[CLOSED] Prospecting

[Rue]

"Never Falter Never Look Back!" ☒ @tagged ✐ 000 ✉ Rue Lv4

Rue stood in the middle of the town square in the middle of the Town Of Beginnings. A white chalk ring would mark some sort of rings as a banner flapped outside of the ring with the symbol of her guild. Players crowed around as Rue stood in the ring with her sword and shield at the ready. Walking around the ring she would speak with a commanding voice. " I'm looking for strong players to join are fields of Elysian. If you think your guild material, step up and prove it to me right here and right now". The crowd of players look around at each other and whisper and mumble. " You want to give it a shot"? " No are you insane that's Rue, she the hunter of killers I value my safety"! Rue looked blankly at the crowd, giving them all a cold stare as she moved around the ring. She was not looking for skill, she was looking for character. Skills can be taught, the most well trained fighter is useless if they are a coward. As Rue paced a giant of a man leaning his two handed sword on his shoulder pushed past the players. Entering the ring he looked down at the small girl and smiled. " Your Rue. You don't look like much to me. I tell you what when i win, I'll join just to have a pretty girls like you at my beck and call". Rue looked at him and sent a duel request. The man accepted, the two players stared each other down. The area went quite, and then the man yelled as he went to bring his sword down on the girl. Rue quickly flicked her sword to the hilt side and smashed it into the side of the man's head. A loud hollow sound echoed through the area as the man fell out of the ring with his eye's rolled in the back of his head. Flicking her sword back around Rue looked to the crowd. " Any others wish to test their ability"?

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS

[Tesh]

"There Is More Than One Way Forward" ☒ @rue ✐ 000 ✉ notes Tesh Lv1

There was a lot of commotion going on today in the town of New Beginnings. “I don’t think that is has gotten this rowdy around here since that day when we were informed by the GM that we have become trapped inside of this game.” The majority of the commotion seemed to have been generating from a crowd of people that were gathered around in the middle of the town square. Curious as to what was going on, Tesh wanted to further evaluate the situation. “I wonder if this is some sort further information regarding our standings inside the world of SAO, if so, I need to get there to find out first-hand what it is that is going on now.” Not being able to get his eyes through the massive swarm of people who have gathered around in a circle, Tesh quickly thought that the only way he was going to be able to see what was going on was to get to a higher ground; And in a swift movement, using the acrobatics skill, that has seemed to become instinctual by this time in the game, he leaped up from the ground catching his footing on one of the concrete-like half-pillars that were placed throughout the street, and then, using this structure as a foundation, he made his second leap up onto one of the light posts. Now Tesh had a field of vision over the event that was occurring. From the looks of it, he noticed a white chalk ring that was glowing in a circle around a girl, full dressed in her equipment, holding an assertive and aggressive presence that could frighten in the strongest of men. “I wonder what is going on.” Tesh thought right as the girl exclaimed "I'm looking for strong players to join are fields of Elysian. If you think your guild material, step up and prove it to me right here and right now". Being that Tesh has been rather out of the loop, in regards to what has been going on between the players of SAO, he was without knowledge of what all this guild did and what they wanted to do, but most importantly, Tesh finally found his opportunity to get into a strong guild, allowing him to fight beside other players that he wouldn’t have to be concerned for their safety. “It’s time to be strong, I can’t be bashful now… not in this situation.” Tesh realizing that this girl was absolutely not looking for players who were shy and would run away from combat. From analyzing the situation and the combat that had just occurred in front of his own eyes… seeing a fully grown man taken down in a single blow, it was obvious to Tesh that this girl would overpower him. He didn’t stand a chance under the light of her, but once again, this might just as well be his one and only chance to accomplish his goals. Before he was going to let his feelings and shyness get in the way, Tesh leaped from the post he was perched up on towards the white-lit circle with the girl, Rue standing inside. Landing on his feet just, in front of the crowd now, Tesh grabs the two-handed sword that was strapped over his shoulder on his back. “So I take it this is my one chance to prove my worth… I’ll show you everything I can do for this opportunity.” As he pulls down the menu in front of him with his left hand, holding his two handed sword over his shoulder, he finds the name Rue and presses the button asking her to duel him. “I’m gonna die aren’t I? … Well … I’ll at least give you a fight!”

