The Big Bironian Bash & Pirate Party

[The_Murgen]

On 3/15/2024 at 12:45 PM, SerakHawk said:

"I am aware that UNNCLE mostly follows what is now known as Paragonism, it shares many similarities with the Utopian's belief in Soul's Expression - even with Paragonism's exclusionary past. Sharing our own intentions of maintaining our faith and minor Badalian expansion - in the terms of fair exchange what are UNNCLE's goals?"

"For now, our ambitions are twofold. First, we are reaching capacity on our aerostat. So we hope to bring another aerostat into a confederation with us. Our records simply refer to it as Aerostat4. We are reaching out to them as we speak to see what join opportunities exist." They paused for a moment, mentally checking a connection to another member of their team. "However, our intellegence services have been poor at determining the interests of others. So I have been instructed to make polite inquiries. We do not seek conflict, only room to grow."

Their tone became less formal as they continued, "Paragonism was once a humano-centric belief. The long term vision still centers around a human Paragon through proper breeding. But the concepts of intellectual and physical perfection as a guiding philosophy and lifestyle cross all species boundaries." Their tone gained hints of admiration. "It is well known that the quick and precise actions of the Jy'Mar technicians to disarm the nuclear device, and their willingness to sacrifice themselves, was a key discussion point within the upper echelons of our Kinfolk."

Their tone shifted back into a formal speach-giving tone. "Long term, we hope to establish cross-cultural embassies with most of the major groups on Badal. We firmly believe cooperation and specialization will secure Badal's future as the premier planet in the Empire.

--------------

Despite not being a formally trained combatant, Senior Advisor Sydney Xia Emery Harper was a highly trained Bio-Electric Mediator. They stood little chance in a formal duel with weapons and the Kinfolk were well know to struggle with duplicity. However, their training might serve them well in a less formal brawl. Their ability to alter a targets biochemical processes simply by touch would make them a challenge. Blindness, limb paralysis, vertigo, even extreme gastrointestinal distress all are simply a series of pressure points and Prowess spikes away from inducing.

Knightly Duel: Military 2
Pirate Brawl: Intrigue 2
Caged Streetfight: Faith 8.

 

OOC notes on UNNCLE1) For reference, UNNCLE uses they/them exclusively for pronouns, regardless of genetic sex. Apologies if that causes any confusion.

2) Not sure how to handle thier "magical' abilities, so I thought Faith was appropriate for monk-like stunning strikes and such.

Edited March 17 by The_Murgen (see edit history)

[Zayuz]

On 3/12/2024 at 10:33 PM, Lumaeus said:

The The Arkhive Æternal arrives...

After spending some time in the embassy, Chairman AlchireHe wore a clean set of armor, whose interlocking black and white plates, whose texture resembled hardened glass, were highlighted by hints of neon pink beneath. No doubt this was skin, which was apparent enough that he was clearly the same size and shape as a human, though the sawed off horns protruding from his head and that hue of pink suggested that was not the case. Long black hair falls from the back of his helm, which otherwise covered the face. finally frees himself from the stricture of diplomacy and formal meetings. Though the Arkhive to his understanding was a popular and well-known faction from one of the other worlds, he didn't actually know much of anything about them. Something about honey and knowledge and hives? Suffice it to say, he didn't recognize their sigil from Pekoe the Orange or Slate Cinereal's garb. They weren't the huge fuzzy alien bees that came to mind, but people like everyone else. The armored man steps up to the younger of the two guests and gestures with his hand to catch their attention.

"You two strike me as travelers - got any tales from the outer worlds? I'll trade you a drink for some tales. Haven't been able to sail the other skies in years." There's some longing in that last word, the adventurous mercenary having been trapped in civil war and statecraft for so many years now...

 

On 3/13/2024 at 4:19 AM, Frostwander said:

Capie Ushere arrives...

Though the media might paint her that way, Shi LithiumDark blue skin, ram horns, and a long, thin blade that burns with crimson flame - the fabled Sword of Revolutions. This item is a renowned relic said to change the fates of the wielders, often to unpredictable ends.

