TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ 4

[avalonmods]

{ QUICK NAV } Premise ⚔️️ Rules ⚔️️ FAQ ⚔️️ Taken ⚔️️ Reserves ⚔️️ Apply ⚔️️ Locations ⚔️️ Bestiary ⚔️️ Top-Levels Only ⚔️️ A ⦿ Soaking in Your Arrival KERPLUNK, SPLASH! Regardless of what you were in the middle of, you and your familiar have been magically pulled into the world of Avalon just above the Bay's chilly waters. After a brief plunge into the Bay, the rush of water filling your ears and soaking up into every creak and crevice of your body, you may need to cough to clear your airways when you rise above the surface. It's paralyzingly cold for a few seconds before you're approached by the Lady of the Lake beneath the water's surface. She puts a vial of a vibrant, glowing red Everwarm* potion to your character's lips. The icy water doesn't feel so icy once consumed and you'll be able to move your limbs enough to swim to shore on your own. She can't stick around to explain, she's got to get this to all the new arrivals! Many of which you'll see plopping in around you. If you can't swim, a handful of helpful ice turtles will scoop you up from beneath and drop you off at the shore. It's a fast process, as they no longer have to collect possessions and pets from drowning in the waters, so they're only needing to go around hitting the ice that keeps forming on the surface with their shells to keep the surface open for the falling arrivals. If anyone tries to ask the Lady of the Lake for directions, she will direct you to Archimedes at the Rent-a-Ride. If anyone with Animal Magic asks the turtles, they will give the full spiel, but very slowly, and they like to get off topic and gossip about other turtles you've never heard of. The shores themselves are littered with new arrivals complaining their way up a staircase carved into the walls of the White Cliffs. There is no railing, so be careful, but if you do fall, be prepared for a mysterious sand hand to reach out of the side of the cliffs to catch you. The hand will pat you atop the head twice before retreating back into the wall. This is the Cliff Beast; despite the name, he is quite friendly. B ⦿ The Caravan to Camelot Once everyone is wrangled up to the top of the White Cliffs, the handsome owner of the Rent-a-Ride, Archimedes, will distribute smart phones, a pair of earbuds, and a winter cloak** and tell them to "Check the Shit Box." The "Shit Box" refers to wardrobe more formally known as the Wardrobe of Finding, a hammerspace-like wardrobe that opens to each person's items and pets when the person touches the handle. It was recently enchanted by Merlin to prevent people from having to fish their waterlogged possessions and pets out of the water with them. From there, Archimedes directs everyone to settle in groups into modernized carriages pulled by horses and gives them a basic explanation of why and how they've been brought to Avalon: The rest of the universe is frozen in time and your character has been brought here by a familiar that was able to bond with them. They'll have to learn magic to help save their own world from destruction, but first they've got to get them to Camelot. It is here that you have the first opportunity to decide who they will be in their new home. You'll have about an hour to wander around here, meet and greet, and pet the horses before it's time to go. These carriages use fae technology that combats weight, so your character will be able to get in regardless of whether they're light as a feather or weigh two tons. The carts have air conditioning when it's hot, heating when it's cold, and a mystical shield to protect from bugs. There is also a mini-bar that pops out of the console with nip bottles. Characters can use their smartphones to connect to Camelot's internet service, avalononline (AOL), to chat with other characters, watch dumb videos, learn about the world, contact Camelot Support (they'll answer any questions they can for you, from how to use a smart phone to where to find quests and resources to learn more about your magic). Be careful if you decide to use your phones while in the caravan-- if you don't use those earbuds and start forcing everyone to listen to your nonsense, Archimedes may make you walk. C ⦿ The Red Spring The journey from the White Cliffs to the City of Camelot is a long one, and the first evening you arrive you'll end up spending at the Red Spring, a booming resort town. Because of the volume of new arrivals and vacationers, inn rooms are assigned two-to-a-room. The rooms have two twin beds, a bathroom, a mini-fridge and microwave, and a TV equipped with a couple of entertaining video games and a few free movies. For the month of February: there are complimentary chocolates placed on the pillows that make you feel warm and fuzzy when you eat them, all the rooms have been temporarily redecorated after hearing about Valentine's Day after an announcement about an upcoming Valentine's concert to be held by the off-worlders. They wanted to celebrate love too, and help the newcomers feel welcome! Unfortunately, this means that the two-person bedrooms only have one bed this month... maybe you can get a roll-away? If you don't want to relax in the room, try taking a dip in the spring for another chance to meet your fellow travelers. The waters have restorative properties that help horses and travelers recover quickly when drunk. It is known to relieve stress, improve energy levels, and mildly accelerate healing. It