Post by The Stranger on May 2, 2008 14:43:40 GMT -5
A great uproar went up from the gathered crowd, some cheering and some cursing. Both sides were equally passionate regardless of what side they were taking. A giant man, dressed in furs, punched a young boy in the face, and from there the riot ensued. Fists were flying, as were the stone weapons, and blood was spilling.
Ryk stood in his throne, watching all in calm. Suddenly, he grew frustrated and disgusted. He put both hands on the weirwood horn around his neck and blew it as loud as possible. The noise deafeningly echoed off of the stone walls, making a noise both strange and wondrous. The crowd grew silent, turning to face their Magnar. A few men appeared defiant, others scared. Ryk stood. He had seen what had happened; he decided to act.
It had all begun a week earlier when Flurn Deadrock had challenged Old Greystone to a stone battle. As was the traditon, a large crowd had gathered and a feast had taken place before the fight to the death, in honor of the old gods and the courage of the two men. Everything had went on as normal. Ryk had lorded over the feast, with Flurn, the challenger, to his right, and Greystone to his left. The dispute had been over Greystone's daughter. Flurn, a young man around sixteen years of age, a handsome and strong, promising warrior, had approached Greystone about marrying his daughter. The girl seemed willing enough, but Greystone said no.
It was that simple. Flurn, perhaps young and a little foolish, had replied with a challenge to a stone battle, to which Greystone could not turn down. He could, but he would be seen as a coward by the whole island. And now, one of the men, or perhaps both, would not leave Ryk's great hall alive. The girl had watched sullenly from the corner during the entire episode thus far.
The fight had started off well. The two men had circled each other in the small ring, perimetered by large rocks, cautious and poised. Flurn, younger and quicker, attacked first, wildly swinging his stone club in the direction of Greystone's head. The old man, around forty years of age, but still strong and proud, ducked and retaliated with a swing of his stone axe. The weapons glanced off Flurn's left shoulder, but it still shattered his unprotected collarbone. No armor was permitted during a stone battle.
He went to his knees, but rose again, struggling to stand. Mustering all of his strength, he swung his club clumsily but fiercely in his right hand, going for the kill. Greystone, always calm and fearless, deftly slid out of the way and planted a kick to the wounded man, sending him to the ground. Flurn cursed in agony. The crowd had grown silent. They all knew that the young warrior was facing his death in the next few seconds. He himself knew it. He set up slowly, breathing raggedly. "Taela," he called softly, for the girl he wanted to marry. "Taela, come here." The crowd parted as the girl, sobbing, walked towards her young champion. And then suddenly Greystone's axe had swung down, sending Flurn's handsome head flying forwards. It landed in front of poor Taela's feet, who continued to sob. The crowd was in an unproar, some defending Greystone's action, others condemning it. The man himself stood in the midst of the ring, holding his axe in his hands, daring anyone to challenge him. He may have dared the wrong man, because after Ryk had blew his horn, he spoke.
"I, Magnar, have witnessed these actions," he said slowly and calmly. "Greystone, the gods have hereby declared you the victor. They were pleased by your denial of Flurn's marriage proposal." One side of the crowd cheered, while the others watched, angry and seething. "But," Ryk continued, holding up his hands, "Flurn fought bravely, did he not?" This time both sides of the crowd cheered loudly. A brave man, even if beaten, was worth applauding for. "And Flurn fought bravely for Taela, did he not?" The crowd again cheered their consent. Ryk descended below to where the crowd had gathered. He walked towards the ring. The crowd whispered, in shock, as Ryk came within three feet, a foot, and then actually stepped into the ring. To do this was to enter into a stone battle, to the death.
"I, Magnar, named Ryk, do challenge you, Greystone, to stone battle for your actions against Flurn Deadrock. He deserved to speak with the girl before his death." He rose his war hammer up to the ceiling, as if offering it to someone. "May the gods who watch us always, judge us." Greystone looked at him, hard and expressionless. "May the gods who watch us always, judge us," he echoed.
They looked at each for a long moment, then the fight was on.
Greystone moved in first, wheeling and slicing, looking for an opening. Ryk, bare chested, was careful not to let him get too close. He threw a warning blow with war hammer that only missed by inches of taking Greystone in the chin. They continued to circle each other; the Magnar and the old warrior, famous and respected on Skagos, the winner of many conflicts.
