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[4e] Fallen - Prologue: The Crucible (Full)
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<blockquote data-quote="renau1g" data-source="post: 4940929" data-attributes="member: 54810"><p>Kadaj sat below the sands of the arena with his daggers in his hands, the human assassin always waited in quiet before one of his matches began. Others would try and get their blood pumping with all manner of activities, the barbarians would smack themselves with their fists, chanting to their dead ancestors, or cut themselves, that part always mystified Kadaj. He always sought to find that inner calm that he had tapped whenever he began his "assignments" back home. Being overzealous got you in trouble, better to take your time, relax and approach the situation with a clear head. </p><p></p><p>The crowd was roaring up above, chanting for <strong>"KILL, KILL, KILL"</strong>, which meant the previous match was nearing completion and his time was nigh. Kadaj began ritualistically checking his gear, the daggers were placed back into their holders on his belt, within easy reach. He pulled them in and out a few times to make sure. He checked the clasp of his black cloak, the cloak that had saved his life on more than one occasion. Kadaj called his enchanted leather armor to him to ensure nothing had been tampered with. <span style="color: gray"><em>"You can't be too careful with the bribes that flow through here"</em></span> he thought as he adjusted the straps and sent it back to the extradimensional home.</p><p></p><p>The guard looked at him with a questioning glare and said <span style="color: Gray"><strong>"You're up, have fun"</strong></span> as he began laughing, pushing Kadaj up the ramp and nearly sending him to the ground. The assassin turned back over his shoulder, staring daggers at Helmut, the former gladiator who'd managed to somewhat win his freedom, although he was indentured to the Septimus Sarcus and required to serve here in the Arena of Andrius. The brute had taken to his role with relish, routinely metting out punishment on the gladiators as he saw fit and the man had taken a special interest in Kadaj, to the assassin's misfortune. </p><p></p><p>The doors were opened and Kadaj continued down that familiar hall, <em><span style="color: gray">"How many times have I come down this hall? How many have I killed in this last year? More importantly how much would've I been paid for this back home?"</span></em> the thoughts went through his head at lightning speed as he began falling into his calm state. His muscles twitched with anticipation as he stepping onto the sand of the arena, the floor comfortably giving way to Kadaj's foot. <span style="color: gray"><em>"Like a mother's embrace"</em></span> he thought involuntarily as he absorbed the warmth of the sun. His black garb provided little benefit in the arena, the crowd's didn't enjoy someone hiding on them so there was little for Kadaj to use as cover. It didn't matter, he'd adapted, he changed the way he stalked his prey, no longer relying totally on sneaking in the dark to kill. If anything, Kadaj had become much more lethal during his time in "the Pit", as he called the Arena.</p><p></p><p>Kadaj looked around for a moment, his eyes now adjusted to the sudden brightness of the sun, and looked for his foe, expecting one of the regulars, perhaps Hammer, or Zipper, maybe even his longtime sparring partner, Atrius.</p><p>The master of the arena stood up, and in a magically enhanced voice, said <strong>"<span style="color: gray">Welcome one and all, today we have a special treat for you, the master of the dagger, Kadaj, will be pitted against a creature that does not call our land home. This creature was provided by a special supporter of the Arena and brought here across the Planes for your enjoyment. May I present Bloodclaw!"</span></strong>, with a grand flourish, he points to the other tunnel and a large creature comes striding out, flanked on both sides by the elite guards of the Arena. The creature was ape-like, but the size of a giant, blood-red fur body and dagger-like teeth protruded from its mouth. At the sight of Kadaj, the creature began salvering and its beady red eyes glowed brightly as it eyed the assassin hungrily. </p><p></p><p>It launched itself at him with a fury, not waiting for the match to begin properly. Kadaj barely had time to call his armour and draw his weapons to turn aside the ferocious first strike from the demon. It stank of brimstone this close and the acrid smell stung Kadaj's nostrils. Kadaj knew he couldn't let this thing hit him or else he'd be in big trouble. The assassin stabbed at the creatures eyes, using an old trick he knew and drew a minor wound above its eye, at least it appeared minor, but it continued to bleed a blackish ickor that ran into the demon's eyes. </p><p></p><p>Kadaj danced away as the creature flailed helplessly for him, throwing his blackened off-hand dagger at it, with a flourish. The blade landed on the creatures arm and stuck for a moment, the colour leaving it and the wound grew black as the stored energy from the blade went into his foe. The creature shook off the blinding effect of the initial strike and charged at Kadaj, who wasn't so fortunate this time. A claw tore a long slash in his arm, nearing jarring the off hand dagger out of his grasp. He held on with all his strength and returned the attack with one of his own. The twin daggers stabbed in and out quickly, the weapons becoming a blur of motion, as they found the flesh of the beast.