Log:Rift Crisis II, Scene 18

Rift Crisis II 2019/08/02 Artemis Blok Imaginary Girl Nohrbor Titan Ettinbrand

18

From beneath the bridge, where the fae path leads from Undermoon, a giant crawls out, then stands to his full height of 16m. He is heavily muscled, and his hair is in the colour of flames - indeed it almost looks like flame. Across is back is slung a huge sword. He stretches, then proceeds on foot onto the bridge. "BEHOLD!" he proclaims, in a voice that carries miles. "I, Ettinbrand, strongest of the fire giants of Harshland, am returned. Once more, as I swore, I issue a challenge to the champions of this world, to meet me in a contest of might!" That said, he continues walking across the bridge, toward the deserted part of the island which served as the arena for the fight last time.

Artemis hears the resounding cry from the rooftops of a beach party where she was trying to track down her lazy brother to spur him into action for the rift crisis. She raises a brow at the giant who could not defeat her and flies off towards the bridge.

Imaginary Girl, flying about over the city on patrol, as she so often is seen doing, pauses and hovers at the sound of the voice. Turning her head in the direction the voice came from, she spots the giant. "Whoa... who's this guy?", she wonders aloud, before turning and laying herself out flat to fly in that direction.

Titan had been visiting the Undermoon embassy to deal with some Guard business while he was in town. The building shakes a bit as Ettinbrand's arrival, and Johnathan sighs a little to himself. He says to the nearby guards. "I'll go check it out. Best alert the defenses here, just in case, though." He then takes off from the wall, flying toward where Ettinbrand ended up. He catches sight of the giant and furrows his brow. . o O (First frost giants and now a fire giant?)

The island is not as deserted as it was a few months back: it's now full summer, and there are tourists around the beaches and at the south end of the island. But still, the centre is mostly empty, apart from a few walkers.

Blok had spent the early part of the afternoon at the Oceanarium, learning more about Earth's amny and varied life-forms. He was just heading toward the Bridge back to the mainland when Ettinbrand issued his challenge. As the giant stomped off, Blok followed, to render aid to anyone who might get injured.

Ettinbrand raises a hand in greeting as the people approach. "Hail, heroes of Colonial Bay, and well met! As I swore when the rift closed and took me from you, I am returned to continue our contest! And I see new champions are among you!"

Imaginary Girl flies up to hover in front of the giant, hands on her hips. "You're gonna hafta find another place for this fight. A -real- champion, if that's what you're saying you are, wouldn't put innocent people, especially kids, at risk like this!", she admonishes. Yes, she's lecturing at Ettinbrand.

"Ettinbrand," Artemis says as she draws near, slowing to hover before him with shield up and at the ready. "You already bored me with your last fight. I think you're not up to the challenge of Earth's champions."

Titan touches down, taking a couple of steps afterward to slow his momentum. He takes a deep breath and sizes up Ettinbrand. He doesn't look concerned about a fight at all. "The result will be just like when that wizard showed up with his frost giants."

Ettinbrand nods to Imaginary Girl. "I have no desire to put children in danger - and I understand that human children are especially frail. I chose this site because your heroes suggested it last time, but if you can suggest a better spot, let us away thither." He turns to Artemis - and laughs. "I bored you? Then truly the heroes of this planet must be powerful. Mayhap I should not have held back!"

To Titan, Ettinbrand says, "I know not of this wizard. But I am here for sport, not to cause trouble. Nay, not just sport, for their is a prize for you heroes, should you win!"

Titan looks around. "This area is fine. Assuming we can clear out any nearby tourists to a safe distance."

Blok begins doing just that.

Ettinbrand reaches into a pocket an pulls out a book - small for him, but large for you. "Here is a book that the sage-monks of Mistsea said would be of value to the champions of this world. Win the contest, and it is yours!"

"Everyone's here on vacation. They shouldn't hafta leave just 'cause some guy wants to fight", Imaginary Girl insists, gesturing at Ettinbrand as the 'some guy' of whom she speaks. "... can we fight on the moon?", she then asks, as the thought comes to her mind that the moon's got so many few people on it to put at risk... surely there'd be plenty of open space, right?

"You would fight me on a cold, airless desert? Then assuredly you would win, if you can survive that - but it is hardly sport. As it would, I deem, not be fair on you for me to challenge you to a fight in this world's fiery core."

Titan shrugs a bit as he thinks about whether or not he could survive a fight in the Earth's core. Of course he could. Why is he even questioning this at all?

Titan heads over to try to help make sure tourists stay at a suitable distance away as well.

"Tis an unfair advantage to suggest an environment your opponent cannot survive. Foul play," calls Artemis.

Ettinbrand nods. "That was my point, precisely."

