"Guess not," he replied matter-of-factly to the Duchess as he watched her gracefully maneuver around his blow. "Oh I am. First blood is always the sweetest."

Baited and unabated, what started off as a match in his favor quickly spirals out of his control. Try as he might to land a second blow, his attacks do little good. Worn, he had been worn down by the combined combat of Krysten and Varis without enough rest. But this excuse, he did not use or say. It was through sheer will and determination that he continued on. The slice to his stomach was quick and caused his teeth to clench at the sudden pain. It was the same area, the same area the Mandalorian punished with multiple blows. Instinctively, his arm thrust a counter but that counter had been blinded by that flash of pain. He'd get her... he didn't know when...but he'd get her...

[private to GM: 18:32, Today: Secret Roll: Joron Sarrus rolled 15 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 7. Missing Varis - Now with fixed BAB!.
18:14, Today: Secret Roll: Joron Sarrus rolled 19 using 1d20+15 with rolls of 4. Block!.

Each miss. Also, I think Joron has exceeded his hitpoints in damage from the two combats he's been in. So I'm playing him as described above. He should last long enough to be poked one last time before he falls down. :) ]

Varis shoots back a mockingly saccharine grin. "First blood is sweetest, but the victor has the most satisfaction."

She lunges again, this time towards Joron's shoulder, intending to offer him an unpleasant bruise and additional reminder of their encounter.

[Private to Joron Sarrus:
Don't worry about the hit points. The damage rolls are really just to be rolling. It would be much more reasonable, since it's 3 points to win, to say each hit did 1 point of damage.

It'll hit unless he Blocks.

14:17, Today: Secret Roll: Varis Rei rolled 25 using 1d20+11 with rolls of 14. To Hit Joron.
14:18, Today: Secret Roll: Varis Rei rolled 11 using 1d6+5 with rolls of 6. Damage. ]

All time seemed to slow as Varis' blade thrust for his shoulder. A bruise, a slight, a manner of offense to his ego, that was what she wished to leave him. To harry and humble him like a civil servant. But Joron was not compliant with the lady's arrogance, nor was he compliant with going down so early. With a swift movement of his arm, he blocked the incoming attack.

"You've not won yet," he snarled, feeling his anger boil from within, then aimed his own blade for the lady.

[private to GM: Looks like I finally landed a block when it counts! Of course...I missed the attack.

19:37, Today: Joron Sarrus rolled 14 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 6.
19:34, Today: Secret Roll: Joron Sarrus rolled 31 using 1d20+15 with rolls of 16. Block. ]

Varis laughs in response to Joron's snarl. "Oh, I think that one might have hurt," she quips as she spins out of the path of his blade, "if you'd managed another lucky thrust.

"Do I detect a hint of anger, Joron?" she taunts. Obviously, Varis's fighting style is as much mental as physical, with the wry comments and barbs designed to throw her opponent off balance.

She strikes at Joron's sword arm this time.

[Private to Joron Sarrus:
14:51, Today: Secret Roll: Varis Rei rolled 24 using 1d20+11 with rolls of 13. To Hit Joron.
14:51, Today: Secret Roll: Varis Rei rolled 6 using 1d6+5 with rolls of 1. Damage. ]

"Are you kidding me?" Joron asks, his voice full of mock pain. "I've been in pain since I ate that slop you prepared for dinner! Just whom taught you to cook, anyway?"

"Oh you'd be angry too if you ate something like that and you got poked in the stomach," Like Varis, his dueling style used wits and tongue as much as it did feints and grace. However, unlike the Duchess, thus far, she'd been coming out on top.

Seeing through her attack, Joron parried her incoming blow then stepped through her guard to capture his second point of the match. "Guess it's my lucky day, eh?"

[private to GM: If her reflex is less than 27, I guess you get to roll block for once~

20:07, Today: Joron Sarrus rolled 7 using 1d6+2 with rolls of 5.
20:03, Today: Joron Sarrus rolled 27 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 19. Luck.
20:01, Today: Secret Roll: Joron Sarrus rolled 25 using 1d20+15 with rolls of 10. Block. ]

Or, at least Joron thought he was going to capture his second point. At the last instant, with prescient grace, Varis avoids the blow which Joron was certain should have hit.

"Oh, so close. You know what they say, though: close only counts with proton torpedoes and concussion grenades," she jests. "Better luck next time.

