((This is set after The Bandit's Marked Man thread. At one time, Wanted posters of Bradwynne was spread in Astorea. But it was now cleared in Vintergard, though it was not in most villages far from Vintergard.))

Three men were riding down an almost desert place within the domains of the duke @Roland Rutledge. As they were controlling the reins with their left hands, their right was holding a Wanted poster of a man. As the first man was looking left to right, he asked, "Is it the place?" The second man then replied, "Look at the abandoned house and mill right there," He then pointed at a quite dirty wooden house with a small windmill nearby, being bombarded with dust as the wind blew towards them, the windmill slowly spinning in response to the wind. "That was the place where the leader of the Sputnik group of bandits were rumored to stay." He then showed the wanted poster at the first man. It was written: Wanted: Bradwynne Lambert, Leader of the Sputnik group of bandits in Vintergard. Reward: 500 gold. Dead or Alive. The picture was that of a teenage male with hair tied up in a short ponytail but the bangs, which were spiky, was let loose. With nothing to say, the first man continued to ride with his conpanions until they had reached the house. They then dismounted, and after tying up their horses, they advanced quietly. Tension filled the air as they were passing through a full window that had been covered with dust that had caked on it, and then arrived at the double door. They then took positions, one at the left door and two at the right door. They then grasped the hilts of their swords which were mounted on their belts. After they stared at each other and nodded, they then stormed the door. The sound of an epic swordfight was heard within the house, which subsided after a number of minutes. And then suddenly, something crashed towards the window. It was a quite tall person clothed in white, and if the Wanted posters were considered, it was the person that the three men were looking for.

Bradwynne Lambert.

Bradwynne panted as he leaned on a signboard. This was a drag, really. After all that he did to prove his innocence, the influence of the corrupt presider of the arraignment still pervaded most of the villages of Astorea. And that was why when he visited some of the villages to have a rest or eat, they were afraid of him, sometimes even calling the guards; and sometimes bounty hunters would either stop him in his travels, or attack some place where he was resting, like what happened today. He was trying to preach his innocence, and say that they should go to Vintergard, but either they would not listen or do as he said and say that he was lying. Even in Vintergard there were some people that really believed that he was a bandit leader which he was not, and he could not stay there, unless he had to buy something that only players could offer. And so he always traveled from Stokbon where he was then staying in a semi-permanent manner, to Vintergard. But these kind of encounters were inevitable.

Bradwynne then stared at the signage as he was still quite tired. It stated, "The Ugly..." with all other letters blurred by the caked sand. He then kicked the signage, thinking, "I AM NOT UGLY DANGIT!" before leaving the place.

By the way, one of the bounty hunters, holding his stomach, fell to the floor with the two other people also sprawled on it. They are, of course, not dead.

((If you wish to bring some servants of the Duchy, feel free.))

 

Roland had been aware of Bradwynne's bounty for quite some time. He had received reports that detailed what had happened but barely glanced at them. Its normal for players to act out, even within the confines of Astorea, so learning of one more wasn't exactly something that caused him much concern. So he had never bothered to look into the exact events, much less interest himself in the plan to exact the bounty. At least until the captain of his guard came to him one day. He explained, in a very exasperated tone, the difficulty his men had, had in capturing the teenager, begging Roland for further resources to deal with him. It was a pain, but Roland couldn't exactly agree to such expenditures and offered the man an alternative plan. He'd capture the boy himself.

Several days later, Roland had a tip of where Bradywynne was staying and summoned a small guard unit to escort him to the premises. He brought three men with him specifically as they head out into the country the comprised of western Astorea, and ever a few hours of heavy travel came to the abandoned house and mill. "Alright, boys..." Roland muttered in a low tone, "You go ahead and show me what you can do..." The guards looked confused for a moment but shrugged as they dismounted their horses and headed inward. Much to his dismay, they talked amongst themselves as they moved, seeming more like bounty hunters rather than trained guards. Roland did need to bother himself with training his recruits into fighting shape. The wilderness seemed to attract hunstmen, and trackers, good at what they do, but rarely helpful in more civilized operations.

Slowly they moved into the house, only for a small skirmish to break out, before the suspect escaped through a window. With a sigh, Roland dismounted, casually strolling into Brady's view. "I suppose it's too much to ask to find good help these days..." For a moment he shot a concerned look at the guard's direction and was relieved to see they were still moving, if not in pain. Turning back to the kid, Roland unsheathed his blade with a flourish. "I don't suppose you're going to come willing, are you?"

