Chivalry and Dread.

[Rhalius]

((thanks! sorry for the delay, was a busy week.))

Henry braced himself and was ready for the charge. He expected a calculated move from Silvermane, but much to his surprise he charges forward at an incredible speed!

He is coming in so fast that he is sacrificing aim and balance for speed, rushing forward, giving Henry little time to brace for impact as he gets knocked off his horse from the impact when Lord Silvermane's lance shatters against his chest!



While Henry is still stunned from this heavy blow, Silvermane wastes no time and draws his sword straight away, jumping off his horse and over the fence straight on top of Henry!

Having Henry pinned down with his sword, he wants to force him to surrender.

Silvermane did not consider Hector however, who is fiercely loyal to Henry and gallops over Silvermane!

This gives Henry time to get back up, and Cedric is quick to pull Hector away by his reigns so Silvermane does not strike at him in anger.

Back on his feet, the duel now begins in earnest. Silvermane fights agressively and is really pressing the attack, but Henry is not intimidated by this.

By focusing his attack and waiting for an opening between Silvermane's agressive attacks, Henry manages to overpower him and push him down, aiming his sword at him as he is defenceless to get him to surrender.

[Rhalius]

But Henry neglected to keep an eye on Silvermane's feet! Silvermane tackled Henry with his feet, and the fight continues yet again!


Now the tables are turned, Silvermane manages to get back on his feet and press down on Henry's defence while trying to disarm him with his free hand.

Elena tried to cheer her brother on still: "Come on Henry, you can do it!"

But it did not stop Silvermane from disarming Henry, and forcing him to surrender.

Silvermane: "Just as I thought, you just got lucky last time. If this was not a tournament, you would be dead now. Instead, you will have to live in my shadow, just like you live in your brother's shadow. Fear me."
After saying his piece, Lord Silvermane stood up and walked away. Henry was left there, feeling rather embarassed about his defeat.

He got back up and returned to his friends and family, not really feeling too good about himself right now.

Roderick: "That was a dirty trick he pulled on you!Is it even allowed to just jump on top of someone like that from your horse?!"
Frederick: "hes, he should be disqualified for that!" Both Roderick and Frederick where quite angry about this whole thing, it seemed so unfair.
Cedric gestured for them to calm down. "It is an unusual strategy, but its better to encounter it here than on the battlefield. Its a good preperation. In a tournament it is not about winning and losing, it is about learning from your mistakes. Next time you get knocked off your horse, you will be prepared for such a follow up attack."
Elena: "You still recovered well, you almost had him!"
Henry still didnt feel much better though. "Yes, almost.. seems even my own horse did better at this tournament than me."

As everyone did their best to cheer up Henry, the tournament continued with the last match up of the first round.
Sir Stephen against Sir John.


Stephen seems off to a good start, showing his expertise in jousting matches as he delivers a perfect hit on Sir John, knocking him off his horse!

[tahra]

Great pics

(interesting how it's "unfair" to jump him from the horse, but not unfair to have your horsy trample the oponnent )

[grangel]

Very nice setup and what a story!
Remarkable job!

[DrDalek6]

Great stuff what a pity for Henry that he was knocked out by Lord Silvermane  looks like we'll have to rely on Roderick ah well good experience for all of them can't wait to see some more action 

[Tiermann]

Another great episode! Thanks for the great story, looking forward to the rest

[Rhalius]

((Again sorry for the delay, as the end of the year approaches things just get a bit busier.))

Henry: "Well it seems like Roderick is the only one of us to make it to the second round."
Frederick: "Maybe he just got lucky, my opponent fooled me and yours seemed to really be out to get you."

Roderick: "It could have gone either way for me, the Duke did knock me off my horse."

As they keep talking, the duel between Sir Stephen and Sir John continues.

Both manage to get in some good blows, eager to impress the royalty they serve while they fight right in front of them.

But there can only be one winner, After a short but intense battle, Sir Stephen manages to defeat Sir John!


After this last battle of the first round, Pierre walks back on the field.

Pierre smiled: "So many brave knights, but now only half of the competitors are left. Lets give three cheers for those that did not make it into the second round as they walk back on the field! King Phillip will speak to them."

As the defeated knights walk on to the field, the crowd cheers for them.

Old man: "Back in my day, the knights where much tougher than these youngsters!"
Other old man: "come now, they fought well for their age! they still need to learn more."
Yet another old man: "oh shush you two! I bet any of them could have taken all three of us three chicken farmers down single handedly even when we where in our prime! Let's just enjoy the show!"

In the meanwhile everyone is lined up before the stage.

Pierre: "Now the great King Phillip will speak to these brave knights!"

