Lords of Creation (Story Thread 3)

[Zaleramancer]

"I am old. My father and mother were of the first generation of dwarves. I was alive when we still served Lord Hazet, before the founding of the two nations or the Free Cities." He said, "One learns to recognize the signs of a deity."

"I am a master of my craft. I have, for almost three hundred years, practiced glass-making. My grandson, he will carry on my knowledge. I have high hopes for him."

He moved over to the tools and began to work, hands moving with the ease gained from a motion so long used it has become reflexive.

"Sometimes I wonder if I should have traveled when I was young. Seen the world."

He placed some glass in the kiln, allowing it to heat.

"But I was young then, of course. I was in love with my work. With my wife.. I will no doubt join her in a few years."

The dwarf pulled the molten glass from the kiln, beginning to shape it.

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

Marv the Miscreant wrote

Aox stand with the bow in his hand, unsure of himself. After a minute or so he decides to fire off a few practice shots.

The other students around Aox, practice their archery, some of them taking several minutes before firing even a single arrow straight into the center before scowling in fustration, others firing, like Ritsuko, as fast as they can, and yet others firing to get as perfect a circle of arrows as they can on the targets.

(Total: 45 motes)

[Zaleramancer]

A strange agitation grips Pazo. He moves, rushing towards Bisera.

The Sea Folk scatter in all directions, one dragging the shocked candle-holder away.

"Pazo!? What is wrong with you?" Several of the sea-folk shouted and chattered.

It was unlike the Great Ones to attack them. In fact, it had never happened. Was he playing?

Water surged as Pazo turned to snap at Bisera. She shook off the others that tried to help her, staring down the Great Shark. In one hand she held the candle, and the other was raised. A sparks ran across the raised hand, sending tingling sensations across the skin of the other Sea Folk.

"Pazo! Calm yourself!" The Vala Bisera commanded. Her octopus began to change into dark and frightening colors, seeming to grow slightly.

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

"I see, I was brought into this world not long ago, so I do not know much of what has happened, but that was quite informative as well.  I thank you for that," Suna watches the dwarf begin with his craft. "I do feel like giving your family, a... how to put it... gift for allowing me to eat with them at the meal table and agreeing to show me your craft."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

Well, looks like this was it.

"You get a match?" Two Gods asked him, her voice a mixture of disbelief and delight.

He leapt over the banister without answering her. He hadn't requested anything, just left the opportunity open for a little release on their part. The way Gil put it, he seemed like the bad guy here. Oh well, perhaps that was a good thing.

He strode into the center of the arena, crossed his arms, and thought about his strategy. Not to win, winning would be easy.

It was getting his ass kicked that was the hard part.

[Zaleramancer]

Slowly, a shape begins to emerge from the cooling glass. Something like a person. Rurik places the glass in the kiln again.

"A gift? I am happy. A long life doing something I love, surrounded by people I care about. No poverty, nice house, good food.."

He brought the slightly molten glass from the kiln and started shaping it again, using smaller and finer tools.

"What gift would you give to me?" He said humorously.

[Philote]

Eglath, Vimak, and Nalla strode out into the arena for the second time, each brandishing their particular favored weapon and taking a readied stance across from the Watchman.

"Let the match Begin!" Gilgamesh called out from his booth.

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

"I'm considering giiving your family the gift of being able to control the non-magiical properties of any glass item that they create. That is the properties of sharpness, clearness, durability, etc. They would also find it much easier to enchant any glass product that they create. What do you think of this gift?"

[Zaleramancer]

He paused briefly in his word before continuing.

"The things I could do.. That my grandson could do with that.."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

Well, time to get started.

The Watchman raised both his fists in the air, and slammed them together in front of him. There is a great rushing intake of air, as if something very large that had been displacing it had been removed, and a great cloud of dust covered the Watchman and swirled in the ring. When it settled, the watchman was still there but appeared smaller somehow, as if he had taken off a very large coat.

"Mortal guise," he said, raising up his arms in a fighting stance, "Fair is fair, after all. Eglath, Vimak, Nalla; I'm honored."

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

Suna smiles, "Yes, it would allow for more things your family could create as glass artisans."

[Philote]

The three Goliath watched for a moment, a slight fear creeping into their being as they imagined what could be done to them, before steeling themselves for battle.

