Chess Master's move

"I was able to sense that you felt the fear of meeting final death in each of my thrusts. Do you know why you were unharmed?"

This was true, in the Sabbat Star was taught that each and every fight might be your last, you must face this truth every night, but never shy from it, only prepare for the inevitable.

Even the fear she held of her own demise was shown in her action, though unlike some she did not let this cause her to hesitant, only prepare for the final blow.

Star stood silent for a moment before answering.
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" Clearly Count Hayworth you are a skilled swordsman, far superior to a fledgling like myself. You practiced restraint due to me being a weaker Foe I'm assuming. "
she said pushing aside any thoughts of how easily the count was able to pick up on her fear and preparation of death, this behavior had become so ingrained in her it was simply reflexive action of hwr subconscious mind, as it was with most Sabbat. Truly he must know the training tactics of the Sword of Caine well.

" Clearly Count Hayworth you are a skilled swordsman, far superior to a fledgling like myself. You practiced restraint due to me being a weaker Foe I'm assuming. "

The Count negated with his head and said.
"If I had any doubts about my superiority I shouldn't be called your teacher. I'm trying to teach you restrain by showing it to you, to demonstrate rather and speak about it.

Takes more power to show retrain than to destroy with it. Now meditate about it.

Close your eyes and recreate in your imagination our fight, make it slow each thrust and move, learn from it. I'm not teaching you power over others but for you to control yourself...

Meditate..."

Star listened to Count Hayworth speak, she remained silent and at attention, though she cocked her head to the side slightly as if in question.

Takes more power to show retrain than to destroy with it.//.

This idea was very contradictory to the things that she has been taught by the Sabbat.

Often Showing restraint over your power leads to hesitation, hesitation leads to death, this was one of the many lessons she was taught. Now Star finds herself trying to "un-learn" many things as she starts to take steps towards her new life in the Camarilla.

Now meditate about it// Close your eyes and recreate in your imagination our fight, make it slow each thrust and move, learn from it. I'm not teaching you power over others but for you to control yourself...Meditate..."  

Star gave pause and held a questionable expression on her face, this was the 1st time any one has ever asked her to mediate on anything, especially from someone trying to teach her about combat.

Star took a long breath, sucking un-needed air into her lungs and holding it there as her chest raised. Then she exhaled,  standing slightly more relaxed in her posture. This action wasn't done so much for the physical relief of tension, but more of the mental state she was in. Star still held her body in a state of expecting combat, and it was hard to break her mindset away from that, so she did this to try to focus her mind.

Star closed her eyes and tryed to relax her mind And focus on the duel that just transpired. She replayed each action, each movement, each gesture in her mind over and over again looking at them from different angles in hindsight as to what she could have done better. She thought about her flaw in speed and areas where she left herself open for attack.  her mine seem to focus on the things that she was doing wrong rather than the things that she was doing right.

In star's mind the counts words played over and over on a loop as she tried to discern the deeper meaning in them.

"Takes more power to show retrain than to destroy with it.//  I'm not teaching you power over others but for you to control yourself...Meditate... ""

<how is this showing me to control myself?... This is all just a performance, and act... a possible deadly one...  but still not real warfare Combat... I'm expected to preform a certain way and that's what I'm doing.>

<What am I supposed to be restraining??
Perhaps he thinks that I am just some Antitrib' hoodlum, but I do understand that just because you have power does me you should use it, there is a time and place for everything. Showing your true hand at the beginning of a game is no way to win it.>

<Im not a loose cannon, I have restraint! I have restraint over my self, my action, my emotions, I never do things on a whim or let my emotions guide me. I try to look at things logically, calm and rationally .. . so what am I missing? What is he thinking I'm not getting?>

 
Star thought as she tries to analyze the situation, she was calm and her thoughts seem to complicate and overanalyze things. Finally she spoke.

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"Count Hayworth, I have been trying to mediate on your statement about "it takes more power to show retrain than to destroy with it"
I do understand this concept from a few different angles. One is that you should never show your opponent your full hand, never let them know fully what you're capable of. This keeps them guessing and preventing them from anticipating your next attack.

