Gala Presentation - Maldaathi

Kaevan Lichlord says, "'Honour in Evil', presented by the Maldaathi. I cede the floor to Lady Katzchen, the newest knight of Mhaldor."

Niro gives a black bowl of golden, deep-fried wasps to Sherazad.

Katzchen inclines her head politely at Kaevan.

Sohl arrives from the north.

Katzchen steps forward, gesturing for Valden to join her.

Squeezing a slice of lemon over cooked salmon on a cedar wood plate, Sohl takes a bite of the lightly grilled fillet and chews slowly. Savouring the blend of fish and spices, he soon finishes off the remaining dish.

Kaevan steps back into the shadows, his staff the last thing to disappear.

Lady Katzchen Xanatov, Knight of Mhaldor smiles and says, "Hail, Mhaldorians, and esteemed guests. For your entertainment today Recruit Valden and I will be performing a mock duel, a performance choreographed by myself, and designed to display the unique skills of both Runewardens and Infernals."

Jurixe watches intently, grey eyes contemplative.

Valden presents Katzchen with a flourishing bow, before drawing a pair of wickedly sharp scimitars, each etched with a set of glowing runes.

With a sibilant 'shhhiiiinnngggt!', Valden smoothly sheathes a gleaming scimitar.

With a sibilant 'shhhiiiinnngggt!', Valden smoothly sheathes a gleaming scimitar.

A gleaming scimitar rings out brightly as Valden rapidly draws it from a studded black leather scabbard.

A gleaming scimitar rings out brightly as Valden rapidly draws it from a studded black leather scabbard.

Valden's knuckles grow momentarily white as he strengthens his grip.

Sherazad beams broadly.

Katzchen bows stiffly to Valden in return, then draws her gleaming rapiers smoothly from a pair of crimson scabbards. Slipping into a ready stance, she gives him a small nod.

A Soulpiercer rings out brightly as Katzchen rapidly draws it from a Sartanic scabbard.

A Soulpiercer rings out brightly as Katzchen rapidly draws it from a Sartanic scabbard.

Losing no time, Valden drops to a crouch, quickly sketching a thurizaz rune on the ground. Gripping his scimitars tightly, he lunges at Katzchen, light flashing off his blades.

As Katzchen speaks soft words of death and decay, the ground around Valden's feet breaks open; hands of bone, and rotting flesh reaching out to hinder him.

The torn-up ground begins to rumble ominously, and Katzchen's hand darts out to rip back the sleeve of her jacket, and touch the image of a shield tattooed on her right arm. A faint magical barrier springs up around her, just in time to defend against the onslaught of molten lava that erupts from the ground.

Valden recovers his balance as his runic assault breaks through Katzchen's shield. Sidestepping the grasping, undead hands, he pauses to sketch another rune on the ground, before feinting in to slash at her.

Caught off-guard as she moves to parry the attack, Katzchen's eyes roll back into her head. She collapses to the ground, the magic of the fehu rune throwing her into a deep sleep.

Valden moves quickly to take advantage of the situation by drawing his scimitar back, and thrusting it straight down towards Katzchen's sleeping form.

At the last moment, Katzchen's eyes flicker open, and she jerks sideways. Managing to roll out of the way, she narrowly avoids being impaled on Valden's scimitar. Her cape rips clean in two, as his thrust pins it to the ground. Leaping to her feet she steps back; circling him warily, she dances from one foot to the other in practised movement.

Withdrawing his blade from the ground, Valden curses softly. Raising his scimitars in front of him defensively, he steps back, apparently considering his next move. One moment, Katzchen is standing a few feet away from him, as his eyes track her movements carefully, the next she appears to vanish entirely, blending in with the air around her.

A strange shimmering of the air is the only warning, before Katzchen appears suddenly, fading into view directly in front of Valden. A strange, red glow comes over her eyes, and a cruel smirk crosses her lips, right before she lunges forward to engage him. She proceeds to assault him with a savage flurry of blows, so impossibly swift her rapiers appear to blur. The sound of steel on steel fills the air as he struggles to parry and dodge in time.

Valden sees his moment to respond, as Katzchen's movements slow to a regular pace, the eerie fire fading from her gaze. Ignoring the deep slashes in his clothes and flesh, and the blood seeping steadily out to stain his white jacket, he opens his mouth wide, and growls ferociously, the sound ripping through the air.

Valden's roaring battle cry halts Katzchen in her tracks, and throws her painfully to the ground. Aiming for her torso, he leans in to stab down viciously into where he thinks she lies.

