Round 1 - Cobalt vs Amaro

[Kender Bard]

Cobalt had wanted terribly to keep his full plate, but Noel had dissuaded him of it, pointing out that a well placed bolt would fry him. They'd argued on the point (Cobalt stating that by tournament rules, that would be potentially lethal use of power and therefore, illegal) but the other man had persuaded Cobalt to exercise some caution. Besides, it wasn't as though the blades here were particularly sharp. Cobalt donned the standard leather armor.

Spotting his opponent, he smiled thinly. Amaro's reputation was fierce. This would be a good fight. He saluted.

"Ready?" the judge asked.

[Northen Light36]

"Ready," Amaro says simply, not wasting his breath with too many words. On the outside, Amaro appears casual, relaxed, as though he's merely out for a stroll rather then a sparring match. Inwardly though, he's sharp and focused.

The sparring match with Shadow had warmed his muscles, but Amaro was aware he'd put more of his strength then intended into the fight. He would have to pace himself carefully. Cobalt was no doubt at least as fast as Talon and Talon had long ago taught Amaro not to dismiss Winds in combat. Wanting to put Cobalt on the defensive, and therefore disadvantage him, Amaro lunges forward, attempting a hard, numbing blow to the other man's sword arm.

[Kender Bard]

Rather than attempt to parry or block the blow, Cobalt moved out of the way and let Amaro's strike meet air. Cobalt had nearly surprised himself, since in his mind he was calculating his movements as though he still wore his full plate. One arm had been slightly raised to take the blow on a gauntlet for not being able to move completely out of the way, but his quick reflexes had spared him the pain. He quickly brought his sword in a slash for Amaro's side.

[Northen Light36]

Amaro winced as he took the hit and swore. That didn't stop him from activating one of his signs and sending a low powered, merely stinging/numbing level, shock at Cobalt, aimming for his sword hand. A second later he twists around and attempts to slash at Cobalt's back. Not the most honourable move, but only a fool leaves his back unprotected anyway.

[Kender Bard]

Cobalt swore. The leather hilt helped to dampen the effect of Amaro's bolt but he still felt numbless in that hand. When he quickly twisted around and met Amaro's sword, he nearly dropped his own.

"Side-score, time limit penalty to Amaro," the judge announced. "Amaro has five minutes to defeat Cobalt or he loses the match!"

Cobalt grinned slightly at that, and held onto his sword with both hands, pressing into the block and trying to shove Amaro back.

[Northen Light36]

Amaro grits his teeth. Fine, he wanted to finish this fast anyway. Moving back and to the side, Amaro lets the sudden lack of resistance make Cobalt stumble slightly and attempts to take advantage of that moment of imbalance by kicking Cobalt's feet out from under him, attempting to get the other man on the ground so that a sword point at his thoat would force Cobalt to yield the match.

[Kender Bard]

Cobalt's 'stumble' was minimal - he wasn't trying to push Amaro across the field, merely force the man back. When Amaro stepped back he leaned forward but didn't stagger - Amaro's kick struck him in the leg, and smarted, but Cobalt stood firm. He took a sharp, quick slice at Amaro's ankle as he fell back another couple steps himself.

[Northen Light36]

Amaro manages to step back and avoid the hit to his ankle, but only just. Activating just one of his signs and carefully controling the level of power he's using, Amaro sends a bolt of lightning at Cobalt. It's not powerful enough to do serious injury, but if it hits, Amaro knows it will stun the wind for a moment.

Acqua, watching from her seat, sees the faint self-disgust cross her brother's face at using a slaver's technique and knows she'll have to help him work through that later.

[Kender Bard]

Cobalt freezes, panting in pain. The look on his face is one of clear disapproval and anger as the man takes a few moments to try and make his body start working again.

[Northen Light36]

Amaro sighes slightly as he moves to disarm Cobalt... then stops and backs off. The move had been legal and would have won the match, but it was dirty. With another sigh, he waits for Cobalt to recover.

[Kender Bard]

Cobalt blinks at Amaro. He loosens up as the shock wears off and his angry look turns to one of wary puzzlement. He takes a defensive stance up again. "Why did you not follow through?" he asks.

[Northen Light36]

"I want to win and help my little sister out," Amaro replies simply. "But I want to be able to look her in the eye when I do so." Amaro lunges forward, lashing out to attempt a gut wound.

[Kender Bard]

Cobalt twisted, bringing his sword against Amaro's. He looked a bit confused again. "Something is amiss with Lady Acqua?" he inquired, even as he backed up.

[Northen Light36]

"Not amiss, no," Amaro replies, "But with four children in her household, a little extra money never hurts." With his free hand, Amaro pulls out a training swordbreaker dagger and tries to catch Cobalt's sword in it's spines.

[Kender Bard]

Cobalt jerked his sword back cautiously when he saw the swordbreaker. He continued to try and put more distance between them but still kept up the dialogue. "Is your House in need...?" he asked, still a bit puzzled. He was under the impression that Amaro was considerably wealthy as it was.