Qubel/Duel and Festival Next
The Performance on the Dueling Ring
Roleplay from Sorsha McDowell
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Sorsha had been sitting quietly sipping her wine when her gaze subconsciously returned to the center ring. When it did, she blinked only catching as Marquis Rathan began to approach Duke Mathias, he was no longer dressed formally but ready for a fight. She counted each of his steps as he approached, her senses tingling with trepidation. There came a slap and Mathias whirled on him, immediately Sorsha cringed at the dark look on the Duke’s face.
They exchanged words she could not hear and her eyes grew larger fearing the worse. Gods she hoped Marquis Rathan wasn’t going to taunt Mathias further, suddenly her guilt sky rocketed at the words she imaged were being shared. There seemed to be a quiet hush over the crowd and she realized what had just occurred.
Rathan had challenged Mathias and she moved forward in her seat, gripping the railing around the box, now against her will completely engrossed in what would come next. He had said he would only challenge someone to the death… Surely he wouldn’t now.
Then Rathan turned in her direction, this time she was powerless to stop her gaze. A mixture of emotions crossed her delicate features, fear, guilt, and exhilaration. Was she even against her will actually getting caught up in the excitement of it all now?
Then beside her she heard an explosion of laughter, followed with, “I guess his feet weren’t so sensitive after all. What a twist, and a nice turn of events. This will be entertaining!”
Bowie leaned forward with her. “I’ll have to find something other to harass him with,” he laughed again and she grinned despite herself.
Sorsha McDowell (Dame of Port Nebel)
Roleplay from Rathan Himoura
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Rathan nimbly leaped out of the ring, the crowd surprised to see such lithe movements from the paper pusher. He walked up towards Count Bowie and the Lady Sorsha and stretched.
"It seems that everyone so quickly forgets what I did before I was Royal Fiduciary. Who was it that sank his blade into Vesna? Or the old bag Katayanna? I merely wished not to damage the Duke irreparably."
And with his final words he drew his blade, the Ebony Longsword of Flame. Flame traveled down the blade as he drew it, and it flickered brightly.
"Forged in a time of old when magicks ruled, it has survived. Useful little artifact, no?"
Sir Rathan Himoura
Royal Fiduciary of D'Hara, Marquis of Nebel
Roleplay from Bowie Ironsides
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As the Marquis displayed his fancy sword, Dame Sorsha was caught off guard. Should she approve supportively? Should she acknowledge with caution? The Dark Count noticed her hesitation and intervened.
"Marquis! Do you know the lengths I went to to arrange all of this? And you are standing here showing off your sword while the Duke drinks? Go fight him! That is what we all came here to see. (he mutters to himself and to Dame Sorsha) First he hires a substitute to fight, now he delays. I can't imagine what tricks he'll try to pull when I get the chance to step in the ring with him."
That comment did not get an applaud from Sorsha. He returned his loud voice to the Marquis, hoping she would let it slide.
"I did not hire any other entertainment! What are we supposed to do while the two of you lace up your gowns? How about we test that sword of yours? Would you be willing to put on a display? I can have targets of varying strengths set up in the ring, and we will judge the magnificence of your sword as you test it before us. Consider it a presentation of what you may do to the Duke."
The Dark Count,
Bowie Ironsides
Count of Qubel
Roleplay from Rathan Himoura
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"It is not I that tarry. The Duke it seems is far too nervous to face me after my champion has grown ill. I normally wouldn't lower myself to such activity unfitting of a royal adviser, but nonetheless, here I am. I am not afraid to fight Count Bowie, but I am no fool. I will not allow the Duke's advisers see myself in action prior to our duel. They surely would study my style for weaknesses to exploit. It is about time for lunch, why do we not eat instead?"
Sir Rathan Himoura
Royal Fiduciary of D'Hara, Marquis of Nebel
Roleplay from Bowie Ironsides
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The Dark Count sat back and said to Sorsha,
"Now he wants to eat...half the evenings feast will be devoured hours before schedule. What will we eat later?" and she replied in jest,
"You are in a predicament. What will you do?"
"I was hoping you would be able to tell me." He said smiling, then stood up to answer the Marquis.
