A clash of the juggernauts

Those who were in Fox Ridge that day could almost feel something strange in the air. This odd sensation - like the energy that fills the air moments before a storm.

There was a short discussion between the two men in the camp, before they moved outside. The taller of the two didn't seem to be in a chatty mood and very soon, weapons were drawn.

First came the spells. Wardings and protections. Dozens of them.
Then a moment of silence... And steel met steel.

Several people stood by, watching. This was no ordinary skirmish. This was a battle of titans. Those who could hear the clash might even believe that more than two men fought that day.

A towering barbarian and a dark figure. Toe to toe they stood, battering each other with swings that could easily slay a troll.
The savage, untamed might of Uthgar met the dark grip of Bane.

The battle was almost over before it even began. The dark figure wielded the sword expertly and almost knocked the barbarian's head clean off his shoulders. Most men would fall. But Taeron isn't like most men. He managed to regain his balance and he quickly adapted to the brutal onslaught of Raegar's blade.

The two fought valiantly, both refusing to take a single step back - they were locked in the deadly struggle. And only one could walk out of it...

(Please, please, please continue the story when you are able... your intro just got me, hook, line an sinker!)

(Battle soundtrack: Sons of War )

The hammer struck the anvil.

The two men embodied two completely different fighting styles. A pure, brutal onslaught met a rock-solid defense. And surprisingly it wasn't the barbarian who raged and attacked with fury.

Neither of the men wasted as much as a single breath on curses or battlecries. The sparks flying off their armor, the thundering clanging of the axe meeting the sword, the breathing... Those were the only sounds they made. Even without yelling, the battle was louder than a raging thunder.

Against any other man, Raegar would have the upper hand. His long weapon gave him the advantage. However, Taeron moved close. He made it personal.
Any other defensive specialist would move back, trying to stay away from the blade that carried death on it's tip. But not Taeron.

He shook off the two blows he suffered before the battle even began and he locked up his stance. There was no way in hell he'll let a sword hit him again. His towershield, his armor and even his axe. Everything worked in perfect unison to deflect the twirling blade.
Every so often, the axe found an opening and left a dent on the Banite.

Little by little, the tides were turning.

But it wouldn't be that easy.

Not while the Zhent commander had air in his lungs and his sword in his grasp. He shouted out a prayer and the air around them turned dark. The life force of the barbarian was sucked out and poured right into the wounded soldier.
Any man might stumble at the pain, open up his defense or get dazed...

But Taeron is not just any man.

Through the pain, he forced his body to push forward. The slightest second Raegar used to cast the prayer was enough for him to trip him over.
The Zhent rolled to the side, getting up to his feet. It took only a moment. But it was enough to the barbarian to regain his breath.
It was his turn.
A prayer was shouted out in Illuskan and Taeron's fist hit the Zhent's chest. The forces of Hell tried to claim his soul.

But a Zhentarim commander doesn't fall that easy.

Taeron pushed himself to the limit. He opened up his defense and struck the Zhent. The monster raged out of it's shell. He frenzied with a rapid assault of chops and slashes.
Dazed Raegar did his best to parry the axe, but the barbarian had the advantage. He was pressing on - knowing that if he won't win now, the battle might still be lost.
As his axe hit the man's armor, it almost sounded as a continuous thunder crackling through the Fox Ridge.

It was now or never...

Mya Lyons and Crypto and I , Sen'Thia bore witness

        I am Sen'Thia, song forge, new to the Dales.
        I was beaten in Shadowdale by the Zhents for no more than entertaining, singing and acting.
At the Ranger Camp, I happened across an epic fight, worthy of ballad, between one leader of the Zhents, Raegnar, and the leader of the Rebellion, Taeron , supposed to be furious enemies and each the pinnacle of the forces they each represent. Imagine my surprise to learn who they were. No guards at all, they stood alone, pre-arranged? Likely so.
        I bear witness that betrayal is upon the Dales.
No ballad of epic fight ever ends with bitter hated enemies carrying the wounded , felled foe , to that enemy's home land to be healed and saved.
Taeron did exactly that, and I bear witness. The rare chance that he had to finish his vile enemy by his own hand, one on one, was there and in his power, and yet, instead of slaying the "hated" Zhent, Taeron carried him to safety ! . . . and I saw Taeron cast some kind of spell that brought the Zhent back and awake before leaving him in clear sight of Zhent guard towers, to be rescued.
I say a man is known by his actions, and by his actions, Taeron is a betrayer of his so called rebellion, and every person of the Dales, including me, who has been violated by brutality at the hands of the Zhents.
Taeron had not a scratch and yet, this was his dreaded counterpart? What secrets do these men hold between them? Had it not been for the few witnesses, his act would have fooled us all, rallying everyone with hope to his side.
If compassion is claimed, will you believe it? Where did the hatred go? My eyes beheld a game by allies . . . Battle field compassion? , I say NO.
Carried there in Taeron's arms
to a place of certain safety
like a spider taking victom to it's web?
Like a fly to be eaten?
Or more like a mother's arms
to heal what was beaten !
In a soft and warm bed.
Epic warriors toe to toe
to decide the fate of Dales
I saw by action and not word
Taeron forged betrayal.

When thd Zhents control the rebellion
 secretly , there is no rebellion.

