Dankei entered the Arena once more. "Greetings, Nickademus! I am back, as I promised. You complained nobody ever went for the hard challenge? Well, I'm quite ready to take on one of your more promising critters, and I am certain I will survive just as well."
He stood at the end of the Arena where he'd started his last round, and awaited Nickademus' reply.

No reply came from Nickademus' shaded alcove for quite a while. Just as Dankei started thinking the man had fallen asleep, a familiar trap door opened and the sounds of wooden gears creaking were heard as the monster was lifted up into the arena.
The first thing Dankei saw of the creature was a very vile-looking guisarme, then as the platform raised some more, what looked to be a catfolk warrior appeared.

---

Battle has started!


Turns are as follow -
Dankei (0/16 HP)(14/16 MP)(K13)
Seeker hunter-killer (34/34 HP)(4/4 MP)(I13)

Dankei's Turn! -

Although unsure if his opponent was truly a Catfolk, Dankei still figured it was only a matter of time before he killed it. Still, he found that staying out of the way of the Catfolk would be a good idea, and used his new boots to cast Flight and flew well out of the Catfolk's reach. (Yes Sb, that includes the reach from it's Guisarme)

From his new vantage point, Dankei saw that his opponent had a black cloak which hid most of his body.

Catfolk Warrior's turn! -

Seemingly unperturbed by his opponent suddenly taking flight despite it's lack of wings, the Catfolk Warrior planted the butt of his guisarme into the sand and reached under his cloak, flashing some chainmail as he did so, and took out a holmegaard. It only had time to notch an arrow before Dankei could react!

Dankei's turn! -

Dankei didn't panic upon seeing his opponent drawing a ranged weapon, but reacted by casting both Mudslide and an Empowered Heat Beam on the Catfolk Warrior. Hopefully, the mudslide would affect both the Catfolk's speed, and its accuracy with bows.

Even though the Catfolk was holding a very non-defensive weapon like a bow, he knew he stood a better chance defending than dodging!

Dankei's mudslide drove itself onto the Warrior and pushed him back all the way to A13, where he got plastered to the wall!
Catfolk Warrior's speed decreased by 1!

Dankei's heat beam would have hit the warrior a split second later but he quickly ducked into the mud and escaped the heat beam!

Catfolk Warrior's turn! -

The Catfolk Warrior did its best to free itself from the mud, though substantial amounts remained on his legs and feet, which slowed him down. None stuck to his arms, though, and he raised his bow and loosed an arrow at Dankei!

Dankei swiftly flew to the left when he saw the incoming arrow.

Luck was with Dankei, as the arrow whizzed past his right ear!

Dankei's turn! -

Dankei felt he was running low on magical reserves, but managed to fire another Empowered Heat Beam before being completly drained.

The Catfolk Warrior did its best to jump out of the way, much as it had before!

As much as Dankei's aim was perfect, he seemed to have miscalculated the distance between himself and his target! His heat beam came up short and fizzled before getting to the warrior, dealing no damage!

Catfolk Warrior's turn! -

The Warrior took out another arrow and reloaded his bow!

Dankei's turn!-
Grumbling he'd forgotten about the range of his spell, Dankei casually flied towards the Catfolk warrior, stopping in K13, and drank a Magic Potion on his way there.

Dankei drank his magic potion!
Dankei now has 14/16 MP!
Now that Dankei was closer to his opponent, he caught a draft of decay emanating from it, as well as the distinct impression it was missing pats of its face.

Catfolk Warrior's turn! -

The Catfolk Warrior took aim and quickly loosed another arrow!

Dankei let out a digusted "Ugh" when he smelled the foul stench, and floated to the side to avoid the arrow.

The smell emanating from the Catfolk Warrior was pungent to distract Dankei just long enough so as to help the arrow find it's mark! Dankei felt the impact in his chest, inches away from his heart and was dealt 15 damage! The pain, in turn, broke his concentration and he fell to the ground, receiving another 1 damage as hard stone broke his fall.

Battle has ended!
Dankei is defeated!

---

The trap door that had let the zombie out creaked open again, and the seeker reluctantly walked back onto it, disappearing beneath the arena.

Nickademus walked out to Dankei, two health potions in his grip, and kneeled next to the warrior's unconscious body. He took hold of the arrow, still protruding from his chest, and yanked it out before giving Dankei the potions.
"Flying out of harm's reach is good, sire, but you need heed the moment it stretches and your luck runs dry!" He said.

Dankei returned to full health!

Dankei hazily came to, and saw Nickademus' blurred appearance standing over him. He heard what the referee said, and sat up, rubbing his head as it was still sore from the fall. "That... hurt. Beaten by a foul undead, bah!"
He reconsidered the battle in his head, and then, a small smile crept onto his face. "But a most educational fight indeed. And just in time! Oh yes, this is very good indeed..."
He got himself up, and bowed before Nickademus. "I thank your for your healing and your time. I wish to fight again. A moderate challenge this time. You think that will be okay?"

"Now?!" Nickademus simply asked, somewhat bemused. Usually combatants never stayed for a second fight!

"Of course now!" Dankei said. "Now's as good a time as any! You've healed all my wounds, and thanks to my magic potion, my magical abilities are still in fine condition. I think I will be able to take on another opponent. I won't leave until I've succeeded at least once."
he took up his naginata, and stood defiantly, showing an eagerness to battle which hadn't come to him before.

Back to the Caerhamian arena