Hynes Family/Alois/Downtime/RP10

"It's beautiful," Alois' young Squire, Pate, said, in awe of the beauty of Tourney. Rowes and rowes of pavillions were set up around the Jousting arena, bright with the colors of the many participant's households, their multi-colored pennants fluttering in the breeze.

Mounted Men-At-Arms took turns tilting on the practice grounds, waiting for their chance to charge at the rowes of rings, while barechested swordsmen practiced and displayed their exceptional skill in front of the massed crowd of peasants and nobles.

The smell of sweet wine and other assorted delicacies, meats and pastries and fruits of all kind, hung thick in the air, teasing their nostrils and setting their stomachs to rumbling in hunger.

Alois laughed as they circled the outskirts of the encampment slowly, looking for a place among the gathering to set up their own pavillion. "Ah, less than a year, boy, and we've already visited the two largest cities on the continent! Ibladesh is bigger than ever Perdan!"

Pate smiled as memories of their last night in Perdan. "Can we go into the city itself?"

"Perhaps," Alois said firmly, but grinning. "Once we get settled in and make ourselves presentable."

They found a spot, far away from the festivities and noise of the Tournament grounds and went to work setting up the pavilion, raising the center-pole with the screaming Eagle of the Hynes Family atop and following it with the striped blue and white silken-material of the pavillion itself. It took a little under an hour to get the pavillion raised and properly fastened to the ground with stakes. The wind seemed to be rising, and the last thing Alois wanted to do was shirk on the preparations now and have to chase his pavillion through the wind later.

Alois changed from the silken yellow tunic and into his familiar maile hauberk, coif and great helm, waiting for Pate to finish building the fire and help him with the Plate; Gorget, Gauntlents, Greaves, Faulds, and Breast plate laid before him, waiting for the Squire's return.

"So," Pate said as he fitted the Gorget around Alois' neck, "We are not going into the city?"

"Not today. I need to train. Remember, boy, we're here to win prestige and favor, and Not kisses from bar maides."

Pate flushed red, lowering his eyes, as he checked to make sure the Gorget was secure, bending to retrive the Faulds. "Yes, Ser."