master necro 2

[04:50:20] "Up! Up, up, up!"

Saulot would find himself somewhat forcibly ousted from his bed in the morning. He was being THOROUGHLY harassed by the Fildegarde!

"Before this one sends you out, am going to need to make sure one is capable," The man's voice is squeakily bright, as though spoken in falsetto, as, more importantly. Saulot would find the bed he had been given by the man being aggressively lifted in the air through gravity magic- Then let to 'bang' down onto the floor, jostling him.

"Is some breakfast downstairs! Some toast, some eggs, some nice milk! Take one's time-" In a blur, the- Fully armored? Figure of the possessed veteran ZIPS away from the door, a faint, pleasant smell eminating from downstairs. "Hurry-hurry-hurry-excited- Come! Make sure you are all ready and rested when you come outside!"

This was far too bubbly.

The house was otherwise quiet, apart from Saulot's now-disheveled bed in the guest room. The table was made up, the bathroom was sparkling clean, and all in all, the crickets outside in the morning dew at sometime around six in the morning were audible; The sun barely coloring the sky.

It was quite... Serene, almost. The cold of wooden floors gave way to easy, soft woolen carpets rolled out upon them. The noises of the city were muted at this hour, the babbling of the everpresent canals rushing through the cracks easily heard...

Of course, the poor man was about to get ambushed from above the moment he came out of the house- The Fildegarde awaiting from above, a greatsword clutched in his gauntletted hands- Eyes wide and manic.

Suffice to say, it was going to be a very exciting morning.
(Hauk Fildegarde)
[04:56:19] Urgh.

The fight with that Spriggan some while ago surely knocked out a lot of wind from him, and he was taking his time to recover. Nostvale was the safest city for him at the moment, so he took full liberty to use Hauk's hospitality and rest there for the time being.

Though this? This wasn't quite expected.
______________________

Still grumpy from his rest interrupted, Saulot stubbornly refused to get up right until Hauk literally had to thrash his bed around; he already been in two fights as it is actually, both against that Spriggan and Mimic and could use some rest, but oh well.

"Okay, okay, jeez... give me a moment."

The necromancer dressed himself and went to the kitchen to have the promised breakfast. Most of his wounds were of course healed at this point, leaving only insignificant, surface injuries that could come off as scratches now, nothing serious at all.
______________________

"Well, where are you--"

Saulot spoke once he made his way out of the house.

Boy, little he knew that he's about to get the answer real quick.
(Saulot Vykos)
[04:58:01] {combat} Saulot Vykos has been defeated by Hauk Fildegarde! They're unable to continue fighting.

[05:06:33] The flat of the Fildegarde's blade descends in a whistling rush of air as soon as he passes out of the threshold- A whistling as the arcanium blade is held the 'wrong way', the edges to the sides, but descends with an unbecoming weight from the grandpa's hands.

It is BARELY warded off by a blast of hellstorm and shadowflame, but the raw energy behind it strikes true, passing like a ghost of the blade to rap against his head. The man takes a gout, before somersaulting through the air, kicking off the top of the wall. The heat makes the Fildegarde gasp, forced away despite the shielding of raw, flickering and tainted mana.

The man cackles, an almost unnatural, chittering noise, difficult to elicit from a human throat. Fortunately, the ancient soldier had undergone many modifications over the years; On the inside at least.

Giving Saulot a moment to pause from the initial ringing blow, the man sweeps his blade! "Practice! It is important! Told one to be ready! Lots of people play by the words of what they say, rather than the spirit!"

The greatsword in the Fildegarde's hand is a filigreed, golden thing- It sweeps with a faint trail of light glimmering after it, even as light seems to oddly... Bend around the man's body, a quiet, prismatic void about him.

A closer look at the surrounds could show a bunch of small papers splattered everywhere- small runes of reinforcement, trying to prevent property damage, a contained region right on the front walk. A few people might be driven to their windows in the spacious noble district, to come see what the fuss was...

The space was safely bounded.

