And the Beast sought a Demon [Takehiro]

[Brandt Solveig]

Totomi.. Its said that he is the Daiymo here..

Pale green eyes scanned his surroundings carefully as he approached a village after a weeks rest from his last escapade. Brandt felt he had healed enough to finally get out and explore the area a bit.

As his figure came into view one would see a hulking mass hidden beneath a dark brownish-red cloak which fluttered in the breeze, revealing hints of a massive weapon slung upon his back.

His face hidden underneath his cloak, the look of the man was enough to send the weak hearted fleeing. It was far too often people judged by looks alone. And his stature didn't help him out all that much either. It was probably obvious to most that he was a foreigner.

However he was not here to provide for the Valkyrie. His intentions were initially to explore, but he had soon heard a lot of rumors about a warrior feared by some, and beloved by many as well. Part of him wanted to just face him in battle, to see if this legend in the making really stood up to the myth.

The other part of him was seeking something else. Brandt was interested in learning eastern methods of warfare and weaponry. With luck this man would accept to help the foreigner, he would try to convince him the best he could. His wordsmanship wasn't always the most eloquent.

What brought him to this specific location though, was a rumor that the man he sought would.be inspecting the village this day. He figured it would be a good opportunity to introduce himself should he find him. Moving toward the center of the village, Brandt would ignore the astonishment of villagers and wait it out for a while. Resting himself at the base of a large tree, the giant patiently wait as he took in his surroundings.

[Amakusa Takehiro]

As Brandt rested, it was highly likely he would notice some commotion going on near him. A mass of men was growing near the center of the village, and it seemed there was a type of rumble going on. If he checked, he would see that it happened to be a training regimen of sorts, with the Demon of Totomi in the center.

Men would charge him one by one, seeking a means to take him to the ground, but every man who ran at him was thrown to the ground. For a man so small when compared to Brandt, he seemed to have incredible skill with some sort of combat, though his skill in its entirety would be hard to judge here.

"My Lord... when will you let up?!"
"I told you I wouldn't be going easy, men! On your feet!"

He laughed light-heartedly, looking at the men before him. They all seemed weak after all that had transpired, so he was sure they couldn't take much more. After a while, his eyes caught side of a... rather... large... man. Takehiro's eyes widened, and he let out a chuckle. He had never seen man of that stature!

"Hello, Stranger," he directed to the man at the tree. "I see you're not from these parts, or I'd have recognized you. Would you like to take part in this "training?"" Notice the "training."

[Brandt Solveig]

Mar 20, 2014 22:46:24 GMT -7 Brandt Solveig said:

The commotion near by had indeed drawn his attention quickly. The whirlwind of combat that took place seemed to lead Brandt to believe he had made the right decision by coming here this day. His gut told him the Demon of Totomi was nearby.

However once his eyes caught sight of the male which with ease dismantled the regiment of soldiers with ease, he himself almost found judgements of his own building. He couldn't believe that this man was the Demon, but he knew looks could be deceiving.

It didn't take too long though for the male before him to take note of the giant at the base of the tree. Brandt soon found Takehiro greeting him, and .inviting him to battle ontop of it. Brandt almost smirked at the offer, for he had already planned on it with or without permission. Stonefaced, the Nord would rise to his feet silently, before stoically moving toward the soldiers and their Daiymo.

As the crowd parted like the sea, the wind tugged at the cloak covering the behemoth's frame. However it wouldn't remain as the large male deftly tossed it into the sky, allowing the wind to take it as his hands grasped the massive sword now revealed. Hauling it up and over his head, Brandt would ready it at his midsection with the length of the blade angled toward Takehiro.

"Fate has brought us here this day.. I shall oblidge."

His voice was gruff and his accent was thick and heavy. However no ounce of fear trembled within his words. Staring toward the male before him, the Beast of the Northlands looked determined to leave him with a fierce impression here this day.

[Amakusa Takehiro]

Takehiro wasn't one for talks of fate, because fate worked in strange ways if he was such a powerful man in a small body. Looking upon the foreigner, Takehiro raised a brow. He held an impressive figure, and the weapon he carried was massive. However, massive was something Takehiro was not unfamiliar with.

"That's quite a weapon you've got there," he began, popping his neck. He would hold out his hands, and within them, a sword just as large as the foreigner's would form, amassed of pure darkness. With one hand, he would hold it out in front of himself, giving the man a bow of his head. "It would interest me to see the skill of a foreign swordsman."

With surprising speed, Takehiro would burst forward, turning the blade and aiming to slam the flat of it into the man's legs.

