Author's Note: The variation of the Dark Brotherhood Assassin featured in this battle will be from the Brotherhood as featured during the "Skyrim" era.
I believe that's all I have to say for now, so on the with story!
XXXXXX
(A man is shown wearing a black and red leather outfit with many straps and buckles, matching boots and gloves, and a cowl with his face covered by a red mask. He draws a sword and slashes at the camera.)
Dark Brotherhood Assassin: The mysterious and cut-throat killers who created chaos for the dark god Sithis...
(A Dark Brotherhood Assassin is shown creeping up on his target and slicing his throat open with his ebony dagger.)
vs.
(A woman in black armor and a matching hood pulls out a crossbow and aims it at the screen.)
Demon Hunter: The demon slayers of Sanctuary whose burning hatred for demons drives them forward.
(A Demon Hunter fires a bolt from her crossbow at an undead human, killing it with a shot through the eye.)
WHO IS DEADLIEST?!
To find out, we've assembled a team of world class fighters to test history's most lethal weapons. Using 21st century science, we'll see what happens when two warriors go toe to toe.
No rules. No safety. No mercy. It's a duel to the death to decide who is...THE FICTIONAL DEADLIEST WARRIOR!
Here in our elite fight club we have gathered doctors, medical scientists and weapons experts to test out the lethal arsenals wielded by each of our combatants to determine who would win a fight between two warriors who never met in a face to face duel:
Dark Brotherhood Assassin
Appearing from: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Height: 5' 8"
Weight: 160 lbs.
Armor: Leather "Shrouded Armor"
Home Territory: Morrowind
Demon Hunter
Appearing from: Diablo 3
Height: 5' 4"
Weight: 115 lbs.
Armor: Leather w/Steel Gauntlets
Home Territory: Dreadlands
"Today we have a battle between two feared ancient warriors of fantasy as the deadliest assassins of Tamriel go up against Sanctuary's vigilante killer sworn to annihilate all demon-kind, the Dark Brotherhood Assassin taking on the Demon Hunter," biomedical scientist Bradley Foster opened.
"These are two warriors who are so deadly, their existence borders on urban legend. They are swift, they are silent, they are effective. They are equally fanatical about their respective missions and have the extensive combat and stealth training needed to accomplish their objectives," trauma doctor Joseph Kaiser followed.
"This is more of a medieval-type match up revolving around weapons of the era that are meant to kill quickly and quietly. Not only that, for the first time ever we find a magic attacks being incorporated as well," computer expert Eddie Cortez added.
"Well, then I say we cut the chit-chat and get down to business," Bradley spoke up and things were ready to begin.
The camera cuts to a dark-skinned man with a braided beard, wearing a dark red tagelmust, dark brown vest, red long-sleeved shirt, dark brown pants, and animal-skin boots. He raises a hunting bow and points it at the screen.
On hand to represent the Dark Brotherhood Assassin will be Nazir.
One of the last surviving members, he provides first-hand knowledge of the secretive guild's weapons and tactics.
"The Dark Brotherhood exists to bring chaos. We will hunt and we will eliminate whoever we are called upon. This Demon Hunter will be just another contract to us," Nazir spoke.
The camera then pans over to a pale-skinned elf woman with her long blonde hair pulled into a ponytail and clad in the red and black shrouded armor of a typical Assassin. She conjures up a fireball and launches it at a foam target.
Also on hand to represent the Brotherhood will be Kali Daegella.
A recent recruit and trained mage, Kali helps provide input on the more mystical side of the Brotherhood's combat and survival methods.
"To hunt the Brotherhood is to become the hunted. This Demon Hunter is nothing to us," Kali spoke with great confidence.
The mysterious Brotherhood has its origins with a religious order known as the Morag Tong, who worshipped the Daedric Prince, Mephala. The faction that would become the Dark Brotherhood appeared in the Second Era with the coming of the Night Mother. After being killed and her house being burned down for murdering her five children, a man would begin hearing voices from her and become the first "Listener." It was during the Third Era when they were splitting from the Morag Tong and spreading across Tamriel, gaining their greatest infamy during the Oblivion Crisis.
"It grew so that many would become aware of our existence and those who did tolerated us, or else they feared meeting their own demise," Nazir spoke.
However, by the end of the Third Era, the Dark Brotherhood had fallen into decline and were left struggling for survival after their sanctuary in Cyrodiil was crippled. After nearly being destroyed following the Great War, the Brotherhood would only have one sanctuary remaining in Skyrim, where they continued to operate in secret until the arrival of the Dragonborn bought a powerful new ally into their ranks. Only then did their fortunes change.
"We operate in the shadows. You can only contact us through the ritual known as 'the Black Sacrament.' When we are called upon, the contract will be carried out as it is called for," Kali concluded.
The secretive Assassin comes equipped with a deadly assortment of weapons for carrying out his contracts:
Short Range: Ebony Dagger
Mid-Range: Steel Sword
Long Range: Hunting Bow
Special Weapon: Fireball Magic Attack
But today, the Dark Brotherhood Assassin takes on an equally determined, equally deadly adversary sworn to eliminate demon-kind in all its forms.
The camera cuts to a slender woman with long black hair and eyes glowing a dull yellow. She is wearing leather armor with a hood pulled over her head. She draws two hand crossbows and aims them at two different targets.
Representing the Demon Hunter will be Valla.
A demon hunter herself, she is an authority on the tactics and weaponry of her fellow hunters.
"The Dark Brotherhood is a minor nuisance. They are only signing their own death warrant in messing with us," Valla spoke.
