The Blade and the Cycle

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.