Itausson Family/The Death of Willard

The Death of Willard

(Written by the player of ka Habb)

Event

Marius Kinsey ka Habb, Knight of Port Raviel meets his challenger Willard Itausson, Duke of Itau, Earl of Itaufield for the agreed duel till death. Willard has decided to use the 'defensive' strategy while Marius Kinsey has chosen the 'trick moves' strategy, giving Marius Kinsey the advantage. The duel goes as planned, then badly for Willard. He suffers several slight wounds, then a final, fatal blow. The healers hurry, but they are too late. Since there was a bounty out on him, Marius Kinsey gladly collects. Marius Kinsey, although the winner, has also suffered a light wound.

They meet at sunset near a square of a boisterous free settlement. Willard Itausson stands ready, fingers nervously gripping the fresh quarterstaff. Marius arrives promptly, already unarmoured. He dismounts his horse and his captain hands him his "walking stick", a 7 foot staff with iron caps on the ends. Before he takes the staff he removes his shirt, flexing in the dying light.

"You really should have used a sword. It's your only chance." Marius almost seems concerned in his tone. He takes the quarterstaff, laying it casually across his shoulders.

Duke Willard shakes his head, "I am honour bound. To kill you, using a mere stick, there is no joy in that."

Marius shrugs, "Well, I guess you're going to die then."

The retainers announce their lords and their seconds stand ready. Their intent reaches an accord and they approach, Willard in a ready stance and Marius with the staff across his shoulders still. Itausson strikes powerfully with a thunderous overhead blow, Marius narrowly deflecting with his staff into a circling parry. They disengage.

"At least you knew how to use a staff already, I'll give you credit for that." Marius notes sincerely. Willard thrusts at Marius's throat, who again deflects and parries in a spiral. Marius finally strikes from overhead, Willard catching it and transitioning into a thrust which pushes Marius back. "Unfortunately for you, a staff is not a spear."

Marius places the staff over his shoulder much like a greatsword: his arms tense and he swings in a broad circle. He becomes a whirling dervish, the staff whistling through the air as he finally begins to attack. Willard can scarcely respond, he dodges, looks for openings but they are always traps, his staff struck away or the end coming perilously close to a limb. He is trying but cannot break the momentum as Marius pushes him back towards the buildings.

It begins to go badly. He blocks but Marius is too strong, jolting his shoulder. The next block of an underhand strike breaks his hand, bones snapping like twigs. He sees the opening: he cannot decide if it's a trap or not. With all his might Willard swings as the staff whistles past his nose left to right.

To his credit, Willard did connect on the right side strike, cracking 2 ribs and leaving Marius with a nasty bruise. Unfortunately the second last thing going through his mind was how did Marius reverse direction so quickly- the last thing was the end of the staff smashing his skull open and sending his brains exploding across the side of a shop.

Marius holds back vomit as he is staggered, dropping to a knee. He looks up to Willard quite dead, skull smashed in and one eye dangling. "Ew." Marius cries out as his laugh elicits the pain of the rib fractures. The healers started to run in but as they come closer they realize there is no hope. Captain Gilbrecht helps him up and leads him back to his horse.

​​​​​"Were you toying with him, milord?" Gilbrecht asks, a worried look.

Marius frowns, taking a shallow breath, "He fought for his honour and his home. For that he was like a god on the battlefield. More than I can say for most other nobility." He furrows his brow.

The Ballad of Willard the Bold

First heard in a tavern in Dizeddo, bards have been heard singing it as far as the East Continent:

Oh, there once was a hero named Willard the Bold,
Who came riding to Astrum from wild Tol Gold,

And the noble did swagger and brandish his blade,
As he told of great duels, and gold he had made,

But then he went quiet, did Willard the Bold,
When he met the shield-maiden Marius, who told:

"Oh you talk and you lie and you make love to our goats,
Now I think it's high time that I cut through your throat!"

And so then came clashing and slashing of steel,
As the brave maiden Marius charged in, full of zeal,

And the brave noble Willard was boastful no more,
When his poor old brains were scattered on the floor!