[OoC: Tak's Dex is currently at 36.]

[Brandt Solveig]

That's quite a weapon you've got there, it would interest me to see the skill of a foreign swordsman.

"Show me what a Samurai.. IS CAPABLE OF!"

Before he knew it the battle started. His new opponent rushed at him immediately without beating around the bush. The giant could see that he was quick and knew immediately that he could find himself treading on thin ice if he wasnt careful. He would take a deep breath as Takehiro approached, eyes wide and waiting.

As Takehiro's body began to execute his attack, Brandt would shift his weapon deftly, tilting his own massive blade downward as his blade came in. Brandt's plan was to slam the tip of his own sword into the earth, his left foot sliding to press his toes against the edge to brace the block with the flat side if his own sword.

His goal was to divert Takehiro's strike downward and into the ground upon connection. He wasn't so nieve to underestimate the little mans strength. With luck his defense would work and allow him enough time to retaliate at such a close distance. 

Brandt would roar out as he twisted his blade in the earth with his own body. That massive right knee thrust up as he twisted into Takehiro with an attempt to slam his knee into the little man's chest to knock him away. If it worked, He would immediately try to rush him.

[Amakusa Takehiro]

Having not gone full-out with his strike, Takehiro's blade would indeed be diverted along the ground because of Brandt's maneuver. As the large man twisted his body and sent his knee into Takehiro's stomach, the Daimyo rose a hand to catch the knee, using it to push himself back and away from the attack, though there was a good amount of force behind it.

"Quick thinker. That's good!"

Stepping forward, Takehiro would drag his dark blade through the ground, shooting up rocks at the foreigner as he brought it into the air. From there, he would raise it above his head, and bring it crashing down upon the large man's frame.

[Brandt Solveig]

Brandt had already begun pursuing the man as he used his knee to gain some distance. As the beast approached the demon,Brandt eould catch sight of his blade dive into the earth as Takehiro approached in his attack. Shards of dirt and rock sprung into the air in front of Brandt. Already in movement, thr best the giant could do was lift his blade horizontally, angled near his forehead. The uneartged debris wasnt the problem. He would shield his eye sight from it, however he had blocked his vision enough that he didnt see the blade behind it.

The force from the blow would take Brandt by surprise, knocking his upper half backwards from the force. The vibration that rippled through his hands was immense. The Demon of Totomi was surely strong. However he would use this as a chance to return fire with what he could. As his upper half was forced backwards and down, Brandt would use some force of his own, thrusting his legs out in a drop kick of sorts, using Takehiro's momtenum againdt him.

[Amakusa Takehiro]

The foreigner seemed to be impressive! Despite opening himself up for one of Takehiro's attacks, he was smart and quick enough to react sensibly. His legs would shoot up and catch Takehiro's shoulders, forcing the man back quite a bit because of his own momentum, more than anything. The large man had some strength, but it needed a little refinement, from what Takehiro could tell.

"Not bad, not bad," he smirked, his dark weapons dissipating. His hands reached down, taking the stone ankle-weights he was wearing the entire time. Releasing them, they would fall to the ground with possibly the loudest THUMP the foreigner had heard in his life, tiny craters being formed under them. A large cloud of dust formed in the area, practically encompassing the entire village. Takehiro would use this to his advantage, appearing behind the foreigner much faster than he had the entire fight. Rather than strike him with a weapon, however, he leaped up and struck his back with both feet, seeking to topple him in one move.

If his assumptions were correct, the man would be able to get back up. If he did, after that display, it would be enough for Takehiro to know he was facing off against a true warrior.

[OoC: Weights removed. Takehiro's Dex is now 96.]

[Brandt Solveig]

With a thud of his own the Nord would land upon his shoulders, having managed to tuck his head before he landed upon the ground. He had managed to knock away Takehiro, but his arms were still suffering from the previous block. He would shake his hands to get the feeling back as those pale eyes of his watched his opponent unbuckle something at ankle level.

The weight would crash against the ground, kicking up a dust cloud that threaten to swallow up the entire village. Brandt's vision would be useless as the light cast rays through the thick cloud of filth. And before he would even really have time to react he would feel as if the planet itself just booted him from behind.

Brandt didn't have a chance to save face, literally. Forced forward with such raw power he had never felt before, the nearly three hundred pound giant would wind up smashing forehead first into the earth below. He would skid on his head for a few feet before he was knocked into a full on rag doll roll before finally grinded to a halt on his stomach.