She wears very light armor, robe-like Bironian clothing that hides most of the skin, but leaves room for flexible movement. These 'battle-dresses' were designed for combat, offering only minor protections in the form of metal rings meant for catching blows intentionally. Her hair is silver, worn in a ponytail that falls just past her shoulderblade. was not all anger and violence. She was also the head of the house of Lithium, one of the oldest and most respected families in the Bironian Crossroads. Normally she would proudly represent her house in meetings with foreign nobles, extending her house's offer of mercenary service and making some friends abroad; but this time was different. This time she was fresh off the 'loss' of a civil war, in which she compromised her right to rule, now sharing it with a council. Though they'd been surprisingly agreeable thus far, she had no illusions that their priorities would remain aligned forever.

This shaken confidence had no place in her approach, as the Archknight steps towards the well-armed company to greet them at some point before the tournament truly takes off. She has a small entourage of knights with her, adorned in heavier armor with various weapons of their own - but they stay far enough back. "Fine weapons you carry - I am looking forward to testing them in the ring. Which of you will be participating?" Shi required no introduction, as the namesake of the tournament she would be known by all attendees who had the influence to receive an invitation. "And forgive me if I'm mistaken - Caipe Ushere, right? We couldn't get any good wine during the civil war, actually. The poor Bironian fields barely provide during peacetime... If you have any in store, I'll take it easy on you during the fights." A cocky smile crosses her lips.

 

 

Always a force to be reckoned with, Shi Lithium enters the tournament!

Pirate Brawl: 5 (Intrigue)
Knightly Duel: 10 (Custom ruleset)
Caged Streetfight: 10 (Custom ruleset)

Edited March 19 by Zayuz (see edit history)

[Rocket Relm]

 

[Featherscale]

COMBINED COMMONWEALTH OF GLIX

Having sufficient evidence to allay the Centrum Party's irrational fears that known pirates doing open piracy on the far side of Tekhum was a more sinister plot than it already was, Rofl'hesk relaxed...

 

He realized, belatedly, that coming alone on a hitched highliner, he might not be taken seriously as a diplomat. That was okay, few in The Combine took the Black Cloud seriously as a country. Sending actual heralds and parliamentarians instead of a single super-soldier could have resulted in a different welcome. He was here for two things: to double check the spies' reports, and to fight.

 

Rofl'hesk, Glix Super-Soldier, enters the arena!

A product of unsavory experiments by a discredited politician, Rofl'hesk is one of an elite group called The Brothers. They are grown the size of human children and have enhanced empathic and clairvoyant abilities.

 

Knightly Duel: MILITARY +5

A Super Soldier is a soldier first, super second.

Pirate Brawl: INTRIGUE +1

Who needs tradecraft when you have ESP? This guy!

Caged Streetfight: ECONOMY +6

One of Slingid's Prototypes, never intended for mass production.

This 'giant' Glix is pumped full of combat enhancing drugs and hormones. He is riding the scariest prosthetic legs around. (Glim'Bosk herself built on them on commission!) Rofl'hesk's gear wasn't cheap.

Edited March 17 by Featherscale (see edit history)

[SerakHawk]

The Console Does Not Forfeit any fight and will accept all comers - I am rolling all my dice for the current contestants declared here and will allow you to roll your own in response, or forfeit at your leisure.

Current Track:

21 bouts total: 10 Victories || 2 Losses || 9 undecided

7 matches total: 3 Victories || 1 Loss || 3 undecided

• Console Prisca Calpurnius vs Glix Super-Soldier Rofl'hesk
  • Console's Rolls:
    • KD Glix - Victory
    • PB Glix - Victory
    • CS Glix - Victory
  • Rofl'hesk Rolls:
    • KD: 10
    • PB: 9
    • CS: 16
• Console Prisca Calpurnius vs Shi Lithium
  • Console's Rolls:
    • KD Lithium
    • PB Lithium
    • CS Lithium
• Console Prisca Calpurnius vs Senior Advisor Sydney Xia Emery Harper
  • Console's Rolls:
    • KD UNNCLE - Victory
    • PB UNNCLE - Victory
    • CS UNNCLE - Victory
  • Sydney's Rolls:
    • KD: 4
    • PB: 10
    • CS: 11
• Console Prisca Calpurnius vs Black Cloud Coalition Figher Cyberduelist Duan Li!
  • Console's Rolls:
    • KD BCC - Victory
    • PB BCC - Victory
    • CS BCC - Victory
  • Duan Li's Rolls:
    • KD: 15
    • PB: 11
    • CS: 11
• Console Prisca Calpurnius vs Artavasdes II!
  • Console's Rolls:
    • KD Artavasdes
    • PB Artavasdes
    • CS Artavasdes
• Console Prisca Calpurnius vs Monite Ebonne!
  • Console's Rolls:
    • KD Monite
    • PB Monite
    • CS Monite
• Console Prisca Calpurnius vs Eighbris!
  • Console's Rolls:
    • KD Eighbris - Loss
    • PB Eighbris - Victory
    • CS Eighbris - Loss
  • Eighbris Rolls:
    • KD: 14
    • PB: 9
    • CS: 17

Edited March 22 by SerakHawk
Updated for current standings (see edit history)

[Rolepgeek]

Decade-long Captain of the Coalition Jie Meifeng is not dressed to impress in quite the same way as most of her public outings that might have caught the eye of Tekhum's rich and powerful. Not for this. This was a Badali party, hosted by Badal's finest. She was dressed for the occasion: custom-built, environmentally sealed light infantry armor, sans helmet, under a fitted long jacketed black coat studded with golden stars over crimson trim. Together with the sleek knee-height combat boots and the stylized form, she still struck quite the impressive silhouette, with the flaring coattails and the expansive shoulders, but she was not here to show off her cybernetics, nor seduce royalty. Simply establish a tone for the proceedings.

The room is lined with the coats of arms of the Bironian orders - and the flags of the most influential Parlor Councils and Forecaptains in the Coalition, each next to the Skull and Stars of the Black Cloud Coalition's banner. Heavily augmented cyborgs and veteran Bironian knight-mercenaries alike, nearly a dozen of each, in flashy street fashion or embellished armors, congregate in small groups around the edge of the room, as if to make up for the comparatively austere decorations of the room itself, for which the greatest indulgence are a number of screens set into the floor and walls displaying live feeds of cloudscape of Badal as seen from the Lower Gold Zones nearly 400 meters below, creating an illusion of windows - and exposure, vulnerability. Any who sought her would be directed to this room to take conversations. Some few she might lead to yet more private rooms for discussion of certain more sensitive matters.

And while his Captain made ready to take on all challengers in her selected arena, and make good on months of work, her First Mate prepares his blades for a more literal arena, and tunes the controls over his own extensive augmentations.

---

Cyberduelist Duan Li

Knightly Duel: Intrigue +5 - Duan Li is a skilled cyberduelist, certainly, but the demands of the Crosspath's less brutal dueling regimes are liable to limit his capacity for maximizing his talents.

Pirate Brawl: Military +7 - even deprived of his sword, Duan Li's physical enhancements and adaptability to new circumstances make both him and his digital partner FirstComesThunder a force to reckon with.

Caged Streetfight: Military +7 - with all of his tools available, Duan Li is dangerous, persistent, and cunning. So long as the safety limiters remain engaged, the stunning lethality of his quickdraw techniques should be possible to avoid.

Edited March 20 by Rolepgeek (see edit history)

[The_Murgen]

Senior Advisor Sydney Xia Emery Harper knew they were in for a beating. But overcoming physical pain was part of their training as children. In a way, they took perverse delight in being tormented. But that was a secret known to few.

 

Results (feel free to post your own version of events)

Against Console Priscia

The first duel against the Console went exactly as badly as they expected.  They chose a long-bladed polearm, thinking the small movements across the fulcrum would allow wide sweeps of the blade.  This should have countered the Jy’mar’s fast movement.  But it also provided an excellent pathway right up the weapon and onto the Advisor themselves.  They managed to toss the Console off twice before she was able to cling tenaciously and scramble up the weapon, the Advisor’s arm, and to their throat. A clear loss by submission- 4 to 13.