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS - EDITS BY ANGELO OF SAO-RPG

[Elpharae]

(OOC: Athena, assuming this goes after our dungeon run~ I can edit it later if you disagree! ^-^)

Elpharae tapped a finger against his braided bun, observing the would-be recruits. His dark eyes flitted from person to person with an analyzing, calculating look that he easily covered up with a smile. His fingers tapped against his other arm, his arms crossed and head tilted as he watched these people. As Rue spoke, he nodded along, making it clear that he was with her in the guild, and then added on calmly. "Elysian is a guild built for protecting and defending players as well as training players so we can build an offensive team able to take on the floors as quickly as possible, for those who did not know. Our guild master is named Athena."

When Rue took on a player, he sighed, his lip curling in contempt for the man. How crass. His arrogance was almost laughable, and that brute strength was badly handled. Obviously, he depended on strength, but not agility or dexterity. And that type of speech to anyone, automatically thinking that they would defer to him? His eyes flashed with a quiet intensity. Despicable. He motioned for someone to help drag the man out of the circle, sighing. Hopefully that didn't happen too much today. The man recovered by the time they set him down on a helpfully procured crate, and was complaining about the match being rigged. Elpharae's eye twitched as he walked away to rejoin Rue.

Of course, there was an irregularity. A gray-haired boy with startlingly azure eyes hesitated before sending a duel request. Elpharae narrowed his eyes in avid interest. A duel, hmm? This boy seemed familiar-oh, yes, Tesh from the dungeon. Hopefully he knew the rules. No consumables would be allowed. The duel ended when one player's health points went under ten percent. It was impossible for a player's health to fall any lower. And once the duel was over, all players had their health restored. No potions and gems were able to be used. An amused smile played on his lips.

Rue, it seems you have a challenger. Good. Very good. He's clever enough to realize that you're a legitimate threat, unlike that other man, but also, he wants this badly enough. Why? Perhaps it's an urge for socialization and emotional bonds? Or...is it a sense of honor and duty? The two can link and intertwine intimately, after all. But is that hesitance because he thinks he could get legitimately hurt? It's only a test of strength, after all-there's no pain and no death in duels. His eyes narrowed, locking in on the boy in interest. A two-handed sword was built for damage, and built well-but Rue had a longsword and a shield, and would doubtless be able to nullify that damage. So.

The winner was obvious, but luck could be a factor. Also...how much had Tesh improved? He smiled a little in anticipation, interested in the duel to come. His gaze flickered over the audience, and he had to stifle a groan at how much it had grown. Obviously, duels were rare, and so people had flocked over in hordes. Wanting to live through battle that they weren't brave enough to try on their own...he bit his lip to keep from letting out a biting remark. He merely patted the bun on top of his head and took a seat at a stool placed just on the edge of the chalk circle, crossing his legs and leaning forward in anticipation.

He smoothed down the front of his skirt, keeping a careful eye on the defeated man. A bruised ego meant an angry player, and anger made people volatile and unpredictable. Elpharae wouldn't put it past this man to resort to physical violence. He placed a hand on his rapier, the metal clicking inside of the sheath, just as a precautionary measure. If need be, the brunet was fully prepared to remove him from the plaza. At any rate, the brute was protesting to anyone that would listen that the match was rigged and that he should have a second chance at defeating Rue. Elpharae's eye twitched. They did not need anyone like that in the guild, after all-and so he chose to ignore the player, instead leaning forward to watch the fight, interest gleaming in his eyes.

What will your next move be, Rue? Will this challenger interest you enough?

