Academy of Drell, Part I

[GnomeWorks]

Okay, still alive. That's good.

Charlotte ignores his brief smile, and focuses on the sparring. She decides quickly that she needs to get him into close quarters.

As Kieth feints left, Charlotte buys into it, thrusting at where he was.

"Damn," She says quickly, realizing a little too late that it was a feint. Attempting to recover, she overextends herself to where he feinted to and tries to fall over to avoid the blade that is arcing up, and rolls away from Keith as fast as she can.

Well, crap, I nearly got hit there. This guy likes feints, I guess. Must remember that. I'll say this, at least - he had me fooled both times so far. I won't let it happen again, though.

 

[Tokiwong]

Hmmm... she is quick... perhaps a change of strategy...

Keith seeing the evasive move, follows it up with his own... he flips back ward, landing on his feet... stepping back some 15 feet to make space... and lowers his blade... watching for her next move...

As Alustir would state... let the honey track the bear... close... let her come.. defend... and then find the opening to remove her means of combat...

 

[GnomeWorks]

Charlotte scrambles quickly to her feet, and surveys the situation. Seeing that Keith isn't attacking and is standing there, she beckons at him with her blade.

"Come on, fairy!" She yells at him, taunting. "I thought that maybe you could handle that blade of yours!"

Well, if this doesn't work, what next? I guess I can go after him. I don't like running that far, though - not enough tactical... stuff. Advantage, or something. Why didn't I pay attention in that class on the specifics of duelling in big, open spaces?

 

[Tokiwong]

Insults... I thought she would be above that...

Keith stands motionless waiting... his blade still pointed downwards waiting... his eyes probing...

Is she afraid... confused... I would close but perhaps let her feel she should take the initiative...

Keith lets the moment hang... and waits...

 

[GnomeWorks]

Well, crap. The insults were wasted, I guess. I knew I shouldn't have done that - he's too calm to be affected. All right then, the question now is - what kind of attack do I want?

Charlotte takes a small step (5 feet) forward, towards Keith, raising her weapon to point straight at him.

Well... all or nothing, now, I guess.

Charlotte suddenly pulls in her weapon, and breaks out into an all-out run at Keith. At the last minute, she tumbles to his left and gets a few feet behind him, turns, and slashes out towards him with her rapier.

 

[Tokiwong]

At last...

Keith steps forward to disarm Charlotte, just as Charlotte rolls to his right... she catches him off guard...

Patience is a virtue... unless one acts foolishly in reflection...

Keith narrowly avoids the blade wisps of his hair floating in the air from the slash... he rolls his left and then cartwheels to his feet... the hair settles on the ground...

That was close... she nearly had me... with the brash move...

Keith comes forward once more weaving a dance with his blade before thrusting it deep into her defenses... no feint... straightforward attack... using finesse and skill to overwhelm her...

 

[GnomeWorks]

Almost, almost. Close. So close.

She turns to see him weaving his blade around.

Odd.

She is almost unprepared for the oncoming attack, and is greatly surprised. She uses her rapier to block as much as she can, although she knows that, in these close quarters with him having the advantage, she can't win.

Well, I hate to do it, but we have to play dirty sometimes...

Charlotte looks Keith in the eye for a split second, winking at him, and brings her knee up into his stomach, then drops to the ground and attempts to tumble backwards.

 

[Tokiwong]

Blasted human...!!!

Keith stumbles back reeling from the knee... he quickly gather his sense of wits... breathing deep gasps...

"Excellent..." he stammers out...

Fighting dirty... what else should I expect from one such as her...

Keith measures the situation and slowly begins to circle trying to gather his breath...

She wishes to win at all costs.... I have the advantage for now... unless she has been holding back... the wink... perhaps now she shall show her true skill...

Keith waits lowering the blade... focusing for just a moment... he rushes forward towards Charlotte ducking right rolling to the left quickly and then slashing quickly to disarm her...... then finish the duel...

 

[GnomeWorks]

Not very nice. I know it. Couldn't be helped, though. It was necessary... I can make all the excuses I want. I should have lost right there.

Seeing the elf rush at her, Charlotte decides to return the favor - she rushes at him, rapier drawn, and attempts to slam into him, hoping to knock him down.

 

[Tokiwong]

Keith slams into Charlotte as he tries to compete with her for supremacy taking care to watch for her knees... his eyes peer back at hers as he thinks...

She matches my skill with sheer determination... never once backing down.. despite her dirty tricks... for a human she has intrigued me... now to finish this...

Keith uses his free hand to grip her free wrist and attempt to wrestle her to the ground...

Unorthdox I know... but she might not expect such a bold move... one must adapt as Alustir would say...