In the brawl, they were hoping the size differential would quickly work to their advantage. As expected, most weapons were human sized.  However, the Jy’mar’s natural environment was one of clutter and disarray.  Once might even say this was the Console’s natural environment.  It was a close match, decided by the pirate’s obscure scoring system.  In the end, the match went to the Console for repeated successful taunting of the opponent- 11 to 13

Console Sydney held back during the Streetfight.  Here, their natural bio-mechanical manipulation talents could have come to the forefront.  But they were concerned due to their lack of understanding of Jy’mar biology.  They didn’t want to accidentally stop the creature’s heart by an errant strike.  Their armor, however, proved to be the turning point.  So finely crafted and interlocking, it was difficult to find an access point to bare flesh.  She had to make one, and that took time.  Too much time, and allowing too much damage from her opponent- 11 to 17

 

Against Duan Li

Clearly, Duan Li was holding back during the knightly duel.  Though he hid it quite ably, he was playing with Syndey.  His armor and short bladed weapons appeared to be a near-even match against the Senior Advisor’s acrobatic maneuvering and adept pole-arm stand-off defense.  Still, Sydney thought, he probably had placed a bet that it would go the distance.  Something that had long odds on the boards.  It went the distance, and they lost in a close decision 13 to 15

The pirate brawl turned into an odd match, to say the least.  The Senior Advisor spent the match engaging with Duan’s digital partner while scrambling to avoid the worst of his attacks.  Philosophical and ontological debates seemed to distract the AI and prevent it from bringing its technical expertise to bear.  The pirates were displeased, as they wanted blood, not a Ship-of-Theseus debate.  Loss was 8 to 11.

In the street fight, both gave their best.  It came as quite a surprise that the combat jumpsuit Sydney wore was quite resilient against projectiles and blades.  It was only slightly more bulky than their normal clothes, but its carbon nanofibers functioned as well as medium combat armor.  This allowed Sydney to close several times and land pin-point blows.  Their knowledge of human biology allowed them to target  nerve clusters, sending them  into a flutter and disrupting their connections to attached cybernetics.  But each time they closed, Duan Li responded with a punishing series of physical blows.  Piercing and slashing was well protected, but cybernetically augmented bludgeoning wore them down.  They lost 15 to16.

Edited March 19 by The_Murgen (see edit history)

[Lumaeus]

On 3/16/2024 at 11:56 PM, Zayuz said:

"You two strike me as travelers - got any tales from the outer worlds? I'll trade you a drink for some tales. Haven't been able to sail the other skies in years." There's some longing in that last word, the adventurous mercenary having been trapped in civil war and statecraft for so many years now...

Pekoe the Orange the five hundred thirty-fifth and six tenths definitely saw Chairman Alchire coming. She watched as he approached. She was still and wide eyed when he spoke. There could be no doubt that it was she who was being addressed. And so she was kicking herself for starting her reply with "Oh! Uh," but that's just how it goes sometimes. "Y-yes, I think I can do that for you. Er, I'm not very good with Llort names, but I can remember a particular text attributed to an explorer (well, I suppose it would be a mad explorer in the original, but the term strikes me as problematic, or at least potentially so) that talks about the outer worlds. Er, there's also some poetry ostensibly from a Khylokian perspective but written in more of a Veehran style and thought to be wholly fictionalized that I could show you to. Um, this isn't exactly... so I'm from the five hundred thirties, and it's really more the realm of the five hundred twenties or the nine hundreds. I could refer you? Uh? To someone?"

Readers' Advisory was never her expertise.

[Lumaeus]

Demonstrating an abhorrent lack of understanding of forum etiquette, Pekoe the Orange the five hundred thirty-fifth and six tenths double posts on her way to find the pirate queen herself, wholly disconcerted with the lack of bees in this place. She occasionally reaches into her INVENTORY just be sure she's still got hers on hand. Just in case. When she reaches the Queen, she is overwhelmed with fear, terror, awe, and of course the immediate crush everyone has upon seeing her.

"Er, ah, Your...Piratical(?) Majesty? I'm Pekoe the Orange the five hundred thirty-fifth and six tenths. Uh, of the Arkhive. Æternal. On Coedd. Um. I'm kind of the official, er, represe--delegation. Because the Earl is on the ship. Um."