</p><p></p><p>It reared back and howled a deep, resonating noise that shook Kadaj to the bone and tore at him with both claws, their razor-sharp nails catching the assassin in the chest and tearing open large gaping wounds in him. Focusing on the enchantment of his cloak, Kadaj disappeared in a puff of smoke, reappearing behind the demon and stabbing it twice in quick succession, the rolling away before it could react. The creatures blackened blood was dotting the sand of the arena's floor, more than the red dripping from Kadaj's wounds, but it didn't seem affected. It charged again, but this time he was ready for it, the beast was simple, it was strong, but easily countered. Kadaj parried away the attack and danced around the foe, plunging his dagger up to the hilt into the neck of the beast, twisting the blade for extra effect. He stepped away and then jammed his other dagger up into the demon's brain from under his jaw. The creature fell over and dissappated into black mist. Kadaj stumbled over to where his weapons now lied, the adrenaline of the fight leaving him and he fell to one knee. The perspiration on his brow fell to the sand and was absorbed, but the red pool forming around him was disturbing to Kadaj. He looked up and the crowd was chanting <strong><span style="color: gray">"LIVE, LIVE, LIVE</span></strong>, and the assassin smiled. He looked to the guest box and saw a familiar face, <span style="color: gray"><em>Erstad! I will get out of here and find you!"</em></span> Kadaj thought to himself as the healers came out, staunching his wounds and helping him stand. He pushed them off and resolutely walked back on his own, heavily favouring his right leg. Before retreating from the heat of the sun to go lick his wounds he turned to the crowd and gave a deep bow. </p><p></p><p>Kadaj turned, and walked back down the hallway, head held high and wondered when the chance for escape would present itself. He had survived another day and that was all he could do, for now...</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="renau1g, post: 4940929, member: 54810"] Kadaj sat below the sands of the arena with his daggers in his hands, the human assassin always waited in quiet before one of his matches began. Others would try and get their blood pumping with all manner of activities, the barbarians would smack themselves with their fists, chanting to their dead ancestors, or cut themselves, that part always mystified Kadaj. He always sought to find that inner calm that he had tapped whenever he began his "assignments" back home. Being overzealous got you in trouble, better to take your time, relax and approach the situation with a clear head. The crowd was roaring up above, chanting for [B]"KILL, KILL, KILL"[/B], which meant the previous match was nearing completion and his time was nigh. Kadaj began ritualistically checking his gear, the daggers were placed back into their holders on his belt, within easy reach. He pulled them in and out a few times to make sure. He checked the clasp of his black cloak, the cloak that had saved his life on more than one occasion. Kadaj called his enchanted leather armor to him to ensure nothing had been tampered with. [COLOR="gray"][I]"You can't be too careful with the bribes that flow through here"[/I][/COLOR] he thought as he adjusted the straps and sent it back to the extradimensional home. The guard looked at him with a questioning glare and said [COLOR="Gray"][B]"You're up, have fun"[/B][/COLOR] as he began laughing, pushing Kadaj up the ramp and nearly sending him to the ground. The assassin turned back over his shoulder, staring daggers at Helmut, the former gladiator who'd managed to somewhat win his freedom, although he was indentured to the Septimus Sarcus and required to serve here in the Arena of Andrius. The brute had taken to his role with relish, routinely metting out punishment on the gladiators as he saw fit and the man had taken a special interest in Kadaj, to the assassin's misfortune. The doors were opened and Kadaj continued down that familiar hall, [I][COLOR="gray"]"How many times have I come down this hall? How many have I killed in this last year? More importantly how much would've I been paid for this back home?"