[Rhalius]

King Phillip: "It is customary for me to speak to those who did not make it through the first round, but since you are my guest prince Edward, perhaps you would like to do the honours?"

Prince Edward: "Actually, I believe that the people may prefer to hear the voice of queen Dominique."
Queen Dominique smiled. "I'd love to, but I'll get off the stage to make it a bit more personal."

Moving off the stage, Queen Dominique stands before the knights and looks at them with a kind smile. Henry and Frederick smiled back at her, knowing the queen quite well.

Queen Dominique: "Knights, gentlemen, duelists.. we have greatly enjoyed watching your battles, and I look forward to seeing all of you again in future tournaments. Please stay to watch this one however, all competitors are guests of honour today. After the tournament there will be a grand banquet."

Queen Dominique then approached Sir Jacques de Ridefort.

Queen Dominique: "It is tradition that one of the knights who did not make it past the first round is invited on the stage, to watch the rest of the tournament with us. I'd like to as you, grandmaster Jacques de Ridefort of the templars, to join us. It would be an honour."
Sir Jacques smiled and bowed politely to the queen. "You honour me your highness, I'll gladly join you."
Henry and Frederick werent hurt about not being asked for this honour, they got to speak with the king and queen every day. And considering what happened to Sir Jacques earlier, they thought he deserved it a lot more than them.

When the knights move off the field, and the winners of the first round are moving to stand in front of the king, it seems that Lord Silvermane is missing.

Squire: "He just left, he said he has already done what he came here to do."
Henry pondered this. "So he just came here to defeat me and nothing else?"
Frederick: "Maybe he just got homesick?"

King Philip glanced to his side, waiting for Lord Silvermane to show up.

When given word that he left, he turned back to the knights in front of him.
"It seems that Lord Silvermane has forfeited his place in the second round, which leaves us with only eight knights remaining."

[Rhalius]

King Phillip: "Brave knights, you all proven yourself against some great competitors and I congratulate you all for this."

He continues. "the competition will only get tougher, and I plan to enjoy every minute of this tournament. Surely the people gathered here today agree with me?"
King Phillip smiled as he heard the crowd cheer in response, waiting a moment for them to calm down before he continues.
"Please take a moment to rest while I will deliberate with prince Edward, Queen Dominique and baron Blacktower on who will be facing who in the next round."

As everyone heads off to the field during this break, Roderick is quick to move to his friends, and try and get a bit of advice from Cedric.

Roderick: "Cedric, do you have any advice for the next round?"
Cedric smiled. "That depends on who you will be facing. If it is Sir Christopher, don't underestimate him when he is down. Sir William seems to be an exellent horseman, Sir Constantine seems to do flashy moves to please the crowd, and if you face Sir Hugo, don't be intimidated by his agression.. stay calm. I can't say much about Sir Roland since I never saw him fight before, and there was not much of a duel with Fernando earlier. And you have seen Stephen and Jory train just as much as I have, so I don't need to tell you about them."
Frederick: "Wait, there's a chance he has to fight Stephen or Jory?"
Cedric smiled. "Yes, it is possible. It's actually something many people love to see."
Henry: "It would be better than facing that Hugo.. he seems dangerous."

And as they keep discussing the possibilities, the other knights make the most of the break as well.

Constantine catches up with his son, who watched the tournament from the side with pride. Telling everyone who would hear it that that's his father over there.

Stephen and Jory also take a moment to talk.

Jory: "I think Frederick, Henry and Roderick did very well considering it's their first grand tournament."
Stephen: "They sure did, there is no shame in losing to a veteran such as Sir Christopher, and that Lord Silvermane just seemed too agressive."

And the other knights are talking amongst each other as well, exchanging strategies, instructing squires and in Fernando's case, drinking.

Pretty much everyone seems to be having a good time, aside from Sir Hugo who complaints to his squire that he was not fast enough.

And then it seems that the break is over, The nobles have made their decision.

King Phillip: "We have paired up all of the remaining knights for the next round, we will reveal your opponent right before each match."
Baron Blacktower: "For the first duel, Sir Roland will fight Sir Christopher."
After Fernando was taken down so easily, they where eager to see what Roland would do against a strong competitor.

But as Roland and Christopher move onto the field to start their battle, they are being watched from behind one of the windows.

Ranulf: "Halgar, how is the tournament progressing?"
Halgar: "They are just starting the second round, should we strike now?"
Ranulf: "No, not yet. When the time is right.. we will make our move."

It seems the Dread Baron and his companions are up to no good..

((Will be continued soon.))

[Tiermann]

As if the joust wasn't suspenseful enough!