Since Sir Icaru is amused by my mindless accusations, I'd like to know
what I accused someone of? I never named any names, myself included, yet
I find myself attacked here and rivaled by those feeling threatened. I
merely briefed some facts. Looks like you, Sir Icaru, Lady Istiria, and
others, made some assumptions. Understandable, but let me give you the
details if you'd like, then you can see how 'mindless' I was in making
my simple post.

So where does all this start? Many years ago when I was much younger, I
fought during Landmarking. This was when I became familiar with the
Maldaathi, and the honor they had. As part of the Code they lived by,
they would never refuse a reasonable duel. Now, I am but a 10th Seat
Shinigami, of the Warlocks. This means I am but a combat novice . I have
a few basic items, and know where the arenas are. I am fairly low
ranked, and was in fact, even lower ranked when this situation started.

For years, off and on, I have been using these Maldaathi warriors, as my
own personal training tool. Knowing they had strength, honor, and
wouldn't refuse a duel, I have gone ahead and sought out those of about
knight ranking to hone my skills against. Lady Istiria, you say that my
'name has never been uttered before you until now.' I would perhaps
suggest never saying things so absolutely, unless you're sure of them.
Perhaps old age has done to you things I've been able to keep at bay
thus far. You have forgotten that -you- yourself have been challenged by
me? That was at the same time I challenged your Squire, Oshie. Yes, I
fought you both. Of course, you might not remember being challenged by a
small person just starting his combat training like myself. Hardly worth
your time, right? I however do remember, and record each and every fight
I partake of in my journal for further study.

So now we all know who and what I am. Some time in the first days of
Chronos this year, I checked to see what Maldaathi were present to give
me a lesson. Why specifically the Maldaathi? Their Code, fair play, and
always willing to give a good fight. I see Lady Tyn is present, and
simply ask her to spar, she declines. I think to myself, that's fair
enough. It was just a spar afterall. So I -immediately- challenge her to
a duel, and patiently await a reply. She was very responsive when I
initially asked, so I know that it was not just a case of her not
hearing me. She hadn't moved, and barely had a second from her response
to my challenge. With my skills, I can see she's puttering around
Mhaldor. After some time, I notice she's simply no longer present.

I was truly stunned. When I was finally able to come to, I was appalled.
A MALDAATHI had just blown off a challenge. It's not like I'm some huge
dragon with enough credits spent on artefacts to have built a small
city... So I see who else is around from the Maldaathi. Low and behold,
Sir Gaillardia is on. Now I think to myself that I -know- he surely will
take care of this discrepancy, right? I remember him being the High Lord
some years back.

Next I send a single tell to Sir Gaillardia. As in my first post, I
mentioned no names. I simply said something to the effect that it was a
shame that a Maldaathi knight now refuses duels. How far the house's
come from where they started.

Never, did he send a response. Not asking what I was speaking about,
nothing.

However! I did get a reply from Xenomorph. What a guy, always come
across like a metal trash recepticle. You know what I'm talking about,
all hard on the outside, but completely void on the inside? That's him.
So he comes into my head with his usual brazen self, and starts
jabbering away about this and that while making threats. So I meet him
head on, and we go back and forth for a bit.

At one point, one of the threats was that the Maldaathi would hunt me
down for what I said to Sir Gaillardia. I replied that was fine, if the
Maldaathi have become such, I welcome exposing them as thugs to all of
Sapience. The only question I have for Xenomorph, is when you made your
last post, when you were speaking about crushing the life from me... did
your face turn red, eyes bug out, and a vein in your neck pop out like I
imagined?

So Xenomorph says he'll enemy for what I said, and I accept that. It
takes true strength to admit when there's been a wrong doing and step up
to it rather than play the name game and shift blame, and Sir Gaillardia
enemies me to the Maldaathi.

But, I do give Xenomorph credit. He may be a bit abrasive and come
across like he's void of thought (sort of like that stray cat tracking a
mouse, it doesn't know anything but it's hungry), but he did offer to
duel me. In fact, for me to wear all his artefacts for it as well. I was
flattered, but I'm not stupid. Even bare naked, he still carries 7.4k
credits worth of weapons. With just over two thousand health, those
artefacts of his would just give me one more strike against an onslaught
like that, if I was lucky.

Xenomorph, well done on gaining your Lords favor after you were in such
disfavor, you obviously had a turn of heart and earned that Shayatin
band you wear. You represent them well. May one day I may fight with
those of Shayatin caliber.

Sir Icaru: Others don't fight for you (the Maldaathi), then why couldn't
the once High Lord speak for the house, rather than whining to Xenomorph
so he'd take charge? Also, who said anything about 'lacking honor' as
you quoted? Certainly only you. You did not try to Rival me, but instead
put it out there about an honorable duel. Very well done. You carry on
the Maldaathi tradition and honor, Sir. From what I've seen of your
exploits, you also represent the Shayatin well.

Lady Istiria: You already look a bit foolish to me for trying to post
after Sir Icaru on the matter, then for making statements which, as I
mentioned, couldn't be more wrong. You also say that the Maldaathi
Knights do not pointlessly seek conflict. Yet you and several others
have rivaled me. You've something to prove, perhaps? Something to try
and make up for? You say I was enemied by 'a house official' for
challenging a knight to a duel? I suppose all I can say to that is,
"Wow." Again, why couldn't Sir Gaillardia have spoken for the house
himself? The only thing you did that made even a shred of sense is
enemying to Mhaldor. Is this new policy now?

Sir Lideron: You've rivaled me. Make you feel tough to take on someone
my size when you've no idea what's going on?

Sir Vadimuses: The same to you as to Sir Lideron.

Ward Shiva: You just joining the bandwagon on rivals? Considering I'm
learning combat buy winning and losing against your much better
combatant superiors, I can only surmise that you want to die just to die
because it's "honorable?" Not very smart in my opinion. I always thought
that the Maldaathi had sense enough to not just sacrifice themselves for
no reason. Afterall, wouldn't that just further weaken you with no gain?
Perhaps you're still just young and uneducated.

Sir Gaillardia: Are you forever to stand idly by and pass problems to
others?

Lady Tyn: You make the Maldaathi look bad. Nothing else can be said. Or
perhaps not, and the Maldaathi really are that changed, as I said?

I have accepted all your rivals. I don't plan on actively hunting you
down, it takes me some minutes just to prepare for a single room fight.



Sapience, I leave you with a single image. A lasting memory to stick in
your mind, and remember this occasion:

Xenomorph, with his red face, bulging eyes, vein sticking from his neck,
and spitting as he says "I am going to CRUSH THE LIFE FROM YOUR BODY!!!"

Priceless. For everything else, he has artefacts!

-Kaus


Penned by my hand on the 8th of Glacian, in the year 433 AF.