Before the Tournament

Isana Everlight

Warmed up and feeling energetic, Isana took the early sporting crowd by storm with a dazzlingly nimble display of swordplay and footwork. The quiet from the stands could say otherwise, or maybe they had yet to be properly awake.

Cedric was waiting by with her charger Tempus as she finished. Rather than lead the fine chestnut to the stables, she swung up to take the saddle and made a jousting run across the grounds instead, one more flourish for the crowd.

A green-and-white banner caught her eye as she dismounted. It wasn't hers; she'd been surprised they could have gotten her heraldry up so fast. No, it was Laststar. He must have caught up with Queen Alyssa. She smirked, remembering their exchange over his favour at the last torunament, and wondered if he'd be up for a rematch.

Feeling properly enlivened, she left her horse at the stable and went in search of her darling Majesty, and perhaps a drink to wash away the dust of the road.

Daizen Tideweaver

Daizen greeted his good friend and welcomed him warmly. At the mention of the “women of Marinen” Beatrix’s face notably tightened though the Tidemaster did not notice it.

“The beaches of Marinen are quite lovely. It has been some moons since I washed up on those shores. Oh the ruckus those peasant merchant lords made when I told them we would soon rule. Bah no matter. I hear the city has been flourishing under your careful eye. A new wall and a temple to the Way of the Aethir. You are not wrong I must visit soon.”

Daizen took a long draft from a colorful drink.

“As for the northerners, many are stuck in their old ways. Afraid of change, afraid of anything that might threaten the way of life they have lived so long. Its not necessarily wrong of them. If they wish to sulk about and complain rather than enjoy the many pleasures this life has to offer, then that is their right. But they will not lay any blame at my feet for not making an effort. Some of the absolute finest dishes in the world are available, if they wish to not indulge, so be it. Our courts shall leave fat and happy.”

Daizen notices the look Octavian gives Beatrix and bursts out laughing.

“Your man Peg will have his hands full with this one once they face off. Though I have not seen her fight myself, if the respect she commands from the others within the coliseum is any indication...”

The Tidemaster let his words drift off. Beatrix was blushing deep but turned away so that Daizen could not see her.

With the grand dining hall open to all Daizen continued to eat, drink, and talk with his company, so far unbothered by all who chose to or not to attend his welcome feast. He remained in good spirits and inviting for all who wished to attend.

Lorelai Chamberlain

The bar he had chosen to patronise was clearly shocked by the clientele such patronage had encouraged. What she imagined would usually be a highly respectable establishment for the lower ebbs of nobility was transformed to an ostentatious environment by fire breathing waiting staff and the most tasteful of exotic dancers.

An older man perhaps more suited to the travelling players than his current dais, was reciting poetry both familiar and at times obscene in a lustrous bellow.

She smiled despite herself. Her anger at the queens treatment of her had now simmered to sadness that she hoped might be relieved by the company of friends.

In the main bar area she could feel his presence before she saw him and quietly made her way to where he stood in those ever so tight leather hosiery regaling a doting, mostly female but all effeminate audience.

She trailed a finger down his back eliciting only the slightest shiver from him.

He turned toward her with an uncertain smile.

She ducked in the briefest curtsey. "My liege, I heard you were buying drinks?"

Octavian Schwarzherzig

Octavian tossed the practice sword to his squire as the crowd gathered for the tournament cheered his masterful display. He spread his arms wide and gestured for those gathered to cheer louder, and the response rattled nearby windows. Octavian flung a fistful of coins into the crowd, and made his way back to his nearby villa, which had become a focal point for the local crowd.

Octavian snagged a tankard of ale from a servant, and stood upon a chair addressing the crowd.

"Good people of Kalmar, Honored Guests, and assorted Northern riff raff! Tidemaster's favor be with you friends! In but a few hours the greatest names on this continent, and Godric, will cross sword and lance for fame, for glory and most important of all, your entertainment!"

The crowd whooped at Octavian, whose servants were becoming overwhelmed attempting to distribute drinks.

"Come dawn we will demonstrate our skills in a display that will honor the Aethir. It will quiet the fiery temper of Hrómir, and please mighty Orgeon! It is a true privilege to compete in these blessed lands, given up to us by the Gods! Here in the shadow of the twin calderas! Pass the ale around!"

Octavian turned and clapped, and a man with a hurdy gurdy stepped forward and began to play a popular Alexandrian tune. Octavian began to sing, the crowd joining in.