"Your satire is as poor as your aim, Joron."

There's no attack with blade this round, but those watching have the distinct impression that salvos have been launched nonetheless.

[Private to Joron Sarrus:
15:25, Today: Secret Roll: Varis Rei rolled 20 using 1d20+19 with rolls of 1. Castigate Joron.
-2 to your Defenses through the end of her next turn.
Glad that one came on a skill roll and not an attack roll.]

"Or your vocabulary," Joron quipped as he flourished his blade. "That blow must have really gotten to your pride, Varis. What's the matter, unable to let it go and think up something new?"

[private to GM: I assume you just beat me with a feint? In any case, I rolled a feint vs you.

20:48, Today: Joron Sarrus rolled 20 using 1d20+10 with rolls of 10. feint. ]

Varis chuckles. "When I've won our little bout, here, I shall be more than pleased to educate you in the full range and depth of my vocabulary. Should you, somehow, turn the tables, you'll still receive a thorough tutoring."

Varis lunges again, quick and bold, a thrust at Joron's visor.

[Private to Joron Sarrus: Not a feint. Noble talent from Scum and Villainy. Castigate. Persuasion vs. your Will Defense. -2 to all of your Defenses through the end of this turn.
And in case it was unclear, Varis did avoid Joron's last attack. The score still stands at Varis 2: Joron 1.

15:56, Today: Secret Roll: Varis Rei rolled 24 using 1d20+12 with rolls of 12. Initiative vs. Deception.
15:56, Today: Secret Roll: Varis Rei rolled 16 using 1d20+11 with rolls of 5. To Hit Joron.
15:57, Today: Secret Roll: Varis Rei rolled 7 using 1d6+5 with rolls of 2. Damage.

You can not help but Block that, in spite of the fact that it would otherwise hit because of Castigate. LoL. I think I'll not do that again.]

"Oh I can imagine," Joron grins, easily blocking the lady's strike toward his visor. "Not used to losing, are you?"

"But sure, if you've something worth teaching," he said, swinging his weapon toward the Duchess. "I'll listen." Maybe.
[private to GM: Ah, no wonder I didn't recognize it. Oh I didn't think the attack hit her, else she'd call it another lucky shot and hmm. Shame I don't know what her reflex is~

Another round, another block.
21:12, Today: Joron Sarrus rolled 14 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 6. Attack. - Miss.

Also, pay no mind to the die roller's screwy added perception rolls. Happened from miss-clicks when I went to roll attack, haha.]

"I don't lose often, and the losses are never permanent. I can find advantage in any turn of events."

She thrusts again, exactly the same as her last attack.

[Private to Joron Sarrus: 16:50, Today: Secret Roll: Varis Rei rolled 6 using 1d6+5 with rolls of 1. Damage.
16:49, Today: Secret Roll: Varis Rei rolled 20 using 1d20+11 with rolls of 9. To Hit Joron. ]

The blow connects, stopping whatever quip Joron might have said in reply. Stunned and defeated, his counter, too, stops before it begins. It took the redhead quite some time but she did it, she finally did it...she bested him with a sword. Taking a step back, he removes the visor from his head then shakes his hair loose.

"Looks like I'm done," he said, shrugging off the defeat like he didn't care. Though, perhaps under that nonchalant shell, he did. "I'll meet you later about those lessons, you can do all the tongue wagging then."

Varis's arrogant swagger and attitude vanish beneath a polite facade as soon as Joron concedes the bout. "Well fought, Joron. That was admirably done. With a little more practice in the real world under your belt, you'll have no trouble besting me, I think."

She runs the spot that Joron hit with her fingertips. "I thought perhaps you did have me, given that first hit. Very well done. It's a good thing I'm not planning on wearing anything low cut for a few days, for I'll have a bruise there that will be most unseemly. Ah well, that's what bacta is for, yes?" she asks with a smile.

Joron gave a modest shrug of his shoulders. Maybe if he stopped wasting his time on petty bets with his peers and racing around the galaxy, his skill with a blade would bloom into something far more admirable. "Maybe, but with the way you move, I think even then I'll have trouble landing a blow," he admitted after careful consideration of her graceful footwork.

