Seanu Reaves
The Shogun of Gaming
It was finally time, Do’ Janqu was called to the arena. The Khajiit breathed in deeply and took in all the scents: Blood, Alcohol, and Fear. It was time to bring forth the warrior hidden within the hunter, the rage among the calm. They didn’t tell him about his opponent outside it was likely to be a wood elf. Probably for the best, lest the racial rivalry be taken to the streets before the arena. He could hear the drums of his people, and he bared his teeth in excitement. A match of the highest spectacle, He thought. Time to humiliate the Wood Elves. He hefted his net onto his shoulder, the weights on the tips clanging against each other and brushing against his bare midriff. It was a makeshift cap when it was hung from a misshapen piece of elven armor that if you looked closely you would realize it was once a helmet. Do’ Janqu was taken out of that memory as a pair of young Khajiit children approached him.
“Grandfather sent us, he says he finally finished that special sword.”
“Did he now? This one thanks you. May I see it?”
“Why do you speak like you are from Elswyr? Aren’t you from Skingrad?”
“Just a persona, this one apologizes.”
The boy just kept glancing at Do’Janqu, seemingly too nervous to speak. A quick elbow from the girl led him to hastily open up the swath of cloth surrounding the item they carried. Do’ Janqu, The Great Hunter, was shocked. It was perfect. A full bladed kopesh, one foot straight out of the hilt into a two foot crescent curve. It was about five inches wide, a heavy blade that wouldn’t be as fragile as its ritual cousins. By the great cats, He thought as he ran a hand across the inscribed edge.
“I will name this blade Secunda’s Sacrifice,” Do’ Janqu announced as he picked up his axe, a crude thing compared to the beautiful new sword. “Now Masser’s Massacre has a companion worthy of the name.”
He tossed the kids a sack of gold, and patted both on the head. Ignoring their protests, smirking as they began to struggle over who would get more coins. He stood and tied the blade to the back of his belt horizontally. He looked at his axe, an old thing that was by his side since he left Elswyr. Even though he could have replaced it by now, he didn’t see any reason to get rid of his old companion. Do’ Janqu began to put an extra bounce in his step, for he was going to put on a show. As he approached his gate, the drums began to beat more intensely and the Announcer began to make his speech.
“Hailing from Skingrad! The Killer Kitty! The Elswyr Eviserator! THE GREAT HUNTER!!!”
The gates dropped and Do’ Janqu took to the center of the Arena. Taking a deep breath he roared. Every Khajiit in the stage returned his boisterous call. Shaking the arena to the foundations. Taking the net off his shoulder Do’ Janqu began his dance, spinning and swinging his net around his body. Moving with the drums into their crescendo, picking up enough speed, to kick himself into a backflip while not going backwards. He landed as the music stopped. And the Announcer hit his mark perfectly, and began introducing his opponent.
“Hailing from here in the Imperial City! The Hammerfallen! The Bloodguard! Orven!!!”
Do’ Janqu watched in silence as the stringed instruments of Hammerfall began to shriek, and his opponent emerged. It was a man dressed up in full legion affair, sword and shield and even a crested helmet, good protection but heavy and slowed you down. Do’ Janqu had to laugh, as his fighting style was designed around hunting such armored prey. Both combatants faced each other and the Redguard charged, and Do’Janqu spun his net around him hiding his location. With a hearty but ultimately harmless slap the weights of the net hit the Legionary in the back. The Khajiits cheered and those that bet against Do’ Janqu groaned. With a great roar, Do’ Janqu struck at his foes’ exposed back and was pleasantly surprised when Masser was met by the man’s shield and not his neck. The larger Khajiit was even more excited when he had to jump away from the Redguard’s spinning backhand slash.
Do’ Janqu set the net into another spin, this time making sure to kick up as much dirt as he could towards his opponent’s eyes. With a roar Do’ Janqu threw the net low and jumped to attack the Redguard from above. As he thought, his opponent would brace for the large cat jumping him he wouldn’t realize that his legs were entwined. Crashing into his opponent, Do’ Janqu roared as he hooked his opponent’s shield with his axe and threw the barrier away. The man began frantically swinging his sword, but Do’ Janqu’s entire left arm was covered in armor. The arena was silent as Do’ Janqu used his greater bulk to hold the struggling Redguard in place. The man began to yell in defiance, but that turned into screams as the Khajiit swung the brutal axe into his sword arm. It was surprisingly easy to tear the arm off, and that was it. Holding the dismembered member, Do’ Janqu let out another powerful roar and the returning cheers and roars was deafening. It was a good show, and it was a good victory. Do’ Janqu left the arena, blood still boiling. He wanted more…
“Grandfather sent us, he says he finally finished that special sword.”