 

As he was about to leave the place, he then saw a fourth person on horseback. moving towards him. "Oh damn it, looks like he should be the boss," he thought as he stared at the man. As he then dismounted, he then shouted, "Looks like Death had finally shown himself. The Fourth Horseman. But anyway do you really expect to take a bounty from my head? I had always said, go to Vintergard, to the one who administers the city, and ask about the bounty of Bradwynne Lambert. You will see that my case is cleared. Or don't you really care?" As he then saw that he drew his sword, he then said, "Looks like I could not escape this anyway since you could ride a horse. You know," He then drew his katana, but he reversed the blade so that he could not cut. "If you really know me you will know I am not the type of man that that corrupt official tried to make of me. I am not a bandit leader, and I never use the edge of my blade on innocent persons. But if I need to escape so that I could aid another person in his sickness, I will have to incapacitate you so that I could move quickly to that person. So please, let me pass so that we do not have to battle. Or else, I would have to deliver divine pain on someone who does not even deserve it." A bead of sweat formed on his forehead, and flowed through his right cheek, as he felt some pressure coming from this man. This man should be truly a monster when he should fight, but he could not give up at the moment. There was a child in Dunnstads suffering from a deadly sickness, and he should go there quickly. And so he had to fight this person, whatever monster he was. Hopefully he could convince the person not to fight him, but if he was not convinced, he could not escape without fighting anyway.

 

Roland couldn't contain his laughter, "You think after all this I care about any of that...?" Slowly he raised his sword to eye level, pointing the tip at his target. "What crimes you committed, are none of my concern." He said looking down its emerald encrusted hilt towards Brady, "The bounty on your head is plenty of justification for my actions. If its wrong, blame the ones that placed it." With a flourish, Roland returned the blade to his side as he began to stride forward casually, an unconcerned look plastered upon his face. "The option to surrender is still available, but if you're choosing not to take it, you should know who I am."

A small smirk appeared on Roland's lips, as his eyes gleamed with a prideful hunger, "I am Duke Roland Rutledge, Slayer of Archana, and defender of those who fought Azog. I am unbeaten in all player duels, and a master of the blade." He paused taking an offensive stance about ten feet away from Bradywynne, "Yield now, and I will promise to spare you the pain of an in-game death. Otherwise, prepare for it"

A long moment would pass, as Roland eyed Brad from afar testing the teenager's resolve. There was one course these events would follow, however, as neither swordsman would be willing to back down, and as soon as Brady moved to act Roland would dash forward with tremendous speed, slashing his blade in an arc aimed for Brad's torso. The cut, even if unblocked would remain shallow, as Roland clearly intended the strike to test the boy's capabilities. Not content with a single blow, a second and third would soon follow in quick succession, each at a quarter of Roland's real strength.

@Bradwynne

 

90 HP

MAX HP

23 EN

MAX EN

Whatever his crimes he had committed are not his concern, just his bounty?

Bradwynne could not contain his anger while the assailant was saying those words. He would not care for the dying child that he had mentioned, all for the sake of 500 gold? He then felt something well up in his body. This person was just a bounty hunter, uncaring about circumstances just for the sake of coins moving down their purses. They do not care if an innocent person dies and someone who he wanted to save dies, to get more wealthy. This person was the most despicable person he had ever met.

"You want power?" Suddenly he heard that voice again in his head. It was melodic and enticing to say the least, but when he had last succumbed to this voice, he had collapsed after a short while, fortunately he was helped by a passing resident of this world. But indeed that sweet voice had given him power, and he could not doubt it. Should it be wise to use this power on this man?

He then heard the man state his name: Duke Roland Rutledge, Slayer of Arachna, and defender of those who fought Azog, unbeaten in all player duels, and a master of the blade. So this damned person is a duke, and he DARED to say those things? He did not care right now if he had really defeated the Arachna or he participated in the defeat of Azog. He did not care if he was not yet beaten in a player duel. And he did not freaking care if he is a master of the blade. He had to make this person eat all of his words.

He then shifted the grip of his katana so that he could cut anything on his way. He would pay. He would fucking pay.

"You said you are a duke, but your response right now does not befit the actions of a true leader! What kind of leader does not know the true situation before confronting another person? More importantly, WHAT KIND OF LEADER WILL LET AN INNOCENT CHILD WHO IS WAITING FOR HIS TREATMENT DIE JUST TO GET A BOUNTY FROM A PERSON WHO DID NOT DO ANYTHING WRONG?!" He then said, tears streaming down his face, which, quite quickly, became blood. He then said, then as if a chorus was echoing his voice, raising his rosary, "I will... I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU, SCUM OF THE EARTH! MICHAEL, GABRIEL, RAPHAEL, URIEL, I ACCEPT! LET MY BODY BE A VESSEL OF YOUR WRATH!"