"Take a breath, will be nice!" Hauk's head bobbles, as though finding nothing out of the ordinary about this entire business. "This one needs to make sure one is all prepared-ready! Are many problems, and this one wants to make sure one is all abuzz! Needs to see one's capabilities for own eyes."
(Hauk Fildegarde)
[05:11:40] His eyes widened the moment he saw a sword descend upon oneself, immediately and instinctively blasting it away in a form of shielding, all while zapping himself away and leaving nothing but a trail of crimson lightning behind.

Teeth gritting and brows furrowing, he felt the old wounds prying to re-open under the pressure of a fight, but the necromancer stood up to the challenge of this training in the morning.

"It definitely is important to practice..."

The younger man stretched out his arms to give himself a little exercise for a better flexibility (after all he just woke up), and took a stance that made it seem he's ready to continue this spar.

"You're on, old man."

Surely Saulot knew the taste of blade and battle alike, but Hauk had more experience in such matters. That didn't mean, however, that the necromancer would back off. Absolutely not.

He lunged out with yet another attack, covered in crimson lightning.
(Saulot Vykos)
[05:12:32] {combat} Saulot Vykos has been defeated by Hauk Fildegarde! They're unable to continue fighting.

[05:21:04] The lancet of heat and crimson plasma strikes against girded armor, but the man chokes faintly, hacking reflexively as it impacts. Hauk's body was not moving quite quick enough-

And so he fixes that.

His circuits are practically visible, an unhealthy webbing of black against his skin as well as Hauk channels a vast resevoir of mana from his patron. Light gathers near his feet, and after backing off into the air, assailed by blasts, he launches himself back down in a glimmerous burst, using the momentum to swing his sword towards Saulot's side.

A faint jolt runs along the man's body, when the man's sword impacts like a bat against his arm- The edges, just in case, coated in that same force-field that girds the man's body against the worst of assaults. It makes it hit no less hard- Merely less dangerous. However, some of that azure light strikes into his arm as it clatters.

A lightning magi like Saulot would doubtless see the similarities, even if in the moment it would be difficult for him to process them. Overcharged mana thrums through his circuits, splintering along them, and for an unfortunate moment- He can conjure no flames nor lightning through his arm, his body shuddering.

An overload of his circuits.

A jetstream from behind, no doubt being assailed by darkness, and the man's leg follows up in a hard kick to the necromancer's back, before blasting off and back up- Giving a chance to recover.
(Hauk Fildegarde)
[05:27:02] The fight started off well, and Saulot unleashed his might of lightning and fire alike to blast upon Hauk. Aggressive in his combat style, he kept up the assault, one that was intended to break his defense and ultimately bring him down.

But it only could last for so long. The aggressive assault upon Hauk was brought to a halt the moment he realized he could not cast any other spell at all amidst the battle, and that's where he was left defenseless for a while - that was something he wasn't prepared for, having battled a very little number of Oscuri in his life.

"What kind of--"

Before he could finish the sentence, a kick sent to his back sent him forward; you could argue that a kick in the back could only make one fall, but what if it's a kick from basically a superhuman, another magi, that could lift thousands of LBs? That's the big difference here.

Rising on his feet again, Saulot stared upon Hauk. He spoke no word at this point, rather focusing on the fight itself.
(Saulot Vykos)
[05:27:53] {combat} Hauk Fildegarde has been defeated by Saulot Vykos! They're unable to continue fighting.
[05:33:00] At last, a refreshing second wind of a victory. Even if brief.

Saulot coated himself in the shield, one that would be eagerly protecting the necromancer from Hauk's constant blows with a sword. As brash and aggressive in his fight as always, Saulot charged upon the old man with lightning and dark flames alike.

The defense of Nostvale's ex-king was surely formidable, but even he would be worn out from constant pressure that Saulot had to offer, given the fact that their fight lasted for a while. Yet another assault and...

Boom.

The explosion sent him flying off, but Saulot needed a time opening to give himself a rest too. He was panting with his mouth open, teeth occasionaly gritting in pain both from old and new wounds alike, but he wasn't ready to end this yet.

"I can see why you're a Marshal of this city."

The necromancer spoke briefly, just before lunging at him once more. The fight continues.
(Saulot Vykos)

[05:39:50] The explosion disrupts the man's gravity control from the impact's rattling aftershock.

