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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Jul 10, 2018 18:14:14 GMT 1
[OOC: hopefully a relatively natural way for various PCs that haven't interacted with one another to meet/]
Roland eagerly observed proceedings, as much for the joy of the pageantry as for clues as to the capabilities of future opponents.
He cheered loudly at seeing Ser Aladale Levalle put in a much better performance than he had come to expect from the man before wincing as the knight almost over balances at the end.
He feared for Ser Addam's pride and health as Seasmoke reared, but was relived to see the young Companion's foot catch in a stirrup and help him keep his seat. Roland cheered loudly alongside the rest of the crowd at the fine performance.
Ser Mikel was accounted a fine jouster and even better in the melee, prompting Roland to nod in appreciation of his performance. Roland had come to expect such from the man, a fixture of tournaments in the Reach. He turned to his squire, Hugh Blackwood. "Remind me son, is that not the knight who was bold enough to stand witness against the brutish Ser Otho?"
"Aye Ser," Hugh responded gravely.
"Ill done on one part, better done by the meeker man. Remember this well Hugh, a man must strive for personal honour, no matter the cost to his prospects. We borrow our family names form our ancestors, we must return them untarnished."
[OOC: Roland's disposition towards Ser Mikel improves by one point.]
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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Jul 12, 2018 6:20:29 GMT 1
An early morning sparring session with new acquaintances, the arrival of the royal procession, enrolling in the tournament and all that it entailed. It had been a busy morning. Great start to the day, he thought to himself after he had removed his armor, taken care of his horse, and then cleaned himself up before changing into fresh clothes and putting his sword belt back on. Mikel decided to make his way back to the tournament grounds so that he could entertain himself by watching the others for a time.
As he walked along he made a few greetings and found himself in a brief conversation or two. There is an excited and joyful feel in the air today. Wandering along in thought he suddenly saw before him one of the men from this mornings sparring session. "Ser Roland, how good to see you again so soon. I saw you ride earlier and was impressed. I do not believe anybody will display their Lance as impressively as you had. It couldn't have been easy to cut across to hit all three like that." Mikel smiled at the memory. It had truly been an impressive sight. Noticing Roland's squire he gave a greeting and introduced himself before continuing.
"I hope you have enjoyed yourself since arriving and that everything has gone well for you Ser. I understand it is only the second day but feel like there is more excitement in the air than tension and hope that trend continues. After I rode I took care of a few things before returning. I hope I had not missed anything of note." He had said the last with an inflection suggesting that it was a question. |
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Jul 12, 2018 14:13:58 GMT 1
"My thanks Ser Mikel. Mayhap not the most practical trick, but a crowd pleaser if the Seven are kind. Strange that on some days the targets seem as large as a barn, on the others as small as a Dornish man's arrowhead."
"You rode well, though seasoned observers should expect no less from you, it is easy to get lost in a field of this size and grandeur."
"Aye, there is excitement, but I fear hot weather and hotter heads. We have been here scarce a day and already the tourney is gripped by wild speculation and gossip-mongering, I'll not sully my tongue or your ears by repeating it. Truth be told, a chance to wield a lance is a welcome respite from court. Things go well on the field and ill off it."
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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Jul 16, 2018 5:09:37 GMT 1
"My thanks Ser Mikel. Mayhap not the most practical trick, but a crowd pleaser if the Seven are kind. Strange that on some days the targets seem as large as a barn, on the others as small as a Dornish man's arrowhead." Mikel nodded in agreement.
"You rode well, though seasoned observers should expect no less from you, it is easy to get lost in a field of this size and grandeur."
"Thank you for saying so Ser."
"Aye, there is excitement, but I fear hot weather and hotter heads. We have been here scarce a day and already the tourney is gripped by wild speculation and gossip-mongering, I'll not sully my tongue or your ears by repeating it. Truth be told, a chance to wield a lance is a welcome respite from court. Things go well on the field and ill off it."
