Gears Vs Glaives: The Arena (attn: Ciraxis)

[Pretzelparty]

 

“I hate the cold.” Thought the combatant as she the cold arena outside the double doors she was to enter the fray from. Saarvarberg was hardly her kind of place. The loud rowdy caribou, the general bloodlust many of the spectators  seemed to exhibit. She’d picked this savage place for a reason though: the diversity of those who fought there. Once such opponent she had taken a slight interest in, That being a stallion who showed a talent for swordsmanship and had an impressive magical pool and aura… he would be the perfect test subject to see how these devices she’d made at the behest of the Aquellian military and partly funded by the griffiness Morianna Razorclaw could perform in active combat.

Testing such things in a lab is one thing, situations were controlled and stable in there: less things could go wrong, but in that was the problem. Combat is a fairly difficult to predict especially with certain magical abilities exhibited by unicorns in the more strange fields for magic, which was why she’d made a few useful gadgets that could help Aquellian operatives in the field.

 

This pony had her reasons for developing such technology but a few of them were mostly self serving so she could move on to her greater goal… but that’s another story entirely. For now she had to calm herself and make sure she gathered as much data as she could from this unicorn and as a result she had asked him to wear a aetherometer with a timer on it that would keep track of curious raises and falls in this pony’s magical aura based on the ‘stimulus’ she would be providing.

At her sides were a pair of saddlebags. Seeing as this may be her first and last time in the arena she’d made sure to bring the best advantages she could so she could last longer and gather more data. Therefore she had on a machine that would give her an aerial advantage. In addition to that she had brought her briefcase which held two out of three of the variations on anti magical tech she had designed, with  the third not being in the case but on her left hoof… thankfully the gadget on her foreleg was covered by long sleeves of her wintercoat.  

 

She’d also made sure to cover her face up with her red bandana and cover her eyes with some curious goggles. Her hood was up above her head and low enough that it was able to hide her horn from view.

 

There was one last group of devices she’d brought along but.. She could only use them once for the start of the fight.

 

The last thing she’d brought was her teleport tether device… This one would likely prove vital. While She was nimble thanks to the necessity of learning when to get out of the way of experiments and machines that were about to explode, but teleportation allowed one to put more distance between their opponent and themselves much more quickly than a simple dodge would.

Throughout her time the pony was proving to be one of, if not the least sociable fighter there. She was quiet, usually only spoke if she needed to and never more than that but was present for most of the matches before. This was also accompanied by the occasional tripping and the like and it seemed her entrance into the open area of the arena was no exception. The tripping was accompanied this time by several small marbles that rolled in multiple directions on the arena floor, most of them still around the apparently clumsy mare. She coughed, her voice clearly feminine sounding and speech pattern indicating the attempt of hiding an accent, “Thank you for agreeing to this…”

[Ciraxis]

That wasn't a situation that Squall expected to happen.

When he arrived to Whitescar to test his abilities in it's fabled Arena, swordpony didn't thought that he will gain so much. True, most would be a quite upset about losing, but Swift did not felt that way. He found out long ago that you learn more from your failings then victories. And if the price was a little ponysonal pride? So be it.

That of course meant that Swift had a mixed feelings when he got challenged to a match. But no, it wasn't about the fight. It was about...research? Initially Squall wanted to reject that request. He came here to find shortcomings in his abilities not to humor some scientist. At least that was his thought until he saw a small emblem on the side of the device.

He remembered seeing it before. It seemed like forever ago, but the memory was clear. During one of his visit, when he was asked to keep eye on General Pummel he saw the very same symbol on devices scattered through the estate. Estate belonging to...

"Razorclaw....."

The request from griffones stroke him as odd from the beginning. After all, Pummel himself was firm supporter of keeping  relations with Aquelia at friendly level. Why would Morianna want from the General? Or maybe rather, because Pummel is a general. It reeked with politics, and Squall didn't liked politics one a bit.

Fabricating his death allowed Squall granted opportunity to investigate Razorclaws interest in Equestria military forces. However other....more obvious and straightforward dangers occupied unicorn's mind and time. Until now...

What was the connection between this mysterious challenger and Razorclaws? Is he or she one behind the machines he saw in their mansion? Swift couldn't ignore this lead. He had to accept the challenge.

 

And so once again 'Hail Line' stepped into an Arena floor. While during the previous bouts  stallion counted on his agility and speed, this time it was clear that he intended to overwhelm his opponent with share amount of his weaponry. This time unicorn walked out in a full plate armor, sans the helm that for a moment was levitating beside him. The suit didn't seemed to weight down him much, it was clear it had to be enchanted. It was also clear that it shape and ornaments was as much for intimidation as for protection.

Unicorn kept one of the longswords , although it seemed it was different from the ones used before. The other blade was traded for hoplon that pegasi from Acroneighos seemed to favor so much. However it was slightly larger then the ones used by winged ponies, made from pure metal and on it's surface was  Ψ instead of Α used by Acroneighans. Other additions was a massive spear with a long, heavy blade - as good for slashing as thrusting. It's shaft was metallic too and - judging from it's color - made from admantinium. Most of his equipment seemed to be moved back too. Held by straps on his legs and in satchels, thrown weapons were now on his flanks, for easier access by tail. Most of them were unchanged, although stallion increased their quantity. He also added chakrams and throwing axes for some reason. The device that he was provied with was strapped to his right foreleg.

 

When Squall however saw who walked from the other entrance those preparations seemed redundant. This....THIS gawky mare was to be his opponent? The fact that she was a mare noblepony deducted immediately. As clumsy as it was, her body language was like an open book for him. Not only she was smaller then him, her movements and build also told him that she definitely wasn't type that did push-ups every morning.

That said, assuming that she had zero or near zero combat experience could prove to be a great underestimation from his part. His previous fights shown that it was a bad habit of his, and Squall wasn't going to make this mistake again.

On 30.06.2016 at 8:18 AM, Pretzelpony said:

She coughed, her voice clearly feminine sounding and speech pattern indicating the attempt of hiding an accent, “Thank you for agreeing to this…”

 

Another clue! Swift was fluent in way too many languages to not recognize efforts of hiding one's accent. So Prench and....Aquelian? That's a rather odd combination. Something you expect from an hippogriff or ambassador. For now he decided to keep his recognition of it for himself, but the question remained. Who was this mare, and what was her connection with Razorclaws?

"Do not mistake my willingness of playing the part of guinea pig for courtesy. There is something that I have to know. And You. Will. Tell. Me" said 'Hail Line' with emphasis before putting his helmet on, complementing the look of mountain of steel and muscle.