Camp at Qing Ni Pass (Allies Only)

[Sun Yuan Ci]

((Norion, bud, I'm going to have to cut this hella-short, so we can move out. So I'll just control the duel as we would have if we played it out longer))

*While the arrival of many generals continued, they would enter a camp where nearly every soldier's attention was fixed on but two men. Sun Yuan Ci and Zhou Tai. Zhiyun, who had already dazzled the crowd with a flashy show of swordplay to opt Zhou T into a sparring match, now stood ready. Zhou Tai, who matched Sun Yuan Ci's bout with one just as worthy of praise, stood with two swords, a longsword and a double-bladed sword. He stood to his side, one sword held parallel to the ground in Zhiyun's direction and the other bent over his head, aimed also in Zhiyun's direction. All stood now to watch. This was an act of genius on these men's part, for morale was low with the might of Ma Chao reaching down into China, and seeing these men fight with their display of swordsmanship would truly prepare them for a fight.*

*Zhout Tai was the first to approach, feigning a strike while Zhiyun began to twirl each sword toward the center of his body. At the feign strike, he brought each sword forth, which would have blocked should Zhou Tai have followed through, as he did soon after. When he did thrust his sword, Zhiyun's spiraling defense blocked it, at which point Zhou Tai gave out a series of attacks that put Zhiyun on a defensive standpoint. He left his feet, carrying his weight to the left to dive close to the ground, holding out his blade at Tai's leg to ring the steel of his greave. Ever alert, Zhou Tai spun off the opposite leg, avoiding the blow while charging at Zhiyun, setting out a series of attacks. Zhiyun, dispatched from his rusty spear which some could label him invincible behind, soon found himself bested, Zhou Tai's sword at his waist, what would have been a fatal strike. They broke off, and began again. Zhou Tai remained on a heavy offense, yet this time Zhiyun found a small opening in which he grabbed Zhou Tai by the wrist, twist him around while also maneuvering to his back, and holding the point of his blade at the warrior's back. Should they have been actually fighting, Zhiyun would have thrust his sword upward, spelling a horrid and painful death for whoever he was facing.*

*The spar continued in that fashion, each soldier gaining momentum and losing it as neither showed they were truly better then the other. It worked just as they had planned, soldiers around them cheering with might at each impressive bout, or anytime one of the swordsmen gained an upperhand, and they cheered even more when said swordsman lost that upperhand and was thrust into a defense. The way the two men fought, one would expect someone to die, as they swung their blades with might behind them. However, they each knew that the other was far too powerful with a sword to hold back, and if they did then there was a chance that they would die by a mistake by the opponent. Despite the risks that these men had taken by sparing eachother so valiantly as allies, it had worked, and the men were cheering louder then the soldiers who were present at Dong Zhuo's capture. It was a sight to behold.*

*The bout finally ended as each swordsman struck eachothers blade hard, stinging their wrists with the recoil, and bouncing back a few feet to prepare for a new approach. They each charged at eachother, each spining with great finesse, capes fluttering magnificently in the wind, as they turned to each find their blades at the other's neck. A small slit from the pressure ateachother's neck, and a small line of blood flowing from the point of the blade at the flesh. Sun Yuan Ci couldn't help but cheerfully laugh, as he withdrew his blade back to his sheath and gave out a mighty roar, which was answered in response by the hundreds of men around him, ad could likely be heard by those in Chang An and those seiging it.*

"A fine bout, Zhou Tai. Heavens mask the day forever, please, when you are my enemy. For I would never wish to partake upon a man of your skills as an enemy. Now I must go an prepare to save an ally."

*Zhiyun approached a newer general, a man named Wu Sheng Tian. He gave the sword back to his leuitenant, and took up the Crescent Spear once again.*

"The allies must work together, but even then it will be a hard fight to best the armies of the Qiang. Especially with Ma Chao at the helm. So, Master Wu Sheng Tian, what shall we do? Shall we ride with Huang Zhong to Chang An, and end this seige?"

[Mr Wu Sheng]

(Before Wu Tian moves out)

Wu Tian gazed at the duel, an excellent craftsmanship displayed by the thundering bouts of a mans sword. It were at these moments in time where Wu Tian felt pleasure - for without war, and the effects it brought. All that was left for him was to doubt and dwell over the lost fortune of his household. He knew that he had a sister waiting for him, and a mother somewhere south that still to this day prayed for him. But there was no dormant male, no father figure in his life that could tame the beast within him, and he feared that without him - he would merely become a shadow, a lost fragment in which his family would cry and scream over.

He had seen it once before, the raging inferno of his wrath, and his spear cut down the innocent of this land. But it was because of his father and his unity with his family that he was able to tame the beast - and live finally in peace.

