Master

Omarmd erupted out from the twin-doors leading outside, shattering the newest sheet of ice covering the entrance. When he stormed the heretic stronghold many years past, he met little in means of resistance. After the Crystal Heart's protective field, and the still standing mages' magical cover finally both began to dim and ice started swallowing the Kingdom. Nearly all the inhabitants evacuated to the warmer south. Freezing temperatures was the only hurdle the Faithful had to pass to acquire this now revived kingdom.

Lord's High Champion, wasting no time standing in the cold, walked down the frozen steps. His heavy, clawed feet crushing the ice beneath them. Omarmd's destination was the High Church. In truth, the High Church was but a large arena, formally designed as a running ground. There, The Father shall gather His Lord's attention. The Kythes of Faith coating themselves all around his robe quickly flashed, and the terrible cold around Omarmd ceased greatly. Being the Lord's High Champion, although promising divine favors, was easily the most tasking of titles.

Omarmd simply allowed his thoughts to freely control themselves as he traversed though the urban section of the Kingdom. The path here was fairly populated. Mostly with the more common equine broken up by a Griffin in flight or a lumbering Minotaur. Omarmd's clan, although doesn't have restrictions when it comes to species, was no simple fraternity to enter. You must demonstrate great faith and sacrifice, then you shall be judged. Ending in eternal service to His Lord, or death should they fail the inspection.

He did tower over most ponies. The Faithful did look up at him occasionally, but then went back to their own whims without much thought towards him. Lord's High Champion takes this path quite commonly, so the merchants rarely took note of him. Omarmd wasn't some celebrity of the past, nor a decorated artist.

A young griffin stumbled down the road beside him, without parent nor guide. Omarmd gazed down at it for a brief moment, and it looked back with curiosity only a child could wield. After a moment of unspoken staring, the young bird opened his beak and spoke in strangely Elder Gragapic. "Father sayss youss a... badss persons" Although the language wasn't a very intelligent one, Omarmd was fluent in the tongue. He cleared his throat and replied.

"Your patron may harbor these thoughts freely," Lord's High Champion said back down to the child,  "but, allow me to attempt to persuade you to favor my cause." He stopped in the road and got down on the griffon chick's level. The youngster's eyes gazed at the symbols around his cloak and reached out to him. "Whats are theses?" The chick uttered, mystified by the symbols.

"Those who are faithful eternally shall receive these holy gifts upon each act they do in their lord's name." Omarmd gestured to his cloak "I've dedicated entire campaigns to my Lord." He noticed the chick was actually shivering in the road. Griffins aren't exactly suited to thrive in the hold of such frosty conditions, but their stone-laden land is known to endure some of the most bitterest of winters. The Father took the advantage.

Omarmd drove his spear-point into the hard snow beneath him, and with his now freed hand, Omarmd reached out and brushed the scruff of the beast before him quickly, and when his hand retreated, a single droplet of the child's blood stained his claw. He gestured down at the griffon's feet, to which the chick obliged his command and held out it's left foot.

Omarmd took a hold while his claw expertly drew a single Kythe of Naivety upon the chicks footing, the child confused by it once given the moment to analyse it. "Each symbol requires much faith to aid you to their fullest potential." Omarmd said while he dried his claw off in the snow "More faith, more gifts from our blessed Lord. The one I've just branded you with will allow you to recover quicker from your daily strains of chick hood."

The chick raised his newly acquired Kythe into the freezing cold, but he couldn't feel the stinging sensation. He brought it back down and up once more, again not being able sense the cold. The scaled beast chuckled and regained his height again, brushed off the snow that stuck to his knee. took his spear back from the icy terrain, turned and continued his journey.

The path to the High Church wasn't a long one. Lord's High Champion would be there to make his feelings heard shortly. All the homes had ended passed this point, so all Omarmd could see was endless, bitter snow. Still, his feet marched on to the High Church.

Soon, the freezing cloud around him disappeared, showing the stairway down into the arena to Lord's High Champion. Without wasting another moment, The Father quickened his pace and easily rushed down the frozen steps. The Father reached the bottom, but continued sprinting. He visualized the arena from memory. Yes, he was on the Invader plate, Omarmd could sense the power beneath his feet. He reached down and brushed the residing snow away, showing the pure stone.

The blizzard surrounding him retreated and sunlight assaulted the area, revealing the arena to the naked eye. The Faithful commonly endure the effort to travel here, mostly to watch the inevitable duels. They've built places to sit around the holy ground, which weren't entirely filled at the moment. Mostly the domestic equine, although rarer sorts were found awaiting the fight.