He then saw Roland charge towards his direction, but he was unfazed as he was spouting Hebrew phrases, back on his original voice. Roland then delivered a horizontal slash, which he tried to block with his katana. As he was trying to hold back the slash, the katana was creaking in his hands. But then he suddenly shouted, "Michael!", and the katana on his hand glowed, and then, successfully pushed back Roland's sword as he strode backwards, still chanting Hebrew phrases. But as he was striding backwards, Roland was chasing him for another slash, and he was faster than him in that respect. Roland then raised his hand to slash him diagonally, and Bradwynne was not in a position to block or evade. But he seemed finished with another incantation, since he shouted, "Gabriel!" and then suddenly he himself was enveloped in light, and in a blink of an eye, his left foot moved backward and then kicked sideward to the right, evading the slash altogether, continuing the chanting. But then Roland continued to chase him for another slash, this time, a spinning horizontal slash. Knowing the slash was too quick, he stepped up his chanting speed, and when the slash was about to connect, he then shouted, "Raphael!" Suddenly, an aura surrounded Bradwynne in a sphere, making the sword just glance, but also reducing his own energy. He then moved quickly backward, chanting another phrase. This time he completed the chant without any difficulty, and as he shouted "Uriel!" concentric spheres of light radiated from his head. And then suddenly, a pillar of light fell towards Bradwynne, and as the pillar disappeared, two pairs of wings of light formed on Bradwynne's back, although they could not be used for flight. He then said, back in the chorused voice, "Archangel's Wrath. Repent or you will not be saved."

 

100 HP

MAX HP

95 EN

MAX EN

*CLANG*

Roland's first strike kissed the metal of his opponent's blade. Even at a quarter of his strength, Roland could feel his opponent's grip faltering. The boy was forced to enchant his blade, to repel the attack, sending Roland's blade back towards him. It wasn't enough to satisfy Roland, however, as he quickly wheeled to the right, slashing at the teen's chest. Bradwynne, however, cast yet another enchantment, this time on himself, moving backward with inhuman speed. Still not content, Roland charged forward a third time only for his attack to bounce off this teen's newly formed magical shell.

With a laugh, Roland catapulted himself backward several feet in an impressive display of agility. Taking a relaxed stance, he casually waved his sword as he clicked his tongue at Bradwynne, "To be honest when I heard you gave my guard's so much trouble I got excited. I was hoping to have a real enemy to sink my teeth into. Something to challenge me. To push me to the next level." Roland smirked as he placed his free hand on his chest, "I will admit, that spell you cast is impressive. With it, you've gained enough raw strength and agility to surpass me." Roland's hand fell to his side, as he confidently squared his body to Bradwynne. "But it doesn't matter." Roland smiled, "The moment our blade's touched I was able to sense the difference between us."

Roland threw his head back with a laugh, "Perhaps you could feel it too, which is why you've become so, so, so desperate this early into the fight. Could you feel how much I was holding back as your sword creaked in your hand? Or do you even know the depths of my ability?" Roland shook his head, "No if you knew, you'd surrender where you stand. I guess that's the difference experience will grant you." Pushing his heel back, Roland held his offhand forward beckoning Bradwynne to attack, staring at him with a confident smirk as he said, "You can't win this fight."

@Bradwynne

 

80 HP

MAX HP

13 EN

MAX EN

As they were back at their respective distances, the bastard continued speaking scathing words. About him being an unworthy challenger, about his own inherent weakness, about he should have surrendered when he had realized the bastard's immense power, and about the bastard's assumption that he would not be able to defeat him. As he had fought the person, he had already knew it. As he stood right now, if on a raw sword-on-sword battle, he would be defeated easily even when he was holding back that time. And so, as it stands, he was never really a challenge to this person who was a veteran of many monster hunts. Him being a decorated veteran of the late war would just pale in comparison to this man's deeds. Yeah he should have surrendered when he still had a chance, for as it stood now, he really had a small chance defeating this person even when he had released this form. But...

