Jousting Stands

[Lord Donal Stormshield]

"The shaft can be as much as a weapon as the point can be at time." Donal states, "Thing is to be able to use both well, together and separately."

[Marie]

"Yes. But I still prefer swords. Well, I need to get ready for my joust, so perhaps we will speak later?" He grinned.

[Lord Donal Stormshield]

"Of course, I wish you well in your joust." Donal says taking a step back to give the man more room to pass.

[Deleted]

When Ser Robyn's name is called, the young man is quickly astride his destrier. He runs his hand down the mane of the large horse, giving the beast a light pat while he waits for his squire to hand him his helm. When the squire does so, Robyn fastens it to his gorget, making sure he does not leave his head exposed in case the man he is riding against make a mistake. The curly haired squire hoists up Robyn's shield, painted with the Lannister colors and sigil, but the hair of the Lion has a small streak of red, his personal symbol. And lastly comes the tourney lance, longer than a war lance, and blunted.

Robyn makes himself ready, waiting for the flags to fall. He appears relaxed, but when the signal is given, the boy rides hard. Two lances break on the two men's shields, but neither are unhorsed. After reclaiming a new lance, Ser Robyn prepares himself again. He had ridden passively, attempting to find the strengths and weaknesses of his opponent, but he found none off hand. The man seemed a skilled enough lancer, and Robyn knew it would not be such an easy tilt.

The second pass mimicked the first. But Robyn felt himself teeter slightly, as Cockshaw's blow was solid. He wonders, as he returns for a new lance, if the paint on his shield was scuffed or chipped. The Red Lion, with his last lance, knew he must be bold. Riding high in the saddle, he would give a bigger target, but would add power to his own lance. When the flag fell, he drove his horse quick and hard, almost standing in his stirrups. He struck true, as did Cockshaw. Robyn immediately attempted to sit back, hoping not to topple over, and luckily, after pitching the broken lance handle aside, and grabbing the reigns with both hands, he kept his seat.

His opponent, Robyn noticed only after he turns about, was not so fortunate.

Standing again, the Red Lion waves to the crowd and bows, his first match a success.

"At least I will not have to pay a ransom, at the very least," he thought to himself, just as he brought his horse over to his squire and dismounted. "Time to collect my own," he continues to muse. Pulling free his helm, and passing off his shield, Ser Robyn went to negotiate the ransom of his fallen opponents armor and horse, as is customary, while the other matches were fought.

[Marie]

Gwayne had purposely chosen to open the tourney, though he was rather surprised to find his first opponent, drawn by lot, was his soon to be goodbrother, Benin Tully. But he was determined to make a good showing, regardless of the bonds between houses Hightower and Tully, so he gave it his all. The Warrior seemed to be with him and he knocked Benin out of the saddle with relative ease.

Riding round after his joust, Gwayne offered salutes to the queen and to his sisters then went to change out of his armour and join the group in the pavilion. He hoped the Tullys would not hold the victory against him.

He clapped and cheered the combatants and was pleased to see his brother do well.

////////////

Ser Robin found Ser Dickon in his pavilion, nursing his bruises over a skin of ale while his squire, outside the pavillion, tended his horse. He looked up as Robin entered. "Here, want some wine?"

[Deleted]

Robyn's brow was thick with sweat, but his face held a pleasant smile. He felt relatively well after the joust, only a minor ache plagued his shield arm, which was usual for three passes. By the end of the day, if Robyn made it to the finals, he would barely be able to lift his arm at all. That was if everything went well. Who knows what injures he might sustain if knocked off his horse, or if he did not catch every lance on his shield.

"No thank you, ser," he said with a smile. He was sure the man knew why he was there, and saw no reason to prod the man for his money.

[Marie]

Dickon, however, was not a man who enjoyed giving up his money. So he grinned hopefully at Robyn and continued to hold out the skin. "Ah, come on. Sure you won't? Jousting is thirsty work."

[Deleted]

"Perhaps later," Robyn says, keeping the smile planted on his face. "I do not have much time," he continued, trying to speed this along, "I would like to watch the other lancers." That was true, of course, as watching your opposition might mean everything later on.

[Viea Greyjoy]

There was a laugh at the tent opening and the young Lannister was clapped on the shoulder.

"Ah Dick." Ser Bernard said with the biggest grin. "Beaten by the young'uns too now as well as the old."

[Deleted]

Ser Robyn turns about to see another man enter. He does not laugh along. He simply waits, growing impatient, although he attempts to keep any expression that would show that under wraps.

[Marie]

Dickon glared at Bernard. "At least I had the nerve to joust," he said. "Ale?"

He looked up at Robin. "Fine, then. I'll fetch the bloody gold. Could have been a bit patient, you know."

[Viea Greyjoy]

The other knight had already made himself at home, putting his feet up and pouring himself an ale and topping up his friends.

"Was too drunk to make the lists wasnt I." He grinned. The he looked to Robyn. "So... Was he any competition at all?"

[Deleted]

Robyn simply stares at Ser Dickon. He gives a quick look over to the other man, but returns his attention to the complaining man. "Let's just call it eighteen dragons," he says, knowing the real worth was a little over nineteen, but giving up a few stags here and there was worth actually not having to pull teeth to get payment. He could tell the man was upset, but hoped the slight deal he was giving him might turn his mood ever-so-slightly.

To the other man, Robyn nods, "He rode well," he says, which was no lie, actually.  "I thought I was going to be unhorsed on the second and third pass."

[Marie]

"Fine." Dickon grumbled as he fetched his money chest and counted out the money into a bag, which he handed to Robyn. "Now will you have a drink?"

[Deleted]

Robyn accepts the dragons, simply hooking the bag to his belt. He had not been unhorsed in the first round of a tournament in some time, but he knew the feeling. Firstly, you had lost, and second, you had lost money with no way to recover it. Losing in the second round is /always/ better. "Just one," Ser Robyn says, "I do wish to watch the others tilt."