Margret has joined the Noble Seating.

Elgana has joined the Noble Seating.

Already waiting on the sands is Bliss, once again dressed in the same outfit she wore in the last duel - a set of two white silk pieces, loincloth and top, fringed with a ridiculous number of multi-colored ribbons, an oil spread over her body that contains glimmering dust of some kind that causes a glitter effect as moves in the sun. Her hair still hangs loose around her, apparently unafraid of what Jeffeth might do with it, and she holds a steel rapier in her right hand. "People of Arx!" she calls to the stands, turning toward them and lifting her rapier in the air. "Welcome to the third battle of the first round of the Champions Tourney! My name is Bliss, for those few of you who somehow haven't had the pleasure of meeting me yet, and my opponent here is Sir Jeffeth. Since this is the first round, and you have many, many duels to watch soon, we have decided that we are going to show you what you missed at the end of our last show - since /someone/ had the /audacity/ to cut me before we could get there!" She turns her head, pouting at Jeffeth, then gives him a quick wink. Taking a step back, she motions to the large mountain of a man to proceed.

Zebulon climbs up into the commoner section and finds a seat towards the front, to give the best view of the rematch of Bliss and Jeffeth. He starts hollering, trying to get the growing crowd hyped up for the match. "Let's go, Bliss! Come on, Jeffeth!"

Jeffeth wields simple steel longsword.

Bliss wields a steel rapier with a swept hilt and red grip.

Neb sits in the commoner's stands near the front row with his scarred hands clapping as the show begins!

Jeffeth checked strength + athletics at difficulty 35, rolling 9 higher.

Agatha has joined the Noble Seating.

Cheryl the Assistant Innkeeper arrives, following Mae.

Oh. Hey. He didn't see you there.

He's just been busy doing one armed push-ups on the sand. Shirtless, obviously. With a gleaming, dazzling smile, the large behemoth is positioned so he is facing the crowd. His free arm tucked behind his back. Sir Bayweather keeps going with his pushups, six, seven, eight, nine, ten! At that apparently he's tired, so the big man lowers himself to his broad chest, laying his head down in the sand. Oof. Sleepy.

But then Bliss is making her entrance. It's time to wake up Jeffeth! The big man rolls to his back pulling his knees back towards his chest. Rocking back Jeffeth then launches himself upward landing on his feet with his massive arms extended towards the crowd. He gives a bright smile before taking a few steps to the side. There is his blade in the sand. Tucking his foot under the blade with a jerking motion, Jeffeth kicks his blade up to his hand, catching it with ease. Turning to Bliss, Jeffeth gives a sweet smile, bowing at the waist to her. He extends one hand to Bliss, looking to the crowd. "Isn't she lovely?!" Waving on the cheering of his opponent, the big man hold his blade at the ready, squatting down into a ready stance.

Elgana makes her way in with that retinue trailing with her and immediately makes her way toward the nobles seating. She gives a few polite smiles and nods, but her gaze lingers mostly upon the sands. "Fight well, Bliss!" she calls as she takes her seat. "And you too, Jeffeth!"

Stepping onto the grounds, with a jingle jingle, and the heavy scent of Haze clinging to her is Mae. She's in a dark cloak, as ever, and she's jingling.

Karadoc puts his fingers to his mouth, whistling shrill. Then, he cheers boisterously, "She's lovely - you're a sight! Now get it on and fight-fight-fight!"

Natalia has found somewhere in the commoner's stands to sit, and she applauds when entrances are made. The bulk of her attention is on the fighters for now, though she's keeping at least a vague eye on her immediate surroundings.

Bliss checked dexterity + performance at difficulty 25, rolling 18 higher.

Jeffeth wields simple steel longsword.

A pleased grin on his face after reading a message, Cullen takes a seat in the noble section after giving Natalia a nod in greeting, then a pleased smile for Margret, Elgana, and Agatha before turning his attention to the spectacle at hand.

With Jeffeth making that show, Bliss takes a few moments to step away from him, letting him do those pushups and watching with a keen interest. She turns to the crowd, motioning her free hand out toward him. "Ladies, he's Godsworn, so you know what that means," she says with a waggle of her brows and a sharp wolf whistle. Then she turns her head toward Jeffeth, and with a spin of her hand, reveals something behind them that could quite easily have gone unnoticed!

