The Blade and the Cycle

Oh oh smack his wrist and make him drop his weapons that'll be great

> aim for the heart. Currently, the quickest way there is through the use of stabbing

Toy with him, keep him at distance. If he calls you out on it, say goading an easily-enraged enemy into losing their composure is a legitimate strategy.

Stall a little. Make it boring and see if the crowds will loosen enough for Aquinna to do what she needs to do.

Keep your distance. See if you can't take off a finger or something if he tries to get close. How brutal are these sword fights, anyway?

Fight serious, this is deeper than shallow words and shallow swordplay can cover. If you make this a show then the wounds get deeper. Fight.
Of course not to kill, but for victory nontheless.

Haven't you fought this guy before? Use your prior experience to your advantage but test to see if his current mood affects his approach to fighting. It could be that he has taken to fighting to the death (and thus, the green lady's hesitation to fight), which would be bad for you if you don't figure it out before he aims for somewhere lethal.

Anyway, you've got a quick, light weapon so you can strike fast to test his defenses and move fast to dodge attacks. Gather information.

>Go for his belt! He can't fight with his pants down!

Keep an eye on his dagger. It's traditionally defensive, I know, but I'm not sure how honorable he feels like being right now.

> Do you have standard duel openings like in chess? If so, do one.

Stall a little. Make it boring and see if the crowds will loosen enough for Aquinna to do what she needs to do.

There is much Actium will do for a lady as vivacious as Aquinna. But being boring is never going to be one of them.

Actium takes a deep breath, and in his exhalation pushes all distraction and capacity for pain from his body.

He loosens his wrist, and flicks the tip of his rapier up and down.

Oh oh smack his wrist and make him drop his weapons that'll be great

He goes for a tricky opening, steering for Gelton's hand in an effort to loosen his grip. But at the close range the crowd affords, Gelton can bring that keen dagger into play and he knows it. A vicious flurry drives Actium's point away.



Actium feels the balance of the fight shifting ever so slightly in Gelton's favor:


Gelton has gained momentum, and his attacks pack an extra punch. When the balance is in your favor, strong, daring attacks will have more success, but overconfidence can betray you.

Speaking of betrayal, Gelton has won some of the favor of the crowd over to him:


Audience support is, as immaterial and fleeting as it may seem, a hefty portion of any duel. Get them cheering your name with flashy quips and flashier swordplay, and the morale factor is huge.
Gelton won't hold onto it for long. Showboating is Actium's specialty.

> Do you have standard duel openings like in chess? If so, do one.

A standard opening, when fighting a man with a shorter blade, is to pull away. This time Actium elects for the old tried-and-true. He's on stable footing, and at this distance he can afford to probe at Gelton a little, both with his longer blade and with his razor tongue. Gelton's weakness is certainly his pride.

> Circle around him, keeping your distance for now. Keep making a few stabs and lunges, but only so that Gelton keeps busy. Once he falls into the rhythm of it surprise him with a flurry of attacks.

Bait him out into over-extending himself, then show him what-for.

Talk smack stab calcium

Sure hope captain prissy over there doesn't mind getting his clothing torn.
Go for the standard defensive ranged poke strat while he has the momentum. Get ready to counter any flourishes.

See if you can get a punch in.