may be a little chilly when you get out though, so make sure you don't slip rushing back indoors when you get out! The springs are also home to a large training grounds just outside town limits, where there are teachers who will teach basic magic safety and help you discover what kind of magic you have together with other new arrivals. Try target practice, obstacle courses, meditation circles, and other ways to try to figure out just what you can do... if you didn't already have an accidental discovery on the ride there. As the snows give way to rain and the cold persists across Avalon, it may seem as if some of the local businesses are suddenly short-staffed. A favorite spot might have shorter hours, longer wait times. Whatever it is, it seems that there are fewer Avalonians as the days go on. It is not long before there are signs posted outside local businesses and every clinic, there is an illness striking the populace and adventurers seem to be immune. While the healers can cure this malady, they are short on supplies and some of them are not easy to obtain. All are urged to take up a task and gather these ingredients. Anyone who does obtain one or more of the required ingredients will be given a Fairy-blessed Tincture of Wellbeing from one of the faeries who stayed behind after the tournament. It is said to bring healing no matter where you are when you sprinkle it on the ground in front of you. (Note: The tincture will teleport the nearest healing mage to your location. This information is not included with the tincture... surprise!) A ⦿ Ingredient One: A Can of Sprite Sprites can be found in and around Avalon, and thankfully so. The first task is to obtain a small can of magic dust from a sprite's wings. Now an adventurer may think to capture and take this by force, but be wary: sprites always travel in packs and will be so inclined to curse any would-be attackers dance till they drop, literally. Sprites are mischievous sorts with a wry sense of humor and can be quite fond a flower which grows near the Red Springs called the Cinnabar Paper Bush. Bring them a bouquet and beg for their cooperation, but be cautious of breathing in the flower's pollen-- the sprites will not warn your character that it's a potent ingredient in probability spells, so breathing it in may cause sudden repeated visions of 15 seconds of a potential future based on every choice your character could make in a particular situation. Getting out of the pollen's effects takes a full day of going through visions of parallel possibilities if there's no one to help you, and the sprites will be long gone by then. You'll need another adventurer to use their magic to get you out of this or prevent the pollen from spreading... good luck. B ⦿ Ingredient Two: Deez Nuts Within the Brocéliande there grows a certain tree. Even in winter, this tree produces tiny star shaped nuts that when ground into a powder are a key ingredient in many healing tinctures. However, the nuts are coveted by the wildlife for they taste quite sweet when eaten straight from the tree. Adventurers are tasked with entering the woods and retrieving baskets full of these tiny nuts. A warning was given to not go unarmed, those animals can be very protective of their food supply and they are rumored to be coveted by the Bear Fir, who won't hesitate to come for you. A warning to the wise: do not eat them yourself. They can be quite tempting. A tiny call will induce the desire to devour all of them, burrowing deep within your conscious. Not only would an adventurer fail their task but they would fall gravely ill for a period of two days. With these obstacles in mind, it may be best to team up and go at this task together to make sure everyone comes out alive and well. C ⦿ Ingredient Three: Wait, isn't that a Pokémon? The hills to the south-east of the Red Spring are home to the elusive Hill Trolls, who never leave their hills, but like to engage with any traveler who does come through. Most try to avoid them as they are extremely rude in every way. However, for this particular remedy, there is special bluegrass known as poliwag grass, so named because the seer who discovered this unique grass had seen the creatures it is named for in an alternate world and found them endearing. The catch? Only the Hill Trolls know now wherein the hills the small patches of this grass can be found. Adventurers are tasked with entering the hills, engaging the Trolls, and requesting a guide to the grass. Avalonians will advise doing anything the troll asks of you, it’s the only way to appease them and get the prize. Characters will be set about various household and yard chores by the Hill Trolls, who will lead them to believe that this grass will take several days journey to reach and they simply can not leave their home and yard in such a state when on a long trip like that. Make sure to complete all your tasks, though, try not to be too angry when once their yard and home are spotless the Hill Troll produces a satchel of poliwag grass straight from their cupboard. They didn’t say you had to go on the trip with them and they will need to replenish their supply after, so they're not apologizing for anything. A video is sent to everyone's devices, a strong magic spell making certain that it opens. Morganna's face appears. Morganna, after all, is to be listened to when she speaks. She seems to be looking at her nails as the recording starts, not looking at her captive audience.

