Chivalry and Dread.

[Rhalius]

((thanks everyone, it's going to be quite a lenghty story. Much longer than any of the previous ones.  ))

The crowd watches in awe at all the knights, they heard a lot about most of them, but are curious about the unfamiliar ones as well. This sure was going to be an exiting day!


Pierre smiled and waved at the knights, before he contined to speak:
"Welcome, marvelous competitors! King Phillip, Baron Blacktower and Prince Edward the Lion have chosen together who will fight against who in the first round!
They matched you up based on your own experiences and preferences.
Each duel is to begin on horseback with a jousting lance, after the initial charge the combatants may continue with other weapons. You need to defeat your opponent to win. Exessive force is discouraged, this is a friendly tournament after all. Unsportive behaviour will mean disqualification.
If your opponent surrenders, cease your attacks immediatly.
Many squires stand ready to hand you any weaponry you wish for during the duels."

After going over the list, Pierre lets it be known who are matched up for the first round, and the order in which they will fight.

Sir Jory - Sir Elric.
Sir Fernando - Sir Roland.
Sir Christopher - Sir Frederick.
Sir Jaqcues - Sir Hugo.
Sir Gareth - Sir Constantine.
Sir Roderick - Duke Alymere.
Sir Godfrey - Sir William.
Sir Henry - Lord Silvermane.
Sir John - Sir Stephen.

With lowered voices, the three friends spoke to each other as they heard about who they'd be fighting.

Roderick: "Looks like you'll get to fight Lord Silvermane again Henry. We already know you can beat him."
Henry: "Looks like I have it easy in the first round yes, last time I faced him it was a three way battle with Heinrich Drachenfell. Now its only Silvermane."
Frederick: "You got lucky, but me and Roderick might be up against some tough competition! I just spoke to charles, he said some of the best knights are here because they want to see if they can defeat Cedric! we already know that none of us can do that!"
Roderick: "We trained very hard though, and I dont think anyone can take on Cedric. He's a whole different league. There's a reason he's not competing anymore in the tournament. Everyone knows he wins any competition he enters."
Henry: "You are right about that, I'm sure we will do fine. We had the benefit of being trained by Cedric after all."
Frederick: "True, I gues Charles just worries too much.. we can win this! To think he wouldnt compete because he thought the competition would be too tough. Maybe he was just refering to us!" Frederick chuckled, feeling very confident again now he had talked with his friends.

Pierre: "That's all I have to say, please clear the field for Sir Jory and Sir Elric, who will be opening the tournament in the first match!"

As everyone leaves the field, the heralds blow their trumpets once more to indicate the beginning of the tournament.

This gives King Phillip a moment to speak with Prince Edward.
 
King Phillip: "Your knights seem impressive, Sir Edward. Where are they from? I don't think I saw them during your father's reign."
Prince Edward: "After our kingdom was conquered and my father was captured, only a handfull of my own personal guards and a single royal guard remained.
I recruited these noble knights and many soldiers recently to my cause. They want to see my father free just as much as me."
King Phillip: "I don't think I heard about who is holding your father captive? Perhaps I can help you to free him?"
Prince Edward: "I am still working to find out where and who is holding him captive. Let's focus on this grand tournament you organised for now, it seems Sir Elric is ready to face the blacktower knight."

And Sir Elric and Sir Jory seem indeed ready to fight each other, since the tournament is hosted in honour of the new alliance, it seemed fitting to open it with a knight of each side facing each other in a friendly duel. Sir Elric also expressed the desire to use a shorter jousting lance, and Sir Jory is profficient with this.


As the battle starts with a joust, the three friends are watching the fight with interest. Along with the other competitors.

Roderick: "I'm curious how Sir Jory will do, I heard he won quite some tournaments before he arrived at the castle."
Frederick: "Well as you can see, he's clearly losing! to be honest, I don't know why Baron Blacktower even entered him into the tournament as well, surely I'm good enough to represent the blacktower honour on my own! He'll just make us look bad!"

Henry: "I don't know, the way he knocked that Lion Knight off his horse looks pretty good to me! he seems too dazed to get back up."

Frederick: "erhm.. yes.. well... alright.. I gues he can hold his own then.." Frederick muttered a bit, clearly not wanting to be outdone by sir Jory.

[tahra]

That's great, Rhalius! Great posing too..

Now I'm looking forward to more....

[Rhalius]

Next up are Fernando the Falcon and Sir Roland.
Both wished to fight with a short lance as well, Fernando because he finds it easier, and Roland is still learning to joust with the larger standard jousting lance.

Before stepping onto his horse, Sir Fernando drains his mug of ale and then exchanges the empty mug for his lance. He had quite a few mugs already.

Hence why no one is too surprised that Sir Roland unhorses the somewhat drunk Fernando without much effort!


Roland dismounts to continue the fight in melee, but when he approaches Fernando on foot, he can hear him snore!

Appearantly his drinking had not helped him at all, Fernando lays passed out on the ground and needs to be dragged off the field. Sir Roland wins.

Henry: "He was drinking too much at the last tournament too, drinking and riding a horse certainly don't go well together."
Frederick: "Didn't the falcons have anyone better to send? looks like the competition here isnt that tough after all."
The dark knight Sir Hugo turned to the side, clearly angered by Frederick's remark: "You better hope you are knocked out of this tournament before you have to fight me, I'll crush you, and then you will see the power of the falcons!"

Feeling a bit intimidated and not wishing to anger Sir Hugo further, the three friends remained silent, and Frederick made his way to the field along with Sir Christopher.