"I can never surrender right now!" Bradwynne shouted, a chorus of angelic voices still issuing from his mouth including his own voice. "You will have to pay for your insensitivity towards the people, and moreover, there is a dying child who is waiting for me! If I surrender right now, return with you to Vintergard, he will die! And so..." He then pointed the glowing sword towards Roland. "If there is a chance that I can incapacitate you, to go there, I will gladly take it! I know that the power that I possess right now could destroy my own body..." As if on cue, blood spurted out of his joints. "...but if it should help me to repent on what you have said before and go past by you, I will be gladly wounded a million times! I do not care how strong you are, how powerful you are, or if it is foolhardy for me to battle you, but if I had to do it to save another person, then..." He then charged towards Roland, his katana raised such that he would execute a diagonal slash (a kesa-giri), "I will gladly fight an uphill battle to do it!"

If Roland would move to evade or block the attack, he would move the slash so that the momentum would not be changed, and still hit Roland, whatever small damage it would make. If he would counter-attack, he would just take the damage, gauging when to just take the damage or block it with his aura. For Bradwynne, what was important was to inflict as much damage to Roland as possible before he should collapse from his own power. Fortunately for him, Roland should not know what Uriel represented, or what would happen if those separate buffs were cast in combination. He was much stronger and faster than what he had demonstrated in the last skirmish, and Uriel actually represented...

Bradwynne then would study Roland's movement after the slash. When he could slash, he would slash towards Roland's perceived position after the studied movement, and then, if he moved to evade or block in response, he would again shift the direction of the slash to just weary Roland. He would do that again a third time. He knew that in this condition he was not going to last, so he should make optimal use of the power as much as possible. And Uriel would help him do just that. That was Uriel's buff: added prerecognition of every action of the enemy before him.

 

85 HP

MAX HP

85 EN

MAX EN

Roland bared his teeth in a smile as Bradwynne fell for his taunt, charging at him in a mad rush. The boys' words were as meaningless to him now, as they were at the start of the match. Even if they were true, Roland was sworn by duty to finish this task. But that didn't mean he couldn't have any fun while he did so. Roland's tactic was a rather simplistic one, in fact, it was the primary plan used in most dungeon running circles. Taunt an enemy and draw out their most punishing physical attack, before countering and delivering a devastating blow. Judging from Brad's earlier reaction, it was obvious the way this battle would go...

Predictably, Brad closed the distance before opening the second round with a vertical slash. Deftly, Roland's blade flew in counter to the katana, only for Brad to adjust his angle at the last second evading the block, and continuing forward unhindered. Out of options, Roland dipped his shoulder in a side-stepping motion dodging the brunt of the attack but gaining a shallow slash to his chest. Roland smirked, jumping backward once more. "The speed that form has is impressive-"

His words were cut off, however, as Brad did not wait idly by, instead pressed the attack forward slashing at Roland once more. Again, Roland sent his blade to counter but again was unable to find purchase forcing him to contort into an uncomfortable position as Brad's blade glanced him in the shoulder. "Tct" Roland clicked, making a half turn before returning with his own vertical strike that ascended from the ground. He didn't put much strength into the attack as it served another purpose, however. It was a testing blow to judge Brady's reaction, and one look at his eyes gave Roland the answer to the question it posed.

Again, Roland jumped backward, this time prepared for the pursuit attack. As Brady drew closer, Roland did two things, one flick his blade forward in the same counter motion as he had previously, and two flick his off hand in a simple pattern. The result was similar to the previous two attacks, but as Roland moved to dodge, he released a small bolt of lighting aimed at Brad's face. Instead of hitting him head-on, however, the bolt would suddenly 'pop' and explode creating a dazzling display in what Roland hoped would temporarily blind him.

It was then that Roland went on the offensive.

Moving like a snake, and assuming his opponent could no longer see him, Roland whipped forward aiming a diagonal slice aimed at Bradywynne's chest, before trying to run past him.

 

40 HP

MAX orange HP

3 EN

MAX EN

The first slash did enough to reach Roland, and although the wound produced was quite a shallow one, Bradwynne was satisfied that at least he managed to deliver a slash to this terrible foe. He could be hurt, so he presumed that he could be defeated. He bled the same red blood that everyone else did, and so, if he could make a better slash connect to him, he could be defeated. He then continued with his second slash, which was met with the same result, and although Bradwynne was getting quite a bit impatient, he knew that he was battling no pushover, but certainly a legend. And so he should try to push harder to get more results from his attacks. But this time his target was not going to let everything pass without attacking himself, as he delivered a spinning upward slash. Bradwynne tried to move backward, but still the sword caught him, ripping his shirt off and dealing a nasty gash on his abdomen upward to the sternum. He winced in pain as the slash dug through his body. But he should not stop attacking as he then moved forward to deal a slash again towards Roland a third time. He caught him again albeit another small gash, as he then readied himself for a counter-attack, the same as one he did before. Knowing it would happen, he then jumped backward, evading the slash quickly, but the next thing surprised him. A bolt of lightning hurtled towards him, and then when it seemed to hit him, it seemed that a short circuit had formed as it exploded with a flash of light, overwhelming his eyes.

