PM to join [Outside The Gaping Maw] A Test of Will (Alex)

[Zifor]

60th Of Winter 516 AV
A Bell Outside of Alvadas




ZIfor had been in Alvadas a small while now, the stranger the man wanted to test his skill, Meaning a Sparring match but the way Alex Bluntly told him he wanted to test him. "If you want to be able to defend Others, I Want to see if you can defend yourself"

there was a clearing ahead with a couple of few trees around that seemed to be as good a place as any for a sparring match and it was a good Bell Since he started walking he decided to take a moment and Enjoy the terrain outside of syliras, Mostly peaceful here but more Vantha, Can't say that word out loud.

Alex, the man Garland Admired, Appeared as an average man but something seemed off perhaps he could simply tell Zifor was green as a fighter and didn't think he should call himself a protector even if Zi Felt as though he should then again Labelling oneself as a protector was petching ignorant of him to do.

Sadly he hadn't thought about bringing a candle to light his pipe and had nothing to do but wait for Alex to arrive he would decide then what to think of the strange man as he only spoke a few sentences in alvadas before being ushered out.

Common, Hypnotism

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"


Alex sighed. This Zifor. Someone whom He’d seen and spoken with briefly, between them he felt there was an air of tension a feeling of dread. Zifor had dubbed himself a protector, and from what he’d seen of him Alex knew clean and clear cut he didn’t have the first idea of how protect someone. Alex stepped free from the Inn room with his bastard swords strapped to his belt and his daggers strapped to his harness. It was a short walk as the Sanity Center and the gaping maw never moved even in this city.

Alex stepped into the cool winds of the air just outside of the gaping maw. His hands stuffed themselves into his pockets as his armour’s hood covered his face. He wanted to go into this with a clear mind. This was just a test but that didn’t mean he was going to hold back in the slightest. He’d already made the predetermined decision to not use his blades. This was mostly for Zifor’s benefit as Alex knew just how well they could cut bare flesh and if he landed a strike with those against Zifor it wasn’t going to end well.

Stepping into the designated spot he noticed that Zifor was already there smoking that pipe once again. He held his hands into his jacket stepping through the trees with a light damned near silent step. His eyes the only thing locked on Zifor. He spoke calmly with his usual soft and quiet tone letting it be carried on the winds. Seemingly surrounding Zifor now from every direction a clear feeling of intimidation meant from it.
“If I’d of had a bow and the intent to kill you. I already would have.” His voice carried into the reverberating forest as he finally chose to step free from the shadows and reveal himself a good few feet behind Zifor.

“I said I’d test you.” Alex rocked his head side to side taking full stock of Zifor again and choosing to handicap himself a little further by not removing his weapons.
“I will test your resolve.” Alex spoke as he shifted his weight onto his rear foot sliding his right foot back a half step and lowering himself into his unarmed stance. His hands open ever so slightly as they settled out in front of him. Ready to deflect as well as strike.

[Zifor]

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"Shyke Man what ARE you", Zi's Spine had tingled about a split second before alex spoke and the feeling of dread filled him.

Zifor attempted to hide his fear with a grin. While trying to swallow his own fear it probably didn't appear as such to Alex by the look on his face. "You show up behind me and said you could've killed me" Chuckling at the man he put his pipe down on the grass, Couldnt light the damn thing anyway.

"So, a taste of a fight with you should be good my.." He paused, Thinking of garland. I Should wait until after the fight to talk to him regarding Garland, dont want him to think more of me before this fight i could go home broken either way.'Y'know what nevermind il talk too you about it later" He didnt want to give off the feeling of being scared or change alex's mind about him with words he wanted to show Alex his skill or rather lack of in combat in case alex could show him how to improve.

"My resolve" Zifor grinned. "I Tell yah alex against you im probably no match but.." Zifor walked towards him as he took his stance. "Im not gonna use my weapons either, whats to say i will have them when someone's in trouble am i right "

Zifor undid his belt pouch with his knives in them but took one out of the pouch.
Staring into the knife he Looked into his magic he whispered to his reflection. "I Must defend myself, I shall not lose easily". Zifor threw his knife at the ground and spat after it, He threw a kick at Alex's shin and raised his arms to guard himself in what was a slightly practical albeit basic block, backing himself away he was prepared to block a strike if he could manage.

Common, Hypnotism

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"


It appeared that his spook tactic had worked as the reaction he got from Zifor was one he knew. Fear. That implementation of the feeling of dread, he could see the spooked reaction on his face clear as crystal. Even the half-cocked smile was only a weak façade. Alex glossed over the overall general waffle that was being spouted. Zifor was trying to buy time to centre himself and collect his thoughts. Alex balanced his time letting Zifor calm himself before beginning else it wouldn’t be a fair assessment.

