Sir Manfred comes up to Prince Percival.
"Congratulations your Highness! I regret I was unable to secure some plate armor for you, but it looks like you don't need it after all."
"Your highness, I don't suppose you know who's up next do you?" Sir Manfred said, looking around at the field. The crowd seemed a little impatient, a general muttering...
"Your highness, I don't suppose you know who's up next do you?" Sir Manfred said, looking around at the field. The crowd seemed a little impatient, a general muttering...
"I believe that nasty Kargan has challenged his younger brother to a joust. Kornelius disappeared though. Perhaps he chickened out ... No! Here he comes now!"
"heh.... heh..... Just getting ready." Kornelius smiles weakly. "I couldn't resist a snack." "And I bought a warsaddle for the big guy." says he, patting his horse. And makes his way to the jousting field.
Ride check includes Handle Animal and War Saddle
FIRST COURSE
1d20+9=20, 1d8+4+1d8+4=21, 1d20+8=23,
SECOND COURSE
1d20+9=12, 1d8+4+1d8+4=15, 1d20+8=25,
THIRD COURSE
1d20+9=20, 1d8+4+1d8+4=15, 1d20+8=9,
"Those two brothers are nothing alike, " says Lord Kerrigan to Falcon Warchild. "Can you imagine having kin so unlike yourself?"
Falcon looks at his father slightly bemused but says nothing.
Kornelius and Kargan charge towards each other, with a determination that makes it clear this is more personal than sporting. Their horses mimic their characters; Kornelius' mount is dedicated and loyal; Kargan's mount appears ready to trample any that stand too close to the jousting field.
1d20+7=24, 1d8+2+1d8+2=15, 1d20+10=26
Both of the riders connect solidly but Kornelius' hit comes a second earlier and is a little more powerful. Kargan seems surprised and angered by this. He growls at his younger brother and pulls his horse around for another attempt.
"Bring me a plate of whatever the boy's been eating!" says Lord Kerrigan loudly.
The brothers again charge towards each other but, this time, the brothers seem too fixated on each other's faces. They seem to realize that the bond of blood they have has been broken -- too many differences between them. Their lances are easily deflected off of each other's shields. The crowd that had been hoping for a more exciting match is slightly disappointed.
1d20+7=10, 1d8+2+1d8+2=15, 1d20+10=29
"And you use to ask why I didn't give you a younger brother," says Kerrigan to Falcon. Falcon doesn't seem to be listening.
For the third, and final time, the brothers charge towards each other. Kornelius' eyes are fixed on his brother's shield and he doesn't notice as Kargan slowly raises his lance to aim at his brother's helm. He doesn't notice until the last moment. As Kornelius jerks his head to the side, Kargan's lance glances off of his brother's shoulder. Kornelius' lance connects solidly, bringing Kargan off of his horse.
1d20-1=6, 1d8+2+1d8+2=12, 1d20+10=11
Kornelius smiles widely and attempts to shake his brother's hand. Kargan however apparently doesn't move. He calls in some clerics for magical healing.
Kornelius hearing that Kerrigan wanted the thing that he was eating, he gives him one of Percival's pastries. Kornelius says "I thought real knights didn't eat quiche, my lord."
A young blond woman in battered armour looks out over the events with an appreciative eye.
She claps for those who show valour and winces a little at some of the more violent impacts.
"Jolly good show!"
Kornelius hearing that Kerrigan wanted the thing that he was eating, he gives him one of Percival's pastries. Kornelius says "I thought real knights didn't eat quiche, my lord."
"Prince Percival," calls out Lord Kerrigan. "To the kitchens! We dine on quiche tonight!"
"He's my man, not yours." says Lady Widdel stubornly. "Good show Kornelius!" says she, embracing him. "You beat your nasty little bro- I mean your euh... plain older brother." Kornelius notices a little tear falling down Lady Widdel's face.
"Well, the banquet will need more food than that. We could have roast ox, roast duck, roast chicken,oh yes... and quiche. And we could drink ale. Everyone is welcome to dine with us, right, my lord?"
