Prepare for Combat! <Gaoling, Earth Kingdom>

[theboulder]

A beautiful day sets foot on the city of Gaoling. The sun smiles upon the world and blesses the city with it’s glorious rays of warmth, and the wind blows gently. The marketplace is lively with activity as buyers, merchants, and window shoppers congregate. Everyone was happy and smiles were the norm. Everything is like it should be.

However, the streets have an unfortunate individual. Not for himself, but for everyone that has to encounter him. At a grain stand in the merchant quarter, a rather large man placed a wager of 25 silver pieces against the merchant that he couldn’t lift his cart from it’s two hitches thirty times. Regarding that as a challenge, the merchant raised the stakes on waging that he couldn’t do it in fifty. With a toothy grin on his face, the large man accepted the bet. With a quick blow to his hands, the man proceeded to do his repetitions.

Inside the cart were thirty large bags of rice that weigh twenty pounds each. With each lift, his veins shown were more visible from his arms and chest. Sweat was developing from his brow. He made the first twenty five reps easily. A crowd was starting to gather as they watch this freakishly large man perform his feat. By the fortieth rep, his muscle started to ache. He started to slow down on his pace. More sweat was developing from his brow. The merchant smiled. There is no way that this large man could perform all of his reps. However, he continued to look in shock as the large man proceeded to go like a water buffalo plowing the field; he wouldn’t stop, no matter how tired.

Upon the fiftieth rep, the hitch drops as the bet was over in his favor. The crowd around him started to clap at his amazing feat of strength. The merchant grudgingly handed over the purse of money over to the large man.

“I LOOKED ABOVE TO THE SPIRITS, FOR THEY HAVE GIVEN ME THE STRENGTH TO PERFORM, I, RAGING ROCK HAVE TRIUMPTH ONCE MORE!” this large man bellowed, “TO CELEBRATE MY VICTORY, I WILL GO TO THE NEAREST TAVERN TO DRINK MERRILY AND COMMUNICATE WITH THE GODS. IF ANYONE WISHES TO FIND ME FOR A CHALLENGE IN A DUEL, THEN YOU KNOW WHERE TO GO!”

The man called Raging Rock then sprints down the street to any location where they serve alcoholic beverages for him to partake upon which possibly starting trouble either between the time or during.

[theboulder]

This particularly large man finds the nearest tavern that this town could offer. As he entered the building through the doors, he noticed that it was quite busy. Almost every table had customers in them. The atmosphere was dense with smoke and t was quite loud from everyone shouting. From the way the customers looked, it was no mistake that this place was quite seedy. Raging Rock let out a smile that could make a cat-gator drown itself voluntarily.

A rather husky woman with brown hair approaches Raging Rock with a demeanor that is less than friendly.

“You want a seat dear?” she said in a crabby like tone.

“The Raging Rock wishes to have a seat, for it is the will of the spirit that The Raging Rock indulge himself in the blood of demons that you humans collect and store for consumption!” Raging Rock bellows for all to hear. The entire tavern goes quiet for what this guy has to say.

“Normal people, the people that walk the streets everyday. You cannot understand! The family that the Raging Rock lives for only breathes the air that smells of combat. If anyone wishes, the Raging Rock will challenge you to your contest, and the Raging Rock will prevail!”

The waitress looks at him in shock, knowing that she has to deal with another crazy, “Alright, fine just follow me.”

Raging Rock followed the waitress as she guides him to an empty table. The entire bar gawked at his bizarre appearance and attitude. He sat down toward the other customers so he can watch them with caution.

“What would you like dear? She asked.

“The Raging Rock wishes to indulge in your strongest demon’s blood beverages!” He bellowed once more. The entire crowd once again turned silent and a little more annoyed this time from Raging Rock’s interruption.

“Alright, I’ll see what I can find sweety,” the waitress said with no sincerity. The Raging Rock waited and watched the crowd with intense concentration with a hint of trouble in his eyes.

[sonal]

Ever since she strolled her way into Gaoling that morning, Sonal had kept track of that large man, the biggest person she'd ever seen. Whether making that one sale five minutes after setting foot in the town, she had happened on him more than once. He seemed fond of bellowing his name and intentions loudly, but the tall woman dealt with it accordingly. The world was made from people of all sorts, and variety really was the spice of life. Really, who was Sonal to judge?

