Blasphemer came back to the fore-front of her cage, flicking her three tails behind her in a grand manner. She waved a hand and beamed at the lizard man. "We're in HELL. And that 'shelled beast' is a speaker-box. It's translating for you. As for the racket? The other two loud mouths in here are out there dukeing it out. I imagine you against me is next on the bracket for entertainment."

She scowled and shoved back from the bars again, although she stayed in view of the lizard man, swishing her tails in her irritation.

((Reglis))

Once the box finishes hissing he nods and hisses some more, "Hell indeed. I have never seen such a place of smooth metallic rock before. How did they carve this cave out?" Looking back to the three tailed creature, "What are we here for?" Just as he finishes his question the door bursts open again.

((Herrix))

"What do we have here? Talking between enemies?" Pointing his thick calloused finger at Blasphemer. "Getting to know your opponent will only make you hesitate on the killing blow!"
Looking back to Reglis, "This beast isn't worth knowing anyway! It's a savage creature." Turning back to Blasphemer "And so are you for that matter! I am too. We're all just here for the amusement of the audience. Get used to it bird tail!"

Reglis begins yanking at the bars again, hard. You can hear the metal whine from the strain. Just before they pop you hear a low hiss coming from the wall again and a dull thump from his cell. Some guards come in wearing black masks, thick armor and carrying heavy weapons. They drag Reglis out of the cell and deposit him in a new one then leave the hall again.

Herrix looks to Blasphemer "See, we can't get out. No matter what you do your doomed to die here. Even if you make it past the trials you will only die later if not by me then by someone looking to take your place." Turning to the door and yanking it open he adds, "Just accept it. Don't make any friends either, you'll just kill them in the end. I'll check back later, dont talk with the lizard man." With that said he shuts the door.

She scowled darkly, the phoenix in her making her loathe this more and more. "Fighting. Each other."

She narrowed her sharp eyes at the man who came to shout at them. If she had possessed cat ears, they'd have been flat to her skull. She swatted through the bars at him when he called the lizard a savage creature. "Screw you! You're the savage!" She bared her teeth at him and flicked her three tails, two bird, one lion. "BIRD TAILS MORON. Pay attention while you still have eyes! Because so help me, the first chance I get I'll carve them out of your thick skull!"

Blasphemer didn't yell at him, she didn't have to. The weight and sincerity of her words were heavy enough to be carried by a low voiced threat. As he made his way out she did shout after him. "And I'll talk to who-so-ever I bloody well want to!"


[She's a proper gryphon, but she's comprised of phoenix and Tsavo lion, on top of her human attributes.]

A round of curse words shot from her mouth as she slipped slightly and hit the ground in an awkward angle. Slowly Mara forced herself to her feet, wincing at the sharp pain in her ankle. Nothing was broken thankfully, but the way she'd landed had definately pulled a muscle there. She raised both blades and smirked coldly at Ben.
"But I wouldn't want to kill you, after all, what use is your fists to my blades?" She answered in cold amusement. Ignoring the pain in her ankle Mara darted forwards, raising the long blade to slice at Ben's arm, the other one in front of her ready to protect.

((Ben))

Flinging his arm out wide the blade nicks his arm as he dodges back. Grunting gruffly as a burning tingle shoots through his nerves he looks to see that his arm has not in fact been cut. Rolling to recover his knife he snakes his foot out to try and trip her up.

She had been destracted, pleased that the blade had hit him. But the fact he hadn't been cut was strange. It distracted her enough so that she didn't notice the foot. Tripping over it Mara used the longer sword to regain her balance swiftly, spinning round as she did.
"I thought you said I didn't have a chance against you?" She questioned with a smirk. Despite the injuries Mara had given herself in her own recklessness, including the still throbing ankle, it seemed she would win if she could keep it up. Charging forwards Mara once more swung the blade, aiming for his shoulder now, her leg rising to kick at the same time.

((Ben))

Losing his cool and focus he starts to turn red in the face. "Lady, I'm going to kill you with my bare hands!" Discarding his knife like a fool, the very knife that he had just picked up he charges her. Then he notices the swinging blade.