[Rue]

"Never Falter Never Look Back!" ☒ @tagged ✐ 000 ✉ Rue Lv5

As Rue asked if anyone else wished to try to test themselves, a white haired boy jumped down from a pillar and landed in the white circle. Readying his two handed sword and asks that about the opportunity. Rue looks at him getting a feel for his reach and actions. She will talk of opportunity when he proves himself. The boy sends a duel request then babbles about dying. Rue's cold blank stare narrows at him. " If your going into a fight thinking that your going to lose, then you will". The small girl's words were cold and calm. Elpharae who was another guild member was overseeing the potential new members. He also seemed to be keeping track on the man who was braking about the fight being rigged. The smallest dogs bark the most, but have no bite. Rue put her shield out in front of her and stood with her right foot forward and her left foot back. Her sword in her left hand point up and at the ready as it gleamed in the light. Her knees were slightly bent and she was standing on the balls of her feet. Her amber eyes stared at the boy looking through him like she was going to cut him down. Accepting his duel request she waited for him to make the first move. Rue wanted to test the boy to see if he could fight even a impossible battle with little chance of victory. The boy's health and level appeared visible to her as did hers. The boy would see her name and level with her health. " Show me what you capable of". Rue's voice was cold, and distant as she was focused on the future fight. The small girl's present gave off a feeling of full killing intent, to see if he had courage.

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS

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[Tesh]

"There Is More Than One Way Forward" ☒ @tagged ✐ 000 ✉ notes Tesh Lv1

Preparing himself for battle, Tesh tries to clear his head of his surroundings, this wasn’t the time or place for him to try to do what usually should be done in battle, which was the complete opposite. Tesh didn’t need the distraction of the still growing crowd that was surrounding them inside the white circle, but before he was capable of achieving this, out of the corner of his eye he saw a familiar face…it was Elpharae! What is he doing here? I knew that he was also in a guild but I wasn’t aware that he would be in the same one as this guy…Well it makes sense from the skill that he demonstrated then…it would make sense that he would be with this Rue who is obviously just as powerful, if not even more so. Now wasn’t the time to get caught up in that though, I was able to hold my own during that time, I just have to prove that I am at least somewhat better than before. After hearing the cold and calm words of Rue that “If you’re going into a fight thinking that you’re going to lose, then you will” and “show me what you’re capable of” Tesh didn’t feel at all like his remark referred to death as in losing. Before he made his first move Tesh said “I never said I was going to lose, all I said was that I’d probably die…either way, I’ll just show you my resolve and stop talking… here I come.” Totally focused on his opponent Rue, he knows from the previous fight that he is fast, really fast, if he manages to at least dodge the first counter-attack that is bound to be coming as soon as he strikes, he might be able to land a shot or two. Tesh, charging towards Rue, attempts to feign his first strike, a stabbing lunge attack, before initiating his sword art. Drawing closer he extends in a jerking motion to seem as though he is about to strike his shield, while at the same time preparing to dive to the left, to avoid the counter-attack, and active his sword art, a spin attack that can hit multiple times.

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS - EDITS BY ANGELO OF SAO-RPG

[Elpharae]

The player who had been defeated by Rue swiveled his head to Elpharae, who he must have realized was a member of Elysian. "Hey, you, girlie!" He shouted, making the brunet's eye twitch. Girlie? He had heard worse, he supposed, but it was rather a derogatory term in this situation, and he struggled to paste a polite, warm smile on his face before turning warmly, resisting the urge to strangle the man. "Let me fight Rue again! You're in the guild, right? Tell 'er-and I'll make it worth your while. You're a pretty one, after all, and I don't like to lie to pretty girls."

You apparently don't like to keep your mouth shut and accept your losses like a good dog, the green player barely resisted from saying, his fingers tightening around his rapier smoothly, the copper reassuring by now. Elpharae blinked slowly, almost lazily, and with a glance towards the two duelists, noticed that they were talking, so he took a moment to stand up and walk towards the crate. It would absolutely hurt the guild's reputation if he resorted to harsh words and brute violence, so he took a more refined approach. "Is there a problem about your loss?"

"Yeah, all my guys here could tell the damn thing was rigged-" The man protested, his hulking frame shaking with his bruised ego. Elpharae resisted the urge to stab him through. The brunet hummed thoughtfully and when the man tried talking again, the Japanese-French teen merely put a slim finger to his lips, thinking. What was a way to defuse the whole situation? Ah! His eyes sparkled with quick realization, and he lightly touched the man's shoulder to signal that he had an idea, other hand retracting from the other's mouth.

