The Shield Lander's and our party had a run in the other day. Apparently Delcar's people are required to request approval to cross the Crystal River. Not sure how we're to do that without crossing the river first, but I'm sure his Lordship will come up with a reasonable solution . . .
In order to extend an olive branch, the Count Delcar proclaimed and sponsored a tournament for the duration of Logger's Fest!
As a squire it would be my first opportunity to participate in a tournament. But I was eager for more than fetching lance and sword, and scraping muck from shoe and soleret. I inquired of the Count whether I could participate as a noble due to my title as Baronet of Five Oaks. His lordship was indisposed of but I was able to meet with the Countess and she was excited for the prospect to the point of becoming my sponsor for the event.
I suppose I deported myself well for my first time at tournament. Defeated my first opponent through broken lances, but was defeated by a better and more experienced knight during my next bout.
The Grand Melee was an interesting event. The Knights and Squires of the Shield Lands vs the Knights and Squires of Eiberen (10 knights apiece with their accompanying squire.) Whereas the event was purported to be a display of both groups of heroes, it became a grudge match in the end. For that I am grateful that my armor so encumbered me that I was not able to reach the field of conflict before the match was finished. There were two names to note. Lord Turgor held our center ground and did so in a most un-chivalric manner. To watch him, one would imagine that the guests were mortal enemies and that he fought for his very survival. Turgor did sorely wound any who came within reach of his blade and seemed to strike with the intent to kill. His skill was such that none could oppose him.
To our right flank, stood Rashida. She did deport herself with decorum more befitting a knight but her blows were extraordinary. With measured grace and skilled determination she delivered blows which would fling her opponents across the list, on occasion bowling one Knight or Squire into and upon a fellow.
To my reluctance, I missed the Squire's Melee contests (being a noble and ineligible for such an event.) It was a contest among us stripplings and as such, I believe that I would have fared much better among my fellows than when I faced full grown adults. Nosoruto was the noted victor of the Squires match and deservedly so.
The tournament ended with not one but two wedding ceremonies for Count Delcar and Countess Neltara. Neltara's people (the halflings of Elmshire) were wont to recognize a more formal union between the two as were the Elves of Veluna. And hence the need for the more formal ceremonies. In attendance were several local nobles of Furyondi, seeming to bear witness to the newly appointed Count and his bride.
There were feasts on every evening and food and drink flowed freely. I'm not certain where all the food came from but the abundance was notable. I did steal an evening with the two Shield Maiden squires, Nova and Purity. No telling what their birth names were, but they've respectively have caught my eye. Up until the festival, my attempts to converse with them on any measure have been frustrated by their protector, Brennen Garth. He has in the past run me off (personally) with a stout measure of tree branch, and so our opportunity to enjoy the spectacle of the markets and carnival was an unexpected and welcome reprieve. To that end, both Nova and Purity did encourage me to allow them to sneak back to their quarters in order to spare me a thrashing at the hands of Brennen Garth. But my chivalric training would not forbear me to leave these two ladies (albeit highly capable of ensuring their own safety) without escorting them home.
And so I delivered the two into the care of Sir Brennen Garth's care, quite prepared to accept any measure of punishment to be meted out by Nova and Purity's protector. Shockingly, Sir Brennen Garth (after all one can't call him Sir Garth as that would seem unnatural) let me depart unscathed.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the encounter with Sorrek a knight of Hextor. During an evening feast early in the week, Sorrek did instigate a scuffle with one of the elven Malisan warriors Gil'i'Thain, who happens to be the most capable warrior I've ever witnessed, and the same Gil'iThain happens to be the most insane and un-remorseful killers as well. Gil'i'Thain is an elf who can wipe out a room of men in the blink of an eye. And with his ability to move from place to place by blinking, I don't know that any of his victims ever have a chance to attempt to strike at him. Well, Sorrek was provoking Gil'i'Thain to a duel perhaps, but ultimately his immediate death seemed imminent. I took it upon myself to persuade Sorrek to turn from his reckless course of suicide and apparently Sorrek took my intervention as a sleight to his honor.
ON the last evening of Logger's Fest, while I was escorting Nova and Purity, Sorrek did accost my person and issued a duel for my insulting his person. I had informed him that his life was in peril and he took the meaning to be a threat from lowly me.
I was eager to apologize for the misunderstanding and to re-state the facts more clearly. I believe that Sorrek was actually more eager to engage in a contest of strength rather than accept his honor remain intact, but never-the-less I did not accept his challenge and left him with apology instead.
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