Adventure in the North The Great Caldera Tournament - RPLOG
Participants
Date
16/10/477
Log
The air is abuzz with excitement. Beings from all over Thera'Dor and from all over Promise have gathered here for the big tournament! The grand opening ceremonies are just finishing up as the delegations from each of the seven noble houses of Thera'Dor finish up their demonstrations on the seven raised fighting rings and all turn and bow low to Great Caldera, the huge volcano on whose slopes the tournament grounds lie. The gathered audience cheers as the athletes/combatants line up to sign in.
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 One of her arms has been replaced by one of polished metal.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.
Saviante presses her attack upon the Fox. Taking a half-step forward to close the distance, the plant flexes her left arm back to lead in to another strong punch, but instead allows the backward momentum to continue and spins around into a light hop, heel spinning in for solid downward strike.
The Nurse shark is pleasantly surprised to see the Fennec using her opponent's size to her advantage. The other fights are similarly interesting, but she can't watch all of them at once.
There is a roar from the crowd as one of the matches wraps up quickly! It seems that Yegor, aka Hartford in his silly mask, simply picked up his opponent and dropped him out of the ring! The smaller mole looks a little dazed as he finds himself seated on the ground, then bursts out laughing! Hartford joins in, jumping down from the ring and helping his opponent to his feet.
Stoneback slides to a halt, bringing up a thick arm to block Cassidy's kick. The armadillo isn't as much of a slouch as he appears! Dropping to a knee with the force of the fox's kick, he launches himself sideways in an attempt to get a hard shoulder check on Cassidy.
Natska's kick is perfectly timed, sweeping the wolf off his feet. After being driven so close to the edge by Natska's first flurry of blows, this is the last straw, tipping him off the edge of the low platform. Nod looks around in a daze, his feet over his head. Looks like Natska won this round!
Arimia's dodge is fast enough that she completely blindsides poor Hugo, sending him staggering for a moment. The puma rights himself with a rueful grin. "Wasn't expecting that from such a little lady!" he says, getting his feet back under him and carefully circling.
Saviante's opponent tries to block the incoming punch, only to be struck hard by her forceful kick! The little fox crashes to the stones of the ring with a yelp! After skidding to a stop, he lies still. An officiator hurries over and looks Kristoff over before waving to the Shlaufuch's contingent. Savi wins this fight!
Cassidy raises a brow behind her mask as the armadillo blocks her kick. "Oh ho. Nice one," she says as she dances out of the way of the incoming shoulder, striking out with another kick aimed for his ribs as he passes by.
Natska hops out of her ring as well, giving Nod a nod and a friendly smile as she helps the wolf up, then pats him on the shoulder. She does not stay long for pleasantries, though, eager to see how Cassidy is doing; when she gets to Cass' ring she claps her hands and cheers. "Nice, Cassidy! And you can do it, Hugo!"
Arimia flicks an ear as her opponent speaks and replies, with a rather obvious Cliffside accent, "You are misaken 'bout me bein' a lady." Then she's darting in, using her size and speed to attempt to land a flurry of blows on Hugo. And the small raccoon doesn't seem at all shy about fighting dirty and going for low blows.
With the fight over and any residual animosity instantly resolved, Savi moves over and assists the fox out of the ring. Taking a few moments to make sure her opponent makes it to their bench alright, the sphinx-who-looks-like-a-fern returns to her area and awaits the next rounds. She focuses on the fights still going like they were assigned homework from the scribes.
Cirra is impressed and frightened by the block, not having expected that at all. She pauses in her enjoyment of the food to watch closer, hoping this fight goes in the fennec's favor.
Stoneback is caught off balance as his shoulder check meets nothing but empty air. Cassidy's well placed kick does not help him regain that balance and the giant armadillo tumbles from the ring. He does not seem to be hurt at all as he rises and dusts himself off. "Eh," he grunts, offering a broad hand to Cassidy, "Not bad, girlie."
The crowd roars in approval as each fight concludes until everyone's eyes are on the last remaining fight of the first round. Hugo leaps acrobatically over his smaller opponent, grin still fixed in place as he lashes out with a vicious back kick at Arimia's head!
Cassidy reaches out to take the hand, nodding at the armadillo. "Thank you! You performed well, good sir. The organization is fortunate to have you among them," she says with a smile as she retreats from the ring to stand next to Natska once more, awaiting the next round.