"I'll duel you instead. And if you win, then we'll let you into the guild." Elpharae actually had no intention of allowing that to happen, but all was fair in this, wasn't it? When the man hesitated, the level three player tapped a finger against his own cheek, looking perfectly innocent. After a moment of deliberation, he agreed, and the duel request was accepted. Elpharae dragged him a safe distance from the plaza and cleared an area for them, then locked his rapier into position. "Simple rules good for you, sire?" The last part was drawn out and slightly mocking, but the other didn't seem to notice.

He attacked first, his hulking frame throwing his sword where Elpharae should have been, if the crossdresser hadn't activated his Stealth and Acrobatics skill as soon as the duel started, flipping away from the giant of a man with a calculating look. He seemed to rely on power, though he was relatively accurate. DEX and STR stats must be the highest. But DEX would get you nowhere with nothing to hit. He ran over to his side and with one smooth motion, he hit the man's stomach with an easy thrust, making his eyes widen. The man tried to strike him again, which knocked off five health points, much to Elpharae's dismay, but he responded with a series of rapid thrusts, shimmering in and out of existence and flipping here and there to discourage him. Honestly. I'd like to bathe in your blood, he thought idly. It would at least be interesting.

By the time he only needed two more health points to continue, Elpharae blew a single lock of his dark hair out of his face and disappeared, cursing his lack of foresight in which he hadn't switched to armor, but taking out his HUD now would just result in telling his opponent where he was. He merely settled for a quick thrust in the leg, the red mark appearing. It seemed this player was in their late level 1 or early level 2, which was relatively high for Floor 2, he supposed, even as the "Winner!" announcement appeared over his head, himself shimmering back into relative existence. The man's lackeys sent him an unfriendly gaze, but Elpharae merely strode back to where he sat, positive that the matter had been settled.

And if it wasn't...he sighed a little and twirled a lock of his hair as he watched the match begin to build up, his eyes darkening for a second. He always didn't mind teaching a mutt a lesson, after all. He smiled faux-innocently at the man's lackeys before letting out a quiet sigh, knees crossed as he settled on the stool once again, dark eyes locked onto the fight.

[Rue]

"Never Falter Never Look Back!" ☒ @tagged ✐ 000 ✉ Rue Lv5

With the time for talk done the boy charged forward. Rue could easily tell that his first strike was just a feint. As his first "attack" did not even graze her shield as Rue stood her ground not moving an inch. He moves to the left as he jerks his sword and himself back as a black glow forms around his sword. Dragging on the ground the gaining energy as the boy spins showing his back to the small girl. His attack was so... untrained and raw. If Rue was fighting for real he would of been stopped at his stab, she would of pushed her shield into his sword causing the hilt to smash into his chest. Now she could of easily stabbed his unguarded back. As the sword moved around and closed in on the small blue haired girl. Rue moved forward bring her shield down and compact as she ducked under his swing. The boys blade cut a few strands of hair as it gazed mere inches from her head. The amber eyes bore into the boy as she moved in closer. As his blade now fully passed over her she stopped a bit away from his face. Her shield closed in on the boys stomach as her lusterless eyes looked in on her prey. While the shield bash might not be very damaging it will take the wind out of him. Rue was focused on the fight and did not even notice that Elpharae had left to deal with the trash.

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS

[Tesh]

"There Is More Than One Way Forward" ☒ @tagged ✐ 000 ✉ notes Tesh Lv1

After getting a stomach full of metal, Tesh was knocked to the ground, only taking a small amount of damage, but nonetheless, the strike itself was enough to make Tesh feel like he was about to hurl all over the ground in the square of town. Still holding onto his sword with one hand, while sitting flat on his rear, head down, he stabs the sword into the brick road and heaves himself back up onto his feet. This just become a lot more difficult for Tesh, knowing now that he wouldn’t have the Sword Art for at least a decent amount time, especially the fact that he knew she would also know this as well, he had to come up with another strategy. Getting himself back into a combat stance and readying his blade he is out of ideas. She is obviously faster and stronger than me so what can I do? He thought to himself. Try again is all I can do, he thought before running back at Rue again, but at a 45 degree angle to try to make her circle around. Charging forward dragging the sword on the ground in left hand, getting as close as he can, he grabs the sword with both hands and cleaves in an upward slice from bottom left to top right.

