Challenge for the Feathered One
The Conflict
Prelude
Jyn's mother, Genki was displeased with the decision to marry her sky-serpent daughter to foreigners, and tricked Jyn into revealing her sacred heritage. Jyn presented her husband-to-be with a feather from her own plume. The Aluvian Nobles were outraged, and demanded their right to challenge for her hand. Adrak, son of Kargh won the right to the first duel.
Deployment
On foot, single combat, armed with blades.
Adrack used a broadsword coated in venom, and a pair of daggers.
Drake Praxxis was gifted a "Dragon Claw" - a weapon sacred to the Aluvian people - by Jyn to use in the duel.
Battlefield
The challenge was fought in the feild outside of the Aluvian Palace, in a Circle of Equals.
The Engagement
The raucous crowd quieted to a murmur as Drake approached the Circle.
Drake squared his shoulders and locked eyes on Adrack. His opponent leered back at him, ready for an easy kill. Drake adjusted his grip on the Dragon Claw Jyn had given him, taking comfort in its weight.
Drake took a breath and stepped over the border of the circle.
Adrack was on him instantly, sword cleaving down from a wild overhead swing. Drake lunged, ducking his head low and under Adrak’s arm. The Dragon Claw on Drake’s fist shot upwards, connecting with the side of the faceplate on Adrack’s helm. A resounding crack could be heard as Drake emerged behind Adrack’s charge, apparently unharmed. He brought his hands to an en garde position and spread his feet into a fighting stance.
Adrack stumbled forward, his quarry no longer where he expected it. The wild swing had dragged him off balance and sent him falling. His face stung and his ear rang. He reached up to discover his helm had split at the faceplate’s edge. He growled as he turned to face Drake and moved to attack him. Instead of charging, this time he stepped forward, taking measured swings at the Human.
Drake saw the swings a split second before they came down to butcher him. He stepped back and to the side, feeling the blade cleave the air where he had just been. The return swing was nearly as fast, but too high, passing over Drake’s head. With his arms pulled to one side, Adrack couldn’t stop Drake’s counter, a vicious strike to the other side of the helm. This time, the crack was even louder, and staggered Adrack.
He reached up to his face as he steadied himself, realizing then that the second blow had broken the plate off altogether, exposing Adrack’s face. As he looked up, the crowd erupted in murmurs.
“Perhaps now you can see better, sir…” Drake grinned. He had begun walking toward Adrack, moving to attack now instead of waiting. Once again they traded blows, Drake would strike and Adrack deflected, looking for his own opening. The motions were frenetic and vicious, until Drake dropped to one knee, and hooked his claws behind the shin plate Adrack wore. With a loud snap and rip, the plate popped loose, hanging from the knee guard.
Drake didn’t wait for a reaction this time. Digging his toes into the earth, he coiled his legs and leaped at his flailing adversary. He drove the fist of the Dragon’s Claw hard into Adrack’s shoulder, scraping the long blade up into the seam below the pauldron. Adrack didn’t turn as Drake expected, and so despite splitting the upper cannon and pauldron, Adrack took advantage of Drake’s gambit.
The Aluyian cocked his arm backwards, stopping Drake’s follow through and instead driving him to the ground. Adrack whipped his head backwards, and slammed it into Drake’s forehead. Keeping him pinned, he rolled and landed a solid blow to Drake’s neck with his fist. By the time Adrack’s other hand came down, Drake had brought the Dragon Claw in front of himself,and guided the blade into the fist that had been rocketing towards his face.
Adrack recoiled and howled in pain, holding his ruined hand close to his chest. The motion pulled Drake to his feet. His head spun, but he felt no lasting damage. He gathered himself into a defensive stance, taking a moment to steady himself. Adrack had retrieved his sword and was now stalking toward Drake. He swung across his body, and Drake easily locked the blade into the teeth of his Dragon Claw, before suddenly realizing his mistake.
Adrack pivoted the blade where Drake had blocked it, slamming the cross guard into his cheek before savagely ripping the sword out of Drake's hold. He caught the meat of Drake’s upper arm in the process, opening a gash halfway from shoulder to elbow. Drake staggered to the side and back, trying to regroup, but Adrack pressed, bringing up his foot and delivering a savage kick to Drake’s midriff.
He felt at least two ribs snap from the kick, and perhaps another from the landing. There was a strange, cold burning sensation emanating from the wound on his arm. Something wasn’t right about that… Drake’s head swam for a moment. Jyn’s voice whispered to him, “Take me away from here…” her voice beckoned, “Win me and take me far from this place.”