”"As infamous as Arthur and Merlin are, there are many magics they are unfamiliar with. They live in the realm of basic magics, the ones you all have touched and trifled with. But there are skills you will need in the future that require something a little stronger. Now if you came to me seeking spells, I would ask a fair price, dears... but it is my universe you are all saving too, so I will offer you a taste." She finally looks directly into the screen. Despite that it's just a recording, it looks as if she's looking directly into your soul. She sees you even without you responding. Her lips curl up in a little smile, friendly and yet mischievious. "Magic is stronger when more than one person performs it. Where you would be able to toss fire, you could create a fire tornado or rip the earth until it spits the fires of hell up as lava. To perform this kind of magic, you must be entirely in sync with your partners. Of one mind, of one movement. Open the attachment and it will place a memory of how to perform Synchronic Magic with a partner into your mind. It will still take practice, of course. Baby steps."

Magic-infused technology is a hell of a thing-- those who listen after the video ends and open up the attachment will find themselves rapidly flooded with what amounts to an instructional video and a visual sample of witches moving exactly in sync. After a little finger painting on each other's face and collar bones and some deep meditation while performing the spell, the caster of the spell will have complete control over the movements of the person the spell is cast upon. For the duration of the spell, the person who the spell was cast upon will mentally reside in the caster's head outside of their body. Their body will do anything the caster's does. For this particular version of the spell to work, it requires the consent of the person it's being cast upon, though there are other forms of the spell that do not that are not. With that knowledge, get practicing. A ⦿ We Succeed Together When a goddess gives instructions to learn something, you learn it, and so some of the locals have set up meditation tents at one of Camelot City's parks. The tents are filled with incense, steam, and have a spell cast on them to provide relaxing sounds-- babbling brook, yoga music, rain on the ocean, a crackling fireplace, the cries of your enemies, the relaxing sound of change falling from your favorite plinko machine... It will respond to your emotions and find the sound that's most relaxing to you to help you clear your mind. If you trust the person you're with, the spell will go smoothly and you'll be able to perform the much simpler practice spell provided in the tent: a shadow dance. Follow the dance steps around the circle on the floor of the tent; shadows will begin dancing along the walls of the tent outside of their light source. Your shadows will be able to separate from your feet and travel without you once the dance is completed. It will return after completing whatever task you need from it. If you need some help developing your trust in the other person, try playing a game of twenty questions or partaking in some of the sparkling ginger shots in front of you-- they've got a heated kick to them that's sure to warm you up and make you fire out a secret to the person you're sharing the tent with. B ⦿ We Fail Apart If you aren't perfectly in sync with your partner to cast Synchronic Magic, all kinds of things can go wrong. People who do not trust each other may end up accidentally sealing the tents shut and trapping themselves inside until they tell each other a secret they've told no one else, thus forcing them to trust each other. People believe the exact opposite at their core could end up temporarily body swapping with their partner until they wipe off the body paint and break the spell. And of course, even if you're completely on the same page and the person controlling both bodies has two left feet, a mistake in the shadow dance could cause the shadows to enter your eyes, turning both of your vision to complete darkness until you've been in sunlight for about 15 minutes straight. I hope you weren't practicing at night. C ⦿ Loss and Gain After performing the Synchronic Magic, magicians of all kinds are going to feel a little strange. It's a magic outside of their field of expertise used to perform further magics, after all, and they've shared their essence with another person to perform it. There's a chance that characters are going to feel very alone after being separated from the synchronic magic. Alone, tired, and wanting to feel connected again even if you're normally the lone wolf type. Synchronic magic makes you feel connected to others in a way that's hard to do otherwise, and without it it leaves a sense of loss and disconnect. It's not a side-effect that was discussed ahead of time, but the citizens of Camelot have prepared for it for anyone who wishes to stick around after their spellcasting. After the magic is done, at the center of the tented area, everyone is invited to gather around a huge, prismatic bonfire taking place in the center of the park that the tents had been set up in. The bonfire is filled with flames of all colors, like a prism reflecting light and warmth, and acts as a beacon for casters' shadows to find their owners and reconnect with them. It also is enchanted to encourage affectionate feelings. This may inspire people to be more... touch-friendly than normal, wanting to hug and hold onto or simple be shoulder-to-shoulder with the people around them. These feelings can easily be fought even if they're present, but fulfilling them will help to eliminate the sense of loss from the synchronic spell ending. At the end of the night, little rainbow fireflies will begin to fly away from the flames, having been hatched within them, and fly off into the night as the flames turn to embers, and then to charcoal. It is said that if you catch a rainbow firefly, you can make a wish on it, and when let go they will take those wishes to the heavens with them. Some wishes may actually be granted, so if your character has a wish, submit it here. MOD NOTES: • All test drive prompts are open to anyone in the game at any time to create your own logs with, but this post should have top-levels by potential new characters only. Current characters may reply to any threads, but should not top-level comment on this post. • If your application is accepted, you may accept TDM threads as game canon as long as both players consent. Characters may begin threading as soon as their journal is accepted to the communities. • If nothing here tickles your fancy, try one of this month's Quests for your TDM prompt. • The first "Arrival" prompts are present on every TDM, but contain seasonal tweaks for flavor. All other prompts will change monthly. (This month, please check updated method of inventory collection at the Rent-a-Ride and the "February Special" rooms at the Red Spring.) • The Shadow Dance Ritual is a form of advanced dark magic; this means that yes, after significant practice, a dark magic user may be able to do this on their own with only their own shadow. Even if your character isn't a dark mage, they can do a ritual to perform out-of-discipline magic. More information on rituals and how to unlock them will come in the future! • Please comment with wishes regardless of new/current member status if you want to participate! :) • Questions about this TDM's content? Comment here! If you have a question about the game at-large, please head over to the FAQ. *This Everwarm does not count toward your potion collection for those who wish to take up potion brewing. You must obtain Everwarm from the Elphame Trader's to count. **Jackets come in a variety of neutral colors, enchanted with a fit-adjustment spell that will adjust to your character's size.