"My mother told me,
Someday I would buy,
Galleys with good oars,
Sail to distant shores,

Stand up high in the prow,
Noble barque I steer,
Steady course for the haven,
Hew many foe-men,
Hew many foe-men!"

Sigrid Gudrun Auru'in

The masses all around, a maiden watches history unfold. "How right you will prove to be... Let the games begin."

Pandora de Pooh

Pandora squints at the letter that she had opened gingerly to reread thoroughly. The letter could not have been more clear, her healers have demanded pay for the past few days and received nothing in return. She sat down holding back the tears that were about to come, Pandora had worked hard to learn the ins and outs of supporting her infantry as a new knight and felt she had deeply disappointed them. As the environment starts filling up the ambience with life, chatter, drinking and display of skill she felt her own body shrinking.

Piles of paper were plastered all over the table, some had developed beer stains. Men that have passed by, to no fault, would have avoided the scene coming to the tournament grounds believing it was occupied. Stress was reeking from the table. In reality, Pandora had brought her journal entries from all of the encounters she has had with the sword fighting tutor. Flipping through them in a flurry of repetition, Pandora seeks for a few moments hoping learning anything sticks in her brain to make up for the days she did not pay attention properly. Soft sobbing can be heard a few feet away from the table, a sound of despair, unpreparedness and disbelief.

Pandora had her small, stubby fingers scrunched up in her golden hair as her rosy cheeks met with a crying pouty scowl. The hair band holding up her locks was starting to loosen, an indication that she had been distressed for quite some time.

Ambrose Peregrine

The Baron of Scio did not attend the feast. Instead he got himself busy with somewhat strange activities. First he measured the exact length of the tilting arena and the height of the railing. While still at it he produced a small notebook and made some notes. Then he continued gauging and measuring and jotting down other random things, like how the trajectory of the sun was positioned relatively to the arena or which side of the seemingly perfectly flat field was actually a tiny bit elevated over the other.

And once the strategic part was dealt with, there was still time for training.

Once he was done for the day he would return to his tent and lay there in peace, relaxing and enjoying dried fruit and expensive wine. A hired minstrel sang him heroic songs from all over the continent, perhaps boosting his morale or perhaps just lulling him to sleep. Finally Ambrose started dozing. It was still quite early, but there was no reason staying awake late on the verge of the big day.

In his dream he rode a powerful destrier, lance in hand. A sea of dark silhouettes riding toward him. And he would unhorse them all one by one. A fallen foe for every beating of his heart. A happy smile touched his lips as his squire blew the candles out.

Tournament

Welcome to the tournament in Kalmar. 43 nobles from 7 realms paid their 0 gold entrance fee and visit the tournament grounds today to claim the winner's honours and 800 (gold) for swordfighting (400 for second place swordfighting) and 800 (gold) for jousting (400 for second place jousting). This is a tournament of both, jousting and swordfight. Let's begin with the swords:

Round 1, 43 participants:

Won	Lost
Maremma from Perleone	Halusio from Sirion
Ubin from Sirion	Andreas from Perleone
Norum from Alexandria	Godric Tórrarin from Eponllyn
Ivo from Sirion	Sigrid Gudrun from Alexandria
Lucius from Perdan	Oliver from Perdan
Theodius from Sirion	Arlox from Alexandria
Azer from Caligus	Alarin from Eponllyn
Giulio from Sirion	Lorelai from Perdan
Isana from Perdan	Aster from Eponllyn
Jimminy from Caligus	Alicia from Perdan
Gaheris from Perleone	Ambrose from Caligus
Niall from Perleone	James from Eponllyn
Pandora from Perdan	Vic from Shadowdale
Brock from Sirion	Shorloc from Caligus
Tsingu from Perdan	Hallvar from Eponllyn
Gremis from Eponllyn	Hamilton limb from Alexandria
Lorne from Sirion	Latínã from Alexandria
Daario from Perdan	Monterys from Sirion
Doranthir from Sirion	Octavian from Alexandria
Julian from Eponllyn	Melchiah from Alexandria
Guldor from Eponllyn	Tharan from Eponllyn
Barthogan	wildcard

Round 2, 22 participants:

Won	Lost
Julian from Eponllyn	Azer from Caligus
Maremma from Perleone	Jimminy from Caligus
Barthogan from Perleone	Isana from Perdan
Brock from Sirion	Tsingu from Perdan
Norum from Alexandria	Guldor from Eponllyn
Pandora from Perdan	Gremis from Eponllyn
Giulio from Sirion	Gaheris from Perleone
Ubin from Sirion	Daario from Perdan
Doranthir from Sirion	Ivo from Sirion
Niall from Perleone	Lucius from Perdan
Theodius from Sirion	Lorne from Sirion

