#earthrunes

WIth clocks thrown off their time, it's entirely possible Coradel will find open court either lasting an hour longer, or ending a half hour earlier. Regardless, it's been something of chaos, and it excusable if she is surprised to see a Centaur kicking up grass outside her hold

While the time confusion is certainly chaotic, it seems to be more a matter of devices disagreeing than incompetence. That's a plus...but the situation does lead to irritation when she's left waiting for the third time for a petitioner to arrive before her. Thus, when she spots the Centaur marring her lovely lawn, she strides outside. "What are you doing?"

"RUnning?" She turns , the wilder looks 15 or 16, and "Running off a mad. Who are you?"

A blink. "You are digging up my land, and you do no know me? I am Baroness Coradel. And you are Daria, as I understand."

"Shit" She blurts and winces before saying "Sorry, Baroness. I just... yeah I'm Daria. " SHe looks at the divets she tore up "Oh.. that.. wasn't exactly intentional. I was just ..angry and needed to leap and run and burn off some energy. " Then almost as an after thought, she gives a bow, a hasty one "I can't go near the river, and I didn't want to hurt the garden so I thought I could run here"

"Hm...that's reasonable, though the training area near the obstacle-ship might make better sense. Why are you angry?"

A shrug "I... well, I went by the River, but got into a fight with this Rusalka..." Well that narrows it down fast, that would be Veronika "I thought I was winning then Zara came and...this creepy shadow shit and ... I had to back off with my tail between my back legs. I don't know, I just seem to be ticking folks off. Delores was nice and the room is great but it's all really fancy. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do here"

"Well...the river, or rather that part of the river, is Zara's domain. I have granted her that. She has complete say over who may or may not visit there. You were wise to retreat, but I suspect she will not hold a grudge." She regards the centaur measuringly for a moment. "It's hard to say what you're supposed to do until we know what you're good at. And if you're at loose ends, that's partially due to the fact that I've been preoccupied with court and County. Come...I hear you're something of a fighter?" she says, leading off to the training area.

"More of a brawler than a fighter but yeah, I got some weapon training thanks to the Chieftain and others. I like the morning star, it's a hard object with it's hackles up. I can relate. I'm not near as good as Tiara, and Buck can throw down, but... put me in a bar brawl or a big mess of a melee I'll hold my own. Why, does anyone here fight?"

She gets a look and a smirk for that comment. "Oh...a bit. I've been known to...dabble. Morningstar, you say?" At the ring, she indicates the assortment of practice weapons. "Take your pick. I'll play sparring partner for a while. I could use the practice," she adds demurely.

"Sure..." She grabs one, "I gotta warn you, I am used to fighting trolls and they're HUGE, other Centaurs, huge, so .." she gives the practice weapon a few swings, "Well, it might be harder than you like being hit because I'm guessing you sidhe are more finese fighters?"

"Noted," she says, apparently grateful for the warning. "And it's true, I'm curious what it's going to be like trying to fight you. I imagine you have different weak areas and blind spots than most other fae."

"Yeah, that's the down side, we're all flank" She snorts

"So... when do we start? Normally I'd just charge you without warning but the trolls were big about honorable combat" A shrug

Coradel gives her sword another warm up swing...and Daria might notice how fluid she is with the form. "Oh, I think we can start...now." She could charge the centaur...but no, that wouldn't be a kind way to start for a newcomer who's having a hard day. She simply goes en garde and watches.

And the centaur charges with energy, power, and a TOTAL lack of finese, if she hits, she'll hit hard even with a practice weapon, but the wide swing might as well be sending her a map of where it's going

Oh, there it is. Coradel spots the opening and smoothly slips to one side and aims a jab at Daria's human waist, then dragging the dulled blade back along her flank as she passes. She seems unconcerned about possibly getting a solid hit in return.

"ARGH!!" Daria is not stoic, and tries to back swing, and to her credit does it with more speed than you'd expect, but not so much that Coradel can't parry it in time if she wishes

Or duck it, if it's coming in at her head or shoulder height. Either way, she counters the attack and moves trippingly back to get distance. And yes, she's smiling.