Behind both fighters, a device has been set up, a barrel on the sands, dug in deep, with a wide, broad beam set on top - one side of it heavily weighted. "You heard them!" she shouts to Jeffeth. "Let's go!" And with that, she's running to the board, crouching down and perform a leap, flipping through the air to land perfectly on the weighted end of the board, those multi-colored streamers flaring around her. With that, she slips into pose, watching Jeffeth and waiting.

Bliss wields a steel rapier with a swept hilt and red grip.

3 Thrax Guards, Carys, a slight woman with ink-stained fingers arrive, following Caith.

Always up to watch a duel or tournament, Vercyn arrives but fashionably late. Noting the crowd already present, he unhurriedly moves towards the noble seats to find a seat to watch the performance.

Mae checked dexterity + stealth at difficulty 20, rolling 46 higher.

Vercyn has joined the Noble Seating.

Caith has joined the Noble Seating.

Agatha clambers on up to stand behind her sister, all looming and protective. Jeffeth compliments Bliss, Bliss wolf whistles Jeffeth. Agatha snorts and shouts out, "Now now, you're both very pretty. But soon there will be blood too, and that will be, well, maybe not PRETTY, but..." She shrugs and then super gently puts a hand on Elgana's shoulders.

Zebulon stands up at the front of the commoner section, hands around his mouth. "Fly, Bliss! Fly!!"

Tesha slips in a little late, apparently she was not as punctual as she usually is. Which is odd for the Telmar. She spots a familiar face on the way up to the noble seating though and she makes her way up to take a seat.

Tesha has joined the Noble Seating.

Mae gives a considering look around, watching the performers for a moment, then check the stands. Seems her mind is made up. A moment later she steps behind a stand and... and then what. Who knows! There's no more jingles, that's for sure. But soon enough, the small figure that is Mae is drawing up beside Elgana and Agatha, taking Elgana's arm and leaning against the princess. "Oh, your highness, fancy meeting you here..." in the noble seating.

Mae has joined the Noble Seating.

Laughing quietly at her flip, Jeffeth slaps his thigh to simulate clapping. Shaking his head a bit ruefully, the big man follows towards the BALANCE BEAM. With less of a flourish, the behemoth lurhces up onto the barrels before stepping onto the board. Luckily it supports his weight. "Tonight, Lords, Ladies, Your Highnesses. We will be fighting on this thing. This thing here." He points to the board he stands on.

"We will have to constantly be keeping our balance in order to continue fighting. If we slip and struggle to keep our balance, the other duelist is free to keep fighting!"

With that explanation out of the way, Jeffeth dances out onto the board, holding his sword up in front of him as he engages with Bliss.

Bliss wields a steel rapier with a swept hilt and red grip.

Jeffeth wields simple steel longsword.

A fight has broken out here. Use @spectate_combat to watch, or +fight to join.

Jeffeth checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 7 higher.

Bliss checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 6 higher.

Is she late? Did she miss it? Caith comes running in, her skirts held up bunched in her hands so she can run for efficiently. Making a beeline for the noble seats, she peppers her 'pardon me' and 'excuse me's with rather joyously shouted: "YAY! HAVE AT IT!"s. Eventually, she finds a place to park her keister and plops down in a fluff of silks.

Jeffeth takes minor damage.

Bliss takes moderate damage.

"They added an acrobatic component to their duel. Now -- that, THAT -- is very fucking clever." Karadoc drums his feet on the stands, causing a minor ruckus as he starts to break out into more cheers.

Bliss checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 3 higher.

Jeffeth checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 2 higher.

Up on the board, with the weights on her side helping to counterbalance the weight of Jeffeth, the entire thing comes to a very unsteady level as Bliss and Jeffeth both stand on it. With not much room to perform her usual dancing style, Bliss reaches out for an aggressive first tag on Jeffeth, the board beginning to lean in his direction as she takes a few quick lunging steps in that direction, her feet moving carefully under her and her ribbons sweeping up and down along with the movement of the board on the barrel.