Round 3, 11 participants:

Won	Lost
Doranthir from Sirion	Giulio from Sirion
Theodius from Sirion	Brock from Sirion
Barthogan from Perleone	Ubin from Sirion
Julian from Eponllyn	Norum from Alexandria
Maremma from Perleone	Pandora from Perdan
Niall	wildcard

Round 4, 6 participants:

Won	Lost
Maremma from Perleone	Doranthir from Sirion
Theodius from Sirion	Julian from Eponllyn
Niall from Perleone	Barthogan from Perleone

Semifinal round:

Won	Lost
Theodius from Sirion	Maremma from Perleone
Niall	wildcard

Final Round:

Won	Lost
Niall from Perleone	Theodius from Sirion

In the second part of the tournament, the traditional jousting contest is being held:

Round 1, 43 participants:

Won	Lost	Score
Isana from Perdan	Latínã from Alexandria	3 to 0
Ubin from Sirion	Alicia from Perdan	3 to 0
Ivo from Sirion	Pandora from Perdan	3 to 0
Ambrose from Caligus	Vic from Shadowdale	3 to 0
Alarin from Eponllyn	Gaheris from Perleone	3 to 0
Godric Tórrarin from Eponllyn	Barthogan from Perleone	3 to 0
Arlox from Alexandria	Jimminy from Caligus	3 to 0
Tharan from Eponllyn	Sigrid Gudrun from Alexandria	3 to 0
Andreas from Perleone	Tsingu from Perdan	3 to 0
Lorne from Sirion	Oliver from Perdan	2 to 1
Shorloc from Caligus	Gremis from Eponllyn	2 to 1
Julian from Eponllyn	Halusio from Sirion	3 to 0
Hallvar from Eponllyn	Melchiah from Alexandria	3 to 0
Norum from Alexandria	Aster from Eponllyn	2 to 1
Brock from Sirion	Hamilton limb from Alexandria	3 to 0
Maremma from Perleone	Giulio from Sirion	2 to 1
Niall from Perleone	Theodius from Sirion	2 to 1
Lucius from Perdan	Daario from Perdan	2 to 1
Guldor from Eponllyn	James from Eponllyn	3 to 0
Monterys from Sirion	Octavian from Alexandria	3 to 0
Azer from Caligus	Doranthir from Sirion	2 to 1
Lorelai	wildcard

Round 2, 22 participants:

Won	Lost	Score
Godric Tórrarin from Eponllyn	Hallvar from Eponllyn	2 to 1
Ivo from Sirion	Brock from Sirion	3 to 0
Ambrose from Caligus	Lorne from Sirion	3 to 0
Monterys from Sirion	Arlox from Alexandria	3 to 0
Ubin from Sirion	Lucius from Perdan	2 to 1
Isana from Perdan	Norum from Alexandria	2 to 1
Shorloc from Caligus	Andreas from Perleone	3 to 0
Alarin from Eponllyn	Julian from Eponllyn	3 to 0
Maremma from Perleone	Azer from Caligus	2 to 1
Niall from Perleone	Tharan from Eponllyn	3 to 0
Guldor from Eponllyn	Lorelai from Perdan	3 to 0

Round 3, 11 participants:

Won	Lost	Score
Isana from Perdan	Ubin from Sirion	2 to 1
Monterys from Sirion	Guldor from Eponllyn	2 to 1
Shorloc from Caligus	Ivo from Sirion	2 to 1
Ambrose from Caligus	Godric Tórrarin from Eponllyn	3 to 0
Niall from Perleone	Maremma from Perleone	3 to 0
Alarin	wildcard

Round 4, 6 participants:

Won	Lost	Score
Niall from Perleone	Isana from Perdan	3 to 0
Alarin from Eponllyn	Monterys from Sirion	3 to 0
Ambrose from Caligus	Shorloc from Caligus	2 to 1

Semifinal round:

Won	Lost	Score
Niall from Perleone	Alarin from Eponllyn	2 to 1
Ambrose - wildcard

Final Round:

Won	Lost	Score
Ambrose from Caligus	- Niall from Perleone	3 to 0

Winner: Ambrose That was the tournament in Kalmar. Congratulations to the winners and to all participants.

