[Round 6] Tenkai Matsumoto vs. Saphen

[Saphen]

The bard would need more preparation than his opponent for the harsh winter arena. While the musician was in fact quite fond of the colder climate his plants however...not so much. Other than trees, plants did not fair well in the frigid winter months...some say it was due to the goddess of the harvest, who would exact her revenge on man kind while waiting for her daughter to return.

While Saphen was not sure if that was the case he decided to prepare none the less. Saphen wore several layers of wool along with his normal baggy regalia with one addition...a heavy cloak.

Wool had several amazing features, it was lighter than a lot of animal hides, it kept you warm even when wet (which could be an issue when trudging through snow), and wearing it in layers helped keep warm air in.

Saphen also wore well insulated boots, wool lined, that would help keep his feet protected in the harsh climate.

Even the bard's mask and hood had wool in them, as well as his gloves because if his fingers went numb...he couldn't play.

The black cloak swayed back and forth as Saphen entered the arena, each foot mindfully stepping forward as he stopped a few feet past the arena's edge. Not looking at his opponent yet he tapped his right foot into the snow a few times. When he felt the stone beneath the snow he nodded in approval.

This might actually be advantageous to my cause.

Saphen walked to the center of the arena and scanned the area for a few more moments, shrugging a shoulder he seemed uncomfortable with the heavy cloak on. Grasping it with his right hand he tossed it into the center of the arena and nodded at his opponent. The cloak must have been very heavy for it folded in on itself and pushed into the snow slightly.

The bard's left hand revealed his violin, and with a few skillful spins he was in playing position. Soft music escaped the strings as the masked musician played, his bow flowing gracefully along as his eyes fixated on his opponent.

"When ever you wish to begin," Saphen remarked to his opponent as he back stepped a few feet further away from the center of the arena, marked by his cloak.


Legato: Tied Together "Let the Earth Tear you Asunder!"  

[Saphen]

Saphen considered his question for a moment and wondered why he would even bother to ask. There were the three traditional answers that seemed to work for any fighter.

God

Gold

Glory

When Saphen thought about it, he could pretty much place any fighter in one or more of these categories. But if his opponent wanted to give him time to charge energy well he would be a fool not to take it.

"Identity," Saphen replied trying to think of how best to explain his response.

"Sometimes the only way to find out exactly what kind of person we are is to be tested."

His mask left nothing to be read, his voice was calm and fluid, his answer was blunt. Whether his opponent knew of his honesty didn't matter to Saphen though one could surmise that the bard had no reason to lie.

While he spoke he studied his opponent as well and reviewed in his mind Tenkai's previous fights.

Japanese culture was reinforced by Japanese steel...not something to be underestimated.

Saphen himself admired such a culture of vigorous training and the claims to honor they held until their last breath. No one really knew what culture the bard held himself but that wasn't important right now.

With each passing note Saphen pooled his energy, gathering as the music would echo resoundingly in the field of combat.

"It is an honor to face you in combat but now...let us begin. For the woods are lovely dark and deep...but I have promises to keep...and miles to go before I sleep," Saphen took another step back "Miles to go before I sleep."

Legato: Tied Together "Let the Earth Tear you Asunder!"  

[Saphen]

Saphen laughed softly to himself as he saw the attack launched, at this point in the tournament the bard could kick his shoe at someone and they would assume there was a trap inside of it.

But that is exactly how he wanted it to be...

Keeping his opponent off balance made it easier to control their actions.

Saphen's bow moved slowly along the strings as he took several quick steps to his left, effectively side stepping the vertical strike. His cloak veering off course from the force of the wind and landing in the snow several feet behind him.

But at the same moment that the attack was launched, the bard was launching one of his own.

The stone around Tenkai's right leg would quickly lift and close around his opponent's calf and shin. Like the shutter of a camera the sharp stone would quickly tighten, taking a most dreadful picture if the attack was effective. Even if he wore armor on one side, the other side would be cut deeply, if he wore armor on both sides, he would be locked in place for what would happen next.

Two blunt stone spikes would be launched from behind at the exact same moment. Each a foot long and half a foot thick, they would attempt to crash into Tenkai's back. They were aimed at opposite sides of his back (one towards the right side, the other towards the left) in an attempt to account for movement, if one missed, the other would hit dead center.

Even more useful was the fact that the snow covered all of these actions but using his charge in such a fashion had more purpose to the bard than to simply damage his opponent.

It would tell him about his opponent's speed, his endurance if he got hit, what armor he was wearing if he got hit, and might tell Saphen more about his abilities.

So far he knew his opponent could use energy to attack with wind but there was so much more to learn! The snow was a useful way to gauge where the attack was coming from and react accordingly...but does his opponent realize that as well?

Saphen's hood fluttered in the wake of the passing wind, but his face never wavered...the mask, with a stare as cold as their arena, was calculating his next assault.

I wonder...who will the frost bite first?