His body SLAMS against the forcefield of his own devising, causing a rippling in the quavering air that would've sent him flying down the street. He drops, landing into a weak roll, trying to rise back up.

A bit of a bubbling blister at the edge of his lip from the heat is smeated by a thumb- Black ichor intermingling with his blood. It fades away as the gel bubbling up from within adheres, prompting a gross surge of irritated, red flesh to splay out, before softly fuzzing over a peach color...

"Little Hauk wasn't exactly the best at using what he was given to, but he was more than satisfactory. But even now, as he fails, his body still is capable of combat..."

The man pauses, holding up a hand. Another cough emerges, a fist thumping against the plate-mail coating his chest, before nodding, settling back into stance- Ready to continue...
(Hauk Fildegarde)

[05:57:45] The two of their styles are aggressive- Though Hauk has the habit of darting back after a strong assault, waiting patiently for the energy about him to recharge for another burst towards him. He circles like a predator, greaves clanking along the cobblestone of the city- Using the bidden gravity mana for another purpose.

"Your close range-"

A slam. The greatsword moves with unnerving speed. It's dinted edge slams along his body, a flurry of blows unnatural for a blade of that size and a man of Hauk's age. The prosthetic could bear much, however- And the lattices inside of his body were intended for the stress of combat.

"- Is working against you. Am aware that lightning magi can jolt out of danger."

Forcing Saulot to conjure up a dark shield, Hauk grunts out the words as he swings, hazel eyes boring in. Every strike is augmented- With the force that would buoy Hauk into the air being now put behind grounded swipes.

"One must be more proactive with using it to escape this one's weapon."

He slides a leg forwards as soon as Saulot's shield falters, once again shattering his connection with mana- A foot behind his ankle, and the marshal trips him, before springing backwards nimbly.

He seems to prefer going for methods to incapacitate and disarm...


(Hauk Fildegarde)
[06:02:01] That was indeed the trouble for Saulot to grasp the concept of escapes; he was often too aggressive with his own magic, failing to see the proper time to retreat and recharge his own might.

He didn't speak, but merely listened to the words from Hauk. The Marshal was a far more experienced warrior, so those advices can come handy when next time in battle.

Though, that tripping...

Was rather unexpected. Saulot found himself on the ground once more once he had been exhausted to continue the fight, taking a breather whilst he's down. It surely had been lasting for a while, and such extensive combat was wearing him out.

But even now, he still got up on his feet. His back was hunched forward, it was already challenging to keep a straight posture.

"Right." - he spoke out in acknowledgement to Hauk's advice.
(Saulot Vykos)

[06:05:26] {combat} Hauk Fildegarde has been defeated by Saulot Vykos! They're unable to continue fighting.

[06:10:33] Unsurprisingly, Hauk's advice did work...

Whenever the Marshal was out there to engage upon Saulot and kick his ass in close range, Saulot would do his best to just leave the area as soon as possible, only to come back at him with yet another charge of dark flames and crimson lightning.

Boy, it felt good when things were goind your way and actually working.

"Thank you for advice."

The necromancer dropped his youthful competetiveness at this point. It seemed that the Marshal wanted the better for him... well, even if he dragged him out of his bed in the morning with such hurry. He honored his care and willingness to teach, at least that much Saulot could do to him.

With such tactic, the necromancer weaved in and out of the fight, delivering a strike after another, now much more focused and strategic in comparison to previous fights. He was improving, slowly but surely.

"What else can be done?"

Saulot spoke through the fight. Although, before Hauk could answer, the flames at his feet brought the heat to disbalance his stance... and while at that, the direct hit of crimson lightning forced him to be flung.
(Saulot Vykos)
[06:26:46] A grin splits his lips, when his sword connects with scarlet sparks and thin air rather than a body.

Admittedly, he refrains slightly- Exaggerating to show the difficulty most would have in righting themselves, refraining from an immediate blast towards him. However, even briefly faltering is enough for the strength of the emergent necromancer to overwhelm him-

The heat leaves him blasted off balance, scraping and thumping his back along the grass lining the sidewalk- Enchantments warding off damage from flame and divot. He rolls like a noisy tincan back onto Nostvale's pathways...