After The Tournament

Niall De La Fere

This was a most enjoyable tournament. I thank the hosts and all the contenders.

Baron Peregrine, you humiliated me in the jousting final and were the only one to stop me from a double win. I congratulate you especially, but be aware, I will get you the next time.

Isana Everlight

Isana rolled nimbly to her feet, feeling a throb in her shoulder where a clever lance from Niall had sent her flying. He won the sword, how does he still have energy left for the joust? She kicked a pebble aside and watched it skitter into the dust. Fourth round this time. One day...

She straightened, summoning pride and poise, and saluted her opponent. Then she turned to the stands, tall black Paladins' plume on her helm swaying.

With a wide flourish Isana bowed to the audience, and felt a crescendo reverberate through the grounds. Much of the racket issued from her fifty soldiers, the Everlight Stormfront, she guessed--for whom it was the premiere opportunity to view their commander at a foreign tournament--who now were making a raucous scene of the sidelines below the nobles' lofty perch in celebration of Isana's fourth-round joust result. The Lady grinned widely in the close and humid confines of the helm.

Sounds like a party. Guess I don't need this for a bit...

As she straightened again Isana loosed the impressive helm into her hands. Her seeking eye found the fairest woman in the stands: Alyssa's golden hair shone a beacon among the dun of the others. Gazing steadily at that light Isana smiled brilliantly and blew a kiss.

Ambrose Peregrine

As his archnemesis Viscount Niall was unhorsed the third time the onlookers cheered and heralds sounded the trumpets. A victorious roar could be heard from under the heavy full helm. Ambrose did not need his shield any more, so it slid to the ground with a thud. He took off his winged and beaked helmet of blued steel and showed the crowd a charismatic toothy grin.

"The Black Falcon reigns supreme today!" he shouted. "Black Fa-a-alcon!" echoed the more impressionable and excited smallfolk in the crowd.

A young page scurried toward Ambrose's horse and attached a wreath of flowers to the tip of his lance. Yes, now a winner was to choose the Queen of Love and Beauty among the ladies gathered at the tourney. Ambrose looked around and realised there were not that many familiar female faces around. One lady stood out in his eyes though. Young and bright-eyed, she looked like she was crying recently. He did not recognize her crest, it was a white lily on gold or something like that.

Ambrose rode forth and laid the Queen of Beauty’s laurel in Pandora’s lap.

Pandora de Pooh

Pandora was delighted by the tournament's show of nobleman and noblewomen in their intricacies, marveled by everyone's skill. She had been motivated more than ever to continue her studies to impress her infantry and Pandora's peers. As she clapped for the the victorious champion striding down the steps of the grand building, leading down to the roadway, a wreath of flowers fall upon Pandora's lap.

Not understanding the significance of this item, Pandora was enamored with happiness being chosen in kind gesture by a true champion. She gently catches the wreath into her palms as her fingers curl around the headpiece, the pretty wilted flowers seemingly bounce to life in her hands for a brief moment. The crowd goes wild over this gesture, screaming for more of the champion's attention as he strolls past them.

Lorelai Chamberlain

She wasn't totally convinced that Pandora was the ingénue that she portrayed, but regardless she was her friend and a sister of Perdan. Disentangling her arm from Lucius with a light kiss on his cheek she breezed across to the noble woman drawing her into a hug.
She whispered into her ear:
"You must decide if you will show him your favour Pan... if you do, tie your colours to his horses bridle. If you don't.... it is no matter, but you should wear the crown he has given you with pride."
Taking a pin from her braids, she placed the crown on Pandora's head and secured it.
"He is quite dashing Pan," she smiled warmly at her friend, waiting to see what she would do.

Oliver laststar

Oliver mingles in with the rest of the perdan crowd wearing his plate, even though having been through the ringer himself and thrown in the dirt during the bouts, he had somehow found time to clean up immaculately once again. He made it in time to watch the final joust and end of the tournament; the young knight can't help but roll his eyes at the sudden charming display that throws Pandora into the spotlight, underscored by a now even more fervorous crowd.

While the traditional gesture doesn't pull at his cynical heart-strings, Oliver can't help be curious as he edges and leans closer to hear the conversation between Lorelai and Pandora. A slick, genuine grin starts to curve through his lips when he's near; maybe he'll get to see how embarrassed Pandora may act, now that'll be a delight.

