1. The Fencing Tournament Fencing is not an Oktoberfest tradition. Sniper assumes it's here by dint of being a historical form of combat, a thin connection to the more traditional activity of crossbow shooting. It's enough to get them the same stage, earlier in the day. It's a good spot, but the street crowd starts thin: there might be some fascination for people living in a world where weapons are banned, but fencing was a difficult sport to follow between the speed and the formalities.
Sniper waits a few rounds before queuing in. The major benefit of the VR setting is losing the need for bulky, concealing gear. When Sniper is called to the center, it's only in street clothes: shorts, a shirt, the phantom epee held loosely at their side, They're a full foot shorter than their opponent, the last round's winner. As with the previous round, the announcer starts with some biographical information: Ojiro Juniper, age 30, fencing for twenty years—a courtesan at House Pythia.
The announcer's tone becomes noticeably arch at that last bit of information; the crowd titters at the unexpected word. Did they hear that right? But with the implant, anyone can look up the name of the business and see its true. Sniper meets the announcer's dubious expression with a wink: "I like a challenge in my spare time." —and the crowd laughs, along with the announcer, the awkward mood broken.
Just like that; warmed-up, the crowd cheers for their first victory, Then the second. The cheering is louder at the third. 15-0, 15-2, 15-5, 15-0—The point is to put on a show, and Sniper's not doing anything to downplay those 20 years of experience, dominating the rounds with their speed and skill, making their opponents strain for every point while they gain them effortlessly. Even the untrained eye can that they outclass all the opponents so far. At the end of the fourth round, the announcer sounds slightly nervous voicing his canned lines: "Is there a challenger left who will dare to step forward?"
2. Afterward Once they extricate themself from the tournament, they are going to need food. It will be easy enough to find them sitting down somewhere. They will call over anyone who looks like they might be a newbie, or even just a familiar face.
Ojiro Juniper (Sniper)
Fencing is not an Oktoberfest tradition. Sniper assumes it's here by dint of being a historical form of combat, a thin connection to the more traditional activity of crossbow shooting. It's enough to get them the same stage, earlier in the day. It's a good spot, but the street crowd starts thin: there might be some fascination for people living in a world where weapons are banned, but fencing was a difficult sport to follow between the speed and the formalities.
Sniper waits a few rounds before queuing in. The major benefit of the VR setting is losing the need for bulky, concealing gear. When Sniper is called to the center, it's only in street clothes: shorts, a shirt, the phantom epee held loosely at their side, They're a full foot shorter than their opponent, the last round's winner. As with the previous round, the announcer starts with some biographical information: Ojiro Juniper, age 30, fencing for twenty years—a courtesan at House Pythia.
The announcer's tone becomes noticeably arch at that last bit of information; the crowd titters at the unexpected word. Did they hear that right? But with the implant, anyone can look up the name of the business and see its true. Sniper meets the announcer's dubious expression with a wink: "I like a challenge in my spare time." —and the crowd laughs, along with the announcer, the awkward mood broken.
Just like that; warmed-up, the crowd cheers for their first victory, Then the second. The cheering is louder at the third. 15-0, 15-2, 15-5, 15-0—The point is to put on a show, and Sniper's not doing anything to downplay those 20 years of experience, dominating the rounds with their speed and skill, making their opponents strain for every point while they gain them effortlessly. Even the untrained eye can that they outclass all the opponents so far. At the end of the fourth round, the announcer sounds slightly nervous voicing his canned lines: "Is there a challenger left who will dare to step forward?"
2. Afterward
Once they extricate themself from the tournament, they are going to need food. It will be easy enough to find them sitting down somewhere. They will call over anyone who looks like they might be a newbie, or even just a familiar face.