Imaginary Girl brings a hand to cup a finger around her chin. "Yeah... not fair if you can't breathe there, huh? ... but you said something about a desert. There's deserts big enough for a good fight, right, where there's no people around to accidentally hurt, too... aren't there?", she says, the last a question not directed at anyone in particular. "I honestly didn't think about it, 'cause I could do it. I forget, sometimes, that other people can't do that like I can."

Blok continues with crowd control, and sends a text to Commander Dorian, in case things get out of hand...

"A desert would be most acceptable. Know you of one nearby?"

Artemis shrugs her pauldrons as she looks aroun. "I do not know the geography of this planet to know of one."

Titan finishes ushering away tourists, and then flies back over. "I think...let's get this over with."

Artemis recognizes Titan from a previous encounter and floats nearer to greet him. "That book of the sages may be most useful to us for the current crisis of rifts. This dimension is running out of time to prevent catastrophe."

Titan nods to Artemis, "Well then...the fight has some import, rather than the giant trying to just prove his manliness." He grins, "I have no doubt that we'll win."

The Stranger, Nohrbor Nanuran Surryx isn't far behind his bloodbound sister. He emerges out of the dispursing crowd- one of the few unmoved by Ettibrand's arrival.

Suddenly, he starts running- straight for Artemis before taking to the sky.

"I stop for one pint and you get into with another Fire Giant?" Nohrbor Nanuran Surryx asks incredulously before turning into his Ascendant self.

Ettinbrand frowns. "You may be right. Perhaps it is written in the mists that I am to lose - but it is not sport without a chance of losing! And who truly knows what is written?"

Ettinbrand says to Nohrbor, "Another? Has one of my kin been here?"

Artemis looks over to Nohrbor and smiles. "'Tis the same fire giant, Brother," she greets him as he decides to join them. She looks back to Titan with a smile of comraderie. "Excellent. Then we are in harmony on this." She looks to Ettinbrand and calls, "So what shall the terms of the fight be? You said you wished not to hold back! Would you challenge one or did you wish to challenge a group?"

Nohrbor Nanuran Surryx cocks his head at Ettinbrand. He narrows his eyes and rubs his chin. "Ettinbrand?" He asks with surprise. "Haha! It is good to see you have kept your word! Surely you've come to do battle once more?!"

He calls forth a halibard made of some sort of astral energy into being in his hands and then holds it to the sky.

He's clearly ready for round 2.

Charm says, "That is for you to decide - though if you are as mighty as you say single combat would seem more sporting." He adds to Titan, "It is not a matter of proving manliness. It is a matter of finding a challenge. Once I hunted crazed dragons, but now their wits are returned to them there is no honour in that.""

Ettinbrand nods to Nohrbor. "I am indeed returned, as I vowed. Now, who will fight me?"

Blok says, "Blok has met a dragon here, nearly as long as Blok's arm. There would be no honor in attacking such."

Titan shrugs. "I'll fight you. As Artemis asked, though...are you intending to fight one of us? Or all of us at once?"

"As I said, that is for you to decide. There is greater glory in it for you if you win in single combat - or greater glory for me if I prevail against you all. The choice is yours."

Blok stopped fighting for sport when Blok came to Earth.

Blok says, "Blok stopped fighting for sport when Blok came to Earth."

Artemis studies Titan and smiles a bit. "I have already fought him once, if you wish to take him on your own. Should you lose, we could challenge again together." Her smile grows. "Besides, I have heard of tell of your prowess. I'd like a closer look at it in action."

Ascendant seems content enough with Artemis' answer.

Titan chuckles. "I do not care, either way. I'm not concerned with glory. And the end result will be the same." He turns back to the others. "I'll let you decide if you want to participate."

"It seems they have given their answer. Ready yourself!"

Titan smiles. "I'm ready."

Ettinbrand places his feet apart in a solid pose. "THen let us fight!"

Titan decides to go with a direct route. He leaps over to the giant...and then punches at the larger being's leg with his full strength, as a bit of a test.

Ettinbrand smiles. "You are stronger than you look, little one. Almost as strong as I am, perhaps!" And he brings a massive fist down on Titan's head.

Ettinbrand poounds Titan into the soft ground like a fence post.

Titan gets out of the hole. His clothing is a little torn up, but he looks otherwise fine. He grows in height, until he's about eight meters tall. Half of Ettinbrand's height. "I shouldn't take you too lightly, I guess..." And he punches again, this time at hte giant's stomach.

Ettinbrand is surprised as Titan grows. "Hah! Are you giantkin, then?" he exclaims, as he tries to grab the now-half-his-size Titan."

Ascendant cheers Titan on from his position in the air near Artemis. "YOU CAN DO THIS!!!! PROVE THE WORTH OF UARTHIAN COMBAT!"

Titan gets grabbed by the giant. "Not giantkin. I'm apparently a descendant of an actual titan of myth." He doesn't seem overly hurt by the squeeze.

