Regarding competition [Closed]

[Theomore Tullison]

Ser Theomore couldn't help but feel some small sense of pride having seen his old squire perform as well as he did, not many could boast about having brought down Lord Forrest Frey, only one representative of The Twins left at the lists though, but it meant that there was two for Mountain's Reach, Theomore counted himself twice.

And one green, not just any green, for that matter. A certain squire having made a bit of a name for himself under his command two moons ago or thereabouts, a man well worth cultivating a relationship with for many reasons.

"Young master Aerion" He greets, ever the courteous one. "I had not thought to see you here so far north" He offers his hand in greetings. "Or have other competition to fear besides Ser Florian and Lord Baelon for that matter."

[Aerion Storm]

Storm gives his former commander -- one of several noteable knights that had helped to put the accursed Wyl in their place -- a smile and a firm handshake.

"Seven Blessings, Ser Theomore! You honor me, Ser, as does our host for letting me tilt. Ser Harbert wishes me to see more of the Realm," and likely being nearer Bartheld lands is no coincidence, Aerion knows. "And to 'spread the sight of how well he's taught me,' I believe the phrase was. And so here I am, doing my best to honor him and his lessons."

[Theomore Tullison]

"Ser Harbert will be proud, surely." Theomore heaps on more praise, but not too much, there was a time to stroke an ego and there were times to encourage humility, this is...probably the latter? "A fine host indeed, Lord Baelon is a good man, honorable and generous. No man is perfect of course, but I am the last man that should point at the flaws of others." Theomore shrugs away the hint of sadness and regret those words brought, melancholy only just beneath the surface of his mind. He would rather not talk about such things. The whispers ought to have reached the Stormlands by now, surely. And if he could speak to a man that did not know, he would not wish for that to be ruined. "I know the feeling Ser Harbert will be feeling upon hearing tales of your performance, that is my former squire there, triumphant against Lord Forrest after fourteen passes. Magnificent!" Well, truthfully, he is proud of what Jon had accomplished, a reminder that not everything he touched withered and died.

[Aerion Storm]

"It was quite a match, Ser, and no denying it. Lord Forrest and Ser Jon matched one another nobly, but your man rose to the occasion and carried the day."

Aerion means it, there's nothing but sincerity in those dark blue eyes of his. For all that he's vanquished his challengers in single passes, and has for most of his life, Aerion admires those who must work harder for their victories, to clash again and again, unrelenting in the face of such a challenge.

"You taught him well."

[Theomore Tullison]

"I should hope so! I don't like leaving anything half-done." Theomore graciously accepts the compliment. "But there comes a time when a teacher must accept that the student needs to find his next lessons and learn them on his own." Still searching but as long as he was looking, there was no problems

"I imagine we might see more of the same, as there are few remaining that will prove less difficult to unhorse than Lord Forrest, I think." Ser Jorah, probably. Ser Kevan? About the same. The rest rode better. "It comes down to who first slips up and makes a lapse in judgement, I suspect."

Or the guy showing up among plate-clad opponents on coursers and destriers with no more than chainmail and rounsey, he should be able to afford better now though, we always learn our lessons as we go on in life.

[Aerion Storm]

"Lord Forrest rode well, for certain. I don't know the field as I should, only what I've seen with my own eyes. More Southron lords, a look at their colors and I could tell you their favorite horse, how they angle their shield, and how well they couch. Here? I needs must learn as I ride, and watch anew."

He shrugs. There's no telling if it's false humility or not, he's generally an earnest young man.

"Watch, hope I remember Ser Harbert's lessons, and hope the Warrior continues to smile on me."

ooc:

[Theomore Tullison]

"I dare say that the warrior smiles on all of us who honors him by testing our prowess." Theomore never was one to believe in the favor of the gods.

Either that or they delight in the deeds of wicked men.


"I do not think we will see fourteen passes again, Ser Jon's lancework still needs improvement, and those who remain can hit at least as hard as Lord Forrest, and still there is a lesson to be learned here, I think." Was he really doing this for the prospects of a coin purse? Victory would require a succession of matches against whom he was at best evenly matched with. There was a larger game at work. As was his habit, he did pause for dramatic tension, though. "Risks will not pay in this company, Lord Forrest overextended himself and paid the price."

