Eagleheart vs Enmerkar

[19:53] With pursuit given behind the band of demons and human, the archon itself quietly floated from behind. Idle thoughts over the recent affairs occurring thus far. Conflict between kin and the ongoing conflict against humanities brightest.

And so when finding a location to settle down upon, it hadn't occurred to the archon themselves. That the kaor would choose to stand at the war front of the battles to come.

"Good. . ."

A meager response made as it lazily gazed upon the city. "We are creatures of habit, locations matter little. If you desire to be at the forefront of the battle. Then I too, invite the choice."

Offering a hand outward as it spotted off in the corner of its eye, a light far too bright. "It would seem we have. . . A do-gooder." The being playfully spoke, taking to the skies as it spotted the hooded figure not too far from the rest. Resting astray to allow the others to find them with aid of aerial direction.
(Shiva Vel'Heim)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:56] Tough luck. It was just too late when Eagleheart noticed where he was at... Demon town again, no less. This wasn't anything new to him -- He had been in one or two before, but nevertheless, he knew that his targets lied inside.

He knew the very visage that started to pursue him from afar... Shiva. And he knew for a fact what happened last time he found her with him, at least, and it seemed that this time it was no different.

Without much thought, of course...
(Eagleheart)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:56] He flees.
(Eagleheart)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:56] Enmerkar pursues to decide his RP.
(Enmerkar)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:57] Fails
(Shiva Vel'Heim)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:57] Wanted to chase EAgleheart.
(Tim Cobblestone)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:57] Tim Cobblestone exclaims, "I pulled my HAMSTRING!"
[19:57] Tim Cobblestone exclaims, "AGH!"
[19:57] Unanticipatedly, the shadow disappears. For a brief moment, it is nowhere to be seen-- until a dark, cold sensation emerges from the walls behind Eagleheart. The air abruptly turns chilly, and a sudden amalgamation of pure obscurity solidifies itself.

A myriad of darkened hands try to encounter the paladin in a circumforaneous motion, chasing the holy magi.
(Religiomisia)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:57] May fate decide.
(Religiomisia)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:58] im fat but look at me go??
(Yvette)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:00] Oya, still angry as ever over the fact her servant had been dealt a bitter injury, was following suit. The people of Huangzhou had made too many mistakes to be allowed to merely walk in on her efforts to repopulate a town and see her associates be dealt a bitter situation. She goes, as fast as humanly possible, for a magi.
(Oya Embersong)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:01] The Kaor was quick on his feet-

But not really. He owed most of his speed to teleport toward Eagleheart in a near-instant. The Holy mage was faster for a time, but none could outrun electricity alone. None could escape from that sort of immediate recompense.

As such, he'd be caught by a hand on his shoulder which sought to send him backwards, toward the Kaor. It'd inflict no damage or other effects, mind!

Even still, though, Enmerkar sought to keep him in one place for the sake of interrogation and battle.

"Human," the Kaor proclaimed. "Speak your name aloud. Position. You are a high-up in Huangzhou, of that I am sure- I am the Enmerkar, of Crafthold no longer."

"Act and speak quickly."
(Enmerkar)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:02] Tim didn't know why everyone was running after Eagleheart but he felt like he should too. Yet, the hunter was too fat. He laid there, on the ground, writhing in agony as he struggled to keep his leg in tact. The man struggled to keep cool, he began to drink on the floor.

Cooing his wound like a babble.

The husky man began to hiss a bit.

Eagleheart seemed human, no reason to chase him any further anyway.

He needed more Tails and horns added to his collection.
(Tim Cobblestone)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:02] Tim Cobblestone says, "Outchie..."
[20:09] Of course, there had to be one catching up to him. Enmerkar, no less, was the one that did so. As soon as the hand brought him backwards, there was little time for reaction, but the magi was forced to a halt, unfortunately.

Luckily, he managed to outrun the others, and this was some time that he had to use for his own advantage. A Kaor and himself, obviously, and Enmerkar no less -- The one that hurt his very apprentice, Mei Xiang.

