Rand vs Markus in the Colosseum [private]

[Edward van Hagen]

OoC: Peer-modding for Rand.

Timestamp: Brightening 15 of the Second Cycle of Kalendryas, Winter of Era I of the Celestine Mandate, Era XIII Post Fractum, Paradigm: The Eclipse of the Sun

If one would take a closer look at the so-called rooms the gladiators were given to prepare in, they would see that it wasn't more then a simple room with two chairs, some sort of bench on which gladiators could be given treatment, a punching bag and a small window which gave a look out onto 'The Pit', though it wasn't a very good view. It was by all means a sober room and was literally just there for people to wait at or to be treated after a match when necessary. But it would do well for any fighter, luxury wasn't what one needed when they were about to give in to their most primal feelings, their most primal instincts. Fighting for victory, trying to not be defeated themselves, and for some.. fighting for their very life. The punching bag seemed very much used, some fighters obviously preferred to squander their skills before a fight on a punching bag, or afterwards when they had lost... or won, some people were strange like that.

Rand heard the clashing of swords and in 'The Pit', two fighters were currently engaged in battle, two humans it seemed, both wielding what seemed to be longswords. A very classical fight indeed. They seemed to be evenly matched though one of them had a rather impressive cut among his chest. The cut was fresh as blood was still dripping from the wound. Nevertheless, he seemed to be holding his sword as tightly as the opponent. Their swords clashed several times but there seemed to be no real pattern in either of their fighting styles. As if they were just doing what felt right and didn't rely on basic concepts or ideas of how to find an opening in the opponent's defence. The fight was interesting to watch for certain, because it would be good to see which one of the two would come out on top, and if this was going to be a match to the death as well. The fight however came to an abrupt ending as the fighter who had already been wounded suddenly grabbed his chest wound, obviously feeling some sort of intense pain coming from it. This created an oppertunity for his opponent who took it eagerly. With a simple slash, he sliced open the wounded man's arm and this caused the man to drop his weapon. He immediately shouted, in fear of more blows, if not a lethal one, "I surrender!" The fight, was over. Rand probably had a good candlemark left to prepare for his battle.

[Rand Gerratis]

Having been led into the backdoor of the Colosseum and then led down into the waiting, preparing, and 'medical' area Rand, unlike some he was sure, did not feel like he was going to be staying in poor conditions. These were actually much better than the alleys of Imperia and the alley of Nexus he stayed in. It was a covering at least, much better than what he had before. To think he had given up the only home he had ever known in the dojo in Imperia was not even an afterthought at this point, he had made sure to forget it because it would have clouded his mind.

Sitting upon a bench he placed his elbows on his knees and looked ahead, hearing the fight in The Pit. He did not have to see for he could determine what was going on from the sound alone. One attuned to duels and battle could know actions by clangs, cries, and so forth. He knew what happened and knew that one had been injured from his yell and the hurry of those who were going to aid the injured fighter. Soon after his thoughts returned to his own training and movements. They were a constant flow in his mind.

Rand did not rise to train with the punching bags for at this point to punch a bag would do nothing but be punching a bag. Instead he went over every movement and every position and every attack and every defense in his mind. Slowly he rose and then lowered himself to the ground, despite how dirty it was, and began to do push-ups, one after another, his arms seemingly never growing any weaker as his mind was focused on anything but pain or even the actions he was doing at the moment. The winds flowed around his out of self body he imagined moving about the ring.

His best asset was his speed, wind was his soldier, swift, sudden changes in direction, unquestionable power when hit from something you never saw coming.