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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Jul 1, 2018 8:16:20 GMT 1
As Mikel maneuvered through the people one face stood out among others, Ser Donnel Blackbriar. A familiar face at tournaments Mikel remembered having had the pleasure to meet the man on an occasion or two and was pleased to have another chance to speak with him.
"Excuse me Ser I do not know if you remember but we have met before at one tournament or another, I am Ser Mikel of Harroway. If memory serves we spoke at length regarding some of the finer points of jousting and the melee. Even today I still keep the wisdom you shared in mind. Will I have the pleasure of seeing you compete this year?"
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Post by Ser Donnel Blackbriar on Jul 1, 2018 21:37:24 GMT 1
"Mikel! I may be old, but I can grow much older before I forget skill in the saddle like yours!"
Ser Donnel beams at the other man and extends his arm. "I will compete, so you know where to bet your stags! Who do you think will win?"
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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Jul 2, 2018 7:18:37 GMT 1
Mikel smiles warmly and extends his own arm enjoying the friendly embrace. "I try not to think too much of who will win if it isn't me. In my experience when I do it all but ensures I'll be seeing them in my first round of jousting and then I'll be spending the rest of my time watching from the stands." He said with a grin. "I know this will be one to remember though. So many experienced men here, and so many who are freshly Knighted and hungry to make a name for themselves. The melee will likely be particularly spirited. I imagine you'll be involved there as well?"
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Post by Ser Donnel Blackbriar on Jul 2, 2018 11:34:41 GMT 1
"Aye, I will be involved, provided anyone would want an old knight. I never were much good in the melee, too chaotic, and age has not bettered the strength in my arms." Ser Donnel laughs: "I don't suspect there is a prize for competing?"
Looking down at the strapping knight, ser Donnel tells him: "You should consider pairing with my son, you know? From what I remember, your strength made you fearsome to face in the melee, and my son is an inteligent swordsman, even though his wits does not show in the courtroom." Ser Donnel has humor as he talks about the earlier incident where his son was very close to insulting one of the most powerful men of the reach.
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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Jul 2, 2018 21:18:03 GMT 1
Mikel laughs at Donnel's jest about a prize for competing the responds to what he asked about his son.
"I imagine you'd be doing me a favor if he takes after you. Though I do not believe I have had the honor of meeting him yet? I would certainly enjoy an opportunity to discuss that with him."
Hearing about the incident has Mikel laughing again. "If I had a penny for every time I said something I wished I hadn't I would have built my own castle out of gold by now!"
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Post by Ser Donnel Blackbriar on Jul 3, 2018 15:19:09 GMT 1
"No? I will be certain to introduce you! He is highly proficient with his sword, but he will certainly need the caution of a more experienced knight by his side!"
Laughing Aer Donnel tells him: "You would certainly deserve the gold castle! It is the sign of a true knight! Speaking the truth, regardless of the consequences!" Ser Donnel slaps Mikel on the back in appreciation.
Lowering his voice so that others will not hear, he also asks: "Do you still face animosity after that Bracken Incident?"
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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Jul 4, 2018 7:42:52 GMT 1
Lowering his own voice Mikel responds, "That has yet to be determined, in fact while on the way here I wondered if this would be the occasion something comes of it. I cannot imagine him forgetting nor any of his relations. I will say that I will not forget the incident nor the man it had proven him to be." His tone had become harder as they spoke on the subject. "May I ask Ser Donnel if you ever experienced something similar?" His tone had softened when he asked Ser Donnel, his curiosity genuine.
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Post by Ser Donnel Blackbriar on Jul 4, 2018 14:07:05 GMT 1
"A man who swears his knightly oaths with no intention of keeping them is no man at all. There is more to a knight than martial prowess. An oathbreaker has nothing stopping him from breaking more oaths. Do you intend to confront him here? Perhaps a challenge he cannot ignore?"
"I myself have never witnessed anything tangible, but there are always stories travelling about knights with a moral compass that is dubious at best. The way to show the value of chivalry is to stand against brutes with poor intentions. I have no doubt that if you face him, the strength of your convictions will put him to the ground. Brutes like him often does not have the discipline to focus on the chivalry pursuit of jousting, instead favoring the mindless chaos of the melee."
"Because of that you will have to be careful in the melee, he will likely not let an opportunity to face you go by."
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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Jul 5, 2018 3:49:53 GMT 1
"We are of one mind when it comes to how we see false Knights and men. I also think that you are correct about needing to be careful in melee. I consider myself a man of discipline and self control but I do not know how well I would respond to seeing him or tolerating any averse behavior from him towards me. I am aware that now that I have taken service and am not alone on the road anymore my any personal feuds could become a larger and more complex matter, and if nothing has been done about him by now there is probably a reason for that which nobody would be wise to speak of openly."
