(Plz wait for setter)

((OOC: Derhlith just told me to put the surroundings in my entrance.*Hops IC*))

Elither walked through the scorching desert, his face hidden beneath his cloak, though his eyes gleamed red from underneath. He took a look around at the surroundings, it was late afternoon, almost evening, a few clouds were strawn across the blue sky, a few breezes here and there. Taking a few looks around the ground, he noticed nothing but sand, sand, and more sand, and a few dead bush's, of course from the heat.

"Just great...this is where they sent me for the first fight..." Elither muttered coldly under his breathe, a small crunch came from under his foot. Looking down, Elither saw that he had stepped on a lizard's skull, one of the several of the unfortunate, that had fallen pray to the desert heat."And I almost feel sorry for you.." Elither said coldly, kicking the pieces of the skull away, continuing to walk amongst the heat.

Within a few minutes, he had come to where his directions were, for the battle. He stood atop a small hill, in the sand. His cloak swayed behind him in the gentle breezes of the desert, giving some of whatever may live in the desert, a cool breeze. Elither took a look around, awaiting his foe, his right hand already rested on the hilt of his short sword, known as the "FlashBlade". his left index finger ran across the smooth wood, of his Hunter's bow.

Elither thought for a moment to himself, looking around once more at his surroundings, already thinking of them as some use in the matchup. He had come across the name of his opponent before, and only once, other than that, he knew nothing about him.

"This just may be interesting..." Elither said to himself, coldly, before laughing loudly, and coldly.

The desert sun beat down mercilessly upon the lone traveller. He had been walking for at least an hour, and yet the desert still stretched into infinity around him; an endless sea of sand. The consistency of the sand beneath his feet made travel somewhat difficult, as it impaired his movement. He guessed it would make combat difficult as well. Donovan stopped for a few movements, squinting against the blazing light of the sun. He let out a long sigh and took a draught from his canteen; it was nearly empty.

What fool judged this wasteland a suitable arena?

Suddenly, something in the distance caught his attention. He held a palm across his brow, shielding his eyes. At the top of a small rise in the distance, a shape was visible. It was definitely some sort of humanoid being.

Could it be...?

Donovan continued to walk. He quickened his pace, eager to get down to business. He was getting relatively close, and he guessed that he must have been spotted by now. He decided to hail the traveller. "ELITHER DAEGOVAD!" he shouted.
He wondered if he would recognize his adversary from the registration.

"ELITHER DAEGOVAD!" Was yelled somewhere behind Elither. Elither turned around from the small hill of sand, and smirked slightly."It's about time you've gotten here, Donovan." Elither said coldly, glaring at Donovan. Underneath his cloak, his hands had a death like grip upon the hilt of the FlashBlade, and the hard wood of the Bow. Elither tugged lightly on the hilt of the FlashBlade, as the metal of the blade, and sheath scraped together. The sun gleamed lightly off of the blade of the short sword, while Elither's bow still stayed by his side.

Elither glared even more at Donovan, and smirked much more."Well, lets get this duel over with, I don't wanna be in this hell for long." Elither said loudly, enough so that Donovan could hear every word. "I think I shall take defensive, this time around." He added, lowering himself slightly.

Elither stood there, nearly crouching on the peak of the small hill of sand, his cloak fluttering around in the breeze, sometimes whipping in his face. He awaited an attack from his foe, to study his moves, speed, and agility.

"It's about time you've gotten here, Donovan," Elither said coldly, glaring at the knight before him.
Underneath his cloak, his hands had a vicelike grip upon the hilt of the FlashBlade, and the hard wood of his bow. Elither tugged lightly on the hilt of the FlashBlade. The metal of the blade and sheath scraped together. The sun gleamed brightly off of the blade of the short sword, while Elither's bow still stayed by his side. "Well, lets get this duel over with. I don't wanna be in this hell for long," Elither said loudly, so that Donovan could hear every word. "I think I shall take defensive, this time around," he said, lowering his stance, ready to defend himself.
Elither's expression hardened, if that was at all possible. "Let's not make this into a personal vendetta," Donovan replied as he unsheathed his sword.
Donovan stared his opponent down for a few moments.

Charging uphill should prove to be difficult, but he shows no signs of moving... I may as well take advantage of this, before he starts shooting arrows....

