Round one: Viktor Delacro vs. Hawkes Star

[Vidar]

Match begins with Viktor's first turn.

[Viktor Delacro]

The arena was simple, an amphitheater with a great dirt circle. Flat, mundane, dull, brown. No terrain to take advantage of.

This annoyed the strategic minded Viktor Delacro, terrain many times made the battle. Those who knew how to use their surroundings were most often the victor. Although, it took a true artist and tactician to make use of a flat dirt arena. He was just such a person. Of course, his opponent wouldn't know this, whereas Viktor Delacro was known throughout the land as a blood-thirsty conqueror of the weak and murderer of thousands upon thousands of worthless people. The humble traveler Vic was known as simple, cordial, and honest.

Thus did Viktor don his disguise and become Vic for this tournament. He wore a simple breastplate, dirty greaves, and a battered pair of heavy gauntlets. His sword was a bastard sword made of poor steel. Instead of his lion-like mane of striking blond hair, he had his long brown hair pulled back in a ponytail. And with a simple twist of the Shadow his face aged ten years.

Although, with another twist of the Shadow, the illusion would all melt away, revealing the black armor, the young face, and the wicked sword of the Mailed Fist of Tiamat, but that time would not be now. Not until the final battle, when he face the Dragoon, and killed him for the wound he had inflicted upon him. It would be a sweet revenge he would have...

He watched his opponent enter the arena. He knew this man, this was Hawkes Star, the mercenary. He had hired this man for a nominal fee to be a strongarm for his purposes. It seemed the man like to fight for money even for fun. Well, he wouldn't kill him, as he still served some purpose to his plan, but he would see just how well this warior fought.

A test, if you will...

[Hawkes Star]

Hawkes awoke from a dream of horrible carnage. Hawkes had been standing over a field of death with his sword rised high above his head with red blood dripping down infront of his face. Hawkes quickly disgaurded that image from his memory and got up. He washed himself off and doned his gear. He first put on his under garments and then threw on his light but fexible armour. He then slung his sheathed around his shoulders and fastened it tight. He then threw on his black travelling cloak and after checking that he had everything he walked out of his house and towards the arena.

Upon arriving at the small arena he noticed that his oppent was already there. It was a man that looked like he never fought in his life and was ill prepared. No matter... Hawkes thought since he always kept his gaurd up. Remember it could be a trap on this could be what you are fighting. Just stay ready...

Hawkes positioned himself across of his "enemy" and awaited for what would happen next.

[Viktor Delacro]

Viktor paced a bit, picked up some dirt from the ground and rubbed it on his hands, twirled his sword a bit, and took a few clumsy swings. He looked like a true novice unsure of what he was doing, and semi-confident in his abilities. YHe would make Hawkes overconfident. He knew the mercenary was a hard and cold man, but every warrior had a sense of pride. Even a mercenary like Hawkes could feel overconfident when facing such an easy battle.

Vic raised his sword in a paltry salute, then took a laughable position.

"Hail, warrior! To the better, victory!"

In his mind...he couldn't stop laughing.

[Hawkes Star]

Hawkes smirked knowing that there was no way this person was serious. I better take extra caution... he thought. Hawkes watched him pick up the dirt and let it drift and all of that other novice stuff. Hawkes waited till the other warrior was done and gave his salute before he moved.

Hawkes slowly unsheathed his sword from out of the back of his cloak and took it to its full height. He did not have to measure the wind with dirt because of his cloak, he was able to feel wind changes all of the time. All Hawkes did was put his left foot foward, bend his knees a little, and put his sword horizantal over his head.

Too the salute all he did was give a low grunt.

[Viktor Delacro]

Hawkes had settled into his first position, and was waiting for a strike. A striek to parry and counterattack. Yes, yes yes, we had all seen that before, but it was exactly what he was expecting. It was also what a pure novice would do. Since Hawkes was expecting it, why should Vic dissapoint him?

Vic ran forward quickly and brought his thrust in low, towards the stomach. Though a novice would leave both feet on the ground for this attack, Vic had lifted his back foot ever so slightly off the ground, putting all of his weight in the front foot.

[Hawkes Star]

Hawkes knew what was coming and then quickly prepared his defense and offense. He quickly flicked his left hand to through Vics sword off to the side and put his shoulder down. He put all of his weight on his front foot but was ready for the blow on his back. He also started to bring his sword downward in a sweep toward his gut.

[Viktor Delacro]

Perfect. Hawkes was a good warrior, but he had only beaten a very weak attack then, not enough to prove anything. Vic let the force of the parry carry him and he fell away from the coming blade, rolling right past Hawkes and slashing at the back of Hawkes calf with a single movement.

[Hawkes Star]

Hawkes caught a glance of Vic's sword going toward his cafe. Hawkes picked up his foot and put it down onto Vic's blade trying to hold it down. He then started to come to the side of Vic's face with his other foot.

[Viktor Delacro]

Vik was slightly surprised that Hawkes had the agility to stand on his blade while trying to kick him at the same time, but it didn't matter. It was a chance to be brutal.

Vik caught the kick in one hand. He let go of his sword with the other and grabbed the other foot. With a mighty heave Vik shifted and whipped Hawkes off of his feet and around as if to hammer throw him. Instead, he didn't let go at the apex, and carried it through and slammed Hawkes into the dirt face first.

[Hawkes Star]

Hawkes was quickly caught off guard when Vic grabbed both of his feet. Hawkes was hoping that Vic would let him go like a novice and hopefully flip out before hitting the ground but that did not happen. This will not feel good in the morning... Hawkes thought right before he hit the ground.

WHAM!

Hawkes hit the ground hard but he was never one to stay down. He allowed himself to be limp when he hit the ground so he bounced up off the ground and spun. Suddenly Vic show Hawkes fist, hilt and all, come straight at his face.

[Viktor Delacro]

Hwkes was proving his worth, but Vic realized if he dominated this this then his cover would be in trouble. He'd have to allow Hawkes a hit here and there, but they would be costful. He took the pommel of Hawkes sword to the side of his cheek, but he rolled his head with it and faked the pain. A quick flash of false anger, pain, and some sipt then Vic's head snapped back, focused like a razor. It was time to be brutal again.

His fist was already in flight as he took Hawkes punch, but one isn't enough when your opponent is down. His fist rained down blow after blow, until it felt slick and wet.

[Hawkes Star]

((sorry guys...been sick for awhile))

Hawkes was quickly put down onto the ground after Vic started to rain hell, it seemed, down onto him. Hawkes was taking it in the face and in the stomach but it did not matter because he was a strong man but he was getting kind of tired of it. Hawkes waited for a split second of freedom and then he put his right foot into Vic's chest knocking him back a little.

Then with his hands he pushed himself up into a spin putting his left heel into the side of Vic's head. After regaining his balance he backed away and re-assessed the situation. Then he realized something. "Are you really just a common traveler?" Hawkes yelled out.

[Viktor Delacro]

Vik sidled back, putting his fingertips the the wound caused by Hawkes kick. They came back with blood. He had beaten his opponents bloody, but he still fought back. He liked that kind of tenacity, but Vik never liked pain. Especially not worthless pain, he drove now to win and end this match. Hawkes' test was over, he had passed and was a worthy warrior to be under Vik's employ, but this farcical tournament would be better served over. Vik brought his sword back to a cold ready. His hard gaze fell on his staggered opponent.

"You are correct, I am quite the...uncommon traveler. Now, prepare to lose."

[Crimson]

Because Hawkes Star has not posted in 3 days in this topic and he has not informed the judges that he would be late, I declare Viktor Delacro to be the winner!