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 Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 11:08 am
Description: Do you see the picture above? That's right, it's the picture perfect image of where each match will be taking place, right smack down in the center of a zen garden. For those who don't know, let wikipedia give its description of one: Quote: The Japanese rock gardens (枯山水, karesansui?) or "dry landscape" gardens, often called "Zen gardens" were influenced mainly by Zen Buddhism and can be found at Zen temples of meditation. Japanese gardens are a living work of art in which the plants and trees are ever changing with the seasons. As they grow and mature, they are constantly sculpted to maintain and enhance the overall experience; hence, a Japanese garden is never the same and never really finished. The underlying structure of a Japanese garden is determined by the architecture; that is, the framework of enduring elements such as buildings, verandas and terraces, paths, tsukiyama (artificial hills), and stone compositions. Over time, it is only as good as the careful maintenance that it receives by those skilled in the art of training and pruning. Part of the art is to keep the garden almost static, like a painting. If you're wondering what the other side look like, it's this picture, without the guy obviously: Pebbled ground, a few rocks and bark sticking out, and a dab of green vegetation, this terrain is the perfect essence of aesthetic beauty. Now it's up to the fighters to make use of this beauty by bringing their own performing arts, aka THE FIGHTING. This time around, it's going to be somewhat like last round, in that you will have spectators watching very closely since the size of the ring is going to be small. However, the volume will be a lot less due to the peaceful atmosphere and the more casual visitors (as only the wealthy can afford to watch at such a place and lucky tourists). This does not mean you won't get any of the usual cheers or boos. Think Tennis mixed with the roar of boxing in terms of the crowd. It'll be quiet one minute then get loud the next. Field Measurements: The field is rectangular instead of the usual circular shape, so the size in feet is: 35 by 60. Though spacey, any one trying to run away won't be able to run for long. The walls surrounding the garden are fifteen feet high, with the audience surrounding the entire arena from a higher elevation. Ten Count Boundary: Going outside the garden, mainly getting into the spectator stands or even standing on the top of the wall will begin the ten count. As usual, the flying rule is in effect as well.
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Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 7:48 pm
It was certainly an odd twist, to say the least.
A Zen garden was the last possible place Tenkai expected a fight to be held. Such things went against the entire concept of Zen Buddhism. Who knew what kind of strings Mr. Sonners had to pull in order to buy out a garden like this. Even if he simply paid monks to construct it, they couldn't be terribly good monks to persue their art for the purpose of decorating a battlefield.
Then again, Tenkai couldn't initially make out any monks amongst the spectators. Perhaps they were decent enough not to see the garden desecrated by violence.
Fortunately, disrupting the patterns in the pebbled ground would mean anything. These designs changed constantly, and monks held no attatchment to their art. It would have been swept away regardless.
色即是空...
"Shiki soku ze kuu..." (All form is emptiness...)
Seated at one end of the triangular arena, Tenkai lifted his right hand as he spoke, the light gently glinting off of his gauntlet. Pausing for a moment, he looked over to his bandaged left hand, slowly rising it as well.
...空即是色
"...Kuu soku ze shiki." (...and that emptiness has form.)
The monk moved his head back to its original position, facing forward as he closed his eyes. He took in a deep breath, as if he was absorbing the ambience of the garden. The powerful calm of the garden strengthened him in this moment of meditation as he brought his hands back down to his thighs.
Tenkai figured he better make due of the serenity of the garden now, while things were still quiet.
I hope this battle can be settled with as little disgrace to this peaceful place as possible. If not, may the monks that tend to this garden forgive us for this future transgression.
With that thought out of the way, Tenkai would have no regrets about doing his best in this fight. Although he hated to spoil such a serene atmosphere with violence, it would be just as disrespectful to not give his opponent a good fight.
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Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 9:36 am
Chest rising and falling with the dramatic motions of one who drew in a deep breath and released, Link would be seen entering the Zen Garden with an expression that could only be described as apprehensive. Truth be told, the Hylian Knight didn't know what to make of this new arena. Though ignorant of the orient, he could not deny a certain aroma of serenity that permeated the atmosphere, and thus was wary of how he should conduct himself.
Seeing Tenkai in meditation did little in the ways of making him feel any better. Shifting his weight uncomfortably and listening to the pebbled ground shift beneath him, Link would gaze downward and note the man-made streaks running through the gravel. Frowning, it didn't take long until he realized that he was destroying something someone went through the meticulous tedium of doing by simply being there.
Grimacing, Link would shift his feet again to only realize he was ruining more of the streaks. Dismayed, Link would finally look up to regard Tenkai, more than curious as to how the man would act in the Garden. Tenkai, whether he realized it or not, was going to set an example for the Hero of Time who was finding it harder and harder to move without upsetting what he could only infer was a large-scale work of passion.