She pulls out a letter sealed in wax on wax paper from her INVENTORY. A bumblebee crawls on the back of her hand. "The Queen wanted you to have this."

Lumaeus put the letter in a Shown For: box. Pray it worked.

Edited March 19 by Lumaeus (see edit history)

[TheDarkDM]

Snatching a brief moment alone with Monite, Artavasdes stared down at the swirling clouds while holding her gently. Well aware that his wife was no doubt mid-composition of a new poem, he leaned down to murmur softly in her ear.

"Benighted and cursed though this world may be, it does nurture a certain beauty."

He stole a kiss behind her ear, once more fighting down his confusion that a human being could produce so much hair.

 

Later...

At Shi Lithium's approach, Artavasdes turned with military precision. Inclining his head to an equal in nobility, he allowed Monite to speak before clarifying for the Archknight.

"And the House of Fire. Stories of your prowess have reached us in Mekhala, sir knight. I look forward to a display of your skill."

 

Artavasdes II enters the tournament!

Knightly Duel: +7
Pirate Brawl: +4 (Heir Score)
Caged Streetfight: +7 (Miltiary)

[Frostwander]

On 3/16/2024 at 9:56 PM, Zayuz said:

Though the media might paint her that way, Shi LithiumDark blue skin, ram horns, and a long, thin blade that burns with crimson flame - the fabled Sword of Revolutions. This item is a renowned relic said to change the fates of the wielders, often to unpredictable ends.

She wears very light armor, robe-like Bironian clothing that hides most of the skin, but leaves room for flexible movement. These 'battle-dresses' were designed for combat, offering only minor protections in the form of metal rings meant for catching blows intentionally. Her hair is silver, worn in a ponytail that falls just past her shoulderblade. was not all anger and violence. She was also the head of the house of Lithium, one of the oldest and most respected families in the Bironian Crossroads. Normally she would proudly represent her house in meetings with foreign nobles, extending her house's offer of mercenary service and making some friends abroad; but this time was different. This time she was fresh off the 'loss' of a civil war, in which she compromised her right to rule, now sharing it with a council. Though they'd been surprisingly agreeable thus far, she had no illusions that their priorities would remain aligned forever.

This shaken confidence had no place in her approach, as the Archknight steps towards the well-armed company to greet them at some point before the tournament truly takes off. She has a small entourage of knights with her, adorned in heavier armor with various weapons of their own - but they stay far enough back. "Fine weapons you carry - I am looking forward to testing them in the ring. Which of you will be participating?" Shi required no introduction, as the namesake of the tournament she would be known by all attendees who had the influence to receive an invitation. "And forgive me if I'm mistaken - Caipe Ushere, right? We couldn't get any good wine during the civil war, actually. The poor Bironian fields barely provide during peacetime... If you have any in store, I'll take it easy on you during the fights." A cocky smile crosses her lips.

The Usheret heir turns with her husband, a graceful twist beside his military turn. "Why, thank you. Both of us, in fact, and you are quite correct."

34 minutes ago, TheDarkDM said:

"And the House of Fire. Stories of your prowess have reached us in Mekhala, sir knight. I look forward to a display of your skill."

 

Princess Monite returns the cocky smile with one of her own, one eye focused on the duelist. "And of course we do. Perhaps we can share a bottle after, provided you do no such slight as 'taking it easy'. Your reputation proceeds you, and we do look forward to witnessing it."

 

Monite Ebonne enters the tournament!

