Post by Mike/Rolaka on Jan 7, 2019 0:18:42 GMT -6
"O Din, Goddess of Power, mother of the red Earth, I beseech you. Lend me thy ears. Today, I engage a brother in honorable combat. May our strikes form an inspiring beat, may our cries form a chorus, and may our movements form a dance. All coming together to create a fiery tribute to thy divine grace." Rolaka unfolds his hands and opens his eyes. Nothing in front of him but the iron-bar gate to the fighting pit. He steps closer to it; the light from the pit providing the only illumination. As he draws near, a clamor of voices grows louder and louder, some of which chant, 'RO-LA-KA! RO-LA-KA!'
Gorons fill the stands which surround the circular pit. The chamber itself being located inside the rocky tunnels of Death Mountain. Above it all hangs a large basin which nourishes a great flame that illuminates the chamber. And above it, a large hole which leads to the surface in order to expel the thick black smoke. The pit itself is nothing more than a big patch of dirt. Only the occasional smear of dried blood gives it any character. However, no such battle will be taking place here. Instead, this is to be a clean brawl ending with a knockout, not a murder. The first fighter has already entered: a rough and burly Goron who has seen his share of action, and wishes to test his mettle against the crowd favorite.
"AAAAND in this corner..." The announcer calls. "The Goron of the hour, the one you came to see. Weighing in at Goddess knows how many pounds, it's the Earthshaker himself! ROOOOLAKAAAA!!!"
The gate falls, and Rolaka leaps into the pit in a grand entrance! "YEEEAAAHHHH! Let's make some noise!" He raises both fists into the air and the crowd follows his lead. He slams both fists to the floor three times. "BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!" With all the Gorons slamming their fists, any smaller species would've lost balance from the ensuing shockwave... and any lesser mountain might've given way. The crowd is going wild, the fighters are itching to go, and Din herself my be watching... it's time to ring the bell. *DING* *DING*
The fighters charge at each other, immediately engaged in an arm lock. They struggle for one second, then Rolaka gets his left arm free and swings. *POW* Right in his opponent's cheekbone! The other Goron staggers back, but quickly regains composure. The battle's only just begun. The two enter the usual battle position: arms-length apart, both fists up and close to body. The opponent makes a right hook but is swiftly blocked by Rolaka and is rewarded with a quick jab to the chest. Rolaka goes for another jab, but his opponent blocks with both arms. Rolaka tries a grab, but the other goron answers with a jab of his own followed by two more piston-like punches to his chest. Rolaka regains composure, but is then grabbed by his opponent. He tries to struggle, but is thrown to the ground, accompanied by an audible *BAM*. The crowd responds with a mixture of 'OH' and 'YEAH!' His opponent backs away, no ground attacks allowed in this fight. Rolaka picks himself up with a grin on his face and dusts himself off.
He certainly has skill, and I don't remember training him. This is gonna be a good one. He calls over to his opponent, "Good work! But don't get cocky! It's time for Round 2!"
"Wait! Wait! Stop the fight!" A young voice cries. "There's BIG trouble!" The small form scurries into the pit. A child Goron, less than twice Rolaka's size. With a tuft of golden hair on his head and a white loincloth being his immediate features. It is Rolaka's protégé, and depending on who you ask, his son in all but blood: Vatu.
"Vatu, what are you doing? How'd you even get here?" An annoyed Rolaka asks. The crowd also voices their dismay, more out of confusion than anger.
"There's no time!" Vatu shouts. His voice is surprisingly loud for someone so young. "Bokoblins at Dodongo's Cavern! Rode in on giant boars!" Vatu's voice started to break and his small blue eyes were getting misty. "They didn't even wait, they trampled a guard! One of them was huge. He looks scary and his helmet looks like a skull and-" A large hand is placed over his mouth.
"Enough, little guy." Rolaka kneels down. "You're certain he wore a skull-shaped helmet?" Vatu nodded his head. Rolaka stands and looks to the crowd with a mean expression on his face. "You heard our little brother! Bokoblins in Dodongo's Cavern! Now I don't know what those lumpy scumbags would want, but I do know they're taking over our supply of succulent rock veins! Are we gonna stand for it?!" The crowds responds with a big 'NO!' "Then I'm afraid this fight must be put on hold. We got an enemy to crush!" Rolaka marches out of the pit with Vatu in tow.
"Is there any way I can help, Rolaka?" Vatu asks, nearly tripping while trying to keep up.
"No. You're too young, and you lack the grit. Besides, these guys are mine." Rolaka says as he retrieves his iron gauntlets from his locker.
"Is it about that one guy? What's up with him?"
"Vatu, remember that story I want to tell you but it isn't finished?"
"Yeah."
"Well," Rolaka equips his gauntlets and makes a fist. "I'm about to write the ending."
Dust cascades in the wind on the slopes of Death Mountain. The entrance to Dodongo's Cavern is patrolled by a force of armored bokoblins. The armor itself is crude, rusty, and half-broken. But it is still an upgrade to their usual cloth garments. Two bokoblins are mounted on boars on both sides if the entrance, each with a rider and an archer. Four archer bokoblins are perched atop the ledge above the entrance and will doubtless take the first shot. Six on-foot bokoblins patrol the path leading to the cavern and armed with iron clubs. They all turn their devilish heads to the sound of a rumbling coming their way. Rolling up the path is Rolaka and a troupe of very strong and very pissed off Gorons. An archer calls out with a familiar battle cry and takes aim. The Gorons uncurl and halt about fifty feet away.
"Alright you maggots. I know you can understand me!" Rolaka yells. He begins to pace back and forth while addressing the invaders. "You just invaded our prime food source. And while it looks like you guys got some upgrades, don't kid yourselves! You're still the cannon fodder you've always been. So, how about this? You tell your boss to come out and fight, and you get to live. If you don't, I'll drag him out here myself and show him what a mess you make. You have one minute... starting now..."
An archer, unfazed by the Earthshaker, shoots a fire arrow. Aiming squarely for Rolaka's head.