[center] [h2] TentacleLord and Crimson Raven Collab [/h2] [/center]

Sanctus just laughed at the man's insults. "You know," He said brightly, "Your insults are pretty weak, I know a good book on them that I could loan to you!" 




Jonathan's expression shifted to mock surprise, complete with an over-exaggerated mime of wiping sweat of his brow. [color=yellow]"Oh, right, you [i]can[/i] talk! I forgot, what with the whole looking like one of them monkey things and smelling like the ass end of an ass."[/color]




Sanctus raised both eyebrows. "Better, but still pitiful. Surely such an edicated individual could do better. Although, " His expresstion becamed thoughtful, and slightly nausiated. He turned he head away and held his nose. "Are you sure the smell isnt you?"




Jonathan grinned savagely, green eyes lighting up behind the lank hair. [color=yellow]"Nah, see, you walked in and the smell of soiled pants followed ya inside. Turned [i]everyone[/i] of their drink. Although..."[/color] The fighter mimicked the child soldier's expression, save for the nose holding. Instead, he spat with unerring accuracy at the smaller male's face. [color=yellow]"...you'd make a great spit-bucket. Got the face for it."[/color]




Sanctus moved with incredable speed, his empty hand backhanded the spit out of the air, before it came near his face. He absent-mindedly wipped his hand on his pants. "Say it, dont spray it, mister." He said in a child-like tone. "Soiled pants, yeah an oldie but a goody. You really should read that book, anyways I thought you came to fight. Not trade insults, or is that tounge of yours the only sharp thing about you? Maybe, I will cut it and find out.




The backhand was a surprise. Jonathan's relaxed posture changed with miniscule twitches as he optimized his stance, unsure of what to make of the sudden burst of speed. Instead, he slipped his free hand into one of the pouches on his belt, keeping his single-handed axe lowered and ready for combat. He sneered at the child. [color=yellow]"Try it, maggot."[/color]




Sanctus s voice lost its child-like tone, eerily sounding like an adult. "The only maggots here will be feasting on your corpse, [i]mister[/i]. Now, tell me your name."




[color=yellow]"What, so you can mutter it in vengence as I leave you sobbing and broken? Nah."[/color] The sneer grew. [color=yellow]"I ain't no knight, kiddo. Honor in battle and all that's for people with a death wish. The ones who can't finish the fights they start."[/color] He chuckled. [color=yellow]"Kinda like you, [i]coward.[/i]"[/color] 




"Careful, you might say somthing you regret, very well then... lets begin!" As soon as he said this, he dashed to the right and kicked a fist-sized stone he had notaced earlier at the mans face. He swung his sword around in an easy practaced motion, reversing his grip. He followed the rock forward, getting inside the mans reach and sliceing upwards. Jonathan's left hand snapped up, the flat of the axe-head ploughing into the rock as the child's sword approached this sudden and seemingly defenseless opening. He stepped into the charge and brought his heavily armored right hand out of the pouch, using the momentum gained from his step to bring the fist around in a blow that clipped the sword as it passed by. As the blade hissed past the exposed flesh of his axe-arm, Jonathan's expression turned grim. Instead of attempting to bring his axe down past the widely thrown sword, he let go of his weapon and snapped his elbow down in a crushing blow toward where the kid's forward momentum would bring the swordsman's head. Seeing the trap, Sanctus crouched low and stepped forward, avoiding the brunt of the force of the attack. He turned with the deflection of his sword, and slashed in a wide circular motion, aiming low, just below the knee. The next moment the elbow crashed into his back, throwing him to the ground. The wide slash proved to be just what Jonathan was looking for. Instead of attempting to block the blow aimed at his legs, he instead continued through with the elbow blow, falling forward and letting his crushing weight pile onto the child-like form. The hissing sword connected just as he began to fall, its razor edge the only thing that allowed such an awkwardly angled blow to penetrate flesh. It dug into the shin and stuck fast as Jonathan collapsed fully, quite happy to keep his opponent under his superior weight if it meant a scrape on his leg.