Pandora de Pooh

Pandora's eyes lit up to see Lorelai's presence, her whisper seemingly mother-like. Eyes darted to the horse's bridle dashing away imagining her crest on the bridle. Yet, Pandora felt unsettled. Pandora patiently allows her to adjust the crown onto her hair while the crown of her head faces Lorelai as she looks downward flustered.

The nudge to show favor to the champion was out of the question, and Pandora had gone completely silent, turning bright pink. She stood there completely embarrassed, wondering what the noble made of this encounter. Perhaps he did not see Pandora in that light. Surely, she must be overthinking things. Her memory starts replaying the emotions of being walked back to the front door of the lodge inn she stayed at, and briefly considered what Salem would think of this encounter. Catching herself in a daze, she noticed another noble grinning at her. Pandora had no idea how she was recognized by him, she is sure she never met him.

However, Pandora did feel the shame coming on, the shame of being given such a limelight that wasn't meant to be hers. She felt like she owed it to the noble to apologize, "I- I apologize good ser. Would you like to see the laurel up close?" Pandora reaches for the pin.

Ambrosse Peregrine

The champion lingered a few moments, as dame Lorelai correctly noted he was waiting for the tourney's Queen of Beauty to show him her favour. But as the young woman froze in place and started turning bright pink he realized that something was not right. Was he too unattractive for her? Too old? Was she perhaps already bethrothed to another man or was she not into men altogether like their monarch?

In either case, Ambrose was not just spurned but ignored and that was his cue to move on. He nudged his steed and rode on back to the center of the arena, a smile back on his face and hands high in the air, bathing in the excited adoration of the crowd.

Once he is back home, in his tales the nameless damsel at the tourney would forever be mentioned as "the pink lily".

Oliver Laststar

Oliver suspiciously eyes her hands reaching immediately for her crown of flowers, the young woman had put on an attractive blush, but now she's doing something quite unexpected. She would pass me the laurel? The symbolic gesture of love, to me instead of favoring the champion? I wonder how that would look to others.

She must be playing at some level of intrigue Oliver thought, perhaps to trick him up, or play him against one of her other sycophanting admirers she had mentioned through letters before. Also noting she didn't refer to him by name, as if she didn't recognize him; whereas he made it his business to know who is who while he flattered and smarmed his way through the noble rank and file at the tourney. It's hard for Oliver to believe she hasn't done something similar. Perhaps she is pretending to not know him, maybe an insult on his rank? This could still be a further ploy in one of her schemes, Oliver continues to think, that embarrassed flush seemed so real, but it's possible this woman before him is quite the heart stealer trained knowing the hearts of men. That's more likely it. Fraternizing with nobility can be dangerous, he remembers his tutors warnings, they are oft more than what they seem.

Truly Pandora knows her ways in court. Two can play like this, Oliver decides he'll pretend to not know her either.

Greedy for the chance to steal some of her limelight, and maybe to set some chins wagging. He leans forward anyway to accept Pandora's allusive love; his head proffered for the laurel. He tries to grin more reassuringly in response to her offer, his hawkish eyes leaning him a more sinister looking smile during the moment; but, noting Lorelai still nearby and surely to recognize him, he hesitates. After what happened with the army, having been denounced for disobeying her orders to chase after the queen, he doesn't know where he stands with the ex-marshal.

Perhaps he'll just politely ignore her for now. "Ah..." He says, his head tilted forward for if Pandora decides to crown him with the prized flowers, "Excuse me, I was just curious. If you truly do not mind sharing, my lady, I've always wondered what it felt like to be crowned." Oliver smiles hopefully, this will surely spark some rumors and add to his prestige.

Lorelai Chamberlain

Oliver Laststar.... it had to be Oliver Laststar, trying to cause another Lady of Perdan to be humiliated. Clearly he had fared well on his journey with the queen, his arrogance was unabashed.

She placed a firm restraining hand on Pandora's arm. "Why Sir Oliver," she began brightly, "surely you are making a jolly jape" the brittle words dripped ice.

She turned to Pandora, the younger noble looking at her in puzzlement. She linked her arm, aiming to move her: "Ah... you must come see, um... my horse dear Pan."

She hoped she was out of at least Oliver's ear shot as she turned her away. "Lady Pandora. You have been crowned the Queen of Love and Beauty... this is an honour for you... none have ever named me Queen of a tournament," she began to muse wistfully as she walked with her. "That you chose not to give your favour to Lord Perigrine is... well its unusual but... its fine... you would add insult to the situation if you passed your crown to another... especially a man."