"You are doing better! Here- You need something to parry- Something nice, something capable of conducting one's magics."

He gasps out, mopping a sweat soaked brow as he recovers from the heat.

He reaches to his hip, to a slender, curved blade- On the cusp between a long dagger and a saber, he tosses it along the ground, hilt first. It skitters, the cold, blue-white edge of the weapon sparking as it goes along the street's stone, unblemished.

He pauses, leaning heavily and using the time the Vykos would need to properly acclimate to the saber to recover. Water is drawn from the air, mopping all over almost as though attempting to suffocate the man- A cold rush to revitalize him from his reddened skin.
(Hauk Fildegarde)

[06:30:11] {combat} Saulot Vykos has been defeated by Hauk Fildegarde! They're unable to continue fighting.

[06:37:00] "You'll need to acclimate-"

He blasts back towards Saulot, after awaiting the man to assume a fighting stance.

"The difference in weight will put you off."

An overhead swing comes down- Unlike the glaive, the sword is a worse block, the thin metal yielding and giving less resistance. The trail of stars and hammering power rushes downwards...

"You will need to parry not with brute force, but with redirection. It is a blade intended for finesse- It may not feel comfortable in one's grip at first."

The voice speaks... From what seems to be a rippling, black lump of tar on Hauk's throat, the man's mouth lightly open, breathing out as his nose breathes in, panting in the haze of heat and focusing on combat.

"Of course... It will need returned one day. It is... Quite an artifact, mostly of sentimental value unto this one. You would be surprised at how few know history, child. This one has always meant to rectify that- But it is so difficult to see done..."
(Hauk Fildegarde)

[06:44:41] Of course, Saulot wouldn't be really comfortable with the blade right away. He needed time to get used to it.

Whilst sparring against Hauk, at last, Saulot could use the blade to actually block off his strikes, unlike the staff he had that was rather... uncomfortable for such endeavors, at best.

"Finesse, you say..."

The necromancer inhaled deeply, adjusting his stance once more whilst he listened to the old man. He was still inexperienced with swordsmanship, but he was ought to do his best with it.

"You will have it back one day. Thank you for the gift."

But their fight wasn't over, just yet. Saulot prepared himself for another attack.
(Saulot Vykos)
[06:45:32] {combat} Hauk Fildegarde has been defeated by Saulot Vykos! They're unable to continue fighting.

[06:55:47] The young necromancer was getting some confidence whilst wielding the sword.

Striking with precise hits, dashing in with the power of lightning, he sliced and casted his magic upon the old man whenever he had the chance, immediately diving out the moment he was ready to strike back at him. He was following his advice, and it seemed that Hauk taught him well; perhaps too well, if he grasped it so soon.

Now it was the time to master such technique.

"This sword feels good in my hands, not going to lie."

Saulot was quick, powerful in his strikes and skillful. Yet another shock from crimson lightning, combined with a thrust of blade sideways, and Hauk felt the incapacitating feeling overwhelming him, sealing the fate of this round.
(Saulot Vykos)
[07:05:10] The numbing lightning running along his side makes his knee give out slightly, staggering as he is forced down.

"Hahn. Learning is the point, child. You are doing quite well! You will need to be prepared- If not for this, for the future. There are powerful enemies, capable of besting this one. Soon, you, too, will have to attempt to advance upon them. So, then, if-"

The void of light around him intensifies, the mana normally surrounding him lending false fire to the blade- Droplets of water gather along it.

"If it does..."

The man draws himself up. A deep breath inwards, as he lifts himself off the ground- Cape fluttering in the slight breeze.

"Then prepare!"

It was a time for a nasty little trick...
(Hauk Fildegarde)
[07:06:52] {combat} Saulot Vykos has been defeated by Hauk Fildegarde! They're unable to continue fighting.

[07:08:35] (Redo!)
(Hauk Fildegarde)
[07:08:35] (Redo.)
(Saulot Vykos)
[07:10:17] {combat} Saulot Vykos has been defeated by Hauk Fildegarde! They're unable to continue fighting.
[07:10:17] {combat} Hauk Fildegarde has been defeated by Saulot Vykos! They're unable to continue fighting.

