Brun, the charming Edge-Knight is set to face off against the vivacious and fierce Princess Meara of Venus. Each is a fierce combatant and speculation on the winner of the match has been incredibly heated. But only one victor may emerge!

OOC:
Same map as before guys. Each of you roll Mark to determine initiative and the winner will go first.

  Near Station
   /         \
Start 1 --- Start 2
   \         /
  Above Callisto
        |
Callisto Surface

Aspects in play:
Sharp-dressed man (1 free invoke)
Know your Opponents
Hyper-Efficient Reactor

OOC: I got a 6.
15:33, Tue 19 Aug 2014: Meara rolled 2 using 4 Fudge dice ((0, 1, 0, 1)).

Brun had tried to fight down his doubts as he prepared Euryleia for the coming bout.  He had convinced himself that it was just another fight.   Another chance for his Lady to dance her terrible dance of war.   He still believed it as he guided Euryleia to the starting coordinates.

But then his viewscreens were filled with the sight of the Venusian Armor.  So much like his sisters'.   So much.   He knew instantly again who he now faced.  A true Valkyrie.  His false confidence shattered.  All the old insecurities about his abilities cane rushing back.   What hope did a disgraced prove have against a true warrior?

And when the time sounded,  he made his first mistake.   He hesitated...

All you Meara!

Almost instantly, Meara leans forward in Brunhildr and engages her Ellida Boosters and Lævateinn Blade, eager to face someone so clearly experienced in battle.  Something inside of her nags at her mind, trying to tell her his hesitation isn't right, but her battle training tells her to capitalize on any and all mistakes made by an opponent, and that overrides her reason and logic as her adrenaline kicks in, causing her to slash at Euryleia's body on pure reflex.

Still, something holds her back, and she doesn't have the time to think about it just yet.

OOC:
15:26, Today: Meara rolled -2 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, -1, -1, 1. +2 Melee, +2 Lævateinn Blade (+4), +2 Hyper Efficient Reactor.
Yeah, I'm starting this all-out and invoking my one Advantage first thing.  Even if I need to use a Fate Point.  Lemme know if I do, MerLN.
Total: 4.

Warning klaxons blared as the Valkyrie rocketed across the dueling zone.   Brun's eyes widened in shock at powerful rush and he very nearly hesitated again to his doom.   But,  he had designed his Lady well and his own instinct for survival too ingrained now.   Euryleia initiated an automated defensive maneuver, swinging the disruption foils across in a double parry.  The warding matrix too sprang to life, adding is crackling energy to push back against the heavier Armor's hit.   Brun swung his Lady away after that, trying to spin her away gracefully.   But it's obvious to all that the sudden strike surprised him.   The grace and elegance of the first fight's dance just isn't there.

"Fight you, fool.   It's why we came!," Brun growled at himself as his hands flew over the controls.   He still want sure how he could win, but his Lady had many tricks to try and even the odds.  Small hatches snapped open across the strange armor, releasing a flurry of flares and sensor strobes at close range.   At the same time,  Brun initiated an ECM assault on the Valkyrie's detection systems.   Hard to hit what you can't find.

Burning a FP to tag I Will Survive.   Defense total 4, which grants a boost.

Create Advantage: Sensor Ghosts.   Burn FP to tag Renounced Prince on the Edge (pirate tricks) Total - 9


08:04, Today: Brun rolled 2 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 1, 1, 0. Create  Advantage!  Cunning  +3, Win or Die +2.

08:02, Today: Brun rolled -2 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, -1, 0, 0. Defend! Melee +2, Warding Matrix +2.


This message was last edited by the player at 11:59, Thu 18 Sept 2014.

OOC:
For Clarity's Sake: Brun's defense roll grants a boost to Meara.

Brun, is that aspect of the Scene or on Meara? If it's the scene, you succeed with Style and get two free invokes, but Meara would also be able to invoke it too. If it's on her, she'll get to make an opposed roll.

OOC: Since that aspect will be created on Meara/Brunhilder, Meara you get roll a defense against it. Armour is the likely skill. Then take your turn like normal. Since you guys can see each other's sheets you should be able to determine everything yourselves.

I'll be on hand to answer any questions,update the map and the aspects. You're more than welcome to do that yourselves if you want to though.

