Hunting for Revenge

[Vasin]

Timestamp: 22nd of Summer, 519 A.V.
Vasin moved at a casual pace, step after step as he headed towards the sailors quarter. He passed by a patrol of the Wave Guard as they protected the city streets. He thought he may have started to recognize their faces? Maybe he was just imagining it, but this place for certain was feeling more and more like home. Having a proper bed and place to call your own certain helped in that regard. On his hip was his waterskin, looped over his belt, and in his pack some food for lunch. On the other side on his waist from the water skin was a sword scabbard, it housed his sheathed Long Sword. Otherwise, he was traveling very lightly today, there was no need to travel heavy today. Plus, he would just exhaust himself if he tried to carry a whole lot of supplies. It made sense, and it was based on what he learned from the first time around. Indeed, he was out to go exercise on the beach close to the Sailor's Quarter. He needed to keep getting stronger if he wanted to achieve his dream. It was still early in the day, but he could see the people of the city and passed by them as he went.

His plan today was to go out for a run and lift some rocks just as before. But after that, he was going to see if there was any work available for him at the Martial Society. If they had nothing he would practice with his sword and other weapons. He needed to get better with them as well, as strength was not everything. So there he was, walking when something caused him... no more like forced him to take a pause. He stood there completely still, his eyes at first had glanced over their form on the other side of the street. But then, they doubled back, the figure's back now turned to him. They were slowly making their way down the street in the same direction."Its one of them..." he whispered his mind flashing a memory to him. That fateful day in Sunberth when he was still but a child and lost his mother to thieves or pirates. That was one of them! He was certain! Their getup, it was similar and it had a marking he recognized. A scarlet skull with two curved blades underneath it. It looked so crystal clear and matched his memory. From that brief glimpse of their face, it was one of the helpers who were around when she was stabbed.

In his mind, he pictured a man perhaps in his thirties? Still young and able, with a thick comb-shaped mustache. A caterpillar as some called it, and it was black as the void. A scruffy look as if they had not been shaving in a while and a well-defined chin. A scar on their lower lip from some previous fight. It had to be them, there was no mistaking it. But, the feeling he had at first was not one to go chasing them. But he stood there, the feeling of the past seeped into his bones. Fear? That was the feeling he was experiencing at that very moment. He tried to move at first, but could not his legs feeling like cinderblocks. His heart grew faster his eyes refusing to look away. He could feel his legs shake a little as he stood there. Vasin gulped, wanting to move forward! But he just couldn't and so he remembered what a friend of his, what Kelski had taught him. Slowly he breathed in a controlled fashion and then breathed out. He did this a couple of times trying to calm himself and empty his mind. The heavyweight he had put upon himself decreased. But, he couldn't empty his mind and with a shaky breath, he took his first step forward!

[Vasin]

First the news of his father and now this? It was like all of the ghosts of his past were finally catching up with him here in Zeltiva. Or rather, he was catching up to them. That is also what he intended to do as he got his mind on track. Slowly and consciously he breathed in and breathed out his eyes on the man in question. This could be his only chance to avenge his mother's death. There was no way he was going to cower and stand there like the child he once was. From across the street, he followed, a look of extreme determination on his face. He nearly bumped into someone, but instead, he slipped on by. "Where are you going?" he quietly muttered to himself as he followed. As much as he wanted to run up to him and just stab them in the back, he was not in Sunberth anymore. He couldn't just get away with that sort of behavior in Zeltiva. He had to go about this in a smart way. Another thought entered his head, and that was what to do when the opportunity arose. If he wanted to find the others involved he would need to question them. Threats of violence should work, right? he wasn't sure, he wasn't in that sort of profession. From where he was following he looked them over. The tip of a scabbard poked out from the bottom of their overcoat. There would be a fight, and they would almost certainly be experienced.

The world around Vasin to him at the very least ceased to be, or at least it ceased to matter to him as he tailed his prey. They turned a corner and Vasin would take the first chance to cross the street to follow. Turning the corner as well he would follow them from a distance. He had been afraid that he might lose them, but there they were, the icon on their jacket obvious as they went along. They seemed to be heading towards the outer edge of the Sailor's District, towards the Beaches. It also felt like Vasin was having to speed up a little to catch up. Had he been spotted? Did they decide they needed to be in a hurry? Vasin simply could not say, as he didn't think they had looked back at them... but maybe they did? Regardless, he wasn't going to lose them no matter how many times they turned corners. Wait, yeah... They were making another turn, going left. Vasin furrowed his brow as he kept following turning the corner as well. They were now heading back the direction they had been coming from. How odd... unless...