Donovan charged up the slope, closing the distance between himself and Elither quickly. His sword glinted in the brilliant light of the sun. He was just nearing the peak of the hill as he skidded to a stop. He turned his leading foot off to the side as he slid, and the desired effect was acheived. Sand sprayed up at Elither. If the technique worked as Donovan hoped it would, Elither would be left almost completely blind. Unfortunately, due to the direction of the wind, a small quantity of sand was blown back at Donovan, and it hit him full in the face. He squinted against the spray of dust. His vision was blurred, but he could see well enough to coordinate an attack, and he guessed Elither was also having trouble seeing. Donovan raised his sword in preparation for a strike, and brought the weapon down in a diagonal slash on Elither's left knee. Donovan wanted to finish this fight quickly, and he knew this attack would surely incapacitate Elither if his aim was true.

"Let's not make this into a personal vendetta." The Knight known as Donovan replied. Elither thought for a moment, looking around to his surroundings--which was just sand, a few few bones of prey that was sucked into the carnivoraus Desert, and heat. His mouth would have been dry half an hour ago, if it weren't for him sucking on his tongue, to provide saliva.

He then watched His opponent start charging after thinking, and up the mound he came, he would have been quick, if only the sand was not there, it had bogged Donovan's speed down. Elither saw Donovan skid to a stop, and the sand came toward's his face. Elither quickly lowered his face, so that the sand had been dealt to his cloak, and the hood of it. As quick as he had dropped it down, elither raised his sights back up just in time to see the blade go for his left knee. In one quick motion, Elither pivoted in the sand on his right foot, to bring his body to the right, though the sand had bogged him down aswell.

The blade ripped through his pants, though they were baggy somewhat from being so worn, and tattered. His leg did not recieve punishment. Donovan had left himself open, and Elither used that as an advantage, while he spun, he thought about which was best to work. When Donovan swung that heavy blade with that amount of force, it would've pulled him foward some, aswell, and that's what had given Elither his advantage, his blade might be short, but it was light, and very sharp, so that Elither could use it for all it was worth. Elither stopped spinning.planting his left foot on the sand, letting it grind the sand slightly, he quickly thrusted his blade out at the middle of Donovan's gut, while still had his Broadsword extended.

Donovan's blade cut through thin air, hitting the sand next to Elither's right foot. If he hadn't stopped short, the momentum of the attack probably would have caused him to stumble over, leaving him completely vulnerable to attack. However, his feet had remained firmly planted during the maneuver. He blinked sand out of his eyes in time to see Elither's attack. He thrust the blade of his sword into Donovan's midsection. Donovan released his grip on the hilt of his broadsword, now holding the weapon with only his right hand, and his left hand closed firmly around Elither's wrist. Donovan's reflexes were such that he had prevented any serious damage, but the tip of Elither's blade - the first half-inch or so - had imbedded itself in his stomach. Donovan winced as the blade pierced into his belly. Admittedly, Elither was faster than he had expected, but he outstripped the dark elf considerably in terms of physical strength. His grip on Elither's wrist held firm, and he prevented the blade from being driven deeper into his stomach. Donovan slowly forced Elither's arm back, and the blade was pulled from his stomach as a result. Donovan yanked hard on Elither's wrist, pulling the elf off balance, and swung his right leg out in a hard kick to Elither's kneecap. He would be knocked off of his feet and into the sand, unless he somehow managed to avoid the kick.

His wrist had been grasped firmly by the knight. Elither was almost impressed by the strength, if Elither had yet been trying. When the blade was pulled out of Donovan's stomach, along with his hand being forced back, Elither smirked. the sand just below Donovan was stained with blood, from the end of his blade that had drove into Donovan's Stomach, and a small trail towards Elither, from where the blade was pulled out.

Elither was looking down at Donovan's hand on his wrist, as Donovan made out to kick for his right knee. "Another foolish mistake, Knight." Elither said, bending his leg back, to where he was standing on one leg.


Donovan jerked hard on Elither's wrist to unbalance him, which he had, but,Donovan's foot had nailed Elither's knee, but it did not work. Donovan had really laid no damage on Elither, besides a small stinging sensation. But, Donovan's foot must be aching by now, for his foot hit practically Elither's kneecap alone.

Elither used the jerk of his wrist as an advantage, Using the jerk as a momentum, Elither had brung his leg back out, in a kick at Donovan's own right knee , while being practically jerked from one side of Donovan, to another.