"Okay, right.. got to stop telegraphing" Clearly repeating advice she was given by another teacher, this time , when she charges, while it may cost her power of blow, but it's harder to predict and a bit quicker. Honestly, there IS something lit up in the Centauress' expression, she is enjoying this just a bit, oh still angry, but here she is ALLOWED to be angry , fighting it's okay that she's not polite or dainty or nice

Coradel moves to one side, but it's a feint. As soon as Daria's committed to that direction, she moves as if to meet the attack, then dodges aside at the last minute, waiting for the centaur's momentum to keep her moving past before delivering a stinging smack to her rump!

mmm not bad, almost close enouogh to be a solid strike, but instead it's a light graze, the power lost because Daria wasn't quite quick enough to deliver it. So she barely brushes Coradel with the practice weapon. And then Coradel whacks her on the rump!

"SHIT!" The young woman curses again and seems to focus on some restraint on her part

"Ooh!" Coradel reacts to that hit, a sound of approval more than pain. "Good! Come on!" And she dives into the next attack before Daria can get fully turned around, trying to direct an upward slice against her equine belly.

It works, but then a STOMP with a hoof, not to be on TOP of Coradel, but to block her escape. Hard to back up THROUGH a horse leg, even a front one "Pucker up!" And down the morning star comes

What an extrodinary new sensation, it's like fighting a mounted enemy who is in total control of her steed! Total control.

Wide eyes, and she tries to duck under Daria's belly to get to avoid the strike and come out the other side.

And it's HER ass that gets whacked, and not in the fun way.. of course if this were a real fight, Coradel would have killed her foe in the first pass and a half, but well.. how extradoninary!

The centaur has some brains! "HA! It worked!"

Of course now , Coradel could just disembowel the centauress over here and get help getting the corpse off her...

Coradel gets her balance...and Daria can feel the (dulled) point of the practice blade pushing against her belly. "You might take me down, but you'd be falling right with me."

"Well... " a pause "If we're being honest you probably killed me with yuour second shot of the fight"

It's a good thing that Daria can't see her wincing in pain from that smack.

"Just glad I got you ONCE" She admits "I guess I'm petty"

"Ha. Good point. Pause a minute." She ducks out from under the centaur's belly and stands up, hissing a bit at the soreness where she got hit in the hip. "Good tactic with blocking me off."

"Well, if I were allowed to kick you direct I might have more options but that's not practice. Hooves can kill" A bit proud sounding

"Also true. I've been on the receiving end of a glancing kick, and that's plenty." She considers. "Yes, you've got a very vulnerable flank, but three times as many limbs to kill me with."

It is with some satisfaction that Coradel may notice that Daria is moving stiffly too, flank and belly sore "Why, you're not puny or fragile at all are you?"

And Daria is ..smiling. Apparently she worked her anger out

"Well, depends on how you're measuring puny, but I hope not fragile. You do know that Fiona is a warrior house?"

"Siv mentioned that... I thought it was Fiona trolls and you sidhe guys were archers"

Coradel laughs. "Oh, my...we'll be doing a lot more practice, you and I. I need to disabuse you of your misconceptions!"

"As long as I get better.." A pause "And some liniment" Daria admits, possibly causing more laughter from both. Looks like Daria might fit in after all

(End Scene)

For Zara, the time at the farmhold turned out to be a win win... Clem had, for all her fussiness, missed her. The DeBuke library was much improved. And, she has figured out what the two faced book does. It's not hard to guess, and it's actually a sort of magic she might approve of. Easy consensual court change. Read the summer side to go Seelie, the Winter side to go Unseelie. It's almost effortless, as long as one is willing.

And delightful.

Now someone might not realize they really did want to change, then subconciously use this as an excuse, but she's looked it over... slight temptation perhaps but no compulsion at all! And the pen name, for she has never heard of this writer before, shows some academic eduction, for whoever it is, they went by "Lady Orthe T. Iger"

A smile. She flips the book, looking at the wintery side...

Not one to delve too deeply into either court - would it be different from an organic change?

In truth, she suspect how far wants to 'rise or fall' (wobbly as that metaphor is) would be a large factor. Again, this is a tool to help you reach how far you want to go, not to drag you there. HOw nice, treasures that would brainwash you get tedious, and offensive.