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Post by Father on Jan 8, 2019 19:48:27 GMT 1
Ser Robyn arrives on foot with boarspear in hand, his shield slung across his back, he also carries a morningstar, light flail and warhammer, his squire has brought spares of everything, including three shields painted with the Black Maul on Bloody Red that Ser Robert has taken for his sigil, and one wicked flail that no man could possibly wield in one hand. A most ignoble choice of weapons for a duel of honor compared with the sword and lance that his opponent arrives with, apparently having intended to suggest the use of tourney lances. Given the foul reputation of House Levalle, most find Ser Normyn's decision to dismount a clear sign of him being a better man than his ignoble foe, cynics might instead point out that a steed is of little advantage when skewered. Ser Normyn has only just stepped away from his mount and drawn his sword before his foe is upon him, raining heavy blows that makes splinters fly in every direction from his shield when he can bring it up to deflect, and makes him stagger and reel when he fails to. He struggles enormously doing anything more than defending himself against this never-ending punishment, Ser Normyn is a very good swordsman, but in this fight he was caught on the wrong foot from the start, and Ser Robyn is ill trained in the noble combat of tourneys and duels of honor, everyone knows that he only was knighted for the same reason Lord Eldon allows Ser Rennifer Waters a place of import at his table, an expertise in killing for their lords in trials of combat and whenever else their lords have a need for bloodletting. Ser Normyn has the wits about him to yield to his foe, failing to put an end to the nasty rumors, but given the ignoble tactics he faced, his loss will not fuel them any further either.
In mechanical terms, Robyn's flail is really a ball and chain. Robyn spends DP to give Normyn -1DNormyn: CD: 11(13) AR: 10 Health 3/12 Initiative: 4d6k3-3 10Fatigue 2 Injuries 3 Robyn: CD: 14 AR: 11 Health 6/12 Initiative: 4d6k3-3 10 Wins because of Quickness specialty. Normyn takes fatigue to ignore AP Robyn charges: 7d6k4+1 21 2*8-10=6, +1 shattering Knockdown: 4d6k3-1 9 Success Attack (LBF I -4): 6d6k4+1 17 1 DoS, no damage Normyn takes fatigue to ignore AP Knockdown: 6d6k4 16 Success Attack: 7d6k5+1 20 1 DoS, no damage. Forgot +1b: 1d6 4Distract+attack (LBF -4): 3d6-2 6 6d6k4-1 20 2 DoS, 2*6-11=1 damage Aim+Attack: 9d6k5+1 18 1 DoS, no damage. Distract+attack (LBF -4): 3d6-2 14 6d6k4-1 21 3 DoS 3*6-11=5 damage Aim+Attack: 9d6k5+1 25 2*7-10=4 damage +1 shattering. Distract+attack (LBF -4): 3d6-2 6 6d6k4-1 17 1 DoS, no damage. Aim+Attack: 9d6k5+1 25 3*7-10=11 damage +1 shattering Normyn yields.
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Jan 8, 2019 20:25:32 GMT 1
Balon watched the duel with great anticipation. Ser Normyn was an excellent warrior and Balon had high hopes he'd put "Ser" Robyn in his place. The abrupt withdrawal of Robyn from the Grand Melee had rubbed Balon the wrong way and a good thrashing at the hands of Ser Normyn would make him feel better.
His hope was short lived when Balon saw what weaponry Robyn brought. If Balon would've been in Normyn's boots he would've rode the man down, horse's death be damned but Normyn was smarter than Balon and fought on "fair" terms. Ultimately fair terms cost Normyn the duel and while he came out the better man in terms of popular opinion it did nothing to resolve the accusations of bastardry.
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Post by Parmen Redwyne on Jan 9, 2019 4:31:53 GMT 1
Say what you will about Ser Robyn but no one could accuse the man of not being well-prepared. He arrived at the duel at the appointed hour with enough weaponry to supply half a garrison.
The fight was short and brutal. Parmen had watched Robyn fight and even sparred against him a few times. The man was savage even during "friendly" training sessions. Parmen was slightly relieved to see that Ser Normyn yielded before he suffered serious injury (and that Robyn accepted the yield). Normyn was a bit of a hot-headed ass but he didn't deserve to die because of it.
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Malyk
House Levalle
Posts: 648
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Post by Malyk on Jan 9, 2019 7:47:13 GMT 1
Malyk watched the combat impassively. The outcome was not particularly unexpected. He had been watching Ser Robyn fight for years.
So many thought combat was a game with 'rules'. Such men like Ser Normyn who followed those rules were considered 'honorable'. Of course there was another name for them. 'Loser.'
There was only one rule with men like Ser Robyn. You win or you die... and honor means nothing to a dead man.
That was not so say Ser Robyn did not have a degree of honor of his own. Accepting the yield was appropriate in this instance, as after which there was nothing more to prove. Had Ser Normyn not dismounted, he probably wouldn't have had the chance to yield. Most likely he'd now be dead beside his steed.
He glanced at the defeated man.
You didn't think you would escape the web so easily did you? Of course you did. You live in a world of stories where 'right' wins and 'honor' triumphs. Ser Robyn lives in the real world where you win or you die. I only wonder if you know whether this was truly justice or tragedy. Do you know the truth? If they are your children, how can you pretend otherwise each and every day? If I had children, I would never allow another man to claim them. I would never betray them by denying them the truth. If they are your children then your honor is just a mask you cower behind.
