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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Sept 22, 2018 23:46:53 GMT 1
When: After the Battle Reenactment
*Basing this thread on the assumption the Reach wins.
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The reenactment had repeated history's outcome. Led by Ser Donnel, the Reach had emerged victorious over the "Dornish". Part of the victory was attributed to the superior numbers of the Reach while the other part was the tactical mastery of Donnel over Ser Aerion. A great many were shocked when Balon acted as a Dornish officer considering his words and actions over the course of the tournament and some felt he had something nefarious planned for the event. No reason was given by Balon as to why he chose the way he did but he performed admirably and without any mischief. After the battle had concluded many knights conversed with each other over the faux fighting. Some complained the fight was a little more real than it needed to be but most had enjoyed themselves.
Balon was standing with a group of knights talking about some of the key moments in the mock combat, "If my unit had been ordered to flank I think the outcome would've been very different." he smiled. "Bullshit. We would've countered any move you made." a knight said defiantly. "You would have countered me, true. But you wouldn't have stopped me." he paused before adding, "You would've fallen before my blade faster than Ser Walton." A round of laughter followed as most of the knights around Balon either approved of his prejudice or felt no compunction to object.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw his brother Titus heading towards him. He added loudly, "The only thing worse than being Dornish is willingly marrying one." It was a barb meant for House Starkwood but it applied to several houses.
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Post by Titus Blackbriar on Sept 24, 2018 0:44:02 GMT 1
“Enough!”
With a snarl Titus pushed his brother forcefully, not quite a blow but enough to throw the elder Blackbriar brother off balance and down onto the dirt.
“Poison! Nothing but poison.” He growls through gritted teeth. “Haven’t you said enough allready? Haven’t you brought enough shame on us?” Titus stood over his brother, none of this was pre-meditated and he was lost to what was to come now, but perhaps he was still blinded by fraternal anger as his fists where clenched in expectation of the response.
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Sept 24, 2018 21:05:12 GMT 1
When Balon was pushed his first thought was 'Some Dornish idiot just signed his death warrant'. His anger only grew when he realized it was his brother who had knocked him down. Seeing Titus' fists clenched Balon wondered what had sent him over the edge. Picking himself off the ground Balon eyes burned with rage as he walked right up to his brother, their faces close.
"If you think I've brought shame upon this house then you're dumber than you look." Balon's jaw was clenched so tight it felt like his teeth would crack. He poked his finger into Titus' chest as he talked, "You need to pull your head out of your fucking ass and see who the real enemy is. Because it sure as hell isn't me." Balon continued poking as he talked, "The only shame in our house is our timid lord and..." Balon assumed this outburst was from his confrontation with Lady Ashara as he'd done nothing else of note (recently), "any fucking moron who believes that whore Asahra." If it was truly about her Balon was going to find out shortly.
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Post by Titus Blackbriar on Sept 26, 2018 21:30:55 GMT 1
As boys, Balon had always been the larger one of the two, only two years older there was still a time when he stood a head taller than Titus. That was no longer so, the brothers stood more or less equal now but faced with Balon, Titus could feel part of himself shrinking.
Despite this he did not flinch nor back down when Balon came close to him and for now he managed to hold his anger back when Balon continued to provoke. Grabbing his brother’s fist, he forced it away and hissed without letting go.
“Poison, Balon. Traitorous poison.”
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Sept 26, 2018 21:57:52 GMT 1
Of all the things Balon was prepared to hear, traitor was not one of them. In their youth the two had been close, inseparable even, until they'd become squires so it truly hurt to hear Titus call him that. Even though Balon was an ardent supporter of Ser Daemon he had yet to do anything that he considered traitorous. Surrounded by knights and men-at-arms Balon knew there was no backing down from such an accusation.
With eyes narrowed Balon replied, "Sīr sagon ziry." He didn't attempt to wrest his hand away from Titus and instead punched him in the head with a left hook.
If you want me to do a Fighting/Brawling for the punch or roll from now on let me know.
