Paved in Blood

[Devon]

It had been a week since Clan Char erupted into violence, Charminei had died and Charanath had not survived his wounds. Ryuk had been painfully silent, preferring to stay in Allura's hut. He had only spoken a few times, once was to one of his loyal scouts to keep an eye out on the people who had visibly opposed Char's leader and the other to find Ricardo. Other than that Ryuk only did what was necessary, though he rarely slept long and when he wasn't pacing he was sharping his daggers.

Grabbing his daggers he sheathed them and went to find Allura. "I'm getting ready to go," he told her.

[Kender Bard]

Allura glanced up from where she was wrapping bandages, mildly startled after having been dwelling in near silence with Ryuk for days. "Go?" she repeated, confused. "Go where?" Her eyes fell to his daggers and she grew tense. "Oh..." She swallowed. "Ryuk, I know it hurts. The whole clan is feeling the deaths of our elders. But... Do you feel this is wise? He could kill you. You haven't done anything to warrant action but everyone knows how you felt about the elders. I doubt he'll agree to anything less than a battle to the death."

[Devon]

"Thats what I want Allura," Ryuk said easily. "Ricardo killed Charminei, Charanth is dead and now there is a young girl out there without her family. I'm not letting this go until he is done for." Ryuk started for the door and paused briefly, "I know I've calmed down a lot from when you first met me, but if you think I've dulled and will let a man like Ricardo kill me then you're wrong."

[Kender Bard]

"I didn't say your skills have dulled!" Allura cried out in exasperation as she rose quickly to go to him. "But Ryuk; I understand Charii's plight. But if something were to happen to you... I don't know-- what--"

She threw her arms around him and hugged him tight. "Just don't die okay?" she said in a small voice.

[Devon]

Ryuk calmed slightly and returned the hug. "Nobody is getting rid of me that easily, I'll be back in time for dinner," he told her. Steeling his resolve he made his way out, touched his fire sign and shot a stream of flames into the air while shouting at the top of his lungs, "Ricardo! Come out here!"

[Kender Bard]

Ryuk captured the attention of most of the clan; those who weren't actively at work began to drift closer, curious, and word soon spread.

It didn't take long for Ricardo to appear, flanked by his most loyal supporters. "And what do you want, Ryuk?" he growled, glaring at the other man. "If you want the attention of your elder, there are better ways to get it than causing this ruckus."

[Devon]

"This is the same thing you did when you threatened a young girl and killed her mother," Ryuk spat back. "You are no elder of mine. Its been a week Ricardo I challenge you," he said.

[Kender Bard]

Ricardo rolled his shoulders. "I didn't threaten the young girl. I didn't expect her to accept my challenge. As for Charminei, she's the one that wanted it to end in death and she got her wish. I accept no blame for what happened to either of them. Char needs a strong leader and it got one."

He narrowed his eyes. "I'll give you one chance to take back your challenge and keep your dignity and life. Even if you win, what are you going to do with that win, son of Char? Are you going to be our Elder?"

[Devon]

Ryuk ignored his question for now, he hadn't decided exactly what he would do after but first came killing Ricardo. "I am Ryuk son of Char, this Clan has raised me and I won't see it in your hands," he told him. "I'd never take back my challenge."

[Kender Bard]

"To first blood?" Ricardo asked lightly, snapping his fingers and pointing back to his hut. "My spear." One of his loyal followers ran off to fetch the elder's weapon of choice.

[Devon]

"To wherever it leads," Ryuk answered drawing his daggers. Giving them a quick spin, he clasped his hands tightly around the hilts and prepared himself.

[Kender Bard]

Ricardo snorted softly--he knew what that meant.

By now people were gathering again much like they had the last time this had happened. Instead of a passionate crowd, however, this time the clan was eerily silent. They all watched with an intensity made all the more fierce by their lack of noise. The crowd was certain to give the two men a great deal of space, as well.

Once Ricardo had his spear he gripped it tightly. Like before, with the fight against Charminei, he had been storing up elemental power while stalling and waiting on his weapon. And, like before, he began to release it in massive amounts of smoke. The fight had begun.

[Devon]

Ryuk didn't charge forward, he waited patiently knowing if he darted forward Ricardo would just strike at the last moment. Ryuk tapped his sign and put a wall of fire in front him, making sure he was light on his toes he was concentrated his awareness so he wouldn't miss Ricardo's first strike.

[Kender Bard]

Ricardo mentally cursed as his trick failed to work on Ryuk. He debated making more smoke--they could just stand there and wait to see whose defense fell first. For a little while longer, that's precisely what he did as he considered how best to strike at Ryuk.

Finally he darted out of his smoke cloud but not charging. Instead he began to whip fire at Ryuk from afar, not straying too far from the safety of his still-lingering smoke cloud.

[Devon]

True to his nature he stayed nimble on his feet, moving side to side to avoid the fireballs while try to advance forward unnoticed through his weaving. Once he felt he was close enough he moved to one side quickly changing his angle to try and attack Ricardo from his side with two quick slashes of his daggers.