They turned left again and it hit Vasin at that exact moment that the person he was following had no doubt noticed him. Such a thing as going left four times would expose anyone following you as it was unlikely people would do that unless it was to follow you. Vasin rubbed his beard and decided that he could not afford to double back to throw off their tactic, but instead he had to keep going. If he called for help he would simply state he had forgotten something at home... What would he say? He wasn't entirely sure, but he turned the corner again. Once more his eyes picked up on the man he was following and so he continued. He followed until the man ducked between some buildings and disappeared from sight. Vasin would follow standing in front of the alleyways seeing their coat tails disappearing behind a building. He stared for a moment, he knew this was a trap, and he knew that if he was going to do this, he had to do it now or forever lose his chance at revenge.

[Vasin]

Vasin stood there a moment more at the edge of the alleyway, the world around him seems to disappear all that was left was that alleyway. Vasin breathed in, deeply, and then took a heavy step forward. It felt like pressing up against a wall. The resistance of his mind felt like it took forever, but really it was just a single footstep. Having taken that step inside he then took another, this one feeling less heavy to him. There was no turning back now. They were on East Street Vasin realized this in the back of his mind as he went further in. There were no Wave Guard here. Had this man led him here on purpose? His instincts from life in Sunberth began to kick in. Practically they were hard-wired responses to him now as he moved forward feeling the airflow past him down this still alleyway. Vasin tentatively reached down and placed a hand on the hilt of his sword. Eyes focused in on the corner. Vasin knew exactly how this was going to go. He could envision it as he approached. He recalled in Sunberth a similar tactic being used on him. It had caught him by surprise back then, but Vasin recognized it almost immediately.

Vasin knew that such a skilled or experienced opponent would be hiding around the corner to ambush him. They were probably waiting in wait to stab him. So, Vasin did the sensible thing and would give the corner a wide birth so he could round it with plenty of time to react. Slowly heartbeat by heartbeat he would draw his Cold Iron long sword. Doing so with practiced movement like an extension of his body. The flame type blade exposed inch by inch as he withdrew it from the scabbard. Cool to the touch it would soon be warm with blood if Vasin could help it. He was about to meet them, head-on, one of the killers of his mother. The ones are responsible for getting him stranded in Sunberth all alone. The ones are responsible for why his Father so easily gave up on him and mother. He strengthed his grip as he rounded the corner. His legs springy and nervous ready to move, not flat-footed. His flight or fight response was going wild as he saw them. There they stood, cutlass pointed right at him in an aggressive and forward fencing pose.

Vasin didn't know the name of it but they faced Vasin almost sideways. Their knees bent towards Vasin, perched on poised feet. Their sword arm bent like a spring ready to thrust forward. Their left arm up and ready to grapple in a bind. This was a classically trained individual, their pose so natural, so very powerful as they glared Vasin down. At first, Vasin saw them as he had all those years ago. A chiseled rough face, a scar on their lower lip, a scruffy face from days of not shaving, piercing blue eyes staring him down. Skin tanned from years of working outdoors and an absolutely focused expression. A clean and new Tricorne hat adorned their heat, their black jacket new as the day he saw it flowing out behind him. They were young and fit, ready to strike, and would have had Vasin come around the corner to Closely. Vasin began to semi-automatically take up his own pose. His mind racing through the combinations and styles. He was used to fighting people that used a style similar to his own, or people that swung madly like a moron. This was a bit different.

[Vasin]

Sabre Fencing versus Long Sword techniques, Vasin had not ever considered a matchup, and to be honest, he wasn't thinking so much as doing as he got into position. They were posed to thrust, and Vasin knew of a good way to deal with that. Vasin turned his back sideways to the man, exposing his armpit and back to them. An invitation as it was called, an invitation to strike which was also a trap. Vasin gripped his longsword with his left hand. He held it horizontally to his waist, raising it a little subconsciously as he had been told to during lessons. His legs bent a little, energy stored up so he could move at a moments notice. This was his favorite move, as most people didn't know how to deal with it. Though, as he looked over his shoulder and looked at the man, he realized something very quickly. His imagination, his memory, had altered the way he had been seeing this man. No, he wasn't fit and in his prime, not anymore. What he saw was an older man, perhaps in his fifties or sixties? A wrinkly perpetually frowning and grumping face looking at him. Deep wrinkles crisscrossed his face which was itself much lighter in tone now. His eyes... or eye still piercing as it stared at him, but his left eye was missing, Instead, an eyepatch with a crimson skull was covering what Vasin presumed to be an empty socket.

