encounter with motai

Having left the Starfall dance early, the Ookami found himself situated on the ruins out in the nearby forests. Time was being passed by them, by their hands greedily just ripping apart a flapjack and tossing it into their mouth. Having found it to be a bit awkward as an adult during the 'Dance', Motai was very much just waiting for something interesting to pass by.

Maybe a living armour to chat with? Or even a Hel spirit to chase off.

No, neither of them appeared. Instead the flower-crown wearing Warchief spotted someone they had not seen in years, and a toothy grin filled their features.

Casually he stood up, taking a few steps to bring himself to the edge of the ruins, their voice raising.

"Well, well! Been a while?" Coolly they spoke, arms moving to toss the rest of their midnight snack into his mouth as to finish it off.

There was no immediate aggression in his actions, but a fire had already been lit within theireyes. It had been years since he last dealt with Marcel.
(Motai)

Motai assumes the Brawler stance!

Silence.

Wandering the land in about as quiet manner as usual, the Corporal's eyes were weary with thoughts and boredom alike; after all that he's done, after all that he's completed.. was there any other meaning to it all, out there?

The plans with Academy must be accomplished.
But for now..

A voice calls out.

"Hm..?" Unfamiliar at first. After seeing a dozen battles and a hundred faces that met him in a fight, Motai's face was almost entirely wiped from his memory- the Ookami was presumed to be dead, and more than likely on righteous reasons.

"Is this a trick.."

Having dealt with different supernatural matters before, and visions that were not always his own, he perceives it as a mere remembrance to the past; he was, after all, nearing awfully close to the entrance of Shadowmire forests. Perhaps this was some manner of beast, a Nethradin, but..

No. It wasn't.

"Motai?"

He seems rather.. surprised. Maybe there's even a hint to a smile on his features- and the calm in his eyes was almost all too quickly replaced by something else.

An interest.

"I didn't think I'd see you alive anymore."

"A surprise."
(Marcel Delisle)

Bold strides were taken by the warchief, their body gliding down the side of the ruins down towards the forest ground.

"Is it?" Brriefly he chuckled, "I've just been dealing with some stuff for a while...So I was unable to come and be 'entertained' by you all in the mines."

With a quiet thud his feet landed on the ground, jade eyes keeping an ever present gaze onto Marcel. It had been years since they had last seen the Cog, the first of Achyon to impress him, someone that had 'pride'.

Others had cowered or ran, but still Motai could remember the day that Marcel had crawled at his foot, to continue the fight.

"I'm more surprised to have seen you here, have you finished guarding that mine now?"
(Motai)

An odd disappearance.

Though, is it any surprise? As far as he could tell, Moxtli has already mostly fallen apart.. keeping naught but some of the last members that were still somehow afloat- now, with the return of Ookami, having Motai among them.

"Worry not."

"Osronans kept us company in the meantime."

Achyon was against the world, it always has been- and given the countless transgressions against them all, as well as betrayals.. is there any wonder that they all banded together?

Not that it helped.

"Do you honestly expect me to be a mere Private all along?" Not someone like him, surely.

"I'm a Corporal."

"My strength has grown ever since the last time we met - and I brought down many foes ever since."

"Among them, the Saint of Osrona." One named Aelrin Alcast. "Their knights, their people.."

"And Champions of Eos. Twice."

It would only mean that Marcel's strength is recognized, surely. But.. as much as he says that, there's something else to be told.

"But, ah.."

"My focus is no longer on the battlefield. I work on the progress of the Empire - as its artificer and engineer."

There were many changes that the Ookami missed; the changes that Marcel, strangely enough, didn't hesitate to share. Perhaps, it was out of the respect that he established to him - even if the two were enemies.

"Your tribe, however.."

"It's in shambles. There was one - he reminded me of you. Eztli, I think." A pause.

"So I let him go, even if he attacked me first."

Perhaps, only to let him come back later for Marcel. But with that being said..

"What are you doing here, of all places?"
(Marcel Delisle)

"The Osronans?" It was to no surprise for the Warchief, after all, the war between the two had been seen since before he was even born. Though they had been surprised when no 'large' battles took place, outside of skirmishes.

"I expected you to rise that far." Without knowing the actual Achyon military positions, he could only think that Marcel was one of the highest ranking of their own.

"We both have grown since, but." The ever present toothy grin of the Ookami grew, "I will admit you've surpassed me on merits! I definitely haven't dealt with these 'titles' from Osrona, in fact one day I mi-..." They paused as the talk of their tribe came out.

There was no way for them to actually deny the words given, it was the full truth. Moxtli was in shambles, Motai himself even had to become a teacher at the Academy just to not be filled with boredom every day.

"Eztli is a budding warrior, we have quite a few of those right now, but...You are right, Moxtli is a wreck compared to its past self." Obviously, just like Marcel, he held respect for the enemy and was rather open to talking.

"I work within the Academy now, if only to shoo away the boredom I feel every day, and the reason why I'm here is...They are having a dance, one that I don't care to be part of as faculty."
(Motai)

Expectations.