As her first blow bounces hard off of Euryleia's plating, Meara focuses herself purely on the next blow, unfortunately not paying proper attention to the electronic warfare aspect of the duel.  To her credit, however, she does attempt to maintain close proximity with Euryleia, trying to keep her opponent in direct line of sight as she slashes once again, this time going for a chink in the slightly mismatched armor.

OOC:
My Boost shall be Off Balance Opponent, which I am going to use immediately on my next attack.

20:18, Today: Meara rolled -2 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, -1, -1, -1. +4 Armour Defense.
I can't match his roll, even if I tried.  He's got his advantage, and boy howdy.  Total 2, meaning I fail by... 7.  WELP.  This is gonna be interesting!

20:20, Today: Meara rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, 1, -1, -1. +2 Melee, +2 Lævateinn Blade. +2 Boost (+6).
Total: 6 to defend against.
Going for straight damage, here.

Luckily, all the sensor ghosts are making it hard to figure out exactly where Euryleia is.   Even with all the disruption,  Brun his hard put to keep his Lady out of harm's way.  "How can she do that...   Too close... too close by half," as the heavy Laevateinn blade sweeps in again and snaps against the defensive matrix's energy shield.

"Recommend increasing distance to reduce enemy proximity.   Thrusters charging." offers the voice the Lady herself,  helpfully.

Brun couldn't help but agree, then an idea occurred seconds before he fired the thrusters.   Working swiftly,  he rerouted the power to purposely blow out a few redundant auxiliary systems near the thrusters.   If he timed it right,  it should look like Euryleia's power spiked, overloading the maneuvering thrusters.  The patchwork Armor would look vulnerable for a moment,  but it was all a feint....

Defense Total 7, burning a free invoke of Sensor Ghosts and burning another FP to tag Euryleia is my everything.

Another Create Advantage.   This time Broken Wing Gambit.  Brun is trying to make it look like his Armor malfunctioned as is open to attack.   A cunning feint.   Create Advantage total - 5

08:39, Today: Brun rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 1, 0, -1. Create Advantage: Broken Wing Gambit -  Cunning +3, Win or Die +2.

08:30, Today: Brun rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, 1, 0, -1. Melee Defense! Melee +2, Matrix +2.

Shocked when she sees his Armor 'malfunction,' Meara pulls away to give him more distance, hoping he can fix whatever problem just occurred so they can resume their duel in an honorable fashion.  "Are you alright?" she attempts to ask him over the radio, but the static from the ECM makes garbled and difficult to understand.

OOC:

17:44, Today: Meara rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, -1, -1, 0. +1 Chivalry (See through the trick).  Total: 0
Compelling my High Concept "Naive Valkyrie" to grant Brun a second free invocation for his new advantage.
17:48, Today: Meara rolled -3 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, -1, -1, 0. +1 Chivalry (Create Advantage).  Total: -2
The dice really don't like me this round, do they?

Also, we should be at least two, if not three, spaces away from one another, depending on where Brun moved to get away.  If Brun is in one of the top three areas, Meara is in the area Callisto Surface.  Otherwise, she's in the area Near Station.

The crowd eagerly watches the duel between the two Venusians. The early exchanges send up cheers and shouts, but it's Brun's Gambit that surprises the crowd, "Look! She's got him. He can't maneuver." "Don't mess up that pretty face!" "She's letting him recover! She's an honorable knight, she is!" All eyes are glued to the viewscreens waiting to see the knights square up and begin again.

OOC:
Meara get a Fate point for your compel.

Brun you've got the Broken Wing Gambit Aspect with 3 Free invokes, thanks to Meara taking a compel. Have fun, but remember, some people might view it as a dirty trick and act accordingly.

Near Station
      Meara
   /         \
Start 1 --- Start 2
   \         /
  Above Callisto
        |
Callisto Surface
      Brun

Aspects in Play
Sharp-dressed man (1 free invoke)
Know your Opponents
Sensor Ghosts (1 free invoke)
Broken Wing Gambit (3 free invokes)
Hyper-Efficient Reactor

Brun had been bracing for the follow up, ready to guide Euryleia's riposte as they, hopefully, sidestepped the Valkyrie's attack on the seemingly vulnerable opening in his defenses.

