Scene #6424: Dragoness vs. Tidal Knight

Owner	Pose
Athela Valemore	It was not the clop clop of hooves but the metallic clink clunk of armored sabatons had a similar effect to it as Athela stride into the Shrine. "Such a boon this place be. To train without the risk of lasting injury." One hand grabbed the hood of her cloak and pulled it back off her head, letting the length of red hair drape behind her freely. "Let's see what we can find to pit against today...." You can only beat up a practice dummy so much before there was nothing left to learn from it.
Cordelay Levail	Cordelay is just about to send out one of her usual challenges when she noticed the newcomer entering the Shrine. "How fortuitous. You have the look of a warrior - care for a sparring match?" She smiles warmly at the other woman and adds, "I am Cordelay Levail, daughter of Sartaire the Dragon. I apologize for not introducing myself immediately."
Athela Valemore	"As I was just about to ask if anyone was available." Athela turned to regard the source of the voice, head tilting just slightly as that introduction involves 'daughter of a dragon'. But yes, first appropriate introductions must be made, as such she bows politely towards the woman. "Dame Athela Valemore, Knight Errants for the Swords of Justice and Champion of Keldeo, Forgotten Sword of the Tides." A pause, and then a shrug. "I really doth need to work on compressing that title some," she muses, even as she grabs the tasseled hilt of her relic weapon and draws it, the unusual sword blade gleaming a bit. "As for sparring, t'would be a pleasure to hone mine skills against yours, milady."
Cordelay Levail	With a nod and a grin, Cordelay adjusts the arena's panel to set the stage, the plain room becoming a forest grove with falling white petals drifting through the air. "This really is amazing." She remarks as she draws her own blades, settling into a narrow stance with both swords at the ready. "Come at me then, Dame Valemore. Let us show one another what we can do!"
Athela Valemore	"Ah! A fellow of the art of the sword. This shall be most interesting, indeed." But it is not a step forward the young knight takes. A brief swell of water burst behind her as Athela uses her aquatic powers to launch herself towards Cordelay. A sudden but fairly basic lunge with her weapon forward, the elemental brand making Resolute Blade's surface shimmer and ripple much like the surface of water as the dash brings it thrusting forth. A simple but highly effective start to the fight with the speed the maneuver posesses.
Cordelay Levail	The water-propelled charge is surprising, but only for a moment. Cordelay crosses her swords in front of her to parry the strike, though the torrent of water slamming into her afterward is enough to knock the wind from her and send her skidding backward. "An impressive maneuver, Dame Knight. You will find, however, that I'm not so easily bested!" Her earlier smile is now the grin of someone at home on the battlefield as she slings the chain on one of her swords toward Athela, attempting to bind her sword arm while her free blade thrusts toward the knight's neck in a simple yet brutal stab.
Athela Valemore	"I should hope not!" The chain is snapped towards her arm, but Athela's quick reflexes intervien as she snares it in the backedge barbs of her blade and pull it away from wrapping her arm. However the maneuver does still prove to be an effective feint in regard that her own weapon is still occupied, and when the second blade comes slicing in the only option Athela has is to turn her body so it cuts into her shoulder instead of the vulnerable neck, scraping audibly against armor and battering the flesh below. "Right to the chase, very well then!" Instead of stopping to strike back Athela continues her twist, trying to use the chain caught on her weapon to swing Cordelay and throw her off her balance.
Cordelay Levail	Whatever Cordelay is expecting, it isn't for Athela to just pull her around by her own weapon. Thankfully she manages to roll after the hard impact with the ground rather than just get dragged around on her face. Regaining her feet and disentangling herself from the knight's sword, she grins and laughs, "It's not often someone turns my own tricks back on me. This should be a very entertaining duel! Cordelay launches into a charge of her own, one not aided by water but simply by her own incredible speed. Her twin blades lash out at the various joints and gaps in Athela's armor, the dragoness seeking to take advantage of those weak points in a flurry of blows.
Athela Valemore	Athela gives a brief nod to the compliment. "One must be as quick with their wits as their blade. Especially versus someone as swift as yourself." She shifts back a little, readying her stance. More notibly she flips Resolute Blade around in her hand so the sword lies flat against her forearm. The unorthadox grip allows her to use it, in combination with her own quick reflexes and some swift footwork, to intercept and deflect the various attempts at the joints of her armor. Then allows one blow to hit firm against the blade, skidding backwards from the force intentionally to put some distance back between them, and flipping her relic blade to a normal hold and gripping it with both hands. Then steps forward and swings down, yet not to directly strike at Cordelay. Instead the weapon strikes the ground, and her aqua force channeled through it sends a sizable wave of water surging up and forward threatening to crash down upon the other warrior woman.
Cordelay Levail	Cordelay prepares herself to block a sword strike, but the appearance of a colossal water torrent is something that a pair of swords isn't going to be able to parry. Gritting her teeth, the blonde steels herself and stands firm against the wave crashing down over her, holding her breath even as the immense pressure forces her to one knee. Once the water subsides, she rises to her feet again and coughs as water streams off her clothes and hair. "Everyone else I've sparred with relied on physical force to fight." She comments as she shifts back into her stance. "Facing someone with your abilities is new to me. Not that it isn't exciting!" Her grin returns as she rushes forward again, but this time her strike is different - she throws one of her sword-chains forward in an attempt to bind Athela's legs to hamper her evasion. Once in melee range her true plan becomes apparent as she thrusts forward again, this time at the knight's elbow of her sword arm, a blow that would certainly make wielding her relic weapon difficult if it were to connect.
