RP:Royal Joust

Part of the Festival of Aramoth.

Participants

1. Hildegarde the Silver, upon a warhorse.
2. Alicia e Tenebris, upon the giant white rabbit Harvey.
3. Merrick, elven knight, upon a gryphon.
4. Cavalier Noelle, light armored rider, upon a Gypsy Vanner horse.
5. Renard, inebriated hobbit, upon a giant tortoise.
6. Bill the Almost-Giant, half-giant chef, upon a mammoth.
7. D'aron, exiled drow, upon a displacer beast.
8. Dunoiel von Straten, human mercenary, upon a dire hyena.

Frostmaw Arena

Alicia hops into the strange place on top of a six feet tall rabbit and looks around. The rabbit immediately starts to sniff for the nearest bar.

Alicia suddenly veers out of the arena as Harvey gets the scent of the Frostmaw Tavern. Five seconds later, she returns, trying to steer her wayward and alcoholic mount by his ears.

Saotshi is distinctly -not- present in the Coterie's luxury box, and where normally Lady Frostmaw would stand, her bodyguard Tharn instead can be found. The young Frost Giant holds himself proudly, decked out in the full, fur-trimmed armor of the Queensguard. As the stadium seats fill, he watches, alert eyes traveling from the stands to the arena floor. Once again, the arena has been transformed, this time the snows removed and the ground covered in a thick, cushioning layer of sand. Down the center of the field a fence has been rigged, the dividing lanes for a traditional joust. But this joust is nothing like tradition, as is apparent by the variety of contestants lined up before the luxury box. Few seem to be knights, although most are some form of warrior or another, ranging in many sizes and races. And their mounts are as varied as their riders, from the expected warhorses to a gryphon, a displacer beast, even what appears to be a giant tortoise, the mounts seem to follow no specific design. Such are the rules of Frostmaw's joust, any ridable creature is permitted--although flight is strictly banned. One of the contestants sits upon a white gypsy vanner horse, barded in silver and blue to match the light armor of its helmeted rider. Tharn regards those present a moment more before lifting his arms. "The royal joust will begin momentarily! If you have what it takes to compete, step forward to join these warriors! You need only have the fortitude to knock her opponent from their saddle--or endure being knocked off yourself. Unseating is defeat. You are granted three passes to unseat one another. If no unseating occurs in those passes, the one with the most direct hits shall move forward. Come forth, challengers, and fight for your chance at a purse of gold coins, and Frostmaw recognition!"

Misaki slips into the arena once again. She inhaled deeply through her nose, stickign her hands on her hips. "Lovely memories," she said cheerfully. Satoru, her companion, shook his head. "...you nearly died here," he stated. "But I lso helped a child win the snowball fight here," Misaki pointed out, "You helped with that too, remember~?" Misaki's cheerfulness was a little creepy. Especially with her stained pink hair and the sapphire blue eyes dangling from her ears. Satoru scratched at his blindfold, frowning. "...you're too reckless," he said, "You're going to end up killed sooner or later."

Dami had originally came up to Frostmaw on personal business, and hopefully to seek an audience with the Queen. However, she caught wind of the jousting tournament instead and figured there, if any, would be the best place to seek out the Queen. Like always, she made a stealthy entrance and somehow found herself up in the luxury booth. She took a seat in one of the seven chairs, specifically- hers. She'd keep to herself and enjoy the show. She could see the woman out after.

Alicia having got her wayward rabbit somewhat under control, wraps her legs firmly around his body and pulls his ears with one hand as he bounces forwards. She waves a very bad tempered eel over her head and bows, as best she can, to the queen.

Hildegarde had been suited in armour appropriate for a joust: a small shield adorned her pauldron, covering the pit of her arm from a stray lance. Her hair was tied back with a dark blue ribbon, gifted to her by Kirien, while she held a mithril helm in the crook of her arm. The helm itself was mostly plain, save for a small snow gryphon like figure mounted at the very top, symbolising Frostmaw itself. The knight smiled as she eyed the crowd, spotting many warriors and knights alike who she had never seen before. With her free hand, she gently patted the neck of her horse and murmured quiet words that were meant to soothe.

Tharn waits a moment longer to ensure no other last minute entries ride forward, before he begins to speak again in his baritone voice, "Then we shall begin. Warriors and knights, prepare yourself. The first to ride shall be Frostmaw's own knight, Hildegarde the Silver, against Renard Thistletoes." Hildegarde's opponent is the rider of the giant tortoise, a hobbit--one of those notorious four that have been showing up to events well into their ale. Renard at least seems fairly sober, enough that he's only wobbling slightly upon the tortoise's shell. He throws Hildegarde a salute with the tiny round shield strapped to his arm. "Le's go then, lady," he bubbles. Hairy feet give the tortoise a tap, directing it to plod to one end of the jousting lane. Tharn awaits the riders to take their positions before he'll signal the pass' start.

Misaki looks up at the sound of cheers. She sees Hildegarde all decked up in armor on one end of the jousting area. She rose her hand and waved to the knight, though she highly doubted that she could see her in the crowd. She then looked up towards the Queen's booth, where she normally sat - to Misaki's surprise, she wasn't there. "Is something wrong, Mistress?" Satoru asked. "...no," she replied, "I'm just surprised the queen isn't here, yet." The pink-haired avian had been looking forward to speaking with the queen. Perhaps she would be there later, and Misaki would have her chance.