Bliss tags him almost immediately, which has Jeffeth teetering precariously over the edge. Woah! He staggers back on the beam with a scowl, the rapier thwacking against one massive bicep. He looks down. No blood. His brow knits and he looks across the beam at Bliss, and a slow almost wolfish grin flicks up his features. Barely keeping his balance, the big man charges forward on the board, it shifting dangerously under his weight as he makes his charge. The big man goes to slam one shoulder into Bliss' torso, coupled with a strike from the flat of his blade to her opposite side. No blood, but it should at least jostle her a fair bit. The bare chested behemoth then checks his footing with a tight smile. Holding his blade up before retreating carefully onto his side of the board. Whew!

As blows are exchanged Neb can be seen in the commoner stands clapping for a time while speaking with those around him and even a few rows back. Such a chatty man in scarlet.

Jeffeth checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 1 lower.

Bliss checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 5 higher.

Waldemai gasps! "He's lost his balance!"

Zebulon yells to his fellow Champions out in the ring, a fist raised in his excitement. "You got him now, Bliss! Push the advantage!"

Karadoc has left the Noble Seating.

So maybe charging like a bull on a balancing beam isn't the GREATEST idea. Because as Jeffeth tries to fall back from Bliss' ripostes, the large man is stepping back, step after step. And then his foot goes out. And there's nothing there. Oh shit. Jeffeth loses his balance, throwing out one arm the knight is going down, but luckily is able to keep himself from falling completely over. He falls to one knee. Not able to attack. Bliss comes forward! Aaaaaaa!

Jeffeth quickly throws his blade up in a parry, narrowly deflecting a strong hit from Bliss. With a gasp of relief, the parry gives him just enough time to pop back up to his feet, blade up, ready to continue. Whew.

Slouches off the bench, leaving the noble seating in order to head on home --

Bliss checked dexterity + performance at difficulty 15, rolling 27 higher.

Agatha is totally staring at the fighting. And then pointing at the unbalanced Jeffeth with a Big Old GASP and a bellow for Bliss. "Press the advantage! Go get him! RAWR!" Mind you a few seconds ago she was cheering Bayweather on as well. Hey, sometimes you like everyone involved.

Bliss is obviously in some pain after taking that wound to her side, the one she had received earlier in the week causing her to grunt and stumble a bit, but she holds on, her blade moving nearly blindingly fast as each time that big weapon comes in, she taps it away, looking for another opening. Then, Jeffeth stumbles. Her eyes light up, there's a grin, and she drops her foot down, trying to slide under him and jaw upward at the shirtless man! "What's the matter, Jeffeth, can't keep straight in the sight of a woman like me?" she asks with a laugh! But then he's reclaimed his balance, he's moved out of the way. Damn it! She takes the moment to put her other foot to the ground, scrambling back up, and getting ready to go once more.

Natalia's full attention is on the fight, and after the first wince she manages to avoid it. Mostly by curling a hand into a fist and pressing a knuckle on that hand against her lips, gnawing on it a little bit. Stare. Really, she just isn't doing more than watching right now.

When the big knight goes all wobbly and nearly loses his balance, Caith squeaks! With alarm! And brings her hands up to her mouth to stifle the sound -- but it's too late: that squeak made its way out already. "BE CAREFUL JEFFETH!" It's all very exciting and the moves of both the combatants causes the Thrax royal to applaud.

Jeffeth checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 9 higher.

Bliss checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 5 higher.

"Get her lil Jeffy!" comes a loud call from the nobles stands. It's coming from someone by Agatha. Someone particularly noble, surely!

Jeffeth checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 9 higher.

Bliss checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 18 higher.

Margret chants, "One of us one of us"

And up she's gone! With both fighters starting to really get a feel for the balance of the board after that initial wobble, the thing sways up and down with their movements, but neither care, each moving back and forth on their section. Jeffeth swings that longsword at Bliss, and time and time again, her rapier is batting it away, or she's slipping past him, the sword vanishing in lines of colored silks as she moves at him. He's an enormous target, but is quite quick on his feet still, and she grins more and more as the fight draws on and on. "So tell me, Jefeth, do you want to make this more interesting, throw in a kind of wager on top of this?" she wonders with a waggle of her brows, easily moving along to the dance of the blades.

