Results of the Challenge for the Sixth Ring.

[DoS Archive]

From: rdigryphn@aol.com (RDI Gryphn)
Date: 20 Feb 1999 00:36:48 EST

This night, I was asked to officiate a challenge match for the Sixth Baronial Ring of the Duel of Swords.
The Challenger fought under the standard of the Roman Legions, the two headed eagle surrounded by a wreath, holding a bundle of arrows... the letters S P Q R below.
He dueled with the colors of House Dragoon Talanador, the Shadow Gray and Midnight Blue. He dueled for the Honor of his wife, Laylla Angelique Maximius... and at his side stood the ubiquitious Aerenth Artides.
The Baron dueled for the honor of the Lady Alanna St. Reynolds... at his side stood the Warlord Roland Sal Roa.
He choose to duel with no specific colors or standards this night.

The match proceeded as follows, with quick and sure dueling on both sides:

Challenge Match, Round One.
Both the challenger and Baron are wary of the blades their opponent's hold... And both are eager to display the skills that brought them to this point... Each expecting attack, defends, though naught is scored.
( FLP-FCP ) No points.
Challenge Ring, Round Two.
The Challenger and the Baron are swift to move, their actions sure... Defence having given naught, both move to the attack... While Vengance bites Cassius' shoulder, Imperator slices Sartan's calf, and both are wounded...
( LC-HC ) Point for each.
Challenge Ring, Round Three.
Though the wounds are painful, neither duelist shows any sign of holding back... Their blades cross for a moment between them, then they move again... This time it is Imperator which finds a shoulder, and Vengance which finds a calf...
( HC-LC ) Points for both once more.
Challenge Ring, Round Four.
The duelists are more cautious now, circling for a moment... Each expecting the other to reverse their cut once more, they move to defend... Yet Cassius' quick roll sets him past the more stationary Baron, allowing him to gain the point.
( FDk-FCP ) Point for the challenger.
Challenge Ring, Round Five.
Feeling more confident, the challenger presses his attack... The Baron, having been caught still before, has learned better... As he quickly moves aside of Imperator's point.
( TH-FSS ) Point for the Baron.
Challenge Ring, Round Six.
Pretense set aside, both duelists remain confident... Niether asking, nor giving respite, they move toward each other... Vengance arcing to slice Cassius' shoulder, even as Imperator wounds Sartan's leg once more.
( LC-HC ) Point for each.
Challenge Ring, Round Seven.
Each knows that the match can be lost by a single mistake... Each has felt the bite of the other's blade... Yet, this round, the duelists part unwounded, Cassius moving away from the crouching Baron.
( FSS-FDk ) No points for either.
Challenge Ring, Round the Eighth.
Wary still, the challenger stays back, his blade held ready... Yet, for all his stillness, the Baron remains back as well... The Baron's parry as meaningless as the challenger's stop hit.
( SH-FCP ) No points for either.
Challenge Match, Round Nine.
The Challenger's stance is set, his confidence firm still... The Baron, seeing the challenger's stance, moves to capitalize... And yet, the challenger is ready, his defence quite able... As Imperator prevents Vengance from striking, the parry quick and sure.
( FCP-TH ) Point, and win, for the challenger.

Thus did Cassius Maximius defeat Sartan for the Sixth Ring by a score of five to four in nine rounds.
The new Baron did declare himself Loyal to the Overlord upon receiving the Ring.


Ms Karen Jansen, Standing's Keeper.