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Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 4:54 pm
The sound of disturbed pebbles caught Tenkai's ear through his meditation, prompting him to open his eyes. The monk blinked for a moment as he set his eyes upon Link. By his long ears he would assume his opponent was an elf, but he was an elf unlike any Tenkai had set eyes on before. Of course, there were many humanoid races that had long pointed ears without actually being elves, so it was best not to assume.
The apprehensive look on his opponent's face was actually a pleasant surprise to Tenkai. He could tell by Link's stride that he was as uncomfortable with doing battle in such awkward conditions as Tenkai was. This showed consideration for culture, and that was very rare to find these days.
Nevertheless, the monk didn't want that to hinder his opponent.
"Do not be troubled," he said calmly as he stood, the teeth of his geta holding traction in the pebbled sand. "These designs are meant to be wiped away and remade. The pebbles of the karesansui represent the sea, always changing." Besides, Buddhist monks held no attatchment to a single sand design. "However..."
Tenkai's gaze drifted to the side as he scanned over the garden.
"It is a shame that they would have us fight in such a place. But it can't be helped."
The monk calmly grasped his robe and rosary necklace with his left arm, detatching it as he pulled the robe away. It looked as if it was designed to just pull of, as Tenkai didn't need to tear at it. This left the monk in his usual half-worn kosode and samurai trousers, with the left side of his top pulled down to reveal his bare skin and gauze-wrapped left arm. The motion also pulled a Japanese-styled shoulder pauldron into place over his right shoulder. His right arm on the side of his torso not exposed was clad forearm-down in a metal gauntlet with forearm and hand guards. A tattered gray cloth hung from the white rope belt tied about his waist, his knees and shins covered in armor of the same samurai theme as his other pieces.
Tenkai reconnected his rosary necklace diagonally across his chest over his left shoulder like some sort of bandolier. Although he appeared as some sort of samurai, the various Buddhist accessories made that unclear.
On the ground to the monk's sides were a long, cylindrical wrapped package and a six-foot long shakujo respectfully. Tenkai reached for neither, waiting to see what his opponent intended to fight with. That is, if he even intended to use a weapon at all.
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 4:21 pm
Far from overzealous for bloodshed, Link would listen to Tenkai's words with a sense of curiosity for the unknown, his eyes drifting down to the pebbles once again as he mind took in the information parted to him. Bending his knees and lowering his hands down, the Hylian Knight would scoop up a hand full of pebbles in wonder of the odd yet strangely fascinating form of art.
Elated, Link would allow the pebbles to slip away through the spaces between his fingers until he was forced to tilt his hand to allow the rest to fall back once more into peace upon the floor. Looking up and taking a gander around his immediate proximity once again, Link would come to understand through his own observations and Tenkai's words that the two of them were standing right in the middle of a living, breathing work of art.
But such delight would be short lived once the Monk reminded him that there was business for them to attend to, and time was already short with dawdling. Sighing softly and patting the ground before him, Link would set his free hand upon his knee and push himself up to his full and modest stature just in time to witness Tenkai prepare himself for the battle to come.
Reaching behind him with his yet still sore left arm, Link would grasp the wire-wrapped hilt of the Master Sword and draw it from its womb with the authority of a well-seasoned warrior. Through the use of magic and medical technology both foreign and domestic, a good deal of mobility had been restored to the Hero of Time's previously damaged rotator cuff.
Yet as Link stood there, testing his blade, he became aware of a certain weariness within him. Not of the body; but rather the mind. The Hero of Time had never fought for pleasure, and though he was participating in the Gaian Tenkaishi Budoukai for a good reason, he couldn't help but feel dispassionate about continuing. With so many good and innocent people set before him, he felt less and less confident in his ability to root out the evil he felt in the background, especially when the injured and wounded kept piling up and up on his account.
Did the end justify the means? To his righteous heart, it didn't. Gazing upon Tenkai, Link felt it in his very soul and sword that the Samurai/Monk was as good as they came -- a kindred soul to his own. Briefly considering withdrawing from the conflict, Link would gaze down in thought and lower the tip of his sword down, notching it on the pebbles before him. To walk away and rest for future battle(s) to come, or indulge the Monk in competition?
He saw merit in both choices, and it was he decision to make. But which was right? Which was the lesser of two evils? Unfortunately, neither was a very easy choice, but in the end Link couldn't deny his responsibility. He had to fight; he had to win and advance. The burden of his opponent's injuries was his cross to bare, and he would do so willingly if it ensured the continued peace in the land. To sacrifice some for the greater good of others, while not a comfortable price, was one a Hero had to pay.
