Judgement Part Five: ...Judgement

Posted on Sat Dec 2nd, 2017 @ 9:20pm by Staff Sergeant Nyx'e'Trixe Valentine

Mission: https://wellington.pegasusfleet.site/index.php/sim/missions/id/4
Location: Rogue Planet
Timeline: July 2nd, 2399 1330

The two finally faced each other, Nyx drawing her longer sword and spinning it once around the wrist before stopping eight paces from the other Tialan. The third Priest stepped between them and addressed them both, “This Judgement, once begun, will only end in death. Let no one interfere, lest penalty be incurred.” He glanced at J'Loni and the fatigue-dressed woman who stood right by the shuttle.

Both priestesses adopted their own ready stances, Tilas with her shorter sword flush against her left arm, pointed downwards, longer sword straight up by her face. Feet over shoulder width apart and in a half crouch. Away from her, Nyx had her weight on her back foot in a deep crouch, front foot out ahead, strung up like a spring. Both hands were on the hilt of her sword, drawn back and held horizontal, tip pointed at Tilas's left eye.

Drawing his own sword, he reached inwards to the point between the two priestesses, then took two steps backwards, “Begin.” He raised his sword and backed away, resheathing it as he made his way back to J'Loni's side.

It was always told to Nyx and proven many times over that most fights with a sword are fought and ended in the handspan of seconds it takes for the combatants to make a single exchange. One of the two would successfully predict the others actions and counter them in the right way, or one would guess wrongly and make a critical error in that same moment. And Nyx was ALMOST right this time, that she would make that fatal error.

She brought her sword around in an initial feint as she exploded off her back foot, drawing the crossed sword block she'd anticipated, then pushed her blade off and in a move she knew would make her wrist hurt for a week, spun the blade in her grip to bring it in a thrust under the crossed blades. One sword swept that aside just enough to miss flesh and only scar the armor deeply over the ribs of the golden-haired priestess. A line of fire opened up on Nyx's right calf as the other blade swept low.

And then she was purely on the defensive.

One of the greatest compliments any swordsman could get would be that they were as fast as a striking cobra, but that would have been an insult to Tilas'e'Tori: Her strikes were as fast as lightning and delivered with a precision to put a sniper at close range to shame. It was all Nyx could do to deflect or dodge the incoming strikes and she didn't even succeed at that. Within five seconds, she had her second sword out, the older woman glowing a bright gold as the smile on her face showed her delight. A couple more minor slashes caused more blood to come from Nyx in minor wounds, which was what Tilas had desired.

Finally, when Nyx had taken a pair of steps backwards without Tilas pressing the attack, she spun her longer weapon into a figure eight in front of her, the shorter one in a guard position across her chest. She was breathing heavily, while the older priestess looked as if she'd just has a short and pleasant walk.

Tilas smirked slightly, daring Nyx to say a word, but Nyx only resettled her grips, then sent a toe kick loaded with the sandy dirt towards the older priestess's face, following with a sweep of her sword to the face as well, lunging with her shorter sword to Tilas's chest. Tilas was forced to close her eyes for a moment and turned her face from the dirt, but still deflected the slash with one sword to above her head and moved into the lunge, the blade scraping across her breast piece. her right arm clamped down on the short blade and she twisted away, ripping the sword out of Nyx's hand, each of her own swords flashing around, forcing Nyx backwards.

Nyx immediately went back on the offensive, shortening her sword strokes as she moved in as close as she could, but Tilas was about laughing as she blocked each and every stroke, then Nyx got her blade locked in between Tilas's own in front of both women and in a beautiful move, twisted her sword and both sets of their arms, throwing her weight into Tilas and tipping them over. All three blades fell free and Nyx somersaulted over the other woman and came up in an unarmed combat stance just as Tilas flipped up onto her own feet into a distinctly different stance.

Tilas became the aggressor, coming in with fists flashing towards Nyx, brushed aside and took a rock-hard fist to her gut that knocked the air out of her, but got one leg behind the younger priestess, dumping her on her backside in the dirt, stamping down with a foot. Nyx, as soon as she hit the ground, twisted, sweeping her legs through the single leg now supporting Tilas, dropping her to the dirt as Nyx kept the momentum and cartwheeled to her feet, pulling a smaller knife and throwing it in mid-cartwheel. That blade chunked into Tilas's upper leg, but was quickly ripped out, blood seeping out as it was cast to the side as the older priestess got back to her feet in a hiss of pain.

A sidekick by Tilas that was blocked, turned into a reversed roundhouse kick that flipped Nyx over sideways. The girl picked herself up out of the dirt just in time to get a fist to the jaw. Despite that, she still turned that hit into some momentum around that brought a fist that Tilas caught on her shoulder. Another flash of a blade in Nyx's hand and blood spattered from Tilas's cheek.