The camera then cuts to a man clad in leather armor with a hood pulled over his long blond hair. He draws a sword and practices a few slashes before sheathing it once again.
Also on hand to represent the Demon Hunter will be a recent recruit, Unos.
With his entire family slaughtered by demons, Unos joined a guild and has quickly proven himself to be an efficient hunter, ready to bring his experiences to the table.
"Those who call themselves 'Demon Hunters' are neither a people nor a nation. We harbor allegiance to no kings. We are those who have suffered and have sworn vengeance," Unos spoke.
A secretive group comprised of survivors who have lost their homes and families to the vicious attacks of demonspawn, the Demon Hunters are vigilantes who patrol Sanctuary with the intention of wiping out all demonic kind. Based in the unforgiving Dreadlands, where they train away from the civilized nations that fear them, there is an abundance of foul creatures for the hunters to hone their skills to deadly perfection.
"I lost my own family to an attack by demons. It is the shared story for all who join our order. We don't lose our will to live. We bury our dead, band together, and swear our vengeance," Valla continued.
Though they are small in number, hunters are constantly on the move to track and slay demons, their followers, and other undead horrors who stalk the land, while the other half remains to train those who are recruited. In the process, they have conjured up a merciless reputation that leaves them feared by some of the people they are sworn to protect, believing they only bring death and destruction in their wake. Still, the order remains determined.
"This is a life-long commitment. There is never a hope of returning to our former lives. We are constantly at war with ourselves. There is always the need to balance our hatred of the demons with the need of discipline. We hunt in the hopes that if we can save even one innocent life from the forces of Hell, the world will be better for it," Unos concluded.
The Demon Hunter enters the battle with a killer cache used to slay their foes:
Short Range: Spiked Gauntlets
Mid-Range: Long Sword
Long Range: Hand Crossbow
Special Weapon: Throwing Knives
When the battle got up close and personal, both warriors relied upon vastly different approaches to take down their enemies.
For the Dark Brotherhood Assassin, he relied upon stealth to disable an enemy when they least expected it and used a dagger made to kill up close and personal, the Ebony Dagger.
(An Assassin is shown stabbing an Imperial Legionnaire from behind with his ebony dagger.)
Ebony Dagger
Length: 10 in.
Weight: 1 lbs.
Material: Ebony, Leather
"This dagger has been a much relied upon sidearm for the Brotherhood from the earliest days. I could easily kill a target in the middle of a crowded marketplace and then disappear back into the shadows before anyone else would be aware anything was amiss," Nazir explained showing off the dagger to the panelists.
"We've got a gel torso for you to show what the dagger is capable of," Bradley said motioning to a nearby target, "Let's see what you can do."
"Very well," Nazir said getting into position.
"Alright Nazir, on 3...2...1, take him down!"
Nazir quietly approached his target from behind before lunging out and clamping his hand down over the dummy's mouth before driving his dagger into the target's back before pulling it out and wiping the fake blood from the blade.
"I've made my point. He is already dead," Nazir spoke while sheathing his dagger.
Dr. Kaiser made his way over to inspect the wound left behind, "This is pin point accuracy. You are striking this man at the base of his heart for a quick, silent kill."
"That is simply how the Brotherhood operates. Many a man and mer have fallen in similar fashion," Nazir responded.
"You can throw in all the tricks you want, but a Demon Hunter is trained to see through everything. You try sneaking up on one of us, we will be ready and we will answer without mercy," Unos spoke up.
When the Demon Hunter fought at close range, he preferred a more direct, brute force approach to dispatching his enemies, answering with a deadly pair of gauntlets equipped with spikes to make his punches even deadlier.
(A Demon Hunter is shown kicking a Dark Cultist to the ground before pummeling him to death with his spiked gauntlets, leaving a punctured, bloodied mess behind.)
Spiked Gauntlets
Length: 8 in. with 2.5 in. spikes
Weight: 2 lbs.
Material: Steel, Leather
"All experienced Demon Hunters wear these kinds of spiked gauntlets as a last ditch weapon in case we are to be disarmed during conflict," Unos said showing off his own spiked gauntlets.
"This is the first time we have tested weapons of this nature and to do so, we have brought in a pig carcass to stand in for an attacking Assassin. You have 15 seconds to do as much damage possible," Bradley explained.
"Then stand back," Unos said getting into a fighting stance.
"Alright, on 3...2...1, release the pig!"
Unos waited patiently as the pig carcass came towards him on the zip line before he shot forward and punched it in the chest a few times, the spikes piercing the pig's flesh without a problem. With the pig's torso full of puncture wounds, he aimed higher and delivered a punch to the pig's head, producing more deep wounds from one blow alone before he began punching away until the pig's skull was busted open and blood was oozing out.
With the testing complete, Unos stood back as Dr. Kaiser made his way over to assess the damage done.
"Measuring the force from one blow alone, you would have cracked this guy's ribs. The repeated trauma from numerous blows would have broken them, yet we also factor in the additional damage inflicted by the spikes. Usually you need about three inches of penetration to cause major damage, so your first blows would have resulted in a delayed kill. As you continued with your assault we measured the power of your punches directed at this pig's face and we determined you were able to generate 1,000 pounds of force – enough to break most facial bones upon contact – yet the added trauma of the spikes is again factored in and could have resulted in an instant kill depending upon where he was stricken," the good doctor explained.
"But yet, you would never see an Assassin coming," Nazir spoke up.
"Overconfidence will be your downfall," Valla replied.
