Piripiri is eleven and her first duel is finishing up. Fundamentals only, padded swords and basic moves, but the core of the styles were there, the water style facing her with flowing aggression, to her yielding defense, waiting for the opening. She'd lost, one swing opening her up for greater retribution and was battered out of the circle.

It didn't matter to her that she was short for her age, or that her opponent had most of a year on her, the lose still stung more bitterly than the bruise. She'd seen the fierce brightness years ago, the first time she saw a duel between daughters of dragons, and she'd wanted that clarity for herself.

She'd do better next time.

*

Piripiri is fourteen, and is losing a duel. Eleven is a lifetime ago, and so she's moved up from the fundamentals of swordsmanship to what could be in truth called Reed Style, bending to blows without breaking to them. Her opponent today is Aisha, who's taken to the Seabreeze in turn, all feints till one of them isn't, taking the measure of your enemy before taking them apart. Aisha finishes her last exchange and whips through a sequence of feints, tripping her and ending with the wooden sword at her neck.

*

Piripiri is sixteen, and winning a duel. The secret, she's found, is to think. That's really hard in fights, what with the red and the pain, but it's important because it's equally hard for everyone and she lacks the raw strength that other people have. The wooden swords are clashing, but the real fight is if she can figure out a trick that Kai can't simply power through. She's been very careful to make it look like the answer was no, and as he goes to strike her while she's cornered against the side of the ring, she hops over and kicks back with both legs, sending him tripping out of the fight.

* 

Piripiri is nineteen, and has just won a duel. All she had to do was to finish the sequence, the same one that her opponant reads through and yields. They're using live blades, now, and a proper kit-out, and so the instructors were very clear about the expectation to yield rather than be maimed out of pride. She's the fifth ranked of the school, after winning this duel, and weaker physically and with essence than the next 15 people after her, so it's clear whose pride that was aimed at. But she takes a minute to breath in, still, and grin at Aisha, hugging her tight. It was a good fight, between good friends, and there's a radiant glow in that.

*

Piripiri is twenty three, and just lost a duel. Cathak Agata had the potential to be her direct command, and she'd made a point of putting up a good showing, while avoiding any of the dirtier tricks that would be unsightly, even if they failed to work, and harm Agata's reputation if they did. It's a balancing act, and as she knelt to yield, she saw the bright interest in her opponant's eyes. Agata wasn't fooled for an instant that this was all that Piripiri could give, and was very intrigued. The offer, after, was only a formality.

*

It is now, and Piripiri is winning a duel by losing it.

Han has had dust kicked in her eyes, her girlfriend danced with, and her dominion threatened, and as she rushes out of the smokescreen Piripiri is rushing to meet her. Answer her in kind, o daughter of dragons, rise to the challenge. Sing the song of your people as Piripiri has grown up singing, with blade and will. It will lose you the fight, for you do not see the trailing rope in the other hand, but you will exalt in defeat because the glory is in the clash. 

[img]Entice roll of 10+1 for eleven, to buy into the duel fully. If she takes a string, that gets her to four and resets, with her learning a deep truth about Han.[/img]