VitaVitaAR

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Even as Serenity moved out of her range, Fanilly was already moving. The upwards thrust had failed to reach her target, but that was no reason to stop for even an instant.

Pressure.

She had to put on pressure. She had to make every movement a potential threat. She had to constantly apply herself from every potential angle, every potential point of aggression.

It was a sparring match, but that didn't meant there was any reason not to fight to her fullest.

This time she was tilted forward, darting over the grounds towards Serenity's side once more. Obviously she would pivot, just as she had done in response to every attack prior, but this time Fanilly twisted her body as soon as she reached the shield's side, on her opponent's right.

She had to get around the shield.

With both hands firmly gripping the hilt of the wooden sword, she used the momentum of her body to put as much power into her swing as she could. The angle and positioning wasn't the best for striking Serenity herself, and trying to position herself properly to achieve that would likely have lead to more time for another pivot.

The goal was, instead, to push the shield out of the way. Even for an instant, if she could succeed, it would at least force a different response and open new avenues of attack for her.

Even if she managed to catch her, from this angle, her blade would assuredly strike the shield from the side, from a difficult position.

It was a matter of how much that would matter that would determine her next actions.

@ERode

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

While using the shield side to evade was the wider option for just an escape, in terms of actually claiming victory it was less so. The size of the shield made it quite easy to simply pivot into a block. Against a smaller shield, perhaps it would be easier to slip around the edge with a thrust.

But in this case, Fanilly couldn't rely on such a tactic.

And so she would lean into her mobility instead. Not only was she lighter, but the school of swordplay she had been educated it was one that emphasized that mobility.

This time, she went to her left, and Serenity's right. But instead of simply side stepping and rushing in, the knight-girl threw herself, hitting the ground and rolling once before catching herself at the end of the motion and thrusting upwards towards her opponent's flank.

Low to the ground, it would quite simply take longer for the blade to reach her, and her opponent's momentum meant that turning to fully face her would be a much more difficult task. There was no guarantee it would succeed, of course, but it made for a much more potent threat then a blow to the left would have.

@ERode

---

It was a this incredibly inopportune moment that the door opened.

"Ah-hah!" declared a purple-haired girl in a maid's outfit. She was perhaps the same age as the Knight-Captain, hair cut to the base of her neck and sharp eyes the same shade as it was. She thrust a finger accusingly.

"I knew it was you, Alaree! You won't be pranking Miss Tessa any... more..."

Her finger wilted like an overheated flower as she trailed off, staring blanking in confusion. She had certainly not expected to see a hundi here.

Let alone one she recognized as one of the knights.

"... E-er..." she shifted uncertainly for a moment, "Sir... Lein, I believe... what are you doing exactly?"

She'd even put out the damaged stool and waited for the right time... why was one of the knights here?! She'd set her trap for that little brat perfectly...!

@PigeonOfAstora

The Maids Guide to Demon Hunting

While her attitude towards Tiki could best be described as seething, at the very least Elizstrazia was not particularly resistant to being measured. Nor did she avoid being dressed, as she was quite certain that she would unquestionably be the most gorgeous and beautiful of all the maids in their full uniform and was as a result quite eager to demonstrate that fact.

"Serviceable?" she nearly snapped. Polina's comment on her chest... well, clearly she'd never seen something truly refined and beautiful before! Clearly her taste was awful, if that's what she thought of her wonderful and beautiful and perfect breasts! Clearly! There was no other possible explanation!

With a huff, the scale demon folded her arms, her tail swishing angrily from side to side.

"... Hmph. You just don't know quality when you see it," she added, looking away.

"... Anyway, humans kill humans all the time, so there isn't anything odd about a demon killing demons," Elizstrazia gestured idly with one clawed hand, "Anyway, now I'm sure you can all admire my new-"

That sharp impact.

It didn't hurt.

But she felt the maid's hand collide with her backside.

She never gave her permission she never said it was okay to touch she never said any of that and she just slapped her rear end like that she touched her and she touched her hard she didn't even think about it she just did it...!

Cheeks burning, the scale demon immediately spun on her heel.

"I-I-I'll give you a taste of your own medicine, you... you... you...!"

@AzureKnight@Rune_Alchemist@Pyromania99@Click This

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Of course. The shield was a weapon as well as a defense.

While Fanilly had anticipated a sword strike, that didn't mean she was entirely unaware of the possibility of a blow from the shield instead. Blocking was impractical at best and self-harming at worst against such a charge.

And thus the best response was not to be in the path of the shield at all.

Fanilly's feet shifted, and she threw her body sideways. While the shield was hardly safe, it would be easier to turn and swing a sword then it would be to turn and swing a shield.

Get around to her opponent's side. Capitalize on even an instant of exposure.

A swift thrust, and then move on. If it landed, then her blow was a success. If it didn't, then she could hardly afford to remain and try again when the shield remained a threat.