Hildegarde did take note of Misaki's wave, offering one of her own before donning her helm and mounting her steed, only to whisper something to her steed: "No fear, brave friend, no fear," she offered a reassuring pat, only to be met with a soft chuff. With a small press of her feet, she urged her horse forward and took position at the end of the jousting lane. A young Frost Giant - obviously a squire of some kind - rushed forward and pressed the lance into Hilde's waiting and gauntleted hand, before she pressed down her visor. The hoof of her horse dug into the ground with anticipation, whinnying at the sight of the opponent. "M'lord," she offered, though her voice was muffled by her helm. With a nod in the direction of Tharn, she signalled that she was ready for the joust to begin.

Alicia tries to control Harvey as he bounces back and forth. A few pellets slip out as beer and take-away curry don't suit a rabbit's digestion. He mutters "I thought you said this was a beer-fest!" Alicia mutthers back, "I thought it was a fest, and it's a joust thing. Just go with it and try not to get me killed!".

Renard is not well-versed in the ways of the joust, and so he gives the squire a funny look when a lance--cut down to his size--is offered to him. What sort of event had his friends signed him up for, exactly? No matter! Renard is a brave hobbit when he's been drinking, and he trusts his shelled companion. At Tharn's signal, the tortoise lumbers forward, at first an agonizing slow pace, but in little time it begins to catch up as the tortoise falls into a rhythm. Not as swift as a horse, the tortoise is, yet it still manages to hold a decent speed to carry the hobbit toward Hildegarde, lance at the ready--and far too short to reach higher than her horse's flanks. This might be why the hobbit resorts to giving the horse's rear a slap with the lance, in hopes the animal dislodges Hildegarde in a panic.

Misaki || "You should join in the joust," Misaki looked at Satoru. "...are you going to make fun of me again?" he asked. "No," she replied with a supressed smile, "I just think that, even though you are blind, you'd do better than that hobbit down there." She highly doubted he's beat Hildegarde, though. "C'mon, what have you got to lose?" Misaki asked sweetly, "I've already got your eyes."

Hildegarde 's horse reared up a little bit as the tortoise began to move, as if yearning to do the same. "Steady!" she called in a firm and commanding voice, the very voice she used when commanding troops on the field, as signalled by Sabjorn's nudge to Tormund in the stands. As the tortoise began to pick up the pace by falling into rhythm, the knight cried "hyah!" and urged the warhorse forward; galloping down the lane as the Silver pulled her lance in tightly to her side to steady her hold on the weapon. Indeed, the height difference made them both difficult targets for each other, but the woman had fought a gnome before and won, she was certain she could do the same here if she tried hard enough. The warhorse screamed at the lance lightly slapped his rear, but it did not deter from its course: allowing Hilde to point the lance downward toward her opponent and angle it for the hobbit's shoulder - her lance being longer to accommodate her height and strength after all - in the hopes it would strike him and dislodge him entirely, to save him some bruises!

Upon hearing the warhorse whinny, Renard sits up straighter, eager to see the knight spilled from the saddle... except that his planned failed, and his reaction proves his undoing, for with that slight raising of height, his shoulder finds itself a perfect target. Down Hildegarde's lance strikes, catching the hobbit at his arm's joint and neatly lifting him clear of the tortoise's back. And poor Renard is left dangling from the end of Hildegarde's lance where his mithril shirt had caught. Furred feet kick back and forth frantically as he blubbers, "Lemmedown. Lemmedown. Oh please let me down!" Tharn lifts one of his arms, declaring Hildegarde the round's winner and leaving the two contestants to sort themselves out while he announces the next round, "Alicia e Tenebris, Lady of Chartsend, will face off against Bill the Almost-Giant!" From atop his mammoth mount, Bill the Almost-Giant waves happily at the crowd, grinning his gap-toothed grin. Better known as one of Frostmaw's finest chefs, Bill is a good-natured sort of simpleton, competing only for the sake of fun. The mammoth trots forward... but wait! That's not a mammoth at all! That's Bill's lower body! Apparently the "Almost-Giant" has the upper body of his Frost Giant mother, and the lower body of his centaur father! He's both rider and mount in this joust.

Hildegarde 's horse slowed to a canter as the hobbit dangled from her lance, the knight trying to calm him down: "Stop struggling, you'll hurt yourself," she said, worry clear in her voice. The knight held up her lance as she swung down from her horse, slowly moving the lance down to let the hobbit rest on the ground. "Come, m'lord, we will fetch you ale and a healer, shall we?"

While the two next contestants prepared, Renard's busy complaining loudly about how cruel Hildegarde had "torn off me good arm!" Eventually, however, his tortoise companion thuds up behind him, delivering a headbutt to knock the hobbit flat on his face, and thus shutting him up. The tortoise gives Hildegarde a look that seems to say, 'This is what I live with.' before its beak takes hold of the back of Renard's pants and the hobbit is carried away to lick his wounds over a mug of ale, bolstered by his friends.

Alicia steels herself and gulps. "Okay, big bunny. We're up. Do us proud and remember that I do try and walk with dignity in these lands." With that, Harvey raises to his hind-legs (more from indigestion than anything else) and paws the ground. As he bounces down the line, Alicia, not holding a lance, lets go of his ears and pulls two eels from the place where Chartsend women keep them warm. She swings one around her head and deftly throws it towards the half-centaur's neck, her legs firmly wrapped around Harvey's body.

