Assassins Shroud Log 3

[16:46] Goirou says, "...Mn."
[16:46] Goirou gives a slight nod of his head, in respect.
(Goirou)
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[16:47] Torham Draskovic says, "Ah, greetings, Goirou."
[16:47] Goirou says, "....Lord Torham."
[16:47] Torham actually returns the gesture of respect, slightly dipping his head.
(Torham Draskovic)
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[16:47] Goirou doesn't see, due to his blindness.
(Goirou)
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[16:52] Torham Draskovic asks, "Goirou, how goes the hunt, and care for a spar?"
[16:52] Goirou says, "...I've caught one, though a few have escaped my grip..."
[16:52] Goirou says, "And yes... A spar would be nice."
[16:53] Torham Draskovic says, "That happens. People in this land are just so slippery. It's like they lubricate themselves before combat."
[16:53] Torham Draskovic says, "I really don't know how they do it."
[16:53] Goirou says, "It's...."
[16:53] Goirou says, "A difficult endeavour"
[16:53] Torham Draskovic says, "It is, it is. That's why I normally just stick to town and catch the people stupid enough to walk right up."
[16:54] Goirou says, "Now... That spar"
[16:54] Torham Draskovic asks, "Anyway, shall we?"
[16:54] Goirou says, "Yes... Do follow."
[17:00] Though Goirou was willing to spar, calm throughout such... The situation itself was grueling to the mans mind, as if someone were churning his gray matter to invoke a certain anger within him, purposeful or not.

That scowl pulls at his lips, leading to their down-curl as the horrific sound of metal scraping upon metal is heard, and his blade is drawn. That blind gaze settles on Torham, as Goirou seems to completely stop breathing-- Listening, instead, without making noise. He heard the winds-- And the fabric of Torham's clothes wavering within, fluttering upon the squall.

His blade slowly points forward, a careful action, slow in nature... However, to Torham; The sensing of Illusion's was more than prominent. They littered the clearing, an impending darkness that consumed the ability to see-- To see Goirou, in particular... The man does not move, whatsoever, remaining ever still.
(Goirou)
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[17:03] And in one swift movement Torham unsheathes Keening Edge. There's a light howl in the air as that unnaturally sharp blade swings forth, a chill breeze passing through the air where it cuts. He gives it a practiced twirl, and then he goes to extend it slowly forwards. Torham assumes an Apropriyan fencer's stance, looking on. His perception narrows: he does not look for Goirou as the shadow-weaving pours inwards. Instead, he listens for the beat of the warrior's heart, and for the crunch of feet upon snow.

Beneath him, his shadow slowly grows and rises forth. His shadow draws its own mimicked copy of Keening Edge, as unnaturally sharp as his own. It distorts, shadowy and almost like a Leviathan for a single moment. Torham does not yet move, either. Instead he leaves his clone to charge forth into the fray first.

All the while, that dark light which emanates from the Vampire's gaze only grows brighter as it stares him down, more mesmerizing by the moment.
(Torham Draskovic)
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[17:08] * You have been awarded 1 Roleplay Points! *
[17:08] With that, the swordsman was gone. Disappearing from reality itself, it seemed, as darkness filled that very portion of space in which he was... The clone attacking nothing but air.

There was a loud whistling, however, as the Katana could be heard flying from the side, tight against the swordsman's arms as he flew at impeccably fast speeds. The attack was delivered, though Goirou remain uncertain if it landed... Though, he did not check. Mere feet from where he passes Torham, the swordsman lands in the snow, reeling the blade back-- Aiming to stab upwards!
(Goirou)
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[17:18] The beat of Goirou's heart.

It was insistent and distant. Every pounding pump of blood that went through the swordman's veins was like a beacon to the young Vampire. Torham was a master of an ancient Apropriyan art: its fencing. Left to the hands of Vampires for untold years isolated from the rest of the world, it had grown into an entirely unique and different form of ritual combat unlike any other.

The flow of blood through the body served as both beacon and measure to a Vampire. Through it Torham could tell effort, timing, position, and even to some extent what his opponent was about to do by merely paying attention to that rhythmic and unceasing beat.

So it was that Torham was not surprised by Goirou's swing, even as he seemed to almost warp across the field of battle. His blade swings out and parries the strike, letting the recoil carry his own weapon in one swift follow-through with the flat of his blade to the rival swordsman's as he attempted to retreat.

His Shadow blocks the next strike a moment later. As Goirou interlocks swords with that apparition, Torham seems to vanish. Goirou would feel a sharp breeze pass him by, a motion that could've only been produced by incredible momentum. Goirou might even be fast enough to catch the afterimage as the Vampire is now behind him, preparing to swing downwards.
(Torham Draskovic)
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[17:25] Now, under 'normal' circumstances, Goirou would have seen the blade falling from the sky, wielded by the vampire whom took his eyes. However, the way Goirou saw now was his definition of normal... Through sound, he identified the keen whistling of the swing as it had begun. An immediate roll to the side was dealt, and in a surprisingly Jianghese way, the sword is brought to raise once more, shoulders locking as the blade was poised over his head.

it was spoken rather softly, as the man sits upon increasing winds.

"...Once more."
(Goirou)
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[17:31] The Vampire moves faster than he did before.

It almost seems as if his blade, enchanted as it is, can't keep up with the sheer force he moves it with. Sparks fly as blade meets blade, but Torham's speed keeps accelerating, as does his force. His strikes come far less frequently than Goirou's, but when they do, they hit with enough force that it takes all of the man's dexterity to be not thrown off his feet.

And it's only doubled by the flickering and inconstant movements of his Shadow. Unlike its master who casts it, the Shadow is far quicker, more dexterous, and airy. It's as if fighting thin air and light, and no hit ever seems to quite strike it, yet all of its blows feel disturbingly real, almost as if it were more than some simple Illusionist's trick.
(Torham Draskovic)