They were always so ever-present, so ever evolving.. and as much as Marcel expected himself to go far as well, there's something about Motai being stuck in the tribe of Moxtli that evoked almost a strange feeling..

Pity.

"What I have done is irrelevant."

"I had a purpose all along, Motai - you did not. Had you been in my shoes.. then I'm sure you would've done the same."

Unlike Moxtli, which had been on friendly terms and all too focused on balance.. Achyon was always on the path to something else; the path to progress, advancement, and the creations that could improve humanity as a whole.

They were misunderstood.
But it's expected.

Yet, Marcel comes close- closer.. perhaps to Motai's surprise, there's no hostile movement behind this approach; there's no intent to lunge at Ookami like all these years ago.

"You know, Motai.."

"Ever since my young days, everyone has betrayed or disappointed me. Everyone I knew... either hurt me, or stabbed me in the heart in some way." There's a silent pause.

"Everyone that did that to me now lost everything - or lies dead. Some by my hand too."

The graceful landing is made, and he places his boots on the ground. There's a silent thud! with each step that he makes, the Corporal's eyes pointed at the Ookami all the way through.

"Osrona used to be full of heroes."

"Now, they're broken - because balance is a lie." Surely, Motai could understand what Marcel refers to.

"They only exist as long as people like me exist; and even then, they get easily discouraged."

"It's too easy to break their spirit. Too easy to bring them down - even if they grow powerful. Do you know why, Motai?"

"Because they lack purpose."

"They lack direction, plans, anything."

Eventually, he ends up rather close to Motai- and even then, there's still not a single movement made to reach out for his gun; by now, it's evidently clear.

He's not here to fight him, unless Motai makes it so.

"I expect you to say that you want to bring back Moxtli to glory."

"But I see it in your eyes that you doubt it's possible - and even if you restore its strength.. what will they do? Repeat their past again?"

Another pause.

"So what is your plan, Motai? What do you want to do?"
(Marcel Delisle)

"I've always had purpose, and...I still do." Lightly their head shook, "It is to watch over my family, and have them attain glory, such as I have for the ones that watch over us."

There had been no movement given towards the ever closing Marcel, instead his eyes locked with Marcels own, no sense of wary in them. He knew that the cog had enough honour to not sneak attack him, during their time of talk.

"Everyone from my younger days too are either dead...Or silent, watching from the depths of the Moxtli forest, filled with nostalgia to their past. It's disappointing."

Silence pervaded the area around them, the mans eyes finally breaking away, instead turning to look up into the night sky.

"I don't care to bring Moxtli back to it's glory days, no."

"That...That is for the new generation to do, for Eztli, Balam, when they bud and finally become full-fledged warriors." It was obvious by his tone, that even now he didn't think of them as anything close to 'warriors', yet.

"What they do after that, won't be up to me."

Right as he said that, the toothy grin he wore turned into a smile, "It's a beautiful night tonight Marcel, and I'm skipping the dance for this."

Already those noxious fumes of his began to pervade the air, "Come, let's dance why don't we? It will allow us to speak much more then 'this'." Claws unsheathed from his gauntlets, and he gave a long look to the man.
(Motai)

When Motai speaks of it..

It's almost disappointing. Had he given up on his purpose in this life, so much so that he would give up entirely on trying to make something of his own? Did he think that it would be a futile effort.. that he couldn't do anything else but pass on the torch to the new generation?

"That's a shame."

"I'd expect you to at least speak about the better plan you might have. Perhaps something that would elevate you as a whole.. or a plan that could make Moxtli something more than just a force of preservation."

After all, it's only a force of idleness- ensuring that everything stays in the same place, and in same way.. what was the purpose in that exactly? As far as he could tell, it'd bring naught for them.

"But it's fine."

"Perhaps it will be the day when you're caught at last. Perhaps, it'll be the day when you're introduced to the new purpose."

There was never an intent to kill him- but to make him see different. To make him fight for another cause.

"Moxtli doesn't deserve you."

Steadily, he backs away; he resumes the floating and takes off into the air once more. Here, however, Motai could bear witness to the progress that Marcel achieved..

Powerful lightning surrounds him.
An ion field..

As if it wasn't enough, the sword of Primordial God is drawn - Vseron; the sword that once belonged to the Saint of Osrona.

"I won't insult you by giving you a crutch." To not fight to his full potential would mean disrespecting Motai - viewing him as unworthy to face Marcel at his full potential.

"So come, then."

"Let's see what it'll be tonight."
(Marcel Delisle)



Marcel Delisle has lost 12 vitality from this battle for three hours.

{RP BATTLE} You have WON the battle!

Motai has rolled 3 or over: they may escape capture attempts (unless otherwise specified)!


How long has it been?

This fight went beyond the mere need to engage another in what felt like sacred combat- it went far beyond any simple warfare in which the two foes try to kill one another as soon as possible; there is respect to one another, and anxiety all the same..

Thud..!
Thud!
Thud!