Their muscular and fit form now much more frail and lanky looking, their clothes looking loose on them. Baggy in some places, and maybe looking heavy for this older man? In fact, those pristine clothes looked scuffed and faded all over now that he was getting a better look at them. His hair was grey and whitening all over the place. A deep scar could be seen across the area of the eye patch. A chunk slashed from their right ear. But even despite all this, the old man responded to Vasin's move very naturally and with a somewhat delicate nature. They shifted ever so slightly, no longer pointing their sword at Vasin having seen through his ruse. Their response was to tilt the sword inwards shifting it from being pointed to having the sharp blade itself face him. Their elbow no longer pointed down, but out. They had seamlessly gone from a thrust to a slash, a slash that would come from the left to the right. That would make it very difficult for Vasin to sweep away. This person may be old, but they were no fool, and so Vasin shifted his stance before his opponent could decide to go with an attack.

Moving to move his opponent directly Vasin pointed his sword at an angle up towards the chest of the man, his hilt at his waist while his left hand remained on the blade. It was there for an upwards thrust, or to more easily brought up to defend his left. Naturally, without hesitation, the older man switched back to a thrust his elbow going back to being pointed down and blade pointed at Vasin. However, he quickly transitioned a little more, bringing the sword up higher. Poised in his aggressive forward stance now, he clearly intended a downward slash. It was like a chess match, the two of them changing moves depending on what the other did. Each of them wanting the best odds at the outset before they began. They were also squaring off and testing the waters. Vasin would respond by bringing his longsword up to chest level, still pointed at the man but straight off and not tilted. This gave him less travel time to try deflecting a downward swing. Vasin observed him carefully, trying to glean a weakness. The eye! Of course! They would have a harder time stopping strikes from their left side. Vasin knew that was the weak point he would have to hammer to get through their defense. Though, they seemed intent on being the attacker in this situation.

[Vasin]

The old man then finally spoke up, breaking up the silence of their wordless and on sight square off. Their constant adjustment of style and poses. Their gravel like a voice speaking of the years they have walked. It was stern but curious."Boy, who are you and why are you following me with such murderous intent?"

The Olderman asked as he adjusted their sword moving it to instead of coming from up high to be from bellow. They straightened out their arm before lowering it, their elbow bent down then back as they twisted their sword intent on and outside slash. The point out to the side and blade pointed at Vasin. Vasin himself would lower his guard again, bringing the sword down horizontal to his waist, but this time straight pointed at their gut. Putting the sword where ever his opponent wanted to obviously strike him. Vasin would speak quickly and straight to the point."My name is Vasin. I am following you because you and your comrades killed my mother and left me to die in Sunberth. I am here to kill you."

The old man let out a raspy laugh finding what Vasin said to be very amusing ."I'm sorry, I don't recall you or your mother. I've killed plenty of mothers. You will need to be a bit more specific. Though, if you have come to kill me... many have tried I doubt you will be the one."

The man twirled his cutlass in a mocking Fashion though Vasin simply stared at him. It was a ruse, at any point he could bring that blade to a stop and use its maneuverability to gut Vasin. Or at least Vasin thought it was, being overly cautious. He breathed out thinking for a moment."I want the one who gave the order. Your boss. It will save me a lot of trouble if you just tell me now."

The old man grinned ear to ear though it was a vicious grin."The boss? Boy, I don't think you know what you are getting into. Even if you kill me he is way above your league. Isn't even here, he is beyond the mountains. Wilderness would eat you alive far before you even got to him! Now enough talking! I was off to get some Kelp Brew!"