But who would have known the man would basically follow her into the tavern? While she was certain it wasn't intentional, it was odd. He was quite firm with his opinions. Raging Rock. Ever the tough guy. That was exactly the impression Sonal got from him, even though she'd learned not to dwell on first opinions. They never quite were that accurate when you got down to it. Still, she smirked.

Was he conspicuous? Damn straight. Almost like he was trying to prove something. Compensation was the foremost target, perhaps acting that way to make up for something he lacked. It was too easy to assume the obvious, so Sonal cut off her train of thought right there. She did find herself wanting to know his tale, however. Surely a man like that had a story or two to relate. There was no danger.

The earthbender sauntered over casually, not making a scene since there was no need - and because the man already did so famously, he did. Sidestepping the seat beside the massive man, Sonal leaned against the counter and, crossing her arms, her dark lips pulled into a smirk. "So, fella. Should we fine you for disturbing the peace?"

[theboulder]

He felt an odd presence from behind him. In fact, he heard a strange voice from behind as well. It sounded…like a woman. Raging Rock slowly turned around to see this woman sitting at his table. Her darken skin complimented the atmosphere around the place and her bag indicated that she traveled a lot, just like him. She asked him if he should be fined for disturbing the peace?

He slowly sat down across from her and stared intently into her eyes. The eyes were the gate to the soul, so he is searching inside of her. Before he could get too far, the waitress brought over his special drinks.

“There you go dear,” the waitress said.
“THE RAGING ROCK THANKS YOU FOR THE LIQUID CONSUMPTION!” Raging Rock comments loudly. Jumping a little, the waitress leaves in disgust, not even asking if he would want anything else. Raging Rock took his drink and guzzled it down like he hadn’t had a drink in the last couple of years. After guzzling down the brew, he slammed the mug down onto the table and gave out a loud belch, followed by a refreshing “AHHH!”

“So lady,” Raging Rock finally hushed a little, “What is the purpose of you being in the presence of Raging Rock? Are you looking for excitement? Cause if you are, THE RAGING ROCK WILL ACCOMIDATE!” His last part of the phrase was with a thunderous roar that the tavern fell silent to once more as he stood up. They start to grow more agitated with each interruption he creates.

“Man, this bastard better settle down,” one bar patrol from a distance muttered, “I’m about ready to break his skull in.”

[sonal]

This was an odd man, he was. If Sonal were easily intimidated, she probably would have backed off inconspicuously right as he yelled again - oddly, in gratitude. When he stared straight into her pale green eyes, that was when things became very odd. If he was trying to look through her, he'd have a very hard time. Knowing how strange this man showed himself to be, Sonal wondered just what he was trying to pull. The closer he looked, though, she never backed off even an inch. He was big, but she wasn't scared.

He was probably drunk by now...

But if there was one thing he could provide, it was excitement, if not entertainment. Raging Rock seemed a sort who was so obnoxious that it was entertaining. There was a shortage of that type, Sonal noticed. Either they were entertaining or obnoxious, rarely in-between. Still, something about him told her he would very quickly grate on anyone else's nerves, if they hadn't an unbreakable patience as did Sonal.

Turning her head a bit, Sonal really felt no need to ascertain this man's motives. He was far too loud and raucous to be suspicious, but his ending words did seem to hint at a poorly-hidden flirtation. Raging Rock was barking up the wrong tree at that point. "Relax, you sound like you're about to have a heart attack. Chill out. What's your story, anyway? You some kind of local celebrity?"

[theboulder]

A look of confusion was pasted onto Raging Rock’s face. Never did anyone have the bravery to actually approach the Raging Rock to ask of his history. Still , he was content with explaining himself. He took another swig of the tavern brew that was left in his cup and signaled for more.
“You see,” Raging Rock said calmly, “The Raging Rock is no celebrity. The Raging Rock has been hand picked by the spirits and brought down to the material world for one purpose: to battle mortals to see if they will one day be worthy of becoming a spirit manifested on the world once more.”

The waitress brought over another mug of the special. Raging Rock wasted no time into guzzling down that one once more.

“For you see,” his words were starting to slur a little, “The Raging Rock will never back down to anybody, for you see lady, there is no escape from me.”

From this point, a few of the more shadier group of men from the other side of the bar came over to Raging Rock’s table with a look of displeasure on their faces.

“Ya know,” one said, “We are getting really sick of you talking. Do us all a favor and keep ya mouth shut, or we will keep it shut.”