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS - EDITS BY ANGELO OF SAO-RPG

[Elpharae]

Ah, a feint, then? Better than just blindly lunging. Elpharae hummed in approval when he saw the way the boy utilized his speed, but then sighed as Rue just stood there, apparently recognizing that move. She couldn't even play along, hmm? His eyes flickered in fond amusement, his smile warm. She then moved quickly to hit her shield into the boy's stomach, at which Elpharae let out a little wince in sympathy. How harsh. But Rue didn't play around, did she? But the player got up and back into an offensive stance.

Well. Elpharae leaned back a little, humming to himself. He should go over what he learned from this match. Obviously Tesh was hiding a semi-snarky side to himself, from the way that people seemed to be exclaiming over their conversation: "Can you believe he said that to the Ice Princess?" "I know, right?" and that did not bode well. If the gray-haired boy had a problem with authority...well, he wouldn't be well suited to a guild. His fingers crept to his rapier before he stilled himself, crossing his legs ineffectually.

Well, Rue, Tesh? Show me how well you can perform the danse macabre.

[Rue]

"Never Falter Never Look Back!" ☒ @tagged ✐ 000 ✉ Rue Lv5

As the boy heaved and gathered himself. Rue moved back to Elpharae who was setting near by with her legs crossed, and flattening his dress. Standing near the edge of the ring spoke calmly to the boy. " So what do you think? He's not anything special, but he's got courage. With training he could become a hero that the fields might one day accept". Rue looked at the boy as used his blade to pick himself back up. Finishing her talk with Elpharae as the boy readied himself, moving back to the middle and going back into her stance she waited for his next move. The boy seemed to go for pure offense now as he dragged his sword on the ground giving the swordswomen a strong tell of what he was going to do next. Stepping in and meeting his blade with her shield, as it scraped on the ground. His swing had no momentum behind it, and stopped caught between the ground and her shield. Staring into his eyes with no emotion as she raised her sword and drove it into his neck. Ripping it threw his neck she would pull it downward, then as it left his flesh she would kick him back to the ground. Stepping back and staring down at him with eyes that looked through him as if he was already dead. This would be the deciding factor in his proving. If he still continued on, Rue would affect his bravery and give him her approval.

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS

[Tesh]

"There Is More Than One Way Forward" ☒ @tagged ✐ 000 ✉ notes Tesh Lv1

Dragging his blade against the ground, about to make am upward cleave, his blade is stopped dead in the earth by the Rue’s shield. His sword no longer having any momentum behind it, and it was at this exact moment that Tesh looked up back at Rue, as she gazed straight into him. It was almost as if she was staring straight through his very soul, and for a brief moment Tesh felt that void within himself again…that void which gave him the feeling of despair and a feeling that there was nothing left. His attention was fully drawn to her eyes as they looked deep into him, when all of the sudden he felt her blade run straight through his neck. Deep, it went it in all the way to the hilt before she stopped before stopped and drew the sword downwards, throwing Tesh back to the ground once again. Laying there, with no hope left, he looked upward at his health bar…there was maybe only a percentage left before the game program would call the fight and say that Rue was the victor. This is it I supposed…I was only able to show this much? Tesh thought to himself while lying there in the dirt. I can’t quit now, not yet…I’ve made it so far…I’ve made so much progress since I started Tesh thought to himself. A breeze came through the alley as he laid there upon the ground, with only a small smidgeon of health remaining. I think I can try one more time he thought to himself as he rolled over onto his stomach, pressing against the ground with all of the energy that he had left, just to get himself back up onto his feet. Coming to a standing position, Tesh wobbled about for a brief moment trying to regain his balance and energy that was used in order just to get himself onto his feet. “You’re strong” Tesh stated to Rue, who was standing back towards Elpharae now. “I’m obviously no match for the likes of you” Tesh managed to get off of his lips before struggling to get his footing into a combat stance once more, something that was a simple task for a man of his experience. Trembling, from the weight of his own sword now, due to the lack of strength from being beaten so badly so far by Rue, he readied his sword for one more attack. I know now that any attack I make will definitely not land, and her counter-attack is going to finish me off Tesh thought to himself. There’s nothing left I can do, I at least won’t go down a coward though, was the last thought that Tesh had before using every ounce of strength that he had left to charge Rue once more. Not having enough strength now the only attack that he would be capable of performing was a lunging stab. Knowing this, Tesh put all of the rest of his might into this attack that was aimed straight for the core of Rue. Running as fast as he possibly could Tesh Lunged as hard and fast as his ones who let him straight in to the direction on Rue’s core.