"Another foolish mistake, Knight," Elither said mockingly.
He raised his left leg so he was standing on one foot, and Donovan's kick slammed into his exposed kneecap. Donovan's foot bounced off almost harmlessly. Elither used the momentum from the pull to his advantage, and his left leg lashed out at the kneecap of the leg Donovan had kicked with. Donovan's leg was already partially extended. He raised his foot slightly, then held his leg rigid. The ankle of the leg with which Elither kicked collided with the heel of Donovan's boot, rendering the kick as ineffectual has Donovan's had been. As Elither's kick was deflected, Donovan firmly planted his foot again. Elither's vault past him became more of a stumble, and Donovan's grip held firm. He jerked hard on the elf's wrist again, pulling him in the opposite direction from which he travelled and throwing him even further off balance, almost to the point of losing his footing entirely.

You'll eat those words....

Donovan released his grip on Elither's wrist and spun into a powerful to kick aimed directly for Elither's chin. As he kicked, his dragged his toe in the sand, once again kicking sand into Elither's eyes. Disoriented as he was, it would be difficult for the elf to avoid the attack.

Elither's kick had missed. And the Knight still had a pretty powerful grip on his wrist, which held the blade. He had already lost his balancing, and was on a lunge toward's the other side of Donovan, when he had kicked out. Donovan had tried to pull Elither back up, and toward's the other direction, but elither put his weight against the pull, rendering that unaffective. And as he had put his weight into it, the sweat that had been building up over his body caused Donovan's hand to slide right off his wrist.

He saw a glimpse of Donovan getting ready to lash out at his head with a kick, and kick sand out at his face. Elither closed his eyes, aas the sand lashed against his face, the sand burning against his face slightly, and causing an itch, Elither pulled his blade out infront of his face just intime as the kick came out.

Donovan's kick had backfired. The tip of Elither's blade had pierced the toe of his boot, and gone deep into his foot. Donovan's eyes widened with shock. He took a moment to realize what had happened. As realization dawned upon him, he let out a scream of pain. In a rage, he slashed down at Elither's extended wrist, aiming to sever the appendage. As his blade was imbedded in Donovan's foot, he would not be able to remove it in time to avoid the attack, and would have to choose between his sword and his hand.

(OOC: Owie.)

His counter to the kick was a success, the sand that was under Donovan's foot was stianed heavily with blood. But, Donovan brought a retort to his counter, bringing the heavy broadsword into a swing at him. The broadsword being wielded only with one hand would make the attack much slower then with a smaller, lighter blade. Elither had plenty enough time to let go of the hilt of his Flashblade, and roll to the right of Donovan's attack. After the failed assault from Donovan, he reached back over, and gripped the hilt of the Flashblade. Donovan was slightly unbalanced, due to his foot not touching the ground, but impaled on the blade.

Elither smirked cruely, and chuckled, standing back up. He brought his blade, and Donovan's foot up aswell, to where Donovan was up on one leg. "Well Well Well...not exactly the brightest, are you?" Elither mocked, smirking even more.

Elither brought his right foot out toward's Donovan's , which was still on the ground, his knee specifically, the Broadsword would be useless to try to attack with, since it had been burried slightly under the sand.

Elither released his grip on the hilt of the blade, and Donovan's broadsword dug harmlessly into the sand. Elither quickly grabbed the hilt of the blade and rose to his feet, raising the blade, and Donovan's foot with it. "Well, well, well... not exactly the brightest, are you?" Elither mocked, smirking even more. Donovan pulled his left leg back, and the blade of the short sword slid out of his foot. He planted his freed foot firmly on the ground and quickly brought his right foot up, then quickly back down, the sole of his boot intercepting Elither's kick, knocking it away. As he brought his foot went down, he swung his left hand in a heavy punch to Elither's jaw.

Smirking slightly, Elither was almost at the point of applauding Donovan, how he managed to stay on that foot, when the blade had gone through it, even he didn't know. He wondered how long it would be until Donovan lost enough blood to pass out, for that wound would be bleeding for quite a while. His foot was kicked away, being parried. He put his foot back on the ground, just as the punch was shot out at his jaw.

Elither decided to sacrifice some pain on his jaw, as they had been very close to eachother, he wondered if his speed could even pull away, but thought better of the sacrifice, for he knew the speed probably would not work. While the punch had been thrown, he was thinking this, and a split second after the punch was thrown, Elither brought his left knee up harshly at Donovan's Gut, with his quick speed, and agility. His was aiming to harm Donovan's gut even more.