He tries to dodge but his stupidity has caused him the match. Her knee smashes into his face and the blade goes right into his collarbone. The pain is intense he collapses in a heap, his nerves spasm and he convulses on the arena floor. There is not a single drop of blood from his neck and shoulder area. His nose however was broken and the blood was flowing freely.

The crowd cheers the victor as the speaker fires to life.

((Speaker))

*static*Ben was no match for Mara. It seems like he will need a bit more training. The next match will begin in ten minutes.

((Ben))

Still convulsing he tries to stammer out a threat but can't manage more than gurgling and coughing up bloody spittle. The doors open up and a troop of guard come out onto the arena floor to carry him back to his cell to be tended to by a doctor.

Blasphemer perked slightly at the cheering, although her face was grim. She knew that meant someone had been hurt or killed and that, in all probability, she was next in the ring. Against who was not her concern. They had taken her scythe and it was as dear to her as her music. As a matter of fact, it had two small charms dangling from embedded cords on the end, near the blade; one a modified eastern tri-bar cross and the other a NIN symbol she had meticulously crafted herself.

She shoved herself back away from the bars and began to whisper the words to 'March of the Pigs' to herself, as though riling herself up and preparing herself for what was coming.

Mara cursed, quickly dropping the blades that seemed to injure people without leaving marks.
"Sorry, I hadn't expected you to drop the blade." She apologised, kneeling beside Ben. She stayed there, ignoring the cheering crowd until the troop of guards came to collect him. When they did she stood up and moved away so they could carry him. One guard dispatched himself from the group and took her by the wrist, leading her through back to her cell again.

They locked the barred door behind her and she glanced back at the girl she'd spoken to earlier.
"Watch out for the weapons...They're different to normal." She shrugged her shoulders, trying to get comfy against the stone wall.

Blasphemer blinked slowly and smiled. "Well then, I don't have anything to worry about. My scythe is supposed to be different. If they let me have my scythe that is."

((Ben))

As the doctors leave Ben's cell one of them calls out, "Nothing more than a minor broken nose. The system shock will wear off in a few minutes and he'll be good as new." Indicating to his nurse she packs up the bag and they leave the hall. After a few seconds heavy angry thudding can be heard from the other side of the door.

((Herrix))

Bashing the hallway door open with brute force appears Herrix, he wrenches Ben's cell door open, grabs him by the collar and starts to haul him off. "Come on kid, time for some enhancements."

((Ben))

Still writhing from nerve damage so soon after the fight he manages to stammer out, "W-w-where are y-y-you t-taking me?" Attempting to break the vice like grip Herrix has around his collar.

((Herrix))

Grunting, "Sorry kid you just didn't cut it in the ring. They decided you need to get an upgrade."

((Ben))

"N-no! NO!" Looking at Mara, "This is your fault." he falsely accuses. "You did this to me!" Almost breaking out of Herrix's grip he grabs Mara's cell bars. "I'm going to get you for this!" Herrix cuffs him on the neck knocking him out. He slumps to the ground completely unconscious.

((Herrix))

Hauling Ben over his shoulder like a heavy sack he sighs deeply, "Sorry about this kid. Just isn't your lucky day is it?" He closes the bent door behind him.

Mara shot back in surprise, and fear, as Ben began to yell at her. She shook her head slowly, unable to look away as he grabbed her bars, still yelling.
"I didn't know! At least I didn't kill you!" She yelled back suddenly, desparation in her voice. Mara hated being blamed for things, she was trying to reason with herself at the same time, saying she couldn't have done anything else. It was either win or loose here.

((Just saying I'm off to my grandparents for a little while))




((Back again))

Blasphemer frowned darkly when the boy began shouting and rattled her bars. "Hey! HEY! Don't blame her! Blame the idiot dragging you about like a PET DOG!"

She waited for the hallway to go quiet again and peered out her bars at the girl. "You okay kid? I don't think it's a good idea to be rattled for long or at all around here..."