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS - EDITS BY ANGELO OF SAO-RPG

[Mantis]

	"The age of injustice is almost over. The age of mistreatment is almost over. Rise my sisters, for this world is ours!"
	Mantis Lv1 | |

The rowdy noise of a gathering crowd caught Mantis's attention as she scoured through golden trinkets at a rickety market stall. Realizing that whatever was occurring at the center of the square was far more interesting than her leisurely shopping, she dropped the ring she was considering and waved to the shopkeeper saying, "Maybe another time."

"Come back again my pretty lady!" the tanned, overweight man exclaimed in a gruff tone.

She waved back at him politely and thought, You know I won't you filthy pig.

After only a few steps, she arrived at the bustling circle of bobbing heads and excited shouts. Mantis rose to her tiptoes in an attempt to gaze above the commotion, but to no avail. She grimaced. Curse my average height. Deciding that the only way of obtaining answers was to dive into the crowd herself, she wiggled her way through the human barrier and announced rather assertively, "Excuse me! Coming through!"

After several minutes of maneuvering, she successfully made it to the front of the crowd and saw why so many people were thrilled. Two players were in the midst of what appeared to be a rather one-sided duel. A man with striking sea-blue eyes and dark gray hair donning a scarf that matched his eyes scurried about the makeshift battlefield in a frantic manner. The other warrior was a young girl with a chilling expression that intrigued Mantis. Her hair possessed a pearl hue to it and her skin was almost the same color. Her bangs hid her eyes from other's inspection, but when she blocked the man's attacks with her shield, Mantis could see her lifeless, amber eyes. Both combatants wore the same set of leather breast-plated Beginner's Armor that over 90 percent of the player base currently wore due to only floor two being unlocked. The man carried a big training two-handed sword that looked like it could shatter the girl's wooden shield on impact, but the girl stopped every one of the man's attacks with ease. With each of the man's wild movements, the two golden rings that bound a lock of his hair together danced like nymphs running from a satyr.

Mantis looked to her right at a younger, short brunette. The hair framed the girl's face rather cutely, its lack of bangs showing off her pure, innocent face. She looked to be about five feet, two inches in height and her facial features betrayed her as Japanese like most other Sword Art Online players. She wore a purple kimono robe with a cherry blossom design and a faded blue sash. "Excuse me," Mantis asked in a gentle tone, "what's going on here?"

Her face adopted a stunned expression and she responded giddily, "You don't know? That's Rue. She's the one that's been killing PKers. She's out here with her guild recruiting new members. If you can do well against her, they may let you join their guild."

Mantis gasped and her head flung toward Rue's direction. "That's Rue?"

With a nod, the girl replied, "Yes."

That's the girl that fought against LadyRedemption's guild, Mantis thought. She stroked her chin thoughtfully and verbalized, "Interesting."

The girl stared at Mantis with furrowed eyebrows that displayed her concern and she questioned, "You're not going to fight her, are you?"

"I just might."

The girl seemed to sweat nervously and she shouted, "Are you crazy? Do you know what she did to the last guy?"

Mantis shook her head. "No, I wasn't here."

"She defeated him with just the hilt of her sword."

Mantis lifted her right hand to her mouth and chuckled rather ladylike. "That makes me want to fight her even more. I love a challenge."

Noticing that Mantis ignored her warnings, the girl piped down.