Ryk moved in this time. He carried a circular shield in his left hand, and shoved it forwards against his opponent's chest. It knocked him backwards but otherwise none for the worse, and his stone axe came flying back at Ryk. It his shield in the center, exploding it into the pieces. Ryk tossed the remnants to the side and turned to parry a blow his small hammer. The crowd was gasping now, in shock. Greystone was advancing, efficiently throwing blows that Ryk was just managing to block with his hammer. Suddenly, his left hand free, Ryk swung a hooked fist into Greystone's jaw. The man, surprised, staggered backwards. Ryk followed with two more quick jabs to the nose, sending a stream of blood running to the floor, and then a hard punch to Greystone's stomach. The man doubled over and Ryk swung his war hammer down ferociously. The man rolled aside but could avoid letting the stone glance him on the leg. Greystone rose, hopping in agony on one leg. He made a final wild charge, but slipped before he made it to Ryk, his leg giving out. Ryk punched him another time in the side of the head. Greystone dropped his stone axe and lay on the ground, out of breath and in pain. The crowd watched, a few cheering, but most were solemn.
Ryk turned to them. "Greystone fought bravely here. The old gods who watch us always have judged him to be wrong in his acts. He must die for them, but that does not diminish his skill or bravery. All hail Greystone, the bravest warrior of Skagos!" A great thunder broke out. One last time, a smile passed on Greystone's face. "Thank you, Magnar," he whispered, audible only to Ryk. "Kill me now. Take care of my daughter. You may marry her." Ryk nodded. "Do not worry, Greystone. I will see you in the afterlife." He swung his war hammer down and ended his life, his brains oozing onto the stone floor.
Ryk turn to Taela, who was near. He kissed her and laid her down on the floor of the hall, taking her in sights of god and men. She accepted him, wet and eager. She screamed Flurn's name once, but Ryk ignored it. The crowd watched, silent. Finally, after almost an hour, Ryk slumped to the side, exhausted. He rose. "STONEBORN! The old gods watch us always." They echoed the chant, and left the hall.
Results:
Ryk improves from stone war hammer (double improved) to master stone war hammer.
Ryk improves from noteworthy fist fighting to expert fist fighting.
Ryk stood in his throne, watching all in calm. Suddenly, he grew frustrated and disgusted. He put both hands on the weirwood horn around his neck and blew it as loud as possible. The noise deafeningly echoed off of the stone walls, making a noise both strange and wondrous. The crowd grew silent, turning to face their Magnar. A few men appeared defiant, others scared. Ryk stood. He had seen what had happened; he decided to act.
It had all begun a week earlier when Flurn Deadrock had challenged Old Greystone to a stone battle. As was the traditon, a large crowd had gathered and a feast had taken place before the fight to the death, in honor of the old gods and the courage of the two men. Everything had went on as normal. Ryk had lorded over the feast, with Flurn, the challenger, to his right, and Greystone to his left. The dispute had been over Greystone's daughter. Flurn, a young man around sixteen years of age, a handsome and strong, promising warrior, had approached Greystone about marrying his daughter. The girl seemed willing enough, but Greystone said no.
It was that simple. Flurn, perhaps young and a little foolish, had replied with a challenge to a stone battle, to which Greystone could not turn down. He could, but he would be seen as a coward by the whole island. And now, one of the men, or perhaps both, would not leave Ryk's great hall alive. The girl had watched sullenly from the corner during the entire episode thus far.
The fight had started off well. The two men had circled each other in the small ring, perimetered by large rocks, cautious and poised. Flurn, younger and quicker, attacked first, wildly swinging his stone club in the direction of Greystone's head. The old man, around forty years of age, but still strong and proud, ducked and retaliated with a swing of his stone axe. The weapons glanced off Flurn's left shoulder, but it still shattered his unprotected collarbone. No armor was permitted during a stone battle.