His vision snapped to focus in time to see Adrack’s sword swinging downward to split him in two. He rolled, swinging the Dragon Claw’s blade above his head as he did so. It connected with Adrack’s calf, splitting it wide. The blow sent the brute to his knee while his weight drove the tip of the sword into the earth. Adrack supported his weight on the blade, but Drake struck again quickly. Aiming for the narrow metal just ahead of the pommel, he hammered the sword with the Dragon Claw, making it sing like a struck tuning fork for a half second before it shattered where Drake had landed the blow.
The odd sensation in his arm was growing. Drake stole a glance at the wound, and noticed a sticky black substance festering in the gash. Others in the crowd must have noticed it as well, he could hear the hiss and clicking of Aluyians shouting mixed with his own people. “...poisened!” and “...stop this!” were among the cries he could understand.
He gathered his strength, setting Jyn’s form in his mind as a focal point. He beckoned Adrack with his finger, “Come to me now, coward!” Drake’s fury built to a fever pitch, “Let us finish this…”
Adrack roared, snatching a dagger from his belt and standing, he launched a flurry of blows at Drake. The blades clashed and scraped, every bit of Jexn’s tutelage proving its worth once again. This time, Drake was patient, parrying Adrack’s strikes when they came close, side stepping them where they swung wide. He waited as Jexn had shown him, and saw the opening in Adrack’s pattern.
Adrack drew back to deliver a punishing jab meant to break past Drake’s defense, but Drake moved with him, digging the claws of his weapon into the vambrace, Drake levered Adrack’s other arm upward, and snatched the other dagger from its sheath and channeled every bit of his fury into a single strike. Adrack suddenly felt a searing pain between his legs. He seemed to be held paralyzed, twitching slightly as his mouth hung open, as if he tried to scream but couldn’t. His fingers opened, dropping his knife. As he staggered back, he looked down at the hilt of his own dagger protruding from the bulge in his codpiece. Drake had driven the dagger through the plate and buried it in Adrack’s genitals.
The blood from Adrack’s mangled fist had splattered across Drake’s face, giving him a fearsome and beastly appearance as he stood watching his opponent collapse. Drake’s fury had not completely ebbed away, but his strength was rapidly leaving him. There were black streaks and lines reaching across his shoulder, as if a beast's tendrils were snaking their way under his skin. He had to finish this now.
He walked confidently to where Adrack kneeled, cupping his ruined manhood. Drake spat the blood that had collected in his mouth at the ground next to the defeated Aluyian. Drake snarled and kicked Adrack’s face, sending him rolling to land flat on his back, his hands still covering his groin.
Drake stood over him menacingly, “You are without honor. You can no longer bear children,” he leaned down, grasped the hilt of the dagger and twisted, shoving it a little deeper. Adrack screamed in agony, and Drake waited for it to stop before continuing. “I have taken this from you.”, taking Adrack by the throat and forcing his face to look at Drake, “YOU are not worthy of the Sky Serpent, of the Princess…” He stood, “...of my wife.”
He saw Jyn in her silk covering standing with his mother and Jexn. He focused on Jyn, walking toward her, the edge of the circle and the completion of the challenge. His vision split, suddenly there were two Jyns… two of everything. “Dominance is of the utmost, “ Jexn had told him as they trained, “Show them you can defend her, do not let them see weakness. If you do not establish your dominance, even a victory will be a defeat.”
Drake strode forth. Even as each step became a trial he kept his head high. Covered in grime and gore, he walked proudly to the edge of the circle to Jyn. He looked to King Eyari, “Your Highness, I have answered Adrack’s challenge, I have overcome his treachery,” He turned his eyes to Jyn, feeling stronger in her mere presence, “and I have come to claim my prize.” He smiled at her, it was finally done.
Jexn took Drake’s arm and stared hard at his wound and the tendrils reaching out from it. He stared wide-eyed at Drake, “You should not be living, Prince Drake.”
Drake was finding it difficult to keep his thoughts together, “And here I thought we were friends, Jexn…”
“You do not understand,” Jexn replied, “This venom slays all in wounding. Can be cured in some, but for human; there is no way back. Death comes quickly to human”
Corwin had finally pressed through the crowd, King Robert in tow. "Drake!," He saw the wound on his arm, the festering black ichor seeping from it, "No... No... no no no!" He said gravely.