“I was told a long time ago. If you have the chance to use a weapon. Use it.” His words were cold almost dissonant. Like they were being spoken through him purely as a mouthpiece. And the temperature of the area didn’t change but there was a strange feeling of cold calm emanating off of Alex. And the moment Zifor removed his weapons pouch Alex started to slow his breathing and control his motions a little better. The words he heard Zifor speak seemed to be directed at himself more in a litteral sense than a pep talk sense. Then the surety that he tossed his kinfe with and lashed out at him. A newfound or restored confidence found within his opponent.

Alex reacted accordingly. Twisting his leg around he brought his stance slightly lower and pressed his knee out to intercept the shin strike. Catching his foot against the hard point of his knee and then watching Zifor block was almost funny. Why block with no stability? Then the back off happened. Distance. Spacing. A control of range trying to force Alex on the offensive. He clenched his teeth and hissed out a breath between them a small smile sat on his features. Hollow, vacant but still there.

Within a flash of a single step Alex had swung to close the distance between them. His left fist moving with blinding speed to strike at Zifor’s left side. Aiming for a sharp strike to his liver. If it hit that pain would be something he couldn’t ignore. Alex’s right hand however stayed in front of him readying itself to motion as a blocking implement or even if Zifor didn’t open up his turtle like shell he’d throw him. Though the next few ticks would show him all he needed to know.
“Brace yourself. I don’t intend to hold back.” Alex spoke with an almost frigid tone like his words were threatening to send shards of ice towards Zifor. Alex’s mind then started to think through one or two possible counter options.

[Zifor]

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This guy is just....strange, he's trying to throw me off
Zi Noticed the block before he hit the leg's were not a place to target the former squire he knew how to block something Zi did not know but was sure to note down in his mind.

"Again with the vacant look what am I too pretty for you to fight' He couldn't stand the stare, Alex was creepy as a fighter but the way garland spoke of him was so astounding it must be a combat tactic.

SHYKE, He moves fast Zifor had a sense of danger, he curved to the left ...aaand met with Alex's strike using his own momentum the force behind the punch lessened but still enough to cause significant pain he gritted his teeth but he tried his damnedest to not show that the hit had affected him he jumped to the left again and threw his weight at alex's jaw. if it hit he would try and duck underneath him. If not he would try and hold his ground and elbow him in the stomach.

Eitherway Zi would do his best to keep his footing and be able to dodge a strike.

Common, Hypnotism

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"


A connection was enough to let him know that it was a square strike. Though not quite hard as he would have liked but still it was hard enough. Alex hissed out his breath and pulled his arm back. The motion was enough for him to let him know, that Zifor didn’t have a full clue what he was doing. Though the moment that Zifor jumped to the left Alex was already beginning his counter action. Alex leant back and brought his right arm across his chest pushing the blow across his chest. Letting Zifor’s own weight carry him through.

“If you’re going to strike. Make sure your feet are grounded.” He spoke with that calm dissonant voice once again as he rotated around the strike. Spinning around with his weight on his emplaced and grounded left rear foot. He swung his left elbow now at the small of Zifor’s back adding his own momentum into the strike that was pushing Zifor towards the ground at pace.

Despite what Alex had assessed from Zifor, his actions moved show his complete inexperience in his motions. Despite this He was at least using some sort of sense to deal with the incoming blows. Alex hissed out another breath as he shifted his weight across. And then followed through with the strike. If Zifor landed on the ground, then Alex would follow up with his right arm swinging around to slam into the same spot on Zifor’s back. His idea was to cause that pain to dig deep into him.

Again this was all conjecture it all depended purely upon the first impact to Zifor’s back making contact. That was the crux, though given Zifor’s poor footing and his choice to leap into the strike was more than enough to let Alex know that this was going to have a good chance of working especially from the follow up position he’d taken.

[Zifor]

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That would have been a good thought a minute ago
As the strike hit his bag he could feel his weight pushed forward with the blow he was trying to land he shoved the pain as far back into his mind as he can and he threw his focus into rolling forward he saw it out of the corner of his eye, rolling to the side he grabbed it and spun around throwing in one fluid motion his knife he tried to aim for alex's chest with the blunt of the blade if it had hit he would reach for his satchel and grab one more if not....wel improvisation was key.

The heat of battle was waring down his body but the muscles didnt give way Which thing drove him on he knew not whether it was his own will his hypnotism or the fact that he was attempting to vision alex as a hunter of The vantha fueled his fighting spirit, but he said to himself I, Will, Not, Give, Up.

Either way Zi regained his footing and gritted his teeth trying his best to breath against the measure of bruised flesh he surely had gotten from this, Atleast nothings broken. Zifor charged at alex managing a full on sprint fueled by the adrenaline and his Self Given vigor and he struck twice at alex once at his stomach a simple jab Which would hopefully connect. Given the speed of his approach and another With raising his elbow and trying to hit alex in the armpit to limit his ability to strike.

What, the Shyke have i gotten myself into with this man he is an animal.