Natska claps her hands as the fight concludes, then turns to watch Hugo and Arimia, relaxing and letting her tail swish back and forth as she turns her attention to the last match of the first round.
Arimia grunts and stumbles forward slightly as foot connects with her head. She scowls as she regains her footing and turns to face Hugo. Once again trying to use her speed to her advantage she attempts to grab the extended leg with one hand, while aiming to punch deliver a strong punch to it with her other, metal hand.
Savi claps with the others as the matches begin to finish. Watching the final battle closely, the plant begins charting the mental notes she is stacking up internally.
Cirra jumps up as Cassidy finishes off her opponent, glad to see her make it out unscathed. She looks around and is surprised to see Natska's fight over already.
While the final match of the first round continues, the officiators move to get the next round of combatants started. It looks like Hartford is in again, this time up against one of the Caldera wrestlers. It doesn't seem like he will be able to get away with his trick from the first round a second time. It looks like he is the only being from Sweetwater in this round, even if he is fighting for the Snowmark clan today.
Everyone else is given a brief respite. Pure, clean water from one of Caldera's many springs is offered to the combatants as they rest.
Meanwhile, things look bad for Hugo as Arimia whips about to deliver a brutal blow to his lower leg! There is a loud CRACK as she makes contact with her steel plated arm and the puma drops to the ground, his face going white beneath his fur as his eyes roll back in his head and he passes out. A cry rises from the Snowmarks as three of them hurry over to help carry off their fallen cousin. Arimia wins this round.
"Good job, Natska. But if we keep this up, we might just end up facing off against each other at some point after all!" Cassidy says with a soft laugh before catching sight of Cirra in the stands. She offers a cheery wave to the shark before turning her attention to Hartford's fight.
Natska winces, her ears flattening at the sound that ends Hugo's match. She smiles though at Cass' comment and puts an arm around her fennec, nodding. "We might. We'll have to see." She sees where Cassidy is waving and raises a hand to wave to Cirra as well, then moves to watch the other fights of the second round.
Arimia shows a complete lack of concern for the damage she may have done to Hugo, simply releasing the puma and letting his fellows carry him off." She steps out of the ring and stands to one side, waiting for her next match up, providng she's not disqualified for what she did, to be announced.
Savi glances towards the water, but elects to wait, prefering to focus on the matches currently. Happy to see everyone from sweetwater make it through, she concentrates on not Hartford in his costume, but the rows of challengers she doesn't know. Trying to size them up from their actions before their matches.
Cirra is glad to have been noticed in the stands. She gives a cheerful wave back before heading up to order some mulled wine, liking the idea of a hot sweet drink right now.
Hartford seems to be doing pretty well for himself. His opponent may be nearly as big as the skunk-striped stag, but he seems to be much slower, and Hartford is not getting in close enough long enough for the burly saurian to grapple with him. He manages to land a few hard blows under his opponent's ribs. His style is very different from what the others may have seen before. Looks like Evil Antler wasn't half the fighter that Yegor Snowmark is! The crowd cheers as the blue reindeer snaps a hard uppercut into his opponent's jaw that sends him staggering! The saurian grunts and holds up his hands. "I'm outmatched, he grumbles, rubbing his jaw, "I yield!" He holds out a hand and shakes with Hartford, the two of them leaving the ring.
The other fights seem to be wrapping up as well, one of the most exciting ones being a Schlaufuchs with her legs wrapped tightly around the neck of a huge Caldera triceratops. The Caldera wrestler seems to be turning red, his eyes bulging, though he has refused to yield so far.
Arimia, for her part, gets no more than a disapproving glare from the retreating Snowmarks as the rush Hugo away for treatment. The next round is announced as rings are cleared. Notable among the next matchups are Cassidy Solacious vs Arimia, Natska of House Solacious vs Hannah Schlaufuchs, and Saviante of House Solacious vs Knut Caldera.
Cassidy turns a glance towards Arimia and rubs the back of her head as she starts towards the ring. "Oh! My, my. I wasn't expecting to be fighting you," she says, adjusting her top hat as she takes her place. Hands are folded behind her back, and the smiling porcelain mask is turned towards her opponent to await the signal to begin.
Natska raises her eyebrows at the announcements, but she is sure that Cass can handle herself; she gives her a little squeeze, then moves to her own deignated ring, giving Hannh a bow of her head before she settles into her ready stance, tail going still but with her ears twitching.