"I have nothing good to say about such behaviors and the thought of just how much of an influence they may carry and how much they may shape things is..." He shakes his head as he searches for a word. "Disheartening at best. I do believe it intelligent to listen to things that are said, as much as I hate to hear it, just to know what way the wind is blowing so I don't get caught in any storms. Though it seems I've already been caught in some rain since coming here, if you can forgive my continued use of poor metaphors. But I will thank you for saving me from more of the same."
"Do you foresee an exciting tournament with close jousts or do you believe a small number of men will dominate the lists and then settle the matter between themselves?"
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Jul 16, 2018 12:57:10 GMT 1
Roland laughed at Ser Mikel's word play.
"We shall make a courtier of you set Ser Mikel!"
He pondered the other knight's question a moment or two.
"We are in a fierce field and no mistake. Men like Ser Tywin Lannister or Ser Marq Durwell would be counted among the likely winners at most tournaments, but even they may be overshadowed by the likes of Prince Baelon Targaryen. The name "Breakspear" was well earned. Lord Tyrell is a fine host, but also among the foremost tilters in the Seven Kingdoms, to say nothing of Ser Daemon Blackgyre or Ser Robb Reyne. I know the latter only by reputation, but men I esteem speak highly of him and he acquitted himself well in the parade."
Despite not following many of House Starling's Companions in being a public supporter of Ser Daemon Waters, Roland notable uses the legitimised bastard's knightly name.
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Post by Cleyton Bolton on Jul 17, 2018 5:10:35 GMT 1
Cleyton came to look at the rest of the knights to have an idea of how tough it was, but just from the earlier participants he already had an idea of how far he could really go, but sometimes luck is part of a man strength and with just a little of that he should be fine. After listening to some laughter that brings him out of his thoughts he finds Ser Mikel and he struggles for a moment to recognize the man until he remembers his great lance work, Ser Roland! A large smile in his face as he makes his way over.
Approaching the knights talking and making himself noted to prevent misunderstanding of creeping in or eavesdropping "Hello Ser Mikel and Ser Roland! Great lancework by both of you, I hope you can give me some pointers to improve"
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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Jul 17, 2018 7:51:37 GMT 1
Mikel laughed along with Ser Roland then gave his agreement towards their discussion. "You have summed up the situation here very well."
He smiled to Ser Cleyton as he joined them. "Thank you, Ser, you performed well yourself. I look forward to watching you in the lists and believe that you will surprise yourself. For me the key is immersion in the situation at hand and allowing myself to deal with it. Making room for anything - conscious thought, emotion - only inhibits my performance and distracts me." He considers what to say next but it seems that he cannot find something he considers as important to add.
"What about you Ser Roland?" Mikel asked. |
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Jul 17, 2018 10:56:06 GMT 1
"It is rare to see a Northern knight in the Reach, we are honoured to have you representing your Kingdom. Forgive my ignorance, but I had thought House Bolton kept to the Old Gods?" Though he was but a second son and had never visited the North, Roland had not neglected his studies, particularly on knightly matters. He wondered if Ser Cleyton's mother worshipped the Seven, as Southern Blood or Manderly heritage accounted for many of the North's knights. Parade Knowledge: 3d6 12Roland bowed slightly at Ser Cleyton's approach, acknowledging an equal. "Flexibility, and judging not just your foe's skills, but the tactics they are likely to adopt. Standing high in the saddle can help your aim against a firmly seated opponent, particularly if you are behind in a match, albeit at the risk of providing your foe with greater leverage." "By the same token, it is best not to become to predictable in one's own approach." "Through good tactics, a man can overcome a fellow knight who would do outdo him were both to ride at fixed targets." "Now let us hope I remember to follow my own advice! Given the company we ride in, we will need sound planning as well as a strong arm if we are to go far. Ser Mikel is a natural, and has a good feel for the right approach to adopt, but I and many others must adopt a considered approach." |
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Post by Cleyton Bolton on Jul 18, 2018 2:19:14 GMT 1
Cleyton could only smile "I'm a rather uncommon northman" he smiled "It's something you feel a calling for, but I think it was the chance of a different life and the grandeur of it that draw me in, more than the faith of the seven"
After listening to Ser Roland advice and Ser Mikel he could only nod "I hope I can acquit myself well, don't harbor any hopes to be the champion just to test myself to improve, hopefully with luck I might go even further, specially now if I apply sound advice to my matches" he sighed "I was told my jousting isn't bad just nothing special since I go through all the movements properly there is just nothing that really resonates or make it look like my own" Scratching his chin in thought "I guess I have to develop further in that aspect, but I'm certain that my horsemanship is as good as some of the best riders in this tourney I have seen so far"
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Jul 18, 2018 13:17:36 GMT 1
Roland made a non-committal noise at Ser Cleyton's comment regarding his faith, as he regarded the vows to the Seven as an important part of his own knighthood.