But there was no attack.  In fact, the Valkyrie had...retreated?  Offering Brun and his Lady a chance to "recover".  He couldn't believe it.  The warrior had not only declined to take an advantage but had drawn back.  Did she see through the ruse so completely?  Or...  Was she truly, chivalrously, allowing her opponent a chance to ready for a new exchange?

Brun couldn't decide.  He was dumbfounded by the move, but thanks to his life on the Edge, erred on the side of paranoia.  He narrowed his scans and fed them through his predictive algorithms, trying to guess at what she was /really/ up to.

Garbled though the transmission was, Brun guessed at the words, but remained cautious, "We are...fine...  We are all fine here...  How are you?"  He winced even as he said it and keyed off the comm.  "Really," He chided himself as he looked over the scans, "How are you...  That's the best you could think of..."

He guided Euryleia to take up a defensive stance, disruption foils set to a high and low guard.  But until he could figure out what she was playing at, Brun made no move.

CA - Predictive Algorithms.  Mark +2.  Roll -2.  Net = 0

Also, would not taking the offensive here, falling back on paranoia and caution despite the opening, make for a good compel on Renounced Prince?  She has bewildered him with responding so honorably.  He just can't trust that it can be as simple as chivalry.

Still, the Valkyrie made no move...

"What is she up to...," muttered Brun, reviewing his scanners /again/, trying to spot her next move.  A subtle  thruster burst.  A subtle re-angling of her blade.  A tracking twitch from a missile pod. Anything.

"Insufficient data," offered the voice of Euryleia matter-of-factly.

It was true.  Brun was getting nothing.  Nothing...  Wait...  "That's it," He said with dawning realization, "She thinks I am nothing...not worth fighting...  Not worthy of the honor of the duel..."  The very thought darkened Brun's mind angrily.  I thought she respected me.   Understood...  Maybe she realized who I really am...  Damn...

"Insufficient data," repeated Euryleia.  He felt she might be trying to point out that he was guessing, but Brun decided to ignore her just this once.  He'd apologize later if he was wrong.

Grimly, he opened a channel across the void to Meara, "What are you playing at, Valkyrie?  Do you refuse to fight my Lady and I fairly?  Is it because I am of the Edge?  Or because you want to remind a Venusian man of his place?"

Meara continues to wait, looking for a sign that her opponent's Armor has fixed itself enough to properly battle again.  And wait.  And wait.  And wait.  Nothing.  No signs.  Of course, it doesn't help that her sensors seem to be malfunctioning, causing her to begrudgingly admit that maybe, just maybe, she should have paid more attention to the technical aspects of her Armor training and not just focused on the bits that let her pilot better.

Then she gets the communique, and she freezes.  He thought she wasn't taking him seriously?  That he wasn't worthy?  How could he?

"How dare you accuse me of such behavior!" she scolds over the same line, "Your armor is clearly malfunctioning, and there is no honor or glory for me in defeating an opponent in a duel whose wounds were not suffered during the duel itself through the direct cause of my actions!  Who you are and where you are from has nothing to do with this!  Accuse me of such behavior again and you will pay for such words dearly!"

OOC:

03:24, Today: Meara rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, -1, 0, 1. Mark +2 (against Predictive Algorithms)
Total: 3  Victory by three steps.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:25, Sun 14 Sept 2014.

Brun frowned at the response, unconvinced, and disconnected the communication,  "Malfunctioning..."   He quickly spun up the thrusters and set up his attack pattern.   "Then we shall have to demonstrate the fully armed and operational status of this battle Armor," muttered the Edge Knight to himself as the graceful Euryleia charged forward,  "Missile pattern epsilon-5.  Execute."  The shoulder mounted quiverpack launcher snapped into place and began loosing a spread of warheads towards the Valkyrie...

Blast Total +1.  Then move one  Zone closer.

12:45, Today: Brun rolled -2 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, -1, -1, 0. Blast +3.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:12, Thu 18 Sept 2014.

