Trial of Combat - Ruuki (formerly Philomena)
Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 4:00 pm
The lantern flickered on the desk as she set her pack down. The rented room in the inn was neat but small, consisting of a bed and a little desk set so low that she'd have to sit on the floor. It was, however, a safe place away from the elements and from enemy blades, neither of which she felt like facing tonight. She set her helm on the desk, the lantern's light dancing on the surface of the metal as she sat down, running a hand through her shaggy brown mane. With a sigh, she dug out some jerky and a canteen of water from her pack, as well as a small, leather bound book. Since her return, Sunderpalm had recommended she keep a journal, hoping that it would help her regain the parts of her past that were still out of her grasp. She hunted for the little charcoal pencil she used for writing, and thought over the day's events. After a moment, she put pencil to paper, and slowly began to write, already frowning after the first few words- writing was never her strong suit.
I had been well on the way to completing my Trial of Combat through the Scalp Hunt when my... incident, for lack of a better word, happened. I've no one to blame but myself for what befell me, but now I fight to regain my memories, and to cement my place in the Grim. I take the Mandate seriously, and regardless of what happened I will uphold it.
My mind is still a mess, but in my discussions with Sunderpalm I remembered a place in the Thunder Isle, beneath the Court of Bones where I had encountered a mogu spirit who happened to be rather furious that I had disturbed his rest. I had been alone, and I had barely escaped his wrath. I decided that paying him another visit would be a good test of my current abilities, as well as hopefully a worthy attempt for my Trial of Combat.
Rather than my usual role of slaughtering things to pieces with glee, I opted to explore the armor I had stored in my bank, sturdy plate designed to take a beating, and judging from the marks and worn surfaces on some of them, they had taken many. I decided to play the role of the defender, trading my great sword for a one handed sword and shield. I did not go after him alone this time- Sunderpalm accompanied me, I think possibly worried for my safety.
My memories became a little clearer as we made our way down, and this particular spirit was not pleased to see me return. The battle itself was tough, and I fought to keep his attention focused on me, my attacks seeming to do little more than annoy him further.

She paused, the memory of the fight burning brightly in her mind, and while she was relieved she could create and hold new memories, the fact that older ones still eluded her only frustrated her. She took a bite of jerky, chased it down with water, and resumed writing, her tail flicking and thumping the floor behind her.
As the battle raged on, I found that instead of becoming stressed or weary, my thoughts calmed, my movements flowing from one to the next as though I had danced this dance a million times before. While Warlord Teng's furious attacks rained down on my head and back, experience guided me and Sunderpalm's skills healed me, and little by little the spirit's moves weakened, holes opening in his attacks that could be exploited.

There is no describing the satisfaction I felt when that warlord dropped, his ethereal form struggling to hold even as his spirit was beaten unconscious.


(a close up of the actual achievement, since I missed it before it faded when I killed Teng)

I am learning every day that I am with the Grim. My skills are ready to be put to use, to push the Mandate and eliminate all who stand in our way. I am by no means a perfect fighter, but what I do not know, I will learn.
With this telling, I respectfully submit my proof of my Trial of Combat.
- Ruuki
She sighed, leaning back with a smile as she looked over her words. She preferred to let others do the writing as her penmanship was rather atrocious, but it was legible, and hopefully the automatic copy it was supposed to create as she wrote would be just as legible. She flipped the page, intending to pull out the copy... and groaned, realizing that she'd forgotten to slip in the special powdery page that was required. Muttering under her breath, she began copying her words down, so that she could keep the original. It was near morning before she was finished, but finally she was able to send both letters.
I had been well on the way to completing my Trial of Combat through the Scalp Hunt when my... incident, for lack of a better word, happened. I've no one to blame but myself for what befell me, but now I fight to regain my memories, and to cement my place in the Grim. I take the Mandate seriously, and regardless of what happened I will uphold it.
My mind is still a mess, but in my discussions with Sunderpalm I remembered a place in the Thunder Isle, beneath the Court of Bones where I had encountered a mogu spirit who happened to be rather furious that I had disturbed his rest. I had been alone, and I had barely escaped his wrath. I decided that paying him another visit would be a good test of my current abilities, as well as hopefully a worthy attempt for my Trial of Combat.
Rather than my usual role of slaughtering things to pieces with glee, I opted to explore the armor I had stored in my bank, sturdy plate designed to take a beating, and judging from the marks and worn surfaces on some of them, they had taken many. I decided to play the role of the defender, trading my great sword for a one handed sword and shield. I did not go after him alone this time- Sunderpalm accompanied me, I think possibly worried for my safety.
My memories became a little clearer as we made our way down, and this particular spirit was not pleased to see me return. The battle itself was tough, and I fought to keep his attention focused on me, my attacks seeming to do little more than annoy him further.

She paused, the memory of the fight burning brightly in her mind, and while she was relieved she could create and hold new memories, the fact that older ones still eluded her only frustrated her. She took a bite of jerky, chased it down with water, and resumed writing, her tail flicking and thumping the floor behind her.
As the battle raged on, I found that instead of becoming stressed or weary, my thoughts calmed, my movements flowing from one to the next as though I had danced this dance a million times before. While Warlord Teng's furious attacks rained down on my head and back, experience guided me and Sunderpalm's skills healed me, and little by little the spirit's moves weakened, holes opening in his attacks that could be exploited.

There is no describing the satisfaction I felt when that warlord dropped, his ethereal form struggling to hold even as his spirit was beaten unconscious.


(a close up of the actual achievement, since I missed it before it faded when I killed Teng)

I am learning every day that I am with the Grim. My skills are ready to be put to use, to push the Mandate and eliminate all who stand in our way. I am by no means a perfect fighter, but what I do not know, I will learn.
With this telling, I respectfully submit my proof of my Trial of Combat.
- Ruuki
She sighed, leaning back with a smile as she looked over her words. She preferred to let others do the writing as her penmanship was rather atrocious, but it was legible, and hopefully the automatic copy it was supposed to create as she wrote would be just as legible. She flipped the page, intending to pull out the copy... and groaned, realizing that she'd forgotten to slip in the special powdery page that was required. Muttering under her breath, she began copying her words down, so that she could keep the original. It was near morning before she was finished, but finally she was able to send both letters.