[Aerion Storm]

"I don't recall seeing so many lances shattered in one bout, and I would be truly surprised to see such again, much less in the same tourney! Rarely are riders so evenly matched, and pair lance to shield and shield to lance just so."

He nods, with a hint of a self-deprecating smile, "Just riding is risk enough for me."

It seems to be true. He's been tilting conservatively so far, it's appeared, staying low in his saddle and being more concerned with his own riding than his opponent's shields.

[Theomore Tullison]

"I have noticed, Ser Harbyn thought you well." Theomore agrees. "Riding low tends to be my preference, too, risk is what I take if I find myself outmatched." He then flashes a grin. "Though I may have been known to have taken quite a few because of how popular a flashy style is with the crowd and ladies."

[Soo, I'm pulling out intrigue because, why the heck not...

Objective: Generally communicated via pm, but will specify.
intrigue iniative: 5d6k4 15
Indifferent, DR 4
Intrigue Defense: 11
Composure: 9/9
]

[Aerion Storm]

"I find I ride my best when I'm concerned with myself, chiefly not my opponent; my balance, my form, my technique. Wild jabs and aggression are for the melee, not the joust," Aerion shrugs affably. "And impressing ladies is, I'm afraid, not my concern just yet. I am a Storm, and without spurs. It would take more than flashy riding to improve my prospects in that field, so I worry myself with keeping to the saddle, first and foremost. If they are impressed, let them be impressed by victory."

Intrigue Init: 3d6 8
Intrigue Defense: 8
Composure: 9/9
I'm going to set his starting disposition as Amiable, honestly (Ser Theomore has commanded him in battle before, and has a reputation as a sound tourney knight): DR 3

[As per PMs, largely going along with the suggestion, but thought I'd go through the motions and make myself learn a little about initrigues, anyways]

[Theomore Tullison]

"It is not your wisdom that has left you without spurs so far." Theomore observes, but now he was uttering the words best suited to get what he wanted rather than caring about how true they were, but not being far off the mark certainly did not help. "Though you forgot to mention that most you see here considers the princess as the rightful heir to the throne, and word has it that Ser Harbyn has recently associated himself with those of differing opinion." His words and tone, as always, makes it almost sound as if that feud was just some minor disagreement rather than something threatening to tear the realms apart. It would tear the realms apart unless a stroke of fate -or knife- saw fit to deprive them of such princes that might challenge Rhaenyra for the throne. "But that only makes caution doubly recommended."

Objective: Specified by pm.
Initiative: 15
Indifferent, DR 4
Intrigue Defense: 11
Composure: 9/9
Convince (deception): 6d6k5+5 20 Is 3 DoS vs 8, 3x3 influence against 3 DR, means 6 gets through.

[Aerion Storm]

Aerion makes a face and gives an irritated little toss of his head; looking like a stallion tossing his mane, or rearing away from something it dislikes.

"I know, Ser Theomore, that politics are important, but...to me, they are not. Not yet. I will fight who I am ordered to fight, as I did when we rode against Wyl. Right now, I care only for the tilt. Whoever the heralds say my next opponent is, and how best I might keep my saddle while he loses his."

He catches himself, then. "I...I do not mean to be rude. Only plain-talking. I didn't care who was Green or Black when I had Dornishmen to fight, I cared only that they were next to me in the line, standing before the scorpions. And it is not in me to care overmuch about it now. I care if they are set against me in the lists, nothing more."

[In the interest of trying to learn the system, I'm going to try a Convince intrigue back at you, to try and (ironically) get you to leave politics out of it and just focus on jousting.]
Amiable, DR 3.
ID: 8
Composure: 3/9
Convince (Persuade, -1D, +1 Amiable): 2d6+1 10

[So, as expected, no luck on the roll, the conversation continues, etc, etc]

[Theomore Tullison]

"And if you were my squire, I would have given you a rather long lesson in how every action that a knight takes reflects back upon the lord who provides him with a place at his table. The short of it being that while a knight's duty is first and foremost to serve ably on the field of glory, he must ensure not to bring hardship upon his lord through words and actions. It is wise to be as cautious on that field as it will be in this one" He gestures towards the jousting lines.

Good advice, for a knight of little talent at court, or just those without the courage and ambition to use it. Though Prince Daemon's teachings had only included those words as an example of what most knights should do, he expected something quite different from his own students.