Knightly Duel: +4 (Heir Score)
Pirate Brawl: +3
Caged Streetfight: +4 (Faith)

[volthawk]

Eilif Dhaoine had little reason to send people to the North Way Cluster, really - they had little in the way of political ties to those who had the power here (if anything, one could argue that the current political situation made coming here unwise), and most officials and representatives of the government were busy elsewhere. The Knights of the Dhaoine, however, were mostly former sealga, and sealga were prone to wandering when given the opportunity, and a tournament like this was a siren song for people like them. With that in mind, it isn't that unexpected when a group of Knights turn up at the Set Serpent Sorority looking for a good time. Leading the back are a pair that may be familiar to anyone who paid close attention to the big wedding in Sansar a few years back, or to Clagath's appearance at the Mekhala Mad Dash back in 2037 - Eighbris and Cagairmòr, Clagath's left and right hands among the Knights. While Cagairmòr dressed in a similar way to how she did back at the Mad Dash - that particular sealga style, with clothing chosen for practicality, freedom of movement and a little protection over style with flashiness reserved for a selection of trophies (an impressive-looking bàscail head hollowed and mounted on a shoulder, a medal looped around her belt - given to her by Giomad and picked out from General Veldoon's collection after her help in the war - that sort of thing), Eighbris was dressed rather differently. After all, he was here to fight.

Anyone who has paid much attention to Eilif Dhaoine will likely know about the armour worn by lannan - chitincraft full-body armoured suits, a mixture of parts harvested from antlike bàscail and technology manufactured in the cities of the Dhaoine. Eighbris' suit is similar to lannan armour, sharing the same origin and tech base, but is clearly rather more customised than that, one of the main ways that sealga show off their successes - after all, why just carry a trophy when you can make your significant kill into your weapons and armour, and what better show of the wealth your skills earned you than getting the best artisans around to make the thing? He's happy to tell the story behind the armoured, a striking red suit with a helmet and mask resembling some sort of horned beetle, to pretty much anyone who asks. As he tells it, there was once a crimson beetle threatening Oirdeas, one of the cities of the Reserve, a tough and brutish thing that bulldozed through walls and crushed those who opposed it. He found the trail, found its den, and found a way through its shell to kill the beast - if someone asks for details of that last point, he just grins theatrically and says that it's a secret. After all, who would tell someone else about the secret behind the armour they wore? They'll just have to watch the show and see if any of the other fighters work it outOOC: There is no secret, it's not some invulnerable suit with one fatal flaw. It's just pretty damn good armour that can be penetrated or worked around like any other armour, Eighbris is just a bit of a showman like that (hence him using Dip for the cagefight)..

He doesn't bring his main set of weapons around the station, naturally - he has a little something tucked away just in case, of course, but it was impractical and likely offputting to troop around carrying the big stuff. They'd be ready when the time for the duel came, and he was quite proud of his selection - another topic which he's perfectly happy to boast about to anyone interested. For this, given the theme of the proper above-board stuff and some of the stories he'd heard in his travels about what people thought when they heard "knight", he'd chosen a sword and shield - the latter a big heavy thing (took him some getting used to back in the day but these days he's pretty comfortable with it) made from one of the elytra of the same red bàsclan the rest of the armour was made from, and the former from a different bàsclan, clearly a sharp, bladed monstrous forearm that has been mounted and modified to act as an effective weapon. They'd had some modifications and additions done to them, naturally - why not take advantage of some of the little ways modern technology can make the ancient art of fighting up close easier? - but at the end of the day, their purposes were quite direct.

While Eighbris wandered around, had some fun and worked the crowd a little, Cagairmòr finds her way to wherever the best place to watch the show is according to the word on the street (the way the people did things around here was a little unusual, but she was quite good at adapting) and settles in with a drink after telling some of the other knights wandering the Sorority to point anyone wanting to talk shop her way to save them having to quit having a good time themselves.

 

 

Fightan Stuff

Looks like most people are just using the one character who gets full stats, so I'll follow suit with Eighbris. Cagairmòr is explicitly a spectator, and the other knights here are either also spectating/partying/causing trouble or can be used for fodder if anyone needs some unimportant fighters to look cool against.

Knightly Duel: Military 7

Pirate Brawl: Intrigue 4

Caged Streetfight: Diplomacy 8

Results

Writing results as my roll vs their roll, collected together the rolls I could see that were for Eighbris.

Versus Rofl'hesk - Win (+1 Point)

Knightly Duel: 12 vs 11 - Eighbris wins!

Pirate Brawl: 15 vs 9 - Eighbris wins!

Caged Streetfight: 13 vs 13 - Tie!