[07:17:58] Saulot's brows were furrowed.

It was the final showdown. The final battle between the master and student.

"Then bring on your trick."

Grasping at the sword with a firm grasp, Saulot prepared for the final battle. Just a moment passed and he vanished from air, leaving a trail of crimson lightning behind himself - he appeared right at Hauk's face, already blasting off streams of electricity and fire alike.
_______________________

The swords clanged and clashed against each other, both combatants were naturally extremely fast due to both being rather powerful magi. Saulot fought with fire, both around him and in his heart, furiously striking every blow and taking a short retreat whenever necessary, as taught by Hauk.

It was intense, but the necromancer wasn't going to back down or let Hauk have a win, no. He fought with all his might, skill and a tiny bit of luck behind his shoulders, giving his all into it.
_______________________

But as much as he did so, the epic fight turned out to be rather tough. With constant exchange of blows, Saulot prepared his final strike, both of fire and lightning; with enormous quantities of mana surrounding him, he dashed in against the Marshal, electricity and heat rippling violently around his body.

Though, the final strike was a bit too much to handle...

It ended unexpectedly.

DOUBLE K.O.
(Saulot Vykos)
[08:07:28] Plasma jolts against his gut as the finally running swipe breezes by Saulot, striking him down to the ground under his own rush of stardust and force.

He skids to a halt, his knees making a metallic grind as the padding hits the cobble, tumbling with a barely caught slap of his upper arms to prevent his face from getting smashed in by meeting the pavement, Ascalon lying nearby.

The legionnaire lays there for a long moment, eyes half closed.

Drained of power, there is a faint hum in the air that dies away, almost imperceptible until it's gone. The papers dotting the lamp posts, walkways, and houses abruptly crinkle, unstick, and drop to the ground, useless after Hauk could no longer continue to feed them energy.

A couple of onlookers move on, a buzz of chatter from the impromptu performance dying down.

"Hahhn... Alright. This one..." His chest rises, weakly. "Thinks you are adequately prepared." His skin is flushed scarlet with a couple of fractal burns, his enchanted armor having kept him safe alongside the precautioned laid down. "Hhh. Ghghve this one a second." He groans, rolling onto his side."

The toss is weak- But it 'floats' its way to his destination as though the air were dense water, the wineskin actually filled with cooled grape juice as it bonks lightly into Saulot's form, threatening to buoy off backwards from the soft impact.
(Hauk Fildegarde)
[08:13:26] Eventually, Saulot began to rise on his feet as well. The battle was hard-fought, but it was worth it to learn something new and practice the old; the necromancer was still young and had plenty of energy left in him, in contrary to the old body of Hauk, and stood once more soon enough.

"That... was a good fight... thank you for the lesson."

Still holding onto his side, he took a deep exhale. The cocktail of adrenaline with blood was still racing into his heart back and forth, but eventually the stress was beginning to subside, fading away as the time passed. He became calmer as the battle ended.

"Are you in pain?"

He casually asked, though such question was out of care and respect to the old soldier.
(Saulot Vykos)
[08:27:56] "Hnghm. Just- For a bit. It'll last a while."

Labored and drawn out slowly, but the man allows water to wash over the burns and agony, pooling over him like a second skin. Eyes flutter shut, relief slowly starting to course through him as the auxillary organ implanted by his patron began to do it's duty...

Distribute high grade opiates and painkillers.

"See how much better it is when one takes time to focus on escape? If one is caught between blades, you possess apt ability to twist from them. You learned to copy what this one was doing- Girding oneself against attack using one's powers as one dived in. It evened the field much, no? Practice makes one far more apt."

A hand reaches, with fumbling slowness, into a protected bag. The map is held up in a fist.

"One wished to bring one's undead, no? Am satisfied one is likely not to get murdered by some errant yokai, but if one has any friends, this one advises bringing."