"Marquis, I only have enough food prepared for the feast after the show. Eating now will not do. Take a seat in the stands, I may have an idea to entertain the crowd."
He turned to Dame Sorsha,
"Please excuse me for just a moment my friend, I have to gather a troupe for the ring."
As he left she heard him muttering, "I never thought we would use a duelling ring to put on a show. I will have to pay this disrespect of the customs to the ancestors harshly."
He exited the viewing box.
.....
Bowie Ironsides
Count of Qubel
Roleplay from Bowie Ironsides
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The Dark Count returned to the arena leading a troupe of young girls in costume. They wore silver gowns with reeds in their hair and green make up over their eyes. They enter the ring behind the Count in line.
The Dark Count gets the crowds attention.
“Sallowsian and D’Haran nobles, since there will be a delay in the main event, I have arranged for a performance by the choir of the Temple of Sallow here in Qubel. We originally arranged to perform this play during the Qubel Festival, but we will have a dress rehearsal of sorts for your pleasure. It has not been perfected yet, so sit still and adore the show anyway. This is a play about Sallowtown's founding father, the first unifying arexi dynast, the Great Dragon, and whom I am the incarnate of, Prince Sallow.”
He exits the ring and the girls face the crowd in line shoulder to shoulder. They stretch out their left arm toward the sky. They begin with a song.
In our hearts we worship you
O Great Sallow!
Let us live in peaceful days.
When the sun raises us, give thanks
When the sun sets us, we pay respect
You are all above and below
O Great Sallow!
Ancestors look here, we say
Your people are correct in
Their worship,
See us now,
How we give our offerings
All done by your right standards!
In our hearts we worship you
O Great Sallow!
Let us live in peaceful days.
When the sun raises us, give thanks
When the sun sets us, we pay respect
You are all above and below
O Great Sallow!
We wish to live in your court
Celestial and divine,
Grant us,
Your children,
A chance to be one with you!
O – Great – Sallow!
In our hearts we worship you
O Great Sallow!
Let us live in peaceful days.
When the sun raises us, give thanks
When the sun sets us, we pay respect
You are all above and below
O Great Sallow!
O – Great – Sallow!
O – Great – Sallow!
The little girl playing Prince Sallow steps forward in front of the choir to speak to the crowd.
...
Bowie Ironsides
Count of Qubel
Roleplay from Bowie Ironsides
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....
“I am Prince Sallow of the Mondorii clan. I was the first unifying dynast of the arexi! Revere me!”
The choir goes: OOOoooooo! Prince Sallow continues,
“Today, you will witness my dealings with the foreign tribes crossing the channel. In this meeting, the foundation of Sallowtown will be laid!”
Two other choir girls step forward, they are dressed slightly different, to demark their foreignness.
The first one speaks.
“O Prince Sallow of the mighty unbeatable arexi we plea to you to let us inhabit your lands. Our people have been fleeing a great calamity, uh, from the west, we cannot settle in the islands, so we must come to you.”
The Prince replies,
“Your people overflow the coast. We arexi cannot permit such disorder.”
“What would you have us do wise and strong Prince?
The Prince slaps the foreign tribal chief out of punishment.
“Do not antagonize me! I will be a Great Dragon after my death, reigning in the Celestial Court and accepting the finest worshippers to live with me in immortality!”
The girl who plays the tribal chief rubs her cheek, and then stomps on the foot of the girl who plays the Prince in retribution. The crowd can hear her say, “You didn’t have to slap me so hard!” The Prince says, “Ow! Don’t stomp on me!” and she pushes her.
The tribal chief falls into her assistant and then swings a punch at the Prince but misses. The choir breaks into a melee as the Prince and the tribal chief wrestle on stage.
The Dark Count enters the ring and addresses the crowd, clearly disappointed and put on the spot.
“Well, that is not how we planned it.”
The crowd laughs. He looks at his servant,
“How long did that take?”
“Forty minutes.” She said.
He addresses the crowd again,
“At least the ring is being used properly.” He shrugs, his servant runs in and starts to separate the girls who are pulling each other’s hair and ripping the gowns.
The Dark Count bows and the group is lead off stage. From behind the stands the crowd hears the Count’s servant yelling at the girls.
