Court of the Fallen was created in October of 2018 by Odd, Honey, and Crooked.
Skinning and hosting by the epically talented Kaons, and functionality fanciness by the coding magic of Neowulf. If you ever see either of them around, make sure to show them some love!
Ronin should absolutely be quick enough to get out of the way. And tell that to him about half a bottle of whiskey ago and he would be. Right now, though? The blow hits him like a hammer, catching him in the shortribs and driving the breath right out of his lungs as he hits the floor. Before the next bludgeoning can get him, though, he's scraping himself out of the way, huffing out a breath that's almost a laugh. It's been a while.
The bruise on his side is going to be spectacular, but he finds himself on his feet in a few wobbly seconds, throwing himself in again and trying to get under and around the swings that Neckless throws his way. If he succeeds, he'll drive his fist towards the man's solar plexus, following it up with a sweep of the legs that absolutely shouldn't be able to topple the man's weight, but it might just do it anyway.
The sound of skin on skin is flat, the echoes swallowed up by hisses of sympathetic pain from the crowd. In what should have been a match-ending-blow, the Necklace man slams down his fist on the air where Ronin's neck had just been. It meets only laughter, which sets his mouth into a firm scowl as he slowly wheels around to try and find the smaller man.
Swiping with fists instead of claws in an attack Ronin is well used to, the Star is easily able to bob and weave, the heel of his hand sending a hairline fracture through Neckless's sternum that has him stumbling and gasping for breath. He tumbles like a toddler as Ronin effortlessly knocks his feet out from under him. Gulping like a fish but unwilling to quit, with one hand over his sternum Neckless reaches for a chain that someone has thrown into the ring.
Whipping it around his head like a lasso, he hurls it toward the side of Ronin he's already managed to hit, hoping to double down on the injury.
Panting and squinting through the dust and sand and sweat in his eyes, Ronin dances back to avoid the larger man landing on him. He almost wants to apologise, but there's a roaring in his ears that he distantly realises is his pulse, and his teeth are bared in the rough approximation of a smile. "Oh, now that's just rude," he says through a hoarse voice as Neckless grabs a fucking chain of all things.
It whips at him and Ronin has two choices - move, or don't. And the Star has never been one to make the easy decision. His arm snatches out, letting the chain snap around his forearm, looping a few times and leaving a nasty welt that takes a few layers of skin with it. But it does allow him to grab the chain in turn, and he yanks at it with all of his might, aiming to pull Neckless into his waiting right hook.
The match is short, but not for the reasons most would have thought. Neckless is a star in these rings, but taking on The Star is another matter altogether. He holds his own better than anyone else might, but all too quickly he crumbles before Ronin's superior (and shocking) strength and agility. Even drunk and without the use of any of his magic, Ronin Taliesin has made himself a household name among the spectators gathered. Those who bet against him shoot him withering looks and a few snarls, while those who like betting on the undergod clap him heartily on the back, singing his praises.
And just who has Cian bet on?
Wrapping a towel around Ronin's shoulders that he might wipe the blood, dust, and mixture of sweat and spit from his face, the Eye helps the demigod stand at his full height. "That's a very kind thing you did, giving him your winnings." Cian muses softly, his words swept away in the roar of the crowd. "His family might have gone hungry this week otherwise."
Whatever questions or comments the Star might have about this entire ordeal and just what has been given or taken away is lost to those eager to meet Ronin, to offer their congratulations and promises that they'll never bet against him again.