The faint chime of Order seemed to travel around him, but the proclamation of the demon was met with some sort of chuckle from the man underneath the mask.

There were no weapons pulled out, no threat other than the potentially harmful presence of Order as an aura around his body, overall. "I am Eagleheart, of Huangzhou no longer as well. Been like that for at least a couple of years now..."

He trailed off slightly, seemingly gazing onto the horizon -- His face turned to the side, but irises were still nigh invisible underneath the white porcelain and the black cloth that covered his eyes, behind the mask.

"I see you've built your own place, now. Leaving Crafthold was probably a good choice." Of course, he wasn't that naïve. The man remained attentive, but most expressions and the like just didn't pass themselves correctly through the mask.
(Eagleheart)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:15] "You are the first human of Huangzhou- formerly or otherwise- to not immediately proclaim your hatred for my race outright," the Kaor proclaimed aloud. "For that, I am impressed. To find a human who does not preach their superiority on meeting pleases me greatly."

Enmerkar's hand left the shoulder of Eagleheart almost as immediately as it had come, dropping to the fox's side along with the rest of his seven tails. They were weapons themselves, individually so- but for the sake of appearing without conflict in mind?

The demon allowed for a relatively peaceful conversation, at least for now, without the usual immediate battle.

"You no longer side with Huangzhou?" the fox inquired. "For what reason? Are you merely a nomad dressed in these 'holy' colors, or do you have strife with that city?"

He stepped backwards, providing him some degree of space.

"I have been hunting Huangzhou's officers, for they are the main obstacle in our war. But if you are no longer in that position- " He shrugged. "I am willing to listen to reason, despite your stench of Exorcism."
(Enmerkar)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:23] "Well, I get that a lot." He said, shortly after Enmerkar spoke of how Eagleheart was the first one to not proclaim hatred for his race. Of course, this was all true... He truly did get that a lot. Oscuri, Neries, Demons, even Vampires spoke of him like that.

Having his shoulder released, he moved his shoulder from side to side, apparently intent on relaxing the muscles that were previously held by the demon.

The question, however, brought him to speak again -- Holy tones diminishing slowly, but seemingly replaced with cosmic energy. Whatever specks of holy energy still leaked from his body were more powerful, more condensed, but the cosmic energy seemed to tint his mana circuitry entirely.

"I simply... Have my reasons. I believe I fit for the former, however. A nomad dressed in..." He said, looking towards his armor. "People always tell me that's yellow."

He seemed awfully tranquil, probably the result of his own magic working, or merely a manifestation of his own nature through his voice. In truth, it was like that.

He was almost completely tranquil.

"It's mostly a bunch of misunderstandings taken one ahead of the other. They focused mostly on trying to disgrace my public image... So I left. My work on that city was already done."
(Eagleheart)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:30] "Well. I'll speak to you plainly, then, since you seem moderate enough as far as the Jianghese go," Enmerkar proclaimed. "You are clearly an enemy. If not now, then before- I was one of a handful that could've viewed you in the raids."

"Even if you are not strictly Huangzhou, you are certainly in opposition to our efforts."

The Kaor gestured to the north, where Archon Shiva remained... and where all the others seemed to reside, too. He turned back to Eagleheart shortly thereafter.

"Moreover, I cannot say for sure if you're lying about your lacking allegiance," Enmerkar added. "You are presently an enigma, and one whose attributes and words I cannot confirm nor deny. As far as I'm concerned, you might as well be another Order mage for me to quell."

He stared for a few seconds before breaking his eye-contact with a sudden blink.