Both weapons have displayed each warrior's vastly opposite approach to combat, yet where do our panelists stand?
"The spiked gauntlets can be deadly when used by an experienced warrior, yet they are very one-dimensional and they won't do much unless the user is punching their foe. My edge goes to the Dark Brotherhood's ebony dagger," Bradley started out.
"The dagger has a greater reach and allows for more freedom of movement. Edge Dark Brotherhood," Eddie seconded.
"The ebony dagger allows for a stealthy approach, whereas the gauntlets require a direct approach that can leave an enemy open to more dangers, thus by then they would probably have already been taken down by the dagger's reach and greater range of options. Edge dagger," Dr. Kaiser concluded.
In short range weapons, the Dark Brotherhood Assassin takes the edge with the ebony dagger.
Coming up, two deadly swords are pitted against each other and then later, both sides display their deceptive tactics for bring down foes from afar.
XXXXXX
The Dark Brotherhood Assassin and the Demon Hunter, two secretive warriors with very different agendas.
The Dark Brotherhood seeks to create chaos in the name of Sithis, whereas the Demon Hunters seek to eliminate all demons so that no other innocents shall suffer the same fate which brought them down their path.
"The Five Tenets were sacred to the Dark Brotherhood. To break any one of them would have meant to invoke the wrath of Sithis. They dictated how we lived and it was only when they were abandoned that our order suffered," Kali explained.
"Few traditions exist within our order, as it was believed every Demon Hunter should walk their own path. It was that autonomy that could prove to be fatal when a hunter would lose their ability to control their fear or hatred, and subsequently lose themselves to violent impulses. Yet, it was also that autonomy which gave us the unpredictability that made us feared by those who preyed upon the innocent," Valla explained.
Both orders produced gifted sword fighters and when the time arose, both relied upon trusted blades to cut down their adversaries. For the Demon Hunter, they carried a fierce double-edged killer that could hack off heads and limbs, the Demon Hunter Long Sword.
(A Demon Hunter is shown driving her sword through the chest of a Succubus, piercing her heart.)
Long Sword
Double-Edged
Length: 3 ft.
Weight: 2.5 bs.
Material: Steel
"The long swords used by our order are modeled similar to the long swords your Celtic peoples would have used in battle. They are double-edged blades that are ideal for slashing, yet the tips are rounded, so not as well-suited for stabbing," Unos explained showing off his blade to the panelists.
"Well I'm eager to see what that sword can do against both armored and unarmored opponents," Bradley said before motioning to the course set up behind them, "Up first, you will take on an unarmored opponent that is represented by another pig on a zip line, followed by a gel torso outfitted in a replica of the Assassin's 'shrouded' leather armor."
"Understood," Unos said getting into position.
"Unos, are you ready?" Bradley called out.
"Yeah!" Unos called back.
"Then on 3...2...1, release the pig!"
Eddie pulled a lever and the pig came zooming towards Unos on the zip line, who then shot his long sword out and sliced the carcass in half. With the unarmored target dealt with, he made his way over and struck the armored gel target, his slash leaving a deep indentation in the armor before he went higher and swung the other side of his sword to decapitate the dummy, leaving only its steel spine to prevent the head from falling to the floor.
Dr. Kaiser made his way over to assess the damage done to the unarmored target, "First up, you've sliced this guy in half for an instant kill."
He then made his way over to check up on the armored target and carefully examined the armor before removing it, "Your strike managed to penetrate this guy's armor and leaves a deep gash that will result in a delayed kill. Your second strike resulted in a decapitation, only halted by the steel rod that served as its makeshift spinal cord. This would have been an instant kill either way."
"Decapitation is a demon hunter's specialty. It is the quickest way to kill demons and the undead," Valla spoke.
"Brotherhood Assassins are twice as fast and ten times smarter than the demons and undead you are used to fighting. When the time would come, we would have our own superior sword that would cut you down where you stand," Nazir replied after watching the scenario unfold.
When the Dark Brotherhood was forced into combat, they relied upon a trusted one-handed sword to help them slice through an attack, the Steel Sword.
(A Dark Brotherhood Assassin is shown running an Orsimer warrior through with his steel sword before pulling it out and decapitating his brutish opponent.)
Steel Sword
Double-Edged
Length: 3 ft.
Weight: 2.5 lbs.
Material: Steel
"This is a trusted one-handed sword commonly found throughout the lands of Skyrim. It's similar to the kind of swords used by your Vikings. Unlike the Hunter's long sword, our blade's tip is more well-sharpened, making it as effective at thrusting as it is slashing," Nazir explained showing off the rugged blade.
"It's going to be the same test for you Nazir, but we'd also like to see the thrusting capabilities of your sword as well," Bradley said motioning towards his two targets.
"As you wish," Nazir nodded and took his position.
"On 3...2...1, release the pig!"
Eddie pulled a lever and send the pig soaring towards Nazir, who shot his sword out and delivered a deep slash that left the carcass hanging only by a thread of flesh. Having finished his unarmored target, he made his way over and delivered a slash to the gel torso's leather armor before following up with a thrust that pierced the leather surface. He then drew his sword back and delivered a slash to the target's neck, which was again halted by the steel spine.
With both targets dealt with, Dr. Kaiser again made his way over to assess the damage.
"With our unarmored friend here, it's the same old situation. You are cutting through the external layers, muscle, and bone for an instant kill shot."