Looking up and steeling himself for the trials and tribulations of the battle to come, Link would reach behind him and remove his shield from its clinch upon leather before deftly slipping his arm through the strap and clutching the metal bar. Raising the Master Sword before him and looking into the flat of the blade, Link would set his jaw and heave in a deep breath before sliding his left foot behind him and slashing downward with the Master Sword, both saluting Tenkai as well as setting himself up into a posture for battle. Raising his shield defensively and holding the Master Sword at his flank, Link would observe Tenkai as he waited for the Samurai's advance.
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 10:44 pm
The more Tenkai watched Link, the more things felt out of place. He didn't appear to be the kind of combatant Tenkai expected to see in a place like this. Tournaments were full of loud, boisterous types who enjoyed the spotlight and entertained others with their acts of violence. Sure, there were still many silent types, but they tended to be simply interested in fighting strong opponents and exuded a merciless aura.
But that was not so with Link, as the monk could tell.
He was quiet, but Tenkai couldn't feel any menace in his gaze. He seemed much more pure-hearted and curious about things. Why would someone like him want to compete in a tournament?
Tenkai may have come here to test his skills, but he did so because he needed to continue improving if he could protect those around him. However, he was generally distrustful of tournaments of this caliber, as it usually attracted the attention of those who meant harm to the innocent. Who wouldn't thrash other fighters around for money if they enjoyed hurting people?
The people who ran these tournaments rarely turned out to have the best intentions, either. There were many possibilities for alterior motives behind gathering so many fighters together in one place. The fact that they enjoyed watching people tear eachother apart was the proof in the pudding.
And now, there they were, ready to "perform" for their audience.
But there was no use bemoaning it. Even testing oneself against good men was suitable for improvement. The education of battle is only one sided when your goal is to take the life of your opponent. Perhaps this would further their respective causes in the end.
Link drew his weapons, causing the warrior-monk to rub his chin contemplatively.
"Yare, yare..." (My, my...)
A sword and shield? Both classic and effective. I can already tell this won't be easy.
Tenkai knelt down only for a moment, undoing the tie on the wrapped cylindrical package to his left. Unfolded, it revealed two sheathed Japanese swords, with a black and white pommel respectively between the two blades.
If it comes down to it, I'd rather not underestimate that ornate-looking broadsword of his. I've never seen those kinds of colors on a sword of that design.
With his left hand, Tenkai picked up the blade with the black pommel and slid it into his belt on the left side of his hip, with the edge facing up. Tenkai left the other sword to remain where it was. It seemed as if the monk was going to fight sword against sword and shield.
That is, until he picked up Fudo, his shakujo, with his right hand.
Standing back up, Tenkai took a few steps forward as he brandished the spade towards his left, bringing it to his left hand as the staff flowed in a singe figure-eight flourish. The rings on the spade chimed as the head swiped through the air, ending the flourish with a step back with his right foot, the spade whipping into position as he made his stance. The monk held the staff with his left hand a foot away from the butt end at shoulder level while his right hand was a foot away from the head, holding it at an angle.
It was by no means any insult that Tenkai was using a non-bladed weapon. Shakujo were very effective weapons, and the monk refused to go easy on his opponents in a competition. That would be the true insult. Rather, using the weapon of a Buddhist monk was the most fitting choice for this particular setting.
Even so, Tenkai wouldn't rule out the possibility of switching weapons if cutting was the only way to get past his opponent's effective pair of armaments. However, odds were likely Tenkai wouldn't get the chance to switch, so he was prepared to fight like a monk.
"Let us fight honorably."
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Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 7:24 pm
"Let us fight honorably."
Giving an affirmative nod towards Tenkai, the Hero of Time would begin a tedious approach towards the Monk, stopping just a few inches less than a full eight feet away from him, right outside Tenkai's reach. Wary as anyone else would be when confronting an opponent with a weapon with a longer hurt-zone than their own, Link would begin to circle clockwise around Tenkai. Flourishing the Blade of Evil's Bane along his flank, Link would tighten his circling if left unmolested, effectively beggining a slow and subtle intrusion into the reach of his opponent. Staff wielding opponents were few and far inbetween within Link's adventures, thus putting Link at a disadvantage in terms of experience and into a grip of anxiety. However, as always, he would make up for it in sheer tenacity.
Having little to no knowledge about the way Tenkai fought, his strengths, or the speed of which he moved, and bereft of his fairy companion Navi to help him, Link was forced to acknowledge that it would be folly on his part to initiate blind-confrontation between the two. However, he couldn't wait for Tenkai to approach, and instead had to force the Monk into offense. By attempting to circle around Tenkai while simultaneously pitting them closer to one another, Link had hopes that his opponent would retaliate.
Not knowing what to do in the interim, Link would wait for Tenkai's reaction to the Hero's transgression of personal boundaries.
