Ursus the Grim
2012-01-14, 10:28 PM
This came up as a discussion between friends and I, and I found it pretty interesting, given certain constraints. Its a case that would normally be apples to oranges, but we found certain similarities between the characters and couldn't decide who was the 'better' swordsman.
The Setup:
Countless years before the events of the Halo series, before the rise and fall of the Forerunners, Ancient Humans made their way along the path of civilization. During what resembled our modern dark ages, the oldest known alien race, the Precursors, experimented with new forms of bioweapons on a small remote human planet. These bioweapons spread and became known as monsters to the primitive humans.
During what he hoped would be his final confrontation with the entity now known as Femto, the Black Swordsman was hurled into a pocket of altered time. He would not be released until an incalculable time into the future.
A band of Jackals sells a mysterious artifact to the Vadam keep, seemingly older than even the Forerunner machines that elevated the Covenant races in ages past. The tinkerings of the keep's lone Engineer unseals it and out steps a confused and angry Guts. Disoriented and surrounded by monsters, he lifts the Dragon Slayer and charges at the biggest foe he sees.
The Arbiter, formerly known as Thel Vadam, activates his own blades and meets the challenge.
Constraints:
This is to be a match of skill and strength. The Berserker armor, cut off from the reality it belongs in and the sources that gave it power, is for most intents and purposes, inert, functioning only as a suit of full plate might. In the opening attack, Guts already used his cannon, which was dodged, but it didn't dislocate his arm or cause any lasting handicaps. The Arbiter, likewise, is only using an energy sword (optionally two), and his ceremonial armor. He will not accept the use of firearms or assistance from bystanders. His active camouflage is functioning, but essentially useless because Guts has already acquired him.
Briefs:
Guts has been a soldier all his life, from the moment he was born from the hanged corpse of a woman, and the picture of Badass Normal. He's gained incredible strength by practicing with an oversized sword, driven by his "family" at first, and then by the Band of the Hawks. Guts' size is his most obvious advantage, but he also possesses surprising speed, dexterity, and cunning. These traits, coupled with sheer ferocity and power of will, have allowed him to kill supernatural monstrosities beyond the ken of what should be possible.
Guts stands 190 cm tall, with the Dragon Slayer (more of a giant slab of iron than a sword) approximately 210 cm long and 30 cm at the base. Its weight would make it impossible for any mundane human aside from Guys to wield it, but is also the reason he can swing it with sufficient force to cut down an Apostle.
The Arbiter, like most Elites, is trained from an early age for combat, as it was their races' primary role within the covenant. After climbing his way up the Covenant heirarchy, he was ultimately blamed with the loss of the first Halo ring and assigned suicidal tasks before becoming an icon of his people during the Great Schism. Like all Elites, he is immensely strong and agile, able to match even the augmented supersoldiers known as the Spartan-IIs. Though not a race of innovators, the Arbiter has shown a willingness to experiment and a keen mind for tactics and strategy.
The Arbiter stands 240 cm tall, his energy swords approximately 1.3 meters. Essentially your Laser Blade, they are formed from ionized gas (namely plasma) held into their shape by magnetic fields. As such they can cut through most metals and flesh, but are subject to certain forces (thus, the 'impact' when two swords clash). His armor, though slightly outdated, does come with active camouflage and energy shielding, though sufficiently forceful blunt-force impact is capable of knocking out said shields.
Closing:
I don't really have a favorite for this fight, but I'm interested in what everyone thinks. Oddly enough, I think Guts might be able to overpower the Arbiter, but both of them probably have the ability to gut each other. If you think there's any parameters that need to be defined for a judgement, let me know and I'll fix it.
The Setup:
Countless years before the events of the Halo series, before the rise and fall of the Forerunners, Ancient Humans made their way along the path of civilization. During what resembled our modern dark ages, the oldest known alien race, the Precursors, experimented with new forms of bioweapons on a small remote human planet. These bioweapons spread and became known as monsters to the primitive humans.
During what he hoped would be his final confrontation with the entity now known as Femto, the Black Swordsman was hurled into a pocket of altered time. He would not be released until an incalculable time into the future.
A band of Jackals sells a mysterious artifact to the Vadam keep, seemingly older than even the Forerunner machines that elevated the Covenant races in ages past. The tinkerings of the keep's lone Engineer unseals it and out steps a confused and angry Guts. Disoriented and surrounded by monsters, he lifts the Dragon Slayer and charges at the biggest foe he sees.
The Arbiter, formerly known as Thel Vadam, activates his own blades and meets the challenge.
Constraints:
This is to be a match of skill and strength. The Berserker armor, cut off from the reality it belongs in and the sources that gave it power, is for most intents and purposes, inert, functioning only as a suit of full plate might. In the opening attack, Guts already used his cannon, which was dodged, but it didn't dislocate his arm or cause any lasting handicaps. The Arbiter, likewise, is only using an energy sword (optionally two), and his ceremonial armor. He will not accept the use of firearms or assistance from bystanders. His active camouflage is functioning, but essentially useless because Guts has already acquired him.
Briefs:
Guts has been a soldier all his life, from the moment he was born from the hanged corpse of a woman, and the picture of Badass Normal. He's gained incredible strength by practicing with an oversized sword, driven by his "family" at first, and then by the Band of the Hawks. Guts' size is his most obvious advantage, but he also possesses surprising speed, dexterity, and cunning. These traits, coupled with sheer ferocity and power of will, have allowed him to kill supernatural monstrosities beyond the ken of what should be possible.
Guts stands 190 cm tall, with the Dragon Slayer (more of a giant slab of iron than a sword) approximately 210 cm long and 30 cm at the base. Its weight would make it impossible for any mundane human aside from Guys to wield it, but is also the reason he can swing it with sufficient force to cut down an Apostle.
The Arbiter, like most Elites, is trained from an early age for combat, as it was their races' primary role within the covenant. After climbing his way up the Covenant heirarchy, he was ultimately blamed with the loss of the first Halo ring and assigned suicidal tasks before becoming an icon of his people during the Great Schism. Like all Elites, he is immensely strong and agile, able to match even the augmented supersoldiers known as the Spartan-IIs. Though not a race of innovators, the Arbiter has shown a willingness to experiment and a keen mind for tactics and strategy.
The Arbiter stands 240 cm tall, his energy swords approximately 1.3 meters. Essentially your Laser Blade, they are formed from ionized gas (namely plasma) held into their shape by magnetic fields. As such they can cut through most metals and flesh, but are subject to certain forces (thus, the 'impact' when two swords clash). His armor, though slightly outdated, does come with active camouflage and energy shielding, though sufficiently forceful blunt-force impact is capable of knocking out said shields.
Closing:
I don't really have a favorite for this fight, but I'm interested in what everyone thinks. Oddly enough, I think Guts might be able to overpower the Arbiter, but both of them probably have the ability to gut each other. If you think there's any parameters that need to be defined for a judgement, let me know and I'll fix it.