Another blonde watches the joust critically and a little enviously from the sidelines. Tall and graceful, she holds finger cymbals daintily, but nothing hides her honed muscles.
"Congratulations!" she calls to Prince Percival, offering him a glorious smile and a mug of eggnog.
Kornelius wonders why Percival is recieving attention at this moment.
The blonde turns gracefully to Kornelius and curtseys deeply to him.
"Eggnog? It's very nutritious. I never travel without a flask."
The blonde turns gracefully to Kornelius and curtseys deeply to him.
"Eggnog? It's very nutritious. I never travel without a flask."
Oh, yes.... and eggnog.
Sir Manfred applauds from the sidelines. "Well done Sir!" He calls out to Sir Kornelius.
Lord Kerrigan wonders where all these blondes came from and considers making the joust an annual event.
Oh, yes.... and eggnog.The blonde turns gracefully to Kornelius and curtseys deeply to him.
"Eggnog? It's very nutritious. I never travel without a flask."
"Try some. The nutmeg's really good. It completely hides the taste." She bestows a wide smile on the young knight, and drifts back into the crowd.
"Try some. The nutmeg's really good. It completely hides the taste." She bestows a wide smile on the young knight, and drifts back into the crowd.Oh, yes.... and eggnog.The blonde turns gracefully to Kornelius and curtseys deeply to him.
"Eggnog? It's very nutritious. I never travel without a flask."
"Yes... nutmeg....."
The blonde turns gracefully to Kornelius and curtseys deeply to him.
Lady Widdel curtseys more deeper and gracefully than Kallista and walks away.
Sir Manfred applauds from the sidelines. "Well done Sir!" He calls out to Sir Kornelius.
"Why thank you. It will be exciting to see whom will challenge whom in the next round."
Ehlissa looks around and wonders if she can take part. She shakes her head with irritation at the goings on with the other women.
Looking contemplatively at Lord Kerrigan for a moment, the finger-cymbal wearer strolls casually closer.
"A word my Lord?"
Sir Manfred, noting Ehlissa Briez' interest, stops and says; "Madame; we are close to the end of the first round. If you hurry and see Falcon Warchild, you may be able to get in before the first round is done. You will need a horse as well." He points out where Falcon is, crowded with pages and harassed by gamblers.
Looking contemplatively at Lord Kerrigan for a moment, the finger-cymbal wearer strolls casually closer.
"A word my Lord?"
"Only one? What will do with the rest of the evening?" jests Lord Kerrigan leeringly.
"Only one? What will do with the rest of the evening?" jests Lord Kerrigan leeringly.Looking contemplatively at Lord Kerrigan for a moment, the finger-cymbal wearer strolls casually closer.
"A word my Lord?"
"I wondered if it was too late to compete. As for this evening, I may dance, but only if I don't fall off the horse."
TRK nods in acknowledgement of the presence of Ehlizza and Kallista. "The gods make our lives more interesting every moment."
There really is no leader because this round, we are only deciding our 4 (possibly 5) finalists.
However this leaderboard decides who can challenge first in the challenge round. 1st place means first to challenge in the next round. We might have one more joust if the two blondes joust, so don't challenge yet!
Here is the very complicated scoreboard. Please comment on it.
Here is the very complicated scoreboard. Please comment on it.
The Scoreboard
"Only one? What will we* do with the rest of the evening?" jests Lord Kerrigan leeringly.Looking contemplatively at Lord Kerrigan for a moment, the finger-cymbal wearer strolls casually closer.
"A word my Lord?"
"I wondered if it was too late to compete. As for this evening, I may dance, but only if I don't fall off the horse."
** spoiler omitted **
"Women? Joust? Well ...," deliberates Kerrigan. "Just this morning I said real knights don't eat quiche and I was apparently wrong about that. Blame it on Prince Percival's Pastries but I'll allow this late entry ... but you must be quick. Tomorrow we move on to the challenge round."
Kallista's lovely face brightens for a moment but she shakes her head.