Arimia ignores the glares she receives as she makes her way to the ring, tilting her head slightly at the foxes words. "An' why not? You have to fight someone." A feral grin crosses her features as she continues speaking. "I will do my best to keep my absolute hatred of nobility and Solacious from causin' you irreperable harm."
Stepping into the ring, Savi repeats her previous action. Without a pause she starts by taking three strong steps followed by a small jump... but as she jumps her action reveals itself as a completely new tactic as she spins her body to the left. Rather than going forward to strike, she spirals her form to the side, lands low and from her crouched position, lashes a foot out to intercept the knee of an enemy. An enemy hopefully braced for her implied forward assault.
Cirra was only able to catch the final blow of the raccoon's fight before it ended, and she's now a little worried, having been able to read the raccoon's lips from the distance, worrying that she would be more savage in her fight against the fennec.
As the rest if the combatants take their places and exchange salutes, the officiator raises his hand. "Begin!" he shouts!
Natska's opponent does not hesitate. The petite arctic fox instantly closes the distance between them and tries to draw the snow leopard into a grapple.
Saviante's new opponent seems to be much more experienced than the last. Knut smiles, taking one, perfect step to the side, dodging the warrior's powerful, sweeping strike. Then he swings his leg forward in his own maneuver, trying to lock himself into position behind the fern for a full bodied throw!
"I suppose that's true. And yes, I've heard about you," the fennec says, bowing her head. "I don't know what you've got against us, but I appreciate the gesture! I'd rather not be crippled." At the signal to begin, she bends at the knees ever so slightly, but otherwise remains stationary on her end of the ring.
Natska starts to move forward, only to have her opponent rush at her; the jaguar sets herself and catches the attempted grab, jostling for leverage and control over the fox, before she attempts to use it to throw Hannah off towards the side of the ring.
Arimia flicks an ear slightly, and starts to pace around the ring at the signal o start, though far enough from the edge, she hopes, that it wouldn't be a trival matter to knock her out. She seems happy to not make the first move herself. "I don' care for nobles 'cause they are divorced from reality, an' pampered. Thinkin' they know enough to make blanket statements, an' judgements 'bout things they can't rightly do so, not havin' experienced 'em. I bear particular hatred for Solacious 'cause that division from reality seems stronger among you. Strong enough that many of those I met are actually insane. Ain't sayin' you're like that. But I'm gonna assume so until you prove otherwise."
Seeing her plow failed and feeling the hands slip lighty over her form, the plant doesn't wait for another narrow escape. Rolling with the attempted grab, instead of against it, Savi lets her mass fall directly at the outstretched leg. Hands grasping for purchase, she aims to twist the limb between her mass and the upward pull of her arms with the full intention of tearing it off. Trying to take this fight down to the floor as roughly as possible.
Cirra continues watching the Solacious and Apostate fight, kinda frustrated she can't see what Cassidy is saying in response.
The crowd is really starting to enjoy the matches, now that things are really starting to heat up! A tiny mouse next to Cirra cheers for her favorite fighter. "Come on Knut! Tear that houseplant to bits!" she shouts enthusiastically.
Hannah rolls with Natska's throw, coming to a stop on the very edge of the ring and teetering a bit as she rolls to her feet. The fox grins and lunges in again, this time diving at Natska's feet!
While Saviante has no luck in removing her opponent's limbs, she does manage to pull his leg out from underneath him, taking him to the ground with a bone jarring THUD! The saurian grunts, absorbing the blow well and lashing out with his raised feet, trying to drive the fern back so he can regain his feet!
Cassidy chuckles softly at that, nodding. "I see, I see. Yes, we do have that tendency, unfortunately. I don't think I'm like that, personally. Now, crazy? That's another matter. I may be the maddest of them all! I don't care much for the politics. I'm just another lass who happened to grow up in a bigger house," she says, starting her advance. "Hopefully I do nothing to earn your ire." It's the last she says before she deems herself to have walked close enough and kicks forward into a lunge, striking out with a kick aimed for center mass.
Natska crouches as Hannah comes in again, although when the fox goes for her legs she quickly kicks them out behind her, dropping onto the fox. She quickly tries grabbing at one of Hannah's legs, but gives up on that in favor of snagging an arm, trying to use it as leverage to force her opponent into a lock, the jaguar using her weight ot her advantage.