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Post by Titus Blackbriar on Sept 26, 2018 22:42:36 GMT 1
The fist hit him square in the jaw and it hit him hard. His head was whipped to the left and for a heartbeat everything went black. Then all he saw was red.
Titus launched himself at his brother, bringing the full force of his weight in to a tackle which brought them both down in to the mud. There it turned to a messy, muddy brawl as both brothers traded blows and attempted to wrestle the other for the upper hand. More savage than knightly, little was said between the two who had wrestled and fought countless times since childhood, but not like this.
Never like this.
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Sept 26, 2018 23:39:50 GMT 1
Balon rolled on the ground with his brother trying to gain the upper hand. As both were still wearing their armor the only thing to do was aim for the head. He gave as good as he received but neither could land the decisive blow. Balon managed to roll his brother on his back but before he could jump on top of him Titus kicked him away. Both brothers stood and went to charge one another but were stopped by the assembled knights and soldiers.
Struggling against the men restraining him Balon yelled, "You're the traitor! You betray your own kin!" Spittle flew from his mouth as he yelled at his brother, "Who put you up to this!? Who!" Like with Balon and Lady Jeyne it felt like this was not Titus' doing. Perhaps Lady Erena had said something to him. Maybe that Great Bastard from House Durwell. First Lord Marq sends his goon after me in the joust now he uses his own whore-kin to turn my brother against me.
Balon shrugged the restraining hands off his body. "Get off me. Get off!" He stood there his chest heaving from exertion staring at his brother.
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Post by Titus Blackbriar on Sept 27, 2018 0:21:49 GMT 1
He was all but covered in mud, only a pair of pale blue eyes piercing through, cold with anger. His voice was hoarse and cracked with exhaustion and desperation. “You! You brought this on! With your incessant hate-mongering and arrogance!” Titus too was resisting the men holding him back. Both Blackbriars where strong and well-grown and proved hard to control for the gathered knights. Eventually he pulled himself free and took a step back, still poised to strike again if necessary, still eyes ablaze.
“Slanderer. Murderer. Brute.” His breathing was heavy and forced, his tone that of an accuser; part factual, part condemning. “But traitor?” He paused to wipe the mud and blood of his face. “You tell me... I don’t even know who you are anymore.”
With a quick glance to the crowd surrounding them, Titus turns to leave, head held low and eyes fixed on the ground before him.
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Sept 27, 2018 3:46:33 GMT 1
Slanderer? Yes.
Murderer? Technically no.
Brute? Not really.
Traitor? Depends on your point of view.
None of that mattered. Both brothers were angry and their exchange relied little on fact and mostly on emotion. Balon wiped mud from his face, feeling his cheek swelling already. "Don't you turn your back on me!" he screamed at his brother's backside. He took a step forward as if he was going to go after Titus but two knights stood in his way. "You don't get to fucking walk away after calling me a traitor and murderer!" Regardless of the veracity of Titus' claims Balon had to do something. His mind raced and he settled on something he knew he'd later regret.
"I challenge you to a duel!" By the Seven what did I just say. "No one berates me like that without consequences!" Is this how Ser Walton felt? Incapable of any other action when accused of a heinous act. "Or are you like that little bitch?" Balon was referring to Ashara. "All bark and no bite! What's it going to be! Face me like a knight or go run back to camp with your tail between your legs!" Balon found himself praying Titus wouldn't let his emotions rule him like Balon's currently were.
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Post by Titus Blackbriar on Sept 27, 2018 10:18:07 GMT 1
Everything had gone silent.
All Titus could hear was the beating of his own heart and the pounding in his skull. What the fuck was happening? He couldn’t think, or didn’t want too, maybe. How had things gone so far, so wrong, so quickly? He turned, slowly.
His hair hung in long, dirty strips framing the still mud splattered face. His eyes still burned blue and cold but he looked broken. Lost.
“Fine.” he said gravely.
“Fine.” His breath shuttered as he said the word again. There it was. The point of no return. He turned and left his brother and the knights gathered.
How had it all come to this?
[/scene]
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