Common, Hypnotism

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"


Alex had expected the first one to connect and the second one to miss. And it did but not in the way he’d expected. As Alex’s fist connected with the ground with force he felt the pain reverberate up his arm. He winced as out the corner of his eye he spotted Zifor just roll over and out of the way. Though that glint in the grass wasn’t lost on him either especially as it was obscured by Zifor’s form. Recalling back to what Zifor had done not a couple of ticks ago He made his motion back as the steel sailed past him as he rolled his chest out the way.

Especially as the blunt edge was flying towards him he couldn’t help but let that smile spread a little more. It was a nice idea and he was using what he’d told him however Alex was beginning to see the signs of exhaustion start to set in. The heaving of the chest and the general sluggishness of the pain. Even with adrenaline building up, in Zifor stunting that pain he knew he had to be feeling. Alex shifted his weight to try and stand back up. Alex hissed out another breath before speaking.
“Nice attempt at a sneak attack, however it’s only going to work once.” Alex then proceeded to close the gap his stamina reserves a vast ocean by comparison to what he was seeing from Zifor.

The sprint and full speed two sectioned jabs. Alex noted the change in his strike at the last moment and clamped his arm around Zifor’s forearm and swung his right elbow down towards Zifor’s Arm aiming to make a motion like he was going to break it at the elbow joint and then instead shifted the elbow strike across to Zifor’s core. The strike aimed directly at his diaphragm. If he was running on adrenaline and momentum this would stop him dead in his tracks.

[Zifor]

Bull SHYKE. This man isnt human. The knife whizzed past Alex but he at least grazed against alex's jacket and let out a grin that was half a grimace of pain and half a grin of confidence.

Alex closed the distance to him as a veteran fighter would. His grapple was unsuspected and it caught Zi by complete surprise.

His windpipe smashed he spat out all the oxygen out of his body in an instant was set into wheezing and he sputtered for air he fell out of alex's grasp, Fatiuge at at his body he turned away and spat out a glob of phlem brought out by his coughing fit.

His Pride broken he turned to alex and he rolled to his side losing all deftnes. ""So I'm Dead, Aye Alex"? He sighed to himself feeling shame and fatiuge and coughing again it wracked his chest and he took his shirt off gleaning with sweat he used it, Wiping his forehead off "Did one of my blows even connect, Not one bit of damage?" A crooked smile crossed his mouth. "Ashamed of myself not suprised at all' Garland had spoken so highly of alex "A Man to be respected,and if met in battle, Feared" Zi spoke in a slightly off kilter imitation of garland.

Chuckling but at the same time in pain. "Ahh Yahal Protect me you did a number dont let my charm fool you ive been practicing my smooth voice for a while now best to remain calm" zifor stood and streched his muscles they burned with fatuige but he couldnt imagine what they would feel like tommorow if he didnt strech out the bruises.

"So do i fit the bill for a student, i knew my relationship with garland wouldnt be a free ticket but i figure i may have impressed you by not being a complete waste"

Zi walked over to his bag he had set down, Looking at his pipe he looked at alex thoughtfully. "Say you got a candle or something." If not a shrug. "Need a steady flame to light this didnt get anything to light it but honestly i can go without just a nice thought"

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"


That last strike had ended it. At least it had for this assessment. The moment Alex heard that sound of air escaping Zifor he knew that his steam had run out. Letting his arm go he watched Zifor stumble back and start trying to suck down air and then fall to his arse. The difference in experience the only real factor in the victory. If it could be called that.

Zifor again began to waffle on trying to do the thing he’d done In the first place however two things stuck out him. The claim that he’d be dead from the events and secondly the loose imitation of Alex’s old friend. The notion that simply knowing garland would be a free ticket to him training him was something that Alex almost laughed off. But still as Zifor sat to regain his bearings Alex spoke slowly. Not as slow as he needed to be in order for his vantha charges to understand him but purposefully slow so the words could sink into Zifor.

“Just knowing Garland wouldn’t have been a free ride. I’d still have tested you. Mostly as I need to see what I have to work with and have to work on.” Alex’s voice was much softer and much more welcoming than it had been just moments ago. “And sadly no candle. I don’t smoke, and I don’t use that elemental magic that I’ve seen a lot of people use. So I can’t just produce a flame from thin air either.” Alex took a few steps backwards and leant into a tree. His weight now being supported by the thick trunk.

“As for impressing me. You’ve a ways to go. I should tell you now that Fighting without a weapon is by far and away my weakest area.” Alex offered a small smirk that spoke of him telling the truth. Though for a second Alex’s vision sharpened and he saw beyond what could be seen looking at Zifor’s aura, and what stared back at him was an image of an eye. Striped with long streaks of deep blue across the pale yellow base. As usual Alex had not the slightest inclination of what it meant but it was an interesting sight none the less. And as his vision returned to normal, that throb in the back of his head began again the slow dull pulse of a headache creeping up on him once again.

“So. Just so I know the people I’m around.” Alex spoke with a measured candour. “Which race are you? Human? Svefra? Vantha? Kelvic?” He chose to ask this now so that he’d have a better understanding of who it was around him.