[OOC: Awareness (empathy) 8 to pick-up on this if anyone fancies rolling!]
"If you are confident in your ability to sit a steed well, then standing high in the stirrups where a lesser man may crouch should help you place your lance truly. Then where a lesser rider would lose his seat from the return blow, you can trust to your horsemanship to remain ahorse, despite not enjoying the full benefit of your saddle's support."
"Should this words help you overcome some great knight I simply ask that my training fee is donated as a seventh of the winnings to the Warrior's shrine," Roland offers in camaraderie and jest.
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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Jul 19, 2018 8:01:27 GMT 1
Parade Reaction awareness of Roland TN 8: 3d6 10 v. TN 8
Mikel quietly took notice of Ser Rolands grunted opinion and felt like elevate Ser Roland some in his own mind. Odd. Mikel had never enjoyed the company of any overly pious individual and while Roland might be that, he was not it in the same way as most. He struck Mikel as being the sort of man to actually hold himself to his beliefs and to be accountability to what they told him to be. A rare sort.
"Ser Cleyton may I ask why you took service with House Starkwood? I am curious because when I heard and began to learn of them they reminded me of the good people of the North. I have spent some time there and enjoyed it, enjoyed the people and their behavior. In my travels I have found most of us are the same but those small differences can stick out. For the most part I hold those small differences that I noticed in the North in high esteem." |
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Post by Cleyton Bolton on Jul 19, 2018 19:08:13 GMT 1
Cleyton nodded to Ser Roland and chuckled "Of course, I will make a small donation to the seven every time I win, perhaps they will bless me with more luck and make it far."
Looking at Mikel with an awkward sight "The North is a very peculiar place, where traditions are deeply rooted and grudges even more so" thinking for a breaths time before continuing "My family is a great and powerful House of the North and we have a more than colorful history, and with me being a knight it was a big change in the family" shrugging his shoulders "While they where no complaints about it, I'm still odd for a man of my House, and the knight I squired under took me south to the Riverlands where we served Blackwood, and I kept moving further south and ended up in House Starkwood" raising his hand and pointing to the sky "It is the will of the Old Gods or the Seven that I probably ended up serving Houses with links to the North, which makes me feel more at ease"
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Jul 20, 2018 13:47:21 GMT 1
Roland smiles at the mention of House Blackwood.
"My squire, Hugh, is of House Blackwood. He's a competent lad."
Roland was quite unaware that Hugh's competence had a history of leading to spare time, and the beginning of a slippery slope to alleviate the boredom.
"He took service with me while I patrolled House Blackwood's lands against Bracken interlopers. The mixture of the Seven's knightly oaths and the Old ways must have been most reassuring. A kind quirk from the Seven to give us a common thread in House Blackwood, as far from the Riverlands as we are."
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Post by Cleyton Bolton on Jul 21, 2018 0:56:05 GMT 1
"You are correct Ser Roland, specially for me so far away from the North" Cleyton smiled "I will eventually have to get a squire and hope I can make him competent, but for now I have to focus on my self" nodding to his words
"I know it sounded selfish, but it is important to be the best I can so when I teach he can be as good or better than me"
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Jul 21, 2018 11:14:06 GMT 1
"Have a care that there is a man you trust to assist you with your armour - I've seen too many hedge knights and squires injured due to an ill-fitting harness."
"In the unlikely event that there is no suitable man in your ranks, send a runner to the Starling camp and I shall try to spare my lad."
Roland nods to both men and departs after any parting words.
"A pleasure, and I hope your spear arm is strong for tomorrow's hunt."
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