He the carefully assessed the damage done to the gel torso's leather armor before removing it, "As it was in the last test, I'm seeing another deep gash that would result in a delayed kill. Your stab though, managed to pierce the leather surface and you are piercing this guy's liver for a mortal wound. With your strike to the man's throat, it's another decapitation halted only by the steel spine."
"More options, more results," Nazir smirked as the Demon Hunter experts looked on unimpressed.
Both swords cut through their targets, but where do our panelists stand?
"Both of these swords slashed through unarmored targets like they were nothing and managed to get past the other guy's armor, but I liked the Steel Sword's ability to punch through the Demon Hunter's armor. I'm going with the Assassin on this one," Bradley started.
"It just seemed to me that in spite of the steel sword's thrusting abilities, the Hunter's long sword had so much power behind it and it seemed to cut deeper into the Assassin's armor. Edge Demon Hunter," Dr. Kaiser countered.
The tiebreaker would fall down to Eddie.
"This is just too close for me, even if the Assassin's sword can thrust better. I'm calling this one even," Eddie concluded.
In mid-range weapons, our warriors are even.
Coming up, a deadly hunting bow is pitted against a rapid fire crossbow when the battle goes to long range.
XXXXXX
Demon Hunter versus Dark Brotherhood Assassin, two warriors who are very similar, yet very different.
For the Demon Hunter, to balance the hatred within them is a daily struggle.
"As Demon Hunters, we carry the scars of our past into every battle. Every arrow we launch is delivered with a cold, righteous anger, yet we must learn to temper our hatred with discipline. It's what gives us the strength to resist the demonic corruption that would drive a lesser man to madness," Unos explained.
For the Assassin, their cool detachment enables them to eliminate any target without prejudice.
"All are equal under the Black Sacrament. There is no remorse. There is no regret. No target is too innocent. We do as the Night Mother commands when called upon," Nazir explained.
When the battle went to long range, both warriors relied upon their own silent killers to take down an enemy from afar.
With the Dark Brotherhood Assassin, he relied upon a common type of bow that took down enemies with a lethal double punch, the Hunting Bow.
(The Dark Brotherhood Assassin is shown taking aim and dropping a Khajiit warrior with a poison tipped arrow to the chest.)
Hunting Bow
Length: 47 in.
Weight: 1.8 lbs.
Material: Wood, Horn, Leather
"This is a common hunting bow used in Skyrim," Kali said showing off the bow to the panelists before reaching into a pouch and producing a small glass bottle, "but the Brotherhood includes their own surprise. We coat the tips of our arrows with the Lotus Extract, a deadly poison native to Skyrim. This toxin targets the victim's nervous system to inflict a type of paralysis with some lingering damage to them due to the effects rather than killing them outright. The effects typically last about 10 seconds once the weapon makes contact, but sometimes that's all it takes to get the job done."
"That just sounds plain devious," Eddie commented.
"Indeed. Most poisons don't take that long to pass through one's system. It's definitely more cruel and inhumane to leave a man paralyzed like that than just killing him outright," Dr. Kaiser added.
"The Brotherhood does not dwell on such matters," Kali replied with cool indifference.
Bradley stepped in and spoke up, "Well we want to see how effective your hunting bow is and we've set up a range consisting of 3 static and 2 moving targets. We've given you a quiver of 10 arrows to prove your point."
"Consider it done," Kali said getting into position and knocking an arrow.
"Alright Kali, on 3...2...1, open fire!"
Kali took aim and fired her first arrow right between the eyes of a static target, blood gushing out of the wound. She quickly loaded her second arrow and struck the second static target in the chest before loading her third arrow and striking the other in the throat. She then set her sights on the moving targets in the back and managed to strike one of them in its shoulder before firing another arrow that caught it through its right eye. She took her sixth arrow and struck the second moving target in its side before firing another that went higher and finally a third that struck it in the face. With two more arrows left she fired into the other moving target in its chest before she was left with an empty quiver.
Dr. Kaiser made his way over to assess the damage done to the targets, only able to whistle in amazement.
"This is some of the most accurate shooting I've ever seen with a bow," he commented while pulling the lone arrow out of the first target, "This guy was hit in his 'no reflex' kill zone. He won't even know what hit him until it's too late," he said before inspecting the other static targets, "You've got a shot to this guy's aorta, so he's not going anywhere and then you pierced this guy's windpipe for an instant kill."
He then inspected the once moving targets, "Your first shot on this guy would have hit him in the shoulder. It wouldn't kill him, but it would cripple his arm, in addition to the limb feeling like it's on fire as the poison courses through his system, slowly wearing him down. Your next shot though is an instant kill, piercing his brain. Your last target's first hit again would not kill him immediately, lots of pain, but coupling in the poison, his chances are dire. Every other shot is a kill. Altogether you have 5 kills."
"That's some damned good shooting," Eddie commented before looking over to Valla, "Feeling intimidated?"
"She may have been a good shot, but how does she think an Assassin would cope when having two arrows coming her way at once?" Valla asked drawing her long range weapons.
Answering the Assassin's challenge, the Demon Hunter returns fire with their signature weapon, a long range killer one-handed killer they dual wield in battle, the Hand Crossbow.
(A Demon Hunter is shown firing an arrow into the face of a wretched mother, hitting her right between the eyes.)
Hand Crossbow
Length: 2 ft.
Weight: 3 lbs.
Material: Wooden frame, Steel string
"This is the most trusted weapon of all Demon Hunters," Valla said showing off a pair of hand crossbows to the panelists, "Every arrow we fire is dipped in spite. We are determined that every arrow we fire will be a kill, the last thing a demon ever sees."
