Maerin vs Zinone

GUILDS: Drong de Bas, The Knights of Karchan.
PLACE: A Cemetery.

Zinone is walking around the overturned gravestones, looking through the bodies with a thoughtful expression. A sickly golden color radiates from her hands as she begins her attempts to reanimate the dead who were disturbed yesterday, though her plans for them remain unseen, and she hasn't succeeded yet.

Maerin was on her way back to the hospital after lunch, only to hesitate and look in the general direction of the cemetery. In a moment of spontaneity, it's decided that a visit will commence to remind the healer again of why she kept going no matter how exhausting the work was. Once through the gates she senses Zinone as well, overwhelmed by the mere presence of the Oracle. This leads to a moment of focus so that a duplicate of herself could be willed forth, who nods and departs to resume medical duties. The first Maerin meanwhile just asks, "Do you know who did this?" cautiously, while approaching one stone so that it can be put in place again... at least if she isn't halted first.

Zinone turns to face Maerin, drinking in the sight of her for a moment. After minor hesitation, the corners of her mouth uptick into a pleasant-enough smile, though her answer might be chilling. "My family," she purrs. "In a ritual, the high priest of Osnodon, Faoir, helped introduce the Harpies of Death to the world. The cemetery was basically in an upheaval, however. A giant rift exposing that will do that to a place. Don't worry though. Don't fret! Those who were disturbed her will prove useful again. I'll give them...purpose. Now leave, please. I need to focus on my work. There's so many bodies and so little time to reanimate them. I can't adequately work my spells with distractions. Go on. Shoo."

Maerin expects that particular answer, not that she's happy about it, and so there's a quiet sigh while the first slab is refitted in place. "I can't allow you to do that, either as a Priestess of Lady Rhianneth, a future Knight of the land, or as a healer," follows as the reply, sword out and black-feathered wings bursting forth to show she was ready to at least distract Zirone, and perhaps be able to chase her off... temporarily. The knowledge would be passed on as well, in short order.

The Duel

ROUND ONE

Zinone twists her lips in a bit of a smirk, the crystal ball on her ring detaching and beginning to float around her. In her hands, a golden sickle forms from a blazing miasma, and she pulls the hood of her cloak down to reveal a head full of red hair. "Then unfortunately, you're going to learn today," she says with a certain sweetness to her voice that is oddly sickening. The crystal ball launches forward then, crafted from amber and surrounded by two floating skulls. As she springs into motion toward Maerin, the crystal ball aims for the demon's head while the skulls seek to sink their teeth into her flesh. If Zinone manages to draw closer enough, she'll raise her sickle with every intention of bringing it down hard on Maerin's right shoulder in an endeavor to hack it right off!

Maerin only nods her head in agreement that there would be knowledge gained, the more the better really. Every new development is kept track of too, including the amber sphere and weapon both, lest carelessness ensure one of those objects succeed in catching her off guard. To prevent that, the healer is rushing toward the ball instead of away, her own momentum factored in so that it's body which connects. The two opposing forces ensure she's sent careening back, very sore and with a couple bones broken for sure, though out of range of the skulls. Those two are dealt with via her sword transforming into a chain whip and cleaving through both in turn. With a gasp of pain now breaking the relative quiet, Maerin stands and goes to focus on her primary danger, only to see the scythe bearing down upon her. On reflex the sword is restored to its bow state, aiming it up to try blocking the curved blade. Alas this is a second too late and the weapon cleaves down her right arm from shoulder to forearm, before the limb is out of danger. There is no direct attack from the physician even then, even though an arrow is formed using her energy as the source, for she's focusing and ensuring it builds until at last the would-be projectile explodes. This is meant only to cause a blinding flash that would leave both unable to see briefly. Foolish choice perhaps, but right now Maerin's goal is only to gain time for the wound to close and allow distance again, while working out how to get on equal footing with the unknown individual.

ROUND TWO

Zinone watches with a twisted sort of glee on her face, but the arrow is noticed and she collects her orb back to her. It expands and briefly becomes incorporeal long enough for her to step inside of it, solidifying it around her so that it protects her like a solidified aura as she anticipated more than a blinding flash. Was this woman a pacifist? Those are always so annoying! Where is the fun and danger? Bleeding Maerin isn't enough. Zinone wants to bleed in return, savoring the opportunity for a challenge. When no further attack rains down on her, and with the flash muted by the amber of her crystal ball, Zinone boldly steps out of it's protection. She doesn't return it to it's original size, however, instead opting to manipulate it so that is rolls forward toward Maerin at a speed that gains momentum over time, looking to slam into the woman and possibly crush her if she doesn't manage to avoid it's magically-propelled trajectory.