“What do you think you were doing! You ruined the whole performance! Do you know how important this was to our Count? Jellma why couldn’t you just let it go?"
The young girl is heard saying, “She pushed me too hard!”
“And? Now your costumes are wrecked and the show has been ruined.”
The crowd laughs.
The Dark Count returns,
"Instead of another misshap, how about we all stay seated and hope the duel begins early? That is the best I can think of unless anyone has any other talents they would like to present?"
He returns to his viewing box and sits beside the Dame, who had an obvious amusement on her face.
He looked at her and nodded.
"Did you like the gowns at least?"
"Oh yes very much," She said holding in her laughter.
"Good." He sat back and stared out toward the ring.
The Dark Count,
Bowie Ironsides
Count of Qubel
Roleplay from Rathan Himoura
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Rathan eyed his opponent, unused to single combat with a wary opponent, but confident none the less. The look of surprise on Mathias's face when Rathan's blade burst into flame was one he would savor for a long time. He charged his foe recklessly, and his foe assumed a defensive stance. They went back and forth, and as Rathan's arm grew tired, he realized that he would not be able to break his foe's defense, stepped back and gave a slight bow.
"You win Duke Ridder, I cannot land a blow on you."
Sir Rathan Himoura
Royal Fiduciary of D'Hara, Marquis of Nebel
Roleplay from Lycan Moreira
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Lycan was talking to Duke Mathias when he saw another man approaching them slapping the Duke. His eyebrows rose in surprise and immediately realized he was the other contestant. After they exchanged words of defiance and SIr Rathan walked away, he decided to leave Duke Mathias alone so he could prepare himself for the duel.
Lycan sat watching Sir Rathan and Count Bowie exchanging some words he couldn’t hear and saw Count Bowie leaving a few minutes later. He wondered what was going on and waited curiously. When the Count returned a troupe followed and a little play started for everyone to enjoy. Soon enough it ended with laughter and amusement as little girls turned into well little girls. Lycan watched the outcome amused. He surely wasn’t expecting this from an event like a duel.
Afterwards, Sir Rathan entered the ring taking his place. Duke Mathias entered in his turn. He seemed confidant and concentrated. The nervousness had somewhat dissipated after that ale Lycan guessed.
The duel started with Sir Rathan attacking. The Duke defended well and met every blow with expertise. It went on for a long time and neither would subside. They matched each other qualities and weaknesses and the duel didn’t seem to have an end in sight. It was apparent that neither would win by greater skill but by tiredness of the opponent. Lycan watched drawn in by the spectacle before his eyes.
Sir Rathan showed a bit of weariness after a while and everyone seemed to stop when he stepped back and exclaimed. "You win Duke Ridder, I cannot land a blow on you."
They all looked at Duke Mathias expecting his reaction.
Lycan Moreira (Knight of Raviel)
Roleplay from Kratos Wolff
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As Kratos approached the dueling ring a bunch of little girls dressed up as who knows what were heading out of the stage. He looked up to his right and noticed Sir Bowie and Lady Sorsha siting together looking down at the ring as they chatted. Setting the little dog on the floor Kratos headed towards the Count, but something caught his eye back in the ring. It was a flaming sword, being carried by none other than the royal Fiduciary, Marquis Rathan. He looked at the sword for a while wondering why it burned, it occured to him it was some kind of trick the Marquis used to cheat on the upcoming duel, but the flame looked so strong and constant, it was almost like magic. Then he notices Sir Mathias, who was staring at his opponent, and seemed not to notice the burning blade.
After a short look at eachother, the duel started. And Marquis Rathan starting swinging his blade wildly at the Mathias, only to be parried every time. It was a marvelous show of sparkles as the blades connected.
His blade was hot, fiery, and had a spark, but none of it's qualities burned off on the Marquis, for he did not land a single blow, and ended up giving up, displaying pure weakness as he bowed to Sir Mathias.
Looking down at the dog Kratos said, "haha, its funny how not even you would do that."... "as long as your with me, theres no giving up." As he said this he continued walking towards the Count, and the dog followed.
Kratos Wolff (Knight of Qubel)
Continued: The Duel
