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Godiva's frown actually turns upright somewhat, apparently not offended by the idea, even in jest, that she could take the fort on by herself.
But still, two weeks...we do not have that time. "That time frame concerns me as well." She pauses a moment, in thought. "The fort is not that far, a few days short travel, say 3 or 4, and possibly 2-3 days hard march. You could begin your reconnaissance from the start and the rest of us can use the intervening time to prepare for a general combat and meet you there. However, that means planning out strategy while in the field. Does this concern either of you?" |
"I said an accurate account," Dafie clarified, looking utterly unamused by both of the women questioning her answer. "Two weeks allows time to see if there are any changes in schedule from week to week, such as supply drops, rotation of the guard, and similar instances. If we don't believe it necessary, then it isn't necessary. I leave weighing the chances we do and do not wish to take to the tacticians."
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"Hmm, that certainly does seem like a concern, it would be a catastrophe if we failed at this early stage." Lord Nosya looks between Astra and Dafie as though expecting a magical middleground solution to spring up between them.
"Bah, it's a rout of ogres, I doubt they've even heard of half the concerns you just listed." Lord Elgron looks to Astra from beneath his heavy brows. "Meaning no disrespect, of course, my lady, just honest soldier's talk." "On the contrary, I'm inclined to agree. I'd hate to take any losses at all, but between your troops and mine, I'd think we could hit them hard enough in an initial assault to throw them into complete disarray. Getting inside the fortress will be an obstacle of course, but we have the magic to do it." She's done eating at this point, planning the assault is far too interesting. "I say we take all of tomorrow to ready our forces and move out at dawn the next day. Dafie, I want as much information as you can possibly get by then, but don't do anything reckless. If need be I'll sneak in myself to take a look around once we've arrived, but I'm not expecting any real surprises." |
"I suppose we should both go, in that case," Dafie said, not bothering to hide her disappointment with the decision. "I'd been hoping I could get to know this place and its people for a while longer, but orders are orders."
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For once looking at Daphie without sudden disfavor or criticism, Godiva simply comments, "We will hardly be away permanently. Once this fort is dealt with, we can have more time to...get to know...one another."
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Tilting her head at the slight hesitation in the statement that she supposed was meant to be reassurance, Dafie offered Godiva a cool smile and replied, "Don't hurt yourself. You'll sour my mood."
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Sense motive = 23
Godiva frowns. I guess things -aren't- starting to go well. "Forgive my lack of practice with social discussion. If you dislike your choice or words, perhaps say what you really mean." She folds her napkin and sands up from the table. "My lords," she bows slightly, and "pardon my departure, I should begin seeing to preparations." To the rest, "good evening." |
She hadn't been sure how the company would take to an immediate assignment, but the news went over remarkably well. Weeks at sea had apparently left them eager to get back to work. So, after an unusually good night's rest, Astra found them up early and hard at it in the barracks salle, sparring with training weapons, sharpening their service blades, and performing cutting exercises on soaked rolls of mats. No few of what she presumed to be Lord Elgron's soldiers were there as well, many even exercising with her girls, lending an excited clamor to the air as Astra walked among them, watching and assessing.