Kasyr 's present, though not as a contestant. Rather, the revenant's just meandering through the stands and towards the Coterie's viewing box, if only so he can flop into the marred stone of his seat.

Hildegarde had looked sad at the remarks about her from the hobbit, as if she truly took the words to heart! But the tortoise and his actions seemed to make her smile, offering a pat to his shell in a show of friendship.

Bill is still trying to sort out what exactly a lance is for even as his mammoth legs are carrying him forward. And then... SLAP! There's an eel hanging about his neck. The half-giant skids to a halt, dropping his lance to reach up and take hold of the eel so that he can lift it to his face and give it a mighty sniff--nearly pulling the eel up his nostril in the process. "Mmm," Bill murmurs intelligently. A simpleton in all other aspects of life, Bill's genius is reserved for his culinary skills, and with a single sniff his mind has begun to work up a variety of savory dishes he could concoct around this eel. Just as suddenly as he'd entered the contest, all thought of it leaves the half-giant's head, for he gives a rumbling laugh of delight and promptly begins trotting away. The eel is still held firmly in his grasp, which might spell an unseating for Alicia if she decided the eel isn't worth letting go of.

Dami chills in her seat, quietly watching Kasyr take his. "Spaz."

Alicia watches Bill wander off with a perfectly good eel. Never mind. The electric eels will appear if she makes into another round. She silently laughs as Kasyr flops into his seat. She thought he was getting a paunch when she saw him at the ball. Now, she's pretty sure she was right.

Misaki chuckles, watching the half-giant leave. She looks up to see Kasyr pass her on his way to his booth. She didn't do anything as a greeting, per say, but she did nod in his direction. Her attention then went back to the joust.

Kasyr stretches out and folds his arms behind his head, all comfortably lounging and such. Dami's comment just earns a shrug, and a casual, "Hey."

Tharn watches Bill skip off, his expression not one of surprise. He does seem a tad disappointed, however, at the oddity of the last joust. As such, the next contestants called forward are, "Merrick," the elven knight rides forward upon his gryphon mount, "shall ride against D'aron." The displacer beast snarls as her drowish rider tugs on the reins, a sneer plastered across D'aron's face. He's riding against an elf, and his expression promises there will be blood. Merrick keeps his own expression impassive, as proud as his mount, although there is a dangerous gleam in his eye. The ancient blood fued of elf and drow is about to come together in a fierce clash of lances, it'd seem. The crowd can sense this, many a person leaning forward as the two take their places.

Somewhere in the stands, a person is calling for bets to be placed!

Misaki chuckles a little as she sees the next pair of contestants. "...this should be interesting," she said, "an elf and a drow." Satoru was no where to be seen when Misaki looked around. "What the hell?" she said. Satoru, as a matter of fact, was off by Hildegarde on the arena floor. "Greetings, Lady Hildegarde," he said as he approached. How he got there without injury would be a mystery for the ages.

Hildegarde || D'aron sneered at Merrick, feet giving a sharp, inward kick upon the displacer beast to urge her on towards the end of the jousting lane. He sat upright and proudly upon his beast, staring down at the elf with such bile that it radiated off him in waves. "Whelp!" he hissed, demanding for his lance. The lance was personalised; long, dark and vicious, with the point of it sharp and not blunted. He made his intent clear: he'd kill the elf if he could, nothing would bring him greater pleasure. His fingers clasped around the lance tightly as he levelled it at in the direction of the elf, already having it aimed and pointed directly at him. His beast snarled beneath him, glancing from side to side and pawing at the ground eagerly. Yearning to ride into battle.

Hildegarde had removed her helm, as to prevent herself from suffering in the stifling warmth it created. "Greeting, m'lord Satoru," she offered with a respectful dip of her head, even though he wouldn't have seen it. "Is all well?"

Alicia quietly spits on the ground. She hates the conflict between elf and drow. Whoever wins this round, if it is in the name of hate and not sport, will be met with bloodshed from her.

Misaki || Satoru nodded. "Lady Misaki is up there in the stands, enjoying the joust," he said, "I personally find it difficult when you can't see what's going on." He smiled a little. "...and there is no need for you to call me m'lord. I'm a servant, nothing more." Dami e just stared at Kasyr for the longest time before getting up. She exited the booth and quietly made her exit.

Merrick almost wishes he had a lance of similar intent as D'aron's, yet such a thing would be dishonorable, and for a knight as noble and proud as this elf, it would be the ultimate disgrace. No! He shall defeat this foul creature the proper way, for virtue always triumphs in the end. His gryphon rears up to claw the air with her talons, screaming an eagle's cry at the displacer beast before lunging forward. Paws and claws thud mightily over the sand as they begin their charge. Merrick's lance is brought down and into place with obvious ease of practice, for he is a knight and this is their sport. The weapon's point is leveled for the joint on D'aron's chestplate--slightly off mark for a clean unseating, and yet it is a temptation Merrick unconsciously gives in to, for a heavy blow could collapse the metal's edges into the drow's chest cavity. Potentially fatal, and easily written off as an accident in the knight's mind. It would seem elven hatred is more powerful than a knight's code.

Hildegarde glanced up to the stands, attempting to pick out Misaki again. "Indeed, I saw her before my first bout," she commented politely. "There is more to life than seeing, my friend! I should think the atmosphere of this event is most enjoyable." At the mention of being nothing more than a servant, the knight shrugged her shoulder, "Then I am the same. I love only to serve the realm and my Queen, so I am naught but a servant, too."

