Re: [D7:MA-LA] Watching the Melee

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Ellie looks to Corrine's return with relief. "
Is all well, my lady?"


Thank the stars. If I had to answer one more question about Baelon...

"
She will be alright. Everything is fine,"
Corrine replies, smiling at Ellie, though casting a glance over the melée. She saw that the Knight of Stones was back up again, facing off against Florian Greysteel.

Good. That will take the focus off Jon.

She finds Ben on the field;


"
Looks like you only need to cheer for one person now, Ellie,"
she teases. "
Ben is making light work of everyone around him!"

[Benedict Marsten]

Ellie eyes the downed body with a grimace, before her attention is turned to Ben. Her small hands clap together. A look of excitement and comfort replace her sour expression.

"
Well, that is a relief. Lord Bracken and Ser Benjen did not get their nicknames ironically I believe."

[Septon Arlyn]

Ellie looks to Corrine's return with relief. "
Is all well, my lady?"


Thank the stars. If I had to answer one more question about Baelon...

"
She will be alright. Everything is fine,"
Corrine replies, smiling at Ellie, though casting a glance over the melée. She saw that the Knight of Stones was back up again, facing off against Florian Greysteel.

Good. That will take the focus off Jon.

She finds Ben on the field;


"
Looks like you only need to cheer for one person now, Ellie,"
she teases. "
Ben is making light work of everyone around him!"

"
your betholed is a strong candidate to take his group. "
Says the Septon.

[Nathaniel Mason]

"
So what happens when there is a winner from each group? Do they all have to fight each other?"

[Reader]

[OOC: for those interested in Melee Group 5...

Jon Roxton makes it to the final, bearing several injuries and ranks of fatigue as his fellow competitors gang up on him. Ser Bryndon is the last to fall, yielding after Ser Jon disarms the Hightower champion with a flourish, Ser Bryndon's axe skittering away.]

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
your betholed is a strong candidate to take his group. "
Says the Septon.

Corrine beams proudly at that.

"
So what happens when there is a winner from each group? Do they all have to fight each other?"

"
Yes, that's about right. They keep going until there's one left."


She spots Ser Jon Roxton knocking Ser Bryndon to the ground, weary, but triumphant;


"
Ser Jon is a remarkable warrior, Nathan! I had not seen him in action before. Impressive! I can see why you're such a fan!"

[Nathaniel Mason]

"
He is impressive in many ways."
replies Nathan, then blushes. "
I mean... he is very skilled."
Nathan blushed deeper. "
I mean... well, you know what I mean."


He looked at the Knight, obviously grateful the man had escaped the combat with only a few injuries.

While it might not often make an appearance, the heart of a sixteen year old boy still lurked beneath the constructed image.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
He is impressive in many ways."
replies Nathan, then blushes. "
I mean... he is very skilled."
Nathan blushed deeper. "
I mean... well, you know what I mean."


He looked at the Knight, obviously grateful the man had escaped the combat with only a few injuries.

While it might not often make an appearance, the heart of a sixteen year old boy still lurked beneath the constructed image.

Corrine smiles warmly at Nathan, recognising that bashful, smitten look. It was on her own face often enough.

Oh how sweet! I imagine that's broken a few girls' hearts though.

"
I understand completely,"
she replies kindly. "
Our hearts cannot help but be stirred by greatness. As much as I have my money on a different horse, so to speak, I do hope Ser Jon does well. My intended will have his work cut out for him if they must face one another."

[Nathaniel Mason]

"
If Ben keeps on as he is, he will do very well."


"
I like Ben, and to be honest I don't care two coppers who wins as long as they are safe."


Nathan gives a broad sparkling grin. "
Just don't tell Jon I said that."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
If Ben keeps on as he is, he will do very well."


"
I like Ben, and to be honest I don't care two coppers who wins as long as they are safe."


Nathan gives a broad sparkling grin. "
Just don't tell Jon I said that."

Corrine taps her nose with a knowing wink;


"
I shan't breathe a word. I quite agree."

[Theomore Tullison]

"
But he is getting rather tired it would seem."
Theomore observed from his seat behind the youth, well, the youth and the septon...that would be. "
I would place my coin on Ser Baelon or Ser Loreth the way it turns out."


[I had a mind to drop by much earlier, but you know...France, Beach.]

[Septon Arlyn]

Aye ser Baelon does seem to be conserving himself for the latter fight that is going to come, but the other Sers may recognize that and try to bring him down early like a pack of wolves vs a mighty shadow cat,"
Septon Arlyn responds to the unknown stranger

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Oh hello there,"
Corrine greets Ser Theomore. "
Septon, this is Ser Theomore Tullison, Lord Dunstan's uncle. Not participating yourself then, Ser?"

[Septon Arlyn]

Septon Arlyn thinks fondly to the day that Walton dulver earned his spurs and the Septon Arlyn stood vigil and anointed him. "
So Ser Theomore how did you earn your spurs?"
Thinking that the knight would want to brag about the day he earned his spurs

[Theomore Tullison]

"
No, my lady, I find it prudent to stay out of the field considering the incident at the twins, last year."
That, and he would also end up bruised and battered without accomplishing much. "
As for my spurs, those I received for being a lord's son, no grand feat of prowess, no. I was thought the ways of sword, lance and court, and apparently displaying satisfactory skills with these things, I were knighted just in time to participate in the tourney now well knows for the dresses that were worn. Though I did participate in battle as a squire, though I wouldn't claim to have done anything remarkable in any of them."