Krystelle was off to one end of the yard with two dozen of their rank and files, and just as many of the Nosya soldiers, drilling in various formations and maneuvers, her voice occasionally breaking above the din to call out an order in elvish. Almost no one in the company actually spoke the language, but it had proven effective as coded shorthand to cut through the noise of battle. It didn't take much to learn what each shrill word meant in the context of keeping each other alive, and that was enough. Closer by, on Astra's left, she found Koyani and Lyndsi engaged in a rather dramatic cutting exercise, the taller woman armed with a bull-whip in either hand, snapping them erratically in Koyani's direction as razor-edged katanas lashed out again and again to send chunks of leather cord flying. Perhaps not the most cost-effective form of practice, but it was certainly impressive to watch. LYNSDI: Swift Strike + Attack, 1d20+3, -5, -2, -6 = 7, 5, 13, 3 KOYANI: Steel Wind, sunder attempt, 1d20+7, +7, +3, +3, = 21, 20, 17, 23 (Critical Hit) In a dizzying flash, Lyndsi sends what remains of her whips cracking at the smaller girl, the cords seeming to reverse direction in midair in attempt to slip past her guard, but with her characteristic calm and grace, muscles like forged iron snapping in total control of her blades, Koyani responds with a flurry of strikes, defeating each attack and with her last, sending a bisected section of one of the whips streaking back at Lyndsi's face. KOYANI: Improvised Ranged Attack, 1d20+1 = 21 (Critical Hit) vs. Evasion 16. 1 WP damage. Caught off-guard, it strikes Lyndsi just above the left eye with an audible crack that has her reeling, blood streaking her face when she looks up. "Ugh, you freaking bitch! Are you serious, Koyani?" She blinks at the shocking quantity of blood staining her glove, but her tone is more playful than upset. Injuries in training are something of a mark of pride. Of course, the swordswoman says nothing in return, her vow of silence unbroken for something as paltry as a friend's spilled blood. She merely sheathes her blades in an effortless blur and tosses Lyndsi a rag. Astra laughs, any momentary concern fluttering away. "Go see Mia so it doesn't get infected. You'll have a good story to tell at dinner tonight." "I wanna know how she even did that!" Lyndsi grumbles as she heads away. Astra shares a smile with Koyani, well-accustomed to such outrageous displays of talent. |
"Impressive."
Godiva approaches from behind Astra. She is wearing her full armour, a large, black, two-handed axe strapped across her back. |
Astra turns to greet Godiva. The sun is glinting across her lacquered armor, only adding to the imposing figure the woman cuts.
"Indeed," she replies, "Koyani is the preeminent swordswoman of our company." Lyndsi would contest that if she were here, but she wasn't, now was she? "She has attained the third circle of initiation into the Sword-Saints of Kaliath-Tarre. Her time with us is a trial she must past before returning to her masters. Until that time, she is sworn to silence." The diminutive woman bows deeply to Godiva, tugging her face mask back into place from where it slipped down during practice. |
Int check = 12
Godiva listens to Astra's words on behalf of Koyani but soon loses interest as the names and details mean little to her. "Do many of your number have such skills?" Godiva had been walking about the barracks and observing the matches between the mercenaries and Lord Nosya's house soldiers, seeing how the two stacked up against each other. "No, I'm afraid the rest of our number are far more conventional in their training. You'll find they match up well to any force we set them against, though." "That's a bold claim," Godiva is quick to state, "but they seem to compliment Lord Nosya's troops from first impressions. We should do some group exercises together as well, to see how well the two groups can perform when given joint tasks." |
"I'm sure we could arrange that," Astra says to Godiva, looking off at where Krystelle's group is cycling through formations. Looking back to the woman, she says, "For now, though, I was hoping to get some practice in myself. Would you care to partner with me?" Astra flashes her what she hopes is a dazzling smile.
ASTRA: Diplomacy: 1d20+19 = 37 |
Godiva's eyebrows shoot up, making her eyes rounder than normal, as she looks at the diminutive woman, even more-so when compared to Godiva herself. But...
"I would hate to turn down any offer of sparring, but are you sure? I admit I've been curious as to what style you use, you appearing so slight. What shall the terms be?" |
"I favor a defensive style with the smallsword," Astra answers her, treading over where Koyani and Lyndsi had been practicing. "Of course, in actual battles, I rely primarily on my spellcraft to catch the opponent off-guard, but I won't employ anything so underhanded against you, my lady."