"It was a passing thought Lord Kerrigan. I doubt I can ride well enough and I don't want to disgrace this gallant gathering."
"I'll dance for you though, to thank you for your courtesy."
Kallista's lovely face brightens for a moment but she shakes her head.
"It was a passing thought Lord Kerrigan. I doubt I can ride well enough and I don't want to disgrace this gallant gathering."
** spoiler omitted **
"I'll dance for you though, to thank you for your courtesy."
"Shame," says Kerrigan. "I'd like to have seen how you handled a lance."
"Shame," says Kerrigan. "I'd like to have seen how you handled a lance."Kallista's lovely face brightens for a moment but she shakes her head.
"It was a passing thought Lord Kerrigan. I doubt I can ride well enough and I don't want to disgrace this gallant gathering."
** spoiler omitted **
"I'll dance for you though, to thank you for your courtesy."
"A longsword is my weapon your Lordship. I'm learning to use a kukri and a spiked gauntlet's been a good friend in the past. You know how it goes in inns."
She looks at him more closely. "Or maybe not. Anyway, it will be exciting to see who wins."
Ehlissa says, "I have a horse, but I fear she won't be suitable for this. Is there a warhorse I might use. And... I'm afraid I'm an awful duffer for rules. Could you explain how it works?"
"Oh, the Honourable Ehlissa Briez of the Magnimar Briezes. Or just Ehlissa." she adds with a smile.
"Shame," says Kerrigan. "I'd like to have seen how you handled a lance."Kallista's lovely face brightens for a moment but she shakes her head.
"It was a passing thought Lord Kerrigan. I doubt I can ride well enough and I don't want to disgrace this gallant gathering."
** spoiler omitted **
"I'll dance for you though, to thank you for your courtesy."
"A longsword is my weapon your Lordship. I'm learning to use a kukri and a spiked gauntlet's been a good friend in the past. You know how it goes in inns."
She looks at him more closely. "Or maybe not. Anyway, it will be exciting to see who wins."
Kornelius finds Kallista and says rather rudely "Could I have a mug of eggnog?"
Kornelius finds Kallista and says rather rudely "Could I have a mug of eggnog?"
"Of course. It lines the stomach. Some old friends of mine hated the stuff, but I swear by it."
She pours him a small sample.
Ehlissa says, "I have a horse, but I fear she won't be suitable for this. Is there a warhorse I might use. And... I'm afraid I'm an awful duffer for rules. Could you explain how it works?"
"Oh, the Honourable Ehlissa Briez of the Magnimar Briezes. Or just Ehlissa." she adds with a smile.
"Well, unfortunately, there doesn't seem anyone left to joust against ...," says Falcon Warchild apologetically. "It seemed that Kallista intended to joust but has since changed her mind."
"Maybe another time then." Ehlissa replies brightly.
Seeing that Ehlissa might be denied a ride, Sir Manfred says to Falcon Warchild; "If it is permitted, could she have a bye? That seems usual in the case of an odd number of contestants."
Seeing that Ehlissa might be denied a ride, Sir Manfred says to Falcon Warchild; "If it is permitted, could she have a bye? That seems usual in the case of an odd number of contestants."
"Well Manfred! As my grand-father always said;'For one to move foward, it must battle.'"
"I'd be willing to ride again, if his lordship will allow it. But would that count as my next round contest?"
Lord Kerrigan ponders the contestants comments and then decides, "I'll allow her to be challenged in the next round, should any of you choose to challenge her ... if there are no objections."
Kargan scowls from the sidelines but says nothing.
The princes, paladins, knights, and knaves are invited to a feast with Kerrigan's Keep. The table is laden with rabbit broiled in vegetables and wild herbs, spicy fried snake wrapped in leaves, and plenty of Prince Percival's Pastries.
Kerrigan invites any willing to share a poem, a joke, or a song.
Sir Manfred stood, weaving a little and his face flushed. (For he had been drinking eggnog that had been thoughtfully spiked by Sir Kornelius). He began tapping a beat on the tabletop and motioned everyone to join in. Once everyone got the beat, he began to sing...