"It's the same test for you, Valla. You've got 5 targets, 3 static and 2 moving, and 10 bolts to prove your point," Bradley spoke.
Valla simply nodded and took her position at the firing line.
"Alright Valla, on 3...2...1, open fire!"
Valla raised both crossbows simultaneously and squeezed the triggers, sending bolts flying into the chests of two static targets before she was forced to reload, firing a bolt into the third static target's throat before launching another into the shoulder of the second static target. Reloading again, she focuses on the moving targets in the back, managing to strike one of them in the throat and the other just beneath its left eye. She reloads again and strikes both moving targets in the back, one in the chest and another through its eye. With her last two bolts she reloads and strikes the first static target in the gut and her last bolt striking the second static target in its gut.
Dr. Kaiser made his way over to assess the damage done to the targets, pulling out the bolts as he walked around.
"Your first arrow to your first static target hits this guy in his descending thoracic aorta for a quick bleed out and your second shot hits him in his abdominal aorta, the biggest blood vessel in the human body. Either way, he's bleeding out quick," he reported before moving on.
"Your second guy takes another aorta shot and your second hits him in the intestine, might not be an instant kill, but a whole hell of a lotta pain. Your third target has his windpipe pierced for another instant kill. We have another throat shot with your first moving target and a picture perfect shot to the heart. Damn that's some deadly accuracy. Your last moving target takes it right beneath his eye and right through his eye and the icing on the cake, with a shot like that he can feel the bolt going through his eye, followed by hemorrhaging and death."
"You don't need to say it again, Doc, another messed up way to go," Eddie finished and the doc nodded.
"You would never see an Assassin coming to hit them. They move in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike," Nazir spoke up.
"I'm also concerned by you having to reload two weapons as opposed to just one, not to forget all the time and stamina you would be burning through in the process," Dr. Kaiser added.
"Demon Hunters train for years and those with experience slaying the beasts lurking about, this is nothing to them," Valla replied.
Two different bows have shown their killing capabilities against charging foes, but where do our panelists stand?
"This isn't too hard of a choice for me. Despite carrying two crossbows at once, the hunting bow can launch more arrows in the time it takes the Demon Hunter to reload both, plus its easier to do so with one bow compared to two, edge Assassin," Bradley started.
"You also have to take into consideration the one-two punch the Assassin packs when he coats his arrow tips with Lotus Extract. If the arrow itself doesn't kill you, the poison can. Edge Assassin," Dr. Kaiser seconded.
"Carrying two crossbows at once can look intimidating on the surface, but you are talking twice the reload time compared to one hunting bow. Edge Assassin," Eddie concluded.
In long range weapons, the Dark Brotherhood Assassin takes the edge with the Hunting Bow.
Coming up, its skill versus magic when two very different special weapons are pitted against each other. Later on, the Dark Brotherhood Assassin and the Demon Hunter clash to determine who is "The Fictional Deadliest Warrior!"
XXXXXX
The secretive Dark Brotherhood Assassin? Or the dominating Demon Hunter? We are down to the final stretch in a battle for supremacy.
When it comes to battling the demonic forces of Sanctuary, Demon Hunters had to be skilled in the usage of all weapons, big and small. When it came to battling multiple enemies at once, the Hunter relied upon their deadly pinpoint accuracy with the Throwing Knives.
(A Demon Hunter is shown tossing a knife into the face of a Soul Ripper.)
Throwing Knives
Length: 5 in.
Weight: 2 oz.
Material: Steel
"These knives we use are similar to the size of what you call a Ka-Bar in your world and were primarily designed for throwing, but can also be used as melee weapons if needed. An expert Demon Hunter is capable of throwing multiple knives at once," Valla explained showing off three knives at once.
"We want to see how accurate and how deadly those knives are, so we have set up 5 wooden targets representing charging demons and we've given you 10 throwing knives. Make them count," Bradley spoke.
"Very well," Valla said walking over to a wooden table and scooping up 5 knives at once.
"Alright Valla, on 3...2...1, attack!"
Valla tossed her first knife into the middle target, nearly striking the red "X" in the center of its chest. She then took two knives and tossed them into her second target, sending one into the chest and one slightly lower. Going for a third target, she tossed her blade into its face before setting her sights on her fourth "victim" and tossing another blade in its center mass. Scooping up her remaining knives, she focused on the last target and tossed two knives that struck it perilously close to its red "X" mark before taking her last three and chucking them simultaneously into her first target, leaving it a pin cushion. Having run out of knives, Valla stood back and allowed the panelists to approach.
"Wow...again, that's just pin point accuracy we are talking about here," Eddie commented as he walked over and looked at where the knives struck, some of them nearly hitting the red "X" mark in the center.
"Indeed a testament to the accuracy of a trained Hunter as well," Dr. Kaiser commented, "All of these shots would be kills. Your first target alone you've killed him 4 times over with shots that are piercing his heart, aorta and lungs," he said before pulling a knife out of the fourth target, "This guy you struck in the gut. It's a likely kill, but it is delayed," he said before pulling the knife out of the third target's face, "This guy, it's just instant lights out."
"But why go through all that trouble when all you need is one good shot?" Kali asked.
"And what do you think could possibly top a flurry of knives being thrown at you with lightning speed?" Unos asked cocking an eyebrow.
"Something you would never expect. Something that doesn't seem physically possible," Kali nodded.
To answer the challenge of the Demon Hunter, the Dark Brotherhood Assassin uses the power of magicka to conjure a mystical attack that would roast his opponent alive, the Fireball Magic Attack.