Misaki sees Satoru off on the arena floor chatting with Hildegarde. "...oh, boy," she said with a sigh. Satoru nodded. "But you are also a knight, Lady Hildegarde," he stated, "that in and of itself demands that you be refered to as Miss or Lady."

Hildegarde || D'aron had no qualms with such a pesky thing as 'honour' or 'nobility', frankly he was sick to death with it already. Between this stinking elf and that cowardly dragon, he was dog-tired of seeing them acting like they were better than the rest of them! Honour, pah. Unlike Merrick, however, D'aron was no trained knight or jousting champion: his lance had been levelled too early and was levelled strictly for Merrick's chest. With the bounce and movement of his displacer beast, he found it hard to keep his lance on target and his arm was already feeling tired from holding in that singular position for so long, rather than moving it when necessary of him. The drow snarled as he got closer, though, thinking the elf would be easily cowed into submission. Alas, the elf was as brave as any decent knight ought to be. The lance shrieked as it scraped across D'aron's chestplate, dipping into and breaking the metal to sink into ebony flesh. The drow howled with pain, pushing his lance blindly and poorly at that: it was a laughable effort that even a squire could defeat. The drow rocked back from his seat, barely remaining in it.

Hildegarde smiled wryly, "Does it now?" she asked him. "I would have thought that by being a knight, one is to be addressed as Sir." Even the Queen had addressed her as Sir Hildegarde once she had been knighted! But it was more for ceremony than anything else she thought. "Words are nothing: noises on the wind. If you are to insist on addressed me formally, then you will receive the same treatment from me, m'lord."

Misaki || Satoru smiles a little. "...very well, Lady Hildegarde," he said, tilting his head as he heard the lance go through chestplate. "...that sounded painful," he said quietly, "what just happened?"

Merrick would not have been hit at all by D'aron's amateur thrust, were it not for the nature of the drow's mount. Although the full potency of the displacer beast's ability is not in effect, there is still an aura of misjudged sight about it, a serious danger when precise aim is necessary. And so, when Merrick shifts in his saddle to avoid the poor strike, he instead finds the lance much closer than his eyes had told him, resulting in it burying itself in the flesh below his ribcage. The elf cries out in agony, pierced by the drow's cruel lance, and hunches over in the saddle. He does not stop, however, urging the gryphon to keep going with a nudge of knees. The mount complies, whirling around at the end of the lane and charging yet again without even a pause to catch her breath. Painfully Merrick brings his lance back into place, his other hand clamped firmly over the bleeding wound in his side. D'aron best recover quickly, for the elven knight is bearing down on him fast, lance point angled for the drow's far shoulder--in hopes the displacer beast's trickery results in a blow squarely on the chest.

Hildegarde frowned, addressing Satoru, "I believe one will die."

Misaki || Satoru frowned. "Mistress should be having fun, then." In fact, Misaki was cheering loudly for the elf. "...she enjoys things like this," Satoru said with a sigh, "she was trying to get me to join in on this event."

Hildegarde || D'aron's mount snarled and gambolled to the end of the lane, wheeling around the corner and near skidding in its haste, staring down the gryphon before charging down again. Mount may well have been ready and happy to ride, but rider was not: a relationship that is well established in the Eyrie. He was sure that the lance of the elf had pierced his lung, he felt breathless and ragged as his mount ran down the lane. In an effort to ready his lance, he growled and groaned, heaving it up with a mighty effort but even still it was not enough and the elvish scum was getting closer. Letting go of the reins of his displacer beast, he allowed his legs to hug tightly against the beast in an effort to remain mounted, using both hands to prop the lance up and keep it in place. "Die," he muttered, before hearing a wet and loud squelching noise. He grinned broadly, having assumed his lance had pierced the elf and killed him! Victory to the drow, it would seem. Alas… the drow hung from the lance of the elf, blood welling at his lips and winding down his chin before all of him went limp. The drow had been slain.

Hildegarde shook her head, still frowning, "Some take pleasure in death, some do not. I do not take a life easily, m'lord," she confessed. At the mention of joining the event, however, she smiled, "Is that what you wish to do?"

Misaki cheered loudly for the elf, laughing in an extremly scary fashion. The people around her were scooting away, but they joined her in her cheers.

Misaki || Satoru shook his head. "No, Lady. I find riding difficult," he said, "you should ask the Mistress or Her Majesty about what happened to me during the flying event the other day."

And yet, Merrick does not get to revel in his defeat of the drow, for before the gryphon even reaches the end of the lane, her rider topples off, drow and lance falling with him. The knight spends a sparse few seconds pawing at his gushing wound and gasping for air, before he too lies still. While he had pierced D'aron's lung and chest to slay him, the drow's work had been more insidious, for the sharpened lance had impaled vital organs in that first pass. As the second pass had been run, the organs had spilled their toxic fluids to poison the knight, slaying him only moments after he'd killed the drow. The elven victory is hollow as both competitors lie dead in the sand.

Hildegarde sighed sadly at the sight of the two dead riders, commenting quietly, "They may have thought themselves so different and yearned to be opposites of one another, but they still died the same way. All shall fall," she said, with a shake of her head. "Death is a bleak and saddening thing, m'lord Satoru. Alas," she said, trying to smile, "you may have ridden badly, but at least you went out and did it. That is true courage."