"Corwin, he is not slain." Jexn assured him. "It should not be so, but it is." Corwin's face was ashen, as if he didn't believe what he just heard.
Outcome
As the victor, Drake successfully demonstrated his strength to the Aluvian people; particularly having triumphed despite the poison blade Adrack employed.
Additionally, since Drake mutilated Adrack and made him unbearable, he set the stakes incredibly high for any potential challengers.
Aftermath
Adrack had nine wives at the time of his defeat, all of which now belong to Drake. Because of Drake's injuries and the need to maintain decorum, the technicalities of Drake's victory have yet to be fully realized; but he will have to come to terms with how to handle his prize sooner or later.
Historical Significance
Legacy
Adrack favored his venom wives, seeing them as the strongest. Took a blacksnake for a wife largely to gain access to her sight. Other Non-venomous wives were taken as ‘extras’ in honor duels. He had 14 children between them.
Xaneilise - Black Mamba (Venom) - 1st wife, 3 children - favored and fiercely loyal to Adrack, angry at being bound to a foreigner, does not wish to submit. She is past her prime breeding age.
Nesis - Python - 2nd wife, 1 child, taken “by accident” in an honor duel shortly after Xaneiliese was pregnant. Adrack challenged husband over a perceived slight and killed him. She was the first wife to a minor noble, previous child perished in a fire, has one with Adrack. Hates Adrack and Xaneiliese. Is humiliated and abused regularly. Glad to be free of Adrack, believes Drake and Jyn to be ‘chosen’ and wishes to be Drake’s 2nd wife.
Saphophilia - Cottonmouth (Venom) - 3rd wife, 2 children, Was 1st wife to Vesh - betrayed him to Adrack. Still loyal to him, bitter about Drake.
Pasisha - Boa - 4th wife, 1 child. Was 2nd wife to Vesh. Hates Adrack and Saphophilia, but doesn’t care for Drake either.
Taphyse - Golden Lancehead (Venom) - 5th wife, 2 children. Was 3rd wife to Vesh. Hated Adrack and Saphophilia, ambivalent about Drake.
Lephaxise - Blacksnake - 6th wife, 1 child. Ambivalent about trading hands, feels that things “are as they are” and wishes to simply comply with tradition.
Sinophia & Sylphesi Coral Snakes (Venom) 2 children each - Twins taken at the same time. They see Drake as a dominant male, and so wish to join his harem.
Kaphethe - Boomslang (Venom) - Most recent wife (3 months) - Adrack largely ignored her, so she’s not pregnant yet, raising questions about her ability to bear children. Will likely do what’s expected of her.
Xaneilise and Saphophilia worshipped Adrack and would do anything to prevent joining Drake’s harem. They will actively conspire against Drake if given the opportunity.
Nesis holds Drake and Jyn in reverence, believing them to be fated together. She wishes to join Drake’s harem if only to be closer to them. Sinophia & Sylphesi support Nesis, but care little for prophecies or social posturing, they simply see Drake as a dominant male and want to mate. Lephaxise is quiet and reserved, but respects what she sees as ‘the way of things’. She supports Nesis to this end, but remains quiet about her feelings regarding Drake and Jyn.
Pasisha and Taphyse despise Saphophilia for her betrayal. They are friendly with Nesis but have no desire to join with what they perceive as a ‘foreign invader’. They will resist joining Drake’s harem, but if pressed they will cooperate.
Kaphethe is Adrack’s most recent wife. Born in the twilight of her parent’s life, her mother died on the birthing bed. Kaphethe’s father felt that his daughter would be cared for by a noble of Adrack’s stature and wealth, and so he slighted Adrack, compelling an honor duel. He threw the fight without anyone realizing it, survived Adrack’s victory, and thus compelled Adrack to take his daughter. Adrack felt compelled to take her, but he did not truly desire her. She is young and impressionable, and still untouched by a man. She could be convinced to either side of the split in the household.
Conflict Type
Duel
Battlefield Type
Arena
Start Date
4/11/1628
Ending Date
4/11/1628
Location
Belligerents
Strength
Drake Praxxis was an accomplished fighter, well trained in hand to hand combat by Corwin Gray.
Casualties
Drake was badly wounded by Adrack's poisoned blades, but with the assistance of his betrothed he recovered from his injuries.
Objectives
Drake needed to not only defeat Adrack, but also to demonstrate his strength and prowess in such a way as to establish his dominance. If the other Aluyian males saw weakness, Drake and his new bride would never be safe from challenge.
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