"This one could accompany one, if one wished, but attracting undo attention of going past the black gate would likely set off seventy alarms somewhere." A dry enough tone accompanies it. "You are... Capable of rift, correct? If one locates it and enough functioning machinery, this one will await one in the living room. Merely open a portal once one has it... Secured, and am certain can elucidate on anything intact we might find."
(Hauk Fildegarde)
[08:36:28] Gladly, Saulot was still young and could carry on further after partaking in a fight. He didn't need any painkillers and could already stand straight, refreshed by some rest, almost an envious trait to someone like Hauk; he was of age after all, and a rather big one.

"It did help a lot, indeed. Thank you for this lesson, it'll be more than useful in my travels."

Though, his gaze went towards the map that he held infront of himself. Saulot reached out to it and grasped it, flipping it open and examining what was on it. Did he finally manage to grasp upon the knowledge of where Falco's notes were?

"Hm..."

Saulot pondered over Hauk's words while reading through the map. Unfortunately, now that he thought of it, he didn't have absolutely anyone he could call a friend to bring along... certainly, there were some acquintaces, but that's about it - they were not the trusted people he'd bring in for such adventure.

"Yes, I am capable of Rift. I'm quite skilled at it even, if I say so."

"Alocates it? You mean, visit the location on the map and then bring you along by going back and forth?"
(Saulot Vykos)

[08:42:27] "One would likely need only make one portal- Am capable of stepping through. We can return thereafter, with the minimal time spent by this one out of Nostvale. Once you have been somewhere, it is the most efficient form of travel, no? It would be silly not to use it, and to minimize the risk."

Indeed- The paper in his hand seems... Old. It is actually enshrouded in a laminating resin to keep it from deteriorating further- The paper is entirely yellowed, the edges frayed, and small creases are everywhere, with larger and decaying indents along the formerly folded meridians, akin to a letter.

It seems to be an old map to a facility in the southwest Sarab, in a remote location.

A smiley face is in the corner, with a crude jester's hat drawn on it.

"don't be late
aria'll get mad
don't make aria mad!!!!!"

Someone's cursive handwriting seems to be on it the fading of the ink hinting that it was there when this map was originally made.
(Hauk Fildegarde)
[08:49:16] Saulot Vykos: (sry an old friend turned up at discord)
[08:51:50] It was indeed an efficient way of travel, one that he could not ignore; after all, he wielded such power already, so why not use it?

"Alright, so here's the plan--"

"I should travel to the place marked on this map, and then I'll return briefly to you in order to teleport you to that place, correct?"

He spoke whilst eyeying the map.

"Then, we see what of use can be brought out of there, and teleport back to your home with whatever we find, right?"

Saulot was double-checking everything to make sure that he got it right, and Hauk would re-confirm the plan as well.
(Saulot Vykos)
[08:53:32] Hauk Fildegarde: ((Totally fine!))
[08:58:40] "Yes."

"Try to make sure you have eliminated anything that could cause issue. It was formerly a location of intense mana fluctuations and... Effects. You may wish to ensure everything is fine before opening up a rift- It may have some... Adverse effects."

"A child who was brought there ended up losing her ability to express magic during one of those experiments. It was... Unfortunate, but she had gotten into where she shouldn't have. It was somewhat crushing for her father, though he recovered from it. It... Changed him, a bit."

"This one wishes had the foresight to have prevented it."

"In short, it is abandoned, but as you know, many things that crave darkness and magic might have infested it. The sands are known for yokai and banditry; Either might be present. Or it may be dull, or it may have been stripped of everything already."

"It will probably be a few days out on foot." He remains laying down on the ground, but his breath is far less forced, relaxing slowly. He watches Saulot's vitality with a bit of that jealousy, but it fades as does most critical thoughts as his mind is muddled.

"In short, yes."
(Hauk Fildegarde)

[09:14:52] "Very well."

Saulot darted his gaze into map once more. He studied it and paced past Hauk while at that, already preparing to head out as soon as possible. Whatever dangers were out there to get to him, he was prepared to face them on, all to harvest the necessary power to complete his mastery of Necromancy.

"I'll be most careful, at best of my ability. Thank you for your training and information alike, it will help."

With that note, Saulot paced out of the city, still constantly gazing upon the map. He wouldn't wait any longer than he should if the information on such place was right here.

Hell, he wouldn't even be able to sleep at night if he didn't head out right now.
(Saulot Vykos)