Flickering back into view as her shroud dissipates, Katzchen shakes her head to clear it as her body recovers from the stun, and raising her rapier, deflects Valden's off-centre thrust. Reaching out, she sends the cold of the grave to freeze him with an icy touch, before lashing out at his chest with her other rapier.

Valden shivers, as the cold seeps into his veins. Ice coats his fur, and his movements are slowed. He barely manages to dodge Katzchen's thrust in time, her rapier scoring a light blow to his arm. Shrugging off the cold, he ducks back out of her reach, his sleeve turning a deep crimson as blood pours through from the wound underneath.

Katzchen uses the time bought to scramble to her feet, then turns to face Valden, coiling into a crouch. She propels herself forward into the air towards him, both rapiers gleaming wickedly, as she holds them in front of her, ready to stab viciously down into him.

Reacting swiftly, Valden leans back, as he quickly thrusts one scimitar in the ground where it glows softly with runic magic. Bracing himself, he raises the other scimitar with both hands, his superior reach guaranteeing him the impale before Katzchen can touch him.

Right as Katzchen is about to fall upon Valden's blade, her eyes glint with amusement, and she suddenly disappears; a black wind filling the space where she once was. The foul wind slips down his throat, choking him, before swarming past him, and re-materialising right behind his back.

Valden spins around, only to collapse, as his right leg gives out from under him. Gasping in pain and shock, he glances around wildly. He spots Katzchen's crouched form just as she reaches out to grasp his left arm in an iron grip, it too withering away under her touch.

Smiling sadistically, Katzchen smirks at Valden, easily dodging his attempts to stab into her with his remaining scimitar. Parrying his feeble thrusts with one rapier, she reaches her other hand out to shrivel first his right arm, then his left leg.

Valden laughs maniacally, and smiles in welcome at the pain, as his remaining limbs are rendered useless, shrivelling under Katzchen's touch. Gazing up into the face of death, he collapses to the ground, defiant till the last breath.

Sherazad's mouth turns up as her face breaks into a smile.

Wreathing her right hand in crackling black energy, Katzchen smiles faintly, as she runs it along Valden's helpless form, splitting his chest in two. Ignoring his tortured screams, she pulls his organs apart, before finally ripping his sternum cleanly from his chest. A detached smile on her face, she drives the jagged bone right through his body, pinning him to the ground, and killing him instantly.

The stamp of marching feet is quickly replaced by a chorus of yells and orders from various points of Mhaldor as the changing of the guard takes place.

A starburst tattoo flares, bathing Valden in a red light, as he looks around disorientedly. His wounds fully healed, he turns to Katzchen, smoothly sheathing his scimitars.

With a sibilant 'shhhiiiinnngggt!', Valden smoothly sheathes a gleaming scimitar.

With a sibilant 'shhhiiiinnngggt!', Valden smoothly sheathes a gleaming scimitar.

Valden's knuckles grow momentarily white as he strengthens his grip.

Valden smiles and says to Katzchen in a smooth, velvety voice, "Nicely done, m'Lady."

Katzchen offers Valden a faint smile, before turning to the audience, and crossing her rapiers over her chest as she bows.

Vadimuses applauds Katzchen heartily.

Vadimuses applauds Valden heartily.

Valden steps up beside Katzchen, and bows deeply to the audience.

Milenka claps her hands together as she smiles and nods approvingly.

Sohl gives up a round of applause.

Ruth claps her hands together in appreciation.

You give up a round of applause.

Sherazad says in a husky, drawling voice, "That is how we paint the city red."

Sir Tirac Vastel, Champion of the Blade says, "Well fought, Maldaathi."

Sohl looks surprised and says with an urbane accent, "Well done! I had no idea Maldaathi could fight with such skill."

Sherazad nods her head slowly, looking very wise.

Jurixe claps her hands together in muffled applause.

Cesarina gives up a round of applause.

Harmonia gives up a round of applause.

Cahin swills his drink briefly before sipping absently.

Sherazad claps her hands together merrily.

Vrah claps her hands together merrily.

Kaevan gives up a round of soft applause.

Lianca brings her hands together in soft applause.

Jurixe says in a low, silken voice, "Well done indeed, Maldaathi."

Ruth snorts once, glancing over at Sohl.

Kaevan nods his head carefully.

Amunet applauds politely, the corners of her mouth curling with amusement as she spares a glance at Sohl.

Ruth raises an ornate wooden cup to her nose and sniffs before sipping greedily.

Ruth excuses herself as she slips northwards.

Ruth leaves to the north.

Amunet raises an ornate wooden cup to her mouth and sips quietly.