The Raging Rock smiled wickedly as he stood up from his chair in a reaction that could dodge a fire blast from a Fire Nation rifle. It almost looked as he was coherent from before he was drinking, like he snapped into sobriety with alcohol on his breath. The men were surprised that he reacted with such speed.

“You wish to challenge the Raging Rock,” he yelled out, “Fine. BRING THAT $#!+”

[sonal]

Who was he kidding? Seriously...

Chosen by the gods. Either he truly believed himself or this was some huge facade meant to fool everyone else. If it were the former, he'd better have himself committed to an asylum soon, but the latter did seem more likely in Sonal's mind. Maybe he was an actor, set on an elaborate bout of 'performance art', taking on this persona to entertain the townsfolk.

However, that opinion was made null and void when that fellow walked up to them, bidding his dissatisfaction with the large man. Sonal raised an eyebrow and was about to reply, informing them he had as much of a right to speak as anyone else, but Raging Rock seemed to have other ideas. Confrontational much? Sonal sidestepped a bit, like a cautious sand crab.

Knowing she'd been in the wrong place at a horrible time, Sonal took a step forward, toward Raging Rock. If she was going to be swept up in some odd bar fight, then she could at least be prepared. Unlike her firmly planted right foot, her left foot slowly slid across the smooth floor. The tall, dark-skinned woman's stance was readied, since Raging Rock didn't seem like he'd calm down.

[theboulder]

The thugs were wasting no time to attack. Two of the thugs went after Sonal while the majority took on Raging Rock at once. They all charged and dog-piled onto him in order to pin him down to the ground and stomp on him. However, they underestimated his strength and powered through their attack. He saw one of the thugs charging him once more, but countered his attack with a straight haymaker, landing square onto his nose. With red crimson flowing profusely, he goes down to nurse his pain.

The other three acted defensively as they launched a barrage of punches and kicks toward him. One punch ended up landing onto Raging Rock’s face. The thug softly chuckled at landing a punch, but was sorely surprised when Raging Rock furiously launched himself at him, grabbing his waist.

With a loud cry from his opponent, Raging Rock tilted back to drop himself on the ground while the majority of the opponent’s body was swung the same direction and slammed into a nearby table.

“TSUNAMI THUNDER SLAM!” Raging Rock screamed as he executed his move. The thug crumpled onto the ground and laid limp for his other friends to see.

The other patrons of the tavern left without delay as the violence continued. When Raging Rock gathered himself as he stood, the two other thugs fearfully stood their ground. Before he continued, Raging Rock took a cup from a nearby table and messily drank the alcoholic contents inside. After a satisfying, “Ahhh!” escaped his breath, he smashed the cup onto the ground and charged the other two with a crazed smile upon his face.

[sonal]

Whyever they chose to attack Sonal, basically an innocent bystander, was beyond her - though the fact that she took a fighting stance right after they threatened Raging Rock did indicate she wasn't about to run away scared. However much creative reasoning one would muster couldn't deny that Sonal was still about to be jumped, despite her lack of any actual involvement in Raging Rock's arrogant speeches and general unpleasantness. She had enough time to think, thankfully.

They didn't seem like the sorts to go easy on her just because she was a girl, thank the spirits - she always thought that sort of discrimination, to 'not hit a girl' was so stupid, but only when the girl in question was more than capable of defending herself. She'd seen plenty of guys who couldn't punch their way through a wet sheet of paper, so Sonal strongly believed the same principles applied to either gender whether they could fight well or not.

She had to think up her options quickly. Either the men were benders, or they weren't. Earthbenders, most likely, but one could never be sure these days. Judging by appearance though, she could safely presume neither were firebenders or waterbenders, so she was left to wonder about only those two possibilities. Wonder for a second or two, that is, before being beaten to a pulp because of someone else's sins.

Sonal stamped her foot and slid, pivoting to the side a bit and jutting rocky pillars from the dirt floor under either man's feet, almost like a dual helix pattern of rocky excrescences that rose below the two. It was then that she noticed either one wore shoes, pretty much proving neither could earthbend like her, so she seemed to have something of an upper hand. Granted, she knew some nonbenders could dole out a battle as good as a bender of any element, but she prayed that wasn't the case.

It seemed only one was knocked to his back, if only momentarily, while the other stumbled on his feet, regained balance, and headed back at her with a sort of short wooden club in his hand.