"But you are not abrasive. You are level-headed. You seem somewhat intelligent, as far as humans go, and you are also not presently related to Huangzhou- supposedly," the fox added. "For that, I provide you options: "

"You may remain here under the watchful eye of Archon Shiva and the other demons with which I have claimed this isle," Enmerkar stated. "Alternatively, you may battle me. Should you win, I will let you go free. Should you lose, you will remain here under my terms."
(Enmerkar)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:38] Of course it boiled down to this. He knew, for a fact, it would end like that -- Shiva, however, was a name that seemed to send a single chill through his spine. It was, likely, something that he was far more afraid than Enmerkar's terms...

... Whatever these were.

"Very well, then. You shouldn't ask, Enmerkar..." Eagleheart spoke, still calmly as ever. The hammer floated slightly, moving to hold itself closer to his own hand, although still hovering.

"What are the terms, may I ask?" He spoke, seemingly readying himself. The holy aura seemed to wane slowly, yet always remaining sensible upon the background of his own visage.

"Because as far as I know, all options seem to likely aim for me being received with hostility. Remaining here doesn't sound like a good option... In any case." He continued on shortly after a brief pause. "You are well aware that the way you put it, I'm risking my own life in any of these scenarios, aren't you?"
(Eagleheart)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:46] "Of course. But I cannot simply let you leave, which I am sure you understand as well," Enmerkar spoke aloud in reply. "You are clearly a member of some sort of enemy organization, be that Order magi or otherwise. Be you Huangzhou or not- "

"You're not going to be let free into the wilderness, I'm afraid."

Enmerkar stepped forwards and sat back onto his paws, all seven tails splayed out into an arc with each resembling a ray of a dark sun. They wriggled here and there, as if individually listening to what Eagleheart had to say.

"The demons and my followers and equals will respect my desire to keep you alive if I state it aloud- of that I can assure you," Enmerkar corrected. "You would be risking your life to return to the outside, or to battle me out of said hostility. That I cannot deny."

"My terms are simple- that you remain here, obviously, under the eye of Archon Shiva, and that you rescind your weaponry for the duration. I can see to it that it remains intact," the Kaor added, "But it would be unwise to keep a prisoner armed."

"It would be until we gain a noticeable advantage over Huangzhou, and until we can be sure of your lacking stance as an enemy."
(Enmerkar)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:59] "I am well sorry then, Enmerkar." He spoke, hand slowly rising to grab at the hammer's handle, swinging it around in the air with brute force.

"I can not say that I am not your enemy, because you are right. I am your enemy, and my affiliation with Huangzhou matters little in that." He added, a faint coating of rocks seemingly forming around his body. And then, he moved a single arm -- His right one, a prosthetic.

"I've gotten that for trusting a demon before, Enmerkar. You said to keep me alive, and I know for a fact demons don't break on promises... But rather exploit tangential paths." He let out a sigh, the hammer resting against the ground. "I am fairly certain there would be reasons where, even if my life was to be maintained, it would be of much harm to me."

"I'd rather test my odds. Shall we?" He asked. Obviously, no matter what hostility there was between them, the Order magi was keeping himself as polite and as honorable as possible, or at least as much as he could.

There was no hesitation, no movement of nervousness from him -- He was, as always, still as a statue, seemingly unwilling to simply move, but the Order magic that hailed from him seemed to only establish itself on the surrounding field.

Perhaps it was his way to recognize the terrain?
(Eagleheart)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[21:06] "It is fine, Order mage. Despite the fact that we were born to be destined enemies, we needn't be impolite," the Kaor proclaimed aloud. "It is my will to see you restricted from the world for your duties. And to that end, I will stick to my word. It is your will to see yourself free from the 'clutches' of demonkind."

All seven tails slammed into the ground one after the other, each causing a resounding thunderclap which called apart the clouds. The sky was tinted a deep, crimson red, and seven lightning bolts fell from that gap in the heavens. They connected to their corresponding tail, all of which were shortly wrapped in cages of scarlet static.

"Fight, then," Enmerkar shouted, attempting to outmatch the nigh-deafening crackle of his lightning. "You win, you go free. You lose, you abide by my terms or fall to my electricity more- permanently. It is our nature to do as such."