Now the large man has a handle on the balance board. He flashes a radiant smile to the crowd. He's ok. Really. everything's fine now. The Knight only looks to the crowd for a moment before looking back to Bliss. Becoming more comfortable with the fight now, Jeffeth is caught in muscle memory. Arm move that way, leg move that way. Ebbing and flowing along the board, forward and back, constantly fending off or pressing after Bliss. At her words the big man gives a little grin. "You have something in mind, Bliss?" Jeffeth rumbles just as he darts forward, swinging his blade out at her.

Jeffeth checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 12 higher.

Bliss checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 8 higher.

Jeffeth wields simple steel longsword.

Bliss wields a steel rapier with a swept hilt and red grip.

A fight has broken out here. Use @spectate_combat to watch, or +fight to join.

Bliss checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 16 higher.

Jeffeth checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 16 higher.

Jeffeth takes moderate damage.

Zebulon leans against the railing after taking to Neb over behind him and coin purse being pulled. "Come on, Bliss! I made you silver last night, do me the same favor and beat him aloready!"

Bliss checked charm + performance at difficulty 15, rolling 34 higher.

Neb has a coin purse in his hand as well his slate black eyes on Jeffeth, "He has longer arms, he should win... Go on Sir Jeffeth, reach... Reach with your ridiculously big arms man."

Wynna has joined the Commoner Stands.

Balance board? What balance board? The way Bliss and Jeffeth are starting to move on it, it doesn't even look like they've noticed the thing exists anymore, standing entirely stable as she does so. "How about," the Lycene Whisper asks, twisting, ducking, and dodging under the man's sword with each movement, a spark of humor in her eyes as she starts to twirl in place, having the rhythm of Jeffeth's movements down now and causing a flare of color to spread around her, using the excess movement to find a way to step in closer, and closer, and closer to Jeffeth, "If I win this, you're buying my next dress. And if you win this?" she asks, leaving the answer to that question up to Jeffeth himself - and taking the opportunity to get a straight shot in, right across his waist. It's a damn good thing he's wearing that leather belt - the sword cuts nearly to the flesh, an extra little bit of strength and blood would have been drawn out from it.

In the noble stands, a little plume of smoke goes up into the air. It smells sweet and earthy, like haze. And it's coming from, well, probably Elgana, right?

The large knight is relaxed. Maybe too relaxed. Because as Bliss is talking, his blade swinging around, Bliss' rapier darts out and hits him solidly. The big man's eyes widen inexplicably wide. Noooo! Not-- Oh. Whew it's safe. He dances back, looking down with relief. Sweet Gild. Jeffeth pales some at the strike ALMOST below the belt. The large man slowly looks back, wagging his finger at her. No, no. Don't do that. Taking a deep breath, Jeffeth is still moving along the balance board, parrying and swinging with her as he moves forward. If he wins? Jeffeth is looking thoughtful even as he fights. "Sing me a song." Jeffeth answers with a warm smile. Then he goes back to wincing. Swinging his blade out at her.

Bliss checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 5 higher.

Jeffeth checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 23 higher.

Bliss checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 8 higher.

Jeffeth checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 18 higher.

Bliss has rolled a critical success!
Bliss checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 37 higher.

Jeffeth checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 6 higher.

Bliss checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 3 higher.

Jeffeth checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 20 higher.

Bliss checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 1 higher.

Jeffeth checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 7 higher.

Bliss takes minor damage.

Zebulon leans almost over the rail this time, watching them both dodge and parry on the balanced beam. "Go Bliss! You can take him!"

Ylva has joined the Commoner Stands.

Tesha is trying to keep up with the fight when she isn't talking to the people around her. She doesn't have money on either of the fighters, so there's less riding on things for her. But she is at least seeing who is taking the most hits so far.

Neb shakes a scarred hand in the air at the ring, "The arms Sir Jeffeth, the long arms."