Versus Shi Lithium

Knightly Duel: 14 vs X

Pirate Brawl: 9 vs X

Caged Streetfight: 15 vs X

Versus Senior Advisor Sydney Xia Emery Harper

Knightly Duel: 16 vs X

Pirate Brawl: 6 vs X

Caged Streetfight: 12 vs X

Versus Duan Li

Knightly Duel: 13 vs X

Pirate Brawl: 12 vs X

Caged Streetfight: 14 vs X

Versus Artavasdes II

Knightly Duel: 18 vs X

Pirate Brawl: 12 vs X

Caged Streetfight: 15 vs X

Versus Monite Ebonn - Draw (+0.5 Points)

Knightly Duel: 11 vs 8 - Eighbris wins!

Pirate Brawl: 11 vs 11 - Draw!

Caged Streetfight: 13 vs 14 - Ebonn wins!

Versus Console Prisca Calpurnius - Win (+1 Point)

Knightly Duel: 14 vs 13 - Eighbris wins!

Pirate Brawl: 9 vs 11 - Prisca wins!

Caged Streetfight: 17 vs 13 - Eighbris wins!

 

 

Edited March 23 by volthawk (see edit history)

[Featherscale]

Rofl'hesk knows he isn't going to win. That wasn't the job. Frankly, the prize, such as it was, was more headache than reward, given the Combine's careful neutrality in the various wars breaking out between the humans. But he was here, and he would try to make a good showing!

[Failed bbcode entry]

KDvPrisca

PVvPrisca

CSFvPrisca

KDvLithium

PBvLithium

CSFvLithium

KDVS.ADVISORHARPER

PBvsADVISORHARPER

CSfvSr.AdvisorHarper

KDvBCC

PBvBCC

CSfvBCC

KDvArtavasdes

PBvArtavasdes

CSfvArtasvasdes

KDvMoniteEbonne

PBvMoniteEbonne

CSFvMoniteEbonne

KDvEighbris

PBvEighbris

CSfvEighbris

 

 

Edited March 22 by Featherscale (see edit history)

[Frostwander]

Knightly Duel: Princess Monite favors the rapier and a traditional Usheret cut-and-thrust style, taking a stance side-on to her opponent to minimize her profile, hilt held at face level with the blade angled slightly downward. Her motions are clean and precise, though opponents who observe her earlier bouts may find them predictable. (The exception is against Eighbris, where she wields the chitincraft weapon she was gifted).

Pirate Brawl: Monite looks to find light-weight objects in the clutter that can be thrown to keep her opponent off balance, pushing them to get tangled or worn down before closing for a finishing blow. Her lack of familiarity with a brawling environment and improvised weapons is clear, but she gives it a spirited attempt nonetheless.

Caged Streetfight: Monite again wields her rapier along with a reinforced half-cape draped across an arm. She wields this in sweeping arcs to parry or intercept attacks as she engages. The differing element her is the constant string of singsong lyrics she whispers that cause fires to spring up around her and her wounds to mend against blows that pierce her defenses.

---

Results:

Vs Console Prisca: Duel (L), Brawl (W), Streetfight (W) - Net Result: Victory +1

Vs Sydney Xia Emery Harper: Duel (), Brawl (), Streetfight () - Net Result:

Vs Shi Lithium: Duel (L), Brawl (W), Streetfight (L) - Net Result: Loss

Vs Rofl'hesk: Duel (D), Brawl (L), Streetfight (L) - Net Result: Loss

Vs Cyberduelist Duan Li: Duel (L), Brawl (L), Streetfight (L) - Net Result: Loss

Vs Artavasdes II: Duel (L), Brawl (L), Streetfight (L) - Net Result: Loss

Vs Eighbris: Duel (L), Brawl (D), Streetfight (W) - Net Result: Draw +0.5

Vs Seraphine: Duel (W), Brawl (L), Streetfight (L) - Net Result: Loss

Edited March 25 by Frostwander (see edit history)

[Lady Serpentine]

At the same time as the steady stream of far more prominent diplomatic vessels, a merchant convoy (from distant Veehra, of all places!) makes its approach to the North Way Cluster, bypassing the airways set aside for the festivities entirely in favor of seeking out the nearest market. Entirely, that is, save for one small personnel carrier that peels off from the larger group. Like the ships it accompanied, it’s clearly been retrofitted for the Badalian atmosphere by hands well-used to hostile atmospheres, but with little direct experience with the unique challenges posed by Badal. 