Artemis drifts closer to Nohrbor and nudges him in the side. "I must say, that mortal seems quite mighty. I wouldn't mind challenging him myself."

Titan grunts a little as he's squeezed once more. The giant's quickness is the only thing that has surprised him so far.

"I know not of these titans. But it would seem they are mighty."

"I'd have to agree. I do not believe I've seen any amongst them nearly as durable." Nohrbor Nanuran Surryx the Ascendant says in agreement. "Not since the ides of our youth have I beheld any being so unbreakable. You'd think he were forged with the same crafts your shield."

Titan remains held...and goes for the most aggressive thing he can think of...and tries to hit the giant with a headbutt, much like he did to Cobalt when he also once tried to grab Titan.

Titan growls and smashes the crown of his forehead into the giant's chest.

The giant is a bit surprised by the headbutt and is knocked off his feet - for a moment, then recovers his footing. "Hah, a good trick. Tell me, how are titans with fire?"

Titan gets hit by the fire...and again, his clothing gets the worst of it. He looks okay. "You'll need to hit a lot harder than that."

Titan tries to shrink back to normal size, and out of the grip of the larger being. Aasuming that works, he goes to try to grab onto the ankle of the giant, to turn the tables.

Nohrbor Nanuran Surryx continues hooting and hollering for Titan!

Titan slips out of the giant's grasp, only to latch onto his lower leg and squeezes...

Artemis raises up a cheer at Titan's shrinking trick.

The giant grins, and raises a mighty fist....

Titan dives out of the way, causing the giant to strike himself. He lands on the ground next to the giant with a thump.

"Ow! Lagrund's Crevasse - a good trick!" says the giant. Before standing up and trying to kick Titan away.

Titan flies back a good ten meters after he's hit. He attempts to roll to his feet as he lands...

...and doesn't quite manage it.

Titan is starting to show some signs of both fatigue and bruises.

Ettinbrand grins. "Do you yield?"

"Rise up, Titan, and this day shall be yours!" Artemis encourages.

Titan chuckles. "It might be, but it also might last all day at this rate."

"You've got this, Titan of Uarth!" Nohrbor Nanuran Surryx shouts. "Seize your glory!"

Titan gets to his feet a little clumsily, being a bit warier about the fight.

Ettinbrand took Titan at his word that he needs to hit Titan harder - which is why he's charging at him!

Titan grows to his full eight meter height again to meet the charging Ettinbrand...

Titan grunts again as they collide. The dirt kicks up a bit as Titan remains standing where he was.

The giants collide without budging, the energy released in the impact making a small crater. Ettinbrand also grunts.

Nohrbor Nanuran Surryx shields his eyes from the shockwave and dust emanating from their battle. He looks like he's really enjoying the spectacle.

Artemis tries not to look away as the two combatants collide, letting out a cheer as she sees the two standing still!

"You hold yourself like giantkin too - maybe the titans are distant relatives?" Ettibrand clear appreciates Titan's bearing, but he can, give or take, match it.

"Truly, this battle could last all day," says Ettinbrand - going back to simple punching, since clever tricks seem to avail little.

Titan takes off and flies in a circle to gain some momentum. He then flies direclty at Ettinbrand, hoping to deliver what will be the knockout blow. Either way. He pushes himself, trying to put as much into it as he can.

Titan is definitely breathing a bit harder now after slamming into the giant and sending him flying.

Charm the giant is knocked backwards, head over heels, and lands facedown in the sand. When he pulls his head up again, he's laughing mightily.

"Truly, that was the blow of a lifetime! Only from the greatest of dragons have I ever felt the like!"

Titan chuckles. "Ready to give up yet?" . o O (Please say yes.)

He grins. "Yield? Never! But I thank you - no challenger has even met me with such might!"

The giant regains his feet and charges at Titan once again!

Artemis smiles to Nohrbor. "We should have brought mead. I did not expect for this to be such good sport. If only we had placed wagers!"

"Oooh. You're right! This battle is one for the ages or else I'd summon up some draughts posthaste." Nohrbor Nanuran Surryx agrees. "As it is- there is no way I'm leaving until this battle is settled."

Titan gets rocked by that last hit, and he's sent spinning. He knows the fight isn't sustainable at this rate, but doesn't want to give up.

Ettinbrand slams into Titan, sending the latter flying - but looks like he's running out of breath!

Titan manages to right himself....and tries the same thing again. The giant is just close enough. He flies back, trying to slam into him with as much force as he can muster...

Titan charges through Ettinbrand again, sending the giant off of his feet, but not terribly far this time.

"SUPERIOR CHARGING TITAN OF UARTH!!!!!" Nohrbor Nanuran Surryx shouts.

Ettinbrand lands on he knee, with an 'oof', then stands and closes, going once again for a simple punch.

Titan rights himself and flies back to end up on his feet by Ettinbrand. He just tries a simple punch.