Comments

[feisticuffs]

[He doesn't even need to say the word for her to follow his line of thought, and her expression brightens even as she reaches for the spear she'd laid on the ground beside her, fingers closing around it on instinct. At least she'd been able to bring something familiar to this place— she doesn't need a weapon to do damage to her foes, but it still feels nice to have one.]

Instinct, hmm? Perhaps a more traditional use of the training grounds.

[Well, traditional for their sort. She's already on her way to her feet before he has the chance to respond.]

Neither of us seems to be the meditating sort, so this may suit us better.

[SPARRING.]

[areadbhoar]

[ It's nice to know his intuition was on the mark, and no sooner does she agree than does he start to rise himself, his lance in hand, never far from his side, even here. Though he has kept himself on his regular training regimen, he hasn't yet had many live opponents to face outside of the tournament a couple of weeks prior. It will be nice to scratch that itch even if it doesn't amount to much in the end when it comes to magic.

Or perhaps it will. It would be nice to at least identify what form of magic he is even supposed to have a knack for here, but even if that winds up not being the case, he can't help but anticipate the opportunity to spar.

Though she's already on her way to her feet, he offers her a hand up all the same. Some habits are so ingrained in him it happens without a thought. ]

I suppose we ought not face off here out of consideration for those meditating, but there is a hallway ideal for sparring a little further in.

[ Unsurprisingly, he has become pretty familiar with the training grounds in his short time here... ]

[feisticuffs]

[The offered hand comes as a mild surprise, but after a brief moment's hesitation, she offers him a nod of thanks before grabbing hold, allowing him to assist her the rest of the way as she draws up to her full height. While she often insists on not needing any kind of assistance, it's still nice to be offered now and then.]

You do have the look of someone who would frequent such a place, if you don't mind my saying so.

[She could say much the same about herself, in fact, and once she's a little more familiar with this place, she's certain she'll be a regular visitor, as well. In addition, she notices his choice of weapon, and gives a singular nod of approval as her smile hitches a bit higher on one side. Excellent taste.]

