Revision as of 01:52, 17 October 2014

Participants

• Arimia
• Cassidy
• Cirra
• Fenris
• Natska
• Saviante

Date

16/10/477

Log

Among those signing up to fight is a huge blue reindeer wearing the blue and white of House Snowmark. His outfit consists of a pair of baggy trousers, wrapped above the ankle and at the waist with blue sashes marked with snowflakes, leaving his broad blue and white torso bear and revealing the deep blue snowflake pattern on his left pectoral. His face is covered in what seems to be a leather luchador mask. He looks around nervously as he waits to sign in. A puma in similar garb, minus the mask slaps him on the back. "Relax, cousin!" he cheers, "You will be fine!"

Having spent the days leading up to the tournament training and brushing up on her skills, Cassidy was more than eager for the event to finally arrive! Dressed in her warmer, thick leather long coat and top hat, the masked fennec wanders up with her hands folded behind her back. "Ahh! This is going to be exciting!" She chimes happily, tail twitching behind her.

Natska stays close to Cassidy as she goes through the line to sign up, eyeing the other competitors. "Yes, it will be. I look forward to it." The jaguar is wearing her lighter, duelling leathers today, with a broad sash in the colors of House Solacious tied around her waist and trailing in the breeze. "Oh! Hello, Lord Hartford! Lord Hugo!" she calls when she spots them. "Mmm. There are a lot of people here today."

Arimia makes her way through the line to sign up, maybe taking advantage of her short stature to get a bit closer to the front than she should be. She doesn't seem to be wearing any special armour, instead opting to wear some shorts and a vest. She also doesn't seem to belong to a clan, though she has two badges, one for clever folk and one for adaptable, but both are defaced with an 'A' etched over the seal. Apostate, perhaps? One of her arms has been replaced by one of polished metal.

Savi arrives last, as per usual. Her position in line allowing her a good look at the people signing in before her. While always dressed in multiple layers of armor, her suit today bares a striking modification above and beyond her normal attire. From her gauntlets, to her back and all along her ever-closed helm, the towering plant woman sports rows of moderate blades that bristle across her form. From the full plate armor to the wickedly barbed knuckles, it seems that the warrior sphinx plans to use her massive size as an advantage.

Having flown in on a merchant vessel Cirra is in Thera'dor to scout out new clients for her business. That doesn't mean, however, that she's not going to visit the tournament. Granted, she's probably the worst cheer section any of the entrants could ask for, since she can't shout. Or Speak. But she's mostly here to enjoy herself. She makes her way into the stands. smiling a bit to herself.

Hartford looks a little stunned and panicked when Natska calls out his name. "I don't know who you are talking to!" he says loudly and stiffly, "I am. . . uh. . . I am. . ." The reindeer stammers, then leans down to let Hugo whisper in his ear. "Oh, right," he says straightening, "I am Yegor Snowmark!" He appears lost for a moment, looking to a smirking Hugo for support. "Da," he adds as an afterthought.

The signup is not too difficult. There are several tables, each manned by a being wearing a badge marking them as an officiator. They ask only for each competitor's name and who they will be representing. The officiator looks up as Saviante walks up to the table and frowns. "I am sorry, Miss," she says, "But this is a martial arts tournament. No weapons or heavy armor are permitted in the ring. I will have to ask you to remove them or decline participation." The official at Arimia's table gives her prosthetic arm a glance, but shrugs and moves on. "Name?" the bored looking mole asks.

Cirra finds that there is quite a bit to enjoy here, as merchants hawk food and souvenirs in the packed grandstands around the fighting rings. There is truly a festival air about the place.

Despite her mask, Cassidy gives no problem in signing down both her name and the house she's representing as her own. No weapons on her person today, at least, none in plain sight that she intends to use. She was far to happy to be competing at all! She wasn't about to try cheating.

Natska Illyushkin, for House Solacious, she provides; then she moves on towards the waiting area and stretches out as she warms up. Her ears perk as she watches the crowd, tail swishing back and forth.

Arimia flicks an ear as her arm is stared at and replies, "Arimia. An' if that ain't enough then I'm sure you can figure somethin' else out to sign me up an' announce me as." Having signed up she moves away from the table, wandering a short distance away to study those that would be her competitors.

Nodding silently at the judge, Savi steps to the side and calmly strips down to her lowest level of armor. Light leather straps and padding crisscross her form, arms and legs covered like a boxer. While normally only worn to shore up weak spots found in the heavier suit, the padded undercoat comes across as almost undergarments, and wraps only across the more sensitive parts of the plants body. Knuckle to elbow, tow to knee, thigh to waist, chest to neck. While vital sopts are nicely covered, this layout it does have the drawback of exposing the majority of her body to the biting cold. As the final pice drops to the ground, her ever present helmet, the Fern wraps a piece of cloth over her nose and mouth leaving only her eyeless gaze and long hair exposed. Now Fully unarmed and encumbered, Saviante takes her place alongside the others combatants.

Cirra is definitely enjoying the view of the fighters gathered. It's not everyday one gets to watch fights like this, without the necessary distractions of meditation or bloodsport. She quietly orders a little something of everything from the vendor, wishing to try it all.

For the most part, signups go without a hitch, though Hugo does have to remind Hartford of his chosen pseudonym when the official asks.

There are benches and prep areas all around the fighting rings where the various participants are warming up. There seems to be a contingent from each noble house. The saurians of Caldera seem to be doing some kind of bizarre dance, each of them dressed in some sort of long sleeved vest, briefs and calf high boots. The varied members of the Conglomerate, all heavies by the look of them, are busy punching and slapping each other into a frenzy. In another corner a group of graceful snowy foxes are meditating, wrapped in coordinated Gis. Must be Schlaufuchs. A contingent of Underhill moles are going through a series of rigid forms in another area, while the Snowmarks cheer them on, the rowdy pumas making up a series of silly, rhyming cheers and jeers. The lanky wolves of the Dacha contingent are simply lounging around, chatting. A congenial gathering indeed.

