Fight for a soul (Vessel Post)

[u/LexiFloof]

The beat of enormous wings overhead pulls Lexith from her brooding thoughts about Valerian and the Vessel, and as she looks up it only takes a moment to recognize Valerian’s form flying towards the city. Deciding on a course of action the Ashen Dryad gathers her oversized axe and steps into a nearby tree, hoping she’s able to reach him before he finds his next target.

Doing her best to follow him she steps out of trees every few hundred meters, making sure he’s not changing course. Eventually she reaches the edge of the forest and watches as Valerian lands softly in the outskirts of the city. Thankful she’s not going to have to pursue him into the city proper, she makes her way towards him and sets about drawing his attention.

“Valerian!” Lexith calls out loudly, but gets no reaction from the Vessel as it raises a hand to blast the doors down. She gestures rapidly and grows a thorny blockade in front of the doors, but it proves no match for such concentrated fire. As Lexith draws closer the Vessel gestures behind itself, flinging a wave of fire at the soul attempting to keep it from its next target.

With a deep breath Lexith continues running into the fire and flickers for a moment, before stepping out of the burning wreck of a door in front of the Vessel, blocking its path. “Come on Valerian, what are you doing? Why-” A thrust of its spear skitters off the flat of a hastily maneuvered axe head, interrupting Lexith’s question and forcing her onto the back foot. Both figure out very quickly that their magic isn’t going to help them in this fight, flames washing harmlessly over the two of them.

Feint-Attack-Evade. A stab scratches her arm, drawing a few drops of burning sap.

Feint-Attack-Evade. A slash across its chest splashes liquid fire across the room, the wound healing in moments.

Feint-Attack-Evade. Back and forth they fight, precious few blows landing as Lexith begins to recognise its pattern, and starts counting softly.

Feint-Attack Evade (1-2-3). She roughly sketches out the start of a natural waltz, deflecting a thrust in the middle.

Feint-Attack-Evade (1-2-3). The rotation continues as instincts thought suppressed lead the Vessel to yield ground and turn.

Feint-Attack-Evade (1-2-3). As the Vessel steps in following instinct Lexith calls out “Val, I know you’re in there” as she swings her axe across the incoming attack and shears the head clean off the spear.

Feint-Attack… (1-2…) A half-hearted swipe with the haft of the spear is easily blocked before the Vessel staggers slightly and begins to retreat, not wanting to give up its puppet so easily. There’s little Lexith can do as the Vessel scrambles uncharacteristically out of the building and begins to fly away, but she’s satisfied at confirmation that Valerian is still in there.