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Post by Titus Blackbriar on Oct 1, 2018 17:16:27 GMT 1
Ser Edric Fossoway’s lance hit him hard in the chest and for a moment everything went black. A heartbeat later Titus’ senses returned to him and through blurry vision he saw Ser Edric lying flat on the ground, knocked of his horse. Turning Wheatsheaf around Titus dismounted but as his feet touched the ground his knees buckled and for a second time his vision blurred to black and he found it hard to stand up. The Fossoway knight had hit him harder than he thought and through a high ringing in his ear he heard little else but his own breathing and the muffled voices of the maester that hurried to him.
...
He had been taken to the Maester’s tent, where once his hearing had returned to normal and he could identify the number of fingers held up infront if him, he dissmissed the dottering old man. Although he was sure that everything was fine and a lot of it came down to his lack of sleep the night precious, Titus did follow the maester’s advice to remain seated in the tent for now. There was going to be some time until the next matches where announced, so for now he took the opportunity to some peace to think.
Also his head and joints did hurt like hells.
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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Oct 2, 2018 8:51:29 GMT 1
After escorting Lady Ashara Mikel had decided to head back to the lists and let them entertain him, or perhaps learn something. Unfortunately being there only brought a sour mood upon him with his loss so fresh, and he did some mingling in an attempt to distract himself.
One thing that he heard was Ser Donnels son had gone to the Maesters tent after his joust for having broken all of his ribs. Curious Mikel decided to head there himself and meet Ser Titus who by the accounts he had heard this far was his father's son and the opposite of his own brother.
Upon entering Mikel spoke with a Maester was directed to a young man sitting quietly. His appeared better off then to have had all his ribs broken, but maybe not by much.
"Ser Titus?" It was as much a question as a greeting. "I am Ser Mikel of Harroway and have met your father a few times this tournament. I heard you may have been injured in your most recent joust and sought to see your condition for myself."
After hearing the details of his injuries Mikel nods. "I imagine you heard of my first joust. After surviving the pain isn't so bad as is the thought of how it might effect your next performance. I would say to counter this thought with trust that once you are in the saddle again your training will take over. Not that you need the advice given your performance so far." Mikel hadn't been watching the jousts but felt it a safe compliment. "By the way it is a pleasure to meet you, Ser."
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Post by Titus Blackbriar on Oct 3, 2018 19:33:43 GMT 1
"Ser Mikel." the smile was strained but sincere. "My father spoke of you... This. This is nothing. Just the worrying of old maesters. Blackbriar men are made of sterner stuff than that, you can ask Ser Donnel." A jest dressed in bravado, he was hells-bent on carrying on through the day - to the bitter end of it. "and it would seem the men out of Harroway are made of stuff sterner even. I saw your ride against the Brute, this was little compared to that and here you yet stand." he gestures towards an empty chair, offering the knight to sit. "House Starkwood can count itself lucky with such able swords and hardy shields."
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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Oct 4, 2018 6:07:27 GMT 1
"I daresay my skull is thicker than my shield, and am thankful for it." Mikel jests at his own expense as he sits. "Perhaps I should be thankful I'll be able to watch safely from the stands now that Lord Conklyn has unhorsed me." He shakes his head and does his best to keep the frustration he feels below the surface. "You have one run left today unless I am mistaken. Do you know who you will face?"
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Post by Titus Blackbriar on Oct 4, 2018 12:11:56 GMT 1
Two runs, actually... It was hard not to think about it. It was hard not get dragged down by it. "Not yet, no." He knew the last person he was to face today; Balon. But the second had not yet been announced. "I spent my childhood at tournaments with father" and Balon "not always as grand as this but I think I learnt as much watching from the stands as I did training. I remember my father being unhorsed in the quarter-final at Old Oak near... 15 years ago. First time I saw him fall like that. Now later I know he was angry but at the time when he met us he simply smiled and said that there would be more tournaments. 15 years later and I'd say he's not wrong." for a moment he falls quiet, as if understanding something himself from his own words. He looks out to the fields and speaks, mind split.
"Your father, who was he, Ser Mikel?" a question that coming from one of noble birth could be loaded with hidden intent, in this case that was probably not so.