He went to his knees, but rose again, struggling to stand. Mustering all of his strength, he swung his club clumsily but fiercely in his right hand, going for the kill. Greystone, always calm and fearless, deftly slid out of the way and planted a kick to the wounded man, sending him to the ground. Flurn cursed in agony. The crowd had grown silent. They all knew that the young warrior was facing his death in the next few seconds. He himself knew it. He set up slowly, breathing raggedly. "Taela," he called softly, for the girl he wanted to marry. "Taela, come here." The crowd parted as the girl, sobbing, walked towards her young champion. And then suddenly Greystone's axe had swung down, sending Flurn's handsome head flying forwards. It landed in front of poor Taela's feet, who continued to sob. The crowd was in an unproar, some defending Greystone's action, others condemning it. The man himself stood in the midst of the ring, holding his axe in his hands, daring anyone to challenge him. He may have dared the wrong man, because after Ryk had blew his horn, he spoke.
"I, Magnar, have witnessed these actions," he said slowly and calmly. "Greystone, the gods have hereby declared you the victor. They were pleased by your denial of Flurn's marriage proposal." One side of the crowd cheered, while the others watched, angry and seething. "But," Ryk continued, holding up his hands, "Flurn fought bravely, did he not?" This time both sides of the crowd cheered loudly. A brave man, even if beaten, was worth applauding for. "And Flurn fought bravely for Taela, did he not?" The crowd again cheered their consent. Ryk descended below to where the crowd had gathered. He walked towards the ring. The crowd whispered, in shock, as Ryk came within three feet, a foot, and then actually stepped into the ring. To do this was to enter into a stone battle, to the death.
"I, Magnar, named Ryk, do challenge you, Greystone, to stone battle for your actions against Flurn Deadrock. He deserved to speak with the girl before his death." He rose his war hammer up to the ceiling, as if offering it to someone. "May the gods who watch us always, judge us." Greystone looked at him, hard and expressionless. "May the gods who watch us always, judge us," he echoed.
They looked at each for a long moment, then the fight was on.
Greystone moved in first, wheeling and slicing, looking for an opening. Ryk, bare chested, was careful not to let him get too close. He threw a warning blow with war hammer that only missed by inches of taking Greystone in the chin. They continued to circle each other; the Magnar and the old warrior, famous and respected on Skagos, the winner of many conflicts.
Ryk moved in this time. He carried a circular shield in his left hand, and shoved it forwards against his opponent's chest. It knocked him backwards but otherwise none for the worse, and his stone axe came flying back at Ryk. It his shield in the center, exploding it into the pieces. Ryk tossed the remnants to the side and turned to parry a blow his small hammer. The crowd was gasping now, in shock. Greystone was advancing, efficiently throwing blows that Ryk was just managing to block with his hammer. Suddenly, his left hand free, Ryk swung a hooked fist into Greystone's jaw. The man, surprised, staggered backwards. Ryk followed with two more quick jabs to the nose, sending a stream of blood running to the floor, and then a hard punch to Greystone's stomach. The man doubled over and Ryk swung his war hammer down ferociously. The man rolled aside but could avoid letting the stone glance him on the leg. Greystone rose, hopping in agony on one leg. He made a final wild charge, but slipped before he made it to Ryk, his leg giving out. Ryk punched him another time in the side of the head. Greystone dropped his stone axe and lay on the ground, out of breath and in pain. The crowd watched, a few cheering, but most were solemn.
Ryk turned to them. "Greystone fought bravely here. The old gods who watch us always have judged him to be wrong in his acts. He must die for them, but that does not diminish his skill or bravery. All hail Greystone, the bravest warrior of Skagos!" A great thunder broke out. One last time, a smile passed on Greystone's face. "Thank you, Magnar," he whispered, audible only to Ryk. "Kill me now. Take care of my daughter. You may marry her." Ryk nodded. "Do not worry, Greystone. I will see you in the afterlife." He swung his war hammer down and ended his life, his brains oozing onto the stone floor.
Ryk turn to Taela, who was near. He kissed her and laid her down on the floor of the hall, taking her in sights of god and men. She accepted him, wet and eager. She screamed Flurn's name once, but Ryk ignored it. The crowd watched, silent. Finally, after almost an hour, Ryk slumped to the side, exhausted. He rose. "STONEBORN! The old gods watch us always." They echoed the chant, and left the hall.
Results:
Ryk improves from stone war hammer (double improved) to master stone war hammer.
Ryk improves from noteworthy fist fighting to expert fist fighting.