Duchess vs Baron

[Yumyumcrow]

The circle is prepared one last time. 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

Characters are given enough Vitae to replenish their health.

No Discipline use allowed.

Both contestants are given sufficient Blood to heal any damage they may have sustained.

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.

Baron Nicholas is no longer smiling, not as he faces down Twist and the incredible strength of her Beast. He doesn't speak either, preferring to focus his energies on not embarrassing himself after coming so far. He moves stiffly, offers Twist a respectful bow and then falls into his stance. Yet despite his best efforts, the mental confrontation has certainly put him off his game.

  Initiative 6

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2017-10-11 03:01:43		Baron Nicholas to Initiative rolls 1 die for initiative		1

Following a familiar pattern, his first movements are purely defensive as he draws back and attempts to lure the Daeva Duchess across the arena.

Baron Nicholas will be going Full Defence for his first action. His Defence will be 6.

BARON NICHOLAS
Nosferatu
(Sharp Teeth)
Groom of the Invictus
BP 3
Def: 3
Health 8/8

Twist deltadream is UP!

[Twist]

Twist had watched the second round of fighting between the Baron and Cross. It had been brutal. There had been skill, she had seen that much, but both men had been aggressive even if not at the same time.

It didn't intimidate her, but it had been noted.

Stepping into the circle with a new weapon, she offered a respectful nod to The Baron before shifting into her stance.

  Initiative 12

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2017-10-11 07:52:06		Twist rolls 1 die for initiative		3

Unsurprised at his opening stance, she likewise began the same way she began her own bout against Alice. Or perhaps his attempt to lure her had worked.

Either way, her weapon landed solidly against his form as she stepped forward in a quick thrust. If she was pleased at the results of her opening attack though, it didn't show. Her face was a picture of calm concentration.

  

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2017-10-11 08:02:42		Twist rolls 6 to Weaponry + Str + Fencing + Weapon - Def (10 Again)		6, 8, 6, 9, 8, 5		3 successes

Twist's def is 4

[Yumyumcrow]

The Baron's eyes widen as Twist deftly punches through his defence. Still maintaining his stance, he shuffles smartly to one side and launches a strike of his own.

  

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2017-10-12 03:27:09		Baron Nicholas to strike! rolls 6 to strength + Weaponry + Specialty + EQ - Twist Def (10 Again)		10, 6, 6, 7, 2, 6, 3		1 success

He barely touches the Duchess.
Twist deltadream

[Yumyumcrow]

INITIATIVE

Twist (1B) 12 - Baron (3B)

*Twist still needs to indicate her action(s) for this Turn of combat.

[Twist]

Though pleased with the way her first thrust had gone, Twist didn't want to get too cocky with the maneuver and she left the finess of her fencing pose for a more generic move.

The wood of the blade connected but not with quite the force she wanted. But a strike was a strike. Which she was forced to admit again when the Baron left his defensive crouch to land a responsive blow against her.

The touch didn't bother her. It wasn't like she had expected to come away from this combat without a scratch after all. But she doubted it looked that way to the spectators as she shifted and snapped the wood forward for another hard hit through the Baron's defenses.

  2nd attack: 1 success

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2017-10-19 09:00:43		Twist rolls 8 to Tecond attack! (Weaponry + Str + Weapon - Def) (10 Again)		6, 1, 1, 1, 5, 8, 1, 3		1 success

  3rd attack: 3 successes

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2017-10-19 09:01:02		Twist rolls 8 to Third attack! (Weaponry + Str + Weapon - Def) (10 Again)		6, 6, 10, 2, 4, 5, 8, 2, 10, 6		3 successes

[Yumyumcrow]

Now that the Baron believed he had Twist's measure, he turned his pirouette into a spin and struck hard. In the process he resolutely accepted the strong and strategic punch through his defence. His blow struck the Daeva hard, demonstrating that he could make an impression on her slight frame.

  

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2017-10-20 03:17:21		Baron Nicholas to strike! rolls 6 to strength + Weaponry + Specialty + EQ - Twist Def (10 Again)		10, 10, 6, 7, 10, 2, 4, 7, 5		3 successes

It was totally at his own cost.

He might have moved swiftly back into his stance but the damage to his person was obvious. He wasn't leaking yet... but it was doubtful he could last much longer unless he could get through Twist's guard completely.

INITIATIVE

Twist (4B) 12 - Baron (7B) 6

BARON NICHOLAS
Nosferatu
(Sharp Teeth)
Groom of the Invictus
BP 3
Def: 3
Health 7B/8

Twist deltadream is UP!

[Twist]

The Baron's attack was more than a sting and gritting her teeth, Twist fell back to the simple thrust that she had started with. But whether it was because he had seen it before or because of the damage he had inflicted, she barely grazed him with her attack.

It seemed the fight would continue.

  1 success

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2017-10-24 18:40:51		Twist rolls 9 to Thrust! (Weaponry + Str + Fencing + Weapon - Def) (10 Again)		3, 6, 4, 9, 5, 5, 1, 3, 7		1 success

[Yumyumcrow]

The Baron knows he cannot last much longer. On each pass, Twist cuts through his defences - a brutally simple demonstration of her skill, if ever one was needed.

So he changes tack.

Yelling he throws caution to the wind and launches himself at her. The beauty of his strokes and his dancing stance is lost in sheer animal animosity.

  

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2017-10-25 03:25:25		Baron Nicholas to strike go all in! rolls 8 to strength + Weaponry + Specialty + EQ + AoA - Twist Def (10 Again)		3, 3, 1, 1, 8, 6, 10, 9, 7		3 successes

It nearly succeeds.

It also leaves him hopelessly exposed.

INITIATIVE

Twist (7B) 12 - Baron (8B) 6[/vtr]

BARON NICHOLAS
Nosferatu
(Sharp Teeth)
Groom of the Invictus
BP 3
Def: 0*
Health 8B/8

Baron Nicholas as no Defence for the next turn

Twist deltadream is UP!

[Twist]

The Baron's shift in tactics takes her by surprise. Which is a mistake on her part. You should never underestimate an opponent and it definitely cost her. But it wasn't enough.

Grinning, though whether it was at the opening that the Baron offered her or the sudden increased stakes of the fight was unknown.

Stepping forward she takes easy advantage of his lack of defense.

  4 successes

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2017-10-26 06:21:30		Twist rolls 11 to Attack (Weaponry + Str + Weapon) (10 Again)		10, 4, 7, 1, 3, 10, 8, 9, 2, 1, 1, 7, 6		4 successes

[Yumyumcrow]

The Baron's blows rain down on the Duchess. She takes them, rolls with them, and moves forward with a potent strike of her own. Baron Nicholas, physically stretched out from his lunge, is in position to defend such a strike. There is a soft crunch and cracking, signalling Twist's victory.

The Baron makes a sound not unlike a sigh, despite his injuries. He attempts to stand but finds his body not responding, so he inclines his head and hobbles away.

That was a good fight," he says at length with a smile that does not quite reach his eyes. "This day is yours, your Grace. As is your Herd. Come see me before you leave tonight and we can arrange it. But first, I feed." His hisses in annoyance, not pain, as he tests the limits of his wound.

BARON NICHOLAS
Nosferatu
(Sharp Teeth)
Groom of the Invictus
BP 3
Def: 0*
Health 4B/4L/8

@Twist deltadream will gain a "free" dot of Herd as her reward. I'll get onto that later