Misaki stops cheering the moment she realizes the elf was also dead. "Aw... that's a disappointment," she murmured, "I was hoping to face him in combat..." oh, well. Misaki stroked her left wing, where the feathers were nearly all regenerated. She couldn't fly, but she could glide - when is what she did. She stood up and leapt over the barrier to the fllor, spreading her wings, allowing herself to glide down, down, towards where Satoru was talking to Hildegarde. "Greetings, Miss Hildegarde," she said with an oh-too-pleasant smile that hid her true nature.

Hildegarde said to Misaki, "Greetings, M'lady Misaki."

The stadium goes momentarily silent, startled by the double death. Tharn uses this moment to signal healers to remove the bodies, while squires scramble to catch the enraged mounts before they can kill each other next. As the scene is repaired, the Frost Giant turns his voice to the crowd once more, intending to distract the less bloodthirsty ones with the announcement of the next riders, "Dunoiel von Straten!" A human mercenary dressed in ragged, furred armor guides his mount forward, the slavening beast appearing to be a dire hyena with mangy fur and yellowed teeth. "He shall ride against Cavalier Noelle!" The lightly armored rider, helmet firmly down in place, on the white Vanner nudges the horse forward. By the looks of it, this rider is female, slightly built and almost too small for the large horse she rides.

Misaki || Satoru remained silent as he heard Misaki approaching. As to what Hildegarde said, he replied, "Lady, I'd rather not end up at those two elves, which is what I fear would happen to me were I to ever go against an experienced rider as yourself." Once Misaki was at his side, he fell completly silent in respect for his mistress.

Hildegarde laughed gently, shaking her head in disagreement, "No, m'lord. Patience is the key to jousting. You must understand your mount and yourself, do not search for the weaknesses of your opponent. Focus upon yourself and you will excel."

Misaki nudges Satoru with her elbow. "Cartainly," she said, "and if all else fails, you can shoot 'em in the back of the head." Satoru turned his face toward his mistress. "...that I would never do," he said, "unlike you, who would cheat her way through this event." "Yeah, right," Misaki rolled her eyes, "I'd at least -try-, if I was at 100%." She then curtsied to the dragon, "You did very well, Miss Hildegarde. I look forward to your next round."

Hildegarde || von Straten mounted the mangy hyena with a grunt, chin held high as he surveyed the crowd. "Peasants, the whole bloody lot o' 'em," he commented darkly, too proud of his heritage as the bastard son of a proud lord. Dirty fingertips scratched at his arse, only to be booed by a member of the audience. "You shut yer bleedin' mouth, milk drinker! I'm the son of a bastardin' lord, you pleb!" he threw the words venomously, before yanking up his oaken lance from the squire, "Give it 'ere!" he commanded, spitting and snarling his anger - mirrored by his hyena, who cackled soon after - at the squire. Staring down at the apparently female rider, he yelled, "Face the Bastard Lord, you skinny little wench!" With a sharp stab of his heel, the hyena was off - regardless of Tharn saying so or not! Lance levelled squarely for the rider's throat, von Straten snarled and prayed for contact.

Hildegarde fell silent as Satoru and Misaki spoke to one another, feeling that it was not her place to make a comment on the matter. Upon mentioning her performance, the knight flushed and bashfully shook her head in disagreement, "No, m'lady, I face an opponent who had never jousted before," she hadn't properly jousted before today either, but she had at least practised and fought with a polearm regularly! "I only seek to make Frostmaw proud."

Misaki takes a lock of Satoru's hair into her fingers, twisting it between them. "...perhaps you should focus more on making your mistress proud, Satoru," she stated. He sighed, finally giving in. "...are there any horses left?" he asked Hildegarde. Misaki grinned brightly, excited.

Noelle regards von Straten and his taunts with only a cocking of her helmeted head. The squire at her side hurriedly passes up an her lance, a most unusual item as it appears to be made of glass, clear, bright, and sharp. And most importantly, it seems to sit lightly in her grip despite its size, as if made for her, to be a part of her. Heels dig into the Vanner's sides, urging the horse forward into a charge. The animal's silver and blue barding jangles musically, as if made with bells and glass, and mixes well with the steady thud of hooves over sand. Noelle brings her lance forward, the movement rigid as if she is unused to such actions. But once the weapon is in place, it sits firm and steady, once more giving that illusion that the lance is a part of the rider. Her target is Dunoiel's upper chest, intent to deliver one swift blow to topple his top-heavy body over the hyena's sloped back without having to devote much in the way of strength. Clearly this is one who does not fight with physical prowess, favoring agility and accuracy.

Hildegarde tensed at those words, looking to Misaki with an expression that was clearly less than impressed. However, she addressed Satoru, "Who do you intend to ride against? For I shall not joust with you."

Misaki || Satoru shrugged. "Whoever will joust against me," he replied. "Or perhaps I could," Misaki said thoughtfully, "all I'd need to do is put these away." She ran her fingers over her wings, "It would be interesting, to say the least."

