[OP]-The beginning (Comepleted) [F1]

[Koumori 0]

I wasn't expected that whistle. The load shrilly noise that Grave let loose from his lips startled everyone at the table, Abalasster even fell out of his chair. I took it much better, only offering an initial flinch. Clearly he wanted us to shut up, and the usually quite Takao jumped to take advantage. It seemed that my constant bickering was beginning to get on everyone's nerves, so he suggested we go and get the duel over with, and in a coliseum. Ugh, I really had to go along with this huh. Well it was probably for the better, it would release a lot of the tension, but I shuddered at the possibility of losing after all the things that I had said. With my weapon still being forged, I didn't stand a chance against Mack's admittedly impressive axe. There had to be some way to even out the odds. Plus I didn't want to run the risk of anyone being accidentally killed, that would ruin the fun. It seemed like the only way...was a fist fight. Yeah, that could work. We were both clearly angry at each other so beating each other senseless would probably work a lot better than being beaten by a blade and I liked my chances a little better. "Alright let's do it, but I'm making some changes. No weapons, just our fists. Doesn't that sound more interesting, Mack? A nice clean brawl. Whoever wins has gotta take it, I'm not afraid to step up and be the big man. But I can't promise I won't keep ribbing you" I added with a wink. I was almost positive he would accept the offer. But I began to wonder, would it solve my problem after all? The reason I didn't like him was because I was suspicious of him, so how could it help? Maybe what they said was true, maybe men do warm up to each other once they let off their steam. Besides, I was beginning to think I may have been wrong about him. Maybe he was more like me than I thought and that's what my problem was. Bringing myself back to reality, I raised my hand and yelled out "check" to summon the waiter back over so that when we were ready to go we could just get up. 

[Mack 0]

No sooner had the blonde blacksmith finished firing off his retort than Grave cut loose with an ear-splitting whistle that made Mack wince. There was no denying that the whistle was impressive and had the desired effect of quieting everyone, if only for a second as the silence was then broken by Abalasster crashing to the floor. Chewie, wholly unconcerned by the noise, finished devouring his steak and began to gnaw on the bone. When Takao mentioned an amphitheater as a proper venue for the fight Mack shrugged his shoulders. That was fine with him. Then Koumori fired up with some terms and conditions.

"I wouldn't want to fight with that pathetic excuse for a weapon either," Mack said dismissively, continuing to sip on the beer that was in front of him. "Fists are fine, but let's make it more interesting. If you win, I'll give you a thousand col, but when I win you owe me eight crafting materials. Regardless, the loser also picks up the group's dinner tab. The duel will be the first person to land five hits, bare knuckle with no status modifiers. The most damage we could do to one another, that way, is only fifteen points and I propose that we give Takao and Grave refereeing permissions to keep things from going beyond the five hit minimum. Deal?" The hulking warrior extended a hand to Koumori to shake which would seal the agreement.

[Grave 0]

Thank goodness it worked.  Everyone shut up as I hoped, and poor Abalasster even fell from his chair, narrowly missing being skewered by his own dinner knife. Takao took that moment to diffuse the situation and suggest the duel again.  I sighed heavily as I recalled my initial thoughts about the duel, but... Koumori suggested a fist-fight.  Now my interest was piqued.  I leaned over on the table, elbows on the scratched wood and hands folded under my chin.

"Alright, this could get interesting," I agreed, before Mack suggested that Takao and I make sure neither goes over five hits, "Yeah, sure, I'll be happy to adjudicate," I told them as I leaned back again.  It was really only Rose that I was worried might have had a problem with it.

[Rose 0]

Rose heard Alabasster fall. When he got back up she asked "Are you alright?" Then she heared Takao mention something about the duel and that it should happen in a amphitheater. Hearing that it was going to be a fist fight, she grinned.  Having been a wrestling fan when she was outside of the game, it was going to be fun to see something close to the real thing.

"I'm fine with watching, this is going to be fun." Rose commented. Finishing her food and drink, she handed the dishes over to the waitress before cleaning her face with a napkin. Her stomach was happier now and she felt better after eating. "I just wish my mom could see it, we both used to love wrestling." She added while streatching her arms forward to release some tension.