Gasping for breath and reathing in pain, the giant tried to make sense of what had just happened to him. Brandt felt as if Odin himself had just struck him down. Coughing up blood and saliva alike, the Nord would begin to slowly regain control of himself again. Shaky arms would begin to lift him up as he came to the realization he somehow managed to maintain grip of his sword.

Audible seething would come from his blood speckled lips. He could feel the thick of red sliding down from the gashes on his forehead, turning his brown hair even darker. Hunched over, it was clear the man was feeling the after effects.

H-How.. the hell.. is that even.. p-possible..[/i]

Brandt's vision was still obstructed from the dust, but he planned to try and fix that. Grasping his sword with two hands, he would give a mighty heave despite his condition and pulled his blade up and around, using the flat end like a fan. He would do his best to send the rest of the cloud away. 

He wasn't sure what Takehiro was doing, but with luck maybe.he would unintentionally score a hit on the demon if he had swooped in to attack. Otherwise he would locate him afterwards and figure out what to do next.

[Amakusa Takehiro]

Brandt would be able to clear the dust away, and to the surprise of the villagers, he was still standing. They were all in shock, simply due to the fact that Takehiro was a man who made entire armies flee in fear. He single-handedly destroyed entire fleets. And this man, this foreigner, took a direct hit and was able to keep standing after it all! They were all eager to see exactly what Takehiro would do, but once the dust was cleared, the Daimyo was nowhere to be found!

While Brandt was clearing the dust, Takehiro had leaped unbelievably high into the air, and as it cleared, he would begin his descent. Before long, he would land atop Brandt's blade with enough momentum to hopefully bring it crashing into the ground and out of his grip, though the Daimyo would make little other moves.

"If you were anyone else here you wouldn't be standing right now," he spoke with a kind smile.

[Brandt Solveig]

Much to Brandts amazement, he could not set his eyes upon him. By the time it dawned on him to look into the sky, he felt the weight and fravity behind Takehiro's body take hold. Brandt was weakened, and in his state he lost grip of his weapon immediantly. However he was not helpless, nor was he unarmed. The nord would simply stare towwrd the man jn his broken state for a moment as he absorbed what Takehiro had said. He took his words with pride, however he still felt like he had something to prove.

"I'm.. O-one of a.. kind.."

With a slight shift of his wrist the giant would release a burst of bolts toward the Demon of Totomi. The five arrows aimed toward his midsection. Brandt doubted very much that he would kill him. But he may have caught him offguard with the crossbow gauntlet. Having not made use of it thus far in the battle.

[Amakusa Takehiro]

As the foreigner fired his bolts, Takehiro would make an audible grunt, eyes widening just a little. Looking down, he would see the five bolts hanging in mid-air, pressed rather tightly against his skin. However, they were being prevented from hitting him by a shroud of darkness he kept around himself, that pulled the bolts away. They would be pushed away from himself just a little, and he nodded his head, amused.

"I don't know your name or your purpose for being in Totomi," Takehiro mused, standing to his feet. "But I welcome a warrior of your caliber."

The rest of the men in the village looked astonished. Not one of them had been praised for their combat aside from Yamada Toshi, now one of Takehiro's generals. Then this foreign giant comes in from nowhere, and makes a decent stand against their Daimyo. If the fight continued, Takehiro could break the man right now had he the desire, but this was a friendly match, and respect had been earned.

"I am Amakusa Takehiro, Daimyo of Totomi," he began with a smile, forming a small katana of darkness in his hand, had the foreigner the desire to continue fighting. "Might I ask your name, Foreigner?"

[Brandt Solveig]

Brandt stared in disbelief at the bolts that practically hovered upon what he initially though was contact. The giant stood there, his arms drooping down at his sides. Whatever this man was, he didn't seem human. 

Eyeing the energy which formed into another blade, Brandt would lower his head for a moment in defeat. He had to stop here, after all this hadn't been a fight to the death. Brandt knew he was lucky that it wasn't.

"Brandt.. O-of House Solveig.."

The giant ls words would roll out as he straightened put his posture and stood as firmly as he could in his condition. It seemed that he had truly found the man of future legend. Brandt felt humbled in the aftermath of the battle. Allowing those pale hues to scan the scarred earth which now made up the village center.

"I hail from the north.. I have t-traveled far in search of w-warriors like yourself.. It is an honor to have matched blades with such a man.."

[Amakusa Takehiro]

As it was clear the foreigner had no desire to continue fighting, Takehiro's blade dissipated into thin air. He stepped off of the giant blade, hoisting it up with little effort, and handed it back to the giant of a man, that smile never leaving his face.