 

The harsh light of the Badalian sun gleams off a glassy black surface as it drifts towards one of the landing platforms, thrusters occasionally flaring an acidic green as some blast of wind tries to throw it off course. While the specifics are unfamiliar, it’s clearly armed; on the upper hull, a large single-barreled turret with a bulbous blue-tinted canopy at the back of it swivels to track any nearby craft, and beneath the vessel at the rear, a smaller bubble with three comparatively slim barrels set on either side of it does the same. 

 

A ramp folds out from the side of the transport the moment it’s settled onto its spidery, oddly articulated landing legs. Five figures in full environmentally sealed infantry armor quickly make their way down it, and it swings shut again the moment the last one steps off - as much work as went into ensuring it would be as capable of withstanding Badal’s atmosphere as possible, it’s best not to put that to the test any more than can be avoided. 

 

All five’s armor has the same glassy black sheen as the transport itself. Where four sets are unadorned, however, the leader’s has the emblem of the Twilight League emblazoned on the left breast, and an elaborate lightning bolt runs from the base of their neck to their right foot. Their helmet is also in a different style, with an elaborate filtration apparatus painted in crimson and hold in place of the the understated vents on the rest.  

 

Each of them also has a pistol prominently displayed on their hip, opposite a pair of long knives. No heavier weapons are in immediate evidence… Though the rearmost two are holding a heavy case between them that is most likely serving as a polite fiction. It might just be dueling equipment, of course, and indeed some of it probably is. But between the size and the general reputation of Vesper, there’s almost certainly something inside that packs more of a punch too.  

 

The turrets’ continued movement hints at the presence of further crew aboard, though if so, they seem to have no intention of making themselves known, at least as yet. Regardless of if that’s truly the case or they’re automated, the upper one remains much the same as it was in the air. The one at the rear, on the other hand - whether because it now lacks angles on any other targets or as a deliberate priority - swivels to track the ground crews as they move in, lingering uncomfortably on them. 

 

The five wordlessly (though not soundlessly; it may not be full powered armor, but their current attire is still relatively heavy and unsubtle) make their across the landing pad to the nearest sky shuttle. Once inside, the leader does finally speak, her voice distorted slightly by her helmet speakers and competing with the faint hiss of her air system, but otherwise surprisingly clear and pleasant. 

 

“Seraphine of the Twilight League, and escort. I am here to compete in the tournament?” 

 

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Knightly Duel: Military +9 - Seraphine was well-versed in combat (including a dueling tradition) in her first life, both on and off the ground, and the time since her rebirth in Vesper has only honed her skills - at both forms, since her recent victory against the Cloudburst Confederation. Still, it’s the former that’s the most relevant. For all that one might intuitively expect fighting aboard an aerostat to resemble a boarding action, the formal structure and relatively open arena means very little actually translates to Bironian dueling. She fights with a straight sword that crackles with electricity, an unanticipated counterpart to the Sword of Revolutions - albeit one far less storied - that assuredly catches the attention of some in the crowd. 

 

Pirate Brawl: Military +9 (Admiral’s exception) - Much of Seraphine’s life in Vesper has been more or less a protracted series of gang fights, if gang fights tended to result in the losers being eaten. It’s experience that serves her in good stead in the cramped conditions of the Brawl, particularly in combination with a natural talent for improvisation that lends her an upper hand against opponents less willing to be flexible in what they consider a potential weapon. 

 

Caged Streetfight: Military +9 - Seraphine brings the same sword she wielded in the Knightly Duel once more, but this time supplements it with an array of knives and a pistol wielded in her offhand. Perhaps not the best she could do, were she to truly take a no-holds-barred approach… But bringing a grenade launcher to a duel seems in poor taste, and even something like a rifle with armor-piercing rounds runs the risk of piercing the aerostat itself.