((I'd like to say that the aftermath of the PvP was influenced heavily by a technical difficulty and a PM conversation we had. I believe that those who need to know more will ask me or Raegar.

Given the fact that the thread was hijacked - I have to also make a statement here:

This is a game, and unless we can play it fair, there's no use playing it. The aftermath was a sign of fair play and I will prefer a small bending of RP for the sake of fair play over a the alternative any day.

WhiteRose - I noticed you tend to be bitter towards me and take things way too seriously. But if you were there as you claim, you'd probably notice the heavy silence that followed the duel as well as the OOC comment that we're settling something OOCly via private messages.

There were OOC issues that influenced the battle and it's outcome.
Fair play prevailed.
We found a way out of the sticky situation without bending our RP too much.
The thread is not over yet.))

((Let me know if I need to edit my post Tae, I am aware of technical problems that happened during pvp and I tried to RP it and "share the blame" with Taeron for Raegar being alive and safe, but if turned out wrong it is not problem for me to edit post or delete it))

(( I am willing to take some heat for the decision I made for the sake of fair-play. If WhiteRose insists on the strictest RP possible, despite technical limitations and problems that go along with RL, I won't stand in her way.
Your post is fine Tanya - as I said, the thread is not over yet. It was meant as an atmosphere builder for the two factions. I intend to finish it - as soon as Raegar joins in.))

Sen'Thia reported what she saw IC.
I have been told that how the RP appears to other IC characters is what sticks. All the OOC is not what the person saw

((I am glad you're a considerate player. Keep it up.))

A battle forged in Dread


continued..
It was now or never...

Commander Anteos could sense the tide was turning, though he had been the aggressor early on, he quickly noted to himself the rageful aggression of his enemy.

Another axe struck his plate

Raegar had felt the ringing sensation of axe upon his plate before yet the power behind the swing was quite different. He quickly gained his senses understanding that even in Mithral, such blows could be the end of him.

Quickly after the last swing from the Barbarian struck, he readied himself against the next attack parrying and attempting to gain distance between the two.

While he had seemed to gain several feet from his counter, the Barbarian was quickly upon him.

"Such a large and powerful figure yet moves with the quickest of reflexes" he quickly thought to himself, the ringing from the earlier blow still ever present.

As the distance was quickly closed, Raegar began to understand being on the defensive would not last, the man's strikes were brutal and efficient.

As the next axe came in, he noted it and knew he'd have to risk his defense against a more imposing physical figure.

The Axe was swung powerfully at Raegar's neck and he was able to just get his head underneath it, using his blade simultaneously to bring the axe to the ground. Raegar was surprised for but an instant thinking he would be able to open up the defenses of this colossal giant. It was a short lived hope however as the power from the axe and Raegar's unexpected counter knocked both weapons out of the both their hands.

As both weapons fell to the ground, Raegar stood looking at the behemoth. Neither seemed to make a move for the fallen weapons and Raegar looked up at the man, having over a foot in advantage over him. Most would cower at the thought of engaging such a man without a weapon yet Raegar charged him, clenching his fists and attempting to knock the man out.

A towershield as big as a barn door hit him from the side. Taeron might have dropped his axe, but the shield was still quite a weapon in the barbarian's hands.
Each hit clanged like Moradin's hammer as Taeron battered his foe with a bloody huge piece of metal. Again and again, the barbarian refused to let his advantage slip.

Raegar, evidently on the losing side of that exchange, just refused to give up. He desperately wanted to land a hit. One good hit could turn this around! One more good hit!

The shield flew aside and the barbarian met the warpriest head-on.

But the wounds took their toll. Raegar was too slow. Lost too much blood. Perhaps for the first time in the fight, Raegar realized that he won't win.

The barbarian landed a savage right hook, almost knocking the Zhent out. He dropped to one knee, blood dripping from his mouth.

"This is not over, you bastard..." he muttered, checking his teeth with his tongue. His eyes darted around. His sword was a few feet away from him. Maybe if he could reach it... No... Not in this shape. Not even with the sword...

"You're wrong about one thing," the barbarian growled. "This ends here and now."

He swung with all his strength, putting his entire bodyweight into the punch. Raegar mustered all his remaining strength and leapt for his sword, yelling the prayer in mid-air.

Taeron guessed the direction correctly. His hit -will- connect and end the battle...!

...a fraction of second too slow.

Raegar's body vanished into thin air - turned ethereal.

Without a moment's hesitation, Taeron growled and followed him into the ethereal realm, but it was too late. The Banite already drifted below ground - and Taeron could find him only by sheer luck.

He growled yet again, letting out a savage Uthgardt war cry. The etherealness faded in an instant and Taeron struck the ground with his fist.

"Coward!" he yelled out. The scream echoed in the Ridge, scaring off a few birds and squirrels, and probably made a few Gnolls crap their makeshift pants.

((Raegar's player and Taeron's player both agreed on these events - and this forum post officialy overrides the IG duel that happened between them in Fox Ridge. It was heavily influenced by technical and RL issues, so in the spirit of fair-play and good RP, both parties agreed on settling it like this. To all those who witnessed the duel - this is the official version. Thank you for your understanding.))

<< As mentioned, this is the agreement Taeron and I have made >>

((when your both free could you please pm me a IG Pic of your characters *makes shifty eyes... as he looks for his art book*))