The Duel of Druisten and Skaldr
This is an account of play by post downtime activity following a lead that the player Lewis received for his character Druisten.
Following a lead for the druid Maebh Druisten is told by a slave at a mead hall in Cardyff that he had seen Maebh near the village of Ffordunum hard riding east toward the lawless region of the Moerheb Weald. Druisten immediately grabs onto this lead and asks the owner of the slave, a mercenary captain named Skaldr if he can purchase the slave.
Skaldr refuses saying
"I will not sell this man to you. He is valuable to me as he can read the Latin words to make sure I am not cheated in my trade I do as I journey these lands. Plus how would a warrior so great as myself look if I needed to get up and fetch my own wine or carry my own rain cloak. I am no common sellsword"
Hearing this Druisten then challenges Skaldr for a chance to own the slave
"If you are indeed so great a warrior, prove it to me! We shall draw the circle. My steed, my maile and my silver will be the prize should you fell me. The Brython mine, should I fell you."
I generally rule that dueling is something of an honor to give to another. One can't simply challenge anyone to a duel otherwise every 2 bit 18 year old with a sword would go to their death challenging great warriors to fight. Great warriors have no time for this. Thus Skaldr replies,
"I am Skaldr captain of The Nornandi, he who slew 5 Noosfolk alone, I dine with Princes and Kings and have pillaged Frankish Coffers. Who are you sellsword who comes to this hall with dirt on your brow to challenge me? "
and the prompt reply
"I am Druisten. I crossed the chasm of death and commanded those that dwelt beyond. I bore the poison of ages and lived. I fought the Frankish menace and freed the oppressed. I slayed the lord of stone! I know what has been lost and your name will rank the least of those lost lost things. Let all here present bear witness to the fate of one who holds themselves above others, who dares claim ownership of their fellows. Such wrongs shall be one day be righted, as they are today."
This leads to our first boast of the duel done by Druisten against a self professed great warrior who claims several boasts.
I'll slay Skaldir and win his thrall's freedom.
Skaldr though is a fine man and in this foreign court there is none that has witnessed Druisten's professed deeds, thus he is able to reject the challenge. Thus it falls to Aymeri the Thegn of Druisten who was freed from press gangs in the city of Remus to say in broken Brythonic to the crowded mead hall.
"It is true. Druisten is a man and warrior who breaks chains. Aye Upon me was laid chains to row a ship in Remus when this hero saw me and showing all a kings army his hairy arse he challenged em to keep me. He saved me and broke dos chains an you are not nothing compared to Charlemagne's son. Druisten Chainbreaker did all he claims and more and I would second him and put my freedom on the line. You are lucky 'e gives you the time of day let alone a chance to cross blades Captain of a fishing boat.
At this with a man having vouched for Druisten and insulting him we get our second boast with the acceptance of the duel this time from the captain Skaldr.
"I will place the brand of ownership on that Frank's head myself"
Thus the challenge was laid and the group was moved to a fighting arena a circle of white sand surrounded by a dozen drinking tables and a royal pavilion to view it from with the Prince Ynyr called into attendance to watch the duel. This is the accounting of the duel itself. The only major deviation from rules I used for duels between 2 PC stated characters is that initiative was on a 1d6. The lighter armored character wins initiative on a 3+ roll.
Skaldr wears heavy armor full length maille and wields a shield and a longsword.
Druisten is there in medium maille with his Battle Axe he slew the Cockatrice with.
As combat starts Skaldr with unexpected quickness bolts forward with a cry his longsword rapidly snaking forward before it gets snagged on Druisten's maile before driving through drawing heavy bleeding. Before he pulls back Druisten swings his axe at the captains head but it is ungainly swinging against the captains sword pressed into his chest. The captain seems sure he will get another rapid strike off but the ferocity of the ungainly swing is enough leave him unable to parry the blow. Druisten has a +9 to hit being on his 6th boast now vs the Captains 5th he is essentially immune to being parried with this bonus. Undaunted by the blood Druisten rapidly turns the axe and swings down chopping into the Captains shoulder spraying blood up and over the crowd. The captain tries to swing defensively as he breaks the grapple but misses the powerful Druisten blood dripping from both their weapons into the white sand of this dueling circle. The two warriors step into a swing at each other both seeking to bring this fight to a rapid end. Both connect blood once more sprays. The fighters gain space with Druisten slumping against a nearby table and Skaldr standing back grabs a wound in his side. His armor rent in multiple spots but his legs still strong. As Skaldr steps forward intent on ending Druisten he is shocked by a sudden flash of movement as Druisten flings a pitcher from the table and smokes him in the head a spray of ale and porcelain flying through his head the sound of ringing from his metal helm leaving him stumbling for a second. Seizing on the stumbling Skaldr Druisten lurches to his feet his blood running down his legs and grip and swings. A thud sounds as a weight falls into the sand and a roar grips the crowd as the head of Skaldr falls. A spurt of bright red blood rains through the air as Skaldr's knees buckle and he falls dead.
Chants of Chainbreaker ring throughout the gathered nobles and warriors as Druisten's name will be known throughout Ergryng for one of the greatest duels seen in recent time.
The victorious Druisten lays on the ground next to his slain foe and falls asleep as Conar and Aymeri rush to his aid. His and Skaldr's blood commingling in the white sand.
Druisten is victorious a winner left on a single HP who needed a max roll of 6 in order to end Skaldr before he got another blow off. His name will ring throughout the halls of Albann and will be carried by norse traders who knew Skaldr as a great warrior.
People that know the system will note that Skaldr could have sacrificed his shield to negate a single blow but when he was sitting at 6HP I made the decision he would hold it for one more attack as he was feeling victorious at the moment and would be reluctant to give up the -1 to hits against him that it gives. He makes the decision before knowing the blow would be fatal.