Lead the way— I wouldn't want to disrupt those who are actually making progress with this method.

[areadbhoar]

[ He does have that look about him, doesn't he? There's something oddly comforting in that, in being recognized as something familiar when there is still so much about this place that is not.

At her word, he starts towards the meditation hall's exit, glancing back with a nod towards her weapon of choice. ]

By the way, I couldn't help but notice that your favor polearms as well. If I may ask, how long have you been training with one?

[ It's not exactly that he's trying to size her up...well, maybe, just a little. But he'd like to go into their match having some idea of her skill level, though the fact that she carries a weapon on her tells him a lot up front. ]

[feisticuffs]

[The question earns him a smirk in reply as she proceeds to follow him, the tip of her spear pointed towards the ground and trailing behind her in the interest of safety.]

Most of my life.

[Make of that what you will, Dimitri. Her age is one of Heliodor's greatest secrets.]

Can I assume the same of you? You hardly look green.

[Nobody gets scars or a build like that from casual training.]

[areadbhoar]

[ That earns her a knowing chuckle, one corner of his mouth tugging up. No, he certainly does not look green — she'd probably be far more surprised to find out he were royalty than any sort of soldier. ]

You would be correct in that assumption. It would seem we're cut from the same cloth, insofar as training and weaponry goes.

[ Alright, they might have just met, but they've already got that much in common. It likely means where she comes from is dangerous, if she's training since her youth to protect herself. Maybe that's something that all worlds have in common. Is peace really that difficult to come by?

But that's a thought for another time. He motions to an upcoming archway. ]

The sparring grounds are just beyond there.

[feisticuffs]

So it would.

[Her smirk tugs higher on one side, prompted by that knowing laugh, and she quickly picks up her pace to pass him as they approach the grounds, giving a nod of confirmation as she passes.

A gentleman always lets a lady go first, after all.]

Not bad— I've seen better, but this is plenty to work with.

[Really, all they need is clear space, and these sparring grounds have that in abundance. She turns her spear upright, leaning her weight against it as she strikes the ground with its blunt end.]

Ground rules? Obviously, we're not going for the kill, and sparring to first blood seems a bit much for the first go 'round.

[She will do her best not to cut you, Dimitri.]

[areadbhoar]

[ Ah, he likes her fighting spirit already. Filing through the doorway after her, he stops to balance his weapon between his hands, its weight as familiar as if it were another limb. It'll be nice to put it to use against someone who will give him a good match, to scratch that restless itch that training just doesn't hit. ]

Ah, perhaps not. [ He's not afraid of a little blood, but better not to draw the blood of someone he just met, either. Not a terribly good first impression to make. ] Spar to whoever can knock the other down first, then?

[ That seems fair enough to him. They shouldn't need to hold back, and it leaves little room for error leading to injury. Aside from the recent tournament, he hasn't had much opportunity to fight without death being the end result, so...

That's a welcome change of pace. ]

[feisticuffs]

[She nods just once to confirm, easing her weight off her spear so that she can take hold of it in both hands.]

I think that sounds reasonable.

[She's not afraid of a little blood, either, but she's been told more than a few times that she should probably reign it in a bit when it's not serious combat. Drawing blood isn't a very good way to make friends, she supposes, and while that hasn't often been an issue in the past, she would hate to waste the opportunity to do so now.

She lifts her chin, feet spread apart as she feels a familiar hum start to run through her, that excitement that always starts to simmer before the rush of blood that always comes with a good fight.]

On three, then! One, two, three—!

[areadbhoar]

[ If only she knew that drawing blood actually would be a good way of making friends, in this case...

But even if it's a nice, clean fight, he is ready for her once she begins to count down, his senses beginning to sharpen as they always do when a battle approaches. Dimitri has never been one to hesitate when it comes to his lance, and while in any other respect he would defer to ladies first, here he won't be treating her any differently.

So he strikes forward swiftly towards her left, his movement quick but not overly hasty. These first few strikes of battle aren't intended to knock her off her feet, but rather measure her skill. Only once he has an idea of how she fights can he work out how to best knock her down.