"B... Bu... Bu-ran-to. Buranto Soru... Soruviig. Buranto Soruviig." Takehiro laughed, acknowledging that he probably just butchered that name, but it was the best he could do. It was foreign, of course. "Buranto, the honor is mine!" he chirped, patting a friendly hand on the beast-of-a-man's shoulder. "Not often do I find a man who can take that sort of hit and get back up. Here, let me buy you a drink, it is the least I can do."

If Brandt accepted, Takehiro would lead him to a local tavern, the best in the fief! In fact, he was looking forward to it.

[Brandt Solveig]

Takehiro would remove himself from the nords blade and then pick it up to give it to him. Sore arms would struggle slightly but he would hoist the weapon up into its scabbard. It seemed to Brandt that the man was a decent human being and hell of a warrior to boot.


"I think my fill of booze is the p-perfect medicine.."


Brandt would wince slightly as he moved. His body was going to hurt for a bit, but he would soldier through it. Reaching back he would tear some cloth from his cloak and begin to wrap it around the wounds on his head. He cared not for the scars. Battle trophies that he would never lose.


"How is it that you became so.. s-strong?"


Following behind Takehiro, he couldn't help but wonder. He had unimaginable power. Brandt didn't think he was that old. But who knew, maybe his looks deceived. Physically they sure did.

[Amakusa Takehiro]

"Perfect!"

So Takehiro would lead this Buranto to the local tavern, with one Yamada Toshi at the bar. His favorite place in all his territory, kept up by a man he fought alongside long ago. He figured it was the perfect place to celebrate meeting such a warrior.

"That is... quite a tale, I warn you," he nodded, taking the large man to a table. "Yamada! As much as the patrons can drink, all on me. I've met quite a warrior, here!" Takehiro seemed to be showing off his new friend. "Ah, right away, Tak, you bastard."

Takehiro chuckled for a moment before seating himself with Brandt, if Brandt decided to sit down. "I've lived quite the strange life, I tell you. Seen things that don't quite make sense, and I suppose they've shaped me into the man I am today." He shrugged, thinking on his encounters with Izanami and Bishamonten. "Hell, I've faced the God of War himself on more than one occasion. I'd say that's where a lot of my strength comes from. That, and, well... for risk of sounding cheesy, my desire to protect the people of these lands." That was his most important goal.

"How 'bout you? How did you get so... big?"

[Brandt Solveig]

"The gods have blessed my people with size.. I'm not even the largest.."

Brandt would have taken a seat with Takehiro, removjnf his sword and letting to drop at his feet with a thid. He was still feeling the after effects. They werent about to fade any time soon. At least not until he had a little fire brandy in his system to sooth the aches. He would ask the person serving for the strongest thing.he had before speaking to his new associate again.

"I too have lived a life of hardship.. But it has made me who I am this day. I come from a land far north, near the tip of jürö.. We vikings are known for our ferociousness.. So much so the land is too chaotic and violent."

The nord would think upon his own past briefly. War and death had made up all of Brandt's life. It was the reason he did the kind of side jobs he took. Fighting for plunder was the only lifestyle he had ever known. At least now he could choose who lived and died on his own accord. This mans ideals were something he had wished for his own land.

"You seem to be a noble man. And a warrior unlike any I've seen.. I think you will succeed someday. I only wish that I could do the same."

[Amakusa Takehiro]

"Do not doubt your own abilities, warrior." Takehiro smiled, just as Toshi brought the drinks for the two over. The barkeep eyed Brandt curiously, a smile creeping on his face as well. "This wouldn't happen to be the man who saved that young woman some time ago, would he? The giant - I've heard tales of you." Taking a sip of his sake, Takehiro nodded. He'd heard the stories as well, though it hadn't clicked in his head that someone of this size wasn't common. It really should have, though.

"If this is true, then maybe this is fate! A hero to the people of Totomi and their Daimyo!"

[Brandt Solveig]

Brandt was unsure of how to react really. He certainly wasn't use to being the center of anyone attention outside of the battlefield. Unless it was them simply staring at the large man. However here he sat across from the Demon of Totomi, on respectable terms.

"I.. Uhh, I do what I can.."

Brandt would shrug slightly before looking down at the ale in his hand. He would lift his glass, swallowing the liquid in one gulp. With a belch, he would lift his glass holding it toward the waiter again. Brandt wasn't exactly the best mannered person in the world, that was for sure.

" I will not lie.. I killed many men before I turned 12.. My country is.. barbaric. I felt as if I didn't belong anymore.. But I am built for war.. So I go where my sword takes me.."

Shifting in his chair, the giant reminisced about his past briefly. His fellow viking cared little for anything other the sailing, killing and plundering. This giant couldn't help but want something more. What that was, he still did not know.