@ERode

The Storm Cycle: Reclamation

"You do realize that twisted glass would shatter," Fio sighed as she channeled magical energy down through her fingertips. It wouldn't take very much to disrupt and ultimately entirely erase the unseelie's efforts, but there mere fact she was attempting it in the first place was unfortunate. Perhaps a light ward placed on the jar to avoid such attempts in the first place would be for the best.

"In any case, fine, I'll get you some honey bread," added the Sword Witch, rising to her feet to go to her pack. The fact she quite enjoyed it herself meant there was no real problem with carrying it around, and magic preservation techniques meant that it was unlikely to go stale. Indeed, all of their rations would have no problem surviving the trip as long as her sigils remained intact, no matter how perishable they might be.

"I wonder if you're familiar with the concept of 'release on good behavior'?" she questioned the jarred unseelie as she opened her pack, head tilted, before her attention shifted to the giant.

"I have no doubt in your talents, but we've been asked to speak to a smith who can work with dragon scale," Fio responded, "While it would certainly be a stroke of luck if the first giant smith with came across possessed such a skillset, I hope you understand why I don't want to make that assumption."

She didn't intend any rudeness, of course. It was simply the fact that it would be far too convenient, especially given that even a highly skilled smith would hardly be guaranteed know how to work with such a material as dragonscale.

It wasn't exactly a common skillset.

@Rune_Alchemist@Pyromania99

Bible of Ichor: Septet for the Dead

It didn't appear that the blow had been sufficient to put the poor creature out of its misery, nor end what she could only assume was the twisted shrine's influence on the monsters and Kordelia itself.

But...

Even as Kordelia's transformation into something monstrous began, Aleksiya noticed something distinctly wrong. Not the transformation in and of itself, though it was rare that her fellow lord pushed any of the beastly alterations to this point. Rather the strained manner of speech, the way her head had jerked unnaturally, and the faint crimson thread that drifted from behind her.

The sudden arrival of the maid only prompted further doubt in the nature of the situation.

But Aleksiya's attention now turned from the twisted altar to that glint of thread behind what was now an enormous monstrosity.

"Dear me, Kordelia," she said with a sigh, "What an unpleasant makeover. Might I suggest you return to your previous look?"

Her words fell on deaf ears, naturally, as she took a step back, manifesting a razor-edged length of ice beside her right arm.

"I'm glad to see you find this amusing, observer," she added, addressing the maid, "I certainly do not."

She pointed the ice-blade forward.

"Giselle. The thread, you saw it as well? I don't think I need to say anything more about what we should do."

And then she was off and running. Either cut the thread herself, or maintain the monstrous Kordelia's attention. Either way, she had to ensure it was severed.

@Rune_Alchemist@Click This

The Lion's Banner: A Fire Emblem-Inspired Anime Fantasy RP

"... I thought as much," Velvetica replied with a sigh. Gisela's comment had only confirmed her suspicions. Something happened here, and it didn't appear to simply be necromancy. Where were the cultists? Why was there so much blood? If it were the work of undead, perhaps they simply retreated inside, but...

Had something come from within the tomb? No, as per Roger's report it didn't seem as if there was any time for a retreat. The cultists outside would have been able to flee if something came from within. The fact their camp was destroyed but there was no-one in sight implied the threat came from outside, but...

What was the threat in the first place? There simply wasn't any evidence of anything, and the fact Gisela commented so specifically on it implied it wasn't something she expected to be here. Shouldn't she have expected necromancy?

Kayliss's entry into the tomb revealed the location of the cultists.

It was clear they had fled inside, perhaps in an attempt to defend themselves. But whatever had attacked them had been overwhelming.

While there was plenty of blood, the bodies were largely unharmed. The killing blows had been swift and almost surgical, an incredibly sharp, sizable weapon thrust through the chest or severing the head.

It was a methodical killing of every single remaining cultist.

Once Kayliss signaled for support, Velvetica commanded her forces onwards. Whatever was in the tomb must have swiftly altered the nature of the situation, even more than the bloodstained and ransacked camp. But more than that, it also signaled a lack of any sort of trap or other immediate danger.

Indeed, the site of the cultists methodically, thoroughly slain, would not have been an unwelcome one.

If it had been at the hands of her Lions.

But an unknown part had been the perpetrator, and the Steel Princess truly had no idea. A far too clean, far too percise killing. Even one skilled in assassination would be hard pressed to kill so many with such precision.

"... We have no choice but to uncover what happened here."

Velvetica sighed. This was on Veltan land, after all. Such an even had to be understood.

The tomb was not a particularly pleasant place. Unlike those of adherents to the goddesses, it was decorated with grimacing faces and strange animal-human amalgamations. Antlered men and other unusual creatures. Velvetica had heard of folk deities that shared some traits with the figures depicted on the walls, but there was a certain hostility to the carvings. Perhaps, rather then symbols of worship, they were intended to be warnings to keep trespassers out.