He then landed on the ground, his eyes still blind due to the lightning explosion. He knew that an attack would be forthcoming, and he then thought that he would go in for the kill. So, maybe a thrust to the heart or a decapitating slash would be the movements of choice. Anticipating it, he then tried to hear the footfalls of the person, but he could not hear any. And so he decided that he would wait on the slash of the person before he would act in return. And there was it, something that bit through his coat at his left chest. He did not quite expect a slash on his chest, and so he stepped backward, and the slash continued to his right chest, although less serious than his left chest where his pectoral was completely sliced. After the slash progressed, he would duck, then with a powerful stomp of his right foot, would move forward to deliver a slash towards his bowels, which he would change or not change for more damage. And then as he would move away, when he recovered his sight, he would then chase him and, then when he was within quite a short distance, deal another series of strikes which he would change trajectory whenever he would move to evade or block them.

 

85 HP

MAX HP

75 EN

MAX EN

Roland smiled as his blow connected, running through Brad's chest slicing through flesh and armor alike. He'd figured it out. "Somehow he's reading my movements and predicting where I will move. It's something different than raw experience. Something like intuition." Jumping away, Roland, moved away partly to give him distance, and barley to wear his opponent out. It was clear by Brad's heavy breathing that the form he had taken, was taking a toll on him, and the vast gash across his chest would only exacerbate this. Much as he expected Brad followed suit taking on the same attacking pattern as before. Little did he know that Roland he prepared for precisely this. As Brad drove his strike inward, prepared to move the blade as needed, Roland moved to deflect the blow, missing, but allowing him to spin his body into an unnatural position, completely dodging the attack before bouncing away again.

"If you think you can continue to use the same tricks in a fight, you're always going to be hard-pressed to finish your opponent off." Roland taunted as he turned preparing himself for the next blow. Perhaps Brad didn't notice it before, but the wind seemed to be circling Roland, and as Brad moved to strike the Duke, the wind seemed to push Roland into a new unnatural position, before returning him to his feet.

Agan Roland bounded away unscathed by the second attempt, "I wasn't sure how you were countering my blows until you didn't react while blinded. You can predict my movements somehow, can't you? Heh. A neat trick, but not perfect by any means, you can't predict what you can't see, and since wind is invisible, you can't see where my magic will move me too." Brad came to him again, thrusting his weapon, this time, however, instead of deflecting the blade, Roland was erratically blown away from the sword, and sent skidding to the ground in a tumbled mess.

With a spring in his step, somehow, he managed to cartwheel out of the position and return to his feet with a laugh, "Hah, I can't even predict where the wind spirits will take me." With a smile, he sheathed his blade and stared down Brad, "Now, that was all good and fun, but I think its time you surrendered...." He stood there waiting for a reaction, in the same poised and confident manner as he had at the start of the fight.

@Bradwynne

 

30 HP

MAX orange HP

0 EN

MAX EN

Bradwynne panted as he stared at Roland. Now even his attacks were not even hitting as he then used the power of wind to quickly evade his slashes. Now he even bragged about himself of that power, and Bradwynne could do nothing but to acknowledge that power that he had. But he need to proceed forward, for the child to whom he promised to come back for the treatment. He did not care if he had few energy left, if his opponent had a special skill, or if he was completely hopeless in this battle. All that was important for him was to save another life, and so he must continue on, onward.

"Do you really see..." His voice was still sonorous from the choir of angels that spoke with him, but it should seem that it was faltering. "...I need to advance... for that boy with a severe sickness... I must be there... so... I need to go... if there... should anyone... should stop my tracks... even if they know... a child is dying... and I am the only one... who can heal... that child... I would never forgive them... and I would do my best... to pass through them... even if... MY OWN LIFE IS ON THE LINE!"

He then ran towards Roland to deliver the last diagonal slash he could muster, but before he could deliver it, blood splattered from his wounds, and he then knew that he was all spent. "Kid... looks like it is... the end of the line... for me... if you... die... before... I... should reach there... when...you had... reached... the afterlife... do not... hate me... alright?" The sword then dropped from his hand, and his eyes lost its shine. But he was still standing in that pose of issuing a diagonal slash, always his signature when he would fight other people. Fitfully, he had fainted in that position. The wings on his back had long subsided, signaling that he had no more energy to continue the battle.