Frederick glanced at his side a moment, at Sir Fernando who got dragged off the field. Still asleep. He couldnt help but chuckle at the funny sight.
Roland spoke to them briefly as he passed by to find a place at the side: "Good luck you two, give us a good match to watch!"

Frederick got on his horse and was ready to fight Sir Christopher. They where matched together because both have chosen to fight with an open face helmet.
He might have won various tournaments, but Frederick is confident he will stop him from winning this one!

As they hear the trumpets, both charge forward with a firm grip on their lance.

It seems it's a tougher match than Frederick thought! the clever sir Christopher keeps his shield up high, and avoids getting his while he manages to get past Frederick's shield and hits him against his shoulder! A good thing his armor catched most of the blow, but it still stings!


Looks like Frederick might be in over his head, will he be able to turn this around?
Will he be able to get past Sir Christopher's defence?

((will be continued soon.  ))

[Georgeag1972]

Very nice story with great pictures!!!! Very well done!!!

George.

[Giorginetto]

Playmobil El Classico !!!!

To see these wonderful klickies of the 'golden era' of Playmobil surrounded by steck is just a feast to my eyes. thanks so much for sharing all this with us , nothing nothing better than medieval playmobil of that era. its art and i cant wait to see more of this awesome tournament. 

[Lynx]

Great! Can't wait to see more! Sir Fernando must think he has been beaten by a pink elephant 

[Tiermann]

Excellent! Some great action photography there.
I wonder if Sir Fernando has an endorsement contract with Krull Ale? If not they may be calling after this.

[Rhalius]

((thanks everyone, I fear that if Fernando would ever visit Krull he'd only remember the Krull ale and if asked about what he thought of the army, he'd ask: "what army?" ))

Deciding to drop the lances and switch to swords, Frederick and Christopher to their best to get past each other's defence with little succes.

So they both agree to dismount and fight it out on foot.

After dismounting, Christopher charges towards Frederick!


But Frederick manages to keep his defence up against this attack, and manages to push Christopher back and down to the ground.

Seeing he almost defeated him, he pressed the attack to try and disarm Christopher while having the advantage.

But as he's trying to hit Christopher's shield away, Christopher raises his sword up past Frederick's defence, forcing Frederick to surrender!

Christopher smiled: "You fight well, but never underestimate anyone who is down on the ground."
Frederick nodded a bit, still surprised at his own defeat. He really thought he was going to win.

As Frederick gathers his sword and Christopher greets the crowd that cheers for him, Charles smiles knowingly to Frederick.

Charles: "I told you the very best have come to fight in this tournament."
Frederick grumbled a bit. "I almost defeated him! I could have won!"
Charles: "You did good, it was a great battle to watch. The best duel so far."

Encouraged by the praise, but still somewhat disenchanted by his early elimination, Frederick returns to his friends.

Roderick: "Well done! a shame you didnt win. You where so close!"
Henry: "He seemed to hit your shoulder hard, I gues that may have given him an edge?"
Frederick: "My shoulder? oh erhm.. yes thats it!" He rubbed his shoulder as if it was hurting badly while he was just fine. "Ow ow, if it was not for my shoulder I'd have won yes..."
Cedric smirked, obviously seeing Frederick isnt really hurt at all. (exept in his pride) "Aside from your obviously crippling injuries, you did seem to fight well. Better than I thought you would do. Sir Christopher has won quite some tournaments. He's a very nice guy too."
Elena smiled. "You looked very impressive Frederick."

[Rhalius]

While Frederick enjoys the compliments and returns to stand with his friends, the next battle has already started!

Sir Jacques de Ridefort against Sir Hugo, charging at each other with great speed!


With a powerfull thrust, the templar knight dismounts Hugo, and sends him flying over the fence!


While Sir Jacques enjoys the praise of the crowd, an enraged Hugo gets back on his feet and draws his sword.

"Bring me my Axe! now!" Hugo screamed angry towards his squire, who hurried to the armory to retrieve it.

Wasting no time, Hugo rushed toward Jacques with drawn sword to attack him, not even waiting for him to dismount.

Jacques barely manages to draw his sword in time to fend off Hugo's powerfull strikes.

Growing even angrier by Jacques defence against his attacks, Hugo throws his shield at him and manages to knock Jacques off his horse!

In the meanwhile his squire brings him his axe and hands it to him. Hugo throws his sword aside and grabs the axe.

Wasting no time, he continues battering down on the floored Jacques without mercy, angrily slashing with his axe at him. Jacques barely manages to avoid his attacks while the squire quickly takes the horse with him to make sure it wont get hurt.

King Phillip takes note of this agression and stands up, raising his voice: "that's enough! Sir Hugo! stop this madness!"

Hugo doesn't listen however, and continues striking blindly at Jacques untill he manages to hit his sword from his hands.

Jacques trembles with fear as he sees Hugo raise his axe: "I surrender! I surrender! please stop!"
Not one to stand idly by while his friend and grandmaster is in danger, Charles rushes to his aid, followed right away by Sir Pynedor.
Charles: "Put that axe down or you will have to deal with us!"

After taking a good look at the crusaders standing at his side, Hugo lowers his axe and seems to calm down.

Quickly Charles rushes towards his fallen friend to help him back up, Jacques is still trembling.
Feeling the piercing gaze of Sir Pynador on him, Hugo turns around to walk back to the other knights.

Will Sir Hugo be disqualified for this? How will Roderick and Henry do in their battles? the answers to this will come soon.

((will be continued soon))

[Tiermann]

Bit of a hot head, eh what?