On the defensive, Jeffeth is knocking Bliss' riposte to the side. "It has to be a very pretty song!" The big man rumbles, as he dances along the board. Their blades collide again, a second time, a third. And finally Jeffeth's blade swings clear and slices across the taut flesh at Bliss' side. (The other side than last time) As blood flicks out Jeffeth is immediately lurching back. Sword sheathed immediately, frowning lightly at where his blade swung true. He looks over at her, concerned.

Ylva wanders in and stops at the sight of the duel, as if surprised. "Oh." But she's curious enough to hurry over to a seat and plop herself down, smoothing out her white Mercy robes and leaning forward to watch the event. And the crowds, and the pageantry.

With each swing of her blade, Bliss seems to be studying Jeffeth's moves, the duelist beginning to move closer and closer and closer in. The board is all but forgotten by both of them - at one point, each of them even switch which side they're on as they duck past each other, and the thing slams to the ground. Nothing seems to be fazing either of the combatants, both silent now, both focused on the movements of those blades - A strike, a parry, as steel flies and rings in the air, and they turn around one another, keen focus in both their eyes. Bliss, in particular, seems to be going more and more aggressive every time her blade swings out, seeing how shaken Jeffeth is by that strike, pushing the advantage she can get, the beam swinging back and forth and basically ignored by both, no longer a problem at this point.

And then Bliss moves a little too close to that blade, and that flick of blood comes out, the Lycene woman pausing when Jeffeth pulls back, putting her hand on it, and lifting it to her eyes to make sure that, yes, indeed, she is bleeding. With an overdramatic sigh, she throws her hand in the air and yells, "First blood goes to Jeffeth!" She doesn't seem bothered by this at all, turning and smiling at the man, saying, "I'll see you in the finals. You'll need to give me a little time to write the song, but it will be very good."

Zebulon sighs and turns to Neb, digging into his coinpouch and counting out silvers into his hand. "It was a great bout! Could have gone either way with those two! I do not mind the donation as the price of admission for seeing this rematch." He hands the coins to Neb with a smile and a shrug of his shoulders.

Caith has left the Noble Seating.

3 Thrax Guards, Carys, a slight woman with ink-stained fingers leave, following Caith.

Bliss is overheard praising Jeffeth for: First blood! Twice in a row! I'll get him next time.

"Shit!" Natalia's exclamation escapes when Bliss is wounded before she can catch it, and it actually takes a second before she realizes that it did. She does at least manage to stay seated. When Bliss reacts without seeming much bothered she relaxes again, glancing this way and that along where she's sitting before she moves to rise.

Neb opens up his own coin pouch and begins to despoits Zebulon's money into it. Once the last coin is put in the scarlet coated man cinches up the coin purse and smiles. "A fine wager."

Margret stands up and claps her hands together even though she looks...well, a touch pale, maybe? As she claps she starts making her way towards the dueling ring while she takes a small pack of healing supplies off of her back.

Waldemai cheers for the fighters. "Well fought! Great show!"

"Make sure you get there, Bliss." The big man rumbles, holding up his fist triumphantly. Jeffeth goes to hop down from the balance board. "Thank you so much for coming out everyone! Make sure you catch the next match in the Champions tournament!" He bellows loudly before shining a brilliant smile up at Bliss. "Bliss!" He calls out, gesturing for the crowd to cheer and applaud.

He offers his hand to her, to help her down from the beam should she so choose. "A healer, please!" The large man yells out not too long after this call for applause. He leans in to murmur something softly to Bliss before straightening up with a bright smile.

Elgana rises to her feet in applause. "Well fought!" she calls loudly.

Mae was... doing something. Harassing princesses, smoking haze, whatever. But when there's a call of blood, she's suddenly focused again. She hops to her feet. "Oh, geez..." she says. "Should I go down and... um. Tend to her?" she asks, looking back to Elgana. But then, wait, that's Margret going down. Mae will have to just stand there looking upset.

Elgana is overheard praising Bliss for: Excellent fight as always!

Elgana is overheard praising Jeffeth for: Always a joy to watch! Wonderful fight.

Margret has left the Noble Seating.

Tesha gives applause as she makes her way down from the stands, "Well fought!" she calls to Bliss and Jeffeth.