A Small Hunting Lodge Deep in the Woods

[The Stranger]

"I think fisticuff a bit dull, personally. These are noble warriors and anointed knights, they should do their fighting mounted, In my humble opinion." Saxon said.

[Horas]

"Not much faith in yer boy, then?" Crawley chuckles. The man was in fact dressed little better than a vagrant, and by the look of him had not bathed in the better part of a year. And yet he wore a few ugly, chunky gold rings which bespoke some wealth or success, if not class. "What's the horse you rode in on worth? Nice looking beast."

[Sam]

Lord Baratheon nearly choked on his wine, as he chuckled in the middle of taking a gulp. "I paid three dragons for him, but the horse trader was a fool and he is easily worth nine hundred stags. If you can afford it, that is a much more exciting wager and I'd be glad to make it," he said, clapping Crawley on the shoulder genially.

Turning to Cave, he nodded, still chuckling. "I don't suppose you've got jousting lists hidden away down here as well, perhaps in a back room, my lord?"

[The Stranger]

"It's a large hallway more than enough for a solid charge or two," Saxon replied with a laugh, "Although we are short on horses at this party. I would propose we give each contestant exactly five minutes to find a suitable..." he grinned, "mount, and then send them at each other. I shall find something to serve as lances in the mean time."

[Horas]

"I'll take it," Crawley answers. His ears perk up at the idea there might be a little real bloodshed. Watching lordlings stab each other was great sport, in Crawley's opinion.

[Marie]

Gwayne glanced up at the spectators.

"That is not what was agreed between Lord Oswyn and myself," he pointed out. "We are not here to make sport for the rest of you. This is a personal matter. Watch, by all means, but the manner of the combat should be agreed between my opponent and myself."

[The Stranger]

Saxon raised his eyebrow, "Let's not pretend this is honorable combat," he said with a chuckle, "This is a farce. So it should be more farcical. or else I think Lord Gwayne has not had enough to drink."

[The Smith]

Oswyn was not really paying attention to the talk, but when he say Gwayne look away he threw his first punch. It landed squarely in Gwayne's eye, and knocked the Hightower back several steps. Oswyn stepped forward and aimed a kick for Gwayne's crotch that would have ended the fight immediately. Hightower turned his leg to block it, and threw a punch at Oswyn. It struck the Baratheon right in the temple and he stumbled back laughing.

Gwayne followed up with two more strikes of his fists, hitting Oswyn once in the arm, and once in the sternum. Oswyn stepped forward and head butted Gwayne full on. The angle of his blow was off, and both men stumbled back in pain cursing at one another. Oswyn seemed to recover first, and charged forward swing a mighty roundhouse. Gwayne stepped into the strike. Hightower punched Oswyn in the stomach hard, and when he bent over, Gwayne slammed another fist into his eye.

Oswyn fell face first onto the floor. Gwayne stepped back to let him stand if he felt willing to continue.

[Marie]

"Yield?" Gwayne asked, crouching in readiness to continue if need be.

[Lord Oswyn Baratheon]

"No, I don't think we're done yet." he replied, standing to his feet and putting his fists back up, feeling bruised but not near beaten. "We're just getting started.

In truth, when Oswyn had proposed "yield of knockout" he had only taken one as a viable option for himself. This was far too exhilarating for him to end it prematurely.

[The Smith]

Gwayne stepped forward and threw a hard left directly at Oswyn's face. Baratheon blocked, and stepped back. Gwayne kept up his attack, and pressed harder. Oswyn suddenly smiled cunningly, and stepped aside letting Gwayne's attack fly past him. Gwayne's fist struck Lord Sammael Baratheon squarely in the nose. It broke and blood sprayed out down over his chest.

For a moment Gwayne and Hightower stare forward at Lord Baratheon holding his face and cursing. Then Oswyn jumps onto Hightower's back. He wraps his arm around Gwayne, and pins his arm to the side. He tightens the hold, and calls out for a yielding.

[Marie]

Gwayne cursed. He was still sober enough to be horrified by the accident of striking Lord Baratheon and he still wanted to win the fight as well. He tried to kick Oswyn.

[The Smith]

Gwayne raised his foot and stomped down hard on Oswyn's. The stormlander stumbled back in pain. Gwayne stepped forward, and launched a strong blow directly at Baratheon's face, and Oswyn raised his hands to block, but his reflexes were dulled by the wine. Son's nose joined its fathers when it was broke with a crack.

Oswyn went to one knee, and Gwayne stepped back. The Hightower lord waited, and then when Oswyn steadied himself and rose. Gwayne stepped forward and dropped him with a round house Oswyn barely saw coming.

Oswyn will have a headache besides the broken nose, but will be fine otherwise.

[Sam]

Lord Baratheon stumbled backward, more surprised than in pain, but he still let fly a stream of curses as he pinched the bridge of his broken nose to stifle the bleeding. He shifted it back into the correct position with an audible "CRACK" and he swore again loudly.

"Wine!" he bellowed, snatching a goblet from a passing servant and dousing it in one gulp, undoubtedly swallowing some of his own blood that was still flowing liberally down his face. He let out a slightly pained chuckle, as the two other men continued to scuffle, although his eyes narrowed dangerously as they fell upon his son, who had just collapsed onto the ground unconscious.

[Marie]

Gwayne stepped backwards, panting from his exertions for a moment. He called for water and said to Lord Baratheon. "Apologies, my lord. It was but an accident. I do hope your son is not badly harmed."

He glanced down at Oswyn, hoping he was alright, but when the water came he drank deep.