007 - Duel with Olafur
Spurned by this insult, Solana challenges Olafur to a battle for honor: He may use whatever weapon he pleases, and she without arms or armor. The confidence Solana radiates from this threat gives Olafur pause, and some of the other militia hoot: this ought to be a good duel!
Some folks form a circle to spectate: Solana, in plain clothes and unarmed, against Olafur, wearing chain and wielding an axe. And yet it is Solana who seems at the advantage at the start, charging in immediately for a close-quarters grapple. Olafur quickly finds himself held tightly, barely able to move, giving a shout of pain as his shield arm is twisted uncomfortably. Trying to minimize any true damage, Solana eases slightly, but sends her opponent to the ground in a submission hold. The crowd roars: within seconds, the all-so-confident Olafur has been pinned! Perhaps his axe arm needs more arm, less axe, to break free of her grip!
Solana does nothing, merely content to keep her opponent immobilized. In time, however, Olafur breaks free in a violent burst, enough to send her to the ground on her back. Now the situation has reversed: she’s the one on the ground, and he’s standing and ready to strike. Determined not to lose the advantage, Solana attempts to leap back up to strike quickly, only to meet axe. A stunned gasp comes out: this was no mere play tap: Olafur struck to kill!
Solana, however, powers through: an axe to the gut merely means an axe nearby. Grabbing his arm, a quick twisting yank leads a cracking noise and a scream, before rotating around for a better grip. She lifts, and slams the armored man into the ground, thoroughly knocking the wind out of him.
The crowd once against enters hysterics and applause: Even Olgar’s best attempt at a reversal came up short. There was no doubt: Solana could do this all day, and every hour he would find himself back to the ground yet again. Some soldiers head over to check on Olgar and to insist upon him: This match was over.
Solana feels wisened by the experience: completely unarmed, she took on an opponent better-geared, better-trained, and better-armed than she… and came out decisively victorious. It was as clear to her as it was to everyone else: there truly is merit to this approach… even if only she was one to take it as anything more than a wild, rousing fight.
Mid-Story Commentary
This seems written a bit overdramatic for someone beating the hell out of a guy with an axe, but I suppose I was really playing up what Solana was about. As I recall, this was a mark on progress for her background vow.
This was a Draw The Circle style of duel, which is something Starforged and Sundered Isles did away with. I think that's a shame, since the Boasts system is a lot of fun.
For getting an axe to the gut, Solana really doesn't seem all that concerned by it immediately afterwards. I guess I was running on video-game damage where you're a-okay as long as you have 1 HP.
That's actually an interesting bit of the mechanics vs the narrative of Ironsworn as far as health goes. By Ironsworn's wording and Ironsworn's mechanics, you literally cannot be "wounded" until you meet the criteria to mark the Wounded debility.