Thrusting forward her fist, the earthbender loosed a tall rocky pillar diagonally from its earthy confines, hitting the armed man backward. Grunting as he hit the ground, the man slid and tumbled far across the room. Then, with a swing of her foot and leg, she turned and trapped the first man she pinned under four criss-crossed earth pillars; two at his chest, two at his legs. Once he was restrained, Sonal bolted over to the other man and did much of the same, a jaunty punch raising a diagonal slab over his chest, and a quick retraction of her palm bringing back another, opposite-facing shelf over his legs as soon as he tried to wriggle free. Biting her rosy-brown bottom lip, she realized his prison wouldn't be effective for long thanks to his effort to break free - the other man was unconscious, for spirits' sake! That lightweight was at least kept in place one way or another.

Hearing the commotion behind her, Sonal's long, black braid swung like a meteor hammer as she bolted her head toward the hubbub. It seemed Raging Rock was handling himself just fine...and quite confidently. The earthbender smirked. Typical.

[theboulder]

That tankard of ale was delicious! A satisfying combination of hops and malt made the drink quite refreshing. With a wicked smile across his face, the Raging Rock looked upon his two remaining opponents, both intimidated by his fighting style.

“What, you started this entire combat session, now finish it!” Raging Rock commanded as he charged forward. He screamed a blood curdling scream as he slammed into his first opponent with such force that he could feel the water and blood from inside him slouching around. His victim fell unconscious upon impact as Raging Rock slammed him onto a table, breaking the legs from other it. His last opponent froze as he witnessed the sheer ferocity of Raging Rock’s fighting style. There was no finesse, no style, and no technique, yet somehow, he nearly defeated each of his friends with the help of the girl that was with him. Raging Rock looked toward him and flexed his large arms and chest.

“WELCOME, TO THE GUN SHOW!” Raging Rock bellowed as he flexed on. The last thug had enough of his show-boating. Feeling mocked, he pulled out a knife and charged at the flexing giant. Before he could get a good thrust, Raging Rock grabbed the arm with the blade at hand and raised him to the ceiling so he was eye level of him.

“Uh uh uh,” Raging Rock mocked, “That’s cheating.” He raised his beefy arm and thrust his fist into the face of the thug. A tooth flew from his mouth behind him as well as a spittle of blood and saliva. Raging Rock dropped his knocked out opponent and raised his arm in the air, as if he won the fight.

From across the bar, an older man looked upon the horror of what happened to his tavern.

“My shop!” the old man screamed, “Look what you done to my shop. You destroyed it!”

“The Raging Rock is proud to let you know that the redecorating is complete and that your thugs will never bother you again, for they have felt the might of a mortal that is blessed with the strength of the warriors that fell in past and siphon through me. I am the Raging Rock!” He continued to flex as the old man looks on to the horror of the ruined bar.

[sonal]

"It's foolish to attack me because of him!" Sonal cried almost frantically, a slight surge of panic in her voice. Sweat beading the surface of her chocolate-brown skin could possibly make her fears known, but the fact that, as she essentially preached to him, she employed a rock arch to pinned the one offender who slid free of his earthy prison to the ground by his neck showed she perhaps wasn't so afraid. Maybe just worked up, excited, caught up in the heat of the moment - that sort of thing. Still, her heart was booming, pulse going crazy.

Again (now that her assailants were struggling to break free and lying out cold on the floor encased in an earthen cocoon, respectively) she turned back to see the large fellow known as Raging Rock deck some guy right in the face. She winced a bit. Such overt violence really did make her uncomfortable, hence her markedly nonviolent ways of keeping her two opponents grounded. The sight of so much blood almost made her skin crawl, but her facial expression already proved her mild disgust.

But now, backing up as her conscious foe grumble and swore at her, either of her feet stepping carefully around his ensnared head, all she could do was watch...

[theboulder]

“I cannot you are that barbaric to destroy my tavern!” the old man screamed, “Are you that crazy?”
“Crazy? The Raging Rock did you a favor and blessed this tavern with an epic battle that matches the spirits!” Raging Rock exclaimed as he flexed.
“That is it! I am calling the authorities. I want you out of here! I want your real name so I can charge you for all these damages!”

The Raging Rock stepped over to the older man. He towered over the man by a foot and a half and glared upon him. The old man quivered a little, but his anger soon rectified that quivering as he planned to get the information.