Can you feel your heart quickening? Can you feel your breath growing shallow, faster, rapid.. this is not mere adrenaline- it's akin to a pair of wounded wolves fighting for their life against one another; it's a primordial force, one against another..

Pure. Raw.

The noxious fumes that once injured a great deal of soldiers in Achyon do the similar job to Marcel, and even then, Motai ought to note that it seemingly does much less in comparison; that his speed, no matter how great, felt as if trying to scale the wall infront of him.

That wall being the Corporal.

He strikes with precision- the sword that catches the whirlwind all about them; while Motai's reflexes and skill prove to be a difficult foe to oppose, it is rather evident that the Corporal grew. Even a warrior such as him, one who defeated their fabled Commander once..

Could fall against him.

Little by little, piece by piece.. the wounds begin littering the body of the Ookami; vicious winds shred him, and the powerful lightning surges to burn him- thunder strikes overhead, and while he might try to find resolve to resist and keep fighting, in the end..

Marcel's endurance proves greater.

The final strike is the most dangerous one. One that catches Motai in the terrible magic of savage winds; with the cold fury that Marcel struck- one that could hardly be resembledon his face, yet it could not be denied.

His heart carried a great deal of pain..
One manifested in skill instead.

"Does it always have to be like this..?"

He rises- bruised, bloodied, but undefeated; he gazes at his old rival, one of the few still alive.

"Will we always test each other until one falls for good?"
(Marcel Delisle)

It had been years for the Ookami, since their heart had beaten as powerfully as this. The constant, powerful beats proving that he was still alive, with blood flowing through every corner of his body.

He knew that this was exactly what they had been wanting since their return. All the 'interesting' things they had been meeting, those various monsters that he had been wishing to gang up on him...That crazed desire of his, was for exactly what was going on now.

Defeat.

Something to finally sate their pride and battle lust that had been growing out of control.

And that had came, as their abilities seemed to do...Less against the Corporal, in fact all of his attacks seemed to be brushed off, shoved away by the Ionic shell that covered his form. It was intense, powerful in a way that left him breathing heavily before they were even truly defeated.

Their body briefly paused, a cascade of poisonous magick filling the air, only to be torn apart by a wave of savage winds. His body took the brunt of it, their form almost completely deflating as even his own wind was stolen.

Even as the winds raged however, almost knocking him onto his ass...He stood strong, jade eyes staring.

"You wanted me to have a plan." Their voice started to sound out, "Something that would rise up Moxtli."

"I merely wish, for my family to make me proud." It was a selfish ideal for the budding warriors, one that wasn't even related to 'Moxtli' as a whole.

Silently Motai sighed, eyes staring at Marcel, "Tell me Marcel, how many of my family has Achyon taken, have they killed?" They paused, "You do not need to answer, I know the answer, and I have an answer for you."

For a long time he paused, having to catch his breath to continue their conversation.

"We'll continue this until the day one of us dies." It was a very obvious answer, "Yet for now...We stop."

"I fight to understand others and I already know that...You don't care to do this again, you don't even aim to kill me, no." He paused, "You want to take me to Achyon."

"I'll go with you even." As they said that, he gave the briefest of turns, "On the day one of 'you' can catch me." A step, and they had already moved further away from Marcel, diving deep into the nearby forest with his injured body.
(Motai)

War takes many.

In the end, Marcel was the one to experience it more than anyone else- for years he waged the one man war, going out and becoming the menace to Osrona and others alike; the menace they could neither shrug off nor ignore.

For years, he was their torment.
But here... it's different.

"Glory and pride fades into bloodstains on the battlefield."

A brief response to his plan. As much as he understood the reason behind it.. he didn't quite think that it's the only thing Motai is capable of- nor it should be the only thing that he should aspire to.

"I do not know how many of yours have been taken - nor I know how many of my own were taken."

"Our people are at war, Motai; endless cycle that takes lives- an endless cycle that dashes all of their hopes and dreams to the ground."

"You know it well."

Is there any point to count them, when violence has never stopped? Is it truly cruelty to take down your enemy, when their role has been defined?

"Should another ever catch you, as doubtful as it is... I may not have control over your fate."

"The Empire operates on the principle of merit. If I am not the one to catch you, all I can do is speak - but I won't be the one to decide your fate."

It is a warning, in a sense.. that should anyone else catch him other than Marcel, this fate may end with death; but Marcel learned to accept that some things are just out of his control.

Perhaps he'll see Motai under different circumstances - and not the ones that he's planning for.

"But you are worth much more."

"More than praising spirits that are deaf to your words- more than worshipping balance that has been consistently a lie."

"More than being a nameless grave one day- with the deeds of a warrior long forgotten by the pages of the history."

No. Motai deserved more than that.. but he cannot give him any of it like this.

"Perhaps.. one day you'll see."

"I can only hope that day will come sooner than the end to either of us."

The last, quiet mutter; there's a steady grasp at one of the wounds on his body.. and already he turns to leave.

The two warriors part.

Their fates won't be sealed today.
(Marcel Delisle)