Hildegarde || von Straten was a man of strength and power! If you weren't strong, you were nothing to this man. Agility was seen as poor showmanship, nothing more than a mummer's game in his eyes. While the rider was strong and intimidating, serious in his sport, his mount was anything but: bouncing from side to side as it gambolled and yipped excitedly. "Run, ya stupid," the wind took the curse he screamed, "beast!" The glass like lance of Noelle, however, struck his armoured shoulder, sending him off balance - although his hyena was already doing that - and putting his lance askew! The long polearm seemed to shove forward towards Noelle's arm. Regardless of whether or not it struck, the Bastard Lord urged his beast on to the end of the lane, howling and cursing many obscene words at it before taking the corner with ease. "Ride well or I'll bloody geld ya, ya worthless beast!" he hissed angrily, levelling his lance once again for the second ride down the lane.

Hildegarde frowned, recalling the words she had told her younger Frost Giant troops: "There is no honour or glory to be had in throwing your life - or someone else's - for the sake of impressing someone or such foolishness." The knight held her ground, "I shall not joust with a man who cannot see, particularly if he has no wish to be jousting in the first place. Forcing someone to joust is dishonourable," she claimed.

Misaki shrugged. "...I have no honor to begin with," she said, waving a hand, "I'm just a hunter. A hunter with no memory of her past." Satoru pointed his face in the direction of hooves. "...I bet fifty gold that the girl is going to win," he said. "Eh? How can you tell that's a girl?" Misaki looked at the jouster with the glass lance. "The sound of her breathing in her helmet," Satoru replied, "I know that sounds strange."

Noelle sways dangerously in the saddle. A mere glancing blow from the mercenary is clearly enough of a threat for the much smaller rider. It's her horse's unwavering pace that allows Noelle to right herself a moment later, a gauntleted hand straighten her helmet where it had nearly been knocked loose, but not before stray wisps of white hair peek out from beneath it. As von Straten engages in the second charge, Noelle complies, once again securing her glassy lance in place as the horse gallops forward. This time, Noelle aims higher, at the point just below the human's thick neck, wear his rusted gorgot paints a clear target. Again, her aim is clearly to hit him at a point meant to turn the collisions of momentum to the man's disadvantage, without requiring the same considerable strength he carries.

Hildegarde || von Straten roared angrily at the girl as she came racing down the lane, sitting proudly astride her horse. Or at least, that was how he saw it. The mercenary lord stared at her with intense anger as he raised up his lance again, aiming for the square of her chest; for the heart itself! But his hyena must have seen something interesting, because it started to bray and cackle with laugher; bouncing and bounding down the lane and sending its rider off balance once more. "I'll geld ya, ya bastard!" he screamed, before flying off the beast with a loud 'harrumph!' having lost his attention to the hyena beneath him. The hyena bounced away from him, cackling and braying, swinging saliva around as it did. The mercenary rose up with a loud roar, stomping towards the victorious Noelle in an attempt to lay his hands upon the reins of her horse and tear it down to the ground with his bare hands! However, Hildegarde and a Frost Giant had near raced to the lane and between them. "Unhand her," Hildegarde demanded, before the Giant placed a meaty hand on his shoulder. Von Straten roared angrily, huffing with disappointment before croaking and snorting; spitting yellow tinted spittle at the face of Hildegarde. "Stuff yer tournament! Ya plebs!" he said, stomping off. The knight stood eerily still as the spit clung to her face.

Kasyr can't help but smirk a bit at the hyena's spirited antics.

Having braced to be struck, Noelle finds herself startled at von Straten's untimely dismounting by his traitorous hyena. Only to have the enormous man make a grab for the reins of her horse. The Vanner jerks its head back instinctively, and might have reared up to kick at the mercenary, had Hildegarde and the Frost Giant not intervened. As the horse is released and the sore loser escorted out, Noelle nudges her mount forward a few paces to stand beside Hildegarde and then reaches down, wordlessly offering a silk handkerchief to remove the foul spit. While this goes on, Tharn continues in his duties as announcer. "And so we enter the final rounds! Alicia e Ten--" But wait. The rabbit-riding woman seems to be missing? Has she been whisked away by her alcoholic mount for an untimely booze run? Tharn looks baffled, but recovers quickly. "Hildegarde the Silver will face Noelle for the victory!"

Misaki frowned. "...that..." she said. "Uncorteous," Satoru said, raising a hand, "pay up, Mistress." Misaki grumbled, hanging over the pouch of gold. Satoru chuckled. "...I guess you don't have to see in order to enjoy this," he stated. Misaki rolled her eyes with a sigh. But then she put that look on her face... the innocent one, that hid how ebil she really was.

Hildegarde accepted the silk handkerchief with a gracious nod, "I thank you, m'lady," she intoned politely, looking at it. It was a pretty little handkerchief made of good quality silk, it would be a shame to waste it on spit! The knight, instead, passed it to her loaned squire, intending for it to be tied to the lance as a favour. Wiping the spit from her face with the back of her gloved hand, she heard Tharn's announcement and offered a nod. Wandering back to her horse, she stroked his neck once again, "Honour me as I have honoured you," she said ever so quietly. Pressing her forehead to the head of the horse, she smiled and donned her helm before mounting her noble steed. Tugging on the reins lightly and with a click of the tongue, she urged her horse to the end of the jousting lane. The squire appeared and handed her the lance - a lance of common appearance and make, not as personalised as the other ones - to which she thanked him kindly, fingers flexing around the handle of the lance as she shifted in her saddle. The lance pointed upright and was held in what appeared to be a relaxed position. With a nod to Tharn, she signalled her readiness.

Misaki smirked a little. "Miss Hildegarde," she said, "is going to win this." "Agreed," Satoru replied.