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Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 10:31 pm
The monk watched as Link made a careful advance, shifting into a clockwise circling. Based on observation, this was a very prudent strategy. Instead of just charging in directly, Link was not only keeping himself in motion out of the line of attack, but also keeping his shield side towards Tenkai. Of course, Tenkai couldn't allow Link to leave his sight, either. As his opponent circled him, Tenkai returned the favor by slowly moving clockwise as well. Their lines of attack remained locked as the two of them circled eachother, waiting for one of them to make the first move. It was hard to say if the combatants were aware of it, but the audience would be treated to an amusing sight. The trails of their careful clockwise movements created new waves in the sand, slowly spiraling into eachother. In truth, there was no need to lament the destruction of the garden's design. They would make their own work of art. Tenkai would be the first to break the tension. As they neared the six-foot distance range, Tenkai thrust his shakujo forward with a push of his left hand and slight movement of his right. He aimed to strike at Link's forward right leg under his shield. If the strike met its mark, it would hit with either the blunted tip or the hard edge of the main two rings depending on how Link moved. The thrust wouldn't need much force to cause a painful blow to the shins. Let's see how things go now that I am the one breaking the stillness. 一本!
[1]
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 6:24 pm
Cool, calm, and collected to a point, Link would regard Tenkai with those intense blue eyes of his as the Monk began the initial motions of the battle's first exchange. As the staff lunged for the Hero's shins and below the range of his shield, the Hylian Knight would twist his torso to the right and step forward with his left foot while swinging the Master Sword towards the shaft of the incoming staff. Pebbles shifted upon the ground as the Blade of Evil's Bane moved through the air it so neatly sliced; air which caused the Hero's sword to produce a high-pitched peel as it caused vibrations to run along it's length. A beautiful song for any who cared to listen to the music a sword could make.
With a resounding twack of metal striking wood, Link would force the shaft away from his shin and outside his right flank with a mighty blow of his blade. How far depended entirely on Tenkai's strength and how much of it he committed to the strike; but for all intents and purposes, Link's defense provided him the crucial albeit minuscule amount of time needed to close more proximity between he and his opponent and thus enable him to use his weapons effectively. Stepping forward yet again, Link raised his shield up and beside the right side of his head and used the built up inertia of his defensive slash to carry the Master Sword up and over his head in a single fluid flourish before bringing it rushing down toward the top of Tenkai's head with the last few inches of it's tip.
Yet still, Link remained serene and calm, his body going through the motions it had long ago memorized. With the proximity between them lowered to at least five feet, give or take a few inches, Link would wholly expect Tenkai to move back and away from the Hero of Time before the flesh of his skull was rented upon by the blunted edge of the Blade of Evil's Bane. And as they went through the dance of death, the Master Sword would begin to shine the most distinct blue. Subtle at first, the more it began to sing, the brighter it's glow would become. Evil was afoot in the spectator stands. The evil which Link had come to face; an evil which watched Tenkai with favoritism and joy.
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:18 pm
As expected, Link's reaction was quick and decisive. He followed from his parry into a fluid strike aimed for Tenkai's crown. Tenkai still wasn't sure whether or not Link was an elf simply by those ears, but the fluidity of his swordplay was definately elven. Fortunately, Tenkai had a similar strategy. The thrust was parried off to Link's right rather easily, allowing the blade to continue its flourishing motion into the strike. But the head of Tenkai's staff wouldn't stay at Link's right side. It continued it's motion away to Link's right and back to Tenkai's left side as the monk brought the butt end of the shakujo forward, his left hand sliding back into its original position near the head. As he did this, the monk stepped forward with his right foot towards the outside of Link's left side, turning his torso towards his left as he redirected the downward strike to Link's right side. Now Tenkai was outside of Link's line of attack, and the knight's left side was open. Just as Link had turned his parry into an attack, so too would the monk move the butt of his shakujo in a quick, small circle following the momentum of his parry in order to aim his counterattack . It wouldn't even be half a second after his parry before Tenkai pushed the staff forward with his left hand, thrusting the butt end under Link's left arm and into the left side of his ribcage. The blow was definately enough to break a rib badly if it made contact, so it was obvious Tenkai wasn't trying to be gentle with his opponent by using an edgeless weapon. Suffice to say, Link wasn't kidding around either with that sword of his. As fluid as that attack was, a strike to the head wasn't exactly something you got up from. It had been only a moment, but Tenkai did notice the blade's faint glow. The monk figured most swordsmen of unusual character like himself and his opponent had blades of an odd nature, so it could have been a preparation for another attack. Or was it something else? 二本!
[2] Edit: Fixed a spelling error.
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Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 6:37 pm
Because Deitric's opponent apparently ran away or something, he was now standing around in the crowd watching this fight, whilst eating popcorn.
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