He expects it won't be easy, and their fight will be all the better for it. ]

[feisticuffs]

[Their approach is similar— use the first few moments of combat to get an idea of your opponent's level of skill, the way they move. She can tell he's not putting his full strength behind his strikes just yet— he's much larger than he had looked sitting down, quite possibly tall enough to give Hendrik a run for his money, but she's willing to bet that means that he won't be quite as quick on his feet as she is.

She falls back on her reflexes immediately, lifting her spear in both hands to use the shaft to deflect an incoming blow, all the while watching him to see which side he might favor. It's difficult to say; he's clearly as experienced as his manner and battle scars had implied, but she tests the waters by lunging forward in retaliation, dropping low into a skid as she swings her polearm towards his knees.

Let's see how his reflexes hold up.]

[areadbhoar]

[ So, his instincts had been correct, and she's as smart about this fight as he hoped. There's no satisfaction in a battle easily won, and this is no exception. She's swift and nimble, not pressing the offensive too quickly. Instead, her movements are measured and controlled. She's sizing him up just as he's doing with her, and that's really what tells him this will be a good match. He will not underestimate her.

So when she swipes at his legs, he's ready for her. His movements aren't nearly as fast as hers, but his reflexes are sharp, honed by years of training and necessity. A split second of hesitation can be the factor between life and death, and that's a lesson that he's learned well. This may not be a life-or-death situation, but his reaction time is no less quick.

Deftly he jumps backwards, landing on the balls of his feet so he can strike forward in retaliation, aiming to knock her lance from her hands. ]

[feisticuffs]

[He moves quickly despite his size, the mark of someone well-trained, if his scars and mannerisms hadn't already been enough to tell her that he had seen perhaps more than his fair share of combat. It's faster than she expects, but she's glad to see it— she'd guessed he would give her a good fight, and she's glad to see that she'd been correct in that assumption.

She quickly falls back and raises her spear in both hands, turning it horizontally and jerking upwards to block his incoming strike. Their weapons clash with the satisfying clang of metal against metal, but she can tell from the force of the blow that he's carefully measuring his strength, each movement deliberate.

She grins, renewing her grip on her own lance before rearing back and aiming to kick his polearm from his hands.]

[areadbhoar]

[ It's absolutely satisfying when their weapons clash, the sound so familiar to him, yet in this context it doesn't set him ablaze with the need to take out his opponent. They both want to win, and they balance each other out well. This is the kind of satisfaction he has only found with a few of his comrades.

He's almost enjoying himself too much, a grin on his lips, and her attempt to disarm him is something he does not anticipate. Instead, he sees it as an opening to press his advantage, and so her kick lands, sending his lance clattering behind him.

Though momentarily bewildered, he's hardly displeased, even if this leaves him at a disadvantage. Things just got very interesting. ]

Impressive form. I'm not often disarmed.

[ Though that doesn't mean he's admitting defeat. ]

[feisticuffs]

[She falls back, putting space between them as she reassess the situation, falling into a low crouch with one leg extended behind her, polearm poised to guard. Trying to disarm him had been a gamble, but it had paid off— and yet she already knows better than to allow herself to get too comfortable with the idea of her opponent being unarmed.

If he's as experienced as he'd implied, he won't need his lance to keep this competitive, and the fact that his grin hasn't faded entirely seals it. Her own persists, as well— this certainly has the potential to take a very interesting turn, and she's curious to see what someone with his kind of training can do unarmed. She's done extensive training with a number of different combat styles, and she can only assume someone who takes this as seriously as he does has done the same.

Perfect. It would be a shame for this to be over too quickly.]

Yours isn't so bad, either. Something tells me you won't need a lance to keep up.

[She almost suggests throwing her own aside to even the playing field, but wouldn't it be much more interesting to see if he could disarm her?]

[areadbhoar]

[ Her assessment is certainly correct. Though hand-to-hand is not his preferred method of combat, he can fall back on it in a pinch, and he's led the sort of life that has found him in many pinches. She doesn't toss her own lance aside, and he's all the gladder for it. If he can emerge victorious now, it will be even more worthwhile, and she should absolutely keep the advantage that she has won. ]

There's only one way to find out, is there not?

[ Without a weapon in hand, his range is shorter, but his movements can be quicker. He wastes no more time, feinting to the left, but swerving to the right at the last moment with a jab aimed at her side, intended to knock her off her balance if it connects.