[Vasin]

Vasin saw them make some strange gesture with their left hand. It looked almost arcane in nature. Then, suddenly they sprung forward with power Vasin had not expected out of such a old and frail-looking man. Their steps and practical leap forward was an utter surprise to Vasin, they moved like they were in their prime even if just for a brief moment. Vasin stepped into their slash attack from the side, bringing their sword up just in time. Their blades closing Vasin pushed though found very little resistance. What came as a real surprise was when from the corner of his eye he saw their free hand make another gesture. Then, it surged forward punching Vasin right in the chest sending him stumbling backstopping his momentum. Vasin stopped himself from falling down by backing off into the wall of a building. Vasin breathed out and nearly blinked but then saw the old bandit come at him with two power steps and thrust towards his gut. Using his elbows Vasin pushed and rolled to the side. The cutlass buried into the wall as Vasin backed up and got his bearing.

Vasin had underestimated the old bandit, as evidenced by how they had buried their sword into that building! Then, with another gesture, they yanked it out without very much problem."Surprised? Probably never fought anyone that could use magic has ya? What with growing up in Sunberth? It's called flux, and it helps me move these old bones to trounce punks like you!"

Flux? Vasin hadn't ever heard of it so the Old Man was right. It seemed to make him strong in short bursts indeed. But, Vasin knew that with any personel magic someone could overgive. So, he couldn't use it forever, of that Vasin could be certain. Vasin brought his sword up at level with his chest. Though he bent his sword arm back a little having it be off to the side a little, under his armpit while he reached across with his left hand holding the sword by the blade. Vasin had a plan in mind, but he would have to make the old man think he was predictable for just a little while. Keep at it with the thrusts... then surprise him when he least expects it. There was a danger to this, that Vasin knew."I think you will find that I am not so easily trounced.... you trout!"

With that rather poor insult fresh in memory Vasin stepped forward with one and then two bounding quick steps. His legs pushing him forward quickly with stored up energy. His heart racing his mind a blur as he took his sword and shoved it forward. Predictably the Old Bandit used an arcane gesture and then swung his cutlass out. Slapping Vasin's sword from the side with his own blade barely missing Vasin's hand Vasin knew what would come next in follow up. So, he pushed forward his sword being pushed to the side he left to go with his right hand his left firmly gripping the blade. Stepping in the shoulder checked the older man in the arm sending them back. They quickly recovered as Vasin came to a stop bringing his sword down to his waist pointing the tip up at them. He had not been able to inflict any wounds it would seem, but the old bandit seemed aggravated.

[Vasin]

The Old Bandit seemed to experience a mood shift and would breathe in as he prepared an arcane gesture. Vasin stepped in and thrust up and forward. They swung their blade shoving Vasin's to the side, the tip going past their head. But Vasin simply pressed forward getting in nice and close applying pressure so he could not simply break their blade lock without danger to himself. Quickly Vasin began to pivot his sword over their own like a swivel and with a push or shove. He wanted to bash them in the head with the pommel of his blade. It went well at first Vasin shoving all his might into the attack. But just as he had countered his thrust the man finished his arcane gesture and then grabbed Vasin's elbow stopping his pivot in place. Not on to give up Vasin quickly reached in with his right leg and hooked around the old bandit. Vasin moved with force and fluidity and did so barely thinking. It was a response and counter one after another.

His leg hooked around their leg he pulled with his leg and pushed with his arms. The old man let out as a yell as Vasin chucked them to the ground as hard as he could. But, much to Vasin's surprise before he could even get into position to finish them off they rolled to the side and bounced up with agility and ease. Though they seem a bit tired as they did so, rolling their shoulders. Vasin was having to pull out all the stops for this guy, and this old-timer seemingly knew a good amount of moves in the book. Suddenly the old man spoke up as Vasin approached his sword pointed at them. He moved with caution and the old man cautiously pointed their cutlass at Vasin. "You are a one-trick ponyboy. Well, more like a pony that knows multiple versions of one trick."

Vasin said nothing at first wondering if now would be the time to try his move? What if it was a bluff? In a sword fight like this mind, games could be an important fact, Vasin had been trying some himself with all the thrusts. Vasin wanted to say something in return but was worried that it might just tip them off to his ploy. His eyes landed on that eye patch and then went to the one good eye the Old Bandit had. Quickly Vasin ran forward practically leaping as he pushed himself wanting to move as quickly as he could to give them not so much time to react. He could see them already moving predicting that Vasin was going for a stab! But, Vasin quickly raised his sword up and to the right, or to the Bandit's left. Diagonally he brought it down and while the bandit saw this with his right eye, he couldn't accurately predict in time where his sword had to go to intercept Vasin's.