Mantis's eyes darted around curiously as Rue toyed with the scarfed newcomer. The initial tepidness that the gray-haired man exuded evaporated as he charged and thrust at the girl that Pippi had observed so carefully in the courtroom. Despite the swings from the large blade that the turquoise-eyed man was carrying, Rue blocked them with ease, showing off the sheer difference in their level progression. Mantis grimaced. I'm no fool, she thought. I may have the edge on other level ones due to my beta testing experience, but the vast gap between my level and Rue's makes victory almost impossible.

Rue bashed her shield against the man's abdomen and he doubled over. Wearing a contempt grin, Mantis thought, That's the end of that. To Mantis's surprise, the man trust his training two-handed sword into the brick pavement and lifted himself back on his feet. Observing this, Rue retreats to a girl resting on a stool at the edge of the makeshift chalk arena and whispers something to her. Once they concluded their brief exchange, the man charges Rue again, this time so fatigued that he dragged his sword along the road. Mantis shook her head. This isn't going to end well.

The man attempted an upward slash, but just like his other attacks, Rue denied it with her shield. Then, Rue, with no emotion on her face, stabbed the man's neck with her sword and kicked him back. Mantis's eyes widened and her face contorted into a wicked beam. She's so brutal and there's no remorse in her eyes. Excellent! She's even more terrifying than how Pippi described. I must fight her now.

This time, the man lay on the ground broken and defeated. It seemed as if he wouldn't be getting back up, but to Mantis's amazement, he stood up yet again. "You're strong. I'm obviously no match for the likes of you, he muttered, pain dripping from his voice. She scowled. This boy doesn't know when to give up. Hardly able to hold his sword, he rushed forward with the most obvious stab formation in the existence of combat. If this were real, he'd be dead already. It's a shame it isn't real.

[Elpharae]

(OOC: A little short, my apologies~)

What a question! Elpharae leaned a little forward, replying to Rue quietly enough so that only the fair-skinned Rue could hear, his eyes warm and calculating, running all the frames of the fight in his head as quickly as he can. His dark eyes narrow for a fraction of a second before he settles for a semi-enigmatic reply, the canines of his teeth gleaming as he dips his head and his mouth curls into a smile. "Courage he must have in spades. It's the impudence he showed earlier that might worry us later. Is it egocentricity, or is it pure contrariness? Either one cannot be tolerated. But if it's not either..." He lifted his arm and shrugged in a delicate, smooth motion, his smile fond and amused.

"I suppose he can join." Rue then went on to utterly defeat the poor boy, making Elpharae's eyes flash in dark pleasure at his obvious discomfort, lazily drawing circles on the stone with his rapier. The brunet spared him some humiliation by looking over the crowd, only to see a flash of glittering blonde. Wait. His eyes narrowed. Something about this didn't feel right, and when you had Detection as a skill, you listened to your instincts. A blonde woman, it seemed, still young and extraordinarily pretty. Something about her seemed off, from her elegant, beautiful smile to her perfect mannerisms.

She dripped charisma, and Elpharae took a moment to notice how she seemed so gentle and caring towards that brunette she talked to before, his emotions hidden behind a perfect facade of interest with the fight going on. When Rue drew near from her fight, he murmured a warning to her, telling her that the woman that was in the crowd with the gold-colored hair was suspicious, somehow. On a lighter note, he mentioned taking over for her if she was done, Rue perhaps wanting to indulge in a break.

His fingers delicately wrapped around his rapier, smile charming and polite, eyes warm and soft as he talked to his comrade. There was something off about this simple thing, and Elpharae didn't like it one bit. After all...his gaze flickered to gray hair and teal eyes. After all, if this would be their recruit, the brunet didn't fancy him ending up dead or maimed by the end of the evening by someone other than the members of Elysian. His gaze was light and didn't touch on much as he watched the blonde subtly and Rue blatantly, waiting for something to spark and set off the evening.

[Jack]

What a delicious dish, munching away at the food he had just bought. A wonderful meat pie along with a glass of cold tea did the body good. Sitting on the balcony that extended out from the inns room that he had rented for the night. Watching the day pass by below him, as the town square outside gradually grew louder and louder. Looking at the growing crowd beneath him a voice called out, disturbing the calm surroundings.