He almost hopes it doesn't, but he does want to win, ultimately. ]

[feisticuffs]

Indeed there is.

[There's such promise in that suggestion that she can't help allowing her grin to pull wider; the entire situation is so fascinating that she has to remember to keep her guard up, as much as she's enjoying herself. It's not that she hasn't spent plenty of time with other competent fighters— Eleven was unparalleled in his own way, and Hendrik's name was known in every household in Erdrea for very good reason. Even Erik and Sylvando were far more skilled than they would have people believe upon first meeting, but this was different— someone else who seemed to enjoy the thrill of combat just for the sake of it, the artistry of form and strategy.

He moves faster than she would have expected, even having considered that being unarmed might make him lighter on his feet. He does almost catch her with that feint, and the slip shows; she follows it before doubling back at the right moment to drop her shoulder and block that incoming jab with her arm, though only just barely. It does connect above the elbow, enough to make her stagger backwards without quite knocking her off-balance, a bit too high above her center of gravity.

But it had been close. She doesn't look terribly troubled by it; instead, her eyes flash with a certain eagerness as she uses her polearm to steady herself and swing back towards him, using it as a support as she hoists herself up and aims a kick towards his chest.]

[areadbhoar]

[ His jab doesn't quite connect the way he intends it, but it's something, even if it doesn't give him much ground on her. Each move still teaches him more about her fighting style, her strengths, and what to exploit, if he can. There isn't much to exploit, however, so it may become more a matter of wearing her down, or wearing himself down. Which ever comes first.

Tracking her movements closely with his eye, he almost considers taking that kick to the chest head-on, just to see if he could stay standing through it, but she's already proven there's plenty of strength behind her movements, despite her speed. So instead he waits until the last moment he can before she collides with him, and sweeps down low, attempting to kick her lance from her grasp now.

Time to see if he can put them on an even playing field once more. ]

[feisticuffs]

[He's met with resounding success, the adrenaline high carrying her enough that she hadn't considered her support being knocked away— many opponents would have been too preoccupied with the incoming blow, but not him. Her lance is knocked out from under her and goes skittering across the ground, spinning as it skids away from the pair of them, and Jade herself drops out of the air as her kick misses and she hits the floor, just barely managing to catch herself with her hands, one clenched into a fist as she had let her forearm take the brunt of the fall.

She looks up at him from beneath her fringe, just slightly winded, but clearly impressed, her grin persistent.]

Looks like I was right.

[He didn't need his lance to keep up, and had quickly evened out the playing field. She pushes herself up quickly, not wanting to be caught down for more than a second, but the distinct spring in her movements is starting to flag just a bit. She shifts her weight to the opposite foot and raises one knee, beckoning for him to come closer with one hand as the other curls tightly into a fist.]

Let's see how you do up close!

[areadbhoar]

[ Does she even need to ask? Even if she is less asking and more demanding, it's the same either way. He can't remember the last time he felt so exhilarated, so rejuvenated by a fight. Rising to his full height once more, he approaches with both arms up, his mouth hooked in an unapologetic smirk.

He wasn't sure he would be able to pull that off, but he's glad he did. He feels accomplished, having disarmed her. ]

Very well. Lets put an end to this, shall we?

[ Though honestly, he'd be perfectly content to keep sparring with her until he's no longer able to stay on his feet. Even now he's beginning to feel a little weary, his face flushed, his breathing faster. If he wants a victory, she's certainly going to make him work for it.

So there's no time to waste. Stepping closer, he aims a quick one-two jab towards her shoulder, to once again not really knock her off-balance, but get a sense for how she responds to attacks at close range. ]

[feisticuffs]

[At this point, Jade almost doesn't care which of them wins— almost, because of course she still wants to come out on top, but being defeated in such a way has the potential to be exhilarating in its own right. She's found herself so caught up in the spar itself that she's nearly forgotten the purpose had been to see if they might spark some of that new magic they've been gifted, but by now, that has become secondary.]

My pleasure— though I hope that doesn't mean you'll go down easy!