Legato: Tied Together "Let the Earth Tear you Asunder!"  

[Saphen]

As his opponent stumbled successfully the bard pondered what he had seen. Every action, motion, grunt, and power was scrutinized under the watchful (albeit invisible) eyes of the bard. No damage to the leg means armor, which also means he needs to find out where there isn't armor...

It seems like our monk can control some type of basic body energy. Worst yet he can use it to manipulate outside forces. If he was a wind wielder his initial attack could and would probably have changed course...Interesting...

Despite what he had seen his plan remained the same.


Weaken and conquer!


This was always a great strategy for most any opponent, though especially useful for those who preferred a more...personal approach.
The spikes that were launched would eventually land in the snow near the center of the arena, vanishing in the white blanket with a dull thud. Making note of their location, Saphen turned his attention to the more pressing issues...like his opponent.

The bard was not concerned with his failed attempt as he changed his music to something a little more...powerful.

At first the music started with short notes...but the speed increased as his opponent approached. Taking the wide arched path, marked by the snow that was left in his wake, every step seemingly in tempo with Saphen's music.

The bard took a few steps to his left as he played, it seemed as if he wanted to be in the path of the monk, was he insane?

Did he forget the monk held sharp pointy things?

Wielded force that could crush stone...bone?

It was anyone's guess but at the moment the bard's poker face did not waver...and even if it could it seemed like he had already decided on his course of action.

Saphen may soon find out if death really is not proud.


Legato: Tied Together "Let the Earth Tear you Asunder!"  

[Saphen]

There was no hypnosis in Saphen's attacks, however most humans did instinctively follow natural rhythms which is what Tenkai was doing.

Yes come monk...come closer thought Saphen

However, what the bard was preparing for was not natural for him at all. The musician hated close combat while he was in mage mode...in most cases he would change in order to survive but not this time...Oh no...Saphen was determined to catch Tenkai in a most devious web. One where he could truly sink his fangs into his prey.

Saphen's blank stare awaited his opponent's arrival, his bow furiously attacking the strings...just as he planned to do to Tenkai.

Almost there...just a little further...

As the sword cut through the air, the bard gave one last violent pull of his bow before his counter occurred.

A solid stone pillar rose from the ground (6 feet tall, a foot wide), using his charge to help compact the stone in order to withstand the weapon's assault. It's cylinder shape was topped off with a half spherical top. As the sword was swung the pillar would counter act it, not only blocking his opponent's forward momentum but also taking the strike for the musician...but...rather then be careless Saphen bent his knees, lowering his body quickly...just in case.

The pillar should cause the sword to bounce violently off the stone structure, sending vibrations through Tenkai's arms and possibly forcing him to drop the weapon but that was not all Saphen had in store for his opponent.

Raising his right hand, Saphen's cactus launched, securing itself against the pillar. The ten powerful thorns of the ten large leaves of the plant launched outward, using it's sinew as rope to wrap around Tenkai's body parts. Two would catch the throat, pulling his head against the stone pillar in an attempt to choke him out...the rest would wrap around various body parts (arms, legs, waist, etc) trying to bind him to the stone structure.

Two, however, would attempt to wrench the blade from his opponent's hand if the sword had not fallen out to begin with.

Saphen was in dangerous territory keeping so close to his opponent, a foot of stone separating him from a powerhouse of physical strength...but with out a risk...there was no reward.

Breathing heavily from the strain of controlling the plant just after summoning the pillar, Saphen continued to tighten the plant's grasp around tenkai's body (especially his neck).

The sinew would dig into the skin, hopefully making it difficult to slice through

The extra energy Saphen had stored before Tenkai reached him was helpful but the attack was tiring none the less.

Saphen could only hope that his timing was just right...if it went horribly wrong well...Saphen might not get a chance for an encore.

Legato: Tied Together "Let the Earth Tear you Asunder!"  

[Saphen]

As his opponent backed away the musician became more aware of his intentions.

His opponent had already shown his energy control twice in both ranged and melee applications...

Tenkai is going to launch another bullet...


Saphen used his lack of a visual on the monk to gauge where his opponent was, since he couldn't see Tenkai any better then before it meant that he backed up with out shifting to either side.

I need to see...

Taking a risk the bard's mask quickly peered out, resting on one knee the bard observed his opponent's next action.

His opponent was about to swing...Saphen had to act now. As two of the tendrils were about to be destroyed, the music changed entirely. For a moment, just as it occurred for Tenkai, the world seemed to slow down.

As the energy gathered, it's fury licking off his opponent's blade, Saphen dropped down, flattening out his body. At the same time his stone pillar cracked from it's earthly root, following the cue of it's conductor as it quickly fell on it's side. Unlike it's conductor, however, the stone launched forward on a collision course with Tenkai's ankles. At the same moment, the tendrils that were launching forward were pulled back, both by the twisting of the pillar and by command...to protect them for future use.

