Post by The Smith on Oct 5, 2013 13:16:28 GMT -5
In the training grounds of the Red Keep, Gareth Hightower sat astride a black courser waiting for one of his brother’s more experienced tourney knights and his own cousin Balon Costayne to mount a second courser. Both men were armored in steel, with heavy shields proclaiming their Houses’ heraldry, and holding tourney lances. With his elder brother’s announcement of the Far Reach tourney, Gareth had been unusually motivated to discard his usual apathy to knightly training in order that he might make a better showing in Oldtown.
Gareth had been doing little other than attending the seemingly endless round of parties that seemed to be the norm for nobility in Kings Landing, so for something different he had decided to train at the Red Keep’s sparring grounds. He had asked his cousin, who was about his own age, but by reputation was much better versed in combat if he would help train him. Balon readily had agreed. However, when they each picked up blunted tourney swords they realized that they were evenly matched and that sparring would not be instructive for either of them so they decided to practice with the lance, instead.
Gareth and Balon kicked their horses forward at the same moment, and seconds later both were thundering down the tilt towards each other. Gareth saw Balon shift in his saddle, to ride forward, and he saw the Costayne tilt his lance slightly upward. He was going for a headstrike, which was a much harder target to hit than the chest or shield, but when a rider extended his lance to strike his opponents head, it would extend four inches further so a successful strike would throw the other ride off balance before their own lance struck. Gareth smiled to himself and maintained his own position. When the men were a dozen yards a part, Gareth angled his lance slightly to Balon’s left, but then leaned to his own left. Balon’s lance sailed harmlessly by his head and his own struck Balon square in the breastplate, throwing him bodily out of his saddle and to the ground.
Elated and at the same time a little surprised, Gareth leapt off his courser’s back and extended a hand to help Balon to his feet. Balon had a scowl on his face, but it broke out into a laugh when he remounted his horse. “I’ll have to remember that trick, if I see someone trying to take a headshot on me in the future,” he said. He retrieved his own lance and shield and rode back to the opposite side of the field while Gareth took his own place.
The pair rode against each other a dozen more times, breaking five lances apiece. Gareth unseated Balon five more times, while losing his own seat only twice. They called a halt as the sun began to dip below the horizon, and nursing bruises and other scratches from the day’s bouts, limped into the Keep for rest and recuperation. They agreed they would try their mettle again tomorrow and no doubt right up to the tournament.
Ser Gareth Hightower increases to Noteworthy Lance
Ser Gareth Hightower increases to Apprentice Riding
Gareth had been doing little other than attending the seemingly endless round of parties that seemed to be the norm for nobility in Kings Landing, so for something different he had decided to train at the Red Keep’s sparring grounds. He had asked his cousin, who was about his own age, but by reputation was much better versed in combat if he would help train him. Balon readily had agreed. However, when they each picked up blunted tourney swords they realized that they were evenly matched and that sparring would not be instructive for either of them so they decided to practice with the lance, instead.
Gareth and Balon kicked their horses forward at the same moment, and seconds later both were thundering down the tilt towards each other. Gareth saw Balon shift in his saddle, to ride forward, and he saw the Costayne tilt his lance slightly upward. He was going for a headstrike, which was a much harder target to hit than the chest or shield, but when a rider extended his lance to strike his opponents head, it would extend four inches further so a successful strike would throw the other ride off balance before their own lance struck. Gareth smiled to himself and maintained his own position. When the men were a dozen yards a part, Gareth angled his lance slightly to Balon’s left, but then leaned to his own left. Balon’s lance sailed harmlessly by his head and his own struck Balon square in the breastplate, throwing him bodily out of his saddle and to the ground.
Elated and at the same time a little surprised, Gareth leapt off his courser’s back and extended a hand to help Balon to his feet. Balon had a scowl on his face, but it broke out into a laugh when he remounted his horse. “I’ll have to remember that trick, if I see someone trying to take a headshot on me in the future,” he said. He retrieved his own lance and shield and rode back to the opposite side of the field while Gareth took his own place.
The pair rode against each other a dozen more times, breaking five lances apiece. Gareth unseated Balon five more times, while losing his own seat only twice. They called a halt as the sun began to dip below the horizon, and nursing bruises and other scratches from the day’s bouts, limped into the Keep for rest and recuperation. They agreed they would try their mettle again tomorrow and no doubt right up to the tournament.
Ser Gareth Hightower increases to Noteworthy Lance
Ser Gareth Hightower increases to Apprentice Riding
Hope you all are well and happy.