The heavy punch had hit Elither square in the jaw knocking his head back, a small cut appearing on his jaw, where the knuckles had burried momentarily into his pale skin. Blood slowly dropped from his jaw, onto his cloak, staining the dark green cloth ,to purpleon several spots. Elithers right hand sheathed the blade, while his left hand pulled out his bow.

Donovan managed to stay on his injured foot, though it caused him great pain. He would still be able to walk on it, but he didn't know for how long. He felt a satisfying crack as his knuckles struck Elither's jaw. Simultaneously, he felt Elither's knee smash into his ribs. He winced and exhaled sharply as he was struck. With a sharp tug, he freed his sword from the sand, holding it off to his right side. Elither sheathed the short sword with his right hand while his left pulled out his bow. "Brave slash!" Donovan shouted, swinging his sword as hard as he was able. The slash was aimed just around Elither's midsection; too high to jump over, too low to duck under, and he was close enough that Elither couldn't dodge backwards quickly enough.

(OOC: Come on, Fhqwhgads...)

Elither only had one choice. He quickly reached around behind him with his right hand, drawing an arrow out from his Quiver. And then the braveslash came. He could not dodge it all the way, but he could help his matter. He pivoted to the right, so that the blade would not get the maximum blow in. while he spun he had set the arrow on his bow, and pulled it tought, finding it was the only arrow left in his quiver. When he stopped, he had the arrow pointed right at , the side of Donovan's head, just a foot from it. "Goodbye, Donovan." Elither said smirking. He let the string go just before the blade had hit him. There was no option for Donovan to do, he could not dodge, it was point blank, and aimed right at his ear.

Elither gasped, and staggered backwards right after he shot the arrow off. as the blade of the broadsword dug into his waist about an inch deep. it had knocked the air, and blood from Elither.

Elither fell on his rear end, holding his waist. He had been extremely worn out from the heat, and the fighting.

Donovan collapsed in the sand. Elither's aim had not been true, but it was certainly close enough. The arrow had entered in the area of soft flesh between his collar bone and the side of his neck. The shaft had torn through his trachea and several major arteries in his neck, and had probably nicked his aorta as well. He was still alive, but just barely, and was rapidly dying of both blood loss and oxygen deprivation. In spite of this, he felt quite calm. He was confident he had given Elither a wound to remember him by.

He laid there and stared up at the sky. The light was rapidly fading, and the sun didn't seem quite so oppressively hot now. It actually felt rather pleasant....

His aim had been off with the arrow, his right foot had slightly dug into the sand, and the rush he had been in. But he was sure that he had gotten the job done. Elither sat in the sand, from where he fell due to the power of the blow to his waist. Elither knew that he needed some medical aid soon, for the gash had gone across his whole waist.

Elither pulled his cloak off, wincing slightly from the wound. he had to do something to stop the bleeding, or it might be his downfall. Wrapping the cloak around his waist, he tied it around as tight as he could, to at least slow the bloodflow. Elither glared at Donovan, for that little stunt he pulled. Elither sat there and waited for the blood to stop the flowing, for if he had tried to stand up, and walk, it would only make the matter worse. It was Nightfall before the blood had finally stopped, staining his once dark green cloak, purple. He pushed himself up using his hands to help, and staggered over to Donovan. "I'm impressed...you made it to where I had to stay on my toes..." Elither said coldly, putting Donovan's Broadsword on his body. "Let you're death be a gift....it'll free you from this hell, they call life." He added, closing his eyes.

It was about five minutes after he had said his last words to Donovan. Half staggering, Elither looked down, to see some of the fragments of the lizard skull he had stepped on, Smirking slightly. "I'm sure another will join you soon." He said, and walked away, not knowing where he would end up next.

Donovan

Tactics: 8.8 (Using the sand, good move.)

Regulation: 10 (A Brave Slash, well within the limits. Good job)

Quailty: 8 (No comment)

Fairness: 8.5 (Another good job.

Technicaility: 8 (No comment)

Overall: 8.7 (Not Bad! :D)



Elither

Tactics: 8.5 (Not bad, could have been better though.)

Regulation: 9 (No skills... :( )

Quailty: 8.8 (You kept with the 2 actions per post, and I saw minor spelling / grammarical errors. Nice.)

Fairness: 10 (I didn't see any problems)

Technicaility: 8.8 (Good job!)

Overall: 9 (Good job! :) )


Yet another close match! You both did amazing jobs! Keep it up, but sadly, Donovan, better luck next time. :(

Elither moves on to the next round!

Elither +1 Lvl.
Donovan +1 Lvl.