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Post by Father on Aug 21, 2018 19:24:51 GMT 1
After Lord Starling had insured that Lord Walgrave was no worse for wear, he draws his sword and spurs his horse towards the end of the field, where several banners are swaying in the gentle breeze, the golden rose of course, the three-headed dragon, the premier lords bannermen of Highgarden and other esteemed attendants. He makes a straight line directly for the cornucopia and cuts it down by a mighty swing. Then he throws a gauntlet on it. "Lord Eldon, the Rapist!" He yells with the full power of his lungs "Ser Bryce Goldstag, who have made a mockery of his sacred duty to the maid!""And all knights who bring dishonor upon our brotherhood by serving and protecting such men over the innocent!"With that, he turns and leaves. His example is followed by Ser Aemon Flowers, the champion of Lady Lysette. Ser Vardis, the captain of the companions. Lord Karl Willum, ever so quick to judge and act on his impulse. Ser Imry Levalle, some might suspect for personal glory. Ser Roland Redwyne, a man who will not let political consideration get in the way of standing for what is right. Companion after Companion. Ser Kevan Stackhouse, Ser Selmond Footly, Ser Simon Tarly and many, many more. By afternoon, there is little left to see of the Cornucopia on yellow. Lord Eldon himself is nowhere to be seen. Ser Bryce ignores the boos and jeers as he unhorses his opponent with little difficulty. Ser Rennifer Waters is met with a bold claim from Ser Andros Sunfyre a knight of the hedge claiming Targaryen heritage that he is drawn against, his reply is nasty, brutish and cuts the life of the wyrmling short. He then makes an obscene gesture in the direction of Lady Lysette. The other knights of Longtable handles the situation with more grace.
Any non-Starling character that have qualified past round 2 of the joust may add his gauntlet to the pile, earning +2 Disposition from Starling NPC's but at the cost of -5 Disposition from Eldon Merryweather. This does not apply for members of the Starling Household, since they are expected to join in. Ladies may bid those riding with their favor or in their honor to follow suit (those riding for Lysette already did, and Alena invokes this with Ser Simon), which grants the same disposition effects. Though Ser Willem Wylde will not join because the Kingsguard takes no sides in this. Knights in the service to House Merryweather still in the competition for round 3 will be matched up against knights having thrown their gauntlets into the pile, Starling knights+Aemon will be prioritized and then we'll see how many there are to go around. Generally the tourney master will catch on to the desire of seeing this initiative meet with glorious success, and so set up favorable pairings. |
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Aug 21, 2018 19:40:15 GMT 1
Roland was delighted to see the man who had given him his spurs, Redtusk himself, ride forth as part of this challenge.
Duty had already borne him well in his first tilt, and the warhorse seemed aptly named as Roland rode forth to add his gauntlet to the stacked piles of challengers.
Bearing Janna Hightower's favour, he attempted to acknowledge both her and Alicent Yronwood if he could spot them in the crowd. The latter had the misfortune to be betrothed to Lord Merryweather, but perhaps that route to ending that fate began here at Highgarden?
"For the vows we all swore," he shouts when his turn comes.
Politics be damned, it is a fine thing to serve a lord who remembers his vows.
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Post by Ashara Starkwood on Aug 21, 2018 21:56:34 GMT 1
Ashara makes her way over to Ser Quentin Cordwayner. She didn't much care for the man, but that didn't mean he couldn't be a useful tool in fighting for what she believed in.
If I were a man I wouldn't need anyone to do it on my behalf. It is only because of foolish Andal tradition that I must use others so.
"Good ser, much foulness is afoot at this tourney, and I suspect that there will be much made of who stands on the side of what is right, and those who let ill deeds go unchallenged. As you bear my favor and are my betrothed, it is my hope that you would join your uncle in standing for righteousness."
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Post by Alliser on Aug 21, 2018 22:36:06 GMT 1
Alliser's face remains impassive as his son rides forth and throws his gauntlet down. Inside he barely contains his Glee, Lord Eldon sullies himself with a maid from house starling, and they nearly pledge to a man do defend her honor with swords. The crowd is firmly against him and his house. I should send this Ser Bryce a bouquet of thanks.
He glances over at his daughter, who looks at her father with disgust. I doubt that Lord Eldon will die. The starlings are far too honorable to kill him. But this could be the opportunity to end the contract we were searching for. My daughter could be there new Lady Meriwether. I doubt any Lord's of note would be seeking to marry their daughters to a rapist.
Lord Alliser looks back at his son, Imry pledging his lance might complicate things with Eldon, but will also give us political distance. Only the most cynical might think that I put him up to this.
He scratches his goatee impassively, Ser Roland, the starling Knight. I've seen him before, he seems to be interested in doing what is right. Perhaps if I can find a historical example of a marriage contract being annualed because a Lord committed rape while betrothed he would deliver it to his Lord as a way to strike against Lord Eldon, now that Ser Piggy has earned house starling's ire.
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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Aug 21, 2018 23:59:28 GMT 1
After his first round of jousting Mikel had first heard the news. He sought to confirm that it was truth and not a nasty rumor before making the decision to throw in his own gauntlet. Well before his second joust he buckled his sword belt and rode over to the Merryweather pavilions where he studied the layout of their camp, those present, their arrangement and activity. Then he threw his gauntlet down and rode away.
During the short ride back he fought to put his anger over what had happened in its place until a more appropriate time to dwell on it. Apart from the act itself the worse thing in all of this was the Lord would most likely not be held accountable.