[Of course, she's hardly going to hand him a victory. She imagines he's probably going to make her work just as hard as she intends to make him, and even as he moves forward and jabs, she can tell he's trying to read her. She neatly dodges backwards, fists up and breath quick as she prepares to block whatever he throws at her next. She watches his movements carefully, trying to see which way he leans, but he's guarded enough that it's hard to tell.

Naturally, that only makes things more interesting— but it means finding a weak angle to exploit is going to be difficult, and she has to wonder if he even has any. She certainly has an idea of how she'd like to get the drop on him, but she'll need room to maneuver first.

Her expression remains focused even as her cheeks are flushed from exertion, but she throws herself into a strong left hook before quickly feinting and bending herself back into a handspring, bringing both feet up one after the other in a sharp fan kick that he may well be able to avoid if he's quick enough, but she's willing to make that gamble.]

[areadbhoar]

[ Fortunately for Jade — and not-so-fortunately for Dimitri — her gamble pays off, and dodging her left hook leaves him vulnerable to her kick. It's something he shouldn't have overlooked, not when her attack was so easy to dodge. He should have sensed something stronger was coming, and accounted for it, and to his credit, he almost counters in time, bringing up a fist in an attempt to catch her leg and knock her out of the air.

But his aim doesn't hit true, and instead her kick lands on his shoulder, sending him reeling backwards and skittering for purchase. He only catches it at the last moment, his heels skidding hard into the dirt as he throws a hand into the ground to slow himself. It's enough to keep his momentum from sending him sprawling on his back, but now he's crouched low on the ground, and still vulnerable, if she's quick with a follow-up attack.

If she isn't, he'll be back on his feet in seconds. He won't make the same mistake twice. ]

[feisticuffs]

[She's quick, to be certain, but the question remains as to whether she's fast enough. She knows full well that she had been fortunate to land that kick, as well as to avoid his attempt at countering. Her leg had brushed closely enough with his closed fist that it had been a near miss, and even as she lands in a low crouch she assesses the situation while catching her breath.

It's now or never— they're both wearing down, and if he gets back to his feet, she won't be able to feint like that again. Pushing herself up with both hands, she charges towards him with the intent to throw her entire weight behind her next blow, aiming to turn and shove her elbow into his stomach. If she can wind him, she just may be able to keep him down.

No small feat, she knows, and easier said than done.]

[areadbhoar]

[ When her next attack comes, he recognizes it for what it is, and can tell she recognizes it for what it is, too. This is her chance to end this and claim victory if she can just manage to knock him down flat, and her follow-up comes swift and decisively, not leaving him much time to react. However, he doesn't miss the weight she's thrown behind that attack, and while it means she can knock him flat if it connects, it also means she won't be able to easily counter.

She's left herself vulnerable. This is her chance, but it's his, too.

So when she surges forward, he also springs into action, but keeps his movement limited, to not give his counter away while she might still be able to adjust for it. Throwing his weight into his hands as he plants them on the ground, he swings out a leg to trip her up, and when it connects and sends her off balance, he pushes himself up again, grabbing for the elbow meant to send him sprawling and instead routing her remaining momentum so she winds up pinned beneath his grasp. 

It happens so quickly that for a moment, even he looks surprised that he's managed to pin her down, but soon enough he smiles, not overly smug, but evidently quite thrilled that he was actually able to take her down. Then again, they hadn't called him a one-eyed demon for nothing. ]

Well done. You very nearly had me there.

[ He manages between breaths. He's absolutely invigorated. ]

[feisticuffs]

[She had taken another calculated risk and left herself open in the process, but even so, she doesn't expect him to exploit it the way he does. Her own momentum works against her as his hand closes around her arm, and suddenly she's sprawled on her back with the wind knocked clean out of her, pinned so that there's no chance of getting up to try and turn the tide or reclaim the advantage she'd briefly held earlier.

Her eyes are wide for a moment, shocked even as he congratulates her— but in the next moment she's laughing openly, red-faced and breathless, and she manages to pull one hand free in order to clout him on the shoulder in the name of good sportsmanship.

He'd won fairly, and she can't say she hates losing this way. It was thrilling, having the opportunity to push herself and test her skills against someone who actually made her work for it, and the feeling that it could have been anyone's fight very much remains.]

I was positive I would be the one on top, but consider me pleasantly surprised.

[There are worse ways to be defeated.]