[sb118-valkyrie] Ensign Arthur Strathmore - Is That a Dagger Which I Hear Before Me?
Arthur Strathmore
((Near the Bastille, Holodeck 1, Deck 5, USS Valkyrie-A))
Arthur stepped up to support.
Strathmore: Well, said!
Zol nodded her approval as well.
Schomberg ran his fingers through his mustache in anger.
Schomberg: More insults? I see you have no intention of retracting your accusations against my Lord Duke.
He placed his hand on the hilt of his sheathed blade, prompting Vaysha to do the same.
Zol: ::To Arthur:: This is about to kick off, I think.
Arthur nodded to Zol before returning his gaze to his foes.
Lennai: Never! I shall carve you like the Swiss carves cheese!
oO Perhaps, a quote from classic literature to elevate my speech. Oo
Strathmore: I am going to be a storm, a flame!
Riberac: You knaves! Now you shall see what true steel feels like!
Arthur drew his blade. He pulled the pommel into his chest and twisted the sword before swishing it thusly.
oO Despite the thinness of this rapier, it sure is heavy. Oo
Schomberg: May God help you for you shall get none from us!
Entragues: I shall make you eat your words!
The duel had begun in earnest. Entragues rushed ahead and so did Vaysha, but Janai had little time to focus on their fight. Her own foe Riberac was coming straight for her, rapier pointed at her throat. She parried with her short blade, stayed on the defensive.
Arthur thrusted his blade forward, but Schomberg immediately parried him.
There was a crash off to the side, and an apple was seen flying past for some reason.
Lennai: You embarrass yourself, you ruftish common-kissing baggage!
Vaysha let out an aristocratic laugh. Again and again Riberac came at Zol, and again and again Zol parried. She was holding her own, for now.
Arthur tried to find some sort of opening in Schomberg’s defense, but each time he was parried. He watched as Schomberg’s face slowly changed as he realized that Arthur had no skill whatsoever. His parries became lazier and lazier and his expression was nearing boredom.
Zol: Tired yet, Riberac?
Strathmore: My fight is not going well!
Riberac: I'll sleep when you're dead!
Schomberg: This is who the King sends? Are his allies so few? My opponent seems blind and soon he truly will be.
Schomberg unfurled his cape and held it in his off-hand. He was preparing something.
Entragues: I will make you eat your words!
Zol, Arthur, and Vaysha all fought. There were no shouts of pain so far, so things were going at least okay.
Lennai: Someone is ehhh.. unhappy!
Zol glanced at Vaysha's direction, saw her jump onto a market stand, dodging blows all the while. A flash of steel brought her attention back, and she barely moved out of the way as Riberac lunged for her. She dodged and weaved, took a step back, another - then met someone behind her. Arthur.
Zol: Still alive, Ensign?
Strathmore: I am— AH!
Zol parried Riberac's blade, spun, pushed Schomberg away from Arthur with a thrust of her rapier.
Riberac: Two for the price of one, then! Have at thee!
Schomberg: Be still and let us not prolong this, worms!
The situation was becoming confusing - too many swords in one place. Zol moved away from Arthur, back out into the open street of the market, guiding Riberac away from his companions, her boots kicking up mud as she fell back.
She struck out once, twice, feinting to the right, thrusting left. Her last attempt found its mark, leaving a red line on Riberac's arm, causing his eyes to widen.
Zol: What's the matter, your grace? Surprised?
Lennai: Response
Strathmore: Good on you, Zol!
Riberac: Insolent cur!
Schomberg: We shall make corpses out of you!
Entragues: Response
Riberac charged forward, incensed by her words, and it was all Zol could do to fall back. She parried each blow, their force almost overwhelming, her arm crying out in pain with each strike. She went to take another step back but her foot landed on something - she lost her balance, found herself lying face up in the mud, her weapons thankfully still in her hands.
Zol: ::Wincing:: Damn.
Strathmore: Zol!
Arthur went to attack Schomberg, but was again parried and smacked with the flat of Schomberg’s blade, causing Arthur to stumble forward and Schomberg to pivot. He now had a full view of Arthur’s exposed back. It was looking dire indeed.
Lennai: Response
Riberac: I have you now! You will rue the day you insulted our Duke!
Schomberg: Dispatch them, Riberac!
Entragues: Response
Riberac's blade swung down, and Zol’s body moved on its own. She was rolling through the mud, blades clutched to her chest. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Riberac's rapier stab the ground where she'd just had been, then she was up. She thrust, and her rapier found Riberac right in his stomach.
The man fell with a cry of pain that quickly turned hoarse. She'd got him good - he'd die, but not soon.
Zol: Do you yield?
Lennai: Response
Riberac: I yield.
Before Arthur could celebrate Zol’s win over Riberac. He heard Schomberg growl and suddenly Arthur couldn’t see. Arthur felt for his face with his free hand and felt fabric.
oO His cape! He’s thrown his cape over my face! Oo
Before he could pull the fabric free. He felt a foot in his face and he was sent forward into the ground. Arthur groaned as he made an impact.
oO I don’t think I’m cut out for early modern Paris. Oo
Entragues: Response
Arthur heard a second blade being unsheathed in his sightless state. Was that a dagger he heard before him? He saw it not, yet he heard it still.
Schomberg: Worms you are and back to the ground you shall go.
But instead of finishing Arthur off, he heard the clanging of metal on metal.
oO Wow, I really am not good enough for him and I programmed him. Oo
Entragues/Lennai/Riberac/Zol: Response
The sounds of the fight only grew.
Schomberg: For 9 months, I besieged La Rochelle. This is an ease in compare.
Entragues/Lennai/Riberac/Zol: Response
Finally, Arthur managed to stand and pull the cape from his face. The four fought with much more skill than he. Arthur didn’t mind. Maybe he would get better with practice.
oO My other programs are easier for me, because I am usually using magic. Alas, no magic in a historical program. Oo
Strathmore: You’ve got this!
Schomberg screamed out at Arthur’s words.
Schomberg: Silence!
Entragues/Lennai/Riberac/Zol: Response
Ensign Arthur Strathmore
Medical Officer
USS Valkyrie, NCC-76418-A
D240012AS1