Post by The Smith on Nov 2, 2008 0:15:00 GMT -5
A small fire crackled on the hearth, merely there for the effect. A servant comes in carrying a tray, and sets it on a small table in between two chairs near the fire. A silver platter is uncovered, revealing an assortment of cheeses with bread on the side. Another servant brings in a bottle of wine, and after a nod from a man sitting in the juxtaposed chair, pours two fine glasses, trimmed with silver, with the dark red liquid. A minute passes before the servants leave the room, and another few go by before a man is shown in.
The man is garbed in a plain outfit, unremarkable save for the pink patch with a golden heron on his chest. The man looks barely into his twenties, with only a light beard covering his cheeks, and a wholly inexperienced look on his face.
“Sit, Ser Erenford, Sit. It is good to see you accepted my invitation.” Pieter stated kindly, watching as he sat in the plush chair, clearly unused to chairs of its kind, shown by the look on his face.
“Thank you Lord Tully, I was very happy to receive your invitation.” Leyton said joyfully. No doubt Lord Tully had a job for him!
“I have heard you spoken of in the yard outside. They say you have a good sword arm, and an even better commanding voice.” Pieter stated, slightly inquisitively.
“Aye M’Lord, my Lord Father has always said you need a strong sword arm to lead the men in battle and a strong voice to keep them in line.” Leyton said, nodding in confirmation of the saying. Pieter smiled, seeing the potential in the boy.
“Your father sounds like a smart man. I myself was never taught extensively in the ways of battle, but from what I have read you speak the truth. In order to be a great leader of soldiers you must have skill with a blade to encourage them in battle, and a strong voice to embolden them. If you cannot keep order, then your lines will break sure as anything.” Pieter said, recalling the books he had read on battle command.
Pieter picked up his glass, taking a sip of wine, and motioned for Leyton to do likewise, as well as to help himself to the bread and cheese set out before them. He did just so, picking up a few cheeses and trying them.
“How about I test your skill with a blade myself,” Pieter said, smiling slightly. Leyton looked up in slight surprise that the Master of Laws, the Lord Paramount of the Riverlands, would ask to spar with him.
“Aye, if you wish Lord Tully.” Leyton said carefully as he stood. Lord Tully stood and took the initiative, exiting the room with Leyton close behind. He made his way down to the yard, waving for Vayon to follow.
The yard of Tully Manor was occupied by only a few men sparring, the grunting and grinding of steel audible from a ways away. The three men entered the yard and Ser Rivers picked up several blunted swords and brought them over. Lord Tully picked one up, as did Ser Erenford, and Vayon took the last sword himself.
“Let us see how well you truly are with the sword, Ser Leyton.” Pieter said, smiling slightly. He raised his sword, “Being when ready.” He said simply.
As Leyton advanced Pieter struck out quickly, surprising the young man for his nimbleness. Pieter withdrew and went on the defensive, as Leyton started testing Pieter’s skill.
“You are better than I thought you to be Lord Tully, I see the folly of my arrogance.” Leyton said, carefully throwing out a strike without springing a trap.
“You learn quickly in a fight and keep a level head, and don’t get ahead of yourself. Better than I expected.” Pieter said, making a move. He darted forward and parried a last-second strike by Leyton, an effort to stop the advance. Pieter throws Leyton off balance, his sword nearly flung out of his hands by a hard strike. Pieter’s sword rises to Leyton’s chest, the point biting against his mail.
“But you are not quite there yet.” Pieter stated simply, smiling. Leyton laughed and nodded.
“Aye, you are a better swordsman than I.” Leyton states.
“I am only a humble swordsman, I have no doubt you will surpass me. In fact I count on it. We cannot have a Lord Commander with dull skills.” Leyton looks at Pieter in surprise, “You heard me. I wish for you to become Commander of the Gold Cloaks.” Leyton’s expression goes from surprise to joy, this was much better than he had imagined. The Gold Cloaks had a new commander!
“Vayon, come spar with Leyton, you’re in charge of training him with the sword until he is proficient.” Vayon nodded and stepped forward as Pieter stepped back. Leyton picked up his sword and got into position just in time to defend Vayon’s advance.
Vayon’s blade flew forward, but Leyton saw it coming, and raised his own in a block. He quickly side stepped, shouldering Vayon in order to make an opening. However, Vayon shoved Leyton back, them now grappling face-to-face, their swords locked together as they wrestled. Eventually Vayon gained the upper hand, shoving Leyton back and seizing the moment with a flurry of sword strikes. Leyton did his best to defend, but found himself overmatched. He met the first few strikes, but soon after lost track of his opponent’s blade, struggling to focus on the blade. All of a sudden a leg swept under him, and the next thing he knew he was on the ground.
“You need to be able to follow your opponent’s blade, without losing focus of the rest of him, or else you’ll never survive as Commander of the Gold Cloaks.”