Another is if you hold great power, you should never flaunt it, because it makes you look arrogant and that you are compensating for something you lack thereof.

Also showing your power over the week is not honorable.

It is easy to go full-fisted force on a enemy to kill them, but killing is not always the answer nor does it resolve a lot of problems without making more.
If you hold back the power of your true-punch you can determine how much pressure to display to knock out or cripple your opponent with out killing them or even hurting them to some degree.

This is what I believe you were trying to show me through your attacks. You being a master swordsman could have easily dispatched me, but you showed great restraint in your power over me and yourself that such force was not necessary to get your point across.

A raging flooded river is often devastating and hard to stop, though with the construction of a damn the built up pressure from the water can slowly be released, and used in a productive way to help cultivate the land rather than to destroy it"
She said creating a metaphor and trying to express that she has a grasp of what he was trying to teach her.

Star listen to the Count's words, giving him her full attention.

A true Knight has the option to use strength while a barbarian can only choose not to fight."

Star raised a eyebrow at this and mulled over this concept in her head.

You told me you prefer words to solve problems before they escalated into violence. That's the premise for a kindred struggling within.

Tell me, how are you going to duel with words? How can you prevent this problem to escalate?"

Star looked oddly at the Count

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" Count Hayworth,  the point of using words is to stop the aggression bulding in a someone before this point.  Words hold great weight, if you have a understanding of the opponent that you face you can use words to either dissuade them from attacking you, or cause them to advance.  

but we are far beyond that point, I am to duel. All I can do now is move forward and stay the course that is expected of me."
She said attempting to answer his question.

It was clear for the Count to see that Star's heart was not into the duel set ahead of her. She held no passion, nor really any emotion besides a bit of fear about dueling Lady V. To Star she was simply performing the task that was expected of her.
Though she did take this all very seriously, this was just another mission to accomplish in a long list of tasks.

"Let's try again. Meditate"

Star gave a nod followed by a soft sigh as she tryed to relax her mind to meditate.

Just as Star started to close her eyes, Hayworth attack surprising her. Her mind snaped sharply into combat mode, forsaking the calm and readying for a fight. Her mind screamed <its a trap> as she tensed up to receive the blows.

Star attempts to Dodge the attack.
Dex 3 + Dodge 2 = 5
Split dice pool for two actions 5-2=3
Star carried out 3 launched of one (Roll.) :

7 , 3 , 8

Dodge again 3-1=2
Star carried out 2 launched of one (Roll.) :

10 , 3

Soak roll
Stam 4 + Fort 1
Star carried out 5 launched of one (Roll.) :

4 , 5 , 3 , 5 , 9

Perception + Alertness roll
Star carried out 4 launched of one (Roll.) :

1 , 9 , 5 , 8

Star gritted her teeth after being hit and made a small "oof" sound as she tryed to pull back.
Star took the hit and was slightly annoyed. He was much to fast and he was mocking her with his actions and words, yet she refused to get angry.
Anger clouds judgment, when your judgement is clouded you make mistakes, and mistakes lead to death.

Do we lose our control and surrender to the Beast within? Or can we be true knights and act with honour? "

<Knights?? What the fu*k is he talking about?  Knights are long since dead, this isn't Jolly-Old England>

Star stood still, preparing herself for another assault from her teacher. His words were being uses as a weapon to compliment his blade. Star knows the effect words can have on a battle all too well.
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" I see what you are doing... But you will not provoke me to anger. To give in to such emotions is to already lose the battle, both that you face and the one with in.  "
She said calmly, waiting to defend.

" I see what you are doing... But you will not provoke me to anger. To give in to such emotions is to already lose the battle, both that you face and the one with in."

The Count bended his sword's tip until it broke to remove that twisted end. Then he studied the rest of his sword.
"...But Apprentice you're already losing the battle. What difference would it made?

This is about teaching you some things useful for your duel. Are you learning anything?

No? Then basically you're surrendering in your Duel with Lady Von Baden even before it started. What a shame, I must have you wrong, I never took you for a quitter.