(A Dark Brotherhood Assassin is shown summoning a fireball to incinerate a high elf.)
Fireball Magic Attack
Length: Varies
Weight: None
Radius: 15 ft.
"The fireball is one the simplest destruction spells in all of Tamriel, an attack even most non-mages could cast upon acquiring the correct tome," Kali explained holding up a spell tome.
"This is the first time we've ever seen a magic attack shown on here and given the unpredictability, we've taken this outside and we have an opponent for you outfitted in the Demon Hunter's armor," Bradley said motioning towards an armored gel torso, "Think you'll be able to take him down?"
"Absolutely," Kali smirked.
'Very well then. When you are ready," Bradley said before he joined the others at a safe distance.
Kali stood before her target and raised her arm. A fireball shot out of her hand at a slow pace and exploded upon contact with the dummy, engulfing the armored target and the surrounding area in flames. They allowed the dummy to burn for a few seconds before a team of firefighters was brought in to extinguish the blaze. When things had cooled down, the panelists were allowed to approach.
"Burnt to a crisp," Eddie said plugging his nose at the acrid odor.
"Immolation is a terrible way to go as the flames just gradually burn through this man's flesh and his armor does nothing to protect him," Dr. Kaiser commented.
"And according to our readings, we reached up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit with this blaze. This guy is done for," Bradley added.
"That fireball might look big and scary, but to the Demon Hunters this would be nothing new to us. We are used to fighting magical enemies day in, day out," Unos commented.
"We would see this coming from a mile away and know to move. It would be wiser to use a practical weapon anybody can use," Valla added.
The throwing knives and the fireball attack, two very different weapons with vastly different means of killing an opponent, but where do our panelists stand?
"I'm all for the fireball on this. It can deal far more damage and with the slow, agonizing death that could provide a psychological edge for the Assassin. Not only that, it also comes with a wide radius that could ignite the surrounding environment and add to the Assassin's advantage. Edge Assassin," Bradley started.
"While you do make a strong case, I'm sticking with the throwing knives on this one. They are quicker and an expertly trained Hunter can toss multiple knives at once, plus they carry a whole bunch on their person, meaning they can have multiple attempts, whereas someone using the fireball attack is limited by the amount of magical energy they have in their system. Edge Hunter," Eddie countered.
The tiebreaker would now fall down to Dr. Kaiser.
"I'm going to call this a draw. Even if the throwing knives are faster and more accurate, the fireball attack can deal more damage and affect the surrounding area, enabling the Assassin to use an additional element to his advantage. They just match each other in different ways," the good doctor concluded.
In special weapons, our warriors are even.
As it is with all warriors, there is a critical X-factor that makes them who they are. For the Dark Brotherhood Assassins, it's their ability to inspire fear in their opponents.
"The Dark Brotherhood has always existed with the purpose of assassination. We are the harbingers of death and executors of the silent, covert assassination. Just the mention of our name alone makes Men and Mer shudder where they stand and that is with good reason because we will go to any length to carry out a contract and we have always succeeded. To know that the Brotherhood is after you is to know that your days are numbered," Nazir explained.
For the Demon Hunter, it is their burning hatred for demon-kind that is tempered by a cold discipline and sense of resolve.
"We Demon Hunters have lost our families and our homes to the demons plaguing the land, that gives us the hatred which drives us. However, we know we must not allow ourselves to be consumed by it or else we become lost in the violence and turn into the thing we ultimately hate. We must train ourselves to keep our hatred in check or else we risk succumbing to the darkness that constantly threatens to consume us," Valla explained.
Coming up, it's a battle between a deadly assassin and a determined hunter to decide who will be "The Fictional Deadliest Warrior!"
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With our testing completed and our X-factors evaluated, we are now one step closer to determining who will be the "Fictional Deadliest Warrior."
Our teams tested 4 weapons used by the Dark Brotherhood Assassin: the Ebony Dagger, Steel Sword, Hunting Bow and Fireball Magic Attack.
On the opposite side, 4 deadly weapons used by the Demon Hunters were tested for battle: the Spiked Gauntlets, Long Sword, Hand Crossbows, and Throwing Knives.
In close range weapons, the greater reach and versatility of the Ebony Dagger allowed it to quietly take down the Spiked Gauntlets.
EDGE: Dark Brotherhood Assassin
In mid-ranged weapons, both swords were determined to be equally deadly.
EDGE: Even
In long range weapons, the faster reload time and poison-tipped arrows allowed the Hunting Bow to triumph over the twin assault of the Hand Crossbows.
EDGE: Dark Brotherhood Assassin
And lastly, in spite of their vast differences, the speed of the Throwing Knives matched the power of the Fireball Magic Attack.
EDGE: Even
Our scientists and weapons experts are done testing. The results are in and the time has come to decide who will be the victor. To ensure the battle won't be decided by a single lucky blow, the battle will be simulated one thousand times in a duel to the death.
Who will prevail in a battle between two ancient warriors?
Assassin
(A Dark Brotherhood Assassin sneaks up on a nobleman and drives his ebony dagger into the man's back.)
vs. Hunter
(A Demon Hunter is shown firing her crossbow into the chest of a Butcher Demon.)
Burning Hatred
(A Demon Hunter roars as he mercilessly pummels a demon's face with his spiked gauntlets.)
vs. Cool Detachment
(An Assassin drops a Breton mage with a shot from his hunting bow.)