A conflicted crosses Tharn's face for the briefest of moments as he glances between the riders. Noelle silently signals her own preparedness once she reaches the end of the lane, that glassy lance still held firmly. After a moment, the Frost Giant raises his arms, only to bring them down swiftly: the signal to charge. Noelle's mount half rears, whinnying in excitement, before lunging forward on powerful legs. Her rider, however, seems to be thrown off-balance by the horse's eager antics, causing her to be jostled as she scrambles to regain her composure and bring the lance into place. As a result of the awkward start and the Vanner's rushed charge, Noelle's aim is off, so that even if Hildegarde weren't to move, the best hit she will be able to deliver is a skittering blow off the Silver's arm.

Hildegarde 's mount mimicked Noelle's, rearing in excitement and whinnying, before pawing at the ground and charging forward to meet the other rider. Of course, the knight could not stop herself from feeling an edge of concern when the smaller and more lightly armoured rider's balance seemed to be put off, but she felt relief when the woman righted herself! As the horses raced down the lane, the knight lowered her lance and tucked her arm in against her body to strengthen her grip on it; to ensure it would not slip from her grasp and it would not fall from a weary hand. The action gave her strength, it stopped her arm from growing too tired too soon. She cried out, "Frostmaw!" as she pointed her lance towards Noelle's small and seemingly light shield attached to her pauldron, aiming only for the top of it. If Noelle's balance was truly off or the girl was as light as she looked, it may prove enough to either send her off her mount or injure her enough into yielding from the match. The knight desired no bloodshed from her fellow riders, but it would seem Noelle's lance had caught the armour of her free arm: denting the mithril some and no doubt leaving a bruise.

Noelle's physical strength in no way compares to that of Hildegarde's. The knight strikes clean and true, and Noelle feels the force it down to the saddle before she's knocked from her seat. The white Vanner keeps running, unaware that her rider has been lost and is now crashing into the sands amid a cacophony of crashes and clatters. Noelle's helmet lands paces away from where she hit the ground and bounces along before its momentum finally stops. Up in the stands, Tharn starts forward in alarm, only halting as he sees Noelle move. With a groan she sits up, a gloves hand pressed to her face as the long strands of her white hair spill around her, freed of its confines. "Ouch. You hit like a warhorse, Mithril~." The voice is all too familiar, as that hand is withdrawn and Satoshi sits there, grinning through winces of pain. Where Hildegarde's lance had hit, the armor bears thick cracks--for it isn't metal at all, but ice, woven and shaped to deck out Satoshi, yet to be light enough for her to wear, she had to sacrifice fortitude.

Misaki 's jaw dropped when she saw the queen. Satorru remained stoic and calm. "Did you --- did you know that was the queen in there?" she demanded of Satoru. "Of course not," he replied, "I'm just as surprised as you are. However, I do not show as much emotion as you do, Mistress." That comment got Satoru a shot to the ribs.

Kasyr can't help but grin a bit at Satoshi's cheekiness, a fair bit of applause offered at the brief exchange. That's one way to wrap things up.

Hildegarde called out 'woah', when the other rider crashed down onto the sands, in an effort to still her steed and stop him from galloping onwards. A small pull on the reins and he came about, whinnying as his rider dismounted. At the sound of the familiar voice, the knight tensed with the shock of it! She had not expected nor intended to harm her gracious Queen! Near instantly, she dropped to a knee - lance dropped beside her - and stared at the ground through her visor. She tried to offer an apology, but through her helm not much was clear, lest it was a shout or battle cry!

Satoshi unsteadily climbs to her feet, all laughter and amusement despite being unhorsed in a single hit from the knight. A vulpine ear twitches at the sounds coming from Hildegarde's helmet. "Oi. If those are apologies I hear, you'd best stop it~," the magus says, a hand resting on her hip as the other gestures for the Silver to stand. "It was my choice to enter. I know the risks~." And the fun. Don't forget the fun. "If I was afraid about getting hurt, do you really think I'd sit on Frostmaw's throne? But this is why I didn't tell you~." Hildegarde would have refused to participate, Satoshi can bet on that. With a slightly awkward manner to her steps--falling off of horses hurts, and she's got sand in places sand isn't allowed to be--Satoshi moves to where Hildegarde is and offers a hand to help the kneeling knight up. "You won, Mithril~. You did Frostmaw proud." As is obvious, with the wild cheers of the crowd filling the stadium.

Satoshi glances briefly at Kasyr, to stick her tongue out at him. Cheeky is right.

Misaki clapped her hands loudly, cheering alongside the crowd. Satoru clapped as well, but he didn't cheer. He wass more wondering why he didn't realie it was the queen who had been participating.

Hildegarde removed her helm at the words of Satoshi, setting it down in the sand beside her and trying her best to conceal the smile she could feel brewing. It was hard not to smile around the Queen, she had a way of making things light-hearted and not as frightening as they were! Or at least, to awkward people - like Hilde - she had that ability. "No, m'lady," she answered, knowing full well the throne of Frostmaw required someone strong to sit it; be they strong of mind or muscle. With the offered hand, the knight accepted it but relied on her own strength to get back on her feet. "I thank you, my Queen," she said, offering her a small and almost bashful smile. "However, I must inform you even though I suspect you are well aware, that I desire to escort you over to your lord husband there. You are hurt," she pointed out - like Captain Obvious - and added more quietly, mostly just for Satoshi to hear, "and you're the only Queen I've ever hurt before… this is actually quite nerve inducing!"