But now it was only a matter of time until it came back out - and he gazed hungrily at his master, hoping that maybe this man, with his virtuous and courageous ways would in some way feed him the virtue he too needed to proceed as his own figurine, without the need of his other sides or his strange beasts.

"Well." He spoke only to clear away his thoughts, but it was also necessary in a way - for Sun Yuan Ci had spoken to him, asking on what they probably should do, "Hiding behind walls have never helped, although i cannot help but feel as if I'm need at the front. master - as much as i would enjoy the opportunity to fight alongside you in the field of battle, i believe it is important that you prepare the defenses, as soon as i fall - which is only a matter of time against a force of that magnitude, then you and Cao Cao are the ones left to protect this place. A great deal lies in this battle, and i shalt be giving in on it until i draw my last breath, but death is such a complex thing - it takes only the best of us, and ;leaves the weak and foolish stranded like a wolf. But fear not on that aspect, i shall return with whatever army i have left, just be ready - these walls will cave in eventually unless we can find unity among our ranks. 5 men standing together is a wall of iron and steel, but 5 men standing alone resemble nothing but chipped wood - frail, weak and most of all - easily breakable."

He paused to grasp his own spear, Oni - and then turned to the troops he had ordered to the campsites, "They are coming - and they will leave a smell of blood and death in their wake."

[Mr Nor]

Zhou Tai smiled as he tok a step back. He licked his thumb, and pressed it lightly to the spot on his neck after he tossed the double bladed longsword back to its original owner. "Honestly, Sun yuan Ci... I was about to say the same thing." he said as he happily sheathed his own sword. He would have Zei Fang sharpen it later, once he returned to his camp. As he bowed to Sun Yuan Ci, he said, "Master yuan ci, I fear that I must retire for the night. I shall return upon sun up for us to discuss your plans of action further. God be with you."

And with that, he nodded to the fellow generals and took his leave.

((Sorry for the length.))

[Wei Yan]

Going Under... The Knife!!

Sights and sounds rushed all around the warrior as his head lulled aimlessly in the air. His body was upon a shield and once within the allied camp he was hoisted up upon the shoulders of the men. It was there he gasped and groaned for air that he coulnd't make fill his lungs. In his gasping he uttered a few, barely audible, words.

"Rai... No... Here... Why... Heavens... But... Rai..." The words were meshed and un-matching in every possible way. Some of the Guardians had thought Wei Yan to be mad with his depression, others hoped it was just the fever setting in meaning he wouldn't be killed by the wound. Thankfully the blacksmith's "medical" tent was coming into sight by now. The heat from the tent alone made Yan gasp for air even harder for a moment.

When the Guardian's laid the shield down upon ground in the tent the blacksmith demanded to know what was going on. It was understandable at first, but then he recognized the beaten warrior and quickly bowed out of the tent. The unknown Guardian looked around for a long while. This whole process would not be fun. All the remaining Guardians piled onto the warrior as best they could to hold him down while their "leader" removed the blade from his side. That brought forth a roar that nearly brought the tent down along with about ten sailing Guardians. Then came the heated blade from the forge. With a snarl from the warrior and nothing more, the wound was cauterized. It wasn't until all the men had left did he finally admit to the pain. There was something about a battlewound that just made him relish in his pride, but it was ended short-lived by the reoccuring thought of Lu Rai.

"Rai, where did I fail? Rumors spread that Qiang barbarians are wreaking havoc in the city.. Our city! What am I to do? I cannot ask more of the allies, especially that woman, Yu Xueman, or my dear friend Sun Liao. Where has Guan Yu gone? I'm sorry my friend... I cannot plague you with these thoughts... Be at peace, my friend. I will take care of Chang An this final time..."

Guardians made a stern wall around the tent and there they stood till Wei Yan returned nearly a day later. His hip wasn't fully healed by any means, but he could walk on it, put a good amount of weight on it, and above all, he could wield a weapon. Though, he wasn't ready to duel Ma Chao, oh no, but that didn't mean he couldn't get ready. Lu Rai's sword and shield were brought, but so were Yan's personal weapons, recoverd from the field of battle.

The rest of the day was spent practicing with the variety of weapons. After a while, the warrior thought himself invincible, but the heaven's reminded him with a sharp fall to a knee as pain coursed through his body from his hip. There were some ways he just couldn't step. Some ways he didn't want to step, and others he thought he would never be able to step again. In his own way, Yan sent a roar to the sky, thanking the heaven's for his life and his upper body strength. He'd need almost all of it against Ma Chao.

With that, the Guardians and Wei Yan left for Chang An. Qi Ning Pass was a fine place, but it was only a temporary home, nothing more. They wanted to be at Chang An by dawn.

King of the Qiang, pray I find Ma Chao first. For I will not settle for your head, but only for his.