They're Hanging Him For Paying His Taxes
[by Mikal Hrafspa (Mikal the Ram)]
Come gather all ye fellows
And lift a cup to memory
Of a common working fellow
Much the same as you and me
He was a simple goose-herd
A poor but happy working man
When the King's guard came to see him
And gather taxes in this land
*Chorus (altogether now!)
*They've got him in the dungeon
*They say in duty he's been lax
*Oh, they're going to hang the goose-herd
*Because he tried to pay his tax!
When the guards came calling
The goose-herd said he'd try to pay
But he hadn't any money
To send off in the usual way
So he went out to his goose-pens
To choose the finest in his herd
And he told the waiting guardsmen
He'd like to give the King the bird
*Chorus (altogether now!)
*They've got him in the dungeon
*They say in duty he's been lax
*Oh, they're going to hang the goose-herd
*Because he tried to pay his tax!
The captain's face was livid
"You cannot speak so of the king"
So they took him to the Baron
To have Peer explain the thing
But the goose-herd was determined
He was a man true to his word
"If I cannot pay in money
Then I shall give the King the bird"
*Chorus (altogether now!)
*They've got him in the dungeon
*They say in duty he's been lax
*Oh, they're going to hang the goose-herd
*Because he tried to pay his tax!
Oh the Baron took to shouting
"A court of nobles should convene
To keep this peasant quiet
And keep such rabble from our king"
So they gathered all the peerage
But still the man would not be swerved
"If I cannot pay may taxes
Then I should give the King the bird"
*Chorus (altogether now!)
*They've got him in the dungeon
*They say in duty he's been lax
*Oh, they're going to hang the goose-herd
*Because he tried to pay his tax!
They were ready for a lynching
When in the King's own herald came
He cried out he had the answer
Keep silence in the King's own name
He approached the goose-herd kindly
"You see you poorly chose your words
It is not the proper etiquette
To try to give the King the bird"
Then the goose-herd seemed to brighten
As if a light came to his head
"If I cannot give the king the bird
I'll give the queen a goose instead"
*Chorus (altogether now!)
*They've got him in the dungeon
*They say in duty he's been lax
*Oh, they're going to hang the goose-herd
*Because he tried to pay his tax!
Sir Manfred then sits down, and slowly topples over.
Kornelius applauds and then says "And me. A poem. Brother Beware by Robert Service."
"Ahem...Wars have been and wars will be
Till the human race is run;
Battles red by land and sea,
Never peace beneath the sun.
I am old and little care;
I’ll be cold, my lips be dumb:
Brother mine, beware, beware . . .
Evil looms the wrath to come.
Eastern skies are dark with strife,
Western lands are stark with fear;
Rumours of world-war are rife,
Armageddon draweth near.
If your carcase you would save,
Hear, oh hear, the dreadful drum!
Fly to forest, cower in cave . . .
Brother, heed the wrath to come!
Brother, beware of your fate,
Human life is but a breath.
Men delve deep, where darkly wait
Sinister the seeds of death,
There’s no moment to delay;
Sorrowing the stars are blind.
O great Brother, how I pray
You may sanctuary find.
Peoples of the world succumb . . .
Fly, poor fools, the WRATH TO COME!"
Before the guests could applaud his brother Kargan stands. "I heard this one in Biston," he says.
"In summer by the River Falcon
a Shoanti tribe one rested
When their men were set upon,
outnumbered, and soon bested.
"To the victor goes the spoils
for that's the way of war
but the Shoanti tribe had little
worth fighting and killing for.
"The victors feeling cheated
became furious and bold.
They set upon the summer village
and the women both young and old.
"They lined them up for slaughter
as one might herd the sheep.
They ignored the women's pleading.
They let the children weep.
"The soldiers through vile deed
their wrath were about to slake
when from his drunken stupor
Captain Kerrigan began to wake..."
Kargan is shouted down and drowned out by howls of protest from Lord Kerrigan's men. He sits with a satisfied grin.