Upset at the thoughts of being wrongly accused of thinking poorly of her opponent's worthiness in battle, and also by the sudden proof that she has been tricked, Meara's pupils narrow into fine points as she evades the missiles on pure reflexes before the sides of Brunhildr open to reveal several glowing objects that suddenly fire arcing lances of energy towards Brun and Euryleia.  It is now safe to say that Meara is not holding back in any sense of the phrase.

OOC:

16:09, Today: Meara rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, -1, 1, 1. +4 Armour Defense.
Total: 4
That's another boost

Naming first boost (from previous exchange) - Focused Gaze
Naming second boost (from current exchange) - Momentarily Berserk

Blowing both boosts immediately on the next attack

16:14, Today: Meara rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 0, -1, 0. +7 Blast (+1 skill, +2 eq, +4 boosts).
Total: 6

The return fire from the Valkyrie was scathingly close.   Disruption flares did little good versus the energy bolts,  leaving it up to Brun's piloting and Euryleia's grace.   It was just enough to make it through,  but lines had been scored across Armor surfaces.   Damage Control klaxons wailed quietly while Brun quickly engaged systems to mitigate the "Flesh Wounds. "   "Missile pattern epsilon-9.  Execute."  The command came easily and Brun returned his concentration to closing the distance.   This fight must come down to blades.   The dance of battle.  The ill-fated armour continued to rocket closer,  another salvo of missles leading the way!

Defense total - 6.  A tie gives Meara another Boost,  yes?

Return fire total -  4

Moving one Zone closer thereafter.

11:42, Today: Brun rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, -1, 1, 1. Blast +3.
08:04, Thu 18 Sept: Brun rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, 0, 0, 0. Defend -  Armor +3 vs.  6.

Barely missing her opponent once again, Meara takes advantage of the residual energy signatures from firing her energy beams to distract the incoming missiles just enough to get out with no real damage, although Brunhildr is nonetheless buffeted by harmless shrapnel as she pushes forward to close the distance herself.  If he wanted a fight in melee, he would have one!  Meara temporarily overclocks the boosters as she dashes forward to strike at Euryleia once again with her Lævateinn Blade, aiming to strike something important enough to land an actual, solid blow for the first time in the match.  She won't admit it at the moment, but she's very, very excited to fight someone who can hold their own so well.

OOC:

Moving past the Euryleia thanks to Sleipnir Thrusters, striking from one zone away thanks to the Ellida Boosters, and getting that lovely +2 to melee with the Lævateinn Blade, so I should be in the zone Above Callisto now.

23:56, Today: Meara rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, 0, -1, 1. +4 Armour Defense.
Using the boost for another +2, netting a total of +5 and JUST beating his attack roll, so no boosts are granted from a defense roll for the first time in awhile!
Total: +5 Defense

00:00, Today: Meara rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 1, -1, 1. +2 Melee, +2 Lævateinn Blade, +2 Hyper Efficient Reactor (+6).  Yes, I'm burning a fate point to activate it.
Total: +7 melee attack

""Too fast.....  too fast!"

Brun braced himself as the Valkyrie dove at Euryleia,  blade glittering with furious energy.   It was not often that he and his Lady faced an Armor with speed and agility who match them.   Or exceed them.   Gods she was fast.

The matrix flared as it tried to slow and deflect the force of the blade.   Brun guided his Lady in a turn,  trying to roll away from the blow.   But,  the swift cut still managed to connect high.  The Quiverpack launcher had still been locked in place at the shoulder.   It caught most of the hit,  knocking it from its mounting to crash back kept close only by cabling and mooring wires.

Brun watched the Valkyrie speed off again.   Hands flew as he fired the thrusters,  angling to try and stay close.   He also began disabling safeties and rerouting power to the Boosters.  They needed to close the gap on speed.

Defense total - 5.   Burned a FP to Reroll.   Burned another for Euryleia is my Everything.   Disabling Quiver pack to absorb 2 Stress Hit.

Create Advantage - 3 to Overcharge Boosters.  I figured vs.  Passive that might be enough.

10:53, Today: Brun rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, 0, 0, 0. Create Advantage - Smithy +4 (Overcharged Boosters) .
10:17, Today: Brun rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 0, -1, 0. FP Burn -  Reroll Melee Defense.
10:16, Today: Brun rolled -3 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, -1, -1, 0. Melee Defense! Melee +2, Matrix +2.