She glanced up at the person who spoke to her, who actually stuck up for her, and smiled faintly.
"Yea...And thanks...I don't take blame well." She answered, chuckling faintly. "Call it one of my little faults." Mara added with a sigh, leaning back against the wall.

"Bah, he's just a sore loser. Some people try to put the blame on everyone but themselves for everything." She scowled and sighed heavily, just playing the waiting game now.

((Speaker))

*Static* The next match will begin shortly. The battle of the beasts! A lizard man Reglis from the desert planet versus the aviation terror, the gryphon Blasphemer! Due to Reglis's inability to speak in one of the three universal tounges a translator will be provided by The Black Thieves. Black Thieves, when you want the skinny on your enemies or intend to invade a planet hire the Black Thieves.

((Reglis))

Hissing sounds escape his cell. *Ugh, what happened?* Grogy and bleary eyed he stands back up whiping his tail against the floor.


((Ok Traditionalblasphemy PM me for fight breakdown when you can.))

Her pale orange-brown eyes focused on Mara and she chuckled dryly. "Tsk. It's gonna be a shame to beat him up. I kinda like him."

She heard him stirring and turned her face as well as she could in his general direction. "Sorry Scales...looks like it's you against me...I like you...but I'm not gonna go easy on you. No hard feelings huh?"

Mara chuckled in agreement.
"Good luck all the same, I'm sure you'll win...Just don't kill him, I don't really like the idea of having to fight on blood covered ground next." She joked.

Blasphemer chuckled. "I don't intend to...but. I may have to take out his knees if he's flexible. I don't kill unless forced to...or if I'm hungry."

((Reglis))

Slapping his tail against the ground he hisses, "I will not fight for the amusement of these... beasts!"

The doors to the cells begin to open, a divider seperates the combatants. The doors on both ends of the hallway open.

Reglis does not move from his cell.

((Speaker))

Instead of the standard static noise a series of hisses come from the speaker. Reglis seems to understand it and responds in kind. After a few moments a static charging noise can be heard from his cell. Sparks fly and Reglis hisses in anger again and again. Slowly he is pushed out of the cell forcefully by an electric field. He is herded like an animal to the door.

When her door opened Blasphemer jerked her head up proudly, like a so called 'beast' of her caliber ought. She gave Reglis a short glance, an early apology for what was coming and walked to the door closest her cell and waited.

She flexed her sharply nailed hands reflexively and hummed softly to herself, winding herself up for what was coming.

((Reglis))

Forced out of the hallway and into the waiting chamber, a garotte is slung around his neck as he is forced to the floor. Two men in armor come out and cover his claws with gloves. As they retreat the garotte is released. He gets up hissing and charges the door where he is repelled by the electrified field. In a rage he rushes out the other door into the arena.

Hissing and spitting, wild with rage he bellows at the cheering crowd and rushes the arena walls. Again he is repelled by an electrified field. Blinded with fury he looks around the field for a target to vent his anger.

Blasphemer wandered out when her door opened, looking for her scythe. She knew that the sooner she got it in hand the better, the lizard looked particularly hacked off. She unfurled her massive black and purple wings, ready to spring away from him if she had to.

True she had long, sharp, unforgiving nails, but she preferred not to stoop to such a level when fighting.

((Speaker))

*static* Let the battle begin!

((Reglis))

The roar of the crowd rises as the center of the arena releases a scythe. As the scythe lands in the dirt Reglis looks over. Calming a little he sits down in a cross legged position. Closing his eyes he shouts, "I will not fight for your amusement! I shall sit here and do nothing."

Boos rain onto the arena. The spectators begin whipping up into a frenzy. A few fights break out and riot control is called in. In order to calm the croud the fight must begin. From the crowd a small bot the size of a flea lands on Reglis's back and begins to bite him. At first nothing happens but slowly Reglis becomes irritated and begins to breath erratically. He stands up and staggers to the left a bit, "Stop, stop it." running into the electrified walls surrounding the arena he screams, "Stop!". His eyes become bloodshot as he screams in rage and turns to rush Blasphemer.