Eglath and Vimak charged forward, they would attack together from either side. Meanwhile Nalla would swiftly work her way behind her opponent to encircle him.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

It didn't take divine power to read a micro expression, least of all when shared by three beings. He would have smiled if he could. And Gilgamesh had said that they didn't know fear. This was good. He wouldn't be nearly as impressed with them if they weren't afraid.

Vimak reached him first, bringing his hammers down like the wrath of...well, with considerable wrath. The ground where the Watchman had been had actually shattered. But he had leapt back, avoiding the titanic blow entirely. That was when Eglath brought his axe scything through  the air, right at his neck. The Watchman was delighted as he twisted himself in the air to avoid the blow, seeming to dance with the axe for but a moment before completing his leap and landing some distance away. They were actually having a go at it, damn whatever consequence there may be. Terrific! Now, that leap should have put him in range of-

YES! The club connected with the back of his head and sent him stumbling forward a few feet. He thought he saw a flash of light from the crowd. Well, if there had been any belief that gods were omniscient creatures before, falling for that hit would certainly shake it.

And now he got back into his fighting stance, completely boxed in and surrounded on all sides, for the life of him looking like he had fallen for the goliaths clever ploy.

This couldn't be more perfect.

[Philote]

The three stopped for a moment, encircling the Watchman. They had actually landed a blow, they thought, and in their first charge no less.

Eglath broke the standstill first, he always was the one to rush into a battle. His axe whistled through the air as he moved in for his second attack.

Nalla moved back, examining the situation. She was the wisest in the group and she had felt that the subtle rhythm of the battle was off. Nalla placed her hand on the ground and concentrated, Eglath and Vimak would cover her for the few seconds it would taker her to prepare.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

Eglath axe swung in a diagonal arc, but the Watchman half-ducked half-slid underneath the swing and came up right between the goliaths arms. He took this opportunity to bring his outer elbow to contact with Eglaths inner one, causing him to lose his grip on the axe with that hand. This he followed with an open palm strike to the goliaths solar plexus, pushing him back a little. But then the hammers were upon him again, and he rolled out of the way, out of the circle and able to see all three of them.

He saw Nalla, thinking and preparing something. He wondered if he should try and stop it. Then again, he also kind of wanted to see what she had planned. To that end, he decided on Vimak as his target, and rushed him.

[Philote]

The Watchman's blows pierced his larger opponent and Eglath lost grip on his weapon and stumbled back. Vimak had moved in to provide him cover and Eglath was grateful that he did not have to fight the Watchman alone. Vimak's swung his hammers through the air several times to keep the Watchman busy and if he was lucky, push him back to the wall of the arena.

Nalla focused her magic into the Earth, utilizing the connection to it that she had been blessed with. The Earth began to ripple away from her as if it was the sea and her consciousness traveled along with it. The Earth rippled past Vimak's feet but he continued to charge forward as if nothing had happened as she did not target him. Now, Nalla had to see if the effect would be the same for the Watchman or if he would lose his footing as she hoped.

Eglath took a moment to catch his breath, then moved across the arena to retrieve his axe.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

This goliath with the hammers was certainly enthusiastic, maybe if he-

The ground shifted out from under him and he fell forward, right onto the upswing of one of Vimaks hammers. He was thrown up against the wall of the arena, which was a stoke of luck since it kept him from falling down. He slid down the wall back onto his feet and cupped his mask.

If he was mortal, and had a jaw, that might have broken it. He looked up. He hadn't had to give them that one. They'd taken it.

Fantastic. Absolutely fantastic! Well, if they could do that, he wasn't going to just give them anymore.

Vimak was upon him again in an instant, but when he brought his hammers down, the Watchman had already gone though his legs and was making a charge at Nalla.

[Philote]

Nalla's consciousness swam through the Earth, reaching the spot behind the Watchman's feet and causing it to rise upwards like a wave in an attempt to grab him.

Eglath retrieved his weapon and Vimak joined him as they teamed up to rush to Nalla's body and protect it.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

Nope, not again!

He turned to the wave and moved with it, up it, before using it as a springboard to launch himself toward Nalla.

Reason and showmanship battled for control, and showmanship won. The flying kick, while looking cool, is probably one of the least effective fighting moves one can employ. But it looked SO good.

[Philote]

Eglath and Vimak had not yet reached Nalla, which frustrated her as she was forced to break her connection to the ground. She slowly retracted her consciousness as the Watchman's kick hit her. With some control gained back over her body, she grabbed the Watchman's leg and attempted to throw him back towards her comrades with their weapons ready.