"Hand Over Fist..." (Ambrose)

[Death Knight Soth]

As the last of the strange image's faded and lapsed over Ambrose subconscious mind; were rim sleep is at it's deepest degree, the young Vampyre was abruptly awakened by a hard thud on the lid of his elaborate cryo-coffen. There was a mechanical hiss that resounded throughout the room...Wearily, Ambrose fumbled for the inner activation switch to open the already sliding lid of his coffin were he now lay...Somewhat startled, the young Vampyre immediately sat up then rubbed his eye's, trying to adjust them to the inky darkness that ushered in a new day for their kind.

Looking about the dimly lit room, the young Sith apprentice saw nothing, nor did he sense anyone to indicate there was another force presence within his chambered room. Shrugging it off, Ambrose only thought it to be nothing more the ending part of his dismal dream. However, an odd thought crossed Ambrose's mind as he slowly climbed out and gathered himself, searching for the last place he remembered seeing his black training tunic. "How is it possible for the lid of my cryo-coffin to open on it's own accord?" He thought to himself...

"Good morning my apprentice...Or shall I say...Good evening?" Came the hollow voice from a darkened corner of Ambrose's room. Startled once again, Ambrose quickly spun around to face were the errie voice was admitting from...It was none other then his master...Soth Nuevole!

"Today, we shall begin your first lesson's in the art of hand to hand combat..." Soth paused for a brief moment then continued.

"I have also placed a box on your fire place mantel...Within that box my apprentice is a simple dagger...Bring it to the Blood Pit when you come...You will need it." The Death Knight finished coolly as he clasped his long Vampyre finger's together, eyeing his pupil from a luxurious high backed chair he sat in...

[Ambrose Braeden]

The air this night was very still. As the stadows lengthened across the room, Soth explained to Ambrose what he wanted him to do. Knowing he was different, knowing he would never be the same again, Ambrose lifted the intently carved dagger. It was magnificent. The way the carvings were done and the worksmanship of the blade. Ambrose was familiar with strange artifacts, but this was like none other. He placed the dagger back in its resting place inside the box. He carefully lifted the ornately carved box and walked out of the room.

Only nowing part of the layout of the magnificent shrine, the Vampyre made his way through the halls heading for the Crimson Pitt. He had never realy paid much attention to the fine tapestries lining the walls, but now, he studied every one like it was its own personal being. He found them magnificent. They were much different then anything he had ever seen before. Rounding corners which led into more hallways, which were lined with ancient artifacts, and many articulate tapestries that seemed to be as old as time itself. Ambrose had wondered where they had all come from. But he knew that his master Soth had been a huge collector of ancient artifacts of the sort.

As ambrose entered the large dimly lit room, he could see absolutely no one. But yet there was this strange feeling that he had gotten when he had entered. What it was he did not konw, but he was going to find out. The Vampire set the beautiful box, that held the dagger inside, down onto the floor, and waited for his master, Soth, like he was instructed to.

[Death Knight Soth]

Cold waves of death slowly fell over the lone apprentice as he looked anxiously about the Blood Pit for his mysterious master. Was his Master near? Ambrose thought to himself as he scanned the large daunting chamber. Perhap's he was only imagineing thing's as it was only customary and not out of place to feel such a sullen sensation about the Shrine of the Damned. The large arena was well lit with numerous torches, well enough to spot the Death Knight at first glance. Nevertheless, the only thing that filled Ambrose's acute Vampyre senses was that of the staunch smell of death that lingered on the cold air. And even though the young Vampyre had not know the Death Knight long, he was sure it was unlikely that the Dark Master would have forgotten his own commanding word's of summons and not followed through.

Ambrose strained his eye's to make out every shadow that fell within the Pit, he felt nor sensed nothing else. His attention was then drawn towards two massive columns that stood central within the arena. Theses mammoth minarets supported unknown metric ton's of stone and masonry high above the sandy pit floor. The glow of the torch's feebly reached in vain towards the high vaulted ceiling, however the arched dome was cloaked in utter darkness and had remained as such for century's.