Enmerkar bent forwards, his tails pointedly facing off against Eagleheart just a few yards before him.

"I know not your magic, nor your behaviors or even your status elsewhere, aside your former involvement with Huangzhou," he called again. "Thus, this will be an entertaining learning experience, human. High stakes! The most enticing sort of duel."

"On my mark."
(Enmerkar)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[21:31] The battle is almost frightening for the otherwise apathetic Kaor Lord. While they fight, Enmerkar is constantly caught off-guard by the Holy Ground magics of Eagleheart. Again and again, he trips and falls or proves stuck in the mud of the Order mage's creation...

But frustration came with power, especially so for demons. It was bewildering, almost, even to the owner of said power- even to the wielder of the magic that broke free. It was true nonetheless, however, and in facing Eagleheart, Enmerkar found strength.

Where his legs and his tails had become muddied with the glossy Holyground of Eagleheart, Enmerkar placed Hellstorm. Slowly but surely, these points of attachment built and built with crimson energy until finally- stone and mud became practical dust in the wake of the Kaor.

Each lock exploded into chunks, fragments and otherwise, and immediately thereafter, the demon rose from existence. Lightning struck and took Enmerkar tothe clouds- where he remained, mind, for a fair few seconds. Thunder rumbled and the heavens gleamed with the shine of Occultism...

Before finally, after that short period, he fell from the same grace he had found some hundred feet above the ground. Enmerkar slammed into the chest of Eagleheart, electricity arcing from skin to bone to limbs and otherwise. The area saw itself charred with dark lightning, burning grass to a crisp.

Eagleheart in particular ate a heavy bolt of power, which, to his dismay, would course through his veins, nerves, and mana circuitry. It raced through each, permanently disfiguring the skin directly above and leaving behind a lattice of charred-black flesh and exposed nerves. Each trough bled and ached with the pain of a severe burn.

The downside?

Eagleheart, injured or not, was also blasted yards away. Not just yards- perhaps even a full mile, blown from the site of their battle in an instant. He flew with the same speed that Enmerkar usually did while traveling in the clouds, slowing only due to air resistance and... assuming he got up to run? Ultimately escaping.
(Enmerkar)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[21:47] The Order magi is quickly charged with a jolt of cosmic energy, running over his very mana circuits. The yellowish mana seemed to focus around the ground, emitting itself rather quickly and calling for its aid to defeat the demon.

But as the battle went on, Enmerkar's power grew, while Eagleheart seemed to only grow tired of the constant chastisement that the lightning provided him, only maintaining himself strong through his own magic. And then, things turned out for the worst.

When the most practical part of his magic, which was the manipulation of the earth, was rendered useless, Eagleheart seemed to slowly try to back off. His posture went defensive, trying to simply avoid a premature blow or death at the hands of the Kaor.

He seemed absolutely concentrated, however -- It was, after all, a technique that he mastered himself. Whatever time Enmerkar became pure lightning, he'd easily notice that the order magi seemed to lose track of him, hitting aimlessly for a while.

It was his Order magic guiding him around, Eagleheart's constant meditation bolstering his energies. However, as soon as the Kaor ascended to the skies, Eagleheart seemed to simply face up. Urgently, he rose the hammer high up, charging it with cosmic magic and holy, aiming to create a shield--

Only to fail. The demon was faster in his strike, and the shield served as enough to stop him from being nearly killed by the blow itself, the cosmic magic quickly struggling against Enmerkar. It sprouted from his backs, almost as protective wings around his very body.

And akin to that, he was blasted away, only being stopped by hitting a hill with his back, the crash still audible on wherever Enmerkar was, presumably trying to chase him down. However, there was clearly the remainder of the occult lightning from the demon...

... Along with the cosmic energy from the magi, reminiscent at the spot. Clearly, the shield didn't conjure itself on time to protect him from the blast, but it did conjure itself on time to stop the impact from immobilizing him.
(Eagleheart)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------