Ensign Janai Zol - Rules of Engagement

[Janai Zol]

((Outside Holodeck 1, Deck 5, USS Valkyrie-A))

Janai had planned for some simple holodeck exercising, but she'd stumbled into a medieval reenactment instead - just her style.

Zol: Do you mind if I join? ::Points at her weapons:: I have some experience with HEMA. Do you fence?

The Counselor looked to Ensign Lennai again.

Strathmore: I don’t see why not and no, not in any serious way. I am a play pretender through and through.

The Counselor laughed at himself.

Lennai: I've not fenced myself, no. You're more than welcome to join though, of course.

Janai smiled, and watched as Counselor Strathmore reconfigured the holodeck's program.

Strathmore: Alright, let me give you the rundown. There are two factions of this duel. The Mignons and the Guise. We shall be playing the role of the Mignons, allies and lovers of the King of France, Henri III. We will be confronted by the Guise rivals to the King’s authority in a horse market near the Bastille. Anything else you want to know?

Janai was familiar with Earth history - doubly so when it came to anything connected to dueling. From what she could remember, the Duel les Mignons had ended badly for almost everyone involved.

Zol: A bloody affair, then. 

Lennai: Yes, who will we be?

Strathmore: Our names are Caylus, Maugiron, and Livarot.

Lennai: Those are certainly unique names.

Zol: Maugiron is indeed a last name. The other two, Caylus and Livarot, are not names, but rather titles. Count of Caylus and Baron of Livarot. From what I remember, these three didn't have a good time in the duel, right?

Janai tested the grip of her weapons. She cleaned them regularly, and she knew they would be up to the task - even if the task was dying, if they wanted to stick to historical accuracy. For her part, she'd prefer winning.

Strathmore: No, Caylus and Maugiron were killed during the duel and were given lavish funerals by the King. The King banned dueling and then was assassinated later in his life. Livarot, however, survived and had quite the career as a cavalry captain. But enough of my boring lecture. Let us live history and see if we can change our fate, eh? Who wants to be Livarot?

Lennai: I feel that the experienced fencer should be the one who initially survived.

Zol: ::Smiling:: I will certainly not deny a chance at life. Though I can't vouch for my later career as cavalry officer - I've only ridden a horse once.  

It hadn't been a good experience. The horse had been nice enough, used to inexperienced riders. She'd been the issue, even the memory of her bouncing on the saddle enough to upset both Zol and her stomach.

Strathmore: Response

Lennai: What kind of clothes will we be wearing, anyhow?

Zol: Uncomfortable ones, to be honest. High collars. Ruffles everywhere. Hose and stockings. Jerkins, doublets, capes - feathers and flowers in your hair, if you want to show off. 

The clothes would be tight for sure, but they did allow good mobility, which was necessary in combat. And she did like the cuffs on such clothing.

Strathmore: Response

Lennai: Oh dear. ::Chuckling.::

Zol: ::Draws rapier:: This was the weapon of the age, when it came to duels. The rapier. It's light, easy to wield, practical. ::Holds it out:: Give it a try, if you'd like. 

Most of all, using a rapier brought to mind images of dancing. The sword was light, allowing one to focus on their footwork to score hits, using very little strength to do so. 

Strathmore/Lennai: Response

Zol: Some people fought only with the rapier, wielding it with one hand. ::Draws dagger:: Others wielded this little guy in their off-hand, mostly to parry and control the battle. ::Holds it out:: Feel its weight. You can also try a small shield, a buckler. Or be stylish and throw a cloak over your off-hand, use that to try and conceal your movements, or grab the foe's blade - though you might just cut your hand. Anything goes, really. 

She'd settled on daggers after giving everything else a try. Having her off-hand free felt silly, as if she was leaving herself defenseless. Cloaks and bucklers felt a bit too cumbersome, at least to her. 

Strathmore/Lennai: Response

Zol: ::Sheathes weapons:: Are we ready? Oh, one last thing. We're going to bleed and spill blood together - virtually, at least. Are you alright with using our first names? 

Strathmore/Lennai: Response

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Ensign Janai Zol

Science Officer

USS Valkyrie-A, NCC-76418-A
V240304JZ2