dancer. This part is blocked from view of th audience by the storm.

When the magic starts to fade, Tian neatly dips Lunaris, holding on with one arm, the other raised upwards.

    So focused on her own dogged determination to notice that look she knew all too well, after all Lunaris similarly had such moments of mischief, another array of cards sparkled into the sky, she was ready for whatever the masked Cait Sith could throw at her. Well, perhaps not exactly, she was on shaky feet and barely holding on, but she could believe herself to be in complete control and that's how these thing definitely worked!

    She was ready enough for the rush, ready enough for even the attack, though there was a moment of noticeable wavering at the storm of dust kicking up, last time she barely took this one and for the first time the summoner seemed stumped for options - Or more simply knew that those options weren't good enough. Not this time, and not with how much she had taken head on. As she saw the shadows move in the storm, two cards flared in reaction, one blue and the second grey, before spluttering out, stunned as not a dagger, but a hand grabbed ahold of her. That moment, the world shifted.

    Too focused on everything else she could only blink as she landed against Tian, completely unprepared in the confines of the storm, and then the world really did shift, she dipped down with what amounted to a squeak, almost seeming to blush as the storm cleared. Only then did her mind catch up and a soft giggle lilted from her. As the victor raised an arm, she couldn't help her own instincts, reaching up just enough to give them a light bonk on the head in revenge. They did have to enjoy their victory still, after all!

Nyanta stands up from his chair, "And the combatants are now dancing on the dueling grounds, nya! What a performance, nya!" Nyanta procures a rose from somewhere and throws it on 'stage'. "OOOH! And with that, the match is over, nya! Tian has come through victorious in the duel! Healers! Please advance to the Dueling Circle!" Two NWA-designated healers move forward to treat the injuries of each combatant as Nyanta advances forward, "Tian, how do you feel knowing that you won your first match?"

With Tian, one should always expect the unexpected. Especially if you just so happen to be one of those individuals that the Cait Sith is quite fond of. Another of those quiet laughs follows as the wolf-fox makes sure Lunaris is set carefully back to her feet. Oh, and they fully accept the bonk to the head, offering a wink in return.

With a bit of flare, Tian steps back and bows to Lunaris, as if thanking her for the dance.

Then, Nyanta is racing forward and the Cait Sith crouches to reclaim their daggers, sheathing them before answering. The magical microphone seems to be used to amplyfing sound. The problem is, Tian's way of speaking is silent. It is simply a series of gestures. "<I am glad to see a good friend once more.>" A nod of acknowlegement to Lunaris, "<And glad we put on a good show for all.>"

Nyanta will have to translate this to the audience, however.

    Having given it her all, Lunaris manages to get back on her feet, if with a bit of a stumble as Tian helps to right her, her cards finally remembering too to tear themelves from the sky and slide back into the small deckbox on her side, though she most certainly still has the energy for a cocky grin in return for that wink. 'I'm winning next time,' she mouths playfully, before starting to head off.. Entirely choosing not to try and bow in her state.

    "It's good to see you too Tian, if they don't have a nice victory meal, I know where we can go," she offers, low enough for those close to hear, but mainly aimed to the Cait Sith and not the microphone, after all she didn't want to interrupt the moment, and with that, leaving the audience all to themselves. Whether Tian enjoyed that was another matter, and that would have to do as her revenge.

Nyanta smiles to Tian with a nod, "Tian wishes to convey their joy in being able to meet Lunyaris again, who is their good friend, and to be able to put on a good show for all of you, nya. And Lunaris has offered... To take Tian on a DATE to celebate, nya! One more round of applause for our combatants!" The crowd goes wild! It seems that watching two fox persons go at it was good entertainment!

Tian flashes one fang in a lopsided smile at the challenge. Thankfully, Lunaris had mouthed the words in English, so they had been able to lip-read and understand. It is one of the things they are most distinctly /not/ able to do with most Japanese Adventurers.

The offer of a meal is met with a slight tilt of the head. Tian's oversized ears flop slightly to one side in a curious-puppy sort of expression. Lifting their hands, Tian seems about to respond when Nyanta decides to announce the invitation to the world at large.

Tian gives one look towards Lunaris, then motions their head at the Were Fang. Then, as if the two had planned this, Tian lifts their hand to bonk the announcer on the head in unison with her.

    Lunaris herself had not even considered this once, it had been a good two years since she considered language to be an issue in the same way that it once was, and wholeheartedly missed something she might have otherwise found interesting, in that Tian understood her. Nope, she just had expected that. Terrible system, messing with her perceptions.

    What was perhaps more telling was how little the Cait Sith had thought into the offer either, high on endorphins from the fight, as soon as she heard Nyanta's words, the fox utterly froze mid-stride, her cheeks turning a light red as she found exactly enough energy to spin around and stutter something completely unintelligible.

    One thing she most certainly did understand however, was Tian's meaning, and she wholeheartedly agreed, raising her hand and giving the announcer a nice bonk in unison with her counterpart, all while quietly grumbling something to herself.

Nyanta is double fox-bonked; while normally, he could have easily dodged out of the way, it was important for these blows to connect for comedic timing. Nyanta is not only a gentleman but also a servant of the crowd. He presents with a simple, "Nyaaaa!" Before sticking out his tongue with a wink.