Rider Vs. Archer
Rider didn't heed any instincts telling her not to go in. She held her sword at the ready, narrowed her eyes and leaped into the fray. She swung down. Archer parried. Their speed had been the same, so the deciding element of the fight was going to be strength. Even there Rider was at a disadvantage. She wasn't summoned as one of the three Knight Classes, so fighting with just strength and speed alone wouldn't be enough just on virtue of a Class Vs. Class basis.
But that didn't mean she couldn't win —
"HAH!" Rider swung wide.
Again, not successful.
A parry? A dodge? Rider couldn't see.
Archer was fighting like a beast. Selecting when to attack, when to move in, when to finish it. She came in for a clawing strike. The target was the neck.
Rider spaced herself and leaped back.
A miss.
Archer came in again, this time with more strength behind the leap.
The red-head crouched low to avoid it then brought her sword up in an attempt to slash straight into the beast girl.
...
No go, she stopped her attack and came in from the side. However Rider didn't buckle. This was a fight that she started — it was a fight she was going to end.
A white streak ripped upward in a violent crescent. The power of the blow was enough to buy only a second. The attack forced Archer to pull back and give some breathing room. The scarlet warrior leaped back at avoid the follow up from Archer's attack. A cross-shaped cleave capable of crushing a concrete wall to dust.
The fight was coming to an end. Between Rider's inability to overpower Archer, and Archer showing no signs of stress or fatigue...
Rider drew a deep breath and prepared herself for one final exchange.
edited 9th Jul '15 4:09:53 PM by RagnaTheSaviour
Archer of Violet - Street Near Trinità dei Monti
Good, good... great, excellent!
Archer's heart leap in delight as she continued her struggle. This is the Holy Grail War... to know that no matter the enemy before you, the struggle will be bitter, the fight will be intense. In her life, Atalanta fought and killed many, many foes... beasts, men and monsters. So many times, the foes she encountered were no match to her... and even in the Age of Gods, countless men had come to her home, racing her for her hand and when they lost in the foot race she slayed them all easily. Great renowned warriors from every corner of Greece and even in them she struggled to find a challenge, a just match.
Twice in life had she been blessed to meet with true heroes... with men and women whose might met her own, to the whom even she as blessed as she was could be defeated. The Hunt of the Boar and her trip on the Argo... a meeting of true heroic individuals.
It had not struck to Atalanta until this moment that this was just that sort of meeting... that fate was giving her another chance to truly test herself. And such a thing fired up her heart like nothing else. Atalanta fought with a bright smile on her eyes, fangs gleaming in the night through her grin.
They weren't fighting with their all, neither of them... they didn't show their true strength, rely on every one of their tricks. And yet there was a palpable tension to the struggle... a tempo that could only rise. Each blow came faster, more certain, meeting intensity with intensity. And even when Atalanta could see the future, even when countering her strikes, the woman before her kept up the fight... her blade dancing with grace and strength to be the envy of anyone on this time.
Aaah... Archer was truly overjoyed. And in such enjoyment, her competitive spirit only rose all the higher... her strikes came faster... and then after a missed strike that cleaved concrete, Atalanta prepared for the final strike... sensing the crescendo of their fight fast approaching. She prepared for it... goading the young woman forward, to come and strike at her first as that is where Atalanta was strongest... crouching low and preparing her claws.
However... here was Atalanta's ploy. By now her opponent knew she was stronger when retaliated... that she would always seek to counter her strikes. However this time, Atalanta didn't mean to do this... she would get into position and when her enemy rushed, she would attempt to strike first... a single blow with all her speed... taking opportunity of her eyes ability to look into the future for the proper way her claws have to strike.
Rider of Violet — Fellini Household
“Let us begone, then,” Rider said. “This is as good as time as any to observe them, to survey the battlefield, and the like.”
He inclined his head. “I shall fade away for the nonce,” he added. “It would not do to be observed at this point of the War.” With that, he faded away to his spirit form, waiting for his Master to sally forth. Through the link, Yanzhao could feel Rider's confusion, but also his determination to be victorious.
Rider — Street Near Trinita dei Monti
It seemed like Archer felt the same. This fight was coming to a close. She lifted her blade up and locked on to her target... which wasn't Archer. No, it was the space behind her. She put one foot on the ground and burst forward with all her strength. Her sword went up and she was ready to face her enemy in one final struggle.
Saturday 27 June, 9pm
After a long night discussing plans, the sun finally rose and it was a new day. Like most days, it was rather uneventful due to the overabundance of people out and about, and night quickly came again.Telenoticia Buenomundo!
If anyone had been paying attention to their television (or radio), there were numerous odd occurrences being reported on throughout the day. Whether they were actually the work of enemy servants and masters, or merely coincidence, required more investigation.
"-we have been getting reports of several dogs going missing along the northern side of Villa Ada. Authorities could not comment as to whether this was the work of criminals or wild animals. Rumors abound of pedigreed dogs being kidnapped and smuggled overseas. Back to you Tomas-"
"-the Trinita dei Monti. The vandalism was cleaned up in time for services. Is this the work of nationalists? Someone with a grudge against the French? Or is anti-Semitism at work here? More on that story at eleven-"
"-stabbed four fellow inmates to death before security officers opened fire, killing her instantly. The Casal del Marmo has not seen this many fatalities in one night for nearly two years-"
Teatro dell'Opera di Roma
Many had gathered for the nine PM performance of The Queen of Spades
Of course, those same facts applied to the Violet faction, meaning that it would be a battle of wits and wills to deduce the identities of the enemy, if present, without revealing themselves in the process.
edited 12th Jul '15 11:44:21 PM by nman
Yanzhao Fellini - Rider of Violet
The Villa Ada was a 16 minute walk from Yanzhao's house (and an 8 minute drive). With Rider's help, he could probably get there much sooner than both of those estimates. He decided to investigate that possible thread as an option for "Proto-Rider's" disappearance.
Before leaving however, he had the foresight of contacting the other members of the team. He could easily pick up one or two more up with Rider's chariot (though it would be a bit cramped). All that mattered now was to see who would pick up the phone.
"Gimme your pants.. and now your other pants"

Yanzhao Fellini - Rider of Violet - Fellini Household
Yanzhao frowned, but nodded. "Right, yes. We can do that after we do some searching of our own. There is one master who provided a 'forum' for us to use, and she provided a method of contacting her. Using mundane methods might be more reliable in this war than using magical means."
A fluttering noise at the window surprised Rider's master temporarily. Quickly he recollected himself and opened the window. It was a pigeon, a common sight on the streets of Rome. However, this one featured some markings on its chest. Written upon it in what appeared to be its own feathers was a Familiar Command Hexagrams: 31咸-56旅, thus subjugating the creature to Yanzhao's will. It looked like it was just returning from a general survey of the immediate area; the sort used as an alarm and not as active surveillance.
"Looks like my familiar picked something up.. a battle between servants.. though it seems to be close to finishing."
Yanzhao fed the familiar a treat, then released it into the air again.
"Gimme your pants.. and now your other pants"