h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

in that case...

*flicks his wrist, his wand appears in his right hand, he shakes it twice firmly and the wand transforms into a half meter long black bladed mace. HDS slips the leather ring around his right wrist and lets the mace dangle for a second as he fits the scythe knife onto one end of the staff. He rubs the area where the knife and staff meet and they glow blue and fuse. Tiamat takes up the mace in his right hand and the staff in his left. Tiamat makes a quick jab at Lord Curmanis with the knife end of the staff*

*staff in right hand, scimitar in left, Curmanis spins the top of his staff inwards, continuing the motion to flick Tiamats away from his body. Curmanis slices his scimitar through the air at Tiamats right shoulder*

*Tiamat's staff, hit by Curmanis's, moves away from Curmanis's body and intercepts the scimitar, Tiamat swings the mace low at Curmanis's knees*

*Avatar enters the courtyard and watches with interest*

*detects Avatar's presence but keeps his attention firmly on his Master, hoping he will not get completely destroyed in the duel*

*Curmanis whips his staff around, the head of it hitting just below the ball on Tiamats mace, throwing it back. Pulling his scimitar away from Tiamats staff, Curmanis brings it across his body striking at his body on Tiamats left with Curmanis' left hand*

*while watching the duel, Avatar reaches into his satchel and gets a piece of deer jerky out to eat*

*Tiamat reels backwards, then aims a staff swing at Curmanis's legs (knife edge) and spins the mace around in a moving shield to protect his chest and head*

*Curmanis jumps the staff, which he then pushes with his staff once Tiamats has passed under Curmanis' legs. Using the force from the push, Curmanis swings his staff at Tiamat, trying to give him a blow to the left hand side of his head. At the same time he swings his scimitar in a downward/horizontal arc, swiping at Tiamats right ankle*

*Tiamat brings the mace up to block the staff blow. The staff batters the mace hilt across Tiamat's forehead with enough to force to pick him up off his feet and send him sailing into a nearby wall. The only positive effect of this being that Curmanis's saber slash to the ankle, was a few seconds too late*

Ugh

*somewhere between the blow to the head, and the impact with the wall, Tiamat passes out*

*Sheathing his scimitar, Curmanis walks over to Tiamat, placing his hand over Tiamats head*

*Curmanis lets some of his magic start to heal Tiamat*

<>

*Avatar whistles appreciatively*

*Tiamat wakes up*

Ohhh, my head!

*straightens his hat*

that was short, wasn't it?

*seeing that the duel is done, Avatar gets up and walks over to Curmanis and Tiamat*

*Curmanis smiles down at Tiamat*

You have done well for your first try.

*As Avatar comes over, Curmanis looks up*

Ah, Avatar. Nice to see you. I assume you wish to start learning right away?

*Avatar leans on his staff and smiles*

Hello sirs. Yes, I would like to begin as soon as I can. But tell me, how did you know my name? I only arrived here a few days ago.

*looks on, slightly befuddled*

I presume you have seen my familiar around, Faller.

Avatar is also a scholar here at the Magicians Guild, Tiamat.

Would you both be so kind as to take out your weapons.