Fighting for The Dread Lord
(A group of Assassins stand before a statue of Sithis.)
vs. Fighting for Vengeance
(A quartet of Demon Hunters stand before the smoldering ruins of a village with a look of determination in their eyes.)
"Everything is set to go. Now all we need to do is just sit back and enjoy the show!" Eddie smirked as he typed in a few commands followed by the 'ENTER' key.
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Amid the ruins of a once majestic castle in a vast open countryside, a lone assassin from the Dark Brotherhood is on the prowl after his last target was believed to have been spotted lurking about. He is prepped for combat with his hunting bow slung over his right shoulder while also carrying a steel sword and ebony dagger that are both sheathed.
On the other side of the crumbling complex, a lone Demon Hunter approaches investigating the area for any signs of demonic activity. She comes armed to the teeth, a pair of smaller crossbows in each hand, her sword strapped to her side, numerous throwing knives across her body, and wearing a pair of spiked gauntlets.
An ominous feeling overcomes her as she approaches the splintered remnants of the castle's drawbridge and the aftermath of a long ago battle – the numerous skeletons covered in rusted armor and the crows still picking at their bones, who fly away startled as she continues forth. She keeps her hand crossbows at the ready as she makes the trek across.
Elsewhere, the Assassin has made his way inside the castle and it doesn't take him long before he finds evidence his target has been there in the compound's kitchen, finding leftover food that is still warm.
He had to be nearby.
A loud ruckus from outside distracted the Assassin from his current train of thought and he looked through a nearby window to see a murder of crows flying away. Cautiously approaching, he looked out to see a cloaked female approaching with weapons drawn.
Was his target onto him and sending someone to deal with him? Either way, she appeared to be a threat and he was ready to deal with her.
The Demon Hunter was now inside the castle, making her way down a once grand corridor now in a dilapidated state and with more signs of the long ago battle as she could barely move without brushing against any of the numerous armored skeletons littering the stone floor.
But then she was halted as she spotted a large crimson blotch on a faded carpet, surrounded by a blackish ichor that drew her attention: evidence of demonic activity.
The Dark Brotherhood Assassin watched from the shadows as the Demon Hunter examined the crimson splotch, his shrouded armor masking the sound of his movements. He placed his hand on the hilt of his sword and was ready to strike should the need arise.
The Demon Hunter was in a heightened state of alert after determining the presence of demonic activity. Her hatred burned bright within and she mentally readied herself for combat, her senses sharpening to where she was able to spot the sudden movements of a nearby shadow, a human-shaped movement that left her squeezing the triggers on her hand crossbows.
The first bolt flew past the Assassin's head, yet the second found its way into his shoulder. He grunted in pain and reached up to pull the arrow out, finding his armor had absorbed the majority of the shot. With his cover blown, the Assassin stepped into the open and drew his steel sword, while the Hunter put her crossbows away and drew her long sword.
The two combatants circled each other for a few tense seconds before the Hunter attempted a slash, yet the Assassin raised his sword to parry her strike before coming back with one of his own, yet the Hunter swatted his strike away and attempted to cut his legs out from underneath him, forcing the Assassin to leap backwards. The Hunter did not let up and tossed one of her throwing knives at him, which only sliced through the material of the Assassin's sleeve, yet left him otherwise unharmed.
The Hunter drew two knives and tossed them at the Assassin, who brought his sword up to deflect one of the blades and completely avoided the other. He lunged forth and managed to slice into the Hunter's chest, but her leather armor absorbed the brunt of the blow and she only found herself knocked backwards and nearly tripping over another fallen skeleton. The Assassin did not let up and kept slashing away at her, yet found his blows either blocked or dodged as he and the Hunter engaged in a back and forth sword fight that continued until she shot her foot out and kicked the man in his stomach.
The Assassin was sent stumbling backwards and dropped his sword in the process, but had no time to retrieve it as the Hunter went for another swing directed at his head and he was forced to duck, reaching into his other sheath and pulling out his ebony dagger. With another lunge he jammed his dagger into the woman's side, causing her to cry out in pain and drop her own sword.
The Assassin yanked his dagger out and was prepared to deliver another strike, but the Hunter shot her fist into his gut, knocking the wind out of him, yet he was saved from the piercing spikes by his armor. The Hunter delivered another punch to his face and he cried out as he felt the spikes tearing into his cheek. The Demon Hunter remained on the offensive and still tried to pummel away at him, but the Assassin maintained his grip on his dagger and sliced into her leg, halting her offense.
The Assassin collapsed to the floor and rolled to her side to avoid a downward stab from the Assassin and the man stumbled as a result of his other injuries. The Hunter let out a gasp of surprise as she felt something brush against her side and looked down to find it was one of her crossbows. Looking up she saw the Assassin ready to strike and she scooped up her crossbow along with one of her bolts before rolling again to avoid the blade aimed at her chest and pushed herself to a knee, quickly loading the bolt and then firing it into the Assassin's side.
The masked man grunted loud in anguish and out of desperation, shot his hand out and unleashed a fireball to create some distance between himself and the Hunter. The Demon Hunter barely dodged the attack and found herself distracted as she patted herself to extinguish the embers igniting her cloak. Unfortunately for her, it had given the Assassin time to escape and she grunted in frustration upon losing sight of him.
There was no turning back. She was determined to finish this man.
The Demon Hunter made her way into a crumbling courtyard still searching for her target, unaware the Assassin was observing her from a crumbling walkway above drawing his hunting bow and nocking an arrow. He waited patiently as his opponent scanned her surroundings, waiting for her to step out from beyond the mess of fallen stone pillars and crumbling walls so he could have the clear shot he needed. His arrows were tipped with Lotus extract and he knew she wouldn't be able to resist that. He bided his time and fired his arrow, the Hunter crying out as the arrow struck her in the thigh.