He considers his words before continuing. "I will do the best I can to act the way I should during the course of this tournament. Thankfully there are true Knights like you who have set a fine example for the rest of us. And who knows perhaps he won't make an appearance and those who are familiar with him won't recognize me or my name." An easy smile returns to his face. "Considering these things if you are still interested in your son and I meeting to discuss a pairing, I have heard that the Golden Rose Inn is a popular place but I do not know the city well. If that is fitting or you prefer someplace else perhaps we could each meet one another there tonight?"
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Post by Ser Donnel Blackbriar on Jul 5, 2018 14:14:59 GMT 1
"No manbetter to advice caution than one caught in a pinch. He may be as brilliant of a swordsman as he wishes, but if he charges headlong into several knights by himself, he will embarras himself!"
"I have no doubt you will find my son at that establishment. I myself, however, will go to bed sensibly tonight. My son looks much like I, just a bit less handsome." Ser Donnel jests.
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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Jul 7, 2018 7:27:34 GMT 1
He laughs at Ser Donnel's remarks.
"I will be certain to look for him there then. You have made me curious though, does your son remind you of yourself at his age? It will interesting to meet at him at perhaps have a glimpse at a younger version of you. I myself have no children...as far as I know." He grins and hopes that Ser Donnel finds humor in his jest. "Truth be told I do not believe beyond looks that I reminded my father very much of himself when I was younger."
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Post by Ser Donnel Blackbriar on Jul 7, 2018 15:00:19 GMT 1
"By the seven no!"
"My boy is too sharp. I did what I was asked, no questions, my boy questions everything!" Ser Donnel rises his hands in exhasperation. "I know that a man of birth like you appreciates how work is more important than all that thinking, we are knights not maesters, right?"
"Have you thought about settling with a wife?"
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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Jul 8, 2018 19:31:34 GMT 1
Mikel nods along as Ser Donnel speaks. "I have given thought to a wife on more then one occasion. Sometimes it was a truly tempting thought... but the thought of the road and what other women I'd meet on it tempted me even more." He smiles. "Though now my situation has changed and I am not living on the road anymore so perhaps I shall have to consider it again. Though I understand it may not be up to me anymore given my position."
He takes a small drink from the cup of wine in his hand before continuing. "I never considered that, the thought of a marriage outside of personal choice. Hm. That would be an experience I had never thought to have." He then asks. "I imagine a Knight of your sons prowess has no shortage of women dreaming he'll come to court them. Is he keeping his eyes open for a match during his time here?"
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Post by Ser Donnel Blackbriar on Jul 8, 2018 20:33:40 GMT 1
"The road is a luring temptress indeed." Ser Donnel looks bemused: "I never wished for a marriage myself, my interests have always been for tournaments and glory... But then I signed up for a tournament held by lord Peake, that would take the decision of marriage out of my hands!
My steeds are always named Stormy, and the one I rode to the Peake tournament had the temper to match. Strong as an ox but fast as the wind, atop Stormy I bested knight after knight.
I did not count the rounds, I did not recognise my opponents, I just unhorsed them, lost in my own world... Then as I unhorse this young, long haired lordling, I see Lord Titus stand up in shock."
Ser Donnel chuckles: "I was scared the lordling had been trampled by his horse, so I quickly turn around. There I see my squire cheering like he was a dimwit... Then I recognise the lordling: Ser Dennis Hightower himself. I then look to lord Titus left and see his daugher... It took a long time before I realised that she was to be my wife."
Ser Donnel chuckles: "I suppose the Seven leads us in strange ways!"
Reddening a bit at the questions about his son he tells: "My son is all too concerned with matters of the flesh, matters for his mother and the septon. Skills like his needs to be honed, to make him one of the true great knights! He needs to focus and let others deal with the less inportant matters." Ser Donnelis obviously proud of his son, even as he derides him.
"In that way you are lucky, given your age, you can choose with quite some wisdom, do you already have a lady in mind?" Ser Donnel lowers his voice as he states the last bit, it would not do good to start any gossip."
[Start to wind down? Getting ready for Day 2?"
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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Jul 9, 2018 6:52:47 GMT 1
Ser Donnel has Mikel's full attention as he tells his tale. "Would have been a sight to behold you on that day, Ser." He says when Ser Donnel speaks of the jousting then smiles warmly when he reveals that is how he met his wife. "Must have been quite a day for both of you."
Then on the subject of what Ser Donnel's son needs, "Sounds like he is in good hands. I have no doubt he will have a bright future."
When Ser Donnell leans in and asks if Mikel has any particular lady in mind he respondes, "All I know is I want her beautiful and shapely. If I may press further I'd take a personality to compliment mine. Though I fear I am asking for too much." He laughs at his own humor.
"Ser Donnel it has been an absolute pleasure to meet you though I feel I have kept you too long, especially considering you wish to retire early. Please do not let me keep you any longer but I do hope to see you again. Enjoy the rest of your evening Ser."
[OOC - Wind down sounds good, if this works as an end scene for you it works for me as well!]
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