For this act the only true justice was death. He considered ways in which he might make that happen, and his mood improved.
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Post by Titus Blackbriar on Aug 22, 2018 1:25:47 GMT 1
"For the vows we all swore!" Ser Roland shouts as he throws down his gauntlet and Titus is not far behind, proclaiming his support of Lord Starling. Even if the young knight is silent as he does so, the message is clear. This could be considered vainglorious, apart from Ser Roland he knew little of House Starling personally but if these accusations where true, and through reputation Lord Starling did not seem the man to take such matters lightly, this was not a question of glory, but duty.
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Aug 22, 2018 4:03:16 GMT 1
Daeron was easy to miss among the host of knights. His armor, now having been soiled by the dirt of the lines, had lost its shine, and his helm concealed his silver hair; however, a keen eye might have seen his eyes.
Two pools of purple, full of wroth, stood out from the rest of their ranks, silently condemning the cowards of House Merryweather who stood in support of their vile lord. He hoped to face one of them in the lists, but he prayed to face them in the melee where he knew that they would truly suffer for shirking their sacred vows to protect the innocent.
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Post by Cleyton Bolton on Aug 24, 2018 6:33:22 GMT 1
Cleyton is not sure if he should throw the gauntlet because his chances of facing a tougher opponent could come quicker and gaining an enemy even if it seem to be a popular thing is never a good thing, besides what does he win out of it? Is making friends with House Starling important? Do we even get along with the Starlings? Lord Merryweather should still have his House shamed in the joust! Does it serves my purpose tho? What is the position of House Starkwood for this?
Cleyton continues to question himself in an internal debate of pros and cons, but after seeing Ser Mikel throwing the gauntlet, he feels that he must throw the gauntlet against his better judgement and worsen his odds in the joust since House Starkwood since to have taken a stance.
With heavy steps and a sneer clayton tosses his gauntlet saving himself the words, the message is more than clear, but the sudden smile on his face makes him look more creepy than nice as he walks away fuming in anger for tossing the gauntlet.
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Post by Ser Donnel Blackbriar on Aug 25, 2018 17:01:04 GMT 1
The fat bastard finally gets what is coming to him.
Ser Donnel throws his gauntlet together with the gathered knights.
He makes little effort to distinguish himself, but anybody will know that his lance is ready to face whomever will protect an animal like Eldon.
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Post by Addam Velaryon on Aug 25, 2018 17:51:04 GMT 1
Addam joined in with his lord and sworn brothers, adding his gantlet to the pile and continuing his cry of "Castration or the Wall!"
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Laena Pyre
The Hedge
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Post by Laena Pyre on Aug 25, 2018 18:22:26 GMT 1
Laena does not act rashly. She takes a deep breath and carefully considers the consequences. House Merryweather is powerful, yes, but their wrath will be divided many ways, and she hopes she will soon seek a boon from House Starling, so which side of this conflict she needs to be seen to be on is clear.
She thinks back to her mother's lesson on crying - one of the few lessons her mother gave which she is genuinely entirely grateful for, however much she hated her at the time - and uses it to bring water to her eyes, blinking rapidly to fully moisten her eyes, to make it look like she's on the brink of tears. There's no point in giving men choices if you don't heavily weigh which choice they will make, after all.
To Lord Bryce Bridges and Lord Pearce Caron she says "I know your chivalrous souls call for joining the call for justice, but I am also aware that you are both lords, and your actions reflect on, and impact, more than just yourselves. Not just your Houses, but myself as well. All I can say is: if the reason you are holding back is concern for me, go forth, with my blessing, and stand for justice. To stand against such abhorrent behaviour lies at the very heart of knightly behaviour, and I would not deprive you of it. If, however, you hold back for fear of the harm that may come to others in your house from a house as powerful as House Merryweather, then I understand, and do not judge you for it."
To Ser Manfryd Grimm, the man who had genuinely impressed her with his second round joust, albeit at the cost of unwittingly making her life harder, she says "Good Ser, your lord plays politics masterfully. I do not know his wishes in this situation, and I do not wish to interfere in his multitude of schemes. However, if you have not heard otherwise, I would point out that should you choose to throw in your gauntlet, you offer protection to your Lord from claims of apathy, while also protecting him from the worst of House Merryweather's wrath. Not to mention standing up for the worth of your knightly oath. If you are holding back out of concern for the consequences to me, don't. Go, with my blessing. If, however, your Lord has requested that you remain neutral in political matters without his say, then I understand, and do not judge you for it."
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Post by Parmen Redwyne on Aug 26, 2018 6:14:32 GMT 1
Parmen stayed silent when he dropped his gauntlet on to the large and growing pile. There was nothing that needed to be said. His actions required no clarification and Lord Maryweather and his ilk had proven themselves immune to shame so why waste the wind?
He rode back to his own pavilion exchanging a nod and a smile with his brother Roland and a nod with Ser Imry. Now all that was left was to wait and see what other shocks the day would bring.
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Post by Lysette Starling on Sept 7, 2018 1:58:13 GMT 1
Lysette simply looks on, her face stoic but an angry light still burning in her eyes as she takes in each knight who throws in his gauntlet with a little nod of acknowledgement and respect. She had already visited each of the knights riding for her honor, and of course for her favor, and their armored gloves were near the bottom of the stack, with only the household knights beating them to the punch.
Would her gaze have been a lance, the Merryweather Lord would already have been knocked from his horse.
Or worse.
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