[That is not how penalty dices works, see here (is irrelevant for this intrigue, though): https://dragonsdance.rpg-board.net/t313-tips-how-tos-for-dragon-s-dance-formerly-tips-for-pbp#7285

Objective: Specified by pm.
Initiative: 15
Indifferent, DR 4
Intrigue Defense: 11
Composure: 9/9
Convince (deception): 6d6k5+5 21 Another 3 DoS, 6 more gets through, meaning you need to take 2 frustration to keep at it, although you're at -3D (assuming it's bastard drawback) if you do, so the options realistically available to you now are:
1. Don't take the frustration and just be defeated (consequence=Theo's objective).
2. Offer a yield (Can be negotiated via pm's) to get something out of Theo, his disposition towards you improving to amiable in return for him getting his objectives is fairly standard (or him getting something else than his objectives if you don't like them), a good choice to pick that strategy if you are not opposed to going along with Theo's objectives, let's you get something out of the intrigue, too.
3. You can always quit if you don't like those two options, but that might be considered rude.
]

[Aerion Storm]

"Cautious," Aerion says with a nod, but a sigh. "I...understand, Ser Theomore."

Tullison is known for judgement and valor, both. Aerion, for neither. He knows he should listen. The knight who broke three lances against the Aurochs is no fool, and it would take a fool to completely ignore his counsel.

[I'm down with a yield, gaining Theo's disposition shifting to amiable.]

[Theomore Tullison]

[Sold to the young gentleman, Theo likes people that listens to him....incidentally makes him less likely to manipulate Aerion in the future.]

"You sound...disappointed?"

A likeable young lad, Theomore almost feels as if maybe he shouldn't have given him too many reasons to be so predictable. But everything was permitted in love and war, and he loved victory and the war was already on, even if the death counts were only a few dozen at a time at most, though. Besides, young Aerion may have talent and skill, but there was always new things to learn, and the best way was through mistakes. Better honest mistakes that only deprived you of a tourney victory, if even that. His own mistakes had broke things and people, many of which beyond repair.

[Aerion Storm]

He shrugs and smiles a little.

"I simply mislike calling it caution, I suppose. It makes success sound timid, victory sound hesitant. I prefer to think of myself as...as...being mindful. Being focused. Not taking undue risks, merely caring about performing as well as I have been trained to."

[Theomore Tullison]

"Only to the young, Aerion, only to the young." Theomore seems to like that statement. "When you start worrying that the next time you look in the mirror, you will spot a gray hair, you will note that instead of timidness and hesitation on the one side, and riding with courage on the other. It will indeed be riding with a steady performance in mind as opposed to reckless chances. "

He hadn't started graying yet, gods be good.

[Aerion Storm]

He smiles a little, "If I live long enough to fear gray hairs, it will mean I've done something right. I look forward to it."

I just hope I've got spurs by then, the anger boils up, unbidden, and his smile looks a little less sincere for a heartbeat or two.

[Theomore Tullison]

"Now that is indeed a comforting thought!" Done something right? Well, he had survived more dire straits than most. Having done right, though, perhaps not.

[Aerion Storm]

As horns -- fewer and humbler than he'd heard in more Southron lands, but ringing out clearly enough -- sound in the distance to announce the next rounds, Aerion's stance shifts; he straightens, his shoulders square, and a hint of a smile lights up his face. For all that he'd rather talk of riding than anything else, he'd rather ride than talk of it. He knows he jousted well in the preliminary rounds, but is eager to see the official tallies from Lord Drakeson's people, eager to see just how well.

And eager, of course, to ride again.

"I bid you luck in these latter rounds, Ser Tullison. May you tilt half as well as you led us in battle," he offers a handshake and a smile. "And I thank you for your counsel."

[Theomore Tullison]

"And good luck to you as well." Theomore happily accepts the offered hand, but adds with a wink. "Unless you face myself, then I would like to have it all for myself."

[Aerion Storm]

"There's a reason I said 'half as well,' Ser," Aerion adds with a grin of his own, risking a joke.

[Theomore Tullison]

"If I have all the luck on my side...." Theomore did not mind a joke, the best way to make him smile was to make a friendly on at his expense. "Then half as well will do the rest."

[scene?]

[Aerion Storm]

[Yeah, scene sounds good]

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