" Why exactly did you become a.. Daiymo?"

[Amakusa Takehiro]

Toshi would give Brandt a stern look as the man held his cup out. He was going to pour him a drink, yes, but the man needed to learn some manners. Before he would notice, however, Takehiro shot Toshi a look himself, and the man sighed, pouring Brandt yet another drink.

"We've all done our fair share of killing, of that I can assure you." Takehiro nodded, downing his sake but pouring his own cup. "In fact, Toshi here," he gestured toward the barkeep. "He happens to be an ex-Bandit Chief. Actually, everyone in this village was in his group. It is made up entirely of ex-bandits, men and women who were reformed under my rule."

Probably the best people Takehiro had under his rule, as well, if he was to be completely honest. Toshi was his best friend, and the people here showed the greatest undying loyalty he'd ever seen.

"I became a Daimyo to protect them, and the people of this fief. I became their ruler because they desired it just as much as I did. And I intend to unify the country, of course."

[Brandt Solveig]

"I see..

Brandt had not noticed the look he received. He was too far lost in thought. Meeting this man caused the giant to question his own purpose and motives. Was it just simply enough for him to save a few lives here and there, or did he have a bigger role to play in this world?

"I have to admit.. You impressed me a lot. I have experienced battle with man.. Few have been so exhilarating.."

Brandt would take another gulp of his ale, holding onto that glass a little longer then the first. There was something he wanted to ask the Demon of Totomi, however he was unsure of customs here or how things worked.

"I would like for you to teach me your ways.."

[Amakusa Takehiro]

Takehiro smiled at Brandt's request, and so did Toshi, simply because he knew that look. He would set a jug of ale and sake on the table before returning to his business, while Takehiro addressed the giant. Takehiro was undoubtedly intrigued by the idea, and were it another man who made the request, he was unsure of whether or not he'd comply. But this Brandt fellow could hold his own in battle. With Takehiro's training, he'd become a fearsome warrior.

"You've helped me people, I hear, you can hold your own in a fight, and you're not a bad guy at all." Takehiro nodded, downing some more sake. "It would be an honor, friend."

[Brandt Solveig]

Again the giant felt himself thrown aloof. Brandt had half expected the Daiymo to be far too busy to deal with a foreigner which he owed nothing. However a sense a relief overcame him when Takehiro had said yes. The Nord was happy that such a warrior saw something within his him.

"Rest assured, I will be dedicated.. In return, any favor you ask of me, I will do.."

Something resembling a smile crept upon Brandt's battle torn face. Takehiro might even have been one of the few on the planet that even saw it before. He was serious about the favor offer as well. Brandt felt he would learn a lot, thus he would owe the man in return.

"I care not what it is. It is my way of thanking you.."


 

[Amakusa Takehiro]

Dedication is all Takehiro required. He would train any who had the drive, but very few could keep up with him. Takehiro had already seen what this man was capable of, so he had high hopes for the foreigner. And, to have such a "student" was certainly something he would take pride in. Though he was never one for the "Student/Master" talk, but that's a bit of rambling.

"Let's leave the talk of "favors" out of it, shall we? I won't help you train because I want you to owe me anything, I'll do so because I believe you can handle it." The Daimyo smiled, waving over a group of his men. "I want you lot to go and pick up my weights from right outside. Can you do that for me?" The men would nod and head out.

If Brandt looked, he could see all of the men - ten in total - struggling to lift the weights Takehiro carried on his ankles. Five would hold each, and their steps would be staggered and slow. The weights would be dropped off to the front of the tavern after a few minutes.

"When you're ready to begin, I would like you to try those on."

[Brandt Solveig]

Brandt took in Takehiro's words with a nod. If the man insisted he didn't need any favors, then Brandt would leave it at that. However that did not mean that he would not help the man whenever the giant saw fit. Before he knew it, he had asked a group of men to grab the weights the Daiymo had on earlier. And then he would ask Brandt to try them on..

While the Nord was certainly sore from his scrap with the leader of the Amakusa faction, he wasn't about to turn him down now. After all, working through pain only helped to forge a hardened warrior. Once again with nod, the northerner would lift himself from his seat and move to the weights.

Crouching down, Brandt would attach the weights to his ankles as he had seen Takehiro. Of course it wouldn't be an easy task, the Demon of Totomi made it look so much easier then the task actually was. It took nearly all he had to do it. Had he been a smaller framed man, he doubted he would have done it. Which was why the Daiymo impressed him even more.

"I-I can't believe.. That you walk around.. with these..!"