((Ok, sorry for the delay guys and gals, but I LOVE all the posts this has gotten since my last one.  Thank you all for being patient and welcome to our newcomers.  Let us get to some good ol fashion exploring in due course, right after a thrashing is delivered of course lol.<br/><br/>As a side note, Katra used the spoiler stuff in the beginning of this and I'd appreciate it if everyone did so from here on out.  Thanks!))<br/><br/>Final Fantasy IX - Boss Battle Theme (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxQgbTRbT8o#)<br/><br/><strong>Name;</strong>Berial Landistar<br/><strong>Time;</strong>Early morning.  7;30 AM.<br/><strong>Location;</strong>Makeshift fort guarding the portal to the other side.<br/><strong>Tagged;</strong>Everyone within earshot.<br/><br/>Berial was about to unleash Hell on Ashlyn's head but luckily for her, he was interrupted as the rest of the group started to assemble.  The half elf he indeed had a respect for since she had proved herself quite capable, even if she was weaker than some people he had met.  She was also far wiser about the situation and why he was the way he was as he seemed to calm slightly under her soft words and gestures.  He still had plans to teach the elf a lesson however since a bit of humility would do her some good.  It would be better earned here than at the hands of an opponent that would be far less kind than the old war horse as some had taken to calling him.  He had given up hope for his world, especially since few things seemed to improve the state of it these days.  Some years were better than others but it always seemed to go back to the way it had once been, if it didn't outright become worse altogether.  It was then that an old friend had made his appearance, a very capable warrior in the guise of a half dragon.  Berial's mood picked up considerably as he walked over to the half dragon and nodded his approval at his appearance.  "If it gets these pups off my hands, it's all the better to see you old friend.  And thank you, Erika, but that does not excuse some of your new companions' actions however.  At least the elf here needs some humility taught to her before she gets the rest of you into hot water."  Berial said in counter point, leaving the actual planning to the rest of the group.<br/><br/>The map was indeed identical to the land they had came from, but the creatures that populated this one were far removed from anything they were used to.  Even so, they'd find out soon enough that all of their boasting would be for naught in due course since if they were not careful, they'd end up as a fuck toy for who knew what, and that was assuming they weren't outright killed first.  Pulling his blades, Berial faced Ashlyn and shook his head, his anger having faded and now his demeanor spoke of an aged old veteran too afraid or too weak to make the difference that was required to fix things in this world himself.  "That name you spoke sounds familiar Ashlyn, but I care not who you might be related to since names hold little power here.  Whatever reputation any of you might have had before means nothing here until you make a name for yourself in this world.  It is true that few of your people ever come back, and did any of you ever think to ask why that might be?  Come then, let us see how strong you truly believe yourself to be, knife ears."  He was purposely provoking her now, using his age old experience to poke at a psychological weakness in Ashlyn's proverbial armor.  He wanted her angry, because anger was the fastest way warriors made fatal mistakes.  Anger was sometimes a good motivator, but here, against an opponent such as he or even something far more dangerous, it would be a fatal weakness.<br/><br/>As if on cue, Ashlyn charged forward, but what Berial didn't expect was that she handled her long pole arm styled glaive with a speed that was quite impressive, for a rank amateur.  Berial was no slouch however as he deflected the first strike on one of his long blades, turning it aside before she spun the other way, ducking under his own swing before bringing to bear her weapon once again.  Again it was turned aside, this time high as Berial leaned himself back to avoid being clipped by the wickedly long weapon before him.  He grunted with the effort, having to use both of his blades to avoid getting sliced apart by the impressively quick fighter.<em>She's just as quick as he was....</em>Were they perhaps related?  Berial didn't know as one of the scars on his chest tingled, having received the mark from another elf much like Ashlyn herself.  She attempted to slip around to the side of his right flank, his horse body making it difficult to keep up since he turned slower than a normal fighter was capable of, but his upper human half made it possible for him to nearly twist himself fully about on his horse half as if his spine was made of jelly rather than strong bone and sinew.  He couldn't turn himself about fully however but his hind legs were still able to put up a surprise or two of their own as he lashed out with his back hooves.<br/><br/>Ashlyn had to contort herself backward nearly in half just to avoid getting a hoof to the face, the quick maneuver costing her time to get back up to her feet as Berial turned about the rest of the way before trying to pin Ashlyn down on either side with both of his swords sticking in the ground on either side of her head.  She rolled out of the way however and the dance began anew.  Berial was ready however as he proved more agile than his horse body should have allowed by all appearances, stepping about a bit oddly for him since he was used to riding down enemy combatants and charging through their lines rather than delicate fencing work as this was proving to be.  Even so, he had a beginnings of a smile to his face as he forced Ashlyn's glaive high and kicked out with his front feet this time, forcing the elf to her back with at least one cracked rib and a bruised back end.  He didn't let her get up as he put his swords on either side of her neck with his front right foot resting on the middle of her chest for good measure.  "Do you yield?  Be thankful this is as far as this went because the next opponent you run against will likely not be so forgiving.  You fight like another elf I met a while back.  He gave me this."  He looked to one of the scars on his chest after putting his right hand blade back on his back.  "You remind me of him, a great deal.  If you are his much spoke of sister, there might be hope for you yet."