User blog:Leolab/Ancient User Tourney, Round 1: Hirai Norio (Cfp) v William Vigiles (Alock)

No title cards for this tourney. I'd apologize, but I'm not actually sorry, since it saves me a few minutes of image editing.

Hirai Norio: The Wandering Ronin who seeks to curtail the excesses of his kind

versus

Willium Vigiles: The city guard who seeks a hot meal, some ale, and to not die

Bio
Known as the Wandering Ronin, Hirai Norio is a masterless samurai roaming the countryside of Japan. Trained from birth as a fearless and just warrior, Hirai faithfully served his master for a decade. After his master was killed during one of many feuds between samurai clans, Hirai was forced to exile as a ronin. The origins of the feud has escaped Hirai's memory, but he does know he refuses the fall to the base levels of his fellow ronin.

When Hirai's master and his clan were under siege, Hirai became the master's personal bodyguard. As the advancing army slowly moved further into the sanctuary, Hirai and his master were cornered in temple. Although heavily outnumbered, Hirai's swordsmanship granted enough time for reinforcements to arrive and route the attackers.

That night, ninjas stealthily entered the dojo where Hirai and his charge were entrenched. With a swift cut, the master was killed before Hirai could protect him. Without a master, Hirai was ashamed- left abandoned by his samurai comrades.

Just before he could commit seppuku in isolation, he witnessed a robbing by fellow ronin. Unwilling to just stand by and let them take an innocent's life, Hirai took his sword and defended the peasant.

Realizing his new calling, Hirai choose to live not in disgrace or die by his own sword, but use his masterless status to protect those that could not protect themselves. He had become The Wandering Ronin- a hero to some and a bane to others.

Initial Weaponset (Short Range)


The Exiled's Companion- Hirai's iconic katana blade. With a tamagahane single-edged tempered curved blade approximately 2 and a half feet, weighing 2 and a half pounds, the Exiled's Companion has a circular hilt guard. The hilt itself is a traditional wood, but is wrapped in leather rather than the typical cloth to ensure a better grip. Hirai's fighting style with this blade relies on swift, short cuts rather than larger sweeping arcs typical of those with his training.

Other Weapons & Armor

 * -| Mid Range =



Kanabo- A 4-feet, 15 pound oak club with steel studs.


 * -| Long Range =



Broken Oath- Hirai's yumi bow, with simple steel arrows. Hirai, as is custom with samurai, is competently skilled with his bow


 * -| Special =



The Twins- Dual short wakizashi blades Hirai utilizes to allow him to pressure his opppnents wielding pole arms by utilizing his left sword to deflect attacks and his right sword to close the distance. The blades are typical wakizashi blades; One and a half feet steel single-edged blades.


 * -| Armor =



Dō-maru armor set- A set of steel and leather armor. The chestpiece consists of scales of steel, laced together into plates then lacquered. These plates are then laced together to form a solid steel cuirass over Hirai's vital organs. Due to the weight of the steel (10 lbs), the rest of Hirai's armor is simple thigh and shoulder guards of leather.

Bio
Age: 26

Occupation: City Guard

William Vigiles is a City Guard, like his father before him, and his father before him, and his uncle before him - great-grandfather was a criminal. Surrounded by this respect for the Law, it was only Natural for William it become a member of the City Watch. He patrols his city, which is surrounded by a high, and wide, wall. Mainly, he catches would-be thieves, and other such criminals. He has been involved in riots, mainly trying to keep the peace, but every so often, someone needs their head smacked. He has also been involved in protecting the city from invaders.

On one occasion, while trying to get to the main gate, which was being attacked by a battering ram, he came across a group of invaders who had used ropes with grappling hooks to climb up the wall, and he was forced to fight them, all by himself. He managed to kill 10 of the invaders before help arrived, from others trying to get to the battering ram, and the sneaky invaders were killed, or driven off. William, along with the rest of these men, were given some gold for protecting the city.

William is married, with a wife of five years, a 4 year old son, 2 year old daughter, and one on the way. These are William's main reasons for doing his job; he wants his son to have something to look forward to. William doesn't aspire for fame or promotions, although those would be nice. In short, he just wants to do his job, nothing more, nothing less.

While William has earned a good reputation for his actions, some gold, and some small rewards, he only seeks to do his job of protecting the city in the ways he can, and hopes to raise his son to follow in the long line of Vigiles, who have all served as City Guards, one way or another, often without recognition by their superiors and betters.

William is not a cold-blooded killer, generally preferring to subdue his foes, he will kill if he has to. His primary concern is making it through the day. If he decides to let the other fighters kill the rest before getting involved himself, defending himself as necessary, he will. If someone tries to kill him, he will fight back, and kill them if need be. All he wants is to return home to his family, if fate allows him.

Initial Weaponset (Short Range)


Oak truncheon - 2 feet in length, mainly used for subduing criminals, the hope being that the blows won't be fatal. Usually the blow knocks the victim out. After all, it doesn't do the cheat the hangman of his due, if that is necessary, nor would it be wise to kill a son of a noble who was getting too friendly with a woman.

Other Weapons & Armor

 * -| Mid Range =



Longsword - 4 feet in length, requiring two hands to use. Mainly used if criminals don't want to be taken alive, and pose a serious danger.


 * -| Long Range =



Crossbow - Good up to 200 yards, generally used as shorter distances. Can, potentially, pierce most armors. Has 20 bolts in a quiver.


 * -| Special =



Dagger - Sometimes you need a short knife. 6 inch handle, 12 inch blade. Used when the distance is too close for a sword, and the foe is too dangerous to just knock out.


 * -| Armor =



Iron Breastplate and Iron Backplate, followed by chain mail Shirt and mail leggings, followed by Leather shirt and leather leggings. Helmet is similar to Spanish Morion, iron, with faceplate and cheekguards. Also, there is a metal groin protector, to protect the reproductive organs, so that there can be future Vigiles having the chance of being born. Weight, about 120 pounds total.

Battle Notes

 * Arena is a 20m diameter circle, grassy soil footing, no cover
 * All warriors will start out with their Initial Weaponset equipped, along with their armor.
 * Their other weapons are placed sheathed/unloaded/unset/etc. next to their point of entry into the arena.
 * The match is to the death.

Voting Notes

 * Votes with good edges or at least 10 relevant sentences count as a full vote
 * Votes with meh edges or at least 5 relevant sentences count as a half vote
 * All others count as no vote
 * Well-reasoned rebuttals can lower the count of a vote by half.
 * Well-reasoned counter-rebuttals can restore the half-point.
 * The users whose characters are fighting may not vote for or against themselves, but may defend their warriors by giving rebuttals and counter-rebuttals
 * I have the final say in how much a vote counts for. If I feel a vote merits counting differently than these guidelines, I will do so.