“Did he now? This one thanks you. May I see it?”
“Why do you speak like you are from Elswyr? Aren’t you from Skingrad?”
“Just a persona, this one apologizes.”
The boy just kept glancing at Do’Janqu, seemingly too nervous to speak. A quick elbow from the girl led him to hastily open up the swath of cloth surrounding the item they carried. Do’ Janqu, The Great Hunter, was shocked. It was perfect. A full bladed kopesh, one foot straight out of the hilt into a two foot crescent curve. It was about five inches wide, a heavy blade that wouldn’t be as fragile as its ritual cousins. By the great cats, He thought as he ran a hand across the inscribed edge.
“I will name this blade Secunda’s Sacrifice,” Do’ Janqu announced as he picked up his axe, a crude thing compared to the beautiful new sword. “Now Masser’s Massacre has a companion worthy of the name.”
He tossed the kids a sack of gold, and patted both on the head. Ignoring their protests, smirking as they began to struggle over who would get more coins. He stood and tied the blade to the back of his belt horizontally. He looked at his axe, an old thing that was by his side since he left Elswyr. Even though he could have replaced it by now, he didn’t see any reason to get rid of his old companion. Do’ Janqu began to put an extra bounce in his step, for he was going to put on a show. As he approached his gate, the drums began to beat more intensely and the Announcer began to make his speech.
“Hailing from Skingrad! The Killer Kitty! The Elswyr Eviserator! THE GREAT HUNTER!!!”
The gates dropped and Do’ Janqu took to the center of the Arena. Taking a deep breath he roared. Every Khajiit in the stage returned his boisterous call. Shaking the arena to the foundations. Taking the net off his shoulder Do’ Janqu began his dance, spinning and swinging his net around his body. Moving with the drums into their crescendo, picking up enough speed, to kick himself into a backflip while not going backwards. He landed as the music stopped. And the Announcer hit his mark perfectly, and began introducing his opponent.
“Hailing from here in the Imperial City! The Hammerfallen! The Bloodguard! Orven!!!”
Do’ Janqu watched in silence as the stringed instruments of Hammerfall began to shriek, and his opponent emerged. It was a man dressed up in full legion affair, sword and shield and even a crested helmet, good protection but heavy and slowed you down. Do’ Janqu had to laugh, as his fighting style was designed around hunting such armored prey. Both combatants faced each other and the Redguard charged, and Do’Janqu spun his net around him hiding his location. With a hearty but ultimately harmless slap the weights of the net hit the Legionary in the back. The Khajiits cheered and those that bet against Do’ Janqu groaned. With a great roar, Do’ Janqu struck at his foes’ exposed back and was pleasantly surprised when Masser was met by the man’s shield and not his neck. The larger Khajiit was even more excited when he had to jump away from the Redguard’s spinning backhand slash.
Do’ Janqu set the net into another spin, this time making sure to kick up as much dirt as he could towards his opponent’s eyes. With a roar Do’ Janqu threw the net low and jumped to attack the Redguard from above. As he thought, his opponent would brace for the large cat jumping him he wouldn’t realize that his legs were entwined. Crashing into his opponent, Do’ Janqu roared as he hooked his opponent’s shield with his axe and threw the barrier away. The man began frantically swinging his sword, but Do’ Janqu’s entire left arm was covered in armor. The arena was silent as Do’ Janqu used his greater bulk to hold the struggling Redguard in place. The man began to yell in defiance, but that turned into screams as the Khajiit swung the brutal axe into his sword arm. It was surprisingly easy to tear the arm off, and that was it. Holding the dismembered member, Do’ Janqu let out another powerful roar and the returning cheers and roars was deafening. It was a good show, and it was a good victory. Do’ Janqu left the arena, blood still boiling. He wanted more…