Duchess vs Seneschal

[Yumyumcrow]

The circle is prepared. Sawdust is splashed over gravel and the lightly constructed cane swords are presented to the two contestants.

Once the two Kindred are ready, Stax formally leads them into the circle. He will bow to both and then retreat across the cordon where he encourages the others to gather and watch.

MELEE DUELS

No Discipline use allowed.

The wooden swords are of a light construction, granting a +2B bonus to Weaponry rolls. However, they are particularly flimsy and if an e-sux (5+ successes) are achieved on a roll, the weapon will shatter in a profusion of woody shards. A shattered sword offers no Equipment Bonus.

Swords are not replaced till the end of the match.

You may take penalties if you wish to reflect your character pulling their blows.

Duels are ended when one of the contestants starts taking Lethal damage, leaves the combat arena or else yields to their opponent.

Twist deltadream Alice Hart Saber Sloth please roll initiative.

[Twist]

Stepping into the circle, Twist lifts one of the swords and tests its weight and feel. A few loose parries at the empty air and she nods to herself, feeling that she has a sufficient feel for the weapon.

Stepping back, she assumes a fighters stance.

Initiative: 12

  

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2017-09-26 07:34:28		Twist rolls 1 die for initiative		3

[Alice Hart]

Alice follows Twist to the circle, but before she enters she murmurs a few words.

"Nike, bright-winged goddess, companion of grey eyed Athena, I seek your favor to heighten my skill when it may be lacking, to augment my might where it might be wanting, to grant me strength of will and swiftness of step, to steady my hand and lead my to triumph."

Her prayer done, Alice takes her place across from the Hound, and hold the wooden sword aloft.

  Initiative 8

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2017-09-26 10:52:34		Alice Hart rolls 1 die for initiative		2

Alice Defense is 3! And Twist also beats Alice's Initiative!

[Twist]

Twist holds a respectful silence as Alice offers up her quiet prayer.

As Alice lifts her own weapon into position, Twist waits for what would be a heartbeat's moment if she had a beating heart and steps forward with a quick thrust.

The wood of the sword is awkward in her hands. No matter how polished, wood simply would never have the smooth feel of metal. But she is able to adjust on her lunge and her confidence grows as the thrust drives toward the blind woman.

  3 successes

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2017-09-26 14:36:06		Twist rolls 12 to Initial Thrust (Weaponry + Str + Fencing + Weapon) (10 Again)		5, 1, 3, 2, 1, 3, 4, 1, 6, 9, 8, 9		3 successes

[Twist]

But despite the recovery, the cost ends up being too high as the 'blade' of the sword slides past Alice's defenses.

Hit submit too early and forgot to account for Alice's defenses which remove Twist's 3 successes.

Twist has a defense of 4

[Alice Hart]

The rush of displaced air comes fast, near enough to startle, but far enough to count as a miss.

Alice returns with a good swing, the sound of the air sliced upon the wood is satisfying...but it doesn't make any contact with the Archon.

  

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2017-09-26 15:34:39		Alice Hart rolls 6 to Swing! (Weaponry 2 + Str 2 + Weapon 2 ) (10 Again)		6, 7, 8, 3, 9, 5		2 successes
2017-09-26 15:31:46		Alice Hart rolls 4 to Perception (Wits 3 + Composure 3 -2 ) (10 Again)		4, 7, 4, 4		failure

Yumyumcrow , I'm hoping that doing Perception + Attack each round (like in wolf) is okay to expedite things -- if it's not okay. I'll do it the other way!

[Twist]

Twist smiled silently at Alice's attack. Not the miss, the attack.

That was one thing that this competition had going for it in the banning the use disciplines. It forced the competitors to move right away. Kindred abilities were wonderful but combined with Kindred life style, there were times that it only added to the the methodology of glacial pace actions.

Which just dragged things like melee fights out. When in fact they should be handled swiftly. Like Twist's second thrust.

The hit was solid, almost too solid Twist thought, feeling the wood shiver at the impact.

  4 successes

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2017-09-27 12:54:54		Twist rolls 9 to Second Strike (Weaponry + Str + Fencing + Weapon - Def) (10 Again)		10, 10, 1, 9, 2, 5, 4, 2, 8, 1, 2		4 successes

2017-09-27 12:54:54

[Alice Hart]

Alice hisses as the strike connects, "Good one!" Alice complements as the strike allows Alice to follow it to the Duchess!

...but the women's skill allows for her to side step Alice's following swing, while possibly looking completely fabulous.

Alice was already making plans to ask Twist for some lessons.

  1 suxx Per, 0 to hit

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2017-09-27 13:17:57		Alice Hart rolls 2 to Swing! (Weaponry 2 + Str 2 + Weapon 2 -4 Def) (10 Again)		2, 5		failure
2017-09-27 13:16:32		Alice Hart rolls 4 to Perception (Wits 3 + Composure 3 -2 ) (10 Again)		3, 8, 2, 1		1 success

Alice is currently at 4 bashing!

[Twist]

Had the fight been true, Twist wouldn't reply to the complement. Especially against a blind opponent who would use her voice to locate her location. But this was a tournament. Meant to showcase, and show off.

"Thank you."

And because it was still a fight which she did intend to win, the words were barely spoken before she was attacking again. Deciding it wasn't worth risking the loss of the weapon with another straight thrust, she avoiding repeating the same move.

But still, when her blow landed, she felt the weapon walk the edge of breaking. A tsk escaped her lips at the fragility of the weapon but perhaps this fight would be over soon enough that it would not matter.

  4 successes

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2017-09-28 07:32:47		Twist rolls 8 to Third attack! (Weaponry + Str + Weapon - Def) (10 Again)		5, 5, 10, 2, 9, 3, 2, 10, 1, 10, 5		4 successes

[Alice Hart]

The 'blade' might be weak and truly ineffective, but in the hands of an artist it's enough to bruise dead-doll-flesh and as the wood sings upon the edge of shattering, it splits skin wide open.

It takes Alice a second to remember that she's surrounded by kindred and not kine, and so the wound doesn't bleed.

Alice straightens out from her fighters stance.

"This is a shame, not of your skill, mine's lack." Alice says holding the stick out for someone to grab, "Your Grace would you be available for a spar, a real one, or lessons perhaps?" Alice asks, feeling weird. A year ago she wouldn't have been in the position to fight Twist, and she would have spontaneously combusted before asking the succubus for a favor.

Alice is at 1 Lethal and 6 Bashing! The fight is over!