She unbelts her rapier and sets it down gently, considers removing her jacket, but thinks better of it. Even with wasters, any blow from this woman will risk cracking bones, and the scant padding it provides is better than nothing. Not that she intends on being struck. "I figure the arming sword should be amenable for us both, wouldn't you say?" She collects two such wooden stand-ins from a nearby rack and tosses one to Godiva, testing the (somewhat poor) balance of hers in the other hand. Waiting on her opponent, Astra does a few stretches to limber up, thankful that her wound isn't acting up today. |
"As you say."
Godiva takes the sword, swings it a little in her hand, feeling the balance before trying some mock strikes. As an afterthought, she lifts the black axe from her back and stands it up against the wall, slightly back from where they are sparring so the long shaft doesn't cause a tangle if one of them should misstep. For once, Godiva is smiling genuinely, though her eyes retain sharp focus. "When you are ready." Initiative 8 |
ASTRA: Initiative 1d20+10 = 21
"By the way," Astra says as she falls into a forward stance. "Don't you dare hold back on me." And with a cautious eye, she steps forward to attack. ASTRA: Elusive Target @ Godiva (Negates Power Attack damage) ASTRA: Dodge @ Godiva (+2 Evasion) ASTRA: Fighting Defensively: +2 Evasion, +1d6 damage, -4 to Hit ASTRA: Skirmish via Whirlwind Boots, +1 to Hit, +1d6 damage ASTRA: Move + Attack, 1d20+2 = 17 to hit; 1d4+2d6 = 11 damage Springing forward, Astra crosses the distance between them rapidly, her sword leading, wary for the slightest twitch of a counterattack as she goes in for a lunge. |
"Don't you dare hold back on me."
Godiva smiles again, and grips her sword with both hands Stance: Nerves of Cold Steel (+2 attack, bonus vs. fear) = swift action Feat: Overwhelming Assault (+4 attack against adjacent opponents ending turn in threatened square) Attack roll 1d20+12 = 29, miss chance = fail She does not. Taken off guard at first by Astra's swift stab, Godiva hardly notices the sword's glance off her armoured shoulder and swings aggressively. Confident in her aim, she is astonished when the blade makes no connection with the other woman. Visibly surprised, she glares slightly, as clearly some other form of magic is at play here, but the outside light glitters from her own armour. Her gauntlets in particular are shimmering beyond a glint from the simple light. She decides not to object to Astra's curious defense. The trade is fair. |
ASTRA: Move as Swift Action via Whirlwind Boots to behind Godiva
ASTRA: Cancel defensive fighting ASTRA: Attack 1d20+6 = 23 Damage = 8 Gods, she's fast! Expecting to be facing a lumbering brute, Astra almost loses from the first moment, only the enchantment on her jacket saving her from a direct hit. Her own thrust struck true, just under Godiva's left pauldron, but even with her magical rapier it probably wouldn't have pierced the thick maille the woman wore beneath her heavy harness. Scrambling from the near-miss, Astra activates the enchantment on her boots to lend a burst of speed to her legs, darting twice to Godiva's left side in a blur that leaves her directly behind. Snapping her wrist, Astra brings her sword down straight toward the woman's head, pulling the strike at the last moment so she doesn't concuss her. |
Attack = 20
Miss chance = Fail Slightly off balance from her failed strike, Godiva spins towards where Astra now stands and raises her arm, her vambrace deflecting the incoming blow into her gorget rather than her head. She returns the strike, aiming underneath Astra's collarbone, but again, her sword finds no substance. Damn this magic! |
Astra looks almost as surprised as her opponent as Godiva's sword passes through air not even an inch from her clavicle, the displacement effect on her jacket saving her once again from a strike that might have collapsed her lung, for all Godiva appeared to not be pulling her attacks.
