Zilo and Sayulati square up over the water surface at the edges of the pool. Sayulati puts out her hand and the water begins to stream up in a line to her downward facing palm. The liquid curves and condenses until it forms into a long sword with intricately woven Mythril designs and holes all along the blade's spine in a flowing pattern.
Zilo looked to the Nymph and asked, "I thought you said this match would be one of performance, not blademanship."
The mistress grins and gracefully sweeped the blade, and the air filled with a whistling noise that changed in tune as she angled a new swing. She would catch the edge of the sword to the ground in a rapid movement making a earthy tick over and over to make intricate patterns. All the while her body moved in one with the blade like a ballerina upon the stage. She ended her dance with the blade faced to the bard and spoke,
"This is Scherzo, an enchanted Songsword whose design was gifted to the Elven song blade warriors. They never quite could make one as refined as those used by their masters though."
She flicked her blade about before bringing it down to rest and Zilo swallowed his nerves before asking, "Are you prepared? Sayulati nodded and Zilo's somber playing began. The song echoed and rippled the water as Zilo played. The surface revealed that only a thin surface of water in the pool, and so the bade began to dance forward as the song kicked into more rapid notes.
Sayulati flicked her blade about in the air to a low tone to match with Zilo's as she strutted about before marching forward to meet with the bard. While Zilo's boots touched through the water's surface, the Nymph danced above the water, not even altering the surface.
Tess on the sidelines had had enough of hiding her eyes, and looked to the two of them, luckily proving hearty enough to avoid going blind from Sayulati. The Nymph's attendant noted her interest and crossed his arms, looking back to the two performers. Tess clapped to the song along with Zilo's notes.
The two performers mimicked each other note for note with the whistling air and the chords of the string. They both twirled in dance and both landed back to back and spun about each other before separating out. Zilo's spin kicked up a flash of water that he deftly spun and hooked with his bo, flicking the water at the water Nymph.
The Nymph's face was speckled with the droplets and a flinch before they sunk in and she grin maliciously before beginning to nick her blade faster along the surface of the water and making a deep drum-like noise that rattled through the base of the water. Her movements much wider than Zilo's were becoming rapid and quick, showing no less speed than he did with his simple back and forth of his bo.
She pirouetted forward and her blade sharply began to stab at the bard along with the sharp stings of the wind. Her speed was incredible, Zilo blocked the first stab with his buckler, but the next series left cuts all along the edges of his frame. He spun to his left and kicked inward at his opponent.
Sayulati rose her blade and cushioned the blow, but her light mystical frame made it so she flew back a few meters from even such a light kick. The surface of the water rose up into the air to catch the Nymph and as she slid back down the water, she cut into it, and separated the mass into sections.
When she landed with a sharp whistle of the blade the water sections spread out and impacted the water surface letting lose the spell Cresting Waves. Zilo through his Violin into the air and was blasted to the edge of the pool by the incoming waves. Luckily for him, a quick casting of Mage Hand made his violin continue it's playing in the air.
With his ghost performance underway, the soaked to the bone bard stood, and produced his silver long sword with a flourish. his violin flew down into line with him and his charge. Sayulati, not wishing for her dance to be stopped touched the water's surface and Summoned Nature's Ally at 4th level to create a human sized Water Elemental.
The elemental powered on by the water below it surged forward and slammed into the bard. Zilo fell back, barley able to keep his performance going before reaching to his bag. The elemental set upon him before Zilo snapped out his Wand of Lightning Bolt and blasted the elemental into vapor. The electric current lit the water up and both performers were stunned. Both just barely stayed able to keep their songs going through the shocks.
By this point more fey in the tree had heard the song and began to worm their way between the glowing branches that made up the walls of the giant chamber. They looked upon the battling bard and Seelie noble. They heard Tess clapping to the violin beat and they slowly began to join in the clapping.
Zilo lept from his downed stance and cast Cure Moderate Wounds on himself as his violin came to his side. Sayulati spun with another whistle and rapid beat, also casting the same spell on herself. The two narrowed in closer and connected blades.
The beat Sayulati was making on the ground now was made from connecting blade to blade as Zilo began to get better at reading her rhythm. Her speed still put his to shame and she began to force him back. She grinned seeing that the bard was only biding his time. Zilo tried to even the game by casting Cat's Grace and while it helped it didn't let him overtake her.
Zilo rose up his hand while defending with his blade and his violin's tune suddenly erupted with a magicked song of Inspiring Greatness. Zilo's blade skill hadn't sped up to match Sayulati, but his blade's force was on a whole new level, that seemed to bounce and repel Sayulati's blade with ease.
Her blade was sent flying out and away before embedding itself in the chamber's wall and the Nymph's dance was halted. Zilo flourished and sheathed his blade as his violin rested on his shoulder and he played the finale to his performance.
The watching fey all erupted in applause and even Sayulati clapped at the bard's magnificent playing. She flicked her hand toward Scherzo and a streak of water retrieved the blade for her and she spoke to the victor.
"Well done noble bard, as promised I shall grant you my boon. I shall grant you a guide into the Unseelie parts of the wood, but that is not all I shall grant you." She held out the blade she had been using toward Zilo and continued, "I would wish that a bard worthy of Oberon also carry my blade as he makes his legend across the realms of mortals."
Zilo takes the blade and hefts it about getting use to it's weight before Sayulati snapped her fingers and a curved sheathe to hold the blade manifested at his hip. Zilo flicks it and sheathes it next to his silvered blade before bowing and says, "It would be an honor my lady, and thank you for your assistance. My companion and I must now be off to save our friend."
Sayulati bids him farewell and motions for a Sprite to accompany him and Tess down to the base of the fey tree.
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