Mentioning her mother made a stab of sadness go through her, but she kept it in. She had already been caught crying once today, she wasn't going to let that happen again. Taking a silent breath to calm herself, she pushed the sadness away for now. 

[Takao 0]

Takao glanced down at the plate his reptilian familiar had cleaned off and exhaled a disappointed sigh. Whatever it was he had ended up ordering did look good, which was likely why the gluttonous lizard jumped on the opportunity to devour it before the brunet had the chance. He gave the monster a slight pat on the head for he couldn't stay too mad at it for very long, then returned to glancing around the table. Koumori and Mack went about setting their rules for the duel, although the former seemed to have asserted some level of authority when it came to the conditions of their fight, and the latter brought forth a wager regarding the outcome. Neither mattered to Takao, as long as the end result was that their quarreling would no longer reach his ears. "Well," Takao began to speak as he stood up, the monster on his lap quickly scurrying up onto his shoulders before he was even able to fully stand. "We'll have to pay for the meal first, since we can't just leave and come back. ..and since I'll be one of the, uh... "referees", I don't mind spotting the loser for now."

By the time he'd finished talking, Takao had already delved into his menu and navigated to his inventory. The various windows chimed as he utilized a slider to input a certain numerical amount. In his hand, a small stack of coins appeared, which he then set onto the counter as payment for the group's meals. "Right! Everybody ready to go?"

[Abalasster 0]

The two had began a wager. "Great" I thought, more things to get mad at each other about. Right after I had picked myself up off the floor, Rose had asked me if I was ok. This had been the first time she had asked him a questioned that had been directed towards me alone. "I'm fine" I replied, "It should be those two over there that you should be concerned over. Eventually, the rules had been set in play. It was to be a fist fight. loser suffered a financial lose and also the fact that they had been the more ignorant of the two. It was decided that Takao and Grave would be running as the refs. Takao had been nice enough to pick up the tab. "Thank you my good sir" I told him. Most, if not all of us had finished our meals and now it was time for the highlight of the day, the fight to settle the score and to hopefully shut the two up for at least the rest of the day. "Are we ready to get this started" I said. "Because we are beginning to lose daylight". I said this while motioning to the sun outside. It had to be about 5:30 and who knew how long this brawl would last...  

[Koumori 0]

Oh great, if I lost this fight with Mack not only would I be knocked down eleven pegs but I'd also have to cough up materials to the guy. If only he'd kept his mouth shut about a bet, I couldn't very well back down at that point. Why'd there even have to be a bet in the first place. The purpose of this was to settle a difference, not financial gain. This guy really did like to take advantage of every situation he could get his hands on. No matter, I'd just have to beat him, that'd knock him straight. He extended his hand out for me to shake and I shot my hand into his. "Fine, have it your way but I didn't know this was a duel with a personal agenda attached. But don't be so sure you'll win, I'm not exactly weak either." I firmly shook his hand with a smile spread across my face. The others seemed to be in approval of our conditions. No doubt they were happy about both getting to see a fight and getting us to shut up. We really were an interesting group, not one I'd expect to get together. Too bad I probably wouldn't get any sympathy if I lost. Maybe after the fight, regardless of the outcome, I'll do something to make it up to them. Letting go of his hand, I looked around the table to see that everyone was ready to go. Takao offered to foot the bill and I nodded in appreciation, we were ready to go. I got up and moved over to the door, holding it once more for everyone to walk through. When we outside I saw that Abalasster was right, we were losing daylight fast. The last thing I wanted was a fight with that brute in the dark. "You're right, we better get moving. Takao, you're up." Takao was the one who mentioned the venue, so he'd be the one to lead us there. I peaked a look over at Rose, something seemed to bother her. She had been acting strangely ever since that comment about her mother. Now wasn't the right time to say something though, that'd have to wait for later. 