Athela Valemore	As the chain lashes down low Athela instinctly half-jumps back, then bring one of her armored boots down on the chain to pin it to the ground before it can catch the other leg. It still puts her on her off-foot trying to keep the chain down, and when Cordelay rushes in with her follow-up strike Athela can't quite shift her body to properly intercept the second sword without losing her footing. A yelp catchs in her teeth as she clenches them with the blow, coming out more like a growled wince as her arm snaps back from the hit. Followed by the audible thwunk as Resolute Blade spins in the air behind her until it stops with point wedged into the ground. That could be a problem. Less so since the weapon, while powerful, isn't her only tool. "Gunk her!" Was that an order? To who, one may wonder. At least until the pink and lavander slug-like critter pokes out from under her cloak. The Goomy briefly swells, then opens its mouth to expunge a spray of acidic slime at Cordelay. It's sticky and nasty, but mainly a diversion so Athela can run back to retrieve her weapon.
Cordelay Levail	Cordelay spots the slug-thing just before it sprays slime, throwing her arm up to block the spray. The acidic gunk sizzles on her leather vambrace and, less pleasantly, on her face and neck where some of the sprayed droplets landed. She growls in pain and annoyance as she's burned, but the determination in her eyes is still burning bright. "So you use beasts to fight too, I see. Definitely an opponent the likes of which I've never seen." She yanks the chain back and lunges once more with that ridiculous speed, but this time her blades don't come into play at all. She grabs Athela's shoulder and vaults over her, the chains from her swords forming a loop around her throat that grows taut as Cordelay lands behind her and pulls tightly, the metal links suddenly threatening to cut off the air from the knight's lungs.
Athela Valemore	"Pokemon have useful abilities I do not." In middle of a very intense sparring fight that is about all the explaination you're going to get. Athela stumbles a bit when Cordelay catchs up and grabs her shoulder, but her honed prowess catchs glimps of the sword-chain movement. With little time to improvise she grabs the edge of her cloak and swings it up and around herself, causing more of the fabric to collect on her shoulders. It's hardly going to stop the attack but it does put more of something between her neck and chain, preventing it from completely clenching down and crushing her throat. "Nngh." She gives a groan, that's still very unpleasant as Coredelay lands behind her and pulls taunt on the chain, even with the cloak caught underneath it to provide some faint but much appreciated padding. But with the same twisting motion Athela managed to get her left hand on Resolute Blade, yanking it free from the ground. Her arm is still aching from that disarming blow, so she'll have to make do. She grabs it with both hands, divine blade starting to glow as it draws on her determined spirit. And Athela thrusts backward in an attempt to catch the other woman with the empowered blow while she's busy with her strangulation attempts.
Cordelay Levail	Cordelay sees Athela's blade glowing as she attempts to strangle the knight and tries jerking to the side to avoid the backward thrust. It's too little, too late though, and the glowing, empowered sword tears through her side and leaves a grievous wound behind. A frustrated sigh escapes Cordelay's lips as she drops, her grip on the chains slackening and releasing Athela from the strangling lengths. The end-of-match alarm goes off and both combatants are restorted, leaving the blonde clutching at the lingering soreness in her side as she sheathes her blades. "Most impressive, Dame Valemore. I thought I had the advantage, but you managed to overcome even my tactics. Thank you for the match, and for teaching me more of the Multiverse's potential." She rises to her feet and, somewhat awkwardly, extends a hand for a shake. "Forgive me if this is improper, it seems this is a way to show respect among Multiversal warriors."
Athela Valemore	As soon as the chain slackens Athela slouchs forward, sucking several heavy breaths to get air back into her lungs. It's bodily instinct to do after nearly choking, even if the Shrine resets everyone once the fight is overwell. Resolute Blade still shimmers a bit with the fading charge as the relic weapon is sheathed. "Fair be fair Lady Levail, your skill and speed pressed me to use much at my disposal. So a learning experience for both." Athela smiled as she accepted the offered hand and shook it firmly. "It is not, I hath been active long enough to learn such gestures of appreciation." After which she reachs up to pat the small slug on the... well, it would be head if he wasn't just one lump of pink and lavander and slime. "And thank you for the timely assist, Slurry." "Goomy," the slug replied with a burbly churr.
Cordelay Levail	"If you do not mind me asking, what is that creature? I've never seen anything quite like it. It's quite fascinating." Cordelay leans in slightly to look at Slurry more closely. Not that a slug is a pleasant sight, but new experiences and all that.
Athela Valemore	"Slurry be a pokemon known as Goomy. Do not let the slug-like appearance deceive you." Idly Athela gave him another pat on the head, paying little mind to strands of slime that cling to her fingers. Looks like what coats his body to stay moist isn't acidic like what he spat out. "The power of dragons is in his blood... well, if slugs had blood, per say. Many such supernatural creatures inhabit mine world, and learn to fight alongside, man and beast akin." Nor is it the only such world, but Athela has oddly enough not had much contact with others, save the occasion or two she's seen Mortimer.
Cordelay Levail	Cordelay smiles brightly as Athela explains, delighting in this new knowledge. "Fascinating! I will have to see more of these 'Pokemon' someday! Thank you for introducing me to this rarity, Dame Athela. I will return the favor someday, I promise." She can feel a sense of kinship between herself and the knight - perhaps it's their shared talent for battle or something else, but it's definitely there.