Satoshi momentarily wears the expression of a petulant child being told they have to hold mother's hand while in public, but the look melts away in a flashed grin before she accepts. "Very well, lady knight. Tharn has to present you your prize anyway~." And thus Satoshi allows herself to be escorted by Hildegarde, using that time to spy Misaki and Satoru, offering them a salute. "The newest members of Eyrie's family," Satoshi points out to the knight at her side.

Misaki waved back to the queen, grinning that oh-so-innocent smile. Satoru replied to the salute with his hand on his heart, and a bow at the waist.

Hildegarde smiled at the Queen, offering her arm to her to be escorted, laughing lightly at the mention of a prize, "M'lady, serving you and this proud city is all the prize or reward I could wish for. Truly, prizes are not necessary." It was well known the knight was an odd mix of proud and humble, not wishing to detract from the Queen or city's resources to reward her supposed deeds! A glance in the direction of Misaki and Satoru, the knight offered them a nod, "A welcome addition to the brood," she remarked, "a vibrant nest is a good nest."

Satoshi concedes yet again. There is no arguing with a creature as stubborn as Hildegarde, she's learned. She'll just make sure the prize money finds itself used in ways to aid the knight, without the knight knowing the details~. She whispers as much to Tharn once the magus reaches the box seats, and the giant gives a nod of understanding before he steps back, surrendering his role as host of the event to his vulpine ward. "I am proud to declare Hildegarde the Silver as the champion of the joust! A fine knight in every aspect, and a vital part of Frostmaw we hope to never see dim or lost~! Three cheers for our champion!" It's a good thing Dami built this arena sturdy, else the sheer power of the following roar of the crowd would likely have shaken the building to pieces.

Kasyr can't help but sidle a bit closer to Satoshi following her arrival to the box. And that's it, at least until she makes her announcement, and the arena's consumed by thunderous applause- by which point the Kensai leans over, and plants a kiss to Satoshi's temple, "Glad tu had fun."

Hildegarde stood proudly beside Satoshi, almost feeling as though she were a sworn member of the Queensguard; a symbol of pride and ambition for any worthy knight. They were the true elites, she thought. At the proclamation of her victory - along with compliments - the knight dipped her head a little bit, as if it might help hide her quickly reddening cheeks and the shimmer of silvery scales across them. "Thank you," she replied, but it may well have been lost in the roar of the crowd.

Misaki skips over to the queen's box, her face one big, cheerful smile that matched perfectly with her pink hair. "Your Majesty," she said as she approached with a bow. Satoru walked up behind Misaki and bowed as well, though he remained silent. "I didn't expect to see you participating in the joust," Misaki stated, "it certainly took me by surprise."

Satoshi knows better than to keep piling the praise on the bashful knight, so instead she leaves Hildegarde to the cheers of the people as the magus turns her attention to Kasyr. A grin gives her whiskers a slight tilt as she looks up at him. "I can sort of see why folks like armor. Although, it's a bit odd to try and move in, even made of ice..." She'd have been doomed, if she'd attempted real metal.

Satoshi's grin is turned toward Misaki then. "Aha~. Well, a girl's gotta get out and have some fun now and then, royalty or no~. I wanted to see what my knight was capable of, up close and personal."

Hildegarde looked down - only a tiny bit - to Satoshi, smiling fondly at her, "Your knight is capable due to the experiences her Queen has allowed her to have."

Kasyr can't help but grin a bit broader at Satoshi, "J'en sais pas. The only armour I'm overly fond of is my coat." Admittedly, it's heavy enough that he could probably pin someone to the ground by using them as a coatrack.

Misaki started laughing. "Oh, that's true," she said, then her face turned calm. "I wanted to thank you again for the invitation for me to join the Eyrie. It's a true honor." Satoru turned his face away, paling as he remembered his disastrous attempt at flying.

Satoshi responds to Kasyr by casually giving one of his calico ears a tug, eyes still on Misaki and Hildegarde. "It is why I have endless faith in you, Mithril." And to the avian hunter, "You are most welcome. You had quite a knack for working with that young fire drake. We are always searching for those with not only skill, but with compassion for their partner. It is why I was happy to offer you an invitation, and I am glad you accepted~."

Hildegarde offered no verbal response to Satoshi's remark, merely standing a little straighter with her chin held a bit higher. She was always happy and proud with those kinds of remarks, even though they put the fear into her endlessly!

Misaki curtsies again to the queen, then to Kasyr, and then she departs with Satoru at her heels. Once they were out of earshot, Satoru brought up his argument again. "That gladiator's gauntlet thing you shouldn't be a part of... you still haven't completly recovered!" "I should be at 100% by the time it comes around," she snapped at him. "Only for you to go back to the healer's!" Satoru snapped back, "It's a bad idea, that is what I think." "Good thing I'm not listening to you, then," Misaki retorted, "I'm entering whether you like it or not. So you can help, or you can watch me get devoured."

Satoshi takes her leave as well, after linking her arm with Kasyr's so she can steal him away with her. Someone's gonna need to help her out of this armor, after all! It's ice, Sato, you can do it with a few words. Excuses, excuses.

Kasyr 's hardly one to turn down some down-time with Satoshi. A little rest and recuperation does the soul good.

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