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originally posted in:The Digital Dojo
9/2/2016 5:52:55 AM
62
The cracked ground lined with light sand yearned for moist as heavy hooves galloped against its hard surface. On top of it was a man with a sword holstered onto his back, technology and guns rattling on his leather belt. As the high steel walls of the Dojo approached steadily he looked to the doors with hesitance for what would lie within. For all the times this man had trekked through uncharted fringes of space and realities alternate to his own this place had to be one of the most daunting he'd ever encountered.
As the heavy doors of the Dojo, sealed shut by great locks stood in front of the man he slid his weight off of the horse's saddle and firmly planted his feet onto the ground, the soles of his heavy boots crunching against plates of dry rock. The man licked his lips but the gesture hurled no relief, as his mouth was still as dry as the desert he'd stood in, no saliva left in his own mouth. As the sun beat down on him whoever would have watched his approach had a better look at him; black curling hair like cherub's own, a beard under his face, ice blue eyes, with a tan face from the twin suns that beat down on him and scars curving across the contours of his face. His leather jacket bristled in the light gust that had swept by.
A line of smoke rose from the fat cigar that sat between his crackled lips as he waited for a challenger to approach, preparing himself for a hard fight.
[spoiler]Open to challengers. Let me in![/spoiler]
English
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[b]A figure with no face, or any features at all, walks up to the man. The figure is completely clear, and is around ten feet tall.[/b] "You look thirsty? Want a drink?" [b]Its voice was calming and smooth, as if it already cared about the man.[/b]
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Sawyer looked up at the man and squinted over raging sand; the prospect of the featureless man was strange to say the least, but Sawyer had most definitely seen stranger. He shook his head slightly as the man offered a drink. He was thirsty but never was one to accept charity. "No thank you, but I feel humbled by the offer. Wanna take a seat?" Sawyer patted the driftwood he sat on, taking a drag from his recently-lit cigar.
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"Sure." [b]It sits beside him.[/b] "What brings you to the Dojo?"
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Sawyer tapped his smoke and let crumbs of smoldering ash fall to the dry earth, letting it slip between huge seams that lined the ground. "You've been around enough and there's not many places left to go. Seen millions of men die, good and bad, killed cruel dictators and sick, greedy entrepreneurs. Saw my home planet be nothing but ruin and go to an earth where everything was beyond decay already, ruled by cutthroat androids from a destroyed culture. Explored a whole galaxy worth of stars and adventures. Manned the largest ship in creation, killed a vessel of the same size by the skin of my teeth. Purged a race and destroyed a dimension. When you've exhausted everything you can do you come to the place were legends are forged. That's why I'm at the Dojo. Why are you here, then?"
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"I just showed up as an amorphous blob and they let me in. No reason for coming."
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Sawyer chuckled. "Lone drifter, I can toast to that. You got a name, stranger?"
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"Not really... The Deity calls me Big S, though."
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Sawyer nods. "Well, nice to meet you S. I'm Aaron Sawyer, Paladin." Sawyer extends a hand and smiles.
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[b]Big S shakes his hand.[/b] "Paladin? As in Brotherhood of Steel, or as in medieval?"
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"Neither. My home planet, Prilion, had a program called the Paladin Order, a division of the High Empress' Godessguard. We were the most skilled mages in our land and our goal was to protect our land. Damn fine order, we were. Shame. None got out alive." Sawyer stared longingly into the sand, his eyes dilating as he spaced out.
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"That's interesting... Wait. What do you mean none survived? Aren't you alive?"
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"Not to them, I wasn't. Damn miracle I survived the destruction of Prillion. To my once closest comrades I'm a dead man walking." Sawyer chuckled slightly, but still continued to look forward into nothing blankly.
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"That's... Bad."
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Sawyer sighed and leaned back, letting the rotting driftwood creak under his mask. He frugally takes a drag from his cigar. "Got any stories to share yourself?"
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"N-No..." [b]It's clear that it has quite a tale, but doesn't want to say anything.[/b]
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Sawyer laughed and nudged the shoulder of the creature. "Come on. Nothing to be afraid of, man."
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[spoiler]This is being revealed later, just so you know.[/spoiler] [b]It looks at him.[/b] "There is something to be afraid of."
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Bump for convenience
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[b]The doors swung open, a gust of wind sending the man a few feet back. From the gateway emerged a singular figure. A large Tiger, who roared at the man [/b]
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The man stood his ground firm and his muscular frame refused to be taken aback by the sudden entrance of the tiger. Despite this, Sawyer placed one arm on the hilt of his sword and carefully slid it out of a metal sheath with the sound of grinding metal. He gripped his weapon firmly with two hands, ready for anything the tiger would do in the coming moments.
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[b]It stopped roaring, then smiled [/b] "Brave. Most would just run away." [b]The sudden speaking would make any man uncomfortable, seeing a living animal talk perfect English might dude that to a man[/b]
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Sawyer sheathed his sword, though kept his guard and looked at the talking animal with an inquisitive eye. "Quite strange... I've never seen an animal such as you speak before."
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"I'll take that as a compliment"
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[spoiler]OHHHH FUK[/spoiler] [spoiler]we got rid of the testing process though lol! Don't worry, I'll still fight.[/spoiler] [i]Beside the gate, the grizzled samurai stood. Donned in his red plated armour and two twin Katanas at each of his sides, the armour shed no reflection to the dusk that coated the earth. His eyes could not be seen behind his helm, but rather artificial red LED's which locked onto this new figure. He stood at attention, after putting his small white teacup to the side.[/i] "Hello. I am Tesuto, gatekeeper of The Dojo. Do you seek entrance?"
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Sawyer smiled at the sight. Tesuto was a form reminder of the samurai warriors he'd been told stories of as a young man, clad in shimmering armor, brandishing thin swords names [i]katanas[/i] that shred through tendons and arteries with precision as if they were paper-mâché. Staring at this contestant fighter under the dusk was truly an awesome sight; however, Sawyer had not arrived at the walls of the Dojo for reliving fantastic tales of chivalric warriors of his childhood. He had made his journey to stake a claim in the world as a fighter who could stand his own ground. Sawyer approached Tesuto and smiled. "A fine day to meet you, Tesuto. I am Sawyer, and yes, I do seem admittance into the Dojo."