" I'm looking for strong players to join are fields of Elysian. If you think your guild material, step up and prove it to me right here and right now"

Shuffling his chair up to the railing that was at the edge of the loft he looked down to see a woman. What was her name again? New? No Rue that's right, she was one of the ones that had been fighting the growing group of pkers that had sprung up. Apparently they could use more bodies, not that that was surprising, a party was always safer than soloing. Though the first that stepped up to her was a fool to say the least. She dealt with him simply enough, then a boy stepped forwards, or at least someone with the visage of a boy, this world had taught him to take nothing for granted. He was slow to except the duel even though he was quick to challenge, regret...? No, it was the very least a reasonable response, much more than the man before him. Though Flint estimated that it would end much the same as the first one. He charged, courage good, though that would only take him so far, his feigning blow was easily predicted. His posture showed a build up, interesting? Perhaps a flurry of blows, though no, she shut down that parade before it even got halfway down the street.


"That must have hurt a touch.."

Murmuring to himself as he ate the last bite of the pie, sipping his tea as the combat continued. The kid got back up quick, phew, guts, though this next one was going to hurt by how she had been pacing it. She stopped his strike nearly to easily, that big heavy sword, he must have been strong to wield it, but all that weight could also be a burden. Her blade glided into his neck and he went down, this time hard, his hp bar nearly in the red, not far from the fateful ten percent. Tipping his cup back, wiping his mouth with his hand he stood, leaning back and forth, twisting till his back cracked. He had always wondered which coder had decided that would be worth the time to add such an effect. He rather liked it though, made this world all the more real. Flint dressed in his everyday clothes glanced down again at the crowd, it had grown thick about the town center below him. Going out the front door would be troublesome, placing a hand on the railing before him he vaulted over it. Falling the ten feet quickly, hitting the ground lightly, his knees bending a touch as he landed in the far edge of the circle people had wisely left clear. Standing and dusting himself off lightly he walked forward, stopping at about the center of the space. Not wanting to bother them while the lad still seemed to have some fight left in him, though Flint had read the end of this book, and it seemed that Miss Rue had written it. Waving a hello Elpharae who stood not to far behind the fighting duo, walking about their combat up to the man, noting his hand on his sword before his eyes returned to the mans. A passive expression upon Flints face as he stood there before the man.

"So are you still taking newcomers?"

[Rue]

"Never Falter Never Look Back!" ☒ @tagged ✐ 000 ✉ Rue Lv5

With two votes on the boys acceptance. It was no longer necessary to continue the fight on any longer. After Rue's more brutal attack she moved back to the beautiful dressed comrade. Elpharae whisper about a suspicious looking blond near a burnet. Rue looked around the crowd and spotted the women in question. Rue looked at the older blond women with her peripheral vision, not wanting to show the women that she was looking at her. She was talking to a girl in a purple kimono. " Alright I see her i'll keep on eye on her". Elpharae asked if Rue wanted to take a break? " Have not even broken a sweat yet, and beside the fights not over yet". Rue looked to Tesh who was picking his half dead self off of the floor. " If you the next match you can have it. Show them that your not just a pretty face". As the boy picked himself back up, Rue walked into the middle of the ring. He was barely able to stand and his hands trembled. He talked about Rue being strong, and that he was obliviously no match for her. Rue readied herself and looked at him with killing intentions. The boy would charge forward and use every ounce of strength he had in him to lunge at Rue. Not wanting to dishonor him, Rue would finish him off. Stepping to the side and putting her shield between him and his blade. As the his blade slid down her shield, Rue turned her sword to the right and cut across his abdomen. With his health reaching as low as the duel would allow the fight would end and his health would refill. Sheathing her sword and Turning her back to Tesh she would walk away. " If I was strong we would not need more guild members. Even though you lost, you never gave up even when you had no chance of winning. You pass". As Rue walked back to Elpeharae, her expression and eyes went back to a more calm and relaxed look. Rue saw a teal haired man next to Elpeharae, and heard him ask if their still taking in new members. Rue would let the her follow guild member answer as she the newcomer. " You have to prove yourself just like everyone else, however my companion will be taking over for now". Rue's speech and present was calm and not showing any sort of killing intent to the man. Taking at seat Rue looked to the ring and kept an eye on the blond women just to be safe.

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS

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