“That is the Raging Rock’s name Mr. shop owner! The Raging Rock is the Raging Rock! I am forever triumph as I wander the world in search of epic battles to fight, and once more the Raging Rock has put his place at this site. You should be ever grateful of my presence.”

He turned away from the old man and marched over to Sonal, who is watching one of the other opponents. Not caring for this place anymore and a little intoxicated, he lifted Sonal and hoisted her over his right shoulder and walked out the front door. He turned his head toward the inside of the now destroyed bar and smiled.

“The Raging Rock’s journey continues,” he said as he walked out the door. He walked outside with the sun shining and some of the inside tavern regulars watching him come out as their place of establishment was almost in ruin.

[sonal]

However did that happen? Sonal was beside herself when Raging Rock, out of the blue, decided to pick her up and heave her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Not only was it odd, but quite insulting. Was she an object to be thrown around? Sonal thought not, though Raging Rock seemed to have other ideas. She wasn't about to wriggle free of his grip, considering how he was probably drunk and may have a thing or two to say about her escape. It was too much of a hassle to try and earthbend her way free, too. May as well make the best of the situation, she supposed.

Almost straining the lean, taut muscles of her arms, neck, ribs, and stomach made her nearly able to see the edges of Raging Rock's face, even though he'd surely turn to look at her, and if not, definitely hear what she had to say. He wasn't deaf, as far as Sonal could tell.

"How flattering," she said in what would be a deadpan tone, if not for the slightest hint of humor and irony it conveyed. There were a few aspects of her situation that allowed for such humor, suggestive or not. "Well. Since we've gotten this far and I already know your name, I may as well tell you mine." The tall woman smirked and rolled her pale green eyes, whether or not he'd care to look at her. "I'm Sonal."

[theboulder]

The wind blew as the two left the tavern. Some of the tavern patrons ran back into the broken tavern to get away from Raging Rock. Not affected by Sonal’s weight, he walked over to the middle of the street and turned his head around both ways many time to see if there is any sort of activity.

“I’m Sonal,” the woman told Raging Rock his name. Not really in the communicating type, he turned his head toward her and grinned.

“Noted,” he said as he started walking again. Dusk was forming as the streets went empty and shops were beginning to close. His stomach was growling and started to feel the hunger pang. He saw an inn with a restaurant attached to it. Feeling a little famished. He walked over to it and went inside the establishment with Sonal still on his shoulders. He met an elderly innkeeper drowsing off on his desk. With one fell slam of his fist onto the desk, the innkeeper woke up and saw the abnormally sized man with a woman in his shoulders.

“Hello sonny,” the old innkeeper said, “How can I help you?”

With a few gold coins placed on the desk, Raging Rock leaned toward the innkeeper with a grin of insanity.
“The Raging Rock needs a room or himself and his guest,” he spoke in probably the softest voice ever, which was the normal speaking volume of a normal person.

[sonal]

"Good thing I'm the tolerant type," Sonal said jokingly to Raging Rock, still having to put up with being carried on the shoulder of this sweaty, shirtless man. What kind of cave-dwelling he-man was this guy? Probably nothing more than a whim, the more Sonal thought about it; a simple spur-of-the-moment idea, probably attributed to drunkenness. She did recall him ordering some allegedly strong drink back in the tavern, so she had no reason to assume he was in his right mind...if that were ever the case. Sonal knew she'd never seriously think about a man or woman that way so soon after meeting them, but this guy really was a character.

"Or I'd be kicking and screaming by now," she continued after the gigantic man demanded a hotel room. Not only for himself, but for her. How thoughtful, if it wasn't exceedingly weird. She wondered if it were humanly possible to sleep with one eye open all the time, yet still concluded that plenty of men like this were as gentle as a wicker basket full of fuzzy kittens under that gruff exterior. She knew she still couldn't predict everything the drunken man would do, which was her primary cause for concern. Sonal surmised there probably wouldn't be much rest on her part that night, which really didn't bother her that much. She'd gone entire nights without sleep before without problem, and sometimes through no fault of her own, but situations often did differ drastically.

Sighing, though not at all impatient or annoyed, Sonal rested her hand on her cheek, balancing the point of her elbow on Raging Rock's back above the shoulder blade. "I'm fine with that, as long as I get my own bed." At least the hotel didn't seem like a total dive, in her opinion. Whatever worked out, though. Whatever things would be, would be. "Or maybe I can sleep on the floor..."