[Septon Arlyn]

"
Well there is still honor in upholding knightly vows, sometimes the greatest action one can have is the simple act of upholding sacred vows."
Replies Septon Arlyn to the knight.

[Theomore Tullison]

"
That is actually an interesting discussion, septon"
Theomore leans a bit forward. "
We knights actually do not take any vows, we are merely charged with one duty for each of the seven. We are to be just, defend the young and innocent, protect all women and so on."


"
For a certainty, a man that upholds each of these seven duties would certainly be a great and honorable knight."

[Septon Arlyn]

"
This is true ser"
replies the Septon. I would venture that if all men whom carried arms where to uphold the vows that's knights take there would be far less collateral damage for those whom are not directly involved in the conflict. However this is not the case. But if honorable knights can stand against those whom make a mockery of the vows to the seven then hopefully they will be able to protect those whom can not defend themselves. "
then with a slight chuckle to himself Septon Arlyn continues. "
Seven hells, if a man is a great enough fighter to be a knight and simply does not use his prowess for acts of evil then I would say that even then the father and warrior would smile on him."

[Theomore Tullison]

"
Ah, but one need not be a great fighter to become a knight, were you not a septon, I could bid you kneel and I would give you the seven charges, and you would rise a knight."
Theomore smiles, obviously humored by the thought.

"
I hope I do not offend by assuming that you would be unable to carry out those charges should they require a more martial touch. Though I would find a knight unsuited to his duties less concerning than one who willingly neglects them."

[Septon Arlyn]

The Septon let's out a jolly laugh at the thought of himself being a knight. "
A humours sight instead to see a man with girth such as myself astride a mighty warhorse"
giving another chuckle the Septon continues. "
I indeed find the idea of a knight neglecting his duties to be troublesome, however it is not any more troublesome then rumors that I hear of knights raping a pillaging b like common raiders. That I think is where the true fault lies Ser. I'm sure that many can justify they
Their reasons but, my good Ser, I would venture that their blaintent lies will fall short of justifying their actions in the face of the father"
a steely look enters the eyes of the Septon. "
And I doubt the mother will find mercy for those whom have dispoiled her daughters."

[Theomore Tullison]

"
I know not if a knight would face a stronger punishment than a non-knight."
Theomore strokes his chin. "
I believe that a knight is merely a glorified warrior, a construct of man, once perhaps an effort to inspire men to greater deeds, now simply a title they may take insult from any not addressing them as such, granting privileges as nobles."


"
Knight or not, in my mind, a man equipped with arms and armor, and the skill to wield them is equally responsible for what he uses them for, as well as what he does not."

[Septon Arlyn]

"
If you where a lord would you not expect more from your steward then a Shepard? How about from your sworn sword or a mercenary?"
The Septon smiles. "
Our father is analogous to a lord, as more responsibilities are layered on us, more is to be expected. Just as I have a greater oath to my gods then an ironborn, a knight has more to stand for during judgement then any man with a sword. Now with these responsibilities come rewards. A knight has more to gain during judgement then a brigand as well. But it's the actions that make a man."

[Theomore Tullison]

"
Well, yes."
Theomore agrees. "
Though if the shepherd seems more able than the steward to manage my affairs, I would have them swap places."


"
One role affects more people, the consequences of his actions have a greater reach. But does the gods differentiate between the importance of one man's work as we do?"


"
Effort is the key, I say. A knight may achieve more than a man-at-arms with less effort, but I have a feeling the gods judge us on how much of what we have to give that is freely offered in the name of good rather than the result."


"
A simple begging brother may well be more humble, pious and diligent in his work than the high septon, even if the latter tends a flock a thousand times larger."


"
Knighthood, and the skills and equipment that often comes with it, is merely something to increase one's capacity to make an impact on the world."

[Septon Arlyn]

"
Well, yes."
Theomore agrees. "
Though if the shepherd seems more able than the steward to manage my affairs, I would have them swap places."


"
One role affects more people, the consequences of his actions have a greater reach. But does the gods differentiate between the importance of one man's work as we do?"


"
Effort is the key, I say. A knight may achieve more than a man-at-arms with less effort, but I have a feeling the gods judge us on how much of what we have to give that is freely offered in the name of good rather than the result."


"
A simple begging brother may well be more humble, pious and diligent in his work than the high septon, even if the latter tends a flock a thousand times larger."


"
Knighthood, and the skills and equipment that often comes with it, is merely something to increase one's capacity to make an impact on the world."

"
On that we are in agreement, but the gods use men to accomplish their goals. The pious begging brother is more likely to be where he is needed because he can more aptly hear and respond to their divine direction then a worldly High Septon. In fact some corrupt High Septons can actually lead to a detriment of the thousands whom he watches over, Just as a foolish king can lead a nation to ruin, where as a wise king can lead a nation to prosperity. The goal I believe of knighthood is for The Faith to empower the individuals to be good influence in the world. By motivating a mass of individuals whom have a significant marital power in Westerous to be less violent towards the innocents, then I think that could be counted as a success."

[Reader]

As the mysterious Knight of Stones defeats Ser Jon Cobb in tragic circumstances followed by the famous Ser Florian Greysteel, the crowd begins to debate his identity.

Consensus decides he can only be Ser Alayne Tarly or Ser Harbert Baratheon, two of the finest knights in the kingdom and both conspicuous by their absence so far. Given the staying power he allies to skill with the blade, the majority believe it is more likely the redoubtable Ser Alayne than the slightly more finesse focused Ser Harbert, although both men are renowned for their sheer physical might as well as their technique.

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