Answer me this. Am I wasting my time with you?"

Star knew this tactic, everything the Count was saying was trying to provoke a emotional reaction in her. Whether the things he was saying we're true or not meant little.

But Apprentice you're already losing the battle. What difference would it made?

Star remained calm as she spoke.
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" oh Count?.. I though winning or losings was not important here. i thought it was more imporatant on how one conducts themselves,  to act honorable rather than seek glory?!"
She said in a polite way

No? Then basically you're surrendering in your Duel with Lady Von Baden even before it started.

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" You say that I have already surrendered to Lady Victoria,... How so?
I simply have taking time to judge and assess my opponent. Lady Victoria is stronger than I am. It is foolish for me to do battle with her on an even playing field. I am a fledgling, she a respected and experienced kindred, the odds are clearly staked against me. But you would rather have me delude myself into thinking I could win??

I have been told this duel is not about winning or losing... Its about proving a point.
I might be doomed to fail  against her, fine. All I can hope to do to show honor in my Inevitable Defeat. "

I have waged the possible out comes of this battle in my mind. If lady Victora wins, what has she proven? That she is better then a weak fledgling ? Big deal! Evertone already knows that.

If I do win, it will disgrace my opponent for losing to someone far weaker then she is. Earning me a enemy, that will most likely harbour spite twords me, this duel isn't a matter of strength, it's a matter of principles! I get that.
This isn't about ME or who is better.
What I need to do is show that I have honor and not treat my opponate in a way that would bring  embarrassment to her. It needs to be handled delicately. This is why I'm interested in the proper way to handle myself, and not give in to these emotional mind games to are playing Count.

What a shame, I must have you wrong, I never took you for a quitter.
Answer me this. Am I wasting my time with you?"

Star calmly shook her head.
<oh is he seriously calling me a quitter and trying to push my buttons to get me angry?>
Star looked at the Count, and her feelings of annoyance and anger started to fade as she controlled herself to feel only what she wanted, pushing aside all feelings.  what was left behind was the cold-heartless, lacking all empathy..
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" I cannot determine whether or not you are wasting your time Count. But I do know these tactics to Insight anger and rage Within Me by your actions and words. It will not happen, I am not a slave to my emotions like some Brujah, and I do not succumb to my instincts like a Gangrel.
I might not have the 1st clue what it means to be a Ventrue, but I know its not letting myself be ruled by my emotions. So no matter how you push me, I refuse to give in to anger. I am no stranger to shutting off my emotions, its one of the 1st lessons we are taught in the Sword, When to feel and when to act. Anger and Rage are powerful tools, but Feelings are not Facts. Instead of acting in anger I will assess every situation logically, and not act of feeling.  "

Star paused.
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" while all i said maybe true, prehaps I'm not understanding the chosen methods in what you are trying to covay Count Hayworth. "

You're making the first mistake all Fledgelings do. You think you know something and you're right about anything."

<yeah people have been telling me that a lot lately >
Star thought as she raised a eyebrow at this statement, not disagreeing with the Count.

You're thinking as a loser //. You're not losing the duel, you're losing yourself.

This hit her slightly harder then she had anticipated.
Could he see past her exterior and see how she really sees herself?... <"Nonsense" >she thought. <I'm just trying to be logical about this>

As the Count moved confidently towards her she was puzzled why he was continuing to want to duel with a broken weapon.

When the Count lunged forward in such a manner and she felt the threat of death coming, the fight in her seemed to be fueled. Instead of fully doddging Star drew her blade upward to meet his broken blade in a perry. Star took advantage of the fact that the Count  had lost half the reach of his weapon, and she made a swift attack to his face with the extended blade.

Star's eyes held determination as she was not willing to just sit back and lay down in defeat. If death was coming, then she would greet it with a kiss and die like a warrior.

As the sabors hit Star locked  eyes with the Count, her eyes didn't hold anger but determination. She defensively made evasion  maneuver with her body in a swift motion attempting to sidestep away from the on coming attack to put distance between them, before she would take the opportunity to attack once again.