[Mack 0]

"Agreed," Mack rumbled in reply. His massive hand engulfed Koumori's and, despite the temptation to try and crush the kid's hand, Mack resisted. While all this was going on, Chewie was blissfully oblivious as he continued to snarl and growl with the bone from the steak in his mouth. One way, or another, he was going to devour every last bit of the steak. Unless someone took the bone away. He was just about to roll onto his back to try and grab the bone with his paws when Mack leaned over and plucked up the bear cub by the scruff of his neck. Reaching in with his fingers, Mack extracted the bone of the steak from the bear's maw and dropped it on his empty plate as he pushed back from the table. As he deposited the cub on his shoulders he nodded his thanks to Takao for picking up the tab. At least until Kourmori got his face beat in.

One by one they filed out of the restaurant and, within a few minutes, they had followed Takao to the amphitheater. Once they had all filed into the theater Mack plucked Chewie from his shoulder and, after those who were only going to watch the fight had settled into seats, he deposited Chewie into Rose's lap. "Hold on to the bottomless pit for me for a few moments, please." Mack directed his right index finger at the bear's snout. "Be still, be good." With Chewie taken care of, the burly smith made his way into the middle of the arena and laced his fingers together before popping all of his knuckles.

[Grave 0]

I gave Takao a smile and a thumbs up for taking care of the tab, so as not to speak above the others.  I followed the group over to the amphitheatre Takao had said was on the floor.  I spectated the entrance of the two fighters, the young Koumori against the giant Mack.  I strolled out to the middle of the arena with the two fighters, preparing to referee for the fight.

"Alright you have your rules; first to five hits wins.  I'll be here to make sure the hits are clean and properly make contact.  Punches only, and I believe kicking should result in disqualification," I turned my glance to Koumori.  As he was the speedier one, I would have expected him to resort to kicks as well as punches, "When you two are ready, start the duel request.  I'll make sure to do some..." I patted Severance behind me, "Peacekeeping..."

(Don't worry about throwing HP into your stat section.  I'll keep a record of the hits landed, and I think crits should instead count as extra hits)

Edited August 14, 2015 by Grave

[Rose 0]

Rose had followed the rest to the theater and marveled at how large it was. Out of habit she sat in the seat closes to the fight, even though in the game she really didn't need to. Getting comfortable in her seat, sge was surprised as Mack came over and dropped Chewie into her lap and told her to hold him during the fight. Nodding, she gently started to rub the bear cub on the head in a soothing manner to hopefully tell him that she was friendly. 

Looking up from the familiar, she watched while everyone was get ready to watch or referee the fight. She was excited to see her first battle in SAO, even though it was a fist fight. Despite this, she hoped that by seeing this, she would get a good outlook on how fights went on in this game. Along with that, I can also see an awesome fight for free, which is a bonus in itself I guess.

Edited August 14, 2015 by Rose

[Takao 0]

Takao lead them to the amphitheater as soon as everybody had decided they were through with their meals. The structure was large and constructed of polished stone. The seats wrapped around the small flat stage with plenty of room for a fight, which seemed to be the theatre's intended purpose. Thirty empty rows of seats stretched upward toward the large columns that sat at the very top of the theatre. Takao, like Rose, had opted to sit at the bottom of the theater. His familiar hopped off onto the stone seat and directed its attention toward the two combatants, just like Takao had.

Grave immediately took to the role of referee, so he didn't feel the need to interject. He maintained his earlier mentality, the rules, regulations, and conditions of the fight honestly didn't matter in the slightest. He just didn't want to be subjected to the arguing. Takao's mind began to wander about how he could've easily just left and let them argue without being in their presence, but he wasn't the type to leave things unresolved.