The arena was actually quite simple. There are two fighters, each on two plates. The Invader and Offender Plate. In the center of the colossal stage stood the Symbol of The Blind Nomad, a pure stone boulder. Omarmd couldn't see the challenger until the Symbol retracted back down. A single crow, blacker than any midnight, landed on the very tip of The Symbol.

"Such a fine day for murder, don't you foolish gentleponies and sexy mares agree?" The crow croaked out in a strangely handsome voice. The Announcer of the High Church, more widely known as Suriv, commonly introduces both fighters to His Lord. Omarmd didn't particularly enjoy the bird's company, with him constantly obsessing over Pupa Dral. The Lord's High Champion had that right as her father. Suriv used to be the lord of chaos himself, Discord. But, on the open battlefield, Lord's High Champion defeated Discord, and sentenced him to the life of The Announcer of High Church. Discord could have still taken any form after his sentence, but he intentionally became a crow. Crows didn't live in such dangerous conditions normally.

"On the Invader Plate," Suriv continued on to the crowd "none other than The Prophet, Lord's Highest Champion himself!"

The crow croaked in an humored manner. "I'm sure you all are aware of The Prophet's status, so I won't go though the effort of introducing that bitter dragon!"

Omarmd raised his spear, confirming it was the dragon. He heard them praying for his opponent, but The Father simply commenced his own prayer of faith, causing the already glowing Kythes to spur into a more intimidating shade of crimson.

"Standing on the Offender Plate," The crow spoke in a more seducing voice. "The ever independent, bested in terms of beauty only by the ever graceful Pupa Dral herself, Tyine 'Lecon Eri of the Strayed Wolves!"

Suriv flapped his wings. "Tyine 'Lecon has fought in many battles, some even fought under The Prophet's guidance! The Strayed Wolves sent their most elite warrior indefinitely!" Suriv muttered lowly, but Omarmd caught "Perhaps now that thorn in my side will meet a deserved swift end...!"

The Clan of Stray Wolves was a rogue band of dogs and other canine-like species. Lord's High Champion heard her primal howl from his side, alongside the audience's cries of cheer. With the introductions finished, Suriv flew off the bolder. Slowly, it retreated back down into the ice. Omarmd was aware of Tyine 'Lecon's savage fighting style and her decorated scimitars were known to cause whirlwinds of red. Unfortunately, his shield will remain unbroken and he shall end this fight quickly. The Father expected she will attack quickly and without mercy. Omarmd was aware she was a Diamond Dog as well.

The stone fully retracted but Lord's High Champion couldn't hear Tyine's paw-falls racing towards him. But the blizzard had lowered down over him again, allowing his opponent to attack at any angle she wished. He raised his shield and readied his spear for quick-stabbing with his shield up.

Tyine erupted from the haze to his left, speedily closed the distance and both of her weapons bore down on Omarmd's shield. It was the first time The Father saw the she-wolf's face. It's color was a unique pure snow, her eyes the common light brown. The dragon counter-attacked with a sharp poke, to which forced Tyine 'Lecon to retreat back into the weather unharmed. Tyine did this three more times, each with the same result of Omarmd blocking and her retreat.

"It seems like our beautiful canine friend can't get passed The Champion's shield!" Suriv informed the audience. "What will Tyine do now?!"

His opponent, now realizing her blades wouldn't leak passed his shield, hid in the blizzard. Lord's High Champion couldn't fight such a swift fighter with his sight hindered by this blizzard. The Father had a different method of making his opponent show herself.

Omarmd planted his knee in the snow beneath him without another thought and began chanting loudly, completely aware that hostile eyes were patiently awaiting the moment to rip out his throat. Or, Tyine 'Lecon knew what Omarmd was doing and was simply unwilling to attack. Appearing as if from the snow itself, hot crimson Klythes began dotting Omarmd's neck, varying in shapes and sizes. Lord's High Champion already sensed the melting heat in his belly gathering. It rushed into his mouth and flames leaked passed his teeth. He took in a deep lungful of the cold air.

He retook his footing. leaned in towards in the freezing air, and opened his maw. Out poured a massive, long line of flame reaching the icy air around Omarmd. Its heat so great, it even melted the snow beneath his feet. Exposing the Invader plate entirely and the face of Itaroi Jye The Fire Tempest engraved on it.

"Did you witness that, audience?" Suriv continued to rap on to the gathered crowd "The Prophet turned the flow of battle by releasing a wave of his draconian flame! A rare battle-move on his part!"

