Post by The Smith on Nov 10, 2008 19:16:07 GMT -5
Ducking under the low entrance, Ser Jayk entered the blacksmith's makeshift workshop. Various pieces of metalwork in progress were evident, as well as a sword and mail shirt on display; or perhaps they were awaiting collection by their commissioners. The knight coughed. He held a dented helmet in his hand, but from his riding clothes and the sword at his waist Jayk appeared to be about to return to Oldtown. He coughed again, and a voice behind him said,
"I won't be able to help you if you stand there blocking my way, good knight."
Jayk turned, stumbling backward into the workshop. A shorter man with powerful arms quickly followed him inside, his blacksmith's heavy apron confirming his identity. His eyes scanned the dark room. Once he had ascertained that all was as he had left it, he turned to his prospective customer and said,
"Now, what may I do for you, Ser-" he squinted to make out the heraldry on Jayk's tunic, "-Redwyne."
The knight in question held up his dented helmet, saying, "I damaged this during jousting practice, yesterday." This was technically true; Jayk had been riding around in the yard, struggling to get his inferior horse to charge at a jousting target. What Jayk refrained from explaining was that the helm had been dented, not by another knight, but by his own rather heavy fall from his not-so-noble steed. He thought that no-one had seen him. In his defence, he had been drinking heavily at the banquet the previous night, and had a sore head. That did not entirely extinguish the burning shame that he felt from being tossed from his own mount.
"Do you have a replacement?" Jayk demanded. "The dent should not be hard to beat out, but I cannot wait for its repair."
The blacksmith merely nodded, disappeared into small store room and returned with a new helmet. It was not of the finest quality, but it looked sturdy enough.
"That will be five stags. But first," the stocky man said, putting the helmet down carefully, "draw your sword, good Ser." Jayk looked at him in an uncertain, confused fashion. One hand drifted toward the hilt of his sword, but it was not until the blacksmith brandished a dagger at him that his blade slid free of its sheath. Smiling, the smaller man jabbed lightly at the knight. His dagger was knocked easily aside, but Jayk had no time for a counter attack before he had to fend off another quick strike.
"What is this, blacksmith?"
"A lesson, Ser Redwyne. I noticed you don't carry a dagger."
Jayk lunged toward the laughing man, who was quicker than he appeared. The knight's blade had little room to swing in the confines of the workshop; it skittered off a half completed shield, missing its target. For several minutes he fared no better, until suddenly the knight found his opponent pressing a dagger to his stomach.
"Try this." said the blacksmith, flipping the small blade and pressing its handle into Jayk's palm. The heir to the Arbor sheathed his sword in annoyance and examined the dagger. Nodding to himself, he attacked, finding it much easier to use in the tight space. They dueled for almost half an hour, the blacksmith calling out occasional pieces of advice, before the impromptu sparring match came to an end.
"Hah!" called Jayk. "I think you've made your case. I'll buy the dagger; how much did you say it was for the helmet?"
Results
Jayk Redwyne improves Sword from Noteworthy to Expert
Jayk Redwyne improves Dagger from nothing to Beginner
"I won't be able to help you if you stand there blocking my way, good knight."
Jayk turned, stumbling backward into the workshop. A shorter man with powerful arms quickly followed him inside, his blacksmith's heavy apron confirming his identity. His eyes scanned the dark room. Once he had ascertained that all was as he had left it, he turned to his prospective customer and said,
"Now, what may I do for you, Ser-" he squinted to make out the heraldry on Jayk's tunic, "-Redwyne."
The knight in question held up his dented helmet, saying, "I damaged this during jousting practice, yesterday." This was technically true; Jayk had been riding around in the yard, struggling to get his inferior horse to charge at a jousting target. What Jayk refrained from explaining was that the helm had been dented, not by another knight, but by his own rather heavy fall from his not-so-noble steed. He thought that no-one had seen him. In his defence, he had been drinking heavily at the banquet the previous night, and had a sore head. That did not entirely extinguish the burning shame that he felt from being tossed from his own mount.
"Do you have a replacement?" Jayk demanded. "The dent should not be hard to beat out, but I cannot wait for its repair."
The blacksmith merely nodded, disappeared into small store room and returned with a new helmet. It was not of the finest quality, but it looked sturdy enough.
"That will be five stags. But first," the stocky man said, putting the helmet down carefully, "draw your sword, good Ser." Jayk looked at him in an uncertain, confused fashion. One hand drifted toward the hilt of his sword, but it was not until the blacksmith brandished a dagger at him that his blade slid free of its sheath. Smiling, the smaller man jabbed lightly at the knight. His dagger was knocked easily aside, but Jayk had no time for a counter attack before he had to fend off another quick strike.
"What is this, blacksmith?"
"A lesson, Ser Redwyne. I noticed you don't carry a dagger."
Jayk lunged toward the laughing man, who was quicker than he appeared. The knight's blade had little room to swing in the confines of the workshop; it skittered off a half completed shield, missing its target. For several minutes he fared no better, until suddenly the knight found his opponent pressing a dagger to his stomach.
"Try this." said the blacksmith, flipping the small blade and pressing its handle into Jayk's palm. The heir to the Arbor sheathed his sword in annoyance and examined the dagger. Nodding to himself, he attacked, finding it much easier to use in the tight space. They dueled for almost half an hour, the blacksmith calling out occasional pieces of advice, before the impromptu sparring match came to an end.
"Hah!" called Jayk. "I think you've made your case. I'll buy the dagger; how much did you say it was for the helmet?"
Results
Jayk Redwyne improves Sword from Noteworthy to Expert
Jayk Redwyne improves Dagger from nothing to Beginner