If successful, the stone would slam into Tenkai's ankles, at the same time the remaining eight tendrils would also be adding some percussion to the performance. All eight of them would lash forward, like a multi point whip, in an attempt to add to the mayhem that was the stone structure. Each thorn could cut fairly deep into skin, the sinew could bruise and damage the body just as easily. Momentum also played a role in their possible damage output, like any whip, it was the crack that could truly cause damage.

While two tendrils were in fact cut, Saphen's pillar, cactus,...and of course Saphen dodged the attack. Rather then abandon his plan the bard altered it slightly, if he wouldn't be captured maybe the most simplistic choice was best.

Hurt him...

How did the bard determine how the attack would be launched? I shall tell you!

The bard had observed his opponent's initial attack at the start of the round, the way Tenkai swung his sword seemed to determine how the energy was used. Like his opponent, Saphen was gauging and adapting to how the monk's attacks worked. Gather energy, launch attack by swinging blade/body part/what have you.

Saphen could only guess that his opponent was hell bent on destroying his creation (or the plant that was protected by it), the easiest way to do that was to crash into the center of the pillar.

Even though a foot of the stone pillar was left in the ground, leaving five feet to assault his opponent, to the bard it was worth the sacrifice.

His mind was constantly calculating the next trap, it took energy to harden stone, he was not about to lose it that easily. By laying flat on the ground, Saphen could use the pillar yet again as another form of defense and continue to block Tenkai's view of the bard.

As soon as the attack passed Saphen would quickly scramble to his feet, his breathing ragged as he continued his relentless assault.

Saphen was not hurt physically but exhaustion was always an issue with magic users. However, using the same pillar once again allowed Saphen to conserve energy, and as his bow continued to flow gracefully over the strings, Saphen once again observed the monk's actions.

What will you do next?...More Ki? Physical prowess? If you can do nothing...how much damage can you endure? Will your armor break? will the stone break? will neither?...maybe only your bones will break...that would be lovely for my cause. A true climax to this sonata!

The bard was forever analyzing...calculating...taking his time to observe and adapt...but most of all...at this very moment...he was waiting.

Legato: Tied Together "Let the Earth Tear you Asunder!"  

[Saphen]

Saphen grinned happily, the invisible smile one step short of laughter as his opponent took flight.

Key change

Arena

Each fight takes place in a marked twenty-five yard radius. That's 1/4 the size of a football field and thus, 75 feet in length. It will take an average sprinter 3 seconds to cross this distance, just to give you a relation to how small this is. Red poles mark the boundaries of this circular ring to give the fighters a visual indication of how far they can go.

With an arena so small, and his two stone shards from previous altercations in the center of the arena, it would take no time for the projectiles to reach his aerial foe...if one so chose to launch them.

And in this case...one did.

Rather then reveal his action with a long bow pull, as Saphen turned his body to both watch his opponent and to begin getting back up something more subtle happened. Saphen used the fingers on his right hand to strum a simple but swift chord...and the two shards were launched. One aimed for the place Tenkai would be as soon as he dropped from the zenith of his jump, the other would aim for the area right before he landed. Since the distance was so short between the two fighters there was a high possibility at least one of them would crash into Tenkai's side (the center of his torso)...effectively knocking him off course and possibly breaking bone.

One might ask why not just spawn stone spikes of doom between himself and his opponent but the answer was quite simply...conservation. As stated before, forming stone structures was the more difficult part of the bard's earthly powers. Manipulating it however was much easier, it would merely take gripping the earth with magic and then releasing it. In this case it was similar to tossing a baseball, after the initial weight and power it took to launch it momentum would do the rest. Overall, especially in a slightly exhausted state from setting up this side assault, it was best to catch his breath.

By aiming his pillar so low the most obvious thing to do would be to simply jump over it, leaving him open to the crushing blows that only solid earth could muster. Since Tenkai's actions would be focused on destroying the plant's tendrils and closing the distance between them, it would be harder to sense the assault coming.

How his opponent felt about the bard's fighting style was of no concern to the musician, quite the contrary, Saphen had a different view than most about honorable combat. Combat to Saphen was a more real scenario, when one fights in a tournament it must be for survival...giving any less would be the REAL dishonor in his mind.

He can change the energy into flames? Or was it the speed of the attack that made the plant catch fire? Couldn't be...his blade is glowing the same way. In any case he combines magic of some kind into his physical strikes...I must retain distance in order to dissolve such an advantage.

Each question was considered, calculated, and crunched into the bard's mind in mere seconds. His invisible eyes absorbing information like Oprah absorbed the ignorance of the masses.

At the same moment the attack would strike Saphen would be on his feet and back pedaling. Forcibly slowing down his breathing he tried to relax, not even realizing his clothes were now partially covered in snow Saphen remained consumed by the deadly puzzle.

To what beat does the drum play for a monk?

Better yet...does he make the same sound when you hit him?

Legato: Tied Together "Let the Earth Tear you Asunder!"