[Abalasster 0]

After Takao had lead us to the Venue. We all took our places. Mack and Koumori took their places in the "arena" while the rests of us sat in the front row. I however, decided to sit in the second row. Grave began to explain the rules to these two and then the fight was off. After a few punches were thrown, I decided to step out. This fight was totally unneeded, but, if it would settle the two's differences, so be it. I walked around the streets of the town until I got to the entrance. I looked out at the sunset. It looked just like it would have in real life. I felt like breaking down, but I didn't. It wouldn't solve anything after all. I then feel something poking down at my foot. I look down to see an familiar animal. "Ah Khepri, so that's where you went" I said to the scorpion as I picked him up and placed him on my shoulder. I looked back out towards the sunset, but now on the horizon, I saw someone coming towards the town. At first, I passed it off as just someone walking back from a day in the field. But as they got closer, I began to notice more and more things about the stranger. The first thing I noticed was that the person walked with a limp. Then I noticed multiple wounds on the person. I ran out to them and helped them back towards the town. "Help...me please" he said. "I will, but you need to follow me". I escorted this person back towards the Amphitheatre. I laid him down against a wall, at the highest and furthest point from the fight. "Now" I started. "You need to explain to me what happened". "Well" he began. I was with a group and we were raiding a dungeon. But, once the six of us entered. Walls came down and split us in half. Then a group of enemies came after us. We were able to defeat them, but I could hear the cries of agony and pain come from the wall beside us. We proceeded through the dungeon, fighting more mobs along the way. That's when we entered the end of the dungeon. There was a chest in the middle of the room, or at least, I think there was. Either way, we made it into the room. That's when a giant spider ambushed us. I think its name was Shegonath. Either way, it landed on one of our players. Myself and the other tried to fight it, but..." he began to trail off. "But..." I said, trying to coax him to continuing. "But it killed Kaden, the other player. I was lucky, because the door that had closed us in the dungeon had opened. I ran away as fast as possible. And now I'm here". This was insane. "Can you..." he began. "Go into that dungeon and avenge my failure. It's not to far from here. I can mark it on a map". I didn't know about this. I would need to consult the others...   

[Koumori 0]

We all filed into the arena. Mack and I took our places on the stage while the others sat in the stands to watch the fight. Abalasster then got in his position and clarified the rules one more time. Then, I got a duel request. This was it. This is where I'd have to prove myself or risk total defeat. If I couldn't win this fight it would surely take me awhile to build my reputation back up with everyone here. Although, for some reason, I didn't feel much pressure. I was just ready to get it done with. I accepted the duel and readied myself. Slowly the timer counted down while all else remained silent. Go! I decided that I should go for the first strike. It would be wise if I could try to use my smaller size and speed against me. However, I didn't know how Macl fought. I didn't know how I should approach this. I'd have to see how he'd react to this one before I could really get a good hit in. I don't mean that I didn't try with this hit, I just didn't have much faith in it. A lunged forward straight at Mack as soon as the duel commenced. I was on him in no time, ready to deliver the first blow.

ID: 27565   BD: 4

Edited August 15, 2015 by Koumori

[Mack 0]

ID: 27543
BD: 2 (Why dice gods, why?!?)

As Koumori charged in Mack dropped into an easy fighting stance based on his study, in the real world, of Krav Maga. Feet about shoulder width apart with his left foot leading, slightly hunched, with his hands balled into fists up near his head. When Koumori threw the first strike the hulking blonde's right hand shot out and caught the smaller man's fist, holding it there for a second. "Really, squirt," the warrior asked dismissively, throwing the brown-haired fighter's arm out wide and following behind it with a straight left jab aimed at Koumori's head.

Edited August 15, 2015 by Mack

[Grave 0]

Koumori threw the first punch, and not a bad one at that.  However, the Hulk in front of him caught his fist with simplicity.  He taunted, before throwing a punch of his own.  My glance was stolen by another movement though; Abalasster was escaping from the scene.  I looked back to the fight to see if any hits had been landed, but soon enough I could see Abalasster at one of the further points in the arena - with another player.

I frowned as I looked at said player's condition; cross-hatching was displayed all over his body, and not just that he seemed pretty damn scuffed.  As a group, we were all going to need to see what we could do to help, but we still had the fistfight to get through.  My gaze turned back to the brawl between David and Goliath.

[Rose 0]

Rose watched as Alabasster left the fight for a little while. She turned her head back to watch as Mack caught Koumori's punch before giving one of his own. She wasn't really cheering for one or the other so in her mind she was cheering for both. Out of the corner of her eye though, she saw Alabasster come in with another player who seemed pretty beat up. She wanted to go over there and see what was up but she had to make sure Chewie didn't run off. Turning to Grave, she put Chewie down next to him and said "Watch him for a couple of minutes." 