The wisps of remaining flame retreated back into his maw and the Klythes disappeared as well. Omarmd's former thought was true, the she-wolf did retreat. Tyine had back-stepped to where the Stone of The Blind Nomad once was, and seemingly was awaiting Lord's High Champion move.

Omarmd dropped The Shield of Daiions' Neck and it landed with a dull ring on the already melting ice. The she-wolf did the same with both of her weapons, growling with hunger. A single red-line running diagonal appeared on the retina of her right eye. Lord's High Champion grabbed the hilt of Fevur and unsheathed the great-sword. Omarmd held the strength to effectively use the weapon with only his left hand.

Tyine only allowed Lord's High Champion another moment, then proceeded to lunge towards him with but a single step. She was nimble while graceful. Omarmd met her half-way and slashed downward with his great-sword. The Father miscalculated where she would be and his great-sword dug into the ice directly in front of her. Tyine's claws didn't miss as they latched onto his shoulders, tearing though the golden cloth and buried themselves into his scales. Her sharp fangs scratched his armored neck.  Omarmd growled lightly and kicked her back far with a heavy leg. Which gave him a little space to recover. Within a moment of Tyine's landing, she was dashing back to attack on all fours.

Omarmd's scales endured most of the attack, but his robe suffered. Lord's High Champion's clothing was most critical to him. He let go of Fevur and took the Ever-Lasted spear into both hands. Steam suddenly rose up from beneath him and Omarmd realized 'Lecon's claws did penetrate, and a small brook of his intensely hot essence reached the freezing snow. An idea invaded Omarmd's mind, a brutally effective method.

Lord's High Champion brought his right hand up to his teeth and sharply bit into his palm, instantly breaking though the scales and shedding his own crimson hot blood. Omarmd then raised his wounded hand high into the air and chanted. All the while Tyine closed the distance at a rapid pace. In retort, Lord's High Champion quickly took his spear with his left hand and effortlessly threw it in Tyine's direction.

The hit was successful with the pyramid-shaped point burying itself deep inside Tyine's right leg. Stopping her mid-leap and causing her to crash hard in the snow. As an feral animal would, Tyine refused to halt and continued to crawl, taking in ragged gulps of cold air with pure frustration and a steely determination to survive. She paused to ripped the spear out and howled in pain, threw it to the side and regained her footing.

"Fuckin' Omarmd..." Tyine growled though clenched fangs to herself while she limped towards him.  "I'm not gonna die...!" To even further her inevitable failure, Suriv landed on her shoulder and commenced cleaning his wing for a moment then leaped back into the sky.

Lord's High Champion let his arm rest at his side, and his newly self-inflicted injury began a neat shower of red on the snow. The ground retorted with a flush of steam and a loud hiss. A dragon's heart pumps blood so intensely hot, it is known to burn flesh as if it were acid.  The rapid flow straightened out into one, then proceeded to take a more solid, rope-like form.

Omarmd threw his arm back, taking his newly formed whip with it. He brought it back on Tyine's injured form with a satisfactory hit on her leg, causing her to crash again into the snow with a thunderous sound.

"It seems..." Discord said to the crowd with an unsurprising sense of dread "..That Tyine 'Lecon Eri has been fairly defeated by The Father."

Lord's High Champion timed another perfect hit, the blood whip reaching and warping around her neck just as she was stumbling back to her feet. She howled loudly in pain. Omarmd tugged and she was forced back down to her knees. Already, the melting heat was sinking passed her skin and would likely cause fourth degree burns. Interrupting Omarmd's grim chuckle, Suriv swooped down and landed on his injured shoulders.

"Spike?" The crow croaked "Surely killing such a worthy ally is labeled unthinkable to you, right?" Omarmd shook his head in an attempt to rid himself of the feather-brained beast. Discord held still. The whip was tightening around her neck and Tyine whimpered in agony as she desperately clawed at Omarmd's righteous weapon.

"Fly away, bird." The dragon grumbled back "She's my kill, so she's my property. I remember you being in a similar situation, Discord."

"Spike," The crow's voice became a bit more stern. "This is the Overarch of The Clan of Wolves. They will not remain under your Covenant, if you slaughter her so needlessly. Show these dogs mercy, Omarmd."

He processed the words for but a moment, then Lord's High Champion reluctantly eased the whip around Tyine's neck, allowing her to take deep, savage breaths. The Father took the moment to speak.

"I have seen your skill and your almost bestial drive to win against any foe during the Skirmishes Of Vanhoover and the Reign of The Tyrant, Magic-Eater Celestia." Omarmd said in an sage-like voice, but then quickly swapped to a father relentlessly scolding a boy. "Your defeat was swift and ensured, but consider me sparing your life one of endless kindness."