[Vasin]

Time almost felt like it inched along but at the same time, it moved like a blur. Vasin bringing his sword down felt and saw his blade skim over the cutlass. But it slid down and off in a flurry of sparks. Then it came down into the shoulder of the Bandit. Cutting through that jacket and digging into their shoulder. They let out a pained yell and then without mercy, Vasin came forward and kicked them in the gut. They fell back clutching their shoulder with their hand. Over in an instant, Vasin came over the man posed to stab down and end them. Murder in their eyes seeing this crumpled on the ground old man gasping on the ground bleeding from the shoulder. They brought their hand out fingers outstretched."W-Wait! Don't do it!"

They... begged? What? "Excuse me?"

Vasin asked a confused look in his eyes and he himself was confused."Don't kill me! I'll... I'll tell you the bosses name! He is the one you really want right? I'm retired!"

Vasin mulled the idea over in his head, blade poised to strike down at them."Alright, I'll let you go if you tell me their name. But, I don't ever want to see you again. Before our fight you gloated to killing innocents... so maybe..."

Vasin hinted at killing him anyways."I made it up! I was just trying to scare you off kid! I was just uh... Well, you get the idea? I never killed anybody for their stuff. Promise!"

Vasin sighed though didn't trust a word this old man said. He made a circle motion requesting he get on with it."Alright, his name is ???. I don't know where he lives or what he looks like anymore. All I know is that they are out in the wilderness. Beyond the mountains. You won't ever find them you know?"

"You might be surprised. Now then, I suggest you go get that nasty cut fixed at the Center of Healing." Vasin said turning around and began walking off. This old man wasn't the one who killed his mother, just one of the ones around. Information leading to their leader was more valuable than killing them. However, Vasin heard something, a scraping sound, and a step. A gasp as well. A raspy voice and a rush of air."Fool."

Vasin pivoted on his feet spinning around with force to see them rush at him. His sword at waist Vasin pushing up and forward. His blade catching again the cutlas and sliding over its surface as he forced it away and to the side. Vasin then stepped in and shoved his sword tip up and into their neck. It slid in and out the back working through the neck bones and the old man stopped gurgling on their on blood."Bad move old-timer." Vasin let out shoving the old man off of him with force. They slumped down Vasin's blade coming free of their neck and blood ran out of their throat unable to breathe. Vasin brought his sword up ready to decapitate them."Any last words?" Vasin asked though they simply gurgled in pain."I thought so..." Vasin swung his sword down aiming past their neck. Like that his sharp cold iron blade sliced cleanly through their neck decapitating the cowardly bandit.

[Ambrosia Alar]

Grades!

Vasin

Skills

● Acrobatics +2
● Intelligence +2
● Intimidation +1
● Meditation +1
● Negotiation +1
● Observation +5
● Planning +2
● Stealth +1
● Tactics +5
● Unarmed Combat +1
● Weapon: Longsword +4

Lores
● Wave Guard: Protectors of Zeltiva
● Zeltiva: Beginning to feel like home
● Planning: Packing according to what you need
● Scarlet skull with two curved swords: A symbol from a bad memory
● Mediation: Calming breathing exercises
● Intelligence: Following a target
● Stealth: Keep enough distance not to raise suspicion
● Tactics: Being ready when springing a trap set for yourself
● East Street: Not patrolled by the Wave Guard
● Tactics: Give yourself enough time to react
● Tactics: Evaluating an opponent via their stance
● Longsword: An invitation
● Tactics: Responding to an opponent’s stance
● Vasin’s mother’s murderer: Doesn’t remember the act specifically
● Acrobatics: Staying on your feet after a blow
● Flux: A magic that lends strength
● Unarmed Combat: A simple leg sweep
● One man dead: The beginning of revenge

Comments

Vasin, it’s been a while since you’ve been on, but you’re up to date on everything so here’s a grade. I’m jealous of how you write combat. Mine tends to be flat and unimaginative, but I can see what’s happening with yours while it keeps it moving along as action writing should. I’m looking forward to your return. If you feel I've missed something or if you would like lore rephrased, just send me a PM. Thanks for the read.