The two women separated a few feet apart and looked at each other, Tilas slowly reaching up and brushing blood away, glancing at it on the back of her hand before her eyes cast around, searching even as Nyx's did the same. In the same instant, both women spotted what they were looking for and as one, each dove for one of their swords, Nyx flicking the knife between Tilas and her sword, but it was avoided with ease. Both of them came up, swords between each other, both the shorter of their own. The bright glow of Tilas was counterpointed by the rich purple of Nyx.

Nyx held hers in both hands, releasing it for a moment to brush a bit of hair out of her face. Tilas, finally breathing harder, still had a smile on her face as she faced her outclassed opponent, one hand on her weapon. Both ignored their wounds and they were at each other again. Despite the short length of their blades, the swings were wide and sweeping, meeting the others in loud clashing. Nyx stopped one of Tilas's swing cold, then flicked the tip of her sword to the opposite side, brushing it out of the way and somersaulting past Tilas, swinging in a backhand that scored on the back of Tila's left leg, but didn't cut deep.

As the two came back up, Tilas swung savagely, Nyx leaving the ground to quick-spin over the blade as it passed beneath her, swinging her own in a cut that would have taken Tilas's head off but instead only sent golden hairs floating as the older priestess ducked her head out of the way. Nyx pushed off, then hit the ground in a slide that took her past Tilas and took out her leg, dumping her to the ground. Nyx couldn't get her blade into play in time to take advantage of the situation. Tiilas rolled back and something in her stance and face showed she was actually getting some semblance of concern about what was going on. She dismissed the thought as she pushed herself up and towards Nyx.

Tilas's toe caught in the sand briefly and she lurched forwards in what appeared to be an uncontrolled forward fall,. Nyx saw the opportunity and took it. She took a half step forward and brought her sword down in an overhead strike against an opponent who couldn't defend from it, no chance for any sort of block. Then she felt agony like she'd never felt before, her hands spasming and dropping her own weapon as her mouth opened and tried to cry out, but no sound emerged and her mouth closed.

A glance downwards saw the golden aura of Tilas holding her shorter sword, hilt pressed up against her stomach, then it twisted and Nyx knew instantly what had happened: A perfect strike to the kidney. The worst pain someone could experience. And suddenly, a forehead touched hers as her purple glow began to fade, “It's all right, Priestess, you fought well, with honor.” The touch of a hand on her elbow and Tilas eased her down to her knees, taking to her own. “Just as the others before, you will feast and fight next to Bey'a'Dande for eternity, taking your place alongside the other priestesses in the eternal battle.”

Nyx tried to take a breath, but started coughing, blood coming out her mouth with each.The blonde priestess smiled softly, “However, Sentar, you are not magical. That you have a 'friend' is not magical.” Her glow fading ever faster, Nyx saw out of the corner of her eye the beginning of the approach of the other priest and J'Loni, “Your 'friend' will look upon you and despair, then most likely either challenge me or with luck, purely attack me. Then, should Bey'a'Dande be with me, you should watch her die before your eyes close for the final time. But... Let us find out.” Slowly, so as to give the most pain, Tilas began to pull the sword out of the younger priestess.

A hand grasped the hilt of the sword and held it like iron. Nyx didn't realize it was hers for a moment as Tilas tried to jerk it out. Off to the side, she saw a hand fling out from the priest to stop J'Loni in her tracks, “Bitch.” She whispered, a pulse of royal purple light emanating from her, the human word feeling right for the moment. She closed her eyes, then reopened them and they glowed the same shade, “Friendship. Is. Magical.” Another pulse of purple that remained this time, black striations crossing the aura.

Tilas's eyes opened wide and she released the sword, both hands flashing to her chest to pull the two ten-inch long fighting knives that would make short work of Nyx. The black-haired priestess gripped the sword in a reverse grip and with a tug that made her want to scream at the top of her lungs, pulled it out of herself and in a single motion drew it across Tilas's throat, the spray of blood spraying across Nyx. The golden-haired priestess's hands started to fly up to her neck in automatic reflex as Nyx released the sword with on hand, her other hand catching it and reversing it's momentum and into Tilas's left eye and out the back of her head.

The golden glow cut out almost instantly and she fell over backwards as Nyx remained kneeling there. Blood seemed to be pouring out both sides of the abdominal wound as well as the other cuts she'd been given and she tried to get to her feet twice, but failed. The priest dropped his restraining hand again to let J'Loni past as Nyx sank to her haunches without the energy to try again, purple glow fading fast as her strength drained.

OFF:


First Lieutenant Nyx'e'Trixe Valentine
Marine CO
USS Wellington

Priestess Sixth Class Tilas'e'Tori Nethteli
Bitch Priestess, CO
TCS Bey'a'Dande

Priest Fifth Class Hir'e'Meta Lotalla
XO, Keyal to Tilas'e'Tori
TCS Bey'a'Dande