As Ambrose reluctantly walked towards one of the central columns, his curiosity seemed to lurer him closer to what might lay on the other side of the two looming minarets...Could his Master be on the other side, out of his view? The young Vampyre thought to himself.

As the unsettling thought crossed Ambrose mind, there was a sudden snapping hiss from behind him. Almost out of instinct, Ambrose ducked a near fatal blow from one of the sickly green duel saber blades as it hummed over his head. It was his Master, Soth Nuevole!

"You need to be mindful young one of all thing's about you...Reaching out with the Dark-Side to aid you when you are uncertain. Never take anything nor anyone for granted...It could cost you your immortal life...If your head leave's your shoulder's...It's all over." Soth finished, a certain firmness was evident in his word's as he retracted the double saber's back to their hilt with a hidden switch on the elaborate handle he palmed.

"Now with that aside, we shall start off your first lesson with the ancient art of hand to hand combat." The Death Knight's was unmoving and his marble like face was solemn, holding no expression as he studied Ambrose intently...

With almost blinding speed the Death Knight rushed in upon the still pondering apprentice. Ambrose could barley make out the blurring shape of Soth as he moved from his deceptive stance unannounced. Before the young Vampyre could react, the Dark Master placed his left leg in-between and behind Ambrose's right leg, pivoting his body is such a way that left the understudy off balance. Simultaneously an iron grip clutched Ambrose by the throat while Soth wrapped his right arm around the man's now extended left arm. This fluent movement forced Ambrose to his side as he landed on the sandy floor of the Blood Pit at the Death Knight's feet. Soth now held the prone man by the left wrist, threatening to break it if the wrong move ensued.

[Ambrose Braeden]

Although Ambrose was in immense pain, he would not let his Master see it. Soth would never wittnes him grovel. Ambrose would certainly die before he would let that happen. He looked his Master in the eye and saw the hatred that was deep within them. Where the hatred had come from, Ambrose did not know. And maybe he would never know. But somewhere, buried deep, Ambrose could see that if he was not going to push hisself to the limit of what he could do, Soth would know it. He would see it in the very eyes of whom he was training. Then, and only then, the ancient vampire would certainly end his life. Then a feeling of calmness stole over the fledgeling. The cold calm of despair.

His face held no expression. And yet, held every one at the same time. It was like a war of the brothers. Brothers in blood. The blood that was now flowing through his veins, was, and had been flowing through Soth's veins for centuries. That is why Ambrose would rather die trying to prove himself worthy, then dying because he would not physicaly and mentaly take himself to the limit. There were powers in him that he knew he possesed, and yet he knew, but didn't know how he knew, that there were powers waiting to escape. Waiting to be used. Waiting to be tested. Inside of his mind, Ambrose was chanting the famous words of his gods that he worshiped.

"Red Dragon. From darkness to darkness I shout/Beneath my feet, all is made firm."

His master was standing on top of him. But the newly vampire would do what ever he could to get himself out of that pardicament. With a swiftness, Ambrose stricked with his right leg in a manner that would test the laws of gravity. He kicked with such grace, it was as if he would barely tap the victim. But, that was the total opposit of what was about to happen. The kick swept the Death Knight off of his feet, making him let go of his wrist. And would prove in the apprentice's favor. With his master on the ground, Ambrose used his hand like a blade and struck the Master Vampire in the throat. Causing the flow of air to stop.

The young vampire knew that he had no chance angainst his master, but maybe he could win mentaly. Ambrose had been in many fights as a human. And had won in most of them. But he had never fought another person as a Vampire. This was a whole diffirent experience.