The Demon Hunter clenched her teeth as the nerves in her leg felt like they were on fire and she could barely move. This had to be the doing of that masked man and she looked around frantically for her opponent, barely dodging another arrow aimed at her arm. Out of desperation she fired in the direction of the arrows, yet hit nothing.
It was then she looked up to see the Assassin descending upon her with his dagger drawn and then in a flash of blood as she was left with a deep gash in her bicep. The Assassin pulled the dagger out and went for another strike, but the Demon Hunter fell back while struggling to draw her long sword and she only managed a wild swing that ruffled the man's clothing. She went for another swing that managed to scratch his breastplate and another that he barely avoided before she finally managed a slash that cut into the back of his hand, forcing him to drop the dagger.
Yet the Demon Hunter was still plagued by the poison coursing through her leg and her movements slowed as she struggled to hold on, fighting with the same dogged determination she has used in her previous battles with demon-kind.
Seeing her opponent wounded she went for another slash with her long sword, which he again barely avoided, but then caught him by surprise with a backhanded shot from her spiked gauntlet that sent him falling to the ground.
The Assassin hit the ground with a hard thud and blood spilling out of the fresh holes in his arm, scampering backwards for any weapon he could get his hands on as the Hunter hovered over him ready to strike. Seeing fragments of his arrow still sticking out of her thigh, he shot his foot out in desperation and sent her staggering backwards with fresh waves of pain.
She was going to pay dearly for getting in his way and he again shot his hand out, launching a fireball that struck the weakened Hunter head on and enveloped her in flames.
Cries of agony followed as the Assassin watched his foe burning before his eyes and it wasn't long before her screams were replaced by the roar of flames and she was reduced to a burnt out husk.
Looking down to the smoldering pile of bones left behind, the victorious Dark Brotherhood Assassin retrieved his dagger before disappearing back into the shadows.
XXXXXX
Winner: Dark Brotherhood Assassin
Dark Brotherhood Assassin:
Ebony Dagger: 145
Steel Sword: 170
Hunting Bow: 185
Fireball Magic Attack: 90
Total: 590
Demon Hunter:
Spiked Gauntlets: 25
Long Sword: 175
Hand Crossbow: 125
Throwing Knives: 85
Total: 410
"Following a fairly one-sided battle, the Dark Brotherhood Assassin would emerge victorious thanks largely in part to their better long ranged weapon and their fireball spell, which while slow, could affect the environment to the point of turning things in their advantage, in addition to their shrouded armor, which gave them an edge in their primary specialty of stealth, enabling them to get closer to score the vital kill shots.
"The Demon Hunter put up a good fight though, coming to battle with the sword that proved to be superior and having more projectile weapons at their disposal. However, it wasn't enough and the Assassin successfully carried out another kill," Bradley explained.
"What kind of sorcery is this? The Demon Hunters have triumphed over enemies far greater than this Brotherhood vermin!" Valla called out in disbelief.
"The Dark Brotherhood is the very best at what we do. We knew that before this battle was settled, we were already the Deadiest Warrior," Nazir concluded.
(A well-dressed general is shown retreating to his personal quarters for the night, believing himself to be safe. Unknown to him, the Dark Brotherhood Assassin is lurking in the shadows behind him, ready to strike.)
XXXXXX
Next time on "Fictional Deadliest Warrior," it's a battle between animalistic native warriors:
(A tall, wiry cat-like creature with blue skin, long braided black hair, and bright golden eyes stands clad in patchwork leather and bronze armor with a spiked shoulder pad, hissing as it swings a crude war axe at the screen.)
Na'vi Warrior: The natives of Pandora who drove out technologically advanced invaders armed with only weapons crafted from nature...
vs.
(A reptilian humanoid with dark green scales and razor sharp claws and teeth roars as it raises a long sword and turtle shield into the air.)
Lizardfolk: The fiercely territorial swamp-dwelling tribals of Toril who fight for food and the defense of their homelands.
Who will be...THE FICTIONAL DEADLIEST WARRIOR?!
XXXXXXXXXXX
Author's Note: And so this concludes my latest edition of "Fictional Deadliest Warrior," which saw me using two warriors I'm not the most familiar with, so I apologize if any die-hards find themselves offended.
Kali Daegella and Unos are both my original creations since I wanted to have two experts representing the fighters as usual for this battle, but I may use just one expert in some future installments depending upon my knowledge and availability of surviving characters on hand to represent in the end.
The tagelmust is actually a unique variaton of the Alik'r Hood called the "Redguard Hood" in the game that is worn by Nazir, but I decided to refer to it by its real life name for the sake of people who might not be familiar with the "Skyrim" game.
Also, I've seen footage of the Demon Hunter in action on the Diablo fan wikis, where they fire a limitless amount of bolts from the variations of crossbows they use in "Diablo 3," but for this particular battle I modified them to only firing one bolt at once similar to a real life crossbow in order to keep things fair and square.
The Dark Brotherhood Assassin and all references to "Skyrim" and the "Elder Scrolls" games are the property of Bethesda Game Studios and the Demon Hunter and all references to "Diablo 3" are the property of Blizzard Entertainment.
With apologies to Diablo fans!
As always, read and review! This is Metal Harbinger saying SPREAD THE SICKNESS, ONE MIND AT A TIME!