[/COLOR][/I] the thoughts went through his head at lightning speed as he began falling into his calm state. His muscles twitched with anticipation as he stepping onto the sand of the arena, the floor comfortably giving way to Kadaj's foot. [COLOR="gray"][I]"Like a mother's embrace"[/I][/COLOR] he thought involuntarily as he absorbed the warmth of the sun. His black garb provided little benefit in the arena, the crowd's didn't enjoy someone hiding on them so there was little for Kadaj to use as cover. It didn't matter, he'd adapted, he changed the way he stalked his prey, no longer relying totally on sneaking in the dark to kill. If anything, Kadaj had become much more lethal during his time in "the Pit", as he called the Arena. Kadaj looked around for a moment, his eyes now adjusted to the sudden brightness of the sun, and looked for his foe, expecting one of the regulars, perhaps Hammer, or Zipper, maybe even his longtime sparring partner, Atrius. The master of the arena stood up, and in a magically enhanced voice, said [B]"[COLOR="gray"]Welcome one and all, today we have a special treat for you, the master of the dagger, Kadaj, will be pitted against a creature that does not call our land home. This creature was provided by a special supporter of the Arena and brought here across the Planes for your enjoyment. May I present Bloodclaw!"[/COLOR][/B], with a grand flourish, he points to the other tunnel and a large creature comes striding out, flanked on both sides by the elite guards of the Arena. The creature was ape-like, but the size of a giant, blood-red fur body and dagger-like teeth protruded from its mouth. At the sight of Kadaj, the creature began salvering and its beady red eyes glowed brightly as it eyed the assassin hungrily. It launched itself at him with a fury, not waiting for the match to begin properly. Kadaj barely had time to call his armour and draw his weapons to turn aside the ferocious first strike from the demon. It stank of brimstone this close and the acrid smell stung Kadaj's nostrils. Kadaj knew he couldn't let this thing hit him or else he'd be in big trouble. The assassin stabbed at the creatures eyes, using an old trick he knew and drew a minor wound above its eye, at least it appeared minor, but it continued to bleed a blackish ickor that ran into the demon's eyes. Kadaj danced away as the creature flailed helplessly for him, throwing his blackened off-hand dagger at it, with a flourish. The blade landed on the creatures arm and stuck for a moment, the colour leaving it and the wound grew black as the stored energy from the blade went into his foe. The creature shook off the blinding effect of the initial strike and charged at Kadaj, who wasn't so fortunate this time. A claw tore a long slash in his arm, nearing jarring the off hand dagger out of his grasp. He held on with all his strength and returned the attack with one of his own. The twin daggers stabbed in and out quickly, the weapons becoming a blur of motion, as they found the flesh of the beast. It reared back and howled a deep, resonating noise that shook Kadaj to the bone and tore at him with both claws, their razor-sharp nails catching the assassin in the chest and tearing open large gaping wounds in him. Focusing on the enchantment of his cloak, Kadaj disappeared in a puff of smoke, reappearing behind the demon and stabbing it twice in quick succession, the rolling away before it could react. The creatures blackened blood was dotting the sand of the arena's floor, more than the red dripping from Kadaj's wounds, but it didn't seem affected. It charged again, but this time he was ready for it, the beast was simple, it was strong, but easily countered. Kadaj parried away the attack and danced around the foe, plunging his dagger up to the hilt into the neck of the beast, twisting the blade for extra effect. He stepped away and then jammed his other dagger up into the demon's brain from under his jaw. The creature fell over and dissappated into black mist. Kadaj stumbled over to where his weapons now lied, the adrenaline of the fight leaving him and he fell to one knee. The perspiration on his brow fell to the sand and was absorbed, but the red pool forming around him was disturbing to Kadaj. He looked up and the crowd was chanting [B][COLOR="gray"]"LIVE, LIVE, LIVE[/COLOR][/B], and the assassin smiled. He looked to the guest box and saw a familiar face, [COLOR="gray"][I]Erstad! I will get out of here and find you!"[/I][/COLOR] Kadaj thought to himself as the healers came out, staunching his wounds and helping him stand. He pushed them off and resolutely walked back on his own, heavily favouring his right leg. Before retreating from the heat of the sun to go lick his wounds he turned to the crowd and gave a deep bow. Kadaj turned, and walked back down the hallway, head held high and wondered when the chance for escape would present itself. He had survived another day and that was all he could do, for now... [/QUOTE]
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