Thread: Spoils of War (Decay&Maria)

Tristan had a chance to win another day for Ranoc, by ending the threat that plagued his men he could get the enemy army to retreat and possibly win one of the biggest battles in the war. It wasn't everyday a champion arrived, someone who was skilled enough to actually change the tide of a battle, and if they were to fall it would be a huge blow. Of course he refused to believe such a warrior was no well known, the enemy forces seemed surprised about the man's appearance but that didn't mean they didn't know who he was. That could mean that capturing the soldier would be the better option, not only removing him from the battle but also finding out just what the Cardonian forces had planned, to see what the next step in the battle would be. It would take a deal more finesse but it was possible, especially since it seemed both armies were allowing a one-on-one duel to take place, giving Tristan and the random soldier freedom to focus on one another. Both armies probably had the same idea, that their warrior would strike the other down and win them the day, especially in the case of the Cardonians as Tristan was more than a mere soldier. He was confident though, Tristan would not lose the fight because more than his pride depended on it, the lives of his men depended on it and he could not fail them. Yes, no mercy to his new opponent, he had to crush the man without holding back or he would be letting his fellow soldiers down. Men, keep them off me while I take care of this! He shouted, rallying the troops and making sure there would be absolutely no interruptions, he wanted to finish it cleanly. With his men rallied Tristan focused once more, watching as the combatant he was to face prepared himself. It was interesting, the enemy seemed unafraid and that was a first for Tristan, usually men fled from him or at the very least looked a bit intimidated, this man did not and it got him excited for the fight. While he wasn't one to get caught up in the battle easily he was ready for this fight, it had been some time since someone had enough skill to go head to head with him and he gripped his sword tightly, waiting, watching for the other to make the first strike. When it happened he smirked, looking down at his cut armor, his thigh slightly cut but the wound be superficial at best. It was impressive that someone had seen the weakness quickly but there was a reason for that weakness, it wasn't an area he needed to protect to continue fighting, a thin layer helped with movement and still gave him moderate protection, protection against a single blow like the one his foe had just landed. Tristan had no time to ponder though and instead was forced to block a ferocious blow, pushing back against the sword before launching several attacks of his own. Tristan had a great deal of strength behind each attack but the impressive part of his fighting ability was his speed, the blade flying through the air at incredibly speeds and smashing into his opponents sword, the prince having decided not to kill but to capture, and that meant disarming and not mortally wounding. Your technique isn't bad but your not strong or fast enough to defeat me, you should give up. He snarled as he attacked again, swinging upwards in hopes of knocking the sword from his opponents hands, his body pumping adrenaline unlike what he had experienced before. This was the first person he had traded multiple blows with that didn't kill, the first person of true skill he had faced during the war.