Ettinbrand tries to slap Titan away again!

Titan is wobbly on his feet, but manages to remain standing for the moment. "Alright...so, since you're not going to give up..." He stumbles a little. "I think I need to. I need a breather."

"I too am exhausted - 'twas a might tussle! Only in fight with the most gigantic monsters have I felt blows like that!" says the giant.

"'Tis for fights like that I came to Earth - and you have not disappointed. In single combat, no less!"

Titan shrinks back to his regular size, "Well fought." He shakes his head. He has never really come across anyone who can go toe to toe with him for that long. He looks woozy again after returning to his normal size. He walks over to where the others are and he takes a seat on the ground.

Ettinbrand calls after Titan, "Hold!"

Artemis applauds. "T'was a mighty battle."

"You have earned this, little one, for your bravery - and your strength, and your skill. You have given me such a fight as I sought, and for that, this book is yours."

Ettinbrand pulls the book from his pocket again - rather sandier than it was when the combat began.

Titan gets up again to his feet, wincing. He smiles. "Thank you. That is kind of you, given that I didn't defeat you." He takes a hold of the book, and then looks at it. "Here's hoping that it will help us with our current problem."

The book is titled - perhaps surprisingly, in English - 'The Dance of the Worlds'.

"I hope it is useful to you. I cannot read the strange letters."

Titan nods. "I can read it." He smiles to Ettinbrand, "Thank you again." He walks over and shows the book to the others. "I suspect what's inside is beyond my knowledge to use, but at least it's in English."

Nohrbor applauds the mighty gladiators. "Hurrah! You were both the mightiest of champions! Congradulations to you both- much Glory was earned here today and mettles tested. Tis truly an honor to have beheld such a spectacle." He says prasingly.

Ettinbrand says, "I thank you - and it was an honour to meet such opponents. Mayhap we can spar again at some time. But now - we drink!" And he unstoppers a drinking horn that must have come from a dragon or similarly large beast, and offers it around.

Artemis drifts down to the ground, landing to meet with Titan. "I imagine it is beyond ours as well, but we can get this to ones who can make use of it, I'd wager," she smiles.

Titan nods to Artemis. "Here's hoping." He says to Ettinbrand, "Who gave you this to give to us? Or thought we might find it of use?"

Ettinbrand says, "The sage-monks of Mistsea. Do you know of them?"

Blok approaches, now that there is no danger to the crowd. "Perhaps someone at StarGuard can make use of it (like Grimm?).

Blok will take a sip, but he's a complete lightweight where booze and other drugs are involved.

Titan does drink some, but he doesn't have that much. Just enough to deal with the thirst he's feeling from fighting. "I'm afraid I don't know the sages. But I've heard the name before."

"The Sages are a strange but wise race - and those of Mistsea strangest and wisest. For they dwell it that strange world where islands float about on the mist and observe their comings and their goings, and thus they understand the mysteries of the worlds...."

There are non Bloodlit on Earth who won't partake such an offer. He takes the dragonhorn in his Godhand, causing it to glow. He tips it up to his lips and offers it to Artemis.

Artemis takes a mighty swig from the dragon's horn.

"'Twas them that foretold that I should appear in this world - and them that advised me how to return. At that time, they entrusted that book to me."

It's hard to say what they fermented to make this drink. It's no fae wine! But at least it's drinkable.

Titan nods to Ettinbrand. "Well, the book's appearance here is timely. We have issue with our dimension...colliding with others."

Blok says, "Like the dwarves in the park."

I have heard that this world is out of place in the void - that was how I came to be here the first time.

"The dwarves in the park? They were responsible for this, were they not?" Artemis asks.

Titan nods. "They were the ones who set off the problem, yeah."

Blok says, "They made a tunnel from their world, to trade."

"A noble pursuit handled quite poorly." Nohrbor Nanuran Surryx says.

The giant grunts. "Dwarves are responsible for many things. I heard much about them from the fae on my journey hither! They say that a fae princess will call a council to discuss what is to be done...."

Artemis nods solemnly. "With a name such as this, the book may be of use if we can find a sage of this world to make sense of it."

Artemis looks to Titan. "There is a Starguardian named Victory who seems to know something of the threats to come. Perhaps he can find use for the book?" she suggests.

Titan nods. "Perhaps. Unless it's magic? We'll see. We just have to get it into the right person's hands."

"Victory's commander may know some." Artemis looks to Blok. "You mentioned something of this, yes?"

Blok says, "Blok said that someone at Starguard may know how to use the book. Blok was thinking of Grimm."

The giant makes no comment. Books aren't really his thing.

Artemis nods absently, then looks to Titan. "Whatever you do with the book, time is of the essence before this Dr. Destroyer from another dimension returns. He will demand obedience or offer destruction of everything."

Titan nods. "Agreed."