Results:
Ser Vayon Rivers gains Expert Sword Fighting
Lord Pieter Tully advances towards Master Sword Fighting
Ser Leyton Erenford gains Noteworthy Sword Fighting
Ser Leyton Erenford is appointed Lord Commander of the Gold Cloaks
The man is garbed in a plain outfit, unremarkable save for the pink patch with a golden heron on his chest. The man looks barely into his twenties, with only a light beard covering his cheeks, and a wholly inexperienced look on his face.
“Sit, Ser Erenford, Sit. It is good to see you accepted my invitation.” Pieter stated kindly, watching as he sat in the plush chair, clearly unused to chairs of its kind, shown by the look on his face.
“Thank you Lord Tully, I was very happy to receive your invitation.” Leyton said joyfully. No doubt Lord Tully had a job for him!
“I have heard you spoken of in the yard outside. They say you have a good sword arm, and an even better commanding voice.” Pieter stated, slightly inquisitively.
“Aye M’Lord, my Lord Father has always said you need a strong sword arm to lead the men in battle and a strong voice to keep them in line.” Leyton said, nodding in confirmation of the saying. Pieter smiled, seeing the potential in the boy.
“Your father sounds like a smart man. I myself was never taught extensively in the ways of battle, but from what I have read you speak the truth. In order to be a great leader of soldiers you must have skill with a blade to encourage them in battle, and a strong voice to embolden them. If you cannot keep order, then your lines will break sure as anything.” Pieter said, recalling the books he had read on battle command.
Pieter picked up his glass, taking a sip of wine, and motioned for Leyton to do likewise, as well as to help himself to the bread and cheese set out before them. He did just so, picking up a few cheeses and trying them.
“How about I test your skill with a blade myself,” Pieter said, smiling slightly. Leyton looked up in slight surprise that the Master of Laws, the Lord Paramount of the Riverlands, would ask to spar with him.
“Aye, if you wish Lord Tully.” Leyton said carefully as he stood. Lord Tully stood and took the initiative, exiting the room with Leyton close behind. He made his way down to the yard, waving for Vayon to follow.
The yard of Tully Manor was occupied by only a few men sparring, the grunting and grinding of steel audible from a ways away. The three men entered the yard and Ser Rivers picked up several blunted swords and brought them over. Lord Tully picked one up, as did Ser Erenford, and Vayon took the last sword himself.
“Let us see how well you truly are with the sword, Ser Leyton.” Pieter said, smiling slightly. He raised his sword, “Being when ready.” He said simply.
As Leyton advanced Pieter struck out quickly, surprising the young man for his nimbleness. Pieter withdrew and went on the defensive, as Leyton started testing Pieter’s skill.
“You are better than I thought you to be Lord Tully, I see the folly of my arrogance.” Leyton said, carefully throwing out a strike without springing a trap.
“You learn quickly in a fight and keep a level head, and don’t get ahead of yourself. Better than I expected.” Pieter said, making a move. He darted forward and parried a last-second strike by Leyton, an effort to stop the advance. Pieter throws Leyton off balance, his sword nearly flung out of his hands by a hard strike. Pieter’s sword rises to Leyton’s chest, the point biting against his mail.
“But you are not quite there yet.” Pieter stated simply, smiling. Leyton laughed and nodded.
“Aye, you are a better swordsman than I.” Leyton states.
“I am only a humble swordsman, I have no doubt you will surpass me. In fact I count on it. We cannot have a Lord Commander with dull skills.” Leyton looks at Pieter in surprise, “You heard me. I wish for you to become Commander of the Gold Cloaks.” Leyton’s expression goes from surprise to joy, this was much better than he had imagined. The Gold Cloaks had a new commander!
“Vayon, come spar with Leyton, you’re in charge of training him with the sword until he is proficient.” Vayon nodded and stepped forward as Pieter stepped back. Leyton picked up his sword and got into position just in time to defend Vayon’s advance.
Vayon’s blade flew forward, but Leyton saw it coming, and raised his own in a block. He quickly side stepped, shouldering Vayon in order to make an opening. However, Vayon shoved Leyton back, them now grappling face-to-face, their swords locked together as they wrestled. Eventually Vayon gained the upper hand, shoving Leyton back and seizing the moment with a flurry of sword strikes. Leyton did his best to defend, but found himself overmatched. He met the first few strikes, but soon after lost track of his opponent’s blade, struggling to focus on the blade. All of a sudden a leg swept under him, and the next thing he knew he was on the ground.
“You need to be able to follow your opponent’s blade, without losing focus of the rest of him, or else you’ll never survive as Commander of the Gold Cloaks.”
Results:
Ser Vayon Rivers gains Expert Sword Fighting
Lord Pieter Tully advances towards Master Sword Fighting
Ser Leyton Erenford gains Noteworthy Sword Fighting
Ser Leyton Erenford is appointed Lord Commander of the Gold Cloaks