The last chamber of the tomb was not particularly deep, and not a single trap or living cultist was encountered before they reached it.

A figure in black and gold robes, clutching a skull-tipped staff, lay dead. around him were corpses, laid out carefully and adorned with candles. It was clear that efforts to raise the dead had been made here, at the very least.

But that was not all that sat within the chamber.

A girl stood there. She was perhaps in her teens, by appearances, Velvetica's age or slightly younger. Her features were soft, elegant perhaps, and framed by lengthy, pale blue hair that matched the shade of her eyes. Her skin was of an unnatural shade of white, one that was not seen on any living human.

It shone in a way slightly different from ordinary flesh, as well.

Her body was clothed in a pale dress with blue decoration, and atop her head was a pointed, wide-brimmed hat.

"Oh?"

She spoke softly, turning to face the Lions.

Her fingers possessed joints, like a doll's. Briefly visible was a similar joint at her wrist, before her frilled sleeves fell over it again.

Beside her stood a creature shaped vaguely like a naked human woman. But it was positioned in an unnatural fashion, knees bent backwards, two sets of arms supporting its large body in an almost spiderlike position. It was hairless, its eyes and expression black, and the joints at its limbs indicated that in spite of its abominable appearance it was some manner of doll.

Another set of arms ended in curved blades, each dripping with fresh blood.

"Ah, you must be the Veltans, I presume," commented the figure, waving her hand idly as she did, "I hadn't seen any of the others around here for some time, so I expect you were the ones who elected to deal with this cult. Alas, it seems you are too late."

A smirk crossed the girl's lips.

"... And what are you doing here, Witch?"

There wasn't a single moment of doubt in Velvetica's mind.

The doll girl was a Witch.

"My my, how hostile," responded the Witch amiably, though she was still smirking, "And here I thought you may approve of my handiwork. It's not as if I did anything you didn't plan on doing yourselves, is it?"

@Raineh Daze@Rin@AzureKnight@Psyker Landshark@The Otter@VKAllen@Eisenhorn@Crimson Paladin@Conscripts@HereComesTheSnow@Octo@PigeonOfAstora

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

When Dame Serenity altered her stance, realization dawned on Fanilly.

The dream that they had shared that night, and the ancient figure who had risen within the depths of the Cazt Mausoleum...

It was the Demonbreaker, that the knight sought to emulate. It made far more sense now, the choice of shield and training blade.

Immediately Fanilly's mental stock of the fight changed track. If Dame Serenity was confident enough to attempt to emulate the Demonbreaker, that meant it was possible her initially intended approach was not the ideal one.

This was a training match, but if they were going to spar to better one another... not only was it her duty as a knight, but it was her duty as Knight-Captain to do all she could.

And thus she had to try and analyze the battle as if it was a real one.

Fanilly's mind reached back to the words of her instructor.

'Against an opponent of greater strength and defensive capabilities, you must find any opening that you can. Their strikes are your opportunity.'

She had never trained against Dame Serenity.

Fanilly leaned forward, her training sword held low as she angled her body towards her opponent.

Planting one foot forward, she propelled herself towards her.

It was a straightforward advance without any presumptions, the girl's grip on the training blade seeming set for an equally straightforward strike.

Perhaps Dame Serenity would immediately see through it, but the opening of a duel was often a move intended to test one another more than anything else.

One step into her opponent's range.

Another.

Before she sprang backwards just as swiftly as she advanced. If Dame Serenity struck, it was her opportunity to circle to her flank. If she did not, then it was a test of what she would do instead.

Either way, it would shed at least a little light on the progress of the sparring match if nothing else.

@ERode

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

"... Bags...?"

It took a few moments for Fanilly to comprehend what just happened.

Teleportation was, of course, a type of magic she was aware of. The process of instantaneously moving from one location to the other wasn't impossible with magic. But it did have limitations, even if she didn't fully understand them. Surely, moving something from a distance as far as Akitsushima fell far beyond such limits, didn't it?

Or was this simply what such a legend as Merilia was capable of?

Regardless, it was hard to focus on things when Dame Serenity seemed quite intent on their training duel. And Fanilly could hardly deny that practice was always a good idea.

Especially when her position was so important.

The blonde knight-girl took a position across from her opponent.

The wooden blade raised. Her feet shifted, spreading, as she angled her weapon across her body.

'Your opponent carries a shield and you do not. But your sword is longer and possesses more reach. Use it to your advantage.'

She took a deep breath, then exhaled through her nose.

'Avoid a range in which your reach is no longer effective. Use your leverage. Find an angle from which to strike.'

She was ready.

@ERode@PigeonOfAstora@Raineh Daze@Conscripts@Crimson Paladin

The Lion's Banner: A Fire Emblem-Inspired Anime Fantasy RP

@Kero: Think very norse-sounding names.