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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Oct 5, 2018 21:45:50 GMT 1
The question was unexpected and it took Mikel a moment before he could answer it. "My father is a blacksmith from Harroway." He said simply before elaborating. "That is hardly telling of him though. He was nearly the youngest in a large family which only managed to just get by. There was no family business or trade, but he and another of his siblings managed to become apprentices." Mikel paused to consider what might be saying too much or to little. He decided a few more words would be a fair balance.
"He is an extremely drive man who spent most of the time at the forge so his family wanted for nothing. Now that all his children are grown I imagine he has relented some, though it would not surprise me to be wrong."
He settles his gaze on Titus and asks, "Is there something specific you had wished to hear?"
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Post by Titus Blackbriar on Oct 5, 2018 23:51:26 GMT 1
"No ser, simply curious. He must have been proud when you gained knighthood." it could be interpreted as question but he said it as a fact. What father wouldn't?
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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Oct 9, 2018 1:55:58 GMT 1
"He'd of rather I picked another way of life I believe, perhaps followed in his foot steps. But there is no denying he is proud."
After quietly considering how best to elaborate he continues. "He knows Knights are men who are to act at the bidding of other men. The problem with that is how imperfect we all are. There are certainly reasons to fight, but I do not believe my father would approve of his son dying for another man's glory, or pride, or any other number things which have fueled wars in the past."
"He was probably happier when I lived on the road from tournament to tournament than he now that I have taken service though I think he would approve of who I decided to serve."
When somebody of station asked of Mikel's life or about his family it seemed to him most of the time that he was simply a sort of novelty to them given his common birth. This did not feel like that. Titus's questions seemed to come from something that he was at odds with. Perhaps his father and him were not seeing eye to eye?
"All men, including fathers, have flaws. Maybe something they do, or a way they make us feel about something. Ser Donnel strikes me as a man who strives to do the best he can despite what he faces. And I do not believe anyone can do more then that, and I do not doubt you are made of the same stuff."
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Post by Titus Blackbriar on Oct 11, 2018 18:33:13 GMT 1
“I suppose when war comes your father will be glad you face it cladd in the arms and plate of a knight rather than the scraps of the small folk. Who more than a blacksmith would know the importance in the difference!” It was meant as joke but carried a certain cynicism about it. “Forgive me, Ser, he sounds like a good man. A wise man even.” As Ser Mikel carries on about Ser Donnel, Titus lowers his head gracioisly “Seven willing we can all make our fathers proud.”
“Will you fight in the Seven Sided Melee, Ser Mikel?”
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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Oct 12, 2018 6:18:19 GMT 1
Mikel thanks Ser Titus for his compliment towards his father. When asked about the melee, "I hope to be a part of it - I doubt any who will be will ever forget it. Though perhaps a tournament of this magnitude is more common to others than it is to me. If I am invited to a team I will have to ensure my participation on it would be appropriate given the Captain and other members of the team before I could formally accept." Mikel says this with a tone that suggests a low opinion in mingling politics and martial practices. "I am afraid I had not done so much as even put forth support to anybody for captaincy so if I am not given any invitation it will be upsetting but not unfair."
"What about you - and if you will be participating do you know who shall be your captain and comrades?"
"Speaking of such things I sparred with your father one morning at the beginning of this tournament, he is a dangerous man." A slight smile offers some insight which suggests that Mikel considers this high praise. "I am thankful he is a good man." |
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Post by Titus Blackbriar on Oct 12, 2018 15:07:02 GMT 1
"Otho Bracken carries few favours here, almost as few as Lord Edon I'd say. Someone having faced the full force of his villainy and lived would surely be an appreciated addition to any captain, Ser. Myself, I don't know as of yet, we shall see how today ends." It weighted heavy on him, but he left it unsaid. This was not the place nor the man to confess his own doubts about facing Balon to.
"Hopefully the dangerous men who are also good will outweigh the simply dangerous ones." he says with a smile.
[unless you have anything more to add I'm happy to call it /scene.]
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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Oct 14, 2018 11:01:06 GMT 1
"More here than anywhere before I am seeing that right and wrong are a matter of perspective, but I share your hope and believe we share a sense of morality."
Mikel rose. "I have enjoyed our conversation and hope to continue it. Though I know if I had another joust I would need to prepare myself for it, and so shall remove myself so you may begin to. I wish you luck, Ser."
[scene for me as well!]
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