A visage of innocence appeared on the noble's young face as Varis ran her fingers where he first attacked. "Yielding the initiative worked for and against you. It allowed me to show you my skill but," he gestured towards the redhead's chest. It was to her own body's peril. "Once you went on the defensive," he just shook his head. "Where did you learn to fence to fence like that?"

"It was a calculated risk, allowing you the advantage of the first attack. In a real fight... well, I wouldn't have willing ceded initiative to you." She stretches a bit as she turns her attention to Krysten and Aadun, working out the tension in her chest. Better to endure a little discomfort now than real soreness later.

"As for my training, the daughter of a Duke has the best instructors money and connections can buy. My fencing master was probably the best duelist in the galaxy during his heyday. Rumor had it that as a young man he'd had the opportunity to face Jedi in duels and won, although I never heard it from him."

As Varis turns her eyes to the pistol range, Joron moves opposite of her for a bottle of water. "Water?" He asked, offering the victor something to quench her thirst.

"Ah, that would explain it...safe to say I've had similar training." He shrugged, offering little more information about his training than that.

Varis takes the offered bottle. "Thank you."

She chuckles. "Noble fencing styles around the galaxy tend to have a lot in common, although I'm sure a few distinctive moves here or there are telling, similar to how dialects work."

Aadun grinned at Krysten and then got into position.  "You're pretty good," he says while he is taking aim.  Just before he started to shoot, he stands up a little straighter and his face hardens in concentration.  Just like Krysten, he also shoots out a stream of blasts, hitting the target every time.

Once he was done with his last shot, he steps back and sets it back down on the table.

[Private to Krysten Tyner: And my results are...  *insert drum roll here*

You rolled 25 using 1d20+5 ((20)).
You rolled 15 using 1d20+5 ((10)).
You rolled 22 using 1d20+5 ((17)).
You rolled 13 using 1d20+5 ((8)).
You rolled 24 using 1d20+5 ((19)).
You rolled 13 using 1d20+5 ((8)).
You rolled 22 using 1d20+5 ((17)).
You rolled 17 using 1d20+5 ((12)).
You rolled 25 using 1d20+5 ((20)).
You rolled 19 using 1d20+5 ((14)).
]

Varis walks over and pats Aadun on the shoulder. "I'm glad I didn't bet this time around. Nothing personal, Aadun, but my money would've been on Krysten. Why don't you keep your credits from our little wager for surprising me."

She looks around. "Anyone else up for a match of something or are we ready to call it a night?"

Krysten shakes her head as Aadun puts every shot on target.

"Nicely done.  It's nice to know that even the delegation members can defend themselves if necessary."

She safed the pistol and set it on the desk.

"I believe I'm going to go ahead and return to my quarters.  Thanks for the sparring, everyone.  I'm certainly more confident in our chances should anything go wrong."

After any replies, she leaves through the turbolift she came in and heads back to her quarters.

[Private to Aadun Ogden: Good job.  That first roll of mine really sucked.]

Aadun's skill with a pistol garnered the smallest perk of Joron's noble brow. He was impressive, most impressive. Slicer must have been another word for gunslinger where the Zabrak did business. But then, someone in his line of work would need to be able to defend himself.

"Maybe some other time." Joron replies to Varis with a slow shake of his head. "I think my body would like a nice relaxing shower. Perhaps after we can meet for those lessons you promised?"

Aadun wasn't sure what to think about his underdog status and while it confused him, he did as Varis asked and didn't really take it personally.  He nods his head and says, "Thank you.  I'm glad I could put on a good show."

He turns to Krysten and nods his head at her.  "I enjoyed the match.  Have a good night."

[Private to Krysten Tyner: Thanks.  The dice roller can be very fickle.]

Varis nods. "That will be fine, Joron. I'll see you later and we can chat in private."

Nodding to Varis and Aadun, Joron leaves the fencing equipment neatly on the table then exits the weapon salon. Though he had lost both of his matches, that seemed to be of little, if any, concern. Right now, the only thing on his mind was a shower and that was not something he was about to lose out on.

Kala stood up from her spot on the floor, and nodded to Varis.

"Thank you for the excellent meal, and the chance to work some of it off." She said, as she stretched, and began to make her way out of the room. She nodded to Krysten and Aadun as she walked out. "I hope you have a good evening."

"Since it seems like we are all done, I suppose I will go see about some sleep, myself," he says to whomever may be left.  He clasps his hands behind his back and turns to head off to his room.