Sanctus knew he was introuble, but the fight wasnt done yet, With his one free hand, he pulled out a dagger in a reverse grip, reached backward and tried stabbing Jonathan in the ribs. Grunting, Jonathan twisted and grabbed at the stabbing hand with his left, slamming it to the ground. [color=yellow]"Keep still, you little bastard. I've got half a mind to cut your face off."[/color] He loosened his right fist, letting the iron fillings that he'd kept inside tickle out in a fine stream. [color=yellow]"Would keep ya down."[/color] The fighter drew his own dagger, a long-bladed piece that curved wickedly in the last half-inch. He lay it flat across the boy's neck, letting him feel the cold steel. [color=yellow]"Move, in [i]any[/i] way, and I [i]will[/i] cut your throat."[/color]




 The next moment, out of nowhere, the halft of a spear cracked on Jonathan's head. The shock drove the man's eyes wide and his vision blurry. Ever so slowly, he keeled over, barely supporting his collapsing form as he attempted to focus on why the world exsisted in triplicate. He was kicked over and three of the wavering figures pointed their spears at his throat. The overabundance of jerking senses prevented him from correctly grasping the irony of the cool metal point pressing against the base of his neck "How dare you pick on a little boy like that you oaf!" Lilith cried. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you right here!" This time Sanctus spoke up huffing and wincing, "If you--nrrgh  killed him, then we couldn't finish o-our fight."  She nearly dropped her spear in surprise at his voice. "What?"




 Whatever he was going to say will never be known, because at that moment, soldiers in Ylissian colors came rushing into the ally "STOP! DROP YOUR WEAPONS AND PUT YOUR HANDS WHERE I CAN SEE THEM!" Shouted a soldier, whose fancy armor proclaimed him as the captain of the unit. Sighing, Lilith complied and other soldiers came forward, confinscated everyone's weapons, searched them, and then clapped them all in steel shackles. However, Marianne was nowhere to be found. Sanctus and Jonathan (Who was still trying to figure out which way was up, due both to his concussion and his profusely bleeding leg) were hauled to their feet, and with Lilith, marched off to some unknown fate.




And where had the curious Dark Mage wandered off to? The Corpse Collector had honestly gotten tired of the brute display of testosterone in front of her and so went off on her own to complete her namesake. Poking and prodding the two mangled bodies, Marianne hummed softly to herself as she carefully took care of their blanked eyes and other pieces she could acquire in a short timespan.




The sound of approaching troops made her sigh as that heralded an end to her fun activities. Locating a dark corner to hide in, she did just that as both Jonathan and Sanctus as well as a female newcomer were quickly carried away. Watching them go, Marianne slipped out of her hiding spot and considered going after them. However, as she walked out into the streets, she noticed that the Champion was nearby at last, having apparently finished a battle of his very own.




There was no contest in which path Marianne's interest lied in though she did cast a lingering glance in the direction of her apprehended friends. Yes, as much as she adored cutting their bodies open, both Jonathan and Sanctus had provided enough amusement for her to consider them allies, at least for the first five minutes. And thus an idea came to her rotted little head.




[color=a187be]"Not to worry [b]F.R.I.E.N.D.S.[/b] I'll see you  very soon,"[/color] she whispered to herself before turning to the direction the Champion was standing. Strolling up with a happy bounce in her step, the Dark Mage walked up to the group and took in the people more closely. It was certainly a wide range of characters, though she was able to identify the Champion easily by his robes. Well, torn robes now .For now, she walked right up to Jacob and gently tugged on his sleeve, a bright smile plastered on her face.




[color=a187be]“Hello there everyone,”[/color] she said politely, before taking the hem of her dress and bowing slightly. [color=a187be]“My name is Marianne. I've traveled far and wide to finally meet the Champion of Naga."[/color]




She extended out a still bloodied hand in greeting to Jacob, smiling gently. A moment of pause passed and the Dark Mage suddenly frowned.




[color=a187be]“Oh dear. I completely forgot that you are a man of great power and stature! Thus, it’s only natural I present a token of my gratitude for your work and proof of my sincerity. Let’s see….”[/color]




Digging around in her pocket, she plucked out the fresh eye from the man she had just collected from and offered it to Jacob happily. It dripped in blood and all sorts of unsightly fluids and she eagerly placed it out for the Champion to take. One step in saving her friends from whatever terrible and hopefully grisly fate had befallen them.




[color=a187be]“Please take it as a sign of my interest and curiosity in you young man. Also, has anyone ever told you that you have [b]A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.[/b] eyes?”[/color]