ASTRA: Disarm Attempt: 1d20+5 = 16 ASTRA: Provokes Attack of Opportunity, Evasion = 19 Keeping her wits about her, Astra slaps at Godiva's extended blade with the flat of her own, winding around and twisting her crossguard over Godiva's in attempt to wrench it out of her grip. |
Attack of Opportunity = Critical failure
Disarm resistance = 18 Disarm attempt = 26 Getting frustrated with her inability to hit smaller woman, Godiva seeks an opening in the next attack and quickly draws back her arm for a punch to Astra's chest, and smacks herself between the eyes with the back of her gauntlet. A clod of her dark hair, unbound, is lodged in the plating at her elbow, and Godiva reels backwards from the force of her own blow, yanked back instinctively with her other arm, for balance, and taking both her own weapon and Astra's with it. Gah! Dammit, "shit!" |
ASTRA: Disarm Resistance: 1d20+5= 16. Failure.
She sees Godiva flinch and thinks to end the duel there by depriving the woman of her weapon, but her following reaction comes with such force, it not only tears Astra's sword free of her hand, but all but dislocates her arm in the process. Astra stumbles down to one knee as Godiva stumbles back, a wave of sudden pain washing over her. That strength... wasn't human. It must be her gauntlets. She hits as hard as the giant lord did... and that was my scar side, too. ASTRA: Shaken, 1 round "I think... that's enough for now..." she wheezes out, wincing at the throb in her side. She didn't seem to be losing consciousness, though, so probably just an aggravation. |
Blinking a couple times to clear the water from her eyes, it's a moment before Godiva sees Astra hunched over. She shakes her head a little, and puts her hand on Astra's shoulder.
"Are you alright?" she asks with genuine concern, still breathing a little quickly from the exertion. She had pulled her hair out from where it was caught in her armour: a few strands, broken and kinked, still between the plates. |
Astra gives a strained shake of her head. "I - will be. In a moment." She bites her lip in effort not to sob. After a moment, it begins to subside to a bearable ache, and she climbs shakily to her feet with Godiva's help.
She looks to the other woman, somewhat taken aback by how worried she appears. "An old wound," Astra tells. "One careless instant and flame giant's incinerating sword cleaving me nearly in half. I would have died for sure if not for Mia." She suppresses a shudder at the memory, as little of it as she does remember. "Not even a miracle could make me truly whole, though." As much to get herself some air as to show Godiva the extent of the injury, Astra unlaces her jacket and shrugs it off into one hand, tugging up her undershirt to display the dark scar that mars her pale flesh from navel to breast. She looks to Godiva with as much of a smile as she can muster. "So you see, it's rare I fight anyone without relying on my magic. I appreciate you giving me the chance." And then, after another moment, she adds, "I dare say you're stronger than the giant who did this to me," her smile slipping into a self-deprecating grin. |
"Was it really a miracle or are you being generous?" Godiva says as she sees the wound properly. "She must be a very skilled healer, and you are no frail woman to survive that, even with help."
Godiva traces the scar with her hand but does not touch the skin, but draws her hand back after Astra's comment about her strength, and takes a close look at her gauntlet. "I think we both left at least one advantage in play, but I won't begrudge you the choice. Perhaps it was lucky I couldn't get a proper hit on you." Godiva considers asking if they could ask the armourers to fashion a brace or plate to cover the wound further, to avoid risk of collapse on the field, but holds her thought. She would not want to be thought less of for a wound that clearly has been around a while. If she needed help, she would have gotten it by now. |
Astra quirks a brow at the question. "She worships the Lord of the Dead. I'd as soon not know what exactly it was that brought me back. I've been assured I don't owe my soul to anyone, though."
Slowly recovering from the shock and exertion, Astra grapples with her hair, tying loose strands back from where they slipped free. "I'm terribly sorry for that, by the way, I honestly forget about that effect on my jacket. Just be glad I didn't activate the other one." She carefully laces it back up, throwing a wry look at Godiva as she does. "Although, that armor of yours is so thick you might not have even felt the flames." |
"I'd as soon not test that." Godiva set the arming sword back among the training weapons and picked up her axe, re-strapping it to her back. "I feel I do need to go and take a few solid swings at something. I shall undoubtedly see you at dinner if not before."
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