Guiche had awoken to the sounds of muttering and a pounding headache, and had slowly made his way towards the gates leading outside the schoolyard.
There was a cabin there just across the road. The lower half was clearly fitted stone, while the upper portion looked to be thick wood. A stone chimney on one side put out a trail of smoke.
The door opened and the man from the last evening strode out with a cup of something that steamed in the morning air, setting that cup on a railing as he stretched.
"Guiche?"
"Monmon?" asked Guiche, recognizing the voice. He turned towards her and was able to ascertain her mood even through the pounding headache. She was quite unhappy.
Percival Frostbane stretched out weary muscles, deciding it was best to ignore the children as they stared.
Really, even though one normally had access to things like Hearthstones and Death Gates - one didn't simply leave and return on a whim from any battle. If nothing else, there was the concern of the return trip - which usually required a lot of time riding about and sometimes through what an optimist might call a "target rich environment" but a more practical view would regard as an outright pain in the arse.
Hence something a mage friend of his had developed. Though that friend had been a little odd, even for a gnome, it was the work of things like this that had really developed his respect for the enchanter arts. The "Handy Pocket Cabin" wasn't flashy and (thankfully) didn't explode, unusual for Gnome work.
On the one hand, it was quite handy and still had six charges on it. On the other hand, every time he used it he had to pull an angry goose out of the kitchen cupboard before it started smashing up his china. Why a goose, why it kept appearing, and why it was so angry were questions he'd never quite found an answer for.
"YOU! ouch."
Bane blinked as he regarded the youth who'd yelled and then started clutching his head. "Ye are suffering a hangover lad. I didn't think you'd be so inexperienced with drinking."
"Yes! It's your fault!" said the youth, pointing. "I challenge you to a duel!"
"Why?" asked Bane, sipping at his tea. Ah. Irish Breakfast tea. He had no idea what an Irish was, probably some kind of plant, but it was a darn sight better than what you could get nowadays from Stranglethorn Vale. Damn trolls.
"For honor, sirrah," said the blond youth.
"Ah," said Bane. "Honor then. As good a reason as any to die."
"Commoner, what are you..." began Guiche.
Bane summoned his armor, it fading into place on his form.
"-talking-" continued Guiche, though he looked slightly alarmed now.
First the right arm, then the left arm, then he threw his head back and howled as he changed from human form to full Worgen.
"-about?" squeaked Guiche, now fully recognizing WHAT he had just challenged to a duel.
"Where and when?" asked Bane, pulling out one sword and making a couple of sweeps with it. Then he did the same with the other, warming up a bit. That he was giving the child a chance to back out was beside the point.
"..." Guiche was trying to say something but nothing came out.
"Vestry Court, right away," shouted out someone helpfully.
"Thank you," growled Bane.
Guiche looked as if he wanted to be just about anywhere but where he was.
Bane tried to keep his voice low. "Boy. Your girl is watching. Both of them. I'll try to make your death quick and somewhat heroic. Stand up, will ye?"
Guiche managed to get up and glance at where two of the girls were. Swallowing nervously, he tried to put on a good show and hope that the incredibly-dangerous-looking familiar of Zero was simply going to painfully beat him down instead of something a bit more permanent. "I..." Guiche swallowed again as that had come out a bit squeakier than he'd intended. "I am Guiche The Bronze. As such, it is only fitting that you face my valkyrie!"
A petal dropped to the ground.
Bane stared at the metal statue that had just risen up. Then one paw/hand came up to cover a good deal of face and jaws.
"Uhm, what?" asked Guiche, not having expected this.
"A pet battle? This was to be a PET battle? Argh. I thought I was going to have to dismember you. Okay, hang on."
"What's a 'pet'... 'dismember'?" Guiche asked.
"Here goes. I think this is how it goes when you're dueling with pets," growled the Worgen as he made a gesture. The air rippled and something appeared. "From Shadowmoon Valley, born of the fires of the dark legions, a Fel Flame!"
Guiche blinked, staring at the vaguely humanoid creature of green fire.
Another gesture, and another creature appeared. This one though caused less gasps and muttering from the crowd. No, this one seemed to generate a few squeals from the girls in the audience.
"Hailing from the mysterious Darkmoon Island and the equally mysterious Darkmoon Faire," rumbled the Worgen. "Darkmoon Cub - come forth!"
Another gesture, another creature appeared. This one drew a few odd noises from the females in the crowd, and much greater interest from the males present.
"From the land of Pandaria, where a secret tournament that spans worlds take place, I call forth my third and final participant for this pet battle. Catgirl Ninja - Kasumi!"
The girl appeared, legs and arms tucked into a ball as she dropped in a high spin - only to land on her feet with her hands outstretched and clutching two knives. She quickly made a couple of slashing motions that set portions of her anatomy to moving in ways that particularly caught teenage male attention.
The Worgen had his eyes closed, arms folded before him as he stood at his full height. More noticeable because he was usually hunched over a bit. "Very well, young noble. Shall we begin?"
There was silence. Bane opened his eyes and saw that Guiche had collapsed with blood spattering from his nasal region.
"What in Tyreon's name?" asked the Worgen.
"Uhm, I'm going to declare Guiche the loser of this match," said Katie from within the crowd. Yeah, she was finding out that Guiche was apparently two-timing her. Seeing him literally diced up wasn't what she really wanted despite that. Having him lose even this pathetically was better.
Montmorency cleared her throat and seconded that, for exactly the same reasons. She'd get together with that Katie later and find out exactly what Guiche had been up to. If Guiche was to be punished, SHE would do it.
The Worgen scratched his head. "There are obviously many customs of this land I just don't get."
Louise gaped for a moment.
Her familiar was able to use magic, and had multiple familiars of his own. She'd known part of this, but until it was forced upon her - she had been able to ignore it.
That he had somehow conjured up a cabin and set the thing outside the school was also duly noted.
Her own familiar was a more powerful mage than she was!
She'd never seen a paper bag, but had a sudden urge to pull one out and cover her head in one.
"Louise," said Kirche, stepping closer.
Louise flinched, just KNOWING that Kirche was going to say something horrible.
"Do you suppose I can see that 'Darkmoon Cub'?" asked Kirche. "For that matter, does your familiar have other beasts he can conjure forth?"
Louise:
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(Posted Tue, 05 Feb 2013 20:17)
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