She got up and headed down the stairs and over to Alabasster and the player. "What happened?" She inspected the man, seeing that he was injured. Opening her invitory, she took out one of her breads and waters before handing them to Alabasster "Give theses to him if he can take in food and water, I don't have any healing potions, but this might help." She gave the items to him because the man didn't seem like he could hold anything at the moment. 

 

 

[Takao 0]

Takao leaned his weight onto his knees and supported his head with one hand as the fight started. Koumori missed, which had surprised Takao a bit, considering how large of a target he had aimed for. But, as Takao would remind himself, the size of an avatar had little to do with in-game statistics. With no additional equipment on them to push the tides in their favour, it seemed like it would become a battle of randomness. While his attention was on the fight, Abalasster had gotten up and left the amphitheater, and the brunet had taken notice of his absence. None of them were forced to stay however, so he didn't make any mention of it. It wasn't until Rose got up that he noticed Abalasster had returned with an injured player, which piqued his interest. His glance alternated between the gathering at the top of the theater to the fight at the bottom. He looked to his familiar and muttered something, then watched as the small dragon scurried off toward the group that had gathered near the injured player. He glanced over toward Grave then and whistled lowly in an attempt to grab his attention.

[Abalasster 0]

Not too long after my conversation had begun with the stranger atop the Amphitheater, I glanced back down toward the Arena. Koumori and Mack were still thrashing. I hadn't been keeping track of who was winning, but i wasn't to interested anymore. This stranger had caught my attention. But, while i was looking down at the arena, i noticed Rose coming up. I didn't want to tell her not to come up, seeing as how i would have to explain things and it would cast suspicion upon myself. She reached us and asked what had happened, while offering some bread and water to the stranger. "He went into a dungeon with some of his friends" i began to explain. "He was the only one to make it out. If you want to, you can stay here with him, while i go down there and make sure that not many more people get suspicious, especially Mack or Koumori. But if you want to go back down instead, thats fine as well. Either way, i don't want to cause anymore of a ruckus". I looked to Khepri, my familiar that was nested on my arm. I was thankful i had found him. I had something i was familiar with near me. I then looked back down toward the player, who had accepted Rose's offering. Whatever was in that Dungeon, it had given him hell...    

[Koumori 0]

ID: 27830

BD: 1 (this must be some kind of joke)

Although I was expecting Mack would be able to dodge my punch, I wasn't expecting him to grab it. He snatched my fist out of the air like it was nothing and attempted to make a snab at my head. I was able to avoid by ducking under and falling to the ground. That attack was a good hint for me. Mack was using some sort of martial arts technique, something I wasn't expecting and something that would make this a lot more difficult. I still thought I'd be able to adjust, but it would take time. He was a formidable opponent and it would be hard to land a good hit. I could do it, but I had to make sure he wouldn't get me. I quickly rolled out of my position and came to kneel by Mack's side. As I was about to deliver a blow to his rib cage, something caught my eye. Abalasster and Rose were off in the distance kneeling in front of a player I had never seen. I wondered what they were doing, taking my eyes off Mack. Big mistake. 

Edited August 17, 2015 by Koumori

[Mack 0]

OOC: "[The Dice Roller] is starting to damage my calm." - Jayne Cobb

ID: 27832
BD: 4 (Once again, even with my +1 Acc. Buff I would have missed.)

Mack grunted as his straight jab sailed over the head of Koumori when the kid fell to the ground. It was a good thing is wasn't a basketball match they were engaged in, as a flop of Koumori's magnitude was certainly worthy of LeBron James. As the kid rolled away and popped back to his feet the hulking blonde swung another punch, a right cross, in the direction of Koumori. "Quit running and come take your beating like a brat," Mack growled, making to chase down the brown-haired kid to deliver unto him the beating he so richly deserved. Not to mention, the kid giving him all those materials would be nice, even if the Smith would probably turn around and craft a few of them into nice items for the little loud mouth to use.