Maerin mostly limps away from the first clash while the searing ache in her chest diminishes to a steady throb, tamed enough to allow breathing without more pain being inflicted. She's aware that having impaired vision on the ground was unwise and so takes to the air, safe only so long as Zinone is inside her protective shell and thinking there would be something more once the arrow had done its job. The one good thing is that her arm only has a nasty jagged line now, which is shrinking further with every second. Unfortunately there's no rest while her vision returns blurrily, a second arrow charged while everything becomes more than just outlines. This unfortunately includes the crystal which is now rushing up to meet her, following the healer's path even when an attempt to swerve is made. It's accepted quickly that outflying the object wouldn't work and so the next best option is chosen. The two-part plan involves hastily firing the projectile up so it would hover airborne while Maerin soars down toward Zihone. It's only at the last possible second she then spins to her left, one wing guaranteeing one of her wings would be left struck and broken by the magical object. It's a small price to pay though, for Maerin was hoping both to have it hit its conjurer as well, and leave her vulnerable as the arrow from before now turns, splitting and shooting down a score of projectiles meant to numb the Oracle anywhere she got hit. As for the demon, the speed of the strike ensures she slams into the very gravestone that had been set upright, while both wings are retracted into her back. Only after all that is there a sickening scream of pain, while she goes to get back on her feet and ready for the final clash.

ROUND THREE

Zinone revels in Maerin's pain, but it is short-lived. When Maerin travels her way so that the crystal ball will possibly be returned to the oracle in the most interesting way, it changes Zinone's perception of the demon just a little. This was good. This was the stuff. When the crystal ball comes barrelling toward her, she lifts her sickle and points it toward it, and while she isn't crushed as the sickle gives a small bit of protection, she is shoved backward, partially landing in a heap amongst the broken and toppled headstones. The crystal ball shrinks then, returning to her ring, and as the arrows rain down toward her, she does her best to avoid. The oracle nearly succeeds in avoiding them all until the final arrow volleyed her direction pierces her left shoulder. This causes Zinone to scowl, as that is her casting arm, and the numbness immediately takes effect. She rises then, realizing that it's melee or nothing going forward, and her hand tightens around her sickle as she is suddenly in movement. The oracle hops over headstones, carving a path through the destruction to advance upon Maerin. Once she is close enough, she feints her next movement, seeking to pivot around the squire and cut her hamstrings with a low slice of her weapon to immobilize her. If that sickle finds purchase, then Zinone will aim for the throat next in the aftermath.

Maerin refrains from doing anything further aside from resting so that the damage can be mended steadily. Even seeing Zinone get struck as well gives no joy even with the high stakes of this combat, but out of caution this remains unshown outwardly. At last the damage done is lessened enough to walk without her body screaming in protest with every step, and on the demon goes so the distance is increased. That proves to be most wise as Zinone is on the warpath following one lucky hit to her preferred arm and closing the gap fast. Rather than meet her opponent in a direct clash, it's the closest tree to her that Maerin moves, backing up so that she's pressed against it without once looking away from the approaching Oracle. A feint had only been partially anticipated, and so the weapon held is changed into a bow again, its curvature used to raise the scythe only enough to tear into her side instead while Maerin stifles the cry of pain she'd known would follow. Back to whip mode it goes so that, whether Zinone is going for the throat or not, the currently rope-like weapon is able to lash out toward one of the Oracle's ankles. Whether it did or not, her energy would follow and rush along, intent on then looping around each of the limbs and leave her numb from prolonged contact. Even with that however, there's an air of defensiveness, attention kept ever on the scythe should a hasty need to block it again be needed.

Zinone doesn't like that her attack has been most thwarted, even if it found purchase in a different way. But hey, Maerin is fighting back, and even though her attacks aren't particularly destructive, it's still enough to satisfy the oracle...fleetingly. She receives a brief vision of what is to come, the vision against her will, and it serves as a large enough distraction as her eyes shift from a voided black to their norm. It's enough of a distraction that even though she knew what was coming, Zinone cannot avoid the whip to her ankles. The numbness creeps in and she snarls, annoyed again by Maerin's pacifistic nature as she takes to her knees, immobilized herself. She realizes she has few options now, so she looks up at Maerin, her gaze almost menacing. "I am Zinone of Drong de Bas, and this is not over." Following her words, a miasma takes over her form and she disappears from sight completely.

End Duel

Last modified on November 25, 2024, 16:19:35