He looked for any dark corner he could find. But came up empty handed. And then he rememberd the pillar. Yes, the pillar would be a perfect hiding spot. With Soth still fighting for air, Ambrose lunged for the huge ornately carved pillar. He made his way behind it so that he could not be visible to anybody looking. And another thing that proved in his favor was that the room was dark. So there would be no shadow of anykind that could be seen. Now, waiting for his Master to recover, Ambrose tried to breathe as shalowly as possible

[Death Knight Soth]

The blow from the young fledgling was not as severe as Ambrose had hoped for...The innate regenerative properties that all the Creature's of the Damned possessed went to work immediately. However, this gift differed from Vampyre to Vampyre in regard's to age and the skill's one possessed through the Dark-Side it's self.

With a graceful dexterity, Soth quickly placed his hand's behind his head then flipped back to his feet. A great anger arose and kindled within the Death Knight as it was now evident in his eye's that burned a hot amber hue. This was not due to the assault that Ambrose had just inflicted on the dark master, on the contrary, it was in the manner of which Ambrose evaded the confrontation at hand...Soth would not stand for such a display of cowardice. This was not a game of cat and mouse, the Death Knight was here to teach the young understudy...And running from the battle at hand was a terrible mistake on the part of Ambrose. Soth in his eccentric way's in the art's of warfare and his strict teaching's to his pupil's reached back to a time when honor and prestige were foremost, exemplifying the fortitude that a combatant had regardless of the peril or danger at hand.

As the fledgling focused in vain on his breathing to disguise his whereabouts' from his master, a heavy handed blow connected square on his lower jaw. Ambrose had over looked his surrounding's once again, anticipating to hear the Death Knight's foot fall on the sandy floor; not to mention the stealth of his master was sorely underestimated.

As Ambrose's body jerked to the left from the unexpected blow by Soth, he was greeted by a hard side kick to the stomach region that left the pupil crumpled and bent over in a prone position. Soth wasted no time in taking full advantage of the dazed Vampyre. Reaching out, Soth grabbed Ambrose's by the head with both hand's, bring his right armored knee up while forcing his face into it. A sickly thud resounded throughout the vaulted chamber as Soth connected fully with the apprentices forehead. Precious blood now poured effortlessly from the gapping wound as the fledgling fell to the sandy floor once more in a dazed heap. Darkness seemed to envelope Ambrose's mind as he fought for consciousness.

"You will not turn tail and run from your assailant's Ambrose Braeden...It is the mark of dishonor...Learn this lesson well young one...I am here to teach you how to fight, not to evaded your opponent!" Snapped the Death Knight, his word's were razor tipped as he stepped backwards a number of feet from the fallen Sith apprentice.

"Now gather yourself and let's try this once again." Soth paused as he took a defensive stance in front of the stricken man.

"Let yourself be at one with the Dark-Side of the force. Embrace it as your true ally...Balancing your rage with it my apprentice...In doing so, a lethal weapon it will become. If you do not heed my word's, I can promise you this...Your un-life with be short lived." Finished Soth, his fierce eye's still burned like two red hot coal's in the cast shadow's of the large columns. The Death Knight had fought in countless battle's and campaigned war's that had spanned over the great expanses of space...Year's untold, as were the victim's life's he had taken by his cruel and unforgiving hand...If Ambrose was wise, he would not tempt fate in this way again...The Death Knight was well known for destroying other's for much less!... __________________

[Ambrose Braeden]

Ambrose felt the pain in his head shoot throughout his body. It was like sharp pains. But yet, He did not want to upset His Master. There was few thing's in life that the young Vampire did not want to do. Or expirience. And one of them is failing before his master. Not pushing himself as far as he could go. And yet, there was this hate, welling inside of him. Like somesort of Magic. But he did not know what it was. Ambrose rose to his feet and stood before Death Knight Soth. Blood running from nose and from some parts on his face. He did not care about that anymore. All he cared about was that he did not fail in his Trials.