The warm air of the valley is buzzing as an announcer climbs into the central ring. "Welcome all to our beautiful valley!" the saurian announcer calls, his voice augmented by air magic, "And to our competitors, good luck! I am here to remind all that this is a gathering for sport and for brotherhood! Matches will continue until one competitor gives up, is knocked unconscious, or falls from the ring! No weapons or mathemagic will be permitted! Anyone caught cheating will immediately forfeit and be ejected from the competition in shame!"

Cassidy rolls her shoulders and takes a deep breath as she snakes an arm around Natska, giving her a firm squeeze. "May we both do spectacular, even if neither of us wins the day! We will at least have fun, yeah? I am sure of it!"

Natska has finished her warm up and found her center; she smiles a relaxed, easy smile and slips out of her jacket, then puts an arm around Cassidy as well, giving her a hug in return. "Yes, best of luck in your fights, love. I will cheer you on, and I am sure it will be an exciting day." She inclines her head towarsd Saviante as she notices the fern. "And Savi! All the way up from Firmament. It is good to see you here too."

Arimia glances over the assembled fighters, shaking her head slightly. She crosses her arms as she listens to the announcer and shrugs her shoulders at the mention of cheating. As her eyes wander certain things draw a scowl from her, such as the colours of Solacious or other noble houses that some are sporting.

Taking up a spot on a nearby bench, Savi sits and calmly folds her hands in her lap. Body lightly twitching from muscles tensing and then releasing, she warms her body for combat in a more inward and relaxed way than shown by many of the compitition. Not choosing to socialize with the others gathered, she silently awaits word to indicate when the plant is to battle.

Cirra watches with great interest, idly eating the available foods. It's a bit odd, not having come with anyone she knows, but she recognizes Natska and Cassidy, and plans to follow their matches closely. She also notices a few others representing Sweetwater, but they all seem outnumbered compared to the home teams.

His speech made, the triceratops announcer opens his arms wide. "Let the tournament begin!" he calls, and his voice is echoed by the mountain shaking cheer of the crowd and the competitors!

The roster is posted around the arena and the fighters all crowd around to see the lineup. Looks like the foreigners have been drafted into the first round! Cassidy Solacious vs Zedik Stoneback (An oversized armadillo) of the Conglomerate, Natska Illyushkin for House Solacious vs Nod of the Dacha, Arimia vs Hugo Snowmark, Saviante for House Solacious vs Kristoff Schlaufuchs, Yegor Snowmark (obviously Brutus Blackback's manservant, Hartford) vs Davyd Underhill, and the last ring holds a bout between a Schlaufuchs and a hulking bear from the Conglomerate.

The competitors are invited to come to the prepared rings, painted in red white and black geometric patterns and given the signal to begin!

Cassidy steps into the ring and rubs her gloved hands together as she sizes up her opponent before flashing a smile. "Hello there! Let us have a good fight," she says, dipping into a grand bow before standing back upright. After looking for any kind of weakness to exploit, she starts to slowly stride forward, trying to bait her opponent into making the first move.

Natska gives Cassidy a quick kiss on the cheek before she splits off to her own ring. There, she gives her opponent a nod of her head and then takes her position; when the signal is given, she assumes a low, wide stance and circles her opponent; as soon as they get in range, the jaguar aggressively launches a flurry of strikes, seeking a quick finish to the first match.

Arimia makes her way to her own ring, studying her opponent. After a few seconds she settles into a fighting stance and waits, planning to dodge attacks as much as she can to let Hugo tire himself out.

Savi takes a more direct approach. Stepping into the ring, the tall female instantly takes three running steps and jumps, seeking to drive a fist directly between the eyes of her opponent with all the mass of her body, and gravity, packed behind her long reach to powering the strike home.

Cirra is honestly a little nervous when she sees the oversized armadillo, surprised by the uneven pairings. Did they think the lighter folks would have a chance against the larger ones?

Cassidy's opponent snorts at her polite salute and rushes the Solacious fox! He is a big fellow, and it looks like he plans to use it to his advantage!

Nod, the lanky maned wolf is caught off guard by Natska's furious rain of blows and takes a couple of good jabs before backing away and recovering. Her opponent gives a lupine grin as he shifts quickly forward, snapping a kick toward Natska's head!

Arimia's opponent saunters languidly around the ring with a grin on his face. "Come on little raccoon!" he chortles, "Let us give them a fight to remember!" The puma lunges suddenly forward, his fist blurring toward Arimia's face!

Saviante's foxy opponent's eyes widen as the fern launches straight into a brutal attack. He tries to dive aside, but is just a little too slow, taking a glancing blow just below the temple. He staggers back a bit before righting himself, just at the edge of the ring! Shaking his head, the dazed fox tries to dance away from the edge.

As it turns out, Cassidy was hoping he'd try to use that size to his advantage. They almost always do, it seems, and she's become quite adapted to fighting foes bigger than her. When he charges, she skirts around to the side with a duck and shuffle, and uses her powerful legs to gives a swift leaping kick aimed for the side of the head.

Natska uses her low stance to her advantage as she rolls under the kick; as she comes back up she lets out a loud snarling growl of a kiai and strikes at the back of the wolf's leg, trying to throw him off balance, although she is careful to not cause harm to the joint itself. She maintains her aggressive posture, trying to drive the wolf back and out of the ring.

Arimia uses her small size to avoid the larger foe's attacks, banded tail flicking as she dodges. Though as she dodges one strike she slips past and moves one of her fists, her natural one, in a blurring short range punch at Hugo's kidney.