Malyk didn't know if the Cordwayner children were bastards or not. Perhaps only Lady Maegelle knew that for a certainty. In the end, it probably didn't matter. Deals had been made. The damage was done. There was nothing left but for the song to play out. Many would now believe the rumors to be true. The Father had not intervened, so they may very well be. If the stories of Lady Maegelle were true, it had only been a matter of time. Throughout history women who overtly grasped for too much power all met the same fate. The only question was how many they took down with them.
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Jan 10, 2019 1:48:54 GMT 1
Daeron couldn’t help but hide his disappointment. Ser Normyn could’ve been a strong ally in the struggle to come, but it would appear that he would continue to be plagued by these rumors that would pull his attention elsewhere, and perhaps threaten his and Maegelle’s sway over House Cordwayner. However, Daeron had learned a good lesson that day at Normyn’s expense. The Mauler was not a man to be trifled with, nor did he feel burdened by the rules that kept combat civil or limited. If I ever face that man in battle, I shouldn’t expect an honorable fight. No surprise for a Levalle henchman.Once more though, the stands were a place for whispers to spread and to agitate the masses. D12-Submission-Fire Rumor-Persuade (Convince): 6d6k3+1 14
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Post by Eoric Applehouse on Jan 10, 2019 12:24:56 GMT 1
”Now that’s a fucking duel!”
Eoric couldn’t help but smile - or atleast something resembling it. This was fucking funny. A bastard cucks his own brother, spawning more little bastards and then tries to hide behind “honourable combat” to make it go away. Tries and fails. No, didn’t quite work out now did it. ”Just goes to show! A bastard is a bastard!” he comments with a lopsided smirk. ” the Lord Spongeholder may be a whoremonger and more slippery than a wet fish but he sure knows how to pick a champion!”
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Jan 14, 2019 12:53:53 GMT 1
To offer up such a challenge, then fail to give your body for House Cordwayner's honour? The only kindness is that my father did not live to see this. Bastards oft shame themselves, but here he shames Hammerhal, my brother and my good niece and nephew.
Roland shook his head in disgust, standing with Ser Daeron. His bastard brother had given up the matter, but did not look to have taken even half the injuries Roland had borne in the melee, let alone his duel with Ser Rennifer.
"Fuck's sake."
Frustration at Ser Normyn's unwillingness to see the matter through brought a rare curse to Roland's lips and tears to his eyes.
"Will my brother not bleed for House Cordwayner, only shame it? My family's honour is at stake, they would need to carry me from the field."
"Damn him that calls yield when he fights for not just his own honour, but my whole house."
The tears did not quite fall, Roland fought to blink them back.
[OOC: Roland's disposition towards Ser Normyn deteriorates to Unfriendly.]
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Post by Ashara Starkwood on Jan 14, 2019 16:04:26 GMT 1
Ashara's face was impassive throughout. No doubt others would project onto her what feelings they thought she should have. Some would see her as holding back tears, or feeling shame at being betrothed to a bastard but unwilling to show it publicly. Others would project onto her masked glee that the unwanted betrothal was one step closer to an honorable dissolution.
A few talented folks might be able to see the truth - for the most part, she really didn't care about the outcome. Oh, sure, she was pleased to see Ser Normyn so thoroughly embarassed, but that had as much to do with dislike for the man himself as it did the implications - or lack thereof - for her betrothal. She hated the betrothal, but also knew that should it be broken now her father would be almost guaranteed to try and find another match for her immediately. Time was growing short to form alliances before all seven hells broke loose from the altars of greed and powerlust of the ambitious. At the moment she was as Alicent Yronwood had been - comfortable in her untenable position.
She desired to keep her family safe, and knew that selling herself into the slavery of unwanted marriage might well be the difference between Starkwood's survival and destruction... but with nothing to go on but vague hypothetical notions, the cost seemed far too high for an uncertain benefit.
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Post by Alliser on Jan 17, 2019 8:02:51 GMT 1
That's my man. His smile genuine, the first bit of luck he had had since he had taken the poison chalice that was the deal with Lord Marq. I knew Robyn is good, but so is Ser Normyn. I am just glad that Ser Roland did not stand for his family. It is easy to despise a bastard, it would have been much more unpleasant if Robyn had to kill Ser Roland, the second place man in the joust and a melee captain in order for the rumor to be proven true. He looks over towards the young knight, noting the disgust in his face, Lady Alicent would not have been pleased for me to deprive her of her plaything either. The gods know I do not need her and Lady Orme plotting against me.
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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Jan 17, 2019 9:48:10 GMT 1
Mikel found a good vantage to watch the match from, being particularly interested in it because of its connection to his friend Roland. As he watched the duel he absent mindedly nodded approval at Ser Robyn's methods. A duel was in fact a fight. Yet the two were not the same, a duel had rules and a fight did not. But considering that the results could be the same - death, maiming, or a number of other horrific outcomes - no matter how it was dressed up it should always be treated in accordance for what it really was. Mikel had been feeling remorseful over his conduct during his duel with Ser Simon. He would not lie and tell himself that he lost for this reason or that, but there was point he kept coming back to. When he and Ser Simon had been on the ground, stabbing away at each other Mikel knew even then he should have taken to grappling and put his dagger to work or created space and gotten back to his feet. He'd been in no shape to grapple, but why hadn't he gotten away and gotten up? He feared the answer, that the crowd would not have approved. When had that become what he worried about? He reflected on his talks with Ser Donnel, about how the melee was not about winning but about glory. Perhaps he took it to heart, even more then how Ser Donnel had meant it. Or perhaps it was a habit he had developed over his years of living by traveling from tournament to tournament. No matter the reason he made a decision in that moment. Never again.
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