Ambrose moved with such speed, that any mortal being would not see what his actions were. But Soth was a Vampire. He could see everything he was doing. Using his ornate abilities as a Vampire, He ran as fast as he could untile he was right infront of His Master in the ways of the Dark side of the Force. He lifted his knees in such a motion that it looked, to the naked eye, that he was going to thrust outward. But he did not. Instead he thrust his leg in a downward stroke toward Soth's knee.

Upon impact, The Death Knight's knee bent in a way that it was not supposed to. Ambrose could hear the bones crack and wathched as the knee bent in the opposit direction. Almost as instinct, Ambrose thrust outward with both of his hands. One on top of another, like two birds flying together. They both made solid contact with the torso of Soth. He stumbled back a few spaces, limping on his broken leg. Ambrose walked forward, and Thrust out ward with the palm of his hand. Awaiting impact.

[Death Knight Soth]

As the Death Knight stepped back a few pace's from Ambrose, a painful grimace etched it's way across his porcelain like feature's. The damage to his knee was severe enough; causing Soth to address the injury more out of a simple reaction then the pain it's self. The subconscious mind was a powerful ally and the Death Knight had harnessed it's power's long ago. In the realm of dream's and that of the mind, Soth Nuevole was more then a dabbler in their mysterious intricacies, he was a master of both phenomenon. The recess's of both landscape's and their deepest secret's where simply at his bidding command!...

Almost immediately a hot tingling wave of heat surrounded the dislocated knee joint of Soth as he reached out to the Dark-Side of the Force. Soth had just enough time to intercept the in coming hand attack of this over zealous apprentice...

Soth quickly thrust this right hand out, snatching Ambrose by his right wrist. With the brute force that the Creature's of the Damned were known for, the Dark Master twisted the understudies arm then rotated his body as Ambrose came inward with his ensuing, but vain assault. Now that Soth was to the side of the man; having Ambrose's arm fully extended, Soth with blinding speed raised his left elbow and connected solidly to the nose of the Sith pupil. Ambrose's head snapped back from the violent blow, however, no sooner did this occur, the Death Knight rolled the stunned man forward with the remaining momentum, flipping Ambrose in a full somersault to his back. Ambrose's air escaped his lung's as he hit the sandy floor with a tremendous thud. With the man's right arm still in Soth's iron grasp, the Dark Master interlaced his leg's around the apprentice's arm, falling to the side of Ambrose as he did so...The pain was excruciating as the joint's in Ambrose's shoulder, elbow as well as his wrist hyper-extended then popped under the enormous pressure and tension that Soth inflicted, threatening to snap at any moment. Every time Ambrose squirmed or struggled, Soth applied more pressure to the wounded limb that was now useless.

Crimson steam's flowed from Ambrose's nostril's as he now choked on his own precious blood...His lung's burned like fire as he gasped for air. Ambrose was now in a compromised position that held him fast. It was now an appropriate time to show Ambrose the full cunning power and strength that the mind possessed with one who knew how to harness it's truer potential.

"You are beaten my apprentice...The fire of defeat will now sear your mind young one...Consume you it will!" Soth snapped as he torque on Ambrose's vulnerable arm. Moment's later, the downed understudy felt a terrible burning sensation to both of his leg's; the pain was so intense, it momentarily distracted Ambrose's writhing mind to the agony he was experiencing. His lower extremities where now on fire!...

ooc: Broken bone's and maiming can only be acquired with the expressed permission of the RP'er in question...I downed played your post some, however be mindful of theses kind of assault next time bro...Your attack's are good, However Soth as a Master would have more then likely evaded such an attack by simply raiseing his leg...:P

Another note: Remember to be mindful of the number of attack's Ambrose has as an apprentice as well as your movement's in a fight thread...The closeness as well as the distance between two or more combatant's here would be a good indicator to the number of attack's/defending that one might inflect depending on the rank and experience of the CHR in question. Good etiquette and thoughtfulness should always be shown to the gamer you RP with. Thanks :)